Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

15 pages, 2348 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Proteome Response of Meretrix Bivalves Hepatopancreas Exposed to Paralytic Shellfish Toxins Producing Dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum

by Kin-Ka Chan, Nora Fung-Yee Tam, Christie Ng, Celia Sze-Nga Kwok, Steven Jing-Liang Xu, Eric Tung-Po Sze and Fred Wang-Fat Lee

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091039 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2174

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) contamination of seafood has become a growing global problem. However, the molecular response of bivalves, some of the most popular seafoods, to PSP toxins has seldom been reported and the underlying molecular mechanisms of the interactions between Meretrix meretrix [...] Read more.

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) contamination of seafood has become a growing global problem. However, the molecular response of bivalves, some of the most popular seafoods, to PSP toxins has seldom been reported and the underlying molecular mechanisms of the interactions between Meretrix meretrix bivalves and PSTs-producing dinoflagellates are scarcely known. This study compared the protein expression profiles between PSP toxin-contaminated and non-PSP toxin contaminated M. meretrix, determined proteome responses and identified potential biomarkers based on feeding experiments. Results showed that the content of total PSP toxins in contaminated bivalves was 40.63 ± 4.08 μg saxitoxin (STX) equivalents per gram, with 95.3% in hepatopancreas, followed by gill (1.82%) and foot (1.79%). According to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), 15 differentially expressed proteins (at least 2-fold difference) between the hepatopancreas of bivalves with and without PSP toxins were detected. Eight of them were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF MS. These were catalase, protein ultraspiracle homolog, G2 and S phase-expression protein, paramyosin, Mn-superoxide dismutase, response regulator receiver domain-containing protein, sarcoplasmic calcium-binding protein and major facilitator superfamily transporters. The differences in the expression levels of the last three proteins involving in cell signaling, structure and membrane transport were 4.2, 5.3 and 4.9-fold, respectively. These proteins could be further developed as potential biomarkers. The other two up-regulated proteins, Mn-superoxide dismutase and catalase, were involved in cell defence mechanisms against oxidative stress, suggesting PSP toxin acts as xenobiotics and poses oxidative stress in bivalves. This study gives insights into the response of bivalves to PSP toxin-producing dinoflagellate at the proteomic level and the potential of using 2-DE to develop specific protein markers in bivalves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Omics & Biotechnology)

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18 pages, 3983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Method for the Coordination of Referencing of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles to Man-Made Objects Using Stereo Images

by Valery Bobkov, Alexey Kudryashov and Alexander Inzartsev

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091038 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2083

Abstract

The use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to inspect underwater industrial infrastructure requires the precise, coordinated movement of the AUV relative to subsea objects. One significant underwater infrastructure system is the subsea production system (SPS), which includes wells for oil and gas [...] Read more.

The use of an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to inspect underwater industrial infrastructure requires the precise, coordinated movement of the AUV relative to subsea objects. One significant underwater infrastructure system is the subsea production system (SPS), which includes wells for oil and gas production, located on the seabed. The present paper suggests a method for the accurate navigation of AUVs in a distributed SPS to coordinate space using video information. This method is based on the object recognition and computation of the AUV coordinate references to SPS objects. Stable high accuracy during the continuous movement of the AUV in SPS space is realized through the regular updating of the coordinate references to SPS objects. Stereo images, a predefined geometric SPS model, and measurements of the absolute coordinates of a limited number of feature points of objects are used as initial data. The matrix of AUV coordinate references to the SPS object coordinate system is computed using 3D object points matched with the model. The effectiveness of the proposed method is estimated based on the results of computational experiments with virtual scenes generated in the simulator for AUV, and with real data obtained by the Karmin2 stereo camera (Nerian Vision, Stuttgart, Germany) in laboratory conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Autonomous Vessels)

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22 pages, 8509 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ship Trajectory Prediction Based on Bi-LSTM Using Spectral-Clustered AIS Data

by Jinwan Park, Jungsik Jeong and Youngsoo Park

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1037; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091037 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 4544

Abstract

According to the statistics of maritime accidents, most collision accidents have been caused by human factors. In an encounter situation, the prediction of ship’s trajectory is a good way to notice the intention of the other ship. This paper proposes a methodology for [...] Read more.

According to the statistics of maritime accidents, most collision accidents have been caused by human factors. In an encounter situation, the prediction of ship’s trajectory is a good way to notice the intention of the other ship. This paper proposes a methodology for predicting the ship’s trajectory that can be used for an intelligent collision avoidance algorithm at sea. To improve the prediction performance, the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) has been used to recognize the pattern of the ship trajectory. Since the DBSCAN is a clustering algorithm based on the density of data points, it has limitations in clustering the trajectories with nonlinear curves. Thus, we applied the spectral clustering method that can reflect a similarity between individual trajectories. The similarity measured by the longest common subsequence (LCSS) distance. Based on the clustering results, the prediction model of ship trajectory was developed using the bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM). Moreover, the performance of the proposed model was compared with that of the long short-term memory (LSTM) model and the gated recurrent unit (GRU) model. The input data was obtained by preprocessing techniques such as filtering, grouping, and interpolation of the automatic identification system (AIS) data. As a result of the experiment, the prediction accuracy of Bi-LSTM was found to be the highest compared to that of LSTM and GRU. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Maritime Safety)

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21 pages, 1293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulations of the Monotonic and Cyclic Behaviour of Offshore Wind Turbine Monopile Foundations in Clayey Soils

by Mian Xie and Susana Lopez-Querol

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1036; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091036 - 20 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6635

Abstract

Most of the reported centrifuge tests available in the existing literature on offshore wind turbine foundations are focused on the behaviour of monopiles in sands, but very few studies on clayey soils can be found, due to the very long saturation and consolidation [...] Read more.

