Mezen Bay—a key area for understanding Weichselian glaciations in northern Russia

Sediment successions in coastal cliffs around Mezen Bay, southeastern White Sea, record an unusually detailed history of former glaciations, interstadial marine and fluvial events from the Weichselian. A regional glaciation model for the Weichselian is based on new data from the Mezen Bay area and previously published data from adjacent areas. Following the Mikulinian (Eemian) interglacial a shelf‐centred glaciation in the Kara Sea is reflected in proglacial conditions at 100–90 ka. A local ice‐cap over the Timan ridge existed between 75 and 65 ka. Renewed glaciation in the Kara Sea spread southwestwards around 60 ka only, interrupted by a marine inundation, before it advanced to its maximum position at about 55–50 ka. After a prolonged ice‐free period, the Scandinavian ice‐sheet invaded the area from the west and terminated east of Mezen Bay about 17 ka. The previously published evidence of a large ice‐dammed lake in the central Arkhangelsk region, Lake Komi, finds no support in this study. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functional responses for zooplankton feeding on multiple resources: a review of assumptions and biological dynamics

Modelers often need to quantify the rates at which zooplankton consume a variety of species, size classes and trophic types. Implicit in the equations used to describe the multiple resource functional response (i.e. how nutritional intake varies with resource densities) are assumptions that are not often stated, let alone tested. This is problematic because models are sensitive to the details of these formulations. Here, we enable modelers to make more informed decisions by providing them with a new framework for considering zooplankton feeding on multiple resources. We define a new classification of multiple resource responses that is based on preference, selection and switching, and we develop a set of mathematical diagnostics that elucidate model assumptions. We use these tools to evaluate the assumptions and biological dynamics inherent in published multiple resource responses. These models are shown to simulate different resource preferences, implied single resource responses, changes in intake with changing resource densities, nutritional benefits of generalism, and nutritional costs of selection. Certain formulations are further shown to exhibit anomalous dynamics such as negative switching and sub-optimal feeding. Such varied responses can have vastly different ecological consequences for both zooplankton and their resources; inappropriate choices may incorrectly quantify biologically-mediated fluxes and predict spurious dynamics. We discuss how our classes and diagnostics can help constrain parameters, interpret behaviors, and identify limitations to a formulation's applicability for both regional (e.g. High-Nitrate-Low-Chlorophyll regions comprising large areas of the Pacific) and large-scale applications (e.g. global biogeochemical or climate change models). Strategies for assessing uncertainty and for using the mathematics to guide future experimental investigations are also discussed.     

Uptake of plutonium from seawater and sediment by a marine polychaete worm

The results of the uptake of plutonium 239 from sediment by a marine polychaete wormNereis diversicolor is reported in the present paper. A comparison is made of the relative importance of two possible uptake pathways, sediment and seawater by which this worm may obtain its plutonium body-burden. Under the laboratory conditions used for the comparison of those two routes it would appear thatNereis obtains greater than 98% of its body activity from seawater.     

Virgin plastic granules on some beaches of Eastern Canada and Bermuda

A survey has been made of the quantities of small virgin plastic pellets and granules present in the litter stranding on shores of eastern Canada and Bermuda. Whilst particularly abundant on beaches of Bermuda, they are most uncommon on those of Nova Scotia and Sable Island—this, it is interpreted, reflects broad oceanic circulation patterns, lengthy residence times and distant sources, for there are no significant local ones. The polyethylene character of the granules was confirmed through burning characteristics and infra-red spectrophotometry. Polystyrene spherules were not identified. These plastic granules are commonly associated with pelagic tar balls and many have a tarry coating.The granules support a restricted, encrusting pseudoplanktonic biota, including serpulid worms and coralline algae, similar to that found on floating Sargassum. It is concluded, however, that their environmental consequence is not great.Although plastic granules progressively disappear through oxidative ageing and other degradational processes, they are an unnecessary contaminant of marine waters and evidence of evergrowing oceanic litter.     

New observations of surface markings on Jupiter's satellites

Visual and photographic observations of the Galilean satellites of Jupiter made in September 1973 with the 108 cm reflector at Pic-du-Midi Observatory are presented. A method of estimating the contrasts and albedos of surface markings on the satellites during transit by comparing them with the adjacent surface of Jupiter is described. Results for Io, Europa, and Ganymede give albedo ranges of 0.28 to 0.67, 0.45 to 0.67, and 0.22 to 0.47, respectively. These are geometric albedos for a phase angle of 5°. The percentages of the disks covered by high albedos are consistent with the conclusions of previous workers regarding the fraction of exposed water ice on the surface.     

北京石炭系二叠系钻井地层时代划分探讨

针对无岩芯钻井地层时代划分的困难,文章通过对北京石炭系和二叠系层型剖面标志特征的分析,识别了岩石地层单位的分层标志特征,论述了钻井岩屑地质编录的要求和地层钻探特征,建立了太原组、山西组和石盒子组地球物理测井的物性标志特征,阐明通过岩屑地质编录结合物探测井资料能够较好地对钻井进行地层时代划分.     

