Northwestern Coast Research Articles

Evaluation of cetacean strandings on the north-western coast of Morocco from 2016 to 2021

Evaluation of cetacean strandings on the north-western coast of Morocco from 2016 to 2021

Evaluating the Performance of a Planting and Reservoir tillage Machine at Different Tractor Forward Speeds under Rainfed Conditions for Wheat Crop in Northwestern Coastal, Egypt

Evaluating the Performance of a Planting and Reservoir tillage Machine at Different Tractor Forward Speeds under Rainfed Conditions for Wheat Crop in Northwestern Coastal, Egypt

The Role of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) in Juvenile Fish Dispersal along the North-Western Coast of Sicily

Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are used worldwide to attract fish. Previous studies revealed that FADs affect the distribution and dispersal patterns of juvenile fish species during their life stage under floating objects. In this study, we hypothesised that a system of FADs arranged along an inshore–offshore gradient could favour the approach of young fish associated with FADs towards coastal habitats, using individual FADs as stepping stones. Our findings suggest that FAD systems might exert two different effects on juvenile fish distribution: (a) offshore FADs tend to retain associated fish for longer periods of time compared with coastal FADs, (b) coastal FADs favour the transition of fishes from the pelagic to the benthic domain. Furthermore, in order to obtain more information on the dynamic and movement patterns of the young-of-the-year (YOY) Seriola dumerili and Caranx crysos associated with FADs, tagging experiments and underwater visual censuses were conducted. The two juvenile species tagged and released under FADs placed at different distances from the coast showed different movement patterns. S. dumerili exhibited low FAD fidelity and large movements, while C. crysos showed high fidelity to the site. The results of the two research approaches confirm that FADs affect the dispersal of species toward the coast and their correct use could help to improve the sustainable management of these coastal fish resources.

Unmanned Aerial Photography Futures to explore surface deformations and their visualization on the geoportal “ActiveTectonics”

On the example of the Rita River delta and alluvial fan of the Shartlai River located on the northwestern coast of Lake Baikal, we show the possibilities of ultra-detailed aerial photography, which allows tracing surface discontinuities with displacements from a few centimeters. The software package "Agisoft Metashape" was applied for analyzing the multi-temporal digital elevation models with the same spatial resolution of 1,67 cm/pixel to fix possible changes in the earth's surface over the year for the local area of earthquake-induced ground failures at Cape Rytyi. It has been established that most of this part has sunk by an average of 5–10 cm per year, and in the axial parts of the faults, subsidence has reached 33 cm. The greatest accumulation of sediments (up to 40 cm thick in some places) occurred on the shore, which is mainly due to the geological activity of the waves of Lake Baikal. Based on the relationship between ruptures and alluvial fans of different ages, we concluded at least two rupturing paleoearthquakes at Cape Shartlai. On the author's geoportal "ActiveTectonics", we uploaded some materials of unmanned aerial photography and geological objects in the form of orthophotomaps, digital elevation models and 360° panoramas that significantly expands the possibilities of data perception which are the basis for scientific results and conclusions.

Diversity of Phytonematodes Associated with some Fruit Trees in Northwestern Coast, Egypt

status of the plant nematode community associated with growing trees in northwestern of Egypt. About 1839 soil and root samples were collected, during the period from 2021 to 2022 at the entire costal districts besides the Siwa district of Marsa Matrouh governorate. Root- knot nematode, Meloidogyne spp < em>. was the most abundant and dominant genus in all nine surveyed regions

Modelling coastal upwelling off NW Iberian Peninsula: New insights on the fate of phytoplankton blooms

The northwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula is a region characterized by pronounced hydrologic and biogeochemical activity, resulting in important fish and shellfish resources whose exploitation has a strong local socioeconomic impact. This high biological diversity is strongly dependent on coastal upwelling induced by favourable winds, which presents seasonal variability. This motivates the present study, which aims to understand the relation between local circulation, hydrography and Chl-a concentration under summer upwelling events of different intensities and clarify their effects in the region. To achieve this purpose, a coupled physical-biological model was developed and validated for the northwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, based on the use of MOHID modelling system and the application of a nested domains methodology. Comparison of predictions with observations demonstrated the model's accuracy in reproducing the physical and biogeochemical properties of the study region, both at the surface and along the water column. The study of different summer upwelling events shows that the local phytoplankton patterns are dependent on the characteristics of the event. Results show that under high upwelling favourable winds, a surface southwestward flow and an equatorward flow through the water column develop near the coast, inducing offshore advection of nutrient and phytoplankton-rich waters. Otherwise, under light upwelling favourable winds, surface currents are weak, a poleward flow develops, and phytoplankton is retained near the coast.

