Effects of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) bed

The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of an eelgrass bed by the coast of Iwakuni, Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We monitored eelgrass shoot density and volume of ulvoid accumulation in the study site and evaluated effects of the accumulated ulvoid canopy on the percent survival, seedling density, growth rates, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and carbon contents of eelgrass. Eelgrass shoot density decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid. Also, seedling density decreased by the increase in the ulvoid volumes. Shoot density, seedling density and leaf elongation were negatively correlated with ulvoid volume. Carbon contents in eelgrass decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid (canopy height: 25cm). These results suggest that accumulation of ulvoid bloom has significant negative impacts on the structure and function of eelgrass bed, i.e. decreases in vegetative shoot density, seedling density, shoot height and growth rate.     

Prevalence and distribution of fecal indicator organisms in South Florida beach sand and preliminary assessment of health effects associated with beach sand exposure

Fecal indicator levels in nearshore waters of South Florida are routinely monitored to assess microbial contamination at recreational beaches. However, samples of sand from the surf zone and upper beach are not monitored which is surprising since sand may accumulate and harbor fecal-derived organisms. This study examined the prevalence of fecal indicator organisms in tidally-affected beach sand and in upper beach sand and compared these counts to levels in the water. Since indicator organisms were statistically elevated in sand relative to water, the study also considered the potential health risks associated with beach use and exposure to sand. Fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, somatic coliphages, and F(+)-specific coliphages were enumerated from sand and water at three South Florida beaches (Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Hobie Beach) over a 2-year period. Bacteria were consistently more concentrated in 100g samples of beach sand (2-23 fold in wet sand and 30-460 fold in dry sand) compared to 100ml samples of water. Somatic coliphages were commonly recovered from both sand and water while F(+)-specific coliphages were less commonly detected. Seeding experiments revealed that a single specimen of gull feces significantly influenced enterococci levels in some 3.1m(2) of beach sand. Examination of beach sand on a micro-spatial scale demonstrated that the variation in enterococci density over short distances was considerable. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the physical and chemical parameters monitored in this study could only minimally account for the variation observed in indicator densities. A pilot epidemiological study was conducted to examine whether the length of exposure to beach water and sand could be correlated with health risk. Logistic regression analysis results provided preliminary evidence that time spent in the wet sand and time spent in the water were associated with a dose-dependent increase in gastrointestinal illness.     

用1Hz GPS观测数据推导中强震震源过程的能力:2008年日本岩手—宫城内陆地震例子

通过反演研究2008年日本岩手—宫城内陆地震（M～6.9）,说明了用1Hz全球定位系统（GPS）观测数据推导中强震（M6级）震源过程的能力。比较了此次地震采样率为1Hz的GPS观测波形,发现与强震仪记录波形有很好的一致性。由于震源区及其周围有足够多的GPS台站很好地记录到了地面运动,因而使我们仅仅采用1Hz的GPS观测数据就可进行波形反演。反演的结果与大地测量和强震仪数据联合反演的结果相当一致,如地震矩（Mw～6.9）、累积滑动量分布和破裂传播等。这种一致性证明,采样率为1Hz的GPS观测数据不仅能用来推导M6级中强震破裂过程的动态特征,而且能用来推导其持久（或静态）的滑动。     

Using analytic element models to delineate drinking water source protection areas

Since 1999, Ohio EPA hydrogeologists have used two analytic element models (AEMs), the proprietary software GFLOW and U.S. EPA's WhAEM, to delineate protection areas for 535 public water systems. Both models now use the GFLOW2001 solution engine, integrate well with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, have a user-friendly graphical interface, are capable of simulating a variety of complex hydrogeologic settings, and do not rely upon a model grid. These features simplify the modeling process and enable AEMs to bridge the gap between existing simplistic delineation methods and more complex numerical models. Ohio EPA hydrogeologists demonstrated that WhAEM2000 and GFLOW2000 were capable of producing capture zones similar to more widely accepted models by applying the AEMs to eight sites that had been previously delineated using other methods. After the Ohio EPA delineated protection areas using AEMs, more simplistic delineation methods used by other states (volumetric equation and arbitrary fixed radii) were applied to the same water systems to compare the differences between various methods. GIS software and two-tailed paired t-tests were used to quantify the differences in protection areas and analyze the data. The results of this analysis demonstrate that AEMs typically produce significantly different protection areas than the most simplistic delineation methods, in terms of total area and shape. If the volumetric equation had been used instead of AEMs, Ohio would not have protected 265 km2 of critical upgradient area and would have overprotected 269 km2 of primarily downgradient land. Since an increasing number of land-use restrictions are being tied to drinking water protection areas, this analysis has broad policy implications.     

