The construction and application of a carrying capacity evaluation model in a national park

This work applies ecological footprint analysis to establish the framework of a carrying capacity model for a national park. The model estimates changes in ecological footprint and biocapacity indicators for Taroko National Park (Taiwan) from 2002 to 2011. The findings indicate that: (1) In the past 10 years, the biocapacity status of Taroko National Park has remained within the environmental capacity; however, the per-capita ecological reserve decreased by 73.38 % between 2002 and 2011, from 0.085010 global hectares to 0.022633 global hectares. Evaluation of the ecological footprint intensity index reveals that the park has maintained a level 1 status, the highest ecological security level; (2) Linear estimation undertaken in the study predicts that when the ecological footprint intensity index reaches 0.5—when the ecological security level falls from level 1 (good) to level 2 (fair)—the critical tourist-carrying capacity would be 3,380,351 visitors per year, or 1.18 times the number of tourists in 2011. Furthermore, when the ecological footprint intensity index reaches 0.8—when the ecological security falls to level 3 (poor)—the critical tourist-carrying capacity would be 5,408,561 visitors per year, or 1.88 times the number of tourists in 2011. This work adopted the ecological footprint method and the threshold ecological footprint intensity index value to estimate the critical number of tourists for the sustainable biocapacity of Taroko National Park. The results are intended to serve as a reference for national park administrators to develop policies on tourist carrying capacity.     

The Twannberg (Switzerland) IIG iron meteorites: Mineralogy,chemistry, and CRE ages

Abstract— The original mass (15915 g) of the Twannberg IIG (low Ni‐, high P) iron was found in 1984. Five additional masses (12 to 2488 g) were recovered between 2000 and 2007 in the area. The different masses show identical mineralogy consisting of kamacite single crystals with inclusions of three types of schreibersite crystals: cm‐sized skeletal (10.5% Ni), lamellar (17.2% Ni), and 1–3 × 10 μm‐sized microprismatic (23.9% Ni). Masses I and II were compared in detail and have virtually identical microstructure, hardness, chemical composition, cosmic‐ray exposure (CRE) ages, and ¹⁰Be and ²⁶Al activities. Bulk concentrations of 5.2% Ni and 2.0% P were calculated. The preatmospheric mass is estimated to have been at least 11,000 kg. The average CRE age for the different Twannberg samples is 230 ± 50 Ma. Detrital terrestrial mineral grains in the oxide rinds of the three larger masses indicate that they oxidized while they were incorporated in a glacial till deposited by the Rhône glacier during the last glaciation (Würm). The find location of mass I is located at the limit of glaciation where the meteorite may have deposited after transport by the glacier over considerable distance. All evidence indicates pairing of the six masses, which may be part of a larger shower as is indicated by the large inferred pre‐atmospheric mass.     

Effects of summer mesoscale hydrographic features on epipelagic siphonophore assemblages in the surrounding waters of Taiwan, western North Pacific Ocean

This is the first attempt to examine the relationship between the spatial distribution of siphonophores and mesoscale hydrographic features in the waters around Taiwan in summer. A total of 59 species of siphonophores, consisting of 12 Physonectae and 47 Calycophorae, were identified from our samples. The most abundant species were Lensia subtiloides (49.7 % of the total collection by number), Diphyes chamissonis (12.1 %), Chelophyes appendiculata (9.3 %), C. contorta (8.1 %), and Bassia bassensis (5.2 %). Two clear assemblages were associated with shelf waters (influenced by the South China Sea Surface Current) and oceanic waters (influenced by the Kuroshio Current), respectively. The shelf water assemblage was characterized by low diversity and high abundance of L. subtiloides, whereas the oceanic assemblage showed greater diversity and was dominated by C. appendiculata, C. contorta, and B. bassensis. We discovered strong correlations between temperature and zooplankton and siphonophore abundances, suggesting that temperature and prey concentration are important in determining the spatial distribution of siphonophores. In addition, lower abundance and higher species diversity of siphonophores were observed after the passage of typhoons. This study provides basic knowledge on the distributional patterns of siphonophores, which is essential information to further understand the ecological roles played by siphonophores and their responses to the hydrological conditions in the waters surrounding Taiwan.     

