Wide Belt Research Articles

First-Principles Study on Electronic Structure and Magnetic Properties of Freestanding Ni Nanobelts

Calculations have been performed for the relaxed structures and electronic properties of Ni nanobelts with the cross-section 3×3, 3×5, 3×7 and 3×9 atomic layers, using the first-principles projector-augmented wave (PAW) potential within density functional theory (DFT) framework. For all of the four size Ni nanobelts, the most atoms relax inward and the magnetic moment decrease as the belt width increase. Compared with bulk Ni, the freestanding Ni nanobelt offer strong spin polarization at the Fermi level as well as considerable magnetic moment. Thus such structures can be potentially utilized to design magnetic nano-devices.

Morphology and classification of the main stem Bagmati River, Central Nepal

Rivers are significant geomorphic agents which can carry huge amounts of sediments and water from their catchments to depositional basins. Due course of flow they can bring various hazards such as flooding, inundation of flood plains, erosion of banks and trigger various slope movements. To understand nature and behavior of the Bagmati River, which is a perennial, storm and spring-fed, eight order river of central Nepal, the planiform morphological parameters of this river were analysed and river segments along the main stem stretches were classified into various stream-types, using topographic maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imageries. The Bagmati River is an 8th order perennial river. The Bagmati River basin comprises 39 sub-basins of 4th order and higher. The averages of meander wavelengths (Lm), meander belt width (Wblt), radius of curvature (Rc) and sinuosity (K) of the 7th order main stem Bagmati River are 598.27 m, 164.07 m, 252.35 m and 1.38, respectively. Similarly, the averages of Lm, Wblt, Rc, and K of the 8th order main stem rivers are respectively, 496.77, 126.58 m, 286.13 m, and 1.55. All these parameters reflect fluctuating trends of variation along the downstream stretch. However, the portion of the 7th order river shows abrupt increase of Lm after the Bagmati River crosses the Main Boundary Thrust. The Rc also indicates slight increase in this region. The sinuosity reflects overall increase from the 7th to the 8th order rivers. This increase in sinuosity is attributed to the decrease in slope and competency of the river. There exists a moderate degree of correlation between K and Wblt showing that the Wblt of the Bagmati River tends to increase as the sinuosity increases. The stream segments of the Bagmati River fall on A-, B-, C-, G- and D-type rivers. All the segments of the Bagmati River, lying within the Kathmandu Valley and having substrate of the fluvio-lacustrine valley-fill sediments, fall on C-type stream because of low entrenchment and high width/depth ratio. Similarly, A-type streams are developed at segments which flow through the Tistung Formation of the granite terrain of the Lesser Himalaya most probably due to entrenched and gorged valley and high slope. Likewise, B- and G-type streams are developed in terrains of the Lesser Himalaya and the Sub-Himalaya. The B-type streams are moderately entrenched with sinuous to meandering and wide channels. The D-type stream segment which is a multi-thread channel is characteristically developed within the terrain of the Sub-Himalaya presumably due to the change in slope caused by thrusting, and greater input of sediments from the Siwaliks in relation to weak and loosely consolidated lithology. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bdg.v15i0.7415 Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 15, 2012, pp. 23-34

Basinal and planform characteristics of the Kodku and the Godavari Rivers, Kathmandu, Central Nepal

The rivers of the Kathmandu Basin are vulnerable to flash floods and disturbances caused by anthropogenic as well as climatic changes. Two southern tributaries of the Bagmati River: the Kodku and the Godavari Rivers, have been considered for their (i) watershed-scale geomorphic parameters such as relative relief, drainage texture and stream order, (ii) stretchscale planform parameters such as sinuosity (K), meander belt width (Wblt), meander wavelength (Lm) and radius of curvature (Rc), and (ii) longitudinal profiles and slopes. Both Kodku and the Godavari Rivers are elongate basins with wide ranges of the watershed-scale parameters. The Godavari River is longer, larger and more sinuous compared to the Kodku River. The development of the patterns of the fifth order main stem stretches of both rivers with respect to the stream slopes, and asymmetric patterns of the meander loops indicate anomalous growth of the river stretches. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bdg.v15i0.7414 Bulletin of the Department of Geology, Vol. 15, 2012, pp. 15-22

