Finkl, Charles W.

The large North Pacific bivalve mollusk index-fossil Fortipecten hallae (Dall, 1921) is present in a well-dated stratigraphic section of the Milky River Formation, Alaska Peninsula, southwestern Alaska. Co-occurring marine diatoms belong to the upper part of the subzone B of the Neodenticula kamtschatica diatom zone of the North Pacific diatom chronostratigraphy, with an age range of 4.8–5.1 Ma (early Pliocene). Based on coeval occurrences in northeastern Kamchatka, Russia, and synchronous changes in the two molluscan assemblages, F. hallae is a useful indicator of early Pliocene climatic warming along the high latitude North Pacific margin.

Australia’s so-called ‘‘Dead Heart,’’ its hot arid interior landscape, can be brought into irrigated agricultural production with the importation of extracontinental freshwater supplies originating in Papua New Guinea. Despite Queensland’s La Nina-caused historic and costly 2010 to 2011 river flooding induced, in great part by tropical cyclone Yasi, its westernmost torrid region is classed as arid, currently almost without any irrigation agriculture present. Freshwater importation from Papua New Guinea’s Fly River via an undersea pipeline mostly skirting the Torres Strait could increase the value of Queensland’s little-used dryland Outback and, perhaps, establish new overseas markets in Asia for exported agricultural products. An induced perennial Diamantina River could replenish groundwater recharge regions (Great Artesian Basin) and convert Lake Eyre to a permanent lake of slightly brackish water. Irrigated eucalyptus tree plantations might serve, in part, to counter some Earthly global warming. The Torres Strait Islanders will benefit economically as well as other social groups on the mainland of Papua New Guinea. Here we examine closely some of the technical aspects of a Papua New Guinea-Queensland (PNG-QLD) Undersea Freshwater Pipeline Macroproject (UFPM) installation. We offer a choice of two routings for the PNG-QLD UFPM (Case A) while at the same time making clear our informed preference.

Managed sandy beach environments along developed shores often appear safe and healthy because obvious hazards such as beach erosion and flooding are considered within the purview of various mitigation programs. A range of insidious and generally unseen hazards, mostly related to pollution, often pose greater threats to the wellbeing of beach systems than do the highly visible, well publicized shoreline retreat and inundation events. Some unseen hazards, such as submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) laden with nutrients from agro-urban activities on adjacent coastal plains, are pervasive processes of environmental degradation that occur so gradually that sequential impacts escape public attention. The contribution of SGDs to the coastal hydrologie regime is occasionally recognized in association with crescendo events associated with marine algal blooms that degrade water quality, bottom habitats, and coral reef ecology. Because the real dangers of SGD are probably unknown at this time, it is essential to initiate seepage meter studies of the already known high levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) that are discharged to beach and nearshore environments. Locations of some of the larger submarine freshwater springs along the southeast Florida inner continental shelf are generally known, although volumes of flow have historically been reduced by reduction of head on the coastal, plain. Submarine groundwater provides, on a continual basis, the most direct nutrient linkage to nearshore environments. The insidious nature of the problem requires specialized detection techniques that incorporate site inspection of rock outcrop and reef morphology (for submarine springs and seeps), satellite and airborne remote sensing (coastal morphology, turbidity plumes), physical seepage measurement in situ, monitoring wells, and mini-piezometers to measure hydraulic flow.

In this paper, we review physical, geological, and environmental parameters of the Louisiana Chenier Plain to support the definition of regional strategies and management practices for long-term coastal restoration along this coastal segment. For management purposes, the Chenier Plain of Louisiana is divided into three main coastal segments that could be maintained over the long term. Recommendations are drawn for each coastal segment on the basis of bio physical properties. Approximate volumetric requirements for coastal restoration based on historical rates of shoreline change are presented. Discussions of potential sand resources are based on data published in the professional literature. Compared with the Louisiana barrier islands, the Chenier Plain is less well known; consequently, there is significantly less data related to shoreline change, sedimentology, beach profiles, and large-scale geomorphological evolution. Future restoration projects in this coastal region must direct attention toward obtaining essential coastal data that is lacking for many coastal segments along the Louisiana Chenier Plain.

It might be argued that this paper does not sensu stricto contribute to ‘‘polar science.’’ It, however, rekindles aspects of its history and of that of both oceanography and cartography. Obviously the interest for the polar regions was keen in the 19th century and elicited financial support. The paper may lift anew the veil that has somewhat dimmed the light that should shine on polar science achievements of Belgian explorers and scientists. Knowledge of the names of geographic features in the Antarctic is probably less widespread, and yet, there are many Belgian names on and near the southernmost continent. Most names were given by the head of the first-ever Antarctic expedition to spend a winter on the southernmost continent. Belgian Royal Navy Lieutenant Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery’s expedition in the Antarctic brought back a wealth of scientific information. His trip ended precisely 111 years ago, and has been—literally—carved in stone as the Belgica is indeed one of the 20 oceanographic vessels Prince Albert I of Monaco selected to be represented on the faccade of the Museee Oceanographique de Monaco.

The Dalmatian coast has been described by an occasional poet as the site where chalk and sea meet. If in frequent political turmoil, it also has shown to be equally an area of frequent geomorphologic events. The riparian countries have been trying, with some success, to make a tourism trump of what Emmanuel de Martonne appropriately labelled une côte morcelée. The paper focuses on the region’s significance as a geomorphology “textbook”.