Metocean Comparisons of Jason-2 and AltiKa—A Method to Develop a New Wind Speed Algorithm

As well as range, the AltiKa altimeter provides estimates of wave height, H_s and normalized backscatter, σ⁰, that need to be assessed prior to statistics based on them being included in climate databases. An analysis of crossovers with the Jason-2 altimeter shows AltiKa H_s values to be biased high by only ?0.05m, with a standard deviation (s.d.) of ?0.1m for seven-point averages. AltiKa's σ⁰ values are 2.5–3 dB less than those from Jason-2, with a s.d. of ?0.3 dB, with these relatively large mismatches to be expected as AltiKa measures a different part of the spectrum of sea surface roughness. A new wind speed algorithm is developed through matching a histogram of σ⁰ values to that for Jason-2 wind speeds. The algorithm is robust to the use of short durations of data, with a consistency at roughly the 0.1 m/s level. Incorporation of H_s as a secondary input reduces the assessed error at crossovers from 0.82 m/s to 0.71 m/s. A comparison across all altimeter frequencies used to date demonstrates that the lowest wind speeds preferentially develop the shortest scales of roughness.     

缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)EST-SSR标记与生长性状的相关性分析

利用16个微卫星标记对缢蛏F1家系的遗传多样性和标记-性状相关性进行了研究。结果显示,16个SSR位点共检测到39个等位基因,平均等位基因数(Na)和平均有效等位基因数(Ne)分别为2.44和2.09;多态信息含量(PIC)为0.40;平均观测杂合度(Ho)与期望杂合度(He)分别为0.58和0.63,部分位点基因型分布严重偏离孟德尔定律,暗示其可能与适应性基因相连锁,其中YC-8位点附近可能存在杂合不利存活基因。位点YC-96和YC-123与体重呈显著相关(P0.05),YC-96的BC基因型和YC-123的BB基因型均为体重性状的优势基因型,其对应的壳长、壳宽、壳高和体重4个生长性状表型值都最大,可以作为选育快长性状的候选分子标记;YC-1位点与壳宽呈显著相关(P0.05),其中BB型是壳宽的优势基因型;YC-93位点与壳宽、壳高呈极显著相关(P0.01),其中AB型是壳高的优势基因型,BB和BC型是壳宽的优势基因型。对YC-1、YC-93、YC-96和YC-123进行以体重性状为参照的不同基因型组合比较,找到了最优组合(BB/BB(BC)/BC/BB),与4个位点单独分析对应的最优基因型基本完全一致,符合加性作用模型。筛选出的与生长性状相关的标记可为标记辅助选择育种(MAS)提供参考依据。     

The wind-speed measurement capability of spaceborne radar altimeters

This study represents an attempt to quantitatively assess the capability of a spaceborne radar altimeter to infer ocean surface wind speeds from a measurement of the backscattered power at vertical incidence. The study uses data acquired during 184 near overflights of NOAA data buoys with the GEOS-3 satellite radar altimeter and encompasses a wind-speed range from less than 1 to 18 m/s. An algorithm is derived from the data comparison for converting measurements of the normalized scattering cross section of the ocean surface at 13.9 GHz into estimates of the surface wind speed at the standard anemometer height of 10 m. The algorithm is straightforward and potentially useful for on-board processing of raw altimeter data for the purpose of providing real-time estimates of surface wind speed. For winds in the range of 1 to 18 m/s, the mean difference between the altimeter-inferred winds and the buoy measurements is negligible while the standard deviation of the difference is 1.74 m/s.     

