Dynamical diagnosis of the breakup of the stratospheric polar vortex in the Northern Hemisphere

The research on climate change in polar regions, especially on the role of polar in the global climate system, has gain unprecedented level of interest. It has been the key scientific issue of the International Polar Year program (IPY, 2007―2008). In this paper, we dealt with the debate upon the breakup time of the stratospheric polar vortex in boreal spring. An observational study of the relation between strato- spheric polar vortex breakup and the extra-tropical circulation was performed. The mean breakup date―when the winter westerly at the core of polar jet turns to summer easterly―is about April 10. The breakup time has large interannual variation with a time span of about 2 months. It also has a long-term trend with the 1990s and 2000s witnessing more and more late breakups of polar vortex. Composite of wind speed at the core of polar jet for the extremely early and late breakup years shows that late years have two periods of westerly weakening while early breakup years have only one. The first weakening in the late years happens in middle January with wind speed dropping sharply from more than 40 m s?1 to about 15 m s?1. This is accompanied with anomalous activities of planetary waves in both strato- sphere and troposphere; while the second weakening in the late breaking years is mainly the results of diabatic heating with very weak wave activities. In early breakup years, the transition from westerly to easterly is rapid with wind speed dropping from more than 30 m s?1 to less than ?10 m s?1 within a month. This evolution is associated with a strong bidirectional dynamical coupling of the stratosphere and troposphere. The circulation anomalies at low troposphere are also analyzed in the extremely early and late breakup years. It shows that there are significant differences between the two kinds of extreme years in the geopotential height and temperature composite analysis, indicating the dynamical cou- pling of stratosphere and troposphere with the evolution of stratospheric polar vortex.     

Early-stage rifting of the Southern Tyrrhenian region: The Calabria–Sardinia breakup

The Southern Tyrrhenian Sea is an extensional basins linked to the Neogene evolution of the Calabria subduction zone located in the western Mediterranean realm where controversial kinematic and geodynamical models have been proposed. Our study provides a key to unravel timing and mode of extension of the upper plate and the breakup of Calabria from Sardinia. By combining original stratigraphic analysis of wells and seismic profiles off Calabria with a stratigraphic correlation to onshore outcrops, we re-assess the tectonic evolution that controlled the sedimentation and basement deformation of the Southern Tyrrhenian basin during Serravallian–Tortonian times. We document the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of adjacent extensional basins characterized by 3rd order depositional sequences (Ser1, Tor1 and Tor2) and different modes of extension, subsidence and opposite dipping faults. Episodic basin development is recorded by a coarsening-up and fining-up trend of the sedimentary succession and by tectonically enhanced unconformities that reflect three episodes of fault activity. We reconstruct Serravallian–Tortonian paleogeographic maps and propose a block faulting model for the evolution of the Sardinia–Calabria area. Sardinia was disconnected from Calabria through N–S normal faults forming Tyrrhenian extensional basins that formed contemporaneously to the E–W opening of the Algerian basin. Unlike published Serravallian–Tortonian reconstructions of the western Mediterranean realm, our results support a geodynamic model characterized by rapid trench retreat, trench-normal extension in the entire overriding plate and very weak coupling between plates.     

Droplet breakup in subsea oil releases – Part 2: Predictions of droplet size distributions with and without injection of chemical dispersants

A new method for prediction of droplet size distributions from subsea oil and gas releases is presented in this paper. The method is based on experimental data obtained from oil droplet breakup experiments conducted in a new test facility at SINTEF. The facility is described in a companion paper, while this paper deals with the theoretical basis for the model and the empirical correlations used to derive the model parameters from the available data from the test facility. A major issue dealt with in this paper is the basis for extrapolation of the data to full scale (blowout) conditions. Possible contribution from factors such as buoyancy flux and gas void fraction are discussed and evaluated based on results from the DeepSpill field experiment.     

Mantle plume,large igneous province and continental breakup——Additionally discussing the Cenozoic and Mesozoic mantle plume problems in East China

Based on the former workers study results such as numerical simulation of fluid mechanics,seismic tomography of the whole earth and igneous rocks,the basic characteristics of mantle plumes are summarized in detail,namely the mantle plume,from the D″layer near the core-mantle bouundary(CMB)of 2900 km deep,is characterized by the spape of large head and thin narrow conduit,by the physical property of high temperature and low viscosity.The LIP(large igneous province)is the best exhibition when the mantle plume ascends to the surface.According to the basic characteristics of the mantle plumes and the LIP,as well as the temporal-spatial relationships between the mantle plume and continental breakup,the detailed research on petrology,geochemistry,temporal-spatial distribution,tectonic background of the Cenozoic-Mesozoic igneous rocks and gravity anomaly distribution in East China has been done.As a result,the Mesozoic igneous rocks in Southeast China should not be regarded as an example of typical LIP related to mantle plumes.for their related characteristics are not consitent with those of the typical LIPs related to mantle plumes.The Cenozoic igneous rocks in Northeast China have no the typical characteristics of mantle plumes and hotspots,so the Cenozoic volcanism in Northeast China might have no the direct relationships with the activity of mantle plumes.     

