Geomorphological development of the eastern margin of the Australian Craton

The denudation chronologies of five uplands of contrasting geological structure located at the eastern margin of the Australian Craton are examined. They are the Isa Highlands, MacDonnell Ranges and Flinders Ranges (fold mountains, orogenic setting); the Arcoona Plateau (dissected plateau, platform setting); and the Gawler Ranges (massif of old silicic volcanics, cratonic setting). In each, surfaces of Mesozoic age, many of them exhumed and of pre-Cretaceous age, are preserved. Each also appears to have been uplifted recurrently. Each was either overwhelmed or bordered by the Early Cretaceous (Neocomian-Aptian) sea. Tectonism associated with the break-up of Gondwana probably allowed this important marine transgression. Thereafter, thalassostatic and erosional/depositional isostatic responses have maintained the uplands as uplands and the intervening basins as negative topographic and structural units; the pattern of topography has been constant for the last 60–100 Ma.     

Elemental δ13C at Allen's Cave,Nullarbor Plain,Australia: assessing post‐depositional disturbance and reconstructing past environments

The degree to which post‐depositional disturbance can be assessed in archaeological sequences is critical for the development of robust chronologies for such deposits. A common approach is the identification of conjoined artefacts distributed through the sequence as a measure of disturbance following deposition, although this method is relatively labour intensive and does not provide a continuous record of disturbance through the entire sequence. Here we present δ¹³C values for different size fractions (<125 and >125 µm) of chemically resistant charcoal distributed through a sedimentary profile at Allen's Cave, South Australia. The curves generated from both size fractions parallel one another, indicating minimal disturbance through the entire profile and providing greater confidence in the luminescence and radiocarbon chronologies reported previously for the site. In addition, the elemental δ¹³C values provide an indication of greater aridity (compared with present) persisting in this area from ca. 45 to 12 ka, consistent with other proxy records. The onset of the Holocene is marked by a shift to wetter conditions, probably as a result of post‐glacial marine transgression and closer proximity to the coastline. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Long-term marine litter monitoring in the remote Great Australian Bight, South Australia

The Anxious Bay beach litter clearance is the longest running annual survey of ocean-based litter in Australia. It's remoteness from centres of human population and location (with respect to prevailing winds and currents) make it an ideal place for monitoring ocean or ship-based litter in Australia's southern oceans and particularly, the Great Australian Bight. Over the 1991-1999 period, a large but gradual decline in the amount of beach washed litter was recorded (with minor peaks recorded during the 1992 and 1994 surveys). Beach washed litter decreased by approximately 86%, from 344 kg recorded in 1991 (13.2 kg/km) to 49 kg in 1999 (i.e. 1.9 kg/km), reaching a maximum of 390 kg in 1992 (or 15 kg/km of beach). However, a sharp increase in litter was recorded in 2000 (i.e. 252 kg or 9.7 kg/km). This increase in litter yield in 2000 is probably due to stronger than average onshore surface flow (or Ekman Transport) in the western Eyre Peninsula and Bight region. Prior to the survey in 2000, the results appeared to indicate that ocean litter on Anxious Bay beach was beginning to level out at around 50-70 kg/year (i.e. 2-3 kg/km). As the beach surveys involve the assumption that the beach is completely cleared of litter, this may represent a baseline level for ocean-based litter in the region. The yields and type of litter collected from the annual survey indicates that the majority of litter washed ashore originates from commercial fishing activities within the Great Australian Bight. Most of the fishing-related litter was directly sourced to the Southern Rock Lobster Fishery (i.e. bait buckets, baskets, pots), the Great Australian Bight Trawl Fishery (i.e. codends, trawl nets) and the Southern Shark Fishery (i.e. monofilament gillnets and longlines). Between 1994 and 1999, large reductions were observed in the amount of bait straps (77% reduction), lobster bait baskets/buckets (86% reduction), nets/ropes (62% reduction) and floats/buoys (83% reduction). Significantly, fishing-related litter in the Bight has reduced at a slower rate than domestic litter. While the level of glass and soft plastics on the beach have both reduced by almost 93% (i.e. 103-7 kg and 119-8 kg, respectively), the level of hard plastics, has diminished at a slower rate, with reductions of only 75% (i.e. 122-30 kg). Some fisheries (i.e. rock lobster, Southern Shark Fishery) have shown marked reductions in fishing-related litter. This is probably due, to some extent, to significant reductions in fishing effort in the region, although this requires further investigation. The information from the Anxious Bay beach litter survey is crucial in monitoring trends in ocean litter in Australia's southern oceans and compliance with international litter regulations. While fishing-related litter remains the major source of ship-based or ocean litter in Australia's southern oceans, the continued reduction in ship-based litter since 1991 supports increasing compliance to MARPOL (Annex V) by commercial fisheries and shipping in the Great Australian Bight. While Australia participates in marine debris monitoring programs in the Antarctic (under CCAMLR), there is currently no national program or management framework to assess, manage and monitor ocean-based litter along Australia's coasts, and monitor compliance with MARPOL. Apart from the commitments under CCAMLR for Antarctic (and sub-Antarctic) marine environments, there are no other regional programs, guidelines or monitoring protocols or to assess and manage ocean litter in the Southern Ocean.     

