Statistical study on the spatial-temporal distribution features of the arctic sea ice extent

On the basis of the arctic monthly mean sea ice extent data set during 1953-1984, the arctic region is divided into eight subregions,and the analyses of empirical orthogonal functions, power spectrum and maximum entropy spectrum are made to indentify the major spatial and temporal features of the sea ice fluctuations within 32-year period. And then, a brief appropriate physical explanation is tentatively suggested. The results show that both seasonal and non-seasonal variations of the sea ice extent are remarkable, and iis mean annual peripheral positions as well as their interannu-al shifting amplitudes are quite different among all subregions. These features are primarily affected by solar radiation, o-cean circulation, sea surface temperature and maritime-continental contrast, while the non-seasonal variations are most possibly affected by the cosmic-geophysical factors such as earth pole shife, earth rotation oscillation and solar activity.     

Some parameters in arctic sea ice dynamics from an expedition in the summer of 2003

1Introduction Seaiceoccupiesthemainpartofthesurfaceof theArcticOcean.ThefocusoftheSecondChineseNa- tionalArcticResearchExpedition(CHINAE-2003) wastounderstandthevariationsofarcticmarineenvi- ronmentsandtheseaiceeffectsontheclimatechanges ofglobalextent,inmiddleandlowerlatitudesareas, especiallyinChina.Therefore,thejointsea-ice-airob- servationforseaicestudieswasoneofthekeypro- jectsinCHINARE-2003.Theinvestigatedareacov- ered3000kmfromsouthtonorthand900kmfrom westtoeast.Seventemporali…     

Interannual variations and trend of the production of inorganic carbon by coccolithophores in the arctic in 2002–2010 based on satellite data

Based on MODIS data, a significant decline in the intensity and spatial extension of blooms of coccolithophore E. huxleyi in Arctic waters in 2002–2010 is revealed and quantified. This 9-year tendency has been unfolding against a background of negative trends in the dynamics of SST and levels of incident PAR and summer-time NAO, which collectively, but with a predominance of the NAO influence, are believed to be the main drivers of the decline of E. huxleyi blooms and the associated decline in inorganic carbon production in the Arctic Basin.     

Reproduction of the large-scale state of water and sea ice in the arctic ocean in 1948–2002: Part I. Numerical model

Calculations were performed using a model of the combined circulation of the Atlantic Ocean (from 20° S), the Arctic Ocean, and the Bering Sea with a resolution of 0.25° by latitude and longitude for 1958–2006. The results are compared with observational data and results obtained by other models. Model estimates were obtained for the evolution of the Atlantic water inflow into the Arctic basin through the Fram Strait and the Barents Sea. Increased transports of Atlantic water inflow into the Arctic basin were found for the first half of the 1990s and 2004–2006. The relation between Atlantic water transports into the Arctic basin and variations in the North Atlantic oscillation is shown. A positive trend of Atlantic water inflow into the Arctic basin through the Fram Strait (0.061 Sv per year) was revealed. The evolution of the freshwater-layer thickness in the Beaufort Circulation (BC) is considered. There are three periods of its increased values combined with the increased anticyclonic vorticity of BC currents: the 1960s, the 1980s, and from 1999 until now. The model estimate for a statistical mean timescale of the cycle of freshwater concentration and sink from the BC is 16 years, which is close to currently existing estimates. The evolution of anticyclonic vorticity of currents leads the variations in the freshwater-layer thickness of the BC by 1.75 years. Since the mid-1970s, there have been long positive trends of both the freshwater-layer thickness and anticyclonic vorticity of currents in the BC. In the same time period, there has been a satellite-registered negative trend in the ice area in the Arctic, which was reproduced by the model.     

