Discovery of a recent,natural whale fall on the continental slope off Anvers Island,western Antarctic Peninsula

Whale falls provide a substantial, nutrient-rich resource for species in areas of the ocean that may otherwise be largely devoid of food. We report the discovery of a natural whale fall at 1430 m depth in the cold waters of the continental slope off the western Antarctic Peninsula. This is the highest-latitude whale fall reported to date. The section of the carcass we observed—the tail fluke—was more complete than any previously reported natural whale fall from the deep sea and in the early stages of decomposition. We estimate the entire cetacean to measure 5–8 m in length. The flesh remained almost intact on the carcass but the skin was missing from the entire section except for the end of the fluke, clearly exposing blubber and soft tissue. The absence of skin indicates rapid and Homogeneous loss. The dominant macrofauna present were crustaceans, including most prominently the lithodid crab Paralomis birsteini, and zoarcid fish typical of the ‘mobile-scavenger’ successional stage. The density of mobile macrofauna was greatest on the carcass and declined to background levels within 100 m, indicating that they were attracted to the whale fall. This whale fall offers an important opportunity to examine the decomposition of a carcass under deep-sea conditions at polar latitudes.     

Trophic relations of capelin Mallotus villosus and polar cod Boreogadus saida in the Barents Sea as a factor of impact on the ecosystem

The purpose of the study is to assess the role of trophic relations of the dominant pelagic fishes capelin and polar cod in the Barents Sea with regard to distribution and accessibility as prey for the Atlantic cod in warm years (2004–2005). Unlike in the previous period, during these warm years a dramatic increase of the polar cod population resulted in a northwards expansion of the feeding grounds where overlapping of polar cod and capelin concentrations was observed. This caused an increased competition for copepods, which are the main food item for young fish. In the areas dominated by polar cod the shortage of copepods forced immature capelin to switch to the chaetognath Sagitta, which affected their fatness negatively.During the warm years the feeding grounds of Atlantic cod also expanded, to a large degree caused by the shortage of their main food, the capelin. In 2004–2005 the cod formed feeding concentrations in the north and northeast Barents Sea where they fed on the capelin. In this area the consumption of polar cod by cod increased, and in some local areas the polar cod practically replaced the capelin in the diet of cod. In general polar cod in the diet of Atlantic cod were more important in the northern than in the southern part of the Barents Sea. The fatness of cod was extremely low during the whole spring–summer period (until August), and after the feeding period the fatness index of the Atlantic cod became lower than the average long-term autumn value.     

极地预报年及相关科学问题

为有效应对全球气候变化和极地增暖挑战,世界气象组织（WMO）于2013年启动了"极地预报计划"（PPP,2013-2022年）,并于2017年启动了PPP的核心行动"极地预报年"（YOPP,2017年中期至2019年中期）。本文对"极地预报计划"和"极地预报年"的相关情况进行了介绍,重点说明了该研究项目支撑下在社会效益、检验、观测、模拟、资料同化、集合预报、可预报性和诊断、全球关联8个领域需要解决的科学问题和开展的工作。同时,探讨了我国借PPP/YOPP实施契机,在极地现场观测、数值预报和信息服务方面需要做出的努力。     

Liquid freshwater transport and Polar Surface Water characteristics in the East Greenland Current during the AO-02 Oden expedition

Dynamical features of the East Greenland Current (EGC) are synthesized from a survey conducted by the Swedish icebreaker Oden during the International Arctic Ocean - 02 expedition (AO-02) in May 2002 with emphasis on the liquid freshwater transport and Polar Surface Water. The data include hydrography and lowered acoustic doppler current profiler (LADCP) velocities in eight transects along the EGC, from the Fram Strait in the north to the Denmark Strait in the south. The survey reveals a strong confinement of the low-salinity polar water in the EGC to the continental slope/shelf—a feature of relevance for the stability of the thermohaline circulation in the Arctic Mediterranean. The southward transport of liquid freshwater in the EGC was found to vary considerably between the sections, ranging between 0.01 and 0.1 Sverdrup. Computations based on geostrophic as well as LADCP velocities give a section-averaged southward freshwater transport of 0.06 Sverdrup in the EGC during May 2002. Furthermore, Oden data suggest that the liquid freshwater transport was as large north of the Fram Strait as it was south of the Denmark Strait.     

