Geology,geochemistry, and geochronology of the Miaowan ophiolite,Yangtze craton: Implications for South China's amalgamation history with the Rodinian supercontinent

We report the presence of a Grenvillian ophiolite on the northern margin of the Yangtze craton, drastically changing current ideas about South China's role in plate reconstructions of the Rodinia supercontinent. Strongly deformed amphibolites that locally show relict pillow lavas, isotropic and layered metagabbro, diabase dikes, serpentinized dunite and harzburgite with podiform chromite are dated at circa 1100–985 Ma (U–Pb zircon). The ophiolite is structurally dismembered and thrust over the Proterozoic shelf sequence that covers the north margin of the Yangtze craton, and overrode a flysch to conglomerate-wildflysch unit shed from the ophiolite and a magmatic arc terrane and deposited on the older Yangtze carbonate platform. The youngest clasts in the conglomerate are circa 861–813 Ma (U–Pb zircon), giving a maximum age for ophiolite emplacement. Fine-grained layered amphibolites exhibit slightly depleted-flat type REE curves with no obvious Eu anomalies, and are N-MORB type tholeiites. Metagabbro has typical cumulate textures, flat REE distributions and obvious positive Eu anomalies. The REE characteristics of serpentinized dunites show a U-shape of slight loss of middle REE, representing cumulates metasomatized by LREE slightly enriched mantle. All these features indicate that the metamafic–ultramafic rocks from the Proterozoic Miaowan Formation form a structurally dismembered ophiolite resting above an ophiolitic wildflysch, sitting on top of the Proterozoic shelf sequence on the Yangtze craton. The ophiolite is contemporaneous with an arc sequence preserved to the north on the edge of the Yangtze craton, suggesting that the entire ophiolitic forearc–arc was accreted to the Yangtze craton between 1000 and 850 Ma. Xenocrystic zircons in granite clasts in the basal wildflysch unit have ages consistent with Australian affinity, and detrital zircons in the arc sequence also show derivation from Australia, suggesting that the arc formed on the Australian segment of Rodinia before collision with the Yangtze craton. The discovery of the Proterozoic Miaowan ophiolite supplies important evidence for the existence of a Neoproterozoic oceanic basin on the north margin of the Yangtze craton, and demonstrates that the Yangtze craton first collided with Rodinia on its northern margin, with subsequent accretion of the Cathaysian block on the southern margin of the craton.     

班怒带西段尕尔穷铜金矿两套侵入岩源区及其地质意义——来自Hf同位素特征的指示

尕尔穷铜金矿位于班公湖—怒江缝合带西段南缘的措勤—申扎火山岩浆弧内,为与侵入岩有关的矽卡岩型-破碎带型铜金(铁)矿床。在已有石英闪长岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年的基础上,进一步对其进行锆石Hf同位素研究,同时对最新勘查成果显示具有一定成矿潜力的花岗斑岩进行LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年和Hf同位素研究,确定了两套侵入岩的形成顺序;结合前人总结的岩石地球化学特征,利用Hf同位素对其岩浆源区进行示踪。结果显示:花岗斑岩锆石206Pb/238U年龄加权平均值为(83.2±0.7)Ma,较石英闪长岩晚4 Ma左右,其初始176Hf/177Hf值为0.282 235～0.283 073,εHf(t)值为-17.2～12.5;石英闪长岩锆石初始176Hf/177Hf值为0.282 800～0.283 015,εHf(t)值为3.5～10.5。结合二者地球化学特征显示:石英闪长岩和花岗斑岩可能是同一岩浆系统不同分异阶段的产物,前者主要起源于具有幔源印记的初生地壳,而花岗斑岩具有和石英闪长岩相似的岩浆源区,但明显混入上地壳基底物质;暗示晚白垩世班怒带西段南缘内随着南羌塘—三江复合板片与冈底斯—念青唐古拉板片之间的弧-陆碰撞,先成的具有幔源印记的初生地壳重熔形成岩浆,随着碰撞的继续和岩浆的上涌分异,部分上地壳受挤压或热效应进一步重熔并参与岩浆系统中,由早至晚形成了由幔源特征向幔-壳混合源特征源区逐渐转变的花岗岩演化系列。尕尔穷铜金矿是起源于具有幔源印记的初生地壳的花岗岩的成矿专属性表现。     

Correlation between water quality and the diurnal variation of Pontederia cordata’s physiology

