Annual and interannual variations of the Western Pacific Warm Pool volume and sources of warm water revealed by Argo data

Based on gridded Argo profile data from January 2004 to December 2010, together with the P-vector inverse method, the three-dimensional structure, annual and inter-annual variations in volume of the Western Pacific Warm Pool(WPWP) are studied. The variations of latitudinal and longitudinal warm water flowing into and out of the WPWP and the probable mechanism of warm water maintenance are also discussed. From the surface to the bottom, climatic WPWP tilts southward and its area decreases. The maximum depth could extend to 120 m, such that its volume could attain 1.86×1015 m3. Annual variation of the WPWP volume shows two obvious peaks that occur in June and October, whereas its inter-annual variations are related to ENSO events. Based on a climatic perspective, the warm water flowing latitudinally into the pool is about 52 Sv, which is mainly through upper layers and via the eastern boundary. Latitudinally, warm water flowing outward is about 49 Sv, and this is mainly through lower layers and via the western boundary. In contrast, along the latitude, warm water flowing into and out of the pool is about 28 Sv and 23 Sv, respectively. Annual and inter-annual variations of the net transportation of the warm water demonstrate that the WPWP mainly loses warm water in the west-east direction, whereas it receives warm water from the north-south direction. The annual variation of the volume of WPWP is highly related to the annual variation of the net warm water transportation, however, they are not closely related on inter-annual time scale. On the inter-annual time scale, influences of ENSO events on the net warm water transportation in the north-south direction are much more than that in the west-east direction. Although there are some limitations and simplifications when using the P-vector method, it could still help improve our understanding of the WPWP, especially regarding the sources of the warm water.     

Evaluating the hydrological and hydrochemical responses of a High Arctic catchment during an exceptionally warm summer

The Arctic has experienced substantial warming during the past century with models projecting continued warming accompanied by increases in summer precipitation for most regions. A key impact of increasing air surface temperatures is the deepening of the active layer, which is expected to alter hydrological processes and pathways. The aim of this study was to determine how one of the warmest and wettest summers in the past decade at a High Arctic watershed impacted water infiltration and storage in deeply thawed soil and solute concentrations in stream runoff during the thaw period. In June and July 2012 at the Cape Bounty Watershed Observatory, we combined active layer measurements with major ion concentrations and stable isotopes in surface waters to characterize the movement of different runoff sources: snowmelt, rainfall, and soil water. Results indicate that deep ground thaw enhanced the storage of infiltrated water following rainfall. Soil water from infiltrated rainfall flowed through the thawed transient layer and upper permafrost, which likely solubilized ions previously stored at depth. Subsequent rainfall events acted as a hydrological flushing mechanism, mobilizing solutes from the subsurface to the surface. This solute flushing substantially increased ion concentrations in stream runoff throughout mid to late July. Results further suggest the importance of rainfall and soil water as sources of runoff in a High Arctic catchment during mid to late summer as infiltrated snowmelt is drained from soil following baseflow. Although there was some evaporation of surface water, our study indicates that flushing from solute stores in the transient layer was the primary driver of increased ion concentrations in stream runoff and not evaporative concentration of surface water. With warmer and wetter summers projected for the Arctic, ion concentrations in runoff (especially in the late thaw season), will likely increase due to the deep storage and subsurface flow of infiltrated water and subsequent flushing of previously frozen solutes to the surface.     

