A Scheme for Objective Analysis of Wind Field Incorporating Multi-Weighting Functions in the Optimum Interpolation Method

A method of objective analysis scheme having three different weighting functions for different conditions of the wind flow has been developed for the Indian region, two of which are anisotropic and third one is isotropic. Basically Gandin’s Optimum Interpolation method is used. The “effective” distance between a grid point and observation point used for the anisotropic functions, has been applied to calculate weighting functions following Benjamin and Seaman (1985) and objective analyses were made at the 700 hPa level for three consecutive days from 6 July to 8 July 1979. The quantitative evaluation of the objectively analysed fields have been made by computing the R.M.S. errors. Ana-lyses obtained using multi-weighting functions (anisotropic) and those obtained using ordinary circular functions (isotropic-Gandin, 1963) have been compared. Also, the centres of the monsoon depressions obtained by this method have been compared with those of subjective analyses.     

非线弹性引起的地震尾波

岩石的非线弹性响应在实验室中已被广泛地观测到，但在文献中却鲜有地震学研究方面的报道，尽管这是观测到这种特征的最自然的环境。由于难以获得非线性波传播问题的解析解，因此需要使用近似方法。显然，地震波在均匀的非线弹性介质中传播时将受到非线性的扰动。这种扰动可看作是时空中初至波能量散射和传播、产生地震尾波之源。这在某种意义上类似于非均匀性效应。由非线性引起的地震尾波性质与非线性大小以及地震矩有关。我们使用一种扰动方法计算散射波的振幅，并说明该方法能相当好地描述实际地震尾波的主要特征。     

多次覆盖的深地震反射剖面炮集产生的单边折射数据的模拟与反演：推导浅层速度结构的方法

地壳尺度多次覆盖的近垂直深地震反射剖面产生大量的单边炮集,因浅层折射波的交互覆盖而产生众多的数据集。我们介绍一种推导浅层速度结构的方法,该方法是通过模拟和反演单边地震折射初至走时数据来实现的。我们将该方法应用于在印度地盾西北新元古代马尔瓦尔盆地进行的炮检距为100m、长12km的剖面上获得的数据集。该方法表明,在描述浅层折射层深度、陡的倾角和速度方面是成功的,即使缺少常规的相遇折射剖面也如此。研究揭示出马尔瓦尔盆地的2层沉积建造、默拉尼火山岩和复杂基底地形,并测量出了所估算模型参数的分辨率和不确定性。发现近道选排的地震截面图在性质上与导出的盆地结构特征相一致。在布格重力剖面上观测到的相对高和低的异常进一步证实了导出的这一速度模型。本文提出的方法对那些只能获得单边、多次覆盖的地震剖面数据集的近海等地区是非常有用的。     

The Elbe flood 2002--toxic effects of transported contaminants in flatfish and mussels of the Wadden Sea

Cellular changes in livers from flounder (Platichthys flesus L.) and digestive glands of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) were studied to analyze whether the Elbe flood catastrophe in August 2002 had any deleterious effects on animal health. Flatfish and mussels were sampled at different locations in the Elbe estuary and the Wadden Sea after the flood wave had reached the German Bight. Internationally used core biomarkers (lysosomal membrane stability, biotransformation enzymes) were applied to assess the toxic effects of putatively increased pollution levels. In comparison to earlier data from long-term studies at the same stations, we found a significant impairment in the function of cell organelles (lysosomes) involved in the detoxification and elimination of pollutants in fish liver. Concentrations of relevant contaminants (organochlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls) were analyzed in parallel with cellular biomarkers, and conspicuously raised concentrations of insecticides metabolites were detected. Cell recovery and a clear reduction in contaminant concentrations were observed in fish livers five months after the flood at all sampling sites except the Helgolander Tiefe Rinne.     