Most of the reported centrifuge tests available in the existing literature on offshore wind turbine foundations are focused on the behaviour of monopiles in sands, but very few studies on clayey soils can be found, due to the very long saturation and consolidation periods required to properly conduct experiments in such materials. Moreover, most of the reported numerical simulations using finite element analyses have been validated with monotonic centrifuge tests only. In this research, both monotonic and cyclic performance of offshore wind turbines in clay are validated and justified. The relationship between the monopile rotation in clays and the geometry and strength of the soil has been found and quantified. A prediction of the rotation for a high number of cycles of loading, based on the one experienced by the pile during the first cycle, can be obtained using the correlation derived in the paper. For those cases in which the rotation does not reach a steady value after a high number of cycles, the cumulative rate has been found significantly larger than the prediction conducted with standard analytical methods. A new design methodology for the design of offshore monopile foundations in clay is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Offshore Wind Turbine Dynamic Analysis)

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20 pages, 8319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Three-Dimensional Sound Propagation in Western North Pacific Fronts

by Jiaqi Liu, Shengchun Piao, Minghui Zhang, Shizhao Zhang, Junyuan Guo and Lijia Gong

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1035; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091035 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

Oceanic fronts involved by ocean currents led to strong gradients of temperature, density and salinity, which have significant effects on underwater sound propagation. This paper focuses on the impact of the oceanic front on three-dimensional underwater sound propagation. A joint experiment of ocean [...] Read more.

Oceanic fronts involved by ocean currents led to strong gradients of temperature, density and salinity, which have significant effects on underwater sound propagation. This paper focuses on the impact of the oceanic front on three-dimensional underwater sound propagation. A joint experiment of ocean acoustic and physical oceanography at the western North Pacific fronts is introduced. The measurement data for sound waves passed through the oceanic front is processed. The results are analysed and compared with the numerical simulation. It was found that transmission loss presented some difference when the source was located in the front centre and sound waves propagated towards water mass on opposite sides of the front centre. And when the sound field is excited by the underwater explosion at a depth of 200 m, the effects of the horizontal refraction cannot be neglected. On the other hand, the transmission loss for sound pressure fell sharply and rose rapidly at the side of cold water masses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sea Level Fluctuations)

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19 pages, 1579 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Numerical Modelling of Oil Spill Transport in Tide-Dominated Estuaries: A Case Study of Humber Estuary, UK

by Chijioke D. Eke, Babatunde Anifowose, Marco J. Van De Wiel, Damian Lawler and Michiel A. F. Knaapen

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1034; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091034 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3589

Abstract

Oil spills in estuaries are less studied and less understood than their oceanic counterparts. To address this gap, we present a detailed analysis of estuarine oil spill transport. We develop and analyse a range of simulations for the Humber Estuary, using a coupled [...] Read more.

Oil spills in estuaries are less studied and less understood than their oceanic counterparts. To address this gap, we present a detailed analysis of estuarine oil spill transport. We develop and analyse a range of simulations for the Humber Estuary, using a coupled hydrodynamic and oil spill model. The models were driven by river discharge at the river boundaries and tidal height data at the offshore boundary. Satisfactory model performance was obtained for both model calibration and validation. Some novel findings were made: (a) there is a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference in the influence of hydrodynamic conditions (tidal range, stage and river discharge) on oil slick transport; and (b) because of seasonal variation in river discharge, winter slicks released at high water did not exhibit any upstream displacement over repeated tidal cycles, while summer slicks travelled upstream into the estuary over repeated tidal cycles. The implications of these findings for operational oil spill response are: (i) the need to take cognisance of time of oil release within a tidal cycle; and (ii) the need to understand how the interaction of river discharge and tidal range influences oil slick dynamics, as this will aid responders in assessing the likely oil trajectories. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocean Numerical Forecast Modelling of Oil Spill)

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8 pages, 381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Generalized Form of the Invariant Imbedding Method and Its Application to the Study of Back-Scattering in Shallow-Water Acoustics

by Mikhail Kazak, Konstantin Koshel and Pavel Petrov

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091033 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1559

Abstract

A generalized form of the matrix-invariant imbedding method was developed to solve boundary-value problems for coupled systems of Helmholtz-type equations. Within this approach, a boundary-value problem solution can be obtained by solving evolutionary first-order imbedding equations for a matrix-valued function. The proposed method [...] Read more.

A generalized form of the matrix-invariant imbedding method was developed to solve boundary-value problems for coupled systems of Helmholtz-type equations. Within this approach, a boundary-value problem solution can be obtained by solving evolutionary first-order imbedding equations for a matrix-valued function. The proposed method is applied to the solution of coupled equations for mode amplitudes describing the propagation of acoustic waves in a range-dependent shallow-water waveguide. The back-scattering of modes by bathymetry features is investigated, and the coefficients of the modal expansion of the wave reflected by an inhomogeneity in the bottom relief are computed. It is demonstrated that back-scattering is strongly connected with the modal interactions and that the back-scattered field consists of modes with numbers different from the number of the incident mode. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling Techniques for Underwater Acoustic Scattering and Propagation (including 3D Effects))

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23 pages, 7039 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Laser Powder Bed Fusion of a Topology Optimized and Surface Textured Rudder Bulb with Lightweight and Drag-Reducing Design

by Alessandro Scarpellini, Valentina Finazzi, Paolo Schito, Arianna Bionda, Andrea Ratti and Ali Gökhan Demir

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1032; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091032 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2682

Abstract

This work demonstrates the advantages of using laser powder bed fusion for producing a rudder bulb of a moth class sailing racing boat via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The component was designed to reduce weight using an AlSi7Mg0.6 alloy and incorporated a [...] Read more.

