Understanding confluence dynamics in the alluvial Ganga–Ramganga valley, India: An integrated approach using geomorphology and hydrology

Confluence dynamics in the Ganga–Ramganga valley in the western Ganga plains of India has been studied through systematic mapping of channel configuration using multi-date remote sensing images and topographic sheets for a period spanning nearly 100 years (1911–2000). The study has been supplemented with a detailed analysis of the channel morphology, hydrology and sediment transport characteristics of the different rivers. Our study indicates that new confluences have been created during this period and that the confluence points have moved both upstream and downstream on a historical time scale. Apart from major avulsions, other processes that have controlled the confluence movements include river capture, cut-offs and aggradation in the confluence area. River capture occurs through lateral bank erosion and migration, encroachment by the master stream and beheading of smaller rivers resulting in upstream movement of the confluence point. Another process which influences the upstream migration of the confluence is an increase in sinuosity of one of the channels near the confluence and then a cut-off. Aggradation in the confluence area and local avulsions of the primary channel in a multi-channel system seem to be the major process controlling the downstream movement of the confluence point. Analysis of channel morphology, hydrology and sediment budget for the study period supports our interpretations.     

利用漫反射光谱鉴定红粘土中针铁矿和赤铁矿

针铁矿(Gt)和赤铁矿(Hm)是广泛存在于土壤和沉积物中的重要铁矿物。这两种矿物在土壤和沉积物中含量很低,常规的测试手段很难有效地测定其含量。利用反射光谱联合加热处理的方法,可对土壤及沉积物样品中针铁矿和赤铁矿进行定性或半定量测定。实验结果显示,样品加热到300℃后,针铁矿的反射光谱的一阶导数特征峰发生了变化,赤铁矿的一阶导数特征峰却没有明显的变化。因此加热前后样品反射光谱一阶导数的变化取决于针铁矿和赤铁矿的含量。利用这种方法估计黄土高原第三纪红粘土样品中的赤铁矿含量约为0.3%～0.4%,针铁矿含量约为0.5%～1%。     

Raman spectra of methane hydrate up to 86 GPa

High-pressure Raman studies of methane hydrate were performed using a diamond anvil cell in the pressure range of 0.1–86 GPa at room temperature. Raman spectra of the methane molecules revealed that new softened intramolecular vibration mode of ν ₁ appeared at 17 GPa and that the splitting of vibration mode of ν ₃ occurred at 15 GPa. The appearance of these two modes indicates that an intermolecular attractive interaction increases between the methane molecules and the host water molecules and between the neighboring methane molecules. These interactions might result in the exceptional stability of a high-pressure structure, a filled ice Ih structure (FIIhS) for methane hydrate, up to 40 GPa. At 40 GPa, a clear change in the slope of the Raman shift versus pressure occurred, and above 40 GPa the Raman shift of the vibration modes increased monotonously up to 86 GPa. A previous XRD study showed that the FIIhS transformed into another new high-pressure structure at 40 GPa. The change in the Raman spectra at 40 GPa may be induced by the transition of the structure.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy,X-ray single-crystal diffractometry,and electronic structure calculations on natural alexandrite

Natural alexandrite Al₂BeO₄:Cr from Malyshevo near Terem Tschanka, Sverdlovsk, Ural, Russia, has been characterized by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron microprobe, X-ray single-crystal diffractometry and by electronic structure calculations in order to determine oxidation state and location of iron. The sample contains 0.3 wt% of total iron oxide. The ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrum can be resolved into three doublets. Two of them with hyperfine parameters typical for octahedrally coordinated high-spin Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺, respectively, are assigned to iron substituting for Al in the octahedral M2-site. The third doublet is attributed to Fe³⁺ in hematite. Electronic structure calculations in the local spin density approximation are in reasonable agreement with experimental data provided that expansion and/or distortion of the coordination octahedra are presumed upon iron substitution. The calculated hyperfine parameters of Fe³⁺ are almost identical for the M1 and M2 positions, but the calculated ligand-field splitting is by far too large for high-spin Fe³⁺ on M1.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer measurements and electronic structure calculations on natural lawsonites

Three natural lawsonites from Syke Rock, Mendocino Co., Reed Ranch, Marin Co., and Blake Gardens, Sonoma Co., all from the Coast Range Region in California, were studied by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and X-ray powder diffraction. The samples contain about 0.6, 1.0, and 1.4 wt% of total iron oxide, respectively. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra are consistent with the assumption that high-spin Fe³⁺ substitutes for Al in the octahedrally coordinated site. The Mössbauer spectrum of lawsonite from Syke Rock exhibits a second doublet with ⁵⁷Fe hyperfine parameters typical for octahedrally coordinated high-spin Fe²⁺. Electronic structure calculations in the local spin density approximation yield quadrupole splittings for Fe³⁺ in quantitative agreement with experiment indicating, however, that substitution of Al by Fe³⁺ must be accompanied by local distortion around the octahedral site. Model calculations also reproduce the room temperature hyperfine parameters of ferrous high-spin iron assuming the substitution of Ca by Fe²⁺. However, it cannot be excluded that Fe²⁺ may occupy a more asymmetric site within the microstructural cavity occupied by Ca and a H₂O molecule.     

