Dynamics of the Mackenzie River plume on the inner Beaufort shelf during an open water period in summer

The oceanographic conditions of the Mackenzie River plume in the Arctic Ocean were examined during a 12-day period in August 2007. Field observations in the river channel and the delta region (2–6 m depth), ship-based observations on the shelf and satellite observations of sea surface temperatures indicate that movements of plume density fronts cause changes in water temperatures of over 10  C over a few days. We used a 1D model to compare the strength of stratification versus surface wind stress, and a 3D numerical model to simulate the plume motions under forcing from the river flows, local wind and water level variations from tides and wind-driven surge. The results indicate that the coastal region is stratified with a ∼2 m thick surface plume even in water depths of 3–4 m, resulting in strong vertical variation of horizontal currents. Moderate easterly winds of 5–10 m/s are sufficient to induce offshore transport of the surface plume and onshore transport of the deeper shelf water, leading to large fluctuations in temperature and salinity in the coastal region. This study examined a period of offshore transport and mean water level set-down, and indicates the rapid response of the plume to wind over the shallow delta.     

Dynamic response of the leg of a tension leg platform subjected to an axial, suddenly applied load at one end

This paper deals with the solution of the problem of the dynamic response of the leg of a tension leg platform subjected to an axial, suddenly applied load at one end, considering a highly simplified model but taking into account several complicating factors. The problem is solved by means of a non-harmonic Fourier expansion in terms of eigenfunctions obtained from a non-regular Sturm-Liouville system.     

Vertical distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the Western Mediterranean Sea in relation to the hydrological characteristics

Vertical profiles of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from eight hydrological stations in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sardinia Channel and Algerian Sea, are reported. DOC exhibits concentrations ranging from 58 to 88 μM in surface water, 43–57 μM in the intermediate layer and 49–63 μM in deep waters. The assessment of the hydrological characteristics allows different water masses in the study area to be identified; moreover, different hydrological processes are observed in the Tyrrhenian and Algerian basins. DOC exhibits different values in the different water masses. The lowest DOC concentrations (43–46 μM) were found in the Tyrrhenian Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW). Correlations between DOC and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), investigated within each water mass, exhibit different behaviors in the intermediate and deep waters, suggesting the occurrence of different processes of oxygen consumption in the different water masses.     

Invertebrates in the trophic webs of the white sea near-shore ecosystem (using the example of Gryaznaya Inlet)

In the food clods of the mass species of macrobenthos of the Gryaznaya Inlet, nonstructured matter plays a great role. We identify this matter as derivates from plant tissues, which are the products of their external metabolism and degradation, with associated microorganisms. This way, the near-shore community considered is supported by a detrital trophic web. This feature distinguishes it from the similar community of the near-Atlantic waters that is based on a pasture web, at least as far as the bivalve mass species are concerned. The groups of the near-shore species of Gryaznaya Inlet separated by a cluster analysis are identified as consortia, combined by the biogeochemical conditions (edifice factor), which can hardly be analyzed at present.     

Thermal Stratification in Saldanha Bay (South Africa) and Subtidal, Density-driven Exchange with the Coastal Waters of the Benguela Upwelling System

A study was conducted to understand the mechanisms driving observed subtidal variability in the stratification of Saldanha Bay, located in the southern Benguela system. It was found that the 6–8 day period variability in bay stratification was caused by the inflow and outflow of cold upwelled water driven by changing baroclinic pressure gradients between the coastal and bay domains. The direction and magnitude of the pressure gradients were governed by coastal upwelling activity and a lag in the response of the bay to changes in density structure in the coastal ocean. When the pressure gradients were bayward and cold water was being driven into the bay the cycle was termed to be in an ‘ active phase ’ and the reverse was termed the ‘ relaxation phase ’. The upwelling-favourable equatorward wind stress impacted the bay stratification in two ways: on the regional scale, wind drives upwelling and governs the inflow–outflow of cold upwelled bottom water, which strengthens stratification; conversely, on the local bay scale, wind drives vertical mixing, which weakens stratification. A four-phase model is used to describe the observed variability in stratification in the bay. The associated density-driven exchange flows are capable of flushing the bay in 6–8 days, about one-third of the time for tidal exchange alone (c. 25 days). These inflows of cold bottom water are ecologically critical as they supply nutrients to the bay and thus impose a control on new production within the bay environment. Further ecological implications of this bay–ocean exchange include export of phytoplankton new production to the coast, limitation of the risk of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and the division of the system into two distinct ecosystems (bay and lagoon).     

Analytical and experimental investigation on vibrating rectangular plates with two opposite free edges and internal supports while the remaining are elastically restrained against rotation

This paper deals with the determination of an approximate fundamental frequency equation for a rectangular plate with two edges (y = 0, b) elastically restrained against rotation while the edges x=0, a are free but internal supports parallel to the free edges are present in the structural system. The algorithmic procedure can be easily implemented on a micro computer or even a hand, programmable calculator.Good engineering agreement with experimental results is shown to exist in the case of a plate with edges y=0,b rigidly clamped.     

滇池东北部沿岸带生态修复技术研究及工程示范——生态修复目标的确定及其可行性分析

连续6年对星湖仙女湖区水生植被种类、分布、生物量、水体状况进行了调查研究;共采集到水生植物24种,隶属于18科23属,可分为挺水植被、漂浮植被、浮叶植被和沉水植被4种生活型和8个植物群丛,其中苦草群丛占水生植被生物量70％以上,密齿苦草为绝对优势种;2004年与1999年比较,星湖仙女湖水体叶绿素a增加142％,透明度下降54％,水生植被盖度和生物量减少99％,水生植被群落结构趋于简化、多样性下降;星湖仙女湖水生植被发生逆向演替的主要原因是水体污染负荷增加和渔业生产的影响,削减污染负荷和控制渔业生产是促进星湖仙女湖水生植被恢复的重要途径．