Characteristics of cloud drop spectra in tropical warm clouds

Characteristics of cloud drop spectra were studied using 400 samples obtained from 120 warm cumulus clouds formed during the summer monsoon season.The total concentration of cloud drops (N _T) varied from 384 to 884 cm^–3 and the maximum concentration was observed in the layer below the cloud-top. The width of the drop spectrum was broader in the cloud-base region and in the region below the cloud-top. The spectrum was multimodal at all levels except in the cloud-top region where it was unimodal. The concentration of drops with diameter greater than 50 m (N _L) varied from 0.0 to 0.674 cm^–3.N _L was larger in the cloud-base region.N _L decreased with height up to the middle level and thereafter showed an increase. In the cloud-top region no large drops were present. The computed values of the liquid water varied between 0.132 and 0.536 g m^–3 and the mean volume diameter (MVD) varied between 8.1 and 12.0 m. The LWC and MVD showed a decrease with height except in the middle region of the cloud where the values were higher than the adjacent levels. The dispersion of the cloud drops was lower (0.65) in the cloud-top region and higher (1.01) in the cloud-base region.The observed cloud microphysical characteristics were attributed to vertical mixing in clouds induced by the cloud-top gravity oscillations (buoyancy oscillations) generated by the intensification of turbulent eddies due to the buoyant production of energy by the microscale-fractional-condensation (MFC) in turbulent eddies.     

Vertical distributions of chlorophyll in deep, warm monomictic lakes

The factors affecting vertical distributions of chlorophyll fluorescence were examined in four temperate, warm monomictic lakes. Each of the lakes (maximum depth >80 m) was sampled over 2 years at intervals from monthly to seasonal. Profiles were taken of chlorophyll fluorescence (as a proxy for algal biomass), temperature and irradiance, as well as integrated samples from the surface mixed layer for chlorophyll a (chl a) and nutrient concentrations in each lake. Depth profiles of chlorophyll fluorescence were also made along transects of the longest axis of each lake. Chlorophyll fluorescence maxima occurred at depths closely correlated with euphotic depth (r ² = 0.67, P < 0.01), which varied with nutrient status of the lakes. While seasonal thermal density stratification is a prerequisite for the existence of a deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM), our study provides evidence that the depth of light penetration largely dictates the DCM depth during stratification. Reduction in water clarity through eutrophication can cause a shift in phytoplankton distributions from a DCM in spring or summer to a surface chlorophyll maximum within the surface mixed layer when the depth of the euphotic zone (z _eu) is consistently shallower than the depth of the surface mixed layer (z _SML). Trophic status has a key role in determining vertical distributions of chlorophyll in the four lakes, but does not appear to disrupt the annual cycle of maximum chlorophyll in winter.     

Bacterial community in deep subseafloor sediments from the western Pacific "warm pool"

The bacterial community in deep subseafloor sediments at a depth of 230 cm from the western Pacific "warm pool" is studied by construction of 16S rDNA clone library and PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) analysis. The results indicate that the bacterial community in these sediments is mainly composed of five groups: α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, CFB group (Cytophaga / Flexi-bacteria / Bacteroides), Acidobacteria and gram positive bacteria, with a few genera detected in each group. The most abundant bacteria group is α-Proteobacteria, and the next is β-Proteobacteria. The dominant species in α-and β-Proteobacteria are Sphingomonas paucimobilis and Pseudomonas alca-ligenes respectively. The CFB group is simply composed of members belonging to Flavobacterium. The gram positive bacteria are rich, and mainly consists of the genus Geobacillus. The analysis of bacterial community indicates that organic matter is still abundant in the subseafloor sediments at the depth of 230 cm in the western Pacific "warm pool" . These bacteria in this deep biosphere may play an impor-tant role in the nitrogen cycle of deep sea sediments at "warm pool" .     

Mining-Induced Seismicity in the Saarland, Germany

Coal mining in the Saar mine, Germany, is accompanied by mining-induced seismic events. Strong events occur only in certain areas of the mine, other areas exhibit almost no seismicity. Shear events occur simultaneously to non-shear events. The shear events occur in different depths but their epicenters do concentrate in bands. The strike of the bands coincides with the strike of larger regional faults in the area. The seismic events of the Saar mine show some characteristics which distinguish them from seismic events observed in other German coalfields. The Gutenberg–Richter relation, for example, does not hold for these events. Furthermore, radiated seismic energy and extracted coal volume are not correlated. In the Primsmulde field a strong seismic event was observed even before mining in that region started. The event was triggered just by driving roadways into the field. The shear events cannot be explained by the mining process alone. They are presumably induced in certain regions (bands) under tectonic load by an interaction of mining-induced and tectonic stresses. In February 2008, extraction in the Primsmulde field induced a seismic event of magnitude 4, which led to surface vibrations reaching 93 mm/s. After this event, the Primsmulde field had to be abandoned. Future extraction of the Saar mine will be restricted to some small areas not intersected by the event bands found in the Dilsburg Ost and Primsmulde fields. The Saar mine will close in 2011.     

