Response of internal waves to 2005 Typhoon Damrey over the northwestern shelf of the South China Sea

Continuous observation of sea water temperature and current was made at Wenchang Station (19°35′N, 112°E) in 2005. The data collected indicate vigorous internal waves of both short periods and tidal and near-inertial periods. The temperature and current time series during 18-30 September were examined to describe the upper ocean internal wave field response to Typhoon Damrey (0518). The strong wind associated with the typhoon, which passed over the sea area about 45 km south of Wenchang Sta- tion on 25 September, deepened the mixed layer depth remarkably. It decreased the mixed layer temperature while increasing the deep layer temperature, and intensified the near-inertial and high-frequency fluctuations of temperature and current. Power spectra of temperature and current time series indicate significant deviations from those obtained by using the deep ocean internal wave models characterized by a power law. The frequency spectra were dominated by three energetic bands: around the inertial frequency (7.75× 10-6 Hz), tidal frequencies (1.010-25 to 2.4×10-5 Hz), and between 1.4×10-4 and 8.3 × 10-4 Hz. Dividing the field data into three phases (before, during and after the typhoon), we found that the typhoon enhanced the kinetic energy in nearly all the frequency bands, es- pecially in the surface water. The passage of Damrey made a major contribution to the horizontal kinetic energy of the total surface current variances. The vertical energy density distribution, with its peak value at the surface, was an indication that the energy in- jected by the strong wind into the surface current could penetrate downward to the thermocline.     

Hydrobiology of a flooding ecosystem,Lake Chenhu in Hanyang,Hubei, with preliminary estimation of its potential fishery production capacity

For the purpose of fishery development, a hydrobiological investigation of Lake Chenhu was carried out in 1983 with reference to the productivity of various food organisms as well as fish. Of the entire lake, the annual net primary production was determined to be 27,818×10⁶ kcal for phytoplankton, 2,898×10⁶ kcal for macrophytes and 64,840×10⁶ kcal for wet land vegetation. The annual secondary production chiefly from gastropods was 2,632×10⁶ kcal. On the basis of 1981–1982 fishery data, the production of the main stocked fishes in the lake was also roughly computed. Analysing all obtained production data, we find the energy conversion rate of food organisms to fish in the water at the present stage is fairly low. Even in 1982, the year of better fishery management, food energy converted to plankton feeders or herbivores was only 1.6–1.8%; energy converted to fish yield was even lower, only 0.2–0.8%. To get a potential fish output of the ecosystem, a tentative estimation of fishery capacity of Lake Chenhu was made by using the index of food quotients and relevant conversion factors. The theoretical fish production in the lake is estimated to be around 6,000 t and, through the improvement of fishery management, an annual fish yield of 2,000 t can be expected.     

Study on fluxes of CH4 emission from paddy fields in Changchun area

Little has been done in measurement and research of the flux of CH₄ emission from paddy fields in Changchun area, Jilin Province, China before 1994. So the purpose of the study is to offer available regional data of CH₄ emission flux and to discuss the factors which affect CH₄ emission from paddy fields. Experimental paddy fields are chosen using TM pictures respectively in Xinlicheng (43°49′N, 125°20′E) of the Yitong River’s and in Wanchang (43°44′10″N, 125°53′11″E) of the Yinma River’s alluvial plain. The fluxes of CH₄ emission from paddy fields are measured by the method of static chamber in Changchun area in 3 consecutive years. The research results show that the peak of CH₄ emission from paddy fields occurs during the booting stage. The mean fluxes of CH₄ emission are 7.056 mg/m(² · h) and 0.489 mg/(m² · h) in the paddy fields of flood and discontinuous irrigation respectively. The contrastive study holds that climate condition, the way of water management and fertilizer variation have significant influence on fluxes of CH₄ emission from paddy fields. The difference of climatic conditions causes the interannual change of the flux of CH₄ emission from paddy fields. In general, the flux of CH₄ emission from paddy fields of flood irrigation is greater than that from paddy fields of discontinuous irrigation. To change the way of water management perhaps in an available way to reduce CH₄ emission flux from paddy fields. Foundation item: Under the auspices of Jilin Commttee of Science and Technology (grant 963416 - 1), and Changchun Jingyuetan Remote Sensing Test Site of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant 9504). Biography: YAN Min-hua (1964 -), female, a native of Liaoning Province, master, associate professor. Her research interests include climate change, greenhouse gases and wetland climate.     

