Characteristics of climate change in the “significant impact zone” affected by aerosols over eastern China in warm seasons

Through analysis of the distribution pattern and changing characteristics of atmospheric aerosols over the East Asia region during warm seasons in recent 20 a and beyond as well as their possible interac- tive relationship with a variety of meteorological elements, it is found that the high-value zone of aerosol optical depth derived from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS), its significant negative correlation zones in terms of sunshine duration (SD) and surface air temperature (SAT) and its significant positive correlation zones with low-level cloud amount (LCC) are co-located in the South China region during warm periods. Based on this finding, the region is referred to as a "significant impact zone" (SI zone) affected by aerosols. Then, a comparative analysis is made on variation differ- ences of observed SAT, SD and LCC, etc. in different regions. It is also found that the LCC is increased and the SD is decreased within the "SI zone" over eastern China during the warm season. These characteristics are more evident than those beyond the zone, while the warming trend within the zone is evidently weaker than that outside it. Studies show that since recent 20 a, under the influence of aerosols, the LCC tend to increase substantially with a clear decrease of SD and an unnoticeable warming trend within the "SI zone". Comparing with the climate change beyond the zone, the difference is significant. Therefore, the effects of atmospheric aerosols on climate is possibly one of the contri- butions to the difference of climate change existed between the southern and northern parts of the Eastern China during a warm season.     

Evaluation of the Capacity of Comprehensive Earthquake Prevention System in a Region and Its Countermeasures

A model for evaluating the capacity of the comprehensive prevention system in a region in terms of economic losses is established in this paper by using fuzzy mathematics.The authors have explored the weak links of the system mentioned above and suggested an effective procedure of increasing the capacity of earthquake resistance and disaster prevention in a region.Through taking suitable means of decision making,the mathematical model presented in this paper can be used for reference during establishing the comprehensive prevention system in a region to reduce the earthquake disasters.     

Crustal electric structure of Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region in the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China

Through the analysis and 2-D inversion for the 5 profiles in Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region (105°～107°E,36°～37.5°N) in the northeastern margin of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, we have obtained the electric structure within a range of 160 km in width (east-west) and 60 km in depth in the studied area. The results show that the crustal electric structure can be divided into 6 sections, corresponding respectively to Xiji basin (Ⅰ), Xihuashan-Nanhuashan uplift (Ⅱ), Xingrenbu-Haiyuan basin (Ⅲ), Zhongwei-Qingshuihe basin (Ⅳ), Zhongning-Hongsibu basin (Ⅴ) and west-margin zone of Ordos (Ⅵ) from the southwest to the northeast. The crustal electric structure is characterized by a broom-shaped pattern, which scatters to the northwest and shrinks to the southeast. The structures in the top part of Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region are complete and large, however, they diminish from the arc top to the northwest and southeast ends. In the depth from 0 km to 10 km, the resistivity is high in the sections Ⅱ and Ⅵ, but relatively low in the other four sections, showing a similar pattern of basin depression. The electrical basement in the section Ⅲ is the deepest, displaying a "dustpan" shape that is deep in the southwest and shallow in the northeast. A series of discontinuous zones with high conductivity exist in the middle-lower crust in Haiyuan arcuate tectonic region, which is possibly related to the moderate and strong earthquakes in the region. The resistivity distribution in the focal area of the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake is significantly heterogeneous with an obviously high conductivity zone near the hypocenter regime.     

Air pumping for alleviation of heavy smog in Beijing

Beijing often suffers under heavy smog.During such events which occur mostly in autumn and winter,people are desperate for fresh air.The formation of heavy smog is due to foremost human induced air pollution,but geographic and meteorological conditions,especially below a surface inversion,play an important role.We propose to destroy the inversion by pumping air from above the inversion layer to the surface layer to alleviate the severity of the smog.While long-term air quality improvement depends on the reduction of air pollution emission,air pumping may provide relief in the interim for the Beijing citizens.We estimate that an air pumping at a rate 2×10~7m~3s~(–1)can lead to significantly improved air quality in Beijing,due to(1)direct clean air input;(2)increased instability and vertical mixing and(3)a positive radiation-mixing feedback.The pumping requires an energy input of 10 GW,comparable with the energy consumption in Beijing for air conditioning in summer.We propose to use wind energy from Inner Mongolia for the pumping,which has currently an installed wind energy capacity of 70GW.     

