Global greenhouse to icehouse and back again: The origin and future of the Boreal Forest biome     

Ralph E. Taggart  Aureal T. Cross 《Global and Planetary Change》2009,65(3-4):115-121

The Boreal Forest biome (Taiga), dominated by evergreen and deciduous coniferous trees (Pinaceae), is circumpolar in its present distribution, covering a significant part of the total land area of the Northern Hemisphere and representing perhaps a third of the total forest area of the planet. Nothing comparable to this extant biome existed during the global “greenhouse” interval of the Late Mesozoic and Paleogene. Latitudinal temperature gradients should have confined boreal taxa to extremely high latitudes, but evergreen taxa do not appear to have been competitive in the lowlands of the high arctic, where the vegetation consisted of a unique circumpolar forest dominated by deciduous conifers and broad-leaved taxa.Probable sources for the pinaceous taxa that now characterize boreal latitudes were the Paleogene evergreen montane coniferous forests of the western North American Cordillera. Taphonomic factors limit the fossil record for such forests, but assemblages such as the Eocene Thunder Mountain (Idaho) and Bull Run (Nevada) floras were dominated by evergreen and deciduous Pinaceae that dominate extant montane, subalpine, and Boreal Forest associations. In response to post-Eocene global cooling, such forests presumably would have migrated to lower elevations, eventually spreading across high-latitude North America, subsequently reaching Eurasia via the Beringian corridor. This high-diversity coniferous forest was differentially winnowed and modified during subsequent migration southward in both the New and Old World. Despite its extensive geographic distribution, the Boreal Forest may be the youngest of the major forest biomes.If global warming ultimately results in a significant redistribution of terrestrial vegetation, the history of the Boreal Forest may well be reversed. Northward migration of the Boreal Forest may be characterized by loss of taxa and extensive community reorganization as individual taxa are pushed to their limits with respect to rates of migration and biotic stress takes its toll in the form of insect predation and disease. If evergreen taxa are unable to survive at low elevations at high polar latitudes, such conifers might once again become restricted to montane refugia and the lowlands of the high arctic would be populated by a larch-dominated deciduous conifer forest of low diversity and limited geographic extent. Given the biogeographic significance of the Boreal Forest biome, such a consequence would represent a profound ecological transformation.  相似文献   

Along‐track compositional and textural variation in extensively melted grains returned from comet 81P/Wild 2 by the Stardust mission: Implications for capture‐melting process     

Michael A. Velbel  Ralph P. Harvey 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2009,44(10):1519-1540

Abstract— Five amorphous (extensively melted) grains from Stardust aerogel capture Track 35 were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM); two from the bulb, two from near the bulb‐stylus transition, and one from near the terminal particle. Melted grains consist largely of a texturally and compositionally heterogeneous emulsion of immiscible metal/sulfide beads nanometers to tens of nanometers in diameter in a silica‐rich vesicular glass. Most metal/sulfide beads are spherical, but textures of non‐spherical beads indicate that some solidified as large drops during stretching and breaking while in translational and rotational motion, and others solidified from lenses of immiscible liquid at the silicate‐melt/vesicle (vapor) interface. Melted grains appear to become richer in Fe relative to Mg, and depleted in S relative to Fe and Ni with increasing penetration distance along the aerogel capture track. Fe/S ratios are near unity in grains from the bulb of Track 35, consistent with the dominance of Fe‐monosulfide minerals inferred by previous research on Stardust materials. Near‐stoichiometric Fe/S in melted grains from the bulb suggests that Fe‐sulfides in the bulb were dispersed and melted during formation of the bulb but did not lose S. Along‐track increases in Fe/S in melted grains from the bulb through the bulb‐stylus transition and continuing into the stylus indicate that S initially present as iron monosulfide may have been progressively partially volatilized and lost from the melted grains with greater penetration of the grains deeper into the aerogel during capture‐melting of comet dust. Extensively melted grains from the bulbs of aerogel capture tracks may preserve better primary compositional information with less capture‐related modification than grains from farther along the same capture tracks.  相似文献   