Measurements of cloud droplet size distributions in seeded warm cumulus clouds

Summary Aircraft observations were made on cloud droplet size distribution in 19 cases of seeded warm cumulus clouds in three meteorologically different regions. An examination of the data suggested the following: (i) In all the 5 cases at Bombay (maritime), and in 6 out of the 7 cases at Poona (modified maritime) the values of median volume diameter, maximum cloud droplet size and liquid water content showed increase after seeding as compared to what they were before. The increases noticed in the median volume diameter ranged up to 48% at Bombay and 478% at Poona. The liquid water content and the maximum droplet size respectively increased upward of 56% and 25% at Bombay and 60% and 31% at Poona. (ii) In 4 out of the 7 cloud cases at Rihand (continental), the values of the parameters referred to above showed increase. The median volume diameter increased up to 372%. The liquid water content and the maximum droplet size increased upward of 160% and 66% respectively. (iii) In the cloud cases wherein the values of the parameters decreased after seeding, the decreases noticed ranged up to 94%. (iv) More unstable conditions prevailed on the days when the seeded clouds showed visible rain than on the days when they did not.     

小金地震序列的震源区应力场

用Ｐ波和Ｓ波最大振幅比方法测定了１９８０年９月２２日小金Ｍｓ６．６级地震前后的１１７个小震的震源机制。根据小金地震序列中３次最大地震和１１７个小震震源机制解，了震源区应力场的基本特征的变化形态。对小震机制解进行系统聚类分析，小震机制解的优势取向和３次最大地震的震源机制一致。由小震机制主要类型的平均解和３次最大地震的震源机制反演得到的应力场方向与区域应力场相符。和主震相近的优势走滑类型及逆倾滑动类型     

20世纪云南地区地震记录完全性评价

通过对1901～2000年云南地区5级以上地震记录完全性分析,发现20世纪早期云南地震漏载仍然严重,30年代以后5级以上地震记录较为完全,其中滇西南为地震记录的主要漏载地区。根据b值估算得到20世纪云南地区漏载5级地震143次、6级地震6.6次,这是地震活动性研究需要考虑的重要因素。60年代后地震活动的起伏与地震监控能力无关。     

The Edges of Large Earthquakes and the Epicenters of Future Earthquakes: Stress-induced Correlations in Elastodynamic Fault Models

—Fault models can generate complex sequences of events from frictional instabilities, even when the material properties are completely uniform along the fault. These complex sequences arise from the heterogeneous stress and strain fields which are produced through the dynamics of repeated ruptures on the fault. Visual inspection of the patterns of events produced in these models shows a striking and ubiquitous feature: future events tend to occur near the edges of where large events died out. In this paper, we explore this feature more deeply. First, using long catalogues generated by the model, we quantify the effect. We show, interestingly, that it is an even larger effect for future small events than it is for future large events. Then, using our ability to directly measure all aspects of the model, we find a physical explanation for our observations by examining the stress fields associated with large events. Looking at the average stress field we see a large stress concentration left at the edge of the large events, out of which the future events emerge. Further, we see the smearing out of the stress concentration as small events occur. This indicates why the epicenters of future small events are more correlated with the edges of large events than are the epicenters of future large events. Finally, we discuss how results from our simple model may be relevant to the more complicated case of the earth.     

