Nile Crocodile Natural History Illustrations and Photographs

Summary: Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs depict strong-clawed, jawed, legged, sighted, tailed apex predators in 44 African countries.

Slow-swimming great white pelicans (Pelicanus onocrotalus) become Nile crocodile prey in the water: Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus); Omo River Valley, southern Ethiopia; Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, 16:06: Gianfranco Gori, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons

Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs assemble behavioral patterns, distribution ranges and physical appearances into an analytical, artistic arrangement of the life cycle of one of continental Africa's aggressive apex predators.

Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs broach big-bodied members of the Crocodylidae false gharial and true crocodile family of tropical Africa, America, Asia and Australia. Nile crocodiles convey frequent freshwater and infrequent brackish and saltwater habitat niches through their common name and through the scientific name Crocodylus niloticus ("Nile [River]] crocodile"). The genus name derives from the Greek designation κροκόδειλος (krokódeilos), from the words κρόκη (krókē, "pebble") and δρῖλος (drîlos, "worm"), perhaps to describe stone-loving, tube-like sunbathers.

Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs emphasize Nile crocodile endurance in, despite West African crocodile extirpation from, the Nile River extension southward through Upper Egypt.

The dry season months from August through January furnish Nile crocodile life cycles with nesting season months for fitting 50 to 80 eggs into nest holes.

Physically and sexually mature female Nile crocodiles go without general regimens of carrion and fish to get hard-shelled, 1.76- to 5.64-ounce (50- to 160-gram) eggs underground. Sand-filled holes hold eggs for 80 to 90 days, with temperatures above and below 87.8 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) respectively generating male- and female-gendered hatchlings. Stay-at-home 8.53-plus-foot- (2.6-plus-meter-) long mothers-to-be and 10.17-plus-foot- (3.1-plus-meter-) long fathers-to-be initiate independence when 10- to 12-inch- (25.4- to 30.48-centimeter-) hatchlings peep from 19.68-inch- (50-centimeter-) deep holes.

Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs sometimes juggle the one- to 24-month in-water and waterside journeys of parents and their one to two annual clutches.

Adults with gray-olive, yellow-bellied bodies and sub-adults with black-, cross-banded brown or green bodies keep to coastal estuaries; freshwater lakes, rivers and swamps; and mangrove swamps.

Seventy- to 100-year-old, 8.2- to 12.79-foot- (2.5- to 3.9-meter-) long, 500.45- to 661.39-pound (227- to 300-kilogram) female bodies look littler than same-aged male Nile crocodile bodies. Seventy- to 100-year-old male Nile crocodiles may manage 1,102.31- to 2,403.4-pound (500- to 1,090-kilogram) weights and measure 11.48 to 18.04 feet (3.5 to 5.5 meters) long. Adults need basking sites and cool waters for nudging body temperatures upward and downward; 164.04 (50-meter) territories from shorelines outward; and sheltered dens from inclement weather.

Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs observe 64- to 68-toothed dentitions: 2 side-projecting, 8 front-projecting, 26 to 28 upper-jaw and 28 to 30 lower-jaw teeth.

Nile crocodile hatchlings prove most vulnerable with egg-breaking, yolk-eating teeth and adults least, with crawl-, run-, walk-friendly clawed, splayed limbs; regrowable teeth; 30-minute swims; two-hour breath-holding.

Nile crocodiles queue up in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt and Equatorial Guinea. Populations likewise reside in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda and Senegal. Nile crocodile natural history illustrations and photographs show sustainable populations in Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature tags Nile crocodiles, taxonomized in 1768 by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti (Dec. 4, 1735-Feb. 17, 1805), as low-risk for extinction.

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) range: The Emirr/MapLab, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus); Omo River Valley, southern Ethiopia; Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010, 16:06: Gianfranco Gori, CC BY SA 4.0 International, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NileCrocodile--Etiopia-Omo-River-Valley-01.jpg

Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) range: The Emirr/MapLab, CC BY 3.0 Unported, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cypron-Range_Crocodylus_niloticus.svg

For further information:

Crocodile Specialist Group. 1996. "Crocodylus niloticus." The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996: e.T4690A11064465. http:dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T46590A11064465.en
Available @ http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/46590/0

Laurenti, Josephi Nicolai. 1768. "LXXXIII. Crocodylus nilotica." Specimen Medicum, Exhibens Synopsin Reptilium Emendatam cum Experimentis Circa Venena et Antidota Reptilium Austriacorum. Viennæ [Vienna, Austria]: Joan. Thomæ. Nob. de Trattnern [Ioannis Thomae nobilis de Trattnern; Johann Thomas von Trattnern).
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4210501
Available via Internet Archive @ https://archive.org/stream/specimenmedicume00laur#page/53/mode/1up
Available via Göttinger Digitalisierungszentrum @ https://gdz.sub.uni-goettingen.de/id/PPN362231184?tify={%22pages%22:[55],%22view%22:%22scan%22}

Whitaker III, Romulus Earl; and Nikhil Whitaker. "Nile Crocodile." In: Michael Hutchins, James B. Murphy and Neil Schlager, eds. Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Second edition. Volume 7, Reptiles: 186. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2003.

Bach Quadrangle Is the 15th of 15 Quadrangles of the Mercurian Surface

Summary: Bach Quadrangle is the 15th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface and covers Mercury's south polar area through 65 degrees south latitude.

