极隙区粒子和电流的观测和研究

处于高纬向日面的极隙区是太阳风能量、动量和质量可以直接进入地球磁场并到达地球的近地空间的区域。本文简要介绍了极隙区的观测和研究，综述了极隙区的粒子沉降、场向电流、等离子体对流和电离层电流的特征。     

欧亚地区均衡残差大地水准面和上地幔强度

首先计算了欧亚地区均衡残差大地水准面．基于地幔热对流的内负荷理论和最新全球层析成像结果，探讨了欧亚地区中波长均衡残差大地水准面的地球动力学意义．研究结果表明，中波长均衡残差大地水准面主要受上地幔粘滞度和岩石层强度的影响，进而得出欧亚地区一些古老地盾和构造稳定地区的上地幔与年轻山脉及构造活动地区的上地幔结构存在着差异．这个差异主要是占老地盾和构造稳定地区，如波罗的海地盾、中西伯利亚地台、东欧等区域，冷却的上地幔已穿透地幔较深，上地幔与岩石层之间耦合较好;而年轻山脉和构造活动区，如帕米尔、天山、贝加尔活动带、青藏高原、日本海周围地区，在上地幔可能存在着热物质即粘滞度很低的软流层，上地幔与岩石层耦合程度较差，甚至有可能解耦．从欧亚地区上地幔属性的差异，可以解释该地区的一些地球动力学问题．     

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。     

利用地震层析成像数据计算地幔对流新模型的探讨

假设地幔地震层析成像数据对应的地幔横向不均匀结构是地幔热对流的结果. 将地震层析成像数据转化为地幔温度(或密度)不均匀分布，考虑热流体动力学的三个基本方程，顾及热输运方程中的非线性项，直接将地震层析成像转化的地幔温度不均匀分布作为内部荷载引入基本方程, 反演计算地幔对流. 本文在利用地震层析成像数据计算地幔对流模型的新理论和方法的基础上，用SH12WM13地震层析成像模型数据，计算了全球地幔对流格局. 结果表明，对流格局不仅依赖地震层析成像数据，而且在很大程度上受地幔动力学框架、热动力参数和边界条件的所确定的系统响应函数的影响. 显示了地幔中复杂的对流格局，特别是区域性层状对流以及多层对流环可能在地幔中存在的现象.     

IMPACT OF CONVECTION OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ON TROPICAL CYCLONE MOTION OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC DURING SUMMER MONSOON

The intraseasonal oscillation(ISO) of the South China Sea(SCS, 105-120°E, 5-20°N) convection and its influences on the genesis and track of the western North Pacific(WNP) tropical cyclones(TCs) were explored, based on the daily average of NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data, the OLR data and the western North Pacific tropical cyclone best-track data from 1979 to 2008. The mechanism of the influences of ISO on TC movement and the corresponding large-scale circulation were discussed by a trajectory model. It was found as follows.(1) During the SCS summer monsoon, the SCS convection exhibits the ISO features with active phases alternating with inactive phases. The monsoon circulation patterns are significantly different during these two phases. When the SCS convection is active(inactive), the SCS-WNP monsoon trough stretches eastward(retreats westward) due to the activity(inactivity) of SCS monsoon, and the WNP subtropical high retreats eastward(stretches westward), which enhances(suppresses) the monsoon circulation.(2) The amount of TC genesis in the active phase is much more than that in the inactive phase. A majority of TCs form west of 135 °E during the active phases but east of 135 °E in the inactive phases.(3) The TCs entering the area west of 135 °E and south of 25 °N would move straight into the SCS in the active phase, or recurve northward in the inactive phase.(4) Simulation results show that the steering flow associated with the active(inactive)phases is in favor of straight-moving(recurving) TCs. Meanwhile, the impacts of the locations of TC genesis on the characteristics of TC track cannot be ignored. TCs that occurred father westward are more likely to move straight into the SCS region.     

Excess of bottom-released methane in an Arctic shelf sea polynya in winter

Latent heat polynyas are regions generating strong ice formation, convection and extensive water mass formation. Here we report on the effects of these processes on resuspension of sediments and subsequent methane release from the seafloor and on the resulting excess methane concentration in surface water on a polar shelf during winter. The study is based on measurements of concentration and δ¹³C values of methane, water temperature, salinity, light transmission and sea ice data collected in March 2003 in Storfjorden, southern Svalbard. In winter, strong and persistent northeasterly winds create polynyas in eastern Storfjorden and cause ice formation. The resulting brine-enriched water cascades from the Storfjordbanken into the central depression thereby enhancing the turbulence near the seafloor. A distinct benthic nepheloid layer was observed reflecting the resuspension of sediments by the cascading dense bottom water. High concentrations of ¹³C-depleted methane suggest submarine discharge of methane with the resuspended sediments. As the source of the submarine methane, we propose recent bacterial methanogenesis near the sediment surface because of extremely high accumulation rates of organic carbon in Storfjorden. Convective mixing transports newly released methane from the bottom to the sea surface. This eventually results in an excess concentration in surface water with respect to the atmospheric equilibrium, and a sea-air flux of methane during periods of open water. When a new ice cover is formed, methane becomes trapped in the water column and subsequently oxidized. Thus, the residual methane is strongly enriched in ¹³C in relation to the δ¹³_CCH4${\delta }^{13}{\mathrm{C}}_{{\mathrm{CH}}_4}$ signature of atmospheric methane. Our results show that latent heat polynyas may induce a direct pathway for biogases like methane from sediments to the atmosphere through coupling of biogeochemical and oceanographic processes. Extrapolating these processes to all Arctic ocean polynyas, we estimate a transfer of CH₄ between 0.005 and 0.02 Tg yr⁻¹. This is not a large contribution but the fluxes from the polynyas are 20–200 times larger than the ocean average and the methane evasion process in polynyas is certainly one that can be altered under climate change.