Database of sail shapes versus sail performance and validation of numerical calculations for the upwind condition

A database of full-scale three-dimensional sail shapes is presented with the aerodynamic coefficients for the upwind condition of International Measurement System (IMS) type sails. Three-dimensional shape data are used for the input of numerical calculations and the results are compared with the measured sail performance. The sail shapes and performance were measured using sail dynamometer boat Fujin. This is a boat of 10.3-m length overall in which load cells and CCD cameras were installed to simultaneously measure the sail forces and shapes. At the same time, the sailing conditions of the boat, e.g., boat speed, heel angle, wind speed, and wind angle, were measured. The sail configurations tested were: mainsail with 130% jib, mainsail with 75% jib, and mainsail alone. Sail shapes were measured at several vertical positions for the shape parameters defined by: chord length, maximum draft, maximum draft position, entry angle at the luff, and exit angle at the leech, all of which finally yield three-dimensional coordinates of the sail geometry. The tabulated shape data, along with aerodynamic coefficients, are presented in this article. In addition, numerical flow simulations were performed for the measured sail shapes and the sailing conditions to investigate the capability and limitations of the methods through detailed comparison with the measurements. Two numerical methods were used: a vortex lattice method (VLM) and a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)-based computational fluid dynamics method. The sail shape database, in association with the numerical results, provides a good benchmark for the sail performance analysis of the upwind condition of IMS type sails.     

Hydrodynamic loads on ice-class propellers during propeller-ice interaction

Hydrodynamic loads on a propeller blocked with simulated ice were studied using a cavitation tunnel. Comparative predictions were made using a panel method. The propeller was a model of the Canadian Coast Guard's R-class icebreake propeller, and the ice block was simulated using a solid blockage. Experimental results show the open water performance of the propeller, its performance behind a blockage, and the effects of cavitation in these conditions, as well as the loading on the simulated ice block. Panel method predictions were made of the time series propeller performance in the blocked flow. Cavitation during propellerice interaction resulted in a reduction of mean suction load on the ice block. Block load measurements indicated an increase in the oscillation about the mean value of the loads, with a variation in the phase of the loading with respect to blade position as compared with the non-cavitating results. Comparisons of panel method results with the measured block loads support the reliability of the dynamic measurements.List of symbols D propeller diameter - F block drag load - K _T thrust coefficient,T/(n ² D ⁴) - K _B block load coefficient,F/(n ² D ⁴) - K _Q torque coefficient,Q/(n ² D ⁵) - Q propeller torque - T propeller thrust - n propeller rotational speed - J propeller advance coefficientV _A/(nD) - P _A ambient pressure at propeller - P _ATM atmospheric pressure - P _V vapour pressure of water - V _A propeller advance speed - dissolved gas content - _s saturated dissolved gas content at atmospheric pressure - _o open water propeller efficiency - cavitation number, (P _A –P _V )/(0.5(nD)²) - density of water     

Analysis of corrosion risk due to chloride diffusion for concrete structures in marine environment

The chloride-induced steel corrosion is one of the main causes of deterioration for reinforced concrete structures exposed to marine environments. The chloride ingress into reinforced concrete structures is even more complex since it depends on random parameters linked to transport and chemical properties of materials, which results in variability of corrosion initiation. This variation raises the need of statistical approaches to evaluate the risk of corrosion initiation due to chloride ingress. To address this issue, we use sensitivity analysis to identify the influence of input parameters on critical length of time before corrosion initiation predicted by our chloride diffusion model. Exceedance probabilities of corrosion initiation time given that input parameters exceed certain thresholds were also calculated. Results showed that the corrosion initiation time was most sensitive to: chloride effective diffusion coefficient D_e in concrete, that is a parameter controllable by relevant stakeholders; surface chloride concentration C_s, a non-controllable parameter depending on surrounding conditions. Reducing the chloride diffusion coefficient enables us to postpone the maintenance of structures. However, the interaction between controllable parameters and non-controllable surrounding conditions was revealed influential on the reliability of results. For instance, the probability that corrosion initiation time exceeds 15 years given an effective diffusion coefficient (D_e) equal to 0.1 × 10⁻¹² m²⋅s-1 can vary from 19 to 41% according to stochastic variations of chloride concentrations (C_s) values. Postponing the corrosion initiation time was combined with a decreasing probability of its occurrence.     