The influence of the bottom cold water on the seasonal variability of the Tsushima warm current

Previous studies have concluded that the volume transport and surface current velocity of the Tsushima Warm Current are at a maximum between summer and autumn and at a minimum between winter and spring. Each study has obtained these results indirectly, using the sea level difference across the Tsushima-Korea Strait or dynamic calculation. Numerical experiments are performed to estimate the seasonal variability in the sea level difference caused by the Bottom Cold Water (BCW), which intrudes from the Sea of Japan along the Korean coast in the bottom layer. These experiments basically treat the baroclinic adjustment problem of the BCW in a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the axis (northeast-southwest direction) of the Tsushima-Korea Strait. It is a five-layer model for summer and a two-layer model for winter. The initial conditions and parameters in models are chosen so as to match the calculated velocity-density fields with the observed velocity-density fields [Isobe A., S. Tawara, A. Kaneko and M. Kawano (1994) Continental Shelf Research, 14, 23–35.]. Consequently, the experiments prove that the observed seasonal variability in the sea level difference across the Tsushima-Korea Strait largely contains the baroclinic motion caused by the BCW. It should be noted that the position of the BCW also plays an important role in producing a considerable seasonal variation of the sea level difference. It is critical to remove the baroclinic contribution from the observed sea level differences across the Tsushima-Korea Strait in order to estimate the seasonal variation in the volume transport of the Tsushima Warm Current.     

Revisiting functional no-flow events in the Lower Yellow River

Functional no-flow is a topic of considerable interest in the research and management of the Yellow River. The operation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir has been a source of concern regarding hydraulic characteristics and hydro-environmental responses. However, the impacts of the reservoir on functional no-flow events have not been reported to date. Using a complete set of daily hydrological data from four key hydrological stations for the past six decades and at three different temporal scales (year, wet season and dry season), the differences in incoming water and functional no-flow events have been compared before and after the Xiaolangdi Reservoir began operation, using two sets of critical runoff values that were summarized from previous studies. The results indicate that the frequency of functional no-flow events has decreased since the Xiaolangdi Reservoir began to operate, based on critical runoff or dis-charge values defined by long term hydrological records, and the frequency decreased more when the critical values defining the new situation were used. However, functional no-flow events still occurred in the Lower Yellow River, especially in the lower reach during the wet season. The degree of severity of the functional no-flow events and the magnitude and variation of daily discharge are strongly linearly related before and after the reservoir began operation, regardless of which set of critical values were used to identify the functional no-flow events.     

磁暴期间极尖区场向电子事件研究

根据Cluster卫星在中高度极尖区的观测数据,分析研究了两次连续磁暴期间极尖区场向电子事件的持续时间以及与Dst值和Dst时间变化率之间的关系.结果表明,磁暴期间场向电子事件的持续时间的范围为6~54 s,大多数场向事件的持续时间小于34 s;极尖区场向电子事件的最大密度和最大场向通量与Dst值没有明显的相关关系;而随着Dst变化率的增加,场向电子最大密度和最大通量也随之增加,场向电子最大密度与Dst变化率之间的相关系数为0.81,场向电子最大通量与Dst变化率之间的相关系数为0.56,下行电子最大通量与Dst变化率之间的相关系数为0.85.经讨论认为行星际磁场持续南向、太阳风速度和动压的急剧增加是引起场向电子通量增加的主要原因.     

东祁连山北缘断裂带基于深度学习的密集台阵地震事件快速检测与定位研究

为监测东祁连山北缘断裂带附近的地震活动性,布设包含240台短周期地震仪的面状密集台阵,进行约30 d的连续观测。首先使用基于深度学习的多台站地震事件检测算法（CNNDetector）进行地震事件检测,然后使用震相拾取网络（PhaseNet）对地震事件进行P波和S波到时拾取,其次使用震相关联算法（REAL）进行震相关联及初定位,最后使用双差定位（hypoDD）进行地震重定位,最终的精定位地震目录中共有517个地震。在密集台阵观测期间,中国地震台网正式地震目录中共有39个位于台阵内的地震事件,相比而言,密集台阵检测到大量小于0级的地震。因此通过布设密集台阵,可提高活动断裂微地震活动性的监测能力。与历史地震空间分布相比,密集台阵地震精定位分布具有较好的一致性,表现出更明显的线性分布特征。基于地震分布,发现研究区域存在与地表断层迹线走向不同的隐伏活跃断裂。     

