Impact of precession on the climate, vegetation and fire activity in southern Africa during MIS4

Open access journalhe relationships between climate, vegetation and fires are a major subject of investigation in the context of climate change. In southern Africa, fire is known to play a crucial role in the existence of grasslands and Mediterranean-type biomes. Microcharcoal-based reconstructions of past fire activity in that region have shown a tight correlation between grass-fueled fires and the precessional cycle, with maximum fire activity during maxima of the climatic precession index. These changes have been interpreted as the result of changes in fuel load in response to precipitation changes in eastern southern Africa. Here we use the general circulation model IPSL_CM5A (Institut Pierre Simon Laplace Climate Model version 5A) and the dynamic vegetation model LPJ-LMfire to investigate the response of climate, vegetation and fire activity to precession changes in southern Africa during marine isotopic stage 4 (74–59 kyr BP). We perform two climatic simulations, for a maximum and minimum of the precession index, and use a statistical downscaling method to increase the spatial resolution of the IPSL_CM5A outputs over southern Africa and perform high-resolution simulations of the vegetation and fire activity. Our results show an anticorrelation between the northern and southern African monsoons in response to precession changes. A decrease of the precession climatic index leads to a precipitation decrease in the summer rainfall area of southern Africa. The drying of climate leads to a decrease of vegetation cover and fire activity. Our results are in qualitative agreement with data and confirm that fire activity in southern Africa during MIS4 is mainly driven by vegetation cover.European Research Counci

Holocene land-sea climatic links on the equatorial Pacific coast (Bay of Guayaquil, Ecuador)

Copyright © 2015 SAGE PublicationsWe analyzed the pollen content of a marine core located near the bay of Guayaquil in Ecuador to document the link between sea surface temperatures (SST) and changes in rainfall regimes on the adjacent continent during the Holocene. Based on the expansion/regression of five vegetation types, we observe three successive climatic patterns. In the first phase, between 11,700 and 7700 cal yr BP, the presence of a cloud (Andean) forest in the mid altitudes and mangroves in the estuary of the Guayas Basin, were associated with a maximum in boreal summer insolation, a northernmost position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), a land- sea thermal contrast, and dryness. Between 7700 and 2850 cal yr BP, the expansion of the coastal herbs and the regression of the mangrove indicate a drier climate with weak ITCZ and low ENSO variability while austral winter insolation gradually increased. The interval between 4200 and 2850 cal yr BP was marked by the coolest and driest climatic conditions of the Holocene due to the weak influence of the ITCZ and a strengthening of the Humboldt Current. After 2850 cal yr BP, high variability and amplitude of the Andean forest changes occurred when ENSO frequency and amplitude increased, indicating high variability in land-sea connections. The ITCZ reached the latitude of Guayaquil only after 2500 cal yr BP inducing the bimodal precipitation regime we observe today. Our study shows that besides insolation, the ITCZ position and ENSO frequency, changes in eastern equatorial Pacific SSTs play a major role in determining the composition of the ecosystems and the hydrological cycle of the Ecuadorian Pacific coast and the Western Cordillera in Ecuador.Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftFrench Research Agenc

Modern relationships between microscopic charcoal in marine sediments and fire regimes on adjacent landmasses to refine the interpretation of marine paleofire records: An Iberian case study

Marine microcharcoal records provide invaluable information to understand changes in biomass burning and its drivers over multiple glacial and interglacial cycles and to evaluate fire models under warmer climates than today. However, quantitative reconstructions of burnt area, fire intensity and frequency from these records need calibration studies of the current fire-microcharcoal relationship. Here, we present the analysis of microcharcoal concentration and morphology in 102 core-top sediment samples collected in the Iberian margin and the Gulf of Cádiz. We show that microcharcoal concentrations are influenced by the water depth or the distance from the river mouth. At regional scale, the mean microcharcoal concentrations and microcharcoal elongation (length to width ratio) show a marked latitudinal variation in their distribution, primarily controlled by the type of burnt vegetation in the adjacent continent. High microcharcoal concentrations in marine sediments represent rare, large and intense fires in open Mediterranean woodlands. Based on these results, the increasing trend of microcharcoal concentrations recorded since 8 ka in the well-known marine sedimentary core MD95-2042 off the Iberian margin indicates the occurrence of large and infrequent fires of high intensity due to the progressive degradation of the Mediterranean forest and the expansion of shrublands

The coccolithophores Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus pelagicus: Extant populations from the Norwegian–Iceland Seas and Fram Strait

