The hydrological influence of black locust plantations in the loess area of northwest China

Black locust (Robina pseudoacacia) has become one of the most important shelter species in the loess area of northwest China. This paper summarizes recent research concerning its hydrological influence, including canopy interception, litter absorption capacity, its effect on rainfall kinetic energy, infiltration rates, surface runoff, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration, and its role in soil conservation. Several predictive models are listed. on the basis of existing results, optimum characteristics for an effective plantation are defined, and problems requiring further research are identified.     

Morphological Features of Co-Rich Manganese Deposits and Their Relation to Seabed Slopes

The morphological features associated with Co-rich manganese deposits, the size variations of nodules, and the occurrence of different substrates have been analyzed, to evaluate the influence of various seabed slope angles on the distribution of these features. The coverage and size of the crusts depend on their surface morphology and seabed topography, resulting in cobble-type, lineated, or step-like outcrops. Small nodules (1 - 4 cm in diameter) dominate all seabed slopes, with a few locations having nodules ranging from 1 to 8 or 1 to 10 cm. Sediments invariably occur as substrates for nodules and as cover for crusts, their coverage being inversely proportional to that of the nodules and crust outcrops. Steeper seafloor areas have large crust outcrops exposed with no or few nodules and sediments associated with them. The intermediate slopes have a combination of nodules, sediments, and crusts in various proportions, depending on topography and gradient. Large-scale nodule occurrences, followed by sediment fields and crust outcrops on seabed slopes of greater than 3 degrees, 3 - 7 degreees, and less than 15 degrees, respectively, represent typical morphological distribution zones of the Co-rich manganese deposits on a seamount in the central Pacific Ocean. A transition zone between nodule-dominated fields and large crust outcrops occurs for slopes from 7 degrees to 15 degrees. This detailed study on distribution of Co-rich deposits gives a better understanding for purposes of their exploitation.     

Occurrence and Distribution of Organic Contaminants in the Aquatic System in Berlin.Part II: Substituted Phenols in Berlin Surface Water

In a surface water screening, 30 representative surface water samples collected from rivers, canals, and lakes in Berlin were investigated for the presence of 22 substituted phenols. The phenols selected include the 11 phenols considered as “priority pollutants” by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA). Surface water samples were extracted applying solid-phase extraction with styrenedivinylbenzene adsorbent. The recoveries, determined in spiking experiments, were between 80 % and 103 %. After derivatization with N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyl-trifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) the samples were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Phenol, cresols, 2-ethylphenol, 2-chlorophenol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, pentachlorophenol, 2-nitrophenol, and 4-nitrophenol were detected in the surface water samples at concentrations between 0.02 μg/L and 7.8 μg/L, respectively. The distribution of these residues in the Berlin surface waters showed that the phenolic residues, with the exception of pentachlorophenol and 2-ethylphenol, do not originate primarily from municipal sewage treatment plants discharges. Some of the phenols are formed naturally or occur as ubiquitous anthropogenic contaminants in the aquatic system.     

青藏高原积雪的分布特征及其对地面反照率的影响

通过对１９８３年７月至１９９０年６月青藏高原主体５８个格点积雪资料进行ＥＯＦ分析发现，青藏高原主体积雪分布以西部兴都库什山脉。天山山脉以及南部喜马拉雅山脉为主；高原中部唐古拉山脉、北部昆仑山脉和东部巴颜喀拉山脉的积雪相对较少，青藏高原西部、南部的积雪变化与中部、北部和东部的积雪变化趋势存在反位相关系。另外，本文还对积雪对高原地面反照率的影响作了简单分析。     

Evidence for pervasive mud volcanism in Acidalia Planitia, Mars

We have mapped 18,000+ circular mounds in a portion of southern Acidalia Planitia using their sizes, shapes, and responses in Nighttime IR. We estimate that 40,000+ of these features could occur in the area, with a distribution generally corresponding to the southern half of the proposed Acidalia impact basin. The mounds have average diameters of about 1 km and relief up to 180 m and most overlie units mapped as Early Amazonian.High resolution images of mound surfaces show relatively smooth veneers, apron-like extensions onto the plains, moats, and concentric circular crestal structures. Some images show lobate and flow-like features associated with the mounds. Albedo of the mounds is generally higher than that of the surrounding plains. Visible and near-infrared spectra suggest that the mounds and plains have subtle mineralogical differences, with the mounds having enhanced coatings or possibly greater quantities of crystalline ferric oxides.Multiple analogs for these structures were assessed in light of new orbital data and regional mapping. Mud volcanism is the closest terrestrial analogy, though the process in Acidalia would have had distinctly martian attributes. This interpretation is supported by the geologic setting of the Acidalia which sits at the distal end of the Chryse-Acidalia embayment into which large quantities of sediments were deposited through the Hesperian outflow channels. In its distal position, Acidalia would have been a depocenter for accumulation of mud and fluids from outflow sedimentation.Thus, the profusion of mounds in Acidalia is likely to be a consequence of this basin’s unique geologic setting. Basinwide mud eruption may be attributable to overpressure (developed in response to rapid outflow deposition) perhaps aided by regional triggers for fluid expulsion related to events such as tectonic or hydrothermal pulses, destabilization of clathrates, or sublimation of a frozen body of water. Significant release of gas may have been involved, and the extensive mud volcanism could have created long-lived conduits for upwelling groundwaters, providing potential habitats for an in situ microbiota.Mud volcanism transports minimally-altered materials from depth to the surface, and mud volcanoes in Acidalia, therefore, could provide access to samples from deep zones that would otherwise be inaccessible. Since the distal setting of Acidalia also would favor concentration and preservation of potentially-present organic materials, samples brought to the surface by mud volcanism could include biosignatures of possible past or even present life. Accordingly, the mounds of Acidalia may offer a new class of exploration target.     

