Ecological quality assessment of small estuaries from the Portuguese coast based on fish assemblages indices

The importance of establishing the ecological quality of estuarine systems has been widely acknowledged and led to the development of several fish community-based multimetric indices. Nevertheless, a question rose about the accuracy of these tools when natural disturbance is acting upon the organization of the systems’ communities. Four multimetric indices were used to examine their ability to differentiate the ecological status of five small estuarine systems (southern Portugal), and also to test if they reflected the level of anthropogenic pressures. Fish assemblages from Mira, Odeceixe and Aljezur (in the Southwest coast), Gilão and Bensafrim (in the South coast) estuaries were sampled seasonally for one year, and anthropogenic sources of pressure were identified and quantified. We found that although the applied indices provided information on ecological condition differentiation among systems, they are unable to explain different classes of ecological status in systems with equivalent pressure levels.     

Ecological quality assessment of small estuaries from the Portuguese coast based on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages indices

Benthic macroinvertebrates communities are the most consistently emphasized biotic component of aquatic ecosystems and are one of the biological indicators required for assessment by the European Water Framework Directive. In this context, several indices based on these communities have been developed in order to assess ecological quality of estuarine systems. In the present work we used AMBI, M-AMBI, BENTIX and BAT to distinguish ecological status of five small estuarine systems of the Portuguese south and southwest coasts. Although indices outputs did not differ between systems and sampling seasons, results indicated that the metrics in which these indices are based could differentiate community structures as a result of two main gradients that force these communities: the natural variability, and the anthropogenic impact.     

从1997-1998年伽师强震群到2003年巴楚-伽师-岳普湖地震--震群演化特征及地震趋势分析

在介绍了1997—1998年伽师震群序列异常主要特征及其启示的基础上，对比分析了2003年以6．8级地震为主的巴楚一伽师一岳普湖地震序列的异同，认为巴楚一伽师6．8级地震序列和岳普湖5．8级地震分别是1997—1998年伽师震群在塔里木盆地内向东南和正南方向新的破裂扩展，两者虽互不相属，但均为1997—1998年伽师强震群向外扩展的产物。因而，1997—1998伽师强震群至今已发展成为。1997—2003年伽师-巴楚-岳普湖强震群”。对3次较大地震的扩展式空间迁移现象及其特征进行分析，推测伽师周围地区今后仍可能发生6级左右地震，指出可能的发震地点和中短期趋势。最后，提出了在该地区加强地震监测预报工作应该注意的几个问题。     

The 1997–1998 Activity of Volcán de Colima,Western Mexico: Some Aspects of the Associated Seismic Activity

Volcán de Colima, the most active volcano in Mexico, had a climactic episode on 20 November, 1998. On this date, a dome formed on the small summit crater during the previous few days, collapsed generating block-and-ash flows. The event was preceded by almost twelve months of seismic activity, which continued afterwards for several more months. We analyzed the main seismic activity, which occurred from 20 March, 1998 to 31 March, 1999. The seismicity was dominated by volcano-tectonic earthquakes before the climax, and subsequently by hybrid and long-period earthquakes. We determined the frequency of events for the entire period, and located most of the volcano-tectonic events. To assess the possibility that these earthquakes were generated by the same source, they were tested for their similitude through cross correlation in the time domain. Six groups of similar events, or earthquake families, were generated. The members of these families appeared before the 20 November event, apparently ceasing afterwards. We examined the location of the families' events with respect to an existing gravity model in which an anomalous body of negative density contrast suggests the presence of the magma chamber. Most of the family events occur on top of the anomalous body, which suggests they were associated with the passage of magma through the feeding conduits of the volcano.     

江苏省入太湖污染量分析(1998-2007年)

近年来,太湖水体受到了严重污染,水环境质量逐年下降,太湖水环境的状况直接影响了地区的经济和社会发展,保护太湖已列为国家重点治理项目。本文根据1998-2007年环太湖水文巡测资料及主要入湖河道水质监测成果,分析入湖水量、入湖河道水质、入湖污染物量及其变化趋势,为太湖地区水环境综合整治提供技术支撑和决策依据。     

1998年宁蒗6.2级系列地震的短临前兆异常特征

与以往的震例相对相对比,１９９８年宁蒗６．２级地震的短临前兆异常,既有异常幅度大,空间分布上受活动性断裂带控制,时间进程上是准同步起伏,前兆异常与震兆异常配套出现,策观异常与宏观异常配套出现等共性;又有前兆异常十分丰富,异常的空间分布集中,震后效庆十分平衡等个性。     

