Case Study of Fog Predictability for an Event with Cold-Front Synoptic Pattern

Fog has recently become a frequent high-impact weather phenomenon along the coastal regions of North China. Accurate fog forecasting remains challenging due to limited understanding of the predictability and mechanism of fog formation associated with synoptic-scale circulation. One frequent synoptic pattern of fog formation in this area is associated with cold front passage(cold-front synoptic pattern, CFSP). This paper explored the predictability of a typical CFSP fog event from the perspective of analyzing key characteristics of synoptic-scale circulation determining fog forecasting performance and the possible mechanism. The event was ensemble forecasted with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. Two groups of ensemble members with good and bad forecasting performance were selected and composited. Results showed that the predictability of this case was largely determined by the simulated strengths of the cold-front circulation(i.e., trough and ridge and the associated surface high). The bad-performing members tended to have a weaker ridge behind a stronger trough, and associated higher pressure over land and a weaker surface high over the sea, leading to an adverse impact on strength and direction of steering flows that inhibit warm moist advection and enhance cold dry advection transported to the focus region. Associated with this cold dry advection, adverse synoptic conditions of stratification and moisture for fog formation were produced, consequently causing failure of fog forecasting in the focus region. This study highlights the importance of accurate synoptic-scale information for improved CFSP fog forecasting, and enhances understanding of fog predictability from perspective of synoptic-scale circulation.     

Stable Carbon Isotope and Long-Chain Alkane Compositions of the Major Plants and Sediment Organic Matter in the Yellow River Estuarine Wetlands

Elemental(TOC,TN,C/N)and stable carbon isotopic(δ^13C)compositions and long-chain alkane(n C16-38)concentrations were measured for eight major plants and a sediment core collected from the Yellow River estuarine wetlands.Our results indicate that both C3(-25.4‰to-29.6‰)and C4(-14.2‰to-15.0‰)plants are growing in the wetlands and C3 plants are the predominant species.The biomass of the wetland plants had similar organic carbon(35.5-45.8%)but very different organic nitrogen(0.35-4.15%)contents.Both C3 and C4 plants all contained long-chain alkanes with strong odd-to-even carbon numbered chain predominance.Phragmites australis,a dominant C3 plant contained mainly n C29 and n C31 homologues.Aeluropus littoralis,an abundant C4 plant were concentrated with n C27 and n C29 homologues.Organic matter preserved in the Yellow River estuarine sediments showed strong terrestrial signals(C/N=11-16,δ^13C=-22.0‰to-24.3‰).The distribution of long-chain n-alkanes in sediments also showed strong odd-to-even carbon chain predominance with n C29 and n C31 being the most abundant homologues.These results suggest that organic matter preserved in the Yellow River estuarine sediments were influenced by the wetland-derived organic matter,mainly C3 plants.The Yellow River estuarine wetland plants could play important role affecting both the carbon and nutrient cycling in the estuary and adjacent coastal waters.     

Supplementation of Yeast Extract to Practical Diet Improves the Growth,Anti-Oxidative Capacity and Intestinal Morphology of Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Two control diets based on the commercial formula were designed to contain high(27%, D1) and low(22%, D2) levels of fish meal, respectively. Into D2, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg~(-1) of yeast extract were added, respectively, yielding three experimental diets(YE1 through YE3). Shrimp(initial body weight 0.30 g ± 0.02 g) were fed with the experimental diets, five tanks each diet and 30 shrimp individuals each tank, for 8 weeks, and then challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The results showed that the specific growth rate(SGR) of shrimp in D2 was significantly lower than that of shrimp in D1(P 0.05). The SGR of shrimp in YE3 was similar to that of shrimp in D1. The feed intake of shrimp was similar between D1 and D2. The feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of shrimp were similar among all diets(P 0.05). YE significantly improved the activity of glutathione S-transferase. The concentration of glutathione(GSH) and the total serum anti-oxidative capacity(T-AOC) of D1 were significantly higher than those of shrimp feeding other diets(P 0.05). The content of serum malondialdehyde of shrimp feeding YE2 and YE3 was significantly lower than that of shrimp feeding D2(P 0.05). The thickness of intestine muscular layer of shrimp feeding YE1 and YE2 was similar to that of shrimp feeding D1. The shrimp feeding YE1 showed the highest villus height of intestine among all groups. The cumulative mortality after challenging was similar among all groups(70.00%–86.67%)(P 0.05). In conclusion, 1000–1500 mg kg~(-1) of YE was suggested to be supplemented into the practical diets to improve the growth, anti-oxidative capacity and intestinal morphology of shrimp L. vannamei.     

