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Abstract: High-quality maritime wind-turbulence data obtained at exposed sites on the western coast of Norway during gale and stormy conditions are described. With a resolution of 1Hz, and a height range of 10–100m, the database is most suitable for describing the wind structure of the maritime boundary layer (MBL) with relevance for offshore compliant floating structures. The established description covers both static and dynamic wind, the latter with particular attention given to the low-frequency range 0.002–0.03Hz (0.5–10min). The relevance for and extrapolation to very strong wind speed design conditions has been emphasized. The static description of wind is found to be consistent with the Charnock relation reflecting the interaction between wind and waves. A most important conclusion is reached for the one-point wind speed spectrum. The low-frequency range (<0.01Hz) is significantly more energetic than indicated by land-based studies. Concerning correlations, it is noteworthy that coherence for lateral separation is significantly lower than indicated by some other studies. Coherence for vertical separation is on the low side but in reasonable agreement with these studies. The data does not support a low-frequency asymptote for coherence different from 1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Micronuclei (MN) were analyzed in erythrocytes of flounder (Platichthys flesus) and wrasse (Symphodus melops) and in gill cells of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). The organisms were collected from three study stations in the Baltic Sea and from seven stations in the North Sea (Karmsund area, Norway) 4 times. The statistically significant differences obtained were related to the season, sex of the fish, and sampling locality. Higher MN frequencies were found in fish and mussels collected from the most polluted study stations in the North Sea. The same tendency could be described in the Baltic Sea; however, it was masked by the recent oil spill from the Butinge oil terminal. Our results showing higher MN frequencies in presumably what were the most polluted study locations suggest that MN tests in fish and mussels may be used for the detection of genotoxic effects in a marine environment. The endpoint is well characterized and can be easily recognized, and the technique is convenient to use in field samplings following standard procedures and protocols., (Copyright 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)