Impact of submarine hydrothermal vents on the metal composition of krill and its excretion products

We have measured the metal composition and estimated the excretion rate of trace elements (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) by Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in three locations (two located within a submarine hydrothermal vent field and one away from it) along the Antarctic Peninsula region of the Southern Ocean. Results indicated that krill excreted large amounts of Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn, (range: 1.9–41.2 pmol Ag g DW^? 1 h^? 1, 15.3–26.8 nmol Cu g DW^? 1 h^? 1, 308.7–1118.3 pmol Pb g DW^? 1 h^? 1 and 24.4–76.5 nmol Zn g DW^? 1 h^? 1), compared with the non-significant or undetectable release rates of Cd, Co, Ni and V. The metal composition of the excreted material from krill collected in the area of hydrothermal activity was similar to the metal composition reported for suspended particles emitted from those vents. Our results suggest that krill recycling of Ag, Cu, Pb and Zn could potentially influence trace metal concentrations in the water column of the Bransfield region of the Southern Ocean, and that the original source of metals to these waters may be hydrothermal vents.     

Evaluating infiltration losses in a Mediterranean wetland: Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park,Spain

Las Tablas de Daimiel National Park is a series of wetlands which naturally originated from groundwater discharges from the Mancha Occidental aquifer, Spain. Despite the relatively large size of this aquifer, 30 years of intensive groundwater pumping have significantly depleted the water table. As a result, wetlands only remain functional due to artificial inflows. Infiltration loss is therefore a key parameter to evaluate how much water is needed to maintain ecosystem functionality. Although yearly infiltration estimates existed prior to this work, these did not take into account key parameters such as the temporal evolution of the flooded area. This paper presents a more concrete estimate of the average infiltration losses. Infiltration is calculated as the closure term of daily water balances during a period of time where all other elements were known to an acceptable accuracy. A validation mechanism is provided to check the potential utility of the calculated infiltration in wetland management practices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical modelling of the potential effects of a dam on a coastal aquifer in S. Spain

This study presents the results of a three‐dimensional variable‐density numerical modelling of the Motril‐Salobreña coastal aquifer and the possible effects of the entry into service in May 2005 of the Rules Dam, located just 17 km from the coast. Present parameters of the Motril‐Salobreña aquifer show that the system's conditions are very similar to a natural regime. The dam will substantially alter aquifer recharge, as the entry flow through the alluvial sediments of the Guadalfeo River will be entirely cut off or drastically reduced. Different scenarios reproducing the possible evolution of the aquifer under operation of the Rules Dam have been modelled. In most cases, results indicate that the conditions of the aquifer would worsen, with a general advance of the freshwater–saltwater interface. The area with most risk of saltwater intrusion is the old mouth of the Guadalfeo River, where the mixing zone could advance 1200 m inland. It is proposed that maintaining a 5–6 Mm³ year^?1 ‘ecological flow’ in the Guadalfeo River could prevent this saline advance. This application demonstrates that variable‐density models are potentially useful tools for estimating the effects of dams on the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical conditions of a coastal aquifer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The search for hot spots associated with the Cygnus X-3 relativistic jet

We report and shortly discuss here the observational work carried out in order to test the possibility that two previously detected radio sources, in the vicinity of the well known microquasar Cygnus X-3, could be hot spot tracers of interaction between its relativistic jet and the interstellar medium (ISM). The motivation behind this search is in part justified considering recent theoretical models of high energy γ-ray emission which strongly rely on the interaction sites of galactic relativistic jets with nearby ISM clouds. The results presented in this paper include an improved radio exploration of the several arc-minute field around Cygnus X-3 using the Very Large Array (VLA), as well as deep near infrared (NIR) imaging with the Calar Alto 3.5 m telescope. We anticipate here that our observations do not appear to support the initial hot spot hypothesis. Instead, the resulting images suggest that the two radio sources, originally believed to be hot spot candidates, are most likely background or foreground objects.     

