ALBERT

Description: Central Asia is currently a semiarid-arid region, dominated by the Westerlies. It is important to understand mechanisms of climate and precipitation changes here, as water availability in the region is crucial today and in the future. High-resolution, absolutely-dated oxygen isotope (δ18O) records of stalagmites from Kesang Cave characterize a dynamic precipitation history over most of the past 500,000 years. This record demonstrates, for the first time, that climate change in the region exhibits a processional rhythm with abrupt inceptions of low δ18O speleothem growth at times of high Northern Hemisphere summer insolation followed by gradual δ18O increases that track decreases of insolation. These observations and interpretations contrast with the interpretation of nearby, but higher elevation ice core records. The absolutely-dated cave δ18O shifts can be used to correlate the regional climate variability by providing chronological marks. Combined with other paleoclimate records, the Kesang observations suggest that possible incursions of Asian summer monsoon rainfall or related moisture into the Kesang site and/or adjacent areas during the high insolation times may play an important role in changing orbital-scale hydrology of the region. Based on our record, arid climate will prevail in this region for the next several millennia, providing that anthropogenic effects do not supersede natural processes.

Description: A continuous countercurrent supercritical CO 2 extraction-distillation dual-column process was developed to extract and concentrate natural vitamin E (VE) from soybean oil deodorizer distillate (SODD). The experimental results demonstrated that process parameters such as extraction pressure, temperature, and solvent-to-feed ratio significantly impacted on the extraction efficiency of natural VE. A new five-parameter mass transfer model for the continuous countercurrent supercritical CO 2 extraction-distillation dual-column process was presented based on the Penetration and Double-Film theories. The calculated values of the mathematical model agreed well with the experimental data, with absolute average relative deviation values of less than 25 %. A continuous countercurrent supercritical CO 2 extraction-distillation dual-column process was developed to extract and concentrate natural vitamin E from soybean oil deodorizer distillate. A new five-parameter mass transfer model for this process was presented based on the Penetration and Double-Film theories.

Description: Soot oxidation with NO (in the absence of gas phase O 2 ) on potassium-supported Mg-Al hydrotalcite mixed oxides (K/MgAlO) was studied using a temperature-programmed reaction and in situ FTIR techniques. Nitrite and the ketene group were identified as the reaction intermediates and thus a nitrite-ketene mechanism was proposed in which surface active oxygen on K sites of K/MgAlO is transferred to soot by NO through nitrites. In the absence of gas phase O 2 , soot oxidation with NO at lower temperatures (below 450 °C) is limited by the amount of active oxygen on the K sites. This kind of active oxygen is not reusable but can be replenished in the presence of gas phase O 2 . Soot oxidation with NO on K/MgAIO was studied by temperature-programmed reaction and in situ FTIR. The nitrite and the ketene group were identified as the reaction intermediates and thus a nitrite–ketene mechanism was proposed, in which surface active oxygen on K sites is transferred to soot by NO through nitrites, forming the ketene group.

Description: We present the results of three-dimensional, nonhydrostatic simulations of internal tides and waves in the South China Sea (SCS) using the SUNTANS model. Model results accurately predict the observed wave arrival times at two mooring locations in the SCS. Internal wave amplitudes are underpredicted which causes underprediction of internal wave speeds due to a lack of amplitude dispersion. We show that the well-known A and B waves arise from the steepening of semidiurnal internal tides that are generated due to strong barotropic flow over ridges in the Luzon Strait. A wave generation is stronger in the southern portion of the Luzon Strait because diurnal internal tidal beams augment the amplitude of the semidiurnal A waves. B wave generation is stronger in the northern portion where the distance between the eastern and western ridges is approximately equal to one internal tidal wavelength and leads to semidiurnal internal tidal resonance. The orientation of the ridges produces large A waves that propagate into the northern portion of the western SCS basin and stronger B waves that propagate into the southern portion. When traced back in time along linear characteristics, A waves consistently line up close to peak ebb (eastward) barotropic currents, while B waves consistently line up with peak flood (westward) barotropic currents. This reinforces the notion that the lee wave mechanism and associated hydraulic or nonlinear effects are weak, as demonstrated by a simple linear model relating the amplitude of the simulated waves to the excursion parameter at the ridges.

