Application of a two-dimensional depth-averaged hydrodynamic tidal model

A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model application to the San Francisco Bay was performed using the Boundary-Fitted HYDROdynamic model (BFHYDRO). The model forcing functions consist of tidal elevations along the open boundary and fresh water flows from the Delta Outflow. The model-predicted surface elevations compare well with the observed surface elevations at five stations in San Francisco Bay. Mean error in the model predicted surface elevations and currents are less than 7 and 9%, respectively. Correlation coefficients for surface elevations and currents are higher than 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The amplitudes and phases of the principal tidal constituents at 24 tidal stations in San Francisco Bay, obtained from a harmonic analysis of a 90-day simulation compare well with the observed data. The predicted amplitude and phase of the M₂ tidal constituent at these stations are respectively within 8 cm and 8° of the observed data. Maximum errors in the K₁ harmonic amplitudes and phases are less than 3 cm and 7° respectively. The asymmetric diurnal and semi-diurnal tidal ranges and spring and neap tidal cycles of the surface elevations and currents are well reproduced in the model at all stations.     

The birth of the Paratethys during the Early Oligocene: From Tethys to an ancient Black Sea analogue?

Deeper water black shales, overlain by coccolith-bearing marlstones representing the incipient Paratethys (example: Early Oligocene; Austrian Molasse Basin), have sedimentary characteristics similar to those of the Holocene Black Sea since 7500 years bp. Framboid pyrite size, biomarker and C–N-isotope data additionally indicate that isolation of the Paratethys resulted in Black Sea-type characteristics during nannoplankton zone NP 23.In contrast to the estuarine circulation across the Bosphorus since 7500 years bp, marine conditions prevailed in the incipient Paratethys during NP 21/22. Nitrogen was fixed and low organic carbon accumulation rates prevailed. In both settings a vertical density water-column stratification was accompanied by photic zone anoxia, and by anaerobic methane oxidation in the Paratethys. In the Paratethys increased run off, starting in NP 22, led to estuarine circulation during NP 23. During this period cyclic blooms of calcareous nannoplankton resulted in high calcite accumulation rates which diluted the coeval clay sedimentation. Similar sedimentary features in the Black Sea and the Paratethys during the earliest Oligocene are result from opposite paleoceanographic developments, both leading to estuarine circulation patterns. In the Black Sea, permanent photic zone anoxic conditions were established 7500 years bp in response to the first invasion of saline Mediterranean waters into the former freshwater lake. In contrast, brackish surface water in the Paratethys resulted from nutrient-rich freshwater diluting the marine water body.     

Testing solar forcing of pervasive Holocene climate cycles

The temporal and spatial extent of Holocene climate change is an area of considerable uncertainty, with solar forcing recently proposed to be the origin of cycles identified in the North Atlantic region. To address these issues we have developed an annually resolved record of changes in Irish bog tree populations over the last 7468 years which, together with radiocarbon‐dated bog and lake‐edge populations, extend the dataset back to ～9000 yr ago. The Irish trees underpin the internationally accepted radiocarbon calibration curve, used to derive a proxy of solar activity, and allow us to test solar forcing of Holocene climate change. Tree populations and age structures provide unambiguous evidence of major shifts in Holocene surface moisture, with a dominant cyclicity of 800 yr, similar to marine cycles in the North Atlantic, indicating significant changes in the latitude and intensity of zonal atmospheric circulation across the region. The cycles, however, are not coherent with changes in solar activity (both being on the same absolute timescale), indicating that Holocene North Atlantic climate variability at the millennial and centennial scale is not driven by a linear response to changes in solar activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ON THE FORMATION AND MAINTENANCE MECHANISMS OF THE COLD WATER MASS OF THE YELLOW SEA

An analytical study is made on the formation of the Cold Water Mass of the Yellow Sea (CWYS) and the relevant thermally driven circulation. The temperature and velocity field, obtained by solving the coupled equations of motion and heat conduction, show that, in summer, the CWYS has a horizontal cyclonic circulation (component) with vertical upwelling in the middle and downwelling at the edges, that the vertical convection (u-w components) occurs only within a thin layer near the thermocline. and that the deeper layer remains almost motionless. This current structure represents well the mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of the thermocline or CWYS during the wanner months. Comparisons between the theoretical and observed temperatures show very good qualitative and quantitative agreements for corresponding seasons.     

