Assimilation of time-averaged observations in a quasi-geostrophic atmospheric jet model     

Helga S. Huntley  Gregory J. Hakim 《Climate Dynamics》2010,35(6):995-1009

The problem of reconstructing past climates from a sparse network of noisy time-averaged observations is considered with a novel ensemble Kalman filter approach. Results for a sparse network of 100 idealized observations for a quasi-geostrophic model of a jet interacting with a mountain reveal that, for a wide range of observation averaging times, analysis errors are reduced by about 50% relative to the control case without assimilation. Results are robust to changes to observational error, the number of observations, and an imperfect model. Specifically, analysis errors are reduced relative to the control case for observations having errors up to three times the climatological variance for a fixed 100-station network, and for networks consisting of ten or more stations when observational errors are fixed at one-third the climatological variance. In the limit of small numbers of observations, station location becomes critically important, motivating an optimally determined network. A network of fifteen optimally determined observations reduces analysis errors by 30% relative to the control, as compared to 50% for a randomly chosen network of 100 observations.  相似文献   

Distribution,behavior, and transport of inorganic and methylmercury in a high gradient stream     

J.R. Flanders  R.R. Turner  T. Morrison  R. Jensen  J. Pizzuto  K. Skalak  R. Stahl 《Applied Geochemistry》2010

Concentrations of Hg remain elevated in physical and biological media of the South River (Virginia, USA), despite the cessation of the industrial use of Hg in its watershed nearly six decades ago, and physical characteristics that would not seem to favor Hg(II)-methylation. A 3-a study of inorganic Hg (IHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) was conducted in physical media (soil, sediment, surface water, porewater and soil/sediment extracts) to identify non-point sources, transport mechanisms, and potential controls on Hg(II)-methylation. Data collected from surface water and sediment indicate that the majority of the non-point sources of IHg to the South River are within the first 14 km downstream from the historic point source. Partitioning data indicate that particle bound IHg is introduced in this reach, releasing dissolved and colloidal bound IHg, which is transported downstream. Extraction experiments revealed that floodplain soils released a higher fraction of their IHg content in aqueous extractions than fine-grained sediment (FGS). Based on ultrafiltration [<5000 nominal molecular weight cutoff (NMWC)] the majority of soil IHg released was colloidal in nature, providing evidence for the continued evolution of IHg for Hg(II)-methylation from soil. Strong seasonal patterns in MeHg concentrations were observed in surface water and sediment. The highest concentrations of MeHg in surface water were observed at moderate temperatures, suggesting that other factors limit net Hg(II)-methylation. Seasonal changes in sediment organic content and the fraction of 1 N KOH-extractable THg were also observed and may be important factors in controlling net Hg(II)-methylation rates. Sulfate concentrations in surface water are low and the evidence suggests that Fe reduction may be an important Hg(II)-methylation process. The highest sediment MeHg concentrations were observed in habitats with large amounts of FGS, which are more prevalent in the upper half of the study area due to the lower hydrologic gradient and agricultural impacts. Past and present land use practices and other geomorphologic controls contribute to the erosion of banks and accumulation of fine-grained sediment in this section of the river, acting as sources of IHg.  相似文献   

Formation of nano-crystalline todorokite from biogenic Mn oxides     

Xiong Han Feng  Mengqiang Zhu  Chaoying Ni  Donald L. Sparks 《Geochimica et cosmochimica acta》2010,74(11):3232-6063

Todorokite, as one of three main Mn oxide phases present in oceanic Mn nodules and an active MnO₆ octahedral molecular sieve (OMS), has garnered much interest; however, its formation pathway in natural systems is not fully understood. Todorokite is widely considered to form from layer structured Mn oxides with hexagonal symmetry, such as vernadite (δ-MnO₂), which are generally of biogenic origin. However, this geochemical process has not been documented in the environment or demonstrated in the laboratory, except for precursor phases with triclinic symmetry. Here we report on the formation of a nanoscale, todorokite-like phase from biogenic Mn oxides produced by the freshwater bacterium Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1. At long- and short-range structural scales biogenic Mn oxides were transformed to a todorokite-like phase at atmospheric pressure through refluxing. Topotactic transformation was observed during the transformation. Furthermore, the todorokite-like phases formed via refluxing had thin layers along the c^∗ axis and a lack of c^∗ periodicity, making the basal plane undetectable with X-ray diffraction reflection. The proposed pathway of the todorokite-like phase formation is proposed as: hexagonal biogenic Mn oxide → 10-Å triclinic phyllomanganate → todorokite. These observations provide evidence supporting the possible bio-related origin of natural todorokites and provide important clues for understanding the transformation of biogenic Mn oxides to other Mn oxides in the environment. Additionally this method may be a viable biosynthesis route for porous, nano-crystalline OMS materials for use in practical applications.  相似文献   

The rapidly pulsating sdO star, SDSS J160043.6+074802.9     

C. Rodríguez-López  A. E. Lynas-Gray  D. Kilkenny  J. MacDonald  A. Moya  C. Koen  P. A. Woudt  D. J. Wium  B. Oruru  E. Zietsman 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2010,401(1):23-34