ASSESSMENT OF INDIRECT USE VALUES OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN YAOLUOPING NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, ANHUI PROVINCE

1INTRODUCTIONForestbiodiversityprovidesawiderangeofindirectbenefitstohumanbeing.Whiletheremaybelittlecon-sensusonwhetherthevariouselementsofforestbiodi-versitycanbevaluedineconomicterms, itisincreas-inglyrecognizedthatthesevaluesandtheroleofbio-diversityinmaintainingecologicalservicesareessen-tialtothehumankind.Thenotionofindirectusevalueofbiodiversityhasbeenassociatedwithaminimumlevelofecosysteminfrastructure, withoutwhichtherewouldnotbethegoodsandservicesprovidedbyit(FARNWORTHetal.,1…     

Effects of algal concentration and initial density on the population growth of Diaphanosoma celebensis Stingelin （Crustacea, Cladocera）

The effects of algal concentration and initial density on the population growth of the estuarine cladocera,Diaphanosoma celebensis Stingelin,were evaluated in an indoor experiment.A 2 × 4 layout that included two algal concentrations(Chlorella pyrenoidosa,1 × 106 and 3 × 106 cell/mL) and four inoculation densities(100,200,300 and 400 ind./L) were established.Diaphanosoma celebensis were reared in 150 mL flasks containing 50 mL of algal medium at 22°C,under salinity of 10 and a photoperiod of 12 h L:12 h D.T...     

Transfort of oxygen,nutrients and carbonates by the Kuroshio Current

Measured concentrations of dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, total alkalinity and calculated total CO₂ in a section between 121° E and 125° E across the Kuroshio near 22° N off Taiwan and the geostrophic velocity were used to estimate the gross transport of oxygen, nutrients and carbonates. The flux of dissolved oxygen is 6.7×10⁶ mol/s northward and 0.9×10⁶ mol/s southward. The net flux equals 5.8×10⁶ mol/s down-stream. The northward flux of phosphate is 22.6×10³ mol/s; the southward flux is 1.4×10³ mol/s. The net phosphate flux is 21.2×10³ mol/s northward. The flux of silicate is 967×10³ northward and 59×10³ mol/s southward; the net transport is 908×10³ mol/s down-stream. The flux of alkalinity is 75.5×10⁶ mol/s northward, and 10.8×10⁶ mol/s southward, the net flux is 64.7×10⁶ mol/s northward. For total CO₂ the transport is 73.4×10⁶ mol/s northward and 10.8×10⁶ mol/s southward, or a net transport of 62.6×10⁶ mol/s horthward.     

Acute toxicities of potassium permanganate, formalin, and Lugol’s iodine solution to a marine ciliate, Pleuronema coronatum (ciliophora, scuticociliatida)

Acute toxicities of potassium permanganate, formalin, and Lugol’s iodine solution to a commonly occurred marine ciliate Pleuronema coronatum (Ciliophora, Scuticociliatida) were measured. Linear regression analysis of the results highlighted the close relationships between doses of the medicines and mortalities of the organisms, thus providing a capability to predict toxicity effects from the dose. Toxic effects of the medicines on the ciliates were described in the present paper, and the median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀ values) were given. Results of measurements indicated that 2 h-LC₅₀ and 12 h-LC₅₀ values of formalin on P. coronatum were 59.00×10⁻⁶ and 43.57×10⁻⁶, while those of Lugol’s solutions were 90.13 and 67.84×10⁻⁶ respectively. The tolerance of P. coronatum to formalin is apparently lower than that to Lugol’s iodine solution and potassium permanganate is a suitable medicine to kill ciliates in short time.     

ESTIMATE OF METHANE EMISSIONS FROM RICE FIELDS IN CHINA BY CLIMATE-BASED NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY

1INTRODUCTIONIrrigated ricefieldsarecharacterizedbylargespatialandtemporalvariationsin CH4 emissiontotheatmo-sphere.Accordingly,thereisagreatuncertaintyintheestimate ofCH4 emissionsfromricefields.GreateffortshavebeenmadetoestimatetheCH4 emissionsfromricefieldsandseveralapproacheshavebeendeveloped.TherepresentativemethodsincludetheIPCC(Inter-governmentPanelofClimateChange)region-specificemissionfactormethodandthemodelcalculationmethod.Toimprovethecalculationaccuracy,theIPCCmethodreq…     

