Mantle plumes and the metamorphism of the lower crust and their influence on basin evolution

Since the stretching model appears to be not applicable to the subsidence of accretionary crust, basins located on this crust type may have an alternative origin. Examples of such basins are the West Siberia Basin and the North German Basin. Both basins showed intensive volcanism and magmatism during the initial phase of their development. Remarkably, the West Siberia Basin is closely located to the (hotspot related) Siberian flood basalts with a similar Permo-Triassic age, and the location of the North German Basin in Permian times is identical with the present day position of the Tibesti hotspot in Northern Africa. These two basins may have specific relations to hotspot heat sources of the Earth's underlying mantle. Due to these heat sources, thermal metamorphism within the lower layers of the (accretionary) crust may occur, resulting in rock density increase and subsequent shrinkage of the affected rock volumes. These shrinkage processes will lead to the development of topographic lows, their filling with sediments, and the subsequent start of an exponentially declining isostatic/metamorphic basin subsidence. In addition to the analyses of metamorphic processes, potential field anomalies, temperature fields, and histories of subsidence have been integrated into one single model that can explain the development of the North German Basin. Similarly, the East African Rift and Eifel Hotspots affected parts of the overriding continental plates. The East African Rift Hotspot can be traced back to the Afar flood basalts and the Dniepr–Donets Basin, whereas the Eifel Hotspot can be linked to the North Sea Basin. Continental drift templates, present day hotspot locations, flood basalt areas, metamorphic facies as function of temperature, and crust categories are taken as published in recent literature.     

A control-volume finite-element method for three-dimensional multiphase basin modeling

In this paper we describe a 3D control-volume finite-element method to solve numerically the coupled partial differential equations (PDEs) governing geological processes involved in the evolution of sedimentary basins. These processes include sediment deposition and deformation, hydrocarbon generation, multiphase fluid flow, and heat transfer in deforming porous media.     

Ecophysiological characteristics of invasive Spartina alterniflora and native species in salt marshes of Yangtze River estuary,China

Biological invasions represent one of the significant components of global change. A comparative study of invaders and co-occurring natives is a useful approach to gaining insights into the invasiveness of exotic plants. Spartina alterniflora, a C₄ grass, is a widespread invader in the coastal wetlands in China and other regions of the world. We conducted a comparative study of S. alterniflora and native C₃ species, Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, in terms of their gas exchange and efficiencies in resource utilization. We tested the hypothesis that S. alterniflora has growth-related ecophysiological advantages over the natives in its non-native range, which result in its rapid growth and enhance its invasiveness. Photosynthesis, leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), and the efficiency of resource use (light, water, and nitrogen) were examined monthly for eight months in 2004. Overall, S. alterniflora had greater LAI, higher maximal net photosynthetic rate (A_max), and longer growing season than those of the native species. On average, the efficiencies of S. alterniflora in light, water, and nitrogen utilization were respectively 10.1%, 26.1%, and 33.1% higher than those of P. australis, and respectively 70.3%, 53.5%, 28.3% higher than those of S. mariqueter. However, SLA of S. alterniflora was significantly lower than those of P. australis and S. mariqueter. Although there was no general pattern in the relationship between invasiveness and plant photosynthetic types, in this study, most of the ecophysiological characteristics that gave S. alterniflora a competitive advantage in the Yangtze River estuary were associated with photosynthetic pathways. Our results offer a greater understanding of the relationship between invasiveness and plant photosynthetic type. Our results also indicate that LAI and the length of the photosynthetic season, which vary with habitats, are also important in invasion success.     

Distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay,Bohai Sea (China)

The levels of 19 kinds of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the aqueous phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM), pore water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea) in northeast China were investigated to evaluate their potential pollution risks. The total OCPs concentrations in the aqueous phase, SPM, pore water and sediments were 3.7–30.1 ng l⁻¹, 4.6–52.6 ng l⁻¹, 157–830 ng l⁻¹ and 2.1–21.3 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs, in the Daliao River estuary, are in the mid-range, as compared to those reported in other estuaries worldwide. The distribution of HCHs and DDTs were different indicating different contamination sources. Lindane is the main type of HCH and continuing use in northeast China of ‘pure’ HCH (lindane) rather than technical HCH accounts for the source. The ratios of (DDE + DDD)/DDT in the samples indicate no recent inputs of these chemicals to the estuary.     

珠江口淇澳岛海岸带反硝化作用研究

采用N2通量法,在一套连续流动培养装置中测定珠江口淇澳岛海岸带的反硝化速率,探讨各种因素对淇澳岛海岸带反硝化速率的影响.结果表明,反硝化速率受NO3-的利用率影响,而不是NO3-的绝对浓度.大型红树植物对淇澳岛海岸带的反硝化速率影响最大,其次是硝酸盐利用率,而有机质含量的影响较小.由于大型红树植物的影响,样品Q0411-5的反硝化速率比同在岛内的Q0411-3高出1倍.样品Q0412-14的NO3-培养前后的浓度变化(△NO3-)是Q0412-9的4倍多,因为受硝酸盐利用率的影响,它的反硝化速率却是Q0412-9的2倍多.温度对反硝化速率的影响程度尚不能确定.     