OPTIMUM DESIGN AND COST CHARACTERISTIC OF SMALL CONVEYOR

Although there are many works dealing with the economic analysis of a long conveyor, the information about a short conveyor is insufficient. This study, thus, deals with the short conveyor by studying the effect of belt width, belt length, convey capacity, and conveyor inclination angle on the cost characteristic of short conveyor. The study was done by calculating the conveyor belt widths and their supports that could service a given convey capacity, conveyor length, and inclination angle. The cost of conveyor corresponding to each belt width was, later, determined. After the total cost of each conveyor had been already calculated, the lowest total cost of conveyor for a given convey capacity, inclination angle, and conveyor length was found. The relationships between the belt widths, belt length, convey capacity, inclination angle and the lowest total cost was, finally, analyzed. In addition, the increase of the lowest total cost, when an overdesign of convey capacity was made, was also investigated. The study was done by case study of conveyor of convey capacity of 50-500 ton h-1, the belt width of 400-1500 mm, the conveyor length of 10-100 m and conveyor inclination angle of 0-30°. The results showed that the lowest total cost was found, for all given values, at the belt width range of 400-500 mm. The lowest total cost increased with the increase of the belt length. For normal convey capacity of 50 ton h-1, an overdesigned value of 50 ton h-1 caused the lowest total cost to increase more than 7% compared with the lowest total cost in case of normal convey capacity. For normal convey capacity more than 100 ton h-1, an overdesigned value of 50 ton h-1 made the increase of the lowest total cost less than 2%.

Effect of Trampling on Ambrosia chamissonis and Cakile maritima Cover on California Beaches

California beach plants are capable of dealing with harsh conditions, but little is known about how this community responds to human-induced impacts. The objective of this paper is to determine if beaches experiencing higher degrees of impacts from trampling have more cover of two common plant species thought to grow particularly well under difficult conditions, Ambrosia chamissonis (Less.) Greene and Cakile maritima Scop. Seventeen sites were sampled between 2007 and 2009 with one meter wide belt transects and the sites were divided into three groups; high (people walk anywhere on the beach), medium (foot traffic is restricted to trails), and low impact levels (little to no access). Cover of all species present were recorded. Cover of A. chamissonis is statistically higher on beaches with a high level of impact than low and medium levels. Cakile maritima cover is statistically higher on beaches with medium levels than those with low or high levels of impact. However, the total cover of all species is not significantly different between any level of impact.

Tree-ring growth of Gmelin larch under contrasting local conditions in the north of Central Siberia

While the forest-tundra zone in Siberia, Russia has been dendroclimatologically well-studied in recent decades, much less emphasis has been given to a wide belt of northern taiga larch forests located to the south. In this study, climate and local site conditions are explored to trace their influence on radial growth of Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) trees developed on permafrost soils in the northern taiga. Three dendrochronological sites characterized by great differences in thermo-hydrological regime of soils were established along a short (ca. 100m long) transect: on a river bank (RB), at riparian zone of a stream (RZ) and on a terrace (TER). Comparative analysis of the rate and year-to-year dynamics of tree radial growth among sites revealed considerable difference in both raw and standardized tree-ring width (TRW) chronologies obtained for the RZ site, characterized by shallow soil active layer depth and saturated soils. Results of dendroclimatic analysis indicated that tree-ring growth at all the sites is mostly defined by climatic conditions of a previous year and precipitation has stronger effect on TRW chronologies in comparison to the air temperatures. Remarkably, a great difference in the climatic response of TRW chronologies has been obtained for trees growing within a very short distance from each other. The positive relation of tree-ring growth with precipitation, and negative to temperature was observed in the dry site RB. In contrary, precipitation negatively and temperature positively influenced tree radial growth of larch at the water saturated RZ. Thus, a complicate response of northern Siberian larch forest productivity to the possible climate changes is expected due to great mosaic of site conditions and variability of environmental factors controlling tree-ring growth at different sites. Our study demonstrates the new possibilities for the future dendroclimatic research in the region, as various climatic parameters can be reconstructed from tree-ring chronologies obtained for different sites.

