A Spectrum-Independent Procedure for Correcting Eddy Fluxes Measured with Separated Sensors

We investigate flux underestimates in eddy correlation measurements that are caused by horizontal separation of the sensors. A common eddy correlation setup consists of a sonic anemometer and a humidity sensor which, because of its bulk, must be placed some distance away from the sonic path, leading to a flux loss (of latent heat). Utilizing an additional fast temperature sensor placed near the humidity sensor, we develop a procedure for correcting for this loss. The procedure simultaneously corrects the sensible heat flux for the difference between true temperature and sonic temperature. Our correction procedure, which does not depend on the shape of the cospectrum, is then compared to the widely-used procedure following Moore (1986), which assumes a cospectral model ('Kansas Model). Both correction methods are applied to data collected within the internal boundary layer over a rice paddy, downwind of arid land. Under conditions of good fetch, they were found to agree well. Under poor fetch conditions, the model-based correction tended to be too small, while the spectrum-independent combined correction was robust. The latter is thus recommended for situations where the cospectral shape can be expected to deviate from the 'Kansas shape.     

Internal tides and waves near the continental shelf edge

Abstract

The subject is reviewed from the viewpoints of theory, internal tide and wave structure and their implications.

A wider theoretical context suggests scope for further investigation of natural or nearly-trapped forms above the inertial frequency.

Although internal tides in many locations are observed to have first-mode vertical structure, higher modes are seen offshore from shallow shelf-break forcing and for particular Froude numbers, and may be expected locally near generation. Bottom intensification is often observed where the sea floor matches the characteristic slope. Solitons form from internal tides of large amplitude or at large changes of depth.

Internal tides and solitons are observed also at many sills and in straits, and to intensify in canyons.

Non-linear effects of the waves, especially solitons, include the conveyance of water, nutrients, ‘‘mixing potential'’ etc. away from their source to other locations, and the generation of mean currents. The waves transfer energy and possibly heat between the ocean and shelf, may be a source of medium frequency waves on the shelf (periods of minutes) and can contribute to interior mixing and overturning, bottom stirring and sediment movement.     

Carbon isotopic fractionation by desorption of shale gases

Geochemical studies of shale gas and conventional reservoirs within the Triassic Yanchang Formation of Xiasiwan and Yongning Field, Ordos Basin show that methane is isotopically depleted in ¹³C as compared to δ¹³C₁ calculated by the Ro based on the relationship between δ¹³C₁ and Ro. Geochemical fractionation during the adsorption/desorption process of shale system may play a significant part in influencing δ¹³C₁ values of shale gas. Two shale core samples from confined coring of the Yanchang Formation were adopted segmented desorption experiments to examine this phenomenon. The results show that the δ¹³C₁ of desorbed gas changes little in the first few phases of the experiments at low desorption levels, but become less negative rapidly when the fraction of desorbed methane exceeds 85%. The desorption process for the last 15% fraction of the methane from the shale samples shows a wide variation in δ¹³C₁ from −49‰ to −33.9‰. Moreover, δ¹³C₁ of all desorbed methane from the shale samples is substantially depleted in ¹³C than that calculated by Ro, according to Stahl and Carey's δ¹³C₁–Ro equation for natural gas generated from sapropelic organic matter. This shows some gases with isotopically enriched in ¹³C cannot be desorbed under the temperature and pressure conditions of the desorption experiments. This observation may be the real reason for the δ¹³C₁ of shale gases and conventional reservoirs becomes more negative in Xiasiwan and Yongning Fields, Ordos Basin. The magnitude of the deviation between the δ¹³C₁ of shale gas and that calculated by Ro may be related to the adsorption capacity of shale or the proportion of absorbed gases. In this way, we may be able to evaluate the relative adsorption capacity of shale in geological conditions by δ¹³C₁ of the shale gas, or by δ¹³C₁ of conventional gas which generated by the shale with certainty. The δ¹³C₁ of conventional gas in Dingbian and Yingwang Fields have no deviation because the TOC value of the hydrocarbon source rock is relatively low.     

