Biological and physical impacts of ageostrophic frontal circulations driven by confluent flow and vertical mixing

Subduction, upwelling, and phytoplankton blooms are commonly observed features at oceanic fronts. This study isolates the role of vertical mixing for enhanced production and water mass subduction near fronts, considering the time-developing problem with a Semi-Geostrophic circulation model coupled to a planktonic ecosystem model. Our model results show that vertical mixing in the surface boundary layer strongly modifies the time evolution of the front and of its associated biology. Ageostrophic flows caused by the combined effects of confluence and vertical mixing enhance primary production on the less dense side and increase water mass subduction on the dense side of the front. Confluence alone results in the intensification of the front by the same advective response, while the phytoplankton bloom on the less dense side does not arise without vertical mixing. Vertical mixing alone slumps the front near the surface and provides weak subduction on the dense side and uplift of the isopycnals at the center of the front. We find that it is possible to sustain an isolated phytoplankton patch above the domed isopycnals at the center of the front with the nutrients supplied by the secondary circulations arising due to vertical mixing. These results suggest that the phytoplankton bloom and patches found on the less dense side of fronts in many field observations are likely caused by fine-scale along-isopycnal upwelling of nutrients forced by adiabatic confluence in the meander trough of fronts and further pumping and entrainment of nutrients by the secondary circulation due to vertical mixing. Isolated patches observed at the center of the front in many frontal surveys could be caused by secondary flows due to vertical mixing.     

Water‐quality response to a high‐elevation wildfire in the Colorado Front Range

Water quality of the Big Thompson River in the Front Range of Colorado was studied for 2 years following a high‐elevation wildfire that started in October 2012 and burned 15% of the watershed. A combination of fixed‐interval sampling and continuous water‐quality monitors was used to examine the timing and magnitude of water‐quality changes caused by the wildfire. Prefire water quality was well characterized because the site has been monitored at least monthly since the early 2000s. Major ions and nitrate showed the largest changes in concentrations; major ion increases were greatest in the first postfire snowmelt period, but nitrate increases were greatest in the second snowmelt period. The delay in nitrate release until the second snowmelt season likely reflected a combination of factors including fire timing, hydrologic regime, and rates of nitrogen transformations. Despite the small size of the fire, annual yields of dissolved constituents from the watershed increased 20–52% in the first 2 years following the fire. Turbidity data from the continuous sensor indicated high‐intensity summer rain storms had a much greater effect on sediment transport compared to snowmelt. High‐frequency sensor data also revealed that weekly sampling missed the concentration peak during snowmelt and short‐duration spikes during rain events, underscoring the challenge of characterizing postfire water‐quality response with fixed‐interval sampling. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂尔多斯子洲-清涧区山2段沉积相研究

山西组山2段为三角洲前缘亚相沉积,进一步划分为四个微相:水下分流河道、分流间湾、间湾沼泽及席状砂,河道由北向南展布,各沉积期河道的发育具有良好的继承性。     

Some aspects of the British Geological Survey’s contribution to the war effort at the Western Front, 1914–1918

The application of geology to warfare in regard to questions of water supply, ground conditions and access to strategic minerals has long been appreciated, and much has already been written on these aspects of the science. During the Great War of 1914–1918 the services of the British Geological Survey, under the directorship of Aubrey Strahan, were called upon to advise on such matters both at home and abroad. Surviving archived files at the Geological Survey allow us to examine some rather more unexpected applications of the science, particularly in regard to the European theatre of war. These files provide only a partial record of the full range of war-related activities undertaken by the Survey, but they do reveal more especially the application of petrography to aircraft compass design, forensic geology, and the choice of stone for war graves.     

