Increased sedimentation rates and grain sizes 2-4 Myr ago due to the influence of climate change on erosion rates

Around the globe, and in a variety of settings including active and inactive mountain belts, increases in sedimentation rates as well as in grain sizes of sediments were recorded at approximately 2-4 Myr ago, implying increased erosion rates. A change in climate represents the only process that is globally synchronous and can potentially account for the widespread increase in erosion and sedimentation, but no single process-like a lowering of sea levels or expanded glaciation-can explain increases in sedimentation in all environments, encompassing continental margins and interiors, and tropical as well as higher latitudes. We suggest that climate affected erosion mainly by the transition from a period of climate stability, in which landscapes had attained equilibrium configurations, to a time of frequent and abrupt changes in temperature, precipitation and vegetation, which prevented fluvial and glacial systems from establishing equilibrium states.     

Weakening of tropical Pacific atmospheric circulation due to anthropogenic forcing

Since the mid-nineteenth century the Earth's surface has warmed, and models indicate that human activities have caused part of the warming by altering the radiative balance of the atmosphere. Simple theories suggest that global warming will reduce the strength of the mean tropical atmospheric circulation. An important aspect of this tropical circulation is a large-scale zonal (east-west) overturning of air across the equatorial Pacific Ocean--driven by convection to the west and subsidence to the east--known as the Walker circulation. Here we explore changes in tropical Pacific circulation since the mid-nineteenth century using observations and a suite of global climate model experiments. Observed Indo-Pacific sea level pressure reveals a weakening of the Walker circulation. The size of this trend is consistent with theoretical predictions, is accurately reproduced by climate model simulations and, within the climate models, is largely due to anthropogenic forcing. The climate model indicates that the weakened surface winds have altered the thermal structure and circulation of the tropical Pacific Ocean. These results support model projections of further weakening of tropical atmospheric circulation during the twenty-first century.     

Efficient export of carbon to the deep ocean through dissolved organic matter

Oceanic dissolved organic carbon (DOC) constitutes one of the largest pools of reduced carbon in the biosphere. Estimated DOC export from the surface ocean represents 20% of total organic carbon flux to the deep ocean, which constitutes a primary control on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. DOC is the carbon component of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and an accurate quantification of DOM pools, fluxes and their controls is therefore critical to understanding oceanic carbon cycling. DOC export is directly coupled with dissolved organic nitrogen and phosphorus export. However, the C:N:P stoichiometry (by atoms) of DOM dynamics is poorly understood. Here we study the stoichiometry of the DOM pool and of DOM decomposition in continental shelf, continental slope and central ocean gyre environments. We find that DOM is remineralized and produced with a C:N:P stoichiometry of 199:20:1 that is substantially lower than for bulk pools (typically >775:54:1), but greater than for particulate organic matter (106:16:1--the Redfield ratio). Thus for a given mass of new N and P introduced into surface water, more DOC can be exported than would occur at the Redfield ratio. This may contribute to the excess respiration estimated to occur in the interior ocean. Our results place an explicit constraint on global carbon export and elemental balance via advective pathways.     

Reburial of fossil organic carbon in marine sediments

Marine sediments act as the ultimate sink for organic carbon, sequestering otherwise rapidly cycling carbon for geologic timescales. Sedimentary organic carbon burial appears to be controlled by oxygen exposure time in situ, and much research has focused on understanding the mechanisms of preservation of organic carbon. In this context, combustion-derived black carbon has received attention as a form of refractory organic carbon that may be preferentially preserved in soils and sediments. However, little is understood about the environmental roles, transport and distribution of black carbon. Here we apply isotopic analyses to graphitic black carbon samples isolated from pre-industrial marine and terrestrial sediments. We find that this material is terrestrially derived and almost entirely depleted of radiocarbon, suggesting that it is graphite weathered from rocks, rather than a combustion product. The widespread presence of fossil graphitic black carbon in sediments has therefore probably led to significant overestimates of burial of combustion-derived black carbon in marine sediments. It could be responsible for biasing radiocarbon dating of sedimentary organic carbon, and also reveals a closed loop in the carbon cycle. Depending on its susceptibility to oxidation, this recycled carbon may be locked away from the biologically mediated carbon cycle for many geologic cycles.     

西沙海域海水中溶解态重金属的含量及其影响因子

对采自西沙海域海水中溶解态重金属Ni,Cu,Hg,Zn,Cr,Mn,Fe,Cd,Pb和Co的含量进行了测定,结果表明除了Pb,Ni外,该区域其他重金属的含量都在国家一类海水的标准范围内,但是该区域海水仍然具有近岸海水的特性.运用多元统计法探讨了重金属间的相关性,由因子分析法提出了控制西沙海域重金属含量分布的4个主因子:盐度,大气沉降,上升流和天然地球化学来源.     

