Inversion of multimode surface wave data: evidence for sub-lithospheric anisotropy

Summary. Multiparameter inversions of multimode dispersion data are performed for two large regions: the Pacific Ocean and North America. Anisotropy is taken into account by considering transversely isotropic structures with a vertical axis of symmetry. Two fundamental questions are studied in detail: (1) how to make the inverted models consistent when using different sets of parameters, (2) what is the significance of transversely isotropic inversion for the actual Earth's structure? It is proved that full consistency of the inverted models can be achieved by properly taking into account some a priori informations on the model and it is shown that the use of transversely isotropic models with vertical axis of symmetry does not cause severe limitations when interpreting the data. The models we have obtained are discussed in the light of these investigations. Considering an olivine-rich upper mantle, we make a tentative interpretation of these models in terms of preferred orientation of the a -axis of the crystals in one fixed horizontal direction.     

地震和潮汐对气候波动变化的影响

2004年12月26日印尼地震海啸后,全球低温冻害和暴雪灾害频繁发生."潮汐调温说"和"深海巨震降温说"是一种合理的解释.根据"潮汐调温说"和"深海巨震降温说"理论,2005年以后全球气温将因为地震海啸和强潮汐南北震荡而降低.2009年11月至2010年1月低温暴雪袭击北半球,西方科学家也承认2000~2010年气候的自然变化减缓全球气候变暖效应这一客观事实.潮汐震荡可以解释全球气温的准60a变化,海洋及其边缘的强震能够将深海冷水翻上表面,使全球气候变冷.潮汐和太阳黑子活动不仅有相同的变化周期,而且都和气温变化有很好的对应关系.研究表明,在太平洋十年涛动冷位相时期,强震与低温冻害频繁发生.     

海山铁锰结壳基岩岩石学特征及其生长关系

为了研究海山铁锰结壳基岩类型与结壳壳层生长的关系。对麦哲伦海山及中太平洋海山区取得的铁锰结壳及其基岩样品在电子显微镜下进行了观察和研究。结果表明，上述2个区域基岩岩石类型主要有玄武岩，火山熔岩，火山碎屑岩，硅质岩和碳酸盐岩，其中麦哲伦海山玄武岩为块状构造，中太平洋海山玄武岩则主要为气孔-杏仁状构造，多发生蚀变或完全蚀变，硅质岩颗粒物质主要是硅藻，碳酸盐岩则以晶质灰岩为主，结壳壳层厚度在各类基岩类型上都有变化，以在玄武岩和碳酸盐岩上变化最大。     

青海南部杂多地区新建扎青组的地层层序及地质意义

在青藏高原北羌塘盆地青海南部,青海省杂多县扎青乡地区的然者涌一带,发现以基性火山熔岩为主夹有中基性火山碎屑岩,具大陆板内裂谷拉斑玄武岩喷发特点的一套火山地层。该地层底部角度不整合接触覆盖在早中二叠世开心岭群诺日巴尕日保组、九十道班组之上,其上被晚三叠世结扎群甲丕拉组角度不整合覆盖。主要岩性为灰绿—灰紫色橄榄玄武岩、粗面玄武岩、玄武粗安岩及流纹岩、中基性火山角砾岩、角砾凝灰岩夹少量流纹岩和紫红色岩屑砂岩及细砾岩,其特征与峨眉山低钛玄武岩相似,具陆相喷发-沉积特征。区域对比在北羌塘地区具有独特地层特征,可与四川峨眉山玄武岩地层进行对比。而区域上该地区晚二叠世主要为一套海陆交互相含煤碎屑岩建造,未发现陆相火山岩出露,本文建立正式地层单位扎青组,以供参考,其时代暂归晚二叠—早三叠世。     

