Comparative analysis of the experiments aimed at modeling marine ecosystems by using the object-oriented approach

We describe the results of comparative analysis of the numerical experiments carried out by using two different approaches to modeling the biological components of marine ecosystems: “ordinary” and object-oriented. These results demonstrate that the character of the space distribution (patchiness) of the food resource on the lowest level of the trophic chain strongly affects the growth rate of the density of population on the next level and forms specific features of its space distribution which, in fact, affect the productivity of all levels of the trophic chain. The representation of phytoplankton (lowest level) in the model in the form a continuous field of passive admixtures creates more favorable conditions for the nutrition of the organisms consuming this resource. Therefore, in our calculations based on the “ordinary” procedure of modeling of marine ecosystems, the productivity of all its living components is higher than in the case of application of the object-oriented method. The indicated distinctions are especially well visible on the scales of about ten kilometers. Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 1, pp. 26–35, January–February, 2009.     

A predictive numerical model for potential mapping of the gas hydrate stability zone in the Gulf of Cadiz

This paper presents a computational model for mapping the regional 3D distribution in which seafloor gas hydrates would be stable, that is carried out in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. The construction of the model is comprised of three primary steps, namely: (1) the construction of surfaces for the various variables based on available 3D data (seafloor temperature, geothermal gradient and depth-pressure); (2) the calculation of the gas function equilibrium functions for the various hydrocarbon compositions reported from hydrate and sediment samples; and (3) the calculation of the thickness of the hydrate stability zone. The solution is based on a transcendental function, which is solved iteratively in a GIS environment.The model has been applied in the northernmost continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz, an area where an abundant supply for hydrate formation, such as extensive hydrocarbon seeps, diapirs and fault structures, is combined with deep undercurrents and a complex seafloor morphology. In the Gulf of Cadiz, the model depicts the distribution of the base of the gas hydrate stability zone for both biogenic and thermogenic gas compositions, and explains the geometry and distribution of geological structures derived from gas venting in the Tasyo Field (Gulf of Cadiz) and the generation of BSR levels on the upper continental slope.     

Altering intertidal sediment topography: effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning

Sedimentary marine systems are often highly productive and perform important nutrient regeneration functions as they efficiently decompose organic material. In recent years the role of habitat effects and of species composition in ecosystem functioning has become of interest. Estuarine environments are frequently subject to considerable anthropogenic pressures whilst supporting a variety of habitats ranging from well sorted soft muds through biogenically stable sediments to highly mobile coarse sands. There is therefore considerable spatial complexity in habitat type and faunal composition. This study set out to observe the effects of altering the topographical habitat features of an estuarine mudflat on a range of porewater nutrient concentrations (NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, PO₄³⁻ and SiO) collected from four depths (3, 5, 9, and 12 cm) and on faunal composition. Two treatments (Shelled Nets and Net Controls) were used to alter the topography from simple mud to a mussel shell crumble and were compared to un-manipulated Control areas. Sediment granulometry and organic matter content analyses alongside biological traits analysis of the fauna were also conducted.
Differences were observed in porewater nutrient concentrations between the Control and both netted treatments at 5 cm depth only; the species diversity and abundance were also different in the netted treatments compared to the Controls, although no difference between the two manipulated treatments were observed. The changes in faunal composition were attributed solely to the altered topography and the observed nutrient changes were attributed to the faunal alteration rather than the topographical manipulation.     

Breeze circulation in the black-sea region

We study the characteristic features of the breeze circulation in the Black-Sea region according to the data of the regional reanalysis of atmospheric circulation carried out on the basis of the MM5 mesoscale model for August 2007 by the method of difference composites. The application of high space resolution of the model (the step of the grid is equal to 9 km) allows us to reproduce the principal features of the sea and land breezes on c the composite maps. It is shown that the space structure of breeze circulation is determined by the configuration of the coastline and coastal orography.     

象山港氮、磷营养盐环流和分布规律的研究

采用定点监测分析方法,研究了象山港狭湾内设置的六个固定站位1992-2007年时间段内的硝酸氮(NO3-N)、亚硝酸氮(NO2-N)、铵氮(NH4-N)和磷酸盐(PO4-P)浓度的监测数据,探讨了象山港狭湾内(122°00'E以西)氮、磷营养盐的环流和分布规律.结果表明,(1)除个别年份外,16年内硝酸氮、亚硝酸氮、铵氮和磷酸盐浓度的空间分布,从港顶1号站向港口6号站呈降低趋势,其中以PO4-P、NO2-N的降低趋势最为明显,而NH4-N的降低趋势相对较弱.(2)NO3-N的空间变化规律较为复杂,并且3号站的浓度往往达到最大值.(3)无论是平水期(4月)还是丰水期(7月),表层盐度均低于底层,而表层温度高于底层;盐度从港顶1号站向港口6号站递增,而温度递减.这种分布规律基本上可用余环流模式进行解释,但余环流输运并不是促使营养盐入海的唯一原因,潮振荡的垂向剪切造成的纵向弥散和潮混合亦对营养盐输运有重大贡献.(4)与1992年相比,2007年各站的NO3-N浓度几乎都增加了一倍,PO4-P浓度增幅更大,说明象山港的氮、磷污染与日俱增.     

