Properties and organic activation of ocean clay in the East Pacific

In order to make use of ocean clay reasonably and excavate its potential applications the properties of ocean clay in Chinese investigating area of the East Pacific have been tested with the chemical analysis, XRFS, ICP/MAS, granulometry and SSA, etc. The results show that the clay sediments of this area are rich in clay minerals, fine granularity, bigger SSA, bigger water absorbability and lower ion changing ability etc. To improve the adaptability of ocean clay and macromolecule materials, using the dry milling method with silane, aluminate, stearic acid coupling agents etc the properties of ocean clay are improved. The effect has been evaluated by testing the water absorbing of the modified ocean clay and their dispersing in paraffin liquid. The result is that KH550 is better than any other active reagents, and the best activation technics is that 1.5 % （volume） of KH550 quantity, 20min of milling time. The DTA, XRD, SEM and IR analyses and SSA testing show that the organic activation can not change the mineral structure but can densify the structure of clay, and activation mechanism is chemical covered mainly and chemical combined secondly.     

Property and performance amelioration of pelagic clay from the East Pacific

To make use of the pelagic clay as polymer filling, the properties of clay sediments from the ocean investigation zone of China in the East Pacific were studied by the SSA, XRF, ICP/MAS, FHR, XRD, SEM, DTA/TG and granularity distributing etc. , and experiments were settled to improve the whiteness and activation of the clay based on these data. Compared with land clay, pelagic clay holds many particular features, such as fine particles and incompact accumulation, worse crystallization and more defects, high activity, complex mineral and chemical components, and low whiteness etc. Processing the purified pelagic clay with acids and zinc, then baked it at different temperatures, the whiteness of clay can be increased from 23.8% to 73.1%, and the optimized conditions is : consistency of vitriol 25%, ratio of clay to water 4:1, reaction time 4h, reaction temperature 90℃, dosage of zinc 2.0 g/L, and baking temperature 700℃. And the SSA of whited clay is increased too. Using the dry milling method to modify the pelagic clay with organic reagents, the optimized technique is KH550, concentration 1.5%, reaction time 20 min. XRD,FTIR and SEM testing indicate that the mechanism of organic activation was mainly surface absorbing and chemical combination secondly.     

Property and performance amelioration of pelagic clay from the East Pacific

To make use of the pelagic clay as polymer filling, the properties of clay sediments from the ocean investigation zone of China in the East Pacific were studied by the SSA, XRF, ICP/MAS, FTIR, XRD, SEM, DTA/TG and granularity distributing etc. , and experiments were settled to improve the whiteness and activation of the clay based on these data. Compared with land clay, pelagic clay holds many particular features, such as fine particles and incompact accumulation, worse crystallization and more defects, high activity, complex mineral and chemical components, and low whiteness etc. Processing the purified pelagic clay with acids and zinc, then baked it at different temperatures, the whiteness of clay can be increased from 23.8% to 73.1%, and the optimized conditions is： consistency of vitriol 25%, ratio of clay to water 4： 1, reaction time 4h, reaction temperature 90℃, dosage of zinc 2.0 g/L, and baking temperature 700℃. And the SSA of whited clay is increased too. Using the dry milling method to modify the pelagic clay with organic reagents, the optimized technique is KH550, concentration 1.5%, reaction time 20 min. XRD, FTIR and SEM testing indicate that the mechanism of organic activation was mainly surface absorbing and chemical combination secondly.     

Skewness of subsurface ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific based on assimilated data

The skewness of subsurface temperature anomaly in the equatorial Pacific Ocean shows a significant asymmetry between the east and west.A positive temperature skewness appears in the equatorial eastern Pacific,while the temperature skewness in the western and central Pacific is primarily negative.There is also an asymmetry of the temperature skewness above and below the climatological mean thermocline in the central and western Pacific.A positive skewness appears below the thermocline,but the skewness is neg...     

