Simulation of Formation and Spreading of Salinity Minimum Associated with NPIW Using a High-Resolution Model

A series of numerical experiments were conducted with a high-resolution (eddy-permitting) North Pacific model to simulate the formation and spreading of the salinity minimum associated with the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW). It was found that two factors are required to simulate a realistic configuration of the salinity minimum: a realistic wind stress field and small-scale disturbances. The NCEP reanalyzed wind stress data lead to better results than the Hellerman and Rosenstein wind stress data, due to the closer location of the simulated Oyashio and Kuroshio at the western boundary. Small-scale disturbances formed by relaxing computational diffusivity included in the advection scheme promote the large-scale isopycnal mixing between the Oyashio and Kuroshio waters, simulating a realistic configuration of the salinity minimum. A detailed analysis of the Oyashio water transport was carried out on the final three-year data of the experiment with reduced computational diffusivity. Simulated transport of the Kuroshio Extension in the intermediate layer is generally smaller than the observed value, while those of the Oyashio and the flow at the subarctic front are comparable to the observed levels. In the Oyashio-Kuroshio interfrontal zone the zonally integrated southward transport of the Oyashio water (140–155°E) is borne by the eddy activity, though the time-mean flow reveals the existence of a coastal Oyashio intrusion. In the eastern part (155°E–180°) the zonally integrated transport of the Oyashio water indicates a southward peak at the southern edge of the Kuroshio Extension, which corresponds to the branching of the recirculating flow from the Kuroshio Extension. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High-resolution sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Triassic ‘Buntsandstein’ in the Netherlands and northwestern Germany

Detailed log correlations of the largely fluvio-lacustrine Lower Triassic Buntsandstein (Late Permian-Early Anisian), carried out on 80 wells in the Dutch onshore and offshore areas, can be linked to northwest-German high-resolution sequence stratigraphy. The correlations show that cyclic sedimentation occurred in large parts of the basin. Seven 1st-order sequences are recognised, namely the Main Claystone, Rogenstein, Volpriehausen, Detfurth, Hardegsen, Solling and Lower Röt Sequences. They are overlain by the lower part of the Upper Röt–Lower Muschelkalk Sequence. Distinct sequence boundaries have been identified at the bases of four sequences: Volpriehausen, Detfurth, Solling and Upper Röt. The higher-order sequences consist of fining-upwards cycles with a thickness of up to tens of metres. The sequences are laterally persistent and have a characteristic expression on gamma-ray and sonic logs. In the Lower Buntsandstein, they display a uniform character throughout most of the area, with only minor differences in thickness or lithology. NNE-oriented lows and swells were formed during deposition of the Volpriehausen, Detfurth and Hardegsen Sequences. Uplift prior to the deposition of the Solling Sequence caused deep erosion on the swells in the basin and minor erosion in the lows. The high-resolution sequences probably represent alternating, relatively wet and dry climatic periods, with a periodicity of about 100 000 years. An analysis of the sequences suggests that their reduced thickness on the swells is mainly the effect of erosion. This is supported by analyses of the accumulation patterns and rates.     

塔里木盆地东河砂岩沉积和储层特征及综合分析

东河砂岩是一套海侵初期的沉积产物，东河砂岩不是一个等时沉积体，相当于晚泥盆世晚期至早石炭世早期沉积，具体沉积时间各地有差异。由于东河砂岩是覆盖广泛的海侵初期沉积，因此具有海侵初期填平补齐的特征，其沉积相决定于海侵的速度、沉积物的供给和海侵前的古地貌。塔北地区受塔北古隆起的阻挡，海水在古隆起周围滞留时间较长，又有较粗粒的物源供给，其沉积产物主要是滨岸海滩沉积；塔中地区由于地形复杂，沉积类型也比较复杂，底部砾岩段有河流相沉积，而块状砂岩段和砂砾岩段有河口湾和滨岸海滩沉积，不同段在成分、分选性和粒级上有较大的差异；而其它低平地区主要是海侵期快速的滨岸和陆架沉积。受沉积因素影响，东河砂岩有效储层的分布具有地域性；除沉积因素外，低的地温梯度和短期的深埋藏是优质储层发育的重要控制因素。     

