High-frequency acoustic backscattering characteristics for acoustic detection of the red tide species Akashiwo sanguinea and Alexandrium affine

Harmful algal blooms(HABs),caused by the overgrowth of certain phytoplankton species,have negative effects on marine environments and coastal fisheries.In addition to cell-counting methods using phytoplankton nets,a hydroacoustic technique based on acoustic backscattering has been proposed for the detection of phytoplankton blooms.However,little is known of the acoustic properties of HAB species.In this study,as essential data to support this technique,we measured the acoustic properties of two HAB species,Akashiwo sanguinea and Alexandrium affine,which occur in the South Sea off the coast of Korea.Due to the small size of the target,we used ultrasound for the measurements.Experiments were conducted under laboratory and field conditions.In the laboratory experiment,the acoustic signal received from each species was directly proportional to the cell abundance.We derived a relationship between the cell abundance and acoustic signal received for each species.The measured signals were compared to predictions of a fluid sphere scattering model.When A.sanguinea blooms appeared at an abundance greater than 3 500 cells/mL,the acoustic signals varied with cell abundance,showing a good correlation.These results confirm that acoustic measurements can be used to detect HAB species.     

大兴安岭中生代玄武岩的地球化学特征：壳幔相互作用的证据

大兴安岭中生代玄武岩类由北区碱性系列岩石和南区亚碱性系列岩石组成, 主要活动时期为晚侏罗世至早白垩世, 在时间、空间上显示大体呈北北东向展布的环状 “热向斜构造”。北区碱性系列岩石高度富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素, 其丰度类似于板内碱性玄武岩, 但明显亏损高场强元素这一特点又类似于火山弧钙碱性玄武岩。南区亚碱性系列岩石强烈亏损高场强元素的特征类似于火山弧钙碱性玄武岩, 但轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素富集程度又类似于洋中脊拉斑玄武岩和岛弧拉斑玄武岩。显然, 大兴安岭中生代玄武岩系列显示地球化学双重性, 也就是既有板内特征又有火山弧特征, 既有富集特征又有亏损特征。这种地球化学双重性表明, 大兴安岭地区存在若干不同性质的地幔源： 富集性的、亏损性的、过渡性的地幔源。解释一个地区存在多元地幔源区模式的最佳方案是地幔柱。这种包含富集成分和亏损成分的地幔柱源区的形成是与古生代地质时期古亚洲域闭合过程中俯冲洋壳与亏损地幔相互作用的动力学、地球化学过程有关。     

Description of feeding apparatus and mechanism innemopilema nomurai kishinouye (scyphozoa: rhizostomeae)

Feeding apparatus, mechanism and passage of ingested prey were described forNemopilema nomurai (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae).N. nomurai medusae without central mouths have developed complicated canal systems connecting the tip of the tentacle and oral arm to the gut cavity. The number of junctions in the canal system increases with the bell diameter. The prey is gathered by paralyzing nematocyst at the tentacles and by adhering cirri at the oral arms and scapulets. They are engulfed into the terminal pore located at the oral arms and scapulets, and entered into the gut cavity via the canal system. The estimated digestion time is 1 hour and 20 min. The diameter of terminal pore is always about 1 mm, implying that they could not eat prey larger than that pore size. On the other hand, ephyrae have central mouths and could swallow prey as large as adults could. Exploitation of the same size of food by adult and ephyra implies thatN. nomurai can affect seriously the whole food web, massively ingesting micro-and mesozoopl a n k t o n and cutting the energy transfer toward the higher level of carnivores.     

Impacts of marine debris on wild animals in the coastal area of Korea

Over the last decade, marine debris has become a major factor affecting the coastal ecosystem of Korea. This study compiled information regarding how marine debris impacts wildlife in Korea. Cases of marine debris impacting wildlife were collected from experts of various fields and from local participants through an open access website from February 2010 to March 2012. A total of 21 species were affected by marine debris: 18 species of birds, 2 species of mammals, and 1 species of crustacean. Five threatened or protected species were identified: black-faced spoonbill, finless porpoise, water deer, whooper swan, and greater painted snipe. Recreational fishing gears were the types of debris that most frequently impacted wildlife, especially birds. Black tailed gulls were the most vulnerable species to recreational fishing hooks and lines. Although it was preliminary, this study revealed that recreational fishing activities should be prioritized when managing marine debris in Korea.     

