Trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in deep Gulf of Mexico sediments

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace elements were determined for surface (top 2 cm) sediment samples collected during the deep Gulf of Mexico benthos (DGoMB) study .These elements and compounds are known to be toxic to organisms at high concentrations and may affect biological communities. There is no indication of major anthropogenic input of the elements Be, Co, Cr, Fe, Si, Tl, V, K, Mg, Ca, Sr and Zn, based on normalization to Al. The concentrations of these metals in the sediment are a function of the relative amounts of trace-metal-rich Mississippi River-derived silicate material and trace-metal-poor plankton-derived carbonate. This is not true for the elements Ba, Ni, Pb, Cd, As, Cu and Mn, whose concentrations show considerable scatter when normalized to Al and a general enrichment. On a normalized basis, Mn is enriched 5–10 fold, Cu and Ni 2–3 fold and Pb 2 fold over Mississippi River-derived material. These enrichments are likely the result of remobilization of metals from depths in the sediment column where reducing conditions exist. The Ba concentrations at selected sites are higher than those of average clay-rich sediments, but are typical of sediments from near oil well platforms in the northern Gulf of Mexico. In the case of Ba, it seems likely that the enrichments, as high as a factor of 10, are due to disposal of oil well drilling mud. The Ba-enriched samples are from the three shallowest water sites in the Mississippi Trough (sites MT1, 2 and 3) and from site C1 and WC5. All are in an area of intense petroleum exploration and development. PAH concentrations are also elevated at MT1, MT3 and C1. The total PAH concentration ranged from not detected (ND) to 1033 ng/g with a mean of 140 ng/g. Even at the sites most enriched in PAHs and trace elements, the concentrations are not at the levels expected to adversely affect the biota. However, these predicted non-effects are based on research using mostly near-shore estuarine species, not on the indigenous species at the sampling sites.     

Population ecology of the endangered Himalayan Yew in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary of North Western Himalaya for conservation management

The Himalayan Yew （Taxus baccata subsp, wallichiana） is an endangered native high value medicinal plant of the Himalayan Region. The several medicinal properties of the bark and leaves of this species have increased its risk of extinction due to pressures for utilization. It is also subjected to harvest for fuelwood. The species does not regenerate well from seed and that is another risk factor. The objective of this research was to investigate the population ecology of the species as a foundation for its conservation. Six forest communities in the Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary where the species is present were sampled. The abundance of the species, impacts of harvesting and its current regeneration patterns indicate that it may soon be extirpated from the Sanctuary. A plan for conserving the remaining sub-populations is presented. It could provide a template for conservation in other locations where the species is at risk.     

Establishment and application of an intelligent treating method for oil spill identification

In the identifying process of an oil spill accident, manual integral and artificial visual comparison are commonly used at present to determine the oil spill sources, these methods are time-consuming and easily affected by human factors. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve the purpose of rapid identification of an oil spill accident. In this paper, an intelligent method of automatic recognition, integration and calculation of diagnostic ratio of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) spectrum are established. Firstly, four hundreds of samples collected around the world were analyzed using a standard method and Retention time locking technology (RTL) was applied to reduce the change of retention time of GC/MS spectrum. Secondly, the automatic identification, integration of n-alkanes, biomarker compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and calculation of the diagnostic ratios were realized by MATLAB software. Finally, a database of oil fingerprints were established and applied successfully in a spill oil accident. Based on the new method and database, we could acquire the diagnostic ratios of an oil sample and find out the suspected oil within a few minutes. This method and database can improve the efficiency in spilled oil identification.     

Seismic parameters controlling far-field tsunami amplitudes: A review

We present a review of the influence of various parameters of the sources of major oceanic earthquakes on the amplitude of tsunamis at transoceanic distances. We base our computations on the normal mode formalism, applied to realistic Earth models, but interpret our principal results in the simpler framework of Haskell theory in the case of a water layer over a Poisson half-space. Our results show that source depth and focal geometry play only a limited role in controlling the amplitude of the tsunami; their combined influence reaches at most 1 order of magnitude down to a depth of 150 km into the hard rock. More important are the effects of directivity due to rupture propagation along the fault, which for large earthquakes can result in a ten-fold decrease in tsunami amplitude by destructive interference, and the possibility of enhanced tsunami excitation in material with weaker elastic properties, such as sedimentary layers. Modelling of the so-called tsunami earthquakes suggests that an event for which 10% of the moment release takes place in sediments generates a tsunami 10 times larger than its seismic moment would suggest. We also investigate the properties of non-double couple sources and find that their relative excitation of tsunamis and Rayleigh waves is in general comparable to that of regular seismic sources. In particular, landslides involving weak sediments could result in very large tsunamis. Finally, we emphasize that the final amplitude at a receiving shore can be strongly affected by focusing and defocusing effects, due to variations in bathymetry along the path of the tsunami.     

