Kelp forests in False Bay: urchins vs macroalgae in South Africa’s southwest coast biogeographical transition zone

Kelp forests along South Africa's southwest coast occur in a region of biogeographical overlap. Commonly referred to as transition-zone kelp forests, these dynamic ecosystems are particularly susceptible to grazing from species such as urchins. This study explores relationships between urchins and macroalgae in transition-zone kelp forests along the western side of False Bay. Six kelp forests in this region were sampled. At each site, the urchin Parechinus angulosus and kelp Ecklonia maxima were counted, percentage cover of understorey algae was recorded, and drift algae were collected. Despite variability in urchin and algal cover across sites, kelps generally increased from north to south, while urchins did the opposite. Urchins were negatively associated with macroalgae, although this relationship was weak. A localised threshold of 50 urchins m^–2 was identified, above which kelp density failed to increase above 10 m^–2 and percentage cover of understorey algae usually remained below 20%. Surprisingly, no relationship was discovered between drift algae and attached algae. The findings highlight the complexity of these cool-water environments. To better understand the role of urchins in this system, particularly under changing climate trends, experimental research into the feeding behaviour and possible effects of urchins on attached algae in the presence/absence of drift algae is advised.     

Relationship between flow speed variability of three tidewater glaciers and surface melt intensity in Greenland between 1979 and 2006

The margin of the Greenland ice sheet has undergone rapid changes over the past decade as a result of the thinning, acceleration, and retreat of many fast-flowing tidewater outlet glaciers. Satellite observations show that three major tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland retreated between 2000 and 2005, with synchronous increases in flow speed, causing a deficit in ice sheet mass budget and the potential for sea level rise. In this study, we investigated whether this acceleration was related to surface melt processes, and found that both flow speed and positive degree day (PDD) anomalies of the three glaciers varied together, indicating a causal relationship. Jakobshavn Isbræ had lower flow speeds before 2000, during which PDD anomalies were negative, except for modest warming in 1993 and 1995. From 1999–2000, during which it is thought a threshold was passed, the flow speed of the glacier started to increase. However, the two glaciers in east Greenland showed a delayed response. Abrupt warming occurred in the vicinity of the two glaciers around 2001, but flow speed did not increase until 2003 for the Helheim Glacier, and until 2004 for the Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier. Furthermore, the two eastern glaciers switched to a deceleration mode more quickly than Jakobshavn Isbræ. The observed differences in both acceleration and deceleration among the glaciers suggest that the relationship between surface melt and outlet glacier dynamics is not simple but complex.     

我国轻型高山冰芯机械钻机的发展和应用

通过冰芯研究可重建过去的气候环境变化, 为深刻理解现在和预测未来气候环境变化提供重要的科学依据. 冰芯机械钻机作为获取冰芯样品的必备工具之一, 在我国高山冰川冰芯获取中发挥了重要作用. 主要介绍我国自行研制的以山地冰川为主的冰芯机械钻机的发展过程和应用, 存在的问题和对未来的展望. 我国自行研制的BZXJ钻机性能优异, 是世界上同类钻机中的佼佼者, 截至2012年底已经钻取的冰芯总支数和总长度分别为125支和8 095 m, 为我国开展冰芯研究做出了重要贡献.     

Last interglacial-glacial cycle and an attempt to reconstruct Würmian paleohumidity of the European Alps

A lot of paleoenvironmental surveys have been carried out in the Alpine region to elucidate glacier extension during the Last Glacial or the Würmian (115 - 12 ka BP). However, the evidence of past glaciations differs greatly between Western and Eastern Alps, while contrast between Southern and Northern Alps is not evident. The main purpose of this paper is to interpret variability of humidity during the last interglacial-glacial cycle in the Alpine region, based on results of various surveys performed in the Alpine region. Results show that distribution of moisture throughout the Alps was most even during the Late Würmian, while precipitation was mainly concentrated in the (North)Western Alps during the Early Würmian and in the (North)Western and along all the Southern Alps during the Middle Würmian. The Eastern Alps were rather dry during both episodes. Such moisture distribution can be explained by paths of prevailing winds. Moisture distribution is directly linked with atmospheric and oceanic circulation.     

一种基于MODIS积雪产品的雪线高度提取方法

冰川雪线高度的遥感提取对冰川物质平衡研究具有重要意义。提出一种基于晴空环境下积雪覆盖频率的雪线高度提取方法。使用MOD10A1积雪产品中的像元积雪面积比例数据,提取了2000/2001-2014/2015年间高亚洲地区冰川消融期末雪线高度。使用实测的冰川年物质平衡资料和气象格网数据对提取的雪线高度变化的可信度进行分析。研究表明：近15 a高亚洲雪线高度变化及趋势具有明显的东西差异,雪线高度变化幅度自青藏高原内部地区向四周呈增加趋势,西部大于东部。提取的冰川雪线高度变化与观测的年物质平衡序列具有很高的相关性,对物质平衡波动的平均解释率可高达75%;与气象要素（气温、降水）的年际变化的相关性也较高,约61.58%的格网冰川雪线高度变化可以由夏季气温和季节降水解释。而高亚洲各分区冰川雪线高度的波动规律也与大气环流背景分布一致。因此提取的雪线高度变化具有冰川学意义,可以进一步应用于冰川物质平衡估算及模拟研究中。     

Little Ice Age glaciers in the Balkans: low altitude glaciation enabled by cooler temperatures and local topoclimatic controls

