Showing papers by "Ocean University of China published in 2007"

Impact of the Indian Ocean SST basin mode on the Asian summer monsoon

Abstract: [1] Following an El Nino event, a basin-wide warming takes place over the tropical Indian Ocean, peaks in late boreal winter and early spring, and persists through boreal summer. Our observational analysis suggests that this Indian Ocean warming induces robust climatic anomalies in the summer Indo-West Pacific region, prolonging the El Nino's influence after tropical East Pacific sea surface temperature has returned to normal. In response to the Indian Ocean warming, precipitation increases over most of the basin, forcing a Matsuno-Gill pattern in the upper troposphere with a strengthened South Asian high. Near the ground, the southwest monsoon intensifies over the Arabian Sea and weakens over the South China and Philippine Seas. An anomalous anticyclonic circulation forms over the subtropical Northwest Pacific, collocated with negative precipitation anomalies. All these anomaly patterns are reproduced in a coupled model simulation initialized with a warming in the tropical Indian Ocean mixed layer, indicating that the Indian Ocean warming is not just a passive response to El Nino but important for summer climate variability in the Indo-West Pacific region. The implications for seasonal prediction are discussed.

Sources and distribution of carbon within the Yangtze River system

Abstract: Dissolved, particulate, soil and plant samples were collected from the Yangtze River (Changjiang) system in May 1997 and May 2003 to determine the sources and distribution of organic and inorganic matter within the river system. Average dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations within the main stream were 105 μM C in 1997 and 108 μM C in 2003. Particulate organic carbon (POC) ranged from 0.5% to 2.5% of total suspended matter (TSM). Both dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) concentrations decreased from upper to lower reaches of the river, within the ranges 1.2–2.7 mM and 0.08–4.3% of TSM, respectively. δ13C and δ15N values for tributaries and the main stream varied from −26.8‰ to −25.1‰ and 2.8‰ to 6.0‰, respectively. A large spatial variation in particulate organic matter (POM) is recorded along the main stream, probably due to the contributions of TSM from major tributaries and POM input from local vegetation sources. The dominance of C-3 plants throughout the entire basin is indicated by δ13C and δ15N values, which range from −28.8‰ to −24.3‰ and from −0.9‰ to 5.5‰, respectively. The δ13C and δ15N values of organic matter within surface soil from alongside tributaries and the main stream vary from −28.9‰ to −24.3‰ and 2.7‰ to 4.5‰, respectively. Although these differences are subtle, there is a slight enrichment of 15N in soils along the main stream. Various approaches, such as C/N and stable isotopes, were used to trace the sources of organic matter within the river. Riverine POM is mostly derived from soil; the contribution from phytoplankton is minor and difficult to trace via the composition of particles. POC flux has decreased from >5 × 106 t yr−1 during the period 1960–1980 to about 2 × 106 t yr−1 in 1997. This trend can be explained by decreasing sediment load within the Yangtze River. The export of TOC from the Yangtze River at the end of the 20th Century is approximately equivalent to that of the Zaire River, less than that of the Amazon River, and higher than that of other large rivers such as the Mississippi. Large amounts of DOC and POC were transported to coastal areas of the East China Sea over a short period during 1998 flood events, containing large amounts of nutrients and pollutants. Such an event could be an important trigger for coastal environmental problems and changes to the health of ecosystems.

Genetic and phenotypic characterization of Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bacillariophyceae) accessions

Abstract: In the last few years, genome-based studies in diatoms have received a major boost following the genome sequencing of the centric species Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle et Heimdal and the pleiomorphic raphid pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin. In addition, molecular tools, such as genetic transformation, have been developed for both species. Despite these molecular advances, relatively little is known regarding the genetic diversity of the available strains of these diatoms. In this study, we have compiled a historical summary of the known P. tricornutum species resources and have provided a genetic and phenotypic overview of 10 different axenic strains. Examination of intraspecies genetic diversity based on internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses indicate four different genotypes. Seven strains are predominantly fusiform, whereas one strain is predominantly oval, and another is predominantly triradiate. Another is defined as a tropical strain because it appears better acclimated to growth at higher temperatures. Observations in the natural environment indicate that P. tricornutum is a coastal marine diatom that is able to adapt to unstable environments, such as estuaries and rock pools. Because it has rarely been noted in nature, we have developed specific primers to amplify ITS2 sequences and have successfully identified it in environmental samples. These resources should become useful tools for the diatom community when combined with the whole genome sequence and will open up a range of new possibilities for experimental investigations that can exploit the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics described.

Lithotectonic elements and geological events in the Hengshan-Wutai-Fuping belt: a synthesis and implications for the evolution of the Trans-North China Orogen