First record of the Great Seahorse Hippocampus kelloggi Jordan &amp; Snyder, 1901 (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) from the northwestern coast of Bay of Bengal

This study reports the first occurrence of the Great Seahorse Hippocampus kelloggi from the state of Odisha in the eastern coast (Bay of Bengal) of India. The seahorse was captured in a ring net during daily fishing activities. The sample was collected from the Ariyapalli fish landing center and identification was carried out based on the morphometric features of the specimen and the seahorse identification guide. The total length of the juvenile seahorse was 12.5 cm (with a tail length of 6.6 cm (52.8%), trunk length of 3.4 cm (27.2%) and head length of 2.5 cm (20%)). The length of the snout was 1 cm. There were 38 tail rings followed by 11 rings on the trunk of the animal. Both eye and cheek spines were present. Northward migration (~1,300 km) of this species can be a response of extensive fishing activities around the southern coast of India. This calls for increased monitoring of the coast coastal ecosystems of India on the east coast for better conservation and management of the remaining seahorse populations.

Characterising the wave energy resource of Lanzarote, Canary Islands

Waves of varying magnitude and frequency, characteristic of all coastal locations throughout the world, could be converted into electricity via wave energy converters. However, one challenge with wave energy conversion is lack of knowledge of the regional distribution of wave properties (e.g. to optimise site selection), and how the wave power varies at inter- and intra-annual timescales. Here, we apply physics- and non-physics-based approaches to accurately simulate the wave climate of the Canary Islands—a region in the eastern North Atlantic that relies heavily on the import of diesel to generate much of its electricity. Over the 11-year time period of the physics-based wave hindcast, the annual mean wave power of Lanzarote, one of the largest of the Canary Islands was approximately 25 kW/m along the exposed north-western coast of the island. We find that intra-annual variability was relatively low (compared with high latitude regions such as the west coast of Scotland), with the coefficient of variation for wave energy resource = 1.1. To reduce levelized cost, it could be advantageous to co-locate wave energy arrays with mature offshore wind energy, and we find that the dominance of swell waves in Lanzarote reduces the coefficient of variation for a 55% wind, 45% wave combination to 0.8. Finally, we demonstrate a simple non-physics based process for extending the output timeseries beyond the hindcast duration, by correlating with parameters from global models.

Stable isotope analyses of amino acids reveal the importance of aquatic resources to Mediterranean coastal hunter-gatherers.

Determining the degree to which humans relied on coastal resources in the past is key for understanding long-term social and economic development, as well as for assessing human health and anthropogenic impacts on the environment. Prehistoric hunter-gatherers are often assumed to have heavily exploited aquatic resources, especially those living in regions of high marine productivity. For the Mediterranean, this view has been challenged, partly by the application of stable isotope analysis of skeletal remains which has shown more varied coastal hunter-gatherer diets than in other regions, perhaps due to its lower productivity. By undertaking a more specific analysis of amino acids from bone collagen of 11 individuals from one of the oldest and best-known Mesolithic cemeteries in the Mediterranean, at El Collado, Valencia, we show that high levels of aquatic protein consumption were achieved. By measuring both carbon and nitrogen in amino acids, we conclude that some of the El Collado humans relied heavily on local lagoonal fish and possibly shellfish, rather than open marine species. By contrast to previous suggestions, this study demonstrates that the north-western coast of the Mediterranean basin could support maritime-oriented economies during the Early Holocene.

Seasonal variability of satellite-derived primary production in the South China Sea from an absorption-based model

Seasonal patterns of marine net primary production (NPP) are crucial for understanding the marine ecosystem and biogeochemical cycles. Uncoupling of seasonal variations between NPP and phytoplankton chlorophyll-a over different areas has attracted much attention. In this study, following a review of previous studies, monthly climatological NPP data from 2003 to 2020, estimated using the Size-fractioned Phytoplankton Pigment Absorption (aph)-based NPP Model (SABPM), were selected to study the seasonal variability of NPP in the South China Sea (SCS). Results showed the spatial differences of NPP seasonality and its departures from climatology in extreme El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) years. Cluster analysis for climatological monthly data identified significant differences of NPP seasonality in five typical regions. In coastal regions along the northern SCS and off eastern Vietnam, NPP exhibited the most obvious seasonal cycle with maximum (minimum) values in summer (winter), attributable mainly to river discharge and summer upwelling. In regions off northwestern Luzon and coast of southern SCS, NPP showed peaks in winter, which were related to strong mixing and upwelling. In northwestern SCS, NPP was high during May–September in phase with sea surface temperature and the primary controlling factors were found to be shallow nutricline depth and wind-driven mixing. Owing to the deep nutricline depth in the central basin, NPP exhibited little seasonal variability; only a weak signal was observed in spring in phase with photosynthetically active radiation. Local dynamics on regulating the nutrient supply and light availability contribute to these regional differences in NPP seasonality, which could also be affected by extreme climate events. The largest anomalies of the NPP seasonal cycle coincide with 2015/2016 ENSO and super IOD in 2020. During these events, enhanced (weakened) westerly winds caused fall (rise) of SLA and increase (decrease) of NPP in coastal regions along the northern SCS and that off eastern Vietnam. Overall, theaph-based model shows a new perspective to study the spatiotemporal variations of NPP in the SCS.

