Offshore high-grade limemud resources of west coast of India:Economic potential and industrial applications

Limestone is one of the essential raw materials in the cement,paint,steel,ceramic,glass,chemical,pharmaceutical,paper,and fertilizer industries.In India,only 8%of the limestone resources are placed under the reserve category,of which 97%is of cement grade.Thus,India depends on imports to bridge the demand‐supply gap of steel,blast furnace,and chemical‐grade limestone.Efforts of Geological Survey of India(GSI)to locate alternate sources for limestone led to the discovery of enormous quantities of carbonate minerals called limemud from the continental shelf margin of the west coast of India.GSI carried out systematic studies to explore the nature of the disposition,quality,quantity,and suitability of the offshore limemud for various industrial applications.A preliminary estimate of resources using high‐resolution subbottom profiling and sediment core sample studies established the occurrence of more than 172 billion tonnes of high‐grade(The content of CaCO3 is greater than 80 wt%)limemud in 0.4–28.0m thick stratified sediment layers spread over an area of 18000 km2.Chemical,physical,mineralogical,beneficiation,and agglomeration studies found the offshore limemud as a potential replacement for limestone in the cement,filler,blast furnace,steel melting shop,lime production,paint,and Grade‐I steel industries.An assessment of mining and transportation costs indicates that the offshore limemud(USD 5–6/ton)is more cost‐effective than that imported from other countries(USD16‐18/ton).With several advantageous factors like low impurity,mode of occurrence in overburden‐free stratified form,fine‐grained slurry nature,and shallow water depth,sustainable mining of offshore limemud could be a future reality with controllable technological,economic,and environmental challenges.

Local Meteorological and Synoptic Characteristics of Fogs Formed over Incheon International Airport in the West Coast of Korea

Fogs observed over Incheon international airport （IIA） in the west coast of Korea from January 2002 to August 2006 are classified into categories of coastal fog, cold sea fog, and warm sea fog based on the areal extent of the fogs and the difference between the air temperature （T ） and the SST, i.e., cold sea fog if TSST = T -SST 〉 0~0C and warm sea fog if TSST 〈 0~0C. The numbers of coastal, cold, and warm sea fog cases are 64, 26, and 9. Coastal fogs form most frequently in winter, while cold sea fogs occur mostly in summer and warm sea fogs are observed from January to May but not in November and December. On average the air gets colder by 1.6~0C during the three hours leading up to the coastal fog formation, and an additional cooling of 1.1~0C occurs during the fog. The change in the dew point temperature （T_d） is minimal except during the fog （0.6~0C）. Decreases in T for the cold and warm sea fogs are relatively smaller. The average Td is higher than SST during the cold sea fog periods but this T_d is more than 4~0C higher than that for the corresponding non-fog days, suggesting that cold sea fogs be formed by the cooling of already humid air （i.e., T_d〉SST）. Increases of T_d are significant during the warm sea fog periods （1.4~0C）, implying that effcient moisture supply is essential to warm sea fog formation. Four major synoptic patterns are identified in association with the observed fogs. The most frequent is a north Pacific high that accounts for 38% of cases. Surface or upper inversions are present in 77%, 69%, and 81% of the fog periods for coastal, cold, and warm sea fogs, respectively.

Coastal Erosion Along the West Coast of the Taiwan Strait and It’s Influencing Factors

Based on the field surveys and repeated cross-profile observations combined with the comparison of many years’ topog-raphic maps,this study shows the spatial variability and varying patterns of coastal erosion along the west coast of the Taiwan Strait.Regional differentiation in the Meso-Cenozoic coastal tectonics determined the irregular coastline and geological background for large-scale coastal erosion distribution.The intensity of coastal erosion on the west side of the Taiwan Strait is mild in the northern region,severe in the central region and modest in the southern region.The beaches along the coast are mainly backed by dunes,sea-walls or cliffs.The dunes and beaches show periodic erosion and recovery along the coast adjacent to river mouths,while persistent retreat of frontal dunes and beaches tends to occur in other areas.The beach erosion occurs mainly in front of seawalls.Due to the low strength of the unconsolidated sediment the soft cliffs suffer the severest coastline recession.Sea level rise and river sediment discharge reduction are main causes of coastal erosion.Storm surge is common in the studied area and plays an important role in the progress of coastal erosion.Human activities including coastal constructions and sand mining also tend to interfere strongly with the balance of sediment budget in some coastal cells.

