Grain size distribution of Oligocene and Miocene sediments from the Indus Fan

The Owen Ridge south of Oman represents oceanic crust that was uplifted by compressional tectonic forces in the early Miocene. Build-out of the Indus Fan led to deposition of a thick sequence of turbidites over the site of the Ridge during the late Oligocene and early Miocene. Early Miocene uplift of the Ridge led to a pelagic cap of nannofossil chalks. Two short sequences of turbidites from the pre- and syn-uplift phases were chosen for detailed grain size analysis. The upper Oligocene section at Site 731 is composed of thin (centimeter-decimeter scale) graded mud turbidites separated by relatively thick (decimeter-meter scale) intervals of homogeneous, non-bioturbated clayey siltstones. These finer intervals are unusually silt-rich (about 60%) for ungraded material and were probably deposited as undifferentiated muds from a series of turbidity current tails. By contrast, the lower Miocene section at Site 722 is comprised of a sequence of interbedded turbidites and hemipelagic carbonates. Sharp-based silt turbidites are overlain by burrow-mottled marly nannofossil chalks. The Oligocene sequence may have accumulated in an overbank setting on the middle fan - the local topographic position favoring frequent deposition from turbidity current tails and occasional deposition from the body of a turbidity flow. Uplift of the Ridge in the early Miocene led to pelagic carbonate deposition interrupted only by turbidity currents capable of overcoming a topographic barrier. Further uplift eventually led to entirely pelagic carbonate deposition.

Abundance and biomass of planktic ciliates at time series station DYNAPROC

The composition and vertical distribution of planktonic ciliates within the surface layer was monitored over four diel cycles in May 95, during the JGOFS-France DYNAPROC cruise in the Ligurian Sea (NW Mediterranean). Ciliates were placed into size and trophic categories: micro- and nano-heterotrophic ciliates, mixotrophic ciliates, tintinnids and the autotrophic Mesodinium rubrum. Mixotrophic ciliates (micro and nano) represented an average of 46% of oligotrich abundance and 39% of oligotrich biomass; nano-ciliates (hetero and mixotrophic) were abundant, representing about 60 and 17% of oligotrich abundance and biomass, respectively. Tintinnid ciliates were a minor part of heterotrophic ciliates. The estimated contribution of mixotrophs to chlorophyll a concentration was modest, never exceeding 9% in discrete samples. Vertical profiles of ciliates showed that chlorophyll-containing ciliates (mixotrophs and autotrophs) were mainly concentrated and remained at the chlorophyll a maximum depth. In contrast, among heterotrophic ciliates, a portion of the population appeared to migrate from 20-30 m depth during the day to the surface at night or in the early morning. Correlation analyses of ciliate groups and phytoplankton pigments showed a strong relationship between nano-ciliates and zeaxanthin, and between chlorophyll-containing ciliates and chlorophyll a, as well as other pigments that were maximal at the chlorophyll a maximum depth. Total surface layer concentrations showed minima of ciliates during nightime/early morning hours.

Hydrochemical Atlas of the Sea of Okhotsk 2001, International Ocean Atlas Series, Volume 3

Presented is a spatial distribution of Temperature, Salinity, Oxygen, Nitrate, Ammonia Nitrogen, Organic Nitrogen, Phosphate, Organic Phosphate, and Silicate data from the Sea of Okhotsk during the 1990 - 1997 period for the months of June - August.

Mapped distribution of tidal flats across China, Manchuria and Korea (1952-1964)

A map of the tidal flats of China, Manchuria and Korea depicted in US Army Map Service Series L500, L542 and L552 topographic maps (compiled between 1950 and 1964). The topographic maps were georeferenced against prominent topographical features in L1T processed Landsat imagery and the foreshore flat class was manually delineated. For further information refer to Murray et. al. (2014).

Dissolved organic carbon measured on water bottle samples at time series station DYFAMED

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) distribution and dynamics are investigated at the DYFAMED site (central Ligurian Sea, NW Mediterranean) in relation to hydrological and biological contexts, using a 4-year time-series dataset (1991-1994). The DYFAMED site is regarded as a one-dimensional station where simple hydrological mechanisms prevail and where the ecosystem is quite well understood. An average vertical profile of DOC concentration ([DOC]) indicates that maximal concentrations and variability are concentrated in the surface layers. For depths >800 m, the annual variations are on average similar to the analytical standard deviation (~2 µM). The "composite" [DOC] distribution (average distribution over a typical year, integrating about 40 monthly profiles) for surface waters (0-200 m) is closely related to hydrological and phytoplanktonic forcings. It exhibits summer DOC accumulation in surface waters, due to spring-summer stratification and successive phytoplanktonic events such as spring and summer blooms, and winter DOC removal to deeper waters, due to intense vertical mixing. The analysis of vertical [DOC] gradient at 100-m depth as a function of the integrated DOC content in the 0-100-m layer makes it possible to objectively distinguish three specific periods: the winter vertical mixing period, the period of stratification and spring phytoplankton bloom, and the period of stratification re-inforcement and summer-fall phytoplankton bloom. We recalculate the vertical DOC fluxes to deep waters using a larger original dataset, after the first direct calculation (Deep-Sea Res. 40 (10) (1993) 1963, 1972) that was reproduced for other oceanic areas. The seasonal variations of the "composite" [DOC] distribution in surface waters are significantly correlated to the apparent oxygen utilization distribution, but the biogeochemical significance of such a correlation is still under examination. The global significance of our local findings is presented and the role of the oceanic DOC in the global carbon cycle is emphasized, especially with respect to several current issues, such as the oceanic "missing sink" and the equivalence between new production and exported production.

