The CO2 absorption method as an alternative to benzene synthesis method forC dating

A fast and economical routine sample preparation system is described for direct counting of¹⁴C for hydrological purposes. The method employs commercially available CO₂ absorbers, such as Carbosorb, and liquid scintillation counters. The maximum error involved individual analyses is about ±4pmc (1 δ) on the Beckman counter and about ±2 pmc on the Quantulus counter with a resulting detection limit of 21,000–29,000 a for the Beckman LS7500 and 1220 Quantulus, respectively for a counting time of 1000 min. To avoid physical weighing procedures, an indirect method is presented to determine the grams of C absorbed in the counting solution by using the H-# quench monitor technique available in the Beckman liquid scintillation counters. On one sample preparation system at least five samples can be prepared per normal working day. The applicability of the CO₂-absorption method is discussed with reference to two field sites and with reference to comparisons with data obtained on the same samples measured with conventional techniques.     

From granitoid to kyanite-bearing micaschist during fluid-assisted shearing (Ile d’Yeu, France)

We describe amphibolite-facies shear zones affecting an orthogneiss from the Armorican Hercynian belt (Ile d’Yeu, western France). The deformation pattern is consistent with top-to-the-South thrusting followed by E–W extension, as documented elsewhere in the region. Shearing was accompanied by channelled fluid flow that transformed the orthogneiss into a peraluminous micaschist. Structural and mineralogical data indicate rather early strain localization. Then, temperature increase associated with crustal thickening favoured more distributed deformations marked by shear zone stretching and the development of a HT regional foliation. Chemical analyses made across five shear zones show mass transfers that mainly implied losses in Ca and Na, and gains in H₂O, Mg, and K. Most results indicate constant volume transformation, but some suggest records of either gains or losses of volume (between +20% and −30%). This might reflect variable records of fluid-rock interactions according to the timing of initiation and subsequent evolution of individual shear zones, early thrusting stages being marked by up-temperature flow, and late thrusting stages by down-temperature flow. δ¹⁸O analyses suggest that fluids experienced significant isotopic exchange with orthogneisses.     

High environmental salinity reduces the reproductive potential of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla (Decapoda,Majidae)

The spider crab Maja brachydactyla is an important fisheries species in Europe. Adults were sampled in Ría de A Coruña (NW Spain) and transported to IRTA rearing facilities. Salinity and photoperiod changes and their effect on reproduction were tested in the laboratory. The number of newly hatched larvae per batch (presence of actively swimming newly hatched larvae in a broodstock tank) was counted and sampled to estimate dry weight and proximal composition. Keeping spider crab broodstock in a high salinity environment (38 ppt) significantly reduced the number of newly hatched larvae, reaching up to fivefold difference in winter. The number of newly hatched larvae produced under a natural photoperiod was 10‐fold higher than those produced using a fixed photoperiod at 34 ppt salinity during winter. No clear pattern of changes in larval dry weight, protein, lipid or carbohydrate composition was observed under the environmental conditions tested. The results show that the salinity used for broodstock maintenance, especially during the embryonic development, is an important factor causing changes in larval production of M. brachydactyla and with potential implications for recruitment success.     

Suspended sediment transport in a small Mediterranean agricultural catchment

The aim of this study is to analyze suspended sediment transport in a Mediterranean agricultural catchment under traditional soil and water conservation practices. Field measurements were conducted in Can Revull, a small ephemeral catchment (1.03 km²) on the island of Mallorca. This study uses continuous turbidity records to analyse suspended sediment transport regimes, construct and interpret multiple regression models of total suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and of SSC related to stormflow discharge, and assess the sediment loads and yields of three hydrological years (2004–2005 to 2006–2007). An annual average SSC of 17.3 mg l^?1, with a maximum of 2270 mg l^?1, was recorded in the middle of the winter period when rainfall intensities are high and headwater slopes are ploughed and thus bare. Strong seasonal contrasts of baseflow dynamics associated with different degrees of dilution provide a large scatter in SSC and in the derived rating curves, reflecting that other factors control the supply of suspended sediment. Multiple regression models identify rainfall intensity as the most significant variable in sediment supply. However, under baseflow conditions, physical and biological processes generate sediment in the channel that is subsequently removed during high flow. In contrast, when baseflow is not present, rainfall intensity is the only process that supplies sediment to the channel, mostly from hillslopes. Considering the study period as average in terms of total annual rainfall and intensities, suspended sediment yields were an order of magnitude lower than those obtained in other Mediterranean catchments, a factor that can be related to the historical use of soil conservation practices. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors determining subsidence in urbanized floodplains: evidence from MT‐InSAR in Seville (southern Spain)

