Age and Origin of Paleogene Granitoids from Western Yunnan Province, China: Geochemistry, SHRIMP Zircon Ages, and Hf-in-Zircon Isotopic Compositions

We report geochemical data, SHRIMP zircon ages and Hf-in-zircon isotopic compositions for Cenozoic granitoids from major fault systems in the Tethyan belt in western Yunnan Province, southwestern China.Four magmatic pulses occurred in the Paleogene, namely at ca.57 Ma, ca.50 Ma, 45–40 Ma, and 38–34 Ma.Early magmatism of this episode(57–50 Ma) produced S-type granites whose zircons yielded εHf(t) values of-5.0 to-0.3.In contrast, late magmatism of this episode reflects heterogeneous sources.Zircons from a granite porphyry along the Ailaoshan-Red River fault system have slightly positive εHf(t) values suggesting derivation from relatively young crust and/or a juvenile source.However, zircons from a granite along the Gaoligong fault system have strongly negative εHf(t) values and suggest derivation from a Paleoproterozoic crustal source.The composition of the granitoids varies with age(from ca.57 Ma to ca.34 Ma) from peraluminous to metaluminous and also suggests a change from syn-collisional to late-orogenic tectonic setting.A new tectonic model, impacting lithospheric wedge(ILW) is shown for the origin of Paleogene granitoids in this paper.     

Changes in biomass structure and trophic status of the plankton communities in a highly dynamic ecosystem (Gulf of Venice,Northern Adriatic Sea)

The changes in the plankton biomass structure in relation to nutrient inputs were studied in the Gulf of Venice (Northern Adriatic Sea), an area characterized by a very marked trophic state variability. The investigation was carried out at two stations, in March, May and July 2005 and 2006, considering the whole water column. The size structure (from picoplankton to mesozooplankton) of both autotrophs and heterotrophs was analysed. Signals of diluted waters and nutrient inputs were more marked in 2005 than in 2006. In 2005, the total plankton biomass was almost double (87 ± 37 μg·C·l^?1) that in 2006 (44 ± 26 μg·C·l^?1). The variations were determined mainly by phytoplankton, with a 70% decrease, and a shift from a community dominated by microphytoplankton (49 ± 12%) in 2005 to one dominated by bacteria (43 ± 11%) in 2006 was observed. The relationship between the heterotrophic (H) and autotrophic (A) biomass indicated a rapid decline of the H/A ratio with increasing phytoplankton biomass. This study, although temporally limited, is consistent with the results reported for other marine environments and it seems to confirm the importance of nutrient inputs in structuring the biomass of plankton community.     

德国4站点极端降水频数和强度趋势变化分析

根据不莱梅、波茨坦、卡尔斯鲁厄和楚格峰1901—2007年逐日降水量分析了各站极端降水的频数和强度趋势变化。结果表明:山区(楚格峰)出现的极端降水数量呈上升趋势,且强度显著增强,在冬、夏2季亦如此。这与全球变暖背景下,山区的积雪融化导致对流活动增强以及大气环流影响水汽输送增强有关;在超过绝对阈值的极端降水方面,北方地区(不莱梅和波茨坦)发生频数保持稳定,无显著趋势变化,南方地区(卡尔斯鲁厄)有显著减少的趋势,且不莱梅的频数变化趋势与波茨坦相似,具有强正相关,而此2站与卡尔斯鲁厄的频数变化趋势呈反位相,有较强的负相关;除楚格峰外,极端降水强度变化无显著趋势。低海拔地区在冬季极端降水的频数和强度上,大部分有显著上升的趋势,而夏季,在2方面均出现不同程度的下降;极端降水频数和强度呈强正相关。     

Uncertainties of the relationship between the equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation, the Arctic stratosphere and solar forcing

Two different equatorial quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) indices, two reanalyses and radiosonde observations are used to analyze the Arctic stratospheric temperature and height. This analysis was used to assess the uncertainties in the connection of solar forcing, QBO and the Arctic variability. The results show that (1) the frequency of the westerly/easterly phases of the QBO over the stratospheric equator has a significant multiple peak seasonal variation. The primary seasonal peaks occur in February, March and April for the westerly phase of the QBO and the easterly phase peaks in June, July and August. (2) The correlation of stratospheric Arctic temperature and height with the solar radio flux shows statistical significance in February or July/August even if there is no stratified phase of QBO (easterly and westerly phases) involved. However, when the correlation was computed according to the stratified phase of QBO, the solar signals in both temperature and height fields are remarkably amplified in February and November under the westerly phase, but the signal in the height field is most significant only in August under the easterly phase. (3) The impact of the QBO and solar forcing on the stratospheric temperature and heights in the Arctic varies depending on the season. The impacts are also sensitive to the specific height of the QBO-defined level that is used, the specific period of the analysis and the dataset used.     

Application of random sets to model uncertainties of natural entities extracted from remote sensing images

Remotely sensed images as a major data source to observe the earth, have been extensively integrated into spatial-temporal analysis in environmental research. Information on spatial distribution and spatial-temporal dynamic of natural entities recorded by series of images, however, usually bears various kinds of uncertainties. To deepen our insight into the uncertainties that are inherent in these observations of natural phenomena from images, a general data modeling methodology is developed to embrace different kinds of uncertainties. The aim of this paper is to propose a random set method for uncertainty modeling of spatial objects extracted from images in environmental study. Basic concepts of random set theory are introduced and primary random spatial data types are defined based on them. The method has been applied to dynamic wetland monitoring in the Poyang Lake national nature reserve in China. Four Landsat images have been used to monitor grassland and vegetation patches. Their broad gradual boundaries are represented by random sets, and their statistical mean and median are estimated. Random sets are well suited to estimate these boundaries. We conclude that our method based on random set theory has a potential to serve as a general framework in uncertainty modeling and is applicable in a spatial environmental analysis.     