This work demonstrates the advantages of using laser powder bed fusion for producing a rudder bulb of a moth class sailing racing boat via laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). The component was designed to reduce weight using an AlSi7Mg0.6 alloy and incorporated a biomimetic surface texture for drag reduction. For the topological optimization, the component was loaded structurally due to foil wing’s lift action as well as from the environment due to hydrodynamic resistance. The aim was to minimize core mass while preserving stiffness and the second to benefit from drag reduction capability in terms of passive surface behavior. The external surface texture is inspired by scales of the European sea bass. Both these features were embedded to the component and produced by LPBF in a single run, with the required resolution. Drag reduction was estimated in the order of 1% for free stream velocity of 2.5 m s⁻¹. The production of the final part resulted in limited geometrical error with respect to scales 3D model, with the desired mechanical properties. A reduction in weight of approximately 58% with respect to original full solid model from 452 to 190 g was achieved thanks to core topology optimization. Sandblasting was adopted as finishing technique since it was able to improve surface quality while preserving fish scale geometries. The feasibility of producing the biomimetic surfaces and the weight reduction were validated with the produced full-sized component. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Techniques for Design and Manufacturing in Marine Engineering)

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15 pages, 6374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Magnetic Properties and Initiation of Biogenic Reefs in Xisha Islands, South China Sea, at the Oligo–Miocene Boundary

by Yibing Li, Xinyu Liu, Weiwei Chen and Liang Yi

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091031 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1940

Abstract

Biogenic reefs and carbonate platforms are valuable natural resources, playing an important role in modulating the global climate and in carbon cycles through biological processes. Biogenic reefs in the Xisha (Paracel) Islands began in the late Oligocene and covaried with the deep-sea basin [...] Read more.

Biogenic reefs and carbonate platforms are valuable natural resources, playing an important role in modulating the global climate and in carbon cycles through biological processes. Biogenic reefs in the Xisha (Paracel) Islands began in the late Oligocene and covaried with the deep-sea basin of the South China Sea and with the aeolian deposit in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Core XK-1 was drilled into the Xisha Islands to their granitic base and well dated by magnetostratigraphy, offering an opportunity to reveal the details of how the Xisha reefs initiated. In this report, the lower section of the biogenic reefs (23.0–24.5 Ma) was sampled for studying magnetic properties. The main results are as follows: (1) magnetic minerals in the XK-1 biogenic reefs are dominated by low-coercivity and relatively coarse-grained magnetite; (2) the variabilities of magnetic parameters can be clustered into two sections around 23.6 Ma, and the differences between the two units are evident both in the amplitudes and the means; and (3) changes in the concentration-dependent magnetic parameters can be well correlated with the records of global deep-sea oxygen and carbon isotopes, and the sea level during the Oligo–Miocene boundary. Based on these results, a close link was inferred between biogenic reef evolution in the Xisha Islands and global climate change. This link likely highlights the covariation or the dominant role of the Asian monsoon in biogenic reefs and involves different responses to global temperature, CO₂, and sea-level changes on various timescales. Therefore, we proposed that the origin of biogenic reefs in the Xisha Islands was likely paced by orbital obliquity from a long-term perspective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Geological Oceanography)

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23 pages, 2398 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Heuristic Approach for Inter-Facility Comparison of Results from Round Robin Testing of a Floating Wind Turbine in Irregular Waves

by Sebastien Gueydon, Frances Judge, Eoin Lyden, Michael O’Shea, Florent Thiebaut, Marc Le Boulluec, Julien Caverne, Jérémy Ohana, Benjamin Bouscasse, Shinwoong Kim, Sandy Day, Saishuai Dai and Jimmy Murphy

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1030; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091030 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2141

Abstract

This paper introduces metrics developed for analysing irregular wave test results from the round robin testing campaign carried out on a floating wind turbine as part of the EU H2020 MaRINET2 project. A 1/60th scale model of a 10 MW floating platform was [...] Read more.

This paper introduces metrics developed for analysing irregular wave test results from the round robin testing campaign carried out on a floating wind turbine as part of the EU H2020 MaRINET2 project. A 1/60th scale model of a 10 MW floating platform was tested in wave basins in four different locations around Europe. The tests carried out in each facility included decay tests, tests in regular and irregular waves with and without wind thrust, and tests to characterise the mooring system as well as the model itself. While response amplitude operations (RAOs) are a useful tool for assessing device performance in irregular waves, they are not easy to interpret when performing an inter-facility comparison where there are many variables. Metrics that use a single value per test condition rather than an RAO curve are a means of efficiently comparing tests from different basins in a more heuristic manner. In this research, the focus is on using metrics to assess how the platform responds with varying wave height and thrust across different facilities. It is found that the metrics implemented are very useful for extracting global trends across different basins and test conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewables–Infrastructures and Physical Testing)

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14 pages, 3649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Tensile Mechanical Properties of a Braided Corrugated Hose and Its Axial Stiffness Model

by Dacheng Huang and Jianrun Zhang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1029; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091029 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2211

Abstract

Braided corrugated hoses are widely used in displacement compensation and vibration absorption environments due to their excellent flexibility and energy dissipation properties; however, the axial stiffness has rarely been discussed before as an important physical property of braided corrugated hoses. In this paper, [...] Read more.

Braided corrugated hoses are widely used in displacement compensation and vibration absorption environments due to their excellent flexibility and energy dissipation properties; however, the axial stiffness has rarely been discussed before as an important physical property of braided corrugated hoses. In this paper, the theoretical axial stiffness model for braided corrugated hoses is established based on the energy method and the theory of the curved beam. The influences of the braiding parameters of the metallic braided tube and the structural parameters of the bellows on the axial stiffness are also discussed. Through finite element tensile testing, the axial stiffness curves of the braided corrugated hose under different braiding angles and different wire diameters are obtained. The theoretical axial stiffness model is in good agreement with the simulation experiment, which reflects the nonlinear effects of the braiding angle and wire diameter on the braided corrugated hose. This paper provides an accurate method and basis for the design of braided corrugated hoses in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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17 pages, 5204 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrodynamic Sensitivity of Moored and Articulated Multibody Offshore Structures in Waves

by Changqing Jiang, Ould el Moctar and Thomas E. Schellin

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1028; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091028 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2363

Abstract

Within the framework of Space@Sea project, an articulated modular floating structure was developed to serve as building blocks for artificial islands. The modularity was one of the key elements, intended to provide the desired flexibility of additional deck space at sea. Consequently, the [...] Read more.