1997-1998年伽师强震群震源区应力场特征

利用1997-1998年伽师强震群中强地震震源机制系统聚类及震源区应力场反演,得到以下主要结果:(1)伽师强震群中强地震主要以走滑和正断层为主,伽师震源区主压应力方向为NNE或近NS向,与相邻的柯坪块体区域构造应力场方向不一致;伽师强震群的破裂面沿NEE方向,属左旋破裂;(2)4~5级中强地震应力场反演得到最大主压应力轴为NNE向,最小主压应力轴为NWW向,中等主应力轴倾角为65°,比较直立;(3)伽师强震群震源区应力场在强震前后经历了一系列变化。最后对所得结果进行了一定的讨论。     

The 1997/1998 mass mortality of corals: effects on fish communities on a Tanzanian coral reef

The abnormally high surface temperatures in the world's oceans during 1997/1998 resulted in widespread coral bleaching and subsequent coral mortality. An experiment was performed to study the effects of this coral mortality as well as the influence of the structural complexity on fish communities on a Tanzanian coral reef. Changes in fish communities were investigated on plots of transplanted corals after 88% of these corals had died. A distinct shift in fish community composition was found, although diversity was not affected. Fish abundance rose by 39% mostly due to an increase in herbivores, which seemed to benefit from enhanced algal growth on the dead corals. Fish abundance, species diversity and community composition were also strongly influenced by the structural complexity provided by the live and dead corals. This suggests that a coral reef can support abundant and diverse fish populations also after the corals have died as long as the reef structure is sustained.     

Benthic macrofaunal community condition in the Southern California Bight, 1994-2003

To assess benthic macrofaunal community condition in Southern California, 838 sites were sampled using spatially random designs in 1994, 1998, or 2003. Benthic community condition was assessed on a four-category scale and the area in each category estimated. Overall, benthic macrofauna in Southern California were in good condition during 2003, with 98% of the area in reference condition or deviating only marginally. There was no evidence of disturbance near Channel Islands or small wastewater discharges, and virtually none on the mainland shelf. In contrast, bay and estuary macrofaunal communities were more frequently disturbed with nearly 13% of the area supporting disturbed benthos. The condition of the mainland shelf did not change substantially over the 9-year period, with 1.6-2.8% of the area in poor benthic condition. Southern California benthic condition evaluations may be improved by extending the depth and salinity ranges of assessment tools, and improving trend detection methods.     

Numerical Study of the Intertropical Convergence Zone Over the Indian Ocean During the 1997 and 1998 Northeast Monsoon Episodes

—?The hydrostatic Naval Research Laboratory/North Carolina State University (NRL/NCSU) model was used to study the mesoscale dynamics and diurnal variability of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) over the Indian Ocean in the short-range period. To achieve this objective the initial conditions from two northeast monsoon episodes (29 January, 1997 and 29 January, 1998) were run for 48-hour simulations using a triple-nested grid version of the model with 1.5°?×?1.5°, 0.5°?×?0.5° and 0.17°?×?0.17° resolutions. The 1997 case represents a typical northeast monsoon episode, while the 1998 case depicts an abnormal monsoon episode during an El Niño event.¶Comparisons between the model-produced and analyzed mean circulation, wind speed, and associated rainfall for different spatial scales are presented. During the active northeast monsoon season in 1997, the major low-level westerly winds and associated high rainfall rates between 0° and 15°S were simulated reasonably well up to 24 hours. During the 1998 El Niño event, the model was capable of simulating weak anomalous easterly winds (between 0° and 15°S) with much lower rainfall rates up to 48 hours. In both simulations, the finest grid size resulted in largest rainfall rates consistent with Outgoing Longwave Radiation data.¶The model performance was further evaluated using the vertical profiles of the vertical velocity, the specific humidity and temperature differences between the model outputs and the analyses. It is found that during a typical northeast monsoon year, 1997, the water vapor content in the middle troposphere was largely controlled by the low-level convergence determined by strong oceanic heat flux gradient. In contrast, during the 1998 El Niño year moisture was present only in the lower troposphere. Due to strong subsidence associated with Walker circulation over the central and eastern Indian Ocean, deep convection was not present. Finally, the diurnal variations of the maximum rainfall, vertical velocity and total heat flux were noticeable only during the 1997 northeast monsoon year.     

