Mudbank regime off the Kerala coast during monsoon and non-monsoon seasons

Field experiments conducted in the nearshore ocean to understand the dynamics of mudbank off Kerala, south-west coast of India, are highlighted. Real time monitoring of the nearshore ocean off Purakkad, Kerala was accomplished using pressure transducers for nearshore surface wave measurements, and current sensors for nearshore velocity measurements. Comprehensive information on the spatial structure of mudbank was obtained from aerial surveys. Extensive data collected on surface waves and currents in the nearshore ocean, indicate that the infra-gravity (IG) waves (leaky modes and trapped edge wave modes), and far infra-gravity (FIG) waves coupled with strong shoreline reflections and undertow play an important role in the dynamics associated with the mudbanks off Kerala during the monsoon season. During the non-monsoon season evidence for progressive edge waves in the infragravity frequency band, an energetic gravity wave band and a strong undertow with weak reflections was observed.     

大洋表层沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌群落的组成及分布特征

海洋沉积物中的甲烷代谢微生物是甲烷循环的关键参与者,其代谢过程对大气甲烷浓度及全球气候变化具有显著影响,研究其在全球大洋沉积物中的组成及分布特征是探究微生物介导甲烷循环的基础。采用焦磷酸454高通量测序测定甲烷代谢保守功能基因mcrA（Methyl coenzyme–M reductase A）分析全球大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢微生物群落的组成和多样性;结合荧光实时定量PCR技术检测了古菌和甲烷代谢古菌的丰度分布特征。与其他海洋生境对比,大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌群落结构单一,大西洋和印度洋的α多样性指数显著高于太平洋（p<0.05）。在大洋沉积物样品中鉴定到3个目的甲烷代谢古菌,即甲烷杆菌目（Methanobacteriales）、甲烷八叠球菌目（Methanosarcinales）和甲烷微菌目（Methanomicrobiales）,其中甲烷微菌目占绝对优势,并主要由一簇未知类群（暂名Oceanic Sediments Dominant group,OSD group）组成。大洋沉积物的古菌16S rRNA基因丰度（湿重,下同）平均为8.81×10⁶ copies/g,大西洋的低于印度洋和太平洋;马里亚纳海沟基因丰度低于南海北部,且随着采样深度增加而呈降低趋势。大洋沉积物的mcrA基因丰度为1.38×10³～8.25×10⁴ copies/g。基因丰度大西洋最高,太平洋次之,印度洋最低;马里亚纳海沟略高于南海。本研究发现,相较于冷泉、热液、近海河口等海洋生境,大洋沉积物中甲烷代谢古菌丰度低且群落结构单一,不同海区样品间具有极高的相似性;同时发现OSD group是全球大洋沉积物样品的绝对优势类群,其与已知类群序列亲缘关系均较远,分类进化地位尚不明晰,值得进一步研究。     

热带太平洋-印度洋上层热含量年际变化的主模态

利用多种海洋资料,采用经验正交函数分解(EOF)与合成分析等方法研究了热带太平洋-印度洋热含量年际变化的主要模态及其对应的转换过程。结果表明其第一模态对应El Nino事件成熟位相时的空间分布,即热带西太平洋和东印度洋为一冷中心,西南印度洋和赤道东太平洋为暖中心;第二模态对应着El Nino事件过渡期的空间分布,太平洋10°N附近以及赤道带为变化中心,而印度洋的变化中心主要在苏门答腊岛西部的赤道东印度洋海区。这2个模态基本刻画了ENSO循环过程中热带两大洋热含量变化的关键海区。利用合成分析结果与EOF分解结果的相似性,探讨了EOF分解前两个模态之间的转换过程,发现第一模态可能主要是通过海洋波动的传播过程调整到第二模态的,而第二模态还可以作为El Nino或La Nina事件的预报因子。此外,分析结果还表明,El Nino事件与La Nina事件对应的热含量变化并不是反对称的。     

