Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the North Sea: A time series analysis (1995–2005)

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) dynamics in the North Sea was explored by means of long-term time series of nitrogen parameters from the Dutch national monitoring program. Generally, the data quality was good with little missing data points. Different imputation methods were used to verify the robustness of the patterns against these missing data. No long-term trends in DON concentrations were found over the sampling period (1995–2005). Inter-annual variability in the different time series showed both common and station-specific behavior. The stations could be divided into two regions, based on absolute concentrations and the dominant times scales of variability. Average DON concentrations were 11 μmol l⁻¹ in the coastal region and 5 μmol l⁻¹ in the open sea. Organic fractions of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) averaged 38 and 71% in the coastal zone and open sea, respectively, but increased over time due to decreasing dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations. In both regions intra-annual variability dominated over inter-annual variability, but DON variation in the open sea was markedly shifted towards shorter time scales relative to coastal stations. In the coastal zone a consistent seasonal DON cycle existed with high values in spring–summer and low values in autumn–winter. In the open sea seasonality was weak. A marked shift in the seasonality was found at the Dogger Bank, with DON accumulation towards summer and low values in winter prior to 1999, and accumulation in spring and decline throughout summer after 1999. This study clearly shows that DON is a dynamic actor in the North Sea and should be monitored systematically to enable us to understand fully the functioning of this ecosystem.     

Scientific advice in integrated ocean management: The process towards the Barents Sea plan

It is widely held that integrated management of ocean areas needs to be based on integrated scientific advice. Such advice crosses disciplinary and traditional sector boundaries. This paper aims to provide insight into the role of science and scientific knowledge in a process towards integrated ocean management. It does so by exploring the organization of the process towards the integrated management plan for the Barents Sea-Lofoten area in Norway. It sheds light on the complexity of management questions in a context characterized by uncertainty and political controversy, largely concerning petroleum activity. Scientists were asked to provide a dynamic view on these issues and have delivered important material that furthers the task of policy development. However, there is a persisting lack of understanding about the consequences of human impact on the ecosystem. The paper finishes by pointing at the need for a larger societal discussion on what activities we consider appropriate, considering the limits of science to provide the knowledge base for questions that transcend the environmental domain.     

Cost-effectiveness of the Baltic Sea Action Plan

The governments around the Baltic Sea have agreed on a new set of targets for nutrient load reductions. The major motive for this is new and better knowledge about the link between nutrient loads and water transparency in different parts of the sea. The Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) defines target for transparency in different marine basins, the load reductions necessary to meet transparency targets and a scheme for the distribution of the abatement burden between countries adjacent to the sea.     

Modelling the effect of wave overtopping on nearshore hydrodynamics and morphodynamics around shore-parallel breakwaters

Wave overtopping nearshore coastal structures, such as shore-parallel breakwaters, can significantly alter the current circulation and sediment transport patterns around the structures, which in turn affects the formation of tombolos and salients in the nearshore area. This paper describes the implementation of a wave overtopping module into an existing depth-averaged coastal morphological mode: COAST2D and model applications to investigate the effect of wave overtopping on the hydrodynamics and morphodynamics around a group of shore-parallel breakwaters. The hydrodynamic aspects of the model were validated against a series of laboratory conditions. The model was then applied to a study site at Sea Palling, Norfolk, UK, where 9 shore-parallel segmented breakwaters including 4 surface-piercing and 5 low-crested breakwaters are present, for the storm conditions in Nov 2006. The model results were compared with laboratory data and field measurements, showing a good agreement on both hydrodynamics and morphological changes. Further analysis of wave overtopping effect on the nearshore hydrodynamics and morphodynamics reveals that wave overtopping has significant impacts on the nearshore circulation, sediment transport and the resulting morphological changes within such a complex breakwater scheme under the storm and macro-tide conditions. The results indicate the importance of including the wave overtopping in modelling nearshore morphodynamics with the presence of coastal structures.     

东海北部营养盐分布的季节变化及成因探讨

基于美国国家海洋大气管理局(NOAA)2007年发布的全球海域营养盐数据库资料和美国国家地球物理数据中心(NGDC)2006年发布的全球地貌数据库资料,在MATLAB计算机平台上,利用研发的数值分析与成图技术,对东海北部海域营养盐分布的季节变化特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)东海北部海域NO3--N、PO43--P分布总特征为由沿岸向离岸递减,由表层向底层递增;西北高,东南低,呈扇形向东南扩展;SiO3--Si有两个浓度高值区,一个为研究区域的西北角,另一个在东北角;(2)在0~50 m的表层营养盐平均浓度均是冬季最高;50~200 m的中层NO3--N、SiO3--Si夏季最高;200 m以下的底层四季变化微弱,其中400~500m层PO43--P、SiO3--Si浓度值秋季最高。NO3--N变异系数表层最大,PO3--P中层最大、SiO3--Si底层最大,其中NO3--N相应各层变异系数大于PO43--P、SiO3--Si;(3)研究区域四季均存在高营养盐水团。高PO43--P、SiO3--Si水团中心分别位于125.5°E、30.5°N和128.5°E、30.5°N;高NO3--N水团中心,随冬-春-夏-秋、从南往东北再向西、最后向东南,在125°~128°E、29°~31°N范围内移动。     

