Control of wind strength and frequency in the Aral Sea basin during the late Holocene

Changing content of detrital input in laminated sediments traced by XRF scanning and microfacies analyses reflect prominent variations in sedimentation processes in the Aral Sea. A high-resolution record of titanium from a core retrieved in the northwestern Large Aral Sea allows a continuous reconstruction of wind strength and frequency in western Central Asia for the past 1500 yr. During AD 450–700, AD 1210–1265, AD 1350–1750 and AD 1800–1975, detrital inputs (bearing titanium) are high, documenting an enhanced early spring atmospheric circulation associated with an increase in intensity of the Siberian High pressure system over Central Asia. In contrast, lower titanium content during AD 1750–1800 and AD 1980–1985 reflects a diminished influence of the Siberian High during early spring with a reduced atmospheric circulation. A moderate circulation characterizes the time period AD 700–1150. Unprecedented weakened atmospheric circulation over western Central Asia are inferred during ca. AD 1180–1210 and AD 1265–1310 with a considerable decrease in dust storm frequency, sedimentation rates, lamination thickness and detrital inputs (screened at 40-μm resolution). Our results are concurrent with changes in the intensity of the Siberian High during the past 1400 yr as reported in the GISP2 Ice Core from Greenland.     

南京太平门地段雪松树年轮及其根土中化学元素含量的相关性研究

１９９４年在南京市太平门街道采集了五株雪松的年轮样及其根部土壤（黄棕壤ｐＨ＝６．６８）,分别测定了Ｌｉ、Ａｌ、Ｐ、Ｋ、Ｍｎ、Ｃｏ、Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｄ、Ｂａ和Ｐｂ等１１种化学元素含量,实测结果验证了雪松年轮与其根部当年土壤中化学元素含量满足对数线性相关模式;ｌｇＣ′（Ｚ,ｔ）＝ａ（Ｚ）＋ｂ（Ｚ）ｌｇＣ（Ｚ,ｔ）。根据年轮元素含量Ｃ（Ｚ,ｔ）可以重建过去根土中元素含量Ｃ′（Ｚ,ｔ）,即反映环境（土壤）中元素含量的逐年演变的年份序列。利用Ｃ（Ｚ,ｔ）中最低含量可估算该地段黄棕壤的土壤元素背景值。     

Chemical ozone loss in the Arctic vortex in the winter 1995–96: HALOE measurements in conjunction with other observations

Severe chemical ozone loss has been detected in the Arctic in the winter and spring of 1995–96 by a variety of methods. Extreme reductions in column ozone due to halogen catalysed chemistry were derived from measurements of the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite in the Arctic vortex. Here, we discuss further aspects of the HALOE observations in the Arctic over this period. Potential problems, both in the data themselves and in the methodology of the data analysis are considered and the reason for the differences between the Arctic ozone losses deduced from HALOE data version 17 and 18 is analysed. Moreover, it is shown that HALOE measurements in the Arctic in winter and spring 1995–96 compare well with observations by other ground-based and satellite instruments.     

A dynamically consistent analysis of circulation and transports in the southwestern Weddell Sea

An inverse model is applied for the analysis of hydrographic and current meter data collected on the repeat WOCE section SR4 in the Weddell Sea in 1989–1992. The section crosses the Weddell Sea cyclonic gyre from Kapp Norvegia to the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. The concepts of geostrophy, conservation of planetary vorticity and hydrostatics are combined with advective balances of active and passive properties to provide a dynamically consistent circulation pattern. Our variational assimilation scheme allows the calculation of three-dimensional velocities in the section plane. Current speeds are small except along the coasts where they reach up to 12 cm/s. We diagnose a gyre transport of 34 Sverdrup which is associated with a poleward heat transport of 28 × 10¹² W corresponding to an average heat flux of 15 Wm^–2 in the Weddell Sea south of the transect. This exceeds the estimated local flux on the transect of 2 Wm^–2. As the transect is located mostly in the open ocean, we conclude that the shelf areas contribute significantly to the ocean-atmosphere exchange and are consequently key areas for the contribution of the Weddell Sea to global ocean ventilation. Conversion of water masses occuring south of the section transform 6.6 ± 1.1 Sv of the inflowing warm deep water into approximately equal amounts of Weddell Sea deep water and Weddell Sea bottom water. The volume transport of surface water equals in the in-and outflow. This means that almost all newly formed surface water is involved in the deep and bottom water formation. Comparison with the results obtained by pure velocity interpolation combined with a hydrographic data subset indicates major differences in the derived salt transports and the water mass conversion of the surface water. The differences can be explained by deviations in the structure of the upper ocean currents to which shelf areas contribute significantly. Additionally a rigorous variance analysis is performed. When only hydrographic data are used for the inversion both the gyre transport and the poleward heat transport are substantially lower. They amount to less than 40% of our best estimate while the standard deviations of both quantities are 6.5 Sv and 37 × 10¹² W, respectively. With the help of long-term current meter measurements these errors can be reduced to 2 Sv and 8 × 10¹² W. Our result underlines the importance of velocity data or equivalent information that helps to estimate the absolute velocities.     

