The free amino acid composition of seawater obtained without desalting and preconcentration

A conventional amino acid analyzer was modified to allow detection of dissolved free amino acids in a direct injection of 0.5 to 2.0 ml of seawater. The amino acids were monitored fluorimetrically by reaction with o-phthaldialdehyde after column chromatography. The accuracies of two commonly employed desalting methods, cation exchange resin and copper Chelex, were determined by comparison with the direct injection method. After correcting the results of the desalting methods for the procedural blank and recovery rate for each individual amino acid, the amino acid compositions on a mole percent basis as determined by these methods resembled approximately the true composition determined by direct injection. However, on an absolute basis the cation resin method overestimates and the copper Chelex method underestimates the total amount of dissolved free amino acids. The reasons for these discrepancies are discussed. Using the direct injection method, the spectra of dissolved free amino acids in surface seawater samples from different locations were determined. As opposed to the relatively uniform patterns reported in most past investigations, the amino acid spectra found were highly variable. In a number of samples, the acidic amino acids dominated the spectra. Valine was also high in many samples. In a depth profile the deep samples were dominated by arginine. Application of the method to real-time shipboard analyses of dissolved free amino acids is discussed.     

10,000 years of climate control over carbon accumulation in an Iberian bog(southwestern Europe)

The northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula is home to a unique ecosystem of bogs,which are particularly sensitive to projected climate cha nge.In this context,the rate of carbon(C)accumulation in Chao de Veiga Mol.an intact raised bog,was analysed.Changes in the accumulation rate over the past10 millennia were determined in a peat core of 847 cm in depth,with a high mean rate of peat growth(11 yr cm^-1,0.09 cm yr^-1).An age-depth model was generated from 22 14C dates and fallout radionuclides.Chronological,stratigraphical and physico-chemical data confirmed the existence of a single cycle of peat formation throughout the Holocene and the formation of ombrotrophic peat 9500 years ago.The total mean C content was 50.2%,and over 10 millennia 583 kg C m^-2 accumulated at a mean rate of 35.3 g C m^-2 yr^-1,with a long-term(apparent)rate of carbon accumulation in the catotelm of59.9 g C m^-2 yr^-1.These values are much higher than reported for other Iberian peatlands and are amongst the highest documented for peatlands in the northern hemisphere.The dynamics of C accumulation and other measured parameters reveals important variations throughout the Holocene.They could be associated with the main climatic events described in the northern hemisphere and are highly consistent with models established for northern latitudes.The Chao de Veiga Mol raised bog is unique and of great potential value for carrying out high resolution palaeoenvironmental studies,especially in relation to regional and Iocal modulations in southern Europe.     

泥石流暴发的自组织临界现象

泥石流是一种特殊的物质、能量大规模耗散的地表现象。在泥石流的形成区松散堆积物组元间的非线性作用，使系统自然地朝着临界状态演化，这种耗散动力学系统的行为特征，用自组织临界状态的概念能加以解释。泥石流规模与频率间呈幂律关系，它是自组织临界状态系统的行为标志，证明了泥石流暴发的自组织临界性．