Characterization of dissolved organic matter fluorescence in the South Atlantic Bight with use of PARAFAC model: Relationships between fluorescence and its components,absorption coefficients and organic carbon concentrations

In this study, the CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm [a_CDOM(350)] and CDOM excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence were used to estimate annual fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the Cape Fear River to Long Bay in the South Atlantic Bight. Water samples were collected during a 3.5 year period, from October 2001 through March 2005, in the vicinity of the Cape Fear River (CFR) outlet and adjacent Onslow Bay (OB). Parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of CDOM EEM spectra identified six components: three terrestrial humic-like, one marine humic-like and two protein-like. Empirical relationships were derived from the PARAFAC model between DOC concentration and a_CDOM(350), total fluorescence intensity and the intensities of respective EEM components. DOC concentration and CDOM optical parameters were very well correlated and R² values ranged from 0.77 to 0.90. Regression analyses revealed that the non-absorbing DOC fraction, in DOC concentration estimated from CDOM optical parameters, varied with the qualitative composition of the CDOM. DOC concentration and intensity of the humic-like CDOM components characterized by excitation maxima at longer wavelengths have significantly higher estimated non-absorbing DOC compared to the analogous relationships between DOC and intensity of the humic-like CDOM components characterized by excitation maxima at shorter wavelengths. The relationships between DOC concentration and intensity of one of the protein-like components resulted in significantly reduced non-absorbing DOC fraction in DOC concentration estimation. Results of regression analyses between fluorescence intensities of specific EEM components and CDOM-specific absorption coefficients suggest that the relative proportion of humic-like CDOM components (characterized by excitation maximum at longer wavelengths) and the main protein-like component have the most impact on the values of a?_CDOM(350). Based on the relationships between a_CDOM(350), Cape Fear River flow, and DOC concentrations, DOC fluxes were estimated for 2002, 2003 and 2004. DOC fluxes varied from 1.5 to 6.2 × 10¹⁰ g C yr^? 1, depending on river flow.     

Very long baseline interferometry detection of an Infrared-Faint Radio Source

Infrared-Faint Radio Sources represent a new and unexpected class of object which is bright at radio wavelengths but unusually faint at infrared wavelengths. If, like most mJy radio sources, they were either conventional active or star-forming galaxies in the local Universe, we would expect them to be detectable at infrared wavelengths, and so their non-detection by the Spitzer Space Telescope is surprising. Here, we report the detection of one of these sources using very long baseline interferometry, from which we conclude that the sources are driven by active galactic nuclei. We suggest that these sources are either normal radio-loud quasars at high redshift or abnormally obscured radio galaxies.     

Paleoclimate and growth rates of speleothems in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula over the last two glacial cycles

Speleothem growth requires humid climates sufficiently warm to stimulate soil CO₂ production by plants. We compile 283 U/Th dates on 21 stalagmites from six cave systems in the NW coast of Spain to evaluate if there are patterns in stalagmite growth that are evidence of climatic forcing. In the oldest stalagmites, from marine oxygen isotope stage (MIS) 7–5, growth persists through the glacial period. Hiatuses and major reductions in growth rate occur during extreme minima in summer insolation. Stalagmites active during the last interglaciation cease growth at the MIS 5–4 boundary (74 ka), when regional sea-surface temperature cooled significantly. During MIS 3, only two stalagmites grew; rates were highest between 50 and 60 ka during the maximum in summer insolation. One stalagmite grew briefly at 41 ka, 36.5 and 28.6 ka, all during warm phases of the Dansgaard–Oeschger cycles. A pronounced Holocene optimum in stalagmite growth occurs from 9 to 6 ka. The cessation of most growth by 4.1 ka, coincident with broad increases in aridity over the Mediterranean and areas influenced by the North African Monsoon, suggest that regions such as NW Spain, with dominant Atlantic moisture sources, also experienced increased aridity at this time.     

Evolutionary Map of the Universe: Tracing Clusters to High Red-shift

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) is a new radio-telescope being built in Western Australia. One of the key surveys for which it is being built is EMU (Evolutionary Map of the Universe), which will make a deep (∼10 μJy/bm rms) radio continuum survey covering the entire sky as far North as +30°. EMU may be compared to the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS), except that it will have about 45 times the sensitivity, and five times the resolution. EMU will also have much better sensitivity to diffuse emission than previous large surveys, and is expected to produce a large catalogue of relics, tailed galaxies, and halos, and will increase the number of known clusters by a significant factor. Here we describe the EMU project and its impact on the astrophysics of clusters.     