Map of Bach Quadrangle shows half of south polar region hidden beyond the terminator, with notation, "area in darkness," during Mariner 10 robotic space probe's three flybys (March 29, 1974; Sept. 21, 1974; March 16, 1975); Geologic Map of the Bach Region of Mercury (1990) by Robert G. Strom, Michael C. Malin and Martha A. Leake, prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology Program, Planetary Division, Office of Space Science, National Aeronautics and Space Administration: via U.S. Geological Service's Publications Warehouse

Bach Quadrangle is the 15th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface, and its map covers the Swift Planet's southern polar region, from 65 degrees south latitude southward to the south pole.

As the 15th of Mercury's 15 quadrangles, Bach Quadrangle has the letter-number designation of H-15 or H15. H denotes Hermes, Greek mythology's equivalent of Roman mythology's Mercurius.

Bach Quadrangle's provisional name, Australia (Latin: australis, "southern" + -ia, noun-forming suffix) Albedo Province, designates albedo features on Mercury's surface. Greek French astronomer Eugène Michel Antoniadi (March 1, 1870-Feb. 10, 1944) mapped Mercury's albedo features in his guide, La Planète Mercure, published in 1934 and translated into English by English amateur astronomer Sir Patrick Moore (March 4, 1923-Dec. 9, 2012) in 1974 (figure 5, page 26). Antoniadi mapped Mercury's south polar region as darker, with lower reflectivity, than the high albedo of the planet's bright north polar region.

The names of Mercury's quadrangles conventionally derive from prominent local features. Bach Quadrangle's namesake is Bach Crater. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has devised the theme of names of historically significant artists, authors, musicians and painters for Mercury's craters. The crater's name, approved in 1976, honors Baroque period German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31 [Old Style: March 21], 1685-July 28, 1750).

Bach Crater is centered at minus 69.86 degrees south latitude, 103.01 degrees west longitude, according to the IAU's U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center-maintained Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater's northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 67.34 degrees south and minus 72.37 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes touch 95.68 degrees west and 110.32 degrees west, respectively. Bach Crater's diameter spans 214.29 kilometers.

Wagner Crater lies adjacently as Bach Crater's western neighbor. The crater's name, approved in 1976, honors German Romantic era composer-librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Wagner Crater is centered at minus 68.25 degrees south latitude, 114.78 degrees west longitude. The south polar crater registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 66.66 degrees south and minus 69.81 degrees south, respectively. It records easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 110.55 degrees west and 119 degrees west, respectively. Wagner Crater has a diameter of 134 kilometers.

Chao Meng-Fu Crater lies to the south of Bach Crater as the quadrangle's south pole-nudging crater. The crater's name, approved, honors Chinese Yuan Dynasty calligrapher and painter Chao Meng-fu (1254–1322).

In their article, "Near-Surface Ice on Mercury and the Moon: A Topographic Thermal Model," published in the October 1994 issue of Icarus, planetary geoscientists James R. Salvail and Fraser P. Fanale reported permanent shadowing of approximately 40 percent of Chao Meng-Fu Crater's floor. The rest of the crater's floor experiences periodic illumination from a "partially obscured" sun.

Chao Meng-Fu Crater is centered at minus 88.42 degrees south latitude, 156.36 degrees west longitude. The south pole-brushing crater posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 86.67 degrees south and minus 69.52 degrees south, respectively. It marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 0 degrees and 360 degrees west, respectively. Chao Meng-Fu Crater's diameter measures 140.73 kilometers.

In their Geologic Map of the Bach Region of Mercury, published in 1990, planetary scientists Robert J. Strom, Michael C. Malin and Martha A. Leake noted the moderate freshness of double-ringed Bach Crater and nearby double-ringed Bernini Crater. Both craters exhibit "extensive fields of secondary craters" that are "well-defined."

Bernini Crater lies to the southwest of Bach Crater. The crater's name, approved in 1976, honors Italian Baroque period architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Dec. 7, 1598-Nov. 28, 1680).

Bernini Crater is centered at minus 80.32 degrees south latitude, 140.97 degrees west longitude. The southern polar region crater obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 78.38 degrees south and minus 82.25 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 129.38 degrees west and 152.56 degrees west, respectively. Bernini Crater's diameter measures 168.13 kilometers.

The Mercurian south polar region's Bach Quadrangle shares its northern borders with four neighbors. Discovery Quadrangle (H-11) abuts Bach Quadrangle between 0 and 90 degrees west longitude. Michelangelo Quadrangle (H-12) neighbors between 90 and 180 degrees west longitude. Neruda Quadrangle (H-13) aligns with Bach Quadrangle's northern border between 180 and 270 degrees west longitude. Debussy Quadrangle (H-14) is contiguous between 270 and 360 degrees west longitude.

The takeaways for Bach Quadrangle as the 15th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface are that the south polar region's quadrangle derives its name from Bach Crater, which honors German Baroque composer Johan Sebastian Bach; that Bach Crater and nearby Bernini Crater, both double-ringed, are credited with an extensive system of secondary craters; that Chao Meng-Fu Crater claims closeness to Mercury's south pole; and that Discovery, Michelangelo, Neruda and Debussy quadrangles occur as Bach Quadrangle's northern neighbors.

