Concepts and science for coastal erosion management - An introduction to the Conscience framework

The main objective of the Conscience project was to develop and test concepts, guidelines and tools for the sustainable management of erosion along the European coastline, based on the best available scientific knowledge and on existing practical experience. Four concepts are potentially capable of providing the nexus between scientific knowledge and management: coastal resilience, coastal sediment cell, favourable sediment status and strategic sediment reservoir. The project has tested the use of these concepts and found that they are useful, provided that they are positioned and linked within a logical structure that we shall call the Conscience “Frame of Reference”, defined in time and space and supported through data and monitoring. Practical experience in six coastal sites in Europe has shown that the use of this Frame of Reference together with these concepts can make management objectives explicit and transparent. It can therefore support the design of an appropriate, resilience based coastal erosion management practice.     

Larval growth,size, stage duration and recruitment success of a temperate reef fish

Understanding the causes of variation in recruitment of marine fishes has been a central goal for marine ecologists, fishery scientists and resource managers over the last century. Although the idea that recruitment variability is linked to the pelagic environmental conditions that enhance larval growth, survival, and/or delivery is consensual, such relationship is poorly known for most species. In this study we analyzed patterns of recruitment and early life history of a temperate reef fish, Coris julis from the Azores archipelago to test the relationships between early life history and recruitment success over two consecutive years. Growth from hatch to larval age 30 d was the best predictor of recruitment, implying that fast growing larger-at-age larvae have a survival advantage and contribute more to high recruitment, supporting the “bigger-is-better” hypothesis. The “stage-duration” hypothesis and the predictions regarding the relationships between size at age (SAA), size at settlement (SAS) and recruit abundance were also partially supported. The results presented in this study highlight the importance of understanding the early life traits that determine recruitment and larval-survivorship patterns, especially early larval growth, as this may provide a basis for prediction of recruitment and thus management of resources.     

The migration patterns of the European flounder Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pleuronectidae,Pisces) at the southern limit of its distribution range: Ecological implications and fishery management

This study aims to determine the diversity of migration patterns of the European flounder (Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758)) present in the Minho estuary and in the adjacent coastal area (NW-Iberian Peninsula). Assessing the diversity of flounder migration patterns at the southern limit of its distribution allows the determination of characteristics of the species' ecology and provides useful information for fishery managers, since it is a regionally important estuarine fishery. An unexpected result of our study was that flounder appears to spawn in both estuarine and coastal areas and not just in coastal areas as was previously widely accepted. Our interpretation of otolith strontium distribution patterns from flounder specimens collected in the freshwater tidal area of the Minho estuary and in the lower estuary suggested that the flounders hatched in the estuary, while only 6.7% of those captured in the coastal area hatched in the coastal area. Ultimately, studies aimed at collecting larval stages and adult flounders must be made to confirm that flounders spawn in the estuary and to define new and better scientifically supported fishing policies, or simply to confirm the existing ones regarding temporal and spatial closures for each gear used in the Minho estuary.     

Snow zonation on Hielo Patagónico Sur, Southern Patagonia, derived from Landsat 5 TM data

Hielo Patagónico Sur (HPS), an icefield in Southern Patagonia, is the largest temperate ice mass in the southern hemisphere. Despite continued research efforts during the last decade many glaciological variables, especially mass balance, are still poorly known. This is partly because access to the icefield is difficult due to remoteness and persistent harsh weather conditions. Therefore, remote sensing appears to be a more suitable tool for the acquisition of data. In this work we present a remote sensing study of snow zonation on HPS using Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper data acquired on 12 March 2001. By using image processing and classification techniques, proved to be useful in other glaciated regions, we map for the first time the extent and occurrence of major snow zones on the whole HPS. We separate between two classes of ice and three classes of snow. Ice facies are classified as bare or debris (i.e. dirt) covered ice, covering 2454 km² and 777 km² respectively, or 18.4% and 5.8% of the icefield on the day of image acquisition. Snow types are classified according to spectral differences in the images, following the glacier facies concept. Two of the three snow cover types are interpreted to represent differences in snow grain size within a fairly homogeneous snow pack whereas the third one is interpreted to represent the slush zone. A first order altitudinal control on the distribution of these snow facies is evident. In addition, our results show that snow accumulation on HPS is markedly controlled by the interaction of strong west–northwest snow-bearing winds and the rough mountainous terrain. In order of decreasing altitude we find that the two snow facies and the slush facies occupy 3819 km², 3292 km² and 2295 km² respectively, or 28.6%, 24.6% and 17.2% of the icefield, on the day of image acquisition. Estimates of equilibrium line altitude using our results yield values of 800–900 m above sea level for the western side and 1500–1600 m above sea level for the eastern side, with an accumulation area ratio of 0.74.     