DYNAMIC AND THERMOHALINE PROPERTIES OF THE MINDANAO UNDERCURRENT Ⅰ. DYNAMIC STRUCTURE

lwn0DorIONDuringthepastdeade,thestchdilyinewsingkn0wedgeonthewestemequatorialPadfic~ndrculation,espedallythel0w-latitudewesternboundaryimtsOLwnes)inthePadficdrin,wasrnarkedbytheimportantdiscoveryoftwowesternb0undaryundercurmtS,theNcwGuineaCoastalUndemirmt(NGCUC)Oindstrometal.,l987)andtheMindanaoUndemin-ent(MUC)peuandCui,l989),whichledtobeterdescrip-tionoftheverticalstruCture0fthePadficLLwncralth0ughunderstandingofthePadricLLWBChdynawhesisstillincomp1etC,bousetheinfluenceofthetwone…     

Study of phytoplankton community in the channel from Dongting Lake to Changjiang River, China

1 INTRODUCTION Dongting Lake (28°18'–29°45'N, 111°35'– 113°18'E) is the second largest freshwater lake in China, and directly connected with the Changjiang River (Yangtse River) through the channel. The sur- face area was about 2 740 km2 (at the low     

WETLANDS IN CHINA: FEATURE, VALUE AND PROTECTION

The estimated total area of wetland in China is more than 25.9 million hectares including about 11.9 million hectares of marshes and bogs, 9.1 million hectares of lake and about 2.2 million hectares of coastal salt marshes and mudflats. The area of wetland is equivalent to 2.7% of the land surface. China also has 2.7 million hectares of shallow sea water (less 5m in depth at low tide). Marshes and bogs are equivalent 1.3% of the land surface. Only three provinces (regions)—Qinghai, Xizang (Tibet) and Heilongjiang — have a larger total area of marsh and bog. According to the structure, type and development of wetland in different river basins, wetland can be classified nine main regions. The experiments indicate that the coefficient of the marsh to regulate flood is similar to that of lakes. Wetlands occupy 17.8% of the Sanjiang Plain area, the annual carbon contribution is 0.78 × 10⁴t. Carbon released from marsh soil return into atmosphere is 3.95 × 10⁶t/a. At present there is a sharp contradiction between population growth and natural resources shortage, causing wetland to be exerted with huge pressures and serious threats. Foundation item: Under the auspices of the Key B Item of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZ951-B1-201-02). Biography: LU Xian-guo (1957 —), male, a native of Changchun City, Jilin Provice, professor. His research interests include wetland process and environmental effect.     

Seawater flux through Taiwan strait

After the winter and summer current structures on two or three latitudinal sections in Taiwan Strait were obtained from the measured current data, the seawater fluxs through the sections were calculated. In summer, the currents in the central and northern part of Taiwan Strait normally flow northward at a net flux of 3.32×10⁶m³/s. In winter, the high temperature and salinity Kuroshio and South China Sea water enter Taiwan Strait from the southem section at 1.69×10⁶m³/s and 0.59×10⁶ m³/s respectively, while the East China Sea water enters Taiwan Strait from the northern section at 1.02×10⁶m³/s. About 0.40×10⁶ m³/s of the seawater enters the South China Sea along the coast of Fujian and Guangdong; the other 0.62×10⁶ m³/s of the seawater is mixed with the Kuroshio water and the South China Sea water in the northern sea areas. The net northward flux is 1.74×10⁶m³/s in winter.     

Retrieval and analysis of coal fire temperature in Wuda coalfield,Inner Mongolia,China

Coal fire burning around the world is an environmental catastrophe characterized by the emission of noxious gases, particulate matter, and condensation by-products. In this study, coal fire temperature is retrieved based on Landsat 5 TM images and Generalized Single-Channel Algorithm (GSCA), in Wuda coalfield, Inner Mongolia, China. Then coal fire zones are extracted by Jenks′ natural breaks and threshold methods based on temperature images. Changes of coal fire zones are analyzed from 1989 to 2008. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The coal fire temperature retrieval method based on Landsat 5 TM and the GSCA model is effective and feasible, because the temperature error is relatively small (from –2.9℃ to +2.6℃) between the measured temperature and the retrieved temperature. 2) The accuracy is relatively high to extract coal fire zones through the Jenks′ natural breaks and threshold methods, because 83.56% of surveyed area is located in the coal fire zones extracted in 2005. 3) The coal fire area increased 9.81 × 10 5 m 2 from 1989 to 2005, and the annual growth is about 6.1 × 10 4 m 2 , with an annual increasing rate of 2.48%. The area of coal fire decreased by 8.1 × 10 5 m 2 from 2005 to 2008.     

