Lagrangian fronts in the ocean

We introduce the concept of Lagrangian fronts (LFs) in the ocean and describe their importance for analyzing water mixing and transport and the specific features and differences from hydrological fronts. A method of calculating LFs in a given velocity field is proposed. Based on altimeter velocity fields from AVISO data in the northwestern Pacific, we calculate the Lagrangian synoptic maps and identify LFs of different spatial and temporal scales. Using statistical analysis of saury catches in different years according to the Goskomrybolovstvo (State Fisheries Committee of the Russian Federation), we show that LFs can serve as good indicators of places that are favorable for fishing.     

楚科奇海盆M04柱晚更新世以来沉积古环境记录

对"中国第五次北极科考"采自楚科奇海盆的M04柱进行粒度、冰筏碎屑、黏土矿物、岩心XRF扫描、沉积物颜色分析,初步建立了楚科奇海盆晚更新世MIS4期以来的沉积地层框架。MIS4期以来,楚科奇海盆M04柱沉积物粒度和黏土矿物组成具有明显的冰期/间冰期变化特征,冰期沉积物粒度分布以双峰态为主,由洋流搬运和海冰搬运沉积组分组成,伊利石含量高、高岭石含量低;间冰期沉积物具有三峰态粒度分布特征,由海冰搬运、洋流搬运和冰山搬运沉积组分组成,伊利石含量低、高岭石含量高。通过M04柱黏土矿物组合类型与北冰洋边缘海盆的表层沉积物黏土矿物组合类型对比表明,晚更新世以来楚科奇海盆沉积环境发生显著变化:温暖的间冰期受波弗特涡流驱动,波弗特海为研究区的物源输入提供了主要贡献;寒冷的冰期表层环流呈反向输运,细颗粒物源碎屑以东西伯利亚海的输入为主。     

松江鲈(Trachidermus fasciatus)泛素结合酶E2-D2基因的分子克隆及组织表达分析

泛素结合酶(UbcE2)是蛋白泛素化过程中所必需的酶,在泛素转移和底物的特异性识别方面发挥着重要的作用。本实验利用RACE技术克隆获得了全长为993bp的松江鲈泛素结合酶E2-D2基因cDNA序列(命名为TfUbcE2-D2),其开放阅读框为444bp,编码147个氨基酸。通过SMART预测得知,TfUbcE2-D2含有一个UBCc结构域。同源比对结果表明该基因与其他物种的同源性为92.31%。实时荧光定量PCR显示,TfUbcE2-D2广泛表达于松江鲈各组织,在肾脏中的相对表达量最高,其次为鳃。鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)刺激后,TfUbcE2-D2在血液、脾脏、肝脏和鳃中表达均上调,其中,脾脏和鳃中的表达量上调约40倍。由以上实验结果推测,TfUbcE2-D2可能参与松江鲈的先天免疫防御。     

Bayesian classification of the ice cover of the Arctic seas

A classification of sea ice in the Arctic by age (multiyear; first-year; and first-year deformed ice, nilas, etc.) is developed based on the Bayesian approach using satellite radar data and taking into account regional peculiarities of these types of ice for different sectors of the Arctic. Estimations of a priori probabilities for each ice type, which are required for the use of the Bayesian classification, are obtained by the analysis of ice charts in the Arctic seas developed at the AARI in 2008–2013 using satellite data. A posterior probabilities are estimated visually by an expert. Types of sea ice distinguished by the expert on satellite images make it possible to create sample values of the radar-scattering cross section (RSCS). Examples of the proposed Bayesian classification of ice in the Laptev Sea according to Envisat satellite data are given.     

Studying seasonal variations in carbonaceous aerosol particles in the atmosphere over central Siberia

The results of 2-year (2010–2012) measurements of the concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), which were taken at the Zotino Tall Tower Observatory (ZOTTO) Siberian background station (61° N, 89° E), are given. Despite the fact that this station is located far from populated areas and industrial zones, the concentrations of OC and EC in the atmosphere over boreal forests in central Siberia significantly exceed their background values. In winter and fall, high concentrations of atmospheric carbonaceous aerosol particles are caused by the long-range transport (~1000 km) of air masses that accumulate pollutants from large cities located in both southern and southwestern regions of Siberia. In spring and summer, the pollution level is also high due to regional forest fires and agricultural burning in the steppe zone of western Siberia in the Russian–Kazakh border region. Background concentrations of carbonaceous aerosol particles were observed within relatively short time intervals whose total duration was no more than 20% of the entire observation period. In summer, variations in the background concentrations of OC closely correlated with air temperature, which implies that the biogenic sources of organic-particle formation are dominating.     