HD 172189, a Cluster Member Binary System with a δ Scuti Component in the Field of View of COROT

Photometric and spectroscopic results for the star HD 172189, member of the open cluster IC 4756 in the summer field of the space mission COROT, are presented. From photometric observations in the Strömgren system carried out at various epochs, its binary nature as well as the presence of a δ Scuti-type pulsating component have been discovered. The frequency analysis of the whole dataset confirms a dominant frequency of 19.5974 c d^?1 with a maximum amplitude near 0.02 mag plus other frequencies in the range 18–20 c d^?1. A preliminary orbital solution from the light curve and from four FEROS spectra reveals two similar components of around 1.5 M _⊙ orbiting with a period of 5.702 d.     

Virtual Jets: From Self-Similar to Numerical Solutions

The goal of this contribution is not to describe results on accretion discs launching jets obtained within the self-similar framework. Rather, I would like (1) to emphasize the huge difficulties one has to face when attempting to perform magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations of such discs; (2) to show how self-similar solutions can help to solve these difficulties. In particular, they allow to choose suitable boundary conditions and/or relevant initial conditions. In all cases anyway, they provide a framework for understanding and testing the outcome of numerical simulations.     

Application of a solute transport model under variable velocity conditions in a conduit flow aquifer: Olalde karst system, Basque Country, Spain

A model based on numerical solutions, which allows for solving the dispersion equation under variable recharge and velocity conditions, is developed to simulate solute transport in conduit flow aquifers during flow recession periods. As an example, the evolution of a tracer in the little known karst conduit that links the sinking stream of Oma valley to the Olalde spring is investigated in the karstic region of Santa Eufemia-Ereñozar (Basque Country, Spain). The model, with different hypothetical structures, allows for obtaining series of tracer breakthrough curves, which are fitted to experimental data using an optimization algorithm. These results, although they can be used to simulate the tracer evolution between the two points considered, do not allow for determining the internal structure and spatial disposition of contributions in the aquifer.     

Evolution of the Rotational State of Irregular Cometary Nuclei

A simplified thermal model has been used to calculate thenon-gravitational forces acting on small irregular nuclei in the orbit ofComet 46P/Wirtanen. The torque of thenon-gravitational force has beencalculated and the Euler equations have been solved in order toinvestigate the rotational evolution of several irregular nuclei duringa single orbital step. Several initial spin axis orientations andactivity patterns on their surfaces have been considered. The nucleiconsidered have a mean radius of 1 km and their inertia moments havebeen calculated assuming a homogeneous bulk density of 500 kg/m³. Inall the simulations, the initial spin period is 6h and the nucleiinitially rotate around their shortest axis. Under these assumptions,significant changes in the angular momentum and in spin period have beenobtained in all the simulations, but the nucleus is found to practicallyremain in its spin state of lowest energy during the entire orbitalperiod.     

Exploring spatial relationships between stream channel features,water depths and flow velocities during flash floods using HEC-GeoRAS and Geographic Information Systems

Journal of Geographical Sciences - Water depths and flow velocities decisively influence the damage caused by flash floods. Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful and useful tool,...