Beneath the surface: Characteristics of oceanic ecosystems under weak mixing conditions – A theoretical investigation

This study considers an important biome in aquatic environments, the subsurface ecosystem that evolves under low mixing conditions, from a theoretical point of view. Employing a conceptual model that involves phytoplankton, a limiting nutrient and sinking detritus, we use a set of key characteristics (thickness, depth, biomass amplitude/productivity) to qualitatively and quantitatively describe subsurface biomass maximum layers (SBMLs) of phytoplankton. These SBMLs are defined by the existence of two community compensation depths in the water column, which confine the layer of net community production; their depth coincides with the upper nutricline. Analysing the results of a large ensemble of simulations with a one-dimensional numerical model, we explore the parameter dependencies to obtain fundamental steady-state relationships that connect primary production, mortality and grazing, remineralization, vertical diffusion and detrital sinking. As a main result, we find that we can distinguish between factors that determine the vertically integrated primary production and others that affect only depth and shape (thickness and biomass amplitude) of this subsurface production layer. A simple relationship is derived analytically, which can be used to estimate the steady-state primary productivity in the subsurface oligotrophic ocean. The fundamental nature of the results provides further insight into the dynamics of these “hidden” ecosystems and their role in marine nutrient cycling.     

The impact of the M2 internal tide on data-assimilative model estimates of the surface tide

We use a synthetic data experiment to assess the accuracy of ocean tides estimated from satellite altimetry data, with emphasis on the impact of the phase-locked internal tide, which has a surface expression of several centimeters near its sites of genesis. Previous tidal estimates have regarded this signal as a random measurement error; however, it is deterministic and not scale-separated from the barotropic (surface) tide around complex bathymetric features. The synthetic data experiments show that the internal tide has a negligible impact on the barotropic tidal fields inferred under these circumstances, and the barotropic dissipation (a quadratic functional of the tidal fields) is in good agreement with the energetics of the three-dimensional regional primitive equations model which is the source of the synthetic data.     

Habitat selection and quality for multiple cohorts of young-of-the-year bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix): Comparisons between estuarine and ocean beaches in southern New Jersey

In this study, seasonal and annual variability in the use of estuarine and ocean beaches by young-of-the-year bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, was evaluated by indices of abundance in coastal areas of southern New Jersey (1998–2000). Biological and physical factors measured at specific sites were correlated with bluefish abundance to determine the mechanisms underlying habitat selection. In addition, integrative and discrete indicators of bluefish growth were used to examine spatio-temporal dynamics in habitat quality and its effect on habitat selection by multiple cohorts of bluefish. Intra-annual recruitment to coastal areas of southern New Jersey was episodic, and resulted from the ingress of spring-spawned bluefish (hatch-date April) to estuarine beaches in late May to early June, followed by the recruitment of summer-spawned fish (hatch-date early July) to ocean beaches from July to October. Bluefish utilized estuarine and ocean beaches in a facultative manner that was responsive to dynamics in prey composition and temperature conditions. The recruitment and residency of bluefish in the estuary (1998–1999) and ocean beaches (1998), for example, was coincidental with the presence of the Atlantic silverside Menidia menidia and bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli, the principal prey species for bluefish occupying these respective habitat-types. Bluefish abundance in the estuary (2000) and ocean beaches (1999–2000) was also correlated with water temperature, with the greatest catches of juveniles coinciding with their optimal growth temperature (24 °C). Bluefish growth, estimated as the slope of age–length relationships and daily specific growth rates, equaled 1.27–2.63 mm fork length (FL) d⁻¹ and 3.8–8.7% body length increase d⁻¹, respectively. The growth of sagittal otoliths was also used as a proxy for changes in bluefish size during and shortly before their time of capture. Accordingly, otolith growth rates of summer-spawned bluefish were greater at ocean beaches relative to the estuary and were explained by the more suitable temperature conditions found at ocean beaches during the mid- to late summer. Notwithstanding the fast growth of oceanic summer-spawned bluefish, individuals spawned in the spring were still larger in absolute body size at the end of the summer growing season (240 and 50–200 mm FL for spring- and summer-spawned bluefish, respectively). The size discrepancy between spring- and summer-spawned bluefish at the onset of autumn migrations and during overwintering periods may account for the differential recruitment success of the respective cohorts.     

Optical water type discrimination and tuning remote sensing band-ratio algorithms: Application to retrieval of chlorophyll and Kd(490) in the Irish and Celtic Seas

