Characterization and source of oil contamination on the beaches and seabird corpses, Sable Island, Nova Scotia, 1996-2005

During April 1996-May 2005, 2343 oiled seabird corpses were recorded in beach surveys conducted on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. One hundred eighty-three samples of oil were collected from the beaches and from the feathers of bird corpses. Gas chromatographic (GC/FID) analysis was used to identify generic oil type and likely marine source. During this period, at least 74 marine oil discharge events were probably responsible for beached pelagic tar and contamination of seabird corpses found on Sable Island, of which 77.0% were crude oils, 14.9% were fuel oils, and 8.1% were bilge oil mixtures. While fuel and bilge oils may be discharged by all vessel and platform types, crude oil discharges are associated with tanker operations. This study demonstrates that oiling of the sea from tankers remains a serious wildlife issue in the Northwest Atlantic.     

Prey and plastic ingestion of Pacific Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis rogersii) from Monterey Bay,California

Marine plastic pollution affects seabirds, including Pacific Northern Fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis rodgersii), that feed at the surface and mistake plastic for prey or incidentally ingest it. Direct and indirect health issues can result, including satiety and possibly leading to inefficient foraging. Our objective was to examine fulmar body condition, identify cephalopod diet to species, enumerate and weigh ingested plastic, and determine if prey number and size were correlated with ingested plastics in beach-cast fulmars wintering in Monterey Bay California (2003, n = 178: 2007, n = 185). Fulmars consumed mostly Gonatus pyros, G. onyx, and G. californiensis of similar size for both years. We found a significant negative correlation between pectoral muscle index and average size of cephalopod beaks per stomach; a significant increase in plastic categories between 2003 and 2007; and no significant correlation between number and mass of plastic compared with number and size of prey for either year.     

Multifractal modelling and spectrum analysis: Methods and applications to gamma ray spectrometer data from southwestern Nova Scotia, Canada

Multifractal theory was developed for handling scale invariant fields instead of geometry only[1―4]. From a multifractal point of view, some fractal models, ordinary physical processes and relevant probability distribution types can be considered as special cases of multifractal models which provides new insight into the interrelationships between systems and subjects. For example, the low order moment exponents τ (0), τ (1), τ (2) or τ ″(1) obtained by means of the moment method determi…     

Processes and timescales by which a coastal gravel-dominated barrier responds geomorphologically to sea-level rise: Story head barrier,Nova Scotia

Sea-level rise (SLR) is considered to be important for barrier behaviour when barriers are swash-aligned and single-crested, which is typical of only one part of a barrier's lifeterm. Under such conditions gravel-barrier retreat rate correlates with mesoscale (sub-decadal: <10¹ a) SLR rate. Barrier crest overwashing, depending on surge frequency/magnitude, is recognized as the dynamic element that controls barrier retreat rate. Surge characterization of the Halifax tide gauge (using an annual forcing coefficient derived from tide gauge surge residuals) is shown to have high correlation with Story Head (Nova Scotia) barrier retreat rate between 1945 and 1987. Barrier response appears to vary as a function of mesoscale (sub-decadal) SLR and antecedent barrier conditions in combination with the forcing coefficient. Mesoscale (10⁰ a–10² a) rather than macroscale (> 10² a) SLR rate is the critical control on barrier retreat, as mesoscale SLR variation in combination with surge potential is able to raise water level to the elevation threshold sufficient for barrier overwash and hence drive barrier retreat.     

利用常熟地震台同场地形变仪记录检测对比地球自由振荡信号

利用常熟地震台同场地观测的洞体应变仪、体应变仪、水管倾斜仪、垂直摆倾斜仪记录数据,采用小波变换与功率谱密度估计方法,检测2011年3月11日日本9.0级大地震激发的地球自由振荡信号,其中检测到47个球型基频振型（₀S₃—₀S₄₉）、15个环型基频振型（₀T₅—0T₂₅）以及部分球型谐频振型,与地球初步参考模型（PREM）理论频率值基本符合,表明检测结果较好。对比结果显示：水管倾斜仪检测球型振荡振型能力最强,垂直摆倾斜仪检测环型振荡振型能力最强;体应变仪可检测到清晰的环型基频振型,且信噪比较高;倾斜仪对自由振荡信号的检测能力优于应变仪。     

两次近距离大震前成都台视电阻率重现性、相似性和各向异性变化

本文评价了四川汶川MS8.0、芦山MS7.0地震前后成都台地电观测环境,研究了该台视电阻率变化.结果为:(1)两次大震发生在该台以西的龙门山断裂带、震源机制和震源深度接近,是近距离大震,相应地,在两次地震前该台两个正交测道中的每一测道视电阻率变化均显示了中期异常及其变化过程的重现性和异常幅度的相似性;(2)在每次地震前,两个测道表现了异常变化形态、幅度和起始时间的差异性.其重现性、相似性证明这些异常与两次大震晚期孕育有关;差异性主要展示了与震源机制有直接联系的视电阻率各向异性变化,揭示了震前该台地下介质经历了强烈的电性各向异性变化的过程.