Static Optimization of a Compliant Vertical Access Riser

The compliant vertical access riser(CVAR) is a new riser concept with good compliance; it can significantly reduce operating costs by eliminating the need for additional machines to operate wells directly on the platform. In this study, we determined the optimal riser parameters in terms of the stress and riser weight by optimizing the CVAR, and we compared the optimization results. A two-dimensional nonlinear static CVAR model was deduced according to the principles of virtual work and variation, and the model was verified using MATLAB. Design of experiments and Kriging method were used to reduce the number of sample calculations and improve the modeling accuracy. An appropriate selection of the multi-objective optimization problem(MOP) and the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm helped to optimize the CVAR design. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II was used to solve the Pareto frontier of the optimization model in order to provide decision makers with more choices for the optimization results. After optimizing the riser parameters, the geometry of the riser was smoother, and the stress and stress differences were greatly reduced; the maximum equivalent stresses at the top and bottom were reduced by 36.6% and 44%, respectively. In addition, the stress difference in the buoyancy block area was reduced by 20.9%, and the weight of the riser was increased significantly by 28.1%.     

Modelling the flexural buckling failure of stratified rock slopes based on the multilayer beam model

The buckling failure of stratified rock slopes intersected by a set of steep discontinuities that are approximately parallel to the slope surface is frequently encountered while constructing railways and roadways in mountainous areas. In this study, an analytical approach based on the energy equilibrium principle is presented to solve the flexural buckling stability of stratified rock slopes within the framework of multilayer beam theory. The generalized HoekBrown failure criterion is introduced to reflect the influences of slope size(scale effects) on the buckling stability. Subsequently, numerical and physical modellings from previous literatures are employed to validate the proposed approach. Furthermore, a practical case of Bawang Mountain landslide is also used for the comparative analysis. The study shows that the present analytical approach is capable to provide a more reasonable assessment for the buckling failure of stratified rock slopes, compared with several existing analytical approaches. Finally, a detailed parametric study is implemented, and the results indicate that the effects of rock strength, rock deformation modulus, geological strength index, layer thickness and disturbance degree of rock mass on the buckling failure of stratified rock slopes are more significant than that of rock type and slope angle.     

Isotopic evidence for the moisture origin and influencing factors at Urumqi Glacier No.1 in upstream Urumqi River Basin,eastern Tianshan Mountains

The stable isotope has been extensively applied as an effective tracer especially in precipitation. In glacierized area of arid northwest China, temperature is widely considered to be a major factor affecting isotopes in precipitation, while the influences of precipitation amount, relative humidity and other meteorological parameters are still not clear. Based on analyses on stable isotope values of water samples and NCEP/NCAR(National Centers of Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research, USA) re-analysis data, the moisture source and characteristics of isotopes in the precipitation, meltwater and river water isotopes at Urumqi Glacier No.1 of the upstream Urumqi River Basin, eastern Tianshan Mountains from spring to autumn during four years(from 2008 to 2011) was studied. Results indicated that meltwater are the main source of water for the upper Urumqi River. Seasonal variation of δ~(18) O in precipitation demonstrated that δ18 O was more enriched in summer and depleted in spring and autumn. Temperature was positively correlated with isotopes, while precipitation amount and relative humidity was negatively correlated with isotopes. The water vapor was affected by westerly air mass and regional water vapor cycle. Meanwhile, back trajectory clustering analyses showed that the moisture mainly from Europe and central Asia. The moisture was more likely to be locally sourced with the ratio was 46.8%～52.1%.     