Magnetic characteristics of dustfall in urban area of north China and its environmental significance

Urban particulate pollutants not only affect urban air quality but also directly threaten public health. Lanzhou has been one of the most seriously polluted cities in the world due to its special geophysical location and weather conditions, which makes it an ideal place for urban particulate pollution study. In this study a set of environmental magnetic parameters (χlf, χfd%, χARM, SIRM, HIRM, SOFT and back field IRM) were measured and analyzed for the dustfall samples collected monthly during 1997.4―2000.5 and 2004.11―2005.10 at Lanzhou University campus (KLD and CCS) and at a clear site of Gaolanxian (GLX). Results demonstrate that the main magnetic minerals in the dustfall are magnetite, with some maghaemite and haematite. Cross plots of Mrs/Ms vs. Bcr/Bc and χfd% vs. χARM/SIRM indicate that the main magnetic grain sizes are pseudo-single-domain (PSD). The high concentration of magnetic min-erals in the dustfall indicates that Lanzhou is seriously polluted. The main pollution sources are an-thropogenic activities and nature dust, with the former posing a great threat during the whole year, which is different from the general view that the natural dust is the main contributor in summer. With great efforts of the government and local authority in the past decades, the air quality in Lanzhou has been improved in winter, but it is not so obvious in summer. This study also reveals that as a simple, rapid and accurate technology, environmental magnetism could be a valuable tool for urban pollution study.     

Characteristics of Horizontal Crustal Movement in the North China Region in the Last Decade

Based on high-precision data obtained in the past decade from GPS re-measurement in the North China Network, the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) and GPS measurement along the Shanxi graben zone, the status and evolution of horizontal crustal movement in the North China region are analyzed. The results show that (1) the Yanshan tectonic zone (Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea zone)is an active one with the largest horizontal strain in the North China region; The largest tendency differential movement of adjacent blocks is seen between the Yanshan block and the North China plain block; about 2mm/a (left lateral) ; (2)The significant horizontal differential movement along the boundaries of the North China region is characterized by right-lateral strike-slip movement at the middle-north segment on its west boundary (composed of Yinchuan and other active tectonic zones) and compressive movement at the south segment; while the Yinshan rift zone located along the west segment on its north boundary is dominated by tensile movement. Other boundaries and zones have no obvious differential movement; (3) On the whole, measurements of each period differ from one another, which might result from the nonlinear movement component as well as from the error effect. In the paper, results of the relative movement and strain in different periods are given for different blocks and boundary zones.     

Application of Load/Unload Response Ratio in the Study of Seismicity in the Region of Iran

The variation of Load/Unload Response Ratio (LURR) against time for earthquakes in Kerman Province, Iran, on February 22, 2005, M6.4 and in Lorestan Province, Iran, on March 31, 2006, M6.1, has been calculated and analysed in this paper. The tempo-spatial scanning of LURR in the region of Iran during January 1, 2003 to March 31, 2006 has been conducted, with 1 year as a time-window, 1 month as a time-step, and the comparison of the LURR anomalous regions in 2004 with the actual earthquakes with M≥5.0 in the next year (2005) is also given, which shows that 11 earthquakes with M≥5.0 occurred in LURR anomalous regions while 12 earthquakes with M≥5.0 in LURR regions in 2005. Furthermore, the seismicity in this region is studied by investigating the evolvement of the anomalous LURR regions.     

Numerical simulation of the influence of lower-crustal flow on the deformation of the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and stress distri- bution and discuss the dynamic mechanism of crustal motion and deformation in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Lin- ear Maxwell visco-elastic model is applied, which includes the active fault zones, the elastic upper crust and vis- cous lower crust and upper mantle. Four different models with different boundary conditions and deep structure are calculated. Some conclusions are drawn through comparison. Firstly, the crustal rotation about the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya in the Sicuan-Yunnan region may be controlled by the special dynamic boundary condition. The drag force of the lower-crust on the upper crust is not negligible. At the same time, the main active fault zones play an important role in the contemporary crustal motion and deformation in Sichuan-Yunnan region.     

Study on the velocity structure of the crust in Southwest Yunnan of the north-south seismic belt—Results from the Menghai-Gengma-Lushui deep seismic sounding profile

