Lagrangian diffusion equation and its application to oceanic dispersion

The Lagrangian diffusion equation appropriate for the dispersion of current followers (e. g., floats, drogues, drifters) is proposed. The analytical solution to the equation is obtained for a uniform deformation field, characterized by Lagrangian deformations and anisotropic eddy diffusivities both varying with time. Expressions are derived for the patch area and its elongation and rotation. For small values of elapsed time after the initial release the patch area can be accounted for by the exponential of the cumulative value of the horizontal divergence; the relative rate of change of the patch area can be accounted for by the horizontal divergence.     

Lethal and sublethal effects of short term acute doses of Kuwait Crude Oil and a dispersant Corexit 9527 on bay scallops, Argopecten irradians (Lamarck) and two predators at different temperatures

Investigations of short term acute exposure of bay scallops, Argopecten irradians and two scallop predators, the oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea and the common starfish Asterias forbesi, to oil, dispersant, and oil-dispersant mixtures (Kuwait Crude Oil and Corexit 9527) suggested that predator and prey have different lethal susceptibilities. Scallops were most sensitive to dispersant and dispersant mixed with oil, starfish were only sensitive to dispersant while the oyster drill seemed unaffected even though all were exposed to dilutions of identically prepared stock solutions. Scallops were least susceptible during winter months and most susceptible at summer temperatures. Treatment had less effect on predators than on scallops at summer temperatures. Sublethal concentrations of dispersant and oil-dispersant mixtures diminished the behavioural ability of scallops to recognise drills and starfish. The degree of effect increased with temperature. Predator detection of prey at the same concentrations was more complex. The feeding response or posturing reflex of starfish was significantly slowed by all treatments. In contrast, drills were unaffected in their recognition of scallop effluent in a choice chamber after treatment.     

Developing a Marine Information System by Integrating Existing Ocean Models Using Object-Oriented Technology

Information systems developed for different applications within the environmental domain have common characteristics, which can potentially be abstracted for sharing and reuse of design and software modules. This article presents an approach to designing for reuse by abstracting commonalities in the design of a Marine Information System (MIS), facilitating data management in a prototype operational monitoring, forecasting, and management system for the North Atlantic and the Nordic Seas. A detailed study of the requirements and data analysis was carried out, and Object-Oriented Technology (OOT) is employed to encapsulate abstractions and to promote reuse of code and design. This article identifies the Object-Oriented Frameworks (OOFW) required to build the MIS. It also provides guidelines to environmental scientists for restructuring legacy software and employing modern programming techniques.     

Veil over the nets (unravelling corporate liability for IUU fishing offences)

The illegal plundering of fishing stocks worldwide is masked behind a maze of corporate structures that makes discovery of the beneficiaries of such activity, difficult, if not impossible to identify. This paper outlines the problem of illegal fishing and then develops a multi-layered response to avert the veil of corporate entity being used as a means of preventing domestic States from answering the principal thematic question—who is the true beneficiary of this illegal behaviour, and who should be held responsible.     

A clay mineral investigation of six cores from the Gulf of Mexico

Samples were studied from each color change along six gravity cores from nearshore to deep-sea areas in the Gulf of Mexico. Analytical methods and techniques used to characterize the sediments were X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, cation exchange capacity, particle size distribution and fractionation of the clay-size material with the supercentrifuge.     

Effects of organic pollutants on methanogenesis,sulfate reduction and carbon dioxide evolution in salt marsh sediments

Anaerobic salt marsh sediments were amended with a variety of organic pollutants and the effects on methanogenesis, sulfate reduction and carbon dioxide evolution were examined. Addition of 1000 μg g^?1 (dry weight sediment) Arochlor 1221, lindane, endrin, benzene and phenanthrene resulted in no significant effects on the activities studied. Methanogenesis was inhibited by 1000 μg g^?1toxaphene, PCP, chlordane, naphthalene, DDT, Kepone and heptachlor and by 100 μg g^?1 PCP and toxaphene. At 1000 μg g^?1 naphthalene and toxaphene and 100 μg g^?1 PCP, a period of initial inhibition of methanogenesis was followed by stimulation relative to controls. Arochlor 1254 (1000 μg g^?1) and Temik (500 and 10 μg g^?1) stimulated methanogenesis from the outset. Temik at 500 μg g^?1 gave the greatest stimulation of methanogenesis (900% of controls) of any of the compounds studied. Sulfate reduction was inhibited by 1000 μg g^?1 PCP, toxaphene, naphthalene and chlordane and by 500 μg g^?1 atrazine and 100 μg g^?1 heptachlor. Sustained inhibition of sulfate reduction by naphthalene, toxaphene and PCP may have contributed to the stimulation of methanogenesis. Carbon dioxide evolution was not significantly affected by most of the compounds studied except for 100 μg g^?1 PCP and 1000 μg g^?1 aphthalene, each of which gave significant inhibition in only one of three experiments.Concentrations of individual organic pollutants required to cause observable effects were high. It is concluded that, except for highly polluted sediments, methanogenesis, sulfate reduction and CO₂ evolution would not be affected by the compounds studied here at concentrations typically found in the environment.