Cross-sectional rainfall observation on the central-western Tibetan Plateau in the warm season:System design and preliminary results

The central and western Tibetan Plateau(CWTP)is characterized by harsh environment and strong interactions among the spheres of earth as well as significant changes in climate and water cycles over the past four decades.The lack of precipitation observations is a bottleneck for the study of land surface processes in this region.Over the past six years,we have designed and established two observation transects across the south-north and the west-east in this region to obtain hourly rainfall data ...     

Quantifying the role of the snowpack in generating water available for run‐off during rain‐on‐snow events from snow pillow records

Rain‐on‐snow events have generated major floods around the world, particularly in coastal, mountainous regions. Most previous studies focused on a limited number of major rain‐on‐snow events or were based primarily on model results, largely due to a lack of long‐term records from lysimeters or other instrumentation for quantifying event water balances. In this analysis, we used records from five automated snow pillow sites in south coastal British Columbia, Canada, to reconstruct event water balances for 286 rain‐on‐snow events over a 10‐year period. For large rain‐on‐snow events (event rainfall >40 mm), snowmelt enhanced the production of water available for run‐off (WAR) by approximately 25% over rainfall alone. For smaller events, a range of antecedent and meteorological factors influenced WAR generation, particularly the antecedent liquid water content of the snowpack. Most large events were associated with atmospheric rivers. Rainfall dominated WAR generation during autumn and winter events, whereas snowmelt dominated during spring and summer events. In the majority of events, the sensible heat of rain contributed less than 10% of the total energy consumed by snowmelt. This analysis illustrated the importance of understanding the amount of rainfall occurring at high elevations during rain‐on‐snow events in mountainous regions.     

Triassic warm subduction in northeast Turkey: Evidence from the Ağvanis metamorphic rocks

Within the Tethyan realm, data for the subduction history of the Permo–Triassic Tethys in the form of accretionary complexes are scarce, coming mainly from northwest Turkey and Tibet. Herein we present field geological, petrological and geochronological data on a Triassic accretionary complex, the A?vanis metamorphic rocks, from northeast Turkey. The A?vanis metamorphic rocks form a SSE–NNW trending lozenge‐shaped horst, ～20 km long and ～6 km across, bounded by the strands of the active North Anatolian Fault close to the collision zone between the Eastern Pontides and the Menderes–Taurus Block. The rocks consist mainly of greenschist‐ to epidote‐amphibolite‐facies metabasite, phyllite, marble and minor metachert and serpentinite, interpreted as a metamorphic accretionary complex based on the oceanic rock types and ocean island basaltic, mid‐ocean ridge basaltic and island‐arc tholeiitic affinities of the metabasites. This rock assemblage was intruded by stocks and dikes of Early Eocene quartz diorite, leucogranodiorite and dacite porphyry. Metamorphic conditions are estimated to be 470–540°C and ～0.60–0.90 GPa. Stepwise ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of phengite–muscovite separates sampled outside the contact metamorphic aureoles yielded steadily increasing age spectra with the highest incremental stage corresponding to age values ranging from ～180 to 209 Ma, suggesting that the metamorphism occurred at ≥ 209 Ma. Thus, the A?vanis metamorphic rocks represent the vestiges of the Late Triassic or slightly older subduction in northeast Turkey. Estimated P–T conditions indicate higher temperatures than those predicted by steady state thermal models for average subduction zones, and can best be accounted for by a hot subduction zone, similar to the present‐day Cascadia. Contact metamorphic mineral assemblages around an Early Eocene quartz diorite stock, on the other hand, suggest that the present‐day erosion level was at depths of ～14 km during the Early Eocene, indicative of reburial of the metamorphic rocks. Partial disturbance of white‐mica Ar–Ar age spectra was probably caused by the reburial coupled with heat input by igneous activity, which is probably related to thrusting due to the continental collision between Eastern Pontides and the Menderes–Taurus Block.     