反射光谱技术:研究南极企鹅古生态演化的一种新方法

为探求快速、廉价、无损和同步的光谱技术在南极生态环境研究中的可能性,本文利用南极阿德雷岛的四根企鹅粪土沉积柱样品的反射光谱,通过逐步多元线性回归和主成分回归两种数学运算方法,建立了反射光谱数据与企鹅粪九种标型元素浓度之间的关系,并探讨了南极企鹅粪土沉积物光谱数据的古生态意义。结果表明:南极粪土沉积样品反射率光谱与企鹅粪九种标型元素(P、Ca、Cu、F、Ba、S、Zn、Sr、Se)含量之间存在良好的相关性,预测值与实测值之间的相关系数R都达到了0.9以上,在深度剖面上预测浓度与实测浓度具有非常一致的变化趋势;南极粪土沉积物光谱数据包含有明确的古生态变化信息,可利用主成分分析快速恢复历史时期企鹅数量演化过程。本研究结果为在偏远的南极地区开展古生态环境研究提供了一种新的快捷方法和技术途径。     

Analysis of Physical and Chemical Parameters for Discrimination of Water Origin in a Hydroelectric Reservoir

Seventeen physical and chemical parameters were obtained from a hydroelectric reservoir located in a tropical region in the south of Brazil. Multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Group Analysis (HGA) were used to identify the parameters discriminating the origin of water from the Tibagi and the Primeiro de Maio River, after it has passed the mixing region. The study was conducted during the dry and rainy seasons in July 2002 and February 2003 at three depths and three sampling sites located 0, 5, and 10 km away from the mixing region. The statistical methods showed to be appropriate for identifying the contribution of each tributary in the water mixing site of a complex water system. The most important discriminating parameter was the absorbance relation A(253 nm)/A(203 nm), followed by the concentrations of Fe(III), Mn(III), and Ni(II). An anthropogenic interference was found in the reservoir due to high Ni(II) and orthophosphate concentrations caused by a nearby town sewage discharge. The interference was more important during the dry periods due to the lower dispersion of the pollutants. Urgent initiatives should be taken from the state government to build treatment stations for the wastewater of the small cities around the Capivara hydroelectric reservoir to prevent the drinking water quality from deteriorating.     

Use of high spectral resolution remote sensing to determine leaf palatability of eucalypt trees for folivorous marsupials

In this study we assess the feasibility of remotely measuring canopy biochemistry, and thus the potential for conducting large-scale mapping of habitat quality. A number of studies have found nutrient composition of eucalypt foliage to be a major determinant of the distribution of folivorous marsupials. More recently it has been demonstrated that a specific group of secondary plant chemicals, the diformylphloroglucinols (DFPs), are the most important feeding deterrents, and are thus vital determinants of habitat quality. We report on the use of laboratory spectroscopy to attempt to identify one such DFP, sideroxylonal-A, in the foliage of Eucalyptus melliodora, one of the few eucalypt species browsed by folivorous marsupials. Reflectance spectra were obtained for freeze-dried, ground leaves using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and for both oven-dried and fresh whole leaves using a laboratory-based (FieldSpec) spectroradiometer. Modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression was used to develop calibration equations for sideroxylonal-A concentration based on the reflectance spectra transformed as both the first and second difference of absorbance (Log 1/R). The predictive ability of the calibration equations was assessed using the standard error of calibration statistic (SECV). Coefficients of determination (r²) were highest for the ground leaf spectra (0.98), followed by the fresh leaf and dry leaf spectra (0.94 and 0.87, respectively). When applied to independent validation sub-sets, sideroxylonal-A was most accurately predicted from the ground leaf spectra (r² = 0.94), followed by the dry leaf and fresh leaf spectra (0.72 and 0.53, respectively). Two spectral regions, centred on 674 nm and 1394 nm, were found to be highly correlated with sideroxylonal-A concentration for each of the three spectral data sets studied. Results from this study suggest that calibration equations derived from modified partial least squares regression may be used to predict sideroxylonal-A concentration, and hence leaf palatability, of Eucalyptus melliodora trees, thereby indicating that the remote estimation of habitat quality of eucalypt forests for marsupial folivores is feasible.     

基于掌上电脑的地籍测量野外数据采集系统可行性研究

分析了当前地籍测量野外数据采集系统的现状和存在的问题 ,指出基于掌上电脑的野外数据采集系统是解决地籍测量野外数据采集瓶颈的有效途径。文中给出了基于掌上电脑的地籍测量数据采集系统的设计方案 ,通过对黑龙江农场总局庆丰农场的地籍测量实践 ,对该系统实施中的若干关键技术问题进行了研究试验 ,取得了较为满意的效果。     

掌上野外数据采集系统的实现及其关键技术

掌上电脑用于野外数据采集具有其他便携设备无法比拟的优越性，本文介绍了基于掌上电脑的紧外数据采集系统Palmaurveying的基本结构和特点，并对该系统研究实施过程中的关键技术问题进行了分析探讨。