Incidence trends and spatial distributions of lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in Taiwan

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in Taiwan. After Taiwan implemented the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act in 1997, smoking rates declined. However, the incidence rates of lung cancer for both sexes are still increasing, possibly due to risk factors other than smoking. We used age–period–cohort analysis to examine the secular trends of lung cancer incidence rates by histological type in Taiwan. A stabilized kriging method was employed to map these lung cancer incidence rates. Lung adenocarcinoma incidence rates increased, but lung squamous cell carcinoma incidence rates decreased, for both the sexes in recent birth cohorts, particularly in women. In Taiwan, the hotspots of lung adenocarcinoma incidence rates were in the northern, northeastern, and western coastal areas; the incidence rates increased rapidly in the western and southern coastal regions and southern mountainous regions. The high incidence rates of lung squamous cell carcinoma in men were in the southwestern and northeastern coastal areas. The incidence rates rapidly increased in the central and southern coastal and mountainous regions. For both sexes in Taiwan, lung squamous cell carcinoma incidence rates declined from 1997 to 2017, but lung adenocarcinoma increased. The increased incidence rates of lung adenocarcinoma may be related to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Some areas in Taiwan have increasing lung cancer incidence rates, including the northwestern and southern coasts and mountains, and warrant particular attention.

Sorption and transport characteristics of europium on sandy soils

Radioactive europium can be released as a fission product during nuclear incidents and pose a threat to the human and surrounding environment because of its biological activity and long decay half-lives. For safe design issues and human health protection demands in construction of the planned nuclear power plants (NPPs) at Al-Dabaa site, it is necessary to study the sorption and transport of different radionuclides as europium within the selected area for predicting their fate at any crisis. Many soil samples were collected from different locations at the area selected along the northwestern coast of Egypt. The samples were transported to the laboratory, preserved, and characterized using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR), and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). Experiments were performed to study the sorption and transport kinetics of Eu(III) ions on two sandy soil samples from the collected ones. The effect of different parameters (e.g. contact time, pH, initial europium concentration, and temperature) on the sorption behavior europium was explored in a static condition. The maximum sorption capacity was determined and found to be 3.4 and 7.0 mg g−1 for sorption of Eu(III) ions onto soil-1 and soil-2, respectively. Different models were applied to assess the sorption of europium onto the surface of the investigated soils. Data confirmed that Eu retention was attained through a chemisorption process. Further, the thermodynamic parameters were determined and their values confirmed the endothermic nature of the sorption process. The transport of europium radionuclides, with groundwater, through homogeneous porous media with uniform one-dimensional flow in the geosphere was processed and the relative migration velocity was determined in presence of both distilled and seawater media. The transport of Eu(III) radionuclides was higher in presence of seawater than that in presence of distilled water by about two order of magnitude. This obviously clarified the effect of seawater in accelerating the transport of radionuclides with groundwater in the geosphere of studied area. The role of different competing ions have various valances on the relative migration velocity was explored. Further, the time required for studied radionuclides to reach Mediterranean Sea was determined.

Spatiotemporal clusters of Kawasaki disease in South Korea from 2008 to 2017: A municipal-level ecological study.

