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At least 847 records · Page 47

Greenhouse gas and dissolved oxygen production and consumption rates associated with Regier et al. (2023)

Tidal inundation along the coastal terrestrial-aquatic interface controls soil and sediment biogeochemistry and gas dynamics. Although a rich literature exist on studies of the influence of tidal waters on the biogeochemistry of coastal ecosystem soils, few studies have experimentally addressed the reverse question: How do soils (or sediments) from different coastal ecosystems influence the biogeochemistry of the tidal waters that inundate them? We conducted short-term microcosm laboratory experiments where seawater was amended with sediments and soils collected across regional gradients of inundation exposure (i.e., frequently to rarely inundated) and measured changes in dissolved oxygen and greenhouse gas concentrations to calculate gas consumption or production rates occurring during seawater exposure to terrestrial materials. This data package contains dissolved oxygen and greenhouse gas data collected during incubation of soils and sediments collected at 18 sites, which were used in the publication Regier et al. (2023) entitled “Coastal inundation regime moderates the short-term effects of sediment and soil additions on seawater oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics: a microcosm experiment” which is published in Frontiers in Marine Science (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1308590).---Acknowledging EXCHANGE: General Support and Data Product UseWe ask that users of EXCHANGE data add the following acknowledgement when publishing data in scholarly articles and data repositories:"This research is based on work supported by COMPASS-FME, a multi-institutional project supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Biological and Environmental Research as part of the Environmental System Science Program."

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

ELM model simulations of Plum Island Ecosystems LTER low marsh site 2018-2020

Model simulations using the Department of Energy's Energy Exascale Earth System Model (E3SM) land model (ELM) with improved capabilities to represent vegetation response to salinity and inundation. The simulations were conducted for a tidal salt marsh at Plum Island Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site near Rowley, Massachusetts, USA; the site is a low marsh dominated by Spartina alterniflora. The model was forced with site-specific meteorology, salinity and tidal cycles from 2018-2020. Four sets of model simulations are included and described below:1. Parameterization of the salinity response function. These simulations tested different combinations of values for optimal salinity and salinity tolerance.2. Model evaluation. This comparison conducted simulations using the default model, the salinity function only, the submergence function only, and both the salinity and submergence functions. 3. Salinity scenarios. These simulations used the 2018 salinity input data varied by -5 to +10 ppt salinity.4. Water level scenarios. These simulations used the tide height varied by -10 to +50 cm. These simulations were used to demonstrate how the salinity and submergence functions better represent carbon uptake by tidal salt marshes.The data package includes netCDF files used as forcing files for tide height and salinity, one for each year 2018-2020 at observed salinity concentrations, and an additional three forcing files in which salinity concentrations were varied 5 ppt lower, 5 ppt higher, and 10 ppt higher than the measured 2018 time series. Also included are python scripts for creating forcing files, plain text parameter and command files for running simulations, model outputs in netCDF format, and python scripts for visualizing outputs. Code for the modified E3SM model is archived in Sulman et al 2023 at doi:10.15485/1991625. More detail about files is provided in the README.md file.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

AmeriFlux CA-RBM Richmond Brackish Marsh

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-RBM Richmond Brackish Marsh. Site Description - This site is a tidal brackish marsh on the southern side of the Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. This area is situated within the estuary of the Fraser River. The total area of Sturgeon Bank WMA is 5,152 ha, of which the tidal marsh area is 205 ha. The southern of the WMA is characterized as a brackish marsh, which transitions to a salt marsh as you go north. Human development has influenced this area for almost 200 years. Human activities in this area began in the early 1800s, which included dredging, dyke and entrainment structures, agriculture, and other uses. The areas were designated as WMA in 1998. This area experiences a semidiurnal tidal cycle. The flux tower is located near the southern edge of the marsh, where the dominant species is cattail (Typha latifolia), with a canopy height of 160 cm. The tower is in a high marsh system and was installed to analyze energy, H2O, CO2, and CH4 fluxes on June 1, 2022.