A spectroscopic analysis of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) J160043.6+074802.9, a binary system containing a pulsating subdwarf-O (sdO) star with a late-type companion, yields   T _eff= 70 000 ± 5000 K  and  log  g = 5.25 ± 0.30  , together with a most likely type of K3 V for the secondary star. We compare our results with atmospheric parameters derived by Fontaine et al. and in the context of existing evolution models for sdO stars. New and more extensive photometry is also presented which recovers most, but not all, frequencies found in an earlier paper. Therefore, it seems probable that some pulsation modes have variable amplitudes. A non-adiabatic pulsation analysis of uniform metallicity sdO models show those having  log  g > 5.3  to be more likely to be unstable and capable of driving pulsation in the observed frequency range.  相似文献   

Simulated impacts of artificial groundwater recharge and discharge on the source area and source volume of an Atlantic Coastal Plain stream, Delaware, USA     

Joshua W. Kasper  Judith M. Denver  Thomas E. McKenna  William J. Ullman 《Hydrogeology Journal》2010,18(8):1855-1866

A numerical groundwater-flow model was used to characterize the source area and volume of Phillips Branch, a baseflow-dominated stream incising a highly permeable unconfined aquifer on the low relief Delmarva Peninsula, USA. Particle-tracking analyses indicate that the source area (5.51 km²) is ～20% smaller than the topographically defined watershed (6.85 km²), and recharge entering ～37% of the surface watershed does not discharge to Phillips Branch. Groundwater residence time within the source volume ranges from a few days to almost 100 years, with 95% of the volume “flushing” within 50 years. Artificial discharge from groundwater pumping alters the shape of the source area and reduces baseflow due to the interception of stream flow paths, but has limited impacts on the residence time of groundwater discharged as baseflow. In contrast, artificial recharge from land-based wastewater disposal substantially reduces the source area, lowers the range in residence time due to the elimination of older flow paths to the stream, and leads to increased discharge to adjacent surface-water bodies. This research suggests that, in this and similar hydrogeologic settings, the “watershed” approach to water-resource management may be limited, particularly where anthropogenic stresses alter the transport of soluble contaminants through highly permeable unconfined aquifers.  相似文献   

Butyltin compounds,sterility and imposex assessment in Nassarius reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758), prior to the 2008 European ban on TBT antifouling paints,within Basque ports and along coastal areas     

J. Germán Rodríguez  Itziar Tueros  Ángel Borja  Javier Franco  J. Ignacio García Alonso  Joxe Mikel Garmendia  Iñigo Muxika  Cristina Sariego  Victoriano Valencia 《Continental Shelf Research》2009,29(8):1165-1173

Levels of imposex (superimposition of male characters, upon females) and the presence of sterile females are assessed in the gastropod Nassarius reticulatus (L.), at 35 locations in the Basque Country. At 18 of these localities, organotin bioaccumulation (tributyltin (TBT); dibutyltin; monobutyltin) was evaluated, using isotope dilution GC–ICP–MS. Higher imposex levels and TBT body burden were found in confined harbours, with large vessel traffic or the presence of an offshore fleet. The highest values were found for the port of Pasaia, near to a shipyard (a relative penis size index of up to 92%, and TBT body burden up to 405 ng g^?1 – given on a dry weight basis as Sn). Imposex effects were evaluated also in parasitized females, at some of the sampling sites. The percentage of presence of c-type Vas Deferens sequence stages (i.e., with vas deferens beginning at the oviduct opening) was higher in parasitized females. In turn, there was an absence of highly convoluted oviduct in parasitized females.  相似文献   

Use of the Marine Prophage Induction Assay (MPIA) to detect environmental mutagens     

Lauren D. McDaniel  Vicki McGee  John H. Paul 《Estuaries and Coasts》2005,28(4):634-642

The prophage induction assay provides a biologically based carcinogen-screening tool for environmental samples grounded in the parallel mechanisms of carcinogenesis and prophage induction. We developed an assay using a previously characterized marine bacterialPseudomonas aeruginosa isolate designated as P94-4S3 for the detection of potentially genotoxic contamination in marine and estuarine environments. To perform the assay, the lysogenic isolate was exposed to either a known genotoxic compound or an environmental sample of interest. The response was considered positive when a statistically significant amount of prophage induction occurred in comparison to negative controls. Initial development of the assay for enviromental samples included testing under a range of salinities and optimizing the method for the processing of water column and sediment samples. The assay has been field-tested over 2 yr in the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Florida. The Marine Prophage Induction Assay (MPIA) was performed concurrently with laboratory toxicological analysis. There was good correspondence between positive MPIA results and detection of potentially toxic compounds by laboratory analysis. Five positive laboratory detections of known toxic compounds in natural samples occurred in conjunction with positive MPIA results. Two laboratory detections of compounds that are not genotoxic were accompanied by a negative MPIA response. Eight of the sediment samples contained detectable levels of arsenic. Four of these samples demonstrated a positive MPIA response, which may be due to the oxidation state of the arsenic within the sediment. One detection of a known toxic compound by the analytical laboratory was not accompanied by a positive induction response. Nine positive induction responses occurred without concurrent laboratory detection. This was possibly due to the limited range of compounds included in the laboratory testing performed, although false positive assay results cannot be ruled out.  相似文献   

