Satellite-observed trends in the Arctic sea ice concentration for the period 1979–2016

Arctic sea ice cover has decreased dramatically over the last three decades. This study quanti?es the sea ice concentration(SIC) trends in the Arctic Ocean over the period of 1979–2016 and analyzes their spatial and temporal variations. During each month the SIC trends are negative over the Arctic Ocean, wherein the largest(smallest) rate of decline found in September(March) is-0.48%/a(-0.10%/a).The summer(-0.42%/a) and autumn(-0.31%/a) seasons show faster decrease rates than those of winter(-0.12%/a) and spring(-0.20%/a) seasons. Regional variability is large in the annual SIC trend. The largest SIC trends are observed for the Kara(-0.60%/a) and Barents Seas(-0.54%/a), followed by the Chukchi Sea(-0.48%/a), East Siberian Sea(-0.43%/a), Laptev Sea(-0.38%/a), and Beaufort Sea(-0.36%/a). The annual SIC trend for the whole Arctic Ocean is-0.26%/a over the same period. Furthermore, the in?uences and feedbacks between the SIC and three climate indexes and three climatic parameters, including the Arctic Oscillation(AO), North Atlantic Oscillation(NAO), Dipole anomaly(DA), sea surface temperature(SST), surface air temperature(SAT), and surface wind(SW), are investigated. Statistically, sea ice provides memory for the Arctic climate system so that changes in SIC driven by the climate indices(AO, NAO and DA) can be felt during the ensuing seasons. Positive SST trends can cause greater SIC reductions, which is observed in the Greenland and Barents Seas during the autumn and winter. In contrast, the removal of sea ice(i.e., loss of the insulating layer) likely contributes to a colder sea surface(i.e., decreased SST), as is observed in northern Barents Sea. Decreasing SIC trends can lead to an in-phase enhancement of SAT, while SAT variations seem to have a lagged in?uence on SIC trends. SW plays an important role in the modulating SIC trends in two ways: by transporting moist and warm air that melts sea ice in peripheral seas(typically evident inthe Barents Sea) and by exporting sea ice out of the Arctic Ocean via passages into the Greenland and Barents Seas, including the Fram Strait, the passage between Svalbard and Franz Josef Land(S-FJL),and the passage between Franz Josef Land and Severnaya Zemlya(FJL-SZ).     

Low-grade metamorphism of the Mikabu and northern Chichibu belts in central Shikoku, SW Japan: implications for the areal extent of the Sanbagawa low-grade metamorphism

In central Shikoku, SW Japan, the Mikabu belt is bounded to the north by the Sanbagawa belt, and to the south by the northern (N) Chichibu belt. The N-Chichibu belt can be further subdivided into northern and southern parts. There is no apparent difference in the overall geology, structure, or fossil and radiometric ages between the Mikabu belt and the northern part of the N-Chichibu belt. Greenstones from the Mikabu belt and the northern part of the N-Chichibu belt show evidence for similar low-grade metamorphism, and include the following mineral assemblages with albite+chlorite in excess: metamorphic aragonite, sodic pyroxene+quartz, epidote+actinolite+pumpellyite, glaucophane+ pumpellyite+quartz, and lawsonite (not with actinolite or glaucophane). These similarities suggest that the Mikabu belt and the northern part of the N-Chichibu belt belong to the same geological unit (the MB-NNC complex). The mineral assemblages also indicate that the MB-NNC complex belongs to a different metamorphic facies from the low-grade part of the Sanbagawa belt, that is, the former represents lower temperature/higher pressure conditions than the latter. Structural and petrological continuity between the MB-NNC complex and Sanbagawa belt has not yet been confirmed, but both have similar radiometric ages. It is therefore most likely that the MB-NNC complex and Sanbagawa belt belong to the same subduction complex, and were metamorphosed under similar but distinct conditions. These two units were juxtaposed during exhumation. In contrast, the southern part of the N-Chichibu belt is distinct in lithology and structure, and includes no mineral assemblages diagnostic of the MB-NNC complex and the Sanbagawa belt. Thus, the southern part of the N-Chichibu belt may represent a different geological unit from the MB-NNC complex and Sanbagawa belt.     

