Anomalies in North American climate: the South Asian-tropical west Pacific connection

How do tropical heating fluctuations create North American climate anomalies? We propose some answers using the results from a simplified global atmospheric model. We find that the South Asian-tropical west Pacific area is especially effective at stimulating North American responses. The relatively strong tropical/extratropical interaction between these two areas is the result of two major processes acting on the Rossby wave signal induced by the tropical heating fluctuations. These factors are: 1) Wave guiding by the Asian-north Pacific subtropical jet; and 2) Wave amplification within unstable regions of the jet flank. These factors allow relatively small, remote, and short-term tropical fluctuations to have relatively large impacts on North American climate.

Multivariate climate reconstruction for the last 14,000 years in southernmost South America

Comparison between past changes in pollen assemblages and stable isotope ratios (deuterium and carbon) analyzed in the same peat core from Tierra del Fuego at latitude 55°S permitted identification of the relative contribution of precipitation versus temperature responsible for the respective change. Major steps in the sequence of paleoenvironmental changes, such as at 12700, 9000, 5000, and 4000 years ago are apparently related only to increase in precipitation, reflecting the latitudinal location and intensity of the westerly storm tracks. On the other hand, high paleoenvironmental variability, which is characteristic for the late-glacial and the latest Holocene, is related to temperature variability, which affects the relative moisture content. Comparison with other paleoenvironmental records suggests that the late-glacial temperature variability is probably related to variability in the extent of Antarctic sea-ice, which in turn appears to be related to the intensity of Atlantic deep-water circulation. Temperature variability during the latest Holocene, on the other hand, is probably related to the dynamics of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation.

South American streamflow and the extreme phases of the Southern Oscillation

This study investigates the extent of the affect [sic] of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation on South American streamflow. The response of South American precipitation and temperature to the extreme phases of ENSO (El Niño and La Niña events) is well documented; but the response of South American hydrology has been barely studied. Such paucity of research contrasts sharply with that available on the response of North American streamflow to ENSO events.

Changes in mass balance of South Cascade Glacier, North Cascades, 1959 to 1994

EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT): Annual, winter, and summer mass balance measurements at South Cascade Glacier in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State constitute a continuous time series 36 years long, from 1959 to 1994. ... The long-term trends at South Cascade Glacier are decreased winter accumulation and increased summer ablation, neither of which is conducive to glacier growth, so the trend in the Pacific Northwest is clearly away from an ice-age type of climate at the current time. The data also demonstrate that a glaciologically significant long-term change in snow precipitation can occur rapidly, in as short an interval as 1 year, much more rapidly than changes in temperature.

Environmental inventory and the distribution of inorganic nutrients in a tropical estuary of the south-west coast of India

Dissolved nutrients (PO sub(4)-P, NO sub(3)-N, NO sub(2)-N and SiO sub(4)-Si) estimated in the surface and bottom waters of five selected stations of the Paravur Lake, Kerala, India, during February 1987 to January 1988 revealed distinct seasonal variations. Rainfall and land drainage play significant roles in the nutrient economy, particularly NO sub(3)-N and SiO sub(4)-Si, of this water body. Abnormally high values of PO sub(4)-P indicated extremely polluted condition at the wetting zone of the lake during the premonsoon season. SiO sub(4)-Si showed significant negative relationship with salinity.

The protein, peptide and free amino-acid contents of some species of Gracilaria from south-east coast of India

Four species of Gracilaria are investigated for their free amino-acid contents, as well as amino-acid constituents in the proteins and the peptides, using quantitative paper chromatographic technique. Amino-acid constituents of different species of Gracilaria differ only in amount, while free amino-acids and the amino-acids in the peptides vary both in quality and quantity. A number of amino-acids recorded as protein constituents have even escaped detection in the peptides, while in the free state they occur either in all the species or in some only except homocystine. Moreover, some amino-acids occur exclusively in the free state.

Relative abundance and diel variation of zooplankton from south west coast of India

Relative abundance and diurnal variations of zooplankton from six anchor stations along Kerala coast were investigated. Samples were collected during April-May 1988 at three hour intervals from depths varying between 15 and 40 m from the traditional fishing grounds of Kerala coast. Average biomass values ranged from 45-95 ml 100/mˉ³. Increase in zooplankton at night was discernible at most of the stations and the highest biomass noticed was 131 ml 100/mˉ³. Copepods formed the most abundant group, of which calanoids predominated. A swarm of the hydromedusan species, Aequorea conica, (181/mˉ³) was seen at night. Quantitative and qualitative variations of various zooplankton groups from six stations in relation to selected physicochemical factors are discussed. Maximum fish larvae were observed in the night samples. Relatively high abundance of sardines, carangids and flat fish larvae in the collections is in agreement with the predominance of fish catch from the area of study.

