Determination of anthropogenic CO2 in the North Atlantic Ocean using water mass ages and CO2 equilibrium chemistry

A new method to calculate the anthropogenic CO₂ (ΔDIC_ant) within the water column of the North Atlantic Ocean is presented. The method exploits the equilibrium chemistry of the carbonate system with reference to temperature, salinity and the partial pressure of atmospheric CO₂ (pCO_2,atm). ΔDIC_ant is calculated with reference to the ventilation ages of water masses derived from tracer data and to the time history of pCO_2,atm. The method is applied to data recorded during the WOCE program on the WHP A1/E transect in the North Atlantic Ocean, where we characterise six key water masses by their relationships of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and apparent oxygen utilisation (AOU). The error in determining ΔDIC_ant is reduced significantly by minimising the number of values referred to, especially by avoiding any use of remineralisation ratios of particulate organic matter. The distribution of ΔDIC_ant shows highest values of up to 45 μmol kg⁻¹ in the surface waters falling to 28–33 μmol kg⁻¹ in the Irminger Sea west of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The eastern basin is imprinted by older water masses revealing decreasing values down to 10 μmol kg⁻¹ ΔDIC_ant in the Antarctic Bottom Water. These findings indicate the penetration of the whole water column of the North Atlantic Ocean by anthropogenic CO₂.     

Environmental causes of the fluctuations of red shrimp (Aristeus antennatus) landings in the Catalan Sea

The fluctuations of catches of the deep-sea shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) were analysed in the 6 ports of Catalonia where production is concentrated, based on monthly landings from 1988 to 2004. The 6 selected ports produced 300 t of red shrimp in 2004, or 80% of the total production in Catalonia. The series for each port showed clear interannual variability, with peaks of production in the early 1990s and more recently from 2001 to 2003. The time periods of the monthly data series, estimated by frequency analysis based on Fourier transform, varied around 7–8 years in the four central ports and 12–13 years in the two northern ports. Additionally, the different curves were not in phase: even in nearby ports, the maximum production is observed in different years. Since the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index is an excellent proxy for long-term series of environmental variables, we aimed to explore relationships between the fluctuation of the NAO index and A. antennatus landings in the Catalan Sea. The correlation between the mean annual NAO index and the annual catches in each port was positive and significant with some time lags (from 1 to 3 years). The existence of clear patterns linking the NAO with marine ecological processes has been demonstrated in many studies, but the underlying ecological mechanisms are far from being well understood. The variations in environmental parameters linked to the NAO may act on biological organisms at different levels (individual, population) through physiology (metabolic and reproductive processes) or through trophic relationships, including ecological cascade effects. We propose that NAO-induced environmental variability may enhance food supply to A. antennatus and hence strengthen the reproductive potential of particular year classes, which result in increased catches 1 to 3 years later, although other possible effects of environmental variability on the population dynamics of this species are worth investigating.     

Sea level and Eddy Kinetic Energy variability in the Bay of Biscay, inferred from satellite altimeter data

Twelve years (1993–2005) of altimetric data, combining different missions (ERS-1/2, TOPEX/Poseidon, Jason-1 and Envisat), are used to analyse sea level and Eddy Kinetic Energy variability in the Bay of Biscay at different time-scales. A specific processing of coastal data has been applied, to remove erroneous artefacts. Likewise, an optimal interpolation has been used, to create a series of regional Sea Level Anomaly maps, merging data sets from two satellites.The sea level presents a trend of about 2.7 mm/year, which is within the averaged values of sea level rise in the global ocean. Frequency spectra show that the seasonal cycle is the main time-scale affecting the sea level and Eddy Kinetic Energy variability. The maximum sea level occurs in October, whilst the minimum is observed in April. The steric effect is the cause of this annual cycle. The Northern French shelf/slope presents intense variability which is likely due to internal tides. Some areas of the ocean basin are also characterised by intense variability, due to the presence of eddies.The Eddy Kinetic Energy, in turn, is higher from December to May, than during the rest of the year and presents a weak positive trend from April 1995 to April 2005. Several documented mesoscale events, occurring at the end of 1997 and during 1998, are analysed. Altimetry maps prove to be a useful tool to monitor swoddy-like eddies from their birth to their decay, as well as the inflow of seasonal slope water current into the southeastern corner of the Bay of Biscay.     