Seismicity in the vicinity of Ross Island, Antarctica

Earthquakes in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, are of two types: volcanic, and those which appear to be of tectonic origin. Volcanic events in the vicinity of Ross Island are associated exclusively with Mount Erebus, Ross Island; this volcano erupts regularly, generating several earthquakes per day whose characteristics are quite distinct from non-volcanic events. These nonvolcanic earthquakes are recognizable by their distinct P- and S-wave arrivals, and a lack of the high frequency, often monochromatic character typical of Erebus events.One hundred fifty-seven tectonic microearthquakes (M < 2.0) were recorded in 1983 and 1984 by the ten station network on Ross Island; these events were located using the least-squares routine, HYPOELLIPSE. Of these events, 106 have RMS residual traveltime errors of less than or equal to 0.6 seconds; they are clustered in the vicinity of Ross Island, but are not restricted to it. There is a linear trend of epicenters cutting across the island and continuing northward. Most activity seems to center beneath Mount Terra Nova, between Mount Erebus and Mount Terror. Mean depth for events is 8.2 km; however, depths are rather evenly distributed over a range of 0 to 25 km.Modelling based on Bouger gravity anomalies and seismic refraction studies indicates a depth to the Moho of about 40 km beneath the continent, shallowing to 27 km beneath the Ross Sea. This 27 km depth is approximately equal to the lower limit of the tectonic seismicity detected by the Erebus network; hence, events are of crustal origin. These data suggest, with the rift-type geochemistry of Erebus' magma, that the Ross Sea is a site of active crustal extension and rifting.     

夏季南亚高压对流层中上层异常暖中心时空分布特征及其激发的大气波动

利用1979年1月至2016年12月ERA-interim月平均再分析资料和CAMP全球月降水资料,分析夏季（6—8月）南亚高压下方500 hPa到100 hPa暖中心的时空分布,从三维结构来揭示夏季南亚高压暖心特征.回归分析进一步探讨青藏高原上空暖中心对全球大气环流产生的可能影响.结果表明：南亚高压在150 hPa达到最强,这一层也是异常冷暖中心分界面,150 hPa以下有一强大异常暖中心,异常暖中心位于300 hPa附近,150 hPa以上为异常冷中心,中心位置位于70 hPa附近.异常暖中心从500 hPa向上逐渐向西向北倾斜,异常暖中心面积200 hPa达最大,150 hPa异常暖中心消失,100 hPa以上转变为异常冷中心.500~200 hPa异常暖中心表现出不断增暖的长期趋势（1979—2016）,100 hPa异常冷中心则表现出不断变冷的长期趋势（1979—2016）.去掉长期趋势的时间序列表现出明显的"准两年振荡"特征,异常暖中心位置在纬向上较稳定,在经向上表现出年际的"东西振荡".300 hPa异常暖中心是整个南亚高压的关键层.300 hPa异常暖中心对全球其他变量场进行回归分析.高度回归场表明,青藏高原上空异常暖中心在北半球中高纬度高度场上激发出3波的行星波,波特征在对流层中上层表现明显,波振幅随高度增高不断加强,在对流层中下层逐渐减弱并消失.纬向风回归场在对流层中上层表现出横跨南北半球的波列,这个波列在200 hPa振幅最大.经向风回归场在北半球中纬度（30°N—60°N）表现出7波型,说明南北能量交换频繁.降水回归场表明,东亚地区长江中下游至日本降水偏少,而其南北两侧降水偏多.