“Racism in a Melting Pot…?” Trinidadian mid-life transnational migrants’ views on race and colour-class on return to their homes of descent

This paper deals with second-generation, one-and-a-half generation and “prolonged sojourner” Trinidadian transnational migrants, who have decided to ‘return’ to the birthplace of their parents. Based on 40 in-depth interviews, the paper considers both the positive and critical things that these youthful transnational migrants report about returning to, and living in, this multi-ethnic plural society and the salience of racial and colour-class stratification as part of their return migration experiences. Our qualitative analysis is based on the narratives provided by these youthful returnees, as relayed “in their own words”, presenting critical reflections on racism, racial identities and experiences as transnational Trinidadians. It is clear that it is contexts such as contemporary working environments, family and community that act as the reference points for the adaptation “back home” of this strongly middle-class cohort. We accordingly encounter a diverse, sometimes contesting set of racial issues that emerge as salient concerns for these returnees. The consensus is that matters racial remain as formidable legacies in the hierarchical stratification of Trinidadian society for a sizeable number. Many of our respondents reported the positive aspects of racial affirmation on return. But for another sub-set, the fact that multi-ethnic and multi-cultural mixing are proudly embraced in Trinidad meant that it was felt that return experiences were not overly hindered, or blighted by obstacles of race and colour-class. For these returnees, Trinidad and Tobago is seen as representing a 21st century “Melting Pot”. But for others the continued existence of racial divisions within society - between ethnic groups and among those of different skin shades - was lamented. In the views of these respondents, too much racial power is still ascribed to ‘near-whiteness’. But for the most part, the returnees felt that where race played a part in their new lives, this generally served to advantage them. However, although the situation in Trinidad appears to have been moderated by assumptions that it remains a racial ‘Melting Pot’, the analysis strongly suggests that the colour-class system of stratification is still playing an essential role, along with racial stereotyping in society at large.     

往返式探空观测资料的质量控制及不确定性分析

为了推动新型探测资料在数值预报模式中的应用,本文进行了往返式探空资料同化应用前重要的基础性研究工作。基于国内首次往返式探空观测资料,首先建立了面向业务化应用的往返式探空资料质量控制方案,通过对比和分析质量控制前后观测样本的统计特征,论证了质量控制方案的合理性,质量控制后探测要素抽样分布更为合理,要素间一致性得到提高。进而以数值天气预报高时间分辨率的模式预报场和同站址业务常规探空观测资料为参考,分析质量控制后资料的不确定性,结果表明往返探空探测精度达到了世界气象组织WMO（World Meteorological Center）规定的突破目标,部分探测要素甚至实现了理想目标,探测资料具有可用性。最后结合数值模式背景场探讨往返探空资料的可同化性,研究表明往返探空的风场观测和夜间温度观测满足变分同化系统的高斯、无偏假定,可直接同化;气压、湿度和日间温度观测在资料同化前需要开展偏差订正工作,从而更有效的发挥资料价值。本文的研究工作为今后往返探空资料在模式中的同化应用奠定了基础。     

以香港回归为契机,加速祖国和平统一

我国目前在政治上被分割成４个地域，经济发展水平空间差异明显。１９９７年香港的回归，给海峡两岸的统一带来了新的机遇。应该利用香港特别行政区在海峡两岸联系中的特殊作用和台港粤闽的传统联系，通过发展粤闽两省的经济，缩小台港粤闽之间的经济发展差距，进一步密切台港粤闽的经济联系，先行实现两岸经济一体化，最终完成祖国和平统一大业。     

推算波浪多年一遇波高的新方法

采用卫星遥感推算多年一遇波高的新方法，对中国近海多年一遇波高进行推算研究。运用卫星遥感散射计得到的风资料推算了整个渤海区域波浪多年一遇的波高分布。通过与有实测资料4个点推算的结果比较表明：卫星资料和实测计算的误差随着重现期的增大而减小，最大误差百年和50年一遇波高为20cm；而百年和50年一遇波高正是工程中最为关心的，说明运用卫星遥感散射计风资料推算渤海多年一遇波高可行且结果合理。本研究方法为进一步运用和完善卫星遥感资料推算中国近海多年一波高场提供了一条新途径。     

