Jellyfish patch formation investigated by aerial photography and drifter experiment

Jellyfish patch formation is investigated by conducting a drifter experiment combined with aerial photography of a sustained patch of the moon jellyfish in Hokezu Bay, Japan. Jellyfish patches are aggregations of individuals that are caused by a combination of swimming (active influence) and advection by currents (passive influence). The drifter experiment involved the injection of 49 drifters around a distinct surface patch of jellyfish within an area of approximately 300 m × 300 m. The drifters’ motion, caused only by the passive influence, was recorded in a series of 38 aerial photographs taken over approximately 1 h. The ambient uniform current field larger than the patch scale was estimated from the movement of the centroid position of drifters, while the distribution of horizontal divergence and relative vorticity around the patch was estimated from the time-derivative in areas of triangles formed by the drifters. The centroid positions of both drifters and patches moved stably toward the bay head at different speeds. The difference vector between the patch and drifter centroids was directed to the sun, and was opposite to the ambient current. The distributions of vorticity and divergence around patches exhibited inhomogeneity within the patch scale, and the drifters in this nonuniform current field aggregated near the convergence area within 1 h. The results suggest that horizontal patch formation is predominantly influenced by passive factors at the surface of Hokezu Bay. Furthermore, the upward swimming against downwelling may make sustained patch in surface layer.     

The origin of accretionary lapilli

Experimental investigations in a recirculating wind tunnel of the mechanisms of formation of accretionary lapilli have demonstrated that growth is controlled by collision of liquid-coated particles, due to differences in fall velocities, and binding as a result of surface tension forces and secondary mineral growth. The liquids present on particle surfaces in eruption plumes are acid solutions stable at 100% relative humidity, from which secondary minerals, e.g. calcium sulphate and sodium chloride, precipitate prior to impact of accretionary lapilli with the ground. Concentric grain-size zones within accretionary lapilli build up due to differences in the supply of particular particle sizes during aggregate growth. Accretionary lapilli do not evolve by scavenging of particles by liquid drops followed by evaporation — a process which, in wind tunnel experiments, generates horizontally layered hemispherical aggregates. Size analysis of particles in the wind tunnel air stream and particles adhering to growing aggregates demonstrate that the aggregation coefficient is highly grain-size dependent. Theoretical simulation of accretionary lapilli growth in eruption plumes predicts maximum sizes in the range 0.7–20 mm for ash cloud thicknesses of 0.5–10 km respectively.     

Effet de l'agrégation sur le transport de la kaolinite recouverte d'acide humique à travers un sable de quartz d'origine naturelleAggregation effect on the transport of humic-coated kaolinite colloids through a natural quartz sand

To evaluate the risk of contaminant transport by mobile colloids, it is necessary to understand how colloids and associated pollutants behave during their migration through uncontaminated soil or groundwater. In this study, we investigated the influence of aggregation induced by Ca²⁺ and trace metals (Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺) concentrations on the transport of humic-coated kaolinite colloids through a natural quartz sand at pH=4. Adsorbed divalent cations reduce the colloids surface charge and thereby induce aggregation and deposition in porous media. To cite this article: R. Ait Akbour et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 981–985.     

Exploring some relationships between biological soil crusts, soil aggregation and wind erosion

A portable wind tunnel was used to test the contribution of biological and physical elements to overall soil aggregation on a soil dominated by biological soil crusts in south-eastern Australia. After moderate disturbance and simulated wind erosion, 90% of surface aggregates on the loamy soil and 76% on the sandy soil were dominated by biological elements (cryptogams). Lower levels of biological bonding were observed on the severely disturbed treatment. Linear regression indicated a significant positive relationship (r²=0·72) between biological soil crust cover and dry aggregation levels greater than 0·85mm. To maintain sediment transport below an erosion control target of 5gm⁻¹s⁻¹ for a 65kmh⁻¹ wind at 10m height, a crust cover of approximately 20% is required. When a multiple regression model which sequentially fitted biological crust cover and dry aggregation greater than 0·85mm was applied to the data, dry aggregation accounted for more of the variation in sediment transport rate than biological crust cover. These data were used to develop a conceptual model which integrates crust cover and dry aggregation, and provides a useful framework within which to predict the likely impacts of changes in soil crust cover and aggregation.     

