Variations of the abundance and nucleic acid content of heterotrophic bacteria in Beaufort Shelf waters during winter and spring

Depth profiles of heterotrophic bacteria abundance were measured weekly over a 6-month period from December to May in Franklin Bay, a 230 m-deep coastal Arctic Ocean site of the southeastern Beaufort Sea. Total bacteria, low nucleic acid (LNA) and high nucleic acid (HNA) bacteria abundances were measured using flow cytometry after SYBR Green I staining. The HNA bacteria abundance in surface waters started to increase 5–6 weeks after phytoplankton growth resumed in spring, increasing from 1 × 10⁵ to 3 × 10⁵ cells mL^− 1 over an 8-week period, with a net growth rate of 0.018 d^− 1. LNA bacteria response was delayed by more than two months relative to the beginning of the phytoplankton biomass accumulation and had a lower net growth rate of 0.013 d^− 1. The marked increase in bacterial abundance occurred before any significant increase in organic matter input from river discharge (as indicated by the unchanged surface water salinity and DOC concentrations), and in the absence of water temperature increase. The abundance of bacteria below the halocline was relatively high until January (up to 5 × 10⁵ cells mL^− 1) but then decreased to values close to 2 × 10⁵ cells mL^− 1. The three-fold bacterial abundance increase observed in surface waters in spring was mostly due to HNA bacteria, supporting the idea that these cells are the most active.     

Diatom stratigraphy and long-term dissolved silica concentrations in the Baltic Sea

In many parts of the world coastal waters with anthropogenic eutrophication have experienced a gradual depletion of dissolved silica (DSi) stocks. This could put pressure on spring bloom diatom populations, e.g. by limiting the intensity of blooms or by causing shifts in species composition. In addition, eutrophication driven enhanced diatom growth is responsible for the redistribution of DSi from the water phase to the sediments, and changes in the growth conditions may be reflected in the sediment diatom stratigraphy.To test for changes in diatom communities we have analyzed four sediment cores from the Baltic Sea covering approximately the last 100 years. The sediment cores originate from the western Gulf of Finland, the Kattegat, the Baltic Proper and the Gulf of Riga. Three out of the four cores reveal only minor changes in composition of diatom assemblages, while the Gulf of Riga core contains major changes, occurring after the second World War. This area is set apart from the other Baltic Sea basins by a high frequency of low after spring bloom DSi concentrations (< 2 µmol L^− 1) during a relatively well defined time period from 1991–1998. In 1991 to 1993 a rapid decline of DSi spring concentrations and winter stocks (down to 5 µmol L^− 1) in the Gulf was preceded by exceptionally intense diatom spring blooms dominated by the heavily silicified species Thalassiosira baltica (1991–1992; up to 5.5 mg ww L^− 1). T. baltica has been the principal spring bloom diatom in the Gulf of Riga since records began in 1975. DSi consumption and biomass yield experiments with cultured T. baltica suggest that intense blooms can potentially exhaust the DSi stock of the water column and exceed the annual Si dissolution in the Gulf of Riga. The phytoplankton time series reveals another exceptional T. baltica bloom period in 1981–1983 (up to 8 mg L^− 1), which, however, took place before the regular DSi measurements. These periods may be reflected in the conspicuous accumulation of T. baltica frustules in the sediment core corresponding to ca. 1975–1985.     

Population dynamics of the red shrimp Aristeus antennatus in the Balearic Islands (western Mediterranean): Short spatio-temporal differences and influence of environmental factors

The red shrimp Aristeus antennatus is one of the target species of the bottom trawl fishery of the Balearic Islands. The objective of the present paper is to study the short spatial and temporal differences of this important economic resource between two different locations off Mallorca (Cabrera: CA; Sóller: SO), where a fleet mobility pattern has been detected, and to study the influence of environmental conditions on this species. Six simultaneous bottom-trawl and oceanographic surveys were carried out at these two locations in order to collect data from the demersal species, hydrography (temperature and salinity), trophic resources and sediment characteristics. The commercial fleet from both locations was monitored by monthly on-board sampling, log-books and daily landings obtained from sales slips. Additional data was obtained from other fishing surveys. Short spatial and temporal differences have been detected between both locations. The population at CA was more demographically homogeneous, while that at SO showed important variations, like high abundance of juveniles recruiting to fishing grounds in autumn–winter and high abundance of large females during summer. Several differences have also been found in the biology of the species between locations, such as males were more abundant in SO than in CA. Also, the reproductive period started sooner in SO than in CA, and the condition of pre-spawning females was better in SO. The percentage of total lipids in the hepatopancreas was minimal during the spawning period, showing their importance as a reserve of energy for the ovary ripening. Water masses could play an important role in these differences, the characteristics of water masses being more stable in CA than in SO. Red shrimp adult females seemed to be more correlated with the warmer and more saline Levantine Intermediate Waters, while juveniles (males and females) and adult males were more correlated with the colder Western Mediterranean Deep Waters, detected only in SO during autumn–winter. Two different hypothesis of mobility patterns for the species are discussed in relation to these observed differences.     

Does a carbon tax affect the feasibility of Arctic shipping?

