Phytoplankton community adaptation to changing light levels in the southern Beaufort Sea,Canadian Arctic

The chlorophyll a specific absorption coefficient of phytoplankton, a_φ^∗(λ) is an important parameter to determine for primary production models and for the estimation of phytoplankton physiological condition. Knowledge of this parameter at high latitudes where nutrient rich cold water submitted to low incident light is a common environment is almost nonexistent. To address this issue, we investigated the light absorption properties of phytoplankton as a function of irradiance, temperature, and nutrients using a large data set in the southern Beaufort Sea during the open water to ice cover transition period. The a_φ^∗(λ) tended to increase from autumn when open water still existed to early winter when sea ice cover was formed, resulting from a biological selection of smaller-size phytoplankton more efficient to absorb light. There was no significant correlation between a_φ^∗(λ) and irradiance or temperature for both seasons. However, a_φ^∗(λ) showed a significant positive correlation with NO₃ + NO₂. Implications of the results for phytoplankton community adaptation to changing light levels are discussed.     

Evolution of water quality in the abandoned iron mines of Lorraine: towards a semi-distributed modelling approach

In Lorraine, flooding of the iron mines leads to a degradation of groundwater quality. Based on a global approach, a numerical simulator has been built that can reproduce and predict the evolution of water quality at the overflow point of the mining basin. In order to specify the spatial distribution of these pollutant concentrations, a new model has been developed. The basin is represented as a network of homogeneous reservoirs. Although encouraging, the results show the need to specify the spatial organisation of water flow in order to reproduce the pollutant concentrations in the different monitored wells. To cite this article: P. Collon et al., C. R. Geoscience 337 (2005).     

Trophic structure and pathways of biogenic carbon flow in the eastern North Water Polynya

In the eastern North Water, most of the estimated annual new and net production of carbon (C) occurred during the main diatom bloom in 1998. During the bloom, at least 30% of total and new phytoplankton production occurred as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and was unavailable for short-term assimilation into the herbivorous food web or sinking export. Based on particle interceptor traps and ²³⁴Th deficits, 27% of the particulate primary production (PP) sank out of the upper 50 m, with only 7% and 1% of PP reaching the benthos at shallow (≈200 m) and deep (≈500 m) sites, respectively. Mass balance calculations and grazing estimates agree that ≈79% of PP was ingested by pelagic consumers between April and July. During this period, the vertical flux of biogenic silica (BioSi) at 50 m was equivalent to the total BioSi produced, indicating that all of the diatom production was removed from the euphotic zone as intact cells (direct sinking) or empty frustules (grazing or lysis). The estimated flux of empty frustules was consistent with rates of herbivory by the large, dominant copepods and appendicularians during incubations. Since the carbon demand of the dominant planktivorous bird, Alle alle, amounted to ≈2% of the biomass synthesized by its main prey, the large copepod Calanus hyperboreus, most of the secondary carbon production was available to pelagic carnivores. Stable isotopes indicated that the biomass of predatory amphipods, polar cod and marine mammals was derived from these herbivores, but corresponding carbon fluxes were not quantified. Our analysis shows that a large fraction of PP in the eastern North Water was ingested by consumers in the upper 50 m, leading to substantial carbon respiration and DOC accumulation in surface waters. An increasingly early and prolonged opening of the Artic Ocean is likely to promote the productivity of the herbivorous food web, but not the short-term efficiency of the particulate, biological CO₂ pump.     

Contourite drift construction influenced by capture of Mediterranean Outflow Water deep-sea current by the Portimão submarine canyon (Gulf of Cadiz, South Portugal)