大洋硅藻席沉积与冰期旋回中的碳-氮循环

成席硅藻勃发与沉积埋藏过程链接了海洋有机碳生成-输出-埋藏以及大洋深部溶解无机碳的生成与储存的全过程,该过程及其对大洋碳-氮循环的潜在重大影响正引起学术界的关注。通过搜集整理一系列文献及数据,对成席硅藻在细胞层面的特殊功能、勃发机制以及硅藻席沉积物的时空分布特征进行了总结,尝试讨论硅藻席沉积对轨道时间尺度上全球碳-氮循环的潜在影响。由于成席硅藻具有一系列特点,包括在弱光条件下生存、利用大液泡来存储营养盐和调控浮力、与固氮蓝细菌共生、尿素循环等,导致成席硅藻在寡营养的层化水体中或者大洋锋面处容易获得生存竞争优势并发生勃发。根据沉积记录,在第四纪冰期,热带-亚热带大西洋以及热带西太平洋-东印度洋出现大规模的Ethmodiscus rex硅藻席勃发并向海洋内部输出大量有机碳。有机碳中的绝大部分都在水柱中发生降解,只有少部分保存到海底沉积物中。推测硅藻席勃发贡献了冰期深海内部“呼吸碳库”的增长以及大气二氧化碳浓度的降低。由于E. rex勃发加快了海洋上层营养盐的周转速率,因此也可能促进了冰期海洋氮储库的扩张。此外,氧同位素14/12期和4/2期间同时出现大洋无机碳碳同位素重值事件和热带-亚热带硅藻席勃发事件,二者之间可能存在机制上的关联。因此,成席硅藻是耦合大洋碳-氮循环的重要组成部分,进一步厘清地质历史时期硅藻席勃发规模及其在海洋元素循环中的作用,有助于解开冰期旋回尺度上的全球碳-氮循环之谜。     

On the recent warming of the southeastern Bering Sea shelf

During the last decade, the southeastern Bering Sea shelf has undergone a warming of 3 °C that is closely associated with a marked decrease of sea ice over the area. This shift in the physical environment of the shelf can be attributed to a combination of mechanisms, including the presence over the eastern Bering Sea shelf of a relatively mild air mass during the winter, especially from 2000 to 2005; a shorter ice season caused by a later fall transition and/or an earlier spring transition; increased flow through Unimak Pass during winter, which introduces warm Gulf of Alaska water onto the southeastern shelf; and the feedback mechanism whereby warmer ocean temperatures during the summer delay the southward advection of sea ice during winter. While the relative importance of these four mechanisms is difficult to quantify, it is evident that for sea ice to form, cold arctic winds must cool the water column. Sea ice is then formed in the polynyas during periods of cold north winds, and this ice is advected southward over the eastern shelf. The other three mechanisms can modify ice formation and melt, and hence its extent. In combination, these four mechanisms have served to temporally and spatially limit ice during the 5-year period (2001–2005). Warming of the eastern Bering Sea shelf could have profound influences on the ecosystem of the Bering Sea—from modification of the timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom to the northward advance of subarctic species and the northward retreat of arctic species.     

Wind-induced drift of objects at sea: The leeway field method

A method for conducting leeway field experiments to establish the drift properties of small objects (0.1-25 m) is described. The objective is to define a standardized and unambiguous procedure for condensing the drift properties down to a set of coefficients that may be incorporated into existing stochastic trajectory forecast models for drifting objects of concern to search and rescue operations and other activities involving vessels lost at sea such as containers with hazardous material.An operational definition of the slip or wind and wave-induced motion of a drifting object relative to the ambient current is proposed. This definition taken together with a strict adherence to a 10 m wind speed allows us to refer unambiguously to the leeway of a drifting object. We recommend that all objects if possible be studied using what we term the direct method, where the object’s leeway is studied directly using an attached current meter.We establish a minimum set of parameters that should be estimated for a drifting object for it to be included in the operational forecast models used for prediction of search areas for drifting objects.We divide drifting objects into four categories, depending on their size. For the smaller objects (less than 0.5 m), an indirect method of measuring the object’s motion relative to the ambient current must be used. For larger objects, direct measurement of the motion through the near-surface water masses is strongly recommended. Larger objects are categorized according to the ability to attach current meters and wind monitoring systems to them.The leeway field method proposed here is illustrated with results from field work where three objects were studied in their distress configuration; a 1:3.3 sized model of a 40-foot Shipping container, a World War II mine and a 220 l (55-gallon) oil drum.     