Southwest Yunnan, located in the southern segment of the north-south seismic belt, is one of the regions with strong tectonic movement and seismic activity in China. Study on the characteristics of tectonic setting and deep geophysical field in the region is an important issue in basic science. In 2013, we conducted a 600-km-long Menghai-Gengma-Lushui profile of deep seismic wide-angle reflection/refraction and high-resolution seismic refraction in Southwest Yunnan. In this paper, we use 6 groups of clear intracrustal P-wave phases picked from the seismic record sections of 11 shots to build a velocity structure model of basement and 2D crustal P-wave of the region by using finite difference inversion and ray travel time forward fitting technology. The results show that, from south to north, the crust gradually thickens along the profile and its basement shows a significant lateral heterogeneity. In the vicinity of the Nanting River fault, the basement structure shows the character of alternate depressions and uplifts, and the shallowest basement is about 1.0 km. In the vicinity of Tengchong and Lancang, the basement is about 5.0 km deep. The velocity of the middle and lower crust in the region generally increases with the increasing of depth. At the block boundary and beneath the fault tectonic belt, the velocity contours show apparent irregularity and the P-wave velocity changes sharply. In this region, the Moho gradually deepens from south to north with relatively large lateral undulations. The shallowest point of the Moho is located near Menghai at a depth of about 32.0 km. The deepest point of the Moho is located near Tengchong at a depth of about 40.5 km. Between Gengma and Yongde, the Moho shows significantly fast uplifting and depressing with an amplitude of about 4.0 km. Beneath the Nanting River fault, Longling-Ruili fault, Dayingjiang fault and Tengchong volcano, the basement velocity structure, 2D crustal P-wave velocity structure, distribution of average profile velocity and intracrustal interface spreading also show significant changes from the basement to the top of the Moho, indicating that the crustal velocity and medium physical properties beneath the fault tectonic belt are apparently different from the crustal materials on its both sides, which suggests that these faults should be in a certain scale and may extend to the lower crust or the top of the upper mantle. The earthquakes in the region mainly occurred at a depth of 10–20 km, and the seismic activity is related to the intracrustal medium velocity difference and fault belt distribution. The results can serve as the important data of the crust-mantle structure for the analysis of the deep tectonic setting, earthquake precise positioning, seismogenic structure modeling of the seismic activities in Southwest Yunnan, as well as the important reference for the evaluation of seismic hazard and the planning of earthquake disaster mitigation of this region.     

Distribution characteristics of historical earthquake classes in Jiangsu Province and South Huanghai Sea region

Introduction In the region of Jiangsu Province and South Huanghai Sea, only 14 M4.7 earthquakes (ex-cluding aftershocks and other main shocks in the swarm) occurred from 1970 when microseismic observation net was built. It is very difficult to objectively distinguish the law of earthquake series distribution in a region based on these data. However, from the antiquity in China, Jiangsu is an area with flourish economy and a galaxy of talent and culture. In Jiangsu, historical data are so c…     

Study on the Relationship Between Recent Crustal Deformation and the Temporal-Spatial Distribution of Strong Earthquakes ( Ms ≥6.0) in the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

Analysis of deformation data measured across the faults, regional vertical deformation data and GPS measurements in the Sichuan-Yunnan region made since the 1980s permitted us to conclude that the crustal deformation in the region during this period of time was relatively weak and caused the occurrence of earthquakes (Ms≥6.0), which were not distributed along the major boundary active faults in the region after the 1981 I)awu Ms 6.9 earthquake and that the seismic activity is characterized by quasi-clockwise migration. Thus, it follows that earthquake prediction research should be focused on the central part of the Sichuan-Yunnan region in the coming years. Finally, a concept of temporal division of the region into active blocks is suggested and the preliminary result of the division is given in the paper.     

Characteristics and Implication of the Earthquake Swarm Occurred in Fuzhou in September 1999

on Septmeber 23,1999,an earthquake swarm occured in Fuzhou,Because the swarm occurred in the region where earthquaks occurred scarcely before and very close to the center of the city as well as shortly after the Jiji earthquake with Ms7.6 in Taiwan,September 21,1999,has aroused interest broadly.In this paper,we analyzed the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution of the earthquake swarm and validated magnitude-number constituent of the swarm is special.In present theory,the earthquake swarm means that a small scale macro original rupture has formed in the layer of the crust in Fuzhou region where moderately strong earthquake risk exists.     

Comparison of River Terraces in the Middle Reach Valleys of the Yellow River and Analysis on the Multi-Gradational Features of Tectonism in the Formation of Terrace Series

