The 825-1110 angstroms EUV spectrum of Venus

On 15 August 1994 we launched the EUVS sounding rocket payload to observe the 825-1110 angstrom region of Venus's far ultraviolet airglow spectrum. The EUVS telescope/spectrograph obtained good data at five times higher spectral resolution than was previously available in the far ultraviolet. We present these data and compare our results to those obtained by the Galileo UVS and Venera 11/12 UV spectrophotometers. We identify several new spectral emission features, including both singly ionized nitrogen and molecular nitrogen in Venus's spectrum. We also see evidence for electron-impact-induced emission from CO. Finally, the EUVS data indicate that the "Ar" emissions detected in Venus's far ultraviolet spectrum by Venera 11/12 spectrophotometers are in fact not due to argon, thus eliminating the discrepancy between in situ and remote sensing measurements.     

Crater taphonomy and bombardment rates in the Phanerozoic

Impact structures can be catalogued according to the age of the rocks in which they are now found ("country rocks"). The observed frequency distribution of craters by age of country rock is shown to be statistically indistinguishable from the predictions of a simple model in which it is assumed that the survival time for craters is the same as that for their target rocks. Other models are considered, but do not match the data. A lower limit of the rate of bombardment through the Phanerozoic, based only on documented craters, is 0.13 +/- 0.09 events/ma/10(8) km2 for craters with diameters > or = 10 km and 0.09 +/- 0.08 events/ma/10(8) km2 for craters with diameters > or = 20 km. The data allow, but do not demand, an increase in meteorite flux over the Phanerozoic but do not allow any significant decrease. We estimate that only about 6% of the existing terrestrial impact structures of diameter greater than 10 km have been discovered to date, and only 16% of those with diameter greater than 20 km.     

Infrared emission from P/Halley's dust coma during March 1986

2 to 20 micrometers photometry of the inner dust coma of comet Halley was obtained at the NASA IRTF on Mar 6.85, 12.8, 13.75, 17.7, and 24.8. Positions offset 10" were measured as well as the central brightness. The strength of the 10 micrometers emission feature was observed to vary with location in the coma. The infrared emission is in general agreement with the dust size distribution measured from the Vega and Giotto spacecraft. Mar 6.8, 17.7, and 24.8 corresponded to strong dust jet activity. The strength of the 10 micrometers silicate emission is shown to be a sensitive indicator of grain size and thus of jet activity. Dust production rate on March 13.75, 6 h before Giotto encounter, was approximately 10(7) gm s-1.     

The cycling and fate of terrestrially-derived sediments and nutrients in the coastal zone of the Great Barrier Reef shelf

The coastal zone of the Great Barrier Reef shelf, with an area of 30,000 km(2) and a water volume of 300 km(3), receives an average annual input of sediment on the order of 14-28 Mty(-1)--an estimated two- to fourfold increase since European settlement. There is considerable concern about the impact and ultimate fate of terrestrially-derived nutrients entering the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA). Analysis of current data suggests that microbial communities in coastal waters and in unconsolidated sediments metabolise nutrients equivalent to the entire dissolved and particulate nutrient load debouched from land. River-derived nutrients account for 40-80% of the carbon, 13-30% of the nitrogen, and 2-5% of the phosphorus necessary to support the observed rates of benthic and pelagic mineralisation in Princess Charlotte Bay in the far north, and in Rockingham Bay and Missionary Bay in the central section, of the GBRWHA. Nearly all nitrogen is ultimately returned to the atmosphere via denitrification. There is little net burial of nutrients in subtidal sediments. These budget estimates are based on a sparse data set, but it is clear that marine sources of nutrients (N-fixation by pelagic and benthic cyanobacteria) must be important, but the magnitude of these sources is poorly known and likely to be highly variable in space and time. Data from sediment trap deployments suggest that, despite significant re-suspension, sedimentation fluxes are sufficient to balance benthic mineralisation rates. Most organic material deposited to the benthos appears to be flocculent or colloidal aggregates, perhaps formed via microbial mediation and exudation of extra-cellular material. The geophysical dynamics of the coastal boundary layer plays an important role in concentrating biological and biogeochemical activity within a shallow, narrow coastal zone. Mangroves and tidal flats are small in area, but trap, transform, and store a disproportionate amount of sediment and organic matter within the GBRWHA. The highly efficient use of terrestrially-derived nutrients by benthic and pelagic microbes in the coastal zone helps to explain why coral reefs on the middle and outer shelf have remained relatively unscathed despite a significant increase in sediment delivery.     

