Recognition of Strong Earthquake Prone Areas in the Altai–Sayan–Baikal Region

The locations of areas prone to strong earthquakes (M ≥ 6.0) in the Altai–Sayan–Baikal region are determined. Based on a scheme of morphostructural zoning of the region and by using the CORA-3 pattern recognition algorithm, all intersections of morphostructural lineaments are separated into two classes: the highly seismic intersections in the vicinities of which strong earthquakes can occur and low seismic in the vicinities of which only earthquakes with M < 6.0 are possible. Recognition was performed for the vectors the components of which were measured values of the geological–geophysical characteristics describing the respective intersection. The result obtained allows the zones of high seismic hazard to be identified more reliably in the region.

     

Effects of mechanical layering on hydraulic fracturing in shale gas reservoirs based on numerical models

Generally, induced hydraulic fractures are generated by fluid overpressure and are used to increase reservoir permeability through forming interconnected fracture systems. However, in heterogeneous and anisotropic rocks, many hydraulic fractures may become arrested or offset at layer contacts under certain conditions and do not form vertically connected fracture networks. Mechanical layering is an important factor causing anisotropy in sedimentary layers. Hence, in this study, with a shale gas reservoir case study in the Longmaxi Formation in the southeastern Chongqing region, Sichuan Basin, we present results from several numerical models to gain quantitative insights into the effects of mechanical layering on hydraulic fracturing. Results showed that the fractured area caused by hydraulic fracturing indicated a linear relationship with the neighboring layer’s Young’s modulus. An increase of the neighboring layer’s Young’s modulus resulted in better hydraulic fracturing effects. In addition, the contact between two neighboring layers is regarded as a zone with thickness and mechanical properties, which also influences the effects of hydraulic fracturing in reservoirs. The initial hydraulic fracture was unable to propagate into neighboring layers under a relatively low contact’s Young’s modulus. When associated local tensile stresses exceeded the rock strength, hydraulic fractures propagated into neighboring layers. Moreover, with the contact’s Young’s modulus becoming higher, the fractured area increased rapidly first, then slowly and finally became stable.     

An experimental investigation into the compaction characteristic of granulated gangue backfilling materials modified with binders

Solid backfill mining has apparent technical advantages in extracting coal resource under sensitive surface structures such as buildings and roads; meanwhile, as an effective method of disposing mining wastes, it works well in solving some environmental problems caused by mining activities. In addition, the controlling effect of solid backfill mining is directly related to the compaction characteristic of backfilling materials. The present study aims to modify the backfilling materials by assessing the effect of binders (cement, fly ash, and lime) on the compaction characteristic of granulated gangue backfilling materials. The compaction test was performed with rock mechanic test system equipped with a self-made circular cylinder apparatus. From the results obtained, cement is not the suitable binder for modifying the gangues backfilling materials, while fly ash or lime, when the dosage is up to 20 wt%, is beneficial to the compaction characteristic of backfilling materials. The relationship between strain behavior and micro-structure of backfilling materials was investigated by SEM and the effect of fly ash or lime on the strain behavior of backfilling materials could be associated with its cementation and gap-filling effect.     

水文监测网络运行状态综合评估系统设计与实现

对水文监测网络的实时状态进行综合评估,从而掌握网络的整体性能是对水文监测网络进行管理的重要方面。针对当前水文监测网络综合评估缺少合理有效评价机制的现状,设计并开发水文监测网络实时状态综合评估系统,实现对水文网络中测站传感器、RTU、信道状态的采集、评估和综合呈现,提高对水文监测网络的分析水平。     

Movement process analysis of the high-speed long-runout Shuicheng landslide over 3-D complex terrain using a depth-averaged numerical model

Landslides - Flow-like landslide is one of the most catastrophic types of natural hazards due to its high velocity and long travel distance. In 2019, a large catastrophic landslide was triggered by...     

辽东石庙沟岩体岩石地球化学特征、锆石U-Pb年龄、Hf同位素及其地质意义

辽东石庙沟地区位于华北陆块东部的辽吉造山/活动带上,该带经历了十分复杂的构造演化过程,记录了多期岩浆-构造-变质事件。石庙沟岩体为花岗斑岩,富SiO₂、Na₂O和K₂O,贫CaO、MgO及Al₂O₃,亏损高场强元素（Nb、Ti、Ta、P）,富集大离子亲石元素（K、Rb、Ba、U）,A/CNK值大于1,REE配分曲线呈"海鸥"式分布,以具有显著的负Eu异常为特征,高Ga/Al值,与典型A型花岗岩特征一致。花岗斑岩中锆石的LA-ICP-MS U-Pb测年结果表明其成岩年龄为（123.0±1.6）Ma,为早白垩世。锆石Hf同位素分析表明,ε_Hf（t）值均为负值,介于-15.72~-12.85之间,平均值为-14.14,二阶段模式年龄（T_DM2）在2 164~1 989 Ma之间,平均为2 067 Ma,反映源岩以大陆壳成分为主。结合花岗斑岩高SiO₂,低Mg、Co、Cr、Ni,且富集LREE和LILE,亏损HFSE等特征,表明早白垩世花岗斑岩岩浆应为大陆地壳物质熔融的产物。根据年代学和岩石地球化学研究认为,早白垩世花岗斑岩是古太平洋板块向欧亚大陆板块俯冲所形成的活动大陆边缘弧花岗岩。研究区早白垩世花岗斑岩的形成主要受太平洋构造域的影响,形成环境受板块俯冲造山后伸展作用和下地壳拆沉作用的联合制约,是辽东地区岩石圈减薄的直接证据。     

