Background radiation in the Albuquerque,New Mexico,U.S.A., area

Background radiation levels in the Albuquerque, New Mexico, area are elevated when compared to much of the United States. Soil K, U, and Th are somewhat elevated compared to average values in this country and generate roughly 60 mrem per year to the average resident. Cosmic ray contribution, due to the mean elevation of 5,200 ft above sea level, is 80 mrem/yr—well over the average for the United States. Thirty percent of the homes in Albuquerque contain indoor radon levels over the EPA action level of 4 pCi/ compared to 10–12 percent of homes for the entire United States. Indoor radon contributes about 100–300 mrem/yr. Food, beverages, and x-ray doses are assumed at an average-equivalent for the United States and locally yield 96 mrem/yr. Total contributions from other minor sources (color TV, coal, weapons fallout, etc.) are under 10 mrem/yr. Thus total background radiation received by Albuquerque residents is about 330–530 mrem/yr, well in excess of the rest of the United States. The spread in mrem values is due to variations in the contribution from indoor radon.Douglas G. Brookins, Professor of Geology and former Chairman of the Department, 1976–1979, passed away unexpectedly on April 30, 1991. He was a man of passion, intellect, and conviction. He left us at the peak of his productive career, but he leaves behind a legacy of exceptional accomplishments and contributions to his friends, family, students, and profession. He was a member of the Faculty Senate at the time of his death and had served two previous terms in 1984 and 1986.Doug's academic accomplishments were of world class, beginning with an AB degree, Summa Cum Laude, from U.C. Berkeley in 1958 and a PhD from MIT in 1963. He came to UNM as a full professor in 1971, having previously served at Kansas State University, and built a first class program in isotope geochemistry. He wrote five books and had a sixth in progress, edited several others, and authored or coauthored approximately 500 technical papers, book chapters, and reports.—Bruce M. Thomson and Wolfgang E. Elston, University of New Mexico.     

Manganese accumulation by the antennule of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (L.) as a biomarker of hypoxic events

In laboratory tests, manganese accumulation by the appendages of the sediment burrowing Norway lobster. Nephrops norvegicus (L.) (including the lateral antennules) was approximately three times greater [600 microg Mn g(-1) (dry weight) after 5 days in 20 mg Mn l(-1)] than that by the carapace. The accumulation was linearly dose-dependent (10-40 mg Mn l(-1)) and duration-dependent (2-30 days). and showed no decrease after 3 weeks in undosed seawater. A high manganese uptakc to the lateral antennules during hypoxia in the field was verified from the SE Kattegat, Sweden. These results indicate that accumulation of Mn on the mobile appendages of the Norway lobster fulfils most of the criteria for a biomarker of exposure to hypoxia. Using these measurements in conjunction with Mn concentrations in the internal tissues, it may be possible to resolve both the timing and the extent of the Mn exposure and the underlying hypoxic event.     

The influence of seawalls on subaerial beach volumes with receding shorelines

The results summarized herein are based on subaerial beach profiles taken on the Atlantic Ocean at Sandbridge, Virginia (USA). The shoreline has experienced an average, historic recession rate of about 2 m/yr for more than 120 years before seawall construction began in 1978. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not the 16 walled sections increase the existing erosional trend at adjacent, non-walled beaches. Fifteen years of survey data are employed with 8–9 years of data taken before wall construction peaked in 1989. The main focus of these results is on five full wave years of monthly and post-storm survey data taken at 28 locations (16 walled, 4720 m, 62% and 12 non-walled, 2950 m, 38%) since October 1990. Three time scales (historic, seasonal, storms) and three analysis methods were used to address three questions concerning the effects of seawalls on adjacent beaches.It has been determined that volume erosion rates are not higher in front of seawalls (Question No. 1). However, the seasonal variability of the sand volume in front of walls is generally greater than at non-walled locations. Winter season waves drag more sand offshore in front of walls but also summer swell waves pile more sand up against walls in beach rebuilding.Walled beaches were found to recover about the same time as non-walled beaches for both seasonal transitions (winter to summer) and following erosional storm events (Question No. 2).At a few non-walled locations, the sand volume landward of adjacent walls was found to be eroding at a faster rate after wall construction. At some other non-walled locations, the sand volume landward remained constant or increased in time after nearby walled construction. The evidence for Sandbridge beach as a whole was considered inconclusive for Question No. 3.After wall construction, sand trapped behind the wall is not available for transport to adjacent beaches during and after storm events. The loss of this sand volume is felt to be in the initial stage of detection at Sandbridge. More full years of profile data are needed to confirm and quantify the effect. Sand is also trapped beneath the road (baseline) at non-walled locations. The study is continuing.     

Acetate in recent anoxic sediments: Direct and indirect measurements of concentration and turnover rates

While acetate is generally regarded as an important intermediate in the mineralization of organic matter in anoxic sediment systems, some quantitative studies in marine systems (including our own) have measured acetate oxidation rates in excess of sulphate reduction rates where sulphate is known to be the principal electron acceptor. We revisited Skan Bay, Alaska, where we had previously made such observations, for a reexamination of acetate turnover. Measurements of acetate concentrations, production rate, oxidation rate and sulphate reduction rate as well as bioenergetic considerations led to the conclusion that acetate oxidation rate in 15–18-cm deep sediment is 1·1–1·5 μM h⁻¹. The possibility that previous measurements were high because of a non-citric-acid-cycle pathway of acetate oxidation (suggested by recent laboratory studies) was excluded. It appears that our previous turnover measurements were high mainly because of high acetate concentrations. Procedures used for the isolation of porewater for acetate determination may influence results to an extent not previously recognized.     