印尼苏门答腊9.0级地震前地震活动图像异常特征研究

通过对2004年12月26日印尼苏门答腊9．0级大震前不同时空尺度地震活动性异常特征分析发现：①大震前10年，澳大利亚板块北部边界带深源地震活动显著增强，表现为频度增多、强度增大、震源深度增加等，特别是震源深度分布的非均匀性增大（即地震集中分布在500～689km深度间）；同期，苏门答腊岛及其附近肘≥7．0浅震活动也异常显著，形成长约1000km、宽300km的集中区。②震前1年全球肘≥7．0地震活动出现明显的平静一密集现象，且在密集阶段强震沿澳大利亚板块北部边界带呈带状展布；这时主震震源区附近出现5级地震空区。③震前半年澳大利亚板块北部边界带的东、西两端先后发生2次7级以上深震，其中1次发生在罕有深震活动的苏门答腊岛。④震前3天，澳大利亚板块北部边界带上4级以上地震呈带状展布。⑤震前4年澳大利亚板块北部边界带火山活动增强，特别是震前1年火山活动异常显著。     

Coupled stratigraphic and fault seal modelling used to describe trap integrity in the frontier Bight Basin,Australia

Top seals and faults represent key risks to trap integrity and therefore preservation of hydrocarbons in the frontier Ceduna Sub-basin, offshore Southern Australia. Due to a paucity of well data in the basin, to provide constraint to the stratigraphic distribution of the prospective Cretaceous deltaic and marine sequences, stratigraphic forward modelling was utilised to create facies, grain size and V_shale volumes. These modelled V_shale volumes were subsequently used to investigate the structural control(s) on potential hydrocarbon leakage and migration within key stratigraphic sequences in the sub-basin.A set of coarse (20 km horizontal resolution), large scale (1100 × 600 km) stratigraphic forward models simulated the deposition of Late Jurassic to Tertiary stratigraphic sequences in the sub-basin with an initial 1 Ma interval. Smaller (80 × 60 km), finer scale (0.5 km horizontal resolution, 200 ka interval), models focussing on the Tiger and Hammerhead Supersequences over the Trim 3D seismic survey were used to investigate fault seal and top seal frameworks, using shale gouge ratio and silt and shale thicknesses from V_shale volume. Four stratigraphic forward models were produced to match a range of estimates of V_shale derived from the Gnarlyknots-1A well, the only well penetrating the central Ceduna Sub-basin. These stratigraphies were in turn integrated into a geological model interpreted from the Trim 3D seismic survey creating a geocellular model to test potential migration and trapping scenarios for potential hydrocarbons generated in the sub-basin.Fault and top seal models from the most likely scenario suggest (i) restricted potential for structural trapping near the base of the Tiger Supersequence, (ii) the possible presence of a regional migration pathway associated with sandy shoreface deposits at the transition between the Tiger and Hammerhead Supersequences, and (iii) the association of intraformational top seals and increasing fault seal potential in the deltaic sediments of the Hammerhead Supersequence feasibly resulting in a series of stacked structural traps.     

东亚夏季风与澳洲冬季风强弱互补变化联系及其异常环流特征

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料、Hadley中心海温资料及CMAP降水资料等,通过亚澳季风联合指数挑选异常年份,对东亚夏季风和澳洲冬季风强度反相变化特征进行研究。结果表明,当东亚夏季风偏强、澳洲冬季风偏弱时,南北半球中低纬地区都出现了复杂的异常环流系统。在热带地区对流层低层,西北太平洋为异常反气旋式环流系统所控制,与南太平洋赤道辐合带的异常反气旋环流在赤道地区发生耦合,形成赤道异常东风,而在南北印度洋上则存在两个异常气旋式环流系统。在这两对异常环流之间的海洋性大陆地区,出现赤道以南为反气旋环流而赤道以北为气旋式环流。在东亚季风区,东南沿海的东侧海洋上存在反气旋异常,中国东南地区受异常反气旋西南侧的东南风影响。此外,澳洲北部受异常西风影响。这就形成了东亚夏季风偏强、澳洲冬季风偏弱的情形,从而东亚夏季风和澳洲冬季风活动出现了强弱互补的变化特征。当东亚夏季风偏弱、澳洲冬季风偏强时,南北半球的环流特征则出现与上述相反的环流特征。总体而言,当东亚夏季风偏强、澳洲冬季风偏弱时,东亚—澳洲季风区在南北半球呈现出不同的气候异常分布特征,即北半球降水北少南多、气温北高南低,南半球降水西多东少、气温西高东低。     