Detail of Map of the H-15 (Bach) Quadrangle of Mercury shows the quadrangle's namesake, Bach Crater, lying to the south of south pole-nudging Chao Meng Fu Crater; credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/USGS: courtesy IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Map of Bach Quadrangle shows half of south polar region hidden beyond the terminator, with notation, "area in darkness," during Mariner 10 robotic space probe's three flybys (March 29, 1974; Sept. 21, 1974; March 16, 1975); Geologic Map of the Bach Region of Mercury (1990) by Robert G. Strom, Michael C. Malin and Martha A. Leake, prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology Program, Planetary Division, Office of Space Science, National Aeronautics and Space Administration: via U.S. Geological Service's Publications Warehouse @ https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/i2015; via USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Astropedia Web Portal @ https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mercury/Geology/Mercury-Geologic-Map-of-the-Bach-Region

Detail of Map of the H-15 (Bach) Quadrangle of Mercury shows the quadrangle's namesake, Bach Crater, lying to the south of south pole-nudging Chao Meng Fu Crater; credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/USGS: courtesy IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/H-15.pdf

For further information:

Antoniadi, E.M. (Eugène Michel). La Planète Mercure et la Rotation des Satellites. Paris, France: Gauthier-Villars, 1934.

Chabot, Nancy L.; Evangela E. Shread; and John K. Harmon. "Investigating Mercury's South Polar Deposits: Arecibo Radar Observations and High-Resolution Determination of Illumination Conditions." Journal of Geophysical Research JGR: Planets, vol. 123, issue 2 (February 2018): 666-681.
Available @ https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2017JE005500

Davies, Merton E.; Stephen E. Dwornik; Donald E. Gault; and Robert G. Strom. Atlas of Mercury. Special Publication SP-423. Prepared for the Office of Space Sciences. Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Office, 1978.
Available @ https://history.nasa.gov/SP-423/

Davies, Merton E.; Stephen E. Dwornik; Donald E. Gault; and Robert G. Strom. "H-15 Bach Area." Atlas of Mercury: 116-121. Special Publication SP-423. Prepared for the Office of Space Sciences. Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Office, 1978.
Available @ https://history.nasa.gov/SP-423/h15.htm

Denevi, Brett W., Carolyn M. Ernst; Louise M. Prockter; and Mark S. Robinson. "Chapter 6: The Geologic History of Mercury." Pages 144-175. In Sean C. Solomon; Larry R. Nittler; and Brian J. Anderson, eds., Mercury: The View After MESSENGER. Cambridge Planetary Science. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Available via Google Books @ https://books.google.com/books?id=4o92DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144

Harcke, L. J. (Leif J.); H.A. (Howard A.) Zebker; R.F. (Raymond F.) Jurgens; and M.A. (Martin A.) Slade. "Radar Imaging of Mercury's North and South Poles at 3.5 cm Wavelength." Workshop on Mercury: Space Environment, Surface, and Interior: 36. Proceedings of a workshop held at The Field Museum, 4-5 October, 2001, Chicago, IL.
Available @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/mercury01/pdf/8032.pdf

Harmon, J. K. (John K.); M. A. (Martin A.) Slade; R.A. Vélez; A. Crespo; M. J. Dryer; and J. M. Johnson. "Radar Mapping of Mercury's Polar Anomalies." Nature, vol. 369, issue 6477 (May 19, 1994): 213-215.
Available @ https://www.nature.com/articles/369213a0

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Bach.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated March 7, 2011.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/537

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Bernini.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated March 7, 2011.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/708

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Surface Feature Categories.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Chao Meng-Fu.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated Oct. 21, 2013.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1140

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Coordinate Systems for Planets and Satellites.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Target Coordinate Systems.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/TargetCoordinates

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Descriptor Terms (Feature Types).” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Descriptor Terms.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Target: Mercury.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MERCURY/target

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Wagner.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated Oct. 14, 2016.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6470

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA14339: Toc-crater and Fugue." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2011-06-15.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14339

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA14388: Behold Bernini!" NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA14338

Lunar and Planetary Institute. "Mercury Map Catalog." Lunar and Planetary Institute > Resources.
Available @ https://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mercury_maps/

Marriner, Derdriu. "Beethoven Quadrangle Is Seventh of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 5, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/beethoven-quadrangle-is-seventh-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Borealis Quadrangle Is First of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/borealis-quadrangle-is-first-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Debussy Quadrangle Is 14th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/08/debussy-quadrangle-is-14th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Derain Quadrangle Is Tenth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 26, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/derain-quadrangle-is-tenth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Discovery Quadrangle Is 11th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/04/discovery-quadrangle-is-11th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Eminescu Quadrangle Is Ninth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/eminescu-quadrangle-is-ninth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Hokusai Quadrangle Is Fifth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/hokusai-quadrangle-is-fifth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Kuiper Quadrangle Is Sixth of 15 Quadrangles of the Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/kuiper-quadrangle-is-sixth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Michelangelo Quadrangle Is 12th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, July 2, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/07/michelangelo-quadrangle-is-12th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Neruda Quadrangle Is 13th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/08/neruda-quadrangle-is-13th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Raditladi Quadrangle Is Fourth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/raditladi-quadrangle-is-fourth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Shakespeare Quadrangle Is Third of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/shakespeare-quadrangle-is-third-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Tolstoj Quadrangle Is Eighth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 12, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/tolstoj-quadrangle-is-eighth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Victoria Quadrangle is Second of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/victoria-quadrangle-is-second-of-15.html

Rothery, David A. Planet Mercury: From Pale Pink Dot to Dynamic World. Springer Praxis Books. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, Nov. 28, 2014.
Available via Google Books @ https://books.google.com/books?id=ky1gBQAAQBAJ