Time-series of seagrass and land cover maps from 1972 to 2010, in South East Queensland, Australia, with links to GeoTIFFs

Long term global archives of high-moderate spatial resolution, multi-spectral satellite imagery are now readily accessible, but are not being fully utilised by management agencies due to the lack of appropriate methods to consistently produce accurate and timely management ready information. This work developed an object-based remote sensing approach to map land cover and seagrass distribution in an Australian coastal environment for a 38 year Landsat image time-series archive (1972-2010). Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) imagery were used without in situ field data input (but still using field knowledge) to produce land and seagrass cover maps every year data were available, resulting in over 60 map products over the 38 year archive. Land cover was mapped annually using vegetation, bare ground, urban and agricultural classes. Seagrass distribution was also mapped annually, and in some years monthly, via horizontal projected foliage cover classes, sand and deep water. Land cover products were validated using aerial photography and seagrass maps were validated with field survey data, producing several measures of accuracy. An average overall accuracy of 65% and 80% was reported for seagrass and land cover products respectively, which is consistent with other studies in the area. This study is the first to show moderate spatial resolution, long term annual changes in land cover and seagrass in an Australian environment, created without the use of in situ data; and only one of a few similar studies globally. The land cover products identify several long term trends; such as significant increases in South East Queensland's urban density and extent, vegetation clearing in rural and rural-residential areas, and inter-annual variation in dry vegetation types in western South East Queensland. The seagrass cover products show that there has been a minimal overall change in seagrass extent, but that seagrass cover level distribution is extremely dynamic; evidenced by large scale migrations of higher seagrass cover levels and several sudden and significant changes in cover level. These mapping products will allow management agencies to build a baseline assessment of their resources, understand past changes and help inform implementation and planning of management policy to address potential future changes.

Ice thickness distribution and glacier bed of Hallstätter Gletscher

Hallstätter Glacier is the northernmost glacier of Austria. Appendant to the northern Limestone Alps, the glacier is located at 47°28'50'' N, 13°36'50'' E in the Dachstein-region. At the same time with its advance linked to the Little Ice Age (LIA), research on changes in size and mass of Hallstätter glacier was started in 1842 by Friedrich Simony. He observed and documented the glacier retreat related to its last maximum extension in 1856. In addition, Hallstätter Glacier is a subject to scientific research to date. In this thesis methods and results of ongoing mass balance measurements are presented and compared to long term volume changes and meteorological observations. The current mass balance monitoring programm using the direct glaciological method was started 2006. In this context, 2009 the ice thickness was measured with ground penetrating radar. The result are used with digital elevation models reconstucted from historical maps and recent digital elevation models to calculate changes in shape and volume of Hallstätter Glacier. Based on current meteorological measurements near the glacier and longtime homogenized climate data provided by HISTALP, time series of precipitation and temperature beginning at the LIA are produced. These monthly precipitation and monthly mean temperature data are used to compare results of a simple degree day model with the volume change calculated from the difference of the digital elevation models. The two years of direct mass balance measurements are used to calibrate the degree day model. A number of possible future scenarios are produced to indicate prospective changes. Within the 150-year-period between 1856 and 2007 the Hallstätter Glacier lost 1940 meters of its length and 2.23 km**2 in area. 37% of the initial volume of 1856 remained. This retreat came along with a change in climate. The application of a running avarage of 30 years shows an increase in precipitation of 18.5% and a warming of 1.3°C near the glacier between 1866 and 1993. The mass loss was continued in the hydrological years 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 showing mean specific mass balance of -376 mm and -700 mm, respectively. Applying a temperature correction for the different minimum elevations of the glacier, the degree day approach based on the two measured mass balances can reproduce sign and order of magnitude of the volume change of Hallstätter Glacier since 1856. Nevertheless, the relative deviation is significant. Future scenarios show, that 30% of the entire glacier volume remains after subtracting the elevation changes between the digital elevation models of 2002 and 2007 ten times from the surface of 2007. The past and present mass changes of Hallstätter Glacier are showing a retreating glacier as a consequence of rising temperatures. Due to high precepitation, increased with previous warming, the Hallstätter Glacier can and will exist in lower elevation compared to inner alpine glaciers.

