Occurrence and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the coastal surface microlayer

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in the coastal sea surface microlayer (SML), the sub-surface waters (SSW) and the overlying atmosphere in order to investigate the influence of the SML on contaminant enrichment and air-sea exchange. Samples were collected at two contrasting locations of the NW Mediterranean, one urban influenced (off Barcelona, Spain) and another comparatively clean (off Banyuls-sur-Mer, France). Statistical data analysis confirmed the accumulation of PAHs in the SML with respect to the SSW (20.3+/-9.1 vs. 13.1+/-10.0 ng L(-1) in the dissolved phase; 709+/-207 vs. 158+/-111 ng g(-1) in the particulate phase). This accumulation was higher at the contaminated location (Barcelona station) compared with the more pristine one, with PAH enrichments 1.5 and 4.5 times higher for the dissolved and particulate phases, respectively, indicating that the enrichment of PAHs in the SML is dominated by particle transport processes.     

Response of a climate model to tidal mixing parameterization under present day and last glacial maximum conditions

Experiments with a climate model were conducted under present day and last glacial maximum conditions in order to examine the model’s response to a vertical mixing scheme based on internal tide energy dissipation. The increase in internal tide energy flux caused by a 120 m reduction in sea level had the expected effect on diffusivity values, which were higher under lower sea level conditions. The impact of this vertical diffusivity change on the Atlantic meridional overturning is not straightforward and no clear relationship between diffusivity and overturning is found. There exists a weak positive correlation between overturning and changes to the power consumed by vertical mixing. Most of the climatic response generated by sea level change was not related to alterations in the internal tide energy flux but rather to the direct change in sea level itself.     

On the recent warming of the southeastern Bering Sea shelf

During the last decade, the southeastern Bering Sea shelf has undergone a warming of 3 °C that is closely associated with a marked decrease of sea ice over the area. This shift in the physical environment of the shelf can be attributed to a combination of mechanisms, including the presence over the eastern Bering Sea shelf of a relatively mild air mass during the winter, especially from 2000 to 2005; a shorter ice season caused by a later fall transition and/or an earlier spring transition; increased flow through Unimak Pass during winter, which introduces warm Gulf of Alaska water onto the southeastern shelf; and the feedback mechanism whereby warmer ocean temperatures during the summer delay the southward advection of sea ice during winter. While the relative importance of these four mechanisms is difficult to quantify, it is evident that for sea ice to form, cold arctic winds must cool the water column. Sea ice is then formed in the polynyas during periods of cold north winds, and this ice is advected southward over the eastern shelf. The other three mechanisms can modify ice formation and melt, and hence its extent. In combination, these four mechanisms have served to temporally and spatially limit ice during the 5-year period (2001–2005). Warming of the eastern Bering Sea shelf could have profound influences on the ecosystem of the Bering Sea—from modification of the timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom to the northward advance of subarctic species and the northward retreat of arctic species.     

Establishing the Late Pleistocene-Holocene sedimentation boundary in the southern North Sea using OSL dating of shallow continental shelf sediments

This paper provides insight into the fate of Late Weichselian and Early Holocene sediments accumulated in the German sector of the southern North Sea. A combination of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and radiocarbon dating was applied to set up the chronology. Seven cores were studied to obtain ten quartz OSL samples and ten radiocarbon samples. The core locations were chosen along a southeast to northwest transect along the western side of the Elbe palaeovalley, giving a good coverage of the entire German North Sea area. All samples for OSL dating showed a significant scatter in the equivalent dose (D_e) distribution of quartz due to heterogeneous bleaching. The Minimum Age Model (MAM-3) was found to be the most suitable to extract true burial ages. It was inferred from the study that sedimentation did still occur during the late deglaciation period in many areas. These are mainly Late Weichselian glaciofluvial or glaciolacustrine sediments directly overlain by early Holocene fluvial and/or transgressive deposits and followed by modern marine sands. However, considerable late Weichselian erosion or a possible period of non-deposition was observed in the highland area to the northeast of the Dogger Bank and a small discontinuity in the near-shore region was noticed, probably due to early Holocene fluvial erosion. Relicts of a palaeo-river bank or terrace were identified in core 14VC to the east of the Dogger Bank. A possible interpretation of the Pleistocene-Holocene interface along the core transect is provided based on lithology and measured OSL and radiocarbon ages.     

波阻抗反演在南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物勘探中的应用

针对神狐海域的地质构造和天然气水合物的赋存特征,以重点测线三维地震数据为基础,分析讨论了基于宽带约束的模拟退火波阻抗反演方法、流程和关键技术问题,定量获得了含天然气水合物沉积物的波阻抗特征。结果表明:基于宽带约束的模拟退火波阻抗反演数据具有较高的有效垂向分辨率和较好的横向连续性;神狐海域高波阻抗异常反映了含天然气水合物沉积层,而不连续异常低波阻抗层是水合物层之下游离气的表现,这与钻探结果吻合。由此可见,基于宽带约束的模拟退火波阻抗反演可为天然气水合物层识别和预测、勘探目标圈定、钻探井位选择提供重要依据。     

南海西部盐水层CO2埋存潜力评估

南海西部东方1-1、崖城13-1和乐东等气田具有CO2含量高的特点,每年从生产出的天然气中分离出大量的CO2。为了减少CO2在大气中的排放,考虑在莺歌海地区选择合适的盐水层埋存体,拟进行CO2地质埋存示范工程。根据CO2在盐水层中的各种埋存机理,并考虑盐水层构造特征对CO2运移分布的影响,提出了一种较为准确的CO2埋存潜力评估方法,并利用此方法对筛选出的5个备选盐水层进行了评估。评估结果表明,各盐水层埋存潜力巨大,都远远大于示范工程期限内预计的CO2埋存总量,并可将这些盐水层作为将来海南省及临近广东省人为CO2的埋存场所。南海西部东方1-1、崖城13-1和乐东等气田具有CO2含量高的特点,每年从生产出的天然气中分离出大量的CO2。为了减少CO2在大气中的排放,考虑在莺歌海地区选择合适的盐水层埋存体,拟进行CO2地质埋存示范工程。根据CO2在盐水层中的各种埋存机理,并考虑盐水层构造特征对CO2运移分布的影响,提出了一种较为准确的CO2埋存潜力评估方法,并利用此方法对筛选出的5个备选盐水层进行了评估。评估结果表明,各盐水层埋存潜力巨大,都远远大于示范工程期限内预计的CO2埋存总量,并可将这些盐水层作为将来海南省及临近广东省人为CO2的埋存场所。     

Evolution of isotopic compositions in groundwater of the area between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf

The stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen have been implemented to assess the recharge mechanisms in an area in the UAE bounded to the northwestern part of the Gulf of Oman and the southeastern part of the Arabian Gulf. The conversion of stable isotopes to deuterium excess was utilized as a supportive tool to understand the process of groundwater recharge. The concluding results of this study showed that the origin of moisture is the Mediterranean Sea. The precipitation is the main source of recharge, in which the precipitation having undergone evaporation before recharge occurs. The comparison between regression line for data collected in 1996 and regression line for samples collected in 2006 suggests that the precipitation water which recharged the groundwater, was diluted with groundwater and this dilution is observed from decreasing of the deuterium excess of collected groundwater samples with increasing isotopes of oxygen. The dilution of groundwater with the recharge water suggests modern-day recharge as it is seen from high deuterium excess that exceeded the deuterium excess of LMWL and was close to MMWL.