北美铁路时间标准化的考察

北美铁路时间标准化是19世纪全球标准时间改革中最为重要的环节,它开创了公共记时的新纪元,为国际子午线会议的召开奠定了基础。铁路网络和通讯手段的快速发展为铁路标准时间在北美的诞生提供了契机,同时,纷繁芜杂的地方时增加了铁路时间标准化的必要性和紧迫性。北美铁路标准时间的实施,体现的是社会各个层面共同发展所形成的社会合力的作用。     

A Review of Integrated Coastal Management Educational Materials in the Philippines and Indonesia: Matching Materials with Needs

This article explores existing educational materials available to support integrated coastal management (ICM) in the Philippines and Indonesia. Emphasis is placed on materials gathered from informal education institutions (i.e., nongovernmental organizations, donor-sponsored projects, national initiatives, etc.). Over 100 sets of educational materials were collected and evaluated based upon criteria such as interactive qualities, availability, target audience, geographical focus, etc. Several deficiencies and gaps in the content and coverage of ICM materials were observed. Most significantly, it appears that improved coordination of education programs and dissemination of educational materials is needed. Accessibility and the choice of delivery mechanism (i.e., books, Internet, videos, etc.) also emerged as important considerations when designing educational materials. Surveys conducted with ICM practitioners in the Philippines and Indonesia further illustrate the challenges and opportunities in ICM education. Findings from the assessment of educational materials and surveys facilitated the development of several recommendations for future ICM educational materials, including improved local-level ICM education and focusing on ICM and ICM process sustainability.     

5U北美岩沥青改性沥青路用性能试验研究

5U北美岩沥青是一种天然沥青改性剂,为评价其路用性能,采用流变学方法对5U北美岩沥青改性沥青胶浆性能进行了动态温度扫描,对改性后沥青混合料的高温性能与抗水损坏性能进行了室内评价。研究结果表明:经5U北美岩沥青改性后的沥青胶浆车辙因子明显提高,弹性增加;沥青混合料抗车辙能力和抗水损害能力明显改善。     

新疆天山公路泥石流形成环境研究

泥石流是新疆天山公路的主要病害类型，集中分布在北天山近80km范围内，以粘性泥石流为主。基于大量的现场调研及观测，从新构造应力场的观点分析并获得了泥石流沟轴向与新构造应力场剪切带方向一致的宏观规律；泥石流沟内物源丰富，以寒冻风化物、第四纪冰碛物及冰水沉积物为主，沿程分布在泥石流沟内；天山向西开口的喇叭形地貌格局造就了北天山显著的焚风效应，致使境内地表植被条件差、降雨量小、寒冻风化作用强烈，进而物源稳定性极差；将泥石流形成的诱发因素概化为降雨和气温两方面，明确了境内公路泥石流在强降雨后4～5h内暴发的根本原因。研究成果为天山公路泥石流的进一步研究及有效防治提供了重要依据．     

大型综合交通枢纽流线组织设计

大型综合交通枢纽在实现各种功能的同时,如何打造便捷舒适的交通流线组织,实现车流、人流的快捷疏散,是规划设计中需要高度重视的问题。结合深圳北站综合交通枢纽工程的总体规划设计,对人流和车流组织进行优化设计,提出人流组织的基本要点和措施,阐述“人车分流”、“无缝接驳”的设计理念,突显流线组织在综合枢纽设计中的核心地位,并最终实现乘客在5 min内无缝换乘各种交通工具的设计目标。     

渗井在华北平原区合理降低路基高度设计中的应用

针对华北平原区路基高度普遍偏高以及河北省大广高速公路深州至大名段的地质特点,提出渗井在高速公路下穿式被交道路中的设计思路．并结合具体应用分析其带来的经济效益,对于实现公路建设的可持续发展和“环境友好”、“资源节约”的环保型公路建设的目的,具有积极的促进作用。