RIPGIS-NET: a GIS tool for riparian groundwater evapotranspiration in MODFLOW

RIPGIS-NET, an Environmental System Research Institute (ESRI's) ArcGIS 9.2/9.3 custom application, was developed to derive parameters and visualize results of spatially explicit riparian groundwater evapotranspiration (ETg), evapotranspiration from saturated zone, in groundwater flow models for ecohydrology, riparian ecosystem management, and stream restoration. Specifically RIPGIS-NET works with riparian evapotranspiration (RIP-ET), a modeling package that works with the MODFLOW groundwater flow model. RIP-ET improves ETg simulations by using a set of eco-physiologically based ETg curves for plant functional subgroups (PFSGs), and separates ground evaporation and plant transpiration processes from the water table. The RIPGIS-NET program was developed in Visual Basic 2005, .NET framework 2.0, and runs in ArcMap 9.2 and 9.3 applications. RIPGIS-NET, a pre- and post-processor for RIP-ET, incorporates spatial variability of riparian vegetation and land surface elevation into ETg estimation in MODFLOW groundwater models. RIPGIS-NET derives RIP-ET input parameters including PFSG evapotranspiration curve parameters, fractional coverage areas of each PFSG in a MODFLOW cell, and average surface elevation per riparian vegetation polygon using a digital elevation model. RIPGIS-NET also provides visualization tools for modelers to create head maps, depth to water table (DTWT) maps, and plot DTWT for a PFSG in a polygon in the Geographic Information System based on MODFLOW simulation results.     

Long term monitoring of photosystem II herbicides--correlation with remotely sensed freshwater extent to monitor changes in the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Photosystem II (PSII) herbicides are used in large quantities on agricultural lands adjoining the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Routine monitoring at 14 sites in inshore waters of the GBR using passive sampling techniques detected diuron (32-94% of sampling periods) at maximum concentrations of 1.7-430ng L(-1) in the relatively pristine Cape York Region to the Mackay Whitsunday Region, respectively. A PSII herbicide equivalent (PSII-HEq) index developed as an indicator for reporting was dominated by diuron (average contribution 89%) and typically increased during the wet season. The maximum PSII-HEq indicates the potential for photosynthetic inhibition of diatoms, seagrass and coral-symbionts. PSII herbicides were significantly positively correlated with remotely sensed coloured dissolved organic matter, a proxy for freshwater extent. Combining these methods provides for the first time the potential to cost-effectively monitor improvements in water quality entering the GBR with respect to exposure to PSII herbicides.     

珠江三角洲南部晚第四纪环境变化的稀土元素记录

珠江三角洲南部平原PRD05孔稀土元素（REE）的分布特征与晚第四纪沉积环境变化密切相关。随着不同时期沉积环境的波动,稀土元素分布也发生相应的变化。约31000 cal a BP 以前,研究区发育河流环境,受矿物组成和沉积物粒度的影响,REE含量偏低,且重稀土元素（HREE）相对富集。31000-16600 cal a BP 期间,REE含量明显高于前一阶段,并显示轻稀土元素（LREE）富集;稀土元素分布模式表现为河口半咸水环境特征;其上部沉积物经历了末次冰盛期的风化作用,稀土元素分布模式与下部近平行,但LREE的富集程度略高。16 600-10 300 cal a BP 为冰后期海平面上升初期,研究区发育沼泽环境,由于有机质含量高而导致稀土元素含量普遍较高。10 300-5600 cal a BP 为全新世海侵期,研究区持续发育河口湾-浅海环境,其REE含量总体较高,并显示LREE富集;随着水体深度和盐度条件发生多次波动,稀土元素分布特征也表现出小幅度变化。5600 cal a BP 以来,河流作用逐渐增强,并受到潮汐作用间歇性影响,其含量显著下降,但波动频繁。     

生态地质条件评估的方法、原理和标准

文中确定了“生态地质条件”及“生态地质条件的现状”等术语的意义 ;阐述了用于评估生态地质条件的方法、原理以及标准和指标的分类 ;论述了地球动力学和地球物理学的标准和指标     

北岭地震20年后

城市地震,如1994年的6．7级北岭地震,为我们这些人清晰了解地震危险性的工作提供了的独特时刻。记得我是1994年1月17日清晨4点31分在我帕萨迪纳的家中被震醒的。当我匆忙地赶到加州理工学院校园内美国地质调查局（USGS）我的办公室时,我记得想知道的是那天会带来什么。震中区人烟稀少呢？还是我们只能接受直接击中了已经城市化的洛杉矶？现在我们知道,虽然破坏性的震动延伸到了洛杉矶盆地,但真正受到剧烈震动的是圣费尔南多谷;5台强震加速度计记录的地震动峰值速度（PGV）超过了1m／s。     

