The estimation of acid dissociation constants in seawater media from potentionmetric titrations with strong base. I. The ionic product of water — Kw

The various assumptions implicit in the calculation of acid dissociation constants (based on ionic medium standard states) from potentiometric titrations using a cell with liquid junction (i.e. a pH measuring cell) have been examined. It was concluded that results can be obtained having an accuracy commensurate with the experimental precision. It has been shown that although the precise composition of the medium is a function of the hydrogen ion concentration (because of the protolytic nature of some of the ions in the media, e.g., sulphate and fluoride), the effect of such variations in the medium composition can be compensated for when defining the activity of hydrogen ion on an ionic medium standard state by defining the concentration of hydrogen ion as:

where β_HSO4 and β_HF are the relevant association constants and S_T and F_T are the total concentrations of sulphate and fluoride, respectively.This approach was used to obtain values for the ionic product of water (K_W) in artificial seawater media at various temperatures and ionic strengths. These were fitted to give the equation (molal concentration units):

$\text{pK}{}_{\mathrm{w}}\text{=}\text{3441.0}\text{T}\text{+2.256-0.7091}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{rms deviation 0.01}\text{)}$

where I is the formal ionic strength of the artificial seawater medium and T is the absolute temperature. The values obtained are in reasonable agreement with those found by previous workers.     

Assessment of imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum (L.) from the Eastern Scheldt, The Netherlands

Several cruises were carried out on the Eastern Scheldt between September 1992 and March 1995 to study the frequency and appearance of imposex in the common whelk, Buccinum undatum L. Incidences of imposex were always > 90%. For the first time several stages of imposex in Buccinum undatum are reported. The evolution of imposex in the whelk seems to follow a similar route as in Hinia reticulata belonging to the same superfamily (Buccinacea). Tissue organotin concentrations of animals collected in February 1995 showed the highest organotin concentrations in the digestive gland and lowest in the foot of the animals. Concentrations of phenyltin compounds (up to 625 ngSn/g DW) were much higher than those of butyltin compounds (up to 40 ngSn/g DW).     

“Batfish” a depth controllable towed body for collecting oceanographic data

“Batfish” is a streamlined vehicle developed to house fast-responding oceanographic sensors. It is towed behind a ship or small vessel and its depth is controlled from the vessel by a manually or automatically produced command signal. Variable-angle wings permit the vehicle to be lowered and a novel control surface, which eliminates the need for heavy ballast, assures lateral stability. There are two models: the standard and the wide-wing Batfish. The standard Batfish has collected temperature and conductivity data at depths of up to 200 m when towed at 10–25 km/hr, and the wide-wing Batfish at depths to 400 m when towed at 10–16km/hr.     

A Lagrangian model for wind- and wave-induced near-surface currents

A theory is outlined for time-dependent currents induced near the sea surface in deep water, away from coastal boundaries, by a variable wind stress and deep-water wave field. It is based on the theory of Weber (1983) which uses a second-order perturbation expansion of the Navier-Stokes equations in Lagrangian coordinates and includes the Coriolis effect. It uses an eddy viscosity formulation for both wave dissipation and momentum transfer within the current field: the eddy viscosity ν may be allowed to vary with depth. The wind stress may be time-varying and the wave field may vary in both space and time.For the case of a constant ν, the results agree with those of Ursell (1950), Hasselmann (1970) and Pollard (1970) in the limit ν→0, and the steady-state results agree with those of Weber. For a particular case of depth-varying ν, results (obtained from numerical simulations) are in better general agreement with observations of wind-induced surface drift than when a constant ν is used.An outline is given of the application of the theory to the case of a random sea state. There are good prospects for using output data from numerical wave prediction models to drive the equations of this near-surface current model.     

Geohazards surveys in the North Carolina upper continental margin

Geophysical surveys on the upper continental slope and shelf-break area off North Carolina confirm previous suggestions that this highly dissected region is characterized by deposition of sediment swept from the adjacent shelf. Seismic reflection profiling, echo sounding and side-scan sonar studies failed to reveal conclusive evidence for slumping or other gravity processes which have been described for similar areas to the north. Outcrops appear to be lacking and the upper slope is a region of sediment accumulation and/or periodic bypassing.     

Optical monitoring of coastal waters: Photic depth estimates

Measurements of underwater irradiance, transparency and Secchi disc depth were carried out in Liverpool Bay during 1974. The depth of the photic zone measured in the green portion of the spectrum ranged from 5 m to 50 m, depending on location and season. Inshore values of photic depth were smaller than those encountered offshore. By mid-summer the depth of the photic zone had reached or exceeded the depth of the sea bed over the whole study area.Consideration was given to the error terms associated with the optical measurements and to the problems of using standard optical relationships in coastal waters. The relationship between Secchi disc depth and the depth of the photic zone could not be taken as constant but was a function of the absorption and scattering properties of the water mass.     

La marge continentale Tunisienne: Résultats d'une étude par sismique réflexion: Sa place dans le cadre tectonique de la Méditerranée Occidentale

Résumé Une série de profils de sismique réflexion effectués au large de la Tunisie et dans le détroit sardano-tunisien aboutissent à l'élaboration d'un schéma géologique interprétatif dans lequel nous replaçons le socle paléozoïque et sa couverture autochtone (Eocène et plio-quaternaire) et allochtone (nappe numidienne). Nous discutons ensuite des manifestations néotectoniques (bassins d'effondrements plio-quaternaires-mouvement de flexure-surrections locales-venues intrusives). Enfin la nature du substratum du détroit sardano-tunisien est discutée en liaison avec les hypothèses dynamiques et statiques relatives à la formation de la Méditerranée occidentale.

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Serial seismic reflection profiles off Tunisia and between Sardinia and Tunisia are presented. Interpretation is given which includes paleozoïc basement and its autochtonous (Eocene and plioquaternary) and allochtonous (Numidian nappe) cover. Recent tectonic activity is discussed, (Plioquaternary foundered basins, flexure, local uplifts, intrusions). Then the nature of the basement of the Sardinia-Tunisia zone is discussed with respect to the various hypotheses on the region of the Western Mediterranean.

     

Free vibration of semisubmersibles: A parametric study

Like any other engineering structure, the dynamic aspects of semisubmersible offshore platforms require serious consideration. The free vibrations of the semisubmersible structures have been investigated in the present work, in which the effect of the variation of the length, draft and hull spacings on the natural frequencies and mode shapes has been studied and the nature of the variations and their reasons have been discussed.