Deterioration of Early Holocene coral reef due to sea level rise along west coast of India:Benthic foraminiferal testimony

A total of 103 surface sediment samples collected from the water depth range of 15-3300 m along Vijaydurg-Karwar stretch of central west coast of India were analyzed for foraminiferal content. Relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage was noted within 50--135 m water depth. The relict benthic foraminiferal assemblage that includes Amphistegina, Operculina and Alveolinella in sediment samples within the water depth of 85-- 135 m indicates presence of coral reef at this depth during Early Holocene. The presence of barnacle fouling on Relict foraminifera at 60--90 m confirms the paleo-shoreline. The shallow depth zone is characterized by presence of agglutinated relict foraminifera. The agglutinated forms indicate freshwater influx, which eventually increased the sea level and subsequently deteriorated the paleo-coral reef.

The December 26, 2004, off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, M_W=9.0, earthquake and the critical-point-like model of earthquake preparation

Long-term seismic activity prior to the December 26, 2004, off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, MW=9.0 earthquake was investigated using the Harvard CMT catalogue. It is observed that before this great earth-quake, there exists an accelerating moment release (AMR) process with the temporal scale of a quarter century and the spatial scale of 1 500 km. Within this spatial range, the MW=9.0 event falls into the piece-wise power-law-like frequency-magnitude distribution. Therefore, in the perspective of the critical-point-like model of earthquake preparation, the failure to forecast/predict the approaching and/or the size of this earthquake is not due to the physically intrinsic unpredictability of earthquakes.

Analysis on the Evolution of Regional Economic Disparity in the West Coast of the Strait

With the implementation of reform and opening-up, the overall economy of China has made brilliant achievements; meanwhile, however, the economic disparity has been enlarging among some regions, and between the city and the countryside. The existence and evolution of this kind of economic disparity is concerned with social stability, sustainable development and the construction of harmonious society, which has gradually become the hotspot in social economic development. The West Coast of the Strait (WCS) located in southeast littoral areas is adjacent to the Pearl and Yangtze River Delta in the south and north and faces Taiwan Province in the east. The stability and development of this region has vital political and economic meaning in the social eco-nomic development of our country. It has important theoretical meaning and practical value to research the form, characteristics and evolution of regional economic disparity in the WCS. Based on insightful analysis on existing study results on the WCS, the paper defines the connotation and extension. By a series of abso-lute and comparative relative evaluation indexes and taking the WCS since 1992 as the study object, the paper makes analysis on different scales including three regions, four regions, 20 cities and 152 counties, quantitatively evaluates the level, characteristics and evolution of the regional economic disparity and compares the regional economic disparity on different scales. The main conclu-sions are as follows: the variation trend of the absolute disparity of the whole region is obvious and stable, which has presented an inflating trend; the comparative variation trend on a large scale has waved, The comparative disparity of the three regions in-creased annually from 1992 to around 2000, which had a decreas-ing trend from around 2000 to 2005; the comparative variation trend on a small scale was not stable, which showed an annual increase of four regions, 20 cities and 152 counties from 1992 to around 2003 and a decrease from around 2003 to 2005; there were some correlations between the regional disparity and scale. In other words, the smaller the scale was, the bigger the disparity was.

Similarities Between Granites on the East and West Coasts of the Pacific Ocean

The traditional idea proposes that granites on the east and west coasts of the Pacific Ocean are different. According to field investigations of the geology of the western United States coupled with the authors' long-term studies on granites in South China, granites both in eastern China and in the western United States are similar.

Bycatch of Shrimp Fishery in the West Coast of Madagascar： Case of Otolithes argenteus （Cuvier, 1830）

An increasing interest of the economic operators on the bycatch of shrimp fishery endangers bycatch species to over-exploitation risks. This study provides a better knowledge regarding to the current status of one major component of the bycatches Otolithes argenteus （O. argenteus） caught in the shrimp fishery area along the West coast of Madagascar using the morphometric analysis. Individual body weight and body measurement were carried out on 565 specimens collected from the sale＇s society of seafood （SOPROMER） in the Capital city. Results show a high proportion of small fishes like as immature young individuals. A ＂negative allometry＂ growth type within the juveniles to become ＂isometric allometry＂ for the adult, large size was observed. Marine environment is favorable to the development for the whole population of the O. argenteus species. The morphometry approach helped to better understanding of the characteristics and the operating status of the O. argenteus population thus constitute as a tool in establishing a sustainable fisheries management strategy in Madagascar.