A simple formulation for predicting the ultimate strength of ships

The aim of this study is to derive a simple analytical formula for predicting the ultimate collapse strength of a single- and double-hull ship under a vertical bending moment, and also to characterize the accuracy and applicability for earlier approximate formulations. It is known that a ship hull will reach the overall collapse state if both collapse of the compression flange and yielding of the tension flange occur. Side shells in the vicinity of the compression and the tension flanges will often fail also, but the material around the final neutral axis will remain in the elastic state. Based on this observation, a credible distribution of longitudinal stresses around the hull section at the overall collapse state is assumed, and an explicit analytical equation for calculating the hull ultimate strength is obtained. A comparison between the derived formula and existing expressions is made for largescale box girder models, a one-third-scale frigate hull model, and full-scale ship hulls.List of symbols A _B total sectional area of outer bottom - A _B total sectional area of inner bottom - A _D total sectional area of deck - A _S half-sectional area of all sides (including longitudinal bulkheads and inner sides) - a _s sectional area of a longitudinal stiffener with effective plating - b breadth of plate between longitudinal stiffeners - D hull depth - D _B height of double bottom - E Young's modulus - g neutral axis position above the base line in the sagging condition or below the deck in the hogging condition - H depth of hull section in linear elastic state - I _s moment of inertia of a longitudinal stiffener with effective plating - l length of a longitudinal stiffener between transverse beams - M _E elastic bending moment - M _p fully plastic bending moment of hull section - M _u ultimate bending moment capacity of hull section - M _uh ,M _us ultimate bending moment in hogging or sagging conditions - r radius of gyration of a longitudinal stiffener with effective plating [=(I _s /a _s )^1/2] - t plate thickness - Z elastic section modulus at the compression flange - Z _B ,Z _D elastic section modulus at bottom or deck - slenderness ratio of plate between stiffeners [= (b/t)(_y/E)^1/2] - slenderness ratio of a longitudinal stiffener with effective plating [=(l/r)(_y/E)^1/2] - _y yield strength of the material - _yB , _yB , _yD yield strength of outer bottom, inner bottom - _yS deck, or side - _u ultimate buckling strength of the compression flange - _uB , _uB , _uD ultimate buckling strength of outer bottom - _uS inner bottom, deck, or side     

CO2 air–sea disequilibrium and preformed alkalinity in the Pacific and Indian oceans calculated from subsurface layer data

This work estimates new regionalized empirical parameterizations for preformed alkalinity (A_T^o) and the CO₂ air–sea disequilibrium (?C_dis). Both are key terms for the computation of anthropogenic CO₂ in the back-calculation methods. Data from the subsurface layer (75–180 m depth range) covering an area from North to South and from 19°E to 67.5°W (Pacific and Indian oceans) were taken from GLODAP (The Global Ocean Data Analysis Project) database. The subsurface layer is proved as a reliable reference for representing the main characteristics of the different water masses of the oceans. Besides, handing data from the two ocean basins altogether makes the new parameterizations of A_T^o and ?C_dis to be more globally consistent. Nevertheless, each ocean basin, at least in some regions, has different oceanographic characteristics based on its proper dynamical processes and water masses formation. In order to maintain each ocean basin ‘identity’ the whole domain was divided in six different regions (two of them sharing waters from Pacific and Indian oceans) and parameterizations in each region for both terms were obtained. Previously, data were transformed into a grid of 4°lat. × 5°lon. and the results obtained from the parameterizations were visualized and compare with pCO₂ climatologies. From the comparisons with previous ?C_dis estimations good results are obtained showing the reliability and robustness of the new regionalized empiric parameterizations.     