数字滤波技术在潮汐观测中的应用研究

潮汐是重要的海洋物理要素。瞬时变化的海面高度信息除了包含潮汐信息外,还包括波浪等高频干扰信息,因此需要对干扰信息进行滤除。如何从获取到的海面瞬时高度变化中提取出潮汐信息就成为一个关键问题。海洋学中通常是通过低通滤波来获取低频的潮汐信息。通过分析常用的3种低通数字滤波的方法,即滑动平均法、快速傅里叶变换法和小波变换法,对3种低通滤波方法应用于潮汐数据处理的效果进行了比较分析,得出滑动平均法在潮汐信息提取中具有较高应用价值的结论。     

Reducing fishing vessel fuel consumption and NOX emissions

There is a growing concern with the impact of marine operations on the environment. This requires reducing fuel consumption and vessel pollution during operation. On-board computers and satellite communications will enable the operator to reduce fuel consumption and NO_X emissions during vessel operations.This paper presents the results of a study on this problem and how such an on-board system could be implemented to reduce fuel consumption and engine NO_X emissions.     

Differential phase estimation with the SeaMARCII bathymetricsidescan sonar system

A maximum-likelihood estimator is used to extract differential phase measurements from noisy seafloor echoes received at pairs of transducers mounted on either side of the SeaMARC II bathymetric sidescan sonar system. Carrier frequencies for each side are about 1 kHz apart, and echoes from a transmitted pulse 2 ms long are analyzed. For each side, phase difference sequences are derived from the full complex data consisting of base-banded and digitized quadrature components of the received echoes. With less bias and a lower variance, this method is shown to be more efficient than a uniform mean estimator. It also does not exhibit the angular or time ambiguities commonly found in the histogram method used in the SeaMARC II system. A figure for the estimation uncertainty of the phase difference is presented, and results are obtained for both real and simulated data. Based on this error estimate and an empirical verification derived through coherent ping stacking, a single filter length of 100 ms is chosen for data processing applications     

Volumetric mapping of tubeworm colonies in Kagoshima Bay through autonomous robotic surveys

We developed and tested a comprehensive method for measuring the three-dimensional distribution of tubeworm colonies using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). We derived volumetric measurements such as the volume, area, average height, and number of tubes for colonies of Lamellibrachia satsuma, the world's shallowest-dwelling vestimentiferan tubeworm discovered at a depth of 82 m, at the Haorimushi site in Kagoshima Bay, Japan, by processing geometric and visual data obtained through low-altitude surveys using the AUV Tri-Dog 1. According to the results, the tubeworm colonies cover an area of 151.9 m², accounting for 5.8% of the observed area (2600 m²). The total number of tubes was estimated to be 99,500. Morphological parameters such as area, volume, and average height were estimated for each colony. On the basis of average height, colonies could be clearly separated into two groups, short (0.1-0.3 m) and tall (0.6-0.7 m), independent of the area.     

Assessing the Measurement Consistency Between the Jason-2/AMR and SARAL/AltiKa/DFMR Microwave Radiometers Using Simultaneous Nadir Observations

SARAL/AltiKa has a Dual Frequency Microwave Radiometer (DFMR), and Jason-2 has an Advanced Microwave Radiometer (AMR). Both microwave radiometer sensors include a 23.8 GHz primary water sensing channel. The measurement consistencies between DFMR and AMR are important for establishing a consistent altimetry data set between SARAL/AltiKa and Jason-2 in order to accurately assess sea level rise in a long-term time series. This study investigates the measurement consistency in the 23.8 GHz channel between DFMR and AMR at the Simultaneous Nadir Overpasses (SNO's) between the two satellites and also at coldest ocean brightness temperature locations. Preliminary results show that while both instruments show no significant trends over the one year since the launch of SARAL, a consistent relative bias of 2.88 K (DFMR higher than AMR) with a standard deviation of 0.98 K is observed. The relative bias at the lowest brightness temperature from the SNO method (-3.82 K) is consistent with that calculated from coldest ocean method (-3.74 K). The relative bias exhibits strong latitude (and scene temperature) dependency, changing from -3.82 K at high latitudes to -0.92 K near the equator. There also exists an asymmetry between the northern and southern hemisphere. The relative bias increases toward the lower end of brightness temperature.     