小型水电站建设用地地质灾害评估技术研究——以湄尼多河小型水电站为例

现阶段,地质灾害评估技术人员在评估实践中,往往不注重各评估对象的差异性,采取同一评估模式,结果达不到评估的目的。在对小型水电站进行评估时,野外调查的重点,评估过程中所使用的方法以及危险性现状、预测及综合分区评估等与大型水电站、路线工程、矿山开采、民用建筑等工程有所不同。湄尼多河小型水电站工程位于云南省怒江州福贡县马吉乡境内,地质环境条件复杂,评估级别综合为二级。文章以该电站建设用地地质灾害危险性评估为例,对小型水电站建设用地地质灾害危险性评估的方法与理论进行探讨。     

辽河盆地冷家油田沙河街组三段储层岩相古地理

辽河盆地在沙河街组三段早期水体较深,主要形成扇三角洲及盆底扇;沙三晚期水体较浅,发育湖泊砂体.依据沉积相分布规律,沙三早、中、晚3个时期可进一步分别划分出湖泊扩张和收缩阶段.盆地西部凹陷的冷家油田为东陡西缓的箕状洼陷.研究区内沙三段的古地理格局是决定相分布的关键因素,河流和湖泊能量相对强弱决定扇体沉积的规模.受相对湖平面变化的影响,纵向扇三角洲主要形成于湖泊扩张时期,并且有相带窄、过渡快、以粗碎屑沉积为主的特点.扇体沉积中主要发育前缘分流河道充填沉积,但位于河口前缘或侧缘的滩坝及前三角洲中的盆底扇局部也较发育.     

古炭屑与古森林火?

森林火普遍发生在地质历史时期中，它对自然植被系统的演替起着重要作用。不同强度和频率的森林火培育出不同类型的植被：频繁的森林火导致草甸的形成，而热带雨林形成的原因之一是森林火的缺乏。古炭屑作为古森林火的遗迹，具有分布广泛、细胞结构保存完好以及原地埋藏等特点，为研究古森林火发生的强度和频率提供了宝贵的材料。古炭屑的出现与当时的气候因素、植被类型和地理状况有密切关系：干旱、少雨的气候常常伴随高频率森林火的发生，表现出古炭屑的数量增多；易燃物种组成的植被易发生森林火，古炭屑的出现也会增多，而耐火树种会降低森林火的强度，古炭屑则出现少。因此，从古炭屑的数量和种类的变化，可探讨古森林火的发生规律，进而推断长期地质历史时期的气候、植被、地理状况的演变。     

山东尚南断块古近系东营组沉积相及其古地理?

尚南断块位于山东省胜利油田东营凹陷尚店油田西南部。该区的古近系东营组顶底均为不整合面或沉积间断面，发育了较好的湖侵三角洲相沉积。基于100余口钻井、地震资料，70多张单井剖面柱状图编制及14条剖面的对比，进行了东营组精细沉积相研究，编制出30余幅沉积微相投点图和岩相古地理图。研究表明，东营 沉积时期气候潮湿、雨水丰沛、河流纵横、湖泊扩大、湖水变深等为处于斜坡地区的尚南地区发育湖侵期三角洲提供了良好的条件。控制该区沉积和地层发育的区域性物源来自埕宁隆起和鲁西隆起，但来自滨县凸起和林樊家突起的局部物源也有很大影响。东营期岩相古地理经历了早、中、晚期的演化，早期发育了以三角洲平原为主的沉积环境，中期形成了大范围的破坏性三角洲环境，晚期以前三角洲环境为特色。     

The environmental impact of small-scale gold mining in Ghana: identifying problems and possible solutions

This paper examines the environmental impacts of small-scale gold mining in Ghana, and prescribes a series of recommendations for improving environmental performance in the industry. Since the enactment of the Small Scale Gold Mining Law in 1989, which effectively legalized small-scale gold mining in the country, industrial operations, collectively, have made important contributions to national gold output, foreign exchange earnings and employment. Accompanying this pattern of socio-economic growth, however, have been increased environmental complications – namely, mercury pollution and land degradation. The Ghanaian Minerals Commission has been burdened with most of the jurisdictional responsibilities related to small-scale mining, but with a staff of only 35–40 people working with a pool of highly obsolete research resources, it is clearly incapable of facilitating sufficient environmental improvement on its own. It is concluded that marked environmental improvements can only be achieved if: (1) assistance is provided to the Minerals Commission from local governmental bodies and academic units; (2) industry-specific environmental management tools and strategies are designed and implemented; (3) concerted effort is made to prospect for deposits suitable for small-scale gold mining, a key to preventing unnecessary exploration; and (4) a nation-wide industrial mercury study is commissioned, and a mercury retorting programme is implemented.