Laboratory measurement of hydrodynamic saline dispersion within a micro-fracture network induced in granite

We report the first measurements of hydrodynamic dispersion in a microfractured granite using a combination of novel techniques. A fracture network was induced in a cylindrical plug of Ailsa Craig micro-granite by thermal stressing, to produce an isotropic network of fractures with an average aperture of  0.3 μm, a density of approximately 4 × 10⁴ fractures/mm³ and a permeability of 5.5 × 10^− 17 m². After saturating the cores with 0.01 M NaCl solution a step in the concentration profile to 1 M was advected into the plug at flow rates of 0.07 to 2.13 cm³ h^− 1. The longitudinal electrical impedance of the plug was measured continuously as the solute front advected through its length until the plug was saturated with the concentrated electrolyte. Analysis of the impedance versus time relationships allows the derivation of the longitudinal dispersion coefficient, D_L, and hydrodynamic retardation, R_H. The Peclet number–dispersion relationship for the micro-fracture network is very similar to that predicted for other, radically different, fracture networks. Thus dispersion may be more dependent on fracture connectivity and length than fracture density and display a relationship similar to that shown by particle beds and clastic sandstones. The high retardation values observed (2.2–4.9) reflect flow behaviour within a fracture network with a proportion of ‘blind’ sections, and demonstrates how such networks can slow the advance of conservative solute components.     

震后GPS观测数据揭示的日本M_W9.0地震周边地区地幔黏滞性结构垂向变化

本文利用大范围的震后GPS数据和黏弹性球形地球位错理论,定量研究了日本M_W9.0地震周边地区地幔黏滞性结构的垂向变化.首先结合陆地和海底的GPS观测数据,以及基于球形地球位错理论格林函数和贝叶斯反演方法,反演了该地震的同震滑动分布,发现其最大错动量高达59m.然后在均一地幔黏滞性结构的假设前提下,确定了震源周边地区地幔黏滞因子的最优解,发现依据该地幔黏滞因子获得的理论远场震后位移和GPS观测结果之间的均方根误差高达0.81cm,不能解释远场观测结果.为解决上述问题,本文对震中周边地区地幔黏滞性结构沿垂向方向进行分层,建立了一个随深度变化的地幔黏滞性构造模型,然后综合利用远近场的GPS数据对该地区地幔黏滞因子进行反演研究,结果表明,震源周边地区岩石圈弹性层厚度最优解为40km,40～220km深度的地幔黏滞因子最优解为6×10~(18)Pa·s,220～670km深度之间的地幔黏滞因子最优解为1.5×10~(19)Pa·s.上述地幔黏滞性构造使远场的均方根误差降为0.12cm,仅为利用均一地幔黏滞性构造所得均方根误差值的15%,大大提高了远场模拟结果的准确性.最后,观测值和模拟值之间的均方根误差分析表明,近场震后形变数据主要约束浅层的地幔黏滞性结构,而远场震后形变数据主要约束深部的地幔黏滞性结构.     

Temporal–compositional trends over short and long time-scales in basalts of the Big Pine Volcanic Field, California

Primitive basaltic single eruptions in the Big Pine Volcanic Field (BPVF) of Owens Valley, California show systematic temporal–compositional variation that cannot be described by simple models of fractional crystallization, partial melting of a single source, or crustal contamination. We targeted five monogenetic eruption sequences in the BPVF for detailed chemical and isotopic measurements and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating, focusing primarily on the Papoose Canyon sequence. The vent of the primitive (Mg# = 69) Papoose Canyon sequence (760.8 ± 22.8 ka) produced magmas with systematically decreasing (up to a factor of two) incompatible element concentrations, at roughly constant MgO (9.8 ± 0.3 (1σ) wt.%) and Na₂O. SiO₂ and compatible elements (Cr and Ni) show systematic increases, while ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr systematically decreases (0.7063–0.7055) and ε_Nd increases (− 3.4 to − 1.1). ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os is highly radiogenic (0.20–0.31), but variations among four samples do not correlate with other chemical or isotopic indices, are not systematic with respect to eruption order, and thus the Os system appears to be decoupled from the dominant trends. The single eruption trends likely result from coupled melting and mixing of two isotopically distinct sources, either through melt-rock interaction or melting of a lithologically heterogeneous source. The other four sequences, Jalopy Cone (469.4 ± 9.2 ka), Quarry Cone (90.5 ±17.6 ka), Volcanic Bomb Cone (61.6 ± 23.4 ka), and Goodale Bee Cone (31.8 ± 12.1 ka) show similar systematic temporal decreases in incompatible elements. Monogenetic volcanic fields are often used to decipher tectonic changes on the order of 10⁵–10⁶ yr through long-term changes in lava chemistry. However, the systematic variation found in Papoose Canyon (10⁰–10² yr) nearly spans that of the entire volcanic field, and straddles cutoffs for models of changing tectonic regime over much longer time-scales. Moreover, ten new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages combined with chemistry from all BPVF single eruption sequences show the long-term trend of BPVF evolution comprises the overlapping, temporal–compositional trends of the monogenetic vents. This suggests that the single eruption sequences contain the bulk of the systematic chemical variation, whereas their aggregate compositions define the long-term trend of volcanic field evolution.     