Where the Yellow River flows through the Haiyuan-Tongxin arc-form tectonic region on the northeastern side of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, as many as 10～21 basis and erosion terraces have been produced, among which the biggest altitude above river level is 401m and the formation age of the highest terrace is 1.57 Ma B.P. Based on comparative analysis of the Yellow River terraces located separately in the Mijiashan mountain, the Chemuxia gorge, the Heishanxia gorge and the other river terraces in the vast extent of the northern part of China, it has been found that the tectonic processes resulting in the formation of the terrace series is one of multi-gradational features, i.e., a terrace series can include the various terraces produced by tectonic uplifts of different scopes or scales and different ranks. The Yellow River terrace series in the study region can be divided into three grades. Among them, in the first grade there are 6 terraces which were formed separately at the same time in the vast extent of the northern part of China and represent the number and magnitude of uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau since 1.6 Ma B. P. ; in the second grade there are 5 terraces which were separately and simultaneously developed within the Haiyuan-Tianjingshan tectonic region and represent the number and magnitude of uplift of this tectonic region itself since 1.6Ma B. P.; in the third grade there are 10 terraces which developed on the eastern slope of the Mijiashan mountain and represent the number and amplitude of uplift of the Haiyuan tectonic belt itself since 1.6Ma B.P. Comparison of the terrace ages with loess-paleosoil sequence has also showed that the first grade terraces reflecting the vast scope uplifts of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau are very comparable with climatic changes and their formation ages all correspond to the interglacial epochs during which paleosoils were formed. This implies that the vast extent tectonic uplifts resulting in river down-cutting are closely related to the warm-humid climatic periods which can also resnit in river downward erosion after strong dry and cold climatic periods, and they have jointly formed the tectonic-climatic cycles. There exists no unanimous and specific relationship between the formation ages of the second and third grade terraces and climatic changes and it is shown that the formation of those terraces was most mainly controlled by tectonic uplifts of the Tianjingshan block and the Haiyuan belt. The river terraces in the study region, therefore, may belong to 2 kinds of formation cause. One is a tectonic-climatic cyclical terrace produced jointly by vast extent tectonic uplifts and climatic changes, and the terraces of this kind are extensively distributed and can be well compared with each other among regions. Another is a pulse-tectonic cyclical terrace produced by local tectonic uplifts as dominant elements, and their distribution is restricted within an active belt and can not be compared with among regions.     

Deep electrical anomaly in the M7.5 Qiongzhou earthquake region and its relation with future seismicity

From the magnetotelluric detection in the epicentral region and the adjacent areas of the 1605 M7.5 Qiongzhou earthquake, we have discovered there is a low resistive body in the deep crust of the epicentral region. The low resistive body extends straightly from the depth of about 13 km to the upper mantle, which is supposed as an up-rising mantle pole. We therefore consider it is just the existing mantle pole and its upwelling thermal material that result in the faulting and stick-slipping activities of the upper crust, which is an important factor for the M7.5 Qiongzhou great earthquake occurrence. The postseismic faulting activity is characterized by creep, which shows that the risk is greatly decreased for the occurrence of a great earthquake with similar intensity in the future.     

Attenuation of S wave in the crust of Ordos massif

Introduction Located between Qingzang (Qinghai-Xizang) Plateau that highly uplifts due to compression and North China plain that badly subsides due to crustal extension, the Ordos massif has both the basic attributes of stretching tectonic region of North China marginal basin and the features of marginal shear-compression zone of Qingzang Plateau. It has a length of about 600 km in the N-S direction and a width of about 400 km in the W-E direction. Its geological structure is very simple…     

A deep stratospheric intrusion associated with an intense cut-off low event over East Asia

European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis Interim(ERA-Interim)reanalysis data and satellite data,and trajectory model were applied to analyze the dynamical,thermo-dynamical,and chemical structure in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere(UTLS)of an intense cut-off low(COL)event occurring over East Asia during June 19-23,2010,and to characterize the process and transport pathway of deep stratospheric intrusion.The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder(AIRS)ozone data and the Global Positioning System Ozone(GPSO3)sonde data showed that the air mass originating from the polar formed a region with relatively high values of potential vorticity(PV)and ozone in the center of COL,and a secondary ozone peak appeared in the upper troposphere during mature stage of the COL.Forward trajectory simulation suggested that during the first stage of COL,deep stratospheric intrusion associated with strong northerly wind jet on the west side of the upper-level trough transported ozone-rich air from the polar lower stratosphere into the middle and lower troposphere in the mid-latitude,and increased the ozone concentration there.During the mature stage of the COL,stratospheric air was transported counterclockwise into the troposphere.Backward trajectory model was used to find the source regions of air mass within the COL during its mature stage.Model results show that air masses with high ozone concentration in the center of the COL have two source regions:one is the subpolar vortex which lies in northern part of Center Siberia,where ozone-rich air plays a major role in increasing the ozone concentrations,and the other is the strong shear region which is near by the cyclonic side of the extratropical jet axis(west of 90°E,near 50°N).The air masses with low ozone concentration around the COL also have two source regions:one is the anticyclonic side of the extratropical jet axis,where the air mass with the relatively low ozone concentration at the bottom of the COL is mainly controlled by horizontal movement,and the other is the warm area of the south side of COL,where the air mass on the east and west side of the COL is mainly dominated by upward motion.     

