Riparian alder fens — source or sink for nutrients and dissolved organic carbon? — 2. Major sources and sinks

Natural riparian forest wetlands are known to be effective in their ability to remove nitrate by denitrification and sediments with attached phosphorus via sedimentation. On the other hand, litter input and decomposition is a process of crucial importance in cycling of nitrogen and phosphorus in a forest ecosystem.In this study we investigated the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the alder fen ecosystem through leaf litter and its decomposition and the removal capacity of nitrogen and phosphorus by measuring denitrification and sedimentation in the alder fen.We found an average input of leaf litter during fall 1998 of 226 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ DW with nutrient concentration of 0.17% P and 1.6% N. This means a yearly input of 0.4 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ P and 3.6 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ N. The decomposition of leaf litter using litter bags with small and large mesh size resulted in bags with macroinvertebrates (large mesh size) and without macroinvertebrates (small mesh size). After 57 days the litter bags with macroinvertebrates had a decomposition rate of 79%.Denitrification was measured in May and June of 1997 using the acetylene inhibition technique on intact soil cores and slurry-experiments. The average annual denitrification rate was 0.2 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ N using data from the core experiments. The denitrification rate was higher after addition of nitrate, indicating that denitrification in the riparian alder fen is mainly controlled by nitrate supply.The sedimentation rate in the investigated alder fen ranged from 0.47 kg m⁻² yr⁻¹ DW to 4.46 kg m⁻² yr⁻¹ DW in 1998 depending on the study site and method we used. Sedimentation rates were lower in newly designed plate traps than in cylinder traps. The alder fen also showed lower rates than the adjacent creek Briese. Average phosphorus removal rate was 0.33 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ P.Input sources for the surface water of the alder fen are sediment mineralization and decomposition of leaf litter; output sources are sedimentation and denitrification. This study showed that a nutrient input of 24.58 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ N, 8.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ P and 419 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ DOC into the surface water of the alder fen is possible. Alder fens cannot improve water quality of an adjacent river system. This is only true for a nearly pristine alder fen with the hydrology of 10 months flooded conditions and 2 months non-flooding conditions a year.     

Predicting average annual groundwater levels from climatic variables: an empirical model

On the basis of one-dimensional theoretical water flow model, we demonstrate that the groundwater level variation follows a pattern similar to recharge fluctuation, with a time delay that depends on the characteristics of aquifer, recharge pattern as well as the distance between the recharge and observation locations. On the basis of a water budget model and the groundwater flow model, we propose an empirical model that links climatic variables to groundwater level. The empirical model is tested using a partial data set from historical records of water levels from more than 80 wells in a monitoring network for the carbonate rock aquifer, southern Manitoba, Canada. The testing results show that the predicted groundwater levels are very close to the observed ones in most cases. The overall average correlation coefficient between the predicted and observed water levels is 0.92. This proposed empirical statistical model could be used to predict variations in groundwater level in response to different climate scenarios in a climate change impact assessment.     

A New Model for Heat Flow in Extensional Basins: Estimating Radiogenic Heat Production

Radiogenic heat production (RHP) represents a significant fraction of surface heat flow, both on cratons and in sedimentary basins. RHP within continental crust—especially the upper crust—is high. RHP at any depth within the crust can be estimated as a function of crustal age. Mantle RHP, in contrast, is always low, contributing at most 1 to 2 mW/m² to total heat flow. Radiogenic heat from any noncrystalline basement that may be present also contributes to total heat flow. RHP from metamorphic rocks is similar to or slightly lower than that from their precursor sedimentary rocks. When extension of the lithosphere occurs—as for example during rifting—the radiogenic contribution of each layer of the lithosphere and noncrystalline basement diminishes in direct proportion to the degree of extension of that layer. Lithospheric RHP today is somewhat less than in the distant past, as a result of radioactive decay. In modeling, RHP can be varied through time by considering the half lives of uranium, thorium, and potassium, and the proportional contribution of each of those elements to total RHP from basement. RHP from sedimentary rocks ranges from low for most evaporites to high for some shales, especially those rich in organic matter. The contribution to total heat flow of radiogenic heat from sediments depends strongly on total sediment thickness, and thus differs through time as subsidence and basin filling occur. RHP can be high for thick clastic sections. RHP in sediments can be calculated using ordinary or spectral gamma-ray logs, or it can be estimated from the lithology.     

Global heat budget, plate tectonics and climatic change

For the past 2000 Ma, the temperature of the Earth's surface has fluctuated around a mean similar to that of today, although individual locations have undergone long-term changes of ∼30°C at different times in different places. Water bodies absorb at least five times as much solar radiation as land surfaces, and ocean currents transport the excess heat absorbed in the tropics towards the poles. Changes in the distribution of land and sea due to plate tectonics explain the major temperature fluctuations (>25°C) around the globe in the last 350 Ma, and are first-order controls. Large-scale changes in ocean currents and thermohaline circulations are probably second-order controls (15–25°C). The Milankovitch orbital cycles are third-order controls producing variations in air temperature of the order of 10°C, while massive volcanic eruptions and changes in carbon dioxide are amongst the fourth-order controls producing minor perturbations (<5°C). The major climatic fluctuations are continuous but regional in effect and not global. Extraterrestrial factors may not cause major changes in climate when viewed from a geological perspective.     

