The SOLAS air-sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE) 2004

The SOLAS air-sea gas exchange experiment (SAGE) was a multiple-objective study investigating gas-transfer processes and the influence of iron fertilisation on biologically driven gas exchange in high-nitrate low-silicic acid low-chlorophyll (HNLSiLC) Sub-Antarctic waters characteristic of the expansive subpolar zone of the southern oceans. This paper provides a general introduction and summary of the main experimental findings. The release site was selected from a pre-voyage desktop study of environmental parameters to be in the south-west Bounty Trough (46.5°S 172.5°E) to the south-east of New Zealand and the experiment was conducted between mid-March and mid-April 2004. In common with other mesoscale iron addition experiments (FeAX’s), SAGE was designed as a Lagrangian study, quantifying key biological and physical drivers influencing the air-sea gas exchange processes of CO₂, DMS and other biogenic gases associated with an iron-induced phytoplankton bloom. A dual tracer SF₆/³He release enabled quantification of both the lateral evolution of a labelled volume (patch) of ocean and the air-sea tracer exchange at tenths of kilometer scale, in conjunction with the iron fertilisation. Estimates from the dual-tracer experiment found a quadratic dependency of the gas exchange coefficient on windspeed that is widely applicable and describe air-sea gas exchange in strong wind regimes. Within the patch, local and micrometeorological gas exchange process studies (100 m scale) and physical variables such as near-surface turbulence, temperature microstructure at the interface, wave properties and windspeed were quantified to further assist the development of gas exchange models for high-wind environments.There was a significant increase in the photosynthetic competence (F_v/F_m) of resident phytoplankton within the first day following iron addition, but in contrast to other FeAX’s, rates of net primary production and column-integrated chlorophyll a concentrations had only doubled relative to the unfertilised surrounding waters by the end of the experiment. After 15 days and four iron additions totalling 1.1 ton Fe²⁺, this was a very modest response compared to other mesoscale iron enrichment experiments. An investigation of the factors limiting bloom development considered co-limitation by light and other nutrients, the phytoplankton seed-stock and grazing regulation. Whilst incident light levels and the initial Si:N ratio were the lowest recorded in all FeAXs to date, there was only a small seed-stock of diatoms (less than 1% of biomass) and the main response to iron addition was by the picophytoplankton. A high rate of dilution of the fertilised patch relative to phytoplankton growth rate, the greater than expected depth of the surface mixed layer and microzooplankton grazing were all considered as factors that prevented significant biomass accumulation. In line with the limited response, the enhanced biological draw-down of pCO₂ was small and masked by a general increase in pCO₂ due to mixing with higher pCO₂ waters. The DMS precursor DMSP was kept in check through grazing activity and in contrast to most FeAX’s dissolved dimethylsulfide (DMS) concentration declined through the experiment. SAGE is an important low-end member in the range of responses to iron addition in FeAX’s. In the context of iron fertilisation as a geoengineering tool for atmospheric CO₂ removal, SAGE has clearly demonstrated that a significant proportion of the low iron ocean may not produce a phytoplankton bloom in response to iron addition.     

Detection of terracettes in semi-arid rangelands using Fourier-based image analysis of very-high-resolution satellite imagery

Terracettes are repeating step-like microtopographic features roughly following the contours of hillslopes that are often associated with livestock tracks. These common features in many semi-arid rangelands have been shown to alter soil moisture, slope stability, sediment transport, infiltration rates and coincident vegetation patterns. The spatial extent and distribution of terracettes is currently unknown and therefore their landscape-scale hydrological influence is absent in modelling and land management decision making. When viewed in uncalibrated very-high-resolution satellite imagery, terracettes appear as repetitious parallel lines within a specific frequency range. Here we used the two-dimensional discrete Fourier transform to identify terracettes at three test sites in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA. We created an automated rule-based classification of terracetted sites based on spatial frequency, orientation, slope angle and land-use class. Results show a detection accuracy of 77% based on an optimized spatial frequencies search window between 0.3 and 0.7 m⁻¹. Terracette orientation did not contribute significantly to detection accuracy because orientations varied ±50° from digital elevation model-derived aspects. We found terracettes occurred predominantly on north-facing slopes at our test sites, although this estimate may be exaggerated by the timing of image capture. We feel that the method developed in this paper provides a way forward to map terracettes at large scales and enable new insights into the functions of terracettes in the landscape. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Abtrennung und Bestimmung von kolloidalen Kornklassen mit e iner Durchlaufzentrifugea

Zusammenfasung Der Hauptbestandteil der Zentrifuge ist ein um seine Längsachse rotierender Hohl-zylinder, durch den man eine kolloidale Suspension in kontinuierlichem Fluß hindurchschickt. Es werden 2 Methoden beschrieben: Aus der gewichtsmäßigen Verteilung des; im Zylinder abgeschiedenen Niederschlags wird die Verteilungskurve des suspendierten Materials ermittelt. Es wird zweitens die Abtrennung von Kornklassen durch wiederholtes Auszentrifugieren erörtert. Beide Verfahren werden durch Auszentrifugieren einer Quarzsuspension auf ihre praktische Brauchbarkeit geprüft.     