The Arctic route has huge potential for shipping between Europe and Northeast Asia with significant savings in transit time and distance. However, GHG emissions from shipping would harm the environment of Arctic area. Potential Market Based Measures of GHG emission reduction (such as carbon tax) are under consideration but they may affect the economic viability of Northern Sea Route (NSR) for containerships. This paper investigates the economic viability of NSR against Suez Canal Route (SCR) under 2 proposed carbon tax schemes (fixed vs. progressive). Three different fuel oil types (Heavy Fuel Oil, Light Fuel Oil, Liquified Natural Gas) are used as main bunker fuel for the calculation of economic feasibility. Our result reveals that when there is no carbon tax on NSR nor SCR, or both routes are under a carbon tax scheme, no matter fixed or progressive, NSR is more economically viable, regardless of fuel type choice. When only NSR is under a carbon tax scheme, the viability depends on specific carbon tax scheme and fuel choice, but for the majority of containership sizes, NSR has lower unit cost. The result also suggests that for a given route, a progressive scheme in preferable than a fixed one and LNG would be an appealing fuel with lower unit cost.     

Onboard tuning of vessel seakeeping model parameters and sea state characteristics

It is essential for a safe and cost-efficient marine operation to improve the knowledge about the real-time onboard vessel conditions. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for simultaneous tuning of important vessel seakeeping model parameters and sea state characteristics based on onboard vessel motion measurements and available wave data. The proposed algorithm is fundamentally based on the unscented transformation and inspired by the scaled unscented Kalman filter, which is very computationally efficient for large dimensional and nonlinear problems. The algorithm is demonstrated by case studies based on numerical simulations, considering realistic sensor noises and wave data uncertainties. Both long-crested and short-crested wave conditions are considered in the case studies. The system state of the proposed tuning framework consists of a vessel state vector and a sea state vector. The tuning results reasonably approach the true values of the considered uncertain vessel parameters and sea state characteristics, with reduced uncertainties. The quantification of the system state uncertainties helps to close a critical gap towards achieving reliability-based marine operations.     

Research Review of Collaborative Ecosystem-Based Management in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem

The welfare of the marine environment is threatened worldwide. In order to maintain ecosystem services management must shift from single sector to ecosystem approaches. To support this transition in marine management, this article reviews collaborative ecosystem-based management in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME), through an overview and comparison of three collaborations on the United States West Coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. The achievements of these collaborations are demonstrated. Networking and extending collaboration throughout the entire region is shown to be essential for environmental conservation and sustainable development in the CCLME.     

Visitor Preferences for Public Beach Amenities and Beach Restoration in South Florida

Coastal erosion threatens many sandy beaches and the ecological, economic, social and cultural amenities they provide. The problem is especially chronic in South Florida. A frequent solution for beach restoration involves sand replacement, or nourishment, but is temporary, expensive, and has usually been funded by governmental sources. However, as such agencies reduce their share and require more local funding, beach nourishment must rely on other funding sources, including beach recreationists. Our study characterized three South Florida beaches and probed visitor willingness-to-pay for beach nourishment. We found that even beaches within close proximity attract different user types. Users are amenable to higher fees if they lead to greater resource protection.     

东中国海波浪分布特征研究

以美国国家环境预报中心(NCEP)再分析气象资料作为驱动风场条件,运用第三代海浪模式WAM的第四版本(WAMC4)在西北太平洋海域建立二级嵌套波浪模型,利用连云港、冷家沙现场观测波浪资料对模型进行了验证,检验了该模型在东中国海波浪研究中的适用性针对东中国海进行了连续60年(1950—2909)的波浪后报模拟,在此基础上开展了东中国海波浪时空分布特征研究.结果表明:四季的平均有效波高等值线与岸线形状基本保持一致,且由南向北逐渐递减;有效波高分布的季节差异显著,冬季浪高最大,其次为秋季,春季、夏季最小。通过对比分析平均波浪要素和5%累积频率波浪要素的定量关系发现,在渤海范围内,5%累积频率有效波高与平均有效波高之比约为2.75,黄海与东海大部该比值则分别约为2.50和2.35,而5%累积频率平均周期与平均周期的比值在整个东中国海范围内约为1.45。     

基于分形机制的红砂岩路基填筑现场试验研究

红砂岩的软化和崩解是具有复杂机制的物理现象。本文结合湖南通城至平江高速公路工程中遇到红砂岩,基于红砂岩崩解过程的分形机理,针对红砂岩崩解过程中的颗粒及其分数维变化特征,建立红砂岩完全崩解的分维数指标,并开展现场试验。试验结果表明：通平高速公路红砂岩属于III类红砂岩,但仍会崩解,故不能作为填石路堤对待;红砂岩崩解颗粒及其分数维变化的临界值最后稳定在2．6—2．7之间;采用“光静1遍＋羊静1遍＋羊振4—5遍＋光振1遍＋光振1遍”处治的红砂岩下路堤最大粒径控制在25cm以下的能力,弯沉满足设计要求;路基中的红层填料的分数维基本满足2．6—2．7要求,采用该工艺处治后的红砂岩路基崩解已经趋于完成,可用于93区填筑。     

浏醴高速公路红砂岩路基填筑现场试验研究

在湖南省高速公路建设中存在大量红砂岩路段,该类岩石因其成因特殊而成分复杂且大部分具有崩解性,作为一种特殊路基填料使用往往导致工程建设成本高,施工进度缓慢,施工质量难以控制。结合湖南长沙浏阳（黄泥界）至醴陵高速公路工程中遇到的红砂岩地质情况,开展红砂岩成分、强度、崩解及其现场试验,试验结果表明,浏醴高速Ⅲ类红砂岩长时间仍会崩解,不能作为一般填石路堤对待;采用预崩解与耙压相结合的工艺适用于该地区红砂岩路基施工;考虑到红砂岩的特殊性,对于全线砂岩挖填接合处、高填方路段等难以压实的地段建议进行强夯加速其沉降。