Distributions of oxygen and carbon stable isotopes and CFC-12 in the water masses of the Southern Ocean at 30°E from South Africa to Antarctica: results of the CIVA1 cruise

This study presents oceanic distributions of stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O of water and δ¹³C of ΣCO₂) and CFC-12 from samples collected during the CIVA1 cruise (February/March 1993), across the Southern Ocean, along a meridian section at 30°E, from South Africa (44°S) to Antarctica (70°S). The isotopic measurements show important variations between the subantarctic surface waters with low δ¹⁸O–high δ¹³C values and the antarctic surface waters with very low δ¹⁸O–low δ¹³C values. The surface distributions of δ¹³C values follow the major frontal oceanic structures; the vertical distribution shows the progressive upwelling from the subantarctic zone to the antarctic divergence of ¹³C-depleted CO₂ derived from remineralization of organic matter. Along the Antarctic continental shelf, between 2500 and 4000 m, a core of water with δ¹⁸O values close to −0.1‰ is associated with a relative maximum in CFC-12 concentration, although this core is not detected by its temperature and salinity parameters. This water mass, which corresponds to recently formed deep water, may originate from the eastward extension of the Weddell gyre or from bottom waters coming from the East and formed near Prydz Bay.     

低攻角下二维软帆空气动力特性数值模拟

针对软帆形状随帆面上下压力分布改变而改变的特点,基于涡层分布面元法原理,总结前人研究经验,提出一种可靠的数值模拟方法,编制计算程序,对低攻角情况下二维弓型薄翼软帆在不可压缩、理想流体中的空气动力特性进行数值模拟,结果表明:该方法在低攻角下的模拟结果与试验值吻合良好.这一结果对于进一步开展软帆空气动力特性的数值预报和理论分析研究具有重要参考价值.     

Simple Lagrangian formulation of bubbly flow in a turbulent boundary layer (bubbly boundary layer flow)

For the theoretical consideration of a system for reducing skin friction, a mathematical model was derived to represent, in a two-phase field, the effect on skin friction of the injection of micro air bubbles into the turbulent boundary layer of a liquid stream. Based on the Lagrangian method, the equation of motion governing a single bubble was derived. The random motion of bubbles in a field initially devoid of bubbles was then traced in three dimensions to estimate void fraction distributions across sections of the flow channel, and to determine local bubble behavior. The liquid phase was modeled on the principle of mixing length. Assuming that the force exerted on the liquid phase was equal to the fluid drag generated by bubble slip, an equation was derived to express the reduction in turbulent shear stress. Corroborating experimental data were obtained from tests using a cavitation tunnel equipped with a slit in the ceiling from which bubbly water was injected. The measurement data provided qualitative substantiation of the trend shown by the calculated results with regard to the skin friction ratio between cases with and without bubble injection as function of the distance downstream from the point of bubble injection.List of symbols B law of wall constant - C _f local coefficient of skin friction - C _f0 local coefficient of skin friction in the absence of bubbles - d _b bubble diameter [m] - g acceleration of gravity [m/s²] - k ₁ k₄ proportional coefficient - k _L turbulent energy of the liquid phase [m²/s²] - L representative length [m] - l _b mean free path of a bubble [m] - m _A added mass of a single bubble [kg] - m _b mass of a single bubble [kg] - N _x ,N _y ,N _z force perpendicular to the wall or ceiling exerted on a bubble adhering to that wall or ceiling [N] - P absolute pressure [Pa] - Q _G rate of air supply [/min] - q _L ⁽ⁱ⁾ turbulent velocity at the ith time increment [m/s] - R> _ex Reynolds number defined by Eq. 32 - T _*L integral time scale of the liquid phase [s] - U velocity of the main stream [m/s] - ,¯v,¯w time-averaged velocity components [m/s] - u,v,w turbulent velocity components [m/s] - û _L ,v_L root mean square values of liquid phase turbulence components in thex- and y-directions [m/s] - V volume of a single bubble [m³] - X,Y,Z components of bubble displacement [m] - x _s ,y _s ,z _s coordinate of a random point on a sphere of unit diameter centered at the coordinate origin - root mean square of bubble displacement in they-direction in reference to the turbulent liquid phase velocity [m] - local void fraction - _m mean void fraction in a turbulent region - regular random number - R _v increment of the horizontal component of the force acting on a single bubble, defined by Eq. 22 [N] - t time increment [s] - ₁ reduction of turbulent stress [N/m²] - _L rate of liquid energy dissipation [m²/s³] - _m coefficient defined by Eq. 30 - law of wall constant in the turbulent region in absence of bubbles - ₁ law of wall constant in the turbulent region in presence of bubbles     

