El Niño and decadal effects on sea‐level variability in northern New Zealand: A wavelet analysis

Sea‐level data from two sites in northern New Zealand, along with the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), are analysed for interannual and decadal variability using wavelets. The analysis shows, using statistically significant wavelet power, there is a significant relationship between mean sea level (MSL) and SOI. However, the relationship is highly variable, both in magnitude and in the range of time‐scales over which it occurs. This non‐stationarity necessitates the use of techniques such as wavelets for analysis. An interdecadal response in MSL around northern New Zealand has been isolated, with shifts occurring in 1950 and the late 1970s. This behaviour in MSL appears to coincide with shifts in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, thought previously to be largely centred in the North Pacific. A strong correlation between SOI and sea surface temperature (SST) is also demonstrated. This relationship appears to be stable in magnitude (a large change in SOI produces a large change in SST) and to occur over the same range of time‐scales. More SST and MSL data are required for other parts of New Zealand to determine whether these findings apply elsewhere.     

The influence of thermohaline fronts on chlorophyll a concentrations during spring and summer in the southeastern Yellow Sea

A spatial and temporal variation in physiochemical parameters in the southeastern Yellow Sea(YS) is investigated in the spring and summer of 2009 to 2011.Nutrient show a strong negative relationship with chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentration in spring,and the subsurface chlorophyll a maxima(SCM) layer was associated with the nitracline in summer.In summer,the SCM was usually found within or above the pycnocline and at the depths of shoals from the open sea to the coastal sea due to tidal and/or topographical fronts in the southernmost study area.High Chl a concentrations were found in the central southern YS,where the YS cold water layer expanded under the pycnocline and encountered water masses during spring and summer.After a typhoon in the summer of 2011,Chl a concentration increased,especially in the central southern YS,where cold waters occurred below the pycnocline.The results suggest that the development of thermohaline fronts may play an important role in the growth and accumulation of phytoplankton biomass in the upper layer of the southeastern YS during spring and summer.     

Remotely sensed assessment of water quality levels in the Pearl River Estuary, China

In this paper, a method of assessing water quality from satellite data is introduced. The composite pollution index (CPI) was calculated from measured chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrient concentration. The relationships between CPI and 240 band combinations of SeaWiFS water-leaving radiance were analyzed and the optimal band combination for estimating CPI was chosen from the 240 band combinations. An algorithm for retrieval of CPI was developed using the optimal band combination, (L₄₄₃ × L₅₁₀)/(L₄₁₂ + L₄₉₀). The CPI was estimated from atmospherically corrected SeaWiFS data by employing the algorithm. Furthermore, the CPI value range for each water quality level was determined based on data obtained from 850 samples taken in the Pearl River Estuary. The remotely sensed CPIs were then transferred to water quality levels and appropriate maps were derived. The remotely sensed water quality level maps displayed a similar distribution of levels based on in situ investigation issued by the State Ocean Administration, China. This study demonstrates that remote sensing can play an important role in water quality assessment.     

Prevalence and distribution of fecal indicator organisms in South Florida beach sand and preliminary assessment of health effects associated with beach sand exposure

Fecal indicator levels in nearshore waters of South Florida are routinely monitored to assess microbial contamination at recreational beaches. However, samples of sand from the surf zone and upper beach are not monitored which is surprising since sand may accumulate and harbor fecal-derived organisms. This study examined the prevalence of fecal indicator organisms in tidally-affected beach sand and in upper beach sand and compared these counts to levels in the water. Since indicator organisms were statistically elevated in sand relative to water, the study also considered the potential health risks associated with beach use and exposure to sand. Fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, somatic coliphages, and F(+)-specific coliphages were enumerated from sand and water at three South Florida beaches (Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Hobie Beach) over a 2-year period. Bacteria were consistently more concentrated in 100g samples of beach sand (2-23 fold in wet sand and 30-460 fold in dry sand) compared to 100ml samples of water. Somatic coliphages were commonly recovered from both sand and water while F(+)-specific coliphages were less commonly detected. Seeding experiments revealed that a single specimen of gull feces significantly influenced enterococci levels in some 3.1m(2) of beach sand. Examination of beach sand on a micro-spatial scale demonstrated that the variation in enterococci density over short distances was considerable. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the physical and chemical parameters monitored in this study could only minimally account for the variation observed in indicator densities. A pilot epidemiological study was conducted to examine whether the length of exposure to beach water and sand could be correlated with health risk. Logistic regression analysis results provided preliminary evidence that time spent in the wet sand and time spent in the water were associated with a dose-dependent increase in gastrointestinal illness.     