3-D electromagnetic imaging of a Palaeozoic plate-tectonic boundary segment in SW Iberian Variscides (S Alentejo, Portugal)

In SW Iberian Variscides, the boundary between the South Portuguese Zone (SPZ) and the Ossa Morena Zone (OMZ) corresponds to a major tectonic suture that includes the Beja Acebuches Ophiolite Complex (BAOC) and the Pulo do Lobo Antiform Terrane (PLAT). Three sub-parallel and approximately equidistant MT profiles were performed, covering a critical area of this Palaeozoic plate-tectonic boundary in Portugal; the profiles, running roughly along an NE–SW direction, are sub-perpendicular to the main Variscan tectonic features. Results of the three-dimensional (3-D) modelling of MT data allow to generate, for the first time, a 3-D electromagnetic imaging of the OMZ–SPZ boundary, which reveals different conductive and resistive domains that display morphological variations in depth and are intersected by two major sub-vertical corridors; these corridors coincide roughly with the NE–SW, Messejana strike–slip fault zone and with the WNW–ESE, Ferreira–Ficalho thrust fault zone. The distribution of the shallow resistive domains is consistent with the lithological and structural features observed and mapped, integrating the expected electrical features produced by igneous intrusions and metamorphic sequences of variable nature and age. The development in depth of these resistive domains suggests that: (1) a significant vertical displacement along an early tectonic structure, subsequently re-taken by the Messejana fault-zone in Late-Variscan times, has to be considered to explain differences in deepness of the base of the Precambrian–Cambrian metamorphic pile; (2) hidden, syn- to late-collision igneous bodies intrude the meta-sedimentary sequences of PLAT; (3) the roots of BAOC are inferred from 12 km depth onwards, forming a moderate resistive band located between two middle-crust conductive layers extended to the north (in OMZ) and to the south (in SPZ). These conductive layers overlap the Iberian Reflective Body (evidenced by the available seismic reflection data) and are interpreted as part of an important middle-crust décollement developed immediately above or coinciding with the top of a graphite-bearing granulitic basement.     

Trace element geochemistry of altered volcanic ash layers (tonsteins) in Late Permian coal-bearing formations of eastern Yunnan and western Guizhou Provinces, China

Trace element compositions were determined (by instrumental neutron activation analysis; INAA) in 30 samples of synsedimentary volcanic ash-derived tonsteins and detrital claystones from coal seams within the late Permian coal-bearing formation of eastern Yunnan and western Guizhou Provinces, China. The characteristics of trace-element geochemistry in the tonsteins can be distinguished from those of detrital claystones because of the former's unique volcanic-ash origin. The detrital claystones are characterized by their relatively high content of V, Ti, Sc, Cr, Co and Ni, relatively low content of Th and U, Th/U ratio, and small negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* 0.63–0.93). Overall, these trace element characteristics are consistent with a mafic source similar to the composition of basalt rocks in the erosional region on the western edge of the study area. In contrast, the tonsteins are low in V, Ti, Sc, Cr, Co and Ni contents and have a high Th/U ratio with a distinct negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* normally in the range of 0.2–0.4), consistent with a silicic magmatic source.Within the group of tonsteins, those from the lower section (P_2.1) of the coal-bearing formation are relatively high in Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta and rare earth elements (REE), as compared to those from the middle and upper sections (P_2.2+3). In trace-element discrimination diagrams (scatter plots) of Hf–Ta, Ti–Ta, Ti–V, Hf–Sc, Lu–Hf and Lu–Th, tonsteins from the P_2.1 horizon always fall in isolated distribution areas, separate from the tonsteins of the P_2.2+3 horizon. These results suggest that the source materials of tonsteins from the two separate horizons were probably derived from volcanic ash falls of two distinctly different natures. Based on a comparison of the concentrations and assemblages of trace elements between various magmatic rocks, the source materials of tonsteins from P_2.1 horizon were mostly composed of calc-alkalic, silica-poor volcanic ash (similar to rhyodacitic magma), whereas those from P_2.2+3 were apparently more siliceous and K-rich (rhyolitic magma). Thus, tonsteins from the two different horizons are characterized by unique geochemical properties, which remain constant over a wide lateral extent. Integration of trace-elemental compositions with mineralogical and textural observations makes possible the establishment of tonstein stratigraphy, thus, facilitating more precise and reliable coal-seam correlations.     