Identification and quantification of plankton bloom events in the Baltic Sea by continuous pCO2 and chlorophyll a measurements on a cargo ship

Continuous measurements of the surface water CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) and the chlorophyll a fluorescence were performed in the Baltic Sea using a fully automated measurement system deployed on a cargo ship. The ship commuted regularly at two day intervals between the Mecklenburg Bight (Luebeck) and the Gulf of Finland (Helsinki). The pCO₂ data collected during June 2003 and September 2004 were used to identify biological production events such as the spring bloom and the midsummer cyanobacteria bloom in five different sub-regions. To quantify the net biomass production, the decrease of the total CO₂, ^NC_T (normalized to a uniform alkalinity), during the production periods was calculated using the pCO₂, temperature and salinity records and the mean alkalinity. Taking into account the CO₂ air/sea exchange and the formation of dissolved organic carbon, a simple mass balance yielded the net production of particulate organic carbon which represents the total biomass. The chlorophyll a concentrations obtained from the fluorescence data showed peaks that in most cases coincided with the production maxima and thus supported the interpretation of the pCO₂ data. The production during both the spring bloom (2004) and the midsummer nitrogen fixation period (2003) increased by a factor of about three from the southwest to the northeast. For the spring bloom our estimates were significantly higher than those based on the winter nutrient supply and Redfield C / N and C / P ratios. This indicated the existence of additional nutrient sources such as dissolved organic nitrogen, early nitrogen fixation and preferential P mineralization. Midsummer ^NC_T minima were observed only in 2003 and used to quantify the nitrogen fixation activity and to characterize its interannual variability.     

Sail–sail and sail–hull interaction effects of hybrid-sail assisted bulk carrier

In a previously reported study, wind tunnel experiments were undertaken to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of hybrid-sails in isolation. Such sails are seen as providing a worthwhile reduction in the delivered power to the propeller and hence the engine generated thrust, with a corresponding reduction in the CO₂ production of diesel engine exhaust. In this paper, wind tunnel testing is used to investigate sail–sail interaction effects for two sets of four identical hybrid-sails, and the sail–hull interaction effects for the same two sets of four identical sails in the presence of a bulk carrier hullform. The analysis presented suggests that to build a sail-assisted ship requires an appreciation of the sail–sail and sail–hull interaction effects.     

Capacity and failure mechanism of monopile-wheel hybrid foundation in clay-overlaying-sand deposits under combined V–H-M loadings

