Modulation of the Aleutian–Icelandic Low Seesaw and Its Surface Impacts by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation

Early studies suggested that the Aleutian–Icelandic low seesaw(AIS) features multidecadal variation. In this study, the multidecadal modulation of the AIS and associated surface climate by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation(AMO) during late winter(February–March) is explored with observational data. It is shown that, in the cold phase of the AMO(AMO|-),a clear AIS is established, while this is not the case in the warm phase of the AMO(AMO|+). The surface climate over Eurasia is significantly influenced by the AMO’s modulation of the Aleutian low(AL). For example, the weak AL in AMO|-displays warmer surface temperatures over the entire Far East and along the Russian Arctic coast and into Northern Europe,but only over the Russian Far East in AMO|+. Similarly, precipitation decreases over central Europe with the weak AL in AMO|-, but decreases over northern Europe and increases over southern Europe in AMO|+.The mechanism underlying the influence of AMO|-on the AIS can be described as follows: AMO|-weakens the upward component of the Eliassen–Palm flux along the polar waveguide by reducing atmospheric blocking occurrence over the Euro–Atlantic sector, and hence drives an enhanced stratospheric polar vortex. With the intensified polar night jet, the wave trains originating over the central North Pacific can propagate horizontally through North America and extend into the North Atlantic, favoring an eastward-extended Pacific–North America–Atlantic pattern, and resulting in a significant AIS at the surface during late winter.

Remarkable Link between Projected Uncertainties of Arctic Sea-Ice Decline and Winter Eurasian Climate

We identify that the projected uncertainty of the pan-Arctic sea-ice concentration(SIC) is strongly coupled with the Eurasian circulation in the boreal winter(December–March; DJFM), based on a singular value decomposition(SVD) analysis of the forced response of 11 CMIP5 models. In the models showing a stronger sea-ice decline, the Polar cell becomes weaker and there is an anomalous increase in the sea level pressure(SLP) along 60°N, including the Urals–Siberia region and the Iceland low region. There is an accompanying weakening of both the midlatitude westerly winds and the Ferrell cell,where the SVD signals are also related to anomalous sea surface temperature warming in the midlatitude North Atlantic.In the Mediterranean region, the anomalous circulation response shows a decreasing SLP and increasing precipitation. The anomalous SLP responses over the Euro-Atlantic region project on to the negative North Atlantic Oscillation–like pattern.Altogether, pan-Arctic SIC decline could strongly impact the winter Eurasian climate, but we should be cautious about the causality of their linkage.

Impact of North-South Shift of Azores High on Summer Precipitation over North West Europe

Several Studies demonstrate that North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) influences variability of climate over Europe. As NAO is has significant influence on climate of Europe during boreal cold season (November to April), we use the centers of action approach for the study of summer precipitation (June to August) variability over Europe, taking into account variations in the components of the NAO North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), the Azores High and the Icelandic Low pressure systems. This study shows that north-south shifts of the Azores High has significant impact on interannual variations of summer precipitation over North West Europe, there being more precipitation when the Azores High shifts southward versus when it is northward. Thus this article demonstrate that when the Azores High system is to the south there is flux of moist and warm air from the Atlantic into NW Europe. We present a regression model for summer precipitation over North-west in which the Azores High latitude and the Icelandic low longitude are independent variables and it explains 53 percent of the variance of precipitation during 1952-2002, a significant enhancement over the NAO value of R2 = 0.10.

The Effects of the Quantum and Finesse Bridles on Equine M. Brachiocephalicus and M. Splenius Function at Three Different Speeds

Badly designed and fitted tack induces physiological stress responses in horses, and may compromise animal welfare. Moreover, horses, just like humans, comprise a series of interconnected myofascial lines. However, to date there are no measurements of the effects of horse tack, such as bridles on muscle parameters. This study used acoustic myography to test whether two commercial anatomically designed and fitted bridles, have a measurable and positive effect on both equine muscle-function and performance. A Quantum bridle was tested on 12 Icelandic horses, whilst a Finesse bridle was tested on 8 Icelandic horses, and results compared with data from a standard bridle (n = 12) tested at the same time and under identical conditions. Sensors were placed on M. Brachiocephalicus and M. Splenius, and the horses exercised following a set protocol at three speeds. The results revealed statistically significant improvements in muscle performance as assessed by both the regularity of the recording at each speed, and the number of transient powerful contractions (spikes) for the anatomically designed and fitted bridles, compared with the standard bridle. It is concluded that the effect of anatomically designed bridles can not only be measured in the neck muscles of exercising horses, but that they appear to have a positive effect on muscle performance.