Thermal analysis (TG–DTA) and isotopic characterization (13C–15N) of humic acids from different origins     

《Applied Geochemistry》2005,20(3):537-544

Thermal analyses (TG–DTA), elemental composition and isotope analyses (¹³C and ¹⁵N) were performed on humic acids (HA) from peats, leonardites and lignites, in order to investigate their structure and the changes taking place during the humification process. Thermal analyses showed structural differences between HA samples in relation to their coalification rank. In particular the lignite HA were characterized by a more stable chemical composition at high temperatures.The δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values can provide information on the biogeochemical processes involved in HA formation. In particular, peat HA were linked to anoxic environments that enable plant residues to persist in their structure. In contrast, leonardite and lignite HA formation seems to be governed by different biogeochemical processes from those responsible for peat diagenesis. However, the isotopic analyses did not provide any distinction between leonardite and lignite HA. On the basis of the data presented in this study, it may be concluded that TG–DTA and isotope ratio measurements are powerful tools for investigating the formation pathway of humic substances from coals.  相似文献   

Measurements and modelling of beach groundwater flow in the swash-zone: a review     

《Continental Shelf Research》2006,26(5):622-652

This paper reviews research on beach groundwater dynamics and identifies research questions which will need to be answered before swash zone sediment transport and beach profile evolution can be successfully modelled. Beach groundwater hydrodynamics are a result of combined forcing from the tide and waves at a range of frequencies, and a large number of observations exist which describe the shape and elevation of the beach watertable in response to tidal forcing at diurnal, semi-diurnal and spring-neap tidal frequencies. Models of beach watertable response to tidal forcing have been successfully validated; however, models of watertable response to wave forcing are less well developed and require verification. Improved predictions of swash zone sediment transport and beach profile evolution cannot be achieved unless the complex fluid and sediment interactions between the surface flow and the beach groundwater are better understood, particularly the sensitivity of sediment transport processes to flow perpendicular to the permeable bed.The presence of a capillary fringe, particularly when it lies just below the sand surface, has influences on beach groundwater dynamics. The presence of a capillary fringe can have a significant effect on the exchange of water between the ocean and the coastal aquifer, particularly in terms of the storage capacity of the aquifer. Field and laboratory observations have also shown that natural groundwater waves usually propagate faster and decay more slowly in aquifers with a capillary fringe, and observations which suggest that horizontal flows may also occur in the capillary zone have been reported. The effects of infiltration and exfiltration are generally invoked to explain why beaches with a low watertable tend to accrete and beaches with a high watertable tend to erode. However, the relative importance of processes such as infiltration losses in the swash, changes in the effective weight of the sediment, and modified shear stress due to boundary layer thinning, are not yet clear. Experimental work on the influence of seepage flows within sediment beds provides conflicting results concerning the effect on bed stability. Both modelling and experimental work indicates that the hydraulic conductivity of the beach is a critical parameter. However, hydraulic conductivity varies both spatially and temporally on beaches, particularly on gravel and mixed sand and gravel beaches. Another important, but poorly understood, consideration in beach groundwater studies is the role of air encapsulation during the wetting of beach sand.  相似文献   

Modelling of magnetic interactions in partially-ionized gas: application to the FIP effect     

Arge  C.N.  Mullan  D.J. 《Solar physics》1998,182(2):293-332

We have adapted the ZEUS code to model magnetic interactions in partially ionized gas. When two regions of opposite polarity come into contact with each other, ions drifting in response to the Lorentz force fall into the minimum of the magnetic field, and then the drifting ions force the neutrals to take part in the flow. Because of the finite time required for ion-atom collisions to occur, the gas which emerges from the interaction site has an ion/atom ratio which may be altered relative to that in the ambient medium. In order to model this effect, we adapt the Zeus code to a two-step iterative process involving a cycle between the hydrodynamic (HD) and the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) versions of the code. The ion and atom fluids are coupled by collisions. Our simulations show that in chromospheric conditions, outflowing gas exhibits enhancements in ion/atom ratios which may be as large as a factor of 10 or more. The magnitude of the enhancements is determined by two key ratios which enter into the problem: the degree of ionization (ni/na), and the plasma parameter. We show that, in the context of the mechanism we propose here, the amplitude of the ion/atom enhancements in the solar chromosphere is subject to a remarkable self-regulation because the ion density ni is almost invariant over the height range of interest to us. Our results are relevant in the context of the Sun, where the coronal abundances of elements with low first ionization potential (FIP) are systematically enhanced in certain magnetic structures. Although data for stars other than the Sun are sparse, we point out that our results are also useful for interpreting the available stellar data.  相似文献