Innovative monopile-wheel hybrid foundations are proposed to enhance the lateral load and moment capacities of monopile for offshore wind systems. This paper presents a comprehensive numerical study on the bearing capacities of this hybrid foundation in clay-overlaying-sand soil conditions under combined V–H-M (vertical-horizontal-moment) loadings. Numerical models are generated and validated by comparing with laboratory experiment results and available centrifuge testing data on similar foundation systems. Parametric analysis is then carried out to quantify the effects of potential influencing factors on the failure mechanisms and bearing capacities of hybrid foundations, including the hybrid foundation geometry, soil properties, upper clay thickness, height of the lateral loading and pre-vertical load. It is found that in clay-overlaying-sand deposits, the hybrid system manifests totally different failure mechanism compared with that in uniform soil deposits. The thickness of the upper clay layer (T_c/L), within the practical range of T_c/L = 0.1–0.7, has a significant influence on the failure patterns and the bearing capacities of the hybrid system, and the proportion of bearing capacity provided by the pile and wheel is determined by the ratios of D_w/L and L/D_p. In addition, the failure envelopes in the V–H-M space manifests that the failure envelopes are shrank with the increase of the normalized vertical resistance, V/V_ult, which is highly related to the clay layer thickness (T_c/L).     

Air–sea CO2 fluxes in the Caribbean Sea from 2002–2004

Air–sea fluxes in the Caribbean Sea are presented based on measurements of partial pressure of CO₂ in surface seawater, pCO_2sw, from an automated system onboard the cruise ship Explorer of the Seas for 2002 through 2004. The pCO_2sw values are used to develop algorithms of pCO_2sw based on sea surface temperature (SST) and position. The algorithms are applied to assimilated SST data and remotely sensed winds on a 1° by 1° grid to estimate the fluxes on weekly timescales in the region. The positive relationship between pCO_2sw and SST is lower than the isochemical trend suggesting counteracting effects from biological processes. The relationship varies systematically with location with a stronger dependence further south. Furthermore, the southern area shows significantly lower pCO_2sw in the fall compared to the spring at the same SST, which is attributed to differences in salinity. The annual algorithms for the entire region show a slight trend between 2002 and 2004 suggesting an increase of pCO_2sw over time. This is in accord with the increasing pCO_2sw due the invasion of anthropogenic CO₂. The annual fluxes of CO₂ yield a net invasion of CO₂ to the ocean that ranges from − 0.04 to − 1.2 mol m^− 2 year^− 1 over the 3 years. There is a seasonal reversal in the direction of the flux with CO₂ entering into the ocean during the winter and an evasion during the summer. Year-to-year differences in flux are primarily caused by temperature anomalies in the late winter and spring period resulting in changes in invasion during these seasons. An analysis of pCO_2sw before and after hurricane Frances (September 4–6, 2004), and wind records during the storm suggest a large local enhancement of the flux but minimal influence on annual fluxes in the region.     

The biogeochemical cycling of methane in Ria de Vigo, NW Spain: Sediment processing and sea–air exchange

Methane (CH₄) concentrations were measured in the water column, in sediment porewaters, and in atmospheric air, in the Ría de Vigo, NW Spain, during both the onset (April 2003) and at the end of (September 2004) seasonal upwelling. In addition, CH₄ concentration and stable isotopic signatures (δ¹³CH₄) were measured in porewaters, and sediment methanogenesis and aerobic oxidation of CH₄ were determined in sediment incubations. Surface water column CH₄ (2 m depth) was in the range 3–180 nmol l^− 1 (110–8500% saturation) and followed a generally landward increase but with localised maxima in both the inner and middle Ría. These maxima were consistent with CH₄ inputs from underlying porewaters in which CH₄ concentrations were up to 3 orders of magnitude higher (maximum 350 μmol l^− 1). Surface water CH₄ concentrations were approximately three times higher in September than in April, consistent with a significant benthic CH₄ flux driven by enhanced sediment methanogenesis following the summer productivity maximum. CH₄ and δ¹³CH₄ in sediment porewaters and in incubated sediment slurries (20 °C) revealed significant sediment CH₄ oxidation, with an apparent isotopic fractionation factor (r_c) of  1.004. Using turbulent diffusion models of air–sea exchange we estimate an annual emission of atmospheric CH₄ from the Ría de Vigo of 18–44 × 10⁶ g (1.1–2.7 × 10⁶ mol). This estimate is approximately 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than a previous estimate based on a bubble transport model.     

