Interpretation of the GRACE-derived mass trend in Enderby Land, Antarctica

Monthly gravity solutions of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) reveal three areas in Antarctica with striking interannual mass trends. The positive mass trend in Enderby Land, East Antarctica, is poorly understood because of uncertainties in the surface ice-sheet mass balance, post-glacial rebound (PGR), and processing of GRACE data. In this study, we compare the GRACE mass trends with values estimated from in situ snow-stake measurements, and Ice Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) data. The mass trends estimated from ICESat data show a strong correlation with GRACE mass trends. In contrast, the snow-stake data show discrepancies with temporal variations in GRACE mass, especially in 2006. The discrepancies are probably associated with basal ice-sheet outflow, which is difficult to observe using snow stakes. We conclude that the bulk of the GRACE mass trend can be explained by snow accumulation and basal ice-sheet outflow.     

激光高度计卫星ICESAT在地学研究中的应用

介绍了世界首颗激光高度计卫星ICESat及其惟一有效的载荷——地学激光测高系统(GLAS)以及它的科学研究目的和工作原理,论述了ICESat在地学研究中的应用。     

南海北部海底热流测量及分析

广州海洋地质调查局用德国产的微型温度传感器和自行研制的重力取样器组装成海底热流探针,并用该设备在中国南海北部开展了海底热流测量,这是国内首次独立开展此项工作,也是我国海洋地质和地球物理调查技术方法的新尝试.通过实测数据分析以及与1985年中美合作获得的西沙海域地热流测量剖面数据对比,表明测量数据可靠并具有良好的一致性.此项工作的成功,将有助于地热流测量工作的深入开展,进而提高我国海底天然气水合物的勘探和海洋地质基础研究的水平.     

Digital system for recording fish echoes

A system to record digitised echo information from echo sounders has been developed as part of a project to improve methods of estimating the abundance of fish stocks around New Zealand. The depth of echoes appearing at the echo‐sounder receiver is determined, followed by a sequence of samples of the echo envelope defining its shape. All data are digitised and recorded on a seven‐track digital magnetic tape recorder. The system is designed to preserve as much information about the echoes as possible. In contrast to other published systems designed to either “count” or “integrate” fish echoes, this system allows free choice of methods of analysis.     

Simulated Heat Content Variability in the Upper Layers of the Tropical Indian Ocean

Ocean General Circulation Model (OGCM) simulations from 1970–2007 are used to study the upper ocean heat content variability in the Tropical Indian Ocean (TIO). Model computed heat contents up to 50 m (denoted by HC50 m hereafter) representing upper ocean heat content and 300 m (HC300 m) representing heat content up to thermocline depth are first compared with heat contents computed from observations of two buoys in the TIO. It is found that there is good agreement between the model and observations. Fourier analysis of heat content is carried out in different regions of TIO. The amplitudes of semi-annual variability for HC50 m and HC300 m are observed to be greater than those for the annual variability in the Bay of Bengal, while in the Arabian Sea there is a mixed result. Heat content tendency is known to be governed by net surface heat flux and horizontal as well as vertical heat transports. For understanding the relative importance of these processes, a detailed analysis of these terms in the tendency equation is carried out. Rossby wave is observed in the annual mode of heat transport while equatorial jet and Kelvin waves are observed in the semi-annual mode of heart transport. Finally, the correlation between heat content and sea surface temperature (SST) and sea level anomaly (SLA), taken one at a time, is computed. It is found that the correlation improves significantly when both these quantities are together taken into account.     

一种基于面积平衡约束的图斑化简算法

保持综合前后各地类土地面积平衡是土地利用数据综合的基本原则.地类图斑是面积统计的最小单元,用常规的线化简算法不但难以保证图斑的地理特性,而且会给面积统计带来不确定性.该文提出一种能够使图斑化简前后面积保持绝对平衡的化简算法,该算法给出了求取图斑群和岛图斑的地理特征点、几何特征点的相关方法,对被特征点分割的综合子弧段运用直线面积平衡和参数曲线面积平衡两种求取平衡线的方式进行化简,基本原理是综合前后弧段切割它们自身的包络矩形面积比相等,且综合后的弧段须落入综合前子弧段的误差缓冲区内.实验表明,该算法不但能保持图斑的形态特征,而且能保持图斑化简前后面积绝对相等.     