Knox, Sara [The University of British Columbia]↗

AmeriFlux FLUXNET-1F CA-RBM Richmond Brackish Marsh

This is the AmeriFlux Management Project (AMP) created FLUXNET-1F version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-RBM Richmond Brackish Marsh. This is the FLUXNET version of the carbon flux data for the site CA-RBM Richmond Brackish Marsh produced by applying the standard ONEFlux (1F) software. Site Description - This site is a tidal brackish marsh on the southern side of the Sturgeon Bank Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. This area is situated within the estuary of the Fraser River. The total area of Sturgeon Bank WMA is 5,152 ha, of which the tidal marsh area is 205 ha. The southern of the WMA is characterized as a brackish marsh, which transitions to a salt marsh as you go north. Human development has influenced this area for almost 200 years. Human activities in this area began in the early 1800s, which included dredging, dyke and entrainment structures, agriculture, and other uses. The areas were designated as WMA in 1998. This area experiences a semidiurnal tidal cycle. The flux tower is located near the southern edge of the marsh, where the dominant species is cattail (Typha latifolia), with a canopy height of 160 cm. The tower is in a high marsh system and was installed to analyze energy, H2O, CO2, and CH4 fluxes on June 1, 2022.

Knox, Sara [The University of British Columbia]↗

Coastal inundation regime moderates the short-term effects of sediment and soil additions on seawater oxygen and greenhouse gas dynamics: a microcosm experiment

The frequency and persistence of tidal inundation varies along the coastal terrestrial-aquatic interface, from frequently inundated wetlands to rarely inundated upland forests. This inundation gradient controls soil and sediment biogeochemistry and influence the exchange of soils and sediments from terrestrial to aquatic domains. Although a rich literature exist on studies of the influence of tidal waters on the biogeochemistry of coastal ecosystem soils, few studies have experimentally addressed the reverse question: How do soils (or sediments) from different coastal ecosystems influence the biogeochemistry of the tidal waters that inundate them? To better understand initial responses of coastal waters that flood coastal wetlands and uplands, we conducted short-term laboratory experiments where seawater was amended with sediments and soils collected across regional gradients of inundation exposure (i.e., frequently to rarely inundated) for 14 sites across the Mid-Atlantic, USA. Measured changes in dissolved oxygen and greenhouse gas concentrations were used to calculate gas consumption or production rates occurring during seawater exposure to terrestrial materials. We also measured soil and water physical and chemical properties to explore potential drivers. We observed higher oxygen consumption rates for seawater incubated with soils/sediments from frequently inundated locations and higher carbon dioxide production for seawater incubated with soils from rarely inundated transect locations. Incubations with soil from rarely inundated sites produced the highest global warming potential, primarily driven by carbon dioxide and secondarily by nitrous oxide. We also found environmental drivers of gas rates varied notably between transect locations. Our findings indicate that seawater responses to soil and sediment inputs across coastal terrestrial-aquatic interfaces exhibit some consistent patterns and high intra- and inter-site variability, suggesting potential biogeochemical feedback loops as inundation regimes shift inland.

coastal inundation↗

Decaying Orbit of the Hot Jupiter WASP-12b: Confirmation with TESS Observations

Theory suggests that the orbits of some close-in giant planets should decay due to tidal interactions with their host stars. To date, WASP-12b is the only hot Jupiter reported to have a decaying orbit, at a rate of 29 ± 2 ms yr{sup −1}. We analyzed data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to verify that WASP-12b’s orbit is indeed changing. We find that the TESS transit and occultation data are consistent with a decaying orbit with an updated period of 1.091420090 ± 0.000000041 days and a decay rate of 32.53 ± 1.62 ms yr{sup −1}. We find an orbital decay timescale of τ=P/| P-dot |=2.90±0.14 Myr. If the observed decay results from tidal dissipation, the modified tidal quality factor is Q{sub ⋆}{sup ′}=1.39±0.15×10{sup 5}, which falls at the lower end of values derived for binary star systems and hot Jupiters. Our result highlights the power of space-based photometry for investigating the orbital evolution of short-period exoplanets.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey. XII. Optically Dark H i Clouds in the Leo I Group

Using data from the Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey, we report the discovery of five H i clouds in the Leo I group without detected optical counterparts. Three of the clouds are found midway between M96 and M95, one is only from the southeast side of the well-known Leo Ring, and the fifth is relatively isolated. H i masses range from 2.6 × 10 6 M ⊙ to 9.0 × 10 6 M ⊙ , and velocity widths (W50) range from 16 to 42 km s -1 . Although a tidal origin is the most obvious explanation, this formation mechanism faces several challenges. For the most isolated cloud, the difficulties are its distance from neighboring galaxies and the lack of any signs of disturbance in the H i disks of those systems. Some of the clouds also appear to follow the baryonic Tully–Fisher relation between mass and velocity width for normal, stable galaxies, which is not expected if they are tidal in origin. Three clouds are found between M96 and M95 that have no optical counterparts but have otherwise similar properties and locations to the optically detected galaxy LeG 13. While overall we favor a tidal debris scenario to explain the clouds, we cannot rule out a primordial origin. If the clouds were produced in the same event that gave rise to the Leo Ring, they may provide important constraints on any model attempting to explain that structure.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Orbital Decay of Double White Dwarfs: Beyond Gravitational-wave Radiation Effects

