Mercury in coastal and estuarine sediments of the northeastern Irish sea

Mercury concentrations in surface intertidal sediments from estuarine and coastal environments of the Northeastern Irish Sea are reported. This region has two inputs of mercury contaminated effluents from chlor-alkali factories, and localized mercury contamination of sediments fairly similar to that reported for the Rhine has been found in the Wyre estuary. The present results for the Mersey estuary agree well with others reported in the lierature. Coastal sediments are much less contaminated than the estuarine deposits, and in all the environments studied strong correlations between mercury concentration, total organic carbon and < 63 μm grainsize fraction contents have been found.     

A New Approach for Border Detection of the Dumluca (Turkey) Iron Ore Area: Wavelet Cellular Neural Networks

Anomaly analysis is used for various geophysics applications such as determination of geophysical structure's location and border detections. Besides the classical geophysical techniques, artificial intelligence based image processing algorithms have been found attractive for geophysical anomaly analysis. Recently, cellular neural networks (CNN) have been applied to geophysical data and satisfactory results are reported. CNN provides fast and parallel computational capability for geophysical image processing applications due to its filtering structure. The behavior of CNN is defined by two template matrices that are adjusted by a properly supervised learning algorithm. After training stage for geophysical data, Bouguer anomaly maps can be processed and analyzed sequentially. In this paper, CNN learning and processing capability have been improved, combining Wavelet functions and backpropagation learning algorithms. The new architecture is denoted as Wavelet-Cellular Neural networks (Wave-CNN) and it is employed to analyze Bouguer anomaly maps which are important to extract useful information in geophysics. At first, Wave-CNN performance is tested on synthetic geophysical data, which are created by a computer environment. Then, Bouguer anomaly maps of the Dumluca iron ore field have been analyzed and results are reported in comparison to real drilling results.     

由甘肃宕昌好梯幔源包体推导的上地幔物质组成、热结构和流变学特征

新生代火山岩中的幔源包体可以提供有关上地幔的直接信息。通过对采自甘肃宕昌县好梯乡的幔源橄榄岩包体的详细研究 ,探讨该地区上地幔的热结构和流变学特征 ,并与华北地区进行对比。研究结果表明 ,该区自壳幔边界以下至 75km深处的上地幔主要由尖晶石二辉橄榄岩组成 ,75km以下则主要由石榴石二辉橄榄岩组成 ,方辉橄榄岩只占少数 ;与华北地区没有明显的差异。由包体平衡温度、压力建立的上地幔地温线低于华北地区地温线 ;确定的壳幔边界在 5 2km左右 ,莫霍界面附近为下地壳物质与尖晶石二辉橄榄岩的过渡带 ;岩石圈底界深度约为 12 0km左右。根据包体的研究结果建立了研究区上地幔的差异应力、应变速率和等效黏滞度剖面。结果表明 ,该区新生代时期存在软流层的底辟 ,以及相应的岩石圈的减薄 ,但其规模明显小于华北地区。这些结果表明该区处在中国东部大陆裂谷带和中国中部克拉通块体群的过渡带     

Reflections on measurement of residual stress in rock

Consideration of the behaviour of elastic bodies shows that it is not possible for a set of overcoring measurements that are made within isolated blocks to show residual strains or stresses that have a non-zero average, unless the size of the equilibrium volume over which the residual stresses balance is both considerably larger than the volume of the overcore and smaller than the size of the isolated block. Since some results have been reported that do not match these constraints, non-elastic behaviour must have occurred during overcoring. A possible explanation, is that oriented microcracks are somehow opened by the overcoring. In some cases, stress fields induced by microcracking near the overcoring cut may explain measured strain changes far from the cut. Consideration of various reported measurements in terms of relative sizes of overcoring and equilibrium volumes shows that care is necessary when interpreting residual stress measurements.     

Hisslers observed during daytime in a low latitude ground station

The observation of hisslers during daytime at low latitude station Jammu, India, is reported. The hissler elements are quasi-periodic falling tones observed during the period of hiss activity and appear in minutelong sequences with average spacing between individual elements of the order of 0.15 s. Hissler elements exhibit almost no dispersion and no complex internal structure in slope and intensity, and successive hissler elements do not overlap in time. It seems that the reported hisslers might have propagated in prolongitudinal mode.     

Experimental and numerical evaluation of the fundamental period of undamaged and damaged RC framed buildings

This paper deals with the period evaluation of Reinforced Concrete (RC) framed buildings in elastic, yield and severely damaged states. Firstly, period-height relationships either reported in the literature, or obtained from both numerical simulations (eigenvalue analyses) and experimental measurements (ambient vibration analyses) have been examined and compared. Structural types representing low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise RC buildings without earthquake resistant design, widely present in the Italian and European built environment, have been studied. Results have shown high differences between numerical and experimental period values. Period elongation (stiffness degradation) during and after strong ground shaking has been also examined based on results from experimental in situ and laboratory tests performed on some RC framed building structures which suffered moderate-heavy damage. Some comments on the relationship between damage level and period elongation are reported.     