Abstract: The Hengshan–Wutai–Fuping belt is located in the middle segment of the Trans-North China Orogen, a Palaeoproterozoic continental collisional belt along which the Eastern and Western blocks amalgamated to form the North China Craton. The belt consists of the medium- to high-grade Hengshan and Fuping gneiss complexes and the intervening low- to medium-grade Wutai granite–greenstone terrane, and most igneous rocks in the belt are calc-alkaline and have affinities to magmatic arcs. Previous tectonic models assumed that the Hengshan and Fuping gneiss assemblages were an older basement to the Wutai supracrustal rocks, but recent studies indicate that the three complexes constitute a single, long-lived Neoarchaean to Palaeoproterozoic magmatic arc where the Wutai Complex represents an upper crustal domain, whereas the Hengshan and Fuping gneisses represent the lower crustal components forming the root of the arc. The earliest arc-related magmatism in the belt occurred at 2560–2520 Ma, marked by the emplacement of the Wutai granitoids, which was followed by arc volcanism at 2530–2515 Ma, forming the Wutai greenstones. Extension driven by widespread arc volcanism led to the development of a back-arc basin or a marginal sea, which divided the belt into the Hengshan–Wutai island arc (Japan-type) and the Fuping relict arc. At 2520–2480 Ma, subduction beneath the Hengshan–Wutai island arc caused partial melting of the lower crust to form the Hengshan tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodioritic (TTG) suites, whereas eastward-directed subduction of the marginal sea led to the reactivation of the Fuping relict arc, where the Fuping tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodioritic suite was emplaced. In the period 2360–2000 Ma, sporadic phases of isolated granitoid magmatism occurred in the Hengshan–Wutai–Fuping region, forming 2360 Ma, c. 2250 Ma and 2000–2100 Ma granitoids in the Hengshan Complex, the c. 2100 Ma Wangjiahui and Dawaliang granites in the Wutai Complex, and the 2100–2000 Ma Nanying granitoids in the Fuping Complex. At c. 1920 Ma, the Hengshan–Wutai island arc underwent an extensional event, possibly due to the subduction of an oceanic ridge, leading to the emplacement of pre-tectonic gabbroic dykes that were subsequently metamorphosed, together with their host rocks, to form medium- to high-pressure granulites. At 1880–1820 Ma, the Hengshan–Wutai–Fuping arc system was juxtaposed, intensely deformed and metamorphosed during a major and regionally extensive orogenic event, the Luliang Orogeny, which generated the Trans-North China Orogen through collision of the Eastern and Western blocks. The Hengshan–Wutai–Fuping belt was finally stabilized after emplacement of a mafic dyke swarm at 1780–1750 Ma.

Seasonal characteristics of the Indian Ocean Dipole during the Holocene epoch

Abstract: Detailed climatic reconstructions of the past 6,300 years from massive corals document previously unknown changes in the Indian Ocean Dipole — a climatic oscillation that has profound impacts on rainfall in the Indian Ocean region. These new records reveal an unexpected connection between protracted droughts in Indonesia and periods of strong Asian monsoon rainfall. Future changes in Asian monsoon strength are therefore likely to have more widespread consequences than previously forecast. Predictions of changing monsoon strength have focused mainly on the impact on Asia and India, but the new data point to adverse consequences throughout Australasia. The Indian Ocean Dipole1,2 (IOD)—an oscillatory mode of coupled ocean–atmosphere variability—causes climatic extremes and socio-economic hardship throughout the tropical Indian Ocean region1,2,3,4,5. There is much debate about how the IOD interacts with the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Asian monsoon, and recent changes in the historic ENSO–monsoon relationship6 raise the possibility that the properties of the IOD may also be evolving. Improving our understanding of IOD events and their climatic impacts thus requires the development of records defining IOD activity in different climatic settings, including prehistoric times when ENSO and the Asian monsoon behaved differently from the present day. Here we use coral geochemical records from the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean to reconstruct surface-ocean cooling and drought during individual IOD events over the past ∼6,500 years. We find that IOD events during the middle Holocene were characterized by a longer duration of strong surface ocean cooling, together with droughts that peaked later than those expected by El Nino forcing alone. Climate model simulations suggest that this enhanced cooling and drying was the result of strong cross-equatorial winds driven by the strengthened Asian monsoon of the middle Holocene. These IOD–monsoon connections imply that the socioeconomic impacts of projected future changes in Asian monsoon strength may extend throughout Australasia.

Effects of exogenous enzyme supplementation in diets on growth and feed utilization in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus x O. aureus

Abstract: A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental exogenous enzyme on growth performance in juvenile hybrid tilapia Oreochromis niloticus×O. aureus (18 g, average initial weight). A commercial enzyme complex (neutral protease, β-glucanase and xylanase) was included at the level of 0.0 (control group), 1.0 and 1.5 g kg−1 diet in three test diets. Each diet was fed to triplicate tanks of the juvenile three times a day at 4–6% of wet body weight, and each tank was stocked with 50 fish. The results showed that specific growth rate and feed efficiency ratio significantly increased (P 0.05). However, the ADC of dry matter in fish fed high supplementation (1.5 g kg−1) was significantly higher than the control and low supplementation (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in condition factor, whole body moisture, protein, lipid and ash among dietary treatments. Viscera ratio, hepatosomatic index and the liver lipid decreased significantly with increasing enzyme (P<0.05). Both protease and amylase activities in the intestine and the hepatopancreas of juvenile hybrid tilapia significantly increased (P<0.05) with increasing dietary enzyme levels. The results suggested that enzyme supplementation can significantly improve growth performance and feed utilization in juvenile hybrid tilapia.

Dynamics of Eddy-Driven Low-Frequency Dipole Modes. Part I: A Simple Model of North Atlantic Oscillations

Abstract: A simple theoretical model is proposed to clarify how synoptic-scale waves drive the life cycle of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with a period of nearly two weeks. This model is able to elucidate what determines the phase of the NAO and an analytical solution is presented to indicate a high similarity between the dynamical processes of the NAO and zonal index, which is not derived analytically in previous theoretical studies. It is suggested theoretically that the NAO is indeed a nonlinear initial-value problem, which is forced by both preexisting planetary-scale and synoptic-scale waves. The eddy forcing arising from the preexisting synoptic-scale waves is shown to be crucial for the growth and decay of the NAO, but the preexisting low-over-high (high-over-low) dipole planetary-scale wave must be required to match the preexisting positive-over-negative (negative-over-positive) dipole eddy forcing so as to excite a positive (negative) phase NAO event. The positive and negative feedbacks of...