长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)多代近交与自交家系遗传差异及生长性状比较

在良种选育过程中,为了尽快得到稳定可遗传的优良性状,常采用近交方式进行纯系选育,而近交会导致群体的遗传多样性下降。为了解长牡蛎(Crassostrea gigas)多代近交和自交家系的遗传多样性、遗传结构和生长情况,本实验选用长牡蛎近交4代(F4代)、近交5代(F5代)家系和雌性同体自交1代(自交1代)家系,采用8对多态性高的微卫星序列进行分析,同时对其成体的三个时间点生长数据进行了显著性差异分析。实验结果表明,8对微卫星位点在野生对照组中表现出较高的多态性,F4代、F5代和自交1代3个家系的遗传多样性明显下降,平均等位基因数(Na)由17.00下降到2.00,平均观测杂合度(Ho)由0.538下降到0.449,平均多态信息含量(PIC)由0.826下降到0.297;哈迪-温伯格平衡(HWE)检验结果显示,8个位点在三个家系和野生对照组中均不同程度偏离HWE平衡(P0.0062)。F4代、F5代、自交1代和野生对照的生长性状指标分析表明,和野生对照相比,三个家系生长指标明显提高,对于自交一代而言,与自交实验组亲本选择的偶然性有关。同时,三个家系三个时间点的壳长、壳宽生长性状没有显著性差异(除330日龄壳宽和630日龄壳长),F5代生长性状指标壳高和湿重均大于F4代和自交1代,且差异显著;但F4代和自交1代之间没有显著性差异。通过本研究发现,F5代可以继续用来进行生长性状新品系的选育,自交1代多样性降低程度相当于F5代,但多样性的降低对成体的生长性状影响不明显,仍可以用做相关实验材料。     

Effect of animal orientation on acoustic estimates of zooplanktonproperties

It is well known that the behavior of zooplankton and, in particular, their orientation distribution dramatically affects the level of backscattered acoustic energy. As a result, interpretation of acoustic survey data in the ocean is subject to error. In order to quantify these effects, laboratory data from two important classes of animals were collected. The data involved broad-band (350-650 kHz) acoustic signals insonifying individual animals whose orientation was varied over the range 0°-360° in 1° increments. The animals were from two major anatomical groups: fluid-like (decapod shrimp; Palaemonetes vulgaris) and elastic-shelled (periwinkles; Littorina littorea). The data were analyzed both in the time domain (with pulse compression processing) and the frequency domain. Averages of the laboratory data over different orientation distributions illustrate the variability in average target strength that can be expected in the ocean environment. The average target strength of the shrimp varied by 3 dB when averaged over orientation distributions centered around broadside and end-on incidence. In addition, size estimates from pulse compression processing of the broad-band echoes were made for various orientation distributions for both the shrimp and periwinkles. These results show the necessity of animal orientation information for the proper interpretation of acoustic backscatter data     

Physical behavior of the SEEDS iron-fertilized patch by sulphur hexafluoride tracer release

The first iron (Fe) – fertilization experiment in the western North Pacific was carried out using SF₆ to trace the Fe-fertilized water mass. A solution in 10,800 liters of seawater of 350 kg of Fe and 0.48 M of SF₆ tracer was released into the mixed layer over a 8 × 10 km area. On the first underway transects through the patch after the Fe release, we observed a significant increase of dissolved Fe (ave. 2.89 nM). The fertilized patch was traced for 14 days by on-board SF₆ analysis. A Lagrangian frame of reference was maintained by the use of a drogued GPS buoy released at the center of the patch. The patch moved westward at a rate of 6.8 km d⁻¹. Mixed layer depth increased from 8.5 to 15 m during the experiment. Horizontal diffusivity was determined by the change of SF₆ concentration in the patch. The horizontal diffusivity increased during the experiment. We evaluate here the fate of Fe in a Fe-fertilized patch using the dilution rate determined from sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) concentration. Dissolved Fe concentrations subsequently decreased rapidly to 0.15 nM on Day 13. However, the dissolved Fe half-life of 43 h was relatively longer than in previous Fe-enrichment studies, and we observed a larger increase of the centric diatom standing stock and corresponding drawdown of macro-nutrients and carbon dioxide than in the previous studies. The most important reason for the larger response was the phytoplankton species in the western North Pacific. In addition, the smaller diffusivity and shallower mixed layer were effective to sustain the higher dissolved Fe concentration compared to previous experiments. This might be one reason for the larger response of diatoms in SEEDS.     