Description: Surface ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), and total and speciated reactive nitrogen compounds (NOy, NO, NO2, PAN, HNO3, and particulate NO3−) were measured at Mount Waliguan (WLG; 36.28°N, 100.90°E, 3816 m above sea level (asl)) in the summer of 2006 to further understand the sources of ozone and reactive nitrogen and to investigate the partitioning of reactive nitrogen over the remote Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The mean mixing ratios of O3, CO, NOy, and daytime NO were 59 ppbv, 149 ppbv, 1.44 ppbv, and 71 pptv, respectively, which (except for NOy) were higher than those measured from a previous campaign in summer 2003, which is consistent with more frequent transport of anthropogenic pollution from central and eastern China in the measurement period of 2006 (55%) than that of 2003 (25%). The abnormally high values of NOy observed in 2003 were suspected to be due to the positive interference from ammonia (NH3) to the particular catalytic converter used in that study. Varied diurnal patterns were observed for the various NOy components. The ozone production efficiencies (ΔO3/ΔNOz), which were estimated from the slope of the O3-NOz scatterplot, were 7.7–11.3 for the polluted plumes from central and eastern China. The speciation of reactive nitrogen was investigated for the first time in the remote free troposphere in western China. PAN and particulate NO3− were the most abundant reactive nitrogen species at WLG, with average proportions of 32% and 31%, followed by NOx (24%) and HNO3 (20%). The relatively large contribution of particulate NO3− to NOy was due to the presence of high concentrations of NH3 and crustal particles, which favor the formation of particulate nitrate. An analysis of backward trajectories for the recent 10 years revealed that air masses from central and eastern China dominated the airflow at WLG in summer, suggesting strong impact of anthropogenic forcing on the surface ozone and other trace constituents on the Plateau.

Description: Teleseismic receiver function analysis of data from six dense arrays in the western U.S. is used to investigate mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuities and the prevalence of a low-velocity layer atop the 410 km discontinuity (410-LVL). Negative polarity Ps arrivals indicative of a low-velocity layer with a top 25–60 km above the 410 are identified in 8–11 out of 18 stacks of receiver functions from highly sampled back azimuth corridors. The 410-LVL is interpreted as partial melt resulting from upwelling of hydrated mantle across a water solubility contrast at the 410. The 669 km mean depth of the 660 km discontinuity (660) and the magnitude of 660 topography suggest variable hydration, locally approaching saturation, in addition to 〉150 K lateral temperature variations beneath five arrays. Mean amplitudes of P410s and P660s increase monotonically with period from 2 to 10 s; however, greater variations are observed in the frequency dependence of P410s compared to P660s implying 410 thickness is more heterogeneous. Variable 410 thickness is attributed to changes in hydration modulating the width of the olivine-to-wadsleyite transition interval. Frequency dependence of P660s amplitudes suggests a broad velocity gradient consistent with multivariate phase changes in the olivine and garnet systems. Sporadic detection of the 410-LVL, the magnitude and length scales of MTZ discontinuity topography, and inferred variations in hydration support the occurrence of vigorous small-scale convection in the western U.S. mantle. Comparison of receiver functions with body wave tomography suggests small-scale convection driven by sinking slab segments and lithospheric instabilities contributes to the intermittent nature of the 410-LVL.