不同流路时期黄河三角洲沿岸余流场的数值对比研究

黄河入海流路改道变迁频繁,有关不同流路时期沿岸余流场变化的认识将为理解入海泥沙输送特征的变动和沿岸泥沙动态提供重要的水动力基础,通过数值对比实验,以分处黄河三角洲北、东两岸的钓口和清水沟流路为例,对比研究了两个流路基本稳定后的初期黄河三角洲沿岸余流场结构及其流速的变化.结果表明,虽然两个不同流路时期沿岸流系的总体趋势存在一致性,但不同岸段的局部余流场结构、流速及其分布在不同季节都发生了程度不一的变化.在流场结构上,夏、冬季的差异很小,而春、秋季的差异相对较大,特别是在10m以浅的近岸海域的变化明显.高流速区分布,在钓口流路时期具有随各突出沙嘴而生的特点,清水沟流路时则是沿岸线走向、呈条带状延伸,且其分布范围更大、中心流速更高.沿岸余流流速在清水沟流路时期比钓口流路时期大很多,以清水沟口以南海域的流速增加最显著,北岸海域其次,清水沟口以北、神仙沟以南岸段的变化最小,在季节上以冬季增幅最明显.两个不同流路时期沿岸潮致余流场的总体特征也是基本一致的,分布于甜水沟沙嘴(清水沟口)南、北部的涡环结构在清水沟流路时期明显向东北方向移动,清水沟流路时期神仙沟和甜水沟等原沙嘴附近的潮致余流流速存在明显的减小.     

贡湖及其相关水域风生流模拟研究

在太湖风生流的数值模拟研究的基础上，设计模拟贡湖及其相关水域风生流的套网格数值模式。应用该模式研究不同风情下，梅梁湖，太湖主体湖水对贡湖的影响。     

The “slip law” of the free surface

A “slip law” connects the excess velocity or “slip” of a wind-blown water surface, relative to the motion in the middle of the mixed layer, to the wind stress, the wind-wave field, and buoyancy flux. An inner layer-outer layer model of the turbulent shear flow in the mixed layer is appropriate, as for a turbulent boundary layer or Ekman layer over a solid surface, allowing, however, for turbulent kinetic energy transfer from the air-side via breaking waves, and for Stokes drift. Asymptotic matching of the velocity distributions in inner and outer portions of the mixed layer yields a slip law of logarithmic form, akin to the drag law of a turbulent boundary layer. The dominant independent variable is the ratio of water-side roughness length to mixed layer depth or turbulent Ekman depth. Convection due to surface cooling is also an important influence, reducing surface slip. Water-side roughness length is a wind-wave property, varying with wind speed similarly to air-side roughness. Slip velocity is typically 20 times water-side friction velocity or 3% of wind speed, varying within a range of about 2 to 4.5%. A linearized model of turbulent kinetic energy distribution shows much higher values near the surface than in a wall layer. Nondimensional dissipation peaks at a value of about eight, a short distance below the surface.     

Influence of Wind on Dynamics and Flushing of Shallow Estuaries

Observations of two small estuaries in Cape Cod, U.S.A. indicate large variations in salinity structure that are forced by variations in along-estuary wind stress. During onshore winds, the estuarine circulation is reduced, and the along-estuary salinity gradient increases as freshwater accumulates. During offshore winds, the surface outflow is enhanced, freshwater is flushed out of the estuary, and the along-estuary salinity gradient becomes weak. Constrictions block the wind-induced flushing, resulting in strong salinity fronts across the constrictions. The residence time of one of the estuaries varies by more than a factor of three in response to variations in wind-induced flushing. The other estuary has little variation of flushing associated with winds, due to a constriction at the mouth that inhibits the wind-induced exchange. The strong influence of winds on the flushing of these estuaries is due in part to their shallow depths, which accentuates the influence of wind stress relative to the effects of the horizontal density gradient. In addition, the residence times of the estuaries are comparable to the time scale of wind forcing, allowing large changes in water properties during wind events.