The margin of the Gulf of Cadiz is swept by the deep current formed by the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) flowing from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. On the northern margin of the Gulf (Algarve Margin, South Portugal), the MOW intensity is low and fine-grained contourite drifts are built up with an alongslope development. From new sedimentological data, this study emphasizes the presence of two types of contourite drifts separated only by a deep submarine canyon incising the slope with a north-south orientation (Portimão Canyon). High-resolution seismic and bathymetry interpretation shows that on the eastern side of the canyon, the MOW forms a thick and large detached drift (Albufeira Drift) prograding toward both north and west, as shown in seismic profiles, with a high sedimentation rate. On this side of the canyon, the MOW intensity is high enough to erode the slope forming a moat channel (Alvarez Cabral). On the western side of Portimão Canyon, the MOW energy is lower, preventing moat channel erosion. Only flat and thin drift develops (Portimão and Lagos Drifts) with slow aggradation and a low sedimentation rate. This difference in drift development is due to the presence of the canyon which generates an important change in hydrodynamic of the MOW, confirmed by temperature-density measurements showing that MOW flows down Portimão Canyon. The canyon is responsible for the deviation of the direction of the MOW as it partly catches the deep-sea current flowing westward (i.e. capture phenomenon). It creates, thus, a decrease of the flow energy, competency and capacity between the east and west sides of the canyon. Through this phenomenon of MOW deep-sea current capture, the canyon constitutes a morphologic feature generating an important change in the contourite deposition pattern.In addition to already known climatic and oceanographic influences, our results show the role of canyons on contourite drift building. This study provides new elements on autocyclic factors influencing the contourite sedimentation, which are important to consider in future sedimentary paleo-reconstruction interpretations.     

Internal organ pathology of wild American lobster (Homarus americanus) from eastern Canada affected with shell disease

For the first time in decades, multiple lesions on the exoskeleton of wild caught American lobsters (Homarus americanus) were observed in eastern Canada in 2005 and 2006. These lesions were similar to those observed since the mid 1990s in the eastern United States. Of the 12 lobsters examined, 8 were males. Scanning electron microscopy showed a dense population of rod‐shaped bacteria associated with the breakdown of the first layer of cuticle. However, the ability of bacteria to fully penetrate the carapace is unknown. The shell disease did not seem to be immediately fatal and was often associated with alterations in the histoarchitecture of several internal organs (i.e., testis, vas deferens, hepatopancreas, and gills). For instance, follicle cells responsible for spermatogenesis were damaged, resulting in deformed and non‐viable spermatozoa in the testis and vas deferens. In contrast, the female reproductive organ did not show any abnormalities. R‐cells responsible for the storage of lipids and glycogen in the hepatopancreas were severely damaged or destroyed, indicating stress and starvation. Beside necrosis and calcification of gill filaments, debris between the gill filaments was also observed that would limit ion exchange and cause metabolic exhaustion. It does not seem that shell disease was the causative agent or a vector for the pathological conditions of internal organs, but one of the symptoms of a common agent affecting the internal organs. Although shell disease was observed in several areas in eastern Canada, its prevalence was low, in contrast to the epizootic shell disease observed in Long Island Sound, Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, United States.     

MEPBAY and SMC: Software tools to support different operational levels of headland-bay beach in coastal engineering projects

This paper presents MEPBAY and SMC software tools that allow comprehending and solving problems in headland-bay beach through a parabolic model. These tools can be employed as coastal engineering design tools (including nourishment designs) and also for academic purposes. They are oriented to different end-users, including coastal technicians, scientists and undergraduates and as coastal engineering design tools, they can be applied to different operational levels (pre-design and design). The aim of the paper is to present design guidelines, the capabilities of the tools, their potential use and applications. Both tools were applied to analyze San Lorenzo Beach and demonstrate their ability at different project levels.     

A re-appraisal of the use of trace elements to classify and discriminate between magma series erupted in different tectonic settings

The hygromagmatophile element composition of basic lavas from several tectonic environments are compared with the estimated composition of the primordial mantle. The observed variations are used to subdivide mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) into two main types according to the tectonic character of the ridge segment from which they were erupted. Ridge segments with positive residual gravity, depth and heat flow anomalies erupt E-type MORB which are predominantly enriched in the more hygromagmatophile elements, but also include magma types which are depleted in most of these elements. Both enriched and depleted E-type MORB can be distinguished from the basalts erupted at normal ridge segments (N-type MORB) by their La/Ta ratios (in E-type MORB La/Ta ～10, in N-type MORB La/Ta is ～15) and by Hf/Ta ratios (in E-type MORB Hf/Ta> 7, in N-type MORB Hf/Ta> 7). E-type MORB can be distinguished from the basalts erupted at ocean islands by their higher Hf/Ta ratios (>2). A Th-Hf-Ta triangular diagram is used to discriminate between the different ocean floor basalts as well as those erupted at destructive plate margins, which are depleted in Ta and Nb. This diagram can also distinguish between silicic lavas from the different tectonic environments as well as identifying lavas that have been contaminated with continental crust.     