Salvail, James; and Fraser P. Fanale. "Near-Surface Ice on Mercury and the Moon: A Topographic Thermal Model." Icarus, vol. 111, issue 2 (October 1994): 441-455. doi:10.1006/icar.1994.1155.
Available via ScienceDirect @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103584711559

Strom, Robert G.; Michael C. Malin; and Martha A. Leake. Geologic Map of the Bach Region of Mercury. IMAP 2015 H-15. Atlas of Mercury 1:5,000,000 Geologic Series. Prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology Program, Planetary Division, Office of Space Science, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Reston VA: U.S. Geological Survey, Dec. 29, 1990.
Available via USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Astropedia Web Portal @ https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mercury/Geology/Mercury-Geologic-Map-of-the-Bach-Region
Available via USGS Publications Warehouse @ https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/i2015

Talbert, Tricia, ed. "A View of Mercury From Afar." NASA > Galleries > Image Galleries. June 14, 2013. Last updated Aug. 7, 2017.
Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_2531.html

U.S. Geological Survey. Shaded Relief Map of the Bach Area of Mercury (Australia Albedo Province). IMAP 959 H-15. Atlas of Mercury 1:5,000,000 Topographic Series. Prepared on behalf of the Planetology Programs Office, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Reston VA: U.S. Geological Survey, 1976.
Available via USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Astropedia Web Portal @ https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mercury/Topography/Mercury-Shaded-Relief-Map-of-the-Bach-Area
Available via USGS Publications Warehouse @ https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/i959

Little Dragon Russian Tarragon Botanical Illustrations and Photographs

Summary: Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs give a wild-growing plant that goes mildly into fish and poultry dishes, salads, soups and teas.

Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. inodora) is not as flavorful as its French cousin (A. dracunculus var. sativa) but its appearance is just as lovely in cut flower displays: Stefano Manfredi @manfredistefano, via Twitter April 22, 2012

Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs allude to aesthetic arrangements of adaptable, adventurous roots and shoots that adjust to cold and heat and to downpours and droughts in America, Asia and Europe.

Russian botanical illustrations and photographs broach bushy perennials that, unlike flavorful, form-fitting, fragrant French tarragon, never balk at bearing annually fertile flowers and yearly viable seeds. Tarragon convokes the scientific classification of Carl Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-Jan. 10, 1778) in 1753 and, for Russian tarragon, the scientific name Artemisia dracunculus var. inodora. The scientific name describes Greece's divine huntress Artemis or southwest Turkey's botanist Artemisia II (died 351/350 B.C.?) developing non-odoriferous defenses against dragons, snakes and venomous bites.

The ancient theory of signatures equated plant forms and functions and explained coiled, reptile-like roots as tarragon expelling dragons and snakes and extracting venom from bites.

Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs follow eight- to 10-year life cycles from spring, summer and fall leafing; through summer and fall flowering; to fall seeding.

The bushy, flowering herbaceous perennial grows from spring through fall to 24- to 60-inch (60.96- to 152.4-centimeter) heights and 18- to 24-plus-inch (45.72- to 60.96-plus-centimeter) spreads. Balled, coiled, leafing, rooting, underground stem-like rhizomes ("root-like") hold Russian tarragon's above-ground stems upright in dry or moist, loamy or sandy, nutrient-rich or poor, well-drained soils. The erect, yellow-brown stems include deciduous, narrow, 1.18- to 3.15-inch- (3- to 8-centimeter-) long, 0.079- to 0.158-inch- (2- to 4-millimeter-) wide notched upper, spear-shaped lower leaves.

Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs jumble April- to October-leafing foliage with June- to August- and August- to September-flowering inflorescences (stalked floral clusters) and October-fruiting achenes.

The Asteraceae aster, composite, dairy and sunflower family member hermaphroditically keeps pollen-bearing stamens as male, and seed-bearing pistils as female, parts on all Russian tarragon varieties.

Each 5.91- to 17.72-inch- (15- to 45-centimeter-) long, 2.36- to 11.81-inch- (6- to 30-centimeter-) wide cluster lounges along or atop a main 0.59-inch- (1.5-centimeter-) long stalk. Basal, brownish, hairy, lance-shaped, leaf-like, membranous, 0.079- to 0.118-inch- (2- to 3-millimeter-) long, 0.118- to 0.138-inch- (3- to 3.5-millimeter-) wide bracts maintain every cluster's stalked florets. Every floret needs 6 to 25 pistils, with ovule- (egg-) making ovaries, pollen-receiving stigmas and tubular styles; and 8 to 20 stamens, with anthers and filaments.

Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs offer yellow, 0.071- to 0.079-inch (1.8- to -millimeter) corollas, as the innermost petals, on every cluster's 0.024-inch- (0.6-millimeter-) long florets.

Ever-fertile hermaphroditic flowers precede ever-viable fruits presented botanically as brownish, dry, fall-produced, non-explosive, non-hairy, single-seeded, spring-plantable, tuftless, 0.019- to 0.032-inch (0.5- to 0.8-millimeter) achenes or cypselae.

Russian tarragon queues up reproduction means of deliberate 3.94- to 4.72-inch- (10- to 12-centimeter-) long stem-cuttings and of deliberately and naturally rootable roots and sowable seeds. Successful reproduction requires well-drained soils at 1,640.42- to 9,842.52-foot (500- to 3,000-meter) altitudes above sea level since drought- and frost-tolerant Russian tarragon rarely resists root rot. Sustainability suggests afternoon shade, early-morning harvests, morning sun, spring cuttings and sowings, well-drained soils and winter-lowest temperatures above minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius).

