Motunau Beach is situated upon a small coastal promontory which is approximately 3 km in length. Around this promontory a complex of coastal processes are interacting. In the past there has been concern for people s property due to eroding sandstone cliffs. In response to the erosion hazard piecemeal structural solutions have been sought; however, due to their short longevity have proved inadequate. Based on regular shoreline profiling and observations in conjunction with a broad international literature base, the processes of wave refraction, cliff erosion, river mouth dynamics, and sand beach adjustment have been discussed. Sediment transport pathways have been inferred based upon the natural and human processes around the promontory and the morphological response since the 1950s. To analyse the coastal processes and morphological change at Motunau Beach a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods have been used. The field study period of three months, July to September 2009, has focussed on the shortduration and high-frequency processes of change and nested within a broader context of coastal change since the 1950s. Initial results suggest that between the years 1950 to 1968 there was a loss of beach width on Sandy Bay of approximately 25 m. This was then followed by an increased rate of cliff erosion during the 1980s. Analysis of historical hindcast wave data since 1979 suggests the wave climate at Motunau is not distinctive from the rest of the east coast; however, the processes of wave refraction within the nearshore create a turbulent and dynamic nearshore wave environment which has implications on shoreline morphology. Results from this study indicate that nearshore sediment supplies are being exhausted by a increasing wave height of approximately 4 mm yr-1 since 1979. The turbulent wave environment of the nearshore zone at Motunau Beach is encouraging the offshore transfer of nearshore sediment supplies to a depth beyond the reworking of waves during swell condition. This has obvious implications for the long-term shoreline morphology at Motunau and shoreline protection from highintensity low frequency wave events.

Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian continental rifting related to the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia framed the continental margin of eastern Laurentia and the departing cratons around the opening Iapetus Ocean. The result of continental extension was the production of a zig-zag set of promontories and embayments on the eastern Laurentian margin defined by northeast-trending rift segments offset by northwesttrending transform faults. The St. Lawrence promontory defines the Laurentian margin in western Newfoundland. There, Neoproterozoic-Carboniferous clastic, volcanic, and carbonate successions record protracted continental rifting and passive-margin thermal subsidence followed by destruction of the margin during the early, middle, and late Paleozoic Appalachian orogenic cycles. Palinspastic restoration of deformed Paleozoic strata by a set of balanced cross sections resolves the structure, stratigraphy, and timing of Paleozoic tectonic events on the St. Lawrence promontory. Synrift and post-rift subsidence profiles, as well as abrupt along-strike variations in the age, thickness, facies, and the palinspastically restored extent of synrift and post-rift stratigraphy, indicate the St. Lawrence promontory was founded upon a low-angle detachment rift system. Upperplate margins, lower-plate margins, and transform faults that bound zones of oppositely dipping low-angle detachments are recognized along specific segments of the promontory. A detailed U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic detrital zircon study elucidates the identity of specific cratons conjugate to the St. Lawrence promontory in the pre-rift configuration of Rodinia. Approximately 510 zircons from 9 samples collected from basement and overlying Early Cambrian synrift rocks in Newfoundland were analyzed by LA-ICP-MS for U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic ratios. Synrift samples yielded ages ranging from 3605 Ma to 544 Ma with maximum age frequencies of 1000-1200 Ma (Grenville), 1350-1450 Ma (Pinware), and 2650-2800 Ma (Superior), while two basement samples yielded U-Pb ages of 1044 Ma and 1495 Ma. 177Hf/176Hf isotopic ratios of ca.1000 Ma, 1200 Ma, and 1400- 1600 Ma zircons from Newfoundland basement and synrift rocks are a close match to reported 177Hf/176Hf ratios for Baltican zircons of the same vintage, suggesting that Baltica was conjugate to the St. Lawrence promontory.