New Tabu Algorithm for Positioning Mining Drillholes with Blocks Uncertainty

This paper proposes a new approach to the mining exploration drillholes positioning problem (DPP) that incorporates both geostatistical and optimization techniques. A metaheuristic was developed to solve the DPP taking into account an uncertainty index that quantifies the reliability of the current interpretation of the mineral deposit. The uncertainty index was calculated from multiple deposit realizations obtained by truncated Gaussian simulations conditional to the available drillholes samplings. A linear programming model was defined to select the subset of future drillholes that maximizes coverage of the uncertainty. A Tabu Search algorithm was developed to solve large instances of this set partitioning problem. The proposed Tabu Search algorithm is shown to provide good quality solutions approaching 95% of the optimal solution in a reasonable computing time, allowing close to optimal coverage of uncertainty for a fixed investment in drilling.

     

Motion of blocks on the surface of Phobos: New constraints for the formation of grooves

Although grooves are common on asteroids, on Phobos the grooves have been the subject of various formation hypotheses for two reasons: the fact that Phobos is orbiting around Mars close to the Roche limit, implies an unusual gravity environment as well as the presence of the huge crater impact, Stickney, which seems to be related at least to a family of grooves. Among many hypotheses, it has been suggested that the grooves could have been dug by rolling Stickney ejecta, but this hypothesis was questioned using two main arguments: no block was observed at the end of the grooves, nor do they run downslope. Thus, the study of surface and near surface dynamics on Phobos can clarify the soundness of these controversial arguments.The present study explores this idea by computing the trajectory of a test mass gliding on the surface of Phobos for any initial position and velocity. An ellipsoidal model of Phobos is used for both the gravity and surface geometry, and several orbiting distances from Mars are considered. It is shown that, due to the Phobos rotation, the trajectories generally do not run downslope even for velocities as low as ∼1 m/s. In consequence the corresponding argument against the rolling blocks hypothesis is not applicable. This hypothesis, however, is clearly ruled out for the sets of parallel grooves in the polar regions because of the curvature of the computed trajectories. On the contrary the trajectories issued from the rim of Stickney close to the equator, with velocities of a few m/s, show similitude with the corresponding groove patterns, in particular for the east–west asymmetry. In some conditions the trajectories leave the surface, which may account for regions free of grooves and for trails without blocks at the end. Consequently, the rolling block hypothesis cannot be rejected outright until further analysis is carried out. Damping of the motion on the regolith is simulated introducing a solid damping coefficient in the equations. A relatively small but not unrealistic coefficient of ∼0.1 accounts for the length of the long main western hypothetic block trails. The simulations with damping confirm that the trajectories turn downslope only at the very end for velocities ?1 m/s, but valuable comparison with the observations requires a better model.     

Recent advances and low cost concept for the gamma-ray lens project MAX

Until recently, focusing of gamma-radiation was regarded as an impracticable task. Today, gamma-ray lenses have become feasible and present promising perspectives for future instrumentation. For the first time in high energy astronomy the signal/noise ratio will be dramatically improved as gamma-rays are collected on the large area of a lens from where they are focused onto a small detector. Besides an unprecedented sensitivity, MAX will feature very high angular and energy resolution. The conjunction of this new technique of Gamma Ray focusing and the new possibilities brought by the developping formation flying technology will allow a great step for Gamma Astronomy. This paper will describe after a short recall of the scientific objectives of MAX, the design of the MAX formation flying concept and the associated main design drivers and constraint.