Subtidal response of the Scotian shelf bottom pressure field to meteorological forcing

Abstract

Data collected during the Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP) show subtidal variations in subsurface pressure (SSP) to be highly coherent throughout the Scotian Shelf region, and well correlated to fluctuations in the alongshelf component of wind stress (τ^y). Analysis using a frequency‐dependent multiple regression model verified that τ^y is the primary source of local forcing to the SSP field, although non‐locally generated variations in SSP are also important. The two components of local wind stress and a non‐local SSP term combine to explain over 90% of SSP variance on the Scotian Shelf.

Statistical results describing the response to τ^y change dramatically depending upon the inclusion of non‐local forcing. In a model including both types of forcing, the SSP response to local forcing behaves like the solution to a dynamical model forced by time‐dependent wind stress with sea‐level prescribed to zero at the eastern cross‐shelf boundary. Local τ^y forcing becomes more effective to the west and onshore, whereas the phase suggests propagation to the west. The importance of τ^y is reduced at higher frequencies. Describing SSP with a statistical model containing local forcing alone may lead to an incorrect interpretation of SSP dynamics, particularly in the synoptic band where the wind variance is greatest.

Energy originating from a non‐local source is most obvious at ω > 0.5 cpd and at locations on the eastern half of the shelf, but plays an important role at all sites and at all frequencies. These variations propagate to the west at speeds of 6.5 (ω < 0.2 cpd), 25–33 (0.2 cpd < ω < 0.5 cpd), and 12–17m s^?1 (ω > 0.5 cpd). The exponential decay scales at all frequencies are ～900 km in the direction of phase propagation. The non‐local response is consistent with theoretical estimates of first‐ and second‐mode shelf waves for this region and represents the most direct evidence of shelf wave activity on the Scotian Shelf to date.     

Satellite remote sensing of forest type and landcover in the subalpine forest region,Kananaskis Valley,Alberta

Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery and a digital elevation model (DEM) of the Kananaskis Valley in southwestern Alberta have been used to separate three forest types and eight landcover classes with mapping accuracies up to 76% overall. Image transformations based on a principal components analysis (PCA) were used to distinguish vegetation type and separate surface features in visual interpretations, and to reduce the 10 channel data set (TM 1–7, elevation, slope and incidence) to a more manageable 7 channel data set (PCA 1–4, elevation, slope and incidence). The DEM was shown to be critical in providing explanation of surface cover variability even though the original model was produced from medium scale aerial photography on a relatively coarse 100 metre grid. Discrimination increased up to 50% for pure stands of Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) and Englemann Spruce (Picea englemanii Parry) based on analysis of 100 pixels in test areas. Overall increases in map accuracy were between 2 and 11%. Success at this level of classification is required prior to detailed ecological study and modelling of mountain vegetation productivity at the community level using current satellite and aerial remote sensing technology.     

Discrimination of tropical vegetation types using SPOT multispectral data

Vegetation types were discriminated using SPOT multispectral data on Miti'aro, a tropical oceanic island in the Cook Islands, Polynesia. Vegetation categories included undisturbed and disturbed forest on limestone, scrub, marsh, and other forest vegetation (including secondary upland forest and agroforestry). Most category pairs had high separability as measured by Jeffries‐Matusita distance and Euclidean distance for training site data. However, there was some class overlap as illustrated by unsuperaised clustering and assigning spectral clusters to vegetation classes using a reference map. Cloud cover was a problem encountered in optical imaging of this maritime tropical study area.     

Optimal placement of dampers and actuators based on stochastic approach

A general method is developed for optimal application of dampers and actuators by installing them at optimal location on seismic-resistant structures. The study includes development of a statistical criterion, formulation of a general optimization problem and establishment of a solution procedure. Numerical analysis of the seismic response in time-history of controlled structures is used to verify the proposed method for optimal device application and to demonstrate the effectiveness of seismic response control with optimal device location. This study shows that the proposed method for the optimal device application is simple and general, and that the optimally applied dampers and actuators are very efficient for seismic response reduction.     

Laboratory tests as a basis for the control of sewage sludge dumping at sea

Toxicity and bioaccumulation studies were carried out on a number of UK sewage sludges to determine whether laboratory experiments could be used to regulate sludge dumping at sea. Whilst the acute toxicity of sewage sludges to adult marine organisms was generally low, shrimp larvae were found to be up to 500 times more sensitive than adults of the same species. No significant bioaccumulation of mercury or cadmium could be detected following up to 60 days exposure of fish, shrimps and mussels to the most heavily contaminated sludges available, although there was some uptake of lead, zinc and copper.     

Growing up and cleaning up: The environmental Kuznets curve redux

Borrowing from the Kuznets curve literature, researchers have coined the term “environmental Kuznets curve” or EKC to characterize the relationship between pollution levels and income: pollution levels will increase with income but some threshold of income will eventually be reached, beyond which pollution levels will decrease. The link between the original Kuznets curve, which posited a similar relationship between income and inequality, and its pollution-concerned offspring lies primarily with the shape of both curves (an upside-down U) and the central role played by income change. Although the EKC literature has burgeoned over the past several years, few concrete conclusions have been drawn, the main themes of the literature have remained constant, and no consensus has been reached regarding the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve. EKC research has used a variety of types of data and a range of geographical units to examine the effects of income levels on pollution. Changes in pollution levels might also be at least partly explained by countries’ position in the demographic transition and their general population structure, however little research has included this important aspect in the analysis. In addition, few analyses confine themselves to an evaluation for one country of the long-term relationship between income and pollution. Using United States CO₂ emissions as well as demographic, employment, trade and energy price data, this paper seeks to highlight the potential impact of population and economic structure in explaining the relationship between income and pollution levels.     

Saturn's rings—A survey

In this review paper we first discuss the dimensions of major ring features and of the disk of the planet. We then summarize the observed photometric parameters, and because frozen H₂O appears to be a major ring constituent, we compare the appropriate photometric properties of various forms of snow with those of the ring. We examine several ring models, noting certain characteristics that any model should supply. In our view, a physical means of accounting for the observed ring thickness of ～2 km is a prime requirement. There appears to be one model that presents no clear observational or theoretical inconsistency. Finally, we list certain problems whose solutions should broaden our knowledge of the ring system.