Estimating the budgets of nutrients for phytoplankton bloom in the central Yellow Sea using a modified lower tropic ecosystem model

A modified lower trophic ecosystem model (NEMURO) is coupled with a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model for an application in the central Yellow Sea. The model is used to simulate the horizontal distributions and annual cycles of chlorophyll-a and nutrients with results consistent with historical observations. Generally, during the winter background and spring bloom periods, the exchange with neighboring waters constitutes the primary sources of nutrients. Howerver, during the winter background period, the input of silicate from the layer deeper than 50 m is the most important source that contributes up to 60% to the total sources. During the spring bloom period, the transport across the thermocline makes significant contribution to the input of phosphate and silicate. During the post spring bloom period, the relative contribution of relevant processes varies for different nutrients. For ammonium, atmospheric deposition, excretion of zooplankton and decomposition of particulate and dissolved nitrogen make similar contributions. For phosphate and silicate, the dominant input is the transport across the thermocline, accounting for 62% and 68% of the total sources, respectively. The N/P ratio averaged annually and over the whole southern Yellow Sea is up to 51.8, indicating the potential of P limitation in this region. The important influence of large scale sea water circulation is revealed by both the estimated fluxes and the corresponding N/P ratio of nutrients across a section linking the northeastern bank of the Changjiang River and Cheju Island. During the winter background period, the input of nitrate, ammonium, phosphate and silicate by the Yellow Sea Warm Current is estimated to be 4.6×10¹⁰, 2.3×10¹⁰, 2.0×10⁹ and 1.2×10¹⁰ mol, respectively.     

Heterotrophic bacterial flora in aquaculture area around Xuejiadao

From Oct., 1999 to Oct., 2000, the heterotrophic bacterial flora in the aquaculture area around Xuejiadao was investigated. The result shows that the populations of the heterotrophic bacteria are heavier in summer and autumn than those in winter and spring. The average populations in seawater, sediment, the surface of seaweed and the surface of fish are 1.4×10⁴cfu mL⁻¹, 5.4×10⁶cfu g⁻¹, 1.5×10⁶cfu g⁻¹ and 1.8×10³cfu cm⁻², respectively. A total of 301 strains were isolated, among them 259 were Gram-negative. All the Gram-negative bacteria belong to 13 genera and some genera of Enterobacteriaceae. The communities of bacteria are slightly different among the samples. In the body surface of fish, Genus vibrio is dominant. In the remaining samples, dominant genus is Aeromonas.     

Evaluation of potential productivity of woody energy crops on marginal land in China

Energy crops are a basic material in the bioenergy industry, and they can also mitigate carbon emissions and have environmental benefits when planted on marginal lands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential productivity of energy crops on marginal lands in China. A mechanistic model, combined with energy crop and land use characteristics, and meteorological and soil parameters, was used to simulate the potential productivity of energy crops. There were three main results. 1) The total marginal land in China was determined to be 104.78 × 10~6 ha. The 400-mm precipitation boundary line, which is the dividing line between the semi-humid and semi-arid zones in China, also divided the marginal land into shrub land and sparse forest land in the southeast and bare land, bare rock land, and saline alkali land in the northeast. 2) The total area of the marginal land suitable for planting energy crops was determined to be 55.82 × 10~6 ha, with Xanthoceras sorbifolia and Cerasus humilis mainly grown in the northern China, Jatropha curcas and Cornus wilsoniana mainly grown in the southwest and southeast, and Pistacia chinensis mainly grown in the central area, while also having a northeast-southwest zonal distribution. 3) Taking the highest yield in overlapping areas, the potential productivity of target energy crops was determined to be 32.63 × 10~6 t/yr. Without considering the overlapping areas, the potential productivity was 6.81 × 10~6 t/yr from X. sorbifolia, 8.86 × 10~6 t/yr from C. humilis, 7.18 × 10~6 t/yr from J. curcas, 9.55 × 10~6 t/yr from P. chinensis, and 7.78 × 10~6 t/yr from C. wilsoniana.     

Coatal salt marshes and mangrove swamps in China

Based on plant specimen data, sediment samples, photos, and sketches from 45 coastal crosssections, and materials from two recent countrywide comprehensive investigations on Chinese coasts and islands, this paper deals with China’s vegetative tidal-flats: salt marshes and mangrove swamps. There are now 141700 acres of salt marshes and 51000 acres of mangrove swamps which together cover about 30% of the mud-coast area of the country and distribute between 18°N (Southern Hainan Island) and 41 °N (Liaodong Bay). Over the past 45 years, about 1750000 acres of salt marshes and 49400 acres of mangrove swamps have been reclaimed. The 2.0×10⁹ tons of fine sediments input by rivers into the Chinese seas form extensive tidal flats, the soil basis of coastal helophytes. Different climates result in the diversity of vegetation. The 3∼8 m tidal range favors intertidal zone development. Of over 20 plant species in the salt marshes, nativeSuaeda salsa, Phragmites australis, Aeluropus littoralis, Zoysia maerostachys, Imperata cylindrica and introducedSpartina anglica are the most extensive in distribution. Of the 41 mangrove swamps species,Kandelia candel, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Excoecaria agallocha andAvicennia marina are much wider in latitudinal distribution than the others. Developing stages of marshes originally relevant to the evolution of tidal flats are given out. The roles of pioneer plants in decreasing flood water energy and increasing accretion rate in the Changjiang River delta are discussed. The project was supported by the NSFC (No. 49476281).     