Within the framework of Space@Sea project, an articulated modular floating structure was developed to serve as building blocks for artificial islands. The modularity was one of the key elements, intended to provide the desired flexibility of additional deck space at sea. Consequently, the layout of a modular floating concept may change, depending on its functionality and environmental condition. Employing a potential-flow-based numerical model (i.e., weakly nonlinear Green function solver AQWA), this paper studied the hydrodynamic sensitivity of such multibody structures to the number of modules, to the arrangement of these modules, and to the incident wave angle. Results showed that for most wave frequencies, their hydrodynamic characteristics were similar although the floating platforms consisted of a different number of modules. Only translational horizontal motions, i.e., surge and sway, were sensitive to the incident wave angle. The most critical phenomenon occurred at head seas, where waves traveled perpendicularly to the rotation axes of hinged joints, and the hinge forces were largest. Hydrodynamic characteristics of modules attached behind the forth module hardly changed. The highest mooring line tensions arose at low wave frequencies, and they were caused by second-order mean drift forces. First-order forces acting on the mooring lines were relatively small. Apart from the motion responses and mooring tensions, forces acting on the hinge joints governed the system’s design. The associated results contribute to design of optimal configurations of moored and articulated multibody floating islands. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mooring of Floating Offshore Structures)

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18 pages, 2655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Structural Integrity of Fixed Offshore Platforms by Incorporating Wave-in-Deck

by Nurul Uyun Azman, Mohd Khairi Abu Husain, Noor Irza Mohd Zaki, Ezanizam Mat Soom, Nurul Azizah Mukhlas and Sayyid Zainal Abidin Syed Ahmad

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091027 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3886

Abstract

The structural integrity of offshore platforms is affected by degradation issues such as subsidence. Subsidence involves large settlement areas, and it is one of the phenomena that may be experienced by offshore platforms throughout their lives. Compaction of the reservoir is caused by [...] Read more.

The structural integrity of offshore platforms is affected by degradation issues such as subsidence. Subsidence involves large settlement areas, and it is one of the phenomena that may be experienced by offshore platforms throughout their lives. Compaction of the reservoir is caused by pressure reduction, which results in vertical movement of soils from the reservoir to the mud line. The impact of subsidence on platforms will lead to a gradually reduced wave crest to deck air gap (insufficient air gap) and cause wave-in-deck. The wave-in-deck load can cause significant damage to deck structures, and it may cause the collapse of the entire platform. This study aims to investigate the impact of wave-in-deck load on structure response for fixed offshore structure. The conventional run of pushover analysis only considers the 100-year design crest height for the ultimate collapse. The wave height at collapse is calculated using a limit state equation for the probabilistic model that may give a different result. It is crucial to ensure that the reserve strength ratio (RSR) is not overly estimated, hence giving a false impression of the value. This study is performed to quantify the wave-in-deck load effects based on the revised RSR. As part of the analysis, the Ultimate Strength for Offshore Structures (USFOS) software and wave-in-deck calculation recommended by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as practised in the industry is adopted to complete the study. As expected, the new revised RSR with the inclusion of wave-in-deck load is lower and, hence, increases the probability of failure (POF) of the platform. The accuracy and effectiveness of this method will assist the industry, especially operators, for decision making and, more specifically, in outlining the action items as part of their business risk management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocean and Shore Technology (OST))

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18 pages, 8438 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Design Method to Assess the Primary Strength of the Delta-Type VLFS

by Roy Gafter and Nitai Drimer

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091026 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1784

Abstract

Very large floating structure (VLFS) is a sustainable concept centered around creating solid platforms at sea. The Delta is a new type of VLFS, designed to withstand open-sea conditions and to form, in addition to a broad deck areas, a sheltered basin of [...] Read more.

Very large floating structure (VLFS) is a sustainable concept centered around creating solid platforms at sea. The Delta is a new type of VLFS, designed to withstand open-sea conditions and to form, in addition to a broad deck areas, a sheltered basin of year-round operability. The design of this unique hull relies on direct calculations in order to identify critical load cases and assess their load effects. This study formulates a theoretical procedure for the initial assessment of the primary strength. The procedure analytically integrates the floatation loads while the hull rests at hydrostatic equilibrium on a wave surface and obtains the vertical and horizontal bending moment. This preliminary assessment tool enables a fast review of many load cases and provides the basic insights necessary for a reasonable initial design. Using the procedure, we conducted a primary load assessment for the design of Delta. By calculating the load response to 588 load cases, we identified the critical load scenario and the maximal axial stress. As the stress was too high, we improved the geometry in order to reduce loads and assessed proper scantlings for the critical section. We present the formulation of the procedure, the validation of the results, and the implementation for the structural design of the Delta VLFS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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14 pages, 2107 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Glutathione S-Transferases in Marine Copepods

by Chiara Lauritano, Ylenia Carotenuto and Vittoria Roncalli

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091025 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2260

Abstract

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a complex family of phase II detoxification enzymes, known for their ability to catalyze the conjugation of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds for detoxification purposes. In marine [...] Read more.

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a complex family of phase II detoxification enzymes, known for their ability to catalyze the conjugation of the reduced form of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds for detoxification purposes. In marine environments, copepods are constantly exposed to multiple exogenous stressors, thus their capability of detoxification is key for survival. Full identification of the GST family in copepods has been limited only to few species. As for insects, the GST family includes a wide range of genes that, based on their cellular localization, can be divided in three classes: cytosolic, microsomal, and mitochondrial. The role of GSTs might have class-specific features, thus understanding the nature of the GST family has become crucial. This paper covers information of the GST activity in marine copepods based on studies investigating gene expression, protein content, and enzymatic activity. Using published literature and mining new publicly available transcriptomes, we characterized the multiplicity of the GST family in copepods from different orders and families, highlighting the possible role of these genes as biomarker for ocean health status monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Omics & Biotechnology)

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21 pages, 3548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Time-Scale Decomposition Techniques Used in the Ship Path-Following Problem with Rudder Roll Stabilization Control

by Ru-Yi Ren, Zao-Jian Zou and Jian-Qin Wang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1024; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091024 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1680

Abstract

The motion control of a surface ship based on a four degrees of freedom (4-DoF) (surge, sway, roll, and yaw) maneuvering motion model is studied in this paper. A time-scale decomposition method is introduced to solve the path-following problem, implementing Rudder Roll Stabilization [...] Read more.