Global thermal and dynamical perturbations due to Cretaceous mantle avalanche

The numerical models of mantle convection agree to depict avalanches behaviour according to the level of endothermicity of the spinel → perovskite phase change. Their potential effects on the global thermal and dynamical states of the mantle have been computed thanks to a numerical code, which takes into account both the 400-km exothermic and the 660-km endothermic phase changes. The cycle followed by the avalanches is: local layering, destabilization of the 660-km thermal layer, travelling and spreading on the core, and reappearing of the local layering. Therefore, mantle convection is characterized by quiet periods of partial layering embedded in catastrophic events. During the avalanche, the amplitude of the surface velocity is multiplied by two, which would imply an enhanced plate tectonic and ridge activities. The global thermal effects of the avalanche are compatible with a high mantle temperature and an acceleration of Earth's rotation during the Cretaceous. They also offer a coherent explanation to locate the origin of mantle plumes both within the CMB and just below the transition zone.     

一次与西南低涡相联系的低空急流的数值研究

梅雨期西南低涡的东移发展与长江中下游降水的加强有密切关系,作者采用中尺度模式对一次西南低涡及其伴随低空急流的发展演变进行了数值模拟.模拟结果表明:在长江中下游大巴山地区低空急流先于西南涡东移发展;西南低涡及低空急流的生成发展在开始阶段与中层(400 hPa)的弱辐散密切相关;南风分量在西南低空急流的演变发展过程中起着更为主动的作用;南风分量增大中心位于南风分量中心的前方,促使南风分量中心东移;南风分量的动量方程收支分析表明水平平流项和产生项是促使南风分量变化的主要作用项,水平平流项和垂直平流项大部分相互抵消,科里奥利项的作用不可忽视,而其他项的值较小,在个别阶段和地区行星边界层项的作用在低层也较大.     

上地幔变黏度小尺度对流的数值研究

基于二维模型，利用有限元方法，研究上地幔-岩石圈系统的变黏度小尺度对流. 考虑该系统的黏度随温度以指数形式变化，数值结果表明，当黏度随温度变化较剧烈时，由于低温高黏度，系统的最上部物质不参与对流，系统发育形成一个类似于岩石圈的静止盖层. 计算表面热流、地形起伏及重力异常与对流格局有较好的相关性，高热流、上升地形对应于对流的上升区，反之低热流、下降地形与对流的下降区对应.     

耦合海-气环流模式中双热带辐合带现象及其热收支分析

文中研究了耦合海-气环流模式中的双热带辐合带(Double ITCZ)现象,并对这一现象的成因从海洋热量收支的角度进行了初步分析。Double ITCZ现象是在热带太平洋赤道南北两侧各出现一条ITCZ的现象,这是耦合海-气环流模式中的较为普遍的一种异常现象,与实际气候中出现的Double ITCZ现象并非指同一问题。文中对比观测和模式结果,指出了Double ITCZ现象的主要特征,针对它的出现过程进行细致分析,再利用模式输出的热量收支各项进行统计,得到了从海洋热收支分析得到的海表温度变化原因。与观测到的正常模态相比,Double ITCZ是一个异常的模态,它的特征突出地表现为西太平洋暖池区的降温和东南太平洋10°S附近的升温。海洋热量收支分析表明,暖池区的降温主要是受到扩散的作用,而表层平流的异常增暖在决定异常辐合带区升温过程中占第一位的作用。     

1991年江淮暴雨时期的能量和水汽循环研究

通过对 1991年 5～ 7月江淮暴雨期全球范围的水汽输送和不同降水过程中江淮暴雨区及其临近区域的水汽收支和视热源和视水汽汇的计算分析得到了以下结论 :( 1)从水汽输送的机制来看 ,一方面 ,有大量的水汽以定常涡动的方式从孟加拉湾及南海输送到中国江淮地区 ;另一方面 ,江淮地区的瞬变涡动水汽向北输出 ,这可能与江淮地区频繁活动的α和β中尺度系统有关 ,它们将江淮地区汇集的充沛的水汽除了大部分以降水形式降下外 ,剩余部分继续向水汽较少的高纬地区输出 ,以维持全球水汽的平衡。( 2 )在降水过程中 ,局地蒸发项在水汽的供应中或再循环中十分重要 ,其数值一般为降水量的 13 ～ 12 ,这与1998年的降水情况相似。( 3 )在降水过程中 ,暴雨区的水汽主要是从南边界和西边界流入的 ,东边界和北边界则流出 ,并且水汽的流入、流出主要在中低层进行。 (a)在流入边界上 ,水汽通量的垂直分布存在差异 ,暴雨区西边界和南边界的水汽流入的垂直差异可能与其所在的地理位置有密切关系。 (b)对于暴雨区 ,不同强度的降水过程水汽的主要来源有所不同。( 4)在 5次降水过程中 ,视热源和视水汽汇的较大值对应降水的大值区 ,表明了水汽凝结加热对大气加热所起的主要作用。梅雨期降水 ,以对流性降水为主 ,对流活动随季节变化     

台风区和外围暴雨区的旋转风、散度风动能收支

用完全的散度风(v_D)和旋转风(v_R)动能收支方程对8116台风和8407台风以及8116台风与其外围暴雨区的关系作了讨论。结果表明:台风区的有效位能通过散度风动能(K_D)转换为旋转风动能(K_R).台风向区域外部输出动能,在暴雨区上空通过涡度、散度场相互作用的转换机制由K_R向K_D转换,散度风加大触发对流发展产生暴雨,这可能是台风与其外围暴雨联系的一种能量过程。