The impact of stress history on bed structure

Recent research has started to focus on how prolonged periods of sub‐threshold flows may be capable of imparting structural changes that contribute to increased bed stability. To date, this effect (termed ‘stress history’) has been found to be significant in acting to increase a bed's critical shear stress at entrainment threshold. However, it is supported by only limited, qualitative and often speculative information on the mechanisms of this stabilization process in grade‐specific studies. As such, this paper uses high resolution laser scanning to quantitatively ascertain the granular mechanics underpinning the relationship between stress history and entrainment threshold for beds of a range of grain size distributions. Employing a bed slope of 1/200, three grain size distributions with median grain sizes (D₅₀) of 4·8 mm [uniform (σ_g = (D₈₄/D₁₆)^0.5 = 1·13; bimodal (σ_g = 2·08); and, unimodal (σ_g = 1·63)] were exposed to antecedent stress histories of 60 and 960 minutes duration. Antecedent shear stress magnitude was set at 50% of the critical shear stress for the D₅₀ when no stress history period was employed. Two laser displacement scans of the bed surface (approximate area 100 mm × 117 mm) were taken, one prior to the antecedent period and one after this period, so that changes to surface topography could be quantified (resolution of x = 0·10 mm, y = 0·13 mm and z = 0·24 mm). Rearrangement of bed surface structure is described using statistical analysis and two‐dimensional (2D) semi‐variograms to analyse scaling behaviour. Results reveal vertical settlement, changes to bed roughness and particle repositioning. However, the bed grain size distribution influences the relative importance of each mechanism in determining stress history induced bed stability; this is the focus of discussion in this paper. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GIS in local government: some findings from Great Britain

Abstract

Local government is one of the most important groups of users of geographical information systems (GIS). The significant interest amongst users and the varied demands to be made of GIS have stimulated discussion in many countries. This article presents some of the findings of a research project which is currently exploring the impact of GIS on British local government. The discussion examines the results of a comprehensive survey of all 514 local authorities in Great Britain. These findings provide an overview of GIS adoption in relation to type of local authority and geographical location. Particular attention is focused on the type of systems which have been adopted, the take-up of GIS over time, the software and hardware being utilized and the perceived benefits and problems associated with GIS. The results demonstrate that take-up has been most pronounced in the larger authorities, particularly in the southern part of Great Britain, with the most popular combination of equipment being Arc/Info software and workstations. For those authorities presently implementing a GIS, the technology is expected to improve existing capabilities for information processing rather than enhance decision-making or help achieve savings. In seeking these benefits authorities are encountering considerable problems which include basic technical difficulties in getting the equipment to work, data-related issues surrounding the collection, standardization and maintenance of geographical information, and profound organizational considerations associated with the introduction of information technology into complex environments. There is an urgent need for in-depth case studies which evaluate the experiences of users in relation to the vital process of implementation.     

The brightening of Saturn’s F ring

Image photometry reveals that the F ring is approximately twice as bright during the Cassini tour as it was during the Voyager flybys of 1980 and 1981. It is also three times as wide and has a higher integrated optical depth. We have performed photometric measurements of more than 4800 images of Saturn’s F ring taken over a 5-year period with Cassini’s Narrow Angle Camera. We show that the ring is not optically thin in many observing geometries and apply a photometric model based on single-scattering in the presence of shadowing and obscuration, deriving a mean effective optical depth τ ≈ 0.033. Stellar occultation data from Voyager PPS and Cassini VIMS validate both the optical depth and the width measurements. In contrast to this decades-scale change, the baseline properties of the F ring have not changed significantly from 2004 to 2009. However, we have investigated one major, bright feature that appeared in the ring in late 2006. This transient feature increased the ring’s overall mean brightness by 84% and decayed with a half-life of 91 days.     

Equality,diversity, inclusion: ensuring a resilient future for geomorphology

Within and beyond academia, debates around equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) have been gathering pace. We focus on EDI and geomorphology and address four main questions: (1) why does EDI matter for geomorphology?; (2) what are the barriers to greater EDI in geomorphology?; (3) how can we address these EDI barriers?; (4) can we ensure a resilient future for geomorphology by addressing EDI? At a time of critical environmental, social and economic transition, we contend that addressing EDI is essential for ensuring a resilient geomorphology, defined here as a discipline that is seen to be adapting to these changing external circumstances so that it remains relevant, vibrant and accessible to a wide cross-section of society. Not doing so will limit the intellectual development of geomorphology, incur reputational risk for geomorphological groups and organizations like the British Society for Geomorphology, and ensure that the many potential benefits of geomorphology for science and society remain underutilized at best. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.