scholarly journals The Solomon Sea: its circulation, chemistry, geochemistry and biology explored during two oceanographic cruises

Elem Sci Anth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Ganachaud ◽  
Sophie Cravatte ◽  
Janet Sprintall ◽  
Cyril Germineaud ◽  
Marion Alberty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spot ◽  
Current System ◽  
Warm Pool ◽  
The United States ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Wide Range

The semi-enclosed Solomon Sea in the southwestern tropical Pacific is on the pathway of a major oceanic circuit connecting the subtropics to the equator via energetic western boundary currents. Waters transiting through this area replenish the Pacific Warm Pool and ultimately feed the equatorial current system, in particular the equatorial undercurrent. In addition to dynamical transformations, water masses undergo nutrient and micronutrient enrichment when coming in contact with the coasts, impacting the productivity of the downstream equatorial region. Broadscale observing systems are not well suited for describing the fine-scale currents and water masses properties in the Solomon Sea, leaving it relatively unexplored. Two multidisciplinary oceanographic cruises were conducted in the Solomon Sea region, the first in July–August 2012 and the second in March 2014, by investigators from France and the United States. The experimental approach combined physical, chemical, geochemical and biogeochemical analyses, providing access to a wide range of space and time scales of the circulation. This collection of data allows describing the fine-scale structure of the currents and the water properties, transformations and mixing from the surface to the sill depth in the Solomon Sea and in the straits connecting it to the equator. Ocean-margin exchanges were documented through a comprehensive sampling of trace elements and isotopes as efficient tracers of natural fertilization processes. As air chemistry is largely impacted by the regional volcanic plumes, rainwater pH was also sampled. Dinitrogen fixation rates were measured and found to be among the highest in the global ocean, highlighting this region as a hot spot of nitrogen fixation. This study provides an overview of the climatic context during both cruises and the physical circulation and water masses properties. It provides a comprehensive description of all measurements made onboard, and presents preliminary results, aiming to serve as a reference for further physical, geochemical and biogeochemical studies.

scholarly journals The INALT family – a set of high-resolution nests for the Agulhas Current system within global NEMO ocean/sea-ice configurations

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 3329-3355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska U. Schwarzkopf ◽  
Arne Biastoch ◽  
Claus W. Böning ◽  
Jérôme Chanut ◽  
Jonathan V. Durgadoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Current System ◽  
Western Boundary Current ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Boundary Current ◽  
The South ◽  
Agulhas Current ◽  
Mesoscale Dynamics

Abstract. The Agulhas Current, the western boundary current of the South Indian Ocean, has been shown to play an important role in the connectivity between the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The greater Agulhas Current system is highly dominated by mesoscale dynamics. To investigate their influence on the regional and global circulations, a family of high-resolution ocean general circulation model configurations based on the NEMO code has been developed. Horizontal resolution refinement is achieved by embedding “nests” covering the South Atlantic and the western Indian oceans at 1/10∘ (INALT10) and 1/20∘ (INALT20) within global hosts with coarser resolutions. Nests and hosts are connected through two-way interaction, allowing the nests not only to receive boundary conditions from their respective host but also to feed back the impact of regional dynamics onto the global ocean. A double-nested configuration at 1/60∘ resolution (INALT60) has been developed to gain insights into submesoscale processes within the Agulhas Current system. Large-scale measures such as the Drake Passage transport and the strength of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation are rather robust among the different configurations, indicating the important role of the hosts in providing a consistent embedment of the regionally refined grids into the global circulation. The dynamics of the Agulhas Current system strongly depend on the representation of mesoscale processes. Both the southward-flowing Agulhas Current and the northward-flowing Agulhas Undercurrent increase in strength with increasing resolution towards more realistic values, which suggests the importance of improving mesoscale dynamics as well as bathymetric slopes along this narrow western boundary current regime. The exploration of numerical choices such as lateral boundary conditions and details of the implementation of surface wind stress forcing demonstrates the range of solutions within any given configuration.

scholarly journals TO THE 80th ANNIVERSARY OF BYSHEV – A MEMBER OF THE POLYGON–70 EXPEDITION

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-243
Author(s):  
A. V. Sokov
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Shirshov Institute ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
80Th Anniversary ◽  
Editorial Boards ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Academy Of Sciences

