Relationship between aboveground and belowground biomass ofSpartina alterniflora (Smooth Cordgrass)

Aboveground and belowground biomass ofSpartina alterniflora were harvested during the period of peak aerial biomass from six sites along a latitudinal gradient ranging from Georgia to Nova Scotia. An equation relating live aboveground to live belowground biomass for short-form plants was formulated, using data collected in Delaware marshes. When data from the other sites were substituted into the equation, the mean live belowground biomass it predicted was within 15% of the value determined by harvesting at four of the five sites. At all sites, short-form plant live belowground biomass was concentrated in the upper 10 cm. Dead belowground biomass was located mostly in the top 15 cm in southern marshes, but was more evenly distributed with depth in northern marshes. Results were more ambiguous for tall-form plants, probably because of greater spatial variability in biomass distribution, and greater seasonal biomass dynamics.     

Insight into variability of spring and flash flood events in Lithuania

In this research, variability of spring (from 1 March to 30 May) and flash (from 1 June to 30 November) floods in rivers of different regions was analysed. The territory of Lithuania is divided into three regions according to hydrological regime of the rivers: Western, Central, and Southeastern. The maximum river discharge data of spring and flash floods [a total of 31 water gauging stations (WGS)] were analysed. Comparison of the data of four periods (1922–2013, 1941–2013, 1961–2013, and 1991–2013) with the data of the reference period (1961–1990) was performed. Analysis included the longest discharge data set of the Nemunas River at Smalininkai WGS (1812–2013) as well. Mixed patterns of flood changes in Lithuanian rivers were detected. The analysis of flood discharges of the Nemunas River indicated that both spring and flash floods in Lithuania were getting smaller.     

LABORATORY MEASUREMENTS OF THE EFFECTS OF VISCOSITY ON SHORT WATER WAVE SPECTRA AND IMPLICATION FOR RADAR REMOTE SENSING OF THE OCEAN SURFACE

Using an X-band radar and a mechanical short wave generator, we measured the dependenceof radar return power on the viscosity of water which was adjusted by changing the watertemperature. From the measurements we drew two inferences: (1) the spectral density of short waterwaves, F, depends strongly on the viscosity of waterF(v)=F_0~mwhere is normalized viscosity, and m=-1.72; and (2) the normalized radar cross section, σ_0(dB), dependsstrongly on the water temperature△σ_0 (dB)=O.217△TAnalyses indicate that these dependencies can be observed in the field only at low wind conditionsat which the Bragg scattering is a dominant mechanism for producing the radar return signals. Theresults of this study can be used to interpret the sharp variability in radar cross section across a watertemperature front and SAR images of oeeanic phenomena.     

Groundwater quality and its monitoring in the Baltic States

In the Baltic countries — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — groundwater is the principal and only source of clean drinking water. Its safe yield is rather large — 6.7 mln m³/d. At present, consumption does not reach half of this amount. Therefore, the resources available will be sufficient for a rather remote future, provided that groundwater is not polluted. Under Soviet rule, insufficient attention was paid to ecological problems in the Baltic States. As a result, due to constantly increasing surface pollution, groundwater quality is decreasing. The topmost, unconfined aquifer is unfit for use, especially in many urbanized areas. Moreover, pollutants, especially organics, are starting to enter the lower, artesian aquifers. To determine and forecast groundwater quality, a monitoring system has been worked out. However, in order to protect groundwater, besides monitoring, new laws, regulations, and guarantees for their implementation are necessary.     

Impact of physico-geographical factors and climate variability on flow intermittency in the rivers of water surplus zone

