Validation of a hybrid optimal interpolation and Kalman filter scheme for sea surface temperature assimilation

A hybrid data assimilation scheme designed for operational assimilation of satellite sea surface temperatures (SST) into an ocean model has been developed and validated against in-situ observations. The scheme consists of an optimal interpolation (OI) part and a greatly simplified Kalman filter (KF) part.The OI is performed only in the longitudinal and latitudinal directions. A climatological field is used as a background field for the interpolation. It is constructed by fitting daily averages of satellite SST to the annual mean, annual, and semiannual harmonics in a 20 km by 20 km grid. The background error covariance is approximated by a spatially varying two-dimensional exponential covariance model. The parameters of the covariance model are fitted to the deviations of the satellite data from the background field using data from a full year.The simplified KF uses ocean model forecasts as a background field. It is based on the assumption that it is possible to neglect horizontal SST covariances in the filter and that the typical time scale for vertical mixing in the mixed layer is much shorter than the average time between observations. We therefore assume that the error variance in a column of water is evenly spread out throughout the mixed layer. The result of these simplifications is a computationally very efficient KF.A one year validation of the scheme is performed for year 2001 using an operational eddy resolving ocean model covering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. It is found that assimilation of sea surface temperature data reduces the model root mean square error from 1.13 °C to 0.70 °C. The hybrid scheme is found to reduce the root mean square error slightly more than the simplified KF without OI to 0.66 °C. The inclusion of spatially varying satellite error variances does not improve the performance of the scheme significantly.     

Food supply mechanisms for cold-water corals along a continental shelf edge

In recent years it has been documented that deep-water coral reefs of the species Lophelia pertusa are a major benthic habitat in Norwegian waters. However, basic information about the biology and ecology of this species is still unknown. Lophelia live and thrive under special environmental conditions of which factors such as temperature, water depth, water movement and food supply are important. The present work explores the hypothesis that Lophelia forms reefs in places where the encounter rate of food particles is sufficiently high and stable over long periods of time for continuous growth. This is done by relating the distribution of reefs with the results of numerical ocean modelling.Numerical simulations have been performed with an idealized bottom topography similar to what is found outside parts of the Norwegian coast. In the simulations the model is first forced with an along slope jet and then with an idealized atmospheric low pressure. The model results show that the encounter rates between the particles and the water layer near the seabed are particularly high close to the shelf break. This may indicate that many Lophelia reefs are located along the shelf edges because the supply of food is particularly good in these areas.A sensitivity study of the particle supply in the area close to the seabed for increasing latitude has also been done. This shows that the Ekman transport in the benthic layer tends to create a steady supply of food for benthic organisms near the shelf edge away from the equator.     

Composition-dependent mechanical and thermal transport properties of carbon/silicon core/shell nanowires

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are performed to study the composition-dependent elastic modulus and thermal conductivity for carbon/silicon core/shell nanowires (NWs). For each concerned carbon/silicon core/shell NW with a specified diameter, it is found that elastic modulus is reduced with a linear dependence on cross-sectional area ratio. The fact matches well with the results of theoretical model. Analysis based on the cross-sectional stress distribution indicates that the core region of core/shell NW is capable of functioning as a mechanical support. On the other hand, thermal conductivity also relies on the cross-sectional area ratio of amorphous silicon shell. The core/shell interface plays a considerable influence on the thermal transport property. The decreasing rate of thermal conductivity is gradually decreased as the composition of amorphous silicon shell increases. In addition, by calculating the phonon density of state, we demonstrate that the reduction in thermal conductivity of the core/shell NW stems from the increase of the low frequency modes and the depression of high-frequency nonpropagating diffusion modes. These results provide an effective way to modify the properties of core/shell NWs for related application.     

欧美铁路通信标准体系简析

结合国外项目经验,以较大的信息量,全面介绍欧美铁路通信标准体系,为国外项目团队提供较合理的建议,对国外项目投标有一定的帮助和指导意义.     

欧洲男子篮球锦标赛特点分析

本文以2011年为例对欧洲男子篮球锦标赛的特点进行分析.2011年欧洲男篮锦标赛也是2012年伦敦奥运会欧洲区的预选赛,比赛中,多支球队实力接近,争夺激烈.与弱队相比,强队的主要优势表现为内线球员的身高占优、内线攻击的比重大且效率高、防守能力强.而在实力接近的强强对抗中,防守的破坏性加剧,此时,防守质量及外围远投成为决定胜负的关键.     

