ALBERT

Description: The dissolution rates of spheres of two magnesian olivines, two plagioclases, and quartz in tholeiitic basalt have been determined at three super-liquidus temperatures and one-atmosphere pressure. There are considerable differences in the rates among the minerals, e.g. at 1210°, 12° above the liquidus temperature of the basalt, labradorite dissolves at 86 µm/h. and the magnesian olivines at 9 and 14 µm/h. The rates are not time dependent and this, coupled with the existence of concentration gradients in the composition of quenched melt adjacent to partially dissolved crystals, indicates that the dissolution rates are dictated by a combination of diffusion and convection of components to and from the crystal-liquid interface. Values for the activation enthalpy of dissolution are small for quartz and plagioclase (40–50 kcal mol−1) but large for olivine 73–118 kcal mol−1). Dissolution of plagioclase in rock melts seems to be a much more rapid process than crystal growth, whereas olivines apparently dissolve and grow at similar rates. Crystal dissolution is sufficiently slow that ascending, crystal-bearing magma may become superheated and yet fail to dissolve the crystal fraction before quenching; this may be the reason that olivine phenocrysts are often rounded.

Description: The kinetics of methane hydrate decomposition was studied using a semibatch stirred-tank reactor. The decomposition was accomplished by reducing the pressure on a hydrate slurry in water to a value below the three-phase equilibrium pressure at the reactor temperature. The data were obtained at temperatures from 274 to 283 K and pressures from 0.17 to 6.97 MPa. The stirring rates were high enough to eliminate mass-transfer effects. Analysis of the data indicated that the decomposition rate was proportional to the particle surface area and to the difference in the fugacity of methane at the equilibrium pressure and the decomposition pressure. The proportionality constant showed an Arrhenius temperature dependence. An estimate of the hydrate particle diameters in the experiments permitted the development of an intrinsic model for the kinetics of hydrate decomposition.

Description: 1. Effects of noradrenaline and the related compounds adrenaline, dopamine, octopamine, tryamine, clonidine and isoprenaline were studied in isolated heart preparations from the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis L. 2. All analogues produced a positive inotropic affect, with noradrenaline being the most potent substance. The chronotropic effects of the tested compounds differed widely. 3. The action of substances of the phenylethanolamine group were not antagonized by propanolol but were partly antagonized by phentolamine. 4. Serotonin and its analogues also produced cardio-excitation. These effects were blocked by cyproheptadine but not by methysergide. 5. These results indicate the presence of two different receptors in the Sepia myocardium: one type reacting with noradrenaline most effectively and a second type being stimulated by serotonin.

Description: The octopus Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck 1798), enclosed in a small chamber of flowing sea water, was tested for responses to water-borne chemicals. Incidence of body movements and change in ventilation rate were recorded by a non-invasive technique- At concentrations no more than 1x10 -4M at the animal, the octopuses responded to betaine, proline, alanine, lactic acid, and serine (order of decreasing sensitivity)- Glutamic acid and trimethylamine oxide were considerably less stimulatory, arginine and taurine were hardly more effective than sea-water controls.

Description: Surveys of the interdial macrofauna and sediment characters of Nigg Bay, Moray Firth, were carried out between 1981 and 1985. Permanent stations were located at the intersections of a half-kilometre grid covering the entire interdial area and sampled for infauna using replicate cores. Estimates were also made of mussel and lugworm densities from quadrats and cast counts respectively. The biomass of selected species that constitute important resources for higher tropic levels were also estimated. The sediment for each station was analysed for median particle diameter and slit content. The infaunal data were analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis. This indicated that tida height was the most important factor governing the distribution and abundance of the interdial communities. Sediment characters were only poorly related to distribution patterns. The bay has a rich fauna and is biologically similar to other outer bays of the Moray Firth, which, like Nigg, are important areas for wildfowl and waders. Comparison of survey data from different years indicate that there are natural cycles in some sediment and biological characters of Nigg Bay.

Description: Cephalopod beaks recovered from stomach samples taken from l 4 sea bird species in the southern Benguela region off Southern Africa and from one species at Sub-Antarctic Marion Island, were identified as far as possible, counted and the lower rostral lengths (LRLs) measured. Dorsal mantle lengths (DMLs) and body masses of the cephalopods eaten were estimated. The results of analyses by percentage frequency of occurrence and numerical abundance are discussed with reference to present knowledge of the distribution of cephalopods eaten by sea birds in the areas studied. Division of the cephalopod component of seabird diets into species which float, and species which sink, after death indicates that the birds forage on dead or moribund cephalopods on the surface, rather than catching live bioluminescent cephalopods at night.

Description: Pore fluids extracted from near-surface sediments of the deformation front along the Oregon subduction zone have, in general, the dissolved nutrient pattern characteristic of bacterial sulfate reduction. However, in certain locations there are peculiar ammonium distributions and anomalously 13C-depleted dissolved ΣCO2. These carbon isotope and nutrient patterns are attributed to the concurrent microbially-mediated oxidation of sedimentary organic matter (POC) and methane (CH4) originating from depth. In contrast to the oxidation of sedimentary organic matter in the sulfate zone, utilization of methane as the carbon source by sulfate-reducing bacteria would generate only half as much total carbon dioxide for each mole of sulfate consumed and would not generate any dissolved ammonium. The isotopically light ΣCO2 released from methane oxidation depletes the total metabolic carbon dioxide pool. Therefore, NH4+, ΣCO2 and δ13C of interstitial carbon dioxide in these pore fluids distintcly reflect the combined contributions of each of the two carbon substrates undergoing mineralization; i.e. methane and sedimentary organic matter. By appropriately partitioning the nutrient and substrate relationships, we calculate that in the area of the marginal ridge of the Oregon subduction zone as much as 30% of the ΣCO2 in pore fluids may result from methane oxidation. The calculation also predicts that the carbon isotope signature of the carbon dioxide derived from methane is between −35‰ and −63‰ PDB. Such an isotopically light gas generated from within the accretionary complex could be the residue of a biogenic methane pool. Fluid advection is required to carry such methane from depth to the present near-surface sediments. This mechanism is consistent with large-scale, tectonically-induced fluid transport envisioned for accreted sediments of the world's convergent plate boundaries.