Determination of mangrove green belt width based on the ecological and socio-economic aspect in Sawah Luhur Village, Serang City, Banten

Abstract Zen LZ, Rahaju S, Hero Y. 2012. Determination of mangrove green belt width based on the ecological and socio-economic aspect in Sawah Luhur Village, Serang City, Banten. Bonorowo Wetlands 2: 52-65. The aims of this study was to examine the green belt policy and environmental condition in the coastal area of Sawah Luhur Village, Kasemen Sub-district, Serang City, Banten, and determine the decision-making solution of green belt policy in the village refers to ecological and socio-economic aspects. This study was based on primary and secondary data. Policy review was based on Presidential Decree (Keppres) no. 32 of 1990 on Protected Forest Area and Serang City Regulation (Perda) no. 6 of 2011 on Spatial Planning of the Region. Biophysical studies were conducted through ground checks and classified land into agricultural land, farms, settlements, forested areas, buffer zones, rivers, and roads. The socio-economic study was conducted through interviews with 30 respondents, i.e., community, government officials in the villages, sub-districts, cities, and students.Based on the Presidential Decree, with the average difference of seawater tides being 0.7 m, the width of the green belt in Sawah Luhur coastal area is 91 m, and with the length of the coastline is 4.97 km, then the green belt area is 45.18 ha. However, ground checks indicate that the mangrove green belt area only covers 50.19% or 22.68 ha, mainly consisting of Pulau Dua Nature Reserve. Therefore, the extent of the green belt is not implemented optimally in accordance with the Presidential Decree. In the Serang City Regulation, the determination of the green mangrove belt is not explained. Currently, the people of Sawah Luhur Village have difficulty meeting the needs of clean water due to the intrusion of seawater that reaches 4 km to the mainland, exacerbated by drought due to the long dry season. Besides, pollution and environmental degradation reduce pond productivity and agriculture, thus affecting the majority of people’s income. To increase land productivity, one of them is by exploiting and planting coastal areas. According to respondents, coastal land is better utilized as a silvofishery (tambak tumpangsari) because it has ecologically, economically, and tourism advantages. If silvofishery can be realized and utilized properly, all parties will benefit in various aspects.

A multivariate approach to identify vegetation belts: Gallery forest and its surrounding savanna along the river Kota in north Benin

The floristic composition and spatial structure of a West African riverine forest in north-western Benin were studied in order to identify vegetation zones and their arrangement and composition. Data were collected on five continuous belt transects and were analysed using multivariate methods. A total of 133 tree taxa from 34 plant families were identified, with Rubiaceae and Leguminosae-Papilionoideae as the most frequent families. Fifteen homogeneous transect sections were documented. Near-river sections were dominated by water-demanding species (Syzygium guineense, Garcinia ovalifolia, Berlinia grandiflora, Breonardia salicina) (=gallery forest), whereas uphill sections were characterised by savanna species (Terminalia laxiflora, Hymenocardia acida, Detarium microcarpum, Burkea africana) (= savanna). The shift from gallery forest to savanna was reflected by a floristic turnover and the different physiognomy of the vegetation, although diversity values for gallery forest and savanna were very similar. In the Principal Co-ordinates Analysis (PCoA), gallery forest and savanna sections did not overlap. Parallel sections at both sides of the river could be linked by isolines following the topography parallel to the river, resulting in a continuous gallery forest belt (width between 10 and 30 m) flanked by savanna. Tree species typical for gallery forests have wider areas of distribution than savanna species.

조선시대 남자 배자를 응용한 레이어드 룩 스타일 디자인 연구

This study aims to reinterpret formative elements of Baeja, by applying them to the design of modern clothing. The main objective of the studying Baeja is to propose unique layered look items that can be readily put together for various weather conditions and occasions, be easily wearable and bring out unique individualities. After carefully studying Baeja from Joseon dynasty, flexible and practical layered-look items are designed. The following are the conclusions drawn from the work. First, it is possible to apply Baeja elements, such as the silhouette, traditional materials, and colors, to modern clothes, for a layered-look. Second, Baeja characteristics have a profound potential for a modern layered-look design, in that it is sleeveless, its length is long at the front and short at the back, and it comes with slits on both sides and a wide belt. The items inspired by such characteristic can easily be worn over and draped around daily clothes, according to weather conditions and occasions. Third, many decorative elements of Baeja, including detailed ornamental method, knots, patchworks, and string decorations create a unique and traditional image in modern clothes. Ribbonswhich can adjust the width of clothes are both practical and decorative. A reversible jacket is created by utilizing the same traditional sewing method for both inner and outer fabrics. One item can be worn in different styles, which increases practicality. Fourth, traditional and modern materials go well together. Such methods can create an item with both modern sensibility and traditional chic.

