Statistical characteristics of polar lows over the Nordic Seas based on satellite passive microwave data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In this study polar lows over the Nordic Seas for the period of 1995–2008 have been detected and studied using the Special Sensor Microwave Imager...     

Crop residue effects on surface radiation and energy balance — review

Summary Crop residues alter the surface properties of soils. Both shortwave albedo and longwave emissivity are affected. These are linked to an effect of residue on surface evaporation and water content. Water content influences soil physical properties and surface energy partitioning. In summary, crop residue acts to soil as clothing acts to skin. Compared to bare soil, crop residues can reduce extremes of heat and mass fluxes at the soil surface. Managing crop residues can result in more favorable agronomic soil conditions. This paper reviews research results of the quantity, quality, architecture, and surface distribution of crop residues on soil surface radiation and energy balances, soil water content, and soil temperature.With 6 Figures     

Concentration,composition and sources of PAHs in the coastal sediments of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Qatar,Arabian Gulf

Surface sediments were collected from sixteen locations in order to assess levels and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Qatar exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Samples were analyzed for 16 parent PAHs, 18 alkyl homologs and for dibenzothiophenes. Total PAHs concentration (∑PAHs) ranged from 2.6 ng g⁻¹ to 1025 ng g⁻¹. The highest PAHs concentrations were in sediments in and adjacent to harbors. Alkylated PAHs predominated most of the sampling locations reaching up to 80% in offshore locations. Parent PAHs and parent high molecular weight PAHs dominated location adjacent to industrial activities and urban areas. The origin of PAHs sources to the sediments was elucidated using ternary plot, indices, and molecular ratios of specific compounds such as (Ant/Phe + Ant), (Flt/Flt + Pyr). PAHs inputs to most coastal sites consisted of mixture of petroleum and combustion derived sources. However, inputs to the offshore sediments were mainly of petroleum origin.     

Point-defect formation parameters in olivine

The formation internal energy and volume of the point-defect species in olivine are derived for a number of approximate charge-neutrality conditions. The formation parameters of an effectively charged point defect are a function of the approximate condition of charge neutrality. Since the approximate charge-neutrality condition depends upon the partial pressure of oxygen and the activity of enstatite in olivine, changes in the magnitude of these thermodynamic-state variables result in different values of the formation parameters if the charge-neutrality regime is altered. The fractional change in the formation internal energies of the energetically unfavorable defects, such as Si vacancies, is small between the charge-neutrality regions while the fractional change for the favorable defects, such as Mg vacancies, is large.     

江淮入梅异常的强信号及其对入梅的影响

江淮入梅具有显著的年际变化特征.利用NCEP/NCAR再分析数据集以及NOAA提供的全球射出长波辐射(OLR)和扩展重建海温(ERSST)等资料,采用相关分析和合成分析等方法研究了江淮入梅异常的前兆强信号,并初步分析了其影响入梅的可能机制.结果表明,ENSO事件是影响江淮入梅早晚较强的前兆信号.前期冬春季出现ENSO暖位相时有利于入梅开始偏晚,ENSO冷位相出现时入梅往往偏早.前期冬季2月和春季Nino 4区的海温异常能较好地预测入梅早晚,具有短期气候预测的指示意义和实用性.ENSO暖位相年,亚澳"大陆桥"、菲律宾、西太平洋暖池以及印度半岛附近对流偏弱,不利于西太平洋副热带高压北跳和印度夏季风爆发,东亚地区大气环流季节转换偏晚,入梅因而偏晚;ENSO冷位相年情况则相反.     