The purifying tank containing Pontederia cordata was used to treat heavily polluted river water. The relationship between the diurnal variation of plant physiology and water quality was investigated. The study took place from 0800 to 1800?hours and in that period the physiological parameters of the plant and the water quality were analysed. Results indicated that the activity of peroxidase and catalase, the content of soluble protein and the rate of photosynthesis and transpiration were negatively correlated to the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus in the river water, respectively. Higher sunlight intensity increased the activity of peroxidase and catalase, the content of soluble protein, rate of photosynthesis and transpiration. Sunlight also decreased the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus, the cations (Al³⁺, Fe²⁺ and Ca²⁺), the anions (Cl^?, NO₃ ^? and SO₄ ^2?) and the oxidation?Creduction potential and electrical conductivity of the river water. During the treatment from 0800 to 1800?hours, soluble protein content, photosynthesis rate of the plant and dissolved oxygen concentration of the river water showed a bimodal distribution, with peaks at 1200 and 1400?hours and a decrease at 1300?hours due to decrease in photosynthesis at midday. Peroxidase and catalase activity, soluble protein content, photosynthesis and transpiration rate were highest between 1000 and 1400?hours, while nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of the polluted water decreased significantly during this time. The correlation between plant physiology and water quality provided valuable data on the role of this plant in the ecological restoration of polluted water.     

Impacts of surface runoff and sediment on nitrogen and phosphorus loss in red soil region of southern China

Surface runoff plays an important role in the process of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss. It has two common evaluation indicators, runoff and sediment, which are greatly affected by the contributing factors. To study the impacts of surface runoff and sediment on N and P loss, 36 simulated rainfalls were applied on fields with different conditions (three rainfall intensities, three coverage ratios, and two slopes) at laboratory scale with two replicates. It was found that: (1) loss modulus of both the total nitrogen and total phosphorus decreased with runoff occurrence time; (2) runoff modulus had a closer relationship with undissolved N and P than dissolved N and P; (3) N loss was more affected by runoff than P loss; (4) both N and P loss modulus followed the consistent changes with the sediment content. At last, suggestions were provided to reduce the harm of N and P loss in red soil region of southern China in different areas with different conditions.     

Effects of lossy compression on remote sensing image classification of forest areas

Lossy compression is being increasingly used in remote sensing; however, its effects on classification have scarcely been studied. This paper studies the implications of JPEG (JPG) and JPEG 2000 (J2K) lossy compression for image classification of forests in Mediterranean areas. Results explore the impact of the compression on the images themselves as well as on the obtained classification. The results indicate that classifications made with previously compressed radiometrically corrected images and topoclimatic variables are not negatively affected by compression, even at quite high compression ratios. Indeed, JPG compression can be applied to images at a compression ratio (CR, ratio between the size of the original file and the size of the compressed file) of 10:1 or even 20:1 (for both JPG and J2K). Nevertheless, the fragmentation of the study area must be taken into account: in less fragmented zones, high CR are possible for both JPG and J2K, but in fragmented zones, JPG is not advisable, and when J2K is used, only a medium CR is recommended (3.33:1 to 5:1). Taking into account that J2K produces fewer artefacts at higher CR, the study not only contributes with optimum CR recommendations, but also found that the J2K compression standard (ISO 15444-1) is better than the JPG (ISO 10918-1) when applied to image classification. Although J2K is computationally more expensive, this is no longer a critical issue with current computer technology.     

How predictable is the northern hemisphere summer upper-tropospheric circulation?

The retrospective forecast skill of three coupled climate models (NCEP CFS, GFDL CM2.1, and CAWCR POAMA 1.5) and their multi-model ensemble (MME) is evaluated, focusing on the Northern Hemisphere (NH) summer upper-tropospheric circulation along with surface temperature and precipitation for the 25-year period of 1981–2005. The seasonal prediction skill for the NH 200-hPa geopotential height basically comes from the coupled models’ ability in predicting the first two empirical orthogonal function (EOF) modes of interannual variability, because the models cannot replicate the residual higher modes. The first two leading EOF modes of the summer 200-hPa circulation account for about 84% (35.4%) of the total variability over the NH tropics (extratropics) and offer a hint of realizable potential predictability. The MME is able to predict both spatial and temporal characteristics of the first EOF mode (EOF1) even at a 5-month lead (January initial condition) with a pattern correlation coefficient (PCC) skill of 0.96 and a temporal correlation coefficient (TCC) skill of 0.62. This long-lead predictability of the EOF1 comes mainly from the prolonged impacts of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) as the EOF1 tends to occur during the summer after the mature phase of ENSO. The second EOF mode (EOF2), on the other hand, is related to the developing ENSO and also the interdecadal variability of the sea surface temperature over the North Pacific and North Atlantic Ocean. The MME also captures the EOF2 at a 5-month lead with a PCC skill of 0.87 and a TCC skill of 0.67, but these skills are mainly obtained from the zonally symmetric component of the EOF2, not the prominent wavelike structure, the so-called circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) pattern. In both observation and the 1-month lead MME prediction, the first two leading modes are accompanied by significant rainfall and surface air temperature anomalies in the continental regions of the NH extratropics. The MME’s success in predicting the EOF1 (EOF2) is likely to lead to a better prediction of JJA precipitation anomalies over East Asia and the North Pacific (central and southern Europe and western North America).     