Climatic significance of δ~(18)O records from an 80.36 m ice core in the East Rongbuk Glacier, Mount Qomolangma (Everest)

The δ18O variations in an 80.36 m ice core retrieved in the accumulation zone of the East Rongbuk Glacier, Mount Qomolangma (Everest), is not consistent with changes of air temperature from both southern and northern slopes of Himalayas, as well as these of the temperature anomalies over the Northern Hemisphere. The negative relationship between the δ18O and the net accumulation records of the ice core suggests the "amount effect" of summer precipitation on the δ18O values in the region. Therefore, the δ18O records of the East Rongbuk ice core should be a proxy of Indian Summer Monsoon intensity, which shows lower δ18O values during strong monsoon phases and higher values during weak phases.     

Study on the Attenuation Features of Earthquake Intensity in the Yunnan Region

This research on the attenuation features of intensity in the Yunnan region has been conducted by using intensity isoseismals of 127 earthquakes, and the following three conclusions have been put forward : ( 1 ) The average ratio value of long axis to short axis of innermost isoseismals in the Yunnan region is larger than that of eastern China and smaller than that of western China.The velocity of intensity attenuation varies in different directions; (2) The zoning feature of intensity attenuation in the Yunnan region is obvious; (3) In Northwest China and North China, the ratios of long axis to short axis of low-magnitude isoseismals are larger than those of high magnitude ones. Compared with that phenomenon, the ratios in the Yunnan region are more complicated. Finally, some relevant questions are discussed.     

Study on shear wave splitting in the aftershock region of the Yao＇an earthquake in 2000

After Ms=6.5 Yao＇an earthquake on January 15, 2000, a large amount of aftershock waveforms were recorded by the Near Source Digital Seismic Network （NSSN） installed by Earthquake Administration of Yunnan Province in the aftershock region. It provides profuse data to systematically analyze the features of Yao＇an earthquake. The crustal anisotropy is realized by shear wave splitting propagating in the upper crust. Based on the accurate aftershock relocations, the shear wave splitting parameters are determined with the cross-correlation method, and the results of different stations and regions are discussed in this paper. These conclusions are obtained as follows： firstly, the average fast directions of aftershock region are controlled by the regional stress field and parallel to the maximum horizontal compressive stress direction; secondly, the average fast directions of disparate stations and regions are different and vary with the structural settings and regional stress fields; finally, delay time value is affected by all sorts of factors, which is affinitive with the shear wave propagating medium, especially.     

Biological mechanisms driving the seasonal changes in the internal loading of phosphorus in shallow lakes

Because of the obvious importance of P as a nutrient that often accelerates growth of phytoplankton (including toxic cyanobacteria) and therefore worsens water quality, much interest has been devoted to P exchange across the sediment-water interface. Generally, the release mode of P from the sediment differed greatly between shallow and deep lakes, and much of the effort has been focused on iron and oxygen, and also on the relevant environmental factors, for example, turbulence and decomposition, but a large part of the P variation in shallow lakes remains unexplained. This paper reviews experimental and field studies on the mechanisms of P release from the sediment in the shallow temperate (in Europe) and subtropical (in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China) lakes, and it is suggested that pH rather than DO might be more important in driving the seasonal dynamics of internal P loading in these shallow lakes, i.e., intense photosynthesis of phytoplankton increases pH of the lake water and thus may increase pH of the surface sediment, leading to enhanced release of P (especially iron-bound P) from the sediment. Based on the selective pump of P (but not N) from the sediment by algal blooms, it is concluded that photosynthesis which is closely related to eutrophication level is the driving force for the seasonal variation of internal P loading in shallow lakes. This is a new finding. Additionally, the selective pump of P from the sediment by algal blooms not only explains satisfactorily why both TP and PO4-P in the hypereutrophic Lake Donghu declined significantly since the mid-1980s when heavy cyanobacterial blooms were eliminated by the nontraditional biomanipulation (massive stocking of the filter-feeding silver and bighead carps), but also explains why TP in European lakes decreased remarkably in the spring clear-water phase with less phytoplankton during the seasonal succession of aquatic communities or when phytoplankton biomass was decreased by traditional biomanipulation. Compared with deep lakes, wax and wane of phytoplankton due to alternations in the ecosystem structure is also able to exert significant influences on the P exchange at the sediment-water interface in shallow lakes. In other words, biological activities are also able to drive P release from sediments, and such a static P release process is especially more prominent in eutrophic shallow lakes with dense phytoplankton.