More extreme swings of the South Pacific convergence zone due to greenhouse warming

The South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ) is the Southern Hemisphere's most expansive and persistent rain band, extending from the equatorial western Pacific Ocean southeastward towards French Polynesia. Owing to its strong rainfall gradient, a small displacement in the position of the SPCZ causes drastic changes to hydroclimatic conditions and the frequency of extreme weather events--such as droughts, floods and tropical cyclones--experienced by vulnerable island countries in the region. The SPCZ position varies from its climatological mean location with the El Ni?o/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), moving a few degrees northward during moderate El Ni?o events and southward during La Ni?a events. During strong El Ni?o events, however, the SPCZ undergoes an extreme swing--by up to ten degrees of latitude toward the Equator--and collapses to a more zonally oriented structure with commensurately severe weather impacts. Understanding changes in the characteristics of the SPCZ in a changing climate is therefore of broad scientific and socioeconomic interest. Here we present climate modelling evidence for a near doubling in the occurrences of zonal SPCZ events between the periods 1891-1990 and 1991-2090 in response to greenhouse warming, even in the absence of a consensus on how ENSO will change. We estimate the increase in zonal SPCZ events from an aggregation of the climate models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phases 3 and 5 (CMIP3 and CMIP5) multi-model database that are able to simulate such events. The change is caused by a projected enhanced equatorial warming in the Pacific and may lead to more frequent occurrences of extreme events across the Pacific island nations most affected by zonal SPCZ events.     

The finding of natural GaN crystals in sediments from the East Pacific Ocean

Although as one of the major constituents in pelagic sediments, clay minerals have not been used unambi guously to determine the origin, provenance, and envi ronments of deep sea sediments due to their poor crys tallization state, chemical complexity and …     

Projected increase in continental runoff due to plant responses to increasing carbon dioxide

In addition to influencing climatic conditions directly through radiative forcing, increasing carbon dioxide concentration influences the climate system through its effects on plant physiology. Plant stomata generally open less widely under increased carbon dioxide concentration, which reduces transpiration and thus leaves more water at the land surface. This driver of change in the climate system, which we term 'physiological forcing', has been detected in observational records of increasing average continental runoff over the twentieth century. Here we use an ensemble of experiments with a global climate model that includes a vegetation component to assess the contribution of physiological forcing to future changes in continental runoff, in the context of uncertainties in future precipitation. We find that the physiological effect of doubled carbon dioxide concentrations on plant transpiration increases simulated global mean runoff by 6 per cent relative to pre-industrial levels; an increase that is comparable to that simulated in response to radiatively forced climate change (11 +/- 6 per cent). Assessments of the effect of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations on the hydrological cycle that only consider radiative forcing will therefore tend to underestimate future increases in runoff and overestimate decreases. This suggests that freshwater resources may be less limited than previously assumed under scenarios of future global warming, although there is still an increased risk of drought. Moreover, our results highlight that the practice of assessing the climate-forcing potential of all greenhouse gases in terms of their radiative forcing potential relative to carbon dioxide does not accurately reflect the relative effects of different greenhouse gases on freshwater resources.     

基于GSM短消息的无线智能溶解氧监控系统

在环境水质监测中,水中溶解氧是一个衡量水质的重要参数,如何实时准确地进行溶解氧的数据采集和处理就具有重要的实际意义.由于监测范围广,采样点分散,难于实现有线网络的远程监控.而利用GSM短消息业务[1](ShortMessage Serv-ice,SMS)进行数据传输,可以随时随地获取信息,且通信     

Interdecadal variation in the extent of South Pacific tropical waters during the Younger Dryas event

During the Younger Dryas event, about 12,000 years ago, the Northern Hemisphere cooled by between 2 and 10 degrees C (refs 1, 2) whereas East Antarctica experienced warming. But the spatial signature of the event in the southern mid-latitudes and tropics is less well known, as records are sparse and inconclusive. Here we present high-resolution analyses of skeletal Sr/Ca and 18O/16O ratios for a giant fossil Diploastrea heliopora coral that was preserved in growth position on the raised reef terraces of Espiritu Santo Island, Vanuatu, in the southwestern tropical Pacific Ocean. Our data indicate that sea surface temperatures in Vanuatu were on average 4.5 +/- 1.3 degrees C cooler during the Younger Dryas event than today, with a significant interdecadal modulation. The amplified annual cycle of sea surface temperatures, relative to today, indicates that cooling was caused by the compression of tropical waters towards the Equator. The positive correlation in our record between the oxygen isotope ratios of sea water and sea surface temperatures suggests that the South Pacific convergence zone, which brings 18O-depleted precipitation to the area today, was not active during the Younger Dryas period.     