Unstable Rifts,a Leaky Transform Zone and a Microplate:Analogues from South Iceland

A structural analysis was undertaken in the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) transform zone, and in the Hreppar Microplate (HMP) located between the propagating Eastern Rift Zone (ERZ) and the receding Western Rift Zone (WRZ). The age of the oceanic crust in these areas is 3.4 Ma to present. About 20,000 fracture segments on aerial images reflect the dominance of NNE extensional structures in the WRZ. Around 9,000 basement faults, intrusions, secondary fractures, surface ruptures of earthquakes, and leakages were mapped in the outcrops of the HMP and the SISZ. About 23% of these fractures strike NNE, while 77% are dominantly northerly dextral and ENE sinistral, and secondarily E-W, WNW and NW sinistral strike- and oblique-slip structures, forming a Riedel shear pattern typical of a transform zone. Dyke injections into Riedel shears indicate a leaky transform zone. Fractures reactivated, accumulated slip, and re-opened for fluid flow. The ENE faults dip mostly to the southeast and could be the present boundary of the SISZ to the north. A 10 - 30 km wide ENE structural zone hosts a valley to the east, which could be deeper in the west. This ENE zone contains all the earthquakes, dominant ENE rivers, frequent ENE secondary fractures, and is likely the active part of the SISZ. The HMP does not show rotation since 3.4 Ma despite being between two rift segments. Future propagation/recession of the rift segments along their N55°E sections would cause a migration and a clockwise rotation of the SISZ from ENE to E-W. The boundary faults of the SISZ would then be E-W, with unchanged internal Riedel shears, compensating its sinistral motion. Insights into complexities of diverging plate boundaries are critical for resource management in such tectonic contexts.

基于FLAC 3D的边坡地震稳定性及参数分析

本文基于FLAC 3D有限差分软件,建立了单向边坡模型,通过文献对比,验证了本文模型的准确性。采用2000年South Iceland地震加速度时程曲线作为地震荷载,研究了地震加速度峰值对边坡动力响应和边坡破裂面的影响,同时分析了坡面形状、边坡高度和边坡角度三个几何参数对边坡不同位置地震PGA放大系数的影响。结果表明:地震作用下,边坡坡脚位置首先生成破裂面,然后裂缝逐渐向坡顶位置扩展。坡面形状对坡面地震响应的影响显著,相同加速度峰值下,凹形坡和内折坡更安全。边坡高度对边坡顶部平台的放大系数影响显著,边坡角度的变化对放大系数影响不明显。

Structures and Styles of Deformation in Rift,Ridge,Transform Zone,Oblique Rift and a Microplate Offshore/Onshore North Iceland

The diverging plate boundaries in North Iceland and its shelf display a complex tectonic at the Kolbeinsey Ridge (K-R), the Northern Rift Zone (NRZ), and the Tj?rnes Fracture Zone containing the Grímsey Oblique Rift (GOR), the Húsavík-Flatey Fault (HFF), and the Dalvík Lineament (DL). While active deformation is well-known, the structural pattern is sporadically mapped and a comprehensive account of the upper Tertiary-present deformation is not fully at hand. To address the gaps, this paper provides new regional tectonic maps with continuous coverage, and detailed analyses of the deformation. Faults, open fractures, prominent joints and volcanic edifices were identified on Multibeam/Single beam, Spot 5, and Digital Elevation Model, and subjected to multidisciplinary structural analysis and correlation with selected data. Some of the results are: 1) Six sets constitute the structural pattern. The N-S rift-parallel normal faults are 1/3, and the shear fractures of the transform zone and the oblique rift 2/3 of the fracture population. The en échelon arrangements above deep-seated shear zones indicate dextral slip on WNW to NW, and sinistral slip on NNE to ENE faults, conformable with earthquake data. 2) During the polyphase tectonic, the six sets led to basin and horst formation, block compartmentalisation, rotation, horsetail splay, rhomb-graben in relay zone of strike-slips, and volcanism. 3) Listric faults are absent and the steeply-dipping faults are antithetic, synthetic, or form extensional flower structures above 4 km depth. The Plio-pleistocene/present syn-sedimentary deformation caused a deep half graben in the Eyjafjarearáll Basin (Ey), fault growth, rollover, and sediment onlaps, with some of the faults still active. 4) The plate boundaries of K-R/Ey, GOR/?xarfjreur/NRZ, and DL delimit a major microplate labelled here as Grímsey-Tj?rnes-Dalvík. 5) The WNW earthquake cluster in GOR corresponds either to a blind horsetail splay fault or to initiation of a transform segment parallel to the HFF. The described tectonic-sedimentary-magmatic deformation is relevant to other diverging plate boundaries where similar sets control the hydrocarbon and geothermal resources.