Atmospheric CO2 measurements and error analysis on seasonal air–sea CO2 fluxes in the Bay of Biscay

Atmospheric molar fraction of CO₂ (xCO₂^atm) measurements obtained on board of ships of opportunity are used to parameterize the seasonal cycle of atmospheric xCO₂ (xCO₂^atm) in three regions of the eastern North Atlantic (Galician and French offshore and Bay of Biscay). Three selection criteria are established to eliminate spurious values and identify xCO₂^atm data representative of atmospheric background values. The filtered data set is fitted to seasonal curve, consisting of an annual trend plus a seasonal cycle. Although the fitted curves are consistent with the seasonal evolution of xCO₂^atm data series from land meteorological stations, only ship-board measurements can report the presence of winter xCO₂^atm minimum on Bay of Biscay. Weekly air–sea CO₂ flux differences (mmol C·m^− 2 day^− 1) produced by the several options of xCO₂^atm usually used (ship-board measurements, data from land meteorological stations and annually averaged values) were calculated in Bay of Biscay throughout 2003. Flux error using fitted seasonal curve relative to on board measurements was minimal, whereas land stations and annual means yielded random (− 0.2 ± 0.3 mmol C·m^− 2·day^− 1) and systematic (− 0.1 ± 0.4 mmol C·m^− 2 day^− 1), respectively. The effect of different available sources of sea level pressure, wind speed and transfer velocity were also evaluated. Wind speed and transfer velocity parameters are found as the most critical choice in the estimate of CO₂ fluxes reaching a flux uncertainty of 7 mmol C·m^− 2·day^− 1 during springtime. The atmospheric pressure shows a notable relative effect during summertime although its influence is quantitatively slight on annual scale (0.3 ± 0.2 mmol C·m^− 2·day^− 1). All results confirms the role of the Bay of Biscay as CO₂ sink for the 2003 with an annual mean CO₂ flux around − 5 ± 5 mmol C m^− 2 day^− 1.     

Vibration reduction of main hulls using semiactive absorbers

A semiactive-type absorber for vibration reduction of main hull girders was investigated. The semiactive absorber system includes a moving mass, support springs, dynamic dampers, and a control system. Only a small electrical power supply is needed for control of the damper valve and the operation of the control system. In this paper, the dynamics of the ship's hull and the constraints of the semiactive absorber are described first. Then, a suboptimal operation law is derived based on the properties of the absorber and the theory of optimal vibration reduction. The numerical simulation results show that the semiactive absorber is more efficient in hull vibration reduction than the passive absorber during critical periodical excitation from the propeller. The vibration caused by multifrequency excitation can also be suppressed by the semiactive absorber. In terms of effectiveness, the semiactive absorber is almost as effective as the active absorber. In particular, the performance of the semiactive absorber is excellent in the reduction of high-frequency fluctuations.List of symbols C _h ⁽ⁱ⁾ damping matrices of the segmenti - C _sb structural damping coefficient of bending - C _ss structural damping coefficient of shear - C _v hydrodynamic damping coefficient - EI flexural rigidity - f _a force generated by the absorber - f _ad damper force of the semiactive absorber - f _ext total excitation force - F _ext ⁽ⁱ⁾ generalized load vector in segmenti - teÎ the identity matrix - J performance index - J _r rotatory moment of inertia - k _a stiffness coefficient of the absorber - K _h ⁽ⁱ⁾ stiffnes matrices of the segmenti - K _s A _s G _s shear rigidity - k _v hydrodynamic spring coefficient - l _k length of the segmentk - m _a mass of the absorber - M _ext total exciting moment - M _h ⁽ⁱ⁾ mass matrices of the segmenti - m _v mass moment of inertia - w _h deflection of the center line of the hull - W _h ⁽ⁱ⁾ vertical translation and shear slope of nodes in segmenti - ¯ w _d displacement of the absorber mass relative to the hull - ¯ w _a absolute displacement of the absorber mass - ¯ w (a, t) absolute upward displacement of the hull atx=a - slope deflection due to bending - slope deflection due to shear - Dirac delta function - _k ⁽ⁱ⁾ Kronecker delta function - _k distribution function - shape function vector     