Species Composition and Some Ecological Notes on Diatom Communities of a Lotic Environment in Tarhunãh,Libya Artenzusammensetzung und einige ökologische Notizen über Diatomeengesellschaften eines lotischen Biotops in Tarhunãh/Libyen

Libya occupies a large part of the Sahara Desert, and is a predominantly arid country with extremely scarce freshwaters. Despite aridity, a distinct higher rainfall zone exists along its mediterranean coastal belt. A lotic environment (perennial stream) in Ain-Scersciara, Tarhunãh in northwest Libya was studied for the species composition of diatom communities and their ecological characteristics. The waters are generally alkaline (pH = 7.5) and of hard-water (conductivity = 2008 μS/cm) type. The epiphytic diatom growth on benthic filamentous algae was high (32 taxa) with Amphora veneta as a very common taxon. Gomphonema parvulum var. micropus was an important taxon found in scrapings from the leaves of macrophytes and stony substratum. Nitzschia and Navicula showed high species richness (9 taxa in each) followed by Gomphonema (6 taxa). The ecological attributes of the majority of taxa show an oligohalobe status and alkaliphilous indicator.     

Improved Representation of Land-surface Heterogeneity in a Non-hydrostatic Numerical Weather Prediction Model

This study focuses on the relevance of accurate surface parameters, in particular soil moisture, and of parameterizations for heterogeneous land surfaces, for the prediction of sensible and latent heat fluxes by a mesoscale weather forecast model with horizontal grid resolution of 7 km. The analysis is based on model integrations for a 30-day period, which are compared both to flux measurements obtained from the LITFASS-2003 field experiment and to high-resolution-model (1-km grid spacing) results. At first, the relevance of improved parameter sets and input data compared to usual operational practice for an accurate prediction of near-surface fluxes is shown and discussed. It is demonstrated that an observation-based land-surface assimilation scheme leads to an improved soil moisture analysis, which is shown to be essential for the realistic simulation of surface fluxes. Secondly, the implementation of two efficient parameterization strategies for subgrid-scale variability of the surface, the mosaic and the tile approach, is presented. Using these methods, the simulations are in better agreement with measurements than simulations with simple aggregation methods that use effective surface parameters. Integrations with the mosaic approach reproduce high resolution simulations very well and more accurately than simulations with the tile method. Finally, the high resolution simulations are analyzed to justify and discuss the approximations underlying both methods.     

天水地震台最大振幅面波与初至波到时差和震中距的关系

根据天水地震台ＳＫ地震仪近年来记录的３３８个震例的资料,用最小二乘法求出最大振幅面波与初至波至时差同震中距的关系式,并与Ｊ－Ｂ表进行了对比,结果表明,用Ｊ－Ｂ表计算出的震中距与实际震中距的偏差较大,用本给出的关系式和走时表估算震中距可以缩小误差,提高定位精度。     

Improved Estimates of Wide-Ranging Sea Surface Temperature from GMS S-VISSR Data

We have developed an algorithm to estimate the wide-ranging Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data from the GMS-5 (Geostationary Meteorological Satellite) S-VISSR (Stretched-Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer). Better SST estimates are realized by averaging the temporal variation of the VISSR calibration table and decreasing noise of the split-window terms using a spatial filter. The effects of the satellite zenith angle were examined in detail for better estimates, and VISSR-derived SSTs with root-mean-square (rms) error of 0.8 K were achieved using a new algorithm. The accuracy of SST estimates has been improved by using the temporal-spatial average of the split-window terms. Using the new techniques, we demonstrate that the hourly wide-ranging SST image data can be used to study the daily variations of SSTs in the Northern and Southern Pacific Oceans.     

Radiative Processes in the Stable Boundary Layer: Part I. Radiative Aspects

The structure of the radiatively dominated stable boundary layer is analysed using idealized calculations at high vertical and spectral resolution. The temperature profile of a nocturnal radiative boundary layer, developing after the evening transition, is found to be well described in terms of radiative cooling to the surface, although radiative exchanges within the atmosphere become increasingly important with time. The treatment of non-black surfaces is discussed in some detail and it is shown that the effect of reducing the surface emissivity is to decrease rather than to increase the radiative cooling rate in the surface layer. It is also argued that an accurate assessment of the impact of non-black surfaces requires careful attention to the spectral and directional characteristics of the surface emissivity. A polar nocturnal boundary layer, developing above snow-covered ground, is simulated and found to reach a slowly evolving state characterized by a strong radiative divergence near the surface that is comparable to observed values. Radiative boundary layers are characterized by large temperature gradients near the surface. An erratum to this article can be found at