Theory of quadrupolar sunspots and the active region of August, 1972

Energy is stored when the force-free magnetic field in an active region departs from a potential field, the departure showing up as a shear in the field. As soon as the field untwists, energy will be released to produce flares. Based on this idea, we derived an analytical solution of the equation of force-free field under the assumption of a constant force-free factor, and found expressions for seven important quantities for quadrupolar sunspots: the magnetic energy of the twisted field, that of potential field, the extractable free energy ΔM, the magnetic flux, the total current, the force-free factor and the field decay factor, in terms of three observables: the field intensity, the twist angle and the distance between two spots of the same polarity. The expression for ΔM can be useful in solar prediction work. For the active region of August, 1972, we found ΔM up to 6 × 10³² erg, sufficient to supply the energy of the observed flare activity. Observations of this active region are in good general agreement with our theoretical expectations: in the entire twisting of the quadrupolar sunspot group, each spot assumes the form of a complete spiral in the clockwise direction for each of the four spots.     

Chemical weathering of carbonates and silicates in the Han River basin,South Korea

A detailed investigation of the fluvial geochemistry of the Han River system allows to estimate the rates of chemical weathering and the consumption of CO₂. The Han River drains approximately 26,000 km² and is the largest river system in South Korea in terms of both water discharge and total river length. It consists of two major tributaries: the North Han River (NHR) and the South Han River (SHR). Distinct differences in basin lithology (silicate vs. carbonate) between the NHR and SHR provide a good natural laboratory in which to examine weathering processes and the influence of basin geology on water quality. The concentrations of major elements and the Sr isotopic compositions were obtained from 58 samples collected in both summer and winter along the Han River system in both 2000 and 2006. The concentrations of dissolved loads differed considerably between the NHR and SHR; compared with the SHR, the NHR had much lower total dissolved solids (TDS), Sr, and major ion concentrations but a higher Si concentration and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio. A forward model showed that the dissolved loads in the NHR came primarily from silicate weathering (55 ± 11%), with a relatively small portion from carbonates (30 ± 14%), whereas the main contribution to the dissolved loads in the SHR was carbonate weathering (82 ± 3%), with only 11 ± 4% from silicates. These results are consistent with the different lithologies of the two drainage basins: silicate rocks in the NHR versus carbonate rocks in the SHR. Sulfuric acid derived from sulfide dissolution in coal-containing sedimentary strata has played an important role in carbonate weathering in the SHR basin, unlike in the NHR basin. The silicate weathering rate (SWR) was similar between the NHR and SHR basins, but the rate of CO₂ consumption in the SHR basin was lower than in the NHR basin due to an important role of sulfuric acid derived from pyrite oxidation.     

祁连山不同植被类型对积雪消融的影响

为研究祁连山植被对积雪消融的影响, 利用人工调查积雪深度逐日变化量和积雪盖度变化, 并结合空气雪面感热通量(SH)观测, 对祁连山水源林生态站排露沟流域海拔2 600～2 700 m青海云杉林、灌丛林、林缘、阳坡草地在2003-2007年的积雪消融进行了研究, 每年的观测从10月降雪开始到翌年5月积雪消融完结束, 共获取数据134 400个. 结果表明: 当SH<0时, 积雪消融停止;当SH>0时, 积雪消融开始;植被可以减缓积雪消融速率, 有植被的地方消融速率减慢, 反之则加快;不同植被消融速率大小顺序为草地>林缘>灌木林>乔木林;同一植被、不同坡向消融速率不同, 半阳坡云杉林＞半阴坡云杉林＞阴坡云杉林. 积雪含水率随气温升高而增大, 1月融化积雪占整个积雪的5%, 2月增大到28%, 大量积雪在3月消融, 占55%. 从坡位看, 下坡消融速率最大;在一个垂直带上, 低海拔消融速率大于高海拔. 温度是影响积雪消融的主要因子, 积雪消融速率随温度升高而增大, 反之则减小.     

浙江杭州地区中下奥陶统岩石地层研究

笔者以城市基岩地质填图和剖面研究资料为基础,选择临安市板桥乡南山上中下奥陶统剖面为候选层型,根据剖面的地层层序、岩性组合、分界标志,结合区域变质的总体特征,重新厘定、划分了4个组级岩石地层单位,并依据荆山岭与板桥剖面的地层、生物化石对比,确定其地层时代为早中奥陶世。这对重建杭州地区层型剖面与地质遗迹保护、岩石地层填图、奥陶纪石灰岩矿产资源的开发利用都具有重要意义。     

武宁县花香林泥石流灾害成因及防治对策

武宁县花香林地处江西省北部山区,是泥石流多发区,先后于1958年6月和1998年6月爆发大型的泥石流,严重影响了当地人民的生命、财产安全和经济发展.通过收集大量相关资料及现场实地调查,在分析该泥石流基本特征的基础上,对泥石流的成因进行探讨.结果表明,复杂的岩性及地质构造为泥石流的形成提供了丰富的固体物来源,是泥石流形成的基础;强降雨是形成泥石流灾害的触发条件;强降雨、地震两者相叠加时,就可能爆发泥石流.提出了对泥石流防治对策相应的建议,对山地的防灾减灾具有指导意义.     

