Marine risk assessment: linear alkylbenzenesulponates (LAS) in the North Sea

The fate of linear alkylbenzenesulponates (LAS) in estuaries and coastal areas of the North Sea has been characterized with simple environmental models. The predicted concentration range in the estuaries around the North Sea (0.9-9 microg LAS l(-1)) was validated by monitoring data (1-9 microg LAS l(-1)). In offshore sites of the North Sea, it is estimated--and experimentally verified for a few sites--that the LAS concentration is below analytical detection limit (i.e., 0.5 microg LAS l(-1)). The effects of LAS on marine organisms have been reviewed. For short-term acute tests, there was no significant difference (p = 0.83) between the mean LC50 values of freshwater and marine organisms (mainly pelagic species tested, 4.1 and 4.3 mg LAS l(-1), respectively). For longer-term chronic tests, it appeared that the sensitivity (mean no-observed effect concentration (NOEC) value) of marine and freshwater organisms (0.3 and 2.3 mg LAS l(-1), respectively) was significantly different pt-test = 0.007). The predicted no-effect-concentrations (PNEC) were 360 and 31 microg LAS l(-1), for freshwater and marine pelagic communities, respectively. Given that the maximum expected estuarine and marine concentrations are 3 to > 30 times lower than the PNEC, the risk of LAS to pelagic organisms in these environments is judged to be low.     

Thermonuclear burning ignition and propagation in surface layers of neutron stars. 1. General study and one-zone model without mass-flow

We develop and study a general model describing ignition and propagation of burning. It is applied to explosive thermonuclear burning in surface layers of neutron stars. For this purpose an one-zone model of a thin surface layer is developed. We study thermonuclear burning ignition and propagation along the layer with its help.     

Spatio-temporal variability of currents over a mobile dune field in the Dover Strait

A one month field campaign featuring two spring–neap tide cycles and three strong storms has been performed in a mobile dune area located in the central part of the Dover Strait. These dunes are known to move in a complex manner as their migration direction varies in space and time (Le Bot et al., 2000, Le Bot, 2001, Le Bot and Trentesaux, 2004). In order to gain some insights into the dune motion processes we present an analysis of the spatio-temporal variability of currents in the area emphasizing the relative influence of tides and storms. A total of eight different hydro-meteorological regimes have been distinguished during the experiment duration. The analysis of the currents measurements at five locations in the area shows that the eight hydro-meteorological regimes induce very different current responses at the bottom. The residual tidal currents exhibit a significant spatial variability both in direction and in intensity. A numerical model of tidal currents over the Dover Strait confirms the strong spatio-temporal variability of the residual tidal currents featuring three singular points. Amongst them, a saddle point is located just south of the I-dune at the convergence of opposite direction residual tidal currents. The wind-induced currents are almost uniform in space, their intensity and direction however strongly depends on the wind regime and thus on time. The mean total current feature a spatial pattern which can be tidal of wind-induced currents dominated, or either in balance, depending on the regime considered. At the PERMOD campaign time scale, the total current is dominated by the residual tidal current. These results proved to give valuable insights to explain the complex dynamics of dune motion observed in this area by Le Bot et al., 2000, Le Bot, 2001, Le Bot and Trentesaux, 2004 at short and long time scales.     

Pastoralists’ perceptions and realities of vegetation change and browse consumption in the northern Kalahari, Namibia

Pastoral production around artificial watering points in semi-arid environments affects the density and composition of plant communities. In the Kalahari desert of southwestern Africa, bush encroachment is often regarded as the major form of land degradation resulting from pastoral production around watering points. We investigated the OvaHerero pastoralists’ perceptions of the extent of vegetation change since the establishment of artificial watering points in the northern Kalahari desert of Namibia, and related this to ecological data on vegetation change. We determined the utility of woody vegetation to pastoralists’ livelihoods in terms of provision of construction material, fuel wood and browse. We quantified local knowledge of cattle browse consumption and correlated this with field data. We also assessed the purposes for which major livestock types were used. Our results showed that: (1) pastoral knowledge of bush encroachment and browse consumption was consistent with concurrently collected field data, (2) the current level of bush encroachment was perceived to be beneficial for pastoral production, and (3) cattle played an important role in the production of milk and milk by-products for domestic use, and served as a source of cash income, while sheep and goats were primarily kept for meat consumption. This result contrasts with historical studies that mainly portray cattle as a symbol of social status among OvaHerero pastoralists.     