This paper assesses the feasibility of applying remote sensing algorithms based on blue/green reflectance ratios to Case 2 waters. Two algorithms from the SeaDAS (NASA) image processing package, OC4v4 for surface chlorophyll concentration, Chl, and K(490) for the attenuation coefficient for downward irradiance at 490 nm, K_d(490), were investigated using an extensive set of observations from the Irish and Celtic Seas. In situ data from a profiling radiometer were used as inputs for the algorithms to avoid uncertainties in atmospheric correction procedures, and direct measurements of Chl and K_d490 and were used for validation purposes. The standard versions of the algorithms performed poorly: OC4v4 generally overestimated Chl (with a very low coefficient of determination), and K(490) progressively underestimated K_d490 for values greater than 0.3 m⁻¹. A two-step procedure for level 2 product generation was therefore devised in which the numerical coefficients of OC4v4 and K(490) were tuned for the two optical water types known to occur most frequently in this region (McKee, D., Cunningham, A., 2006. Identification and characterisation of two optical water types in the Irish Sea from in situ inherent optical properties and seawater constituents. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 68, 305–316) by statistical regression on a data set of 102 stations from the Irish and Celtic Seas. The water types were distinguished by the magnitude of their normalised water leaving radiance signals at 665 nm, nL_w(665), and appropriate versions of the tuned algorithms applied to each water type. When this procedure was tested on an independent data set of 19 stations from the Bristol Channel, Chl values were recovered with an RMS error of 0.36 mg m⁻³ and K_d(490) values with an RMS error of 0.095 m⁻¹. The identification of water types from water-leaving radiance signals, and the application of band-ratio algorithms tuned for specific water types, may therefore provide a simple means of improving the quality of remote sensing products in optically complex shelf seas.     

3S技术在海南省海岸保护利用规划中的应用

利用3s技术强大的空间信息处理和管理能力及制图能力,实现了在海南省海岸保护利用规划中多源地理数据采集处理、专题信息分析提取、规划图集编制和规划信息管理系统的建立等．结果表明：采用3S技术能够较好地处理海南省海岸保护利用规划中涉及的陆图、海图、遥感图、海洋功能区图、相关规划图和项目用海图等基础地理数据,以及现场调查、勘测数据的空间位置关系;提取了海南岛海岸类型、海岸开发利用现状等专题信息;结合海南社会经济发展对海岸资源开发利用的需求和生态环境保护要求,划分基本功能岸段,总体为北部海岸以港口、旅游岸段为主,东部海岸以旅游、渔业岸段为主,南部海岸以旅游、港口岸段为主,西部海岸以港口、渔业岸段为主．     

Evolution of a coastal upwelling event during summer 2004 in the southern Taiwan Strait

A coastal upwelling event in the southern Taiwan Strait (STWS) was investigated using intensive cruise surveys (four repeated transects in a month) and satellite data in July and early August 2004.The extensive upwelling-associated surface cold water was first observed in early July (～2.0×10 4 km 2) along the STWS coast.Then,the cold surface water reduced in size by ～50% with decreased chlorophyll concentrations after 15 days,indicating the weakening of the upwelling event.At the end of July,the cold surface water disappeared.The temporal variations of the surface cold water and the 3-D hydrography around Dongshan Island are thought to be mainly attributed to the weakened upwelling-favorable southwestern wind,the asymmetric spatial structure of the wind field and the intrusion of warm water from the northern South China Sea.     

海洋信息组织与存储模型研究及其在"数字海洋"中的应用

基于中国数字海洋建设的经验和成果,制定了海洋数据要素的分类方案,将海洋信息分为5大类:海洋点要素、海洋线要素、海洋面要素、海洋网格要素、海洋动态要素.采用基于特征的方法和面向对象的技术设计了适合数字海洋大型信息系统工程建设的时空数据模型,探讨了海洋空间数据模型、海洋立体格网数据模型、关系数据模型在数字海洋数据仓库建设中...     

海洋标准评估方法研究

科学评估海洋标准是提高海洋标准质量的重要手段.分析了影响海洋标准评估因素确定的条件,建立海洋标准评估指标体系与评价集.利用层次分析法和模糊综合评价法对海洋标准进行评估,定量评估了海洋标准的质量.该方法为建立科学的、操作性强的标准评估体系提供研究基础,有利于完善对海洋标准质量的控制,提高海洋标准的管理水平.     

数字海洋可视化系统研究与实现

球体模型系统是目前GIS领域的研究热点,它以强大的空间数据管理能力,丰富直观的信息表现能力迅速成为空间信息集成共享的有力平台.以Skyline软件平台为基础,介绍了数字海洋可视化系统的体系架构、功能设计和技术实现方法.实践应用表明,该系统在多源海洋信息可视化集成共享方面具有良好的应用前景.     

大洋海区海-气CO_2通量单参数遥感算法的适用性检验

利用卫星遥感技术的优势,基于LDEO数据库的全球海表二氧化碳分压（PCO2）及海表温度（SST）等实测数据,初步建立东太平洋海区PCO2与SST的单参数经验算法,并采用相同区域的独立实测数据检验.结果表明,单参数算法在寡营养大洋海区具有良好的适用性,反演值与实测值之间的均方根误差（RMS）为0.51 Pa（1 Pa=9.869μatm）,由此估算出2003年6月该海域CO2通量为-1.4 mmol/（m2.d）,与实测估算的碳通量基本相符,能够很好地反映出海区CO2源汇特征.将该遥感算法运用到西大西洋海域（15°~25°N,60°~75°W）,反演值与实测值之间均方根误差（RMS）为0.69 Pa.检验结果表明,在寡营养大洋海区,单参数遥感算法具有一定的适用性,在受相似因子调控的同纬度海区可以使用同一遥感算法.