Volcanology of Arnus Vallis, Mars     

Michael L. Rampey  Ralph P. Harvey 《Icarus》2008,196(1):49-62

Arnus Vallis (AV) is a >300-km-long sinuous, rille located on the northeastern flank of the Syrtis Major volcano on Mars. Observational evidence presented here suggests that AV formed as an open lava channel that was at least partly incised into the pre-existing terrain. The lava source area consists of a sub-circular pit at the southwestern end of a 7-km-long straight section of channel. AV trends down slope from this source with an average bottom slope of 0.26% or 0.14°. Width varies from ∼1 km at the source to ∼0.6 km near the distal end, with a mean of 0.76 km. Depth decreases from ∼180 m at the source to ∼25 m near the distal end. The AV terminus is obscured by a large impact crater. We suggest that the material that flowed in AV must have been a relatively high temperature, low viscosity lava dynamically and perhaps compositionally similar to terrestrial komatiite or some lunar basalt lavas. If correct, this finding has implications for the mode of construction of Syrtis Major.  相似文献   

A method for incorporating climate variability in climate change impact assessments: Sensitivity of river flows in the Eden catchment to precipitation scenarios   总被引：1，自引：1，他引：0  

Ralph Ledbetter  Christel Prudhomme  Nigel Arnell 《Climatic change》2012,113(3-4):803-823

Interest in the impacts of climate change is ever increasing. This is particularly true of the water sector where understanding potential changes in the occurrence of both floods and droughts is important for strategic planning. Climate variability has been shown to have a significant impact on UK climate and accounting for this in future climate change projections is essential to fully anticipate potential future impacts. In this paper a new resampling methodology is developed which includes the variability of both baseline and future precipitation. The resampling methodology is applied to 13 CMIP3 climate models for the 2080s, resulting in an ensemble of monthly precipitation change factors. The change factors are applied to the Eden catchment in eastern Scotland with analysis undertaken for the sensitivity of future river flows to the changes in precipitation. Climate variability is shown to influence the magnitude and direction of change of both precipitation and in turn river flow, which are not apparent without the use of the resampling methodology. The transformation of precipitation changes to river flow changes display a degree of non-linearity due to the catchment’s role in buffering the response. The resampling methodology developed in this paper provides a new technique for creating climate change scenarios which incorporate the important issue of climate variability.  相似文献   

In situ impact of petrochemicals on the photosynthesis of the seagrass Zostera capricorni     

Macinnis-Ng CM  Ralph PJ 《Marine pollution bulletin》2003,46(11):1395-1407

We used photosynthetic activity (measured as chlorophyll a fluorescence) and photosynthetic pigment concentrations to assess the effect of pulsed exposures of aged crude oil (Champion Crude), dispersant (VDC) and an oil+dispersant mixture on the seagrass Zostera capricorni Aschers in laboratory and field experiments, using custom-made chambers. Samples were exposed for 10 h to 0.25% and 0.1% concentrations of aged crude oil and dispersant as well as mixtures of 0.25% oil+0.05% dispersant and 0.1% oil+0.02% dispersant. During this time and for the subsequent four day recovery period, the maximum and effective quantum yields of photosystem II (Fv/Fm and DeltaF/Fm' respectively) were measured. In the laboratory experiments, both values declined in response to oil exposure and remained low during the recovery period. Dispersant exposure caused a decline in both values during the recovery period, while the mixture of aged crude oil+dispersant had little impact on both quantum yields. In situ samples were less sensitive than laboratory samples, showing no photosynthetic impact due to dispersant and oil+dispersant mixture. Despite an initial decline in DeltaF/Fm', in situ oil-exposed samples recovered by the end of the experiment. Chlorophyll pigment analysis showed only limited ongoing impact in both laboratory and field situations. This study suggests that laboratory experiments may overestimate the ongoing impact of petrochemicals on seagrass whilst the dispersant VDC can reduce the impact of oil on seagrass photosynthesis.  相似文献   

Comparing state-of the art near-surface models of a seismic test line from Saudi Arabia     

Ralph Bridle  Nikolai Barsoukov  Mohammad Al-Homaili  Robert Ley  Ameerah Al-Mustafa 《Geophysical Prospecting》2006,54(6):667-680

We present a seismic Test Line, provided by Saudi Aramco for various research teams, to highlight a few major challenges in land data processing due to near‐surface anomalies. We discuss state‐of‐the‐art methods used to compensate for shallow distortions, including single‐layer, multilayer, plus/minus, refraction and tomostatics methods. They are a starting point for the new technologies presented in other papers, all dealing with the same challenging data described here. The difficulties on the Test Line are mostly due to the assumption of vertical raypaths, inherent in classical applications of near‐surface correction statics. Even the most detailed velocity/depth model presents difficulties, due to the compleX‐raypath. There is a need for methods which are based on more complex models andtheories.  相似文献   

Forest Carbon Dynamics in the Pacific Northwest (USA) and the St. Petersburg Region of Russia: Comparisons and Policy Implications     