Iceland Spar Occurrence

In the Yifeng County, Jiangxi Province, an iceland spar occurrence was discovered recently. Itis associated with limestone, and the calcite is discovered therein also. Specialists suggested that thereserve of iceland spar is considerable. In the deposit of iceland spar the minor crystal is tens gramsby weight, and the large one is hundreds kilograms by weight. The crystals are typicalparallelepiped, transparent and with fine quality. The crystals exhibit uinque double refraction.

Fracture Permeability: Outcrop Analogues from Active Plate Boundaries and Intraplate Contexts of Iceland

We bring new insights into fracture permeability with 7 analogues from the intraplate outcrops of West Iceland (WI), the active South Iceland transform zone (SISZ), the intersection of rift and SISZ near Hengill (Reykjafjall-RF), and the Reykjanes oblique rift (RP). WI formed at Tertiary plate boundaries, shifted away, is now cut by the Quaternary intraplate Snæfellsnes volcanic zone (SVZ), and undergoes occasional earthquakes. By contrast, fractures are being formed and reactivated under intense plate boundary earthquakes in the younger SISZ, RF and RP. Our mapping of stratigraphy, basement fractures, surface ruptures of earthquakes, and leakages of cold and hot water in all areas shows that: 1) In active SISZ, RF and RP, permeable fractures are identical to N-S to NNW dextral, ENE to E-W sinistral, and WNW to NNW sinistral source faults of earthquakes, acting as Riedel shears that accommodate the sinistral motion of the transform zone. The NNE/NE rift-parallel extensional fractures are the least frequent permeable set. Notably, the NW and WNW sets also show dextral motions in RP where they could be splay of each other but belong to a separate developed fracture system, and in the SISZ where the NW set is a splay of a N-S source fault of earthquake. However, permeable fractures in the intraplate WI are only oblique-slip sets striking N-S to NNW dextral, ENE sinistral, and WNW dextral parallel to the SVZ. 2) In each area, the permeable sets fit the fault plane solutions of intraplate or plate boundary earthquakes, as well as the latest stress fields that allow fracture opening for fluid flow. 3) Fractures are more open in the younger SISZ, RF, and RP, with leakages along the fractures and their splays rather than by their tips or in the stepovers. In the older WI where the crust and fractures are filled with secondary minerals, leakages are as much along fractures as where numerous fracture intersections facilitate fluid flow. 4) In case of intersecting fractures, the strike and dip direction of the structures determine which set acts as a carrier or a barrier to the flow. 5) Although Iceland is more known for rifting, these analogues demonstrate that fracture permeability, block compartmentalisation, and fluid flow are controlled by the oblique-slip structures developed under transform mechanism.

Iceland Spring——高pH值的健康水

水是生命之源,世界上最早的生命诞生于水,人体组织中水的比重占70％,离开了水,人体的一切新陈代谢会变得紊乱,生命也将不复存在.水在人体中如此重要,那么,我们该喝什么样的水？什么才是符合健康标准的水？专家称:喝水一定要喝干净的水.祛除水中的有害污染物质,无色无味、甘甜可口,软度、酸碱度适中,含氧量高的小分子水为标准饮用水. 权威杂志调查指出,冰岛男人的平均年龄在79.4岁,而女人则在80岁.实际上,冰岛人健康和长寿的秘诀,与冰岛天然泉水的品质是分不开的,他们每天都在饮用世界上最优质的饮用水——Iceland Spring.实验证明,冰岛天然泉水Iceland Spring矿泉水是现有品质最高的瓶装饮用水.