Optimization of stocking density for environmental-friendly improved extensive shrimp farming system in south-west part of Bangladesh

An experimental culture practice of P. monodon on extension approach was conducted in two brackish water earthen ponds of Demonstration Farm and Training Center (DFTC), Kaliganj, Satkhira. The experiment was aimed to provide farmers with appropriate technology that can immediately improve pond yield with keeping the environment in friendly condition. For optimization of stocking density of a cost effective environmental friendly improved extensive shrimp farming, the ponds were stocked with coastal river post larvae of P. monodon at the stocking rates of 2 pls/m² and 2.5 pls/m² without supplementary feeding. To control experimental error another five farmer's gher were used as replicates of each demo-pond. Considering the farmers buying ability, cost of inputs and other facilities kept minimal. The impact of stocking density was evaluated on the basis of growth, survival rate, production and economic return. Better production (average 299.01 kg/ha) with same survival rate (39.33%) were found with a stocking density of 2.5 pls/m² without causing any deterioration in the culture environment.

Effects of natural gas pipeline condensate and crude oil spills, and comments on remediation, with emphasis on south Louisiana salt marshes: a review

This report reviews some of the natural ecological processes at work within a salt marsh as they relate to a spill of natural gas condensate - a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-hexane, benzene, toluene, and xylene. It also reviews the environmental impacts of some of the components of natural gas condensate as well as related compounds (crude oil, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarons - PAHs, linear alkyl-benzenes - LABs, etc.) on salt marsh ecosystems in southern Louisiana and elsewhere in the world. The behavior and persistence of these compounds once they have entered the environment is also considered.

Bothid larvae (Pleuronectiformes-pisces) of the Gulf od Thailand and South China Sea

The larvae of bothids were found to be sparsely distributed in the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea being only 11.9% in the Naga Expedition Collections. They were confined mostly to the coastal waters and were found in near shore stations situated between Bangkok and Saigon. Their density was high in the Gulf of Thailand. The larvae seem to prefer darkness with greater incidence during April 16 to October 15 period, with a peak in the collections taken during April. This report includes the occurrence of 17 species belonging to 6 genera collected from the Gulf of Thailand and South China Sea, along with their regional, seasonal as well as diurnal variations

Quantitative survey of Sargassum along the south-west coast of Ceylon

Sargassum is a brown seaweed from which alginic acid is extracted. A survey was carried out off the south-west coast of Ceylon in December 1963 and January 1964 with the view to determining the quantity of Sargassum available.

Biology of the exploited stock of mackerel tuna E. affinis (Cantor) off the south-west region of Ceylon

According to the statistical data published annually in the Administration Report of the Director of Fisheries, the bloodfish production in 1967-68 showed about 100% increase over a period of five years and the production figures for none of the other groups of fishes have exhibited a parallel to this. Furthermore, the bloodfish group ranks first in the order of production, having displaced the herring and sardine group which had been in the lead for over a decade. This indicates that increasing attention was paid on the production of this group of fishes, in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka.

Results of the Austrian-Ceylonese hydrobiological mission 1970 of the 1st Zoological Institute of the University of Vienna (Austria) and the Department of Zoology of the Vidyalankara University of Ceylon, Kelaniya. Pt. 4. List of reptilia and amphibia collected in the mountains of south-west Ceylon, with notes on finding localities

Sri Lanka is a comparatively small island (65.584 km²) within the equatorial belt of calms. There are only slight seasonal variations in temperature, air humidity and day length. A description is given of the amphibian and reptile material brought back from the Austrian Indo-Pacific expedition, 1970-71. Some notes on the habitat of the animals are included.

Marine protected areas and small-scale fisheries in South Africa: promoting governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing

This monograph studies the progress achieved by conservation partners in South Africa on the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Programme Element Two components of governance, participation, equity and benefit sharing, from the perspective of small-scale fishing communities. It explores the strategies and mechanisms used by different authorities to create the conditions whereby local communities can benefit from marine protected areas (MPAs), of which South Africa has gazetted 24, highlighting examples of best practice. The monograph will be useful for researchers, scientists, fishworker organizations, environmentalists and anyone interested in the protection of marine biodiversity and the promotion of sustainable fisheries management.