Seasonal variation of Mn adsorption on to calcareous surfaces in the English Channel, and its implication on the manganese distribution coefficient

Dissolved and particulate manganese in seawater samples derived from the English Channel has been analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption (GFAAS), and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission (ICP—AES) spectroscopies. Because of the high contents of carbonate minerals found in the suspended matter samples, the English Channel constitutes an ideal field area for the study of the Mn²⁺/Ca²⁺/CaCO₃ system. Owing to the chemical speciation of particulate manganese and the combined use of the X-ray diffraction and electron spin resonance spectroscopy we have shown the importance of the carbonate phase in the stabilization of manganese (II). This has been confirmed by p-pH measurements in the field. All these studies have also indicated that: (1) manganese is associated with calcite in the form of a solid solution, Mn_xCa_1−xCO₃; and (2) significant increases in the concentrations of particulate manganese, especially in offshore waters, occur in summer. This seasonal phenomenon has been attributed to the proliferation of coccolithophorids, which are known to be covered with calcified skeletons at high specific surface areas. To appraise the implication of the coccolithophorid-blooms phenomenon on the Mn²⁺/Ca²⁺/CaCO₃ system, we have used the manganese distribution coefficient, D_i, between the liquid phase and CaCO₃ particles. Overall we have shown that: (1) D_i in summer (i.e. when coccoliths considered as very fine-grained calcite are abundant) is much higher than that obtained in winter; and (2) in the vicinity of the French coast, D_i does not vary significantly even in summer. This is because of the high content of chalk-derived particles found in the near-shore waters.     

Concentration,composition and sources of PAHs in the coastal sediments of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar,Arabian Gulf

Surface sediments were collected from sixteen locations in order to assess levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Qatar exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Samples were analyzed for 16 parent PAHs, 18 alkyl homologs and for dibenzothiophenes. Total PAHs concentration (∑PAHs) ranged from 2.6 ng g⁻¹ to 1025 ng g⁻¹. The highest PAHs concentrations were in sediments in and adjacent to harbors. Alkylated PAHs predominated most of the sampling locations reaching up to 80% in offshore locations. Parent PAHs and parent high molecular weight PAHs dominated location adjacent to industrial activities and urban areas. The origin of PAHs sources to the sediments was elucidated using ternary plot, indices, and molecular ratios of specific compounds such as (Ant/Phe + Ant), (Flt/Flt + Pyr). PAHs inputs to most coastal sites consisted of mixture of petroleum and combustion derived sources. However, inputs to the offshore sediments were mainly of petroleum origin.     

Numerical reconstruction of trajectory of small-size surface drifter in the Mediterranean sea

In this study, we addressed the effects of wind-induced drift on Lagrangian trajectories of surface sea objects using high-resolution ocean forecast and atmospheric data. Application of stochastic Leeway model for prediction of trajectories drift was considered for the numerical reconstruction of the Elba accident that occurred during the period 21.06.2009–22.06.2009: a person on an inflatable raft was lost in the vicinity of the Elba Island coast; from the initial position, the person on a raft drifted southwards in the open sea and later he was found on a partially deflated raft during rescue operation. For geophysical forcing, we used high-resolution currents from the Mediterranean Forecasting System and atmospheric wind from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. To investigate the effect of wind on trajectory behavior, numerical simulations were performed using different categories of drifter-like particles similar to a person on an inflatable raft. An algorithm of spatial clustering was used to differentiate the most probable search areas with a high density of particles. Our results showed that the simulation scenarios using particles with characteristics of draft-limited sea drifters provided better prediction of an observed trajectory in terms of the probability density of particles.     

A note on the deflection of a baroclinic current by a continental shelf

The deflection, at a step-shelf fronted coast, of a constant potential vorticity current in a reduced-gravity, inviscid model ocean is studied theoretically. The step shelf, with a depth smaller than the reservoir depth, forces the uplifting of the approaching current and causes water column foreshortening, leading to relative vorticity generation that enhances current deflection to the right (facing the coast). As a consequence, in comparison to the case of a vertical wall coast, the proportion of the transport to the right is increased. For normal incidence for a shelf-depth/reservoir-depth ratio of 0.3 and shelf width to deformation radius ratio of 1.5, more than 90% of the approaching current transport goes to the right and less than 10% to the left. In addition, the (barotropic) dynamic pressure at the coast is low to the right and high to the left (with the highest pressure at the stagnation point). In the vertical wall case, the wall pressures on the flank are equal. For oblique incidence from the left, the deflection to the left is drastically reduced. In fact, there is practically no steady-state flow diverted to the left (less than 2%) when the approach angle is greater than 60° to the left of normal. In the vertical wall case, the same angle would have to be 90° for the flow to the left to vanish, namely only when the approach current is parallel to the coast to the right.     