四面体框架群三维水动力模型

四面体框架群（TFR）防护方法在我国的河流工程中正得到越来越多的应用,然而由于其复杂的几何形状,采用传统的量测手段准确量测四面体框架群内的流场遇到极大障碍,这限制了研究者对四面体防护方法的深入理解．本文利用CFD通用代码Fluent,建立了用于计算四面体框架群流速场和阻力大小的三维水动力数值模型．采用可实现κ-ε紊流模型封闭雷诺时均方程．研究表明该数值模型可以有效补充物理试验研究工作,有助于理解四面体框架复杂的三维流场和防护机理,分别给出了阻力系数CD与雷诺数Re以及升力系数CL与雷诺数Re的关系图．     

Evaluating transfer velocity-wind speed relationship using a long-term series of direct eddy correlation CO2 flux measurements

Long-term observations of the marine atmospheric boundary layer were performed by an eddy correlation system, which was set-up on a platform in the Baltic Sea. In this experiment the three-dimensional wind vector and the turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible and latent heat and CO₂ were measured for one and a half years. Simultaneously the CO₂ partial pressure p_CO2 in surface water was measured by a submersible autonomous moored instrument for CO₂ at the platform in 7-m depth. The high-resolution eddy correlation measurements of the atmospheric CO₂ flux F_CO2, together with the measurements of the CO₂ partial pressure differences between air and sea Δp_CO2 led to a long-term data set which provided the possibility to investigate the parameterization of the CO₂ transfer velocity k as a function of 10-m wind speed u in a statistical manner. From half-hour mean CO₂ fluxes and CO₂ partial pressure differences, k was calculated using k = F_CO2 / (K₀Δp_CO2), with K₀ the CO₂ solubility. The half-hour mean data points, used for the determination of the k–u parameterization, show large scatter. However, assuming a linear, quadratic dependency the analysis yields: k₆₆₀ = 0.365u² + 0.46u (k at 20 °C and salinity 35 psu) with a correlation coefficient of r² = 0.81. The large scatter indicates that the kinetics of the air–sea CO₂ transfer velocity is not only a function of the wind speed alone, but might also be controlled by other environmental parameters and mechanisms, such as sea state and surface coverage with surfactants.     

A novel method for estimating vertical eddy diffusivities using diurnal signals with application to western Long Island Sound

We present an approach that allows the estimation of vertical eddy diffusivity coefficients from buoy measurements made at two or more depths. By measuring the attenuation and phase lag of a scalar signal generated periodically at the surface as it propagates downwards, the vertical eddy diffusivity coefficients can be calculated as K_v = ωΔz²/2ln²(α₂/α₁), where α₂/α₁ is the ratio of the real amplitudes at frequency ω at the two depths separated by Δz = z₂ − z₁; as K_V = ωΔz²/2φ², where φ is the phase lag at the frequency ω; or as K_v = iωΔz²/ln²(U₂/U₁), where U₂/U₁ is the ratio of the complex signal amplitudes at the two depths. The method requires that horizontal fluxes be small at the ω frequency and that the signal-to-noise ratios at the two depths allow the determination of the amplitude and phase of ω.Application of this method to summertime 2004 western Long Island Sound oxygen and temperature buoy measurements at two depths provides a time-series of two-day average vertical eddy diffusivity estimates. Using these eddy diffusivities in conjunction with measured vertical concentration gradients, we obtain a time-series of vertical transport rates for oxygen and heat and estimate mean downward fluxes for June and July as 150–260 mMol m^− 2 day^− 1 and 100–400 W m^− 2 respectively. These estimates are of a similar magnitude to sub-pycnocline O₂ and heat demands of 240 ± 200 mMol m^− 2 day^− 1 and 180 ± 60 W m^− 2 that we infer from simple budgets, implying that vertical transport is significant to both budgets.The eddy coefficients obtained from the independent O₂ and temperature measurements have a 68% correlation, and the O₂ flux estimates show a correlation of 41% to measured rates of change in bottom dissolved oxygen levels. Our results indicate that extended time-series of eddy diffusivity coefficients can be obtained from in situ buoy measurements and the method shows promise as a way to constrain the vertical transport variability in budgets of dissolved materials in estuaries.     

