Wind stress forcing of the North Sea 'pole tide'

We conduct numerical simulations of the wind forcing of sea level variations in the North Sea using a barotropic ocean model with realistic geography and bathymetry to examine the forcing of the 14 month 'pole tide', which is known to be anomalously large along the Denmark–Netherlands coast. The simulation input is the monthly mean surface wind stress field from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis for the 40 year period 1958–1997. The ocean model output sea level response is then compared with 10 coastal tide gauge records from the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) over the same period of time. Besides the strong seasonal variations, several prominent quasi-periodicities exist near 7 years, 3 years, 14 months, 9 months and 6.5 months. Correlations and spectral analyses show remarkable agreement between the model output and the observations, particularly in the 14 month, or Chandler, period band. The latter indicates that the enhanced pole tide found in the North Sea along the Denmark–Netherlands coast is actually the coastal set-up response to wind stress forcing with a periodicity of around 14 months. We find no need to invoke a geophysical explanation involving resonance enhancement of the pole tide in the North Sea to explain the observations.     

Combination of TOPEX/POSEIDON data with a hydrographic inversion for determination of the oceanic general circulation and its relation to geoid accuracy

A global estimate of the absolute oceanic general circulation from a geostrophic inversion of in situ hydrographic data is tested against and then combined with an estimate obtained from TOPEX/POSEIDON altimetric data and a geoid model computed using the JGM-3 gravity-field solution. Within the quantitative uncertainties of both the hydrographic inversion and the geoid estimate, the two estimates derived by very different methods are consistent. When the in situ inversion is combined with the altimetry/geoid scheme using a recursive inverse procedure, a new solution, fully consistent with both hydrography and altimetry, is found. There is, however, little reduction in the uncertainties of the calculated ocean circulation and its mass and heat fluxes because the best available geoid estimate remains noisy relative to the purely oceano-graphic inferences. The conclusion drawn from this is that the comparatively large errors present in the existing geoid models now limit the ability of satellite altimeter data to improve directly the general ocean circulation models derived from in situ measurements. Because improvements in the geoid could be realized through a dedicated spaceborne gravity recovery mission, the impact of hypothetical much better, future geoid estimates on the circulation uncertainty is also quantified, showing significant hypothetical reductions in the uncertainties of oceanic transport calculations, Full ocean general circulation models could better exploit both existing oceanographic data and future gravity-mission data, but their present use is severely limited by the inability to quantify their error budgets.     

Rift kinematics preserved in deep-time erosional landscape below the northern North Sea

Our understanding of continental rifting is, in large parts, derived from the stratigraphic record. This record is, however, incomplete as it does not often capture the geomorphic and erosional signal of rifting. New 3D seismic reflection data reveal a Late Permian-Early Triassic landscape incised into the pre-rift basement of the northern North Sea. This landscape, which covers at least 542 km², preserves a drainage system bound by two major tectonic faults. A quantitative geomorphic analysis of the drainage system reveals 68 catchments, with channel steepness and knickpoint analysis of catchment-hosted palaeo-rivers showing that the landscape preserved a >2 Myr long period of transient tectonics. We interpret that this landscape records a punctuated uplift of the footwall of a major rift-related normal fault (Vette Fault) at the onset of rifting. The landscape was preserved by a combination of relatively rapid subsidence in the hangingwall of a younger fault (Øygarden Fault) and burial by post-incision sediments. As such, we show how and why erosional landscapes are preserved in the stratigraphic record, and how they can help us understand the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of ancient continental rifts.     