青海黄南地区近54年蒸发量变化特征及其影响因子

利用青海省黄南地区近54a(1960—2013年)蒸发量、气温、降水量、日照时数、水汽压等资料,应用地理信息系统、数理统计、线性回归和Mann-Kendall检验等方法分析了黄南地区蒸发量的空间及时间变化趋势,并对黄南地区蒸发量变化特征及其影响因子进行了诊断研究。结果表明:黄南地区年平均蒸发量呈明显的下降趋势,20世纪60—70年代为蒸发量偏多阶段,80年代及后为偏少阶段;黄南地区蒸发量最大的季节是春季和夏季,各季蒸发量均呈减少趋势;黄南地区年蒸发量在1973年发生了由多到少的突变,春、夏、秋、冬季分别发在1973、1975、1976和1974年;分析影响蒸发量的相关因子,蒸发量与日照时数呈显著的正相关关系,与水汽压和降水量呈显著的负相关关系,日照时数的减小是蒸发量减少的主要影响因子。     

Numerical analysis of the effect of natural microcracks on the supercritical CO2 fracturing crack network of shale rock based on bonded particle models

The problem of predicting the geometric structure of induced fractures is highly complex and significant in the fracturing stimulation of rock reservoirs. In the traditional continuous fracturing models, the mechanical properties of reservoir rock are input as macroscopic quantities. These models neglect the microcracks and discontinuous characteristics of rock, which are important factors influencing the geometric structure of the induced fractures. In this paper, we simulate supercritical CO₂ fracturing based on the bonded particle model to investigate the effect of original natural microcracks on the induced‐fracture network distribution. The microcracks are simulated explicitly as broken bonds that form and coalesce into macroscopic fractures in the supercritical CO₂ fracturing process. A calculation method for the distribution uniformity index (DUI) is proposed. The influence of the total number and DUI of initial microcracks on the mechanical properties of the rock sample is studied. The DUI of the induced fractures of supercritical CO₂ fracturing and hydraulic fracturing for different DUIs of initial microcracks are compared, holding other conditions constant. The sensitivity of the DUI of the induced fractures to that of initial natural microcracks under different horizontal stress ratios is also probed. The numerical results indicate that the distribution of induced fractures of supercritical CO₂ fracturing is more uniform than that of common hydraulic fracturing when the horizontal stress ratio is small.     

Evaluating the spatiotemporal variations of water budget across China over 1951–2006 using IBIS model

The Integrated Biosphere Simulator is used to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of the crucial hydrological variables [run‐off and actual evapotranspiration (AET)] of the water balance across China for the period 1951–2006 including a precipitation analysis. Results suggest three major findings. First, simulated run‐off captured 85% of the spatial variability and 80% of the temporal variability for 85 hydrological gauges across China. The mean relative errors were within 20% for 66% of the studied stations and within 30% for 86% of the stations. The Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients indicated that the quantity pattern of run‐off was also captured acceptably except for some watersheds in southwestern and northwestern China. The possible reasons for underestimation of run‐off in the Tibetan plateau include underestimation of precipitation and uncertainties in other meteorological data due to complex topography, and simplified representations of the soil depth attribute and snow processes in the model. Second, simulated AET matched reasonably with estimated values calculated as the residual of precipitation and run‐off for watersheds controlled by the hydrological gauges. Finally, trend analysis based on the Mann–Kendall method indicated that significant increasing and decreasing patterns in precipitation appeared in the northwest part of China and the Yellow River region, respectively. Significant increasing and decreasing trends in AET were detected in the Southwest region and the Yangtze River region, respectively. In addition, the Southwest region, northern China (including the Heilongjiang, Liaohe, and Haihe Basins), and the Yellow River Basin showed significant decreasing trends in run‐off, and the Zhemin hydrological region showed a significant increasing trend. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impoverishment of recent floodplain forest mollusc fauna in the lower Ohře River (Czech Republic) as a result of prehistoric human impact

Analyses of fossil mollusc successions have rarely been used to study the development of floodplain forests during the Holocene. The Oh?e River, located in a prehistorically settled chernozem area in the Czech Republic, is partly situated in Cretaceous marlstones, yielding sediments suitable for fossilization directly in floodplain deposits. We analysed five fossil mollusc successions situated in the lower stretch of the Oh?e River and compared the results with recent mollusc assemblages studied along the entire 256 km of the river. Fossil samples were composed mostly of open‐country species throughout the Holocene or the whole preserved succession. Only some samples also contained woodland assemblages, but these were always greatly impoverished, with a very low frequency of strictly woodland species. Although the natural‐looking appearance of the present‐day floodplain forests of the lower river stretch has resulted in its being declared a nature reserve, modern floodplain forest mollusc assemblages there are also impoverished. This reduction in the distribution of strictly woodland species compared with modern assemblages in the upper stretch of the river seems to be the result of an ancient human settlement and continuous disturbances of the floodplain forest development since the Neolithic. Thus, fully developed floodplain forest assemblages occur recently only in the upper non‐impacted stretch of the river. Based on the studied fossil successions we can conclude that the lower Oh?e River floodplain was probably a mosaic of open and disturbed forest habitats throughout the Holocene. This area is part of a central European landscape island, where forests probably never fully developed and open patches from the early Holocene continually developed into an agricultural landscape.