Model tank experiments for resistivity measurements on sloping and vertical non conducting dykes

Summary Model resistivity experiments over sloping and vertical, non-conducting dykes have been carried out and reported in this paper. The results of vertical dykes as compared to the sloping dykes are very interesting and not so far reported in the available literature. Of particular interest is distinct resistivity high in the centre of the two vertical dykes, followed by lows over the dykes and again by highs on either side. As expected the curves are symmetrical. As against this, in the cases of sloping dykes, there is a distinct low, in between the dykes, followed by highs over the dykes, the curves being asymmetrical.     

On the attribution of changing pan evaporation in a nature reserve in SW China

Negative trends of measured pan evaporation are widely reported. Studies of the factors that underlie this reduction in pan evaporation have not reached a consensus about the controlling factors. Most studies employ statistical analysis (correlation analysis or stepwise regression) to identify the controlling climatic variables; in contrast, few studies have employed physical‐based theories. In addition, observations of pan evaporation and related climatic variables are reported to be influenced by anthropogenic activities. Consequently, the observed trends of climatic variables in a nature reserve would be useful for understanding regional climate change. The present study site is located in Ailaoshan National Nature Reserve, SW China, which is free of anthropogenic activity. In this study, we firstly applied the adjusted PenPan model to estimate the pan evaporation. Then, using this physical‐based model, we identified a positive trend in pan evaporation, with a much larger increase in the dry season than in the wet season. The model results indicate that the change in the aerodynamic component is larger than that in the radiative component. In contrast to the reduction in wind speed and sunshine hours that has been reported in previous studies at various sites, we found that wind speed and sunshine hours have increased in recent decades, thereby explaining the increase of the pan evaporation rate. Wind speed made the greatest contribution to the change in pan evaporation, followed by sunshine duration. This study indicates that the potential evaporation has increased at this site despite the widely reported reduction in measured pan evaporation. During the dry season, the availability of water for agriculture and agroforestry could be threatened. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Aromatic hydrocarbons and the growth of marine algae

Aromatic compounds isolated from marine muds cause cancerous growths in certain seaweeds. In this study a number of aromatic hydrocarbons, including some which are not yet reported as having carcinogenic activity have been found to stimulate growth of algae.     

Seismic sea-waves in the Marmara Sea region during the last 20 centuries

An examination of historical sources confirms thatrelatively little can be found about seismic sea-waves in the Marmara Searegion. We find that during the last 20 centuries there have been 16earthquakes which seem to be associated with seismic sea-waves, six ofwhich were damaging. Most of these events were reported from the northcentral and north-east coast of the Sea of Marmara and from the Gulf ofIzmit, from where there is some evidence that the source mechanism ofsome of them was coastal mass failures and sliding of submarine sediments.Another 16 sea-waves reported in literature are found to be spuriousevents.     

Magnetopause magnetic barrier parameters in dependence on the solar wind magnetic field orientation

Some theories predict the magnetosheath magnetic field strength will decrease and the density increase just outside the dayside magnetopause as the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward. Two studies have recently reported results which confirm these expectations. In contrast, we briefly review our own theoretical predictions which indicate that precisely the opposite effect is expected. We survey new and previously reported magnetosheath observations and demonstrate that they are consistent with the predictions of our model. The conflicting results indicate a need for further theoretical and observational work.     

Projected changes in reported campylobacteriosis and cryptosporidiosis rates as a function of climate change: a New Zealand study

Two pathogens whose reported incidence rates may alter under climate change and variability were selected for study: the bacterium Campylobacter and the protozoan oocyst Cryptosporidium. Both are of particular importance in New Zealand, given its extensive and intensive agricultural farming systems, and therefore to other agriculturally-based economies. Local and international studies have indicated that rates of illnesses associated with these pathogens (campylobacteriosis and cryptosporidiosis) may increase as temperature rises and as rainfall becomes more intense. An existing calibrated linear SIR (Susceptible-Ill-Recovered) model was used to make predictions of the proportional change in the reported rates of these two zoonoses. This method uses analytical solutions of the SIR model and a simple exponential approach to describe the temporal changes in pathogen contact rates—and hence of reported disease rates. These changes reflect climate change impacts only and do not consider adaptation or mitigation measures. Projections cannot be made of the actual-but-unknown-illness rates because of under-reporting throughout the country. The SIR model outputs provide projected changes in reported disease incidence as a function of temperature and rainfall for the years 2015, 2040 and 2090. These are calculated for three climate change scenarios: low (B1), medium (A1B) and high (A2) emissions of greenhouse gases and for four seasons. Projections show the potential for substantial changes in reported rates by the year 2090 across New Zealand, with children most at-risk. Maximum increases in reported illness rates tend to occur in summer when pathogen contact rates are greatest. Average annual rates of increase of reported campylobacteriosis are predicted to rise by as much as 20 % and by 36 % for cryptosporidiosis (children, A2 scenario, 2090). To our knowledge, this is the first time that SIR modelling has been coupled with climate change projections.     