Seafloor habitat definition for spatial management in fisheries: A case study on the continental shelf of southeast Australia

The importance of habitat to fisheries production on Australia's southeast continental shelf is part of a five-year study of ecosystem functioning and its implications for a sustainable fishery. Benthic habitats from 40 m to ∼200 m were studied, based on identification of suitable sites from local fishers' information. Results presented here concentrate on data from a single mesohabitat at 40–60 m depth collected over two days. Macrohabitats within this mesohabitat were discriminated as soft, hard and rough from visual inspection of acoustic echograms. Subsequent analysis of the return echoes using roughness and hardness indices did not significantly improve real-time visual discriminations. Macrohabitats were sampled with an underwater video camera, sediment sampler, benthic sled, demersal trawl, gillnets and fish traps to relate the acoustic classifications to biological habitats. There were distinct differences in the benthic and fish communities between macrohabitats discriminated by acoustics. We concluded that discrimination of habitats from visual inspection of echograms, plus limited verification with physical sampling, could provide sufficient information for spatial management. However, successful management of individual species, the fish community and the ecosystem requires an understanding of the association of fishes with habitat at the macrohabitat and mesohabitat level, and its variability through time.     

An improved model for the calculation of CO2 solubility in aqueous solutions containing Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, and SO4

An improved model is presented for the calculation of the solubility of carbon dioxide in aqueous solutions containing Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻ in a wide temperature–pressure–ionic strength range (from 273 to 533 K, from 0 to 2000 bar, and from 0 to 4.5 molality of salts) with experimental accuracy. The improvements over the previous model [Duan, Z. and Sun, R., 2003. An improved model calculating CO₂ solubility in pure water and aqueous NaCl solutions from 273 to 533K and from 0 to 2000 bar. Chemical Geology, 193: 257–271] include: (1) By developing a non-iterative equation to replace the original equation of state in the calculation of CO₂ fugacity coefficients, the new model is at least twenty times computationally faster and can be easily adapted to numerical reaction-flow simulator for such applications as CO₂ sequestration and (2) By fitting to the new solubility data, the new model improved the accuracy below 288 K from 6% to about 3% of uncertainty but still retains the high accuracy of the original model above 288 K. We comprehensively evaluate all experimental CO₂ solubility data. Compared with these data, this model not only reproduces all the reliable data used for the parameterization but also predicts the data that were not used in the parameterization. In order to facilitate the application to CO₂ sequestration, we also predicted CO₂ solubility in seawater at two-phase coexistence (vapor–liquid or liquid–liquid) and at three-phase coexistence (CO₂ hydrate–liquid water–vapor CO₂ [or liquid CO₂]). The improved model is programmed and can be downloaded from the website http://www.geochem-model.org/programs.htm.     

Amorphous Er2O3 films for antireflection coatings

This paper reports that stoichiometric, amorphous, and uniform Er₂O₃ films are deposited on Si(001) substrates by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering technique. Ellipsometry measurements show that the refractive index of the Er₂O₃ films is very close to that of a single layer antireflection coating for a solar cell with an air surrounding medium during its working wavelength. For the 90-nm-thick film, the reflectance has a minimum lower than 3% at the wavelength of 600 nm and the weighted average reflectances (400--1000 nm) is 11.6%. The obtained characteristics indicate that Er₂O₃ films could be a promising candidate for antireflection coatings in solar cells.     