Study of Variations of Some Characteristics of the Giant Coronal Hole of 2015–2017

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Analysis of images of the full solar disk obtained by ground-based (BST-2, CrAO RAS) and space-based (SDO/AIA, SDO/HMI) instruments and the potential approximation...     

Application of Characteristics of Seismogenic Structures in the Determination of Parameter of Potential Seismic Source Areas

INTRODUCTIONThe method of probabilistic seismic risk analysis was proposed by Cornell in1968(Cornell,1968).After more than30years development,it has become the main method for seismic riskassessment of engineering sites and seismic zonation,and has been u…     

Analysis of foreshock sequence of the 1975 Haicheng earthquake of Ms 7.3

Ａｎａｌｙｓｉｓｏｆｆｏｒｅｓｈｏｃｋｓｅｑｕｅｎｃｅｏｆｔｈｅ１９７５ＨａｉｃｈｅｎｇｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｏｆＭｓ７．３Ｚｈａｏ－ＲｏｎｇＺＵＯ（左兆荣）；Ｊｉａｎ－ＰｉｎｇＷＵ（吴建平）ａｎｄＺｈｉ－ＬｉｎｇＷＵ（巫志玲）（Ｉｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆ...     

A Review of Catalogues of Chinese Earthquakes

In the past decade, the most authoritative catalogues of Chinese earthquakes and the most popular with seismologists in China are the following:(1) Gu Gongxu, 1983, Catalogue of Chinese Earthquakes;(2) Min Ziqun, 1988, Concise Catalogue of Chinese Earthquakes;(3) Xie Yusuou, 1989, Catalogue of Chinese Earthquakes (M≥ 4.7) from 1900-1980 with Uniform Magnitudes; and(4) Min Ziqun, 1995, Catalogue of Chinese Historical Strong Earthquakes. Earthquakes that occurred before 1900 are mainly documented in historical records.Since 1950s, more recent earthquakes were documented in two major compilations of historical records finished in 1956 and 1983-1987. Separately this effort resulted in two chronicles: two volumes for the first one and five volumes for the second one. The magnitudes are converted from the maximum intensity. These magnitudes, by convention, are connected with surface wave magnitudes. However, it is clear that they do not have any strict seismological definition.The period of 1900-1962 documen     

Mathematical modelling of nonlinear behaviour of seismicity

Ｍａｔｈｅｍａｔｉｃａｌｍｏｄｅｌｌｉｎｇｏｆｎｏｎｌｉｎｅａｒｂｅｈａｖｉｏｕｒｏｆｓｅｉｓｍｉｃｉｔｙ杨立明，石特临，郭大庆Ｌｉ－ＭｉｎｇＹＡＮＧ；Ｔｅ－ＬｉｎＳＨＩａｎｄＤａ－ＱｉｎｇＧＵＯ（ＥａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅＲｅｓｅａｒｃｈＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔ...     

Characteristics of response spectra for long-periods of main-shock recordings of the Chi-Chi earthquake

Current practice uses predictive models to extrapolate long-period response spectra based on far-field recordings in moderate and weak earthquakes. However, the spectra are not long enough and the data are often not reliable, which means that the seismic design code cannot accurately define seismic design requirements for long-period structures. The near-field recordings in the main-shock of the Chi-Chi earthquake have a large signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which makes them suitable for studying the long-period acceleration response spectrum up to 20 sec. The acceleration response spectra from 246 stations within 120 km of the causative fault are statistically analyzed in this paper. The influence of distance and site conditions on long-period response spectrum is discussed, and the shapes of the amplification spectra are compared with the standard spectra specified in the seismic design code of China. Finally, suggestions for future revisions to the code are proposed.     

Estimation of Occurrence Probability of Earthquake Intensity for a Period of Ten Years

A method of estimation of occurrence probability of earthquake intensity at a given site from the results of a ten-year scale of earthquake prediction described with a probability of occurrence in a given "prediction cell" is proposed in this paper. 2316 cities and towns in China were analyzed by using this method. The probability of intensity Ⅵ-Ⅸ were given for every city. These results can be used for the earthquake insurance, loss estimation, and planning of disaster protection.     

Investigations of nonlinear performances of implicit pseudodynamic algorithms

Although it has been shown that the implementation of the HHT-α method can result in improved error propagation properties in pseudodynamic testing if the equation of motion is used instead of the difference equation to evaluate the next step acceleration, this paper proves that this method might lead to instability when used to solve a nonlinear system. Its unconditional stability is verified only for linear elastic systems, while for nonlinear systems, instability occurs as the step degree of convergence is less than 1. It is worth noting that the step degree of convergence can frequently be less than 1 in pseudodynamic testing, since a convergent solution is achieved only when the step degree of convergence is close to 1 regardless of whether its value is greater or less than 1. Therefore, the application of this scheme to pseudodynamic testing should be prohibited, since the possibility of instability might incorrectly destroy a specimen. Consequently, the implementation of the HHT-α method by using the difference equation to determine the next step acceleration is recommended for use in pseudodynamic testing.     