Characteristics and origin of carbon isotopes of n-alkanes in crude oils from the western Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China sea

The quantitative characterization of carbon isotopes of n-alkanes is commonly carried out in organic geochemical studies. Possible controls on carbon isotopes include source organic matter, maturity, fractionation during oil expulsion and migration, and the mixing of different oils. In this study of the origin of crude oils in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin, the influences of all of these factors have been considered in reaching a conclusion. Carbon isotopes of n-alkanes in the crude oils, and the extracts of the two effective source rocks (the Wenchang and Enping formations) in the basin, exhibit clear differences. The Wenchang source rocks have heavy δ¹³C values that remain almost constant or become slightly heavier with increasing carbon number. The Enping source rocks have light δ¹³C values that become lighter with increasing carbon number. Two groups of oils in this area were identified based on the carbon isotopes of the n-alkanes; groupIoils are similar to extracts of the Wenchang source rocks. However, the groupIIoils are different from both the Wenchang and Enping source rocks and the carbon isotopic profiles of their n-alkanes exhibit a “V” feature with increasing carbon number. The results of artificial thermal maturation experiments indicate that, from the early stage to the peak stage of oil generation (with EasyRo between 0.64% and 1.02%), the δ¹³C values of n-alkanes in the pyrolysis oils become heavier by about 3‰ with increasing thermal maturity, but the shape of the carbon isotopic profiles are not significantly changed. Calculated δ¹³C values of n-alkanes in “mixed” artificial pyrolysis oils indicate that the mixture of oils generated from the same source rocks with different maturities could not change the carbon isotopic profile of the n-alkanes, however, a mixing of the Wenchang and Enping oils could give the “V” feature in the profiles, similar to the groupIIoils in this area. The groupIIoils appear to be mixed Wenchang and Enping oils, the latter being the dominant component in the mixture. We conclude that the source organic matter and the degree of mixing are the main factors controlling the carbon isotopic characteristics of n-alkanes in crude oils in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin.     

Evaluating the economic damage of climate change on global coral reefs

This paper evaluates the global economic damage arising from the effects of climate change and associated carbon dioxide concentrations on the loss of coral reefs. We do this by first estimating the effects of sea surface temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations on coral cover. We develop a statistical relationship between coral coverage and sea surface temperature that indicates that the effects are dependent on the temperature range. For example, we find that increasing sea surface temperature causes coral coverage to decrease when sea surface temperature is higher than 26.85 °C, with the estimated reduction being 2.3% when sea surface temperature increases by 1%. In addition, we find that a 1% carbon dioxide increase induces a 0.6% reduction in global coral coverage. We also estimate the resultant loss in economic value based on a meta-analysis of the recreational and commercial value of reef coverage and a crude proportional approach for other value factors. The meta-analysis shows that the coral reef value decreases by 3.8% when coral cover falls by 1%. By combining these two steps we find that the lost value in terms of the global coral reef value under climate change scenarios ranges from US$3.95 to US$23.78 billion annually.     

Introduction,preliminary handling,and diseases of grass carp in New Zealand

Fry of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Val.), were air‐freighted from Hong Kong to New Zealand in October 1971. The fish were at first kept in tanks with a recirculating water supply, where they soon showed symptoms of parasitic infestation and suffered heavy mortality.

Attempts were made to remove parasites with chemotherapeutic treatment. Tripartiella sp., Dactylogyrus ctenopharyngodonis, and Gyrodactylus clenopharyngodontis were eliminated by prolonged bathing of the infected fish with quinine. Chemical treatment failed to eliminate Ichthyophthirius mullifiliis from the body surface and the gills, but the rate of spontaneous recovery of the fish from this disease was accelerated by keeping them in clean, running water. Experiments to remove the cestode Bothriocephalus gowkongensis from the intestine of the fish with tetravalent tin compounds and to control the intermediate host (Cyclops) in the water resulted in the eradiction of the cestode.

When parasitic infestations had been brought under control the fish were transferred to outdoor ponds, where they began to feed on aquatic and terrestrial vegetation and rapidly increased in size.     