Empirical ocean color algorithm for estimating particulate organic carbon in the South China Sea

We examined regional empirical equations for estimating the surface concentration of particulate organic carbon(POC) in the South China Sea. These algorithms are based on the direct relationships between POC and the blue-to-green band ratios of spectral remotely sensed reflectance,R rs( λ B)/ R rs(555). The best error statistics among the considered formulas were produced using the power function POC(mg/m 3)=262.173 [ R rs(443)/ R rs(555)]- 0.940. This formula resulted in a small mean bias of approximately-2.52%,a normalized root mean square error of 31.1%,and a determination coefficient of 0.91. This regional empirical equation is different to the results of similar studies in other oceanic regions. Our validation results suggest that our regional empirical formula performs better than the global algorithm,in the South China Sea. The feasibility of this band ratio algorithm is primarily due to the relationship between POC and the green-toblue ratio of the particle absorption coefficient. Colored dissolved organic matter can be an important source of noise in the band ratio formula. Finally,we applied the empirical algorithm to investigate POC changes in the southwest of Luzon Strait.     

The upper ocean response to tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific analyzed with Argo data

A large number of autonomous profiling floats deployed in global oceans have provided abundant temperature and salinity profiles of the upper ocean. Many floats occasionally profile observations during the passage of tropical cyclones. These in-situ observations are valuable and useful in studying the ocean’s response to tropical cyclones, which are rarely observed due to harsh weather conditions. In this paper, the upper ocean response to the tropical cyclones in the northwestern Pacific during 2000–2005 is analyzed and discussed based on the data from Argo profiling floats. Results suggest that the passage of tropical cyclones caused the deepening of mixed layer depth (MLD), cooling of mixed layer temperature (MLT), and freshening of mixed layer salinity (MLS). The change in MLT is negatively correlated to wind speed. The cooling of the MLT extended for 50–150 km on the right side of the cyclone track. The change of MLS is almost symmetrical in distribution on both sides of the track, and the change of MLD is negatively correlated to pre-cyclone initial MLD.     

The potential of ocean acidification on suppressing larval development in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and blood cockle Arca inflata Reeve

We evaluated the effect of pH on larval development in larval Pacific oyster （Crassostrea gigas） and blood cockle （Arca inflata Reeve）. The larvae were reared at pH 8.2 （control）, 7.9, 7.6, or 7.3 beginning 30 min or 24 h post fertilization. Exposure to lower pH during early embryonic development inhibited larval shell formation in both species. Compared with the control, larvae took longer to reach the D-veliger stage when reared under pH 7.6 and 7.3. Exposure to lower pH immediately after fertilization resulted in significantly delayed shell formation in the Pacific oyster larvae at pH 7.3 and blood cockle larvae at pH 7.6 and 7.3. However, when exposure was delayed until 24 h post fertilization, shell formation was only inhibited in blood cockle larvae reared at pH 7.3. Thus, the early embryonic stages were more sensitive to acidified conditions. Our results suggest that ocean acidification will have an adverse effect on embryonic development in bivalves. Although the effects appear subtle, they may accumulate and lead to subsequent issues during later larval development.     

The potential of ocean acidification on suppressing larval development in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas and blood cockle Area inflata Reeve

We evaluated the effect of pH on larval development in larval Pacific oyster(Crassostrea gigas) and blood cockle(Arca inflata Reeve).The larvae were reared at pH 8.2(control),7.9,7.6,or 7.3beginning 30 min or 24 h post fertilization.Exposure to lower pH during early embryonic development inhibited larval shell formation in both species.Compared with the control,larvae took longer to reach the D-veliger stage when reared under pH 7.6 and 7.3.Exposure to lower pH immediately after fertilization resulted in significantly delayed shell formation in the Pacific oyster larvae at pH 7.3 and blood cockle larvae at pH 7.6 and 7.3.However,when exposure was delayed until 24 h post fertilization,shell formation was only inhibited in blood cockle larvae reared at pH 7.3.Thus,the early embryonic stages were more sensitive to acidified conditions.Our results suggest that ocean acidification will have an adverse effect on embryonic development in bivalves.Although the effects appear subtle,they may accumulate and lead to subsequent issues during later larval development.     

The Upper Ocean Thermal Structure and the Genesis Locations of Tropical Cyclones in the South China Sea

The relationship between the upper ocean thermal structure and the genesis locations of tropical cyclones （TCs） in the South China Sea （SCS） is investigated by using the Joint Typhoon Warning Center （JTWC） best-track archives and high resolution （1/4 degree） temperature analyses of the world＇s oceans in this paper In the monthly mean genesis positions of TCs from 1945 to 2005 in the SCS, the mean sea surface temperature （SST） was 28.8℃ and the mean depth of 26℃ water was 53.1 m. From the monthly distribution maps of genesis positions of TCs, SST and the depth of 26℃ water in the SCS, we discovered that there existed regions with SST exceeding 26℃ and 26℃ water depth exceeding 50m where no tropical cyclones formed from 1945 to 2005 in the SCS, which suggests that there were other factors unfavorable for TC formation in these regions.     