超强台风“威马逊”作用下红河三角洲海域水动力环境变化的数值研究

201409号超强台风"威马逊"于2014年7月从北部湾北部过境,对红河三角洲近岸海域的水动力环境产生重要影响。本文基于Delft3D建立三维潮、流、浪耦合数值模型,对红河三角洲水位、海流及波浪对台风的响应变化进行模拟。结果表明:威马逊台风期间,红河三角洲海域风速增大约6倍,风向由偏南风转为偏北风,表底层流速均受影响,其中表层变化较大,表现为北分量流速明显增大,流向变为偏南向,与风向主分量变化有关;波高增大为正常海况的9倍,时间变化与风速一致。本研究获得了从北部湾北部海域过境的台风影响下红河三角洲海域水动力环境的响应变化特征,对该海域的物质输运研究及海洋工程建设有重要意义。     

基于贝叶斯分类器的多普勒天气雷达海浪回波识别和效果检验

为了提升雷达数据质量，减少海浪回波对临近预报和数值天气预报模式的雷达数据同化的不利影响，因此需要对海浪回波进行识别和去除。识别算法主要为统计获得先验概率，分析海浪和降水回波特征分布得到似然函数，再经过贝叶斯分类器来达到识别的目的。在本次算法识别过程中65个样本数据试验的临界成功指数I_CS达到了0.692，结果表明利用贝叶斯分类器对海浪回波的识别，具有较好的识别效果，能一定程度降低海浪回波误判为降水回波的错误，提高雷达数据质量。     

Wave height parameter for damage description of rubble-mound breakwaters

In this paper it will be shown that the wave height parameter H₅₀, defined as the average wave height of the 50 highest waves reaching a rubble-mound breakwater in its useful life, can describe the effect of the wave height on the history of the armor damage caused by the wave climate during the structure's usable life.Using Thompson and Shuttler (Thompson, D.M., Shuttler, R.M., 1975. Riprap design for wind wave attack: A laboratory study on random waves. HRS Wallingford, Report 61, UK) data it will be shown that H₅₀ is the wave parameter that best represents the damage evolution with the number of waves in a sea state. Using this H₅₀ parameter, formulae as van der Meer (van der Meer, J.W., 1988. Rock slopes and gravel beaches under wave attack. PhD Thesis. Technical University of Delft) and Losada and Giménez-Curto (Losada, M.A., Gimenez–Curto, L.A., 1979. The joint effect of the wave height and period on the stability of rubble mound breakwaters using Iribarren's number. Coastal Engineering, 3, 77–96) are transformed into sea-state damage evolution formulae. Using these H₅₀-transformed formulae for regular and irregular sea states it will be shown how damage predictions are independent of the sea state wave height distribution.To check the capability of these H₅₀-formulae to predict damage evolution of succession of sea states with different wave height distributions, some stability tests with regular and irregular waves have been carried out. After analysing the experimental results, it will be shown how H₅₀-formulae can predict the observed damage independently of the sea state wave height distribution or the succession of sea states.     

Appraisal of gas-hydrate/free-gas from VP/VS ratio in the Makran accretionary prism

Existence of gas-hydrate in the marine sediments elevates both the P- and S-wave seismic velocities, whereas even a small amount of underlying free-gas decreases the P-wave velocity considerably and the S-wave velocity remains almost unaffected. Study of both P- and S-wave seismic velocities or their ratio (V_P/V_S) for the hydrate-bearing sediment provides more information than that obtained by the P- or S-wave velocity alone for the quantitative assessment of gas-hydrate. We estimate the P- and S-wave seismic velocities across a BSR (interface between gas-hydrate and free-gas bearing sediments) using the travel time inversion followed by a constrained AVA modeling of multi channel seismic (MCS) data at two locations in the Makran accretionary prism. Using this V_P/V_S ratio, we then quantify the amount of gas-hydrate and free-gas based on two rock-physics models. The result shows an estimate of 12–14.5% gas-hydrate and 4.5–5.5% free-gas of the pore volume based on first model, and 13–20% gas-hydrate and 3–3.5% free-gas of the pore volume based on the second model, respectively.     

Adaptive processing of microwave sea echo for the suppression ofstrong reflections from scatterers

Adaptive processing of microwave sea echo is proposed for the suppression of strong reflections from scatterers on the ocean surface. An adaptive method using echoes of pulses at different carrier frequencies is also shown to be effective for this purpose. It is noted that nonadaptive processing of the same data does not suppress these reflections. Results obtained by processing coherent microwave backscatter from the ocean surface are presented