Late Holocene coseismic uplift on the Hua-tung coast, eastern Taiwan: Evidence from mass mortality of intertidal organisms

The evidence of coseismic uplift on the dynamic, wave-dominated Hua-tung coast fringing the active Coastal Range (eastern Taiwan) has been equivocal, due to complex controls by wave and terrestrial sediment over morphological and ecological systems of the coast. This study, by applying radiocarbon dating methods, demonstrates coseismic-uplift nature of the coast by finding synchronously killed intertidal organisms (mostly boring shell Jouannetia sp.) stranded at different sites of the coast with distinct physiographic characters. Based on these data, together with evidence from wave-cut notch sequences, two coseismic-uplift systems are recognized. One centers around the northern-middle part of the coast and yields events with uplift amounts of maximal 3–6 m and an average recurrence interval of at least several hundred years. The most recent activity of this system, influencing at least 70 km of coast, occurred at ~ 0.9 ka. The earthquake generating this event also triggered extensive landslides/debris flows in the region. Another system, exemplified by the uplift associated with the 2003 Cheng-kung earthquake, centers on the southern part of the coast and yields uplift of likely < 1 m every < 0.2 ky. Two pre-historic events of this system are identified as occurring at ~ 0.7 ka and ~ 1.1 ka. These two coseismic-uplift systems are consistent in position with two anticlinal structures defined by long-term uplift of the coast. However, the areas subjected to maximal coseismic uplift are located off where the climaxes of long-term uplift occur, implying that the latter areas have been uplifted mainly by aseismic and/or relatively frequent/small-magnitude coseismic motion.     

十六世纪以来广东气候的变化

本文对十六世纪以来广东省气候和未来气候趋势进行了初步探讨。     

Pyrite accumulation and sulfate depletion as affected by root distribution in aJuncus (needle rush) salt marsh

This study was undertaken to investigate patterns of pyrite accumulation found in aJuncus roemerianus tidal marsh of north Florida. We speculate that the pattern of pyrite accumulation was caused mainly by the distribution of roots. Sediment cores from living stands (LS), dead stands (DS), and recently killed stands (RKS) were collected and analyzed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulfate, chloride, Cr(II)-reducible sulfide, and biomass of roots and rhizomes. Living roots were distributed mainly in the upper 16 cm and concentrated 4–10 cm below the sediment surface. Pyrite accumulations were significantly different among the three types of sediment cores in the upper 16 cm sediment and follow the descending order of DS (615 μmol cm^?3)>RKS (547 μmol cm^?3)>LS (368 μmol cm^?3). Between 20 cm and 30 cm, pyrite contents approached values of 40 μmol cm^?3 and 55 μmol cm^?3 in all sediment cores. The degree of pyritization approaches 92–94% between 14 cm and 20 cm where pyrite accumulation was probably limited by available iron. Root distribution also affected the redistribution of iron through iron sulfide formation. Sulfate depletion in the upper 16 cm was higher in RKS (79.3 μmol cm^?3) than DS (49.1 μmol cm^?3). No significant sulfate depletion was found in LS. Sulfate reduction under DS was likely limited by the readily available substrates. Root distribution had a major influence on pyrite accumulation and sulfate reduction of the marsh, and its effects need to be addressed in studies of wetland sulfur dynamics.     

Determination of soil impedance functions from vibration-test response of a circular foundation

The paper presents the results of the determination from vibration tests of impedance functions for a concrete basemat of a one-quarter scale model of a nuclear power-plant containment building. The tests were designed to excite all rigid-body modes of the foundation. In addition to the impedance functions for all the rigid-body degrees of freedom, natural frequencies and damping for the fundamental modes were estimated. Comparison of the test-determined modal characteristics with corresponding analytical ones based on the Lysmer analog shows that though the latter gives natural-frequency estimates of the right order of magnitude, it does not give acceptable estimates of the damping coefficient. Analytical impedance functions based on a model of a rigid-plate on an elastic half-space were found to have the sam trend as the test-determined ones at lower frequencies, but not at higher frequencies. The utility of test data for verification of analysis is discussed.     

稳定的和不稳定的斜压行星波

本文采用两层模式,初步地应用“时空同化”的自然观,引进空间不稳定性观点,把空间不稳定性和时间不稳定性结合起来,研究振幅随纬度变化的斜压行星波的存在范围和其稳定性;得出了稳定的和不稳定的斜压行星波及其空间不稳定判据,并对传统的斜压行星波不稳定理论和判据作出鉴定,重新提出了斜压行星波时间不稳定判据,并讨论其物理含义;还得出了高层和低层斜压行星波相互强迫振动的机制以及不同纬度间扰动振幅的关系。     

斜压大气纬圈平均运动特征的振动

本文是纬圈平均大气运动特征的振动文的推广,以同样的观点和方法,用简单的两层模式处理大气的斜压性,并考虑了简单的辐射过程,得出了500毫巴面纬圈平均温度和一些纬圈平均运动特征、以及纬圈平均经圈环流的中期振动。 本文的主要科学目的除了探寻以线性理论处理极端复杂和高度非线性的大气中期运动过程的可能性和限度外,还希望探寻用准涡旋运动等近似观点讨论某些大气环流基本问题的可能性。