Multiscalarity of the Nutrient–Chlorophyll Relationship in Coastal Phytoplankton

The relationship between nitrogen (N) and phytoplankton chlorophyll a (Chl) establishes a basis for understanding eutrophication in coastal marine ecosystems. A substantial literature exists on cross-ecosystem analysis of this relationship, but there is little information on cross-scale patterns. A collection of observational records in Bedford Basin (Canada) was used to construct the N–Chl relationship at four time scales: intra-day, intra-annual, interannual, and interdecadal. Additionally, a dataset of contingent observations from 16 biogeochemical ocean provinces was used to construct the N–Chl relationship at large spatial scale. In Bedford Basin, N statistically predicts Chl at time scales that are short (intra-day, intra-annual) and long (interdecadal) but not intermediate (interannual). There is an apparent stoichiometric regularity in the dependence of Chl on N that crosses time scales. Further, an apparent similitude exists between the local pattern at long time scale and the global pattern at large space scale.     

Spectral evolution of the peculiar Ic Supernova 1998bw

Supernova 1998bw holds the record for the most energetic Type Ic explosion, one of the brightest radio supernovae and probably the first supernova associated with a γ -ray burst. In this paper we present spectral observations of SN 1998bw observed in a cooperative monitoring campaign using the Anglo-Australian Telescope, the UK Schmidt Telescope and the Siding Springs Observatories 2.3-m telescope. We investigate the evolution of the spectrum between 7 and 94 d after V -band maximum in comparison with well-studied examples of Type Ic SNe in order to quantify the unusual properties of this supernova event. Though the early spectra differ greatly from observations of classical Ic supernovae (SNe), we find that the evolution from the photospheric to nebular phases is slow but otherwise typical. The spectra differ predominantly in the extensive line blending and blanketing which has been attributed to the high velocity of the ejecta. We find that by day 19, the absorption line minima blueshifts are 10–50 per cent higher than other SNe and on day 94 emission lines are 45 per cent broader, as expected if the progenitor had a massive envelope. However, it is difficult to explain the extent of line blanketing entirely by line broadening, and we argue that an additional contribution from other species is present, indicating unusual relative abundances or physical conditions in the envelope.     

Large-scale motions of the tropics in observations and theory

Recent observations of the tropical and subtropical atmosphere are interpreted in terms of scaling arguments and wave propagation theory advanced byCharney (1963, 1969).Charney’s idealizations describe the tropical atmosphere in terms of large regions of quasi-nondivergent flow containing small subdomains of heavy convection and divergence, and place emphasis upon the quasi-rotational regions. FGGE (First GARP Global Experiment) observations suggest that strongly divergent local tropical circulations are forced by latent heating and produce important direct modifications of the total wind field. We describe the extent to which the resulting field consists of divergent and rotational components in different analyses of the FGGE data, and present independent supporting documentation of the results in terms of heating estimates and rainfall observations. Local tropical heating rates on the order of 10°C/day are apparently due to latent heat release associated with precipitation rates as large as 6 cm/day during extended periods. The large contribution of the divergent wind is generally underestimated in models that do not retain such energetic local forcings, and this deficiency may be related to general underestimation of tropical-extratropical connections of many linear models. Such connections are commonly cited in relation to El Niño events, the Southern Hemisphere stationary-wave pattern, and in FGGE studies, but are not well simulated in most linear theories. It is not yet clear whether this is an inherent limitation of linear models, or whether the linear models have not yet explored all the potentially relevant ambient states. We explore the latter possibility by construction of a basic state that allows reasonable latitudinal evolution of the wave field. This basic state has zero absolute vorticity gradient throughout the tropics, and deviations linearized about this state are dynamically analogous to a “local” Hadley cell. To the extent that it is appropriate to regard the results in terms of wave propagation, our analysis suggests a prominent role for gravity-inertia waves in the tropics and for the extratropical connections. The relevance of gravity modes to observations and the theoretical explanation of the flat vorticity field remain to be established.     