Herbicide contamination and the potential impact to seagrass meadows in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

Low concentrations of herbicides (up to 70 ng l(-1)), chiefly diuron (up to 50 ng l(-1)) were detected in surface waters associated with inter-tidal seagrass meadows of Zostera muelleri in Hervey Bay, south-east Queensland, Australia. Diuron and atrazine (up to 1.1 ng g(-1) dry weight of sediment) were detected in the sediments of these seagrass meadows. Concentration of the herbicides diuron, simazine and atrazine increased in surface waters associated with seagrass meadows during moderate river flow events indicating herbicides were washed from the catchment to the marine environment. Maximum herbicide concentration (sum of eight herbicides) in the Mary River during a moderate river flow event was 4260 ng l(-1). No photosynthetic stress was detected in seagrass in this study during low river flow. However, with moderate river flow events, nearshore seagrasses are at risk of being exposed to concentrations of herbicides that are known to inhibit photosynthesis.     

Accumulation of organochlorines and brominated flame retardants in estuarine and marine food chains: field measurements and model calculations

Food chain accumulation of organochlorines and brominated flame retardants in estuarine and marine environments is compared to model estimations and fresh water field data. The food chain consists of herbivores, detritivores and primary and secondary carnivores i.e. fish, fish-eating birds and marine mammals. Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls is predicted well by OMEGA for herbi-detritivores and primary and secondary carnivorous fish. Ratios are similar to those found for fresh water species. Accumulation ratios for fish-eating birds and mammals are overestimated by the model, which is attributed partly to biotransformation of meta-para unsubstituted congeners. Additionally, birds may feed in other less polluted areas. For brominated diphenylethers (BDE) accumulation patterns are highly species and congener specific. Accumulation depends on both K(ow) and metabolization capacities. BDE47 is the predominant congener in lower trophic levels. For marine birds and mammals accumulation ratios of BDE99 and 100 are similar to or higher than ratios of persistent PCBs.     

Fate and effects of picric acid and 2,6-DNT in marine environments: toxicity of degradation products

The toxicity of transformation products of 2,6-dinitrotoluene (2,6-DNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid) were assessed in spiked sandy and fine-grained marine sediments and in seawater. Toxicity of pore water from sediments spiked with 2,6-DNT decreased for the macro-alga, Ulva fasciata, zoospores as biotransformation proceeded, but increased for the copepod, Schizopera knabeni, nauplii. The primary biotransformation product of 2,6-DNT, 2-amino-6-nitrotoluene, was also more toxic than the parent compound to copepod nauplii, but not to alga zoospores, in spiked seawater tests. Two biotransformation products of picric acid, picramic acid and 2,4-DNP, were more toxic than their parent compound. Porewater toxicity from picric acid-spiked sediments decreased significantly at the end of six-months incubation. Fine-grained sediment spiked with either ordnance compound had lower toxicity than its sandy counterpart after six months, suggesting faster microbial transformation in the former and production of less toxic products. Photo-transformation of 2,6-DNT in seawater resulted in a reduction in toxicity.     

Sensitivity and cost considerations for the detection and eradication of marine pests in ports

Port surveys are being conducted in Australia, New Zealand and around the world to confirm the presence or absence of particular marine pests. The most critical aspect of these surveys is their sensitivity-the probability that they will correctly identify a species as present if indeed it is present. This is not, however, adequately addressed in the relevant national and international standards. Simple calculations show that the sensitivity of port survey methods is closely related to their encounter rate-the average number of target individuals expected to be detected by the method. The encounter rate (which reflects any difference in relative pest density), divided by the cost of the method, provides one way to compare the cost-effectiveness of different survey methods. The most cost-effective survey method is site- and species-specific but, in general, will involve sampling from the habitat with the highest expected population of target individuals. A case study of Perna viridis in Trinity Inlet, Cairns, demonstrates that plankton trawls processed with gene probes provide the same level of sensitivity for a fraction of the cost associated with the next best available method-snorkel transects in bad visibility (secchi depth=0.72 m). Visibility and the adult/larvae ratio, however, are critical to these arguments. If visibility were good (secchi depth=10 m), the two approaches would be comparable. Diver deployed quadrats were at least three orders of magnitude less cost-effective in this case study. It is very important that environmental managers and scientists perform sensitivity calculations before embarking on port surveys to ensure the highest level of sensitivity is achieved for any given budget.