Inferring Glacier Mass Balance Using Radarsat: Results From Peyto Glacier, Canada

The capability of RADARSAT synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for the purpose of snow-line/accumulation area mapping for a temperate alpine glacier is examined. In agreement with other orbital C-band SAR studies, RADARSAT can discriminate between firn and bare ice facies. Limited observations are reported with respect to the electromagnetic variability of the ice facies in the ablation area, but they are inconclusive. Operational considerations are discussed with respect to reconciling the uncertainties of late-summer weather and their possible impact on the dielectric and scattering properties of the glacier surface. Vagaries associated with other glacier settings, mass balance states and their associated facies configurations are discussed including the difficulty of using the transient snow-line to define the equilibrium line and the lower extent of the accumulation area for glaciers where superimposed ice may form.
The radar remote-sensing reconnaissance of equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and accumulation area ratio (AAR) for estimating glacier mass balance requires serious consideration in those instances where traditional ground measurements used in the direct glaciological method are absent. However, with respect to the ELA, such estimates can vary depending on the accuracy of the reference digital elevation information. Moreover, for many glacier configurations, where mass balance variations due to altitude are influenced or in some cases completely masked by local balance variations, defining the ELA may be an irreconcilable problem. Using the AAR may be more robust in this regard. It is further determined that the total error inherent in the reconnaissance method would have serious implications for the confident estimation of mass balance normals and climate-related trends if the method were to be utilized over the longer term.     

Annual Mass Balance of Blue Glacier, USA: 1955–97

Mass changes of Blue Glacier, USA are calculated from topographic maps made from vertical aerial photography in late summer of 1939, 1952, 1957, and 1987, along with laser altimetry flown in June 1996. Changes in elevation between maps were adjusted for seasonal variations in the snow cover, and to account for the ablation between the date of photography and 1 October. Topography obtained from the laser altimetry was adjusted for snow thickness and glacier motion to estimate topography of 1 October 1995. The mass of Blue Glacier has changed less than 7 m (water equivalent) during this 56 year period which is minor compared with other glaciers in the region and elsewhere in the world. Glacier-average annual mass balances, beginning in 1956, have been calculated either from stake measurements and probing of late-season snow, or from a regression analysis using late-season measurements of the equilibrium line altitude. A comparison with the changes derived from surface maps shows values obtained from field measurements are too positive by about 0.4 m a^?1 , indicating that considerable caution is needed when interpreting time series of mass balance. Two alternative time series of mass balance consistent with the long-term mass changes are created by making simple adjustments: (1) a single constant is subtracted from each value so that the series is consistent with the 1957–95 mass change; (2) one constant is subtracted from each value over 1957–87 and another is subtracted from each value over 1987-95 so that the series is consistent with both the 1957–87 and 1987–95 mass changes. The mass balance of Blue Glacier was generally positive until the mid-1970s and negative since. The fluctuations of mass balance closely resemble those of snowfall on the glacier as estimated from the joint distribution of temperature and precipitation. The climate in western Washington was cooler and wetter during the decade before the mid-1970s, but the trend since has been towards warmer and drier conditions.     

Analysis of Winter and Summer Glacier Mass Balances

Seasonal mass balance components b_w (winter balance) and b_s (summer balance) as well as c_t (total accumulation) and a_t (total ablation), can be used directly to infer climate variables. In contrast, a_c (net balance of the accumulation area) and a_a (net balance of the ablation area), and b_a or b_n (annual or net balance) can not. The traditional Alpine system of observations of a_c and a_a , however, can be converted to true seasonal values b_w and b_s if both pairs of components are simultaneously observed for some years, because a correlation between the two pairs of components exists. We analyzed b_w and b_s data and their mean, standard deviations and ratios of these to the corresponding net or annual balances for 50 glaciers with relatively long records representing different regions in the northern hemisphere. We also investigated correlations between seasonal components. A negative correlation between b_w and b_s exists at many glaciers. About two-thirds of the glaciers show insignificant correlations (?0.3 < r < 0.3), implying independence of summer and winter balances. In a few unusual cases the correlations are positive. These different correlations, or lack thereof, may offer insight into feedback conditions that must exist in this climate-related system. The correspondence of the b_w and c_t , and b_s and a_t , appears to depend largely on the relative amounts of summer snowfall, a function of their climatic environment expressed as [α = (b_w+b_s)/2]. The contribution of variability of b_s to the net balance increases markedly with decreasing values of α. The variability of b_w and b_s , and therefore the net balance, has been increasing with time; whether this is due to an increase in climate variability or to other causes is not clear. It appears that b_w has been increasing with time at the highest altitudes, but b_s has been increasing more rapidly especially at low altitudes; the many-glacier average net balance is becoming more negative.     