Correlations between Geo-Chemical Speciation of Heavy Metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) in Surface Sediments and Their Concentrations in Giant Mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) Collected from the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Surface sediments and giant mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) were collected in August and September 2008 and in March and June 2010 from six sampling sites in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia to assess heavy metals accumulation in the giant mudskipper. Sequential extraction technique was used to fractionate the sediments into four different geo-chemical fractions;easily, freely or leachable and exchangeable (EFLE), acid reducible, oxidizable organic and resistant fractions. Heavy metals concentrations (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni) in the surface sediments and giant mudskipper were determined by using air acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) Perkin Elmer Analyst 800. The results of Pearson’s correlation analyses showed that metal concentrations in the tissues of P. schlosseri were significantly correlated (p p < 0.05), correlations were observed between Cu in P. schlosseri and Cu in the sediment (oxidisable-organic, resistant and total Cu), Zn in P. schlosseri and Zn in the sediment (EFLE and total Zn), Pb in P. schlosseri and Pb in the sediment (with all the four fractions of Pb), Cd and Ni in P. schlosseri and Cd and Ni in the sediment (with all fractions of Cd and Ni except acid-reducible Cd and Ni) which might suggest the use of P. schlosseri as a biomonitoring agent for heavy metals pollution in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Buried channels provide keys to infer Quaternary stratigraphic and paleo-environmental changes:A case study from the west coast of India

High resolution shallow seismic data was acquired from inner continental shelf of Goa,west coast of India to map underlying stratigraphic and buried geomorphic features of shelf strata.Seismic data revealed characteristic channel incisions beneath 4-15 m thick sediment layer and corresponds to multi cycle incisions.Stratigraphic analysis of these incision signatures reveals three prominent subaerial unconformities S6,S7 and S9.These unconformities were exposed during the last glacial,penultimate glacial(MIS-6)and prior to penultimate glacial(MIS-8)periods.On the basis of interpreted age of subaerial unconformities and differences in their morphological features,observed channel incisions have been divided grossly into three phases of incision.Phase-1 incisions are older than^330 kyr BP,whereas,incisions of Phase-2 and Phase-3 correspond to^320-125 kyr BP and^115-10 kyr BP respectively.Plan form of these incisions varied from a straight channel type to ingrown meander and then to anastomosing channel types.These channels meet at the confluence of present-day Mandovi and Zuari rivers.The confluence point has varied in due course of time because of cyclic incision and burial with repeated sea level fluctuations.The preserved main channel width varies from^100 m to 1000 m.and maximum channel depth reaches up to^35 m.Comparison of quantitative and qualitative morphologic results of different phases of incisions suggest that Phase-2 channels had^33%more mean bank full discharge than that of the Phase-3 channels.Phase-2 incisions had been carved in higher hydraulic energy condition as compared to Phase-3 incisions implying that the Indian summer monsoon was better during formative stages of Phase-2 incisions.

Heavy Metals in Soft Tissues of Short-Beaked Common Dolphins (<i>Delphinus delphis</i>) Stranded along the Algerian West Coast

Liver, muscle and blubber tissues of seven Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) stranded along the Algerian west coast have been analysed for six traces elements Cu, Fe, Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni. This work confirms more accurately the relations shown previously between age, sex and trace element concentrations in this species. Liver was shown to be the most important accumulating organ for Cu, Fe and Zn, and the results also indicated the importance of toxic metal transfer from mother to offspring. Significant differences between the liver, muscle and blubber were detected;except for the Ni concentrations were similar in these tissues.