The motion control of a surface ship based on a four degrees of freedom (4-DoF) (surge, sway, roll, and yaw) maneuvering motion model is studied in this paper. A time-scale decomposition method is introduced to solve the path-following problem, implementing Rudder Roll Stabilization (RRS) at the same time. The control objectives are to let the ship to track a predefined curve path under environmental disturbances, and to reduce the roll motion at the same time. A singular perturbation method is used to decouple the whole system into two subsystems of different time scales: the slow path-following subsystem and the fast roll reduction subsystem. The coupling effect of the two subsystems is also considered in this framework of analysis. RRS control is only possible when there is the so-called bandwidth separation characteristic in the ship motion system, which requires a large bandwidth separation gap between the two subsystems. To avoid the slow subsystem being affected by the wave disturbances of high frequency and large system uncertainties, the

L_{1}

adaptive control is introduced in the slow subsystem, while a Proportion-Differentiation (PD) control law is adopted in the fast roll reduction subsystem. Simulation results show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manoeuvring and Control of Ships and Other Marine Vehicles)

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15 pages, 2156 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Simulation Approach to the Definition of the Subsystems Parameters in Small Container Terminals

by Maja Stojaković and Elen Twrdy

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091023 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1890

Abstract

This article deals with the extremely difficult problem faced by a large number of smaller ports: how to enable small container terminals to simultaneously receive two ships of post-Panamax size, and at the same time provide effective transshipment operations on an individual terminal [...] Read more.

This article deals with the extremely difficult problem faced by a large number of smaller ports: how to enable small container terminals to simultaneously receive two ships of post-Panamax size, and at the same time provide effective transshipment operations on an individual terminal subsystem, which would enable the fast turnaround of the ship in port and at the same time provide the port the possibility to increase annual traffic. For this purpose, a simulation approach was used in a hypothetical small size container terminal. The performed simulations covered all the berth-yard-berth operations focusing on the correct allocation of transfer mechanization to ensure optimal results on the sea side of the terminal. The results obtained were used to define the key parameters on the basis of which a Decision Support Tool was created. The aim of the Decision Support Tool is to help port operators to identify their current problems quickly and effectively and to give them an insight into the measures that need to be implemented to accommodate two post-Panamax ships at the terminal at the same time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Coastal Engineering)

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12 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Métiers Using Landings Profiles: An Octopus-Driven Multi-Gear Coastal Fleet

by Monika J. Szynaka, Karim Erzini, Jorge M. S. Gonçalves and Aida Campos

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1022; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091022 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1923

Abstract

The multi-gear coastal vessels in the Algarve (South Portugal) own licenses for various fishing gears. However, it is generally uncertain what gears they use, which is problematic as each individual gear is responsible for unique impacts on the resources and the environment. In [...] Read more.

The multi-gear coastal vessels in the Algarve (South Portugal) own licenses for various fishing gears. However, it is generally uncertain what gears they use, which is problematic as each individual gear is responsible for unique impacts on the resources and the environment. In this study, landing profiles identified for the multi-gear coastal fleet (2012–2016) were used as support in defining potential métiers using k-mean clustering analysis (CLARA) along with information from past studies on métiers. The results showed that more than 50% of the vessels were engaged in the octopus fishery year-round, using traps, while a small percentage (~13%) were entirely dedicated to clam dredging. In general, gillnets (21%) were used to target monkfish, hake and bastard soles, while trammel nets (6%) were used to target cuttlefish, with some vessels alternating the fishing gears (either seasonally or annually) according to target species. The method for the initial characterization of this fleet’s métiers and its efficiency with limited data is discussed, as well as the utility of this segmentation in support of management advice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Environmental Science)

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16 pages, 6855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Summer Wind Effects on Coastal Upwelling in the Southwestern Yellow Sea

by Bin Wang, Lei Wu, Ning Zhao, Tianran Liu and Naoki Hirose

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091021 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2315

Abstract

The features of coastal upwelling in the southwestern Yellow Sea were investigated based on oceanology data from a research cruise and a regional circulation model. The observation data suggest that a relatively colder and saltier water core exists from the deeper layer to [...] Read more.

The features of coastal upwelling in the southwestern Yellow Sea were investigated based on oceanology data from a research cruise and a regional circulation model. The observation data suggest that a relatively colder and saltier water core exists from the deeper layer to the surface, off the Subei Bank. The concentrations of nutrients also suggest that coastal upwelling is beneficial for nutrient enrichment in the upper layer. The numerical simulations are in good agreement with oceanology observations. Furthermore, sensitivity experiments indicate that, in addition to the tidal-induced upwelling and tidal mixing proposed in previous studies, the summer monsoon is also critical to vertical circulation in the southwestern Yellow Sea. The southwesterly wind stress and positive wind stress curl make considerable contributions to upwelling off the Subei coast compared with tidal motions. Moreover, this study also proposes that changes in the summer monsoon and its curl may have been helpful to the formation of upwelling during the past decade, which may have provided a favorable marine environment for the frequent occurrence of green tides. This study provides a theoretical basis for the mechanisms of coastal upwelling and the nitrogen cycle in the Yellow Sea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ocean Conservation and Pollution in an Era of Blue Economy)

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32 pages, 15064 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

AUV Trajectory Tracking Models and Control Strategies: A Review

by Daoliang Li and Ling Du

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091020 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 60 | Viewed by 9450

Abstract

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been widely used to perform underwater tasks. Due to the environmental disturbances, underactuated problems, system constraints, and system coupling, AUV trajectory tracking control is challenging. Thus, further investigation of dynamic characteristics and trajectory tracking control methods of the [...] Read more.