Detection of multiple potentially pathogenic bacteria in Matang mangrove estuaries,Malaysia

The deltaic estuarine system of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve of Malaysia is a site where several human settlements and brackish water aquaculture have been established. Here, we evaluated the level of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the surface water and sediments. Higher levels of FIB were detected at downstream sampling sites from the fishing village, indicating it as a possible source of anthropogenic pollution to the estuary. Enterococci levels in the estuarine sediments were higher than in the surface water, while total coliforms and E. coli in the estuarine sediments were not detected in all samples. Also, various types of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated. The results indicate that the Matang estuarine system is contaminated with various types of potential human bacterial pathogens which might pose a health risk to the public.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments from the Rijeka Bay area, Northern Adriatic, Croatia, 1998-2006

The first analyses of PAHs in marine sediments within Rijeka Bay started in 1998 at three sampling sites offshore from the petroleum refinery facilities and were extended in 1999 to three more sampling points in front of the repair shipyard within the same east industrial zone. The small Svezanj cove, lying between the shipyard and the petroleum refinery was chosen as the reference point. The concentrations of PAHs were considerably higher in the shipyard environment (average: 3009-6314 μg kg⁻¹ d.w.) in comparison to the petroleum refinery area (average: 279-919 μg kg⁻¹ d.w.), while the PAHs load at reference point was close to the latter level (average: 717 μg kg⁻¹ d.w.). The Phe/Anth and Flo/Py ratios indicate the dominant pyrogenic sources, except for the results from 1999 to 2000 with dominant petrogenic origin at some sites. A declining trend of total PAHs, and consequently toxicity indices was observed at all sites.     

1997年1月7日至11日广州站宇宙线强度变化特征的小波分析

1997年1月6日爆发的日冕物质抛射（CME）到达地球时引起了强烈的地球物理效应,CME在行 星际空间传播时,广州的多方向μ介子望远镜观测到银河宇宙线强度的变化. 本文采用 小波分析方法分析了磁暴前后广州台宇宙线强度的频谱变化特征,结果表明,在磁暴前 宇宙线周期为16～32h的信号发生了较明显的变化,其中周期为24～32h的周期特征过去没有 被报道过. 广州台垂直方向宇宙线强度的谱在磁暴发生前48h就出现明显的变化,比各向异 性分析方法得到的时间提前量更大. 同时还分析了几个方向宇宙线强度的最强信号以及达到 最大值的时间,并进行了简要的分析与讨论.     

Simultaneous identification of parameter,initial condition,and boundary condition in groundwater modelling

In this paper, we perform an inverse method to simultaneously estimate aquifer parameters, initial condition, and boundary conditions in groundwater modelling. The parameter estimation is extended to a complete inverse problem that makes the calibrated groundwater flow model more realistic. The adjoint state method, the gradient search method, and the least square error algorithm are combined to build the optimization procedure. Horizontal two‐dimensional groundwater flow in a confined aquifer is exemplified to demonstrate the correlation between unknowns, the contribution of observation, as well as the suitability of applying the inverse method. The correlation analysis shows the connection between storage coefficient and initial condition. Besides, transmissivity and boundary conditions are also highly correlated. More observations at different location and time are necessary to provide sufficient information. A time series of unsteady head is requested for estimation of storage coefficient and initial condition. Observation near boundary is very effective for boundary condition estimation. The observation at pumping well mostly contributes to the estimation of transmissivity. According to all observations, it is possible to identify parameters, initial condition, and boundary condition simultaneously. Furthermore, the results not only illustrate the traditional assumption of known boundary condition but also initial condition, which may cause an incorrect estimation. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

1998年11月4日至5日日冕物质抛射日地传输时间的数值模拟

在一维球坐标系下模拟了1998年11月4日至5日3个连续日冕物质抛射(CME)在行星际空间的传播和相互作用并最终形成“复杂抛射”的日地传输过程.首先在磁流体力学(MHD)数值模拟中应用Harten总变差减小(TVD)格式,通过调节计算模型中的引力无量纲参数α、等离子体参数β和气体多方指数γ,构造出数值计算所需的初态背景,使之在拉格朗日点处L1的太阳风速度vr、质子数密度Np及质子热压力与磁压力的比值βp与ACE卫星的观测数据一致.接着仅采用速度脉冲的扰动形式,其输入的幅度和持续时间由Lasco/C2、GOES、LEAR的观测数据并结合Michalek等提出的CME“锥模型”来确定.数值计算结果得到的两个激波到达时间和ACE卫星观测值的时间误差分别是3h和4h.这表明该模型能估算续发CME在行星际空间演化后驱动激波的到达时间和大致强度,在空间天气的激波到达时间的预报方面有潜在的应用价值.