Changes in algal, coral and fish assemblages along water quality gradients on the inshore Great Barrier Reef

Macroalgae, hard corals, octocorals, and fish were surveyed on 10 to 13 inshore coral reefs of the Great Barrier Reef, along a water quality gradient in two regions with contrasting agricultural land use. A water quality index was calculated for each reef based on available data of particulate and dissolved nutrients, chlorophyll and suspended solids. Strong gradients in ecological attributes occurred along the water quality gradient. Macroalgae of the divisions Rhodophyta and Chlorophyta increased with increasing nutrients, while Phaeophyta remained similar. Octocoral richness and abundances of many hard coral and octocoral taxa decreased, and none of the hundreds of species increased. At reefs in higher nutrient environments, hard coral and octocoral assemblages were composed of subsets of the many species found in lower nutrient environments, whereas fish and macroalgal assemblages consisted of contrasting suites of species. The study identifies species groups that are likely to increase or decrease in abundance with changing water quality.     

Numerical simulation of organic chemicals in a marine environment using a coupled 3D hydrodynamic and ecotoxicological model

For ecotoxicological risk assessment in a marine ecosystem, we constructed a coupled three-dimensional hydrodynamic and ecotoxicological model (EMT-3D), and applied it to Tokyo Bay. The model was calibrated with field data obtained in 2002. The results of sensitivity analysis for dissolved Bisphenol A showed that biodegradation rate was the most important factor for concentration change. Bioconcentration coefficient was the most important factor for Bisphenol A in phytoplankton. Therefore, the parameters must be carefully considered in the modeling. The mass balance results showed that standing stocks of Bisphenol A in water, in particulate organic carbon and in phytoplankton are 7.85 x 10(4), 1.78 x 10(2) and 3.44 x 10(-1) g, respectively. With respect to flux, biodegradation in the water column had the highest value of 1.06 x 10(3) g/day, and next were effluent to the open sea, partition to particulate organic carbon, and bioconcentration in phytoplankton.     

南极半岛中生代沉积盆地的地层,构造及油气潜力

本文旨在利用已有的地质资料对南极半岛唾代盆地的油报潜力作一概括性的探讨。     

散粒体斜坡堆积特性与崩坍形式研究

通过圆盘沙堆以及斜坡堆积物理模拟试验,解释其崩滑的动力学机制.发现溜砂坡堆积的过程是一个典型的自组织临界过程,整个坡体是一个广延耗散动力学系统.从颗粒级配的角度探究其对散粒体边坡稳定性的影响.     

地震在滑坡体上的响应形式研究:以苦地瓜子滑坡为例

地震滑坡分为三大类,即高度破裂或严重高度破裂滑坡、存在分离剪切面的滑坡以及以流相为主的滑坡。在中国西
南地区,根据地震滑坡特点,按其运动方式划分为：推移式滑坡、牵引式滑坡、溜滑性滑坡和崩塌性滑坡四大类。在四川
省茂县苦地瓜子滑坡特征的调查中,发现了一些较为特殊的地质现象,主要包括以下几点：（1） 滑坡上游边界冲沟中湖相
沉积和滑坡体上分布的湖积物表明苦地瓜子滑坡曾经发生过堵江事件,部分为堵江后的堰塞湖区域,在此区域发生河湖相
沉积,其结果是滑坡此部分被湖积物所覆盖,呈现出了与其他几个区覆盖物截然不同的现象;（2） 苦地瓜子滑坡中下部发
现砂土液化现象及规律性排列的裂缝;（3） 踏勘时在滑坡中下部发现直立错坎,错坎两侧土性不同,在颜色和物质组成上
都有较明显不同。错坎左侧为粉土状物质,而右侧以碎石土为主;（4） 在滑坡的中部以及中偏下部位都发现有平行于滑动
方向的裂缝;（5） 现场调查时在坡体中上部发现有充填楔,充填物颗粒较大、磨圆度较好,与地面盖层的颜色、岩性条件
相同。综合各种现象进行分析,室内试验和数据统计,认为茂县苦地瓜子滑坡为地震诱发的滑坡,并且可以从此滑坡中发
现地震滑坡与普通滑坡明显不同,往往在现场留下自重引起的滑坡不好解释的现象,主要有砂土液化迹象、充填楔、地震陡
坎、平行于滑动方向的裂隙;此外地震滑坡还具有等时性和群发性的特点。     

吉隆口岸地质环境质量研究

在分析吉隆口岸地质环境影响因素的基础上,建立以地质环境质量为目标层,以地面坡度等11个因素为方案层的指标体系.采用层次分析法和模糊综合评判法,根据最大隶属度原则对研究区地质环境质量进行定量分区评价,评价结果和现场定性评价基本一致.这表明指标体系和评价方法比较合理.该研究成果对口岸的规划建设具有指导意义.