On the Study of Wave Propagation and Distribution in the Global Ocean

Based on the simulation with SWAN wave model and data of ERA-Interim from 1979 to 2016, how the waves propagate globally and why swell pools distribute in the eastern ocean were investigated in this study. The simulation results show that waves from North Pacific and North Atlantic mainly propagate southeastward or southward and swells generated in Southern Ocean spread northeastward. The waves from high latitude regions spread along the east coast and encounter in the tropical Pacific and Atlantic to form swell fronts around equator and then turn eastward. As the weak wind field with numerous swell inflows, swell pools are generally located on the eastern side of the ocean basin, where the swell index S are greater than 0.9 calculated using ERA-20 C data for the period of 1981–2010. Another remarkable feature is that swell pools move southward and split into two parts in winter, while they move northward and merge together in summer.     

Transition Periods Between Sea Ice Concentration and Sea Surface Air Temperature in the Arctic Revealed by an Abnormal Running Correlation

This study used the synthetic running correlation coefficient calculation method to calculate the running correlation coefficients between the daily sea ice concentration(SIC) and sea surface air temperature(SSAT) in the Beaufort-Chukchi-East Siberian-Laptev Sea(BCEL Sea), Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea, with an aim to understand and measure the seasonally occurring changes in the Arctic climate system. The similarities and differences among these three regions were also discussed. There are periods in spring and autumn when the changes in SIC and SSAT are not synchronized, which is a result of the seasonally occurring variation in the climate system. These periods are referred to as transition periods. Spring transition periods can be found in all three regions, and the start and end dates of these periods have advancing trends. The multiyear average duration of the spring transition periods in the BCEL Sea, Kara Sea and southern Chukchi Sea is 74 days, 57 days and 34 days, respectively. In autumn, transition periods exist in only the southern Chukchi Sea, with a multiyear average duration of only 16 days. Moreover, in the Kara Sea, positive correlation events can be found in some years, which are caused by weather time scale processes.     

Characteristics of Sulfide Removal by Hydrogenovibrio thermophilus Strain TT in Mariculture System

To biologically inhibit the production of highly toxic sulfide in the aquaculture area, one bacterium, designated as Hydrogenovibrio thermophilus strain TT, was isolated from sediment in Jiaozhou Bay, China. The strain was found to be microaerobic mixtrophic, employing both carbon dioxide and organic carbons, e.g. citrate, lactate, glucose, and peptone as carbon sources. When it oxidized the sulfide and thiosulfate, oxygen was the optimal electron acceptor, followed by nitrite and nitrate, which benefited to removal of sulfide under low-oxygen mariculture environment. In addition, the strain TT exhibited remarkable tolerance of sulfide and thiosulfate in seawater, and it was able to oxidize 18.52 mmol L~(-1) S~(2-) in 12 h or 45 mmol L~(-1) S_2O_3~(2-) in 24 h at initial pH 7.0-9.0, 30-40℃. Therefore, this strain showed a quite promising application for biological remediation of sulfide-contaminated mariculture system.     

Characterization of Turbot(Scophthalmus maximus) Skin and the Extracted Acid-Soluble Collagen

The biochemical composition of the turbot skin was investigated. The moisture level of the skin was found to be 51.4%. Based on dry matter content, there were relatively high protein(82.1%) and lipid(13.1%) concentrations in the turbot skin. Mineral element analysis revealed that the turbot skin had high Ca content(2069.0 mg kg^-1), and the concentrations of toxic heavy metals Hg and Pb were less than 0.005 mg kg^-1, which indicates that the turbot skin is a safe resource for collagen production. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that acid-soluble collagen(ASC) extracted from the turbot skin was type-I collagen. The imino acid content of the ASC was 241.6 per 1000 amino acids, which suggests a relatively high denaturation temperature. The Fourier transform infrared(FTIR) spectra of ASC reflected a highly stable structure, and the measured denaturation temperature of ASC was 29.5℃, which is higher than those from many temperate fishes. ASC was the most soluble at pH 4.0, and when the pH values were below or above 4.0, the solubility decreased rapidly. The ASC exhibited a relatively high solubility when NaCl concentration was lower than 2%. These results show that turbo skin can be employed as a source for producing collagen with high quality.     

Mechanism of toppling and deformation in hard rock slope: a case of bank slope of Hydropower Station,Qinghai Province,China

Recently, various toppling slopes have emerged with the development of hydropower projects in the western mountainous regions of China. The slope on the right bank of the Laxiwa Hydropower Station, located on the mainstream of the Yellow River in the Qinghai Province of Northwest China, is a typical hard rock slope. Further, its deformation characteristics are different from those of common natural hard rock toppling. Because this slope is located close to the dam of the hydropower station, its deformation mechanism has a practical significance. Based on detailed geological engineering surveys, four stages of deformation have been identified using discrete element numerical software and geological engineering analysis methods, including toppling creep, initial toppling deformation, intensified toppling deformation, and current slope formation. The spatial and time-related deformation of this site also exhibited four stages, including initial toppling, toppling development, intensification of toppling, and disintegration and collapse. Subsequently, the mechanism of toppling and deformation of the bank slope were studied. The results of this study exhibit important reference value for developing the prevention–control design of toppling and for ensuring operational safety in the hydropower reservoir area.     

