Stable isotope ratios in Cape gannets around the southern coasts of Africa reveal penetration of biogeographic patterns in oceanic signatures

The southern coasts of Africa are influenced by two major oceanic currents, leading to biogeographic patterns in inshore and offshore species assemblages, and in the stable isotope signatures of suspended particulate matter and filter-feeding mussels. We used the stable isotope ratios of carbon (¹³C/¹²C) and nitrogen (¹⁵N/¹⁴N) from the blood and feathers of adult and chick Cape gannets (Morus capensis) to investigate whether the geographic differences observed at the lower levels in the marine communities are deep penetrating effects that reach top predators. Additionally, we evaluated whether trophic segregation occurs between adult and reared chick gannets, and whether a shift to wintering habitat occurs in adults. The study was conducted during the 2006 breeding season on Bird Island in the Agulhas system, and on Malgas and Ichaboe Islands, in the south and north Benguela respectively. Our results showed significant differences in the isotope ratios of members of different colonies, but no intra-colony differences between tissues or age groups. These results indicate that there is neither age-related nor temporal segregation in the diet of members of the same colony. Feather isotopic values suggest that adults remain all year round in the same habitats, and do not undertake long migration after reproduction. Since all gannets tend to target similar prey, we attributed among-colony differences in isotope signatures mostly to the oceanic conditions experienced by the main prey of birds rather than substantial differences in diet composition. Overall, isotopic signatures segregate the two current systems, with depleted carbon values in the Agulhas and enriched nitrogen values in the upwelled waters of the Benguela. Within the Benguela birds from Ichaboe in the north had higher δ¹⁵N values than those from Malgas in the south, which we attributed to differences in the functioning of the upwelling cells in the vicinity of the two colonies. Finally, slight variation in the proportion of main prey and discards from fisheries may contribute to the variation in the stable-isotope signatures between colonies in the Benguela.     

赣江上游河流水化学的影响因素及DIC来源

对赣江上游38 处水体采样点的水化学特征和溶解无机碳稳定同位素的分析, 发现其总溶解质浓度较低, 其中, 阳离子以Na⁺、Ca²⁺ 为主, 阴离子以Cl^- 和HCO₃ ^- 为主, Si 的浓度较高, 表征了典型硅酸盐地区河流的水化学组成特征。通过海盐校正分析得出, 研究区大气降水对河水溶解质的贡献率为11.5%, 扣除降水的贡献部分, 利用主成分分析的方法, 计算得出赣南流域受硅酸盐岩风化作用强烈, 同时由于受附近盐矿的影响, 蒸发盐岩的风化作用显著。另外, 根据δ¹³C 溶解无机碳DIC 的测量值约为-8.35‰~-13.74‰, 平均为-11.65‰, 利用质量平衡计算得出, 研究区DIC 的主要来源, 约68.5%来自于土壤CO₂, 31.5%来自于碳酸盐矿物的溶解, 进而得出流域岩石化学风化过程消耗的土壤CO₂ 为2.11×105 mol/yr·km², 来自碳酸盐本身的HCO₃ ^-含量为9.6×104 mol/yr·km²。由于地理位置和流域环境以及人为因素的差异, 各支流DIC 来源的比例亦有所差异。     

北大西洋地区气候准20年周期的观测和模拟分析

北大西洋地区除了存在约70 a周期的AMO（Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation,北大西洋年代际振荡）之外,历史长期气候记录中英格兰温度（Central England Temperature,CET）与格陵兰冰芯净雪累计率还存在显著的20 a周期波动。本研究利用CCSM4（Community Climate System Model version 4）耦合模式工业革命前控制试验（piControl）结果中的海表面温度（Sea Surface Temperature,SST）,通过10～50 a带通滤波与扩展经验正交函数（Extended Empirical Orthogonal Function,EEOF）分解,得到在北大西洋副极地海区存在准20 a振荡的逆时针旋转模态。此周期与其临近地区的CET、格陵兰冰芯净雪累计率的准20 a振荡周期相吻合,说明这种北大西洋副极地海区准20 a振荡的海洋模态与其临近地区的大气准20 a振荡之间可能存在相应的联系。进一步利用CAM4（the Community Atmosphere Model version4）大气模式,以北大西洋副极地海区准20 a振荡SST旋转模态为强迫场进行敏感性试验,进一步验证了这种联系。     

Application of a Bayesian model to infer the contribution of coalbed natural gas produced water to the Powder River,Wyoming and Montana

The Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming and Montana contains significant coal and coal bed natural gas (CBNG) resources. CBNG extraction requires the production of large volumes of water, much of which is discharged into existing drainages. Compared to surface waters, the CBNG produced water is high in sodium relative to calcium and magnesium, elevating the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). To mitigate the possible impact this produced water may have on the quality of surface water used for irrigation, the State of Montana passed water anti‐degradation legislation, which could affect CBNG production in Wyoming. In this study, we sought to determine the proportion of CBNG produced water discharged to tributaries that reaches the Powder River by implementing a four end‐member mixing model within a Bayesian statistical framework. The model accounts for the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, δ¹³C_DIC, [Sr] and [DIC] of CBNG produced water and surface water interacting with the three primary lithologies exposed in the PRB. The model estimates the relative contribution of the end members to the river water, while incorporating uncertainty associated with measurement and process error. Model results confirm that both of the tributaries associated with high CBNG activity are mostly composed of CBNG produced water (70–100%). The model indicates that up to 50% of the Powder River is composed of CBNG produced water downstream from the CBNG tributaries, decreasing with distance by dilution from non‐CBNG impacted tributaries from the point sources to ~10–20% at the Montana border. This amount of CBNG produced water does not significantly affect the SAR or electrical conductivity of the Powder River in Montana. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of vibrationally excited nitrogen in the ionosphere

Theoretical and experimental aspects of the production, transformation, diffusion and loss of N₂ in the upper atmosphere are considered. The N₂-CO₂ near-resonant system in theD andE regions is taken into account. We describe our understanding of the methods necessary to find the vibrational populations of N₂ and CO₂ (asymmetric mode of CO₂). The calculations of the vibrational temperatures in theD, E, andF regions for the mid-latitude ionosphere and an aurora are presented. The connection between the excited species and the 4.26-m radiation intensities is considered. The models for the rate coefficient of the reaction of O⁺ with N₂ and the electron density decrease resulting from N₂ in the F region are discussed.     

CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE RATIO F685/F735 IN BROWN ALGAE AND ITS VARIATION UNDER EXCITATION BY TWO TYPES OF LIGHT AND DEHYDRATION

Calculation and comparative study of the chlorophyll fluorescence ratio F685/F735 in brown algae (Laminaria japonica, Underia pinnatifida and Padina crassa) excited by blue and green light showed that the fluorescence ratios were higher when the algae were excited by blue light (440 nm), but reduced obviously under green light (540 nm) excitation. The values also reduced under dehydration but could recover during rehydration if the stress was not serious. The variation of the fluorescence ratio under dehydration was mainly because changes in fluorescence emission at 735 nm were always sharper than those at 685 nm. The ratio was sensitive to stress and has potential as a stress indicator in phycological research. Measurement of the fluorescence excitation spectra showed that the only peak at 540 hm changed apparently during dehydration. It meant that the function of the Chl a /Fucoxanthin protein complex for energy transfer was easily inhibited by water stress. However, no variation of the ratio was foun     

云南蒙自五里冲水库区F1,F2断层新活动年代研究

五里冲水库地处侵蚀山区,缺乏第四纪地层作为研究断层新活动年代的对比标志。本文以F_1、F_2断层带内发育的多期方解石脉和断层泥为研究对象,采用显微构造分析,热释光(TL)测年法和扫描电镜(SEM)分析,石英溶蚀速率测年法,对库区F_1、F_2断层新活动的年代进行综合判定。确认:F_1、F_2断层最后一次明显活动的年代分别为(2.93±0.31)×10~5年和(2.33±0.26)×10~5年以前,为评估五里冲水库构造稳定性,提供了可靠的数据。     

Pyrolysis of immature Torbanite and of the resistant biopolymer (PRB A) isolated from extant alga Botryococcus braunii. Mechanism of formation and structure of torbanite

Immature Torbanite and the resistant biopolymer (PRB A) isolated from extant B. braunii were previously compared using bulk spectroscopic methods. In the present work, analysis of 400°C pyrolysis products and pyrolysis residues provided further information on their structure and possible relationships. It appears that such polymers are based upon unbranched, saturated, cross-linked hydrocarbon chains up to C₃₁. In addition to these bridging structures, a substantial part of the alkyl chains is singly bound, as esters of unbranched, saturated or cis unsaturated, even fatty acids. These esters are sterically protected, against chemical degradations, by the network of the bioand geopolymer.Quantitative and qualitative observations derived from 400°C pyrolysis confirm that the chemical structure of PRB A and immature Torbanite are closely related. The pyrolysis residues show a similar evolution and numerous common features are noted, with respect to the nature and the distribution of the major constituents of the pyrolysates (hydrocarbons and fatty acids). Accordingly, Botryococcus provides what seems to be the first example of a close structural relationship between a biopolymer produced in large amounts by an extant alga and the geopolymer of an immature kerogen. The essential role of PRB A in Torbanite formation is ascertained. Moreover, it is found that the resistant biopolymer does not undergo important structural changes during the first stages of diagenesis. Thus, owing to steric protection, the esters of immature Torbanite show a distribution quite close to the one of PRB A esters, with exclusively even constituents and a large contribution of unsaturated acids.Recent observations pointed to the possible genesis of some algal kerogens principally by selective preservation of resistant macromolecules. Such a type of formation is clearly predominant in Torbanite, where the bulk of the fossil organic matter corresponds to a selectively preserved and weakly altered, resistant biopolymer, while incorporation of lipids into the kerogen structure during diagenesis seems to play a minor role.     

莺－琼盆地YA13－1气田热流体活动与有机／无机成岩响应

根据钻井中途测试（ＤＳＴ）、重复地层测试（ＲＦＴ）、镜质体反射率（Ｒ０）、流体包裹体分析和粘土矿物Ｘ射线衍射全定量分析等综合研究发现，莺－琼盆地ＹＡ１３－１气田存在４期热流体活动；南侧的崖南地区和西侧的莺歌海盆地是其两个重要的热流体物质源和动力源；多期热流体活动在ＹＡ１３－１地区不仅造成热异常和物质迁移，而且还引起了不同的有机／无机成岩响应，如骨架颗粒的多期溶蚀作用、至少两期的次生加大作用、粘土矿物转化和有机质热成熟作用异常。第二、第三期热流体因出溶作用形成ＹＡ１３－１气田大规模的天然气聚集。     

大气重力波触发的Rayleigh－Taylor不稳定性的时空演变

对大气重力波触发的赤道电离层Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的时空演变进行了数值模拟．结果表明，重力波能在Ｆ区底部触发Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性，这种等离子体不稳定扰动穿过Ｆ峰，到达Ｆ区顶部，形成等离子体泡结构．等离子体泡出现向西倾斜和分岔等特征．当夜Ｆ区较高时，产生等离子体泡的时间仅１９００ｓ．数值模拟结果证实了重力波触发．Ｒａｙｌｅｉｇｈ－Ｔａｙｌｏｒ不稳定性的理论，解释了大量电离层观测现象．