极坐标变换变边界模型及其应用

Ｊｏｈｎｓ变边界模型用于海湾海域风暴潮漫滩计算是，由于岸界变曲较大，而影响了计算的稳定性和精度，本文针对这个问题，导出了极坐标下的连续移动边界模型，从而改善了对岸界弯曲较大海域的风暴潮漫滩计算，通过对１９６９年黄河口沿岸一带水域风暴潮漫滩的模拟，证明这种极坐标变边界模型用于海湾海域的风暴潮漫滩计算，优于Ｊｏｈｎｓ变边界模型。     

Sweeping scientific data under a polar bear skin rug: The IUCN and the proposed listing of polar bears under CITES Appendix I

In 2008 the US Government listed the polar bear as “threatened” under the US Endangered Species Act, largely due to scientific analyses of climate change data and polar bear distribution conducted by the US Geological Survey (USGS), which projected a 2/3 reduction in the polar bear population within the next 40 years. In 2009 the US Government announced that it would submit a proposal to the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to uplist polar bears from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I. A report produced by the IUCN/Traffic stated that this was not warranted. However, the IUCN/Traffic report did not consider the USGS data noted above. Ultimately the proposal for CITES uplisting failed. In this paper we examine the differences in the IUCN/Traffic report and the best available science, and conclude that listing polar bears under CITES Appendix I was scientifically warranted.     

基于海洋渔业发展的海洋科考船建造和应用

为提高我国海洋科考船的建造和应用水平,促进远洋和极地渔业发展,文章根据国内外海洋科考船的发展历史和现状,分析我国海洋科考船在海洋渔业发展中存在的问题以及海洋科考船的发展趋势,并提出相关建议。研究结果表明:国际海洋科考船发展早、数量多且装备先进;我国海洋科考船发展较快,但仍需提升数量和技术,在建和研发船舶具有世界领先水平;在促进海洋渔业发展方面,我国海洋科考船存在远洋和极地调查能力以及集成功能较弱的问题;基于海洋科考船在提高极地作业能力等方面的发展趋势以及海洋渔业发展需求,我国海洋科考船的建造和应用应加强顶层设计、技术应用和数据共享。     

西北太平洋副热带高压等在渤海冬季气温预报中的应用

本文首先对渤海冬季温分为冷年的暖年，而后对西北太平洋副热带高压（简称副高，下同）强度指，亚洲极涡面积指数，赤道东太平洋海温与冷，暖年的关系进行了分析，得出：当渤海冬季气温属暖年时，其前期西北太平洋副热带高压偏强，亚洲极涡面积指数偏低，赤道东太平洋海温偏高，属冷年时，情况相反。     

The continuity equation for longshore current velocity with breaker angle adjusted for a wave-current interaction

The continuity equation for mean longshore current velocity, V = gmT sin 2θ_b, agrees with selected field and laboratory data covering a wide range of conditions. Agreement between continuity equation and data is improved by eliminating those laboratory data which imply deep-water wave crests at angles near or greater than 90 degrees to the shoreline. Agreement between continuity equation and data is further improved by adjusting breaker angles to account for convection of the breaker point by the longshore current. Breaker point convection increases breaker angle by an amount predictable from the analysis developed here. This increase in angle is significant in those laboratory experiments with breaking wave crests at high angles to the shoreline.In the continuity equation, m is bottom slope, T is wave period, and θ_b is breaker angle, but breaker height does not appear. According to radiation stress theory, mean velocity does depend on breaker height, but only weakly. Consistency between the two approaches would require a dimensionless velocity, C_b/gT, to be relatively constant, which it is. (The same dimensionless velocity appears in the analyses of breaker point convection.) The continuity equation is functionally independent of friction and mixing, in keeping with its derivation from simple conservation of mass considerations. The equation has no adjustable coefficients. The degress of agreement with data and the internal consistency of the analysis suggests that it is a good predictor of mean velocity in ordinary longshore currents.     

用于极地的中尺度大气模式Polar MM5的改进和检验

介绍了一个用于极地研究的中尺度大气模式———Polar MM5,阐述了该模式区别于标准的中尺度大气模式MM5的动力学和物理特征。利用Polar MM5获得了10 d的模拟结果表明,Polar MM5能较好地模拟高纬度地区近地面气象变量特征,尤其是对近地面温度和水汽混合比可得到高精度模拟结果,证实了在高纬度地区对标准MM5所进行的物理参数化方案的改进是切实有效的。     

Marine pollution control in Europe: Regional approaches, 1972–80

This article evaluates the effectiveness of four regional pollution agreements concluded during the 1970s: The Bonn Agreement, the Oslo Convention, the Paris Convention and the Helsinki Convention. The treaties are described and their implementation to 1980 outlined. The issue of EEC participation in environmental protection in Europe is analysed and problems of overlap with the treaties under discussion are pointed out. A major conclusion of the article is the need for more implementation research to properly assess the effectiveness of such regional agreements.     