The 2020/21 Extremely Cold Winter in China Influenced by the Synergistic Effect of La Niña and Warm Arctic

In the first half of winter 2020/21,China has experienced an extremely cold period across both northern and southern regions,with record-breaking low temperatures set in many stations of China.Meanwhile,a moderate La Ni?a event which exceeded both oceanic and atmospheric thresholds began in August 2020 and in a few months developed into its mature phase,just prior to the 2020/21 winter.In this report,the mid?high-latitude large-scale atmospheric circulation anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere,which were forced by the negative phase of Arctic Oscillation,a strengthened Siberian High,an intensified Ural High and a deepened East Asian Trough,are considered to be the direct reason for the frequent cold surges in winter 2020/21.At the same time,the synergistic effect of the warm Arctic and the cold tropical Pacific(La Ni?a)provided an indispensable background,at a hemispheric scale,to intensify the atmospheric circulation anomalies in middle-to-high latitudes.In the end,a most recent La Ni?a prediction is provided and the on-coming evolution of climate is discussed for the remaining part of the 2020/21 winter for the purpose of future decision-making and early warning.     

表面接触角的测量及表面张力在宝玉石鉴定中的应用

表面张力是固体表面重要的物理化学参数之一,其大小与温度和界面两相物质的性质有关。基于Young方程的推导,使用接触角测量法计算固体表面张力已被广泛应用于表面科学和工程领域。宝玉石材料大多具有光洁的表面,在接触角测量的准确性方面较其他表面不均一的固体材料具有明显的技术优势。本文运用现代仪器(FTA200动态接触角测量仪)测量了15个天然和合成宝玉石品种(钻石、合成碳硅石、合成立方氧化锆、碧玺、托帕石、翡翠、琥珀等),以及经覆膜和充填2种处理方法的宝玉石样品(镀膜钻石、覆膜托帕石、覆膜翡翠、覆膜琥珀、充填碧玺)的表面接触角,并运用公式计算其表面张力。测试数据表明,不同品种宝玉石的接触角数值存在差异,如钻石的接触角值为56.68°,其仿制品立方氧化锆的接触角值为37.79°;覆膜处理与未经覆膜处理的天然宝玉石的接触角数值差异明显,如琥珀的接触角值为92.49°,覆膜琥珀的接触角值为66.49°;充填处理宝玉石接触角的测试由于控制液滴的大小受条件限制操作难度较大,测试结果不能准确表达为裂隙中充填物的接触角数值,故充填处理的宝石不宜采用此方法进行区分。研究表明,对于部分宝玉石品种和覆膜处理宝玉石,其表面接触角及表面张力数值差异显著,可以作为宝玉石品种的辅助鉴定依据;尤其是运用接触角的差异对于宝玉石鉴定具有较好的判别性,能够对不同品种的天然宝玉石与表面覆膜的宝玉石样品进行有效区分。与常规宝石检测方法(如红外光谱、折射率测量方法)对比,接触角测量方法具有测量准确、操作简便,不破坏样品的特点,符合宝玉石无损鉴定的基本原则,且能够安全快速地测量高折射率宝石,可以解决宝玉石表面覆膜等与表面物性相关的检测疑难问题。     

利用地震相识别优质烃源岩--以辽中凹陷沙三段为例

利用地震资料,在沙三段精细层位标定的基础上,进行辽中凹陷沙三段地震地层的追踪解释。根据优质烃源岩的定义及判识标准,即主要为一套富含有机质的中深湖相暗色泥岩沉积,识别出优质烃源岩地震相主要呈低频、连续、强反射特征。在地震相和沉积相分析的基础上,建立了辽中凹陷三个次洼优质烃源岩地震相-沉积相模式,并对辽中凹陷沙三段优质烃源岩进行了分布预测,研究表明辽中凹陷沙三段优质烃源岩在北洼分布范围较大,中洼次之,南洼分布最小;在辽中北洼,整个沙三段均有分布;在辽中凹陷中洼,优质烃源岩发育于沙三中亚段;在辽中凹陷南洼,主要发育于沙三段下部。     

便携式多功能地电化学供电装置的研制

地电化学提取技术作为深穿透地球化学方法的重要组成部分,在国内外多种矿产资源勘查中取得了较好的找矿效果.在地电化学提取过程中,对埋置在土壤中的提取器持续稳定供电是进行金属离子有效提取的关键条件之一.研制了HD-2014型便携式多功能地电化学供电装置,尺寸为8.8 cm×8.8 cm×2.3 cm,重量仅为140 g,能够实现4.5 V、6 V、9 V和14 V四档恒压以及10 mA恒流输出,同时具有1~99 h的定时调节以及实时显示工作状态和信息的功能.室内和野外测试结果表明,该装置恒压及恒流输出时最大误差率分别仅为1.38%和0.60%,能够保证各测点电场强度或电流强度的一致性.