Russian tarragon botanical illustrations and photographs treat a tenuous-tasting herb for fish, poultry, salads and soups and a wild-looking plant for bed, box and container gardening.

Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus grows as a more robust, taller plant than French tarragon (A. dracunculus var. sativa): Mrs B @welldone99, via Twitter Oct. 26, 2012

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. inodora) is not as flavorful as its French cousin (A. dracunculus var. sativa) but its appearance is just as lovely in cut flower displays: Stefano Manfredi @manfredistefano, via Twitter April 22, 2012,

Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus grows as a more robust, taller plant than French tarragon (A. dracunculus var. sativa): Mrs B @welldone99, via Twitter Oct. 26, 2012, @ https://twitter.com/welldone99/status/262046989376708608

For further information:

"Artemisia dracunculus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 849. 1753." In: Flora of North America: North of Mexico. Flora of North America Editorial Committee, ed. Volumes 19, 20 and 21. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
Available @ http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023201

Besser, W.S. (Wilibert Swibert Joseph Gottlieb von). 1835. "Dracunculi, Seu de Sectione Quarta et Ultima Artemisiarum Linnaei: [22. Dracunculus] β. inodora (Bess. Monogr. inedit.) et fere insipida." Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou, tome VIII: 55-57. Moscou [Moscow], Russia: Imprimérie de l'Université Impériale.
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ 40279517

Cherry @KilcoanGardens. 22 April 2013. "Photo of russian tarragon in jug #britishflowers." Twitter.
Available @ https://twitter.com/KilcoanGardens/status/326422792423755776

Elise @elise4671. 17 April 2014. "#2: Potted Plants: Herbs. Tarragon Russian. 1 Litre Pot Size." Twitter.
Available @ https://twitter.com/elise4671/status/456759325461970945

Linnaei, Caroli (Carl Linnaeus). 1753. "16. Artemisia dracunculus." Species Plantarum, vol. II: 849. Holmiae [Stockholm, Sweden]: Laurentii Salvii [Laurentius Salvius].
Available via Biodiversity Heritage Library @ https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358870#page/291/mode/1up

Lust, John. 2014. The Herb Book. Mineola NY: Dover Publications.

Mrs B @welldone99. 26 October 2012. "So disappointed, thought I had planted a seedling of french tarragon and it grew up to be russian!" Twitter.
Available @ https://twitter.com/welldone99/status/262046989376708608

Stefano Manfredi @manfredistefano. 22 April 2012. "Russian tarragon flowers make a stunning display." Twitter.
Available @ https://twitter.com/manfredistefano/status/193964082032939008

Ortiz, Elisabeth Lambert. 1992. The Encyclopedia of Herbs, Spices, & Flavorings. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley.

Debussy Quadrangle Is 14th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface

Summary: Debussy Quadrangle is the 14th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface and covers middle latitudes longitudinally from 270 to 360 degrees.

Lying southeast of bright Kuiper Crater (center), then-unnamed Debussy Crater (lower right) dominates Mercurian surface near southeastern limb in image obtained by Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS), at spacecraft altitude of 27,000 kilometers (17,000 miles), during MESSENGER's second Mercury flyby, Oct. 7, 2008; image addition date 2008-10-07; image credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington: May be used for any purpose without prior permission, via NASA-JPL Photojournal

Debussy Quadrangle is the 14th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface, and its map covers the Swift Planet's middle latitudes of 21 degrees south to 66 degrees south latitude, from 270 to 360 degrees west longitude.

As the 14th of Mercury's 15 quadrangles, Neruda Quadrangle has the letter-number designation of H-14 or H14. H references Hermes, Greek mythology's equivalent of Roman mythology's Mercurius.

Debussy Quadrangle's provisional name, Cyllene, references a light region on Mercury's surface. Greek French astronomer Eugène Michel Antoniadi (March 1, 1870-Feb. 10, 1944) placed Cyllene in the southern hemisphere's low-to-middle latitudess, between 20 and 50 degrees south latitude, on the map of Mercury's albedo features in his guide, La Planète Mercure, published in 1934 and translated into English by English amateur astronomer Sir Patrick Moore (March 4, 1923-Dec. 9, 2012) in 1974 (figure 5, page 26). Cyllene references Mount Kyllini, or Mount Cyllene (Ancient Greek: Κυλλήνη), where Hermes was born in a sacred cave.

Prominent local features conventionally inspire the names of Mercury's quadrangles. Debussy Quadrangle's namesake is Debussy Crater. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) draws upon names of historically significant artists, authors, musicians and painters for Mercury's craters. The crater's name, approved Mar 3, 2010, honors Claude Debussy (born Achille-Claude Debussy; Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918).

Debussy Crater is centered at minus 33.95 degrees south latitude, 347.46 degrees west longitude, according to the IAU's U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Science Center-maintained Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature. The southern hemisphere crater registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 33 degrees south and minus 34.9 degrees south, respectively. It records easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 346.31 degrees west and 348.61 degrees west, respectively. Debussy Crater has a diameter of 81 kilometers.

