A dated cave sediment record of Pleistocene transgressions on Berry Head,Southwest England

Berry Head, a limestone headland in Torbay, southwest England, exhibits a series of subaerial marine erosion platforms and raised beaches spanning an altitude range of 97 m. Solution caves on the headland show preferred horizontal development at elevations that are correlated with the marine erosion platforms, and developed in a marine/freshwater mixing zone whose position was controlled by high sea-level still-stands. Corbridge Cave in Berry Head Quarry lies below the raised beaches in Torbay, and contains evidence of three marine transgressions in the form of fine-grained marine ponding deposits with a marine microfauna. Uranium-series dating of intercalated speleothems indicates that a transgression during oxygen isotope stage 5e reached an elevation of 5.8 m OD, while an earlier transgression (probably during stage 7) reached at least 7.2 m OD. These findings are used to constrain possible interpretations of the aminostratigraphy of raised beaches in Southwest Britain, and a correlation of the Unnamed Stage of Bowen, Sykes, Reeves, Miller, Andrews, Brew and Hare with oxygen isotope stage 5e is proposed.     

Agents of Eviction: The Squatter Control and Clearance Division of Hong Kong's Housing Department

More is known about the policies that produce forced evictions and their consequences than about the agencies whose responsibility it is to conduct them. Understanding the nature of forced evictions requires greater comprehension of responsible agencies since the ways in which they implement policies may be a crucial intervening variable influencing the outcomes. In this paper, I use documentary and ethnographic research to describe the Squatter Control and Clearance Division of the Hong Kong Housing Department. Responsible both for evicting squatters and for controlling squatter areas that are permitted to remain for the time being, officers must respond to the conflicts and challenges of their twin, partially conflicting, mandates. Examination of changes in squatter control and clearance practices since 1954 is followed by a brief case study of the most recent squatter clearance that occurred in July 2001.     

Geochemical effects of oxidation products and framboidal pyrite oxidation in acid mine drainage prediction techniques

Acid mine drainage predictive testwork associated with the Australian Mineral Industries Research Association (AMIRA) P387A Project: Prediction and Kinetic Control of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) has critically examined static acid assessment and kinetic information from acid–base accounting techniques, including net acid production potential (NAPP), net acid generation (NAG) and column leach tests. This paper compares results on two waste rock samples that were obtained from the Kaltim Prima Coal mine (KPC) containing significant quantities of fine-grained framboidal pyrite. In agreement with other research, the authors' results indicated that framboidal pyrite is more reactive than euhedral forms due to the greater specific surface area of framboidal pyrite. This is evidenced by optical microscopy of reacted samples. Importantly, the results showed that NAPP testing is biased by the rapid acid generating oxidation of framboidal pyrite prior to, and during the acid neutralisation capacity (ANC) test. This can result in negative ANC values for samples containing significant framboidal pyrite (often “corrected” to zero kg H₂SO₄/t) when significant ANC is actually present in the sample. NAG testing using H₂O₂ indicated that samples containing a significant quantity of framboidal pyrite can result in the catalytic decomposition of the H₂O₂ prior to complete oxidation of the sulfide minerals present, requiring sequential addition of H₂O₂ for completion. A benefit of the NAG test, however, is that it assesses the net acid generation capacity of the sample without bias towards acid generation as is observed using NAPP methods. The kinetic NAG test also gives information on the reaction sequence of framboidal and euhedral pyrite. Periodic (kinetic) analysis of sub-samples from column leach tests indicated rapid oxidation of the framboidal pyrite compared to the euhedral pyrite, which was correlated with the greater framboidal pyrite surface area.Calculations to determine the sulfide/sulfate acidity derived from the oxidation of framboidal pyrite prior to; and during the ANC test have been developed to provide a better indication of the actual ANC (ANC_Actual) of the sample. Paste pH values of <pH 4–5 may be one suitable trigger mechanism for the implementation of this new method. This has led to an improved NAPP estimation of total acid production. Together with NAG and column leach testing this improved methodology has resulted in accurate AMD characterisation of samples containing acidic oxidation products and framboidal pyrite.     

The analysis of drainage network composition

The Horton method of analyzing drainage network composition is reviewed, with the conclusion that it has not been very effective either in improving understanding or in developing useful methods of characterizing drainage basins. New methods which are based on the link rather than the Horton (or Strahler) stream are described. A number of detailed examples of the application of these new methods to the topologic and geometric properties of networks are provided. The results are compared with the predictions of the random model. Data used in the analysis were obtained from 1:24,000 U.S.G.S. topographic maps of eastern Kentucky. Thirty drainage basins were selected and their channel networks were outlined first by the contour-crenulation (CC) method and then by another, more objective, method (SC) in which stream sources were identified by a quantitative slope criterion. The CC and SC samples comprise about 8,700 and 1,700 links, respectively. The three most important results of the analysis are: (1) the channel networks are slightly but significantly more elongated than predicted by the random model, (2) there are fewer second magnitude links than predicted, and (3) the length distribution for interior links depends upon the kind of link (interior or exterior) joined downstream. These features are found in both CC and SC networks.     