RH脱碳过程中极低氧钢水的碳氧反应机理

BOF+LF+RH+CC工艺路线生产IF钢,在RH脱碳前,钢水经脱氧和LF精炼后,钢中自由氧达到极低水平.根据表观脱碳速率常数的不同,这种极低氧钢水的RH脱碳可以划分为四个阶段.与传统三个阶段的RH脱碳不同的是在低速脱碳阶段和快速脱碳阶段存在一个脱碳速率介于两者之间的过渡阶段.在正规溶液模型的基础上,建立了能够准确预报钢液氧含量及顶渣FeO含量的RH脱碳模型.结果表明:在RH吹氧前,极低氧含量的钢液与顶渣之间基本不传氧;吹氧之后,钢液氧含量呈线性增加,当钢液氧势大于顶渣氧势后,钢液向顶渣传氧,渣中FeO含量上升;RH处理结束FeO含量较处理初始有所回升,但是仍处于极低水平,能够有效降低顶渣对钢液的二次氧化.     

大隆煤升温氧化时煤表面的介观特性

采用内置样品电加热装置的原子力显微镜对低温氧化过程大隆矿-390 m煤样表面形态进行实验观测,得到不同氧化温度下煤表面形态特征.根据分形理论的功率谱密度法计算煤表面的分形维数,并进行了分析.结果表明,不同氧化温度下煤表面的分形维数值都在2～3,煤低温氧化过程符合一定的分形规律,随着氧化温度的增加,表面分形维数呈增大趋势,表明分形维数的大小可以反映煤氧化的不同程度.而采用原子力显微镜结合分形理论研究煤自燃氧化的微观结构的变化是一个新的研究途径.     

Strong radiative heating due to the mixing state of black carbon in atmospheric aerosols

Aerosols affect the Earth's temperature and climate by altering the radiative properties of the atmosphere. A large positive component of this radiative forcing from aerosols is due to black carbon--soot--that is released from the burning of fossil fuel and biomass, and, to a lesser extent, natural fires, but the exact forcing is affected by how black carbon is mixed with other aerosol constituents. From studies of aerosol radiative forcing, it is known that black carbon can exist in one of several possible mixing states; distinct from other aerosol particles (externally mixed) or incorporated within them (internally mixed), or a black-carbon core could be surrounded by a well mixed shell. But so far it has been assumed that aerosols exist predominantly as an external mixture. Here I simulate the evolution of the chemical composition of aerosols, finding that the mixing state and direct forcing of the black-carbon component approach those of an internal mixture, largely due to coagulation and growth of aerosol particles. This finding implies a higher positive forcing from black carbon than previously thought, suggesting that the warming effect from black carbon may nearly balance the net cooling effect of other anthropogenic aerosol constituents. The magnitude of the direct radiative forcing from black carbon itself exceeds that due to CH4, suggesting that black carbon may be the second most important component of global warming after CO2 in terms of direct forcing.     

三江平原典型岛状林湿地土壤水DOC质量浓度分布特征

以三江平原典型岛状林湿地作为研究对象,分别在6、8和10月下旬分层采集土壤水溶液(0-60era),测定土壤水可溶性有机碳(DOC)和其他几种元素的质量浓度,研究三江平原典型岛状林湿地土壤水DOC质量浓度分布特征.结果表明,岛状林湿地土壤水DOC质量浓度具有明显的季节变化规律,6月份土壤水DOC质量浓度最高,10月份次之,8月份最低.土壤水DOC质量浓度还具有明显的垂直分布规律,从土壤表层向下,随深度增加,土壤水DOC质量浓度先减小后增加,剖面层次之间土壤水DOC质量浓度差异显著(P(0.05).不同月份之间土壤水DOC质量浓度的垂直分布特征存在差异性,但差异不显著(P-41.061).土壤有机质数量和分布、土壤的冻融作用、土壤矿物吸附作用是引起土壤水DOC质量浓度分布的主要原因,采样点的排水状况也对土壤水DOC的分布有重要影响.另外,岛状林湿地土壤水DOC质量浓度与TOC、TC、Fe2+、TP、N03‘呈显著相关关系,与NH4+、P043-、TN、pH存在一定相关关系,说明土壤水DOC质量浓度的分布还与其他各种元素迁移、转化紧密相关,尤其营养元素.     