Recovery of the Long Lost Minor Planet (843) Nicolaia after 65 Years (Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg – Mitteilungen Serie B)

The long lost minor planet (843) Nicolaia was recovered with the 1 m ESO Schmidt telescope after 65 years. This was due to the careful examination of the old 1916 plates and the wellbalanced computation of search ephemerides. An improved orbit based on 19 right ascensions and 20 declinations from the two apparitions 1916 and 1981 is given.     

Dwarf Galaxies in the M 81/82 Group. New Photometric Data

We present a list of 39 dwarf galaxies of the M 81/82 group. Three different methods are applied to determine their apparent integral magnitude: digital processing, equidensitometry, and calculation according to the formulae of FISHER and TULLY . The plates used were obtained with the Tautenburg Schmidt telescope. For a distance of the group of 3.5 Mpc the absolute magnitudes of the dwarf galaxies investigated are -15^m < M < -9^m.     

The WOCE-era 3-D Pacific Ocean circulation and heat budget

To address questions concerning the intensity and spatial structure of the three-dimensional circulation within the Pacific Ocean and the associated advective and diffusive property flux divergences, data from approximately 3000 high-quality hydrographic stations collected on 40 zonal and meridional cruises have been merged into a physically consistent model. The majority of the stations were occupied as part of the World Ocean Circulation Experiment (WOCE), which took place in the 1990s. These data are supplemented by a few pre-WOCE surveys of similar quality, and time-averaged direct-velocity and historical hydrographic measurements about the equator.An inverse box model formalism is employed to estimate the absolute along-isopycnal velocity field, the magnitude and spatial distribution of the associated diapycnal flow and the corresponding diapycnal advective and diffusive property flux divergences. The resulting large-scale WOCE Pacific circulation can be described as two shallow overturning cells at mid- to low latitudes, one in each hemisphere, and a single deep cell which brings abyssal waters from the Southern Ocean into the Pacific where they upwell across isopycnals and are returned south as deep waters. Upwelling is seen to occur throughout most of the basin with generally larger dianeutral transport and greater mixing occurring at depth. The derived pattern of ocean heat transport divergence is compared to published results based on air–sea flux estimates. The synthesis suggests a strongly east/west oriented pattern of air–sea heat flux with heat loss to the atmosphere throughout most of the western basins, and a gain of heat throughout the tropics extending poleward through the eastern basins. The calculated meridional heat transport agrees well with previous hydrographic estimates. Consistent with many of the climatologies at a variety of latitudes as well, our meridional heat transport estimates tend toward lower values in both hemispheres.     

断裂和裂缝的分形特征

在详细剖析断裂和裂缝组成和结构相似性的基础上, 计算了贝尔断陷T₅和T₂两层构造图上断裂信息维和10口井布达特群岩心裂缝信息维, 分析了影响断裂和裂缝信息维的因素, 达到了从断裂信息维去预测裂缝分布的目的.影响断裂和裂缝信息维的因素包括密度、延伸长度、断层性质以及岩性, 但从根本上讲断层性质及岩性对信息维影响体现在断裂的密度上, 因此信息维应该是断裂发育程度的度量, 利用断裂信息维与裂缝信息维关系、裂缝信息维与裂缝密度关系预测裂缝的分布, 有利的裂缝发育带有3个区域, 与现今见油气井分布吻合.      

Binary star statistics: the mass ratio distribution for very wide systems

The distribution of mass ratios for a sample of common proper motion (CPM) binaries is determined and compared with that of 798 visual binaries (VB's) studied earlier, in hopes of answering the question: Can the member stars of these systems have been drawn at random from the normal initial mass function for single stars? The observed distributions peak strongly toward q = 1·0 for both kinds of systems, but less strongly for the CPM's than for the VB's. Due allowance having been made for assorted observational selection effects, it seems quite probable that the CPM's represent the observed part of a population drawn at random from the normal IMF, while the VB's are much more difficult to interpret that way and could, perhaps, result from a formation mechanism that somewhat favors systems with roughly equal components.