Energy cascades in the upper ocean

1 INTRODUCTION Wave-wave interactions play a key role in the evolution of the dynamics of upper ocean phenomena. Even though they conserve total wave energy, these interactions cause energy cascades to occur in which wave-energy is transferred at the surf…     

Modification of HDPE filling with pelagic clay

In order to improve the properties of HDPE, the authors used the method of suspended diffusion for purification the pelagic clay, used silane coupling agent to increase its organic activation, and prepared the composites of organic pelagic clay/HDPE by melting them in different conditions. The affections of process conditions and quantity of pelagic clay to the properties of composites were analyzed by testing their mechanical properties, thermo stability and barrier properties. According to test the structure of composites, it is indicated that pelagic clay has good compatibility with HDPE. The result shows that the pelagic clay can improve mechanical properties, thermo stability and barrier properties of HDPE properties effectively.     

A THREE-LAYER OCEAN CIRCULATION MODEL APPLICATION TO NUMERICAL STUDIES ON THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN CIRCULATION

The formulation and justification of a three-layer baroclinic ocean model developed to simulate thegeneral circulation of the ocean are described in this paper.Test of the model in simulating the annualmean circulation patterns in the North Pacific under the prescribed atmospheric forcing,which consists ofthe climatological surface wind stress and sea surface heat flux,and comparison of the results withobservations showed that the model basically simulated the large scale features of the annual meancirculation patterns in the North Pacific Ocean such as those of the intensified western boundary currentsand the North Equatorial Currents and Undercurrents.But due to the coarse resolution of the model,some details of these currents were poorly reproduced.The seasonal variations of the North Pacific Oceancirculation driven by the seasonal mean sea surface wind stress was calculated,the different aspects of theseresults were analyzed and the main current(the intensified western boundary currents)transports we     

Modeling the ocean circulation in the Bering Sea

With parameterized wave mixing, the circulation and the tidal current in the Bering Sea were simulated simultaneously using the three-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model. The simulated circulation pattern in the deep basin is relatively stable, cyclonic, and has little seasonal change. The Bering Slope Current between 200-1000 m isobaths was estimated to be 5 Sv in volume transport. The Kamchatka Current was estimated to be 20 Sv off the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Bering shelf circulations vary with season, driven mainly by wind. These features are consistent with historical esti- mates. A counter current was captured flowing southeastward approximately along the 200 m isobath of the Bering Slope, opposite to the northwestward Bering Slope Current, which needs to be validated by observations. An upwelling current is located in the shelf break （ 120-1000 m） area, which may imply the vertical advection of nutrients for supporting the Bering Sea Green Belt seasonal plankton blooms in the breakslope area. The Bering Slope Current is located in a downwelling area.     

Dissolved organic matter and its role in red tide succession in the East China Sea in spring

Dissolved fluorescent organic matter was measured using fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy at three temporal points during a Synechococcus bloom after diatom bloom dispersion in spring, 2007. Carbohydrate and dissolved organic carbon were also analyzed. The relationship between organic matter and red tide succession was examined. The results show that after the diatom bloom, tyrosine-like fluorescence B intensity was very high within the water column and exhibited a negative correlation wi...     

Distribution of the nonlinear random ocean wave period

Because of the intrinsic difficulty in determining distributions for wave periods, previous studies on wave period distribution models have not taken nonlinearity into account and have not performed well in terms of describing and statistically analyzing the probability density distribution of ocean waves. In this study, a statistical model of random waves is developed using Stokes wave theory of water wave dynamics. In addition, a new nonlinear probability distribution function for the wave period is presented with the parameters of spectral density width and nonlinear wave steepness, which is more reasonable as a physical mechanism. The magnitude of wave steepness determines the intensity of the nonlinear effect, while the spectral width only changes the energy distribution. The wave steepness is found to be an important parameter in terms of not only dynamics but also statistics. The value of wave steepness reflects the degree that the wave period distribution skews from the Cauchy distribution, and it also describes the variation in the distribution function, which resembles that of the wave surface elevation distribution and wave height distribution. We found that the distribution curves skew leftward and upward as the wave steepness increases. The wave period observations for the SZFII-1 buoy, made off the coast of Weihai (37°27.6′ N, 122°15.1′ E), China, are used to verify the new distribution. The coefficient of the correlation between the new distribution and the buoy data at different spectral widths (ν=0.3−0.5) is within the range of 0.968 6 to 0.991 7. In addition, the Longuet-Higgins (1975) and Sun (1988) distributions and the new distribution presented in this work are compared. The validations and comparisons indicate that the new nonlinear probability density distribution fits the buoy measurements better than the Longuet-Higgins and Sun distributions do. We believe that adoption of the new wave period distribution would improve traditional statistical wave theory.     

