FUSE Observations of EC14026 Stars

We present a FUSE abundance analysis of EC14026 stars. We compare the abundances of heavy elements in the atmospheres of EC14026 stars to non-pulsating stars with similar atmospheric parameters, and investigate whether weak stellar winds could explain the coexistence of variable and non-variable sdB stars in the log g – T_eff diagram. We also present preliminary results on time-dependent diffusion calculations of iron in presence of radiative levitation and mass loss, and show how weak stellar winds can affect the diffusive equilibrium between gravitational settling and radiative support.     

Characterising the distribution of near-shore submarine groundwater discharge along a coastline using 222Rn and electrical conductivity

The spatial and temporal distribution of near-shore fresh submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was characterised from the coastal aquifers of the Willunga Basin, South Australia, an extensive aquifer system that supports an important viticultural region. Measurements of electrical conductivity (EC) and ²²²Rn (radon) activity were collected at 19 sites along the coastline during the Southern Hemisphere spring (2011) and summer (2013). At each site, samples were collected from the surf zone as well asporewater from beach sediment in the intertidal zone. Surf-zone radon activity ranged from <5 to 70mBq L^–1, and intertidal porewater radon ranged over two orders of magnitude (220–36 940 mBq L^–1) along the Willunga Basin coastline during both surveys. Overall, surf-zone and porewater EC was lower in the spring 2011 survey than in the summer 2013 survey. Porewater EC was similar to that of coastal water at most sites along the coastline, except at three sites where porewater EC was found to be lower than coastal water during both surveys, and three sites where evaporated seawater was observed in the summer survey. Based on the patterns in radon and EC along the coastline, two sites of localised fresh SGD were identified, in addition to a groundwater spring that is known to discharge to the coast. The results indicate that near-shore fresh SGD occurs as localised seeps rather than diffuse seepage along the entire coastline. The apparent absence of groundwater discharge at most locations is also consistent with current evidence suggesting that extensive groundwater pumping within the basin has resulted in seawater intrusion across much of the coastline. These observations also suggest that previous studies are likely to have over-estimated SGD rates from the Willunga Basin because they assumed that SGD occurred along the entire coastline.     

Carbon monoxide concentrations in surface waters of the east tropical pacific in 1974: comparison with earlier values

Concentrations of carbon monoxide were measured in the surface waters of the east tropical Pacific during a cruise aboard USNS “Hayes” from Ecuador to Panama via Hawaii and Tahiti in the late winter and early spring of 1974. Data comparisons were made for time spans of 1.3–3.7 years at several locations where the cruise track intersected or closely paralleled portions of our two earlier Pacific cruise tracks. The comparisons showed remarkable consistency, considering the range of variability of carbon monoxide concentration. Latitudinal variations of concentrations found during the earlier cruises were reconfirmed.     

An Overview of Some Significant Eastern Canadian Earthquakes and Their Impacts on the Geological Environment,Buildings and the Public

Numerous moderate to large earthquakes have occurred in eastern Canada. Some ofthese events had significant geological effects such as surface faulting, liquefaction,submarine slumping, rock avalanches, rock falls, landslides, railroad embankmentslides, and one tsunami. Some of these earthquakes caused considerable damage tobuildings with unreinforced masonry elements that were located on thick clay deposits. These events also had strong psychological and social impacts, mainly due to the unpreparedness of the population. To minimize these impacts, programs should be designed to map the land and offshore areas most susceptible to mass movements (Earth Sciences), to define buildings most at risk (Engineering) and to educate the public about mitigation actions (Education, science popularization).     

Groundwater use by vegetation in a tropical savanna riparian zone (Daly River, Australia)

Soil water matric potentials (Ψ_m) and the deuterium (δ²H) composition at natural abundance levels of xylem water, soil water, river water and groundwater were used to evaluate whether trees use groundwater during the dry season in the riparian zone of the Daly River (Northern Territory, Australia). Groundwater was a significant source of water for plant transpiration, probably accounting for more than 50% of the water transpired during the dry season. Groundwater use occurred either when trees used water from the capillary fringe or when low Ψ_m induced by soil water uptake lifted groundwater in the vadose zone. Several water use strategies were inferred within the riparian plant community. Melaleuca argentea W. Fitzg and Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. appeared to be obligate phreatophytes as they used groundwater almost exclusively and were associated with riverbanks and lower terraces with shallow (<5 m) water tables. Several species appeared to be facultative phreatophytes (including Cathorium umbellatum (Vahl.) Kosterm. and Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth.) and tended to rely more heavily on soil water with increased elevation in the riparian zone. The levee-bound Corymbia bella K.D. Hill and L.A.S. Johnson mostly used soil water and is either a facultative phreatophyte or a non-phreatophyte. The temporal variability in groundwater utilisation by the trees is unclear because the study focused on the end of the dry season only. A decline in the regional water table as a result of groundwater pumping may affect the health of riparian zone vegetation in the Daly River because groundwater use is significant during the dry season.     