与苏门答腊特大地震有关的地壳内地震波速时间变化

特大地震的同震及震后滑动能引起地壳介质的时间变化,这是因为强地面震动破坏了近地表的沉积层,或者应力扰动改变了裂隙密度和/或深部流体的移动。这种随时间变化的地壳属性可引起地震波速度出现部分变化,并可根据互相关波形和测量重复地震序列内它们的时间滞后探测到。本文根据2004年苏门答腊—安达曼特大地震和2005年尼亚斯—锡默卢特大地震的重复余震序列,分析了高频（0.5~2.0Hz）P尾波和S尾波以及长周期（0.03~0.1Hz）面波的滞后时间。观测到的滞后时间揭示出几个主要特征：（1）2004年地震序列的S尾波滞后时间系列!（t）基本上在0值附近波动,有时随消逝时间而变为负值,而2005年地震序列的S尾波的!（t）则表现为随消逝时间而单调增长;（2）S尾波的平均速度降低（-δV S）是P尾波平均速度降低（-δV P）的2倍,瑞利波的平均速度降低（-δV LR）比勒夫波的平均速度降低（-δV LQ）大3~4倍;（3）δV S和δV LR显示了速度随时间的恢复,特别是2005年地震的序列。2005年地震序列δV S速度随时间恢复的形状与附近大地测量台站得到的位移时间系列类似。尽管我们讨论了可能的人为结果,如震源间距、噪声场的时间变化和仪器响应,但观测结果均表明地壳内的非均匀波速时间降低是由2004年和2005年的特大地震的同震和/或震后滑动引起的。     

Simple general atmospheric circulation and climate models with memory

This article examines some general atmospheric circulation and climate models in the context of the notion of “memory”. Two kinds of memories are defined： statistical memory and deterministic memory. The former is defined through the autocorrelation characteristic of the process if it is random （chaotic）, while for the latter, a special memory function is introduced. Three of the numerous existing models are selected as examples. For each of the models, asymptotic （at t →∞） expressions are derived. In this way, the transients are filtered out and that which remains concerns the final behaviour of the models.     

Setting priorities for land management to mitigate climate change

Background

No consensus has been reached how to measure the effectiveness of climate change mitigation in the land-use sector and how to prioritize land use accordingly. We used the long-term cumulative and average sectorial C stocks in biomass, soil and products, C stock changes, the substitution of fossil energy and of energy-intensive products, and net present value (NPV) as evaluation criteria for the effectiveness of a hectare of productive land to mitigate climate change and produce economic returns. We evaluated land management options using real-life data of Thuringia, a region representative for central-western European conditions, and input from life cycle assessment, with a carbon-tracking model. We focused on solid biomass use for energy production.

Results

In forestry, the traditional timber production was most economically viable and most climate-friendly due to an assumed recycling rate of 80% of wood products for bioenergy. Intensification towards "pure bioenergy production" would reduce the average sectorial C stocks and the C substitution and would turn NPV negative. In the forest conservation (non-use) option, the sectorial C stocks increased by 52% against timber production, which was not compensated by foregone wood products and C substitution. Among the cropland options wheat for food with straw use for energy, whole cereals for energy, and short rotation coppice for bioenergy the latter was most climate-friendly. However, specific subsidies or incentives for perennials would be needed to favour this option.

Conclusions

When using the harvested products as materials prior to energy use there is no climate argument to support intensification by switching from sawn-wood timber production towards energy-wood in forestry systems. A legal framework would be needed to ensure that harvested products are first used for raw materials prior to energy use. Only an effective recycling of biomaterials frees land for long-term sustained C sequestration by conservation. Reuse cascades avoid additional emissions from shifting production or intensification.     

Water demand management in Yemen and Jordan: addressing power and interests

This paper investigates the extent to which entrenched interests of stakeholder groups both maintain water use practice, and may be confronted. The focus is on the agricultural sectors of Yemen and Jordan, where water resource policymakers face resistance in their attempts to reduce water use to environmentally sustainable levels through implementation of water demand management (WDM) activities. Some farmers in both countries that have invested in irrigated production of high-value crops (such as qat and bananas) benefit from a political economy that encourages increased rather than reduced water consumption. The resultant over-exploitation of water resources affects groups in unequal measures. Stakeholder analysis demonstrates that the more ‘powerful’ groups (chiefly the large landowners and the political elites, as well as the ministries of irrigation over which they exert influence) are generally opposed to reform in water use, while the proponents of WDM (e.g. water resource managers, environmental ministries and NGOs, and the international donor community) are found to have minimal influence over water use policy and decisionmaking. Efforts and ideas attempted by this latter group to challenge the status quo are classified here as either (a) influencing or (b) challenging the power asymmetry, and the merits and limits of both approaches are discussed. The interpretation of evidence suggests current practice is likely to endure, but may be more effectively challenged if a long-term approach is taken with an awareness of opportunities generated by windows of opportunity and the participation of ‘overlap groups’.     

Mikrotax:Developing a Genuinely Effective Platform for Palaeontological Geoinformatics

正Planktonic microfossils have played an enormously important role in modem earth science,notably including industrial hydrocarbon exploration and academic Deep Sea Drilling,providing essential data for age models and rich suites of palaeoceanographic data.Conversely this broad application has resulted in the development of detailed knowledge of planktonic microfossils and in stimulating study of them.Over 50 years of