Effects of Natural Processes on Sea Level Change along the West African Coastline

Coastal hazards induced by meteo-marine forcing are exacerbated by sea level change along the West African coastline. Changes in sea level are induced by ocean processes such as ocean heat content and river discharge. However, although these processes control largely change in sea level, they remain poorly understood. This study analyzes changes in ocean heat content, river discharge, and sea level and establishes an interconnection between these parameters using several statistical methods over the 1993-2021 period. Results showed a significant correlation between sea level and ocean heat content at 2000 m depth. The yearly minimum value appears in July from Cote d’Ivoire to Benin, whilst this value appears in June in Nigeria. The temporal variability of ocean heat content, river discharge and sea level along the West African coastline exhibits three or four periods interrupted by some breakpoints with unequal duration. The results indicate that the 1993-2000 period was dominated by an increasing ocean heat content along the coastline, while the period after the 2000s exhibits mostly a decreasing trend. Positive and negative trends characterized river discharge and sea level along this coastline. The result of multiple linear regression between sea level, river discharge and ocean heat content is a good approximation of sea level trend along the West African coastline. The results of this study could be used to predict future sea level trends along the coast.

Diagnosis of the Causes of the Rain Flooding in June in the West Africa Coastal Area

Rain flooding during June on the West Africa coastal area is analyzed by using the 95th and 75th percentiles, which represent extreme and intense rainfall events respectively. Thus, the contribution of these events that reaches around 50% shows their impact on the rainfall in June. Atmospheric and oceanic factors influence the rain flooding. Indeed, the extreme events are associated with easterly waves propagating from 20°E, while those of intense events are initiated around 5°E. The impact of oceanic conditions exhibits the warming of the equatorial rail and the Atlantic cold tongue, the warming of the whole ocean basin and a north-south dipole of SST anomalies. The West African monsoon that reaches Abidjan corresponds to a low-level atmospheric flow, whose upward motion extends in latitude from the ocean to the continent. An increase of disturbance contributes to enhancing these events. This is confirmed by the inflow on to the continent of oceanic moisture coming from the ventilation by evaporation of warm water. In addition, the coupled ocean-atmosphere simulations are one of the best candidates that could help to better explain these dramatic events. This study is useful because of showing solutions that could help in adoption of policies for the risks management related to these events.

Analysis of the Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Central Ivory Coast, West Africa

Ivory Coast is a country rich in base metals and precious minerals: gold, manganese, diamond, iron, bauxite, cobalt and nickel. These natural resources are exposed to destruction and fragmentation by mining activities. The artisanal and small-scale exploitation of gold are increasingly practiced in our rural areas. These activities escape often in the control and monitoring of the mining administration. In order to better constrain these activities on the environment, the present work used remote sensing imageries to see its spatio-temporal impacts in the rural world in central Ivory Coast. The results show that gold artisanal activities have been practiced since 2013 and are experiencing an increasingly important growth. We note a devastation of forests and savannahs, a pollution of surface water, as well as an increase in poverty in rural areas. These activities are practiced near habited areas (villages). This creates a reduction of cultivatable soil. Remote sensing imageries make it possible to quickly map areas at large-scale gold mining in time and space.

青岛西海岸新区蓝莓不同栽培模式生产中存在的技术问题

青岛西海岸新区是山东省蓝莓产业的主要生产区,蓝莓栽培模式多样,实现温室、保温式大棚、大棚、露天4种模式。通过调研、分析,归纳出不同生产模式出现的品种、修剪、施肥、病虫害防治等栽培技术方面的问题,形成初步总结与提议,为山东省蓝莓技术提升和产业发展提供参考。

青岛西海岸新区蓝莓生产中的问题及对策

青岛西海岸新区蓝莓4种生产模式均存在栽培技术问题。该文在建立科学的蓝莓生产管理理念、做好品种的优化提升、建立适宜的栽培技术体系(包括修剪技术、环境调控技术、水肥管理技术、病虫害防控技术)等方面提出解决对策及技术标准。