International audienceThe distributions of the coccolithophore species Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus pelagicus (heterococcolith-bearing phase) in the northern North Atlantic were investigated along two zonal transects crossing Fram Strait and the Norwegian–Iceland Sea, respectively, each conducted during both July 2011 and September–October 2007. Remote-sensing images as well as CTD and ARGO profiles were used to constrain the physico-chemical state of the surface water and surface mixed layer at the time of sampling. Strong seasonal differences in bulk coccolithophore standing stocks characterized the northern and southern transects, where the maximum values of 53×103 cells/l (fall) and 70×103 cells/l (summer), respectively, were essentially explained by E. huxleyi. This pattern confirms previous findings of a summer to fall northwestward shift in peak coccolithophore cell densities within the Nordic Seas. While depicting an overall zonal shift in high cell densities between the summer (Norwegian Sea) and fall (northern Iceland Sea) conditions, the southern transects were additionally characterized by local peak coccolithophore concentrations associated with a geographically and temporally restricted convective process (Lofoten Gyre, summer), as well as an island mass effect (in the vicinity of Jan Mayen Island, fall).Maximum coccolithophore abundances within Fram Strait were found during both seasons close to the western frontal zone (Polar and Arctic Fronts) an area of strong density gradients where physical and chemical properties of the surface mixed layer are prone to enhance phytoplankton biomass and productivity. Here, changes in species dominance from E. huxleyi in summer, to C. pelagicus in fall, were related to the strengthened influence during summer, of surface AW, as well as to high July solar irradiance, within an area usually characterized by C. pelagicus-dominated low density populations

To What Extent Multidecadal Changes in Morphology and Fluvial Discharge Impact Tide in a Convergent (Turbid) Tidal River

International audienc

Proposition de concentrations de références en mercure dans l'ichtyofaune de Guyane

La pollution des écosystèmes aquatiques par le mercure est un problème majeur de la Guyane française, soumis à l'orpaillage illégal intensif depuis de nombreuses années. Au niveau européen, une norme de qualité environnementale pour le biote (NQEbiote : 0,02 mg Hg.kg-1 poids frais) a été définie dans le cadre de la directive cadre sur l'eau (DCE). Ce rapport a pour but d'aider à la mise en place de la NQEbiote en Guyane française par : 1/ si possible, l'identification de sites non pollués par le mercure d'origine anthropique ; 2/ la détermination de concentrations de références en mercure pour l'ichtyofaune associées à ces sites ; 3/ l'identification d'espèces de poissons sentinelles potentielles de cette pollution. Une base de données d'environ 9000 poissons (3000 pour les criques et 6000 pour les fleuves) a été constituée à partir des résultats des programmes de recherche et de surveillance depuis 1993. Les concentrations en mercure mesurées dans le muscle de ces poissons se révèlent presque toujours supérieures à la NQEbiote (100% pour les criques et 89 % pour les fleuves). Peu de zones de références potentielles ont été identifiées sur plus de 200 stations échantillonnées. Ainsi pour les criques, 7 stations réparties sur 6 bassins versants différents présentent des concentrations significativement plus faibles que les autres stations. Sur les fleuves, seulement 2 zones (groupe de stations) ont été identifiées comme références potentielles sur le bassin versant de l'Oyapock. L'analyse de ces données a permis de proposer plusieurs espèces sentinelles, c'est à dire intégratives d'une contamination mercurielle. Pour les criques, il s'agit de Copella carsevennensis, Pyrrhulina filamentosa, Jupiaba (abramoides et keithi), Moenkhausia oligolepis, Pimelodella (cristata, geryi et macturki), Gymnotus carapo et Sternopygus macrurus. Pour les fleuves, 3 genres et espèces ont été retenus : Ageneiosus inermis, Acestrorhynchus (falcatus et microlepis) et Hoplias aïmara. Des recommandations opérationnelles sont proposées pour le suivi de la DCE telles que : i/ échantillonner moins de stations (en privilégiant celles suivies par l'OMS), ii/ espacer la fréquence des suivis (tous les 2 ans), iii/ mais, en contrepartie, augmenter l'effort de pêche sur les espèces sentinelles proposées

Application de la directive cadre européenne sur l'eau : identification de sites de référence et d'espèces de poisson bioindicatrices pour le mercure dans les écosystèmes tropicaux (Guyane française)

International audienceMercury (Hg) is a toxic metal subject to several international regulations. The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) established in 2008 an Environmental Quality Standard for biota (EQSbiota) at 0.02 µg.g

Implementation de la norme de qualité environnementale (NQEbiote) dans les poissons de Guyane française dans le cadre de la Directive Cadre sur l'Eau

