Effects of oilfield brine effluent on sediments and benthic organisms in trinity bay,Texas     

Howard W. Armstrong  Ken Fucik  Jack W. Anderson  Jerry M. Neff 《Marine environmental research》1979,2(1):55-69

Field studies have established the concentrations of naphthalenes in bay sediments and water in the vicinity of an oil separator platform and their effects on the benthic fauna. Fifteen stations were occupied monthly, from July, 1974 to December, 1975, along three transects extending from the separator platform outfall outwards for a distance of 4·0 to 5·6 km. A lesser number of stations were occupied from April, 1974 to June, 1974. Bottom sediments at each station were analysed for total naphthalenes content and for number of species and individuals. All stations were located in 2 to 3 m of water. The outfall was located 1 m off the bay bottom.There was a definite correlation between sediment naphthalenes concentration and number of species and individuals. As expected, the first station, located 15 m from the outfall, had the highest concentration of naphthalenes of all stations sampled. The naphthalenes levels dropped sharply from the outfall to the stations located 75 m from the platform where levels were about 20–50% of those found 15 m from the outfall. Naphthalenes concentrations then decreased gradually to near background levels at stations farther out. Hydrocarbon concentrations in bottom water 15 m from the outfall were three orders of magnitude lower than those in the full strength effluent, but sediments 15 m from the outfall had hydrocarbon concentrations four times as great as in the full strength effluent. There were approximately four orders of magnitude more hydrocarbons in the sediment than in the overlying water.The bay bottom was almost completely devoid of organisms within 15 m of the effluent outfall. Stations located 150 m from the outfall had severely depressed benthic faunas but not to the extent of stations nearer the outfall. Stations located 455 m from the platform were unaffected. Both numbers of species and individuals increased with distance from the platform and reached a peak at the first station medial to the control on each transect (685 to 1675 m from the platform) and then dropped at the control station. Physical environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, water depth and sediment type were essentially the same at all stations.The temporary use of a second outfall located 275 m from the main platform outfall resulted in a rapid build up of naphthalenes in surrounding sediments which persisted for at least six months following the termination of use of the second outfall. The benthic fauna was also severely depressed in the vicinity of the second outfall. The use of multiple outfalls, located some distance apart, appears to be more harmful than the use of a single outfall.Trinity Bay, Texas, the site of this investigation, has a mean depth of 2·5 m. The bay water is highly turbid due to the presence of a high concentration of clay-sized particulate material. The brine outfall was located approximately 1 m above the bay bottom. These special conditions undoubtedly contributed significantly to the observed impact of the brine. Therefore, extrapolations from the results of this study to offshore oil production and brine disposal should be made with extreme caution.  相似文献   

Variability of the North Pacific Current and its bifurcation   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Patrick F. Cummins  Howard J. Freeland 《Progress in Oceanography》2007,75(2):253-265

The North Pacific Current (NPC) bifurcates approaching the west coast of North America into a subpolar branch that forms the Alaska Current, and a subtropical branch that includes the California Current. The variability of this current system is discussed using numerical results from a wind-driven, reduced-gravity model. Indices of the strength of the subpolar and subtropical components of the NPC are examined based on output from multi-decadal simulations with the numerical model. This shows periods of both correlated and anti-correlated variability of the subpolar and subtropical gyres. A decomposition of the gyre transport time series indicates that the dominant mode of variability is a “breathing” mode in which the subpolar and subtropical gyres co-vary in response to fluctuations in the strength of the NPC. This finding is consistent with an analysis of dynamic height data of limited duration from the array of Argo drifting floats.The variability of the NPC is also examined using sea surface height (SSH) data from satellite altimetry over the period 1993-2005. The leading mode of SSH over the northeast Pacific dominates the variability of the NPC and is shown to be associated with in-phase variations in the transport of the subtropical and subpolar gyres. A strong correlation is found between time-dependent fluctuations in SSH across the NPC and variations in the strength of the transport of the NPC in the model. This agreement provides evidence for variability of the NPC occuring in direct response to large-scale atmospheric forcing.  相似文献   

Substrate controls on the size composition of lobster (Homarus gammarus) populations     

Howard  A. E. 《ICES Journal of Marine Science》1980,39(2):130-133

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The rotational periods of Uranus and Neptune     