联合卫星重力和卫星测高确定南极绕极流

联合基于GRACE重力卫星观测资料恢复的重力场模型(EIGEN-GL04S1)和卫星测高推求的平均海面高模型(KMSS04)来构造南极绕极流区域的平均海面动力地形,并利用小波滤波方法去掉短波及噪声信号,进而推算大、中尺度的绕极流。与非卫星重力场模型、同化资料及海洋水文资料确定相应结果的验证分析表明:基于新的卫星重力场模型推算的南极绕极流区域的海面动力地形、PF、SAF和表层流场等都与海洋学结果相吻合,且局部特征更加清晰。表明卫-卫跟踪重力卫星计划确定的地球重力场模型较之以前存在的重力场模型在中长波部分精度有较大提高,从大地测量(从空间)角度来探测南极绕极流已达到较高的精度。     

1950~2011年渤海地区海表风场的季节特征与多尺度变化分析

基于1950~2011年的NCEP/NCAR再分析资料,对渤海10 m风场的风速与风向变化进行多尺度分析。利用小波分析、交叉谱分析等方法对渤海海域的海表风速、风向的变化趋势以及周期进行研究。分析发现：渤海地区海表风的风向与风速除了存在显著的季节性变化特征外,在年际、年代际的变化尺度上也有明显的周期性。风向存在1 a、8.7 a、15.8 a的显著周期,风速存在1 a、6.3 a、15 a的显著周期。风向与风速在时间尺度分别为20 a、5.71 a、2.67 a时存在显著共振周期;共振周期受东亚季风、西太平副热带高压的年际、年代际变化的影响呈现出多尺度变化周期。     

Joint traveltime inversion of wide-angle seismic data and a deep reflection profile from the central North Sea

We report results from the Seismic Wide-Angle and Broadband Survey carried out over the Mid North Sea High. This paper focuses on integrating the information from a conventional deep multichannel reflection profile and a coincident wide-angle profile obtained by recording the same shots on a set of ocean bottom hydrophones (OBH). To achieve this integration, a new traveltime inversion scheme was developed (reported elsewhere) that was used to invert traveltime information from both the wide-angle OBH records and the reflection profile simultaneously. Results from the inversion were evaluated by producing synthetic seismograms from the final inversion model and comparing them with the observed wide-angle data, and an excellent match was obtained. It was possible to fine-tune velocities in less well-resolved parts of the model by considering the critical distance for the Moho reflection. The seismic velocity model was checked for compatibility with the gravity field, and used to migrate and depth-convert the reflection profile. The unreflective upper crust is characterized by a high velocity gradient, whilst the highly reflective lower crust is associated with a low velocity gradient. At the base of the crust there are several subhorizontal reflectors, a few kilometres apart in depth, and correlatable laterally for several tens of kilometres. These reflectors are interpreted as representing a strike section through northward-dipping reflectors at the base of the crust, identified on orthogonal profiles by Freeman et al. (1988) as being slivers of subducted and imbricated oceanic crust, relics of the mid-Palaeozoic Iapetus Ocean.     

Isostasy of the Northern Bay of Biscay Continental Margin

Summary. Spectral analysis of eight marine gravity profiles and seven SEASAT profiles, combined with corresponding bathymetric data over the Northern Bay of Biscay origin, yield identical admittance functions for wavelengths greater than 120 km. the resulting admittance function has been interpreted in terms of an Airy model of compensation for wavelengths greater than 250 km and in terms of an elastic plate model of compensation for shorter wavelengths. the Airy model corresponds to a crustal thickness variation across the margin. the plate model with an elastic thickness of 8 km is associated with the regional compensation of a sedimentary load which was probably emplaced during and just after rifting.     

黄东海表层海水溶解氧时空变化规律研究

海水中的溶解氧(DO)是影响海洋渔业经济、反映海洋物理化学过程的重要因素。该文依据20世纪90年代末期我国在黄东海海域完成的162个表层海水DO监测数据,利用GIS技术对其进行平面插值拟合,生成该海域DO的四季分布等值线图,据此分析黄东海海域的DO分布和季节变化规律。结果表明：基于太阳辐射导致的海水温度时空差异,影响黄东海DO分布及其季节变化的主要因素是黄海暖流和大陆入海径流。