Approaches to environmental restoration of a polluted harbour with submerged archaeology: the Alexandria case study

Many invaluable underwater buildings of archaeological interest in Alexandria were discovered in 1996 at different sites in the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria. There is a belief that the best way to protect these invaluable heritages is to transfer them to an underwater park or museum. Obviously, the execution of such a project depends essentially upon the water quality (including water transparency) improving in the future. The harbour is presently polluted by discharge of wastewater effluents from different sources. It has recently been decided to restore this important coastal area through: (1) stopping the direct discharge of wastewater effluents into this semi-enclosed harbour in 1993 and (2) gradually reducing the discharge of the municipal wastewater through marine outfalls at two sites lying at the outer sides of the harbour. Zero discharge is expected to be effective by the end of the year 2001. The present work, therefore, is a follow up of the study of water quality in the harbour after 1993: in 1996 and 1999-2000. The water quality of an open sea reference station was also studied for comparison. The results reveal occurrence of an improvement of the environmental conditions in the harbour. The water has turned from being eutrophic to mesotrophic. The harbour is expected to become meso/oligotrophic as soon as the complete cessation of the discharge from the two outside sources is attained.     

藏高原雪冰电导率与降水碱度以及大气粉尘载荷变化的关系

对青藏高原小冬克玛底冰川和古里雅冰帽上的数个雪坑和浅冰芯的观测,得出其碱度(OH-)剖面、雪坑和冰芯的液态电导率(EC)变化与OH-之间呈良好线性相关(r≥0.8).分析表明,无论在季节、年际或百年际时间尺度上,EC与OH-间的相关性以及EC与可溶离子总量(TDS)间的相关程度是大致相当的.EC的波动主要取决于粉尘来源的碱性盐类(尤其Ca2+)的变化.因此,EC参量运用到深冰芯研究中,可反映历史时期大气粉尘载荷的变化,对反演沙漠演化、大气环流有重要意义.古里雅冰芯记录表明,大气粉尘的中、长期变化可能取决于气候参量的组合特征"冷-干"气候阶段粉尘量上升,EC和OH-值高;"暖-湿"阶段粉尘量下降,EC和OH-值低.20世纪初以来,随着藏北高原气候呈现暖湿化趋势,大气粉尘载荷明显下降.因此,EC可作为显示大气尘埃载荷变化的宏观标尺,是气候波动的"指示器".     

EISCAT雷达观测到的极区电离层等离子体反常对流

综合分析EISCAT雷达与卫星当地测量数据,并利用磁层磁场模式对磁力线进行追踪,研究了发生在极光椭圆朝极盖边界附近电离层中,一例反常的背离太阳流动的强等离子体对流事件,及相关的太阳风-磁层-电离层耦合过程.结果表明,磁暴期间IMFBz指向南时观测到这一反常高速对流,及其相应的等离子体性态特征,很可能是向阳侧磁层顶磁重联过程在电离层中的印记.     

由富尔奈斯火山上的GEOSCOPE VBB台站得到的地倾斜信号

报道了距富尔奈斯火山顶8 km处的GEOSCOPE台网甚宽频带地震台观测到的甚长周期的瞬变过程。我们将地震台观测到的地面速度转换成地倾斜并通过与同一拱顶观测室内Blum型传统摆式倾斜仪记录的数据相比较检验了结果。通过比较表明,用水平地震仪测量周期小于25h的地倾斜是有效的。把这种方法用于1991年以来的几次火山喷发和岩浆侵入之前观测到的瞬变过程。由于GEOSCOPE台站到火山顶的距离适中,因而所得到的地傾斜观测值提供了有关火山喷发和岩浆侵入的信息,补充了火山顶部地倾斜观测网提供的有关岩浆源的形态和位置信息。     

电离层诸参量对大气重力波的响应与重力波参数反演

本文利用欧洲非相干散射雷达数据,分析研究了电离层不同等离子体参量对大气重力波的响应之间的关系.应用这种关系,发展了一种在垂直于地磁场的电场可以忽略等简化假设下,由电子密度和离子沿场速度的同时测量数据,反演求解较高（约250km以上）F区中引起TID的重力波传播参数的方法.用此法对一典型TID事件进行分析计算,所得结果与全波解数值研究结果很好符合.