三维数值模拟研究俯冲区火山的时空活动性

俯冲板块的深部脱水使得上覆地幔含水, 从而降低含水地幔的熔点, 导致上覆地幔部分熔融。 部分熔融的地幔柱一旦喷发到地表就是俯冲带火山, 也形成新的地壳。 相对于周围的地幔来讲, 具有较小密度和黏度的部分熔融地幔的时空活动性就控制着俯冲带火山的时空分布特征。 本文主要回顾近年来运用三维热力学岩石力学模型数值模拟研究与板片脱水相关的俯冲带火山活动的时空分布特性。 结果表明, 部分熔融地幔的有效黏度和密度是影响俯冲板片之上的三维地幔柱横向分布特征的主要因素。 高黏度的部分熔融地幔(10²⁰~10²¹ Pa·s )易于形成近平行于海沟的、 长波长(70~100 km)的、 薄的波状地幔柱; 低黏度(10¹⁸~10¹⁹ Pa·s )的熔融地幔易于形成平行于海沟的, 短波长(30~50 km)的蘑菇状地幔柱和垂直于海沟的山脊状地幔柱。 当部分熔融地幔和周围地幔的密度相差小于50 kg/m³时, 在俯冲板片之上只能形成长波长低幅度(宽50~100 km, 高10~15 km)的地幔山丘。 岩浆产率随着时间的变化反映了火山活动的生命周期性。 板块俯冲速度会影响地幔柱形成的深度和范围大小。 高效率熔融提取会增加新地壳增长总量。 低的板块俯冲速度和低的熔融提取效率会增加上地壳(花岗岩质)和中地壳(英安岩质)化学成分的比例。 数值模拟结果可以很好地解释如日本东北、 新西兰、 南阿拉斯加俯冲区火山的横向分布特征。     

AMS analysis of I in Japanese soil samples collected from background areas far from nuclear facilities

Analytical procedures in the determination of iodine-129 (half-life: 1.6×10⁷ y) have been studied using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), with special references to the separation procedures of iodine from soil samples for the AMS measurement. Iodine was successfully volatilized from soil samples by pyrohydrolysis at 1000 °C and collected in a trap solution. Iodine was purified from the matrix by solvent extraction. Finally, it was precipitated as silver iodide to make a target for AMS. In order to obtain information on the ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratio in a chemical blank (or iodine carrier), we have determined the ratios in several iodine reagents and found that the ratios fell in a narrow range around 1.7×10⁻¹³. The detection limit for soil sample (1 g material) by the present method was about 0.01 mBq/kg or 4×10⁻¹¹ as the ratio of stable iodine (¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratio), i.e. these values were much better than that by neutron activation analysis (NAA) used in our previous studies. We have applied this method in the analysis of soil samples collected from different places in Japan. We could successfully determine ¹²⁹I in soil samples with low ¹²⁹I concentrations, which could not be detected by NAA. Sample size necessary for the soil analysis by AMS was only about 0.5 g or less, whereas about 100 g of the sample were required for NAA [Muramatsu, Y., Ohmomo, Y., 1986. Iodine-129 and iodine-127 in environmental samples collected from Tokaimura/ Ibaraki, Japan. Sci. Total Environ. 48, 33-43]. Using this method, new data were obtained for the ¹²⁹I levels in 20 soil samples collected from background areas far from nuclear facilities, and the ranges were 1.4×10⁻⁵−4.5×10⁻³ Bq/kg as ¹²⁹I concentrations and 3.9×10⁻¹¹−2.2×10⁻⁸ as ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios. These values are useful in understanding the ¹²⁹I levels in Japanese environments. Higher ¹²⁹I concentrations were observed in forest soils than those in field and rice paddy soils should be related to the interception effect of atmospheric ¹²⁹I due to tree canopies. Relatively high ¹²⁹I/¹²⁷I ratios found in rice paddy soils could be explained by their low stable iodine concentrations which were caused by the desorption of stable iodine from the rice paddies during the cultivation.     