Tectonic Control of the Theistareykir Geothermal Field by Rift and Transform Zones in North Iceland:A Multidisciplinary Approach

This paper presents a multidisciplinary structural analysis of a 165 km2 area in the Northern Rift Zone and the Tjörnes Fracture Zone of Iceland, and unravels the tectonic control of the Theistareykir geothermal field and its surroundings. About 10729 fracture segments (faults, open fractures, joints) are identified in the upper Tertiary to Holocene igneous series. The segments were extracted from aerial images and hillshade, and then analyzed in terms of number of sets, geometry, motions, frequency, and relative age. The correlation with surface geothermal manifestations, resistivity, earthquakes, and occasional well data reveals the critical regional and local fractures at the surface, reservoir level and greater depth. The main conclusions of this study are: 1) The structural pattern consists of N-S rift-parallel extensional fractures and the Riedel shears of the transform zone striking NNE, ENE, E-W, WNW and NW, which compartmentalize together the blocks at any scale. 2) The en échelon segmentation shows strike and oblique slips on the Riedel shears, with a dextral component on the WNW and NW planes and a sinistral component on the NNE to ENE faults. 3) Fractures form under the influence of the transform mechanism and the effect of rifting becomes significant only with time. 4) The WNW dextral oblique-slip Stórihver Fault of the transform zone has a horsetail splay that extends eastwards into the geothermal field. There, this structure, along with few NW, ENE, NNE and N-S fractures, controls the alteration, alignment of fumaroles, emanating deep gases. These fractures also rupture during natural or induced earthquakes. 5) The resistivity anomalies present en échelon geometries controlled by the six fracture sets. These anomalies display clockwise and anticlockwise rotations within the upper 8 km crustal depth, but at 8 km depth, only three sets (the N-S rift structures, and the E-W and the NW Riedel shears) are present at the rift and transform plate boundaries. Results of this study are relevant to resource exploration in other complex extensional contexts where rift and transform interact.ööö

Interannual Variations of the Blocking High over the Ural Mountains and Its Association with the AO/NAO in Boreal Winter

This paper analyzes interannual variations of the blocking high over the Ural Mountains in the boreal winter and their association with the Arctic Oscillation/North Atlantic Oscillation（AO/NAO）.In January,the relationship between the Ural blocking high（UR） and the AO index is statistically significant.The UR tends to occur more frequently and with greater strength during negative AO periods.Some strong URs also occur during positive AO phases（positive UR-AO events）,as in January 2008.This paper discusses the characteristics of atmospheric circulation in the cases of positive UR-AO events and contrast cases（negative UR-AO events）.The eastward extending of the Icelandic Low（IL） center and the associated NAO dipole anomaly pattern in the upstream region may play a more important role for the UR-AO events.When the center of the IL shifts eastward to 30 W,the amplitude of zonal wavenumber 2（wavenumber 3） is intensified in the positive（negative） UR-AO events,which favors positive（negative） height anomalies over the Urals.Further analyses indicate that the intensified zonal wind in high latitudes and weakened zonal wind in midlatitudes over the North Atlantic Ocean render the eastward shift of the IL and the NAO dipole anomaly pattern.The Ural blocking in January 2008 bears similar characteristics to the positive UR-AO events.

Fission-fusion dynamics of a pelagic delphinid in the arctic:the white-beaked dolphin(Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

Delphinids exhibit great variability in their social structures.It is therefore important to document lesser known species,in extreme changing habitats,to compare and contrast mechanisms driving sociality.Here,we describe the first long-term assessment of social structure of white-beaked dolphins(Lagenorhynchus albirostris)using a compiled version of SOCPROG 2.8 and an 11-year photo-identification dataset(2002–2013)collected from whalewatching vessels at 2 sites(Faxaflói and Skjálfandi bays)off Iceland.We identified a total of 487 dolphins which are suggested to be part of an open population as shown by the discovery curve obtained analyzing photo-id data.The social analyses were restricted to 35 adults which were sighted on≥5 different days.The mean residency time of white-beaked dolphins in our 2 study areas was of 95 days(SE=35.63;95%CI:23-171),with the“migration-full interchange”model best describing movements of dolphins in and out of our 2 study sites.Social differentiation in this population was high(Likelihood:S=0.87,SE=0.04;r=0.31,SE=0.03)indicating diverse,non-random social relationships.Temporal associations best fit the model of“casual acquaintances”against the standardized lagged association rates with the majority of white-beaked dolphin associations being short-term,but with a few long-term across years.Testing for preferred companionship,long-term associations are favored over short-term.In this study,associations among white-beaked dolphins are short-term but with desirably long-term associations fitting into a society with fission-fusion dynamics.This information expands the latitudinal range for which social structure has been described for oceanic dolphin species.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of growth of woody plant species (birch and willows) on the foreland of a retreating glacier in southern Iceland

