Accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Neocalanus copepods in Port Valdez, Alaska

Sampling zooplankton is a useful strategy for observing trace hydrocarbon concentrations in water because samples represent an integrated average over a considerable effective sampling volume and are more representative of the sampled environment than discretely collected water samples. We demonstrate this method in Port Valdez, Alaska, an approximately 100 km(2) basin that receives about 0.5-2.4 kg of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) per day. Total PAH (TPAH) concentrations (0.61-1.31 microg/g dry weight), composition, and spatial distributions in a lipid-rich copepod, Neocalanus were consistent with the discharge as the source of contamination. Although Neocalanus acquire PAH from water or suspended particulate matter, total PAH concentrations in these compartments were at or below method detection limits, demonstrating plankton can amplify trace concentrations to detectable levels useful for study.     

Optimal tuning of a GCM using modern and glacial constraints

In climate models, many parameters used to resolve subgrid scale processes can be adjusted through a tuning exercise to fit the model??s output to target climatologies. We present an objective tuning of a low resolution Atmosphere?COcean General Circulation Model (GCM) called FAMOUS where ten model parameters are varied together using a Latin hypercube sampling method to create an ensemble of 100 models. The target of the tuning consists of a wide range of modern climate diagnostics and also includes glacial tropical sea surface temperature. The ensemble of models created is compared to the target using an Arcsin Mielke score. We investigate how the tuning method used and the addition of glacial constraints impact on the present day and glacial climates of the chosen models. Rather than selecting a single configuration which optimises the metric in all the diagnostics, we obtain a subset of nine ??good?? models which display great differences in their climate but which, in some sense, are all better than the original configuration. In those simulations, the global temperature response to last glacial maximum forcings is enhanced compared to the control simulation and the glacial Atlantic Ocean circulation is more in agreement with observations. Our study demonstrates that selecting a single ??optimal?? configuration, relying only on present day constraints may lead to misrepresenting climates different to that of today.     

大贵州滩下三叠统岩石和化学地层对比

南盘江盆地中的大贵州滩为一个自晚二叠世末期开始发育,至晚三叠世初期停止生长的孤立型碳酸盐岩台地。早期的研究工作主要集中于台地内部、北部斜坡和盆地边缘,并认为大贵州滩下三叠统地层格架的几何形态近于对称。本次研究以下三叠统岩石地层对比为基础,借助早三叠世期间δ13C波动频繁且幅度较大的特点进行化学地层对比后发现：台地南缘二...     

The performance of single- and multi-proxy transfer functions (testate amoebae,bryophytes, vascular plants) for reconstructing mire surface wetness and pH

Peatlands are widely exploited archives of paleoenvironmental change. We developed and compared multiple transfer functions to infer peatland depth to the water table (DWT) and pH based on testate amoeba (percentages, or presence/absence), bryophyte presence/absence, and vascular plant presence/absence data from sub-alpine peatlands in the SE Swiss Alps in order to 1) compare the performance of single-proxy vs. multi-proxy models and 2) assess the performance of presence/absence models. Bootstrapping cross-validation showing the best performing single-proxy transfer functions for both DWT and pH were those based on bryophytes. The best performing transfer functions overall for DWT were those based on combined testate amoebae percentages, bryophytes and vascular plants; and, for pH, those based on testate amoebae and bryophytes. The comparison of DWT and pH inferred from testate amoeba percentages and presence/absence data showed similar general patterns but differences in the magnitude and timing of some shifts. These results show new directions for paleoenvironmental research, 1) suggesting that it is possible to build good-performing transfer functions using presence/absence data, although with some loss of accuracy, and 2) supporting the idea that multi-proxy inference models may improve paleoecological reconstruction. The performance of multi-proxy and single-proxy transfer functions should be further compared in paleoecological data.     

Temporal constraints on the timing of high-grade metamorphism in the northern Gawler Craton: implications for assembly of the Australian Proterozoic

LA-ICPMS U–Pb data from metamorphic monazite in upper amphibolite and granulite-grade metasedimentary rocks indicate that the Nawa Domain of the northern Gawler Craton in southern Australia underwent multiple high-grade metamorphic events in the Late Paleoproterozoic and Early Mesoproterozoic. Five of the six samples investigated here record metamorphic monazite growth during the period 1730–1690 Ma, coincident with the Kimban Orogeny, which shaped the crustal architecture of the southeastern Gawler Craton. Combined with existing detrital zircon U–Pb data, the metamorphic monazite ages constrain deposition of the northern Gawler metasedimentary protoliths to the interval ca 1750–1720 Ma. The new age data highlight the craton-wide nature of the 1730–1690 Ma Kimban Orogeny in the Gawler Craton. In the Mabel Creek Ridge region of the Nawa Domain, rocks metamorphosed during the Kimban Orogeny were reworked during the Kararan Orogeny (1570–1555 Ma). The obtained Kararan Orogeny monazite ages are within uncertainty of ca 1590–1575 Ma zircon U–Pb metamorphic ages from the Mt Woods Domain in the central-eastern Gawler Craton, which indicate that high-grade metamorphism and associated deformation were coeval with the craton-scale Hiltaba magmatic event. The timing of this deformation, and the implied compressional vector, is similar to the latter stages of the Olarian Orogeny in the adjacent Curnamona Province and appears to be part of a westward migration in the timing of deformation and metamorphism in the southern Australian Proterozoic over the interval 1600–1545 Ma. This pattern of westward-shifting tectonism is defined by the Olarian Orogeny (1600–1585 Ma, Curnamona Province), Mt Woods deformation (1590–1575 Ma), Mabel Creek Ridge deformation (1570–1555 Ma, Kararan Orogeny) and Fowler Domain deformation (1555–1545 Ma, Kararan Orogeny). This westward migration of deformation suggests the existence of a large evolving tectonic system that encompassed the emplacement of the voluminous Hiltaba Suite and associated volcanic and mineral systems.     