An improved method for estimating forest canopy height using ICESat-GLAS full waveform data over sloping terrain: A case study in Changbai mountains,China

Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) has a unique capability for estimating forest canopy height, which has a direct relationship with, and can provide better understanding of the aboveground forest carbon storage. The full waveform data of the large-footprint LiDAR Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) onboard the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), combined with field measurements of forest canopy height, were employed to achieve improved estimates of forest canopy height over sloping terrain in the Changbai mountains region, China. With analyzing ground-truth experiments, the study proposed an improved model over Lefsky's model to predict maximum canopy height using the logarithmic transformation of waveform extent and elevation change as independent variables. While Lefsky's model explained 8–89% of maximum canopy height variation in the study area, the improved model explained 56–92% of variation within the 0–30° terrain slope category. The results reveal that the improved model can reduce the mixed effects caused by both sloping terrain and rough land surface, and make a significant improvement for accurately estimating maximum canopy height over sloping terrain.     

Thermal weathering of granite spheroidal boulders in a dry‐temperate climate,Northern Dobrogea,Romania

Weathering microforms associated with exfoliation were investigated on 40 granitic spheroidal boulders identified on Pricopan Ridge (M?cin Mountains) in order to establish a spatial distribution pattern. Continuous thermal monitoring allowed the frequency and intensity distribution assessment of short‐term temperature changes triggered by summer storms, of intense day–night amplitudes and frost cycles across a uniform rounded boulder. Rock strength estimated by Schmidt hammer tests differentiates a significantly weaker resistance on the southern face of the boulders (rebound values of 27 to 33) in comparison with the northern face (43–50). The lowest resistance of the north–south cross‐boulder profile corresponds to the southern gentle slopes (0°–45°) thus defining the most susceptible area to exfoliation and other weathering processes. It is argued that this low‐resistant sector fits well with the maximum frequency and intensity of thermal processes recorded on the low and mid slopes (0°–45°) of the boulders south side, with small differences from one process to another, whilst the sector of 20° to 30° south corresponds to the peak activity of all. In accordance, the overlay map of exfoliated surfaces places the high frequency area on a spherical cap developed similarly (between 5° north and 45° south). The smallest exfoliated surfaces normally appear around 30° south and are inferred to extend in time both to the boulder top and downslope. The correlations between the frequency/intensity maps of thermal processes and the frequency map of exfoliated surfaces point to a complementary action in the exfoliated surfaces development of the short‐term temperature changes and diurnal cooling and heating due to the directional insolation effect, as similarly inferred in the development of meridional cracks. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hygroscopic growth of aerosol particles and its influence on nucleation scavenging in cloud: Experimental results from Kleiner Feldberg

The hygroscopic growth of individual aerosol particles has been measured with a Tandem Differential Mobility Analyser. The hygroscopic growth spectra were analysed in terms of diameter change with increasing RH from 20% to 85%. The measurements were carried out during the GCE cloud experiment at Kleiner Feldberg, Taunus, Germany in October and November 1990.Two groups of particles with different hygroscopic growth were observed. The less-hygroscopic group had average growth factors of 1.11, 1.04 and 1.02 for particle diameters of 50, 150 and 300 nm, respectively. The more-hygroscopic group had average growth factors of 1.34, 1.34, and 1.37 for the same particle diameters. The average fraction of less-hygroscopic particles was about 50%. Estimates of the soluble fractions of the particles belonging to the two groups are reported.Hygroscopic growth spectra for total aerosol, interstitial aerosol and cloud drop residuals were measured. A comparison of these hygroscopic growths of individual aerosol particles provides clear evidence for the importance of hygroscopic growth in nucleation scavenging. The measured scavenged fraction of particles as a function of diameter can be explained by the hygroscopic growth spectra.     

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) during MRO’s Primary Science Phase (PSP)

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) acquired 8 terapixels of data in 9137 images of Mars between October 2006 and December 2008, covering ∼0.55% of the surface. Images are typically 5-6 km wide with 3-color coverage over the central 20% of the swath, and their scales usually range from 25 to 60 cm/pixel. Nine hundred and sixty stereo pairs were acquired and more than 50 digital terrain models (DTMs) completed; these data have led to some of the most significant science results. New methods to measure and correct distortions due to pointing jitter facilitate topographic and change-detection studies at sub-meter scales. Recent results address Noachian bedrock stratigraphy, fluvially deposited fans in craters and in or near Valles Marineris, groundwater flow in fractures and porous media, quasi-periodic layering in polar and non-polar deposits, tectonic history of west Candor Chasma, geometry of clay-rich deposits near and within Mawrth Vallis, dynamics of flood lavas in the Cerberus Palus region, evidence for pyroclastic deposits, columnar jointing in lava flows, recent collapse pits, evidence for water in well-preserved impact craters, newly discovered large rayed craters, and glacial and periglacial processes. Of particular interest are ongoing processes such as those driven by the wind, impact cratering, avalanches of dust and/or frost, relatively bright deposits on steep gullied slopes, and the dynamic seasonal processes over polar regions. HiRISE has acquired hundreds of large images of past, present and potential future landing sites and has contributed to scientific and engineering studies of those sites. Warming the focal-plane electronics prior to imaging has mitigated an instrument anomaly that produces bad data under cold operating conditions.