Biogene und nichtbiogene organische Schmutzstoffe

Analytical methods and their application on the river Rhine for the identification and determination of refractory organic compounds are reported. 18 hydrocarbons, 32 chlorinated hydrocarbons, 13 organic nitro compounds, 14 ethers, 4 alcohols, 9 phenols, 6 esters and 21 other organic compounds have been identified. In view of the tedious methods which have to be applied, a technique for determining the ratio of persistent to biodegradable organic compounds has to be found. Requirements and perspectives of microbiological assays are discussed and rules for the survey of waste discharges are proposed.     

Mathematical simulation and experimental studies of the shugo mud volcano

This paper considers the theoretical and experimental principles of a monitoring system for mud volcanoes using powerful vibroseismic sources. A mathematical method has been developed to simulate magma chambers of arbitrary geometry with allowance for deep-seated faults near the volcano, overlapping layers, etc. Results are reported from calculations of the seismic field for the source zone of the Shugo mud volcano. Mathematical modeling served as a basis to develop a technique of vibroseismic sounding using powerful controlled sources yielding a force of 40–100 tons on the ground. For the first time in the history of observations on mud volcanoes, two mud volcanoes on land have been subjected to active vibroseismic sounding. These are the Akhtanizovskii and Shugo volcanoes in the Taman’ mud-volcanic province. The results of experimental investigations are reported. Numerical simulation has helped refine the earth model in the Shugo area, which was previously derived from vibroseismic sounding data.     

Environmental and pollution condition of the huizache-caimanero lagoon, in the north-west of Mexico

The fish and shrimp production of the Huizache-Caimanero Lagoon, located on the Mexican Pacific, has been decreasing in recent years, which may be due to environmental and pollution conditions. Therefore, water and sediment samples were analysed to quantify nutrients, pesticides, and coliform bacteria. The results indicated that the system is polluted considerably during the rainy season due to continental runoff carrying municipal and agricultural wastes, thereby increasing coliform pollution and nitrate concentrations. This is less apparent for phosphates and pesticides. We conclude that pollution and environmental changes are important causes decreasing production; recent studies have reported biochemical and physiological alteration in aquatic organisms exposed to similar levels of pesticides as reported here. During the rainy season, coliform levels are above permissible levels established by sanitary regulations, and are thus pose a risk to public health.     

Marine sand and gravel production in areas off the northeast coast of the United States

Agencies responsible for issuing permits authorizing excavation of marine sands and gravels have provided information on the amounts of aggregates removed from coastal waters off the New England and Middle Atlantic states. This information is reported herein. Major increases in marine mining are projected. The significance to fisheries of mining marine aggregates is discussed.     

Effects of an oil spill in the northern Baltic

Oil pollution from the tanker Palva which ran aground in Finnish waters in 1969 provides an example of the hazards of oil spills in cold waters. The Palva incident and its aftermath were studied by Finnish biologists and some of their findings are reported here. The chief casualties were eider ducks, but fortunately long-term effects appear to have been small.     

无人值守岩体力学监测系统

按照岩体流变理论,岩体稳定和变形具有明显的时间效应,用于岩体力学参数（位移、声发射……）的监测记录系统,必须长期代替人工操作的要求。无人值守岩体力学监测系统是能满足这一要求的全自动化设备。它在自动绘制位移、应变的同时,能将岩体变形出现的声发射信息以电磁波的形式进行发射和接收,能将遥测信息进行自动记录、报警、开     

片状微囊藻(Microcystis panniformis)——中国微囊藻属的一个新记录种

目前全球范围内先后有50多种微囊藻被描述记载,国内最新研究报道有12种.根据采自太湖的野外藻类样品,确定了中国微囊藻属的一个新记录种——片状微囊藻(Microcystis panniformis),对其分类学的形态特征进行详细的描述,并对其和分类学上相近的属种Pannus以及微囊藻属的鱼害微囊藻(M.ichthyoblabe)、铜绿微囊藻(M.aeruginosa)和水华微囊藻(M.flos-aquae)等的区分进行讨论.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the Mediterranean Sea

Although concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in biota, sediment and water of the Mediterranean Sea have been determined, most available data are for samples collected within the narrow coastal zone at relatively few locations. PCB concentrations in samples from the open Mediterranean Sea have not previously been reported. We report here the concentrations of PCBs in surface and sub-surface water from 36 locations. Analysis of our data indicate that there may be some correlation between PCB concentration in Mediterranean seawater and certain demographic and oceanographic features of the region.