Historical polycyclic aromatic and petrogenic hydrocarbon loading in Northern Central Gulf of Mexico shelf sediments

The distribution of selected hydrocarbons within ten dated sediment cores taken from the Mississippi River Bight off coastal Louisiana suggests a chronic contaminant loading from several sources including the river itself, oil and gas exploration in the central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) shelf area, and natural geologic hydrocarbon seeps. Data were grouped as either total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's), which were indicative of pyrogenic PAH's; or estimated total hopanes (indicative of petrogenic hydrocarbons). The total PAH concentrations and estimated total hopanes begin increasing above background levels (approximately 200 ng g(-1)) after the 1950s. The distribution of these hydrocarbons and hopanes within the dated sediment cores suggests that the Mississippi River is a regional source of pyrogenic PAH's, and that the hopanes are from natural geologic hydrocarbon seeps, oil and gas exploration in the GOM, or both.     

开放边界条件下青藏铁路抛石路基的降温效果分析

铁路道碴铺层和抛石层可以看作多孔介质, 其内部流体的对流换热为多孔介质的传热传质问题. 目前抛石路基作为一种特殊的新型路基结构已在青藏铁路得到广泛应用, 但其抛石层多为上下封闭、左右开放, 内部空气与外界连通, 对流与传热模式变的更为复杂. 因此, 基于多孔介质中流体热对流的连续性方程, 非达西流动量方程及能量方程, 针对青藏铁路的气温条件和地质条件, 对开放边界、不同路堤高度(抛石层厚度为1.5 m)的抛石路基内速度场及其在未来50年的温度场特征进行了研究与分析. 结果表明: 在外界风的作用下, 这种开放路基道碴和抛石层内的对流换热方式以强迫对流为主; 并且在年平均气温为-4.0℃, 考虑未来50年气温上升2.6℃的情况下, 其降温效果较好, 路堤下有低温冻土核生成; 并且较高路基降温效果好于较低路基, 这主要是由于较高路堤底部较宽, 对下部冻土产生的影响范围较大; 但由于主导风向的影响, 较高路基的下部温度场出现左右不对称现象, 这很可能会造成路基整体的横向不均匀变形, 而较低路基无此现象发生, 这应引起设计与施工部门的足够重视.     

含铂族元素富磁铁矿岩石的磁异常特征—以加拿大安大略地区太古代波 …

地面磁法观测到一个正的强磁异常（磁场强度高达７２０００ｎＴ）该磁异常与安大略次经济区太古代阿伯蒂比绿岩带中波士顿克里克熔岩流富铁玄武岩对应,其主矿物为与铂族元素（ＰＧＥ）有关的磁铁矿,磁异常位于磁铁矿订带（含量达２０％）的上方,且都呈卵形分布,其长轴长１０ｍ左右,在辉长－闪长岩层中沿走向分布,地质,地化以及矿物学表明,这些带含有浸染状黄铜矿＋黄铁矿。同样,有一些带含有铂族矿物（ＰＧＭ）,它们由铂族     

Anticipating the reaction: public concern about sample return missions

Shifts in public attitude that may affect extraterrestrial sample return include increased public participation in the legal and regulatory environment, institutionalized public vigilance, politicization of technological debates and shifts in the nature of public decision-making, and a risk-averse public accustomed to mass media coverage that focuses on hazards and disasters. The ice-minus recombinant DNA experiment is used as an example of the effects of public opinion on scientific experimentation.     

青藏高原东缘古近纪粗碎屑岩沉积学及其构造意义

青藏高原东缘古近纪盆地的填图和沉积学研究表明,在青藏高原东缘区域性走滑-挤压构造背景下形成的古近纪盆地内广泛发育厚层—巨厚层状的紫红色粗碎屑岩系。其沉积特征指示为一种近源快速堆积的泥石流和辫状河道沉积体,形成于干旱炎热气候条件下的典型陆内冲积扇环境。盆地充填序列、粗碎屑岩层序、动植物化石和盆地内岩浆岩~(40)Ar-~(39)Ar年代学等综合研究结果表明,古近纪盆地内粗碎屑岩大约形成于38～29 Ma。该时期与青藏高原东缘北段(横断山地区)古近纪盆地的形成和南段(兰坪—思茅地区)大盆地的裂解时间基本一致,这很可能预示着青藏高原在晚始新世—早渐新世期间曾发生过整体的快速构造隆升。     

Cyanobacterial blooms in estuarine ecosystems: characteristics and effects on Laeonereis acuta (Polychaeta, Nereididae)

In January of 2003, a cyanobacterial bloom in the Patos' Lagoon (Southern Brazil) (32 degrees 05'S-52 degrees 12'W) was observed. Water samples were taken to identify the composition and abundance of the bloom, as well as the occurrence of toxins. The effects of this occurrence on the estuarine worm Laeonereis acuta (Polychaeta, Nereididae) was also evaluated. Predominance of cyanobacteria, particularly Anabaena trichomes ( approximately 2.5.10(6) individuals per liter) was observed, and low concentrations of microcystins and anticholinesterasic toxins were detected. Augmented levels of lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) and glutathione-S-transferase activity, and lowering of total protein content were also observed in organisms collected during the bloom event. Although non-toxic, the cyanobacterial bloom could augment the cycle of hyper-oxygenation and hypoxia in the water. During hyperoxia, L. acuta, an oxyconformer, should consume more oxygen, thus augmenting the rate of reactive oxygen species generation. A repeated cycle of hyper-oxygenation and hypoxia would finally induce oxidative stress, as evidenced by the high levels of LPO and glutathione-S-transferase activity.     

A first estimate of ground water ages for the deep aquifer of the Kathmandu Basin, Nepal, using the radioisotope chlorine-36

The Kathmandu Basin in Nepal contains up to 550 m of Pliocene-Quaternary fluvio-lacustrine sediments which have formed a dual aquifer system. The unconfined sand and gravel aquifer is separated by a clay aquitard, up to 200 m thick, from the deeper, confined aquifer, comprised of Pliocene sand and gravel beds, intercalated with clay, peat, and lignite. The confined aquifer currently provides an important water supply to the central urban area but there are increasing concerns about its sustainability due to overexploitation. A limited number of determinations of the radioisotope 36Cl have been made on bore waters in the basin, allowing us to postulate on the age of ground water in the deeper, confined aquifer. Ground water evolution scenarios based on radioisotope decay, gradual dissolution of formational salts as the ground waters move downgradient, and flow velocity estimations produce comparable ground water ages for the deep waters, ranging from 200,000 to 400,000 years. From these ages, we deduce a mean ground water flow velocity of only 45 mm/year from recharge in the northeast to the main extraction region 15 km to the southwest. We thus estimate current recharge at about 5 to 15 mm/year, contributing 40,000 to 1.2 million m3/year to the ground water system. Current ground water extraction is estimated to be 20 times this amount. The low specific discharge confirms that the resource is being mined, and, based on current projections, reserves will be used up within 100 years.