Wave Numerical Model for Shallow Water

The history of forecasting wind waves by wave energy conservation equation is briefly des-cribed.Several currently used wave numerical models for shallow water based on different wave theoriesare discussed.Wave energy conservation models for the simulation of shallow water waves are introduced,with emphasis placed on the SWAN model,which takes use of the most advanced wave research achieve-ments and has been applied to several theoretical and field conditions.The characteristics and applicabilityof the model,the finite difference numerical scheme of the action balance equation and its source termscomputing methods are described in detail.The model has been verified with the propagation refractionnumerical experiments for waves propagating in following and opposing currents;finally.the model is ap-plied to the Haian Gulf area to simulate the wave height and wave period field there,and the results arecompared with observed data.     

雾与能见度数值预报诊断SW方案和FSL方案改进的研究及评估

为了提高雾与能见度的预报水平,对业务上常用的两种能见度诊断方案,即Stoelinga and Warner（SW）方案与Forecast Systems Laboratory（FSL）方案的改进进行预报试验,SW方案基于Gultepe方案考虑了液态水粒子数浓度对能见度的影响,FSL改进方案中利用了递减平均法对公式中用到的温度与露点温度进行订正,并用其重新计算公式中的相对湿度。基于山东省气象科学研究所逐时更新循环（hourly update cycle,HUC）业务模式输出结果,从2015—2016年选取10次雾天气过程,并详细分析了2015年11月13—14日这次雾天气过程的预报结果,比较了改进前后各方案对雾与能见度的预报效果,结果显示：在模式预报的雨水含量占总液态含水量比例较大的预报时效,改进后的SW方案对雾与能见度预报效果优于原始方案,在模式预报液态含水量接近0的预报时效,改进前后的SW方案对雾与能见度的预报效果相当;利用订正的温度与露点温度重新计算相对湿度,其平均绝对误差（mean absolute error,MAE）降低明显的预报时段,改进后的FSL方案对雾与能见度的预报效果大大提升。将两种改进后的方案相融合并进行预报试验,结果显示,综合对能见度与雾的预报效果,Combined Visibility（CVIS）方案要优于其他两种改进方案。     

Preliminary results of the spectral analysis of Suzaku data of SW Ursae Majoris and BZ Ursae Majoris

Herein, we present the preliminary results of the spectral analysis of the Suzaku data of SW Ursae Majoris (SW UMa) and BZ Ursae Majoris (BZ UMa) which were obtained in their quiescent states. The aim of this study was to analyse 0.5–6.0 keV energy range X-ray photons of the Suzaku satellite and to determine their emission mechanisms and the areas where they were radiated from these two dwarf novae. No study on this energy range for BZ UMa has been reported in the literature. We analysed the Suzaku data in the (0.5–6.0) keV and in (0.5–2.5) keV energy bands of the systems separatelly to search for possible differences between the emission mechanisms in the energy ranges; however, none were found. We obtained the best-fitted spectral models, flux, luminosity, temperature and mass accretion rate values for the systems. The white dwarf radius of BZ UMa, which has not been reported in the literature, was found to be 6.88 × 10⁸ cm. From this study, we concluded that the mass accretion rate values for both systems were lower than the critical mass accretion rate value in the boundary layers of cataclysmic variables, which indicates that the boundary layers are composed of optically thin thermal X-ray emitting gas in their quiescent state; these results support those of previous studies regarding SW UMa and some studies regarding BZ UMa. Another result was that there can be a coronal structure above the boundary layer which act as soft X-ray emitter for SW UMa.     

Legal and institutional tools to mitigate marine turtle bycatch: Argentina as a case study

This paper explores conservation policy pertinent to three species of marine turtles affected by fisheries, while crossing jurisdictions in their seasonal migrations through the SW Atlantic, particularly the Argentine waters. This case study reviews local legal and institutional frameworks for Argentina and concludes that tools are in place to monitor and mitigate the negative impact of bycatch on the populations. Argentina is signatory of the most relevant international treaties aimed at protecting transboundary species (e.g. Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals). Legislation also exists at the federal and provincial levels. Yet, accidental captures continue to occur due to weaknesses in enforcement and the low priority that conservation has in fisheries management decisions. Some urgent practical actions supported by policy are suggested: (a) placement of on-board observers in coastal fishing fleets, (b) application of existing mitigation measures to reduce bycatch, (c) design of a national plan of action for marine turtles in Argentina, and (d) development of a regional plan between Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Stakeholder involvement, especially the fishing sector but also the civil society, would be important to energize practical and effective conservation decisions. The example of Argentina is typical for the region and may apply to other countries as well. The conservation community requires investing more in the application of policy, concomitant with perfecting legal tools.