Preliminary results of seismic hazard assessment in the Sannio-Matese area of Southern Italy

The seismic hazard in the Sannio-Matese area has been worked out by a modification of the McGuire (1976) computing programme, taking into account the influence of nine potential seismic source zones.The method uses truncated-quadratic intensity-frequency distribution and azimuth-dependent intensity attenuation derived from isoseismal maps for each of the seismogenetic sources. A new modification has been introduced to take into account different decay of the intensity in the near (to VIII degree) and far (from VIII degree) field.Different assumptions about maximum possible intensities and truncation of intensity-frequency laws are used to evaluate the effects of the uncertainties on the computed hazard at high intensities. Intensities associated with different level of annual probability are computed for five test sites in the considered area. Maps displaying the expected intensity for a mean return period of 500 years (pa 0.002) are presented and compared with observed intensities.Presented at the XXIst General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Symposium on Methods of Seismic Hazard Assessment in Europe, Sofia, 23–27 August 1988.     

利用水化学场,温度场判断矿坑水补给源及其比例

不同补给源的水,其水质、水温存在差异。根据质量和热量守恒原理,通过对不同补给水源进行长期观察,可确定矿坑水的补给源及其比例。作者推导出了存在二种和三种补给水源情况下各补给水源所占比例的计算公式,并应用到湖南洞口县的石下江煤矿,取得了良好效果。     

TROPICAL ATMOSPHERIC NONLINEAR STEADY RESPONSE SOLUTION UNDER EFFECTS OF PAIRED HEAT SOURCES OF CONTRASTING NATURE

Based on steady semi-geostrophic model equations,analysis is carried out of the linear and nonlinearmodification/response of the tropical atmosphere to the forcing of ideal paired heat sources of contrasting nature.Re-suits show that the linear part is dominant in the steady response but the nonlinear modification is quite noticable in theneighborhood of the heat source and between the paired sources,and the barotropic mode and second baroclinic modeplay a different role in the modification,with the barotropic(second baroclinic)mode modification depending largely onthe Rossby wave self-interaction(the magnitude due to the Kelvin-Rossby wave interaction)between the pairedsources.     

厦门酸雨与气象要素的关系及污染源的分析

根据厦门市１９８３－１９９１年９年春雨，梅雨及台风雨酸度的观测结果，结合各场雨水同步观测的气象要素资料，分析各类型雨水酸度与气象要素的关系。同时依降水的酸化原理估计了外来源及局的地源对厦门酸雨形成的贡献。     

TROPICAL ATMOSPHERIC NONLINEAR STEADY RESPONSE SOLUTION UNDER EFFECTS OF PAIRED HEAT SOURCES OF CONTRASTING NATURE*

Based on steady semi-geostrophic model equations,analysis is carried out of the linear and nonlinear modification/response of the tropical atmosphere to the forcing of ideal paired heat sources of contrasting nature.Resuits show that the linear part is dominant in the steady response but the nonlinear modification is quite noticable in the neighborhood of the heat source and between the paired sources,and the barotropic mode and second baroclinic mode play a different role in the modification,with the barotropic(second baroclinic)mode modification depending largely on the Rossby wave self-interaction(the magnitude due to the Kelvin-Rossby wave interaction)between the paired sources.     

Holocene alluviation in Southeast England and some implications for palaeohydrological studies

Implicit in models of palaeohydrological reconstruction is the assumption that a close relationship exists between climate, hydrological regime, and fluvial systems. Unfortunately, there can be a number of complicating factors involved, some of which are becoming increasingly well known. Research into Holocene alluviation in southeast England has demonstrated some associated difficulties which range from the problem of relating anthropogenically modified drainage networks to an understanding of contemporary rates of floodplain development to the impact of prehistoric societies on valley sedimentation. A theoretical model is presented whereby varying geomorphic domains contributing to floodplain and valley fill construction can be recognized. It is suggested that attempts to apply this framework to palaeohydrological studies may assist in the realization of a more accurate reconstruction in which former hydrological responses are integrated within a broader palaeoenvironmental context.