Dynamic changes in lakes in the Hoh Xil region before and after the 2011 outburst of Zonag Lake

Zonag, Kusai, Hedin Noel and Yanhu Lakes are independent inland lakes in the Hoh Xil region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In September2011, Zonag Lake burst after the water level had increased for many years. Floods flowed through Kusai and Hedin Noel Lakes into Yanhu Lake; since then, the four small endorheic catchments merged into one larger catchment. This hydrological process caused the rapid shrinkage of Zonag Lake and continuous expansion of Yanhu Lake. In this study,based on satellite images, meteorological data and field investigations, we examined the dynamic changes in the four lakes and analyzed the influencing factors. The results showed that before 2011, the trends in the four lake areas were similar and displayed several stages. The change in the area of Zonag Lake corresponded well to the change in annual precipitation(AP), but the magnitude of the change was less than that of a non-glacier-fed lake. Although increased precipitation was the dominant factor that caused Zonag Lake to expand, increased glacier melting and permafrost thawing due to climate warming also had significant effects. After the 2011 outburst of Zonag Lake, due to the increasing AP and accelerating glacier melting, the increases in water volume of the three lakes were absorbed by Yanhu Lake, and Yanhu Lake expanded considerably. According to the rapid growth rates in water level and lake area, Yanhu Lake is likely to burst in 1-2 years.     

Base cation concentrations in forest litter and topsoil have different responses to climate and tree species along elevational gradients

The forest litter is an essential reservoir of nutrients in forests, supplying a large part of absorbable base cations(BC) to topsoil, and facilitating plant growth within litter-soil system. To characterize elevational patterns of base cation concentrations in the forest litter and topsoil, and explore the effects of climate and tree species, we measured microclimate and collected the forest litter and topsoil(0-10 cm) samples across an elevational range of more than 2000 m(1243 ～ 3316 m a.s.l.),and analyzed the concentrations of BC in laboratory. Results showed that: 1) litter Ca concentration displayed a hump-shaped pattern along the elevational gradients, but litter K and Mg showed saddle-shaped patterns. Soil Ca concentration increased with elevation, while soil K and Mg had no significant changes. 2) Ca concentration in the forest litter under aspen(Populus davidiana) was significantly higher than that in all other species, but in topsoil, Ca concentration was higher under coniferous larch and fir(Larix chinensis and Abies fargesii). Litter K and Mg concentrations was higher under coniferous larch and fir, whereas there were nosignificant differences among tree species in the concentrations of K and Mg in topsoil. 3) Climatic factors including mean annual temperature(MAT), growing season precipitation(GSP) and non-growing season precipitation(NGSP) determined BC concentrations in the forest litter and topsoil. Soil C/N and C/P also influenced BC cycling between litter and soil. Observation along elevations within different tree species implies that above-ground tree species can redistribute below-ground cations, and this process is profoundly impacted by climate. Litter and soil Ca, K and Mg with different responses to environmental variables depend on their soluble capacity and mobile ability.     

Detecting and attributing vegetation changes in Taihang Mountain,China

Attributing vegetation changes provide fundamental information for ecosystem management,especially in mountainous areas which has vulnerable ecosystems. Based on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) data, the spatial-temporal change of vegetation was detected in Taihang Mountain(THM) from 2000 to 2014. The topographical factors were introduced to interpret the response of vegetation variation to climate change and human activities. Results showed that the avegaged NDVI during growing season showed a single-peak curve distribution, with the largest value(0.628) among 1600-1800 m. A significant greening trend was detected in THM, with the largest increasing rate(0.0078 yr~(-1)) among the elevation of1600-1800 m and slope gradient between 3~5°. The partial correlation and multiple correlation analyses indicated that vegetation variation in more than81.8% pixels of the THM was mainly impacted by human activities. In the low elevation zones less than1000 m, increasing precipitation is the principle factor promoting vegetation restoration, whereas in the high elevation zones of THM, temperature is the restricted factors impacting vegetation variation.Considering the dramatic climate change in the future,further studies should be conducted to explore inherent mechanism of vegetation growth to dynamic environment changes.     

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。     

GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping using hybrid integration approaches of fractal dimension with index of entropy and support vector machine

The loess area in the northern part of Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, China is a region with frequently landslide occurrences. The main aim of this study is to quantitatively predict the extent of landslides using the index of entropy model(IOE), the support vector machine model(SVM) and two hybrid models namely the F-IOE model and the F-SVM model constructed by fractal dimension. First, a total of 179 landslides were identified and landslide inventory map was produced, with 70%(125) of the landslides which was optimized by 10-fold crossvalidation being used for training purpose and the remaining 30%(54) of landslides being used for validation purpose. Subsequently, slope angle, slope aspect, altitude, rainfall, plan curvature, distance to rivers, land use, distance to roads, distance to faults, normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI), lithology, and profile curvature were considered as landslide conditioning factors and all factor layers were resampled to a uniform resolution. Then the information gain ratio of each conditioning factors was evaluated. Next, the fractal dimension for each conditioning factors was calculated and the training dataset was used to build four landslide susceptibility models. In the end, the receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curves and three statistical indexes involving positive predictive rate(PPR), negative predictive rate(NPR) and accuracy(ACC) were applied to validate and compare the performance of these four models. The results showed that the F-SVM model had the highest PPR, NPR, ACC and AUC values for training and validation datasets, respectively, followed by the F-IOE model.Finally, it is concluded that the F-SVM model performed best in all models, the hybrid model built by fractal dimension has advantages than original model, and can provide reference for local landslide prevention and decision making.