As the etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unknown, identifying spatiotemporal clusters with proper stratification of KD could provide further evidence for investigating the triggers of KD. However, spatiotemporal distributions of KD with sex stratification have never been reported. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of KD by sex in South Korea. We extracted epidemiologic week (Epiweek)-based KD cases in patients <5 years of age (ICD-10-CM code: M303) from 2008 to 2017 national health insurance service data at the 250 municipal level. To determine whether spatial autocorrelation and persistent municipal-level clusters exist, year- and sex-stratified global Moran's I statistics, Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, and emerging hotspot analysis on KD incidence were conducted. A total of 72,510 KD cases were reported between 2008 and 2017 (male-to-female ratio = 1.40:1). Incidence has increased since 2008, with the highest incidence in 2016 (396.8 per 100,000 population). KD had seasonality of winter and summer but different by sex. Positive spatial autocorrelation was consistently reported in every stratum, with the 2011-2014 period having the strongest index value (total sex I = 0.286, p < 0.001; male I = 0.242, p < 0.001; female I = 0.213, p < 0.001). Hot spots were consistently detected in the northern parts, and cold spots were in the southern part for 9 years in both sexes. The emerging hot spot analysis showed new, consecutive, and sporadic hot spots on the northwestern and eastern coasts and new and sporadic cold spots in the southwestern part. However, the distribution and proportion of hot or cold spot types differed according to sex. The spatiotemporal features of KD had limits to concluding that only infectious triggers result in KD occurrence. Therefore, our findings support the notion that KD is a syndrome with multiple factors, including infectious, genetic, and environmental factors, that are associated with sex differences.

Observations of bowhead whales along the Northern Chukotka peninsula 2010–2012 with comparisons to 1994–1996 and 2002–2005

This paper contains information on the seasonal distribution of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) in coastal waters of Chukotka (northeast Russia) in 2010–2012. Data from shore-based observation posts provides spatial and temporal information about whale distribution and migration in the coastal zones, as well as information about their relative numbers. The spring migration was observed only from Uelen, Russia (66°N, 149°W), near the northwestern entrance to the Bering Strait, and extended from the end of May through the first half of June. Some year-to-year differences in numbers and migration dynamics were observed. During summer, bowhead whales were sighted in the waters of the northern coast of Chukotka Peninsula in July and August. In 2010–2012, single whales and small groups of up to 4–8 whales were observed in the area for days making non-directed movements. Our observations in 2010–2012 demonstrated that many bowhead whales visited Chukotka coast in the autumn (September) before sea ice formation. From past observations, it appears that the autumn migration begins 2–3 weeks earlier on the northwestern coast of the Chukotka Peninsula than in the (northern) entry of the Bering Strait. The autumn migration of bowhead whales began with ice formation and ended with the complete freezing of the waters. Ice conditions appear to drive high variability in timing of the bowhead autumn migration. The northeastern Chukotka coast is one of the most important feeding areas for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort (BCB) bowhead whale population.

Using UAV-Based Photogrammetry Coupled with In Situ Fieldwork and U-Pb Geochronology to Decipher Multi-Phase Deformation Processes: A Case Study from Sarclet, Inner Moray Firth Basin, UK

Constraining the age of formation and repeated movements along fault arrays in superimposed rift basins helps us to better unravel the kinematic history as well as the role of inherited structures in basin evolution. The Inner Moray Firth Basin (IMFB, western North Sea) overlies rocks of the Caledonian basement, the pre-existing Devonian–Carboniferous Orcadian Basin, and a regionally developed Permo–Triassic North Sea basin system. IMFB rifting occurred mainly in the Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous. The rift basin then experienced further regional tilting, uplift and fault reactivation during the Cenozoic. The Devonian successions exposed onshore along the northwestern coast of IMFB and the southeastern onshore exposures of the Orcadian Basin at Sarclet preserve a variety of fault orientations and structures. Their timing and relationship to the structural development of the wider Orcadian and IMFB are poorly understood. In this study, drone airborne optical images are used to create high-resolution 3D digital outcrops. Analyses of these images are then coupled with detailed field observations and U-Pb geochronology of syn-faulting mineralised veins in order to constrain the orientations and absolute timing of fault populations and decipher the kinematic history of the area. In addition, the findings help to better identify deformation structures associated with earlier basin-forming events. This holistic approach helped identify and characterise multiple deformation events, including the Late Carboniferous inversion of Devonian rifting structures, Permian minor fracturing, Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous rifting and Cenozoic reactivation and local inversion. We were also able to isolate characteristic structures, fault kinematics, fault rock developments and associated mineralisation types related to these events

Groundwater Investigation Using Electrical Resistivity Method at New Borg El-Arab City, Alexandria, Egypt

New Borg El-Arab is a city located on the northwestern coast of Egypt, where the increasing anthropogenic activities have led to an increase in water demand. Groundwater is the main source of water in this area, but it is seriously affected by the Mediterranean saltwater intrusion. This causes a substantial impact on the water quality of the coastal aquifer. In this study, the electrical resistivity method was applied to delineate the shallow groundwater aquifer and its quality. Twenty vertical electrical soundings (VES) distributed along 6 profiles were measured. To observe the seasonal groundwater variations, 14 VES points were measured at the end of the rainy season, while the measurements of 6 VES points were repeated at the end of the dry season. The results revealed 4 geoelectrical layers; the first layer is a surface dry zone with variable resistivity values, followed by a water-bearing layer; while the third is a limestone layer, followed by a clay deposits zone. In comparison to the winter season, the water-bearing layer records lower resistivity values at the end of summer. Optimal locations to drill new groundwater wells have also been determined with a depth varying from 1.8 m north to about 30 m south.