Glaciomarine sedimentation and bottom current activity on the north-western and northern continental margins of Svalbard during the late Quaternary

Palaeo-bottom current strength of the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) and the influence of the Svalbard-Barents Sea Ice Sheet (SBIS) on the depositional environment along the northern Svalbard margins are poorly known. Two gravity cores from the southern Yermak Plateau and the upper slope north of Nordaustlandet, covering marine isotope stage (MIS) 1 to MIS 5, are investigated. Five lithofacies, based on grain size distribution, silt/clay ratio, content and mean of sortable silt (SS), are distinguished to characterise the contourite-dominated sedimentary environments. In addition, depositional environments are described using total organic carbon (TOC), total sulphur (TS) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) contents of sediments. Facies A, containing coarse SS, suggests strong bottom current activity and good bottom water ventilation conditions as inferred from low TOC content. This facies was deposited during the glacial periods MIS 4, MIS 2 and during the late Holocene. Facies B is dominated by fine SS indicating weak bottom current and poor ventilation (cf. high TOC content of 1.2–1.6%), and correlates with the MIS 4/3 and MIS 2/1 transition periods. With an equal amount of clay and sand, fine SS and high content of TOC, facies C indicates reduced bottom current strength for intervals with sediment supply from proximal sources such as icebergs, sea ice or meltwater discharge. This facies was deposited during the last glacial maximum. Facies D represents mass-flow deposits on the northern Svalbard margin attributed to the SBIS advance at or near the shelf edge. Facies E sediments indicating moderate bottom current strength were deposited during MIS 5 and MIS 3, and during parts of MIS 2. This first late Quaternary proxy record of the WSC flow and sedimentation history from the northern Svalbard margin suggests that the oceanographic conditions and ice sheet processes have exerted first-order control on sediment properties.     

Solar-, monsoon- and Kuroshio-influenced thermocline depth and sea surface salinity in the southern Okinawa Trough during the past 17,300 years

Factors influencing millennial-scale variability in the thermocline depth (vertical mixing) and sea surface salinity (SSS) of the southern Okinawa Trough (OT) during the past 17,300 years were investigated based on foraminifer oxygen isotope records of the surface dweller Globigerinoides ruber sensu stricto and the thermocline dweller Pulleniatina obliquiloculata in the AMS ¹⁴C dated OKT-3 core. The thermocline depth is influenced by surface thermal buoyancy (heat) flux, in turn controlled by the annual mean insolation at 30°N and the strength of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM). Strong insolation and weak EAWM tend to increase buoyancy gain (decrease buoyancy loss), corresponding to shallow thermocline depths, and vice versa. Regional SSS is influenced by the global ice volume, the Kuroshio Current (KC), and vertical mixing. A deep thermocline coincides with a high SSS because strong vertical mixing brings more, saltier subsurface KC water to the surface, and vice versa. Local SSS (excluding the global ice volume effect) became lower in the northern OT than in the southern OT after ~9.2 ka, implying that Changjiang diluted water had stronger influence in the northern sector. SSS show no major changes during the Bølling/Allerød and Younger Dryas events, probably because the KC disturbed the North Atlantic signals. This argues against earlier interpretations of sea surface temperature records of this core. Wavelet and spectral analyses of the Δδ¹⁸O_P-G (δ¹⁸O of P. obliquiloculata minus G. ruber s.s.) and δ¹⁸O_local records display 1,540-, 1,480-, 1,050-, 860-, 640-, and 630-year periods. These are consistent with published evidence of a pervasive periodicity of 1,500 years in global climate as well as EAWM and KC signatures, and a fundamental solar periodicity of 1,000 years and intermediary derived periodicity of 700 years.