The seismic anomaly beneath Iceland extends down to the mantle transition zone and no deeper

A 3-D teleseismic tomography image of the upper mantle beneath Iceland of unprecedented resolution reveals a subvertical low wave speed anomaly that is cylindrical in the upper 250 km but tabular below this. Such a morphological transition is expected towards the bottom of a buoyant upwelling. Our observations thus suggest that magmatism at the Iceland hotspot is fed by flow rising from the mantle transition zone. This result contributes to the ongoing debate about whether the upper and lower mantles convect separately or as one. The image also suggests that material flows outwards from Iceland along the Reykjanes Ridge in the upper 200 km, but is blocked in the upper 150 km beneath the Tjornes Fracture Zone. This provides direct observational support for the theory that fracture zones dam lateral flow along ridges.     

Anomalous seismic crustal structure of oceanic fracture zones

Summary. The seismic structure of crust found within fracture zones falls outside the range of velocity structures observed for normal oceanic crust in the North Atlantic. The crust in fracture zones is frequently very thin and is characterized by low crustal velocities and by the conspicuous absence of a refractor with a velocity typical of oceanic layer 3. Anomalous crust is present in both large- and small-offset fracture zones. Since they are among the most common tectonic features in the ocean basins, and are particularly closely spaced on slow-spreading ridges, fracture zones represent a major source of seismic crustal heterogeneity. We interpret the anomalous crust as a thin, intensely fractured, faulted and hydrothermally altered basaltic and gabbroic section overlying ultramafics that, in places, are extensively serpentinized. The unusually thin crust found within fracture zones and the gradual crustal thinning over a distance of several tens of kilometres on either side of the fracture zones can be explained by two main processes; firstly the cold lithosphere edge opposite the spreading centre at the ridgetransform intersection modifies the normal intrusive and extrusive processes of the spreading centre leading to the accretion of an anomalous and thin igneous section; and secondly each spreading ridge segment is fed from a separate subcrustal magma supply point, so as the magma flows laterally down the spreading centre it generates a crustal section of decreasing thickness, culminating in the very thin crust of the fracture zones at either end of the ridge segment.     

Reflected-diffracted waves in fracture zone models

Summary. The paper presents the results of modelling of diffracted and reflected-diffracted waves in fracture zones. The Berryhill method was used and the calculations were made for a profile perpendicular to the diffracting edge. Several homogeneous models of the Earth's crust, characterized by different values of crustal thickness, velocity and horizontal distance between shot point and diffracting edge were considered. A dependence of the relative amplitude of diffracted waves on the location of the diffracting edge is given. The pattern of the seismic wavefield depends upon the dimensions of the fracture zone. Amplitude curves of reflected-diffracted waves are presented for a series of models of fracture zones. The possibility of applying the amplitudes of reflected-diffracted wave trains to the interpretation of the structure of fracture zones in the Earth's crust is andysed for different types of fracture zones.     

Orthogonal intersections of megatrends in the Western Pacific ocean basin: a case study of the Mid-Pacific mountains

Present-day tectonic concepts of events on the western paleo-Pacific lithosphere must be assessed relative to new data. Data collected by the newer techniques of geophysical surveying reveal leaky fracture zones, trending NNW–SSE and WSW–ENE; non-sequential in-line ages on most seamount chains; and orthogonal intersections of fracture zones. The fracture zones meander, braid, merge, splay, start and stop at any place, and are generally aligned with, or contain, linear chains of seamount. The combination of these in-line features is called megatrends. When the GEOSAT data are compared to the available bathymetry, this seemingly jumbled tectonic structure is verified. As the pole of rotation changes, the stress field changes alignment to agree with the Chandler wobble of Earth. Younger megatrends, propagating ever eastward, cross the older, already imprinted megatrends. During the Cretaceous, the voluminous outpouring of igneous rock created the large Pacific plateaus and rises where the megatrends, active and inactive, orthogonally intersected. The magma floods at the intersections flowed outwardly, and the outward flooding accounts for the fanning magnetic lineations around the Manihiki, Magellan, Shatskiy, and Hess rises. A case study of the Mid-Pacific Mountains (MPM), lying in the north-central Pacific Ocean basin, shows that the MPM formed about 125–110-Ma by overprinting the orthogonal intersections of fracture zones at the Molokai and Easter/Krusenstern–Emperor megatrends and the Murray and Tubai/Mamua megatrends. The MPM have been undergoing distortion into a vortex structure, a feature which has been confirmed by updated bathymetry, GEOSAT altimetry data, and drillsite information.     