A numerical study aimed at investigating the conditions under which different flow regimes appear near coastal capes is presented. The impacts of the regimes are also quantified in terms of integral quantities like mixing, current transport and form drag. Idealized and realistic numerical simulations are run both in barotropically and baroclinically-driven systems. The realistic cases model the Western Adriatic Current (WAC) in the Adriatic Sea. In both cases, the turbulent state of the flow is controlled in first approximation by the Burger number, Bu. When a steady barotropic and geostrophic current impinges on a triangular idealized cape, vertical movements are strong for Bu < 0.1 and pronounced lee waves can be found downstream of the obstacle. For 0.1 less than or equal to Bu < 1, fluid parcels flow more around the obstacle than over it. Flow separation occurs and small tip eddies start to shed. For Bu greater than or equal to 1, tip eddies merge to form larger eddies in the lee of the cape. Flow regimes are also strongly dependent on the obstacle slope alpha when Bu greater than or equal to 1. Flow regime diagrams in the Bu-alpha space are determined. A baroclinic current as the WAC becomes unstable in absence of wind as it separates from the coast for the presence of capes along its path. Downwelling favorable winds narrow and thicken the coastal buoyant current, raising Bu above a critical value and suppressing baroclinic instabilities. Upwelling favorable winds enhance instabilities via the opposite mechanism. With downwelling winds waters mix but remain relatively fresh (S less than or equal to 38), while most of the freshwater signal is lost with upwelling winds. The along-shore transport increases with downwelling winds while it decreases and can even reverse with upwelling winds. The form drag calculated across the obstacles in the different simulations is at least twice the magnitude of skin friction. In barotropic conditions it increases with increasing Bu and decreasing alpha and an empirical parametrization in the Bu-alpha space is put forth. Across the Gargano Promontory, more symmetric pressure fields are observed with downwelling winds; the form drag decreases as a result. The opposite is registered with upwelling winds.

Overfishing of stock and decreasing biodiversity are grave concerns for the U.S. and the rest of the world. Understanding and applying spatial and temporal information of marine species’ reproductive ecology and critical life habitat is vital to the development of effective strategies for marine resource management. In the Caribbean, one of the critical science gaps hindering effective management is the lack of information on how environmental factors may make fish spawning aggregation (FSA) sites optimal for spawning. Understanding the patterns of seafloor characteristics of spawning aggregation sites is of great interest to managers who need a means to efficiently design marine protected areas to help rebuild regional fish stocks. The specific goals of the study were: (1) to map the seafloor at historically known grouper and snapper spawning aggregation sites in three different countries, and (2) to characterize quantitatively the geomorphology of the sites including horizontal and vertical curvature profiles of the reefs, bottom depth at spawning sites, distance between spawning sites and shelf-edges/reef promontory tips, and the shortest distance between the spawning sites and 100 m water depth. These data were field-collected with a GPS and single-beam eco-sounder that provided latitude/longitude and depth. The point data were interpolated to surfaces in GIS to determine slope, aspect, curvature, and distance from spawning sites and three-dimensional reef structures. This study revealed that all 12 known Nassau grouper spawning aggregation sites in Belize and 5 known sites in the Cayman Islands were located at convex-shaped seaward extending reefs (reef promontories) jutting into deep water, within 1 km of reef promontory tips. However, spawning aggregations did not always occur at the tips of reef promontories, though all were found along the shelf edges within 1 km of promontory tips. Sixteen sites were multi-species spawning sites. These general characteristics were used to predict an undiscovered multi-species spawning aggregation in Belize. A successful prediction in Belize, together with the compiled data from multiple sites indicate: 1) reef promontories are vital locations for transient reef fish spawning aggregations, and 2) this study provides a potential tool for prediction of unknown spawning sites in the Caribbean.

