Fine resolution 3D temperature fields off Kerguelen from instrumented penguins

The use of diving animals as autonomous vectors of oceanographic instruments is rapidly increasing, because this approach yields cost-efficient new information and can be used in previously poorly sampled areas. However, methods for analyzing the collected data are still under development. In particular, difficulties may arise from the heterogeneous data distribution linked to animals’ behavior. Here we show how raw temperature data collected by penguin-borne loggers were transformed to a regular gridded dataset that provided new information on the local circulation off Kerguelen. A total of 16 king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) were equipped with satellite-positioning transmitters and with temperature–time–depth recorders (TTDRs) to record dive depth and sea temperature. The penguins’ foraging trips recorded during five summers ranged from 140 to 600 km from the colony and 11,000 dives >100 m were recorded. Temperature measurements recorded during diving were used to produce detailed 3D temperature fields of the area (0–200 m). The data treatment included dive location, determination of the vertical profile for each dive, averaging and gridding of those profiles onto 0.1°×0.1° cells, and optimal interpolation in both the horizontal and vertical using an objective analysis. Horizontal fields of temperature at the surface and 100 m are presented, as well as a vertical section along the main foraging direction of the penguins. Compared to conventional temperature databases (Levitus World Ocean Atlas and historical stations available in the area), the 3D temperature fields collected from penguins are extremely finely resolved, by one order finer. Although TTDRs were less accurate than conventional instruments, such a high spatial resolution of penguin-derived data provided unprecedented detailed information on the upper level circulation pattern east of Kerguelen, as well as the iron-enrichment mechanism leading to a high primary production over the Kerguelen Plateau.     

Numerical study of the meridional overturning circulation with “mixing hotspots” in the Pacific Ocean

Using an idealized ocean general circulation model, we examine the effect of “mixing hotspots” (localized regions of intense diapycnal mixing) predicted based on internal wave-wave interaction theory (Hibiya et al., 2006) on the meridional overturning circulation of the Pacific Ocean. Although the assumed diapycnal diffusivity in the mixing hotspots is a little larger than the predicted value, the upwelling in the mixing hotspots is not sufficient to balance the deep-water production; out of 17 Sv of the downwelled water along the southern boundary, only 9.2 Sv is found to upwell in the mixing hotspots. The imbalance as much as 7.8 Sv is compensated by entrainment into the surface mixed layer in the vicinity of the downwelling region. As a result, the northward transport of the deep water crossing the equator is limited to 5.5 Sv, much less than estimated from previous current meter moorings and hydrographic surveys. One plausible explanation for this is that the magnitude of the meridional overturning circulation of the Pacific Ocean has been overestimated by these observations. We raise doubts about the validity of the previous ocean general circulation models where diapycnal diffusivity is assigned ad hoc to attain the current magnitude suggested from current meter moorings and hydrographic surveys.     

Mean flow and variability in the southwestern East Sea

The Ulleung Basin is one of three deep basins that are contained within the East/Japan Sea. Current meter moorings have been maintained in this basin beginning in 1996. The data from these moorings are used to investigate the mean circulation pattern, variability of deep flows, and volume transports of major water masses in the Ulleung Basin with supporting hydrographic data and help from a high-resolution numerical model. The bottom water within the Ulleung Basin, which must enter through a constricted passage from the north, is found to circulate cyclonically—a pattern that seems prevalent throughout the East Sea. A strong current of about 6 cms⁻¹ on average flows southward over the continental slope off the Korean coast underlying the northward East Korean Warm Current as part of the mean abyssal cyclonic circulation. Volume transports of the northward East Korean Warm Current, and southward flowing East Sea Intermediate Water and East Sea Proper Water are estimated to be 1.4 Sv (1 Sv=10⁻⁶ m³ s⁻¹), 0.8 Sv, and 3.0–4.0 Sv, respectively. Deep flow variability involves a wide range of time scales with no apparent seasonal variations, whereas the deep currents in the northern East Sea are known to be strongly seasonal.     

Surface Elevation Distribution of Sea Waves Based on the Maximum Entropy Principle

A probability density function of surface elevation is obtained through improvement of the method introduced by Cieslikiewicz who employed the maximum entropy principle to investigate the surface elevation distribution. The density function can be easily extended to higher order according to demand and is non-negative everywhere, satisfying the basic behavior of the probability. Moreover because the distribution is derived without any assumption about sea waves, it is found from comparison with several accepted distributions that the new form of distribution can be applied in a wider range of wave conditions. In addition, the density function can be used to fit some observed distributions of surface vertical acceleration although something remains unsolved.     

3种鲈形目鱼类精子发生早期的超微结构研究

采用透射电镜技术,研究了3种鲈形目鱼类褐菖鲉Sebastiscus marmoratus、黑鲷Sparus macrocephalus及平鲷Rhabdosargus sarba(Forskal)精子发生早期精原细胞、初级精母细胞及次级精母细胞的超显微结构变化。结果表明,3种鱼生精细胞形态结构及代谢活动变化主要体现在核的变化、线粒体数目与结构的变化及高尔基体和溶酶体的行为变化。3种鱼核的变化基本一致:细胞核由近圆形或椭圆形转变为多角形;核质逐渐浓缩;核仁从明显结构至完全消失。褐菖鲉精原细胞时期线粒体分布较多,并出现拟染色质与线粒体相粘附;而平鲷与黑鲷精原细胞时期的线粒体分布较少,无拟染色质。3种鱼高尔基体与溶酶体的变化也有相似性。黑鲷的初级精母细胞中还观察到典型的环层状的髓样小体的结构。     

南海“耗氧”及“贫氧”水体中消耗氧与硝酸盐和磷酸盐再生比值估算

通过对南海深海区硝酸氮、活性磷酸盐垂直分布的研究,分析了南海垂向耗氧和贫氧水体中硝酸氮、活性磷酸盐和表观耗氧量之间的关系.结果表明垂向上次表层、中层和深层水团中氧的消耗与营养盐再生比值均小于理论值,由此推断水体的混合为有机物再矿化提供氧的补充,但水团混合对水柱中硝酸氮、活性磷酸盐的影响不大,在次表层和中层水团中造成营养盐浓度变化主要是由于有机物再矿化的结果;在深层水团中有机物再矿化对水柱中营养盐梯度变化已不占主导地位.     

重力异常垂向一阶导数的一种简便算法

利用拉格朗日插值导出了重力异常垂向一阶导数的计算公式，给出了地面以及地面之上不同高度的求导系数。该公式可以计算地面上的重力垂向一阶导数，还可以直接计算地面之上任意高度上的垂向一阶导数。鉴于该公式除系数不同外，与上延公式完全相同，因此，程序设计尤为简单。使用本公式对模型数据和实际资料进行了处理，证明了本算法的实用性。