基于能量平衡法的原状冻土Ⅰ型非线性断裂韧度测试研究

基于能量平衡的原理,采用冻土弯曲断裂试验模型,根据不同深度的冻胀量、冻深与时间变化规律,严格控制试样制作及试验时的温度,对原状冻土进行了断裂韧度测试试验。得出Ⅰ型直裂纹试样的 和 值,从而为原状冻土的非线性断裂破坏问题的研究进行了有意义的尝试,拓宽了思路。     

Surface heat fluxes and thermohaline variability in the Ross Sea and in Terra Nova Bay polynya

The Ross Sea is an important area for the ventilation of the deep layers of the Southern Ocean (e.g. [Jacobs, S.S., Fairbanks, R.G., Horibe, Y., 1985. Origin and evolution of water masses near the Antarctic continental margin: evidence from H218O/H216O ratios in seawater. In: Jacobs, S.S. (Ed.), Oceanology of the Antarctic Continental Shelf. Antarctic Research Series, vol. 43. pp. 59–85; Orsi, A.H., Johnson, G.C., Bullister, J.L., 1999. Circulation, mixing, and the production of Antarctic bottom water. Progress in Oceanography 109, 43–55]). These processes are driven by the atmospheric forcing which, at high latitude, plays a key role in the formation and thickness of sea ice. In order to investigate the effect of the atmospheric forcing variability at different time scales, we analysed the surface heat budget over the Ross Sea continental shelf and in Terra Nova Bay (TNB) polynya, using analyses for the period 1990–2006 provided by European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecast (ECMWF). This study was also performed using thermohaline data collected within the activities of Climatic Long-term Interaction for the mass-balance in Antarctica project of the Italian National Programme for Antarctic Research for the summer periods from 1994 until 2001.The annual average of the heat budget over the continental shelf of the Ross Sea estimated in the period 1990–2006 shows an interannual variability ranging between −97 and −123 W m⁻². Assuming that the heat loss must be compensated by the sensible heat carried by the Circumpolar Deep Water we estimated its transport (3.1 Sv) and its variability (0.2 Sv). Similarly in the TNB polynya the heat loss reaches its maximum in 2003 (−313 W m⁻²) and its minimum (−58 W m⁻²) in 1996. The related production of sea ice and the High Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW) were also estimated. The HSSW production switched from the lowest values during the first 10 years of the investigated period (1990–2000) to the highest values for the remaining period (2001–2006).The thermohaline characteristics of the water column in TNB show a general decrease in salinity with a superimposed variability. Comparison between the estimated HSSW production and the salinity observed within the TNB water column show similar tendency in the last years after 2002, while during the period 1995–1998 the behaviour is different. Our hypothesis concern a possible role of the CDW inflow in the TNB area and our results could be explained by a different contribution of CDW transport and HSSW production to the salt content within the water column.     

Coupled Process Models as a Tool for Analysing Hydrothermal Systems

Hydrothermal systems are characterised by complex interactions between heat transfer, fluid flow, deformation, species transport and chemical reactions. Numerical models can provide quantitatively constrained information in regions where acquisition of new data is difficult or expensive thus providing a means for reducing risks, costs, and effort during targeting, production, and management of resources linked to hydrothermal systems. Here we show how numerical simulations of hydrothermal processes can be used to better understand coupled reactive transport in modern geothermal systems and in ancient hydrothermal ore deposits. We give examples based on the Enhanced Geothermal System at Soultz-sous-Forêts in France, hydrothermal mineralisation at Mount Isa in Australia, and the geothermal resource at Hamburg-Allermöhe in Germany.     

Antibiotics in the Hong Kong metropolitan area: Ubiquitous distribution and fate in Victoria Harbour

We investigated the presence and fate of 16 antibiotics belonging to seven groups (β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, trimethoprim and amphenicols) in effluents of sewage plants and receiving waters in Hong Kong. Cefalexin, amoxicillin, ofloxacin and erythromycin-H₂O were ubiquitous in sea water throughout Victoria Harbour, indicating continuous discharge to the environment. This is one of the few studies reporting the frequent occurrence of cefalexin and amoxicillin in sewage effluents and sea water (170-5070 and 64-1670 ng/L in sewage; 6.1-493 and 0.64-76 ng/L in sea water, respectively). Mass flows from seven sewage plants discharged an estimated total of 14.4 kg/day to the Harbour. Typhoon shelters also appeared to play an important role as sources of antibiotics, as evidenced by elevated concentrations within their boundaries. Mass balance estimations suggested significant quantities of antibiotics are discharged to the Harbour without passage through treatment plants.