周口店多足类化石

1932—1937年间在周口店中国猿人产地及其他地点采得八十馀件节足动物化石,多破碎,完整者极少。颜色不一,由乳白而棕黄,兼有呈半透明玻璃状者。经初步观察,应属节足动物门,多足纲,倍脚目,马陆科,计一属两种: 一、山马陆(Julus of.terrestris)此种在第一,三,十五地点及山顶洞均有发现。此与现生的山马陆无甚差异,仅肛板及由二肛板所成之肛门沟稍大。二、裴氏小马陆(Julus peii Chia & Liu(sp.nov.)此种於第一,四,十五地点及山顶洞均有发现。由身体及头部形态,身体环节数目(三十个以上),知其与山马陆同属。但其决非幼小山马陆,因其体节数目多於长成之山马陆。但与现生於日本的一种 Nipponoiulus truncatus 近似,惟後者体节数较少,尾端钝圆。关於马陆属化石,据现在所知最早发现於始新统地层中,直到现在仍有生存,变异极小。以上所述二种若非与其他脊椎动物化石共生於周口店地点,则其年代颇难鉴定,因其有以後爬入岩隙死後石化之可能,不过上述之标本不但有共生脊椎动物为证,且有的已埋藏於固结的砾岩中,其属於更新统时期可无疑义。     

Pore Water Characteristics Following a Release of Neat Ethanol onto Pre-existing NAPL

Neat ethanol (75.7 L) was released into the upper capillary zone in a continuous-flow, sand-packed aquifer tank (8.2 m³) with an average seepage velocity of 0.75 m/day. This model aquifer system contained a residual nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) that extended from the capillary zone to 10 cm below the water table. Maximum aqueous concentrations of ethanol were 20% v/v in the capillary zone and 0.08% in the saturated zone at 25 and 30 cm downgradient from the emplaced NAPL source, respectively. A bench-scale release experiment was also conducted for a similar size spill (scaled to the plan area). The concentrations of ethanol in ground water for both the bench- and pilot-scale experiments were consistent with advective–dispersive limited mass transfer from the capillary to the saturated zone. Concentrations of monoaromatic hydrocarbons and isooctane increased in the pore water of the capillary zone as a result of both redistribution of residual NAPL (confirmed by visualization) and enhanced hydrocarbon dissolution due to the cosolvent effect exerted by ethanol. In the tank experiment, higher hydrocarbon concentrations in ground water were also attributed to decreased hydrocarbon biodegradation activity caused by preferential microbial utilization of ethanol and the resulting depletion of oxygen. These results infer that spills of highly concentrated ethanol will be largely confined to the capillary zone due to its buoyancy, and ethanol concentrations in near-source zone ground water will be controlled by mass transfer limitations and hydrologic conditions. Furthermore, highly concentrated ethanol releases onto pre-existing NAPL will likely exacerbate impacts to ground water, due to NAPL mobilization and dissolution, and decreased bioattenuation of hydrocarbons.     

Biomarker characterisation and hydrous pyrolysis of bitumens from Tertiary volcanics, queen Charlotte islands, British Columbia, Canada

A number of bitumen samples have been recovered from vugs and fractures in outcropping Tertiary basalts of the Queen Charlotte Islands off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. n-Alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids are not present and the polycyclic biomarker distribution of the four samples analyzed by GC and GC-MS has been altered. One sample contains no remaining recognizable biomarkers. Two bitumens were also obtained from Lower Jurassic potential source rocks, including one from the Sandilands Formation, which was considered previously to be the most likely source of the Tertiary bitumens. Although these two bitumens were also taken from outcrops, they are considerably less biodegraded. The Sandilands Formation bitumen contains 28, 30-bisnorhopanes and since these compounds were not detected in the Tertiary bitumens, there is no evidence from the initial results for a Sandilands Formation contribution to the hydrocarbons in the Tertiary basalts. The presence of 18α(H)-oleanane in the saturate fraction of two of the Tertiary bitumens from widely separated locations indicates that they are at least partially sourced from Tertiary organic matter.Because the distribution of biomarkers in some samples has been severely affected by biodegradation, the asphaltenes of the bitumens were hydrously-pyrolysed and the saturate fractions of the resulting pyrolysates analysed for possible additional information on the origin of the bitumens. The pyrolysates from the more degraded samples contain compounds not detected in the saturate fractions of the original bitumen and show some of the expected characteristics of the original non-degraded bitumen. However, the compounds most useful for correlation are not present in the pyrolysates apparently due to their non-incorporation into the kerogen macromolecule. Our results suggest that hydrous-pyrolysis of asphaltenes is of limited use in the correlation of biodegraded samples and in determining their origins.