A modelling study of ecosystem dynamics and nutrient cycling in the Humber plume, UK

The European Regional Seas Ecosystem Model (ERSEM) has been coupled with a two-dimensional depth-averaged transport model of the Humber plume region and run to simulate 1988–1989. Simulations of the spatial and temporal variations in chlorophyll-a, nitrate, phosphate and suspended particulate matter distributions in winter, spring and summer show how the development of the spring bloom and subsequent maintenance of primary production is controlled by the physicochemical environment of the plume zone. Results are also shown for two stations, one characterised by the high nutrient and suspended matter concentrations of the plume and the other by the relatively low nutrient and sediment concentrations of the offshore waters. The modelled net primary production at the plume site was 105 g C m⁻² a⁻¹ and 127 g C m⁻² a⁻¹ offshore. Primary production was controlled by light limitation between October and March and by the availability of nutrients during the rest of the year. The phytoplankton nutrient demand is met by in-situ recycling processes during the summer. The likely effect of increasing and decreasing anthropogenic riverine inputs of nitrate and phosphate upon ecosystem function was also investigated. Modelling experiments indicate that increasing the nitrogen to silicate ratio in freshwater inputs increased the production of non-siliceous phytoplankton in the plume. The results of this model have been used to calculate the annual and quarterly mass balances describing the usage of inorganic nitrogen, phosphate and silicate within the plume zone for the period of the NERC North Sea survey (September 1988 to October 1989). The modelled Humber plume retains 3.9% of the freshwater dissolved inorganic nitrogen, 2.2% of the freshwater phosphate and 1.3% of the freshwater silicate input over the simulated seasonal cycle. The remainder is transported into the southern North Sea in either dissolved or particulate form. The reliability of these results is discussed.     

Seasonally Hypersaline Estuaries in Mediterranean-climate Regions

Data collected in three Californian estuaries indicate that hypersaline conditions exist during the dry summers typical of a Mediterranean climate. The generalised seasonal and longitudinal hydrographic structures are described and explained. It is argued that this seasonal hypersalinity is common and that it represents a major class of estuaries. The observed accumulation of salt indicates surprisingly long residence times in small basins which have free exchange with the ocean. This semi-isolation of the inner basin leads to a large build-up or severe depletion of nutrients, pollutants and plankton in these systems. Of concern are the trends to increase pollutant loading in the same systems that are experiencing an increase in residence times owing to freshwater extraction in the watershed.     

Sensitivity to stress of the estuarine bivalve Macoma balthica from areas between the Netherlands and its southern limits (Gironde)

Variation in the sensitivity to stress of Macoma balthica was measured in several French and Dutch estuaries. For adult and juvenile Macoma balthica exposed to copper under conditions of starvation, differences in mortality rate, condition, glycogen, burrowing rate and copper content were assessed. No significant differences were observed between adults and juveniles; the influence of treatment and origin was always evident. Animals from the most southern estuaries, Loire and Gironde, near to the species's southern limit of distribution, showed, in the field, the strongest deviations for the ecophysiological traits measured, and were in the experiments the most sensitive to stress.     

池沼公鱼耳石日轮的观察研究

于1989年3－8月，从辽阳汤河水库捕取成熟的池沼公鱼，获得人工授精卵。用压片法光镜下连续观察胚胎发育后期和前仔鱼期耳石轮纹的形成，并采集已知月龄的幼、成鱼耳石，制片镜检轮纹数量和排列。结果表明，仔鱼在印黄接近吸收完并开始摄食外界食物时，即孵出后第6d至第7d形成第1个轮纹，之后每天一轮，这些轮纹就是日轮；日轮间距呈规律性变化，这些变化与鱼体生长发育及生态条件密切相关。     

高精度新方法测量计算船舶磁场分布

将高精度质子磁探仪和位场变换理论用于测量计算船舶磁场，以研究其在海洋中的分布。由质子磁探仪实测海面上１０ｍ处磁场的模（船的磁场与地磁场矢量的和的绝对值），用位场变换理论计算出船的磁场三个分量在水面和水下的分布；并采用一系列有效措施，提高计算速度和结果的精度。将该方法和磁球理论严格解比较，在ｚ＝０面上误差小于０．１％，在ｚ＝－２０ｍ面上误差小于１％；还给出船的磁场强度在船的纵横向的分布曲线和平面立体     

珠江口水体中铜与悬浮颗粒物相互作用的研究

使用无机离子交换法研究珠江口水体中铜与悬浮颗粒物的相互作用，测出钢与悬浮颗粒物相互作用的ｐＨ曲线呈Ｓ形，其分级离子交换等温线是一种新的“台阶”型；从分级离子交换理论求得分级平衡常数Ｋ１为５．０，Ｋ２为７８．１，珠江口水体中铜的表观络合容量为０．９２μｍ及其条件稳定常数为３．５×１０７。     

河口Si输运过程研究

基于拉格朗日余流及其输运过程的一种三维空间弱非线性理论，进一步假定Ｓｉ在河口的无因次化学转移项量级为ｋ＾２，给出了Ｓｉ的长期输运方程。对于一种二维模型河口，数值求解了零阶天文潮，欧拉余流、斯托克斯漂移、拉格朗日余流和盐度的分布；分别计算了平均逼留时间为１３，３０，６０，１８０ｄ等所对应的Ｓｉ浓度分布；给出了Ｓｉ－ｓ相关图，讨论了河口中Ｓｉ的保守性问题。     

Risk of dike failure due to flow slides

Flow slides may affect the stability of dikes. A flow slide is an instability of a submerged slope caused by liquefaction of loose, (medium) fine sand. Whether a flow slide will occur depends on the properties of the sand, which are a function of its density, and the geometry of the slope, as determined by wave and current induced scour and sedimentation. The influence of sand properties and the geometry parameters on the risk of flow slides are discussed. The application of a flow slide prediction method to an example and a risk analysis is briefly discussed.