Sulfur (32S, 33S, 34S, 36S) and oxygen (16O,17O,18O) isotopic ratios of primary sulfate produced from combustion processes

The recent discovery of an anomalous enrichment in ¹⁷O isotope in atmospheric sulfate has opened a new way to investigate the oxidation pathways of sulfur in the atmosphere. From laboratory investigations, it has been suggested that the wet oxidation of sulfur in rain droplets was responsible for the excess ¹⁷O. In order to confirm this theory, sulfur and oxygen isotope ratios of different primary sulfates produced during fossil fuel combustion have been investigated and are reported. None of these samples exhibits any anomalous oxygen or sulfur isotopic content, as compared to urban sulfate aerosols. These results, in agreement with the laboratory investigations, reinforce the idea of an aqueous origin for the oxygen-17 anomaly found in tropospheric sulfates.     

Characterization and significance of shocked quartz from the Woodleigh mpact structure,Western Australia

Abstract— We re‐examined the buried Woodleigh structure in Western Australia, which has been inferred to be a multi‐ringed, 120 km diameter impact crater, because the proposed size and possible synchronicity with one of the pre‐Mesozoic mass extinction events has attracted controversy. We undertook a detailed study of the petrology and mineralogy of a number of samples of core from the Woodleigh‐1 borehole that was drilled into the central uplift of the structure. Crystalline Proterozoic basement rocks comprising granites and gneisses in the Woodleigh‐1 core contain minor brecciation in discrete veins and reveal clear evidence of shock metamorphism over the full extent of the core. Imaging of laboratory‐etched quartz showed that a large number of grains contain shock deformation lamellae. Microstructural and crystallographic analysis of these lamellae by TEM showed that they are planar deformation features (PDFs) that have subsequently undergone annealing and water assisted recrystallization. The available geological, petrographic, and mineralogical evidence suggest that Woodleigh is an eroded impact crater that is nearer to 60 km than 120 km in diameter. Future drilling projects should better constrain the level of erosion, and may reveal any preserved impact lithologies.     

Simulation of Storm Surge and Wave Due to Typhoon Isewan (5915)

An integrally coupled wave-tide-surge model was developed and then applied to the simulation of the wave-typhoon surge for the typhoon Isewan (typhoon Vera (5915)), which is the strongest typhoon that has struck Japan and caused incalculable damage. An integrally coupled tide-surge-wave model using identical and homogeneous meshes in an unstructured grid system was used to correctly resolve the physics of wave-circulation interaction in both models. All model components were validated independently. The storm surge and wave properties such as the surge height, the significant wave height, wave period and direction were reproduced reasonably under the meteorological forcing, which was reprocessed to be close to the observations. The resulting modeling system can be used extensively for the prediction of the storm surge and waves and the usual barotropic forecast.     

Rate of late Quaternary ice-cap thinning on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica defined by cosmogenic 36Cl surface exposure dating

Glacial landforms on the Barton and Weaver peninsulas of King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica were mapped and dated using terrestrial cosmogenic ³⁶Cl methods to provide the first quantitative terrestrial record for late Quaternary deglaciation in the South Shetland Islands. ³⁶Cl ages on glacially eroded and striated bedrock surfaces range from 15.5±2.5 kyr to 1.0±0.7 kyr. The ³⁶Cl ages are younger with decreasing altitude, indicating progressive downwasting of the southwestern part of the Collins Ice Cap at a rate of ∼12 mm yr⁻¹ since 15.5±2.5 kyr ago, supporting the previously published marine records for the timing and estimate of the rate of deglaciation in this region.     

A formal approach to hydrological model conceptualization

Abstract

A two-stage formal approach to hydrological model conceptualization is described. The approach requires the definition of hydrological variables in terms of states and rates, the construction of state-rate diagrams and the definition of equations for the rates based on an indepth understanding of the related hydrological processes. It is inferred that the approach can help modellers arrive at models which are conceptually more feasible for operational use and for theoretical studies. STELLA, a programme specifically designed to facilitate model conceptualization using this approach, is also briefly described. The use of the two stage formal approach with STELLA will be an excellent teaching tool for hydrological modelling.     

Bioventing for in situ remediation

Abstract

The availability of oxygen generally controls the rate at which aerobic in situ bioremediation proceeds. Bioventing, which couples soil venting with bioremediation, is often the most effective means of supplying oxygen to unsaturated zone soil. Laboratory treatability studies were conducted which showed that bioventing could be successfully applied to compounds ranging from light hydrocarbons, such as gasoline or diesel, to heavier hydrocarbons, such as fuel oils, as well as other volatile and semivolatile compounds. In many cases, the promotion of biological activity through the addition of nutrients and moisture, and optimization of the bioventing flow rates, may achieve greater contaminant reductions than venting alone.     

Seasonal variations in the isotopic composition of near-surface water vapour in the eastern Mediterranean

Although the isotopic composition of precipitation is widely used in global climate change studies, use of water vapour isotopes is considerably more limited. Here we present the results from 9 yr of atmospheric vapour measurements in the Eastern Mediterranean, at a site in Israel. The measurements show a strong mean seasonal cycle of about 4‰ in ¹⁸O (peaking around July). This seasonality could not be adequately explained by changes in surface interactions or in air mass trajectories, as usually invoked for variations in local precipitation. We could explain this cycle only as a combination of three components: (1) rainout effects; (2) temperature and relative humidity control of the initial vapour and (3) seasonal variations in the vertical mixing across the top of the planetary boundary layer. This last component is emphasized in the current study, and it was shown to be a significant factor in the seasonal cycle features. The measurements were also compared with an isotope-enabled GCM (CAM2) run, which exhibited a markedly different seasonal cycle. Such comparisons with vapour isotopes data could help in constraining models better.     

2007年春季广州城区黑碳气溶胶污染特征的初步研究

2007年4月利用黑碳仪（Aethalometer）、颗粒物在线观测仪（TEOM1400a）和现时天气现象传感器（PWD22）获得了大气细粒子中每5 min黑碳气溶胶（BC）浓度以及每30 min PM2.5浓度及大气能见度观测数据。结果发现：黑碳日均值浓度为7.4±2.9 μg·m－3,变化范围分别为2.1～11.6 μg·m－3。PM2.5日均值浓度为77.4±35.9 μg·m－3,浓度变化范围分别为29.6～183.3 μg·m－3。黑碳小时浓度变化具有2个明显的峰值,主要与机动车尾气排放密切相关。黑碳浓度与PM2.5浓度呈正相关,与大气能见度呈负相关,相关系数为分别为0.707和－0.529,表明黑碳是PM2.5中的重要组成部分,对大气能见度的影响较显著。