SPECIFIC FEATURES OF GROUNDWATER CIRCULATION IN THE BOGGED BASIN OF RĖKYVA LAKE / POŽEMINIO VANDENS APYKAITOS PELKĖTAME RĖKYVOS EŽERO BASEINE YPATUMAI

Two mathematical models using MODFLOW software were developed to estimate water losses from the bogged Lake Rėkyva watershed which are happening due to the groundwater recharge and to evaluate the influence of peat deposit development on the lake and the natural belt of a raised bog protecting the lake. The modelling data lead to the following conclusions: (1) groundwater exploitation in the Šiauliai waterworks would increase the water losses from the boggy basin negligibly (from 7 to 9 mm/a when the total runoff is over 150 mm/a (2) the annual and long-term runoff and water level regimes in the raised bog, that separates the peat deposit from the lake as a 3 km long and 0.26 to 0.8 m wide belt, are rather variable. Depending on the season, from 80 to 95% of the runoff from it is formed in the 0.3–0.5 m thick top layer (acrotelm) distinguished by anomalously good filtration properties and porosity; (3) at the end of the peat deposit exploitation, the discharge from the protective bog to the lake presumably will reduce by 0.2–0.4 l/s (about 1% of the total lake runoff) and that from the bog to the peat deposit will increase by about 0.5 l/s (depending on the season, 1–15% of the total runoff from the bog); and (4) seasonal recharge of acrotelm is capable of counterbalancing the loss there-fore the status of protective bog will remain close to the actual one. Santrauka Didžiausio Lietuvoje 11,85 km2 ploto vandenskyrinio Rėkyvos ežero baseino nuostoliams, jam maitinant požeminius vandenis, bei piečiau eksploatuojamo durpyno poveikiui ežerui ir apsauginei aukštapelkės juostai vertinti MODFLOW priemonėmis sudaryti du matematiniai modeliai. Nustatyta: 1 – dėl požeminio vandens gavybos Šiaulių miesto vandenvietėse baseino nuostoliai gali padidėti nežymiai (nuo 7 iki 9 mm/a, kai bendras nuotėkis yra per 150 mm/a); 2 – metinis ir daugiametis nuotėkio bei vandens lygių aukštapelkėje režimas yra labai kaitus; pagrindinė aukštapelkės, kuri 3 km ilgio ir 0,26–0,8 km pločio juosta skiria durpyną nuo ežero, nuotėkio dalis (nuo 80 iki 95 % – priklausomai nuo sezono) formuojasi 0,3–0,5 m storio viršutiniame sluoksnyje (akrotelme), šiam sluoksniui būdingos anomaliai geros filtracinės savybės ir poringumas (iki 0,95); 3 – eksploatacijos pabaigoje, pasiekus durpyno klodo dugną, nuotėkis iš pelkės į ežerą gali sumažėti 0,2–0,4 l/s (apie 1 % bendrojo ežero nuotėkio), o į durpyną – padidėti apie 0,5 l/s (pagal sezoną – 1–15 % bendrosios pelkės vandens apykaitos); 4 – sezoninis akrotelmo maitinimas yra pakankamas, kad kompensuotų šiuos nuostolius, ir apsauginės pelkės būklė išliktų artima dabartinei.

Holographic entanglement entropy in insulator/superconductor transition

We investigate the behaviors of entanglement entropy in the holographical insulator/superconductor phase transition. We calculate the holographic entanglement entropy for two kinds of geometry configurations in a completely back-reacted gravitational background describing the insulator/superconductor phase transition. The non-monotonic behavior of the entanglement entropy is found in this system. In the belt geometry case, there exist four phases characterized by the chemical potential and belt width.

The equilibrium response to idealized thermal forcings in a comprehensive GCM: implications for recent tropical expansion

Abstract. Several recent studies have shown the width of the tropical belt has increased over the last several decades. The mechanisms driving tropical expansion are not well known and the recent expansion is underpredicted by state-of-the art GCMs. We use the CAM3 GCM to investigate how tropical width responds to idealized atmospheric heat sources, focusing on zonal displacement of the tropospheric jets. The heat sources include global and zonally restricted lower-tropospheric warmings and stratospheric coolings, which coarsely represent possible impacts of ozone or aerosol changes. Similar to prior studies with simplified GCMs, we find that stratospheric cooling – particularly at high-latitudes – shifts jets poleward and excites Northern and Southern Annular Mode (NAM/SAM)-type responses. We also find, however, that modest heating of the midlatitude boundary layer drives a similar response; heating at high latitudes provokes a weaker, equatorward shift and tropical heating produces no shift. Over 70 % of the variance in annual mean jet displacements across 27 experiments is accounted for by a newly proposed "Expansion Index", which compares mid-latitude tropospheric warming to that at other latitudes. We find that previously proposed factors, including tropopause height and tropospheric stability, do not fully explain the results. Results suggest recently observed tropical expansion could have been driven not only by stratospheric cooling, but also by mid-latitude heating sources due for example to ozone or aerosol changes.