Moraine ridges are present in the highest cirques of the Durmitor massif in Montenegro and post‐date the widespread Pleistocene moraines of this area. Lichenometry suggests that at least eight glaciers were present in the 19th century and correlate with the culmination of the Little Ice Age in the European Alps. Cooler temperatures combined with local topoclimatic controls, including windblown and avalanching snow as well as shading, were crucial for the formation and survival of these glaciers below the regional equilibrium–line altitude. The resultant regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) was positioned close to the highest peaks between 2400 and 2500 m, with local controls such as avalanche, windblown snow and shading depressing the ELA in the northern cirques to 2130–2210 m. This ELA position was very low for this latitude and lower than for most glaciers in the European Alps at any time during the Holocene, and even equivalent to many Alpine glaciers during the Younger Dryas. Today, one glacier still survives in Montenegro, in a deep northeast‐facing cirque characterized by the largest combined areas of potential avalanche and windblown snow. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

激光雷达测量技术在地学中的若干应用

对激光雷达测量技术在全球冰川监测、局部断裂带提取、滑坡监测和稳定性评价以及海岸线提取和海岸侵蚀等方面的应用做了较为全面的综述.作为一种新型的对地观测手段,激光雷达(含星载、机载、车载和地面)的应用已经从传统的测绘扩大到包括文物保护在内的诸多其他应用领域.所综述的激光雷达技术在地学研究中的4个应用方面,是传统地学研究中与全球变化和人居环境最为密切的方向.分析表明,激光雷达技术在这些研究方向中的应用大有作为.      

ESTABLISHING LICHENOMETRIC AGES FOR NINETEENTH- AND TWENTIETH-CENTURY GLACIER FLUCTUATIONS ON SOUTH GEORGIA (SOUTH ATLANTIC)

Glaciers in small mountain cirques on South Georgia respond rapidly and sensitively to changes in South Atlantic climate. The timing and rate of their deglaciation can be used to examine the impact that nineteenth- and twentieth-century climate change has had on the glacial dynamics and terrestrial ecosystems of South Georgia. As part of a reconnaissance study in Prince Olav Harbour (POH), South Georgia, we measured the size of lichens ( Rhizocarpon Ram. em Th. Fr. subgenus. Rhizocarpon group) on ice-free moraine ridges around two small mountain cirques. Our aims were twofold: first, to provide age estimates for lichen colonization, and hence, deglaciation of the moraine ridges, and second, to examine the potential of applying lichenometry more widely to provide deglacial age constraints on South Georgia. In the absence of lichen age-size (dating) curves for South Georgia, we use long-term Rhizocarpon lichen growth-rates from recent studies on sub-Antarctic Islands and the western Antarctic Peninsula to calculate likely age estimates. These data suggest ice retreat from the two outermost moraines occurred between the end of the 'Little Ice Age' (post c. 1870) and the early twentieth century on South Georgia. Lichen colonization of the innermost moraines is probably related to glacier retreat during the second half of the twentieth century, which has been linked to a well-defined warming trend since c. 1950. Patterns of possible nineteenth- and twentieth-century glacial retreat identified in POH need to be tested further by establishing species- and site-specific lichen age-size (dating) curves for South Georgia, and by applying lichenometry to other mountain cirques across South Georgia.     

Flow prediction in high altitude ungauged catchments: A case study in the Italian Alps (Pantano Basin,Adamello Group)

We develop a simple model to evaluate the daily flow discharges in the ablation season for the 11 km² Pantano basin in the Retiche Italian Alps, based upon the data gathered during a three years field campaign. The Pantano basin embeds the Venerocolo debris covered and the Avio debris free glaciers, covering 2.14 km² in the Adamello Group, where the widest Italian glacier Adamello is located. First, degree-day models based upon air temperature are tuned to calculate snow and ice melt at daily scale. Glaciers’ meteorological data are collected from an automatic weather station (AWS), operating on the glacier during summer 2007. The melt factors in the debris covered areas of the glacier are estimated against debris thickness, using a data driven parameterization. The flow discharge from the catchment is estimated using semi distributed flow routing for the ablation seasons of four years, from 2006 to 2009. The predicted discharges are compared to those derived from inverse reservoir's routing at the Benedetto lake, catching the basin outflow. The proposed approach is valuable as a tool to investigate the hydrology of poorly gauged glacierized areas, including those with debris covered ice, widely diffused and yet poorly understood. Pending accurate parameterization the approach is usable for water resources evaluation and for long term assessment of the climate change impact on the glacierized areas within the Alps.     

Properties of natural supraglacial debris in relation to modelling sub‐debris ice ablation

As debris‐covered glaciers become a more prominent feature of a shrinking mountain cryosphere, there is increasing need to successfully model the surface energy and mass balance of debris‐covered glaciers, yet measurements of the processes operating in natural supraglacial debris covers are sparse. We report measurements of vertical temperature profiles in debris on the Ngozumpa glacier in Nepal, that show: (i) conductive processes dominate during the ablation season in matrix‐supported diamict; (ii) ventilation may be possible in coarse surface layers; (iii) phase changes associated with seasonal change have a marked effect on the effective thermal diffusivity of the debris. Effective thermal conductivity determined from vertical temperature profiles in the debris is generally ~30% higher in summer than in winter, but values depend on the volume and phase of water in the debris. Surface albedo can vary widely over small spatial scales, as does the debris thickness. Measurements indicate that debris thickness is best represented as a probability density function with the peak debris thickness increasing down‐glacier. The findings from Ngozumpa glacier indicate that the probability distribution of debris thickness changes from positively skewed in the upper glacier towards a more normal distribution nearer the terminus. Although many of these effects remain to be quantified, our observations highlight aspects of spatial and temporal variability in supraglacial debris that may require consideration in annual or multi‐annual distributed modelling of debris‐covered glacier surface energy and mass balance. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.