Dissolved organic matter in shelf waters off the Ría de Vigo (NW Iberian upwelling system)

Net in situ production and export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) have been studied in shelf waters off the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain), as part of a comprehensive hydrographic survey carried out from September 1994 to September 1995 with a fortnight periodicity. DOC and DON correlated well (r=+0.78), the slope of the regression line being 12.0±0.7 mol-C mol-N⁻¹, about twice the Redfieldian slope of particulate organic matter, 6.5±0.2 mol-C mol-N⁻¹ (r=+0.95). Labile DOC and DON accumulated in the upper 50 m during the upwelling season (March–September), mainly after prolonged periods of wind relaxation, when horizontal flows were reduced. This labile material represented 50% and 35% of the total (dissolved+particulate) organic carbon and nitrogen susceptible of microbial utilisation, which assert the key contribution of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the export of new primary production in the NW Iberian upwelling system. This surface excess in shelf waters appeared to be formed into the highly productive Ría de Vigo (a large coastal indentation) at net rates of 4.4 μM-C d⁻¹ and 1.3 μM-C d⁻¹ in the inner and outer segments of the embayment respectively, and subsequently exported to the shelf. Once in the shelf, simple dilution with the inert DOM pool of recently upwelled Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) occurred. Eventually, the DOM excess produced during the upwelling season is exported to the adjacent open ocean waters by the coastal circulation. Conversely, during the unproductive downwelling season (October–February), the lowest DOC and DON levels were recorded and export was prevented by the characteristic downwelling front associated to the seasonal poleward slope current.     

利用中国传统工艺改进生产欧标双块式轨枕的探讨

介绍采用中国加工的生产设备,利用中国工艺生产欧标双块式轨枕,为今后其他承包商或项目生产类似的双块式轨枕提供经验借鉴。     

Artificial Reefs as Restoration Tools: A Case Study on the West Florida Shelf

Artificial reefs are one of a number of tools that should be considered by scientists and managers when planning coastal zone restoration and/or mitigation projects. In this article, the details of one project from the West Florida Shelf are presented. Two types of artificial reefs were used to mitigate pipeline construction impacts on natural hardbottom ledges in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The project's primary objective was to avoid the paradigm of building artificial reefs as fish attraction devices, and to instead implement a design that would mimic, not augment, natural hardbottom conditions. Fish assemblage parameters (species richness and commercial fish abundances) were compared between the artificial habitats and natural hardbottom reference sites. Results indicate that species richness trends are similar among artificial and natural reefs, while certain commercial fish abundances are significantly higher on the artificial reefs. Recommendations for future restoration/mitigation projects using artificial reefs are discussed.     

Influence of the Mackenzie River plume on the sinking export of particulate material on the shelf

We examined the influence of the Mackenzie River plume on sinking fluxes of particulate organic and inorganic material on the Mackenzie Shelf, Canadian Arctic. Short-term particle interceptor traps were deployed under the halocline at 3 stations across the shelf during fall 2002 and at 3 stations along the shelf edge during summer 2004. During the two sampling periods, the horizontal patterns in sinking fluxes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll a (chl a) paralleled those in chl a biomass within the plume. Highest sinking fluxes of particulate organic material occurred at stations strongly influenced by the river plume (maximum POC sinking fluxes at 25 m of 98 mg C m^− 2 d^− 1 and 197 mg C m^− 2 d^− 1 in 2002 and 2004, respectively). The biogeochemical composition of the sinking material varied seasonally with phytoplankton and fecal pellets contributing considerably to the sinking flux in summer, while amorphous detritus dominated in the fall. Also, the sinking phytoplankton assemblage showed a seasonal succession from a dominance of diatoms in summer to flagellates and dinoflagellates in the fall. The presence of the freshwater diatom Eunotia sp. in the sinking assemblage directly underneath the river plume indicates the contribution of a phytoplankton community carried by the plume to the sinking export of organic material. Yet, increasing chl a and BioSi sinking fluxes with depth indicated an export of phytoplankton from the water column below the river plume during summer and fall. Grazing activity, mostly by copepods, and to a lesser extent by appendicularians, appeared to occur in a well-defined stratum underneath the river plume, particularly during summer. These results show that the Mackenzie River influences the magnitude and composition of the sinking material on the shelf in summer and fall, but does not constitute the only source of material sinking to depth at stations influenced by the river plume.     

基于欧洲列车时刻表的高速列车行车组织方案

通过对欧洲列车时刻表等相关数据的统计和分析,总结欧洲主要类型高速列车基于路网节点系统的行车组织特点及规律,包括列车开行方案中的列车起迄点选择、停站方案设计、列车之间的接续和换乘、直达与中转换乘方案结合方式、时刻表结构和高速列车下线运行方式等,并结合我国实际路情提出建议方案,欧洲的一些先进的设计理念对我国未来快速客运网中高速列车的行车组织方案的研究具有借鉴意义．