The Manila clam population in Arcachon Bay (SW France): Can it be kept sustainable?

The venerid clam Ruditapes philippinarum is the most prominent suspension-feeding bivalve inhabiting muddy intertidal seagrass beds in Arcachon Bay (SW France). It is exploited by fishermen, and Arcachon Bay ranks number one in France in terms of production and total biomass of this species. Previous studies revealed a decrease in the standing stock of R. philippinarum since 2003 and unbalanced length–frequency distributions with a lack of juveniles and of adults > 40 mm. Consequently, the population dynamics of this bivalve were studied at four intertidal sites and one oceanic site in Arcachon Bay. As clam size structure did not allow classical dynamics computations, field monitoring was coupled with field experiments (tagging–recapture) over two years. Monitoring of condition index and gonadal maturation stages highlighted a high variability in spawning number and intensity between sites. Recruitment events in the exploited area varied spatially but with uniformly low values. Von Bertalanffy Growth Function (VBGF) parameters (K, L_∞) were determined using Appeldoorn and ELEFAN methods. In the exploited sites in the inner lagoon, K was relatively high (mean = 0.72 yr^? 1) but L_∞ was low (mean = 41.1 mm) resulting in a moderate growth performance index (Φ′ = 2.99). Growth parameters were not correlated with immersion time and L_∞ was different between sites. Comparison of mortality coefficients (Z) between cage experiments and field monitoring suggested that fishing accounts for 65–75% of total adult mortality. Low recruitment, a low growth rate and a normal mortality rate led to low somatic production (4.1 and 8.7 g Shell-Free Dry Weight (SFDW) m^? 2 yr^? 1) and an annual P/B ratio from 0.44 to 0.92 yr^? 1. Under current conditions, the possibility of a sustainable population in Arcachon Bay will strongly depend on recruitment success and fishing management.     

极区顶部电离层离子上行-DMSP卫星观测

本文利用DMSP卫星离子漂移速度测量数据,对高纬顶部电离层离子整体上行进行研究,主要考察平静时和磁暴期间离子上行强度与发生率随MLT(晨昏两侧)分布规律的变化;以及磁暴期间强的离子上行与等离子体对流及其剪切之间的关系。研究发现,磁暴期间强上行事件的发生率比平静期高近2倍,发生率的晨昏不对称性出现逆转,由平静时昏侧发生率较大变为磁暴期间晨侧发生率较大;磁暴期间晨侧离子上行速度的分布向速度高端加权,平均速度大于昏侧,最大上行速度远大于昏侧;强的离子上行往往与强对流剪切或强对流本身相伴随。     

Future high- and low-flow estimations for Central Vietnam: a hydro-meteorological modelling chain approach

We apply a complex hydro-meteorological modelling chain for investigating the impact of climate change on future hydrological extremes in Central Vietnam, a region characterized by limited data availability. The modelling chain consists of six General Circulation Models (GCMs), six Regional Climate Models (RCMs), six bias correction (BC) approaches, the fully distributed Water Flow and Balance Simulation Model (WaSiM), and extreme values analysis. Bias corrected and raw climate data are used as input for WaSiM. To derive hydrological extremes, the generalized extreme value distribution is fitted to the annual maxima/minima discharge. We identify limitations according to the fitting procedure and the BC methods, and suggest the usage of the delta change approach for hydrological decision support. Tendencies towards increased high- and decreased low flows are concluded. Our study stresses the challenges in using current GCMs/RCMs in combination with state-of-the-art BC methods and extreme value statistics for local impact studies.     

P‐ and S‐wave anisotropy to characterise and quantify damage in media: laboratory experiment using synthetic sample with aligned microcracks

Damage characterisation in solid media is studied in this work through ultrasonic measurements. A synthetic three‐dimensional printed sample including a system of horizontally aligned microcracks is used. In contrast to other manual fabrication methods presented in the literature, the construction process considered here ensures a better control and accuracy of size, shape, and spatial distribution of the microcrack network in the synthetic sample. The acoustic measurements were conducted through a specific device using triple acoustic sensors, which allows capturing at each incident direction three wave modes. The evolution of the ultrasonic velocities with respect to incident angle accounted for the damage‐induced anisotropy. The experimental results are then compared with some well‐known effective media theories in order to discuss their potential use for the following studies. Finally, we highlighted and compared the accuracy of these theories used for inversion procedure to quantify damage in the medium.     