渤海主要渔业资源结构的演变分析

通过对现有资料的系统分析,简化了渤海生态系统食物网,并剖析了近50年来渤海主要渔业资源结构的变化特征,这对进一步阐明渤海生态系统动力学的变化特征以及研究渔业资源衰退的原因有重要的科学意义。研究表明,渤海主要鱼类可聚为4类:游泳动物食性鱼类、底栖动物食性鱼类、浮游动物食性鱼类和腐屑食性鱼类,在此基础上渤海生态系统食物网可简化为3条食物链:浮游植物→浮游动物→浮游动物食性鱼类→游泳动物食性鱼类(第一条食物链);浮游植物和碎屑→底栖动物→底栖动物食性鱼类和头足类→游泳动物食性鱼类(第二条食物链);碎屑→腐屑食性鱼类(第三条食物链)。20世纪50年代末以来,第一条食物链渔业资源已取代第二条食物链渔业资源成为最主要的渔业资源,第三条食物链渔业资源生物量百分比呈上升趋势,近年来已成为继第一条食物链渔业资源的第二大类渔业资源。渔业捕捞、渤海次级生产力结构的变化以及各渔业资源生物自身生长和繁殖特点的不同是导致渤海主要渔业资源结构变化的重要因素。     

厦门同安湾鳄鱼屿海岸侵蚀与防护对策

在2009年3月对鳄鱼海岸线测量的基础上,利用ArcGIS软件分析比较了现有海岸线与厦门市集美区地形图（1988年版,图号：7-50-129甲-）中鳄鱼屿海岸线位置的变化.结果表明21a来,鳄鱼屿海岸最大侵蚀率为2.0 m/a,东南侧最大侵蚀宽度达42 m,侵蚀总面积达14 000 m2;其东北侧海岸侵蚀后退约35 m,侵蚀总面积达4 100 m2;其西北侧海岸最大侵蚀宽度达30 m,侵蚀面积达12 000 m2.文中就厦门市鳄鱼屿海岸侵蚀的成因进行了分析,提出了工程防护、人工补沙、红树林修复以及加强海岛及其周边海域资源综合管理等方面的防护对策.这可为我国其他无居民海岛的海岸侵蚀防护提供经验借鉴.     

黄海海域侏罗纪地层新知

钻井揭示黄海海域发育中、上侏罗统,可建立两个孢粉化石组合,时代分属中、晚侏罗世;与中国其他地区侏罗系相比,该区侏罗系独具特色。地化分析表明,黄海海域侏罗系发育厚度巨大的烃源岩,展现了良好的油气勘探前景。     

南海西北陆缘新型多金属结核的发现及意义

近年南海西北陆缘西沙东北海域发现大型多金属结核,尽管其外观与大洋结核别无二致,具有个体大、外部形态规整、层状结构清晰的特点,但其地球化学组成与大洋多金属结核存在明显差别:TMn/TFe的比值小,仅为0.73,富Fe、Si、Al、稀土元素而贫Mn、Cu、Co、Ni。Be同位素质谱法测年和钙质超微生物地层学方法研究表明,结核生长速度达7.41～15.38 mm/Ma,远大于大洋多金属结核的平均生长速率和以前发现于南海北部的多金属结核。依据其综合特征,初步认定其为边缘海区域赋存的一种新型多金属结核。该类型结核所蕴含丰富的边缘海区域古海洋、古气候、古环境信息,有助于探讨新生代末期青藏高原隆升、东亚季风加强、北半球冰期发生等重大地质事件所引起的区域沉积响应。     

南黄海中部泥质沉积成因和物源研究综述

当前南黄海沉积学研究的核心问题是泥质沉积的形成过程和动力机制及其物质来源。许多学者对南黄海中部泥区的成因和物源进行了大量研究,但比较局限,缺少系统性。现有研究认为南黄海泥质沉积的形成受黄海冷水团和上升流的影响,但黄海冷水团并不是其形成的必要条件。对泥区物源的研究,主要考虑现代黄河物质、老黄河物质以及长江物质对其的影响,并且仅是定性的研究。对于朝鲜半岛物质对南黄海中部泥区的影响,国内的研究更是寥寥无几。海水对海底基岩的侵蚀沉积以及黄海暖流对海底沉积物的改造和再悬浮作用对南黄海中部泥区沉积的贡献仅是个别学者的观点。