Sethanne Howard Hayes  Michael J.S. Belton 《Icarus》1977,32(4):383-401

Observations of tilts of spectral lines in the spectrum of Uranus and Neptune yield the following rotational periods: “Uranus,” 24 ± 3 hr; “Neptune,” 22 ± 4 hr. Neptune is confirmed to rotate in a direct sense. The position angle of the pole of Uranus, projected onto the plane of the sky, is found to be 283 ± 4°. The value for Neptune is 32 ± 11°. These results agree with the direction of the pole of Uranus inferred from the common plane of its four brightest satellites and with the direction of the pole of Neptune as inferred from the precession of Triton's orbit. The rotational period of Uranus is found to be consistent with modern values of its optical and dynamical oblateness and the theory of solid-body rotation with hydrostatic equilibrium. This is barely the case for the period derived for Neptune and we suspect that future observations made under better seeing conditions may lead to a shorter rotation period between 15 and 18 hr. Because of a substantial difference between our results and those of earlier spectroscopic and photometric investigations we include an assessment of several previously published photometric studies and a new reduction of the original Lowell and Slipher spectroscopic plates of Uranus [Lowell Obs. Bull. 2, 17–18, 19–20 (1912)]. The early visual photometry of Campbell (Uranus) and Hall (Neptune) is found to be more satisfactorily accounted for by periods of 21.6 and 23.1 hr, respectively, than by the periods originally suggested by the observers. Our reduction of the Lowell and Slipher Uranus plates yields a period near 33 hr uncorrected for seeing. This value is consistent with the results based on the 4-m echelle date.  相似文献   

The equatorial latitude of auroral activity during 1972–1977     

N. R. Sheeley Jr.  R. A. Howard 《Solar physics》1980,67(1):189-206

The equatorial latitude of auroral activity has been derived from both electron and optical observations with the DMSP satellites. Virtually all of the observations that were obtained during the 5-year interval June 1972-September 1977 have been used to construct a nearly continuous plot of invariant geomagnetic latitude versus time.This plot has two main characteristics: (1) A diurnal variation of approximately ± 5° which is associated with the precession of the Earth's magnetic dipole axis about the Earth's rotation axis; (2) an irregular variation of roughly 5–10° for intervals of one to several days associated with the occurrence of solar flares and coronal holes.With the help of a condensed, Bartels-type display of these measurements, we conclude that: (a) Modest auroral expansions (to ~ 60°) occur during the main body of high-speed streams from coronal holes; (b) great expansions (to < 55°) occur only during intervals of intense interplanetary magnetic fields such as may occur at the leading edge of a high-speed stream or at a flare-produced interplanetary shock.  相似文献   

An Overview of Terrestrial Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: the United States Department of Energy's Fossil Energy R&D Program   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

John T. Litynski  Scott M. Klara  Howard G. McIlvried  Rameshwar D. Srivastava 《Climatic change》2006,74(1-3):81-95

Increasing concentrations of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases (GHG) in the Earth's atmosphere have the potential to enhance the natural greenhouse effect, which may result in climatic changes. The main anthropogenic contributors to this increase are fossil fuel combustion, land use conversion, and soil cultivation. It is clear that overcoming the challenge of global climate change will require a combination of approaches, including increased energy efficiency, energy conservation, alternative energy sources, and carbon (C) capture and sequestration. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is sponsoring the development of new technologies that can provide energy and promote economic prosperity while reducing GHG emissions. One option that can contribute to achieving this goal is the capture and sequestration of CO₂ in geologic formations. An alternative approach is C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystsems through natural processes. Enhancing such natural pools (known as natural sequestration) can make a significant contribution to CO₂ management strategies with the potential to sequester about 290 Tg C/y in U.S. soils. In addition to soils, there is also a large potential for C sequestration in above and belowground biomass in forest ecosystems.A major area of interest to DOE's fossil energy program is reclaimed mined lands, of which there may be 0.63 ×10⁶ ha in the U.S. These areas are essentially devoid of soil C; therefore, they provide an excellent opportunity to sequester C in both soils and vegetation. Measurement of C in these ecosystems requires the development of new technology and protocols that are accurate and economically viable. Field demonstrations are needed to accurately determine C sequestration potential and to demonstrate the ecological and aesthetic benefits in improved soil and water quality, increased biodiversity, and restored ecosystems.The DOE's research program in natural sequestration highlights fundamental and applied studies, such as the development of measurement, monitoring, and verification technologies and protocols and field tests aimed at developing techniques for maximizing the productivity of hitherto infertile soils and degraded ecosystems.  相似文献   