The article is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Dr. Vladimir I. Byshev – mathematician, oceanologist, Head of the Laboratory of large-scale variability of hydrophysical fields of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences. Vladimir Byshev is a major scientist in the study of the temporal and spatial variability of oceanological and meteorological characteristics in a wide range of scales, features of the interaction of the ocean and atmosphere, large-scale disturbances of the climate system, an active direct participant in two dozen scientific expeditions, including such large ocean projects as Polygon–70, POLYMODE, Megapolygon, Atlantex–90, as well as a number of expeditions to the regions of the western boundary currents of the Atlantic Ocean and the equatorial region of the Indian Ocean, in which new, previously unknown elements of the circulation of the World Ocean were discovered. He is an expert in the field of climate, a member of the Editorial boards of several scientific journals and the author of over 200 scientific publications. He is a co-author of the Atlas POLYMODE (1986), the largest international oceans research project, and the author of the well-known monograph “Synoptic and large-scale variability of the ocean and atmosphere”.

scholarly journals Impact of moderately energetic fine-scale dynamics on the phytoplankton community structure in the western Mediterranean Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 6455-6477
Author(s):  
Roxane Tzortzis ◽  
Andrea M. Doglioli ◽  
Stéphanie Barrillon ◽  
Anne A. Petrenko ◽  
Francesco d'Ovidio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Phytoplankton Community ◽  
World Ocean ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Water Masses ◽  
Ocean Dynamics ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. Model simulations and remote sensing observations show that ocean dynamics at fine scales (1–100 km in space, day–weeks in time) strongly influence the distribution of phytoplankton. However, only a few in situ-based studies at fine scales have been performed, and most of them concern western boundary currents which may not be representative of less energetic regions. The PROTEVSMED-SWOT cruise took place in the moderately energetic waters of the western Mediterranean Sea (WMS), in the region south of the Balearic Islands. Taking advantage of near-real-time satellite information, we defined a sampling strategy in order to cross a frontal zone separating different water masses. Multi-parametric in situ sensors mounted on the research vessel, on a towed vehicle and on an ocean glider were used to sample physical and biogeochemical variables at a high spatial resolution. Particular attention was given to adapting the sampling route in order to estimate the vertical velocities in the frontal area also. This strategy was successful in sampling quasi-synoptically an oceanic area characterized by the presence of a narrow front with an associated vertical circulation. A multiparametric statistical analysis of the collected data identifies two water masses characterized by different abundances of several phytoplankton cytometric functional groups, as well as different concentrations of chlorophyll a and O2. Here, we focus on moderately energetic fronts induced by fine-scale circulation. Moreover, we explore physical–biological coupling in an oligotrophic region. Our results show that the fronts induced by the fine-scale circulation, even if weaker than the fronts occurring in energetic and nutrient-rich boundary current systems, maintain nevertheless a strong structuring effect on the phytoplankton community by segregating different groups at the surface. Since oligotrophic and moderately energetic regions are representative of a very large part of the world ocean, our results may have global significance when extrapolated.

scholarly journals A Model Analysis of the Behavior of the Mediterranean Water in the North Atlantic

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 764-786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanli Jia ◽  
Andrew C. Coward ◽  
Beverly A. de Cuevas ◽  
David J. Webb ◽  
Sybren S. Drijfhout
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Current System ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Strait Of Gibraltar ◽  
The North ◽  
The North Atlantic ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Water

Abstract The behavior of the Mediterranean Water in the North Atlantic Ocean sector of a global ocean general circulation model is explored, starting from its entry point at the Strait of Gibraltar. The analysis focuses primarily on one experiment in which explicit watermass exchange between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic at the Strait of Gibraltar is permitted. The model produces an exchange rate of approximately 1 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1). This is comparable to estimates derived from field measurements. The density of the Mediterranean outflow, however, is lower than observed, mainly because of its high temperature (more than 2°C higher than in reality). The lower density of the outflow and the model’s inadequate representation of the entrainment mixing in the outflow region cause the Mediterranean Water to settle in a depth range ∼800–1000 m in the North Atlantic, about 200 m shallower than observed. Here an interesting current system forms in response to the intrusion of the Mediterranean Water, involving three main pathways. In the first, the Mediterranean Water heads roughly westward across the basin and joins the deep western boundary current. In the second, the water travels northward along the eastern boundary reaching as far as Iceland, where it turns westward to participate in the deep circulation of the subpolar gyre. In the third, the water initially moves westward to the central Atlantic just north of 30°N before turning northwestward to reach an upwelling region at the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. At this location, the saline Mediterranean Water is drawn upward to the ocean upper layer and entrained into the North Atlantic Current system flowing to the northeastern basin; part of the current system enters the Nordic seas.