Low frequency oscillations of the heat distribution in the global upper ocean layers

The heat distributions in the upper layers of the ocean have been studied and some important low frequency oscillations （LFOs） are already found and quantified by using various characteristic factors. In this paper, the ‘heat center＇ of a sea area is defined with a simple method. Then the temperature data set of the upper layer of the global ocean （from surface down to 400 m, 1955-2003） is analyzed to detect the possible LFOs. Not only some zonal LFOs, which were reported early, but also some strong LFOs of the vertical and meridional heat distribution, which might imply some physical sense, are detected. It should be noted that the similar vertical oscillation pattern can be found in the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. Results from some preliminary studies show that the vertical LFO might be caused by the solar irradiance anomalies. This study may help reveal some unknown dynamical processes in the global oceans and may also benefit other related studies.     

NLS EQUATION OF INTERNAL WAVES IN WEAKLY STRATIFIED OCEAN

The NLS (Non-Linear Schr(?)dinger) equation of internal waves in a wekly stratified ocean is der-ived in phase coordnates in terms of the RPM (Reductive Perturbation Method). It was shown thatwhen AB>0 there exist modulation forms of envelope soliton and dn, and tha when AB<0 there arethree modulation forms dark soliton, sn and cn. Only if K~2>B/A(?) . the side-band perturbation is stable,otherwise unstable. For the stable side-band perturbation there ekisis a modulation form of MdV soliton.     

ELECTROCHEMICAL CORROSION BEHAVIOR OF STEEL IN THE JUNCTURE AREA OF SEA CLAY AND SAND

Corrosion behavior of steel in the juncture area of sea clay and sand was studied. The results show that galvanic corrosion occurred between steel samples buried in sea clay and sand, and that the polarity of the galvanic cell reversed after some testing later. The cause of reversing of polarity is discussed.     

Empirical formula for wave length of ocean wave in finite depth water

In this paper, function characteristics of dispersion of ocean wave in finite depth water were analyzed systematically. The functional form of the fitting function is reasonably proposed, in which the parameters are optimally determined by the least square method （LSM）. For infinitely deep and extremely shallow water,the fitting function fits strictly the dispersion to be fitted. A new technique is presented in application of LSM.An empirical formula with maximum error of less than 0.5% for computing wavelength in finite depth water is presented for practical applications.     

Wave breaking on turbulent energy budget in the ocean surface mixed layer

As an important physical process at the air-sea interface, wave movement and breaking have a significant effect on the ocean surface mixed layer （OSML）. When breaking waves occur at the ocean surface, turbulent kinetic energy （TKE） is input downwards, and a sublayer is formed near the surface and turbulence vertical mixing is intensively enhanced. A one-dimensional ocean model including the Mellor-Yamada level 2.5 turbulence closure equations was employed in our research on variations in turbulent energy budget within OSML. The influence of wave breaking could be introduced into the model by modifying an existing surface boundary condition of the TKE equation and specifying its input. The vertical diffusion and dissipation of TKE were effectively enhanced in the sublayer when wave breaking was considered. Turbulent energy dissipated in the sublayer was about 92.0% of the total depth-integrated dissipated TKE, which is twice higher than that of non-wave breaking. The shear production of TKE decreased by 3.5% because the mean flow fields tended to be uniform due to wave-enhanced turbulent mixing. As a result, a new local equilibrium between diffusion and dissipation of TKE was reached in the wave-enhanced layer. Below the sublayer, the local equilibrium between shear production and dissipation of TKE agreed with the conclusion drawn from the classical law-of-the-wall （Craig and Banner, 1994）.