No abstract

Post-depositional reworking of volcanic glass shards is a common problem in tephrochronological studies. Distinguishing between primary and reworked tephra is challenging, particularly in cryptotephra investigations that depend on identifying peaks of glass shard concentrations in sediment sequences rather than discrete macroscopic tephra layers. Here, we investigated macro- and cryptotephra in sediments of Lake Pupuke, New Zealand, to identify primary from reworked tephra and thus refine the record of tephra-fall events in the region over the last ca. 9 cal ka. Geochemical fingerprinting, stratigraphic correlation, 14C ages and X-ray fluorescence and magnetic susceptibility core scanning were employed to filter out reworked tephra and thus establish a new Holocene tephrochronological framework for the region. Five primary macrotephra layers and 18 primary cryptotephra were identified. Confidence levels are attached to the newly identified cryptotephra, and geochemical characterization of well-dated rhyolite tephra was used to establish an associated age model. Our results suggest that Holocene tephra fall from both local and distal volcanoes affected Auckland more frequently than previously documented, with a possible average frequency of at least once every 424 years. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the importance of identifying the extent of post-depositional reworking to establish the veracity of the cryptotephra record.Peer reviewe

No abstract

The Blue Economy is an emerging paradigm with the potential to foster balanced socio-economic development of the world’s oceans and coastal areas, but it requires an understanding of the stakeholder landscape at a national and at an international sea basin scale, so that we can model potential equitable and collaborative economic development. Applying a novel, mixed-method approach we collected, collated and analysed spatial and non-spatial stakeholder information from five countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal), that border the North East Atlantic sea basin. Through the development of Blue Economy stakeholder directory for the North East Atlantic area more than 600 local, regional, national and international (EU wide and global) stakeholders were analysed in terms of their Blue Economy alignment and to determine their respective enabling role (financier, service providers, research/innovators and regulators/policy makers). Results show 72% of the North East Atlantic sea basin stakeholders fail to recognise the socio-economic potential of the Blue Economy, regardless of the new policy instruments and a strategic focus from the European Commission. We also identify that public and research/academic institutions currently dominate the landscape of Blue Economy stakeholders; but note this is inconsistent, when compared with other economic sectors in maritime territories. Based on the results, we discuss the key challenges facing equitable growth of the Blue Economy in the North East Atlantic area.

No abstract