Valuation of lake and marsh wetlands ecosystem services in China

Wetlands are highly productive natural ecosystems, providing valuable goods and services. There is growing interest in transferring ecosystem service value from the existing wetlands studied to other wetlands ecosystems at a large geographic scale. The benefit transfer method uses the known values from wetlands to predict the value of other wetland sites. This methodology requires only limited time and resources. The present study calculated the value of the ecological services provided by lake and marsh wetlands in China in terms of biodiversity indices, water quality indices and economic indices. Basic data on wetlands were obtained through remote sensing images. The results show that: 1) The total ecosystem service value of the lake and marsh wetlands in 2008 was calculated to be 8.1841 × 1010 United States Dollars(USD), with the marsh and lake wetlands contributing 5.6329 × 1010 and 2.5512 × 1010 USD, respectively. Values of marsh ecosystem service were concentrated in Heilongjiang Province(2.5516 × 1010 USD), Qinghai Province(1.2014 × 1010 USD), and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(1.1884 × 1010 USD). The value of the lakes were concentrated in Tibet Autonomous Region(6.223 × 109 USD), Heilongjiang(5.810 × 109 USD), and Qinghai(5.500 × 109 USD). 2) Waste treatment and climate regulation services contributed to 26.29% and 24.74% respectively, of the total ecosystem service value of the marsh wetlands. Hydrological regulation and waste treatment contributed to 41.39% and 32.75%, respectively, of the total ecosystem service value of the lake wetlands. 3) The total ecological service value of the lake and marsh wetlands was 54.64% of the total service value of natural grassland ecosystems and 30.34% of the total service value of forests ecosystems in China.     

Estimation of ecological water requirements based on habitat response to water level in Huanghe River Delta, China

In recent years,wetland ecological water requirements (EWRs) have been estimated by using hydrological and functional approaches,but those approaches have not yet been integrated for a whole ecosystem.This paper presents a new method for calculating wetland EWRs,which is based on the response of habitats to water level,and determines water level threshold through the functional integrity of habitats.Results show that in the Huanghe (Yellow) River Delta water levels between 5.0 m and 5.5 m are required to maintain the functional integrity of the wetland at a value higher than 0.7.One of the dominant plants in the delta,Phragmites australis,tolerates water level fluctuation of about ± 0.25 m without the change in wetland functional integrity.The minimum,optimum and maximum EWRs for the Huanghe River Delta are 9.42×106 m3,15.56×106 m3 and 24.12×106 m3 with water levels of 5.0 m,5.2 m and 5.5 m,corresponding to functional integrity indices of 0.70,0.84 and 0.72,respectively.A wetland restoration program has been performed,which aims to meet these EWRs in attempt to recover from losses of up to 98% in the delta's former wetland area.     

Conversion rates of surface HOx radicals in Beijing City

Surface OH radical concentration in Beijing City was measured by impregnated filter trapping technique-high performance liquid chromatography (IFT-HPLC). The observed concentration of OH radical showed obvious diurnal and seasonal variations, with maximum readings at noon or afternoon, ∼80×10⁶OH/cm³ in summer and ∼20×10⁶-40×10⁶OH/cm³ in fall. On the basis of measured data, the reaction rates related to the photochemical process of HO_X (OH+HO₂) were derived and characteristics of atmospheric chemical processes in the city were analyzed. The results showed that conversion rates of atmospheric OH and HO₂ in the summer of Beijing City were about 700×10⁶ molecule/(cm³·s) and 600×10⁶molecule/(cm³·s), respectively. And the net production of OH in the air of the city mainly originate from the photolysis of the gaseous HNO₂, and the main sink of OH were the photochemical reactions with VOCs, NO₂, HCHO and CO. It was different from the clean area. Foundation item: Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40075026) Biography: REN xin-rong (1973 -), male, a native of Zhejiang Province, Ph. D., now a postdoctorship in Pennsylvania State University, USA, specialized in the reaction kinetics of atmospheric environment. E-mail: ren@essc.psu.edu