Anomalous strontium and lead isotope signatures in the off-rift Öræfajökull central volcano in south-east Iceland: Evidence for enriched endmember(s) of the Iceland mantle plume?

The currently active off-rift central volcano Öræfajökull in south-east Iceland sits unconformably on much older (10–12 Ma) and eroded crust. The composition of recent volcanics ranges from basalt to rhyolite, but the series is more sodic alkaline than the common rift zone tholeiitic suites. In this study we present Sr, Nd, Pb and O isotopic data for a suite of Öræfajökull samples. The complete suite shows typical mantle values for oxygen isotopes. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (average of 15 SAMPLES=0.703702) of the modern Öræfajökull rocks (basalts as well as rhyolites) are much higher than observed so far for any other Icelandic rocks. The ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios (average=0.512947; n=15) are lower than for rift rocks, but similar to rocks of the off-rift Snæfellsnes volcanic zone. Furthermore, the Öræfajökull rocks are enriched in the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb isotope ratios compared to Icelandic rift basalts. The enriched nature of the suite indicates that Öræfajökull samples a source component that has characteristics common with EM2 type mantle. Furthermore, it is concluded that the silicic rocks of Öræfajökull formed by fractional crystallization from mafic melts rather than by partial melting of older crust.     

Refining the noble gas record of the Réunion mantle plume source: Implications on mantle geochemistry

We report isotope analyses of helium, neon, argon, and xenon using different extraction techniques such as stepwise dynamic and static crushing, and high-resolution stepwise heating of three mantle xenoliths from Réunion Island. He and Ne isotopic compositions were similar to previously reported Réunion data, yielding a more radiogenic composition when compared to the Hawaiian or Icelandic mantle plume sources. We furthermore observed correlated ¹²⁹Xe/¹³⁰Xe and ¹³⁶Xe/¹³⁰Xe ratios following the mantle trend with maximum values of 6.93 ± 0.14 and 2.36 ± 0.06, respectively. High-resolution argon analyses resulted in maximum ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 9000–11,000, in agreement with maximum values obtained in previous studies. We observed a well-defined hyperbolic mixing curve between an atmospheric and a mantle component in a diagram of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar vs. ²⁰Ne/²²Ne. Using a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of 12.5 (Ne–B) a consistent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value of 11,053 ± 220 in sample ILR 84-4 was obtained, whereas extrapolations to a higher mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratio of 13.8 (solar wind) would lead to a much higher ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of 75,000, far above observed maximum values. This favours a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of about 12.5 considered to be equivalent to Ne–B. Extrapolated and estimated ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of the Réunion, Iceland, Loihi, and MORB mantle sources, respectively, tend to be linearly correlated with air corrected ²¹Ne/²²Ne and show the same systematic sequence of increasing relative contributions in radiogenic isotopes (Iceland–Loihi–Réunion–MORB) as observed for ⁴He/³He. In general, He–Ne–Ar isotope systematics of the oceanic mantle can be explained by following processes: (i) different degree of mixing between pure radiogenic and pure primordial isotopes generating the MORB and primitive plume (Loihi-type) endmembers; (ii) relatively recent fractionation of He relative to Ne and Ar, in one or both endmembers; (iii) after the primary fractionation event, different degrees of mixing between melts or fluids of MORB and primitive plume affinity generate the variety of observed OIB data, also on a local scale; (iv) very late-stage secondary fractionation during magma ascent and magma degassing leads to further strong variation in He/Ne and He/Ar ratios.     