From ad hoc towards the institutionalisation: An assessment of Malaysia's policy evolution on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean

Malaysia's policy on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean (A&SO) in the last three decades has evolved from being focused on diplomatic engagement to pioneering science in cooperation with the international community and strengthening science diplomacy by becoming a member of the international governance of Antarctic. Through process-oriented evaluation, the aim of this study is to map out the development of Malaysia's policy on the Antarctic region (from 1982 to 2016) and consequently, identify the current capacities and future needs to strengthen its involvement. This study reveals that Malaysia's policy on A&SO has strong integration in foreign affairs, science and technology (S&T), and the environment, and the involvements are parallel with the national development plan. To move forward, Malaysia is currently establishing a suitable governance structure and a long-term management plan to ensure a long-term political commitment, sustain investment of resources and strengthen the dynamic participation of stakeholders. This study advances the scholarly understanding of the political processes and challenges to Malaysia's Antarctic policy development, in its journey towards institutionalisation which will create distinctive and valuable positions for Malaysia to contribute to current debates on the future of the Antarctic region. In the context of ad-hoc decision on certain policy, this case study will contribute relevant information about the development process, issues and challenges on policy through ad-hoc implementation.     

A polar method for obtaining wave resonating quadruplets in finite depths

A polar method for obtaining wave resonating quadruplets {K₁, K₂, K₃, K₄} in the computation of nonlinear wave–wave interaction source term of the wave model is presented with results for both deep and finite water depths. The method first determines the end radial points of the locus equation for K₂, for each set of input wave vectors (K₁, K₃) on the symmetry. The locus of K₂ (and hence K₄) is then traced in the anti-clockwise direction starting with the maximum radial point on the line of symmetry. It is shown that when k₃>k₁, the number of points on the locus varies when the orientations of the input wave vectors are changed and reduces when the difference in the magnitude of the input wave vectors is increased. A significant advantage in this method is that the angular increment on the locus for K₂ can be kept constant.     

2003年北极科考期间一次极涡个例天气学分析

2003年9月3日到14日,"雪龙"号考察船进入北冰洋楚科奇海观测期间,正值一次典型的北极极涡环流过程形成和发展。以往研究大多集中于极涡的平均水平环流特征和季节变化,该例为我们研究它的瞬时环流形势和特征提供了条件。利用NCEP全球分析资料及第二次北极科考资料对这次个例进行天气学分析,通过描述极涡个例的发展情况,平流层、对流层的环流特征以及二者之间的关系,并分析卫星遥感图像及"雪龙"号考察船的气象资料,分析结果发现:2003年中国第二次北极科考期间经历的极涡形成和发展,典型地表现出极地冬夏环流型的转换过程。首先在平流层发生,然后向对流层传播,该个例是一次在平流层西退加强,在对流层东移南下的过程。     

南极菲尔德斯半岛可培养土壤微生物多样性及理化性质鉴定

为了探索南极可培养土壤微生物的多样性,本研究对中国第31次南极科学考察采集自南极菲尔德斯半岛的5份土壤样品进行了细菌、真菌的分离培养。选择形态差异较大的细菌和真菌进行了16S rDNA和ITS鉴定及系统发育分析。最终共鉴定得到20个属的33株细菌和6个属的8株真菌,其中8株细菌,10株真菌序列相似性较低,可能是新种。该结果表明南极菲尔德斯半岛地区具有丰富的微生物多样性,其中假单胞菌属的细菌居多。对分离得到的细菌和真菌分别进行理化性质和胞外酶活性鉴定,实验结果显示,分离获得的细菌和真菌绝大多数可产生水解酶类并同化多种碳源。初步认定这些微生物在参与南极物质代谢、适应南极极端环境方面发挥作用。本研究丰富了对南极菲尔德斯半岛可培养土壤微生物多样性的认识,并筛选获得了一些产低温酶特性的菌株,这为极地微生物资源的利用研究奠定了基础。     