Organic and trace metal contaminants in sediments and English sole tissues from Vancouver Harbour,Canada

As part of a multinational workshop on marine environmental quality, sediments were collected from seven sites in Vancouver Harbour and analyzed for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorines (OCs), and for trace metals. English sole were collected from five sites, and muscle was analyzed for trace metals and liver for OCs. As expected, sediment PAH and OC concentrations and tissue OC concentrations were higher at sites east of the First Narrows, compared to the outer harbor and reference sites. Sediment PAH concentrations east of the First Narrows were similar to concentrations at moderately contaminated sites in Puget Sound, south of Vancouver Harbour. In contrast, concentrations of OCs in sediments and tissue were low to moderate, even at relatively contaminated sites within Vancouver Harbour. Although several trace metals in sediments were higher than in contaminated sediments from Puget Sound, trace metals measured in fish muscle were lower.     

Submersible mountedin situ geotechnical instrumentation

A series of new miniaturizedin situ geotechnical instruments were developed and subsequently field tested with the Deep Sea Research Vessel (DSRV)Alvin during October of 1980 in various sedimentary features on the U.S. East Coast continental slope and upper rise within the Wilmington Geotechnical Corridor. These instruments are herein described and include a cone penetrometer, resistivity/conductivity probe, miniature piezometer, an inclinometer and a small diameter coring system. The various drive systems, controls and data recording systems are also briefly discussed.     

Fe−Mn nodule field indicated by GLORIA,north of the Puerto Rico Trench

A 2,500-km² area of sea floor on the south-eastern flank of the Greater Antilles Outer Ridge north of the Puerto Rico Trench displays anomalously high acoustic backscattering properties on GLORIA longrange sidescan-sonar data. Previously collected dredges, bottom photographs, and sediment cores indicate the presence of Fe–Mn nodules within the area of high backscatter. We were able to map the extent of the inferred nodule field on the basis of acoustic property contrast between the nodule-covered sediment and the surrounding nodule-free sediment.     

Bottom processes, morphology, and geotechnical properties of the continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon

The continental slope south of Baltimore Canyon seaward of the coasts of Delaware and Maryland has a different morphology and sedimentary structure than adjacent portions of the continental margin. Ridges of sediment 600 m thick and transverse to the slope contain many unconformities that can be traced from ridge to ridge. The age of the sediment is inferred to be late tertiary to recent with the morphology related to a major drainage system. Physical properties of a suite of sediment cores display a pattern that varies in relationship to the morphology and depositional environment. Sedimentary structures and low shear strengths indicate instability of surficial sediments present on the upper slope and can be correlated with regions where the seismic reflection profiles show slumping has occurred. A veneer of sand overlying the general silty clay of the area is present on the upper slope and on the ridges indicating sand spillover from the shelf with a recent change in deposition pattern.     

Rates of nitrification and nitrate reduction in nearshore marine sediments at near ambient substrate concentrations

Nitrification and nitrate reduction were measured simultaneously by a ¹⁵N-isotope dilution technique in the top 2 cm of sandy sediments in Great South Bay, Long Island, New York. Experiments were done at three times, under three different sets of environmental conditions. Nitrification rates remained between 0.010 and 0.015 μg-at N (g dry wt)⁻¹ (24 h)⁻¹ despite decreasing temperature. Nitrate reduction ranged from 0.02 to 0.11 μg-at N (g dry wt)⁻¹ (24 h)⁻¹. Nitrate reduction exceeded nitrification in two experiments. In the third, at low temperature and apparently high oxygen levels, rates of nitrification and nitrate reduction were comparable. We conclude that there is not a constant relationship between nitrification and nitrate reduction in this environment. Attempts to measure rates of nitrification by using the inhibitor chlorate were not successful.     

Seasonal changes in speciation of dissolved chromium in the surface Sargasso Sea

The concentrations of Cr (III) and Cr (VI) were determined in the upper 500 m of the Sargasso Sea at different times of the year. Total Cr concentrations ranged between 2.5 and 4.5 nM, and the predominant species of Cr was the thermodynamically favoured Cr (VI). Cr (III) concentrations were greatest during periods of high biological activity, as indicated by strong correlations between the ratio of Cr (III):Cr (VI) and both bacterial biomass and primary productivity. Whilst the oxidation state varied substantially over the seasonal cycle, the upper water column inventory of Cr was relatively constant. The long residence time of Cr in the surface Sargasso Sea estimated with respect to atmospheric inputs (1410–2240 years) is indicative of the largely conservative behaviour of this element. Deep particle fluxes of Cr are similar or somewhat greater than atmospheric inputs, and this downward flux of Cr is well correlated with organic carbon fluxes from the upper Sargasso Sea. The long residence time coupled with the seasonal changes in oxidation state of Cr implies rapid seasonal recycling of Cr between redox states, with only slow removal via particles to the deep ocean at this site.