scholarly journals Test and evaluation of a simple parameterization to enhance air-sea coupling in a global coupled model

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fanghua Xu 1
Keyword(s):  
Wind Stress ◽  
Ocean Circulation ◽  
Southern Oscillation ◽  
Current System ◽  
Surface Wind ◽  
Coupled Model ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Surface Wind Stress ◽  
Gyre Circulation

A simple temperature-dependent wind stress scheme is implemented in National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Community Earth System Model (CESM), aiming to enhance positive wind stress and sea surface temperature (SST) correlation in SST-frontal regions. A series of three-year coupled experiments are conducted to determine a proper coupling coefficient for the scheme based on the agreement of surface wind stress and SST at oceanic mesoscale between model simulations and observations. Afterwards, 80-year simulations with/without the scheme are conducted to explore its effects on simulated ocean states and variability. The results show that the new scheme indeed improves the positive correlation between SST and wind stress magnitude near the large oceanic fronts. With more realistic surface heat flux and wind stress, the global SST biases are reduced. The global ocean circulation represented by barotropic stream function exhibits a weakened gyre circulation close to the western boundary separation, in agreement with previous studies. The simulation of equatorial Pacific current system is improved as well. The overestimated El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) magnitude in original CESM is reduced by ~30% after using the new scheme with an improved period.

scholarly journals Terror in europe and its sources in illegal migration from the south. How to distinguish one from the other and contain both

2020 ◽  
Vol 1(14)/2020 (1(14)/2020) ◽  
pp. 25-43
Author(s):  
Crăişor C. IONIŢĂ
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spot ◽  
The United States ◽  
Islamic State ◽  
European Security ◽  
Illegal Migration ◽  
Terrorist Organizations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Violent Action ◽  
Ukrainian Crisis ◽  
International War

Currently, Europe has to face new risks and threats, including terrorist attacks, illegal migration, and hybrid warfare that transcend the common security aspects and have further roots beyond its borders, in unsolved hot spot areas, like Eastern and Southern neighbourhood. Today rapid developments in the political and economic fields made terrorism a common problem for all the countries in the world. This is also true for European countries because, with the Madrid bombing of the Atocha Rail Station, where, for the first time in the history of terrorism, two organizations were involved together (Al Qaida and ETA) in committing a violent action, we can speak about the internationalisation of terror and the shift of its political objectives towards those nations supporting the United States in the International War on Terror. Since the 2014 Ukrainian crisis and Syrian conflict, including here military actions to counter the Salafi Jihadist militant group and alleged former Al Qaida affiliate in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a period of increased Islamic terrorist activity has taken place in Europe, often referred to as the Wave of Terror in Europe. Terrorists employed a wide range of tactics to support implementation of their overall strategies. In Europe, as we saw in the past events, terrorist organisations have mostly been employing old tactics such as bombing, arson, assassination and suicide attack to achieve their goals. The big issue for terror in Europe is the mix of some of these classical acts with new methods including the use of computer devices, driving transportation means against crowds, shooting and stabbing their targets, in order to transmit proposed messages. The European security context forced more and more European states to take “hard” measures for eliminating the danger of those terrorist organizations. A lot of books have been written and many analyses have been made since the 90s. However, the terrorists modify their tactics and weapons according to new conditions. Moreover, they co-operate with each other and gain a more Mafia like characteristic. Even, terrorist organizations and other crime organizations are going faster than the sovereign countries in the field of cooperation. Consequently, the terrorist organizations, instead of being annihilated, gain more power, with every countermeasure.

scholarly journals Flight paths of seabirds soaring over the ocean surface enable measurement of fine-scale wind speed and direction

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (32) ◽  
pp. 9039-9044 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshinari Yonehara ◽  
Yusuke Goto ◽  
Ken Yoda ◽  
Yutaka Watanuki ◽  
Lindsay C. Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Ocean Surface ◽  
Coastal Areas ◽  
Global Ocean ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Surface Winds ◽  
Ground Speed ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ocean Surface Winds ◽  
Wind Velocities