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been widely used to perform underwater tasks. Due to the environmental disturbances, underactuated problems, system constraints, and system coupling, AUV trajectory tracking control is challenging. Thus, further investigation of dynamic characteristics and trajectory tracking control methods of the AUV motion system will be of great importance to improve underwater task performance. An AUV controller must be able to cope with various challenges with the underwater vehicle, adaptively update the reference model, and overcome unexpected deviations. In order to identify modeling strategies and the best control practices, this paper presents an overview of the main factors of control-oriented models and control strategies for AUVs. In modeling, two fields are considered: (i) models that come from simplifications of Fossen’s equations; and (ii) system identification models. For each category, a brief description of the control-oriented modeling strategies is given. In the control field, three relevant aspects are considered: (i) significance of AUV trajectory tracking control, (ii) control strategies; and (iii) control performance. For each aspect, the most important features are explained. Furthermore, in the aspect of control strategies, mathematical modeling study and physical experiment study are introduced in detail. Finally, with the aim of establishing the acceptability of the reported modeling and control techniques, as well as challenges that remain open, a discussion and a case study are presented. The literature review shows the development of new control-oriented models, the research in the estimation of unknown inputs, and the development of more innovative control strategies for AUV trajectory tracking systems are still open problems that must be addressed in the short term. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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12 pages, 1671 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Comparison of Traditional and Locally Novel Fishing Gear for the Exploitation of the Invasive Atlantic Blue Crab in the Eastern Adriatic Sea

by Luka Glamuzina, Alexis Conides, Giorgio Mancinelli and Branko Glamuzina

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091019 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2512

Abstract

The Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus has been recognized as invasive in the Mediterranean Sea, where it now provides a significant contribution to artisanal fisheries. In this study, we compared the efficiency, selectivity, and productivity of American wire crab traps and traditional fyke [...] Read more.

The Atlantic Blue Crab Callinectes sapidus has been recognized as invasive in the Mediterranean Sea, where it now provides a significant contribution to artisanal fisheries. In this study, we compared the efficiency, selectivity, and productivity of American wire crab traps and traditional fyke nets for the capture of Blue Crabs in a study conducted from June to December 2019 in the Parila Lagoon (River Neretva Estuary, Croatia). A total of 7707 specimens were caught in 15 wire traps, comprising 6959 males and 749 females. The total catch using 50 traditional fyke traps was 1451 crabs, of which 1211 were males and 240 were females. In general, wire crab traps showed a higher capture selectivity and economic performance compared to fyke nets. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) was 102.76 kg for the American wire crab trap and 5.96 kg for the traditional fyke net. The CPUE of gravid female Blue Crabs was lower for the wire traps than the fyke nets. Herein, the utility of crab traps as selective fishing gear for the capture of Blue Crabs, and management tools for control of the reproductive and recruitment phases of the crab, are discussed, with the perspective of future exploitation of the species as a commercially valuable shellfish product in the Mediterranean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Fisheries Management)

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16 pages, 2276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic and Phenogenetic Diversity of Synechococcus along a Yellow Sea Section Reveal Its Environmental Dependent Distribution and Co-Occurrence Microbial Pattern

by Ting Wang, Xi Chen, Song Qin and Jialin Li

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1018; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091018 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2434

Abstract

Synechococcus is a dominant genus of the coastal phytoplankton with an effective contribution to primary productivity. Here, the phylogenetic and phenogenetic composition of Synechococcus in the coastal Yellow Sea was addressed by sequencing marker gene methods. Meanwhile, its co-occurrence pattern with bacterial and [...] Read more.

Synechococcus is a dominant genus of the coastal phytoplankton with an effective contribution to primary productivity. Here, the phylogenetic and phenogenetic composition of Synechococcus in the coastal Yellow Sea was addressed by sequencing marker gene methods. Meanwhile, its co-occurrence pattern with bacterial and eukaryotic microbes was further investigated based on the construction of networks. The result revealed that Synechococcus abundance ranged from 9.8 × 10² cells mL⁻¹ to 1.6 × 10⁵ cells mL⁻¹, which was significantly correlated to sampling depth and nutrient contents of nitrite, ammonia, and dissolved silicon. A total of eight Synechococcus phylogenetic lineages were detected, of which clade III was dominant in most of the samples. Meanwhile, clade I increased along the water column and even reached a maximum value of 76.13% at 20 m of station B. Phenogenetically, Synechococcus PT3 was always the predominant pigment type across the whole study zone. Only salinity was significantly correlated to the phenogenetic constitution. The networks revealed that Synechococcus co-occurred with 159 prokaryotes, as well as 102 eukaryotes including such possible grazers as Gymnodinium clades and Alveolata. Potential function prediction further showed that microbes co-occurring with Synechococcus were associated with diverse element cycles, but the exact mechanism needed further experimentation to verify. This research promotes exploring regularity in the genomic composition and niche position of Synechococcus in the coastal ecosystem and is significant to further discuss its potential participation in materials circulation and bottom-up effects in microbial food webs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Biology)

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22 pages, 14055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation of Ship Maneuvers through Self-Propulsion

by Haodong Shang, Chengsheng Zhan and Zuyuan Liu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091017 - 17 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3208

Abstract

The typical maneuvering of a ship can reflect its maneuvering characteristics, which are closely related to the safety and economy of its navigation. The accurate prediction of a ship’s maneuvering characteristics is essential for its preliminary design. This paper adopts the overset grid [...] Read more.

The typical maneuvering of a ship can reflect its maneuvering characteristics, which are closely related to the safety and economy of its navigation. The accurate prediction of a ship’s maneuvering characteristics is essential for its preliminary design. This paper adopts the overset grid method to deal with multibody motion and the body-force method to describe the thrust distribution of the propeller at the model scale, as well as to obtain the changes in the hydrodynamic load and the characteristic parameters in a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) maneuver simulation. Then, the paper compares the results with those of a self-propulsion experiment conducted at the China Ship Scientific Research Center. The numerical results show that the maneuverability characteristics obtained from the CFD simulation are in satisfactory agreement with the experimental values, which demonstrates the applicability and reliability of the combination of the overset grid with the body-force method in the numerical prediction of the typical maneuvering of a ship. This provides an effective pre-evaluation method for the prediction of a ship’s maneuvering through self-propulsion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ship Hydrodynamics and Manoeuvring)

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12 pages, 6991 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on the Tank Heel Determination Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics

by Kyu-Sik Park, Hung-Truyen Luong and Joonmo Choung

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1016; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091016 - 17 Sep 2021

Viewed by 2733

Abstract

Tank heel minimization is a significant issue in the design of LNG fuel tanks because it is associated with stable suction pump operation and thermal shock requirements during LNG bunkering. This study examined how the LNG tank heel is minimized, maintaining a suction [...] Read more.