He diffusion in olivine

Helium diffusion in olivine (dunite xenolith) has been measured in the temperature range 1180–1460°C; a linear Arrhenius function was obtained with an activation energy of 120₋₂₇⁺³² kcal/mole, and a pre-exponential factor (D₀) = 2.2 × 10⁸ cm²/s.

Diffusion mechanisms are not a viable means of degassing He from the mantle. Olivine phenocrysts can be expected to retain previously trapped He, during cooling in extrusive basalts, provided the flow units are thinner than 50 m; xenoliths will retain mantle He signatures only if magma transport times are less than 50 years, or if the He fugacity in the magma is high enough to prevent xenolith degassing. The lower oceanic crust is probably substantially degassed of He. Trapped He will be qualitatively retained in quenched submarine basalt glass only if the cooling rate is faster than 5 × 10¹⁴°C/m.y.; glass at several centimeters depth in a basalt flow (near the spherulite zone) will have cooling rates lower than this, so He loss may be significant in many basalt glass samples.     

Glacial isostatic adjustment in 3-D earth models: Implications for the analysis of tide gauge records along the U.S. east coast

Tide gauge records of recent sea-level change along the U.S. east coast have received significant attention within the literature of glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Geographic trends in these tide gauge rates are not reduced by a GIA correction based on a commonly adopted radial viscosity profile (characterized, in particular, by a lower mantle viscosity 1−2×10²¹ Pa s), and this has led to speculation that the residual trends reflect contributions from neotectonics or oceanographic processes. While the trends can be significantly reduced by adopting an Earth model with a stiffer lower mantle, such a model appears to be incompatible with independent constraints from post-glacial decay times in Hudson Bay. We use a finite-element model of the GIA process to investigate whether 3-D viscosity variations superimposed onto the “common” radial viscosity profile may provide a route to reconciling the east coast sea-level trends. We find that the specific 3-D structure we impose has little impact on the geographic trends in the GIA-corrected rates. However, we do find that the imposed lateral variations in lower mantle viscosity introduce a nearly uniform upward shift of 0.5 mm/yr in GIA-induced sea-level rates along the U.S. east coast. Thus, inferences of regional (U.S. east coast) sea-level rise due to modern melting of ice reservoirs, based on tide gauge rates corrected using 1-D GIA models, may be significantly biased by this simplifying assumption.     

Composition and mass flux of sediment entering the world's subduction zones: Implications for global sediment budgets, great earthquakes, and volcanism

Lithologic data compiled from Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program sites, when combined with orthogonal convergence rates at convergent plate boundaries, permit quantification of the mass flux of sediment into subduction zones. We have made such calculations for each major sediment component — terrigenous grains, calcium carbonate, opal, and water — for twelve trench systems. Results show that 1.4 × 10¹⁵ g/yr of sediment and 0.9 × 10¹⁵ g/yr of water enter the trenches in the oceanic sedimentary layer. Most of the entering sediment, 1.1 × 10¹⁵ g/yr, is terrigenous; the remainder is more carbonate than opal. For most of geologic time an order of magnitude more sediment enters the ocean than leaves it via subduction. The global sedimentary cycle need be in balance only over an entire Wilson cycle. Comparison of sediment fluxes into trenches with the magnitude of large earthquakes and with the composition of bulk volcanic rock shows no correlation.     

瑞利数对热对流的影响——在地幔柱中的应用

本文分别在直角坐标系和柱坐标系下,研究瑞利数从104逐渐增大到107对热对流的影响,数值计算结果表明:瑞利数越大,地幔柱越窄,地幔柱上升速度也越快;源自上地幔的地幔柱半径的范围为9到210 km.根据峨眉山内带的半径推算出地幔的黏性系数约为3.8×1021Pa·s,地幔柱平均流动速度为2.5 cm/a.     

大陆造山带岩石圈拆沉过程的数值模拟

岩石圈拆沉作用是指部分岩石圈由于重力不稳定性而沉入软流圈中的过程,与造山带的演化密切相关.本文基于非牛顿流体近似的有效黏度模型对岩石圈拆沉的过程进行了数值模拟,着重分析了岩石圈的黏度结构对拆沉作用的影响.数值模拟显示,下地壳控制着地壳与岩石圈地幔的耦合程度,对拆沉作用的过程和形态有很大的影响;在一定的初始重力不稳定性条...     