Rg excitation by underground explosions: insights from source modelling the 1997 Kazakhstan depth-of-burial experiment     

Howard J. Patton  Jessie L. Bonner  Indra N. Gupta 《Geophysical Journal International》2005,163(3):1006-1024

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Assessing the impacts of solar ultraviolet radiation on the early life stages of crustacean zooplankton and ichthyoplankton in Marine coastal systems     

Howard I. Browman 《Estuaries and Coasts》2003,26(1):30-39

Over the past 10–15 years, solar ultraviolet B (UV-B, 290–320 nm) levels have increased significantly at mid-latitude areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These increases in UV-B are linked to reductions of stratospheric ozone. Although the variables that affect UV-B penetration into water columns are still under active investigation, there are typically strong correlations between dissolved organic carbon (DOC), chlorophylla (chla), and UV attenuation. This is particularly significant in the context of possible UV-B impacts on marine coastal systems, since DOC and chla are usually much more highly concentrated in these waters than in the open ocean. Observations indicate that the early life stages of crustacean zooplankton and ichthyoplankton present in the first meter of coastal water columns (like only a small percentage of the total population) are susceptible to UV-B radiation. Variability in cloud cover, water transparency (and the variables that affect it), and vertical distribution and displacement of organisms within the mixed layer have a greater effect on the flux of UV-B radiation to which plankton are exposed than will ozone layer depletion. Although exposure to UV-B can negatively affect planktonic organisms, such directs effects are likely minimal in coastal zones, and within the context of all the other environmental factors that produce the very high levels of mortality typically observed in their early life stages. Indirect effects (e.g., UV-B-induced reduction in the nutritional quality of the food base) have not as yet been adequately evaluated.  相似文献   

Construction of a historical Water Pollution Index for the Mersey Basin     

L R Burton  A Howard  B Goodall 《Area》2003,35(4):438-448

The Mersey Basin has been significantly polluted for over 200 years. However, there is a lack of quantitative historical water quality data as effective water quality monitoring and data recording only began 30–40 years ago. This paper assesses water pollution in the Mersey Basin using a Water Pollution Index constructed from social and economic data. Methodology, output and the difficulties involved with validation are discussed. With the limited data input available the index approximately reproduces historical water quality. The paper illustrates how historical studies of environmental water quality may provide valuable identification of factors responsible for pollution and a marker set for contemporary and future water quality issues in the context of the past. This is an issue of growing research interest.  相似文献   

Observations of Coronal Structures Above an Active Region by Eit and Implications for Coronal Energy Deposition     

Neupert  W.M.  Newmark  J.  Delaboudinière  J.-P.  Thompson  B.J.  Catura  R.C.  Moses  J.D.  Gurman  J.B.  Portier-Fozzani  F.  Maucherat  A.J.  Defise  J.M.  Jamar  C.  Rochus  P.  Dere  K.P.  Howard  R.A.  Michels  D.J.  Freeland  S.  Lemen  J.R.  Stern  R.A. 《Solar physics》1998,183(2):305-321

Solar EUV images recorded by the EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT) on SOHO have been used to evaluate temperature and density as a function of position in two largescale features in the corona observed in the temperature range of 1.0–2.0 MK. Such observations permit estimates of longitudinal temperature gradients (if present) in the corona and, consequently, estimates of thermal conduction and radiative losses as a function of position in the features. We examine two relatively cool features as recorded in EIT's Feix/x (171 Å) and Fexii (195 Å) bands in a decaying active region. The first is a long-lived loop-like feature with one leg, ending in the active region, much more prominent than one or more distant footpoints assumed to be rooted in regions of weakly enhanced field. The other is a near-radial feature, observed at the West limb, which may be either the base of a very high loop or the base of a helmet streamer. We evaluate energy requirements to support a steady-state energy balance in these features and find in both instances that downward thermal conductive losses (at heights above the transition region) are inadequate to support local radiative losses, which are the predominant loss mechanism. The requirement that a coronal energy deposition rate proportional to the square of the ambient electron density (or pressure) is present in these cool coronal features provides an additional constraint on coronal heating mechanisms.  相似文献