Distribution of planktonic foraminifera in the Southern Ocean (maps)

There are about 30 species of planktonic Foraminifera, as contrasted with the more than 4200 benthic species in the oceans of the world. Most of the planktonic species belong to the families Globigerinidae and Globorotaliidae. Of the 30 species, 9 occur in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters; however, none of these cold-water species are restricted to the Southern Ocean, except possibly the newly recognized Globorotalia cavernula (Be, 1967b). These species are distributed in broad zones of similar temperature in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Hence, it is not possible to refer to these species as endemic to the Antarctic or Subantarctic, although some of them do appear in very high concentrations of 10 specimens/m**3 or more in the Antarctic regions. The plankton samples upon which the accompanying maps are based were collected between 1960 and 1965 on the research vessels Eltanin of the National Science Foundation (U.S. Antarctic Research Program), and Vema and Conrad of the Lamont Geological Observatory. All surface (0 m to 10 m) and vertical (0 m to 300 m) tows were obtained with plankton nets of uniform mesh size and material (NITEX202 = 202 µm mesh-aperture width) and were provided with flowmeters for quantitative readings of amounts of water filtered.

Time series of ZOOSCAN images and results of zooplankton samples at Villefranche from 1966 to 2003

ZooScan with ZooProcess and Plankton Identifier (PkID) software is an integrated analysis system for acquisition and classification of digital zooplankton images from preserved zooplankton samples. Zooplankton samples are digitized by the ZooScan and processed by ZooProcess and PkID in order to detect, enumerate, measure and classify the digitized objects. Here we present a semi-automatic approach that entails automated classification of images followed by manual validation, which allows rapid and accurate classification of zooplankton and abiotic objects. We demonstrate this approach with a biweekly zooplankton time series from the Bay of Villefranche-sur-mer, France. The classification approach proposed here provides a practical compromise between a fully automatic method with varying degrees of bias and a manual but accurate classification of zooplankton. We also evaluate the appropriate number of images to include in digital learning sets and compare the accuracy of six classification algorithms. We evaluate the accuracy of the ZooScan for automated measurements of body size and present relationships between machine measures of size and C and N content of selected zooplankton taxa. We demonstrate that the ZooScan system can produce useful measures of zooplankton abundance, biomass and size spectra, for a variety of ecological studies.

Vertical distribution of zooplankton biomass in the Sea of Japan

Vertical distribution of total zooplankton biomass and major taxonomic groups are investigated by layers to depths of 2500-3400 m on the basis of three series of net plankton collections. Zooplankton is most abundant above 1500-2000 m. Since true deep-water species do not occur in the Sea of Japan, biomass drops much more sharply at greater depths than it does in the ocean. Since few carnivores inhabit the deep layers, abundant remains of planktonic organisms fall to the bottom, and carnivorous detritovores feeding on these remains are dominant in deep water bottom fauna.

Vertical distribution of zooplankton biomass in the Sea of Japan at Station VITYAZ7519

Vertical distribution of common zooplankton species is examined on the base of two series of layer-by-layer net catches down to depth of 3400 m. Differences between the series are significant for most species only near the surface, whereas in deeper layers character of distribution remains the same. Great depths in the Sea of Japan are populated most actively by species performing intensive daily migrations, and less actively by species continuously confined to a definite depth range. Different character of nutrition of the animals apparently determines extent of utilization of deep layers, which are usual for the species.

Vertical distribution of mesoplankton at the northern margin of the North Atlantic gyre in June-August 2001

Vertical distribution of mesoplankton was studied over a single season in 2001 at two sites in the western and eastern parts of the northern margin of the North Atlantic gyre. Plankton was sampled both with use of BR 113/140 net and observed from the Mir deep-sea manned submersible. In near-slope waters southeast of Newfoundland (Titanic Polygon) there occurred intensive interaction between subtropical and sub-polar waters and plankton communities. The subtropical gyre community being more mature from the succession viewpoint created a ''net'' of carnivores and scavengers (shrimp and smaller animals) feeding plankton supplied from the north and thus increasing their own biomass. Due to features of hydrological conditions in 2001 in contrast to other years, the plankton supplied from the north was dominated by small copepods, while abundance of larger Calanus hyperboreus was small. Perhaps due to this fact, abundance of macroplanktonic shrimp decreased, while abundance of mesoplanktonic carnivores (Themisto, Sagitta, and Pareuchaeta) increased. In East Atlantic, within the Porcupine abyssal plain (Bismark Polygon) contrasts in frontal boundaries decreased and community interaction became less expressed. While vertical distribution of plankton at Titanic Polygon was characterized by a series of extraordinary features, distribution at Bismark Polygon was much more ordinary.