Influence of Pressure Change During Hydraulic Tests on Fracture Aperture

In a series of field experiments, we evaluate the influence of a small water pressure change on fracture aperture during a hydraulic test. An experimental borehole is instrumented at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Underground Research Tunnel (KURT). The target fracture for testing was found from the analyses of borehole logging and hydraulic tests. A double packer system was developed and installed in the test borehole to directly observe the aperture change due to water pressure change. Using this packer system, both aperture and flow rate are directly observed under various water pressures. Results indicate a slight change in fracture hydraulic head leads to an observable change in aperture. This suggests that aperture change should be considered when analyzing hydraulic test data from a sparsely fractured rock aquifer.     

Evaluation of multiple regression models using spatial variables to predict nitrate concentrations in volcanic aquifers

Multiple linear regression of spatial variables including land use, soil type, and topography was applied to predict nitrate concentration and evaluate major factors affecting nitrate occurrence in springs and wells in the southern and northern areas of Jeju volcanic island, Korea. Three types of contributing area surrogates (CAS), namely circle, semicircle, and wedge, were employed to calculate the spatial variables. The regression results showed R² of 0.81–0.84 for springs and 0.74–0.77 for wells; R² values for wedge and semicircular CAS were more than 10% higher than those for circular CAS. The R² of spring models was significantly affected by both the shape and size of CAS, with optimal radii of 150–250 m and 300–400 m in the southern and northern areas, respectively, corresponding to thinner upper basaltic aquifers, and implying shorter flow paths in the southern area. The most influential variables in springs were orchards and soil types related to agriculture including silty loam and silty clay loam, indicating that nitrate levels are strongly affected by N fertilization in cultivated areas. In contrast, wells showed much less sensitivity to both shapes and sizes of CAS, with less contribution of land use and soil type to the regression, which could be attributed to a mix of multiple aquifer zones and widely different factors in the installation and operation of wells. Field parameters of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH increased the R² up to 10%, suggesting that these can be useful when regression with spatial variables yields a lower R². The optimal spatial scales for prediction of nitrate concentration and spatial variables that significantly contribute to nitrate contamination can provide relevant criteria for establishing groundwater management policies, considering the increasing anthropogenic land‐use trends on the island, where groundwater is highly sensitive to changes in spatial variables. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance‐based earthquake engineering assessment of a self‐centering,post‐tensioned concrete bridge system

Highway bridges in highly seismic regions can sustain considerable residual displacements in their columns following large earthquakes. These residual displacements are an important measure of post‐earthquake functionality, and often determine whether or not a bridge remains usable following an earthquake. In this study, a self‐centering system is considered that makes use of unbonded, post‐tensioned steel tendons to provide a restoring force to bridge columns to mitigate the problem of residual displacements. To evaluate the proposed system, a code‐conforming, case‐study bridge structure is analyzed both with conventional reinforced concrete columns and with self‐centering, post‐tensioned columns using a formalized performance‐based earthquake engineering (PBEE) framework. The PBEE analysis allows for a quantitative comparison of the relative performance of the two systems in terms of engineering parameters such as peak drift ratio as well as more readily understood metrics such as expected repair costs and downtime. The self‐centering column system is found to undergo similar peak displacements to the conventional system, but sustains lower residual displacements under large earthquakes, resulting in similar expected repair costs but significantly lower expected downtimes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A practical estimation of Clark IUH parameters using root selection and linear programming

The values of the parameters of the Clark instantaneous unit hydrograph (IUH) are often relying on the subjective decision of the researcher, which leads to large variations of their values. Therefore, an objective method minimizing the subjective judgement in the IUH modelling procedure while providing a reduced range of acceptable values is proposed. The proposed method uses a basin average IUH to mitigate the robustness problem of the Clark IUH parameters. Using linear system theory, the z‐transform is applied to the average IUH and then the IUH polynomial is factored into the recession and time‐area curve (TAC) components based on a convolution relation between the Clark IUH parameters. During this calculation, the root selection method was adopted to verify the storage coefficient R from the recession component and a linear programming technique was applied for determining the TAC for the basin of interest. The Wi River basin was used to test the applicability of the proposed method. The results showed that the components of a single reservoir and the TAC for Clark IUH were separated effectively, and acceptable values for the parameters were obtained. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rock preference of planulae of jellyfish Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus 1758) for settlement in the laboratory

Planulae of Aurelia aurita were exposed to 11 types of rocks (basalt, gabbro, granite, rhyolite, sandstone, limestone, conglomerate, gneiss, quartzite, marble and schist) to examine their attachment preference among rock material and position. Numbers of attached polyps was the highest on marble and the least on limestone. Their preference with regard to settling position was the same among the rocks, showing the highest density of polyps on the underside (88.5%) compared to upper (23.6%) and perpendicular sides (10.3%) of rock. The results showed that while position preference is more important than rock property, higher numbers of polyps were observed in rocks with a medium surface hardness.