Debussy Crater resides in northwestern Debussy Quadrangle. During MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging) robotic space probe's Mercury flyby of Oct. 6, 2008, the Mercury Dual Imaging System's (MDIS) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) obtained a close, detailed image of the ". . . bright crater with an extensive system of impact ejecta rays . . ." from a spacecraft altitude of 20,600 kilometers (12,800 miles), according to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL) online Photojournal post, "'A' Spectacular Rayed Crater," on Oct. 20, 2008. The NASA field center's post noted that California's Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex (GDSCC), known commonly as Goldstone Observatory, detected feature A (Debussy Crater's unofficial name) in 1969 as a "bright feature" in radar images at the 12.5-centimeter wavelength. Later images obtained by the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), known as Arecibo Observatory, in northern coastal Puerto Rico revealed feature A as a crater with a fresh rayed, roughly surfaced system.

Debussy Crater's nearest named northern neighbor, Aneirin Crater, lies to the northwest, near the quadrangle's northwestern edge. Western Aneirin Crater extends into the northeastern corner of Debussy Quadrangle's western neighbor, Discovery Quadrangle. Aneirin Crater's name, approved Jun 23, 2014, honors medieval Brythonic (British Celtic) war poet Aneirin, who flourished in the sixth century CE.

Aneirin Crater is centered at minus 27.47 degrees south latitude, 2.68 degrees west longitude. The southern hemisphere crater obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 22.59 degrees south and minus 32.34 degrees south, respectively. It finds its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 356.51 degrees west and 8.85 degrees west, respectively. Aneirin Crater's diameter spans 467 kilometers.

Debussy Crater's nearest named southern neighbor, Joplin Crater, lies to the southeast. The crater's name, approved Dec 19, 2012, honors the King of Ragtime, American composer and pianist Scott Joplin (Nov. 24, 1868-April 1, 1917).

Joplin Crater is centered at minus 38.56 degrees south latitude, 334.49 degrees west longitude. The southern hemisphere crater posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 37 and minus 40.12 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes are met at 332.41 degrees west and 336.57 degrees west, respectively. Joplin Crater's diameter measures 139 kilometers.

Debussy Quadrangle shares borders with five neighbors. Eminescu (H-9 ) and Derain (H-10) neighbor along Debussy Quadrangle's northern border. Neruda Quadrangle (H-13) shares Debussy Quadrangle's eastern border. The southern polar region's Bach Quadrangle neighbors to the south of Debussy Quadrangle. Discovery Quadrangle (H-11) abuts Debussy Quadrangle's western border.

The takeaways for Debussy Quadrangle as the 14th of 15 quadrangles of the Mercurian surface are that the southern middle-latitude quadrangle's namesake, Debussy Crater, honors French composer Claude Debussy; that Debussy Crater's brightly rayed system dominates northwestern Debussy Quadrangle; and that the quadrangle's five neighbors comprise Eminescu and Derain quadrangles to the north, Neruda Quadrangle to the east, Bach Quadrangle to the south and Discovery Quadrangle to the west.

Detail of Map of the H-14 (Debussy) Quadrangle of Mercury shows the quadrangle's namesake, Debussy Crater, with Aneirin and Joplin as nearest named northwestern and southeastern neighbors, respectively; credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/USGS: courtesy IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Lying southeast of bright Kuiper Crater (center), then-unnamed Debussy Crater (lower right) dominates Mercurian surface near southeastern limb in image obtained by Wide Angle Camera (WAC) of Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS), at spacecraft altitude of 27,000 kilometers (17,000 miles), during MESSENGER's second Mercury flyby, Oct. 7, 2008; image addition date 2008-10-07; image credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington: May be used for any purpose without prior permission, via NASA-JPL Photojournal @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11245; Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CW0131775256F_Kuiper_Crater.png; via The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging) @ https://messenger.jhuapl.edu/Explore/Science-Images-Database/gallery-image-214.html

Detail of Map of the H-14 (Debussy) Quadrangle of Mercury shows the quadrangle's namesake, Debussy Crater, with Aneirin and Joplin as nearest named northwestern and southeastern neighbors, respectively; credit NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington/USGS: courtesy IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/H-14.pdf

For further information:

Antoniadi, E.M. (Eugène Michel). La Planète Mercure et la Rotation des Satellites. Paris, France: Gauthier-Villars, 1934.

Davies, Merton E.; Stephen E. Dwornik; Donald E. Gault; and Robert G. Strom. Atlas of Mercury. Special Publication SP-423. Prepared for the Office of Space Sciences. Washington DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration Scientific and Technical Information Office, 1978.
Available @ https://history.nasa.gov/SP-423/

Denevi, Brett W., Carolyn M. Ernst; Louise M. Prockter; and Mark S. Robinson. "Chapter 6: The Geologic History of Mercury." Pages 144-175. In Sean C. Solomon; Larry R. Nittler; and Brian J. Anderson, eds., Mercury: The View After MESSENGER. Cambridge Planetary Science. Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press, 2018.
Available via Google Books @ https://books.google.com/books?id=4o92DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144

Harmon, John K.; Martin A. Slade; Bryan J. Butler; James W. Head; Melissa S. Rice; and Donald B. Campbell. "Mercury: Radar Images of the Equatorial and Midlatitude Zones." Icarus, vol. 187, issue 2 (April 2007): 374–405. DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2006.09.026
Available via ScienceDirect @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103506003599?via%3Dihub

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Aneirin.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated Oct. 7, 2016.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/15244

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Surface Feature Categories.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/Categories

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Coordinate Systems for Planets and Satellites.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Target Coordinate Systems.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/TargetCoordinates

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Debussy.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated Oct. 11, 2016.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14647

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Descriptor Terms (Feature Types).” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Documentation > Descriptor Terms.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/DescriptorTerms

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Joplin.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury. Last updated Oct. 11, 2016.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/15081