Some Aspects of Fluorite and Vaterite Precipitation in Marine Environments*

Abstract. Mysid shrimps of the genus Schistornysis precipitate either fluorite (CaF₂; S. spiritus) or vaterite (CaCO3; S. assimilis) for the formation of static bodies (statoliths). In S. assirnilis, 2.44 μg calcium and 3.66 μg carbonate are precipitated for each statolith. This corresponds to 69 mg or 30 mg ambient water, respectively, using the ion content of seawater for stoichiometrical comparison. Concentmtion factors of calcium or carbonate in relation to equivalent amounts of ambient water in the statocyst cavity are 760 or 3100, respectively. In S. spiritus, 3.79 μg calcium and 3.60 μg fluoride are precipitated. This corresponds to 9.3 mg or 2788 mg ambient water, respectively. Concentration factors with respect to statocyst water mass are 610 or 183.000. respectively. Ile high fluoride accumulation for the formation of statoliths alone contributes to a fluoride content of 4500 ppm with respect to body dry weight A minimum estimate for the role of mysids in the global fluoride cycle suggests that at least 62,000 tons of fluoride are bound in mysid statoliths. Due to rapid turnover of about seven days, mysid fluorite statoliths are a crucial factor by contributing to a turnover of at most 570,000 years for overall fluoride in the oceanic system.     

The use of oxygen isotope variation in shells of estuarine mollusks as a quantitative record of seasonal and annual Colorado river discharge

We describe a new method for the calculation of river flow that uses the oxygen isotope composition of bivalve mollusk shells that grew in the river-water/seawater mixing zone of the Colorado River estuary. Sclerochronological techniques are used to identify tidally-induced, fortnight-scale bundles of daily growth increments within shell cross-sections. These fortnightly markers are used to establish a chronology for samples taken for δ¹⁸O analysis. A composite seasonal δ¹⁸O profile derived from five shells that grew in the absence of river-water flow is used as a baseline against which profiles of river-influenced shells are compared. Because this comparison is between matched fortnights within a year, the temperature of shell growth is likely to be very similar. The difference in δ¹⁸O between the river-influenced shell and the “no-flow” composite shell therefore represents the change in the δ¹⁸O of the water due to the presence of river water in the mixing zone. The river water end-member is also determined within a fortnightly context so that the change in the δ¹⁸O of mixing-zone water can be used to calculate the relative proportions of seawater and fresh-water. The fresh-water end-member is calculated from the δ¹⁸O of bivalves alive prior to the emplacement of dams and water diversions on the Colorado River. The marine end-member is based on direct measurements of the δ¹⁸O of northern Gulf of California water during times of no Colorado River flow. The system has been calibrated to absolute flow amounts using recent releases of known volume and rate.     

Separating the effects of changes in land management and climatic conditions on long‐term streamflow trends analyzed for a small catchment in the Loess Plateau region,NW China

As an integrated result of many driving factors, significant declines in streamflow were observed in many rivers of the Loess Plateau (NW China). This can aggravate the inherent severe water shortages and threatens the regional development. Therefore, it is urgent to develop adaptive measures to regulate the water yield to ensure water security. A key step for successful implementation of such measures is to separate the response of water yield to the main driving factors of land management and climate change. In this study, the variation of annual streamflow, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and climatic water balance in a small catchment in the Loess Plateau (near Pingliang, Gansu province) was examined for over five decades, although the relative contribution of changes in land management and climate on the streamflow reduction were estimated. A statistically significant decreasing trend of ‐1.14 mm y^‐1 in annual streamflow was detected. Furthermore, an abrupt streamflow reduction because of construction of terraces and check‐dams was identified around 1980. Remarkably, 74% of the total reduction in mean annual streamflow can be attributed to the soil conservation measures. Based on a literature review across the Loess Plateau, we found that the impact of changes in land management and climate on annual streamflow diminished with increasing catchment size. This means that there is a dependency on catchment size for the hydrological response to environmental change. This indicates that at least at the local scale well‐considered land management may help ensure the water security at the Loess Plateau. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A pollen record of the last 450 years from a lowland peat bog on Tristan da Cunha,South Atlantic,implying early anthropogenic influence

A pollen diagram from a small peat bog on the island of Tristan da Cunha in the central South Atlantic (37°05'S,12°17'W) is presented. The pollen diagram contains data from both introduced and native plant taxa. The earliest pollen grains from introduced Plantago lanceolata are dated to around AD 1570, and probably represent unintentional introductions of weeds by the earliest Portuguese explorers visiting the islands. After AD 1600, a greater abundance of pollen from introduced plants and declining tree pollen values indicate opening of the lowland vegetation and more intense land use, probably attributable to the effect of seasonal seal and whale hunters. After AD 1800, evidence of increased erosion and more intense land use are inferred from the pollen diagram, reflecting permanent settlement. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.