Expansion of the principal functions of Keplerian motion using complex variables

A special system of canonical variables is considered. An algorithm for expanding the principal functions of Keplerian motion in new elements is presented. The advantage of the proposed system is a relatively small number of terms in the classical expansions of the unperturbed two-body problem. A method for expanding the time derivatives of the rectangular coordinates is proposed. Some estimates of the number of terms in the presented expansions have been obtained through numerical experiments.     

甘肃北山地区红山铁矿硅质岩的地球化学特征及沉积环境

通过野外地质调查和系统的岩石主量元素、微量元素、稀土元素等的研究,探讨红山铁矿床硅质岩的地球化学特征及其沉积环境。红山铁矿床中广泛发育一套与铁矿体呈共生关系的硅质岩。研究表明,与铁矿密切共生的呈层状和透镜状产出的灰色、紫红色硅质岩总体属于低硅类型的硅质岩。在SiO2-Al2O3判别图解中,SiO2与Al2O3负相关,样品数据点均落入热水沉积区域;稀土元素配分模式经北美页岩标准化后呈平缓型,与东太平洋热泉水、红海热卤水具有相似的正Eu异常和配分模式,δEu值均大于1,显示热水沉积的特征;硅质岩中的V、Ni、Cu、Ba等微量元素的含量具有陆缘海盆热水沉积的特征。     

Evolution of disk galaxies regulated by supernova remnants

Assuming that a disk galaxy is composed of an ambient pervasive gas, small clouds, molecular clouds and stars, its evolution is studied through examining the interchange processes among them. Main results obtained are: (1) The star formation rate is directed by the formation process of molecular clouds. (2) Depending upon the parameters there may be three or four types of evolution of disk galaxies: the no star formation case, the active in the past and inactive at present star formation case, the burst-like star formation case and the very active in star formation case.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

基于便携式X射线荧光光谱法的深海沉积物现场成分快速检测及适用性评估

远洋粘土、硅藻软泥、铁锰结核及结壳是常见的深海沉积成因物质类型,在开展深海地质调查工作时及时获得这些物质的成分信息,对于提升海上地质调查效率和认知能力十分重要。通过便携式X射线荧光光谱法（pXRF）对菲律宾海深水区域60个样品进行分析,并结合实验室测试结果,评估pXRF能测出的24种元素含量数据的稳定性、准确性及相关性,探讨pXRF在海上地质调查工作中对于深海沉积物现场成分快速检测的适用性。通过综合对比研究发现,Ca、Cu、Fe、K、P、Pb、Sr、Zn、Zr九种元素稳定性、准确性和相关性较好,可以直接用于定性乃至定量研究工作。Al、Ba、Mn、Mo、Ni、Rb、Si、Ti、Th、V十种元素的三项指标参数等级略低,可用于含量高低判定和趋势分析等定性研究工作。Bi、Cs、Mg、Sb、Sc五种元素的测试效果较差,本法不建议使用。取样量充足且分布均匀、湿样烘干至恒量后研磨过筛、封装时充分压实平整、测试时间增长、选择合适的标准物质校正和检验、重点和异常样品增加测试次数等措施的执行有利于获得高精度的pXRF海上测试数据。未来对更多类型和数量深海样品开展pXRF现场分析,将有利于建立更精准的测试方法流程,达到现场快速揭示样品成分特征、确定底质类型及圈定矿化异常等目的,为海上关键决策的部署和实施提供参考和借鉴。