[Departement_IRSTEA]Eaux [TR1_IRSTEA]BELCAInternational audienceMercury (Hg) is a toxic metal classified as a dangerous priority substance to be monitored in aquatic ecosystems by the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), due to its characteristics of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food webs. An Environmental Quality Standard for biota (EQSbiota) has been defined for Hg in order to classify water bodies and was set at 0.02 mg Hg.kg-1 fresh weight. The application of such a standard requires defining one or more species of fish that is able to integrate the mercury contamination of the river in which they live. In French Guiana, we are faced with the difficulty of implementing this standard without downgrading all the aquatic ecosystems. Indeed, this region presents a great contamination of mercury due to the lithology of its soils and its history related to goldmining. The aim of this study was to help designing appropriate monitoring program of Hg in fish for the implementation of EQS biota in this particular context. A database was created based on the mercury concentrations analyzed in fish muscle during 8 research programs carried out since 1990. The database counts approximately 3000 fishes distributed over 50 creeks and 6000 fishes caught at about 200 stations located on the rivers of French Guiana; it includes also various information for each fish (Hg concentration in muscle, standard length, weight, family, species, trophic level, sample station location, anthropic or natural pressure for each station, etc.). The first results show that fish species in creeks are different from those present in rivers. After statistical and geographical data processing, 6 to 8 bioindicators species were proposed for creeks and 3 for rivers. The identification of reference sites, however, remains a very delicate task, due to the history associated with goldmining: just 7 potential reference sites for creeks and 4 for rivers. Results on Hg contamination of indicator fish species at reference and contaminated sites will be presented and discussed according to anthropogenic pressure. A first evaluation of reference concentrations is proposed

Dynamics of inner-shelf, multi-scale bedforms off the south Aquitaine coast over three decades (Southeast Bay of Biscay, France)

International audienceThis paper aims to investigate the seabed morphodynamics of the south Aquitaine inner shelf in the area known as “La Salie” (150 km2, Atlantic ocean, west coast of France), through a descriptive and comparative analysis (time lapse of 29 years) of geophysical and sedimentological datasets.At a water depth of 24–50 m, four orders of sedimentary body types were observed at different scales. The first order are large cross-shore “morphological ridges,” corresponding with the properties of very large sorted bedforms. The second order consisted in patchy sorted bedforms, composed of alternately medium to fine sand patches (0.5–2 m in thickness), cut by smaller, elongated coarse sediment depressions. In particular, the data from the sub-bottom profiler revealed that sand patches predominantly overlayed the coarse-grained blankets on the eastern (shoreward) extremities, while coarse-grained blanket wedges were found in front of the sand patches (southwestward) or locally overlying them on the southwestern extremities. The third order of bedforms involved groups of dune-like features (fine/medium sand), lying in wide areas of coarse-grained sediment. Finally, in the fouth order, the entire inner shelf was covered with wave-generated ripples, oriented N15°, that were larger where sediments were coarse (wavelengths of 2.2 m) than where sediments were fine (wavelengths of 0.3 m). Over the past 29 years, at a large scale of observation, patchy sorted bedforms have remained remarkably persistent, as has their overall appearance. However, at a smaller scale, weak but constant movements were observed. The coarse depressions have become elongated at their extremities (by a maximum of 300 m over 15 years), and certain coarse/fine sediment boundaries have moved toward the northeast and southeast (by a maximum of 75 m over 12 years). The general movement has been shoreward as has the migration of third-order submarine dune-like features. The persistence of sorted bedforms thus appears to be the consequence of sediment sorting feedback and recurrent storm events

Contourites of the Gulf of Cadiz: a high-resolution record of the paleocirculation of the Mediterranean outflow water during the last 50,000 years

The Mediterranean outflow water (MOW) paleocirculation during the last 50,000 years has been inferred from the grain-size distribution of contourite beds in core MD99-2341 from the Gulf of Cadiz (Southern Iberian Margin–Atlantic Ocean). Three main contourite facies are described. Their vertical succession defines two contourite sequences that reveal past variations of the MOW bottom-current velocity. A comparison of contourite sequences and the planktonic δ18O record of core MD99-2341 with the δ18O record from Greenland Ice Core GISP2 show a close correlation of sea-surface water conditions and deep-sea contouritic sedimentation in the Gulf of Cadiz with Northern Hemisphere climate variability on millennial timescales. A high MOW velocity prevailed during Dansgaard-Oeschger stadials, Heinrich events and the Younger Dryas cold climatic interval. The MOW velocity was comparatively low during the warm Dansgaard-Oeschger interstadials, Bølling-Allerød and the Early Holocene. Rapid sea-level fluctuations on the order of 35 m during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 are considered to have exerted limiting controls on the MOW volume transport and thus positively modulated the MOW behaviour during the last 50 kyr