Channelization of a large Alpine river: what is left of its original morphodynamics?

The Adige River drains 12 200 km² of the Eastern Alps and flows for 213 km within this mountain range. Similar to other large rivers in Central Europe, the Adige River was subject to massive channelization works during the 19th century. Thanks to the availability of several historical maps, this river represents a very valuable case study to document the extent to which the morphology of the river changed due to channelization and to understand how much is left of its original morphodynamics. The study was based on the analysis of seven sets of historical maps dating from 1803–1805 to 1915–1927, on geomorphological analysis, on the application of mathematical morphodynamic theories and on the application of bar and channel pattern prediction models. The study concerns 115 km of the main stem and 29 km of its tributaries. In the pre‐channelization conditions, the Adige River presented a prevalence of single‐thread channel planforms. Multi‐thread patterns developed only immediately downstream of the main confluences. During the 19th century, the Adige underwent considerable channel adjustment, consisting of channel narrowing, straightening, and reduction of bars and islands. Multi‐thread and single‐thread reaches evolved through different evolutionary trajectories, considering both the channel width and the bar/vegetation interaction. Bar and channel pattern predictors showed good correspondence with the observed patterns, including the development of multi‐thread morphologies downstream of the confluences. Application of the free‐bar predictor helped to interpret the strong reduction – almost complete loss – of exposed sediment bars after the channelization works, quantifying the riverbed inclination to form alternate bars. This morphological evolution can be observed in other Alpine rivers of similar size and similar massive channelization, therefore, a simplified conceptual model for large rivers subjected to channelization is proposed, showing that a relatively small difference in the engineered channel width may have a strong impact on the river dynamics, specifically on bar formation. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of the primary and secondary microseisms in the wavefield of the ambient noise recorded in northern Poland

Seasonal changes of the primary and secondary microseisms were analysed in the wavefield of the ambient noise recorded during the entire 2014 at the “13 BB star” array located in northern Poland, composed of thirteen, symmetrically arranged, broadband seismic stations. To that, spectral analysis, seismic interferometry, surface scalar wind speed distribution, and beamforming were used. Spectral analysis allowed to observe that a splitting of the secondary microseism peak was present in winter and autumn, and that the primary microseism peak was visible in spring, summer and autumn. Using seismic interferometry, the long-term characteristics of the noise wavefield were recognized. The seasonal variations of the secondary microseism source were described by means of the analysis of the surface scalar wind speed for each month. The splitting of the secondary peak was attributed to the interaction of a strong wind blowing from the North Sea with a weak wind blowing from the Baltic Sea. The seasonal variations of the primary microseism peak were characterized through the frequency-domain beamforming. The peak was identified during spring, summer and autumn, when the generated wavefield was coming from the Baltic Sea. The velocity of the wavefield was evaluated within the 2.0–5.0 km/s range. The described mechanism of generation of the microseisms, based on the interaction of the nearby winds, was found to be consistent with the models reported in the literature.     

Remotely sensed rivers in the Anthropocene: state of the art and prospects

The rivers of the world are undergoing accelerated change in the Anthropocene, and need to be managed at much broader spatial and temporal scales than before. Fluvial remote sensing now offers a technical and methodological framework that can be deployed to monitor the processes at work and to assess the trajectories of rivers in the Anthropocene. In this paper, we review research investigating past, present and future fluvial corridor conditions and processes using remote sensing and we consider emerging challenges facing fluvial and riparian research. We introduce a suite of remote sensing methods designed to diagnose river changes at reach to regional scales. We then focus on identification of channel patterns and acting processes from satellite, airborne or ground acquisitions. These techniques range from grain scales to landform scales, and from real time scales to inter-annual scales. We discuss how remote sensing data can now be coupled to catchment scale models that simulate sediment transfer within connected river networks. We also consider future opportunities in terms of datasets and other resources which are likely to impact river management and monitoring at the global scale. We conclude with a summary of challenges and prospects for remotely sensed rivers in the Anthropocene. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal changes in phosphatase activities in Toulon Bay (France)

We studied the characteristics of the phosphatase activity (Km and Vmax) in total seawater and in particulate material of the three main plankton classes (0.25-5, 5-90 and >90 microm) in a coastal marine ecosystem of Toulon Bay (French Mediterranean Sea). The measurement of the hydrolysis of sodium paranitrophenylphosphate (pNPP), a substrate of phosphatase, revealed low and high affinity components in unfiltered seawater and in particulate matter. In unfiltered seawater, the low affinity activity was predominant from October to March during phytoplankton development. The high affinity activity dominated from April to June and was significantly correlated with the bacterial abundances. The phosphatase behaviour in the particulate material differs from that in the unfiltered seawater. The activity of the three particulate classes was generally much lower than that of unfiltered seawater, particularly the low affinity activity. The >90 microm size fraction consisted in greater part of zooplankton. In this size class, the activity (nmol l(-1) h(-1)) of the low affinity component was predominant from May to August, when the abundance of the larvae of copepods (copepodites) was highest. Its high specific activity (Activity/Protein concentration as nmol l(-1) h(-1) microg(-1)) was particularly elevated during this period. The 5-90 microm fraction consisted of phytoplankton cells, especially Dinoflagellates. Between September and January, the activity (nmol l(-1) h(-1)) of this size class was mostly supported by the low affinity component. The specific activity (nmol l(-1) h(-1) microg(-1)) of the high affinity component was highest in June and August. No significant correlation was found between phosphatase activities and chlorophyll a or total cell abundance. In return temporary relationships with specific taxa exist in particular with Ceratium spp., Gymnodinium spp. and Protoperidinium spp. The contribution of the 0.25-5 microm size class exceeded rarely 20% of the total particulate activity. Between June and August, high specific activities (nmol l(-1) h(-1) microg(-1)) were observed for its high affinity component. In autumn, strong rainfall increased the phosphate and nitrate concentrations and led to a drop in salinity, which probably explains the low phosphatase activities (nmol l(-1) h(-1)) and cell densities observed during this period.     

Importance of orientation to the sun and local landscape features in young inexpert Talitrus saltator (Amphipoda: Talitridae) from two Italian beaches differing in morphodynamics,erosion or stability

Juvenile sandhoppers (Talitrus saltator Montagu 1808; Crustacea: Amphipoda) were tested under natural conditions to examine their ability to orient to the sun and local features. Experiments were carried out on two Italian sandy beaches subject to different geomorphological dynamics, one under erosion from the sea and the other one under morphodynamic equilibrium (between erosion and accretion). Laboratory-born samples of each population were tested on their beach of origin and compared with wild individuals of the same age; other laboratory-born samples were tested on both beaches, that of origin and the other beach. The population from the beach displaying geomorphologic equilibrium, oriented seawards on both beaches, referring to the sun and the local landscape, while the population from the beach under erosion tended to orient to prominent landscape features on both beaches displaying a scototaxis. These results showed the importance of orientation to local landscape features in young inexpert talitrids, and the innateness of this behaviour in natural populations when shoreline stability allows for a genetic stabilisation of orientation mechanisms.     

Validation of Geant4 10.3 simulation of proton interaction for space radiation effects

Monte Carlo simulation of space radiation effects induced by protons is important for design of space missions. Geant4 is a well established toolkit for Monte Carlo simulation focused on high energy physics applications. In this work, a set of new validation results versus data for Geant4 electromagnetic and hadronic interaction of protons is presented and discussed. Optimal configuration of Geant4 physics for space applications is proposed.