Effects of anthropogenic seawater acidification on acid-base balance in the sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris

The purple-tipped sea urchin, Psammechinus miliaris, was exposed to artificially acidified seawater treatments (pH(w) 6.16, 6.63 or 7.44) over a period of 8 days. Urchin mortality of 100% was observed at pH(w) 6.16 after 7 days and coincided with a pronounced hypercapnia in the coelomic fluid producing an irrecoverable acidosis. Coelomic fluid acid-base measures showed that an accumulation of CO(2) and a significant reduction in pH occurred in all treatments compared with controls. Bicarbonate buffering was employed in each case, reducing the resultant acidosis, but compensation was incomplete even under moderate environmental hypercapnia. Significant test dissolution was inferred from observable increases in the Mg(2+) concentration of the coelomic fluid under all pH treatments. We show that a chronic reduction of surface water pH to below 7.5 would be severely detrimental to the acid-base balance of this predominantly intertidal species; despite its ability to tolerate fluctuations in pCO(2) and pH in the rock pool environment. The absence of respiratory pigment (or any substantial protein in the coelomic fluid), a poor capacity for ionic regulation and dependency on a magnesium calcite test, make echinoids particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic acidification. Geological sequestration leaks may result in dramatic localised pH reductions, e.g. pH 5.8. P. miliaris is intolerant of pH 6.16 seawater and significant mortality is seen at pH 6.63.     

Effects of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) bed

The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of an eelgrass bed by the coast of Iwakuni, Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We monitored eelgrass shoot density and volume of ulvoid accumulation in the study site and evaluated effects of the accumulated ulvoid canopy on the percent survival, seedling density, growth rates, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and carbon contents of eelgrass. Eelgrass shoot density decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid. Also, seedling density decreased by the increase in the ulvoid volumes. Shoot density, seedling density and leaf elongation were negatively correlated with ulvoid volume. Carbon contents in eelgrass decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid (canopy height: 25cm). These results suggest that accumulation of ulvoid bloom has significant negative impacts on the structure and function of eelgrass bed, i.e. decreases in vegetative shoot density, seedling density, shoot height and growth rate.     

Preliminary model of nitrogen loads from southern bluefin tuna aquaculture

Farming of wild tuna in coastal areas is a relatively new aquaculture industry and little is known about the magnitude of nutrient discharges to the environment. In this work we present a preliminary model of nitrogen loads from southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) aquaculture in lower Spencer Gulf, South Australia. The model was developed based on feed inputs, estimates of fish metabolism and environmental data. Two pens were monitored over a full grow-out season to determine nitrogen sedimentation fluxes, remineralization at the sediment-water interface and accumulation in the sediments. The model suggests that the high metabolic rates of tuna lead to low retention of nitrogen in fish tissues (7-12% of feed inputs) and high environmental losses (260-502kg Ntonne(-1) growth). Considering Australian annual production of 4380tonnes over initial stocked biomass, total loads can reach 1137tonnes N per year, 86-92% lost as dissolved wastes. The nature of wastes suggests low localized impacts at current stocking densities and holding periods.     

Air--sea gaseous exchange of PCB at the Venice lagoon (Italy)

Water bodies are important storage media for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and this function is increased in coastal regions because their inputs are higher than those to the open sea. The air-water interface is extensively involved with the global cycling of PCBs because it is the place where they accumulate due to depositional processes and where they may be emitted by gaseous exchange. In this work the parallel collection of air, microlayer and sub-superficial water samples was performed in July 2005 at a site in the Venice lagoon to evaluate the summer gaseous flux of PCBs. The total concentration of PCBs (sum of 118 congeners) in air varies from 87 to 273 pg m(-3), whereas in the operationally defined dissolved phase of microlayer and sub-superficial water samples it varies from 159 to 391 pg L(-1). No significant enrichment of dissolved PCB into the microlayer has been observed, although a preferential accumulation of most hydrophobic congeners occurs. Due to this behaviour, we believe that the modified two-layer model was the most suitable approach for the evaluation of the flux at the air-sea interface, because it takes into account the influence of the microlayer. From its application it appears that PCB volatilize from the lagoon waters with a net flux varying from 58 to 195 ng m(-2)d(-1) (uncertainty: +/-50-64%) due to the strong influence of wind speed. This flux is greater than those reported in the literature for the atmospheric deposition and rivers input and reveals that PCB are actively emitted from the Venice lagoon in summer months.