马达加斯加西海岸3种虾类CPUE时空分布及其与环境因子关系

为了解马达加斯加西海岸虾类的资源分布特征,利用中国水产有限公司马达加斯加代表处2012—2019年拖网渔业生产数据,基于GAM模型分析主要渔获种类(印度白虾Fenneropenaeus indicus、独角新对虾Metapenaeus monoceros和短沟对虾Penaeus semisulcatus)CPUE的时空分布及其与主要环境因子的关系。结果显示:印度白虾的CPUE从三月份开始呈逐月递减的趋势,而独角新对虾和短沟对虾CPUE呈先升后降的趋势;空间上,印度白虾和独角新对虾CPUE在经度上自东向西、纬度上自南向北呈现出逐渐上升的趋势,而短沟对虾CPUE在渔场南北端较高;水深对短沟对虾具有显著的影响(P<0.05);对于各环境因子,径流对独角新对虾和短沟对虾CPUE有显著的正相关关系(P<0.05),降水对印度白虾和短沟对虾CPUE有显著影响(P<0.05),海表面温度对独角新对虾CPUE有显著影响(P<0.05),独角新对虾和短沟对虾CPUE随海面高度距平的增加而显著降低(P<0.05),叶绿素a浓度对3种虾的CPUE均有显著影响(P<0.05)。结果表明,马达加斯加西海岸主捕虾类资源丰度具有明显的时空异质性,易受海洋环境、降水和径流等因素影响。研究结果可为开展该海域渔业资源丰度评估、规范渔业管理、养护渔业资源、保障渔业可持续发展提供科学依据。

深圳西部海岸带生态保护和修复策略研究

海岸带位于海陆的交界处,受到海洋和陆地的交互影响,属于生态脆弱的区域,在为城市发展提供生物资源和生态系统服务的同时,更易受到复杂自然灾害和人类活动的干扰。深圳作为粤港澳大湾区的核心城市之一,在过去的几十年中经济快速发展。围填海活动尽管解决了一时的用地紧张等问题,却给深圳海岸带生态系统带来了严重的生态问题,以西海岸带为例,呈现出过人工化、硬质化的倾向,进而造成了环境污染严重、生境破碎化、生物多样性降低等生态问题。本文通过梳理深圳西海岸带存在的具体问题,针对性的提出控制陆源污染,加强水质治理、空间景观重塑,构建滨海景观长廊、通过红树林植被种植与保育促进生态价值的提升、进行海堤生态化建设,对人工岸线进行生态化改造等生态修复策略,以期为深圳开展海岸带生态保护修复工作提供参考。

关于青岛西海岸新区停车系统规划实践的思考

随着近年来经济社会的快速发展,山东省青岛市西海岸新区的城市机动化进程快速推进,机动车高拥有率、高增长率、高使用率的“三高”问题日益突出,停车供需矛盾已影响城市交通的健康运行。为更好地解决新区“停车难”问题,对新区停车发展策略做系统性规划。文章以青岛西海岸新区的停车系统为研究对象,从分析新区现状停车存在的问题与特征入手,提出了新区停车发展的思路与策略,并针对新区未来的停车发展的举措与政策给出相关建议。

Antioxidant and antibacterial activities and identification of bioactive compounds of various extracts of Caulerpa racemosa from Algerian coast

Objective:To evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities and to identify the volatile bioactive compounds present in different crude extracts of the seaweed Caulerpa racemosa var.cylindracea.Methods:Caulerpa racemosa harvested from the intertidal zone of Mostaganem coast(N 35?54’37.94",E 0?3’17.37")was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using methanol,chloroform,and hexane solvents.Antioxidant properties were assessed by using 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH),2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS)andβ-carotene bleaching assays.The antibacterial activity was evaluated on six standard bacterial strains using the agar disc diffusion method.The GC-MS analysis was performed using non-polar and polar capillary columns.Results:The chloroform extract of Caulerpa racemosa exhibited higher contents of polyphenols[(123.91±1.46)mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract]and tannins[(59.28±5.43)mg catechin equivalent/g dry extract](P<0.001)and was the most effective in scavenging DPPH[(1.98±0.08)mg/m L]and ABTS[(1.66±0.05)mg/m L]radicals.The hexane extract displayed the best antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus,Bacillus cereus,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa,producing inhibition zones of(11.16±0.76),(9.00±0.00)and(9.33±1.15)mm,respectively.The l-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate and 4-hydroxy-2 methylproline were among the most abundant volatile compounds.Besides conventional fatty acids,cis-10-heptadecenoic acid,nonahexacontanoic acid,and dodecanoic acid,3-hydroxy-were identified.Two phytosterols were identified:stigmast-5-en-3-ol-(12.9%)and stigmast-5-en-3.beta.-ol,(24 S)-(4.57%).Conclusions:The preliminary identification of the volatile compounds reveals the presence of some new bioactive components not reported previously in Caulerpa racemosa from other geographical areas.Some of these compounds possess an interesting potential for pharmaceutical/nutraceutical applications.