The traditional description of the orbital evolution of compact-object binaries, like double white dwarfs (DWDs), assumes that the system is driven only by gravitational-wave (GW) radiation. However, the high magnetic fields with intensities of up to gigagausses measured in WDs alert a potential role of the electromagnetic (EM) emission in the evolution of DWDs. We evaluate the orbital dynamics of DWDs under the effects of GW radiation, tidal synchronization, and EM emission by a unipolar inductor generated by the magnetic primary and the relative motion of the nonmagnetic secondary. We show that the EM emission can affect the orbital dynamics for magnetic fields larger than megagausses. We applied the model to two known DWDs, SDSS J0651+2844 and ZTF J1539+5027, for which the GW radiation alone does not fully account for the measured orbital decay rate. We obtain upper limits to the primary's magnetic field strength, over which the EM emission causes an orbital decay faster than observed. The contribution of tidal locking and the EM emission is comparable, and together they can contribute up to 20% to the measured orbital decay rate. We show that the gravitational waveform for a DWD modeled as purely driven by GWs and including tidal interactions and EM emission can have large relative dephasing detectable in the mHz regime of frequencies relevant for space-based detectors like LISA. Therefore, including physics besides GW radiation in the waveform templates is essential to calibrate the GW detectors using known sources, e.g., ZTF J1539+5027, and to infer binary parameters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Measuring the Hubble Constant with Dark Neutron Star–Black Hole Mergers

Abstract Detection of gravitational waves (GWs) from neutron star-black hole (NSBH) standard sirens provides local measurements of the Hubble constant (H 0 ), regardless of the detection of an electromagnetic (EM) counterpart, given that matter effects can be exploited to break the redshift degeneracy of the GW waveforms. The distinctive merger morphology and the high-redshift detectability of tidally disrupted NSBH make them promising candidates for this method. Also, the detection prospects of an EM counterpart for these systems will be limited toz< 0.8 in the optical, in the era of future GW detectors. Using recent constraints on the equation of state of NSs from multi-messenger observations of NICER and LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA, we show the prospects of measuringH 0 solely from GW observation of NSBH systems, achievable by the Einstein telescope (ET) and Cosmic Explorer (CE) detectors. We first analyze individual events to quantify the effect of high-frequency (≥500 Hz) tidal distortions on the inference of NS tidal deformability parameter (Λ) and hence onH 0 . We find that disruptive mergers can constrain Λ up to  ( 60 % ) more precisely than nondisruptive ones. However, this precision is not sufficient to place stringent constraints on theH 0 from individual events. By performing Bayesian analysis on simulated NSBH data (up toN= 100 events, corresponding to a day of observation) in the ET+CE detectors, we find that NSBH systems enable unbiased 4%–13% precision on the estimate ofH 0 (68% credible interval). This is a similar measurement precision found in studies analyzing NSBH mergers with EM counterparts in the LVKC O5 era.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

GD-1 Stellar Stream and Cocoon in the DESI Early Data Release

We present ∼115 new spectroscopically identified members of the GD-1 tidal stream observed with the 5000-fiber Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI). We confirm the existence of a “cocoon,” which is a broad (FWHM ∼ 2:932 ∼ 460 pc) and kinematically hot (velocity dispersion, σ ∼ 5–8 km s −1 ) component that surrounds a narrower (FWHM ∼ 0:353 ∼ 55 pc) and colder [(σ = 3.09 ± 0.76 km s −1 )] thin stream component (based on a median per star velocity precision of 2.7 km s −1 ). The cocoon extends over at least a 30 ∘ segment of the stream observed by DESI. The thin and cocoon components have similar mean values of [Fe/H]: −2.54 ± 0.04 dex and −2.47 ± 0.06 dex, suggestive of a common origin. The data are consistent with the following scenarios for the origin of the cocoon. The progenitor of the GD-1 stream was an accreted globular cluster (GC) and: (a) the cocoon was produced by pre-accretion tidal stripping of the GC while it was still inside its parent dwarf galaxy; (b) the cocoon comprises debris from the parent dwarf galaxy; (c) an initially thin GC tidal stream was heated by impacts from dark subhalos in the Milky Way; (d) an initially thin GC stream was heated by a massive Sagittarius dwarf galaxy; or a combination of some of these. Future DESI spectroscopy and detailed modeling may enable us to distinguish between these possible origins.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The OCEAN ICE mooring compilation: a standardised, pan-Antarctic database of ocean hydrography and current time series

