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.     

Regional patterns of U.S. household carbon emissions

Market-based policies to address fossil fuel-related externalities including climate change typically operate by raising the price of those fuels. Increases in energy prices have important consequences for a typical U.S. household that spent almost $4,000 per year on electricity, fuel oil, natural gas, and gasoline in 2005. A key question for policymakers is how these consequences vary over different regions and subpopulations across the country—especially as adjustment and compensation programs are designed to protect more vulnerable regions. To answer this question, we use non-publicly available data from the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey over the period 1984–2000 to estimate long-run geographic variation in household use of electricity, fuel oil, natural gas, and gasoline, as well as the associated incidence of a $10 per ton tax on carbon dioxide (ignoring behavioral response). We find substantial variation: incidence from the tax range from $97 dollars per year per household in New York County, New York to $235 per year per household in Tensas Parish, Louisiana. This variation can be explained by differences in energy use, carbon intensity of electricity generation, and electricity regulation.     

The impact and rotational light curves of Comet 9P/Tempel 1

UVES and HIRES high-resolution spectra of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 are used to investigate the impact and rotational light curves of various species with a view toward building a simple model of the distribution and activity of the sources. The emission by OH, NH, CN, C₃, CH, C₂, NH₂, and OI, are analyzed, as well as the light scattered by the dust. It is found that a simple model reproduces fairly well the impact light curves of all species combining the production of the observed molecules and the expansion of the material throughout the slit. The impact light curves are consistent with velocities of 400-600 m/s. Their modeling requires a three-step dissociation sequence “Grand-Parent → Parent → Daughter” to produce the observed molecules. The rotational light curve for each species is explained in terms of a single model with three sources. The dust component can however not easily be explained that way.     

The effect of a layer of varying density on high-frequencyreflection, forward loss, and backscatter [seafloor acoustics]

This paper examines the impact that a thin layer of varying density would have on high-frequency reflection, forward loss, and backscattering of acoustic plane waves from the seafloor. A functional form for density stratification was found by examination of several high-resolution density profiles obtained from X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans of seafloor cores. A solution based on these general profiles was used to estimate the reflection coefficient. The influence of the density profile on reflection loss and backscatter was then calculated using the estimated reflection coefficient. Parameter values used in simulations were obtained from the literature or from the CT scans of cores. It was found that inclusion of a density profile adds a strong frequency dependence to estimates of the reflection coefficient and forward loss. The largest effect on total scattering strength is near normal incidence where returns are dominated by interface scattering. The effect of the density profile on the strength of acoustic returns suggests that care should be taken when using high-frequency systems for measuring sediment properties, especially near normal incidence     

The Hg geochemistry of a geothermal stream, Steamboat Creek, Nevada: natural vs. anthropogenic influences

 A series of water samples from Steamboat Creek, Nevada, was analyzed for total mercury concentrations. Concentrations from these waters were 40 to 60 times higher than the pristine mountain streams entering the creek. The major source of the mercury entering Steamboat Creek is probably from gold/silver processing that took place in the 1860s. Received: 10 March 1997 · Accepted: 2 September 1997     

Digital imaging and public engagement in palaeontology

Public engagement and the promotion of science to a wider non-academic audience form an integral role of the professional scientist in the twenty-first century. The high level of public interest in palaeontology means that the Earth's prehistoric past can provide an important medium through which to communicate information concerning contemporary scientific issues. Here we explain how modern computer techniques can be used to enhance public understanding of complex palaeontological issues.     

Magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for rainfall: Worldwide data from tropical and temperate climate

The magnetic susceptibility of soils has been linked with climate, mainly through rainfall, by numerous investigators. For this study we assembled a worldwide dataset of 272 samples, both published and new, to determine the nature of the relationship between MS and rainfall. On a worldwide basis there is a crude relationship (r² = 0.265) between MS and rainfall. MS increases with increasing rainfall from about 200 mm/yr to 1000–1200 mm/yr. Above 1200 mm/yr, MS decreases as rainfall increases up to about 2000 mm/yr. Under arid and semi-arid conditions, below about 200 mm/yr of rainfall, MS and rainfall exhibit no relationship, likely the result of limited pedogenic activity.When tropical and temperate localities are analyzed separately, the correlation between MS and rainfall exhibits a dramatic improvement, r² = 0.568 and 0.520, respectively. For similar amounts of rainfall tropical localities generally exhibit lower MS values which may be related to differences in the seasonal variation of rainfall. Because the soil environment is highly variable, it is unlikely that a global or even regional equation could accurately estimate rainfall from MS. Using data from Morocco and Mali we demonstrate that local equations using only MS to estimate rainfall produce reasonable results, r² = 0.700 for Morocco and 0.611 for Mali. However, a single independent variable is unlikely to capture the variability of the complex soil system. To the local equations described above we experimented with adding several independent variables in addition to MS including diffuse reflectance spectral data (DRS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and x-ray fluorescence (XRF). For DRS data, % reflectance and red, yellow, and near-infrared wavelengths appear important; for XRD illite and kaolinite counts are important whereas for XRF Fe₂O₃ is important. The addition of these other independent variables dramatically improves prediction quality. In the case of the Mali transect, estimating rainfall from these variables produces an r² that exceeds 0.9. Based on these data we conclude that MS has the potential to be a reasonable proxy of rainfall for mean annual precipitation values from 200 to 2000 mm/yr, especially if local equations are used. Predictions can be improved by including other independent variables that show sensitivity to climate and are related to MS through the chemistry of the weathering process; we included DRS, XRD, and XRF data with good results.     

Influence of antecedent soil moisture on hydraulic conductivity in a series of texture‐contrast soils

Antecedent soil moisture significantly influenced the hydraulic conductivity of the A1, A2e and B21 horizons in a series of strong texture‐contrast soils. Tension infiltration at six supply potentials demonstrated that in the A1 horizon, hydraulic conductivity was significantly lower in the ‘wet’ treatment than in the ‘dry’ treatment. However in the A2e horizon, micropore and mesopore hydraulic conductivity was lower in the ‘dry’ treatment than the ‘wet’ treatment, which was attributed to the precipitation of soluble amorphous silica. In the B21 horizon, desiccation of vertic clays resulted in the formation of shrinkage cracks which significantly increased near‐saturated hydraulic conductivity and prevented the development of subsurface lateral flow in the ‘dry’ treatment. In the ‘wet’ treatment, the difference between the hydraulic conductivity of the A1 and B21 horizons was reduced; however, lateral flow still occurred in the A1 horizon due to difficulty displacing existing soil water further down the soil profile. Results demonstrate the need to account for temporal variation in soil porosity and hydraulic conductivity in soil‐water model conceptualisation and parameterisation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.