Rotational evolution of protoneutron stars with hyperons: spin up or not?

We study the evolution of a rigidly rotating protoneutron star (PNS) with hyperons and nucleons or solely nucleons in its core due to the escape of trapped neutrinos. As the neutrinos escape, the core nucleonic neutron star (NS) expands and the stellar rotation slows. After the neutrinos escape, the range of the spin periods is narrower than the initial one, but the distribution is still nearly uniform. A PNS with hyperons, at the late stage of its evolution, keeps shrinking and spinning up until all the trapped neutrinos escape. Consequently, the distribution of the stellar initial spin periods is skewed towards shorter periods. If the hyperonic star is metastable, its rotational frequency accelerates distinguishedly before it collapses to a black hole.     

A critical zone observatory dedicated to suspended sediment transport: The meso-scale Galabre catchment (southern French Alps)

The 20 km² Galabre catchment belongs to the French network of critical zone observatories (OZCAR; Gaillardet et al., Vadose Zone Journal, 2018, 17(1), 1–24). It is representative of the sedimentary lithology and meteorological forcing found in Mediterranean and mountainous areas. Due to the presence of highly erodible and sloping badlands on various lithologies, the site was instrumented in 2007 to understand the dynamics of suspended sediments (SS) in such areas. Two meteorological stations including measurements of air temperature, wind speed and direction, air moisture, rainfall intensity, raindrop size and velocity distribution were installed both in the upper and lower part of the catchment. At the catchment outlet, a gauging station records the water level, temperature and turbidity (10 min time-step). Stream water samples are collected automatically to estimate SS concentration-turbidity relationships, allowing quantification of SS fluxes with known uncertainty. The sediment samples are further characterized by measuring their particle size distributions and by applying a low-cost sediment fingerprinting approach using spectrocolorimetric tracers. Thus, the contributions of badlands located on different lithologies to total SS flux are quantified at a high temporal resolution, providing the opportunity to better analyse the links between meteorological forcing variability and watershed hydrosedimentary response. The set of measurements was extended to the dissolved phase in 2017. Both stream water electrical conductivity and major ion concentrations are measured each week and every 3 h during storm events. This extension of measurements to the dissolved phase will allow progress in understanding both the origin of the water during the events and the partitioning between particulate and dissolved fluxes of solutes in the critical zone. All data sets are available at https://doi.osug.fr/public/DRAIXBLEONE_GAL/index.html .     

Hydrous and anhydrous alterations of chondrules in Kaba and Mokoia CV chondrites

Abstract— Chondrules in the Bali-like CV chondrite Kaba and the Allende-like portion of the Mokoia breccia have been studied to explore the relationship between hydrous alteration to form phyllosilicates and anhydrous alteration resulting in secondary olivine zonation, replacement of enstatite by ferroan olivine and formation of feldspathoids (nepheline and sodalite). All Kaba chondrules experienced extensive hydrous alteration; whereas, anhydrous alteration was minor and resulted only in the olivine zonation. On the other hand, all of the Mokoia chondrules experienced both extensive anhydrous and hydrous alteration. Bronzite rims formed between relic enstatite grains and phyllosilicates in both Kaba and Mokoia during the hydrous alteration. Petrographic observations indicate that phyllosilicates in Mokoia postdate formation of the secondary ferroan olivine and feldspathoids. We conclude that anhydrous alteration in Kaba and Mokoia predated hydrous alteration and took place before accretion of chondrules into the CV parent asteroid.     

Evaluation of Information Loss in Digital Elevation Models With Digital Photogrammetric Systems

Information loss is caused when a surface is sampled with a finite interval, such as in the production of a digital elevation model (DEM). This information loss can become the dominant part of the error in a DEM. The ability to quantify information loss enables guidance to be provided for an appropriate choice of grid interval and better accuracy assessment for the DEM. With the use of digital photogrammetric systems, evaluation of information loss has become much easier. This paper describes three methods of evaluating information loss. An example is given of the method which is most appropriate for use with a digital photogrammetric system, based on rock cliff surface data and the VirtuoZo system.