Description: The Gangdese magmatic arc, southeastern Tibet, was built by mantle-derived magma accretion and juvenile crustal growth during the Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic northward subduction of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab beneath the Eurasian continent. The petrological and geochronological data reveal that the lower crust of the southeastern Gangdese arc experienced Oligocene reworking by metamorphism, anatexis and magmatism after the India and Asia collision. The post-collisional metamorphic and migmatitic rocks formed at 34–26 Ma and 28–26 Ma, respectively. Meta-granitoids have protolith ages of 65–38 Ma. Inherited detrital zircon from metasedimentary rocks has highly variable ages ranging from 2708 to 37 Ma. These rocks underwent post-collisional amphibolite-facies metamorphism and coeval anatexis under P–T conditions of ~710–760 °C and ~12 kbar with geothermal gradients of 18–20 °C km − 1 , indicating a distinct crustal thickening process. Crustal shortening, thickening and possible subduction erosion due to the continental collision and ongoing convergence resulted in high-pressure metamorphic and anatectic reworking of the magmatic and sedimentary rocks of the deep Gangdese arc. This study provides a typical example of the reworking of juvenile and ancient continental crust during active collisional orogeny. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Description: ABSTRACT [1]  Similarities and differences of spatial error structures of surface precipitation estimated with successive version-6 (V6) and version-7 (V7) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) algorithms are systematically analyzed through comparison with the China Meteorological Administration's national daily precipitation analysis from June 2008 to May 2011. The TMPA products include V6 and V7 real-time products 3B42RTV6 and 3B42RTV7 and research products 3B42V6 and 3B42V7. Both versions of research products outperform their respective real-time counterparts. 3B42V7 clearly improves upon 3B42V6 over China in terms of daily mean precipitation; the correlation coefficient (CC) increases from 0.89 to 0.93, the relative bias (RB) improves from -4.91% to -0.05%, and the root mean square error (RMSE) improves from 0.69 mm to 0.54 mm. When considering 3-year mean precipitation, 3B42V7 shows similar spatial patterns and statistical performance to 3B42V6. Both 3B42RTV7 and 3B42RTV6 demonstrate similar bias patterns in most regions of China with overestimation by 20% in arid regions (i.e., the north and west of China) and slight underestimation in humid regions (e.g., -5.82% in southern China). However, 3B42RTV7 overestimates precipitation more than 3B42RTV6 in the cold Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, resulting in a much higher RB of 139.95% (128.69%, 136.09%, and 121.11%) in terms of 3-year annual (spring, summer, and autumn) daily mean precipitation and an even worse performance during winter. In this region, 3B42RTV7 shows an overall slightly degraded performance than 3B42RTV6 with CC decreasing from 0.81 to 0.73 and RB (RMSE) increasing from 21.22% (0.95 mm) to 35.84% (1.27 mm) in terms of daily precipitation.

Description: A novel method of bio-oil upgrading over Ni-based catalysts under CO atmosphere and optimum conditions for a Ni/Cu/Zn/Al catalyst were determined. The oxygen content as well as the water content decreased significantly and the pH value of upgraded bio-oil was higher than that of crude bio-oil. The physical properties indicate that upgraded bio-oil was more stable than crude bio-oil. An innovative approach of bio-oil upgrading over a Ni-based catalyst under CO atmosphere is proposed. Preparation and application of the bifunctional catalyst are described and optimum conditions for this novel method are determined. The physical properties indicate that upgraded bio-oil exhibits a higher stability as compared to crude bio-oil.

Description: A case study on a desert-oasis wetland ecosystem in the arid region of Northwest China, measured the seasonal and interannual variation in energy partitioning and evapotranspiration to analyze the response of water and energy exchange on soil moisture, groundwater, and environmental variable. Energy partitioning showed a clear seasonal and inter-annual variability, and the process of water and energy exchange differed significantly in the monthly and interannual scale. The net radiation was 7.31 MJ · m -2  · d -1 , and sensible heat flux accounted for 50.42% of net radiation in energy fluxes, 40.56% for latent heat flux and 9.02% for ground heat flux. The parameters in energy fluxes were best described by a unimodal curve, whereas sensible heat flux followed a bimodal curve. Variations in the daily evapotranspiration and crop evapotranspiration also exhibited a single peak curve with annual values of 569.84 mm and 644.47 mm, respectively. Canopy conductance averaged 20.77 ± 13.75 mm · s –1 and varied from 0.16 mm · s –1 to 83.96 mm · s –1 during the two hydrological years. The variation in water and energy exchange reflected environmental conditions and depended primarily on vapor pressure deficit, net radiation, soil moisture, and water depth. Although the effects of precipitation on evapotranspiration showed that the response of this ecosystem to climate changes was not obvious, the variation of air temperatures had a strong influence on evapotranspiration resulted in a significantly increased in evapotranspiration (R = 0.730; P 〈 0.01) . This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.