Self-diffusion in liquid Fe at high pressure

The self-diffusivity of liquid iron has been measured between 2 and 20 GPa and 1883 and 2393 K. There is a large pressure dependence across the pressure range studied and simple Arrhenius extrapolation to outer core conditions yields unrealistically low diffusivities. The large pressure and temperature range covered, however, allows different a priori diffusion models to be tested using the experimental results. The free volume model [J. Chem. Phys. 31 (1959) 1164] is found to be in excellent agreement with the experimental data and provides a basis for extrapolation of the results to outer core conditions. An extrapolation to core–mantle boundary (CMB) pressure at 4300 K yields a self-diffusivity for liquid iron of 2.5×10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹, which corresponds to a viscosity of 11 mPa s, in reasonable agreement with previous, theoretical, estimates.     

U,U andTh in seawater

We have developed techniques to determine²³⁸U,²³⁴U and²³²Th concentrations in seawater by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. U measurements are made using a²³³U²³⁶U double spike to correct for instrumental fractionation. Measurements on uranium standards demonstrate that²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratios can be measured accurately and reproducibly.²³⁴U/²³⁸U can be measured routinely to ± 5‰ (2σ) for a sample of 5 × 10⁹ atoms of²³⁴U (3 × 10⁻⁸ g of total U, 10 ml of seawater). Data acquisition time is 1 hour. The small sample size, high precision and short data acquisition time are superior to-counting techniques.²³⁸U is measured to ± 2‰ (2σ) for a sample of 8 × 10¹² atoms of²³⁸U ( 3 × 10⁻⁹ g of U, 1 ml of seawater).²³²Th is measured to ± 20‰ with 3 × 10¹¹²³²Th atoms (10⁻¹⁰ g²³²Th, 1 1 of seawater). This small sample size will greatly facilitate investigation of the²³²Th concentration in the oceans. Using these techniques, we have measured²³⁸U,²³⁴U and²³²Th in vertical profiles of unfiltered, acidified seawater from the Atlantic and²³⁸U and²³⁴U in vertical profiles from the Pacific. Determinations of²³⁴U/²³⁸U at depths ranging from 0 to 4900 m in the Atlantic (7°44′N, 40°43′W) and the Pacific (14°41′N, 160°01′W) Oceans are the same within experimental error (± 5‰,2σ). The average of these²³⁴U/²³⁸U measurements is 144 ± 2‰ (2σ) higher than the equilibrium ratio of 5.472 × 10⁻⁵. U concentrations, normalized to 35‰ salinity, range from 3.162 to 3.281 ng/g, a range of 3.8%. The average concentration of the Pacific samples (31°4′N, 159°1′W) is 1% higher than that of the Atlantic (7°44′N, 40°43′W and 31°49′N, 64°6′W).²³²Th concentrations from an Atlantic profile range from 0.092 to 0.145 pg/g. The observed constancy of the²³⁴U/²³⁸U ratio is consistent with the predicted range of²³⁴U/²³⁸U using a simple two-☐ model and the residence time of deep water in the ocean determined from¹⁴C. The variation in salinity-normalized U concentrations suggests that U may be much more reactive in the marine environment than previously thought.     

Martian mantle mineralogy investigated by the Lu–Hf and Sm–Nd systematics of shergottites

