Axisymmetry in protoplanetary nebulae – II. A near-infrared imaging polarimetric survey

In an imaging polarimetry survey of candidate post-AGB stars, scattering envelopes are detected around 20 objects. These envelopes represent the final mass-loss phases at the end of the AGB. In all cases, evidence for axisymmetry in the dust density is seen, suggesting that the presence of an axisymmetric outflow may be a ubiquitous phenomenon of the AGB to post-AGB transition. We use the polarized flux images to classify the objects into detached shell, bipolar and unresolved targets. Modelling based on a simple axisymmetric shell geometry supports the contention that post-AGB objects fall into one of two classes that differ in the amount of dust in the circumstellar environment: the detached shells correspond to stars with an optically thin expanding circumstellar envelope (CSE) whereas the bipolar and unresolved targets have optically thick dust structures, probably in the form of discs, which remain bound to the star, rather than partaking in the expansion of the AGB CSE. It is suggested that this bifurcation in morphology is rooted in the presence or absence of a binary companion, which determines whether or not a disc forms. Because the detached shell objects also appear axisymmetric, an additional mechanism for generating the axisymmetry, such as a magnetically shaped outflow, is needed if they do indeed have single star progenitors.     

The influence of bedrock orientation on the landscape evolution,surface morphology and denudation (10Be) at the Niesen,Switzerland

Landscape evolution and surface morphology in mountainous settings are a function of the relative importance between sediment transport processes acting on hillslopes and in channels, modulated by climate variables. The Niesen nappe in the Swiss Penninic Prealps presents a unique setting in which opposite facing flanks host basins underlain by identical lithologies, but contrasting litho‐tectonic architectures where lithologies either dip parallel to the topographic slope or in the opposite direction (i.e. dip slope and non‐dip slope). The north‐western facing Diemtigen flank represents such a dip slope situation and is characterized by a gentle topography, low hillslope gradients, poorly dissected channels, and it hosts large landslides. In contrast, the south‐eastern facing Frutigen side can be described as non‐dip slope flank with deeply incised bedrock channels, high mean hillslope gradients and high relief topography. Results from morphometric analysis reveal that noticeable differences in morphometric parameters can be related to the contrasts in the relative importance of the internal hillslope‐channel system between both valley flanks. While the contrasting dip‐orientations of the underlying flysch bedrock has promoted hillslope and channelized processes to contrasting extents and particularly the occurrence of large landslides on the dip slope flank, the flank averaged beryllium‐10 (¹⁰Be)‐derived denudation rates are very similar and range between 0.20 and 0.26 mm yr^?1. In addition, our denudation rates offer no direct relationship to basin's slope, area, steepness or concavity index, but reveal a positive correlation to mean basin elevation that we interpret as having been controlled by climatically driven factors such as frost‐induced processes and orographic precipitation. Our findings illustrate that while the landscape properties in this part of the northern Alpine border can mainly be related to the tectonic architecture of the underlying bedrock, the denudation rates have a strong orographic control through elevation dependent mean annual temperature and precipitation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling atmospheric and hydrologic processes for assessment of meadow restoration impact on flow and sediment in a sparsely gauged California watershed

The restoration of meadowland using the pond and plug technique of gully elimination was performed in a 9‐mile segment along Last Chance Creek, Feather River Basin, California, in order to rehabilitate floodplain functions such as mitigating floods, retaining groundwater, and reducing sediment yield associated with bank erosion and to significantly alter the hydrologic regime. However, because the atmospheric and hydrological conditions have evolved over the restoration period, it was difficult to obtain a comprehensible evaluation of the impact of restoration activities by means of field measurements. In this paper, a new use of physically based models for environmental assessment is described. The atmospheric conditions over the sparsely gauged Last Chance Creek watershed (which does not have any precipitation or weather stations) during the combined historical critical dry and wet period (1982–1993) were reconstructed over the whole watershed using the atmospheric fifth‐generation mesoscale model driven with the US National Center for Atmospheric Research and US National Center for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data. Using the downscaled atmospheric data as its input, the watershed environmental hydrology (WEHY) model was applied to this watershed. All physical parameters of the WEHY model were derived from the existing geographic information system and satellite‐driven data sets. By comparing the prerestoration and postrestoration simulation results under the identical atmospheric conditions, a more complete environmental assessment of the restoration project was made. Model results indicate that the flood peak may be reduced by 10–20% during the wet year and the baseflow may be enhanced by 10–20% during the following dry seasons (summer to fall) in the postrestoration condition. The model results also showed that the hydrologic impact of the land management associated with the restoration mitigates bank erosion and sediment discharge during winter storm events. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

四川地区短时强降水事件时空演变特征研究

利用四川地区自动气象站逐小时降水观测资料,分析了2010~2019年5~9月短时强降水事件24h累计降水量、频次和强度的时空分布特征,探讨了短时强降水事件发生的频次、极值分布及其与地形、海拔高度等的关系。结果表明：四川地区平均24h累计降雨量基本在50mm以上,盆地东北部、西南部、南部及阿坝州东部甚至超过100mm,最大值出现在广安,达175mm。四川地区短时强降水事件开始时间的日变化特征表现为“V”型结构的夜间峰值位相,事件持续时段多为傍晚至凌晨,时长可达10h以上,最长甚至可持续22h。在强降水事件极值的日变化上,极大值频次和降水量呈单峰结构,在03时达到最大,其后逐渐减小至15时达到谷值,而后再次增大;降水强度呈弱双峰结构,分别在04时和16时达到谷值,13时和18时达到峰值,其日变化呈“增-减-增-减”的特征。四川短时强降水事件与复杂地形有密切的关系,5~6月事件活跃区在四川盆地中部,7月在盆地西部的龙门山脉一带,8月在雅安、乐山附近,9月在盆地北部且频次明显减少;短时强降水事件的最大小时雨强可达80mm以上,出现在7~8月的盆地西部龙门山一带和南部地区。短时强降水事件随着海拔高度的增加,发生频次和日数逐渐减少,海拔2000m以上地区基本无强降水发生日出现( 峨眉山气象站例外)。     