原子荧光光谱法直接连续测定化探样品中的As Sb Bi Hg

研究了还原性介质中原子荧光光谱法直接连续测定化探样品中Ａｓ、Ｓｂ、Ｂｉ、Ｈｇ的方法。按拟定的条件进行测定,各元素的检出限分别为Ａｓ２．９×１０－９、Ｓｂ１．３×１０－１０、Ｂｉ１．８×１０－１０、Ｈｇ５×１０－１１。应用于区域化探扫面工作中,效果良好。     

离子色谱分析中的样品预处理

总结了几种常用于离子色谱分析的样品预处理方法,其中包括流动相改性,气化分离法,离子交换法,膜技术,溶剂萃取,超临界流体萃取,固相萃取以及柱前和柱后衍生。引用主要参考文献１０篇。     

核地球物理X辐射取样中克服基体效应的研究

克服基体效应的影响是Ｘ辐射取样技术中的关键问题。应用谱线分解技术,对样品的复合谱线进行分解,求得各元素的净Ｘ射线荧光计数率,在此基础上建立了“特散比法与吸收元素校正法联合应用”的数理方程,进行基体效应的校正。应用此技术对人工配制的样品和两个铜矿区实际样品进行了测量。     

基于一致可靠度的地震动记录样本容量确定方法研究

确定地震动输入样本容量是开展结构动力地震反应分析的重要环节,目前国内外关于地震动输入样本容量的讨论往往忽略或尚难以定量考虑结构地震反应估计的可靠度水平。以一实际钢筋混凝土框架结构为例,首先分析在大样本地震动作用下结构非线性地震反应的统计特征,研究估计结构地震反应时取样本最大值和平均值的差异,然后借助于假设检验分析结构地震反应的概率分布模型,给出基于一致可靠度的地震动样本容量确定方法,并对比分析单周期点、多周期点、谱值匹配调整地震动及人工合成地震动对样本容量需求的影响,为保证在小样本地震动输入下结构地震反应估计值满足给定可靠度和容许误差提供分析方法和判断依据。本文方法适应于定量确定不同结构类型和不同地震强度水平下的地震动样本容量需求,对建筑结构抗震性能评估及设计规范研究有一定意义。     

几种海水贝类甲醛浸渍标本DNA的提取及rRNA基因ITS序列的扩增

从中国科学院海洋生物标本馆收藏的8种甲醛浸渍的海水贝类标本中提取DNA并对其rRNA编码基因的ITS序列进行特异性扩增,在牡蛎Crassostrea sp．、长肋日月贝Amussium pleurondectes (Linnaeus)、扇贝Volachlamys ringaporinug(Sowerby)与华贵栉孔扇贝Chlamys nobilis(Reeve)等4个物种的标本中成功获得扩增产物。利用图片分析软什得出牡蛎标本的ITS-1和ITS-2扩增片段分别为408bp和524bp,长肋日月贝标本分别521bp和537bp,而扇贝Volachlamys ringaporinug(Sowerby)与华贵栉孔扇贝标本只获得ITS-1扩增片段,长度均为545bp。     

地区场选样洪水计算在西部流域应用分析

为采用地区场选样洪水计算方法分析研究建立了西部祖厉河流域设计洪水计算经验公式,设计计算成果经与皮尔逊三型频率曲线设计计算成果比较分析,计算成果精度较高。由此确定了该流域设计洪水计算相关成果图及查算表,为该流域设计洪水计算提供技术支撑。     

特殊地质样品中钼同位素分析的化学前处理方法研究

Mo同位素的研究在地学领域应用广泛,它可以示踪Mo的全球循环、古海洋氧化还原条件、成矿过程、天体演化过程等。应用多接收电感耦合等离子体质谱法(MC-ICP-MS)分析Mo同位素比值前需对样品进行分离纯化,以富集Mo和去除Zr、Ru、Fe、Mn等干扰元素。处理某些Fe含量特别高且Ca含量也高的特殊地质样品(如含大量黄铁矿的钙质泥岩、钙质页岩等),若根据传统的阴阳离子交换树脂双柱法,需多次使用阳离子交换树脂分离Fe,步骤较繁琐且Mo回收率也会降低,而根据传统的阴离子交换树脂单柱法,使用1mol/L氢氟酸-0.5mol/L盐酸介质会产生较多CaF_2沉淀影响分离纯化效果。针对此类特殊地质样品,本实验使用同一阴离子树脂柱(AG1-X8,100～200目)对样品进行两次淋洗,第一次使用6mol/L盐酸,第二次使用1mol/L氢氟酸-0.1mol/L盐酸和6mol/L盐酸。结果表明Mo的回收率96%,干扰元素的去除效果好,尤其是Ru的去除率接近100%,比原方法提高了约12%。对实际样品进行实验的结果也显示,Mo的回收率和干扰元素的去除都符合要求,δ~(98/95)Mo测定值与文献报道值一致。改进后的阴离子交换树脂单柱-二次淋洗法适用于Fe、Ca含量较高的特殊样品,降低了分析成本,也适用于绝大多数地质样品。