Kelvin wave generation by a semi-infinite barrier

A closed form solution is given for the problem of simple harmonic plane waves incident obliquely on a semi-infinite barrier. The amplitude of the Kelvin wave component is considered and it is found that increased amplitudes of the Kelvin waves can be expected for certain wave numbers, depending upon the angle of incidence.     

Multivariate correlation analysis of suspended-sediment characteristics

Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to investigate interrelationships among various characteristics of seawater and suspended sediments obtained from surface waters of two Asian marginal seas. On the basis of multivariate correlation analysis for the two marginal seas combined, three important factors were extracted and interpreted: (1) current-energy conditions, (2) the influence of rivers, and (3) biochemical conditions of seawater. A relationship between anisotropic mineral grains and combustible organic matter is suggested by the fact that suspended sediment, containing coarser anisotropic mineral grains, also contains larger amounts of combustible organic matter.     

Dynamical formulation of Broecker''s model for marine cycles of biologically incorporated elements

Broecker presented a steady-state, two-box model which emphasizes the role of kinetic factors in determining the chemical composition of sea water. Unlike thermodynamic models, Broecker's model suggests that sizable temporal variation in the composition of sea water and rates of sedimentation may have taken place in the past 100 million years. To describe the evolution of the ocean's chemical system and interpret variations observed in the sedimentary record, we have formulated a dynamical model. Mass-balance consideration leads to a set of coupled nonlinear differential equations. The equations are linearized and solved for step function changes in the rate of river input and in the rate of vertical mixing. This simple model of the ocean's chemical system is shown to be stable against oscillations. Using data for the modern ocean, the response times for P, C, Si, Ca, and Ba are calculated to be of the order of 10⁴ to 10⁶ yr for changes in river and other inputs and of the order 10¹ to 10² yr for a change in the rate of vertical mixing. Analog-simulation techniques, discussed for the situation of the two-box model, provide a powerful tool for treating nonlinearities and systems with more than two components. In the final section, consequences of the dynamical formulation are compared with parameters appearing in Broecker's steady-state formulation.     

SD-WACCM模式对平流层化学组分的模拟研究

利用美国大气研究中心开发的全球气候模式,对2008年平流层的化学组分(HNO₃、HCl和O₃)进行了模拟研究,并结合了MLS卫星资料进行了对比分析。结果表明,模式可以较好地再现平流层的各化学组分的时空分布状况。并选取了8个区域,将模拟的2008—2009年O₃柱浓度与臭氧监测仪资料对比,结果表明,模式可以较好地再现全球O₃总量的季节变化情况。     

释放化学物质耗空电离层电子密度的研究

电离层作为电波传播的主要通道和载体,影响着无线电通信的质量,因此人工电离层扰动具有广阔的应用前景,在电离层中释放具有较强电子亲和力的化学物质可以耗空电离层F区的电子密度,是人工电离层扰动的有效手段之一.本文通过对CO2和SF6气体在电离层中的扩散和离子化学反应过程的分析,理论计算了在我国北京地区上空释放这两种气体后电离...     

Paradigms for planktonic assemblages: 50 years of contributions from the Leigh Marine Laboratory,Northland, New Zealand

Abstract

Plankton includes the primary producers and consumers that are critical for healthy ecosystem function in the marine realm. My objective was to identify the major contributions of the Leigh Marine Laboratory to our broader understanding of planktonic assemblages. Significant contributions were made prior to 1990 on the ecology of larval fishes. From the 1990s the focus changed to the sensory biology of larval invertebrates and fishes, with a strong emphasis given to the role of reef sound in attracting potential settlers. Both early and post 1980s research has been highly influential in a paradigm shift away from passively drifting larvae that have little control over their fate. Important contributions have also been made on the dynamics of nutrient–phytoplankton interactions, larval development and aquaculture. Opportunities abound for future research on the dynamics of planktonic assemblages in shelf waters and in changing seas.