Tank heel minimization is a significant issue in the design of LNG fuel tanks because it is associated with stable suction pump operation and thermal shock requirements during LNG bunkering. This study examined how the LNG tank heel is minimized, maintaining a suction pump fully submerged in LNG during dynamic vessel motion. The study assumed two LNG fuel tanks mounted on the forward deck of a 50,000 deadweight class oil product carrier. Information on the dimensions and shape of the LNG fuel tank was determined from Wartsila’s brochure, and the specifications of Vanzetti’s suction pump were referred to. The LNG fuel tank and LNG heel were modeled as rigid elements and hydrodynamically smoothed-particles, respectively. The number of particles could be determined by performing even keel analyzes by adding or subtracting particles until the target head was satisfied under the gravity load. To simulate the motion of the LNG fuel tank, the pitch and roll periods and amplitudes of the ship were calculated using the DNV classification rules. Visual observations of the dynamic flow during the pitch and roll motions with respect to the ship’s center of mass showed that the roll motion was more critical from the viewpoint of the LNG heel than the pitch motion. After performing the simulations for three cycles of roll and pitch motions, the suction pump submergence was reviewed in the last cycle. Under the conditions assumed in this study, a filling ratio of 15% was determined as the minimum LNG tank heel. Although the LNG heel has customarily been determined, the LNG heel needs to be determined through hydrodynamic analyses of each vessel because it depends on the shape of the fuel tank and the vessel motion characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Analysis of Offshore Structures)

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17 pages, 6953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance and Feasibility Study of a Novel Automated Catch-Hauling Device Using a Flexible Hose Net Structure in Set-Net

by Qiao Li, Yue Li, Shuchuang Dong, Yoichi Mizukami, Jialin Han, Takero Yoshida and Daisuke Kitazawa

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1015; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091015 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2572

Abstract

The labor-intensive catch-hauling method in set-net fisheries faces problems of lower productivity, lower efficiency, and higher operational risk due to aging problem and labor insufficiency. To solve such problems, a novel catch-hauling device using the flexible fire hose and net (hose net), which [...] Read more.

The labor-intensive catch-hauling method in set-net fisheries faces problems of lower productivity, lower efficiency, and higher operational risk due to aging problem and labor insufficiency. To solve such problems, a novel catch-hauling device using the flexible fire hose and net (hose net), which is placed in the box chamber, was proposed in this study. The hoses were inflated with air injected into one edge of the hose net, and the buoyancy force increased: the net gradually floated up, cornering the fish in the opposite edge. To corner and harvest the fish efficiently and safely, the changing formation and motion parameters of the hose net are significant. A series of floating up, sinking experiments, and catch-hauling tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of this device. The results showed that the hose net could gradually float in an ideal form and sink smoothly through natural exhaust and stretched on the bottom of the water tank. The time spent and average speeds in floating and sinking processes varied with air pressure and airflow rate, allowing the hose net motion to be controlled in practice by adjusting the airflow. Through the catch-hauling test using live fish, most of the fish were directed into the fish bag. Two main capture failure phenomena were also observed. Overall, this newly developed automated catch-hauling device is expected to be successful for use in modern fisheries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Flexible Structure in Marine Engineering)

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11 pages, 6186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cyclic Behavior of Calcareous Sand from the South China Sea

by Lu Liu, Xiaofei Yao, Zhanpeng Ji, Hongmei Gao, Zhihua Wang and Zhifu Shen

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1014; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091014 - 16 Sep 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2176

Abstract

This study examines the cyclic behavior of calcareous sand obtained from the South China Sea. A series of undrained cyclic triaxial tests were performed on the calcareous sand with various relative densities, cyclic stress ratios, and effective confining pressures. The test results show [...] Read more.

This study examines the cyclic behavior of calcareous sand obtained from the South China Sea. A series of undrained cyclic triaxial tests were performed on the calcareous sand with various relative densities, cyclic stress ratios, and effective confining pressures. The test results show that whereas the effective confining pressure exhibited a small influence on the cyclic behavior of the calcareous sand, the effect of changes in CSR and relative density was notable. Due to its angular nature, the liquefaction resistance of calcareous sand was much higher than that of silica sand. In addition, differences between calcareous and silica sands in terms of pore pressure generation characteristics and deformation responses were also observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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22 pages, 8220 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Precise Underwater Gliders Pitch Control with the Presence of the Pycnocline

by Wenchuan Zang, Ming Chen, Tingting Guo, Xin Luan and Dalei Song

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1013; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091013 - 15 Sep 2021

Viewed by 2401

Abstract

Glider-based mobile currents observations are gaining increasing research attention. However, the quality of such observations is directly related to the pitch accuracy of the glider. As a buoyancy-driven robot, the glider will be strongly disturbed during the passage through the pycnocline. The pycnocline [...] Read more.

Glider-based mobile currents observations are gaining increasing research attention. However, the quality of such observations is directly related to the pitch accuracy of the glider. As a buoyancy-driven robot, the glider will be strongly disturbed during the passage through the pycnocline. The pycnocline refers to the oceanic phenomenon where the density of the seawater changes abruptly with respect to depth. The presence of the pycnocline influences the pitch of the glider and consequently affects the quality of the observed currents data. In this work, we propose an actuator constrained active disturbance rejection controller (ACADRC) to improve the accuracy of the pitch angle control when gliders move across the pycnocline. For this purpose, the dynamical model of the glider is first derived. Then, the longitudinal plane motion model of the glider considering the density variation is analyzed. Based on that, we discuss three typical types of pycnocline encountered during glider profiling, which are the pycnocline, the inverted pycnocline and the multiple pycnocline. To alleviate the low accuracy of bang-bang control and proportion integration differentiation control, and furthermore, to mitigate the disturbance of pitch by sudden density changes, we propose the actuator constrained active disturbance rejection controller in conjunction with specific glider pitch actuator hardware constraints. Simulation results show that the proposed method has significant improvement in pitch control accuracy over the comparison methods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Ocean Engineering)