Long-term neutralisation potential of red mud bauxite with brine amendment for the neutralisation of acidic mine tailings

Acid mine drainage is an environmental problem produced when sulphide in mine tailings dams comes in contact with O₂, bacteria and water. Oxidation occurs and a succession of reactions is responsible for producing acid and metals in the environment. One solution proposed is to use red mud bauxite (RMB) that is very alkaline to neutralise acidic tailings. Previous experiments showed that RMB has a good neutralisation capacity for a short time, but the long-term neutralisation potential is uncertain. So brine was added to RMB to verify if it can improve long-term alkalinity retention of RMB. Some authors have presented results where seawater or other natural or artificial Ca- and Mg-rich brines were used with RMB to convert the basicity (mainly NaOH) and other soluble alkalinity into low solubility hydroxide, carbonate and hydroxycarbonate minerals. Results showed that neutral pH conditions were maintained over the entire test for RMB and a mixture of RMB with brine. Addition of brine to RMB slightly lowered the pH compared to RMB alone. RMB alone lost a lot of dissolved alkalinity at the beginning of the test. Most of the alkalinity was lost in water after a few flushes for RMB samples. The addition of brine helped to keep neutralisation potential over more cycles of leaching.     

Radium and radon radioisotopes in regional groundwater, intertidal groundwater, and seawater in the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study area: Implications for the evaluation of submarine groundwater discharge

The input of groundwater-borne nutrients to Adelaide's (South Australia) coastal zone is not well known but could contribute to the ongoing decline of seagrass in the area. As a component of the Adelaide Coastal Waters Study (ACWS), the potential for using the radium quartet (²²³Ra, ²²⁴Ra, ²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) and ²²²Rn to evaluate submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) was evaluated. Potential isotopic signatures for SGD were assessed by sampling groundwater from three regional aquifers potentially contributing SGD to the ACWS area. In addition, intertidal groundwater was sampled at two sand beach sites. In general, the regional groundwaters were enriched in long-lived Ra isotopes (²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra) and in ²²²Rn relative to intertidal groundwater. Radium activity (but not ²²²Rn activity) was positively correlated to salinity in groundwater from one of the regional aquifers and in intertidal groundwater. Radium isotope ratios (²²³Ra/²²⁶Ra, ²²⁴Ra/²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra/²²⁶Ra) were less variable than individual Ra isotope activities within potential SGD sources. Recirculated seawater (estimated from the intertidal groundwater samples with seawater-like salinities) also had distinctly higher Ra isotope ratios than the regional groundwaters. The activities for all radioisotopes were relatively low in seawater. The activity of the short-lived ²²³Ra and ²²⁴Ra were highest at the shoreline and declined exponentially with distance offshore. In contrast, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra activities had a weak linear declining trend with distance offshore. Rn-222 activity was at or near background in all seawater samples. The pattern of enrichment in short-lived Ra isotopes and the lack of ²²²Rn in seawater suggest that seawater recirculation is the main contributor to SGD in the ACWS area. Preliminary modeling of the offshore flux of ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra suggest that the SGD flux to the ACWS area ranges between 0.2 and 3 · 10^− 3 m³ (m of shoreline)^− 1 s^− 1.     

Groundwater–surface water connectivity in a chain-of-ponds semiarid river

Semiarid rivers are often characterized by chains of small pools connected by riffles and wet meadows. The pools can be maintained by wet season surface runoff, groundwater discharge, or some combination thereof. Using synoptic surveys for several environmental tracers (δD and δ¹⁸O of H₂O, specific electrical conductance at 25°C [EC], chloride and ²²²Rn), we evaluated the groundwater—surface water connectivity of the Light River (South Australia) along an 8 km section in the vicinity of a proposed mining development. In all three surveys (representing spring, summer and winter conditions), the pools were maintained by regional groundwater discharge based on an elevated surface water EC (9–12 dS m⁻¹) similar to regional groundwater, elevated radon-222 activities (0.09–3.0 Bq L⁻¹) and low rainfall. Most pools were perennial, either because they directly received groundwater discharge or, indirectly, had an inflow originating from upstream groundwater-fed pools. The elevated salinity of regional groundwater is a key factor for the maintenance of perennial pools in the Light River because the potential for baseflow depletion by groundwater pumping is more limited.     

FUSE Spectroscopy and Heavy Element Abundances in Hot, Hydrogen-Rich Subdwarfs

We have secured FUSE observations for a sample of hot, hydrogen-rich subdwarf B stars. The main objective of this project is to map in a more detailed way than has been done in the past pattern of heavy element abundances in sdB stars in order to understand the competing roles of gravitational settling, radiative element support, and mass loss in their photospheres. We present abundances analyses for a subsample of four objects and compare these results with predictions of the parameter-free version of the radiative levitation theory.