Applications of the random model of drainage basin composition

The random model of drainage basin composition is founded on the assumptions that (a) natural channels are topologically random in the absence of geological controls and (b) for channel networks developed in similar environments, the exterior and interior link lengths are independent random variables with a common distribution for each type. The effectiveness of this model in estimating the values of geomorphic variables and in explaining and predicting geomorphic relationships is illustrated by several examples. The data required for these examples were obtained from map studies of 30 channel networks, comprising a total of about 8700 links, in eastern Kentucky. A common factor in the success of all three applications of the model is the way in which the planimetric features of drainage basins are determined by their underlying topologic structure.     

Fisheries mismanagement

We analysed the extent to which European politicians have adhered to scientific recommendations on annual total allowable catches (TACs) from 1987 to 2011, covering most of the period of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). For the 11 stocks examined, TACs were set higher than scientific recommendations in 68% of decisions. Politically-adjusted TACs averaged 33% above scientifically recommended levels. There was no evidence that the 2002 reform of the CFP improved decision-making, as was claimed at the time. We modelled the effects of such politically-driven decision-making on stock sustainability. Our results suggest that political adjustment of scientific recommendations dramatically increases the probability of a stock collapsing within 40 years.In 2012 European fisheries policy will undergo a once-a-decade reform. Ten years ago radical reforms were promised but the changes failed to improve sustainability. It is likely that the 2012 reform will be similarly ineffective unless decision-making is changed so that catch allocations are based on science rather than politics.     

The dynamics of natural pipe hydrological behaviour in blanket peat

Natural soil pipes are found in peatlands, but little is known about their hydrological role. This paper presents the most complete set of pipe discharge data to date from a deep blanket peatland in Northern England. In a 17.4‐ha catchment, we identified 24 perennially flowing and 60 ephemerally flowing pipe outlets. Eight pipe outlets along with the catchment outlet were continuously gauged over an 18‐month period. The pipes in the catchment were estimated to produce around 13.7% of annual streamflow, with individual pipes often producing large peak flows (maximum peak of 3.8 l s^?1). Almost all pipes, whether ephemerally or perennially flowing, shallow or deep (outlets > 1 m below the peat surface), showed increased discharge within a mean of 3 h after rainfall commencement and were dominated by stormflow, indicating good connectivity between the peatland surface and the pipes. However, almost all pipes had a longer period between the hydrograph peak and the return to base flow compared with the stream (mean of 23.9 h for pipes, 19.7 h for stream). As a result, the proportion of streamflow produced by the pipes at any given time increased at low flows and formed the most important component of stream discharge for the lowest 10% of flows. Thus, a small number of perennially flowing pipes became more important to the stream system under low‐flow conditions and probably received water via matrix flow during periods between storms. Given the importance of pipes to streamflow in blanket peatlands, further research is required into their wider role in influencing stream water chemistry, water temperature and fluvial carbon fluxes, as well as their role in altering local hydrochemical cycling within the peat mass itself. Enhanced piping within peatlands caused by environmental change may lead to changes in the streamflow regime with larger low flows and more prolonged drainage of the peat. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DO WE NEED TO MODEL PLATES AT ALL?

The historical method of obtaining equatorial coordinates for stars observed via astronomical photography has been to convert the measured coordinates to equatorial coordinates with the aid of a plate model which corrects for a variety of effects. However, we now have at our disposal novel smoothing techniques, of considerable generality, which in conjunction with modern star catalogues can reproduce the essence of the plate model while dramatically minimizing both the fortuitous and systematic errors of observation. In this paper we demonstrate that, with this technique and extant catalogues, one can obtain, with at least the same precision and better accuracy, the information necessary to transform the measured coordinates successfully into standard coordinates by a process that involves no sophisticated model for the plate. Using external checks we estimate the increase in accuracy to be of the order of 25 per cent.     

Comparison of the results of quantitative and non-quantitative tracer tests for determination of Karst conduit networks: An example from the Traligill Basin,Scotland

The relative advantages of fluorescent dyes and Lycopodium spores as tracers are discussed. The major advantage of fluorescent dyes is that they may be detected quantitatively. Thus, in combination with discharge measurements, a dye mass balance can be prepared for tracer tests in karst conduits, which permits elucidation of the underground network. The advantages of this procedure are illustrated by comparison of the networks derived from non-quantitative (Lycopodium and dye) and quantitative (fluorescent dye) tracer methods in the Traligill Basin, Scotland. These tests also suggest that Lycopodium does not give a true indication of travel time, due to sedimentation underground. This could also cause contamination problems in later tests. For non-quantitative tracer tests, sensitive methods are necessary if incorrect inferences on conduit networks are to be avoided. In general, however, quantitative tests give much less ambiguous results, and are therefore to be preferred.