Overview of the First SMOS Sea Surface Salinity Products. Part I: Quality Assessment for the Second Half of 2010

Multi-angular images of the brightness temperature ( <i xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">T</i> <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">B</sub> ) of the Earth at 1.4 GHz are reconstructed from the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) satellite sensor data since end 2009. Sea surface salinity (SSS) products remote sensing from space is being attempted using these data over the world oceans. The quality of the first version of the European Space Agency operational Level 2 (L2) SSS swath products is assessed in this paper, using satellite/in situ SSS data match-ups that were collected over the second half of 2010. This database reveals that 95% of the SMOS L2 products show a global error standard deviation on the order of ~ 1.3 practical salinity scale. Simple spatiotemporal aggregation of the L2 products to generate monthly SSS maps at 1° ×1° spatial resolution reduces the error down to about 0.6 globally and 0.4 in the tropics for 90% of the data. Several major problems are, however, detected in the products. Systematically, SMOS SSS data are biased within a ~ 1500 km wide belt along the world coasts and sea ice edges, with a contamination intensity and spread varying from ascending to descending passes. Numerous world ocean areas are permanently or intermittently contaminated by radio-frequency interferences, particularly in the northern high latitudes and following Asia coastlines. Moreover, temporal drifts in the retrieved SSS fields are found with varying signatures in ascending and descending passes. In descending passes, a time-dependent strong latitudinal bias is found, with maximum amplitude reached at the end of the year. Errors in the forward modeling of the wind-induced emissivity and of the sea surface scattered galactic sources are as well identified, biasing the sss retrievals at high and low winds and when the galactic equator sources are reflected toward the sensor.

Recent Northern Hemisphere tropical expansion primarily driven by black carbon and tropospheric ozone

Observational analyses have shown the width of the tropical belt increasing in recent decades as the world has warmed. This expansion is important because it is associated with shifts in large-scale atmospheric circulation and major climate zones. Although recent studies have attributed tropical expansion in the Southern Hemisphere to ozone depletion, the drivers of Northern Hemisphere expansion are not well known and the expansion has not so far been reproduced by climate models. Here we use a climate model with detailed aerosol physics to show that increases in heterogeneous warming agents--including black carbon aerosols and tropospheric ozone--are noticeably better than greenhouse gases at driving expansion, and can account for the observed summertime maximum in tropical expansion. Mechanistically, atmospheric heating from black carbon and tropospheric ozone has occurred at the mid-latitudes, generating a poleward shift of the tropospheric jet, thereby relocating the main division between tropical and temperate air masses. Although we still underestimate tropical expansion, the true aerosol forcing is poorly known and could also be underestimated. Thus, although the insensitivity of models needs further investigation, black carbon and tropospheric ozone, both of which are strongly influenced by human activities, are the most likely causes of observed Northern Hemisphere tropical expansion.

Postavulsion channel evolution: Niger Delta continental slope

Channel avulsion is fundamental in defining submarine fan morphology yet, as a process, is poorly understood. The postavulsion evolution of five channel-levee systems, documented from both the shallow subsurface and the sea floor, is marked in the early stages by relatively wide axial channel belts containing sinuous channel elements. The axial channel belt in each system narrowed through time in association with levee aggradation, which resulted in increased channel confinement. Of the five systems studied, four avulsed from a radial avulsion node at the mouth of the basin feeder-channel complex, which is the entry point to the basin. Only one avulsion occurred at an avulsion node downflow of the mouth of the feeder-channel complex. The degree of channel instability in three of the four systems before an avulsion event was increased by channel-floor aggradation caused by the backfilling of channel-confined turbidity current deposits. Channel-floor aggradation reduced the confinement relief of the systems, thereby increasing the probability of avulsion during an outsized flow event. The backfilled deposits in the channel belts display relatively high seismic-reflection amplitudes inferred to be coarser grained (more sand rich) than their surroundings, that is, out-of-channel deposits. Overbank cyclic steps are exceptionally well preserved on subsurface levees, and their potential function in promoting an avulsion event is discussed. The actual process of avulsion is caused by the flow itself instead of a reduction in confinement relief, and although outsized flows are the likely trigger, depending on the degree of this relief in the channel, multiple small flows could also be responsible for levee breaching, resulting in avulsion. The process of channel-system evolution resulting in avulsion can be applied to other subsurface data where compensating high-amplitude channel belts are recognized. In the context of hydrocarbon exploration, investigating up depositional dip to identify avulsion nodes increases the chance of locating sand-rich deposits, especially where multiple channels converge on one point.

