The characteristics of breaking waves, bubble clouds, and near-surface currents observed using side-scan sonar

An inverted 248 kHz two-component side-scan sonar mounted on the sea bed in a mean depth of 34 m has been used to detect the clouds of bubbles produced by breaking surface waves. The sonar has a range of about 150 m. The breaking waves appear on the sonograph records as short-lived intense echoes, and form patterns which can be explained in terms of the behaviour of groups of waves in which the highest are breaking.The bubble clouds are slightly elongated in the wave direction when they are first formed and, in winds of 5.1 m s⁻¹, have lifetimes of up to about 5 min. Soon after a wave breaks, the horizontal motion of the fluid in which the bubbles are formed becomes similar to that of the surroundings, and the bubbles continue to be advected by the near-surface currents. The rate of drift of bubble clouds along the directions of the sonar beams allows the components of the currents to be measured.The sonographs show that large changes in currents can occur over horizontal distances of as little as 5 to 10 m when fronts are passing. The motion of the fronts through the water can be measured. The sonographs have been used to measure surface currents induced by internal waves. Bands of bubbles associated with Langmuir circulation can be detected in strong winds or when moderate winds are accompanied by heavy rain.     

Using Envisat InSAR time-series to investigate the surface kinematics of an active salt extrusion near Qum,Iran

Lower Oligocene-Miocene rock salt is exposed in several diapirs in the central plateau of Iran along the northern margin of the Great Kavir basin. These include a small but mature salt extrusion known as Qum Kuh located near the city of Qum. We use small-baseline interferograms to study the surface displacements of Qum Kuh. The interferometric dataset consisted of 149 interferometric displacement maps derived from 35 C-band ASAR images collected by Envisat satellite in both descending and ascending orbits from 2003 through 2009.The results of the displacement time series analyses show significant long-term trend of horizontal motion toward gentle slopes of Qum Kuh, punctuated by seasonal variations during dry and wet seasons. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) time series results suggest that the salt near the spreading center, where the salt first surfaces from depth, is extruded to the more gentle flanks of Qum Kuh and that down-slope gravitational spreading of the extruded salt accelerates when it is wet.     

Two-layer Ekman model for wind-induced shear flow near the sea surface

A simple two-layered model for steady wind-induced shear flow near the sea surface has been formulated. Basic assumptions of Ekman's theory are retained, including horizontal uniformity, infinite depth and constant (but differing) vertical eddy viscosities in the respective layers. Employing information coming from observational data, the parameters of the model (depth of the surface layer and the two eddy viscosities) are evaluated and optimized. The results thereby obtained favour the presence of a high shear layer, about 1 m thick, immediately below the sea surface. The eddy viscosity in that layer increases approximately linearly with wind speed but remains comparatively small, being generally less than 20 cm² s⁻¹ for wind speeds less than 20 m s⁻¹. In contrast, the eddy viscosity directly below the layer is two orders of magnitude larger and increases more steeply with wind speed.     

Copper in the sediment and sea surface microlayer near a fallowed, open-net fish farm

Sediment and sea surface microlayer samples near an open-net salmon farm in Nova Scotia, were analysed for copper. Copper is a constituent of the feed and is an active ingredient of anti-foulants. The salmon farm was placed in fallow after 15years of production. Sampling was pursued over 27months. Elevated copper concentrations in the sediments indicated the farm site as a source. Bubble flotation due to gas-emitting sediments from eutrophication is a likely process for accumulating copper in the sea surface microlayer at enriched concentrations. Elevated and enriched concentrations in the sea surface microlayer over distance from the farm site led, as a result of wind-drift, to an enlarged farm footprint. The levels of copper in both sediments and sea surface microlayer exceeded guidelines for protection of marine life. Over the 27months period, copper levels persisted in the sediments and decreased gradually in the sea surface microlayer.     

Atmospheric polychlorinated biphenyl (pcb) inputs to a coastal city near the marmara sea

Recent studies have shown that polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels are high in coastal sites. Various types of deposition events, including dry deposition, air–water exchange and wet deposition, were analyzed as part of the study to illustrate the pollution level. The atmospheric levels and deposition mechanisms of 82 PCBs were investigated in Mudanya, a coastal city in Turkey. A total of 175 samples and 112 blanks were collected. Air–water exchange and particle phase dry deposition fluxes were 120 ± 90 ng/m²-d and 125 ± 160 ng/m²-d, respectively. The wet-dry deposition sampler (WDDS) consisted of two reservoirs, wet and dry. Collected with the WDDS, the dry deposition flux was 21 ± 20 ng/m²-d, and the wet deposition fluxes (during the rainy period) were 145 ± 130 ng/m²-d and 195 ± 270 ng/m²-d for the dissolved and particulate phases, respectively. Mass transfer coefficients (MTCs), dry deposition velocities and washout ratios were calculated and compared with the literature values.     