Comparison of the seven large meanders of the Kuroshio

In this paper, a comparison among the seven large meanders of the Kuroshio is made in order to probe into their similarity and differences. The major results are described as follows.1. Although the three phases for the seven large meanders such as their formations, maturity, as well as decline are very similar to one another, each meander has its own trivial difference in detail.2.The paths of the first six large meanders in the mature phase may be classified into ten types: U1, V1, U2, V2, U1', V1', U2', V2',φ and W.3.The seven large meanders may be grouped into two patterns, i. e. , pattern Ⅰ and pattern Ⅱ. Pattern Ⅰ includes the first and the fourth large meanders, and pattern Ⅱ includes the rest of the above meanders.4. Four standards for identifying the large meanders of the Kuroshio are put forward.     

Numerical modelling of the depth variation and the fluctuation of the thermocline under the effects of wind in the Bohai Sea

In this paper, numerical modelling of the fluctuation of the thermocline in the Bohai Sea has been made using a two-dimensional nonlinear model in stratified ocean and the model for the depth of the thermocline under the effects of wind stirring. The computed results depict the variations of the fluctuation of the thermocline driven by different kinds of wind fields. The fluctuation of the thermocline in the Bohai Sea varies somewhat with different directions, paths and locations of typhoon (cyclone). Under the effects of strong wind, the thermoclines both sink due to mixing and fluctuate. Furthermore, the fluctuation of the thermocline speeds up mixing. At last, the thermoclines disappear after 12-15 h when the strong wind increases from Force 6 to Force 9.     

Estimations of the parameters of the flux of sediments near the west coast of the Bakal’skaya Spit under the conditions of heavy storms in 2007

On the basis of the wind-energy method, we estimate the distributions of the parameters of a longshore flux of sediments formed near the west coast of the Bakal’skaya Spit (in the northwest part of the Crimea) under the conditions of heavy storms whose action caused a significant erosion of the west coast of the spit and retreat of the coastline in January and November 2007. The calculations are carried out by using the actual directions and velocities of the winds recorded in the investigated region. We analyze the trends of changes in the formation of the coastal zone caused by the nonuniform distribution of the intensity of longshore transportation of sediments. In analyzing the causes of formation of gullies in the barrier of the Bakal’skoe Lake and in the narrow distal part of the body of the spit, we make an attempt of interpretation of the quantities characterizing the force of the frontal action of waves. The obtained numerical results are confirmed by the data of field observations.     

Study of evolution forecast of the area of the Huanghe River mouth

From 1979 to 1989, the current Qingshuigou course of the Huanghe River formed a sub - delta which resembles a beak extending into the Laizhou Bay. It covers 618 km2 in area. To meet the needs of developing and constructing the Huanghe River Delta and under the presupposition of keeping the current course for 15-20 a, we forecast mainly by using the OM (1, 1) model that the front border of the sub-delta will be close to 119°30'E and its area will become 923 km2by the end of the year 2000. The Huanghe River will make land 760 km2 in area.     

Ecological characteristics of the abundance and distribution of bacteria in the waters nearby the front of the Hangzhou Bay

- Abundance of total bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, coliform and oil degradable bacteria and their relations with salinity and suspended matter in the frontal waters in the Hangzhou Bay are described. The results obtained show that the highest abundances of total bacteria , heterotrophic bacteria are encountered around the front and near the northern shore of the Hangzhou Bay, where a positive correlation ( r =0. 70) between the total bacteria abundance and the total suspended matter (TSM) is persent. Moreover,the abundance of oil degradable bacteria being an indicator of oil pollution, is also high in that region.     

Submergence of the Sublittoral–Bathyal Species into the Abyssal Zone of the Sea of Japan

Oceanology - The bathymetric ranges of the same deep-sea (>2000 m) species in the Sea of Japan and outside it are compared. Among 85 deep-sea species of the Sea of Japan mega- and...     