鄂尔多斯盆地前寒武纪末期古地貌恢复及其对烃源岩的控制作用

鄂尔多斯盆地前寒武纪末期古地貌控制着后期沉积体系的空间配置与古地理展布。通过野外剖面、岩芯分析、测井数据等建立鄂尔多斯盆地寒武系层序地层格架;选取寒武纪SS1最大海泛面(徐庄组沉积晚期地层)为标志层,通过残余厚度印模法,并结合古地质图分析,对研究区前寒武纪进行古地貌恢复,明确了前寒武纪沉积背景、构造格局及物源方向。总体上,前寒武纪鄂尔多斯盆地南、北濒临秦祁海和兴蒙海,东、西被贺兰和晋豫陕坳拉槽所夹持,古地貌东北高、西南低,受秦祁海影响最大,可将其划分为3个古构造地貌单元:高地剥蚀区、受古构造控制形成的坳陷区以及处于剥蚀与沉积过渡地带的斜坡阶地区。通过研究前寒武纪末期古地貌与寒武纪早期烃源岩分布认为,拉张活动背景下的坳陷带以及斜坡带是鄂尔多斯盆地寒武纪早期烃源岩发育的有利区块,前寒武纪古地貌格局影响了寒武纪早期烃源岩发育与分布。恢复古地貌形态对于揭示物源供给,研究沉积物搬运、平面和纵向展布特征,探究沉积、沉降中心的迁移规律,以及进一步揭示生储盖组合和分布具有重大意义。     

基于共轭梯度搜索的病态问题处理方法

在最小二乘平差准则基础上,把病态平差问题转化为无约束的二次规划问题,并利用优化理论分析病态对平差解的影响。通过共轭梯度搜索算法在可行域中寻找最优步长因子,自动寻找最速下降方向,并给出迭代初值的设置方法。分析近似计算中病态问题与局部最优解的关系,讨论局部最优解的快速迭代方法,并通过实例验证算法的有效性,计算迭代的速度。由于整个过程没有对法方程系数矩阵进行求逆计算,该算法可用于处理大规模系数矩阵高病态的平差问题。     

茅山竹矿断层气定点观测场地勘选

拟在茅山断裂带沿线布设若干个断层气连续观测点,建组断层气观测网。以茅山竹矿地区为例,通过断层气测量的初步结果,结合地质、人工地震、跨断层短水准等多种手段联合分析研究区断层的活动性,从而确定断层气定点观测的点位,为组建断层气观测网的选点提供借鉴和参考。     

土地利用和气候变化对海河流域蒸散发时空变化的影响

蒸散发（ET）是水文能量循环和气候系统的关键环节,研究ET的时空变化特征及其响应土地利用和气候变化的驱动机制对于理清流域水资源和气候变化的关系具有重要的意义。本文基于MOD16/ET数据集定量分析了海河流域2000-2014年ET的时空变化特征,并结合时序气温降水数据和土地利用数据,采用相关分析方法定量探索了ET与气候因子的驱动力关系。结果表明：① 海河流域2000-2014年ET表现为较为显著的空间分布格局,呈现出北部和南部高、西北部和中东部低的分布特性。不同土地利用类型的多年ET呈林地>草地>耕地>其他类型的特征;② 2000-2014年海河流域年均ET波动范围为371.96~441.29 mm/a,多年ET的均值为398.69 mm/a,平均相对变化率为-0.41%,整体呈下降趋势;③ 多年月ET与气温和降水均呈单峰型周期性变化趋势,年内月ET呈单峰变化趋势;④ 春秋两季的ET与降水和气温的相关性明显高于其他季节,ET与气温和降水的平均相关系数是-0.17和0.37,表明降水对于ET的响应程度强于气温;⑤ 驱动分区结果表明海河流域ET受气候因子驱动的主要类型是降水驱动型和降水、气温共同驱动型;⑥ 海河流域耕地ET变化气候因子驱动模式主要是降水、气温共同驱动型;林地、草地的驱动模式主要气温驱动型和降水驱动型,其他土地利用类型的驱动模式主要是受其他因素驱动。该研究将对海河流域水资源开发管理和区域气候调节起到科学指导作用。