北京一次冬季回流暴雪天气过程的数值分析

回流天气是华北地区冬、春、秋季节产生降雨（雪）的主要天气类型,预报员常常因对回流天气系统结构特征认识不足和诊断失误而导致预报的失败,是降雨（雪）预报的难点和重点。利用北京地区高分辨率快速循环同化中尺度数值预报系统（BJ-RUC）对2010年1月2—3日一次典型的回流暴雪天气过程进行模拟,分析数值模式的模拟能力,研究各层主要影响系统结构特征及形成暴雪的关键性条件,探讨典型回流暴雪天气过程的形成机理。主要结论为：数值模式对此次暴雪过程的近地面回流冷空气、中低层低值系统及变化特征、主要降雪时段和降雪量模拟效果较好,对降雪落区的模拟存在一定偏差。低层回流偏东风遇到地形后引起垂直运动主要在低层800 hPa以下,所产生的降雪量不大,而其与上游850～700 hPa低涡系统发展东移其前部的上升运动汇合所形成的大范围、深厚、强烈的上升运动是产生明显降雪的关键性条件。上游低涡系统前部西南暖湿气流相对应的大湿度区移近是产生较强降雪的重要条件。持续的低层回流冷空气湿度较大,对于低层大气起到水汽输送的作用。回流冷空气使低层大气维持长时间的水汽输送并与其上层东移的大湿度区相结合,增加湿层厚度,有利于降雪持续而形成较强降雪。降雪开始时间和降雪强度的变化与对流层中下转偏南风的时间和偏南风风速增大有关。     

Assessment of risk of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in marine and freshwater fish in Pearl River Delta, China

Fish consumption is known to be beneficial to human health. However since the age of industrialization, the released/disposed chemical pollutants into water systems make fish a source of various environmental toxicants to humans. In oceanic cities with heavy industrial activities, fish products contribute the greatest proportion of exposure to pollutants. In this study, risks and potential effects of dioxins to health of coastal populations in the Pearl River Delta were assessed. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in common fish species purchased at local markets. Concentrations of total dioxins in fish ranged from 0.481 to 9.05 pg TEQ/g wet weight were similar to the lesser concentrations reported for fish from other countries. The greatest concentrations of dioxins were measured in mandarin fish, a carnivorous freshwater fish. Exposure of murine primary leydig and ovarian cells to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (2,3,7,8-TCDD) reduced the synthesis of progesterone, testosterone and/or estrogen. The reductions were probably via inhibitory effects on the expression of the steroidogenic enzymes, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc). Based on these reproductive parameters, the concentrations of dioxins and dioxin-like residues represent a moderate health risk due to consumption of fish.     

A whole life cycle assessment on effects of waterborne PBDEs on gene expression profile along the brain-pituitary-gonad axis and in the liver of zebrafish

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are now found ubiquitously in the aquatic environment and biota, and there is a growing concern that PBDEs may disrupt endocrine systems, leading to reproductive impairments of aquatic animals. In our study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to the 5 ng/L, 1 μg/L and 50 μg/L of DE-71 for the duration of the whole life cycle (120 days, from eggs to adults). The expression of selected genes along the brain-pituitary-gonadal (BPG) axis and liver, and the levels of plasma sex hormones were examined. In male fish, up-regulation of GnRH in brain, FSHβ and LHβ in pituitary, FSH-receptor, LH-receptor, and CYP19a in testis was clearly evident, while down-regulation of CYP11a and 3β-HSD was found in testis. In female fish, a 2.4-fold up-regulation of 3β-HSD was found in ovary upon exposure to 50 μg/L of DE-71. GnRH in brain, FSHβ and LHβ in pituitary were also up-regulated, while ERβ, TH and TPH in brain and GnRH-receptor in pituitary were significantly down-regulated. Hepatic ERα, AR and VTG in males were all down-regulated, while hepatic ERα and AR in female were up-regulated. Serum estradiol (E2) was reduced in both male and female upon exposure to DE-71, while significant increases in serum testosterone (T) and 11-keto-testosterone (11-KT) were only found in male but not female fish. The ratio of T/E2 as well as the ratio of 11-KT/E2 in male fish increased in a dose-dependent manner upon exposure to DE-71. Our overall results showed that whole life exposure of DE-71 altered the expression of regulatory genes and receptors at all three levels of the BPG axis in zebrafish, and the responses are sex dependent. The observed disruption of GnRH and GtHs can be further related to the subsequent disruption in both levels and balance sex steroid hormones.