风中有朵冰做的云

如果你对风中有朵雨做的云习以为常,那么对冰块组成的云呢？2009年12月,美国西维吉尼亚州农村地区的一个寒冷早晨,如果仰望天空的话,你将有幸看到一柱光冲破稀薄的云层在头顶盘旋。这道长长的＂运河＂以及旁边的光云洞很大程度上是由飞过的飞机搅动空气造成的。这张由大地5号卫星拍摄于2009年12月11号的照片显示了此类云洞形成的云量及气温条件。     

我们还剩多少红树林

红树林,是热带和亚热带沿海地区最常见的标志性生态部落,也是地球上最重要的生态系统之一,但是科学家从卫星遥感图中却看到了令人沮丧的迹象。由于被砍伐用来作为食物、燃料和药物,这种重要的滑海树林在很多地区已经日渐稀少。为了继续保护红树林这一重要的生态系统,科学家专门利用卫星遥感图编纂了这张范围最为广泛的全球红树林分布示意地图。     

Relationship between anthropogenic sewage discharge, marsh structure and bird assemblages in an SW Atlantic saltmarsh

One of the main effects of urbanization on coastal areas is through the discharge of sewage, which increases nutrient concentrations in the receiving environment. Salt marshes, like other coastal marine environments, are limited by nutrients, mainly nitrogen, and thus increasing nutrient loadings to a marsh may have consequences on marsh characteristics. We evaluated how the effects of nutrient enrichment in the form of sewage input, affected the vegetation structure and bird assemblages in a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh system near Bahía Blanca, Argentina (39° 01' S - 56° 25' W). Surveys of nutrient concentration, vegetation and birds were made at three different distances from the sewage discharge source. The concentration of ammonium, phosphate, and nitrate and the percent organic matter was higher in marshes nearest to the sewage discharge source. Bird composition and abundance, and vegetation physiognomy changed along a gradient of nutrient concentration. The increased habitat complexity found near the areas of higher nutrient concentration was exploited by birds that use neighboring interior and coastal habitats, including Spartina densiflora marshes, freshwater marshes and upland shrubby habitats. Our results show that local increases of nutrient inputs directly changed the vegetation physiognomy, and indirectly the composition and abundance of bird assemblages.     

寻找属于自己的那份宝藏

千百年来,数不清的大小船只葬身海底.在这些沉船中,好多都装载着数目惊人的金银珠宝和珍贵货物.今天,人类向海底寻求自己丢失多年的宝藏.面对琳琅满目的宝藏,那一份是属于自己的呢?     

中国西南地区东部秋季干旱的环流特征及其成因分析

利用1961--2010年NCEP／NCAR再分析资料和全国753站月平均降水资料,研究了我国西南地区东部秋季干旱的环流特征及其成因。结果表明,西南地区东部秋季降水存在明显的年际和年代际变化。其中,年代际变化主要表现为,在20世纪80年代中后期,降水存在由多转少的突变;降水量年际变化则与苏门答腊一西太平洋和热带东太平洋的海温分布存在很好的关系。当苏门答腊一西太平洋和东太平洋海温呈现“＋-”异常分布时,引起大气热源的异常,加强哈德莱环流,同时,在南海及孟加拉湾附近激发出异常气旋性环流,而西南地区东部则处于南海气旋性环流外围异常偏北气流控制,削弱了孟加拉湾的水汽输送,从而造成西南地区东部的干旱。通过大气环流模式NCARCAM3．0（Community Atmosphere Model3．0）的海温异常试验,验证了上述观测结论。     

The use of benthic macroinvertebrates to establish a benchmark for evaluating the environmental quality of microtidal, temperate southern hemisphere estuaries

Establishment of a benchmark against which deleterious changes to an estuary can be evaluated requires validating that it has not been subjected to detrimental anthropogenic perturbations and then identifying the biological features which are indicative of a pristine condition and can thus be employed as indicators for detecting and monitoring departures from the natural state. The characteristics of the benthic macroinvertebrate fauna of an essentially pristine, seasonally-open estuary in Western Australia (Broke Inlet) have been determined and compared with those previously recorded for a nearby eutrophic, seasonally-open estuary (Wilson Inlet). Density was far lower in Broke than Wilson. Compositions differed radically at all taxonomic levels, with polychaetes contributing less, and crustaceans more, to the abundance in Broke. Average taxonomic distinctness was greater for Broke than both Wilson and 16 other temperate southern hemisphere estuaries, whereas the reverse was true for variation in taxonomic distinctness, emphasizing that Broke Inlet is pristine.     

Antioxidant and biotransformation responses in Liza aurata under environmental mercury exposure - relationship with mercury accumulation and implications for public health

This study was carried out in the Laranjo basin (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal), an area impacted by mercury discharges. Liza aurata oxidative stress and biotransformation responses were assessed in the liver and related to total mercury (Hg_t) concentrations. A seasonal fish survey revealed a sporadic increase in total glutathione (GSH_t) and elevated muscle Hg_t levels, although Hg levels did not exceed the EU regulatory limit. As a complement study, fish were caged for three days both close to the bottom and on the water surface at three locations, and displayed higher Hg_t levels accompanied by increased GSH_t content and catalase activity as well as EROD activity inhibition. The bottom group displayed higher hepatic Hg_t and GSH_t contents compared with the surface group. Globally, both wild and caged fish revealed that the liver accumulates higher Hg_t concentrations than muscle and, thus, better reflects environmental contamination levels. The absence of peroxidative damage in the liver can be attributed to effective detoxification and antioxidant defense.