西昆仑山前冲断带的分段变形特征及控制因素

本文在精细地表构造地质学解析的基础上,利用塔里木油田公司在塔里木盆地西南缘完成的高分辨率地震资料、钻井资料,开展新生代构造变形的精细几何学解析,确定不同构造部位的变形几何学和运动学特征,分析不同构造部位构造变形特征的差异性及其变化规律,探讨构造变形分段性的控制因素。根据西昆仑山前冲断带的变形特征,可以将冲断带划分为5个构造段,自西北向东南分别为:乌泊尔段、苏盖特段、齐姆根段、柯东段与和田段,且各段又可分为1~4个的构造带。各段的构造样式存在较大差异,乌泊尔段表现为受主帕米尔断裂(MPT)和帕米尔北缘断裂(FPT)控制,帕米尔北缘断裂表现为地表突破和大规模的垂向位移,限定了冲断作用的往北传播,浅部发育了上新世以来的背驼盆地;苏盖特段表现为走滑逆冲作用导致的构造变形的特点,构造样式总体上靠近山前地区为堆垛构造,盆地内部为薄皮的叠瓦扇构造;齐姆根段受深部右行走滑断裂带控制,形成了向北东突出的走滑构造;柯东段则以逆冲作用为主,变形向盆地内部发生大规模的薄皮传播;和田构造段表现为南部发育高角度的铁克里克断裂及基底卷入构造,北部发育断层转折褶皱。北西向的喀什-叶城转换系统、北东向的库尔干右行压扭断裂带和齐姆根深部右行走滑断裂带、古近系的膏盐滑脱层、新近纪同构造沉积作用和乌拉根古隆起等对西昆山山前冲断带分段变形起到了重要的控制作用。     

2013年5月华南强降水与中国南海夏季风爆发

利用2013年"华南季风强降水外场试验与研究"的外场试验数据、美国NCEP FNL资料和卫星云顶黑体辐射温度资料,对2013年5月7—17日华南地区出现的两次强降水过程(7—12日和14—17日)中的高低空环流以及相关气象要素场的变化进行了对比分析。中国南海夏季风于5月第3候建立,两次过程分处于夏季风爆发前后。通过对比影响两次强降水过程的主要环流系统如南亚高压、高空副热带西风急流、500 hPa环流型、水汽来源等,指出影响两次强降水过程大尺度环流场之间的显著区别,说明南海季风爆发前后大尺度环流场对暴雨影响的典型差异。7—12日过程主要受北方锋面影响和南方暖湿气流辐合作用,导致华南地区出现南北两条雨带。14—17日过程则由于季风爆发后强的暖湿空气活动致使华南地区对流活跃,从而形成一条位于广东北部的雨带,此次过程强降水比第1次过程集中且对流性更强。两次降水过程的内在物理机制是一个准平衡态的热力适应过程,由于第2次过程降水更强,导致热源作用明显增强,动力向热力的适应过程也更显著。利用探空资料揭示出两次过程暖区暴雨大气热力和动力条件存在显著区别,7—12日南海季风爆发前的暖区暴雨主要受低层强垂直风切变导致的大气斜压不稳定影响;14—17日南海季风爆发后的暖区暴雨主要受高低空急流的强耦合作用影响。     

Spatiotemporal index for analyzing controls on snow climatology: application in the Colorado Front Range

Mountain snowpacks are important water supplies that are susceptible to climate change, yet snow measurements are sparse relative to snowpack heterogeneity. We used remote sensing to derive a spatiotemporal index of snow climatology that reveals patterns in snow accumulation, persistence, and ablation. Then we examined how this index relates to climate, terrain, and vegetation. Analyses were based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer eight-day snow cover from 2000 to 2010 for a mountain watershed in the Colorado Front Range, USA. The Snow Cover Index (SCI) was calculated as the fraction of years that were snow covered for each pixel. The proportion of SCI variability explained by independent variables was evaluated using regression analysis. Independent variables included elevation, northing, easting, slope, aspect, northness, solar radiation, precipitation, temperature, and vegetation cover. Elevation was the dominant control on SCI patterns, due to its influence on both temperature and precipitation. Grouping SCI values by elevation, we identified three distinct snow zones in the basin: persistent, transitional, and intermittent. The transitional snow zone represents an area that is sensitive to losing winter snowpack. The SCI can be applied to other basins or regions to identify dominant controls on snow cover patterns and areas sensitive to snow loss.     