The use of faecal bacteria as a tracer for sewage sludge disposal in the sea

Samples of bottom sediment taken in an area used for marine dumping of sewage sludge were examined for the presence of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria. Using a simple membrane filtration technique, an extensive network of stations was sampled and examined at sea in under two days. The results obtained were in good agreement with seabed drifter and radioactive tracer studies, and suggest that the use of bacterial indices may be a useful means of estimating the distribution of sewage sludge solids in bottom sediments.     

Analysis of surface chlorophyll a associated with sea surface temperature and surface wind in the South China Sea

Ocean Dynamics - In this study, the spatial and temporal variability in surface chlorophyll a (Chl-a) in the whole South China Sea (SCS) was investigated in detail by using 8-day, 4-km, gap-free...     

The response of circulation and salinity in a micro-tidal estuary to sub-tidal oscillations in coastal sea surface elevation

Conceptual models of circulation theorise that the dominant forces controlling estuarine circulation are freshwater discharge from the riverine section (landward), tidal forcing from the ocean boundary, and gravitational circulation resulting from along-estuary gradients in density. In micro-tidal estuaries, sub-tidal water level changes (classified as those with periods between 3 and 10 days) with amplitudes comparable to the spring tidal range can significantly influence the circulation and distribution of water properties. Field measurements obtained from the Swan River Estuary, a diurnal, micro-tidal estuary in south-western Australia, indicated that sub-tidal water level changes at the ocean boundary were predominantly from remotely forced continental shelf waves (CSWs). The sub-tidal water levels had maximum amplitudes of 0.8 m, were comparable to the maximum tidal range of 0.6 m, propagated into the estuary to its tidal limit, and modified water levels in the whole estuary over several days. These oscillations dominated the circulation and distribution of water properties in the estuary through changing the salt wedge location and increasing the bottom water salinity by 7 units over 3 days. The observed salt wedge excursion forced by CSW was up to 5 km, whereas the maximum tidal excursion was 1.2 km. The response of the residual currents and the salinity distribution lagged behind the water level changes by ∼24 h. It was proposed that the sub-tidal forcing at the ocean boundary, which changed the circulation, salinity, and dissolved oxygen in the upper estuary, was due to a combination of two processes: (1) a gravity current generated by a process similar to a lock exchange mechanism and (2) amplified along-estuary density gradients in the upper estuary, which enhanced the gravitational circulation in the estuary. The salt intrusions under the sub-tidal forcing caused the rapid movement of anoxic water upstream, with significant implications for water quality and estuarine health.     

The characteristics of Quaternary activity of faults in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth

Introduction As far as the frequency and magnitude are concerned, the earthquakes in the sea area to the east of Shanghai are far more strong than in land area with the largest one in the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth being MS=436, while in land, only MS=434 occurred on Sept. 1, 1624. As a moderately strong earthquake active area, the sea area near the Yangtze River mouth, may cause a potential risk to Shanghai. In 1971 and 1996, earthquakes with MS=5~6 occurred in this area. Geo…     

The mechanism for the impact of sea surface temperature anomaly on the ridgeline surface of Western Pacific

Based on the atmospheric circulation data provided by ECMWF and the sea surface temperature data by NOAA, we studied the mechanism for the impact of sea surface temperature anomaly on the ridgeline surface of western Pacific using an improved high truncated spectral model. Our results show that the wave-wave interaction and the wave-mean flow interactions are weaker in the inner dynamic process of atmospheric circulation, when atmospheric circulation is forced by the sea surface temperature of El Niño pattern. With the external thermal forcing changed from winter to summer pattern, the range of ridgeline surface of western Pacific moving northward is smaller, which causes the ridgeline surface of western Pacific on south of normal. On the contrary, the wave-wave interaction and the wave-mean flow interaction are stronger, when atmospheric circulation is forced by the sea surface temperature of La Niña pattern. With the external thermal forcing turning from winter to summer pattern, the ridgeline surface of western Pacific shifts northward about 19 latitude degrees, which conduces the ridgeline surface of western Pacific on north of normal. After moving to certain latitude, the ridgeline surface of western Pacific oscillates with the most obvious 30–60 d period and the 4°–7° amplitude. It is one of the important reasons for the interannual variation of ridgeline surface of Western Pacific that the atmospheric inner dynamical process forced out by different sea surface temperature anomaly pattern is different.     

The nature of the sea surface as deduced from composite temperature analysis

Summary A technique is described for preparing detailed sea surface temperature analyses for large ocean areas utilizing injection temperature observations from commercial ships. The inadequacies of analyses based on averaged data are discussed, as well as some of the difficulties inherent in contouring scalar fields.Sea surface temperatures are interpreted according to some concepts derived from cross sectional profiles and surface current data. Isotach analyses of mean current drift are considered as flow patterns to aid temperature analysis in areas where data are sparse.