Multifrequency study of the Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant (SNR) B0513−692 and new SNR candidate J051327−6911

We present a new multiwavelength study of supernova remnant (SNR) B0513−692 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The remnant also has a strong, superposed, essentially unresolved, but unrelated radio source at its north-western edge, J051324−691049. This is identified as a likely compact H  ii region based on related optical imaging and spectroscopy. We use the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at 4790 and 8640 MHz  (λ≃ 6 cm and λ≃ 3.5 cm)  to determine the large-scale morphology, spectral index and polarization characteristics of B0513−692 for the first time. We detect a strongly polarized region (49 per cent) in the remnant's southern edge  (λ≃ 6 cm)  . Interestingly, we also detect a small (∼40 arcsec) moderately bright, but distinct optical, circular shell in our Hα imagery which is adjacent to the compact H  ii region and just within the borders of the north-eastern edge of B0513−692. We suggest that this is a separate new SNR candidate based on its apparently distinct character in terms of optical morphology in three imaged emission lines and indicative SNR optical spectroscopy (including enhanced optical [S  ii ] emission relative to Hα).     

Development of a unified oil droplet size distribution model with application to surface breaking waves and subsea blowout releases considering dispersant effects

An oil droplet size model was developed for a variety of turbulent conditions based on non-dimensional analysis of disruptive and restorative forces, which is applicable to oil droplet formation under both surface breaking-wave and subsurface-blowout conditions, with or without dispersant application. This new model was calibrated and successfully validated with droplet size data obtained from controlled laboratory studies of dispersant-treated and non-treated oil in subsea dispersant tank tests and field surveys, including the Deep Spill experimental release and the Deepwater Horizon blowout oil spill. This model is an advancement over prior models, as it explicitly addresses the effects of the dispersed phase viscosity, resulting from dispersant application and constrains the maximum stable droplet size based on Rayleigh-Taylor instability that is invoked for a release from a large aperture.     

A naturally efficient numerical technique for porous convection stability with non‐trivial boundary conditions

A highly efficient numerical technique is presented for solving eigenvalue problems which arise in complicated convection — instability studies in porous media. The differential equations are written as a system of ‘natural’ variables which are suggested by the way the boundary conditions arise. The method easily gives high resolution in boundary layers, yields all the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, deals with complex coefficients, and can handle spatially dependent coefficients in a very efficient manner. The numerical technique is motivated by the practical problem of salinization in porous sands in arid zones as is beautifully modelled by Gilman and Bear. Since the salinization study of Gilman and Bear is a prototype for the field of convective motion in unsaturated porous soils and this field is one which is increasingly occupying geotechnical attention, we believe the numerical method presented here has much potential. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A thermomechanical model of ice flow in West Antarctica

 This study uses a three-dimensional thermo-mechanical model to investigate the internal flow dynamics of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). The model allows ice thickness, flow and temperature to interact freely. Its domain is prescribed as that of the present-day grounded WAIS. Realistic present-day climatic and topographical boundary conditions are employed. The analysis of a series of experiments pays particular attention to the location and dynamics of concentrations of ice flow (ice streams). Underlying topographic troughs are crucial in determining the strength and location of these concentrations of flow. The flow pattern generated by subglacial troughs is made more distinct by the inclusion of ice flow/temperature coupling. The inclusion of sliding leads to the generation of limit cycles in the ice flow. They are concentrated around the present-day ice streams B and C of the Siple Coast and have a period of 5 to 10 ky. There appears to be competition between several preferred ice flow pathways in this area. The two end members of the flow regime are a strong ice stream C with a weakened ice stream A/B complex, and strong ice streams A and B with a dormant ice stream C. Ice streams appear to require ice discharges above a certain threshold in order to maintain frictional heat generation and fast flow. Individual ice streams can therefore interact through changes in catchment-area size: a reduction in catchment area reduces the volume of ice entering a stream and can cause stagnation as the amount of frictional heating falls. Received: 22 July 1997/Accepted: 27 July 1998