Chemical heterogeneities in the Martian mantle are believed to result from the crystallization of a magma ocean in the first 100 million years of its history. Shergottite meteorites from Mars are thought to retain a compositional record of such early differentiation and the resulting mineralogy at different depths. The coupled ¹⁷⁶Lu–¹⁷⁶Hf and ¹⁴⁷Sm–¹⁴³Nd isotope systematics in 9 shergottites are used here to investigate these issues. Three compositional groups in the shergottites display distinct isotope systematics. One group, commonly termed as depleted, is characterized by positive ¹⁷⁶Hf_i from + 46.2 to + 50.4 and ¹⁴³Nd_i from + 36.2 to + 39.1. Another, termed as enriched, has negative ¹⁷⁶Hf_i = − 16.5 to − 13.2 and ¹⁴³Nd_i = − 7.0 to − 6.5. The third group is intermediate between the depleted and enriched groups with positive ¹⁷⁶Hf_i = + 30.0 to + 33.4 and ¹⁴³Nd_i = + 16.9. Together, they describe mixing curves between ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf, ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd, Lu/Hf, and Sm/Nd, implying that they sample two distinct sources in the Martian mantle. All shergottites are characterized by (Sm/Nd)_source < (Sm/Nd)_sample, but (Lu/Hf)_source > (Lu/Hf)_sample. This decoupling can be explained by two successive partial melting episodes in the depleted shergottite source and localized in the Martian upper mantle. The genesis of shergottites can be modeled using non-modal equilibrium partial melting in a source initially composed of 60% olivine, 21% clinopyroxene, 9% orthopyroxene, and 10% garnet, with degrees of partial melting of 8.8% and 3.9%, respectively, for the two successive events. The enriched end-member of the shergottite mixing curve is best modeled by late-stage quenched residual melt resulting from the crystallization of a magma ocean. The depleted shergottite source may be modeled as a mixture of cumulates and residual melt, as convection in the Martian magma ocean is expected to reduce the incompatible trace element heterogeneity in the final solidified layers. Consequently, equilibrium crystallization is preferred to model the crystallization of the Martian magma ocean. The models that best explain the shergottite data are those where the magma ocean is at a depth of at least 1350 km in Mars.     

青藏高原下地壳流动方式的数值模拟研究

青藏高原存在柔性下地壳流动被越来越多的学者接受, 但是关于下地壳流动方式及速度存在争议。 地表运动有GPS等直接测量, 上地幔运动有S波分裂间接反映, 下地壳运动目前没有直接观测手段, 使得开展数值分析非常重要。 本文利用三维球壳黏弹性有限元模型研究了青藏高原下地壳柔性流动方式和流动速度。 本文通过对地表GPS观测资料的拟合与不同数值模型的对比分析, 认为青藏高原柔性下地壳东向流动遇到四川盆地的抵阻, 下地壳物质可能仅在高原东南方向存在物质外溢通道, 而在高原东北方向不存在类似的物质通道; 下地壳的流动速度比地表运动速率每年快几毫米至十几毫米, 对应的黏滞系数为10¹⁸~10¹⁹ Pa·s。     

Transitions in thermal convection with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity in a wide box

Numerical models are systematically presented for time-dependent thermal convection of Newtonian fluid with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity in a two-dimensional rectangular box of aspect ratio 3 at various values of the Rayleigh number Ra_b defined with viscosity at the bottom boundary up to 1.6×10⁸ and the viscosity contrast across the box r_η up to 10⁸. We found that there are two different series of bifurcations that take place as r_η increases. One series of bifurcations causes changes in the behavior of the thermal boundary layer along the surface boundary from small-viscosity-contrast (SVC) mode, through transitional (TR) mode, to stagnant-lid (ST) mode, or from SVC mode directly to ST mode, depending on Ra_b. Another series of bifurcations causes changes in the aspect ratio of convection cells; convection with an elongated cell can take place at moderate r_η (10³–10^5.5 at Ra_b=6×10⁶), while only convection of aspect ratio close to 1 takes place at small r_η and large r_η. The parameter range of r_η and Ra_b for elongated-cell convection overlaps the parameter range for SVC and ST modes and include the entire parameter range for TR mode. In the elongated-ST regime, the lid of highly viscous fluid along the top boundary is not literally ‘stagnant’ but can horizontally move at a velocity high enough to induce a convection cell with aspect ratio much larger than 1.     

利用震后黏弹性位错理论研究苏门答腊地震(M_w9.3)的震后重力变化

本文利用2003—2011年的GRACE RL05数据提取了苏门答腊地震(Mw9.3)引起的震后重力变化,发现断层两侧震后重力变化速率存在明显差异,断层下盘总体变化率为0.55μGal/yr,断层上盘为0.16μGal/yr.基于子断层叠加的编程思想,本文将Tanaka的黏弹球体位错理论配套计算程序(简称黏弹位错程序)加以改造,克服了其近场计算精度不足(甚至错误)的缺陷,可用来研究大地震引起的近场震后位移与重力变化.本文利用改造后的黏弹位错程序计算了2004年苏门答腊地震(Mw9.3)产生的同震重力变化,计算结果在空间分布和量级上均与利用弹性位错程序计算获得的结果一致,验证了我们对黏弹位错程序进行改造的正确性.最后,结合GRACE卫星观测数据,本文利用Tanaka的黏弹位错理论研究了苏门答腊地区的地幔黏性因子.结果表明,该地区地幔黏滞性具有显著的横向差异,当发震断层上下两盘的地幔黏滞性系数分别取8×1018 Pa·s和1×1018 Pa·s时,模拟的震后重力变化在总体空间分布和变化趋势上与GRACE卫星观测结果更接近.     