Major rivers have traditionally been linked with important human settlements throughout history. The growth of cities over recent river deposits makes necessary the use of multidisciplinary approaches to characterize the evolution of drainage networks in urbanized areas. Since under‐consolidated fluvial sediments are especially sensitive to compaction, their spatial distribution, thickness, and mechanical behavior must be studied. Here, we report on subsidence in the city of Seville (Southern Spain) between 2003 and 2010, through the analysis of the results obtained with the Multi‐Temporal InSAR (MT‐InSAR) technique. In addition, the temporal evolution of the subsidence is correlated with the rainfall, the river water column and the piezometric level. Finally, we characterize the geotechnical parameters of the fluvial sediments and calculate the theoretical settlement in the most representative sectors. Deformation maps clearly indicate that the spatial extent of subsidence is controlled by the distribution of under‐consolidated fine‐grained fluvial sediments at heights comprised in the range of river level variation. This is clearly evident at the western margin of the river and the surroundings of its tributaries, and differs from rainfall results as consequence of the anthropic regulation of the river. On the other hand, this influence is not detected at the eastern margin due to the shallow presence of coarse‐grain consolidated sediments of different terrace levels. The derived results prove valuable for implementing urban planning strategies, and the InSAR technique can therefore be considered as a complementary tool to help unravel the subsidence tendency of cities located over under‐consolidated fluvial deposits. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimental shock metamorphism of terrestrial basalts: Agglutinate-like particle formation,petrology, and magnetism

Hypervelocity impacts occur on bodies throughout our solar system, and play an important role in altering the mineralogy, texture, and magnetic properties in target rocks at nanometer to planetary scales. Here we present the results of hypervelocity impact experiments conducted using a two-stage light-gas gun with 5 mm spherical copper projectiles accelerated toward basalt targets with ~6 km s⁻¹ impact velocities. Four different types of magnetite- and titanomagnetite-bearing basalts were used as targets for seven independent experiments. These laboratory impacts resulted in the formation of agglutinate-like particles similar in texture to lunar agglutinates, which are an important fraction of lunar soil. Materials recovered from the impacts were examined using a suite of complementary techniques, including optical and scanning electron microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and high- and low-temperature magnetometry, to investigate the texture, chemistry, and magnetic properties of newly formed agglutinate-like particles and were compared to unshocked basaltic parent materials. The use of Cu-projectiles, rather than Fe- and Ni-projectiles, avoids magnetic contamination in the final shock products and enables a clearer view of the magnetic properties of impact-generated agglutinates. Agglutinate-like particles show shock features, such as melting and planar deformation features, and demonstrate shock-induced magnetic hardening (two- to seven-fold increases in the coercivity of remanence B_cr compared to the initial target materials) and decreases in low-field magnetic susceptibility and saturation magnetization.     

Spatio-temporal patterns of abundance,size structure and body condition of Atherina boyeri (Pisces: Atherinidae) in a small non-tidal Mediterranean lagoon

Sand smelt, Atherina boyeri, is a very abundant, widespread, locally harvested species, able to successfully survive and reproduce over a wide range of abiotic conditions and aquatic ecosystem types. In the North Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea transitional ecosystems its life history is well known, but very little information is available about the influence of intra-ecosystemic abiotic gradients on micro-scale patterns of distribution, body size and condition of individuals. In a small non-tidal Mediterranean lagoon, the cohorts' structure and evolution of sand smelt was described and the temporal and spatial variability of abundance, size structure and body condition was addressed. The study was carried out at the Acquatina lagoon (Lecce, Italy) where four stations, situated in two habitat types along a confinement gradient, were sampled twice per month for one year with fyke nets. The abundance of collected individuals was very high throughout the sampling period, with a peak in Summer and a constant decrease afterwards. Measured Standard Length ranged from 20 to 90 mm and the majority of individuals were estimated to be within 2 years old. The confined station resulted more abundantly colonized, especially by smaller size classes, and characterized by a narrower size frequency distribution. Also relative body condition showed significant spatial variations, with larger individuals having a better condition than smaller ones where optimal temperature and dissolved oxygen levels were available. Size-specific temporal patterns of body condition followed the seasonal climatic oscillations and the species' cycle of growth and reproduction, with larger individuals reaching higher fatness than smaller ones during Autumn and Winter, thus having more chances to survive and contribute to the reproductive effort. The results of the present study emphasised that, even at a very small scale, the presence of strong environmental gradients can drive movements, habitat preference and condition of individuals and thus promote an intra-ecosystemic spatial heterogeneity comparable to that observed between ecosystems at the land–ocean or geographical scale.     

Numerical Study of the Neutral Atmospheric Boundary Layer Over Complex Terrain

We evaluate the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations available as commercial computational fluid dynamics code for the simulation of a neutral atmospheric boundary layer and attempt to define a proper numerical simulation procedure. Four turbulence models, including two-equation and Reynolds stress models, were evaluated together with two near-wall models. Mesh and map digitization sensitivity tests were also performed. The simulations were compared to experimental field data from the Askervein Hill in Scotland. The results show that the simulations performed with ANSYS CFX 12.1 on a proper mesh and topological map with a Reynolds stress turbulence model provided the best wind-speed predictions when compared to the experimental results.