Conceptually-based shot noise modeling of streamflows at short time interval

A conceptual-stochastic approach to short time runoff data modelling is proposed, according to the aim of reproducing the hydrological aspects of the streamflow process and of preserving as much as possible the dynamics of the process itself. This latter task implies preservation of streamflow characteristics at higher scales of aggregation and, within a conceptual framework, involves compatibility with models proposed for the runoff process at those scales. At a daily time scale the watershed response to the effective rainfall is considered as deriving from the response of three linear reservoirs, respectively representing contributions to streamflows of large deep aquifers, with over-year response lag, of aquifers which run dry by the end of the dry season and of subsurface runoff. The surface runoff component is regarded as an uncorrelated point process. Considering the occurrences of effective rainfall events as generated by an independent Poisson process, the output of the linear system represents a conceptually-based multiple shot noise process. Model identification and parameter estimation are supported by information related to the aggregated runoff process, in agreement to the conceptual framework proposed, and this allows parameter parsimony, efficient estimation and effectiveness of the streamflow reproduction. Good performances emerged from the model application and testing made with reference to some daily runoff series from Italian basins.     

Inclusions in diamonds from the K14 and K10 kimberlites, Buffalo Hills, Alberta, Canada: diamond growth in a plume?

Analyses of mineral inclusions, carbon isotopes, nitrogen contents and nitrogen aggregation states in 29 diamonds from two Buffalo Hills kimberlites in northern Alberta, Canada were conducted. From 25 inclusion bearing diamonds, the following paragenetic abundances were found: peridotitic (48%), eclogitic (32%), eclogitic/websteritic (8%), websteritic (4%), ultradeep? (4%) and unknown (4%). Diamonds containing mineral inclusions of ferropericlase, and mixed eclogitic-asthenospheric-websteritic and eclogitic-websteritic mineral associations suggests the possibility of diamond growth over a range of depths and in a variety of mantle environments (lithosphere, asthenosphere and possibly lower mantle).

Eclogitic diamonds have a broad range of C-isotopic composition (δ¹³C=−21‰ to −5‰). Peridotitic, websteritic and ultradeep diamonds have typical mantle C-isotope values (δ¹³C=−4.9‰ av.), except for two ¹³C-depleted peridotitic (δ¹³C=−11.8‰, −14.6‰) and one ¹³C-depleted websteritic diamond (δ¹³C=−11.9‰). Infrared spectra from 29 diamonds identified two diamond groups: 75% are nitrogen-free (Type II) or have fully aggregated nitrogen defects (Type IaB) with platelet degradation and low to moderate nitrogen contents (av. 330 ppm-N); 25% have lower nitrogen aggregation states and higher nitrogen contents (30% IaB; <1600 ppm-N).

The combined evidence suggests two generations of diamond growth. Type II and Type IaB diamonds with ultradeep, peridotitic, eclogitic and websteritic inclusions crystallised from eclogitic and peridotitic rocks while moving in a dynamic environment from the asthenosphere and possibly the lower mantle to the base of the lithosphere. Mechanisms for diamond movement through the mantle could be by mantle convection, or an ascending plume. The interaction of partial melts with eclogitic and peridotitic lithologies may have produced the intermediate websteritic inclusion compositions, and can explain diamonds of mixed parageneses, and the overlap in C-isotope values between parageneses. Strong deformation and extremely high nitrogen aggregation states in some diamonds may indicate high mantle storage temperatures and strain in the diamond growth environment. A second diamond group, with Type IaA–IaB nitrogen aggregation and peridotitic inclusions, crystallised at the base of the cratonic lithosphere. All diamonds were subsequently sampled by kimberlites and transported to the Earth's surface.     