Description: The potential vorticity profile in the seasonal pycnocline can be predicted from the surface buoyancy and momentum fluxes by means of the Lagrangian correlation of seasonally varying mixed-layer depth and density. Water flows geostrophically from the seasonal pycnocline into the permanent pycnocline, through the sloping surface of depth D defined by the annual maximum depth of the mixed layer. Potential vorticity flows into the permanent pycnocline where U(D)· ∇D ≤W(D) and vice versa. A theory is given for the regional variation of D, and methods of determining D from hydrographic data are reviewed. This physical understanding of potential vorticity sources and sinks makes it possible to reformulate ventilated thermocline models in terms of flux rather than density boundary conditions, and guides the design of coupled models of ocean—atmosphere circulation. It leads to formulae for water-mass formation and the nutrient balance in the seasonal boundary layer.

Description: Santorini volcanic field has had 12 major (1–10 km3 or more of magma), and numerous minor, explosive eruptions over the last ~ 200 ka. Deposits from these eruptions (Thera Pyroclastic Formation) are well exposed in caldera-wall successions up to 200 m thick. Each of the major eruptions began with a pumice-fall phase, and most culminated with emplacement of pyroclastic flows. Pyroclastic flows of at least six eruptions deposited proximal lag deposits exposed widely in the caldera wall. The lag deposits include coarse-grained lithic breccias (andesitic to rhyodacitic eruptions) and spatter agglomerates (andesitic eruptions only). Facies associations between lithic breccia, spatter agglomerate, and ignimbrite from the same eruption can be very complex. For some eruptions, lag deposits provide the only evidence for pyroclastic flows, because most of the ignimbrite is buried on the lower flanks of Santorini or under the sea. At least eight eruptions tapped compositionally heterogeneous magma chambers, producing deposits with a range of zoning patterns and compositional gaps. Three eruptions display a silicic–silicic + mafic–silicic zoning not previously reported. Four eruptions vented large volumes of dacitic or rhyodacitic pumice, and may account for 90% or more of all silicic magma discharged from Santorini. The Thera Pyroclastic Formation and coeval lavas record two major mafic-to-silicic cycles of Santorini volcanism. Each cycle commenced with explosive eruptions of andesite or dacite, accompanied by construction of composite shields and stratocones, and culminated in a pair of major dacitic or rhyodacitic eruptions. Sequences of scoria and ash deposits occur between most of the twelve major members and record repeated stratocone or shield construction following a large explosive eruption. Volcanism at Santorini has focussed on a deep NE–SW basement fracture, which has acted as a pathway for magma ascent. At least four major explosive eruptions began at a vent complex on this fracture. Composite volcanoes constructed north of the fracture were dissected by at least three caldera-collapse events associated with the pyroclastic eruptions. Southern Santorini consists of pryoclastic ejecta draped over a pre-volcanic island and a ridge of early- to mid-Pleistocene volcanics. The southern half of the present-day caldera basin is a long-lived, essentially non-volcanic, depression, defined by topographic highs to the south and east, but deepened by subsidence associated with the main northern caldera complex, and is probably not a separate caldera.

Description: Of about 20,000 modern fish species, only about 200 are found south of the Antarctic Convergence. The ichthyofauna is dominated by small species up to 40 cm long. The majority are bottom dwelling forms which belong mostly to the suborder Notothenioidei. Antarctic pelagic fishes are descendants from several faunal groups of different origins: bathypelagic and mesopelagic species, and species originating from demersal families which are secondarily adapted to temporary or permanent midwater life. More than 30 species of squid are so far known from the Southern Ocean. The majority are obviously meso-and bathy-pelagic dwellers. Several adaptations, including stenothermy, freezing resistance, aglomerular kidneys, and neutral buoyancy, enable Antarctic coastal fish to live successfully in the harsh environment. Growth rates of coastal fish are comparable to those found in Newfoundland cod. Most coastal fish do not spawn until they are 5 year old. Three reproductive strategies occur in coastal fish: autumn/early winter spawners with few, but yolky, eggs of 3–6 mm diameter; late winter/spring spawners with many, but smaller, eggs of 1.5–2 mm diameter; and species which guard their nests. Based on their food spectra, fish species can roughly be divided into three groups: fish and krill feeders, plankton feeders, and benthos feeders. Krill consumption by coastal fish around South Georgia and in West Antarctic waters was probably in the order of 5–6 × 106 tonnes before the onset of exploitation. Overall euphausiid consumption may have been about 20 × 106 tonnes. Fish, particularly mesopelagic fish, appear to be more important krill predators than squid. The role of squid as krill predators may have been overestimated in the past. Squid seem to be more important as a food resource for top level predators, particularly sperm whales and birds, than fish appear to be. All estimates of food consumption—krill as well as fish—are still subject to many uncertainties, and so it can be expected that increasing knowledge in the future may alter the given figures quite substantially. Exploitation of Antarctic finfish started at the end of the 1960s. The main fishing grounds are South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands. So far about 2.3 × 106 tonnes have been harvested from the Southern Ocean and the stocks particularly around South Georgia are heavily depleted. Conservation measures adopted by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in 1984 and 1985 are probably not sufficient to support the recovery of the stocks.