A new approach to the Nd residence time in the ocean: the role of atmospheric inputs

Concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) and Nd isotopic ratios were analyzed for seawater, filtered suspension and sediment trap samples collected in the tropical Atlantic Ocean (EUMELI program, EUtrophic, MEsotrophic and oLIgotrophic sites, 20°N, 18°–21°W). This is the first REE/Nd dataset on solution and different-sized particles collected at the same site. We present direct evidence of the Nd isotopic exchange between particulate lithogenic fraction and seawater without significant mass transfer. This exchange is probably one of the main factors that simultaneously constrains the Nd concentration and isotopic ratio budget. We propose a new approach to estimate the residence time of Nd in the ocean (τ_Nd) based on isotopic exchange: 200 yr < τ_Nd< 1000 yr. The exchange requires a partial dissolution of lithogenic Nd. We estimate that the fraction of soluble Nd proportion in atmospheric dust is of the order of 20% based on the isotopic ratios. We suggest that the partial dissolution of atmospheric fallout is probably one of the main REE sources of the ocean.     

Dynamics of Microbiological Contamination at a Marine Recreational Site

Levels of bacterial indicators of pollution are related with marine salinity and turbidity at both high tide (HT) and low tide (LT). The salinity varied from values around 26.9 ppm at the LT and 28.6 ppm at the high tide but affected total and faecal coliform (FC) estimates. Salinity readings of 25–30 ppm produced microbial counts below 10⁻² MPN/100 ml total coliforms (TCs) whereas salinity of 15–22 ppm produced a TC level of 4.6×10⁻⁴ MPN/100 ml. Turbidity peaks in the samples are accompanied by peaks of microbial contamination of the seawater indicating that the contamination is normally deposited at the marine sediment rather than in the water column. In fact, samples collected under heavy stormy weather, in which the water agitation resulted in turbidity values up to 68.3 NTU, produced maximum microbial counts.     

Multiple Discriminant Analysis of Marine Sediment Data

A multivariate statistical approach was used in the analysis of inter-relationships among marine benthic infaunal structure, physical and chemical characteristics of sediment samples and toxicity data derived from laboratory tests at 16 locations in shallow, inshore waters of Hong Kong. The method involved classification (cluster analysis using the Bray–Curtis similarity index) and ordination (multi-dimensional scaling) of infaunal patterns and the use of multiple discriminant analysis to relate groupings of the locations to the selected environmental and toxicity data. Analysis of the combined sediment physical, biological, chemical and toxicity dataset by stepwise multiple discriminant analysis allowed identification of those variables most sensitive for discriminating location groups. The use of multiple discriminant analysis in sediment quality characterization was evaluated against the Sediment Quality Triad approach and other statistical techniques.     

Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Soils and Sediments of the Herbert and Burdekin River Regions, North Queensland – Implications for Contamination of the Great Barrier Reef

Organochlorine pesticides were widely used in the Australian sugarcane industry from the early 1950s until the late 1980s. Erosion of sugarcane soils and subsequent transport of sediment bound contaminants in river run-off to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon is a growing concern as the cane industry continues to expand. Organochlorine pesticide residues can be used as tracers to examine the worst-case scenario of the spatial extent to which currently used, though less persistent, organic agricultural pesticides might extend. The coastal alluvial flood-plains of the Herbert and Burdekin Rivers in North Queensland have sugarcane growing as the major coastal land-use. Sediment cores and surface sediment samples were collected from near-shore coastal regions of the Herbert and Burdekin Rivers. In addition, soil samples from cane-fields in the two catchments were collected. Analyses of the marine surface sediment samples and three sediment cores revealed the absence of detectable concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (<5 pg/g). However, easily detectable concentrations were found in the sugarcane soil samples (0.01–45 ng/g).     

An Analysis of the Coastal Fish Assemblage of the Ustica Island Marine Reserve (Mediterranean Sea)

A study of the coastal fish assemblages in the marine park of Ustica Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Mediterranean) was conducted from June 1994 to September 1995 and from June 1996 to September 1997. The principal aims of the research were to: (1) define the faunistic features of local fish communities; (2) assess the effectiveness of the protection regime of the marine park on the fish assemblages ('reserve effect'); (3) provide information on the distribution of some Epinephelus and Diplodus species in the shallowest depth zone of the island. During seasonal surveys, underwater visual censuses were carried out at several sites located in three zones of the island, each with a different level of protection. Observations were made along 250 m² transects at 3–5, 10–15 and 25–30 m depth ranges. Additional surveys were made by SCUBA diving and snorkelling. A statistically significant effect of depth on the fish community parameters was observed, whereas differences linked to protection level, zones, sites and seasons were not significant. The abundance and frequency of occurrence of some species, particularly dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus , were positively correlated with the degree of protection of the different zones of the marine park. Certain sites of the island are important as nursery areas for three species of the genus Diplodus ( i.e., D. puntazzo, D. sargus and D. vulgaris ).     

1998年我国天气气候特点

１９９８年我国天气气候有如下几个主要特点：南方部分地区出现冬春汛,夏季长江、嫩江和松花江流域发生严重洪涝,秋季降水偏少,部分地区出现秋旱;全国年平均气温普遍偏高;生成和登陆的台风异常偏少;风雹天气接近常年;青藏高原出现罕见雪灾。     

黄山雪、雨凇和雾凇的气候特征

用黄山１９５６￣１９９６年气象资料,分析讨论了黄山雪,雨凇和雾凇的气候特点。结果表明：（１）年降雪日数,雨凇日数和雾凇日数均为多波振动的时间演变规律,年际变化具有阶段性,并存在准１２年周期的低频振荡。     

斜坡式防波护岸断面形式的实验研究

从某一大型工程中的邻海区域江堤加固工程的各种方案比较出发,分析讨论了这类工程结构形式受波浪作用的情况及结构物设计中方案比选的有关问题。     

关于大力发展山东省海洋旅游娱乐业的策略研究

进入本世纪末,随着我国旅游经济的快速发展,旅游业在国民经济中的产业地位已越来越突出,国家旅游局在《中国旅游业九五发展计划和２０１０年远景目标纲要》中明确提出“国家和地方政府重视发展旅游业,要把旅游业当作优势产业来认识,当作新的支柱产业来扶持和培育,实行政府主导型战略。”据统计,截止１９９６年,全国已有２２个省、市、自治区把旅游业列为“支柱产业”、“先导产业”、“重点产业”或“龙头产业”。