Estuarine phytoplankton dynamics and shift of limiting factors: A study in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and adjacent area

Environmental factors in estuaries are highly variable in terms of both spatial and temporal dimensions and hence phytoplankton biomass, as well as community structure, is dynamic. Two cruises were carried out in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and adjacent area in spring and summer. The result of CHEMTAX calculation suggests that in spring diatoms and chlorophytes contribute equally to phytoplankton biomass, while phytoplankton community structure is mainly composed of diatoms in summer. We encountered blooms in summer with chlorophyll a (CHLa) over 10 μg l⁻¹ off the Changjiang Estuary and they were mainly caused by diatoms (>90%). Based on the HPLC analysis of samples collected, phytoplankton pigments mainly concentrated beyond the front between 122.5°E and 123°E where nutrients and turbidity were best balanced. Euphotic depth (Z_eu, calculated from Secchi disk depth) to surface mixed layer depth (Z_mix) ratio (i.e. Z_eu/Z_mix) were comparable in spring (average value 1.2) and the ratio increased to 5.2 in summer. Variation of the ratio indicates an apparent shift of light and physical conditions from spring to summer. Correspondingly, CHLa was positively related to Z_eu/Z_mix ratio (r² = 0.83) in spring, indicating the light limitation over the whole investigation area. On the other hand, the relationship of CHLa and Z_eu/Z_mix ratio became unclear when Z_eu/Z_mix ratio >3 in summer. This is probably due to the combination of both light limitation before the front and nutrient limitation beyond the front. In addition, evidence was found that light condition can impact the diagnostic pigments in the Changjiang Estuary.     

A hidden Markov model for earthquake prediction

Earthquake occurrence is well-known to be associated with structural changes in underground dynamics, such as stress level and strength of electromagnetic signals. While the causation between earthquake occurrence and underground dynamics remains elusive, the modeling of changes in underground dynamics can provide insights on earthquake occurrence. However, underground dynamics are usually difficult to measure accurately or even unobservable. In order to model and examine the effect of the changes in unobservable underground dynamics on earthquake occurrence, we propose a novel model for earthquake prediction by introducing a latent Markov process to describe the underground dynamics. In particular, the model is capable of predicting the change-in-state of the hidden Markov chain, and thus can predict the time and magnitude of future earthquake occurrences simultaneously. Simulation studies and applications on a real earthquake dataset indicate that the proposed model successfully predicts future earthquake occurrences. Theoretical results, including the stationarity and ergodicity of the proposed model, as well as consistency and asymptotic normality of model parameter estimation, are provided.     

Pesticides in Sediments From Queensland Irrigation Channels and Drains

Pesticide concentration in sediment from irrigation areas can provide information required to assess exposure and fate of these chemicals in freshwater ecosystems and their likely impacts to the marine environment. In this study, 103 sediment samples collected from irrigation channels and drains in 11 agricultural areas of Queensland were analysed for a series of past and presently used pesticides including various organochlorines, synthetic pyrethroids, benzoyl ureas, triazines and organophosphates. The most often detected compounds were endosulphans (, β and/or endosulphan sulphate) which were detectable in 78 of the 103 samples and levels ranged from below the limit of quantification (0.1 ng g⁻¹ dw) up to 840 ng g⁻¹ dw. DDT and its metabolites were the second most often detected pesticide investigated (74 of the 103 samples) with concentrations up to 240 ng g⁻¹ dw of ∑DDTs. Mean ∑endosulphan and ∑DDT concentrations were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher in sediments from the irrigation areas which are dominated by cotton cultivation compared to those which are dominated by sugarcane cultivation. In contrast to these insecticides, the herbicides diuron, atrazine and ametryn were the compounds which were most often detected in sediments from irrigation drains in sugarcane areas with maximum concentrations in areas of 120, 70 and 130 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. In particular during flood events, when light is limiting, transport of these photosynthesis inhibiting herbicides from the sugarcane cultivation areas to the marine environment may result in additional stress of marine plants.     

Potential Hydrodynamic Performance Enhancement of Hydrokinetic Turbine with Hydrophobic Coatings

China Ocean Engineering - Hydrokinetic energy is a promising technology to harness predictable renewable energy from free-flowing water, tides and ocean currents. Many studies have been conducted...     

阿尔泰南缘克朗盆地铁木尔特花岗岩体年龄、地球化学特征及成因

铁木尔特黑云母花岗岩出露于阿尔泰造山带南缘克朗盆地北西侧,岩体主要为黑云母花岗岩。锆石的SHRIMPU-Pb定年结果表明该岩体结晶年龄为459±4.9Ma。岩石具有高的SiO_2(71.92%～76.58%)和Al_2O_3(12.92%～14.55%)含量,富碱(K_2O+Na_2O=7.09%～8.11%)、高钾(K_2O/Na_2O=1.1～1.62)、低P_2O_5(0.14%)和MgO+FeO(5%)含量,强过铝质(ACNK=1.13～1.34);富集LREE和Th、U、Pb,贫Ba、P、Sr、Ti、Nb,呈现明显的Eu负异常(δEu=0.33～0.53);并具有低的Al_2O_3/TiO_2(100)比值和高的CaO/Na_2O(0.3)比值。以上特征表明该岩体属高钾钙碱性高温型强过铝花岗岩。同时岩石具有低的Sr初始值(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr=0.701727～0.709951)和相对高的ε_(Nd)(459Ma)(-1.43～-0.98)值,两阶段Nd模式年龄较为均一(t_(2DM)=1.2～1.3Ga)。岩体的原始岩浆可能是富含白云母和黑云母的变泥质岩在大于875℃的条件下脱水熔融的产物,在部分熔融过程中有磷灰石、斜长石、钛铁矿等矿物的残留,并混入少量的幔源物质。结合阿尔泰南缘的区域地质背景综合分析,推测岩体形成于俯冲作用的初期,可能是在挤压背景下由于局部伸展减压以及异常地幔和深部热流不均匀上升提供的热影响发生的部分熔融产生。     

华南花岗岩残积土红土化程度的地带性与香港该类土不发育的原因

从华南花岗岩残积土红土化程度的地域变化规律出发 ,通过香港与华南沿海各地花岗岩残积土的化学成分及红土化指标对比 ,作者发现香港花岗岩残积土无论厚度、类型 ,还是红土化程度都具有与所处气候环境不协调的特点。文章进一步讨论了香港花岗岩残积土不发育的原因和对工程性质的影响.     

Monitoring ground deformation in Beijing, China with persistent scatterer SAR interferometry

This paper investigated the long term ground deformation in Beijing, China, using persistent/permanent scatterer interferometry (PSI) techniques. GEOS-PSI (Geodesy and Earth Observing Systems-PSI), an in-house software developed at UNSW for PSI, has been applied to 41 ENVISAT ASAR images acquired over the metropolitan area of Beijing City between June 2003 and March 2009 and 24 ALOS PALSAR images (two Paths: 10 acquisitions from January 2007 to October 2008 and 14 acquisitions from February 2007 to September 2009). The results generated using these datasets from the two satellites were cross-validated. Correlations between the results of ENVISAT ASAR and ALOS PALSAR agreed very well. The horizontal and vertical displacement rate maps over Beijing City were obtained from the results generated with data acquired by both satellites over the period from 1st February 2007 to 1st November 2008. The results indicate that the displacements in Beijing City were mainly in the vertical direction. The majority of the easting displacement rates were in the range of ?10 mm/year to 10?mm/year, while the vertical rates were in the range of ?115 mm/year to 6?mm/year. The possible cause for the ground deformation is groundwater extraction based on our research as well as earlier published studies.