Jason Microwave Radiometer Performance and On-Orbit Calibration

Results are presented from the on-orbit calibration of the Jason Microwave Radiometer (JMR). The JMR brightness temperatures (TBs) are calibrated at the hottest and coldest ends of the instrument's dynamic range, using Amazon rain forest and vicarious cold on-Earth theoretical brightness temperature references. The retrieved path delay values are validated using collocated TOPEX Microwave Radiometer and Radiosonde Observation path delay (PD) values. Offsets of 1–4 K in the JMR TBs and 8–12 mm in the JMR PDs, relative to TMR measurements, were initially observed. There were also initial TB offsets of 2 K between the satellite's yaw state. The calibration was adjusted by tuning coefficients in the antenna temperature calibration algorithm and the antenna pattern correction algorithm. The calibrated path delay values are demonstrated to have no significant bias or scale errors with consistent performance in all nonprecipitating weather conditions. The uncertainty of the individual path delay measurements is estimated to be 0.74 cm ± 0.15, which exceeds the mission goal of 1.2 cm RMS.     

Ipswichian (Eemian) floodplain deposits and terrace stratigraphy in the lower Great Ouse and Cam valleys,southern England,UK

Gao, C. & Boreham, S. 2010: Ipswichian (Eemian) floodplain deposits and terrace stratigraphy in the lower Great Ouse and Cam valleys, southern England, UK. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2010.00191.x. ISSN 0300‐9483. Thick argillaceous deposits named the Mannings Farm Beds recently uncovered in the third terrace at Mannings Farm near Willingham, Cambridgeshire contain a pollen sequence covering the transitions from Ipswichian/Eemian substages I to II and II to III, when oak and hornbeam expanded, respectively. This is the longest record hitherto obtained in Britain, providing important insight into the major forest successions in this temperate stage. The frequent occurrence of Ipswichian deposits in the third terrace suggests the development of an extensive floodplain on the valley bottom, similar to the case for the present‐day lower Great Ouse and Cam. The Mannings Farm Beds testify to a complete interglacial sequence emplaced between cold‐climate gravels that was directly associated with the terrace development. The third terrace developed during the Ipswichian and the preceding and succeeding cold stages. Major river downcutting, which shaped the third terrace, occurred during the Early Devensian/Weichselian. Previously reported interglacial fossils from this terrace that are inconsistent with an Ipswichian affinity are probably reworked material derived from pre‐Ipswichian interglacial deposits, or their significance as biostratigraphical indicators needs to be confirmed. The second and first terraces developed from the late Early Devensian onwards. Ipswichian deposits filling flood‐scoured deep channels in bedrock are preserved locally below these low terraces.     

The Silurian geology of Gotland, Sweden

Gotland is an island in the central Baltic, long recognized as the most outstanding outcrop of Silurian shallow-water marine sediments in the world. These represent deposition in tropical environments in an epeiric sea on the small continent of Baltica. The sediments are interbedded limestones and shales with subordinate sandstones and are developed as a carbonate platform on the underlying Precambrian, Cambrian and Ordovician. Particularly spectacular are reef deposits, rich in stromatoporoid sponges, which occur throughout the Gotland sequence. The sequence is almost undisturbed and provides an excellent field laboratoy to study a variety of Silurian facies.     

基于物理过程分布式流域水文模型尺度依赖性

通过变化基于物理过程分布式参数流域水文模型的单元格大小(Grid size)和时间步长(Timestep)研究流域水文过程的尺度依赖性,进而寻求最佳模拟尺度和模拟效果,可以为实现相对准确的流域土地利用变化/植被变化以及气候变异的水文响应预测,制定适应性流域管理措施提供科学基础.本文以基于物理过程的分布式水文模型MIKES眦为工具,以位于西北黄土高原甘肃省天水市吕二沟流域的实测次降水一径流为输入对模型进行校正后,采用多尺度检验的方法探讨分析了单元格及步长变化的水文影响.结果表明:单元格变化对峰值及模拟径流总量有影响.单元格从10m增大到200m,模拟峰值及径流总量均增大,分别变化为1.72～8.56m3/s和1.10～3.68×105m3,这主要源于单元格变化引起流域特征变化,10m和200m单元格对应模拟面积分别较原流域面积变化-0.09%和20.57%,河流链接"rivet link"分别较原沟系长变化27.23%和5.48%.此外,模型中运动波近似方程有限差分像元△x与单元格水流交换总量之间的关系一定程度也解释了单元格变化对模拟结果的影响.分析认为本研究60～100m为较适宜采用的模拟单元格.步长变化引起单位步长内降水强度的变化,从而影响峰值模拟,但对径流总量无影响.步长减小,模拟峰值增高,0.5h步长和24h步长对应模拟峰值分别为2.38m3/s和1.72m3/s.由于各时段观测记录分辨率不一,研究中步长的选择确定具有很大任意性,使得任一既定采用的模拟步长并不适用于另一观测时段,模拟效果不一.     

Evolution of the Earth's atmosphere and its geological impact

Current problems with the ozone layer and rising carbon dioxide levels have highlighted the importance of the atmosphere, with its delicate balance of gases. In fact, the atmosphere has been changing since the Earth formed. From anoxic beginnings to its current oxygenated state, it has influenced depositional processes on the Earth's surface and helped the development of active, oxygen-breathing life forms that culminated in ourselves. Evidence for changes in the atmosphere is found in the sediments accumulated on the Earth's surface, where fossils are also preserved. In this article the major geological aspects of the atmosphere's evolution are considered; in particular, the role of oxygen is aired.