Northern Hemisphere Heat Extremes in a Warmer Climate: More Probable but Less Colocated With Blocking

AbstractThis work uses reanalysis and NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 model, CM4, to investigate the colocation of heat extremes and atmospheric blocking in the current climate and an end of 21st century, extreme‐emissions projection. In the present day, the colocation of heat events and blocking is greatest for the strongest heat events. Block‐heat extreme colocation is found to be less prevalent over ocean than land, exhibiting regional variation throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Over North America, colocation is greatest near the northwestern and northeastern coasts, minimizing near the center; over Eurasia, colocation is most prevalent in northern regions. In an RCP 8.5 projection, the historical 90th percentile temperature decreases to 0–70th percentile, depending on the region. This is primarily driven by mean state warming. Blocking is found to decrease along with the colocation of blocking and heat extremes, suggesting that in some regions, the mechanisms driving heat extremes will change in future climates.

Assessment shoreline changes of El Alamein and Marina coastal area, northwestern coast of Egypt

New EL Alamein city (NAC) is located on the northwestern coast of Egypt 110 km western of Alexandria and just west of Marina resort. The city layout includes internal artificial lagoons circulated by jetties’ inlets connected to the Mediterranean Sea. Intermediate and multigrade groynes have been proposed to reduce intermediate and downdrift expected erosion. Shoreline erosion at the downdrift area of coastal jetties and sedimentation at lagoons inlets are considered critical issues which shall be balanced and modeled. Marina resort lagoons and protections are considered a prototype for NAC coastal structures and inlets. For Marina resort lagoons case study, shoreline changes have been digitized from Google Earth historical images and field measurements data between 1988 and 2021 by using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) software. Cutting natural longshore sediment deposits by Marina jetties has significantly eroded the downdrift area eastern of Marina border. Most of Marina downdrift area was under accretion(up to + 10 m/year) and little erosion areas before the protection work from 1985 to 1988 and with an average rate of −1.00 m / year from 1988 to 2001 during the construction of the jetties and groynes and with an average rate of −1.20 m/ year after the construction stages between 2005 and 2018. High rates of erosion with an average rate of −4.30 m/year were identified between 2019 and 2021 with the start of NAC coastal proposed structures. This research aims to assess the historical and current situation of NAC shoreline changes and use the similar near project of Marina resort to identify and mitigate the side effects of the proposed protection works of New EL Alamein City.

Assessing the Future wind Energy Potential in Portugal Using a CMIP6 Model Ensemble and WRF High-Resolution Simulations

Future wind energy potential over Portugal is assessed, using wind speed data from a WRF regional simulation under the SSP5-8.5 scenario for 2046–2065 and 2081–2100. Data from a CMIP6 multi-model ensemble were also used to assess future changes in the Euro-Atlantic large-scale circulation. CMIP6 results have shown a southward displacement of the mid-latitude jet stream during winter, and a northward displacement during spring, summer, and autumn, which causes the northern winds to strengthen during summer along the north-western Iberian coast. Furthermore, in 2046–2065 the wind power density (WPD) should increase between 25% and 50% off the northwest coast of Portugal and in the Serra da Estrela mountain range during summer, which is in agreement with the CMIP6 global ensemble projections. Analyses of WPD’s 2046–2065 daily variability of offshore north-western Portugal reveal a variability increase during winter, spring and summer, as well as more intense extreme WPD events, and less intense extreme events during autumn. The WPD’s 2046–2065 inter-annual variability should increase off the northwest coast, and decrease along the central western and southern coasts, whereas it should increase in the entire studied area in 2081–2100, apart from the northern mountain regions and Cape Raso.

Отложения верхнего миоцена-плиоцена Пра-Аносовки как источник аллювия Пра-Манзурки: Добайкальский перенос обломочного материала через Южно-Байкальскую впадину

The Upper Miocene-Pliocene sediments of the Anosovka section are described on the southern coast of Lake Baikal. In the lower (Upper Miocene) stratum of the sediments, a Co/Th anomaly is detected. It is proposed that the Pra-Anosovka sedimentary material with the Co/Th anomaly served as one of the sources for alluvium in the Pra-Manzurka valley on its northwestern coast.