Continuous moored time series of temperature, salinity, pressure and current speed and direction are of great importance for understanding the continental shelf and under-ice-shelf dynamics and thermodynamics that govern water mass transformations and ice melting in and around Antarctic marginal seas. In these regions, icebergs and sea ice make ship-based mooring deployment and recovery challenging. Nevertheless, over decades, expeditions around the fringe of Antarctica sporadically deployed and recovered hundreds of moored instruments, including those facilitated through ice shelves boreholes. These datasets tend to be archived in a wide range of data centres, with, to our knowledge, no clear format standardisation. As a result, systematic analysis of historical mooring time series in the marginal seas is often challenging. Here we present the first version of a standardised pan-Antarctic moored hydrography and current time series compilation, with broad international contributions from data centres, research institutes and individual data owners. The mooring records in this compilation span over five decades, from the 1970s to the 2020s, providing an opportunity for a systematic study of the pan-Antarctic water mass transport and shelf connectivity. As a demonstration of the utility of this compilation, we present spectral analysis of the compiled current velocity time series, which unsurprisingly shows the dominating presence of tidal variability within most records. This component of the variability is fitted using multi-linear regression to tidal frequencies, and the tidal fit is removed from the original time series to leave de-tided variability. Given the limited record durations to months to years, de-tided variability is dominated by synoptic (3–10 d period), intraseasonal (10–80 d) and seasonal (∼6 months–1 year) signals. The spatial distribution of the kinetic energy integrated within frequency bands is presented and discussed within respective regional contexts, and future avenues of research are proposed. This data compilation is assembled under the endorsement of Ocean-Cryosphere Exchanges in ANtarctica: Impacts on Climate and the Earth System (OCEAN ICE) project (https://ocean-ice.eu/, last access: 23 October 2025) funded by the European Commission and UK Research and Innovation. It is available and regularly updated in NetCDF format with the SEANOE database at https://doi.org/10.17882/99922 (Zhou et al., 2024a).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Ultraviolet observations of beta Canis majoris and beta Cephei

Ultraviolet spectra of the two variables exhibit periodic variations in the H I, Si IV, and C IV resonance lines. Later scans of the beta Cep atmosphere show that the C IV line disappeared for short periods. Three possible mechanisms for this effect are: a beat phenomenon, shock waves, or tidal distortions. It is concluded that a tidal distortion is possible if the period of revolution is 12 days and if the inclination is sufficiently small to keep one tidal bulge out of sight and large enough to keep the secondary from eclipsing the primary bulge.

Fischel, D.↗

Monitoring changing geologic features along the Texas Gulf Coast

The author has identified the following significant results. Water truth observations, NASA aerial photography from an altitude of 60,000 feet, and ERTS-1 imagery made off the South Texas coast showed a mutually consistent pattern of water turbidity in the Gulf of Mexico. At the time of the measurements, plumes of turbid water were being formed by ebb-tidal discharges from the bays through tidal passes and were being diverted southward by the coastwise drift. The occurrence of the bands of turbid and relatively clear water suggests the existence of large scale helical circulation cells having axes almost parallel to shore with the outer turbid band probably being a zone of surface divergence and bottom water upwelling. The impingement of a turbid water mass onto the shoreline suggests that some, and perhaps most, of the suspended sediment in nearshore waters may not have been stirred up from the nearshore sea floor but may have traveled long distances in the water mass, perhaps even having remained in suspension from the time of its entry into the Gulf tidal inlets such as Aransas Pass.

Hunter, R. E.↗

Galactic bridges and tails.

