Mussels (Mytilus edulis) as ‘point source’ indicators of trace metal pollution

Using X-ray Energy Spectroscopy trace metal concentrations including Pb, Cu and Zn were studied in the common blue mussel, Mytilus edulis. These organisms, sampled at intervals of only 1 km and less for a line transect study of the port of Vancouver, Canada, exhibited dramatic concentration variations. In particular, mussels only 30 m from a point source of lead displayed essentially base-line concentrations, representing a decline of two orders of magnitude.     

Snow interception modelling: Isolated observations have led to many land surface models lacking appropriate temperature sensitivities

When formulating a hydrologic model, scientists rely on parameterizations of multiple processes based on field data, but literature review suggests that more frequently people select parameterizations that were included in pre-existing models rather than re-evaluating the underlying field experiments. Problems arise when limited field data exist, when “trusted” approaches do not get reevaluated, and when sensitivities fundamentally change in different environments. The physics and dynamics of snow interception by conifers is just such a case, and it is critical to simulation of the water budget and surface albedo. The most commonly used interception parameterization is based on data from four trees from one site, but results from this field study are not directly transferable to locations with relatively warmer winters, where the dominant processes differ dramatically. Here, we combine a literature review with model experiments to demonstrate needed improvements. Our results show that the choice of model form and parameters can vary the fraction of snow lost through interception by as much as 30%. In most simulations, the warming of mean winter temperatures from −7 to 0°C reduces the modelled fraction of snow under the canopy compared to the open, but the magnitude of simulated decrease varies from about 10% to 40%. The range of results is even larger when considering models that neglect the melting of in-canopy snow in higher-humidity environments where canopy sublimation plays less of a role. Thus, we recommend that all models represent canopy snowmelt and include representation of increased loading due to increased adhesion and cohesion when temperatures rise from −3 to 0°C. In addition to model improvements, field experiments across climates and forest types are needed to investigate how to best model the combination of dynamically changing forest cover and snow cover to better understand and predict changes to albedo and water supplies.     

东太湖浮游植物与浮游动物群落的嵌套性及其互作网络的季节特征

浮游生物主要由浮游植物和浮游动物组成,是湖泊生态系统的重要组分.嵌套性结构及物种间的互作关系对群落的分布格局、功能乃至稳定性都具有重要意义,然而到目前为止,我们对此仍知之甚少.为此,本研究以东太湖为研究区域,在2019-2020年期间进行了春、夏、秋、冬季的观测调查,根据浮游生物群落的组成和多样性特征,结合群落分布矩阵和二分网模型研究浮游生物的嵌套性格局及其互作关系,并探讨其驱动机制.结果显示:(1)在时间上,春、秋、冬季水体的理化特征较为相似,但与夏季的水质差异显著.在空间上,西南部区域的综合污染指数显著高于东北部;(2)环境异质性使得浮游植物呈现出明显的嵌套性分布,即秋、冬季群落是春、夏季群落的子集.然而,浮游动物并未呈现该分布特征;(3)浮游生物的互作关系具有明显的季节特征:冬季的互作网络组成最简单,物种竞争最激烈,物种的特异性关系、物种脆弱性和一般性最小,说明浮游生物群落的稳定性在冬季最弱.综上所述,水环境的时空差异性造成的生态位分离可能是造成浮游生物嵌套性及其互作网络季节性变化的主要机制.     

The moment tensors,focal mechanisms,and stresses on Sakhalin Island

We report determinations of the focal mechanisms for Sakhalin earthquakes during 2006 through 2015 by two different methods: the polarity of first motions using the FOCMEC program and the inversion of waveforms using the ISOLA program. We show that the resulting moment tensor solutions fairly well fit the tectonic crustal stresses for Sakhalin as determined by previous workers. We have examined the component of the moment tensor that involves a linear dipole. This is at its maximum in areas of active mud volcanism and industrial activities in oil-and-gas fields.     

MRSP—The muenster redshift project. Astrometric determination of the reference point for wavelength measurements on low-dispersion objective prism plates

The zero point of galaxy redshifts measured from objective prism plates (dispersion 246 nm/mm at H) as part of the Muenster Redshift Project (MRSP) is obtained through transformation of object positions from the corresponding direct plate. Approximately 1000 G-type stars, classified automatically, are used. On the direct plate, positions are obtained from intensity-weighted first moments. On the objective prism plate, object positions are give through the CaII-break and marginal fits to the unwidened spectra. The transformation equations include quadratic terms in the direction of dispersion. The inclusion of third-order and colour terms is discussed. The mean residuals are approximately 0".33 (5 m on the plate), corresponding to a redshift error of about 700 km/s at z=0.0. This error results mainly from the uncertainty in locating the CaII-break in the low-dispersion spectra. Radial velocities are obtained from the difference between the expected and the measured positions of the CaII-break in the galaxy spectra.     

Density models for the upper atmosphere

Modeling the effects of atmospheric drag is one of the more important problems associated with the determination of the orbit of a near-earth satellite. Errors in the drag model can lead to significant errors in the determination and prediction of the satellite motion. The uncertainty in the drag acceleration can be attributed to three separate effects: (a) errors in the atmospheric density model, (b) errors in the ballistic coefficient, and (c) errors in the satellite relative velocity. In a number of contemporary satellite missions, the requirements for performing the orbit determination and predictions in near real-time has placed an emphasis on density model computation time as well as the model accuracy. In this investigation, a comparison is made of three contemporary atmospheric density models which are candidates for meeting the current orbit computation requirements. The models considered are the analytic Jacchia-Roberts model, the modified Harris-Priester model, and the USSR Cosmos satellite derived density model. The computational characteristics of each of the models are compared and a modification to the modified Harris-Priester model is proposed which improves its ability to represent the diurnal variation in the atmospheric density.This investigation was supported by the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center under contract NAS5-20946 and Contract NSG 5154.     

水文网络模型在分布式流域水文模拟中的应用

水文网络模型是地理信息系统对流域实际河网水系的一种规范化描述,它采用拓扑关系来确定流域水流的空间聚合与分散。准确地描述水文网络对成功模拟流域水流的空间分布起着至关重要的作用。水文网络数据模型的关键在于如何表达水文网络的构成要素,以及如何建立要素间的拓扑关系。本文重点阐述了水文网络模型在分布式流域水文模拟中的应用。实例研究证明,采用水文网络模型来表达流域河网水系结构有助于准确地模拟流域上水流的空间与时间分布。