Effects of the PDO Phase on the Tropical Belt Width

Recent studies have shown that the tropical belt (TB) has progressively expanded since at least the late 1970s. This trend has been largely attributed to the radiative forcing due to greenhouse gas (GHG) increase and stratospheric ozone depletion, even if an influence of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies has been also suggested. The impact of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) on the TB width is investigated in this work. The study is performed by using both Atmospheric Model Intercomparison Project (AMIP) and idealized simulations, produced by the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model, version 3 (CAM3) GCM and reanalysis data [40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40), ERA-Interim, and Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA)]. Reanalyses show that a switch of the PDO from a positive to a negative phase can lead to a significant TB expansion during the equinoxes. This effect, indicating a possible PDO contribution to the widening that characterized the TB width during the last decades, is not correctly reproduced by model simulations. Deficiencies in the sensitivity of model-simulated convective processes to SST anomalies are suggested as a possible cause of the TB widening underestimation.

Multi-proxy analyses of a peat bog on Isla de los Estados, easternmost Tierra del Fuego: a unique record of the variable Southern Hemisphere Westerlies since the last deglaciation

We have analyzed an almost 14,000 year old peat sequence on the island of Isla de los Estados (55° S, 64° W), east of Tierra del Fuego, in the core of the Southern Hemisphere Westerlies. A multitude of methods have been used: high resolution 14C dating; detailed lithologic descriptions including humification degree; loss on ignition; magnetic susceptibility; bulk density; pollen and spore analysis and determination of Aeolian sand influx. By combining proxies for wind and precipitation we have been able to reconstruct how the westerlies have varied over time in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. It shows that this westerly wind belt was most intense at the onset of the record, 13,600–13,200 cal BP, coinciding with the mid to late part of the Antarctic Cold Reversal, followed by a gradual decline. At 12,200 cal BP the westerlies seem to have shifted to a position south of Tierra del Fuego and this phase, the calmest and driest period on the island throughout the sequence, ended at 10,000 cal BP when the westerlies moved equatorward again. Since then the westerlies have been present but with a variable impact on the 55° S latitude of the Atlantic. Mostly conditions have been fairly similar to today, but occasionally with a wider or narrower and/or weaker or stronger wind belt. At 7200 cal BP wind intensity began to increase and between 4500 and 3500 cal BP these southern latitudes experienced a distinct wind and precipitation maximum, both in terms of perseverance and intensity. Our results show a both wide and strong wind belt, with possible niveo-aeolian activity in Tierra del Fuego in winter, and possibly creating milder summers around the Antarctic Peninsula. In the later part of the Holocene, expansion–contraction phases of the wind belt, especially in winter, seem to have been a common phenomenon.

Estimating coseismic coastal uplift with an intertidal mussel: calibration for the 2010 Maule Chile earthquake (Mw = 8.8)

Coseismic coastal uplift has been quantified using sessile intertidal organisms after several great earthquakes following FitzRoy's pioneer measurements in 1835. A dense survey of such markers may complement space geodetic data to obtain an accurate distribution of fault slip and earthquake segmentation. However, uplift estimates based on diverse intertidal organisms tend to differ, because of few methodological and comparative studies. Here, we calibrate and estimate coastal uplift in the southern segment of the 2010 Maule, Chile earthquake (Mw = 8.8) using >1100 post-earthquake elevation measurements of the sessile mussel Perumytilus purpuratus. This mussel is the predominant competitor for rocky shores all along the Pacific coast of South America, where it forms fringes or belts distinctively in the middle intertidal zone. These belts are centered at mean sea level and their width should equal one third of the tidal range. We measured belt widths close to this value at 40% of the sites, but overall widths are highly variable due to the unevenness in belt tops; belt bases, in turn, are rather regular. Belt top unevenness apparently results from locally-enhanced wave splash, whereas belt base evenness is controlled by predation. According to our measurements made beyond the earthquake rupture, the belt base is at the bottom of the middle intertidal zone, and thus we propose to estimate coastal uplift using the belt base mean elevation plus one sixth of the tidal range to reach mean sea level. Within errors our estimates agree with GPS displacements but differ from other methods. Comparisons of joint inversions for megathrust slip suggest combining space geodetic data with estimates from intertidal organisms may locally increase the detail of slip distributions.