Ralph J. Alig  Olga Krankina  Andrew Yost  Julia Kuzminykh 《Climatic change》2006,79(3-4):335-360

Forests of the United States and Russia can play a positive role in reducing the extent of global warming caused by greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. To determine the extent of carbon sequestration, physical, ecological, economic, and social issues need to be considered, including different forest management objectives across major forest ownership groups. Private timberlands in the U.S. Pacific Northwest are relatively young, well stocked, and sequestering carbon at relatively high rates. Forests in northwestern Russia are generally less productive than those in the Northwestern U.S. but cover extensive areas. A large increase in carbon storage per hectare in live tree biomass is projected on National Forest timberlands in the U.S. Pacific Northwest for all selected scenarios, with an increase of between 157–175 Mg by 2050 and a near doubling of 1970s levels. On private timberlands in the Pacific Northwest, average carbon in live tree biomass per hectare has been declining historically but began to level off near 65 Mg in 2000; projected levels by 2050 are roughly what they were in 1970 at approximately 80 Mg. In the St. Petersburg region, average carbon stores were similar to those on private lands in the Pacific Northwest: 57 Mg per hectare in 2000 and ranging from 40 to 64 Mg by 2050. Although the projected futures reflect a broad range of policy options, larger differences in projected carbon stores result from the starting conditions determined by ownership, regional environmental conditions, and past changes in forest management. However, an important change of forest management objective, such as the end of all timber harvest on National Forests in the Pacific Northwest or complete elimination of mature timber in the St. Petersburg region, can lead to substantial change in carbon stores over the next 50 years.  相似文献   

Modeling river/reservoir system management, water allocation, and supply reliability   总被引：6，自引：0，他引：6  

Ralph A. Wurbs 《Journal of Hydrology》2005,300(1-4):100-113

The state of Texas has implemented a modeling system for assessing the availability and reliability of water resources that consists of a generalized simulation model called the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) and input datasets for the state's 23 river basins. Reservoir/river system management and water allocation practices are simulated using historical naturalized monthly streamflow sequences to represent basin hydrology. Institutional systems for allocating streamflow and reservoir storage resources among numerous water users are considered in detail in evaluating basinwide impacts of water management decisions. The generalized WRAP model is a flexible tool that may be applied to river basins anywhere. The Texas experience in implementing a statewide modeling system illustrates issues that are relevant to water management in many other regions of the world.  相似文献   

Towards a more ecologically relevant assessment of the impact of heavy metals on the photosynthesis of the seagrass,Zostera capricorni   总被引：5，自引：0，他引：5  

Macinnis-Ng CM  Ralph PJ 《Marine pollution bulletin》2002,45(1-12):100-106

This in situ study used photosynthetic activity (measured as chlorophyll a fluorescence) and photosynthetic pigment concentrations to assess the effect of copper, cadmium, lead and zinc on the seagrass Zostera capricorni. Custom-made portable in situ exposure (PIE) chambers were developed so seagrasses could be dosed within the meadow. Z. capricorni was exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg l⁻¹ of metal solutions for 10 h. During this time and for the subsequent four-day recovery period, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PS II) (ΔF/Fm^′) was measured. While the results were variable, copper and zinc exposed samples had a depressed ΔF/Fm^′ during the exposure period. Samples exposed to zinc recovered to pre-exposure levels but those exposed to copper did not. Cadmium and lead did not impact on the chlorophyll a fluorescence and the chlorophyll pigment data supported these findings. This study presents an innovative new application of chlorophyll a fluorescence stress assessment.  相似文献   

Low-latitude “dusty events” vs. high-latitude “icy Heinrich events”     

Elsa Jullien  Francis Grousset  Bruno Malaiz  Josette Duprat  Maria Fernanda Sanchez-Goni  Frdrique Eynaud  Karine Charlier  Ralph Schneider  Aloys Bory  Viviane Bout  Jose Abel Flores 《Quaternary Research》2007,68(3):379-386

It has been proposed that tropical events could have participated in the triggering of the classic, high-latitude, iceberg-discharge Heinrich events (HE). We explore low-latitude Heinrich events equivalents at high resolution, in a piston core recovered from the tropical north-western African margin. They are characterized by an increase of total dust, lacustrine diatoms and fibrous lacustrine clay minerals. Thus, low-latitude events clearly reflect severe aridity events that occurred over Africa at the Saharan latitudes, probably induced by southward shifts of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. At a first approximation, it seems that there is more likely synchronicity between the high-latitude Heinrich Events (HEs) and low-latitude events (LLE), rather than asynchronous behaviours.  相似文献