Cosmogenic radionuclide dating of glacial landforms in the Lahul Himalaya,northern India: defining the timing of Late Quaternary glaciation

The timing of glaciation in the Lahul Himalaya of northern India was ascertained using the concentrations of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al from boulders on moraines and drumlins, and from glacially polished bedrock surfaces. Five glacial stages were identified: Sonapani I and II, Kulti, Batal and Chandra. Of these, cosmogenic exposure ages were obtained on samples representative of the Batal and Kulti glacial cycles. Stratigraphical relationships indicate that the Sonapani I and II are younger. No age was obtained for the Chandra glacial advance. Batal Glacial Stage deposits are found throughout the valley, indicating the presence of an extensive valley glacial system. During the Kulti Stage, glaciers advanced ca. 10 km beyond their current positions. Moraines produced during the Batal Stage, ca. 12–15.5 ka, are coeval with the Northern Hemisphere Late‐glacial Interstadial (Bølling/Allerød). Deglaciation of the Batal Glacial Stage was completed by ca. 12 ka and was followed by the Kulti Glacial Stage during the early Holocene, at ca. 10–11.4 ka. On millennial time‐scales, glacier oscillations in the Lahul Himalaya apparently reflect periods of positive mass‐balance coincident with times of increased insolation. During these periods the South Asian summer monsoon strengthened and/or extended its influence further north and west, thereby enhancing high‐altitude summer snowfall. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pleistocene fluvial sediments,palaeontology and archaeology of the upper River Thames at Latton,Wiltshire, England

Pleistocene fluvial sediments of the Northmoor Member of the Upper Thames Formation exposed at Latton, Wiltshire, record episodic deposition close to the Churn–Thames confluence possibly spanning the interval from Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 7 to 2. The sequence is dominated by gravel facies, indicating deposition by a high‐energy, gravel‐bed river. A number of fine‐grained organic sediment bodies within the sequence have yielded palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphical data from Mollusca, Coleoptera, vertebrates, pollen and plant macrofossils. The basal deposit (Facies Association A) contains faunal material indicating temperate conditions. Most of the palaeontological evidence including a distinctive small form of mammoth (Mammuthus cf. trogontherii), together with the U‐series age estimate of >147.4 ± 20 kyr suggest correlation with MIS 7. The overlying deposits (Facies Associations B and C) represent deposition under a range of climatic conditions. Two fine‐grained organic deposits occurred within Association B; one (Association Ba) in the northern part of the pit as a channel fill and the other (Association Bb) in its southern part as a scour‐fill deposit. The coleopteran assemblages from Ba, indicate that it accumulated under temperate oceanic conditions, while Bb, which also yielded a radiocarbon age estimate of 39 560 ± 780 ¹⁴C yr BP, was formed under much colder and more continental climatic conditions. The sequence is considered to represent deposition within an alluvial fan formed at the Churn–Thames confluence; a depositional scenario which may account for the juxtaposition of sediments and fossils of widely differing age within the same altitudinal range. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A case study of the surface subsidence of the Polesine area

The Polesine, a region in the northeast of Italy, has experienced considerable surface subsidence due to the withdrawal of water and gas from the underlying reservoir sediments. These settlements have been well documented and form the basis of a comparison study with a finite element consolidation model. It is shown that the model is capable of simulating the field behaviour during production and also after the closure of the wells.     

Advances in interpretation of subsurface processes with time‐lapse electrical imaging

Electrical geophysical methods, including electrical resistivity, time‐domain induced polarization, and complex resistivity, have become commonly used to image the near subsurface. Here, we outline their utility for time‐lapse imaging of hydrological, geochemical, and biogeochemical processes, focusing on new instrumentation, processing, and analysis techniques specific to monitoring. We review data collection procedures, parameters measured, and petrophysical relationships and then outline the state of the science with respect to inversion methodologies, including coupled inversion. We conclude by highlighting recent research focused on innovative applications of time‐lapse imaging in hydrology, biology, ecology, and geochemistry, among other areas of interest. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.