Evaluating simplified models in predicting global seismic responses of a shake table–test building isolated by triple friction pendulum bearings

This paper evaluates the ability of simplified superstructure models, including two shear frame models and a single-story model, in predicting global responses of a full-scale five-story steel moment-frame buildings isolated by triple friction pendulum bearings subjected to earthquake motions. The investigated responses include displacement of the isolation system, roof drift, story drift, and floor acceleration. Mechanical properties of the simplified superstructure models were derived from the modal information of a verified full 3-D model. The comparison between the analytical responses and experimental responses shows that the simplified models can well predict the displacement of the isolation system. Furthermore, the shear-frame models are adequate for predicting floor acceleration when the specimen is subjected to horizontal ground motions. However, when the specimen is subjected to 3-D motions, the shear-frame models un-conservatively predict floor acceleration. The full 3-D model improves the prediction of story drift compared with the simplified models for both horizontal and 3-D motions.     

Distribution of glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers in surface soils along an altitudinal transect at cold and humid Mountain Changbai: Implications for the reconstruction of paleoaltimetry and paleoclimate

Glycerol Dialkyl Glycerol Tetraethers(GDGTs)serve as important tools for the quantitative reconstruction of paleoclimate and paleoecology in both continental and marine environments.Previous studies of GDGTs in the terrestrial environments focused primarily on the soils from the relatively warm-humid or cold-dry regions.However,it is still unclear how GDGTs respond to environmental variables in the cold-humid regions.Here,we collected soils along an altitudinal transect of Mountain(Mt.)Changbai,which has a typical cold-humid climate,to investigate the distribution of GDGTs and the response of GDGT-based proxies to changes in climate along the transect.The shift in the distribution of archaeal isoprenoidal GDGTs(iso GDGTs)revealed that the archaeal community varied significantly along the transect,which can affect the relationship between TEX_(86)and mean annual air temperature(MAT).In addition,the increased temperature seasonality at higher altitudes exerted a significant impact on TEX_(86).We proposed a global calibration of TEX_(86)for the growing season temperature reconstruction in the soil environments:T=85.19×TEX_(86)-46.30(R~2=0.84,p0.001).The methylation indices for 5-methyl branched GDGTs(br GDGTs)including MBT′_(5me)and MBT_(5/6),showed correlation with soil water content but no relationship with MAT,indicating that MBT′_(5me)and MBT_(5/6)from cold-humid environments may be not suitable for temperature and altitude reconstruction.In contrast,the recently developed p H proxies,including MBT′_(6me)(the methylation index for 6-methyl br GDGTs),CBT(Cyclisation index of Branched Tetraethers),IR_(IIa’)(Isomer ratio of IIa′)and IR_(IIIa′)(Isomer ratio of IIIa′)exhibited significant correlations with soil p H,suggesting these proxies can still be used for soil p H reconstruction in the coldhumid regions.The combination of MBT′_(5me)and MBT′_(6me)was strongly related to different types of climate(cold-dry,warmhumid,cold-humid,and warm-dry).For example,MBT′_(5me)0.65 and MBT′_(6me)0.55 are diagnostic for the cold-humid climate.Thus,the combination of MBT′_(5me)and MBT′_(6me)has the potential as a tool for the identification of different types of paleoclimate.     

南海北部珊瑚生长率对4.2 ka气候事件的记录

The 4.2 ka event that occurred during the period from 4 500–3 900 a BP was characterized by cold and dry climates and resulted in the collapse of civilizations around the world. The cause of this climatic event, however, has been under debate. We collected four corals(Porites lutea) from Yongxing Island, Xisha Islands, South China Sea, dated them with the U-series method, and measured the annual coral growth rates using X-ray technology. The dating results showed that the coral growth ages were from 4 500–3 900 a BP, which coincide well with the period of the4.2 ka event. We then reconstructed annual sea surface temperature anomaly(SSTA) variations based on the coral growth rates. The growth rate-based SSTA results showed that the interdecadal SSTA from 4 500–3 900 a BP was lower than that during modern times(1961–2008 AD). A spectral analysis showed that the SSTA variations from4 500–3 900 a BP were under the influence of El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation(ENSO) activities. From 4 500–4 100 a BP, the climate exhibited La Ni?a-like conditions with weak ENSO intensity and relatively stable and lower SSTA amplitudes. From 4 100–3 900 a BP, the climate underwent a complicated period of ENSO variability and showed alternating El Ni?o-or La Ni?a-like conditions at interdecadal time scales and large SSTA amplitudes. We speculate that during the early and middle stages of the 4.2 ka event, the cold climate caused by weak ENSO activities largely weakened social productivity. Then, during the end stages of the 4.2 ka event, the repeated fluctuations in the ENSO intensity caused frequent extreme weather events, resulting in the collapse of civilizations worldwide. Thus, the new evidence obtained from our coral records suggests that the 4.2 ka event as well as the related collapse of civilizations were very likely driven by ENSO variability.     

