Dynamics of particle export on the Northwest Atlantic margin

The Northwest Atlantic margin is characterized by high biological productivity in shelf and slope surface waters. In addition to carbon supply to underlying sediments, the persistent, intermediate depth nepheloid layers emanating from the continental shelves, and bottom nepheloid layers maintained by strong bottom currents associated with the southward flowing Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC), provide conduits for export of organic carbon over the margin and/or to the interior ocean. As a part of a project to understand dynamics of particulate organic carbon (POC) cycling in this region, we examined the bulk and molecular properties of time-series sediment trap samples obtained at 968 m, 1976 m, and 2938 m depths from a bottom-tethered mooring on the New England slope (water depth, 2988 m). Frequent occurrences of higher fluxes in deep relative to shallower sediment traps and low Δ¹⁴C values of sinking POC together provide strong evidence for significant lateral transport of aged organic matter over the margin. Comparison of biogeochemical properties such as aluminum concentration and flux, and iron concentration between samples intercepted at different depths shows that particles collected by the deepest trap had more complex sources than the shallower ones. These data also suggest that at least two modes of lateral transport exist over the New England margin. Based on radiocarbon mass balance, about 30% (±10%) of sinking POC in all sediment traps is estimated to be derived from lateral transport of resuspended sediment. A strong correlation between Δ¹⁴C values and aluminum concentrations suggests that the aged organic matter is associated with lithogenic particles. Our results suggest that lateral transport of organic matter, particularly that resulting from sediment resuspension, should be considered in addition to vertical supply of organic matter derived from primary production, in order to understand carbon cycling and export over continental margins.     

Interdecadal variability of anchoveta abundance and overcapacity of the fishery in Peru

Paleontological and historical stock abundance estimates indicate that pelagic fish populations inhabiting upwelling ecosystems undergo large interdecadal variations in abundance with amplitudes equal to, if not larger than, the interannual variability. The interdecadal variability is characterized by periods of high and low abundance, termed “pseudo-cycles”, because of their irregular periodicity. Fisheries targeting small pelagic fish suffer from overall overcapitalization, like many other fisheries, but also from an additional overcapitalization problem: a phase displacement between rapid fish population decreases and a slower disinvestment which follows. This lag produces economic hardship.Here we document the fish:fishery relationship for the Peruvian anchoveta. Anchoveta pseudo-cycles of 20 to >100 years are observed, with the present stock abundance most likely located near upper part of the cycle. Fleet overcapacity expressed as the proportion of unused present capacity is estimated at 72% and processing overcapacity at 89%. A simple bio-economic model demonstrates the risks associated with the pseudo-periodicity in fish stock abundance in conjunction with fishery investment, open access, and overcapacity: a timing bomb for the fishing sector. The lag between disinvestment and decrease in fish abundance is quantified. A reduction of the fishing and processing capacity and measures to decrease the investment lag are recommended to limit the social, economical and political tensions that will result from the expected decrease in stock abundance. Finally, some management options to reduce these risks are discussed.     

中国地震局地震预报代表团赴法国、德国进行学术访问

２０００年８月,以中国地震局分析预报中心主任陈建民为团长的中国地震局地震预报代表团一行９人赴法国和德国进行学术交流和访问,代表团在访问期间,先后参观了法国格勒诺布尔的多曼纳大学地球内部物理和构造物理实验研究室、斯特拉斯堡的地球物理研究所,德国波茨坦的地球科学研究中心,汉诺威的地球科学和自然资源联邦研究所,并与两国有关专家进行了学术交流和讨论。     

则木河活动断裂带1∶5万地质填图及综合研究

经过对则木河活动断裂带的 1∶5万地质填图及重点地段开挖槽探和剥土 ,采集了年代样品与构造岩薄片样 ,实测断错地貌 ,同时进行了研究区的航、卫片解译 ,并对前人所作工作成果进行了分析。在此基础上我们对该区活动断裂带的平面展布、几何结构、不同时期的活动习性以及它的形成机制、运动形式等方面作了深入的探讨 ,包括全新世断裂的研究和它的未来强震危险性估价。本成果的整理发表 ,对开发西昌地区 ,振兴西昌经济 ,促进川、滇两省边界地区经济的发展提供了有利条件 ,同时也可作为有关方面的参考。     

InSAR地形测绘若干问题研究

目前,我国已经把InSAR技术作为完成西部测图任务的重要技术手段之一,为了解决影响InSAR应用的技术瓶颈问题,促进InSAR技术的实用化,把InSAR技术应用于实际测绘生产之中,本文对InSAR相位解缠、干涉参数定标、解缠相位到高程转换、InSAR测绘作业流程及SAR影像制图等技术进行了研究;为了促进InSAR技术的进一步发展,为下一代InSAR系统的研制和应用奠定基础,本文对SAR图像仿真技术和干涉图仿真技术进行了研究,并在仿真数据的基础上,对多基线/多波段InSAR相位解缠技术进行了研究。本文在InSAR测绘作业流程设计、区域网平差干涉参数定标与高程控制点加密、SAR影像制图综合等方面的研究成果,对于促进我国InSAR技术的实用化和工程化具有积极意义;在SAR图像仿真和干涉图仿真方面的研究,为SAR系统设计和SAR仿真的应用奠定了基础;在多基线、多波段InSAR相位解缠方面所取得的研究成果,将促进我国多基线、多波段InSAR技术的发展。     

High resolution spectra of galaxies

We present inversion techniques which aim at recovering the composite nature and the kinematics of a stellar population from its high resolution absorption line spectrum. The originality of the combined inversion is its potential to recover both the stellar content and the kinematics simultaneously. These techniques use new synthetic high resolution spectra produced by PéGASE and minimization algorithms. We apply them to mock data representing the bulge and disk population of the inner region of spiral galaxies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.