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / A zona costeira revela um ambiente complexo e vulnerÃvel comandado por processos naturais que atuam na manutenÃÃo do equilÃbrio dinÃmico. Tais fatores expressam uma paisagem com grande potencial produtivo, sendo espaÃo privilegiado para o desenvolvimento das atividades sociais, culturais e econÃmicas. Isso reflete na concentraÃÃo populacional, diversidade de usos e interesses socioeconÃmicos pelos sistemas ambientais e das formas de ocupaÃÃo, em grande parte contribuindo para o comprometimento da estrutura e funcionamento da paisagem. Esta pesquisa està direcionada para o estudo da planÃcie costeira do distrito de JacaÃna, municÃpio de Aquiraz/Ce. A Ãrea representa um recorte geomorfolÃgico situado na costa leste do estado do Cearà a 44 km da capital, inserido entre as latitudes 3 58â 4ââ S e 3 56â 6ââ S e longitudes 38 15â 4ââW e 38 18â 2ââW, totalizando uma Ãrea de 29,50 kmÂ. Por se tratar de um setor de promontÃrio, onde ocorre o mecanismo de by pass atua como importante regulador de areia para os sistemas ambientais pertencentes à planÃcie costeira do municÃpio. A utilizaÃÃo inadequada dessa Ãrea poderà incorrer em possÃveis riscos para a disponibilidade sedimentos e afetar os sistemas ambientais vinculados à prÃpria qualidade de vida das comunidades litorÃneas. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo principal foi analisar a evoluÃÃo da paisagem e suas implicaÃÃes socioambientais na configuraÃÃo atual, visando contribuir para a consolidaÃÃo de polÃticas pÃblicas sustentÃveis. Adotou-se a concepÃÃo integrada da paisagem fundamentada no mÃtodo sistÃmico, com Ãnfase para a anÃlise evolutivo-dinÃmica. Para tanto, foram realizados: levantamentos bibliogrÃficos e cartogrÃficos; anÃlise e integraÃÃo dos componentes geoambientais; mapeamento dos sistemas e interpretaÃÃo cartogrÃfica (1958, 1970 e 2009). Os resultados obtidos revelaram a ocorrÃncia de processos erosivos acentuados vinculados à aÃÃo natural dos processos costeiros, o que resultou na reduÃÃo significativa das Ãreas de praia/pÃs-praia. No ano de 2009, as intervenÃÃes humanas contribuÃram para acentuar esse quadro atravÃs de construÃÃes irregulares e manejo inadequado dos recursos naturais. As planÃcies lacustres, faixa de praia e os campos de dunas mÃveis destacaram-se como as unidades de paisagem mais afetadas. Essa conjuntura revela a necessidade de aÃÃes efetivas e participativas relacionadas ao monitoramento das atividades desenvolvidas e em desenvolvimento, assim como a valorizaÃÃo dos ambientes naturais. / The coastal area reveals a complex and vulnerable environment controlled by natural processes that act in maintaining the dynamic equilibrium. These factors express a landscape with large production potential, being privileged to the development of social, cultural and economic activities space. This reflects the population density, diversity of uses and socioeconomic interests in environmental systems and forms of occupation, largely contributing to the impairment of the structure and functioning of the landscape. This research is directed to the study of the coastal plain of JacaÃna district, municipality of Aquiraz / Ce.The area represents a geomorphological cut on the east coast of Cearà State to 44 km from the capital, inserted between latitudes 3  58 '4'' S and 3  56' 6 '' S and longitude 38  15 ' 4 ''W and 38  18 ' 2 '' W , totaling an area of 29.50 km Â. Because it is a sector of the promontory, where the mechanism occurs bypass acts as an important regulator of sand belonging to the coastal plain of the county environmental systems. The misuse of this area may incur potential risks to sediment availability and affect environmental systems linked to the very quality of life of coastal communities. In this perspective, the main objective was to analyze the evolution of the landscape and its environmental implications in the current configuration, aiming to contribute to the consolidation of sustainable public policies. Adopted the integrated approach based on the systemic method, with emphasis on the evolutionary - dynamic analysis landscape. To do so: bibliographic and cartographic surveys; analysis and integration of geo-environmental components; systems and cartographic mapping of interpretation (1958, 1970 and 2009) were performed. The results revealed the occurrence of sharp erosion linked to the natural action of coastal processes, which resulted in significant reduction of the areas of the beach / backshore. In 2009, human interventions helped to accentuate this framework through irregular constructions and improper management of natural resources. The stretch of beach and dunes fields stand out as the units most affected landscape. This scenario shows the need for effective and participatory actions related to monitoring of the activities and development as well as the appreciation of natural environments.

Following excavations in the Promontory Caves and at several open sites in the Provo River Delta region, Steward (1937) characterized the Promontory culture as large game hunters. He based this on the high number of bison bones recovered within the Caves. Excavations at additional Promontory sites along the Wasatch Front contain faunal assemblages which differ significantly from those in the caves, showing that people living at open sites relied more heavily on small game, waterfowl, and aquatic resources than large game. These differences have been mostly attributed to Steward's sampling strategy and lack of screening, but faunal material recovered during 2011 excavations at the caves support Steward's initial assessment: the people living in the caves were hunting large game and little else. Using faunal data from seven sites, I discuss how the faunal assemblages differ and the implications of hunting practices in discussions of Promontory culture.