全球海气耦合模式中热盐环流对大气强迫的响应

大气环流与热盐环流(THC)变化之间的因果关系,是海气相互作用研究领域的一个悬而未决的问题。作者利用一个全球海气耦合模式-挪威卑尔根气候模式(BCM)的300a积分结果,讨论了冬季北大西洋涛动(NAO)对海洋的强迫与热盐环流的年际调整之间的关系。结果发现,在NAO活动的正位相,伴随着中纬度西风带的加强,北大西洋拉布拉多海热通量损失剧增,同时海表盐度出现正距平,二者的共同作用,令表层海水变沉、密度增大,海洋层结出现不稳定,导致深对流发生。在NAO活动达到最强劲状态之后3个月,拉布拉多海对流也达到最深。北大西洋热盐环流强度变化对拉布拉多海对流活动的响应,要滞后3a左右。而在年际尺度上,大西洋的极向热输送变化和热盐环流的变化则基本是同步的。对流活动对大气存在明显的反馈作用。在对流活动深度达到最大之后1～4个月,对流热释放令拉布拉多海表层气温明显升高。     

Displacements and transformations of nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor water masses in the tropical Pacific during the 1997 El Niño

A Lagrangian analysis was applied to the outputs of a coupled physical-biogeochemical model to describe the redistribution of nitrate-rich and nitrate-poor surface water masses in the tropical Pacific throughout the major 1997 El Niño. The same tool was used to analyze the causes of nitrate changes along trajectories and to investigate the consequences of the slow nitrate uptake in the high nutrient low chlorophyll (HNLC) region during the growth phase of the event. Three patterns were identified during the drift of water masses. The first mechanism is well known along the equator: oligotrophic waters from the western Pacific are advected eastward and retain their oligotrophic properties along their drift. The second concerns the persistent upwelling in the eastern basin. Water parcels have complex trajectories within this retention zone and remain mesotrophic. This study draws attention to the third process which is very specific to the HNLC region and to the El Niño period. During the 1997 El Niño, horizontal and vertical inputs of nitrate decreased so dramatically that nitrate uptake by phytoplankton became the only mechanism driving nitrate changes along pathways. The study shows that because of the slow nitrate uptake characteristic of the tropical Pacific HNLC system, nitrate in the pre-El Niño photic layer can support biological production for a period of several months. As a consequence, the slow nitrate uptake delays the gradual onset of oligotrophic conditions over nearly all the area usually occupied by upwelled waters. Owing to this process, mesotrophic conditions persist in the tropical Pacific during El Niño events.     

Turning the Tide: the need for sustainable sea transport in the Pacific

This paper reports on progress in developing a regional research and education strategy for Pacific Island countries and communities wishing to transition to a low carbon sea transport future. Sea transport is an absolute necessity for most such communities. All current services are fossil fuel based and are becoming increasingly unaffordable and unsustainable. The countries in the Pacific region are the most dependent on imported fossil fuels in the world, importing more than 95% of needs. Such dependency is having a crippling effect on national budgets and major impacts on key productive sectors. The region's transport issues are unique; small and vulnerable economies scattered at the ends of some of the longest transportation routes in the world and arguably the most challenging to maintain per capita and per sea mile. Alternatives to current fossil fuel powered sea transport have been almost totally ignored in recent regional and national debates and the issue has been largely invisible within the policy and donor strategy space at all levels despite concerted efforts over more than two decades to transition Pacific countries' electricity sector fossil fuel use. The University of the South Pacific has been collaborating with a network of stakeholders and knowledge partners since 2012 to advance this agenda, building off previous doctoral research and the resultant Sustainable Sea Transport Talanoa 2012. Prasad et al. (2013) set out the basis for a catalytic research program following from the consensually agreed outputs of SSTT 2012 and this paper records the progress made since.     

A map series of the Southern East Pacific Rise and its flanks, 15° S to 19° S

Four large-scale bathymetric maps of the Southern East Pacific Rise and its flanks between 15° S and 19° S display many of the unique features of this superfast spreading environment including abundant seamounts (the Rano Rahi Field), axial discontinuities, discontinuity migration, and abyssal hill variation. Along with a summary of the regional geology, these maps will provide a valuable reference for other sea-going programs on-and off-axis in this area, including the Mantle ELectromagnetic and Tomography (MELT) experiment.