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20 pages, 8386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Depositional Setting and Cementation Pattern of Al-Mejarma Beachrocks, Saudi Arabia: A Proxy for the Late Quaternary Red Sea Coastal Evolution

by Ibrahim M. Ghandour, Hamad A. Al-Washmi, Athar A. Khan, Ammar A. Mannaa, Mohammed H. Aljahdali and Brian G. Jones

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091012 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2197

Abstract

This study utilizes lithofacies characteristics, petrographic, XRD, and stable isotope data of Al-Mejarma beachrocks, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, to interpret its depositional setting, origin of cement, and coastal evolution. The beachrock is 1.15 m thick, medium to very coarse-grained sandstone with scattered granules. [...] Read more.

This study utilizes lithofacies characteristics, petrographic, XRD, and stable isotope data of Al-Mejarma beachrocks, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, to interpret its depositional setting, origin of cement, and coastal evolution. The beachrock is 1.15 m thick, medium to very coarse-grained sandstone with scattered granules. It shows massive to graded bedding, horizontal, ripple, and shore parallel to slightly oblique planar cross-laminations, with a remarkable absence of bioturbation. It was deposited by shore-parallel longshore currents in a relatively high-energy beach environment. The framework comprises quartz, feldspars, and lithic fragments admixed with biogenic remains of algae, mollusca, foraminifera, corals, and echinoids. They are cemented by high magnesium calcite in the form of isopachous rims and pore-filling blades, and rarely, as a meniscus bridge. The mean values of δ¹⁸O_VPDB and δ¹³C_VPDB are 0.44‰ and 3.65‰, respectively, suggesting a seawater origin for the cement. The framework composition, facies geometry, and association with back-barrier lagoon impose a deposition as a shoreface-beach barrier through two stages corresponding to the middle and late Holocene. The first stage attests landward migrating sediment accumulation and rapid marine cementation. The sediments stored offshore during the early and middle Holocene humid periods migrated landward from offshore and alongshore by onshore waves and longshore drift during the middle and late Holocene sea-level highstand. They were cemented to form beachrock and subsequently emerged as the late Holocene sea-level fell. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Sedimentology and Coastal and Marine Geology)

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20 pages, 6448 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Future Changes in Built Environment Risk to Coastal Flooding, Permanent Inundation and Coastal Erosion Hazards

by Scott A. Stephens, Ryan Paulik, Glen Reeve, Sanjay Wadhwa, Ben Popovich, Tom Shand and Rebecca Haughey

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1011; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091011 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4332

Abstract

Sea-level rise will cause erosion of land, deeper and increasingly frequent flooding and will eventually permanently inundate low-elevation land, forcing the adaptation of seaside communities to avoid or reduce risk. To inform adaptation planning, we quantified the effects of incremental relative sea-level rise [...] Read more.

Sea-level rise will cause erosion of land, deeper and increasingly frequent flooding and will eventually permanently inundate low-elevation land, forcing the adaptation of seaside communities to avoid or reduce risk. To inform adaptation planning, we quantified the effects of incremental relative sea-level rise (RSLR) on exposed land area, number and replacement value of buildings within Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand. The assessment compared three coastal hazards: flooding, permanent inundation and erosion. Increasingly frequent coastal flooding will be the dominant trigger for adaptation in Tauranga. In the absence of adaptation, coastal flooding, recurring at least once every 5 years on average, will overtake erosion as the dominant coastal hazard after about 0.15–0.2 m RSLR, which is likely to occur between the years 2038–2062 in New Zealand and will rapidly escalate in frequency and consequence thereafter. Coastal erosion will remain the dominant hazard for the relatively-few properties on high-elevation coastal cliffs. It will take 0.8 m more RSLR for permanent inundation to reach similar impact thresholds to coastal flooding, in terms of the number and value of buildings exposed. For buildings currently within the mapped 1% annual exceedance probability (AEP) zone, the flooding frequency will transition to 20% AEP within 2–3 decades depending on the RSLR rate, requiring prior adaptive action. We also compared the performance of simple static-planar versus complex dynamic models for assessing coastal flooding exposure. Use of the static-planar model could result in sea level thresholds being reached 15–45 years earlier than planned for in this case. This is compelling evidence to use dynamic models to support adaptation planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Marine Hazards)

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16 pages, 3555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sound Propagation with Undulating Bottom in Shallow Water

by Dai Liu, Zhenglin Li, Guangxu Wang and Yunfeng Liu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(9), 1010; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9091010 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2571

Abstract

An undulating bottom in shallow water has a significant effect on sound propagation. An acoustic propagation experiment was carried out in the East China Sea in 2020. Measurements along two separate propagation tracks with flat and undulating bottoms were obtained. Abnormal transmission losses [...] Read more.

An undulating bottom in shallow water has a significant effect on sound propagation. An acoustic propagation experiment was carried out in the East China Sea in 2020. Measurements along two separate propagation tracks with flat and undulating bottoms were obtained. Abnormal transmission losses (TLs) were observed along the track with the undulating bottom. By using the parabolic equation model RAM and ray theory, these abnormal TLs and the distribution of the sound field energy were analyzed. Numerical simulations indicate that under the shallow water condition with a negative thermocline and for a high frequency (1000 Hz), the incidence and reflection angles of sound rays on the sea bottom are changed due to the undulating sea bottom. The larger the inclination angle of the undulating bottom, the greater the grazing angle changes. These angles changes lead to different sound propagation paths for the undulating bottom and the flat bottom, resulting in the difference of TLs at a certain distance and depth. The undulating bottom will cause energy convergence in the mixed layer when the source and receiver locate above the thermocline. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling Techniques for Underwater Acoustic Scattering and Propagation (including 3D Effects))

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J. Mar. Sci. Eng., Volume 9, Issue 9 (September 2021) – 123 articles

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