Climate change is inevitably altering the hydrological regime of water bodies. The interest in changing behaviour of intermittent rivers is increasing in many countries. This research was focused on intermittent rivers (rivers which naturally, periodically cease to flow) in Lithuania. The purpose of this research was to provide an overview of flow intermittency phenomena according to available data in a historical period and to evaluate the impact of catchment geographical features and climate variability on zero-flow events. The calculated indices of flow intermittency showed that the selected rivers had very different flow regimes. The threshold for the separation of typically intermittent rivers from only occasionally intermittent ones was suggested. Multiple linear regression analysis defined the crucial role of catchment size and watercourse slope on the river cessation process in Lithuania. The applied non-parametric Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test revealed the significance of the relationship between precipitation (in June–September) and zero-flow duration. Flow intermittency phenomena in Lithuanian rivers were linked to a low-frequency teleconnection pattern (SCAND index). A methodology of estimating the relation between river intermittency and large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern (based on SCAND index) was created. The generated regression equations between flow intermittency indices and catchment characteristics might be useful for the estimation of zero-flows in ungauged river catchments. The main aspect of future investigations might be related to forecasting flow intermittency using modern hydrological models and climate scenarios as well as the defined relationships between zero-flow indices and physico-geographical features of river catchments.     

Ocean Internal Wave Observations Using Space Shuttle and Satellite Imagery

Abstract

Space shuttle photographs and satellite radar (SAR) images provide an excellent view of high‐contrast ocean features such as internal waves, fronts, eddies, oil slicks, and cloud patterns which contain the signatures of atmospheric processes. Since ocean internal waves generate local currents which modulate surface wavelets and slicks, we have been able to detect packets of internal waves in space shuttle photographs and radar imagery of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. A global database on internal waves has been developed at our center with support from ONR and NASA, and is accessible on the Internet. The database includes visible and radar imagery. To test the database, digitally orthorectified images were used for dynamic and statistical analysis of internal waves. In the deep ocean we found the wavelength distribution to be Gaussian while in the coastal ocean it is Rayleigh. Results have also been applied to non‐linear evolution studies of ocean internal waves, atmospheric solitary waves and to estimate ocean currents.     

Isotope geochemistry and modelling of the multi-aquifer system in the eastern part of Lithuania

A steady-state groundwater flow model of three Quaternary intertill aquifers in the eastern part of Lithuania has been compiled. The distinction of separate modelled layers is based on hydraulic and isotope-hydrochemistry data criteria. ³H data were used to estimate the corrected groundwater age and were coupled with a groundwater-flow-dynamics model of the Quaternary aquifer system along a cross-section flow pathway from the Baltic Upland recharge area in eastern Lithuania towards the discharge area in the lowlands near the city of Kaunas in central Lithuania. The bicarbonate content in groundwater (214–462 mg/l) increases downgradient towards the lowland area. The other major constituents and total dissolved solids (TDS) have a trend analogous to the bicarbonate. The ¹⁴C activity of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the groundwater ranges from 41.4 to 85.7 pMC. With aquifer-system depth, active precipitation of aqueous solution takes place by dissolving minerals of calcite and dolomite and leakage of “old” groundwater from lower aquifers; the process is also traced by lower ¹⁴C and ³H activities and by more positive δ¹⁸O values in lowland areas.     

Measurement of the surface emissivity of turbid waters

For interpreting thermal IR imagery of the ocean surface, the emissivity of the sea surface is usually assumed to be constant, approximately 0.98. However, the emissivity varies with the roughness of the sea surface, and the concentration and type of suspended particulates. The emissivity variations caused by the suspended sediments introduce significant errors in the satellite-derived temperature maps of turbid coastal waters. We measured in the laboratory the thermal IR emissivity of water as the suspended sediment concentration was varied from zero to extremely high values. The results indicated that increasing the sediment concentration decreases the spectral emissivity within the 8–14 μm waveband. Editor’s note A conference on West Pacific Circulation Influence in China Seas (WEPACICS) was held during November 10–14, 1986 in Qingdao, China, under the joint auspices of the Institute of Onceanology, Academic Sinica (IOAS) and the National Science Foundation, United States, and under the convernorship of Ya Hsueh, Florida State University, and Hu, Dunxin, IOAS. The primary subject of the conference is the influence of the West Pacific Circulation in the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea through the intermediary of the Kuroshio. In the conference more than 20 papers were presented, summarizing the works on the interaction between the Yellow and East China Sea, and the oceanic circulation, and the research experiences gained in the studies of the Gulf Stream and its influences in the U.S. Coastal waters were shared. In order to facilitate scientific exchange we chose to published successively the significant papers presented at the conference in the journal.