南极绕极波动及其与中国夏季降水异常的关联

利用NCEP／NCAR逐月SLP再分析资料，通过复经验正交函数展开(CEOF)，借助其第1模态恢复场研究了1952-1998年期间南极绕极波动的年代际变化和传播特征。结果表明，东南太平洋是研究南极绕极波动(ACW)的关键区，并由此定义东南太平洋ACW活动指数(EPAI)。相关分析揭示了秋季EPAI与次年中国夏季降水有着密切的关系，当秋季EPAI出现异常正位相时，即当东南太平洋SLP距平出现正异常时，次年春、夏季澳大利亚高压偏强，进而由于越赤道气流的增强及西太平洋副高调整引起次年夏季中国出现华南多雨、江淮少雨的雨型分布，证实了ACW是另一个与中国夏季降水异常有密切关联的年际变化强信号。     

亚澳季风各子系统气候学特征的异同研究Ⅱ. 夏季风水汽输送

利用1979～2002年的ERA-40和NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料以及CMAP降水资料探讨了亚澳季风各夏季风子系统(南亚夏季风、东亚夏季风、北澳夏季风) 水汽输送的气候学特征及其与夏季降水的关系.分析表明: 各夏季风子系统水汽输送通量主要取决于低层季风气流, 南亚夏季风和北澳夏季风以纬向水汽输送为主, 而东亚夏季风有很强的经向水汽输送.分析也证实, 亚澳季风区的夏季风降水主; 要源于水汽输送的辐合, 而且ERA-40资料对夏季风水汽输送辐合的描述能力强于NCEP/NCAR资料.此外, 受低层季风气流结构的影响, 三夏季风子系统水汽输送辐合的动力机理存在明显差异, 南亚夏季风和北澳夏季风的水汽输送辐合主要由低层西风气流的风场辐合所造成, 而东亚夏季风的水汽输送辐合则由低层南风气流的风场辐合和季风湿平流共同作用造成.因此, 东亚夏季风降水有别于南亚夏季风降水和北澳夏季风降水.     

2005年夏季中国登陆台风的环流特征

利用NCEP/NCAR再分析资料和中国台风网提供的2005年台风资料,研究了2005年夏季台风登陆及中国东部频发性台风暴雨的环流特征及南北半球环流系统的相互作用。2005年夏季登陆我国的台风存在显著的阶段性变化,即6月10日～7月11日西太平洋无热带气旋生成,7月12日～9月30日西太平洋热带气旋频繁活动,造成登陆我国台风间隔时间短、 频数高、强度强,使得我国东部台风暴雨频繁发生。研究指出,6月10日～7月11日西太平洋无热带气旋生成与西太平洋副热带高压位置偏南、越赤道气流较弱、东亚热带辐合带（5°N～15°N,120°E～150°E）对流偏弱有关。而在7月12日～9月30日,西太平洋热带气旋活动频繁与西风槽的多次南下、西太平洋副热带高压断裂（或东撤）、东亚热带辐合带对流加强有关。进一步研究发现,气候平均态的西太平洋越赤道气流分别位于125°E和145°E附近, 2005年夏季125°E和145°E附近的越赤道气流减弱,然而在7月12日～9月30日,130°E～135°E附近的越赤道气流加强并维持时间较长。130°E～135°E附近越赤道气流加强与澳大利亚高压东移以及140°E～180 °E赤道低压加深有关。     

印尼海龙目海峡上层环流季节变化及影响机制

本文基于2002—2016年OFAM(Ocean Forecast Australian Model)模式数据,通过谱分析与相关分析等方法,研究了龙目海域上层环流结构的季节变化特征及主要的影响因素。分析结果表明,龙目海峡(Lombok Strait)平均流量占印尼贯穿流(Indonesian throughflow, ITF)总出口流量的15%,呈现出南半球冬强夏弱的特点,具有半年和一年的周期特征;龙目海域上层环流结构具有明显的季节特征,受到卡里马塔海峡贯穿流(Karimatastraitthroughflow,KSTF)和望加锡海峡贯穿流(Makassarstrait throughflow,MSTF)的周期性影响,一年可以分为四个阶段,存在结构性差异。KSTF(MSTF)为上层龙目海峡带来高温低盐(低温高盐)水团。进一步分析发现局地风场、大气季节内振荡(Madden-Julian Oscillation, MJO)以及海底地形是龙目海域上层环流结构季节变化的主要影响因素。