Dynamic attribution of global water demand to surface water and groundwater resources: Effects of abstractions and return flows on river discharges

As human water demand is increasing worldwide, pressure on available water resources grows and their sustainable exploitation is at risk. To mimic changes in exploitation intensity and the connecting feedbacks between surface water and groundwater systems, a dynamic attribution of demand to water resources is necessary. However, current global-scale hydrological models lack the ability to do so. This study explores the dynamic attribution of water demand to simulated water availability. It accounts for essential feedbacks, such as return flows of unconsumed water and riverbed infiltration. Results show that abstractions and feedbacks strongly affect water allocation over time, particularly in irrigated areas. Also residence time of water is affected, as shown by changes in low flow magnitude, frequency, and timing. The dynamic representation of abstractions and feedbacks makes the model a suitable tool for assessing spatial and temporal impacts of changing global water demand on hydrology and water resources.     

Recession slope curve analysis under human interferences

To study the base flow recession at the watershed scale, the log-scale plot of − dQ/dt ∼ Q proposed by Brutsaert and Nieber [10] has been used to estimate the recession parameters, i.e., the slope and interception of the theoretical recession slope curve. The lower envelope or the best fit in some studies is usually used to determine the recession slope curve for natural watersheds. However, human interferences exist in most watersheds around the world. This paper discusses the impact of human interferences, which include groundwater pumping, water diversion and return flow, on the determination of the recession slope curve and the cloud shape of the data points of − dQ/dt ∼ Q. First, values of − dQ/dt generated for hypothetical watersheds are analyzed. Then real data for three watersheds in Illinois is analyzed to verify the hypothetical analysis. The placement of the recession slope curve depends on the coexistence and relative amount of the evapotranspiration, groundwater pumping or even water diversion if it exists, and the return flow. When the water consumption rate is small, the recession slope curve can even be located at the upper envelope of the cloud of points representing historical data. These results suggest that the use of the lower envelope as a guideline for estimating recession parameters for watersheds subject to human interferences can result in biased estimates.     

上海洋山国际深水港建设对洋山海域波浪分布特征的影响研究

本文针对洋山深水港建设引起的洋山海域波浪特征的变化进行分析研究,通过对长序列洋山波浪观测资料分析,确定SE、NW、S、NE、E 5个典型浪向为代表浪向,采用基于波能守恒的第三代波浪模型,计算建港过程间隔10a的2个典型建设时期,即洋山建港初期(2002年)和洋山建港后期(2012年)的极端高水位下50a一遇波浪场。研究表明,10年洋山深水港的建设使港区内的波浪场分布发生了显著的改变,工程建设后期港区NE、E、NW向波高均有不同程度减小,目前港区前沿受SE向波浪影响明显,50a一遇波高可达2.5m以上,波向基本与工程前沿走势保持一致,4期工程前沿NE向波周期增加6.6%,对船舶作业及靠离港的安全有一定影响,需引起关注。     

The influence of seasonality on estimating return values of significant wave height

A time-dependent generalized extreme value (GEV) model for monthly significant wave heights maxima is developed. The model is applied to several 3-hour time series from the Spanish buoy network. Monthly maxima show a clear non-stationary behavior within a year, suggesting that the location, scale and shape parameters of the GEV distribution can be parameterized using harmonic functions. To avoid a possible over-parameterization, an automatic selection model, based on the Akaike Information Criterion, is carried out. Results show that the non-stationary behavior of monthly maxima significant wave height is adequately modeled, drastically increasing the significance of the parameters involved and reducing the uncertainty in the return level estimation. The model provides new information to analyze the seasonal behavior of wave height extremes affecting different natural coastal processes.