International Astronomical Union (IAU) / U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. “Target: Mercury.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature > Nomenclature > Mercury.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Page/MERCURY/target

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA11245: Mercury as Never Seen Before." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2008-10-07.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11245

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA11371: 'A' Spectacular Rayed Crater." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2008-10-20.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA11371

Marriner, Derdriu. "Beethoven Quadrangle Is Seventh of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 5, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/beethoven-quadrangle-is-seventh-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Borealis Quadrangle Is First of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/borealis-quadrangle-is-first-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Derain Quadrangle Is Tenth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 26, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/derain-quadrangle-is-tenth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Discovery Quadrangle Is 11th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 30, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/04/discovery-quadrangle-is-11th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Eminescu Quadrangle Is Ninth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 19, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/eminescu-quadrangle-is-ninth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Hokusai Quadrangle Is Fifth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/hokusai-quadrangle-is-fifth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Kuiper Quadrangle Is Sixth of 15 Quadrangles of the Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/kuiper-quadrangle-is-sixth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Michelangelo Quadrangle Is 12th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, July 2, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/07/michelangelo-quadrangle-is-12th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Neruda Quadrangle Is 13th of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/08/neruda-quadrangle-is-13th-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Raditladi Quadrangle Is Fourth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/raditladi-quadrangle-is-fourth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Shakespeare Quadrangle Is Third of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/shakespeare-quadrangle-is-third-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Tolstoj Quadrangle Is Eighth of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 12, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/03/tolstoj-quadrangle-is-eighth-of-15.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Victoria Quadrangle is Second of 15 Quadrangles of Mercurian Surface." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/01/victoria-quadrangle-is-second-of-15.html

NASA Content Administrator. "Exploring the Rays of Debussy." NASA > Mission Pages > MESSENGER > Multimedia. March 30, 2011. Last updated July 18, 2018.
Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/multimedia/mercury_orbit_image3.html

NASA Content Administrator. "First Image Ever Obtained from Mercury Orbit." NASA. March 29, 2011. Last updated Aug. 7, 2017.
Available @ https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/messenger/multimedia/mercury_orbit_image.html

Flood Tolerant Trees in Worst-Case Floodplain and Urbanized Scenarios

Summary: Jeffrey Dawson of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign sees flood tolerant trees as survivors of worst-case floodplain and urbanized scenarios.

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Baldcypresses (Taxodium distichum) are renowned for their flood tolerant capabilities; baldcypress (right foreground), Wacissa River, south central Jefferson County, eastern Panhandle, Florida; Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, 04:42: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Flood tolerant trees address floodwater impacts of eroded banks, excess sediment and fertilizer and pesticide surface runoff, according to Flood-Tolerant Trees in the Urban Sphere in the August 2014 Arborist News issue.

Jeffrey Dawson of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign bares pivotal wetland tree roles in sequestering carbon, shading oxygenated waters and yielding timber undamaged by floodwaters. Riparian, wetland communities genetically tolerating, or not, inundated, saturated soils correlate with hydric wet bottomlands, floodplains and swamps or with mesic moist and xeric dry uplands. Upland trees demand efficient, oxygen-rich aerobic root respiration and display chlorosis-yellowed leaves, crown dieback, defoliation, epicormic trunk-anchored sprouts, stunted shoots and undersized leaves when spring flood-stressed.

Flood-induced baldcypress knees, Shumard oak buttresses and tag alder adventitious water roots effectuate anchorage and diffusion of carbon dioxide from, and oxygen into, intracellular air spaces.

Annual spring floods always float large seed crops produced and released by flood tolerant temperate floodplain trees whereas flood-stressed species furnish large crops after brief flooding. They give "new soil substrates," deposited by floodwaters, and sand bars dense, "even-aged stands" of cottonwood, elm, green ash, river birch, silver maple, sycamore and willow.

Baldcypress, black willow, larch, pumpkin ash, water elm and water tupelo have strong survival rates in anaerobic (oxygen-poor), clayey, compacted, floodwater-deposited, gas exchange-impervious or waterlogged soils. Alders, boxelder, green ash, hawthorns, honeylocust, persimmon, pin oak, red maple, river birch, silver maple, sweetgum, sycamore, water hickory and water locust indicate second highest tolerances.

Black walnut, blackgum, eastern cottonwood, hackberry, hickory (pignut, shellbark), northern catalpa, oak (bur, cherrybark, Shumard, swamp chestnut, willow), pecan, red mulberry and sugarberry juggle weak tolerances.

Protective fencing keeps pedestrian and vehicular traffic out of the area from the trunk to the drip line formed by the tips of the longest branches. It lets limited oxygen diffuse sufficiently to support "active, metabolic uptake of mineral nutrients" by fine roots in the top 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) of soil.

Tree wells likewise minimize nutrient deprivation and oxygen starvation by maximizing oxygen diffusion to weaken compaction and flood tolerant tree roots not buried by grade changes.

Avoidance sometimes needs to be the policy and the practice regarding the interaction of floodplain and upland trees with urban water systems and with water bodies. Capillary rise of negative- and positive-bonded water molecules occurs above water tables elevated by long-term flooding or by new reservoirs and offers upland trees fatal consequences.

Strongly compaction and flood tolerant trees such as willows prevent fertilizer, pesticide and silt runoff down, and provide stability to, lake, reservoir, river and stream banks. At the same time, they quicken the failure rates of dams, dikes and levees by creating root channels that ultimately qualify as conduits of leaking water.