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Die Schwankungen der Oberflächentemperatur des Meeres nach der zusammengesetzten Temperaturanalyse

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode beschrieben, die geeignet ist, mittels Temperaturbeobachtungen von Handelsschiffen aus die Vorarbeiten zu detaillierten Analysen von Oberflächentemperaturen in großräumigen Meeresgebieten durchzuführen. Die Unzulänglichkeit von Analysen gemittelter Werte sowie einige Schwierigkeiten bei der graphischen Darstellung von Skalarfeldern werden besprochen.Gemäß den Vorstellungen, die von Querschnittsprofilen und Oberflächenstromwerten abgeleitet wurden, werden Oberflächentemperaturen gedeutet. Um die Temperaturanalyse in Gebieten mit geringen Beobachtungen zu erleichtern, werden Isotachen-Analysen mittlerer Strömungswerte als Strömungsvorbilder benutzt.

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La nature de la température superficielle de la mer suivant l'analyse composée de la température

Résumé L'article actuel décrit une méthode propre à préparer, au moyen des observations de la température faites au bord des navires marchands, des analyses détaillées de la température superficielle dans de grandes étendues océaniques. L'impropriété de l'analyse des valeurs moyennes ainsi que plusieurs difficultés que l'on rencontre en représentant des champs scalaires sont exposées.Suivant les conceptions déduites des coupes transversales et des courants de surface, on interprète les températures superficielles des courants de l'océan. Dans le but de faciliter l'analyse des températures dans de grandes zones océaniques où des observations sont rares, on se serve comme modèle de courant des analyses des isotaches des valeurs moyennes de courants.

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Submitted October 1961 for publication in Deutsche Hydrographische Zeitschrift.     

江苏及近海地区构造环境剪应力场的研究

观测结果表明,绝大多数地震是地壳岩石在剪应力作用下发生的破裂结果,剪应力的量值是直接产生地震破裂的主要因素。据此思路,剪应力较高的地区应是潜在震源区,反之应力场较弱的地区则为地震安全区。如果能测出各地区的环境剪应力值,则可对潜在的地震危险区作出判断,为确定性的地震物理预报提供依据。故剪应力场量值随时间和空间的变化对地震预报是十分重要的。过去由于观测条件的种种限制,我们很难获得地下几千米至几十千米深度的应力场量值,特别是对发震应力场的量值知之甚少。陈培善和陈海通(1992)根据位错理论,采用二维矩形破裂模式,在导…     

利用CFP技术解决复杂近地表问题综述

复杂近地表条件会降低地震数据的质量,通常采用基于地表一致性的时移静校正消除其影响.但静校正与速度是密不可分的,而确定复杂近地表速度是非常困难的.基于CFP技术处理复杂近地表问题时避免了对速度的直接操作,使得静校正和速度的确定相互独立.首先根据叠前数据估算出波场的传播算子,然后依据等时原理在DTS模板中进行算子更新,再用这些更新的算子重建基准面和实现近地表单程时间成像.获得正确的算子振幅也是重建基准面的关键.     

Measurement of near surface soil water content using a capacitance probe

The portable surface capacitance insertion probe was used to measure the in situ water content of near surface soil layers. The probe readings were calibrated against gravimetric samples collected over a wide range of water contents, and were found to be very closely correlated. The capacitance probe was used repeatedly in time and space at a field site where ridges and furrows ensured a regular pattern of soil water variations. The observed spatial variations of the water content were related to topography and land mangement. The degree of variability was dependent on the average water content.     

Measurement of small ions and condensation nuclei over the sea near the land

Summary To study the ionization equilibrium, simultancous measurements of the concentration of small ions (n), concentration of condensation nuclei (Z), and the diffusion coefficient of condensation nuclei (D) have been carried out over the sea. If we take the variation ofD into consideration, the correlation among them was found to be well expressed by the simple formula;q=n Z. The dependence of the effective attachment coefficient of small ions () upon the size of nuclei (2r) were also studied, and was found to correlate well withD orr. Slight differences of the dependence of uponD orr over the sea from that over the land seem to be well explained by the difference of charged states of nuclei over the sea and land.

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Zusammenfassung Zur Untersuchung des Ionisationsgleichgewichts wurden gleichzeitige Messungen der Konzentration schneller Ionen (n), der Konzentration der Kondensationskerne (Z) und des Diffusions-Koeffizienten der Kondensationskerne (D) über dem Meere ausgefürt. Unter Berücksichtigung des Diffusions-Koeffizienten (D) konnte der Zusammenhang zwischen den beiden anderen Grössen recht gut durch eine einfache Formel ausgedrückt werden:q=n Z. Die Abhängigkeit des wirksamen Anlagerungskoeffizienten für schnelle Ionen () von der Grösse der Kondensationskerne (2r) wurde ebenfalls untersucht, und es wurde gefunden, dass recht gut mitD oderr korreliert. Kleinere Unterschiede in der Abhängigkeit von vonD oderr, welche bei einem Vergleich der Messungen über See und über Land festgestellt wurden, liessen sich gut durch den Unterschied der geladenen Zustände der Kondensationskerne über See und Land erklären.