An inflection in the rate of early mid-Holocene eustatic sea-level rise: A new sea-level curve from Singapore

This study presents a sea-level curve from 9500 to 6500 cal BP for the farfield location of Singapore, on the Sunda Shelf in southeast Asia. The curve is based on more than 50 radiocarbon dates from elevations of +1.43 m to −15.09 m representing sea-level index points in intertidal mangrove and shallow marine sediments deposited by sea-level rise accompanying deglaciation. The results indicate that mean sea level rose rapidly from around −17 m at 9500 cal BP to around −3 m by 8000 cal BP. After this time, the data suggest (but do not unequivocally prove) that the rate of sea-rise slowed for a period of 300–500 years centred on 7700 cal BP, shortly after the cessation of meltwater input to the oceans from the northern hemisphere. Renewed sea-level rise amounting to 3–5 m began around 7400 cal BP and was complete by 7000 cal BP. The existence of an inflection in the rate of sea-level rise, with a slow-down centred on 7700 cal BP, is broadly consistent with other available sea-level curves over this interval and is supported by evidence of stable shorelines and delta initiation elsewhere at this time, as well as evidence of comparatively rapid retreat of the West Antarctic ice sheet beginning around 7500 cal BP. ‘Stepped’ sea-level rise occurring shortly after 7500 cal BP and also earlier during deglaciation may have served to focus significant post-glacial episodes of human maritime/coastal dispersal, into comparatively narrow time intervals.     

Response of a climate model to tidal mixing parameterization under present day and last glacial maximum conditions

Experiments with a climate model were conducted under present day and last glacial maximum conditions in order to examine the model’s response to a vertical mixing scheme based on internal tide energy dissipation. The increase in internal tide energy flux caused by a 120 m reduction in sea level had the expected effect on diffusivity values, which were higher under lower sea level conditions. The impact of this vertical diffusivity change on the Atlantic meridional overturning is not straightforward and no clear relationship between diffusivity and overturning is found. There exists a weak positive correlation between overturning and changes to the power consumed by vertical mixing. Most of the climatic response generated by sea level change was not related to alterations in the internal tide energy flux but rather to the direct change in sea level itself.     

中国大陆深探测的大地电磁测深研究

通过对地震波速度、密度、磁性、导电性等物理场进行观测,研究地壳与上地幔的物性与结构特征,将为研究地球内部物质状态、地壳运动过程及其动力学机制等科学命题提供科学依据,同时也将为寻找深部大型矿床提供信息。大地电磁深探测方法作为研究地球壳幔电性结构的主要地球物理方法,在国内外完成了大量探测工作,取得了许多重要的研究成果。在研究壳幔构造方面,大地电磁法和地震方法一起被视为两大支柱方法,在世界范围内解决大陆动力学问题方面已有许多成功的应用范例。但由于大地电磁探测以天然电磁场作为场源,在矿集区等强干扰地区往往很难采集到高信噪比的数据,抗干扰能力较弱。同时,大地电磁与地震数据的约束反演以及联合解释目前尚没有达到实用化,这些都限制了大地电磁数据的处理及解释精度。"深部探测技术与实验研究"(SinoProbe)专项下属的"深部探测技术实验与集成"项目将选择青藏高原、西部造山带与华南山区结晶岩等复杂地质条件和不同人文干扰水平地区,以大地电磁探测与地震探测作为主要手段,研究深部精细地球物理探测技术的集成,并且通过实验剖面研究这些实验区的壳幔结构特征。其中的"大地电磁测深大剖面观测实验与壳/幔三维电性研究"课题,将通过在实验区的大地电磁观测实验,研究适用于不同地质条件及干扰水平地区的大地电磁数据采集方法技术以及精细处理与反演方法,同时探讨大地电磁数据与地震数据的约束反演以及联合解释。该研究将提高深部地球物理探测精度,为深部精细地球物理探测方法技术集成以及区域地球物理精细探测提供范例。已经完成的青藏高原东北缘西秦岭造山带和福建结晶岩地区的大地电磁观测试验表明,在这些典型地质构造区域,虽然存在施工困难,干扰水平大等各种不利因素,但只要采取合适的野外观测技术,并通过数据精细处理与反演计算,是能够获得高质量的大地电磁数据以及可靠的电阻率分布模型。试验所取得的成果,将为实现"深部探测技术实验与集成"项目科学目标和研究任务提供重要的技术支撑与保障。     

软土隧道盾构出洞灾害的渗流应力耦合分析

对盾构出洞口涌水涌砂灾害问题作了分析。利用Midas-GTS软件,建立了盾构出洞施工的有限元模型。考虑盾构出洞施工的渗流-应力耦合效应,研究了盾构工作井外加固土体前方高水位工况下,地下水绕加固土体下卧土层的渗流规律以及加固土体前方原状土的沉降规律。研究结果表明,在假定井外加固土体完全隔水情况下,洞门涌水涌砂灾害的发生与否受到土体加固长度、井外地下水等因素影响;土体加固长度的增加对工程安全有利,但成本较高;地下水位的降低能有效减小盾构出洞洞门涌水灾害的发生,需综合考虑工程安全性、经济性和工期等来确定合理的施工参数。     

山东省聊城市水资源演变形势初步探讨

以地处华北平原的缺水城市——聊城市为代表,从降水、地表水资源、地下水资源分析了该市水资源演变情势,对影响水资源变化情势的主要人类活动如城市化、水利工程拦蓄、调、引水、地下水开采等进行分析,最后得出结论：由于人类活动对区域水资源下垫面基础条件及地下水补给能力的影响改变,致使聊城市地表水,地下水资源的数量、质量及时空分布规律发生了显著变化。