Cottonwood, sycamore and willow tree roots relish "low-oxygen, water-saturated" soils near, and "nutrient-rich" wet sewage within, clay tile sewer lines whose seals break with gradual settling.

Sewer line invasions surface less in epoxy-sealed plastic pipes than in clay tiles oakum-caulked with "strands of hemp rope soaked in tar" to make waterproof seals.

American beech, black and northern red oaks, and shagbark hickory transplant to aerated, drained, upland-like soils while their tougher floodplain neighbors take on worst-case urbanized scenarios.

In "Flood-Tolerant Trees in the Urban Sphere," Jeffrey Dawson identifies silver maples (Acer saccharinum) as moderately flood-tolerant; floodplain forest dominated by silver maples, Mississippi River floodplain: Steven Katovich/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to:
talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet;
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for superior on-campus and on-line resources.

Image credits:

baldcypress (Taxodium distichum), Wacissa River, south central Jefferson County, eastern Panhandle, Florida; Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011, 04:42: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CC BY 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baldcypress_on_the_Wacissa_River,_Florida.jpg

floodplain forest dominated by silver maples (Acer saccharinum), Mississippi River floodplain: Steven Katovich/USDA Forest Service/Bugwood.org, CC BY 3.0 United States, via Forestry Images @ http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5468265

For further information:

Dawson, Jeffrey. August 2014. "Flood-Tolerant Trees in the Urban Sphere." Arborist News 23(4): 12-18.
Available @ http://viewer.epaperflip.com/Viewer.aspx?docid=196db40b-5077-488d-bf6d-a3710095f0e0#?page=12

Gilman, Ed. 2011. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning. Third Edition. Boston MA: Cengage.

Hayes, Ed. 2001. Evaluating Tree Defects. Revised, Special Edition. Rochester MN: Safe Trees.

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 June 2014. “Integrated Vegetation Management of Plants in Utility Rights-of-Way.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/06/integrated-vegetation-management-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 April 2014. “Tree Twig Identification: Buds, Bundle Scars, Leaf Drops, Leaf Scars.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/04/tree-twig-identification-buds-bundle.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 February 2014. “Tree Twig Anatomy: Ecosystem Stress, Growth Rates, Winter Identification.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2014/02/tree-twig-anatomy-ecosystem-stress.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 December 2013. “Community and Tree Safety Awareness During Line- and Road-Clearances.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/12/community-and-tree-safety-awareness.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2013. “Chain-Saw Gear and Tree Work Related Personal Protective Equipment.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/chain-saw-gear-and-tree-work-related.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 October 2013. “Storm Damaged Tree Clearances: Matched Teamwork of People to Equipment.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/10/storm-damaged-tree-clearances-matched.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 17 August 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Damage Assessments: Pre-Storm Planned Preparedness.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/08/storm-induced-tree-damage-assessments.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 June 2013. “Storm Induced Tree Failures From Heavy Tree Weights and Weather Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/06/storm-induced-tree-failures-from-heavy.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 April 2013. “Urban Tree Root Management Concerns: Defects, Digs, Dirt, Disturbance.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/04/urban-tree-root-management-concerns.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 February 2013. “Tree Friendly Beneficial Soil Microbes: Inoculations and Occurrences.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2013/02/tree-friendly-beneficial-soil-microbes.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 December 2012. “Healthy Urban Tree Root Crown Balances: Soil Properties, Soil Volumes.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/12/healthy-urban-tree-root-crown-balances.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 October 2012. “Tree Adaptive Growth: Tree Risk Assessment of Tree Failure, Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/10/tree-adaptive-growth-tree-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 August 2012. “Tree Risk Assessment Mitigation Reports: Tree Removal, Tree Retention?” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/08/tree-risk-assessment-mitigation-reports.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 16 June 2012. “Internally Stressed, Response Growing, Wind Loaded Tree Strength.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/06/internally-stressed-response-growing.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 14 April 2012. “Three Tree Risk Assessment Levels: Limited Visual, Basic and Advanced.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/04/three-tree-risk-assessment-levels.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 19 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Risk Ratings for Targets and Trees.” Earth and Space News. Sunday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment-risk.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 18 February 2012. “Qualitative Tree Risk Assessment: Falling Trees Impacting Targets.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2012/02/qualitative-tree-risk-assessment.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 10 December 2011. “Tree Risk Assessment: Tree Failures From Defects and From Wind Loads.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/12/tree-risk-assessment-tree-failures-from.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 15 October 2011. “Five Tree Felling Plan Steps for Successful Removals and Worker Safety.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/10/five-tree-felling-plan-steps-for.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 13 August 2011. “Natives and Non-Natives as Successfully Urbanized Plant Species.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/08/natives-and-non-natives-as-successfully.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 June 2011. “Tree Ring Patterns for Ecosystem Ages, Dates, Health and Stress.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/06/tree-ring-patterns-for-ecosystem-ages.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 9 April 2011. “Benignly Ugly Tree Disorders: Oak Galls, Powdery Mildew, Sooty Mold, Tar Spot.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/04/benignly-ugly-tree-disorders-oak-galls.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 12 February 2011. “Tree Load Can Turn Tree Health Into Tree Failure or Tree Fatigue.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/tree-load-can-turn-tree-health-into.html

Marriner, Derdriu. 11 December 2010. “Tree Electrical Safety Knowledge, Precautions, Risks and Standards.” Earth and Space News. Saturday.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2010/12/tree-electrical-safety-knowledge.html