This paper argues that the bridges and tails seen in some multiple galaxies are just tidal relics of close encounters. These consequences of the brief but violent tidal forces are here studied in a deliberately simple-minded fashion. Each encounter is considered to involve only two galaxies and to be roughly parabolic; each galaxy is idealized as just a disk of noninteracting test particles which initially orbit a central mass point. As shown here, the two-sided distortions provoked by gravity alone in such circumstances can indeed evolve kinematically into some remarkably narrow and elongated features. Besides extensive pictorial survey of tidal damage, this paper offers reconstructions of the orbits and outer shapes of four specific interacting pairs: Arp 295, M51 + NGC 5195, NGC 4676, and NGC 4038/9.

Toomre, A.↗

Comments on lunar origin.

Consideration of the tidal evolution of the earth-moon system in the light of recent published studies of lunar origin. The subjects include the factors of orbital evolution, the auxiliary Model Zero, orbital evolution along the outgoing branch, capture models, capture probability, capture with break-up, the tidal evolution of circular and elliptical fragmented rings, and precession and collisions in a ring of fragments. A numerical integration of precessions is performed for the actual nonzero mass of the moon and for a lunar distance of about 22 earth radii. A simplified Model Zero is found to compare well with Goldreich's solution (1968). It is concluded that the moon must have become freely yielding to tidal deformation at distances less than about 8 earth radii. Arguments are given in favor of the capture theory as a basis for the genesis of the moon.

Opik, E. J.↗

Sea, ice and surface water circulation, Alaskan continental shelf

The author has identified the following significant results. ERTS-1 imagery has been extremely useful in understanding the tidal water movements in a large estuary such as Cook Inlet. As more imagery obtained during various tidal stages become available it appears that complex and fast changing micro-circulation patterns develop in various regions of Cook Inlet during each advancing and receding tide. More ERTS-1 synoptic imagery is needed to fully understand the effect of the approach of tidal front on the water movements in the various regions through the estuary. The conventional onboard ship data gathered during various cruises although revealed the overall circulation pattern in Cook Inlet but failed to show micro-subgyres which develop in various regions during each tide which are discernible on ther ERTS-1 imagery. Suspended load distribution in the Bering Sea during summer varies significantly. In areas of phytoplankton bloom and at the river mouths the suspended load is higher than the 1 mg/1 which is found over most areas. The influence of major rivers on temperature, salinity, and suspended load in surface water as well as at shallow depth is apparent. On the Bering shelf a strong pycnocline generally at depth 10-20 m is formed by surface fresh water flow which retains sediment in suspension over extended periods.

Sharma, G. D.↗

Monitoring coastal water properties and circulation from ERTS-1

The author has identified the following significant results. Imagery and digital tapes from nine successful ERTS-1 passes over Delaware Bay during different portions of the tidal cycle have been analyzed with special emphasis on turbidity, current circulation, waste disposal plumes, and convergent boundaries between different water masses. ERTS-1 image radiance correlated well with Secchi depth and suspended sediment concentration. MSS band 5 seemed to give the best representation of sediment load in the upper one meter of the water column. Circulation patterns observed by ERTS-1 during different parts of the tidal cycle, agreed well with predicted and measured currents throughout Delaware Bay. During flood tide the suspended sediment as visible from ERTS-1 also correlated well with the depth profile. Convergent shear boundaries between different water masses were observed from ERTS-1, with foam lines containing high concentrations of lead, mercury, and other toxic substances. Several fronts have been seen. Those near the mouth of the bay are associated with the tidal intrusion of shelf water. Fronts in the interior of the bay on the Delaware side appear to be associated with velocity shears induced by differences in bottom topography. Waste disposal plumes have benn detected 36 miles offshore.

Klemas, V.↗

Moonquake predetermination and tides

A pattern in moonquakes, which correlates with the monthly tidal cycle, also correlates with a phase-shifted pattern of a 7-month tidal cycle. The lead of approximately 2 months in moonquake occurrence can be explained if local tidal forces are combined with a moonquake-driving force. This force, assumed to result from the 6-yr physical libration in latitude, would cause N-S sliding of an outer layer across a solid layer within a decoupled core in a lunar model. During 1969-1971, the sliding would be southward with a progression of monthly maxima in the combined forces. Where these forces control moonquakes, the reversal in direction of the 6-year cyclic force in early 1972 should cause a minimum in moonquake activity. Decreases toward such a minimum did occur simultaneously in the similar progressions of monthly moonquakes and maxima in the combined forces at the most active hypocenter. Repetition of the 1966-1971 force pattern in 1975-1977 should produce a corresponding repetition of the moonquake pattern.

Chapman, W. B.↗