A Reappraisal of Rb, Y, Zr, Pb and Th Values in Geochemical Reference Material BHVO-1

The geochemical reference material BHVO-1 was analysed by a variety of techniques over a six year period. These techniques included inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-MS and ICP-AES, respectively), laser ablation ICP-MS and spark source mass spectroscopy. Inconsistencies between the published consensus values reported by Gladney and Roelandts (1988, Geostandards Newsletter) and the results of our study are noted for Rb, Y, Zr, Pb and Th. The values reported here for Rb, Y, Zr and Pb are generally lower, while Th is higher than the consensus value. This is not an analytical artefact unique to the University of Notre Dame ICP-MS facility, as most of the BHVO-1 analyses reported over the last ten to twenty years are in agreement with our results. We propose new consensus values for each of these elements as follows: Rb = 9.3 ± 0.2 μg g-1 (compared to 11 ± 2 μg g-1), Y = 24.4 ± 1.3 μg g-1 (compared to 27.6 ± 1.7 μg g-1), Zr = 172 ± 10 μg g-1 (compared to 179 ± 21 μg g-1), Pb = 2.2 ± 0.2 μg g-1 (compared to 2.6 ± 0.9 μg g-1) and Th = 1.22 ± 0.02 μg g-1 (compared to 1.08 ± 0.15 μg g-1).     

Mesopelagic fishes of the Bering Sea and adjacent northern North Pacific Ocean

Fourteen midwater trawl collections to depths of 450 m to 1,400 m were taken at eleven stations in the Bering Sea and adjoining regions of the northern North Pacific by the R/V Hakuho Maru during the summer of 1975. A total of 29 kinds of fishes were identified. Mesopelagic fishes of the families Myctophidae, Gonostomatidae and Bathylagidae predominated in the catches, contributing 14 species (94%) of the fishes caught.Seventeen species of fishes were caught in the Bering Sea, and all of these are known from nearby areas. The mesopelagic fish fauna of the Bering Sea is similar to that in adjoining regions of the northern North Pacific Ocean: endemic species are rare or absent. Stenobrachius nannochir was usually the most common mesopelagic fish in our catches.Stenobrachius leucopsarus is a diel vertical migrant that is usually the dominant mesopelagic fish in modified Subarctic waters of the northeastern Pacific. The change in dominance fromS. nannochir in the western Bering Sea toS. leucopsarus in the eastern Bering Sea is related to differences in oceanographic conditions.     

Oxygen consumption in the epilimnia and hypolimnia of two eutrophic,warm‐monomictic lakes

Oxygen consumption was estimated for two eutrophic New Zealand lakes using a simple 2‐layer model, from estimates of net changes in oxygen, phytoplankton photosynthesis, inflow and outflow, diffusion, eddy diffusion, and changes in the depth of the thermocline. Of the total oxygen consumption, 75–85% occurred in the epilimnia. Epilimetic oxygen consumption per m³ and per m² in Lake Johnson were higher than in Lake Hayes, reflecting known differences in the trophic status of the lakes, but estimates for the hypolimnia of the two lakes were similar. Daily hypolimnetic areal deficits were sensitive to both the depths and time intervals chosen.

In the epilimnia, monthly oxygen production by photosynthesis averaged 1.1 and 1.8 times the initial oxygen content in Lakes Hayes and Johnson respectively. Diffusion appeared to be of similar magnitude to photosynthesis in the isothermal period, but was less important during stratification. Losses to the hypolimnia by eddy diffusion were less than 10% of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis in the hypolimnia contributed 30–40% of the oxygen consumed there and eddy diffusion supplied a further 20%.

In Lake Johnson a 3–5 m stratum of water in the metalimnion became anoxic for 2–3 months each summer while there were still up to 5.2 g.rer³ of oxygen remaining in the hypolimnion. Metalimnetic anoxia is attributed largely to oxygen consumption in situ, resulting from the highly eutrophic state of the lake and intense thermal stratification. Zooplankton respiration accounted for less than 10% of the maximum net decline in metalimnetic oxygen in 1970–71, but was more important in the other 2 years.

Changes in the oxygen content of the hypolimnion indicate that Lake Hayes has become more eutrophic since 1954–55. In Lake Johnson low oxygen concentrations at the autumn overturn (<5 g.m^‐3) represent a threat to the trout population.     

Evaluation of wave impact loads on caisson breakwaters based on joint probability of impact maxima and rise times

When waves break against seawalls, vertical breakwaters, piers or jetties, they abruptly transfer their momentum into the structure. This energy transfer is always spectacular and perpetually unrepeatable but can also be very violent and affect the stability and the integrity of coastal structures. Over the last 15 years, increasing awareness of wave-impact induced structural failures of maritime structures has emphasised the need for a more complete approach to dynamic responses, including effects of impulsive loads. At the same time, movement of design standards toward probabilistic approaches requires new statistical tools able to account for uncertainties in the variability of wave loading processes. This paper presents a new approach to the definition of loads for use in performance design of vertical coastal structures subject to breaking wave impacts.     