Ocean surface winds are an essential factor in understanding the physical interactions between the atmosphere and the ocean. Surface winds measured by satellite scatterometers and buoys cover most of the global ocean; however, there are still spatial and temporal gaps and finer-scale variations of wind that may be overlooked, particularly in coastal areas. Here, we show that flight paths of soaring seabirds can be used to estimate fine-scale (every 5 min, ∼5 km) ocean surface winds. Fine-scale global positioning system (GPS) positional data revealed that soaring seabirds flew tortuously and ground speed fluctuated presumably due to tail winds and head winds. Taking advantage of the ground speed difference in relation to flight direction, we reliably estimated wind speed and direction experienced by the birds. These bird-based wind velocities were significantly correlated with wind velocities estimated by satellite-borne scatterometers. Furthermore, extensive travel distances and flight duration of the seabirds enabled a wide range of high-resolution wind observations, especially in coastal areas. Our study suggests that seabirds provide a platform from which to measure ocean surface winds, potentially complementing conventional wind measurements by covering spatial and temporal measurement gaps.

Music after the Fall

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Rutherford-Johnson
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Contemporary Music ◽  
The United States ◽  
Art Music ◽  
Sound Art ◽  
Musical Composition ◽  
Western Art ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Cold War

By the start of the 21st century many of the foundations of postwar culture had disappeared: Europe had been rebuilt and, as the EU, had become one of the world’s largest economies; the United States’ claim to global dominance was threatened; and the postwar social democratic consensus was being replaced by market-led neoliberalism. Most importantly of all, the Cold War was over, and the World Wide Web had been born. Music After The Fall considers contemporary musical composition against this changed backdrop, placing it in the context of globalization, digitization, and new media. Drawing on theories from the other arts, in particular art and architecture, it expands the definition of Western art music to include forms of composition, experimental music, sound art, and crossover work from across the spectrum, inside and beyond the concert hall. Each chapter considers a wide range of composers, performers, works, and institutions are considered critically to build up a broad and rich picture of the new music ecosystem, from North American string quartets to Lebanese improvisers, from South American electroacoustic studios to pianos in the Australian outback. A new approach to the study of contemporary music is developed that relies less on taxonomies of style and technique, and more on the comparison of different responses to common themes, among them permission, fluidity, excess, and loss.

Death in the City

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Violent Death ◽  
Special Relationship ◽  
Intimate Friend ◽  
Counter Narrative ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
European Heritage ◽  
The City ◽  
The Temple

Popular culture has long conflated Mexico with the macabre. Some persuasive intellectuals argue that Mexicans have a special relationship with death, formed in the crucible of their hybrid Aztec-European heritage. Death is their intimate friend; death is mocked and accepted with irony and fatalistic abandon. The commonplace nature of death desensitizes Mexicans to suffering. Death, simply put, defines Mexico. There must have been historical actors who looked away from human misery, but to essentialize a diverse group of people as possessing a unique death cult delights those who want to see the exotic in Mexico or distinguish that society from its peers. Examining tragic and untimely death—namely self-annihilation—reveals a counter narrative. What could be more chilling than suicide, especially the violent death of the young? What desperation or madness pushed the victim to raise the gun to the temple or slip the noose around the neck? A close examination of a wide range of twentieth-century historical documents proves that Mexicans did not accept death with a cavalier chuckle nor develop a unique death cult, for that matter. Quite the reverse, Mexicans behaved just as their contemporaries did in Austria, France, England, and the United States. They devoted scientific inquiry to the malady and mourned the loss of each life to suicide.

Is This the Care We Need?: An Examination of Childcare Policy in Pennsylvania

Commonwealth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennie Sweet-Cushman ◽  
Ashley Harden
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Current System ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Federal State ◽  
Women And Politics ◽  
Richard Nixon ◽  
State And Local ◽  
Childcare Policy

For many families across Pennsylvania, child care is an ever-present concern. Since the 1970s, when Richard Nixon vetoed a national childcare program, child care has received little time in the policy spotlight. Instead, funding for child care in the United States now comes from a mixture of federal, state, and local programs that do not help all families. This article explores childcare options available to families in the state of Pennsylvania and highlights gaps in the current system. Specifically, we examine the state of child care available to families in the Commonwealth in terms of quality, accessibility, flexibility, and affordability. We also incorporate survey data from a nonrepresentative sample of registered Pennsylvania voters conducted by the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics. As these results support the need for improvements in the current childcare system, we discuss recommendations for the future.

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