Manifestation of the non-linearity of the relationship ‘temperature-salinity-density’ in the sub-arctic frontal zone of the Pacific Ocean

The values of the function (T, S) on theT, S straight lines with different angular coefficients have been analysed. It is shown that at the point of contact of theT, S straight lines with the corresponding isopycnals, has a conventional maximum and the density ratio isR=1. It is inferred that a conventional density maximum may occur and that theT, S gradients are compensated at the oceanic fronts separating the sub-arctic and subtropical water structures.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

Abnormality of the monsoon wind in the sea area along the southeastern coast of China and the response of the northern area of the South China Sea during the ENSO events

Variations of monsoon wind field in the sea area along the southeastern coast of China during the ENSO events and its influence on the sea level and sea surface temperature (SST) are explored mainly on the basis of the data of monthly mean wind at 850 hPa and five coastal stations during 1973-1987. The results from the analyses of the data and theoretical estimation show that the southwest wind anomalies appeared in the study area during the events, and northeast wind anomalies occurred in general before the events. With the coastline of the area being parallel basically to the direction of the wind, an Ekman transport will result in an accumulation of the water near the coast or a departure of the water from the coast. As a result , the sea level and SST there will be affected markedly. During the events, southwest wind will intensify in the summer, and northeast wind will weaken in the winter. Their total effect is that a large negative anomaly of the sea level and SST will occur. The estimations indi     

Issues of the Holocene transgression on the southern plain of the Changjiang Delta

The paper deals with the question of Holocene transgression on the southern plain of the Changjiang Delta.At the beginning of the transgression, the paleovalleys of the Changjiang and Qiantang Rivers were covered by sea water at first.The shoreline of 8000-7500 yr BP coincided with the -7m isobath of paleotopography. Sea level had already been the present level about 7000-6500 years ago, and the Holocene transgression reached its maximum extent. During the period, the Changjiang and Qiantang Rivers and the Dongtiaoxi valley were turned into estuaries; the eastern area of Shanghai became a shallow sea; some of the bays and lagoons were distributed on the Hang-Jia-Hu and Tao-Ge Plain; the hilly region around the Taihu Lake was coastal marsh and freshwater swamp. Gangshen on the west of Shanghai was formed 7000-4000 yr BP, and during the last 4000 years, the eastern coastal plain of Shanghai advanced quickly toward the sea, and partial clear land of the western Taihu Lake was enclosed and charged into a fre     

Distribution of Pacific-origin water in the region of the Chukchi Plateau in the Arctic Ocean in the summer of 2003

1Introduction Besidestheprecipitationandriverdischarges,the watersinthePacificOceanandtheAtlanticOceanare thesourcesoftheArcticOceanwater.TheAtlantic waterenterstheArcticOceanviatheFramStraitand theBarentsSea.Foritsdenserfeatureduetohigh salinity,mostofitsinkstothenorthofSvaldbardand circulatesinallthedeepbasinsintheArcticOcean, formingthedeepandbottomwatersoftheArcticO- cean(Aagaardetal.,1985;Rudelsetal.,1999).The BeringStraitistheonlychannelforthePacificwater toflowintotheArcticOce…     

The evolution of rifting on the volcanic margin of the Pelotas Basin and the contextualization of the Paraná–Etendeka LIP in the separation of Gondwana in the South Atlantic

The Pelotas Basin is the classical example of a volcanic passive margin displaying large wedges of seaward-dipping reflectors (SDR). The SDR fill entirely its rifts throughout the basin, characterizing the abundant syn-rift magmatism (133–113 Ma). The Paraná–Etendeka Large Igneous Province (LIP), adjacent to west, constituted the pre-rift magmatism (134–132 Ma). The interpretation of ultra-deep seismic lines showed a very different geology from the adjacent Santos, Campos and Espírito Santo Basins, which constitute examples of magma-poor passive margins. Besides displaying rifts totally filled by volcanic rocks, diverse continental crustal domains were defined in the Pelotas Basin, such as an outer domain, probably constituted by highly stretched and permeated continental igneous crust, and a highly reflective lower crust probably reflecting underplating.The analysis of rifting in this portion of the South Atlantic is based on seismic interpretation and on the distribution of regional linear magnetic anomalies. The lateral accretion of SDR to the east towards the future site of the breakup and the temporal relationship between their rift and sag geometries allows the reconstitution of the evolution of rifting in the basin. Breakup propagated from south to north in three stages (130–127.5; 127.5–125; 125–113 Ma) physically separated by oceanic fracture zones (FZ). The width of the stretched, thinned and heavily intruded continental crust also showed a three-stage increase in the same direction and at the same FZ. Consequently, the Continental-Oceanic Boundary (COB) shows three marked shifts, from west to east, from south to north, resulting into rift to margin segmentation. Rifting also propagated from west to east, in the direction of the final breakup, in each of the three segments defined. The importance of the Paraná–Etendeka LIP upon the overall history of rupturing and breakup of Western Gondwanaland seems to have been restricted in time and in space only to the Pelotas Basin.     