Background:The forelands of retreating glaciers are invaluable natural laboratories in which to explore the processes of primary succession.Numerous studies have been conducted on foreland chronosequences to identify temporal and spatial trends of the successional communities.This study focused on the spatio-temporal distribution of three woody plant species on the foreland of a retreating glacier in southern Iceland where historical observations provide precise age control of the moraines.To evaluate colonization and successional trends,we examined which species increase in abundance with time and tested the role of proximity to a seed source in colonization.Additionally,we quantified the rate at which biomass carbon is added to the landscape.Results:The density of stems of Betula pubescens increases with moraine age across the foreland chronosequence while the density of stems of both Salix lanata and Salix phylicifolia decreases.We found low statistical significance to the relationship between the density of B.pubescens and distance from a forested ridge nor did we find a relationship between the lengths of the stems and the moraine ages.Woody biomass increased fastest during early successional stages and reached a maximum of 28.5 g C m^(−2) on the oldest moraine.Conclusions:Early colonization of moraines was controlled by environmental filters which favored both Salix species.Colonization by B.pubescens followed as environmental factors,e.g.,favorable soil properties,improved.We found no conclusive evidence that proximity to a potential source of B.pubescens propagules was a significant factor in controlling colonization.The assumption that the abundance of individuals increased with time through later successional stages proved valid for B.pubescens,but not for either species of Salix.These findings are consistent with the classical spatial successional model of community homogenization.Thus,general successional processes at the landscape scale control the temporal dynamics of individual species.

Comparing the size selectivity of a novel T90 mesh codend to two conventional codends in the northern shrimp(Pandalus borealis)trawl fishery

The size selectivity and usability of three codends were quantified and compared for the first time in the inshore Northern shrimp(Pandalus borealis)trawl fishery of Iceland using the covered codend method:a conventional diamond-mesh codend(T0),conventional square-mesh codend(T45),and a 90◦turned mesh codend(T90)constructed of four panels and with shortened lastridge ropes.Fishers,wanting to increase the average-individual size of captured shrimp,had requested the T90 codend to be compared with conventional codends for consideration in the fishery.Results showed that,on average,the T45 and T90 codends had better size selectivity than the T0 codend in terms of releasing individuals smaller than 13 mm carapace length(Minimum References Size;MRS).The T90 codend retained significantly less Northern shrimps between 9 and 19 mm than the T0 codend and between 15 and 19 mm than the T45 codend.No significant difference of size selectivity between T45 and T0 codends was observed.All three codends presented high retention ratios of Northern shrimps above MRS(>63%)for the population encountered.However,the T0 codend was not effective at sorting out small Northern shrimps;at least 86%of Northern shrimps smaller than 13 mm were retained in the T0 codend if encountered.Catches from T45 and T90 codends had a lower proportion of shrimp below MRS.Since discarding of undersized Northern shrimps is prohibited in Iceland and fishers wanted to catch on average larger shrimp,using the novel T90 codend would enable fishers to use their quotas more efficiently.

High seed losses in mountain birch(Betula pubescens ssp.tortuosa)and developmental,ecological,and environmental correlates

Plants typically experience great losses from their reproductive potential represented by ovule production to the post-dispersal crop of viable seed.We examined seed density and viability in a founder population of mountain birch(Betula pubescens ssp.tortuosa),aiming to quantify losses at different stages and examine potential selection forces on the reproduction success of the founder generation of an isolated population.At the time of the study(2017-2020),the population had recently reached reproductive maturity,following its colonization around 1990 through long-distance dispersal onto an early successional outwash plain in southeast Iceland.Seed densities were high,but 89% of apparently intact seeds did not contain an embryo,despite being visually indistinguishable from filled seeds.Externally evident losses amounted to about 45% of the total seed crop and were mostly due to predation by the gall midge Semudobia betulae.When all losses were accounted for,2.7% of the seed crop remained viable and germinated.Pollen limitation may partially explain the high incidence of empty seeds.Excessive flower production is compatible with the predator satiation hypothesis but cannot explain pre-dispersal losses.Another adaptation to predation,masting,appears poorly developed in Iceland.Our results suggest the presence of constraints on the reproduction potential of the new island population,that are more limiting than in neighbouring populations,and we discuss their developmental,ecological,and environmental correlates.