黄土丘陵区雨强对水流含沙量的影响

To study the effects of changes in the rainfall intensity on sediment concentrations in the Loess Plateau,the observed rainfall intensities and sediment concentrations from three typical small watersheds were used to analyze the relationship between these parameters.The results showed that the sediment concentration generally increased with the increasing rainfall intensity on slope scale.However,at watershed scale,a significant threshold phenomenon was observed for the effects of the rainfall intensity on the sediment concentration.When the rainfall intensity exceeds the threshold,the flood sediment concentration will no longer increase with the increase in the rainfall intensity.The rainfall intensity threshold increased with increasing vegetation coverage.The rainfall intensity threshold was 10–15 mm/h during 1956–1969,reached 20 mm/h from 1990 to 1997 and is approximately 40 mm/h at present.Due to a rainfall intensity of 10–15 mm/h almost happened every year,the vegetation did not change much from the 1950s to 1980s.Sediment yield mainly depends on soil erosion caused by surface flow,but the surface flow speed does not increase indefinitely with the increase in the flow discharge.Thus,the annual maximum sediment concentration of the tributaries in the loess area has been basically stable before the 1990s.     

Establishing an early warning system for flash floods in Hoang Su Phi District,Ha Giang Province,Vietnam

Hoang Su Phi is a mountainous district in Ha Giang province, Vietnam. When the rainy season arrives in these parts, flash floods (besides landslides), frequently occur in many areas, seriously affecting the socio‐economic condition of the district. Therefore, in this paper, we have developed an early warning system for flash floods, established based on a geomorphological and hydrological approach. The basic principle underlying this system is the fact that flash floods will often occur where there is high potential risk with sufficient rainfall. In the model, eight parameters of the basin were used to build a potential flash flood map. Using the spatial processing module in an open source software, early predictions from automatic weather stations were interpolated and processed online to produce a potential risk map. Depending on the threshold of precipitation values, the results determined locations where flash flood may occur at various flash flood risk indices (FFRI). The system may be applied to support provision of early flash flood warning up to 1?6 days in advance in the district, allowing the local government ample time to make appropriate decisions on the prevention and/or mitigation of damages caused by flash flood hazards.     

Geological evolution,regional perspectives and hydrocarbon potential of the northwest Phu Khanh Basin,offshore Central Vietnam

Seismic stratigraphic and structural analyses of the northwest Phu Khanh Basin, offshore Central Vietnam, based on 2-D seismic data, indicate that the initial rifting began during the latest Cretaceous? or Palaeogene controlled by left-lateral transtension along the East Vietnam Boundary Fault Zone (EVBFZ) and northwest–southeast directed extension east of the EVBFZ. Rifting stopped due to transpression during middle Oligocene times but resumed by left-lateral transtension during the Late Oligocene. Thick sequences of lacustrine and alluvial sediments were deposited during the Palaeogene rift periods. The Late Oligocene rifting ended due to inversion, triggered by right-lateral wrenching near the Palaeogene–Neogene boundary. Following the onset of this inversion regional uplift and volcanism took place in the southern half of the study area and contemporaneous subsidence and transgression took place farther north, leading to widespread carbonate deposition. As the right-lateral wrenching decreased during the early Neogene, thermal subsidence and siliciclastic sedimentation became dominant, resulting in the buildup and southward propagation of the shelf slope. Sediment accumulation and subsidence rates increased after the Middle Miocene times due to eastward tilting of Central Vietnam and the adjacent offshore area.