Satellite altimetry for measuring river stages in remote regions

The advent in satellite altimetry with the most accurate satellite radar altimeter since 1992 and its successive missions have enabled the routine global monitoring of water-level (or stage) for surface waters and changes in the quantities of dammed water reservoirs. However, satellite altimeter measurements typically have spatial resolution capable of observing only large water bodies, such as major lakes and rivers. This paper addresses the challenges of how to investigate water levels in medium (~?1 km in width) to small (~?100 m and narrower) rivers. Comparisons between the ENVISAT altimetry ICE-1 waveform retracking height and standard water-level measurements for multiple sections of Ohio River, Columbia River, and Red River of the North in the United States (US) reveals that the satellite altimetry measured water levels agree well with those observed at nearby US Geological Survey gaging stations over the 10-year period starting from 2002. The significant results include those obtained at Thompson, North Dakota (ND, correlation coefficient or R value of 0.76 between satellite and in situ water-level measurements) and Fargo, ND (R?=?0.74), where the stream channels of Red River are merely?~?50 m and ~?40 m wide, respectively, under normal climatic conditions. In addition, demonstrations of the approach over largely inaccessible portions of Tigris–Euphrates Rivers and Helmand River in the Middle East aided in understanding hydrology in these systems. This study demonstrates the ability of satellite radar altimetry to characterize rivers in these study regions which are much narrower than 100 m in width.     

雨生红球藻β-胡萝卜素酮化酶基因的cDNA和基因组DNA克隆及序列分析

根据已知的β-胡萝卜素酮化酶(β-carotene ketolase,BKT)的cDNA序列设计引物,利用长距离PCR扩增获得了bkt基因的cDNA完整编码片段及基因组DNA片段,并对这些片断进行了序列测定。cDNA和基因组DNA比对结果表明该基因至少包括5个内含子,它们的剪切位点皆符合GU-AG规律。在比对结果中同时还发现一个19bp的短序列重复,该重复序列在bkt的cDNA和基因组DNA上都发生了多次重复,推测在BKT的表达调控中可能具有一定功能。另外,在序列比对过程中还发现本实验所获得的cDNA和基因组DNA序列与前人报道的cDNA序列之间都存在多处单碱基差异和19bp的短序列差异。     

Taiwan and China: A unique fisheries relationship

Taiwan and China have a long history of sharing marine resources in the China Seas. However, due to political issues, the two sides have yet to formalize collaboration and interaction despite such a close geographical relationship. The lack of formal collaboration means they cannot manage fisheries or conserve resources as a team. The lack of collaboration in the regional fisheries management organizations also means a mutually beneficial situation for the two sides is yet to be achieved. Recognizing this, the two sides began negotiations in 2008 and have since signed agreements on fisheries co-operation projects. This paper discusses the unique fisheries relationship between Taiwan and China, and the characteristics of their fishing industries. The paper also presents the latest update on the collaboration between the two sides. Finally, this paper proposes practical solutions for resolving outstanding issues between the two sides’ fishing industries.     

中国深部构造研究的进展

本文扼要地总结了我国对深部构造研究的进展情况。曾经在几个不同地区进行过地震测深的工作,有些地区发现地壳中存在高速或是低速的夹层。曾经利用数字计算求得不同地区的地震面波频散,并用阻尼最小二乘方法反演地壳的参数。根据地震面波频散的特征,可以研究我国大地构造单元的区分。     

The interaction between a manmade lake and groundwater: an example site in the Aurku area,Chiayi County,Taiwan

The objectives of this study are (1) to understand the subsurface hydrology in the Aurku area, Chiayi County, southern Taiwan, and (2) to determine the interaction between the manmade lake and groundwater level through the recharge produced by infiltration by on‐site investigation and laboratory sand tank simulation. The manmade lake was selected as the field site for groundwater recharge effect so as to assess the role of infiltration from the aquaculture ponds in this area. These results can be used as reference for future application of constructing a series of manmade lakes. The field experiment was performed to measure the infiltration rate of the manmade lake by using the water balance method and double‐ring infiltration test. The results demonstrated that the manmade lake had helped the recharge of the groundwater. Raising or maintaining a higher water level of the manmade lake can promote higher infiltration. When the groundwater level is equal to or higher than the bottom of the manmade lake, infiltration will slow or cease. The field experiment and laboratory sand tank simulation demonstrated that the infiltration rate increased with the higher storage depth of the manmade lake. The laboratory simulation also indicated that while the groundwater level was lower than the bottom of manmade lake (i.e. the reference level) and the initial water depth (3 cm) was equal to or greater than 50% of the full water storage depth, the infiltration depth increased with time. However, the infiltration depth would be very small or nearly zero when the groundwater level was higher than the bottom of the manmade lake. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The structure and time variability of the ring atmosphere and ionosphere

The saturnian system is subject to constant bombardment by interplanetary meteoroids and irradiation by solar UV photons. Both effects release neutral molecules from the icy ring particles either in the form of impact water vapor or gas emission in the form of H₂O, O₂ and H₂. The observations of the Cassini spacecraft during its orbit insertion have shown the existence of molecular and atomic oxygen ions. Subsequent modeling efforts have led to the picture that an exospheric population of neutral oxygen molecules is probably maintained in the vicinity of the rings via photolytic-decomposition of ice and surface reactions. At the same time, ionized products O⁺ and ions move along the magnetic field lines and, depending on the optical local thickness rings, can thread through the ring plane or impact a ring particle, the ion principal sink. In addition, collisional interactions between the ions and neutrals will change the scale height of the ions and produce a scattered component of O₂ molecules and O atoms which can be injected into Saturn’s upper atmosphere or the inner magnetosphere. The ring atmosphere, therefore, serves as a source of ions throughout Saturn’s magnetosphere. If photolysis of ice is the dominant source of O₂, then the complex structure of the ring atmosphere/ionosphere and the injection rate of neutral O₂ will be subject to modulation by the seasonal variation of Saturn along its orbit. In this work, we show how the physical properties of the ring oxygen atmosphere, the scattered component, and the magnetospheric ion source rate vary as the ring system goes through the cycle of solar insolation. In particular, it is shown that the magnetopheric ions should be nearly depleted at Saturn’s equinox if O₂ is produced mainly by photolysis of the ring material.     

Polyclonal antibodies to light-harvesting CHL-protein of PSII (LHC II) in marine green algaeBryopsis corticulans

Polyc·lonal antibodies raised against LHC II isolated from SDS-solubilizedBryopsis corticulans thylakiod membranes by SDS-PAGE, were characterised by double immunodiffusion, Rocket immunoelectrophoresis and antigen-antibody crossed immunoelectro-phoresis assays showed the antibodies had strong cross-reaction with allB. corticulans LHC II components (even with those which were incubated in boiling water) and showed immunological cross-reactivity with LHC II polypeptides of spinach and the marine green algaCodium fragile. The results suggested that LHC II of different species had similar antigenic determinants and also conservation of amino acid sequences of the polypeptides during evolution, and that the antibodies could cross react with apoproteins of D₂ proteins (which contain P₆₈₀) fromB. corticulans, spinach andC. fragile, but not with apoproteins of P₇₀₀ Chl-proteins. Our results indicated some similarities in primary structure between LHC II of different species, and between LHC II and D₂ proteins of marine green algae and spinach. Our finding that D₂ and P₇₀₀ Chl-proteins are not immunologically related suggested that P₇₀₀ Chl-proteins and D₂ proteins pass through independent evolutionary pathways. Contribution No 1717 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica, This subject was supported by the National Science Foundation of China.