Regulation of Tilapia metallothionein gene expression by heavy metal ions

Tilapia is a common fish species inhabiting inland waters and estuarine regions in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, and useful for bio-monitoring of metal pollution. Metallothionein (MT) gene expression in fish tissues has been useful to sub-lethal risk assessment as biomarker of exposure to metal ions in fishes inhabiting metal contaminated area. To investigate metal inductions of Tilapia MT gene expression in vivo, Tilapias were injected with different concentrations of heavy metals and tissues were then removed for quantitative PCR assay using mimic PCR methods. All of the metal ions tested (Cu(2+), Cd(2+), Hg(2+), Ni(2+), Pb(2+) and Zn(2+)) were able to induce hepatic MT mRNA levels. Renal MT mRNA levels of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) treated fish was not induced with significant fold induction, however MT mRNA levels in gills were sensitive to the administrations of these metal ions. These data indicated that Tilapia MT mRNA levels in gills and liver are sensitive biomarker of exposure to various metal ions.     

盐胁迫对番茄同工酶基因表达的影响

分析了普通番茄（Lycopersicumesculentum）在NaCl胁迫下酯酶（EST）和过氧化物酶（PRX）同工酶的变化，考察了盐胁迫对10个同工酶位点21个等位基因在特定组织中表达的影响。发现许多EST和PRX等位基因在盐胁迫下表达，产生盐诱导同工酶；另有些等位基因的表达受盐抑制，它们在盐胁迫下的表达活性显著减弱或消失。实验表明，EST和PRX同工酶表达的变化与番茄对盐胁迫的遗传适应性有密切关系。     

Magnitude-frequency relationship of coastal sand delivery by a southern California stream

Coastal sand delivery by a stream in southern California is estimated based on a numerical model which stimulates unsteady flow, sediment transport, and the associated channel adjustments for a stream-delta system. An average annual sediment yield of 51,400 m³/yr is estimated for the San Dieguito River, which drains a semiarid watershed controlled by dams. Of the total sand delivery by the stream, 20.5 percent is contributed from floods greater than the 100-year flood; 17.6 percent from those between the 50- and 100-year events; 28.4 percent from those between the 25- and 50 year floods; and 33.5 percent from those smaller than the 25-year flood.     

Characteristics of Scour and Deposition in Front of Breakwaters Under Irregular Broken Clapotis

First the scour and deposition patterns of the sandy seabed in front of a vertical breakwater under the action of irregular broken clapotis are investigated experimentally and classified into five types: scour type Ⅰ , scour type Ⅱ, scour type Ⅲ, deposition type Ⅰ, and deposition type Ⅱ . Secondly, the processes of formation of scour and deposition patterns are probed in comparison with those induced by regular broken clapotis and standing waves. Thirdly, the criteria for distinguishing scour and deposition patterns under irregular broken clapotis are presented.     

Glaciomarine sedimentation and palaeo-glacial setting of Maxwell Bay and its tributary embayment, Marian Cove, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica

High-resolution (3.5 kHz and multi-channel) seismic profiles and piston cores were collected from Maxwell Bay and its tributary embayment, Marian Cove, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, during the Korea Antarctic Research Program (1992/93 and 1995/96) to elucidate the glaciomarine sedimentation processes and recent glacial history of the area. Seismic data from Maxwell Bay reveal a rugged bay margin and flattened basin floor covered with well-stratified hemipelagic muds. On the base-of-slope, acoustically transparent debris flows occur, indicating downslope resedimentation of glaciomarine sediments. Despite the subpolar and ice-proximal settings of Marian Cove, the seafloor is highly rugged with a thin sediment drape, suggesting that much of the area has been recently eroded by glaciers. Sediment cores from the cove penetrated three distinct fining-upward lithofacies: (1) basal till in the lower part of the core, accumulated just seaward of the grounding line of the tidewater glacier; (2) interlaminated sand and mud in the middle part, deposited in ice-proximal zone by a combination of episodic subglacial meltwater inflow and iceberg dumping; and (3) pebbly mud in the upper part, deposited in ice-distal zone by both surface meltwater plume and ice-rafting from the glacier front. A reconstruction of the glacial history of these areas since the late glacial maximum shows an ice sheet filling Maxwell Bay in late Wisconsin time and grounding of the tidewater glacier in Marian Cove until about 1300 yr BP.