Global energy scenarios and their implications for future shipped trade

About half of the world's oil supply, a fifth of coal supply and a tenth of natural gas supply are traded by ship. Accordingly, any significant shift in the size and shape of the global energy system has important consequences for shipping, which underpins international trade and supports economic development. The Paris Agreement requires an acceleration of the drive towards energy system decarbonisation. Yet, the International Maritime Organisation's understanding of the future is more in line with the high-carbon scenarios analysed here. This paper is a first comprehensive and global assessment of implications of fundamental changes to global and regional energy systems for international shipping, under-researched in energy scenarios consistent with deep decarbonisation. It concludes that, despite uncertainties (particularly with negative emission technologies), fossil fuel trade by the middle of the century will almost certainly be significantly lower under low-carbon than under high-carbon scenarios, and (for oil and coal) lower than in 2012. As to bioenergy and captured carbon dioxide, while their supply is expected to increase during a low-carbon transition, worldwide shipped trade in these commodities will not necessarily grow, based on the analysis in this paper. In other words, if the low-carbon futures envisioned in the Paris Agreement materialise, energy-related shipping will likely decline (by a quarter for oil and by 50% for coal in the median < 2 °C scenarios by 2050), with significant ramifications for policies and regulation in the shipping sector and international trade.     

Rethinking the principle of abstention: the North Pacific and beyond

While the principle of abstention was established as part of the International North Pacific Fishery Convention in 1952, it was generally overlooked for several decades afterwards. The 1995 Straddling Stocks Agreement says that states parties to the Agreement enjoy a right to access to high seas fishery resources, but on the condition that they respect existing regional conservation and management measures. This Agreement also introduces the concept of a precautionary approach. The end result is that the 1995 Agreement fulfilled the same intent of the original 1952 principle of abstention—that is, it places some kinds of restrictions on high seas fishing. The degree of restrictions depends on the activities and policies of new regional fishery organizations like WCPFC and so on. Even if the new version of the principle of abstention succeeds in excluding distant fishing states from high seas, it will do little to solve the larger problems facing today's ocean fishery resources.     

多棘海盘车幽门盲囊极性脂和脂肪酸组分的研究

对多棘海盘车（Ａｓｔｅｒｉａｓ ａｍｕｒｅｎｓｉｓ）幽门盲囊中总脂、极性脂及脂仿酸组分进行了研究。结果表明，总脂含量占湿重的７．８５％。磷脂中ＰＣ、ＰＥ、ＰＳ含量较高，ＰＩ和ＤＰＧ含量较低。主要的脂肪酸是１６：０，１８：０，１８：１（ｎ＝９），２０：１（ｎ＝９）。２０：１（ｎ＝７），２０：４（ｎ＝６），２０：５（ｎ＝３），２２：６（ｎ＝３），占总脂肪酸的７４％以上。其中以２０：１（ｎ＝９）最为丰富     

The management of the distant water tuna fishery in Taiwan

Since the 1960s Taiwan has been a significant player in the global distant water tuna fisheries (DWTF). However, Taiwan's lack of political recognition has led some fisheries businesses to employ less conventional methods including Flags of Convenience (FOCs) in harvesting tuna resources. Meanwhile, Taiwan has been experiencing the painful cost of readjusted DWTF policies. This paper compares the readjusted policies in accordance with international management instruments and tuna compliance requirements (Compliance Agreement and UNFSA) and domestic laws are already undergoing adjustments to take these into account. This again demonstrates Taiwan's unique position in the international community: despite it not being a member of the United Nations, Taiwan spares no effort to ensure the sustainability of marine resources, and does its utmost to fulfill the responsibilities and duties of a Flag State.     

Thickness of the mixed bottom layer in the Northern Atlantic

The thickness of the mixed bottom boundary layer (BBL) has been analyzed based on the CTD data at transoceanic sections in abyssal waters of the Northern Atlantic. The measurements were carried out at two transoceanic sections approximately along 48° N (ASV-99) and 5° N (AI-2000) in 1999 and 2000. These data, and the WOCE data obtained at four zonal sections (AR7E and AR12 along 57° N, AR01 along 24.5° S, and A06 along 7.5° N), were used for the calculation of the statistical characteristics of the BBL??s thickness H _B . The probability distribution function F(H _B ) was close to lognormal. The mean value ??H _B ?? at different latitudes was in the range from 30 to 60 m. The averaged BBL thickness = 46.1 m. The BBL??s thickness was about 1% of the ocean??s depth D; the ratio H _B /D was the minimum (0.8%) near the equator and increased up to 1.6% in the polar latitudes.