The CLIMODE field campaign : observing the cycle of convection and restratification over the Gulf Stream

Author Posting. © American Meteorological Society, 2009. This article is posted here by permission of American Meteorological Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 90 (2009): 1337-1350, doi:10.1175/2009BAMS2706.1.A major oceanographic field experiment is described, which is designed to observe, quantify, and understand the creation and dispersal of weakly stratified fluid known as “mode water” in the region of the Gulf Stream. Formed in the wintertime by convection driven by the most intense air–sea fluxes observed anywhere over the globe, the role of mode waters in the general circulation of the subtropical gyre and its biogeo-chemical cycles is also addressed. The experiment is known as the CLIVAR Mode Water Dynamic Experiment (CLIMODE). Here we review the scientific objectives of the experiment and present some preliminary results.Physical Oceanography program of NS

Recent Arctic climate change and its remote forcing of Northwest Atlantic shelf ecosystems

Author Posting. © The Oceanography Society, 2012. This article is posted here by permission of The Oceanography Society for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Oceanography 25, no. 3 (2012): 208-213, doi:10.5670/oceanog.2012.64.During recent decades, historically unprecedented changes have been observed in the Arctic as climate warming has increased precipitation, river discharge, and glacial as well as sea-ice melting. Additionally, shifts in the Arctic's atmospheric pressure field have altered surface winds, ocean circulation, and freshwater storage in the Beaufort Gyre. These processes have resulted in variable patterns of freshwater export from the Arctic Ocean, including the emergence of great salinity anomalies propagating throughout the North Atlantic. Here, we link these variable patterns of freshwater export from the Arctic Ocean to the regime shifts observed in Northwest Atlantic shelf ecosystems. Specifically, we hypothesize that the corresponding salinity anomalies, both negative and positive, alter the timing and extent of water-column stratification, thereby impacting the production and seasonal cycles of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and higher-trophic-level consumers. Should this hypothesis hold up to critical evaluation, it has the potential to fundamentally alter our current understanding of the processes forcing the dynamics of Northwest Atlantic shelf ecosystems.Funding for this research was provided by the National Science Foundation as part of the Regional and Pan-Regional Synthesis Phases of the US Global Ocean Ecosystem (GLOBEC) Program

Volatility in the Housing Market: Evidence on Risk and Return in the London Sub-market

The impact of volatility in housing market analysis is reconsidered via examination of the risk-return relationship in the London housing market is examined. In addition to providing the first empirical results for the relationship between risk (as measured by volatility) and returns for this submarket, the analysis offers a more general message to empiricists via a detailed and explicit evaluation of the impact of empirical design decisions upon inferences. In particular, the negative risk-return relationship discussed frequently in the housing market literature is examined and shown to depend upon typically overlooked decisions concerning components of the empirical framework from which statistical inferences are drawn

Nonlinear internal waves over New Jersey's continental shelf

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2011. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research 116 (2011): C03022, doi:10.1029/2010JC006332.Ship and mooring data collected off the coast of New Jersey are used to describe the nonlinear internal wave (NLIW) field and the background oceanographic conditions that formed the waveguide on the shelf. The subinertial, inertial, and tidal circulation are described in detail, and the background fluid state is characterized using the coefficients of the extended Korteweg–de Vries equation. The utility of this type of analysis is demonstrated in description of an amplitude-limited, flat wave. NLIWs observed over most of the month had typical displacements of −8 m, but waves observed from 17–21 August were almost twice as large with displacements near −15 m. During most of the month, wave packets occurred irregularly at a fixed location, and often more than one packet was observed per M2 tidal period. In contrast, the arrival times of the large-amplitude wave groups observed over 17–21 August were more closely phased with the barotropic tide. The time span in which the largest NLIWs were observed corresponded to neap barotropic conditions, but when the shoreward baroclinic energy flux was elevated. During the time of large NLIWs, near-inertial waves were a dominate contributor to the internal motions on the shelf and apparently regulated wave formation, as destructive/constructive modulation of the M2 internal tide by the inertial wavefield at the shelf break corresponded to stronger/weaker NLIWs on the shelf.This work was funded by the Office of Naval Research

Late Holocene variability in Florida Current surface density : patterns and possible causes

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2004. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Paleoceanography 19 (2004): PA4001, doi:10.1029/2004PA001008.Planktonic foraminiferal δ18O time series from three well-dated, high sedimentation rate cores near the Florida Keys (24.4°N, 83.3°W) exhibit repeated centennial to millennial-scale oscillations during the late Holocene. Isotopic shifts of 0.2–0.3‰ over the past 5200 years represent changes in sea-surface temperature (SST) of 1.0–1.5°C or salinity variability of 1–2 psu. The largest significant isotopic events are centered at approximately 200, 2000, 3200, and prior to 4000 calendar years BP. High Florida Current δ18O during the Little Ice Age (LIA) correlates with published records of high δ18O in the Sargasso Sea and low SST off the coast of west Africa. An interval of generally low δ18O in the Florida Straits from 1800 to 500 years BP is synchronous with the Medieval Warm Period off west Africa but leads low δ18O in the Sargasso Sea by several hundred years. Synchronous cooling across the subtropical gyre during the LIA is difficult to explain using interannual North Atlantic Oscillation patterns but may be consistent with the simulated effects of reduced solar irradiance. At frequencies between 1/1000 and 1/300 years during the Late Holocene, Florida Current δ18O is coherent with a published estimate of 14C production rate. Radiocarbon production seems to lead δ18O at these frequencies, but uncertainty in the phase calculation precludes a clear lead-lag relationship. At frequencies lower than 1/300 years, Florida Current δ18O is coherent and in phase with atmospheric Δ14C. The coherence of Δ14C and δ18O at periods >1000 years implies oceanic circulation may play a role in modulating atmospheric radiocarbon on millennial timescales.This work was supported by NSF grants OCE-9905605 and OCE-0096469