Iodine-129 concentrations in marginal seas of the north Pacific and Pacific-influenced waters of the Arctic Ocean

Water sampling during the 1993 IV Russian–US Joint Expedition to the Bering and Chukchi Seas (BERPAC) indicates that Pacific Ocean burdens of the long-lived radionuclide ¹²⁹I are relatively low in the Pacific-influenced Arctic, particularly compared to high latitude waters influenced by the North Atlantic. These low concentrations occur despite the presence of potential submerged anthropogenic sources in the East Sea (Sea of Japan), and in the northwest Pacific Ocean, east of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The concentration of ¹²⁹I entering the Arctic Ocean through Bering Strait, 0.7×10⁸ atoms kg⁻¹, is only slightly higher than observed in deep Pacific waters. Similar concentrations (0.44–0.76×10⁸ atoms kg⁻¹) measured in Long Strait indicate no significant transfer of ¹²⁹I eastward into the Chukchi Sea in the Siberian Coastal Current from the Siberian marginal seas to the west. However, the concentrations reported here are more than an order of magnitude higher than the Bering Strait input concentration estimated (1.0×10⁶ atoms kg⁻¹) from bomb fallout mass balances, which supports other existing evidence for a significant atmospheric deposition term for this radionuclide in surface ocean waters. Near-bottom water samples collected in productive waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas also suggest that sediment regeneration may locally elevate ¹²⁹I concentrations, and impact its utility as a water mass tracer. As part of this study, two deep ¹²⁹I profiles were also measured in the East Sea in 1993–1994. The near-surface concentration of ¹²⁹I ranged from 0.12 to 0.31×10⁸ atoms kg⁻¹. The ¹²⁹I concentration showed a steady decrease with depth, although because of active deep water ventilation, the entire 3000 m water column exceeded natural concentrations of the radionuclide. Atom ratios of ¹²⁹I/¹³⁷Cs in the East Sea also suggest an excess of ¹²⁹I above bomb fallout estimates, also possibly resulting from atmospheric deposition ultimately originating from nuclear facilities.     

MANTLE VISCOSITY, GLACIAL ISOSTATIC ADJUSTMENT AND THE EUSTATIC LEVEL OF THE SEA

Tide gauge recordings of the secular variation of relative sea level are known to be strongly influenced by the ongoing global process of glacial isostatic adjustment. The east coast of the North American continent is heavily instrumented with tide gauge installations, many of which have been carefully maintained for over 50 years. Since this region traverses the collapsing forebulge of the Laurentide ice sheet and since the process of collapse is extremely well constrained on the basis of radio-carbon dated relative sea level histories from a dense set of locations, the region is globally unique in enabling an accurate decontamination of the tide gauge data using the 14C records themselves. It is shown herein that the decontaminated data define a residual signal which varies only slightly along the coast and which consists of an average rate of sea level rise near 2 mm yr-1.The relative sea level histories from sites along this coast also provide an excellent basis for testing theoretical models of the global glacial isostatic adjustment process that must be employed to decontaminate the tide gauge records at sites for which 14C records are unavailable. It is demonstrated that a mantle viscosity profile determined by the formal inversion of 14C controlled relative sea level histories from sites within the margins of the northern hemisphere ice sheets that existed at last glacial maximum enables a gravitationally and topographically self-consistent global model of glacial isostatic adjustment to accurately reconcile east coast rsl data. No viscosity structure has previously been derived that was successful in this regard. The global model based on this structure is therefore expected to provide an excellent basis for the removal of glacial isostatic adjustment effects from tide gauge recordings. The viscosity structure itself is also extremely close to models of the radial variation that have previously been shown to fit the requirements of non-hydrostatic geoid anomalies. This has important geodynamic implications concerning mantle rheology as it would appear to establish that transient and therefore non-linear creep mechanisms are not involved, since short timescale and long timescale viscosities are the same.