风电场风资源测量与计算的精度控制

根据多个复杂地形风电场观测操作实践和大量观测数据的计算分析,提出了对观测数据和计算质量精度控制的主要措施,包括:复杂地形测风站布设的5个原则,仪器的合理选型和设置;对由于测风仪固有的系统误差和缺测数据的插补订正可能引起的计算误差进行了定量估算,通过对大量实测数据的对比计算显示:①目前普遍采用的进口风速计的相对偏差在1.6%～5.25%之间,由此可导致轮毂高度附近的年平均风功率密度误差在5%以上,最大达13.8%;②在季风气候区、复杂地形和风的年变率较大的地区,进行缺测数据插补订正时,应选取同季或同一主导风向的数据作为插补订正的基础数据,否则可能导致其平均风功率密度相对误差达20%～50%.     

膨胀蔷薇珊瑚与壮实鹿角珊瑚的胚胎和幼虫发育

造礁石珊瑚的有性繁殖是修复珊瑚礁生态系统的有效途径之一.文章为国内首次报道造礁石珊瑚有性繁殖和幼体发育过程,为利用有性繁殖技术恢复珊瑚礁生态系统提供了发育生物学上的理论基础.海南省三亚市鹿回头海域的大部分珊瑚在2009年3月底至4月中发生有性繁殖行为.2009年4月11日晚采集膨胀蔷薇珊瑚Montipora turgescens和壮实鹿角珊瑚Acropora robusta自然排放的受精卵,研究其胚胎及幼虫发育的过程.通过连续观察和显微拍摄记录了2种珊瑚的受精卵发育过程,结果显示,受精卵经过分裂变为桑葚胚;桑葚胚经过进一步发育变形为虾片状,进而发育成盘状幼体;盘状幼体由四周向内弯曲形成碗状的结构,进而出现原肠胚及纤毛,发育成为椭圆型或圆形的浮浪幼虫;浮浪幼虫发生附着变态,长出触手,发育成珊瑚幼体.通过观察还发现,膨胀蔷薇珊瑚的卵母细胞中本身就含有黄褐色虫黄藻,壮实鹿角珊瑚的卵母细胞中没有虫黄藻,其共生的虫黄藻足在发育过程中从周围环境获得的.     

2007/2008年冬季雨雪冰冻灾害的副热带高压环流背景与变异特征

基于NCEP/NCAR提供的1958—2008年逐日再分析资料,对2007/2008年冬季我国雨雪冰冻灾害期间副高指数特征与El Nino/La Nina年平均冬半年副高指数特征以及50a平均冬半年副高指数特征进行对比分析。采用交叉小波和小波相干分析方法,进一步分析了它们之间的相关性和异同性以及对大气环流的影响,揭示了2007/2008年我国南方雨雪冰冻灾害期间副热带高压活动与环流变异特性的一些基本特征,如La Nina事件冬季(尤其是中等强度La Nina事件年份的冬季),副高通常比一般年份副高的平均位置偏北。     

中国中央造山带资源环境态势与可持续发展对策

资源与环境是谋求发展的物质基础和重要前提,其合理开发利用是实现可持续发展的重要内容。中国中央造山带富能、富矿、少植被、土地瘠薄,这对该区的经济发展既显示了无穷的诱惑,却又制约着对其的开发利用。对此,从保护利用水土资源、利用资源优势促进经济发展以及发展科技教育与提高人口素质三方面提出建议以促进该区走上可持续发展之路。     

岩溶洞穴次生碳酸盐沉积铀及其同位素组成古气候环境研究进展

洞穴沉积铀含量及其同位素初始234U/238U[（234U/238U)0]变化均与过去气候环境变化关系密切。文章分别对石笋中U含量和(234U/238U)0的气候意义进行统计分析发现,多数研究认为洞穴沉积U含量和(234U/238U)0可能指示土壤湿度和有效降水变化。然而,不管是对洞穴沉积的U含量还是(234U/238U)0,其气候环境意义解读还存在两种观点。但无论如何,这些研究成果都显示了洞穴沉积的U含量和(234U/238U)0是研究过去气候环境变化的重要替代指标。在未来的研究中,除了土壤环境和过程,还应关注U来源的相对贡献变化和其他微量元素与U元素的关系。这一指标可能在对东亚地区的大气粉尘活动和冬季风演化、地表生物量的变化研究等方面发挥重要作用。      

我国岩溶资源环境领域的创新问题

中国岩溶地区资源环境问题突出,制约着经济社会的发展。“十八大”以来国家大力推进科技创新和生态文明建设。科技创新不仅有助于解决和应对岩溶地区的资源环境问题,也将推动岩溶科学的发展,服务我国生态文明建设。今后的岩溶研究应当落实地球系统科学在岩溶学中的应用,发挥我国岩溶研究的地域优势,探索我国岩溶关键带的特征和重要过程;加强岩溶作用应对全球变化、岩溶碳汇速率和稳定性的研究,建立应对极端气候的长效机制;考虑古纬度和古气候对古岩溶形成的影响;深入探索微生物对深部碳酸盐岩岩溶形成的作用;系统梳理和总结我国第一期石漠化治理工程的经验和存在的问题,更好地指导下一步的治理工作;思考从南北方岩溶分界线的角度开展岩溶自然遗产地的申报工作;将现代大数据等技术运用到岩溶资源环境、水文地质研究中,做好地质灾害的预警预报和应对资源短缺问题的研究,服务国家需求。