Metagabbro and associated eclogites in the Lubrin area, Nevado-Filabride Complex, Spain

Abstract Several small bodies of metabasite (maximum dimensions of 1000 m x 500 m) are included in the metamorphic rocks of the Nevado-Filabride Complex in the Betic Cordilleras (Almeria Region). The body of 400 m x 100 m, located 200 m due west of the Lubrin village, contains troctolitic gabbro with well-preserved igneous textures and mineral compositions, wholly amphibolitized gabbro, garnet-bearing metagabbro eclogite. Along with the textural and mineral changes, sensible and regular geochemical variations can be observed, where the content of MgO decreases from 24% to 11%, while that of CaO and Na₂O increases from 7% to 11% and from 2% to 3%, respectively. In addition, the content of some minor elements such as Sr, Y, Nb, Zr and Sc increases while that of Ni and Cr decreases from troctolitic gabbro to the eclogite. The amphibolitized gabbro shows values scattered around those of the troctolitic gabbro. These geochemical variations are ascribed to inherited differences in the pre-metamorphic protolith, i.e. a fractionated gabbro which varies from olivine-rich to clinopyroxene-rich gabbro. Nevertheless, some metasomatism affected the Lubrin body without changing the main chemical trends, as documented by the significantly different ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of each rock-type. This points to a metasomatism which involved the introduction of crustal radiogenic strontium. The petrographical and mineral chemical features are interpreted to be the result of syn-metamorphic fluid circulation possibly combined with deformation by shearing. The igneous texture and mineral chemistry have been retained wherever both fluid circulation and shearing were ineffective. On the contrary, where both events were effective, the formation of eclogite occurred. Later, the entire body underwent a retrogressive amphi-bolitic stage under greenschist facies conditions, which was probably responsible for the formation of the amphibolitized gabbro portion and for the retrogression of the eclogite.     

North Atlantic sea-level and circulation

Summary. Monthly sea-levels from an extensive array of North Atlantic tide gauges (26-50N) are examined. The spatial scale of the sea-level variations, and the reasons for them, are discussed; one application of such a study is clearly in the design of a tide gauge network for monitoring eustatic changes of sea-level.
The spatial scale of the sea-level changes is large. There is a coherent sea-level signal which can be traced along the eastern boundary of the North Atlantic from Newlyn (50N) to Tenerife (28N). There are also two distinct groupings of tide gauges along the western boundary, separated by Cape Hatteras.
The contribution of local air pressure and wind stress is quantified at each gauge through multiple regression techniques and the gains are then interpreted in terms of recent theoretical and numerical modelling studies. For example, the gains suggest that the wind-forced boundary current along the Nova Scotian shelf is trapped to within about 16 km of the coast.
The influence of local meteorology cannot account for the large-scale modes of variability. The coherent signal along the eastern boundary is correlated with changes in the Sverdrup transport of the North Atlantic and hence the large-scale wind field. The two modes on the western boundary appear to be related to baroclinic boundary current variations.
The Newlyn sea-level record is finally 'corrected' for some of the above effects to illustrate the utility of such a residual series in the identification of eustatic changes and vertical crustal movement.     

Understanding and Portraying the Global Atmospheric Circulation

Abstract

Atmospheric circulation and resultant surface pressure patterns are important discussion topics in many introductory geography, meteorology, and earth science courses. In the past, summary materials developed to aid in teaching these concepts have used a north-south oriented meridional cross-section of the troposphere (e.g., the three-cell model). We suggest that while the Hadley Cell model works well for the tropics, an alternative depiction incorporating two map views should be used to present a more meaningful view of the mean extratrop-ical circulation. The combination of a tropical cross-section map and an extra-tropical map will assist students in learning about first-order motions associated with the Earth's atmospheric circulation.     

最近500年来福建玉华洞石笋氧同位素记录及气候意义

基于福建将乐玉华洞一支石笋(YH1)4个230Th年龄和370个氧同位素数据,并利用具有年层时标的湖北清江和尚洞石笋氧同位素记录的校正,重建了AD 1530以来1~3 a分辨率的石笋氧同位素序列。与当地现代器测气象资料对比发现,最近60 a来玉华洞石笋δ18O与当地夏半年降水量相关性最为显著(R=-0.35,n=55),而受温度的影响较弱,玉华洞石笋氧同位素较好的指示了当地夏半年降水量变化的信息。最近100 a来,福建玉华洞石笋的氧同位素组成具有逐渐变重的趋势,与其他地区高分辨率石笋δ18O具有相同的变化趋势,而且也与季风指数指示的季风减弱趋势相一致,进一步证实季风区石笋δ18O反映了东亚季风大尺度环流特征;在小冰期中后期(AD 1530~1850),玉华洞石笋δ18O在平均值-5.9‰高频振荡,存在一系列的数十年际尺度的季风增强和减弱事件,与亚洲—太平洋涛动(Asian Pacific Oscillation,APO)指数密切相关,说明玉华洞石笋δ18O所指示的降水信息受APO变化的影响。     

辽宁中尺度数值模式产品和 T213产品对比检验分析

利用国家级的气象预报产品质量客观检验评价系统,对辽宁中尺度模式预报MM5和T213数值预报的结果分别进行检验分析.检验类型分为历史资料检验和实时资料检验,检验要素包括地面降水、气温和高空500 hPa环流.检验结果显示,对于降水、气温的预报MM5模式预报检验结果优于T213数值预报,而对于500 hPa环流的检验结果T213更可信.