夏季长江口外海区域上升流现象的数值研究

基于Blumberg等(1996)的ECOMSED模式,对长江口外海区域夏季的上升流现象进行了数值模拟.模式综合考虑径流,风应力,环流,热通量和M_2,S_2,K_1,O_1四个主要分潮的作用,从而提高长江口外海区域上升流模拟的准确性和可靠性,并通过各种控制实验分析了其动力机制,进一步说明本区域影响上升流的主要因子.数值实验表明,长江口外水下河谷的南边(杭州湾口门中心东侧),上升流主要是由向北流动的台湾暖流通过底Ekman效应和陆坡的抬升共同作用产生的.夏季偏南风对长江口外水下河谷西侧上升流的产生有一定影响,但作用不大.此外,潮汐潮流对上升流的产生也起着一定的作用,但在本文关注的上升流区潮作用影响不大.     

湘江长沙段有螺洲滩不同灭螺措施效果评价

为了全面评价和考核湘江长沙段各洲滩近几年来采取的不同灭螺措施对洲滩钉螺(Oncomelania hu-pensis)螺情的影响,采用以系统抽样结合环境抽查的查螺方法,2003～2008年对湘江长沙段20个有螺洲滩进行了跟踪调查.结果表明,2008年与2003年相比,活螺洲滩数、有螺框出现率、钉螺平均密度和活螺率分别下降了40.00%,99.10%,99.74%,51.09%.经统计学处理,各洲滩有螺框出现率(Z=91.560 2,P<0.01)、活螺率(Z=65.133 2,P<0.01)不相同,但年度下降趋势明显.在20个有螺洲滩中,有感染性钉螺分布的洲滩5个,占有螺洲滩总数的25.00%;有感染性钉螺分布的洲滩逐年减少,感染性钉螺的平均密度和感染率逐年降低,2007～2008年所有洲滩无感染性钉螺分布.湘江长沙段有螺洲滩采取的各种防治措施中,药物与环改灭螺相结合的效果远好于单纯的药物灭螺.各种环改灭螺措施,又以抬洲降滩、翻耕垦种的灭螺效果更持久,更彻底.     

珠江口二类水体水色三要素的优化反演

根据2003年1月份珠江口实测资料获得了适合该海域的相关参数,建立了适用于该海域的二类水体水色三要素优化反演模型,同步优化反演得到了与2003年1月25～26日实测站点相对应的2003年1月29日的SeaWiFs图像像元点的水色三要素,反演与实测水色三要素的平均相对误差分别为：叶绿素14．9％,悬浮泥沙12．1％,黄色物质13．6％。研究结果说明本研究建立的优化反演模型比较适用于珠江口二类水体水色三要素的反演,且具有较高的反演精度。     

椒江河口洪季最大浑浊带核部的悬沙分选机制

以实测悬沙粒径、流速、含沙量资料为基础,通过悬沙不同粒级组分、中值粒径以及粒度参数的统计,分析椒江河口最大浑浊带核部悬沙粒径分布变化特性。研究表明,悬沙粒径分选主要受物质来源、潮流动力作用下底部部分物质再悬浮和絮凝沉降3个因素的影响。其中第二个因素起主导作用,大潮期比小潮期显著,第三个因素的作用主要发生在涨落憩前后低流速期,并在表层较近底层的水体明显。     

近年来长江河口北支水沙特性与河槽稳定性分析

根据崇头、青龙港、三条港和连兴港1950～2001年潮汐潮流观测资料和2005年6～7月的大、中、小潮及2007年5月5～10日沿北支河槽进行的两个连续潮周期水、沙、盐的现场观测数据并结合参考2005年的实测地形图.通过对长时间序列(1950～2001年)的分流比、年均流量、潮位、潮历时等数据的整理分析并与近期(1998～2005年)的水文特征值比较,发现随着北支分流量逐渐减少,河槽内强烈的潮波已成为影响北支河槽不稳定的主要因素;青龙港近年来(1998～2005年)平均高、低潮位出现增高,比多年(1950～2001年)平均高、低潮位分别高出15和17cm,是北支河床近年来持续性淤浅的体现;大潮期间北支河槽涨潮含沙量无论量值还是扩散强度均大于落潮,明显表现出河口涨潮槽具有的泥沙运动规律.自2001年以来除少数年份的小潮汛外,均表现出明显的涨潮优势,其中2002年3月大潮的潮量优势流仅为9.42%,显示出涨潮优势十分明显,说明北支河槽近几年来正朝着衰退的过程发展;2005年北支河槽-2、-4和-6 m等深线均呈喇叭状,闭合端指向上游,符合涨潮槽的几何形态;再从河槽类型系数(λ)看,大潮期间λ值均大于1,最大值为31.1,涨潮槽特征显著;而洪季中、小潮各测站λ值均小于1,最小值为0.000 3,A、B两测站在大潮时λ值均大于1,而小潮时又都小于1,显示北支河槽虽主要表现为涨潮槽的特征,但洪季受径流和潮汛影响,其涨潮槽特性不稳定.总体而言,目前北支河槽为一条不稳定的废弃型涨潮槽.