Seasonality of picophytoplankton chlorophyll a and biomass in the central Cantabrian Sea, southern Bay of Biscay

Seasonal changes in the abundance and biomass of cyanobacteria (Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus) and picoeukaryotes were studied by flow cytometry in the upper layers of the central Cantabrian Sea continental shelf, from April 2002 to April 2006. The study area displayed the typical hydrographic conditions of temperate coastal zones. A marked seasonality of the relative contribution of prokaryotes and eukaryotes was found. While cyanobacteria were generally more abundant for most of the year (up to 2.4 10⁵ cells mL^− 1), picoeukaryotes dominated the community (up to 10⁴ cells mL^− 1) from February to May. The disappearance of Prochlorococcus from spring through summer is likely related to shifts in the prevailing current regime. The maximum total abundance of picophytoplankton was consistently found in late summer–early autumn. Mean photic-layer picoplanktonic chlorophyll a ranged from 0.06 to 0.53 µg L^− 1 with a relatively high mean contribution to total values (33 ± 2% SE), showing maxima around autumn and minima in spring. Biomass (range 0.58–40.16 mg C m^− 3) was generally dominated by picoeukaryotes (mean ± SE, 4.28 ± 0.27 mg C m^− 3) with an average contribution of cyanobacteria of 30 ± 2%. Different seasonality of pigment and biomass values resulted in a clear temporal pattern of picophytoplanktonic carbon to chlorophyll a ratio, which ranged from 10 (winter) to 140 (summer). This study highlights the important contribution of picoplanktonic chlorophyll a and carbon biomass in this coastal ecosystem.     

A box model approach for a long-term assessment of estuarine eutrophication, Szczecin Lagoon, southern Baltic

We develop a layered “box model” to evaluate the major effects of estuarine eutrophication of the Szczecin lagoon which can be compared with integrating measures (chlorophyll a (Chl a), sediment burial, sediment oxygen consumption (SOC), input and output of total nutrient loads) and use it to hindcast the period 1950–1996 (the years when major increase in nutrient discharges by the Oder River took place). The following state variables are used to describe the cycling of the limiting nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus): phytoplankton (Phy), labile and refractory detritus (D_N, D_Nref, D_P, D_Pref), dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and oxygen (O₂). The three layers of the model include two water layers and one sediment layer. Decrease of the carrying capacity with respect to the increased supply of organic matter of the system with advancing eutrophication over the period studied is parameterized by an exponential decrease of the sediment nitrogen fluxes with increasing burial, simulating changing properties from moderate to high accumulating sediments. The seasonal variation as well as the order of magnitude of nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton stocks in the water column remains in agreement with recent observations. Calculated annual mean values of nutrient burial of 193 mmol N m⁻² a⁻¹ and 23 mmol P m⁻² a⁻¹ are supported by observed values from geological sediment records. Estimated DIN remineralization in the sediments between 100 and 550 mmol N m⁻² a⁻¹ corresponds to SOC measurements. Simulated DIP release up to 60 mmol P m⁻² a⁻¹ corresponds to recent measurements. The conceptual framework presented here can be used for a sequential box model approach connecting small estuaries like the Szczecin lagoon and the open sea, and might also be connected with river box models.