Geometrical Study of Detachment Depth of Tilted Blocks

In an extensional basin,the process of hanging wall block rotation above a detachment fault zone is controlled by block geometry,the shape of the main normal faults,and the detachment depth.A formula for calculating the detachment depth of a tilted block is established in geometrical aspect from the tilting angle of the rotational block,dip angle of the main boundary fault,and the sedimentary thickness in the basin.The calculated result shows that the detachment depth of the tilted block,controlled by a rotational planar normal fault in the Linxian basin,on the eastern slope of Taihangshan Mountain,North China,is about 12.5 km,which is consistent with the analytic result of seismic data in the area.The value is similar to the estimated depth of the usual brittle ductile transition in a rift zone.The geometrical model presented in this paper,however,can provide a range of structural patterns of hanging wall and the detachment depth for reference in hydrocarbon exploration and earthquake processes.     

Geographical distribution of hypocentral depths of Chinese earthquakes

ＧｅｏｇｒａｐｈｉｃａｌｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｉｏｎｏｆｈｙｐｏｃｅｎｔｒａｌｄｅｐｔｈｓｏｆＣｈｉｎｅｓｅｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓＸＩＮＧ－ＢＥＩＤＵＡＮ（段星北）ＩｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＧｅｏｐｈｙｓｉｃａｌ，ＳｔａｔｅＳｅｉｓｍｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌＢｕｒ...     

Seismic risk analysis of coastal area of Pakistan

Estimation of seismic hazard for the fast developing coastal area of Pakistan is carried out using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. On the basis of seismotectonics and geology, eleven faults are recognized in five seismic provinces as potential hazard sources. Maximum magnitude potential for each of these sources is calculated. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) values at the seven coastal cities due to the maximum credible earthquake on the relevant source are also obtained. Cities of Gwadar and Ormara with acceleration values of 0.21g and 0.25g respec-tively fall in the high seismic risk area. Cities of Turbat and Karachi lie in low seismic risk area with acceleration values of less than 0.1g. The Probabilistic PGA maps with contour interval of 0.05g for 50 and 100 years return period with 90% probability of non-exceedance are also compiled.     

Influence of uncertainty in delimitation of seismic statistical zone on results of PSHA

The seismic hazard of research area is evaluated by probabilistic analysis method for three different seismic statistical zone scenarios.The influence of uncertainty in seismic statistical zone delimiting on the evaluation result is discussed too.It can be seen that for those local sites along zone‘s border or within areas with vast change of upper bound magnitude among different scenarios the influence on seismic hazard result should not be neglected.     

Application of digital image processing to the determination of spatial distribution of earthquakes

（陈锦标，沈萍，郑治真）Ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎｏｆｄｉｇｉｔａｌｉｍａｇｅｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｉｎｇｔｏｔｈｅｄｅｔｅｒｍｉｎａｔｉｏｎｏｆｓｐａｔｉａｌｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｉｏｎｏｆｅａｒｔｈｑｕａｋｅｓ￥Ｊｉｎ－ＢｉａｏＣＨＥＮ；ＰｉｎｇＳＨＥＮａｎｄＺ...     

Attenuation characteristics of Garwhal–Kumaun Himalayas from analysis of coda of local earthquakes

Coda of local earthquakes that occurred during 2006–2007 are used to study the attenuation characteristics of the Garhwal–Kumaun Himalayas. The coda attenuation characteristics are represented in terms of coda Q or Q _c . It is observed that Q _c increases with frequency. Q _c also varies with increase in lapse time of coda waves. Q _c increases up to an 85-s average lapse time. This is similar to observations around the world reported by many workers who have interpreted this as a manifestation of the fact that heterogeneity decreases with depth. However, around a 90-s average lapse time Q _c is lower than its values for lower and higher average lapse times. This is interpreted as an indication of possible presence of a fluid-filled medium or a medium having partial melts at around a 160-km depth. Q ₀, i.e., Q _c at 1 Hz, increases, and frequency parameter n decreases with increasing lapse time, barring around a 90-s lapse time. This again shows that in general, heterogeneity decreases with increasing depth. The Q ₀ and n values for smaller lapse times are similar to those for tectonically active areas. By comparing Q _c values obtained in this study with those obtained by us using the 1999 Chamoli earthquake aftershocks, it is concluded that the crust is turbid and the mantle is more transparent. However, whether the variation in Q _c values between 1999 and 2006–2007 is temporal or not cannot be definitely established from the available data set.