Post-Messinian evolution of the Florence Ridge area (Western Cyprus Arc), Part I: Morphostructural analysis

The Florence Ridge, part of the western Cyprus arc, is a compressional relief that was eroded during the Messinian salinity crisis while deposition of salt occurred North (Antalya basin) and South (Herodotus abyssal plain). In order to better assess the impact of salt-tectonics in the Florence Ridge region deformations, we conducted a morpho-structural analysis of available multibeam and seismic data (Simed and Prismed II campaigns). It is indeed a crucial issue to distinguish crustal and gravity driven structures in the compressional to strike-slip belts of the eastern Mediterranean.Along the Antalya basin, we mainly observed multi-directional tectonic rafts typical of gravity gliding above salt. On the Florence Ridge itself, the base of salt evolves laterally to a Messinian erosional surface that erodes a series of stacked nappes. This surface is involved in recent faulting. South of the Florence Ridge, a nearly 100km wide fold belt characterizes the Herodotus abyssal plain. Three different zones parallel to the Florence Ridge appear within this fold belt. Those are respectively from North to South zones A, B and C. Zone A is characterized mainly by small-wavelength folding and faulting. Approaching Zone B, a long extensional graben deforms the seafloor. Zone B stands ~100 to 200m higher than zones A and C. There, salt welding seems common. In the easternmost zone B deep sub-circular bathymetric depressions are associated with extremely thick and fan-shaped depocenters probably emplaced in relation with active sub-salt thrusts. Many evidences suggest post-Messinian uplift in this zone. Zone C shows medium to high wavelength salt-cored folds. Wavelength of those folds increase approaching the distal Nile deep-sea fan. Within zone C, a nearly undeformed domain exists approaching the Eratosthenes seamount. ‘En echelon’ folds bound this flat domain suggesting lateral salt extrusion at the junction between zone C and the distal Nile deep-sea fan.To conclude, numerous evidences argue for a post-Messinian reactivation of the pre-Messinian Florence Ridge accretionary wedge (numerous folds, uplifted zones). The salt, as on the nearby Mediterranean Ridge, decouples deep and surface deformations and even allow the development of isolated grabens and associated salt ridges in the heart of the Florence compressional zone. We propose in this case that local basal slope of salt increase related to basement fault activity triggered gravity gliding and thus extensional deformation despite the regional compressional regime. Finally, this study shows that the eastern Nile deep-sea fan, submitted to extremely vigorous salt tectonics seems to have collided with the Florence Ridge fold belt and to have generated a “salt extrusion” zone.

Epiphytic metazoans on emergent macrophytes in oxbow lakes of the Krapina River, Croatia: differences related to plant species and limnological conditions

Epiphytic metazoans on emergent macrophytes in oxbow lakes of the Krapina River, Croatia: differences related to plant species and limnological conditionsThis study investigated the structure of the epiphytic metazoans on emerged macrophytes in the littoral zone of two oxbow lakes with different trophic levels. Differences in the diversity and density of the epiphytic metazoans were analyzed in relation to plant architecture (simple or complex stems), food resources (algae and detritus) and water characteristics (transparency and derived trophic state index). A significant negative correlation was found between detritus on plants as food resource, and diversity and density of epiphytic metazoans, indicating grazing of microphagous species. Rotifers dominated in diversity and density in the epiphyton on all habitats. Total density of metazoans, rotifers and copepods in epiphyton were significantly higher onMenthain mesotrophic lake than onIrisin a eutrophic lake. We presume that macrophyte belt width and trophic state governed biotic interactions and consequently epiphytic assemblages more strongly than macrophyte architecture. However, aMenthahabitat showed a slightly higher density and diversity of epiphytic metazoans in relation toIrisat the same site, but these differences were not significant.