Twelve years of tracking 52-Hz whale calls from a unique source in the North Pacific

A unique whale call with 50–52 Hz emphasis from a single source has been tracked over 12 years in the central and eastern North Pacific. These calls, referred to as 52-Hz calls, were monitored and analyzed from acoustic data recorded by hydrophones of the US Navy Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) and other arrays. The calls were noticed first in 1989, and have been detected and tracked since 1992. No other calls with similar characteristics have been identified in the acoustic data from any hydrophone system in the North Pacific basin. Only one series of these 52-Hz calls has been recorded at a time, with no call overlap, suggesting that a single whale produced the calls. The calls were recorded from August to February with most in December and January. The species producing these calls is unknown. The tracks of the 52-Hz whale were different each year, and varied in length from 708 to 11,062 km with travel speeds ranging from 0.7 to 3.8 km/h. Tracks included (A) meandering over short ranges, (B) predominantly west-to-east movement, and (C) mostly north-to-south travel. These tracks consistently appeared to be unrelated to the presence or movement of other whale species (blue, fin and humpback) monitored year-round with the same hydrophones.     

On detecting long-term changes in atmospheric moisture

Long-term temperature changes are expected to give rise to changes in the water vapor content of the atmosphere, which in turn would accentuate the temperature change. It is thus important to monitor water vapor in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. This paper reviews existing data for such an endeavor and the prospects for improvement in monitoring.In general, radiosondes provide the longest record but the data are fraught with problems, some arising from the distribution of stations and some from data continuity questions arising from the use of different measuring devices over both time at one place and over space at any one time. Satellite records are now of limited duration but they will soon be useful in detecting changes. Satellite water vapor observations have their own limitations; there is no one system capable of measuring water vapor over all surfaces in all varieties of weather. Among the needs are careful analysis of existing records, the collection of metadata about the measuring systems, the development of a transfer standard radiosonde system, and the commitment to maintaining an observing system dedicated to describing any climate changes worldwide.     

Scalar advection schemes for ocean modelling on unstructured triangular grids

Several schemes for scalar advection on unstructured triangular grids are assessed for possible use in ocean modelling applications. Finite element, finite volume and finite volume–element approaches are evaluated. A series of tests, including a numerical order of convergence analysis, idealized rotating cone and cylinder experiments, and transport of a tracer through the Stommel Gyre representation of ocean basin-scale circulation, are carried out. Volume element Eulerian–Lagrangian and third-order Runge-Kutta discontinuous Galerkin schemes are recommended for use in tracer studies. Taylor–Galerkin and second-order Runge–Kutta discontinuous Galerkin are found to be robust and accurate second-order schemes. When positivity is required, a fluctuation redistribution scheme was found to be an easily implemented, accurate, and computationally efficient approach. Responsible editor: Phil Dyke     

Reach‐scale contributions of road‐surface sediment to the Honna River,Haida Gwaii,BC

Gravel road surfaces can be a major source of fine sediment to streams, yet their contribution to channel reach sediment balances remains poorly documented. To quantify the input of road surface material and to compare this input with natural sediment sources at the reach scale, suspended sediment dynamics was examined and a 16‐month sediment balance was developed for a ~35 channel‐width (approx. 425 m) reach of the Honna River, a medium‐size, road‐affected stream located in coastal British Columbia. Of the 105 ± 33 t of suspended material passing through the reach, 18 ± 6% was attributed to the road surface. The high availability of sediment on the road surface appears to limit hysteresis in road run‐off. During rainstorms that increase streamflow, road surface material composed 0.5–15% of sediment inputs during relatively dry conditions from April to the end of September and 5–70% through wetter conditions from October to the end of March, but our data do not show evidence of major sediment accumulation on the riverbed in the reach. A comparison of modelled sediment production on the road surface with observed yields from drainage channels suggests that (1) during low intensity rainfall, ditches and drainage channels may trap sediment from road run‐off, which is subsequently released during events of greater intensity, and/or (2) production models do not effectively describe processes, such as deposition or erosion of sediment in ditches, which control sediment transport and delivery. Our findings further emphasize the risk of unpaved roads in polluting river systems and highlight the continued need for careful road design and location away from sensitive aquatic environments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil erosion and sediment transport in Tanzania: Part I – sediment source tracing in three neighbouring river catchments

Water bodies in Tanzania are experiencing increased siltation, which is threatening water quality, ecosystem health, and livelihood security in the region. This phenomenon is caused by increasing rates of upstream soil erosion and downstream sediment transport. However, a lack of knowledge on the contributions from different catchment zones, land-use types, and dominant erosion processes, to the transported sediment is undermining the mitigation of soil degradation at the source of the problem. In this context, complementary sediment source tracing techniques were applied in three Tanzanian river systems to further the understanding of the complex dynamics of soil erosion and sediment transport in the region. Analysis of the geochemical and biochemical fingerprints revealed a highly complex and variable soil system that could be grouped in distinct classes. These soil classes were unmixed against riverine sediment fingerprints using the Bayesian MixSIAR model, yielding proportionate source contributions for each catchment. This sediment source tracing indicated that hillslope erosion on the open rangelands and maize croplands in the mid-zone contributed over 75% of the transported sediment load in all three river systems during the sampling time-period. By integrating geochemical and biochemical fingerprints in sediment source tracing techniques, this study demonstrated links between land use, soil erosion and downstream sediment transport in Tanzania. This evidence can guide land managers in designing targeted interventions that safeguard both soil health and water quality.