High rates of N2 fixation by unicellular diazotrophs in the oligotrophic Pacific Ocean

The availability of nitrogen is important in regulating biological productivity in marine environments. Deepwater nitrate has long been considered the major source of new nitrogen supporting primary production in oligotrophic regions of the open ocean, but recent studies have showed that biological N2 fixation has a critical role in supporting oceanic new production. Large colonial cyanobacteria in the genus Trichodesmium and the heterocystous endosymbiont Richelia have traditionally been considered the dominant marine N2 fixers, but unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria and bacterioplankton have recently been found in the picoplankton and nanoplankton community of the North Pacific central gyre, and a variety of molecular and isotopic evidence suggests that these unicells could make a major contribution to the oceanic N budget. Here we report rates of N2 fixation by these small, previously overlooked diazotrophs that, although spatially variable, can equal or exceed the rate of N2 fixation reported for larger, more obvious organisms. Direct measurements of 15N2 fixation by small diazotrophs in various parts of the Pacific Ocean, including the waters off Hawaii where the unicellular diazotrophs were first characterized, show that N2 fixation by unicellular diazotrophs can support a significant fraction of total new production in oligotrophic waters.     

钢水测氧过程锆管温度场的有限元分析

采用ANSYS软件对钢水测氧过程中测头插入钢水10 s瞬间锆管热传导过程进行模拟分析.结果表明,模拟锆管达到稳定温度的时间与实测得的温度/电动势曲线的响应时间基本相符.对不同壁厚和内径的锆管插入钢水后温度达到稳定的时间进行比较,得出厚度、内径与锆管管头、管壁内温度达到稳定时间之间的相关关系.     

The impact of damming on geochemical behavior of dissolved inorganic carbon in a karst river

To determine the impact of damming on the geochemical behavior of dissolved inorganic carbon （DIC） in the Wujiang River basin, field measurements and samples were collected semimonthly for a year. The surface waters of the reservoirs contained concentrations of chlo- rophyll a up to 5.6 times higher than the upstream river. Compared with the entering waters, the contributions of HCO3- and dissolved CO2 to DIC decreased, and the contribution of CO32- to DIC and the carbon isotopic composition of DIC （δ13CDIc） increased in the surface waters of the reservoirs, while in the waters released, the DIC species showed reverse geochemical behaviors. The δ13CDIc ranged from -10.2 %o to 2.5 %0, indicating that significant contributions were from carbonate weathering, photosynthesis, and respiration. After the damming of a river, the bioactivity of phytoplankton was enhanced, and this affected the geochemistry of DIC compared to an unimpacted river and δ13CDIC can be used to discern these changes. High-frequency monitoring of river-reservoir systems is necessary to evaluate the efflux of CO2 and provide a better understanding of the carbon sinks and sources in the impounded river.     

长江口及其邻近海域近代沉积物中甲藻孢囊的垂直分布

于2005年4～5月,在长江口外及浙江中南部海域设置5个采样站点,获取了15～40 cm的沉积物柱状样,分层研究了甲藻(dinoflagellates)孢囊的垂直分布.在本研究中共鉴定出46种甲藻孢囊,其中自养型19种,异养型27种.长江口海域复杂的流系特征及环境状况对孢囊分布有明显影响,致使孢囊丰度较低,平均丰度为366.2cysts·g-1,且无明显垂直分布规律.锥状斯氏藻孢囊是最为丰富的自养型甲藻孢囊,平均质量分数介于17.0%～28.9%;异养型甲藻孢囊以原多甲藻属为主,平均质量分数为29.5%～53.6%,其它类型孢囊仅零星分布.有毒藻亚历山大藻孢囊在各站位均有分布,但丰度较低,最高值仅为68.1 cysts·g-1.     

Increased marine production of N2O due to intensifying anoxia on the Indian continental shelf

Eutrophication of surface waters and hypoxia in bottom waters has been increasing in many coastal areas, leading to very large depletions of marine life in the affected regions. These areas of high surface productivity and low bottom-water oxygen concentration are caused by increasing runoff of nutrients from land. Although the local ecological and socio-economic effects have received much attention, the potential contribution of increasing hypoxia to global-change phenomena is unknown. Here we report the intensification of one of the largest low-oxygen zones in the ocean, which develops naturally over the western Indian continental shelf during late summer and autumn. We also report the highest accumulations yet observed of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and nitrous oxide (N2O) in open coastal waters. Increased N2O production is probably caused by the addition of anthropogenic nitrate and its subsequent denitrification, which is favoured by hypoxic conditions. We suggest that a global expansion of hypoxic zones may lead to an increase in marine production and emission of N2O, which, as a potent greenhouse gas, could contribute significantly to the accumulation of radiatively active trace gases in the atmosphere.