Comparative Therapeutic Effects of Velaglucerase Alfa and Imiglucerase in a Gaucher Disease Mouse Model

Gaucher disease type 1 is caused by the defective activity of the lysosomal enzyme, acid β-glucosidase (GCase). Regular infusions of purified recombinant GCase are the standard of care for reversing hematologic, hepatic, splenic, and bony manifestations. Here, similar in vitro enzymatic properties, and in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) and therapeutic efficacy of GCase were found with two human GCases, recombinant GCase (CHO cell, imiglucerase, Imig) and gene-activated GCase (human fibrosarcoma cells, velaglucerase alfa, Vela), in a Gaucher mouse, D409V/null. About 80+% of either enzyme localized to the liver interstitial cells and <5% was recovered in spleens and lungs after bolus i.v. injections. Glucosylceramide (GC) levels and storage cell numbers were reduced in a dose (5, 15 or 60 U/kg/wk) dependent manner in livers (60–95%) and in spleens (∼10–30%). Compared to Vela, Imig (60 U/kg/wk) had lesser effects at reducing hepatic GC (p = 0.0199) by 4 wks; this difference disappeared by 8 wks when nearly WT levels were achieved by Imig. Anti-GCase IgG was detected in GCase treated mice at 60 U/kg/wk, and IgE mediated acute hypersensitivity and death occurred after several injections of 60 U/kg/wk (21% with Vela and 34% with Imig). The responses of GC levels and storage cell numbers in Vela- and Imig-treated Gaucher mice at various doses provide a backdrop for clinical applications and decisions

Astrocyte-Derived Tissue Transglutaminase Interacts with Fibronectin: A Role in Astrocyte Adhesion and Migration?

An important neuropathological feature of neuroinflammatory processes that occur during e.g. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the formation of an astroglial scar. Astroglial scar formation is facilitated by the interaction between astrocytes and extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) such as fibronectin. Since there is evidence indicating that glial scars strongly inhibit both axon growth and (re)myelination in brain lesions, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to the interaction between astrocytes and ECM proteins. Tissue Transglutaminase (TG2) is a multifunctional enzyme with an ubiquitous tissue distribution, being clearly present within the brain. It has been shown that inflammatory cytokines can enhance TG2 activity. In addition, TG2 can mediate cell adhesion and migration and it binds fibronectin with high affinity. We therefore hypothesized that TG2 is involved in astrocyte-fibronectin interactions. Our studies using primary rat astrocytes show that intracellular and cell surface expression and activity of TG2 is increased after treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Astrocyte-derived TG2 interacts with fibronectin and is involved in astrocyte adhesion onto and migration across fibronectin. TG2 is involved in stimulating focal adhesion formation which is necessary for the interaction of astrocytes with ECM proteins. We conclude that astrocyte-derived TG2 contributes to the interaction between astrocytes and fibronectin. It might thereby regulate ECM remodeling and possibly glial scarring

Southward displacement of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation system during North Atlantic cold spells

Key Points: - Rapid subsurface oceanographic change in the tropical W Atlantic reflect shifting Subtropical Gyre - Subsurface warming responds to deglacial AMOC perturbations (Heinrich Stadials 2, 1, and the Younger Dryas) - Southward propagation of Salinity Maximum Water during Northern Hemisphere cold spells shift the mixing zone of tropical and subtropical waters During times of deglacial Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) perturbations, the tropical Atlantic experienced considerable warming at subsurface levels. Coupled ocean‐atmosphere simulations corroborate the tight teleconnection between the tropical Atlantic and climate change at high northern latitudes, but still underestimate the relevance of the subsurface N Atlantic Subtropical Gyre (STG) for heat and salt storage and its sensitivity to rapid climatic change. We here reconstruct vertical and lateral temperature and salinity gradients in the tropical W Atlantic and the Caribbean over the last 30 kyrs, based on planktic deep and shallow dwelling foraminiferal Mg/Ca and δ18O‐records. The rapid and large amplitude subsurface changes illustrate a dynamic STG associated with abrupt shifts of North Atlantic hydrographic and atmospheric regimes. During full glacial conditions, the STG has been shifted southward while intensified Ekman‐downwelling associated to strengthened trade winds fostered the formation of warm and saline Salinity Maximum Water (SMW). The southward propagation of SMW was facilitated by the glacially eastward deflected North Brazil Current. During periods of significant AMOC perturbations (Heinrich Stadials 1, and the Younger Dryas), extreme subsurface warming by ~6°C led to diminished lateral subsurface temperature gradients. Coevally, a deep thermocline suggests that SMW fully occupied the subsurface tropical W Atlantic and that the STG reached its southernmost position. During the Holocene, modern‐like conditions gradually developed with the northward retreat of SMW and the development of a strong thermocline ridge between the Subtropical Gyre and the tropical W Atlantic