Multifractal analysis as a tool for validating a rainfall model

A multifractal analysis was carried out in order to validate the simulation of hourly rainfall records of a local climate model for the Iberian Peninsula. Observed and simulated hourly rainfall data from four locations in Andalusia (southern Spain) were used to carry out the study. In order to detect the influence of the length of the data series on the results, two different sizes were used for the real data: 4 years, and 20 years. The results show that algebraic tails are required to fit the probability distribution of extreme rain event sizes, and rain and dry event durations for both kinds of rainfall data. Similar results are found for the extreme rain event sizes and dry event durations fits when the real and synthetic data are considered. Nevertheless, some differences appear in the cases of rain event durations. The detection of the presence of a first‐order multifractal phase transition associated with a critical moment in the empirical moment scaling exponent function and the results of the extreme rain event sizes fits, reveal that real rainfall is a self‐organized criticality (SOC) process. That behaviour is less evident in the simulated rainfall series. The same ‘synoptic maximum’ value was found for each place with both types of rainfall data. A time clustering analysis was carried out applying the count‐based periodogram and the Fano factor methods. Some periodicities have been detected in the periodograms, especially for the longest real rainfall data series. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

HY-2A卫星雷达高度计数据的全球统计评价及质量分析

自HY-2A卫星发射以来,针对HY-2A卫星雷达高度计产品的交叉定标、真实性检验及质量评估工作一直在持续开展。本文主要以HY-2A卫星高度计第44周期的IGDR产品数据为例,通过使用全球分布图、二维直方图和每日均值统计的方法完成了与Jason-2IGDR产品的比对验证,同时对主要环境校正参数及地球物理产品的数据质量稳定性进行了分析,结果显示高度计产品数据质量较稳定,此外利用HY-2A卫星升降轨交叉点海面高度差、与Jason-2卫星交叉点海面高度差以及沿轨海平面异常数据分析的方法进行了HY-2A卫星高度计观测系统的性能评估,结果显示,HY-2A卫星海面高度精度约为7.48cm,精度接近Jason-2,能满足海洋应用与科学研究的需要。     

Simulation of the extreme waves generated by typhoon Bolaven (1215) in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea

Record-breaking high waves occurred during the passage of the typhoon Bolaven (1215) (TYB) in the East China Sea (ECS) and Yellow Sea (YS) although its intensity did not reach the level of a super typhoon. Winds and directional wave measurements were made using a range of in-situ instruments mounted on an ocean tower and buoys. In order to understand how such high waves with long duration occurred, analyses have been made through measurement and numerical simulations. TYB winds were generated using the TC96 typhoon wind model with the best track data calibrated with the measurements. And then the wind fields were blended with the reanalyzed synoptic-scale wind fields for a wave model. Wave fields were simulated using WAM4.5 with adjustment of C_d for gust of winds and bottom friction for the study area. Thus the accuracy of simulations is considerably enhanced, and the computed results are also in better agreement with measured data than before. It is found that the extremely high waves evolved as a result of the superposition of distant large swells and high wind seas generated by strong winds from the front/right quadrant of the typhoon track. As the typhoon moved at a speed a little slower than the dominant wave group velocity in a consistent direction for two days, the wave growth was significantly enhanced by strong wind input in an extended fetch and non-linear interaction.     

Experimental research on horizontal bearing behavior of caisson-pile composite foundationEI北大核心CSCD

In this study, four groups of different types of bridge foundation model are tested to research the horizontal bearing behavior of caisson-pile composite foundation in lab based on the Qiongzhou Strait bridge project. The Q-s curve and horizontal ultimate bearing capacity of these four groups of foundations in sandy soil layer are obtained. Pile bending moment and shear force of pile shaft are analyzed in detail. At the same time, the load sharing ratio of caisson and piles is discussed. The results show that the horizontal ultimate bearing capacities of a single caisson foundation are increased by 1.2 times, 1.6 times and 2 times respectively with adding skirts, steel pipe pile, or steel pipe pile and the skirt. The maximum bending moment point is in the middle of the pile shaft, i.e. at about 0.5 m under the mud surface. The horizontal load is borne mainly by the upper caisson foundation and soil layers above the middle upper part of pile. The maximum shear force is found at the joint of pile top of steel pipe and caisson pile, where the reinforcement measures should be taken in practical engineering. The research achievements could provide a better reference for design or construction of caisson-pile composite foundation.     

基于信息化测绘体系的测绘业务管理平台应用

依据陕西省测绘地理信息局信息化测绘体系建设总体设计方案,针对当前测绘业务管理模式存在的流程多、复杂、效率低等问题,以自然资源部陕西基础地理信息中心信息化测绘业务管理平台建设为例,设计并实现了有序、规范、实时、高效的信息化测绘业务管理解决方案,为提高信息化生产效率、协同管理水平、节约运营成本、促进文化和信息知识体系建设等提供了有力保障,满足了单位办公更加广泛化、精细化的应用需求.该解决方案能对其他单位信息化测绘体系建设具有一定借鉴意义.