基于MOOC集结思想的地图学自主学习模式探讨

大型开放型网络课程(MOOC)是国际高等教育发展的新趋势,对高校课程学习的影响极大。该文对MOOC深入剖析之后发现其集结思想可以运用到高等教育教学中,并以地图学课程教学为例,针对目前地图学课程教学存在的问题,借助MOOC集结思想改进地图学教学,以学生自主学习促进地图知识掌握,以天水师范学院地理科学专业学生为教学对象进行了教学实践,制订了详细的教学计划和实践环节。在实施过程中发现,该方法提高了学生对地图学的学习兴趣,得到了较好的效果。     

脑啡肽对栉孔扇贝血细胞聚集和附贴的影响

用质量浓度为2,5和25mg/L的脑啡肽对栉孔扇贝(Chlamysfarreri)血细胞聚集和附贴的影响进行了研究。结果表明质量浓度为2~25mg/L的脑啡肽均抑制血细胞的聚集,并且随着脑啡肽质量浓度的升高,对血细胞聚集的抑制作用加强。2mg/L的脑啡肽促进血细胞的附贴,5mg/L和25mg/L的脑啡肽抑制血细胞的附贴。实验证明脑啡肽对栉孔扇贝的免疫调节有重要作用。     

基于开放大数据的广州市中心城区职住平衡特征研究

以广州市中心城区为例,借助百度热力图、百度实时路况和百度地图POI数据,从中观层面多角度综合分析广州市中心城区就业与居住的空间分布关系。结果显示：1）工作时间段人口聚集的高值区整体呈带状分布,斑块较为细碎,但绝大部分集中在核心地带;人口主要高度集中于各区的商业繁华地段与交通线路周围。而休息时间段的高值区则相对集中分布,用地效率较高,表现出多中心的圈层结构;人口主要高度集中分布在传统的老城居住区和新开发的商业住宅区,与核心商圈相对错开。2）不管是在上班时段还是休息时段,人口聚集程度越高的地区,POI设施密度表现越显著;这意味着人口的聚集具有一定的选择性,主要集中在城市基础设施发展较完备的区域。3）广州市中心城区各街道的职住比介于0.73~1.54,职住相对平衡,区域之间差异较小。其中,分值较高的街道多分布于核心地带（主要集中在越秀区、荔湾区北部和天河区南部）,分值较低的街道多分布于核心地带的外围或边缘地区（主要在海珠区、荔湾区和白云区零散分布）。4）从城市交通响应上看,广州市中心城区工作日内早高峰的拥堵度大于晚高峰,但总体路况变化跨度不大,区内并没有出现特别严重的“潮汐通勤”现象。     

长江经济带城市群要素集聚能力差异的比较研究

城市群作为当前区域发展的主要空间载体,在区域发展竞争中扮演着越来越重要的角色。论文结合互联网大数据抓取等手段,以长江经济带5个城市群为研究对象,对城市群间要素集聚能力差异进行比较研究,发现：① 长江经济带城市群间要素集聚能力差异与长江经济带社会经济发展的区域差异相吻合,城市群要素集聚格局呈现出由东向西梯度衰减的分布特征;② 城际层面要素集聚能力差异的两极分化现象显著,以城市群首位城市为中心的要素集聚“核心—边缘”空间结构特征较为鲜明;③ 长江经济带城市群内科技创新、对外开放、金融等要素的集聚格局具有明显的差异分化和集聚分布指向特征;④ 长江经济带城市(群)要素集聚能力等级规模结构分布总体符合位序-规模法则,可分为“均衡型”和“离散型”2种类型,首位城市要素集聚首位度随城市群要素集聚能力高低呈现出“两端高、中间低”的特征。