2001年1月滇黔准静止锋在演变过程中的结构及大气环流特征分析

利用地面常规观测资料和NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,分析2001年1月的滇黔准静止锋在演变过程中的温湿结构和大气环流特征。结果表明：滇黔准静止锋表现为湿度锋,其大气环流特征与高原关系密切。青藏高原的抬升作用与Hadley环流偏南导致Ferrel环流的生成、加强对云贵高原的天气有重大的影响。对于I、Ⅱ型静止锋,Hadley环流圈南北跨距小,环流圈下沉支偏南,易与高原南部的上升支一起形成反环流,该反环流可产生较强的雨雪、凝冻的灾害性天气;Ⅲ、IV型静止锋,Hadley环流圈北推,环流圈南北跨距大,此时在青藏高原的南部无反环流存在,云贵地区上升运动较弱,产生的降水与天气也较弱。由于受副高增强的间接影响,Hadley环流在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、IV型静止锋存在明显的双层结构。     

The occurrence of alpine permafrost in the Front Range of Colorado

Permafrost distribution, or ground that remains frozen for at least 2 years, has been modeled using a combination of Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques, Digital Elevation Model (DEM) variables, and land cover in alpine regions of the world. In the Front Range, however, no such empirical models have been developed, and field data are restricted in spatial extent, but rock glaciers are in abundance. Here, I present a probabilistic logistic regression model that is based on topoclimatic information (elevation and aspect) for rock glaciers derived from U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 10-m DEMs. Classes of land cover, obtained from an Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image classification, were assigned weights and were then multiplied by the regression results to refine estimates. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated by comparing mean probability scores with rock glacier activity categories, Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT) from climatic stations on Niwot Ridge, and Bottom Temperature of winter Snow (BTS) measurements, while a Monte Carlo simulation was used to detect uncertainty associated with the original DEM. Permafrost scores >50% covered about 8.9% (242 km²) of the study area (2722 km²) with the highest scores clustered around Longs and Rowe Peaks. Permafrost locations showed a strong correlation with rock glacier activity classes, the −1.0 °C MAAT isotherm, and BTS measurements less than −3.0 °C. The uncertainty analysis revealed that slight global differences exist between the original and error prone DEM; however, local variations in aspect caused the most uncertainty. These results indicate that the model accurately represents regional distribution of permafrost. Therefore, topoclimatic information from rock glaciers and land cover, when combined with an uncertainty analysis, can effectively be used to map the occurrence of Front Range permafrost, providing an imperative tool for cartographers, planners, and geocryologists.     

Modeling past and future alpine permafrost distribution in the Colorado Front Range

Rock glaciers, a feature associated with at least discontinuous permafrost, provide important topoclimatic information. Active and inactive rock glaciers can be used to model current permafrost distribution. Relict rock glacier locations provide paleoclimatic information to infer past conditions. Future warmer climates could cause permafrost zones to shrink and initiate slope instability hazards such as debris flows or rockslides, thus modeling change remains imperative. This research examines potential past and future permafrost distribution in the Colorado Front Range by calibrating an existing permafrost model using a standard adiabatic rate for mountains (0·5 °C per 100 m) for a 4 °C range of cooler and warmer temperatures. According to the model, permafrost currently covers about 12 per cent (326·1 km²) of the entire study area (2721·5 km²). In a 4 °C cooler climate 73·7 per cent (2004·4 km²) of the study area could be covered by permafrost, whereas in a 4°C warmer climate almost no permafrost would be found. Permafrost would be reduced severely by 93·9 per cent (a loss of 306·2 km²) in a 2·0 °C warmer climate; however, permafrost will likely respond slowly to change. Relict rock glacier distribution indicates that mean annual air temperature (MAAT) was once at least some 3·0 to 4·0 °C cooler during the Pleistocene, with permafrost extending some 600–700 m lower than today. The model is effective at identifying temperature sensitive areas for future monitoring; however, other feedback mechanisms such as precipitation are neglected. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.