Investigation of the sensitivity of the Mellor–Yamada parametrization to the choice of finite-difference analogs in a numerical three-dimensional model of the operative prediction of currents in the black sea

Within the framework of the Mellor–Yamada approach, we realize a numerical scheme for the calculation of the coefficients of turbulent viscosity and diffusion in the z -system of coordinates for the three-dimensional model of operative prediction of currents in the Black Sea. Some discrete analogs of the equations for turbulent kinetic energy and turbulence macroscale are studied. Their high sensitivity to the choice of finite-difference approximations is demonstrated. On the basis of the comparison of the results of prognostic experiments with the data of observations, we choose the best approximation of the term used to describe the generation pf turbulence energy.     

The influence of the climate’s variability on the deep-water oxygen conditions in the east of the Gulf of Finland

Based on the long-term surveys in 1995?C2010, the influence of the variability of the winter conditions on the interannual dynamics of the content of dissolved oxygen was studied concerning the deep waters (the 40 m isobath line) of the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland. The content of oxygen varied within a wide range with a low-pronounced trend to a decrease during the considered period. All the processes affecting the aeration of deep waters, i.e., the advection of oxygen-depleted saline waters from the Baltic Sea and the intensity of the autumnal and winter mixing, correlated with the North Atlantic oscillation index, which determined the close positive correlation between this parameter and the oxygen content (r = +0.87). The hypoxic effects in the gulf were registered in the years of negative anomalies of the North Atlantic oscillation. The conclusion is reached that the deterioration of the oxygen conditions at the inner part of the Gulf of Finland during the late 20th-early 21st century is mainly caused by the large-scale variations in the atmospheric processes.     

Kuroshio warm filament and the source of the warm water of the Tsushima Current

Characteristics and evolution of the Kuroshio frontal eddies and warm filaments are analyzed according to two series of satellite images (March 5 to 7, 1986 and April 14 to 16, 1988). The results show that the frontal eddies in the East China Sea are generated at the shelf break and move along the continental slope at a speed of 15 cm/s with the Kuroshio. The frontal eddies occur about every 10 d and evolve to be warm filaments a few hundred km in length and 30-40 km in width in the area west of the Yaku-shima. Meanwhile, the existence of the warm filament was also found in the area by analysing the hydrographic data in the area west of Kyushu during May 24-June 5, 1988.The Kuroshio warm filaments move westward opposite to the Kuroshio and then turn northward at the shelf break and become the main source of the warm water of the Tsushima Warm Current. A simple dynamic explanation for the process is presented in this paper.     

Assimilation of the climatic hydrological data in the σ-coordinate model of the black sea by the algorithm of adaptive statistics

We realize the algorithm of adaptive statistics of forecasting errors for the assimilation of the climatic fields of temperature and salinity in the σ-coordinate model of the dynamics of the Black Sea. The principal relations of this algorithm and its simplified version based on the Kalman filter are presented. The distinctive features of realization of the algorithm specified by the model are discussed. We also present the results of comparison of the hydrophysical fields of the Black Sea reconstructed according to the algorithm of adaptive statistics and a simplified scheme of assimilation of the climatic data. It is shown that the dependence of sources in the transport equations (heat and salt diffusion) on the four-dimensional variances of forecasting errors and threedimensional measurement errors enables one to reconstruct the mutually adapted climatic parameters of the sea more exactly.