Identifying Groundwater Potential in Crystalline Basement Rocks Using Remote Sensing and Electromagnetic Sounding Techniques in Central Western Mozambique

Exploring for groundwater in crystalline rocks in semiarid areas is a challenge because of their complex hydrogeology and low potential yields. An integrated approach was applied in central western Mozambique, in an area covered by Precambrian crystalline basement rocks. The approach combined a digital elevation model (DEM), remote sensing, and a ground-based geophysical survey. The aim was to identify groundwater zones with high potential and to identify geological structures controlling that potential. Lineaments were extracted from the DEM that had been enhanced using an adaptive-tilt, multi-directional, shading technique and a non-filtering technique to characterize the regional fracture system. The shallowness and amount of stored groundwater in the fracture zones was assessed using vegetation indices derived from Landsat 8 OLI images. Then, 14 transient electromagnetic (TEM) survey profiles were taken in different geological settings across continuous lineaments that were considered to be aligned along inferred faults. In the central lineament zones, the TEM soundings gave resistivity values of less than 300 Ωm at a depth of 20–80 m. The values varied with location. Conversely, values greater than 400 Ωm were observed at the sites away from the central zones. This contrast is probably caused by the differences in permeability and degree of weathering along the fractured zones. These differences could be key factors in determining groundwater occurrence. By integrating five water-related factors (lineament density, slope, geology, vegetation index, and proximity to lineaments), high groundwater potential zones were located in the vicinity of the lineaments. In these zones, vegetation remains active regardless of the season.     

Coastal morphodynamics and Chenier-Plain evolution in southwestern Louisiana, USA: A geomorphic model

Using 28 topographic profiles, air-photo interpretation, and historical shoreline-change data, coastal processes were evaluated along the Chenier Plain to explain the occurrence, distribution, and geomorphic hierarchy of primary landforms, and existing hypotheses regarding Chenier-Plain evolution were reconsidered. The Chenier Plain of SW Louisiana, classified as a low-profile, microtidal, storm-dominated coast, is located west and downdrift of the Mississippi River deltaic plain. This Late-Holocene, marginal-deltaic environment is 200 km long and up to 30 km wide, and is composed primarily of mud deposits capped by marsh interspersed with thin sand- and shell-rich ridges (“cheniers”) that have elevations of up to 4 m.In this study, the term “ridge” is used as a morphologic term for a narrow, linear or curvilinear topographic high that consists of sand and shelly material accumulated by waves and other physical coastal processes. Thus, most ridges in the Chenier Plain represent relict open-Gulf shorelines. On the basis of past movement trends of individual shorelines, ridges may be further classified as transgressive, regressive, or laterally accreted. Geomorphic zones that contain two or more regressive, transgressive, or laterally accreted ridges are termed complexes. Consequently, we further refine the Chenier-Plain definition by Otvos and Price [Otvos, E.G. and Price, W.A., 1979. Problems of chenier genesis and terminology—an overview. Marine Geology, 31: 251–263] and define Chenier Plain as containing at least two or more chenier complexes. Based on these definitions, a geomorphic hierarchy of landforms was refined relative to dominant process for the Louisiana Chenier Plain. The Chenier Plain is defined as a first-order feature (5000 km²) composed of three second-order features (30 to 300 km²): chenier complex, beach-ridge complex, and spit complex. Individual ridges of each complex type were further separated into third-order features: chenier, beach ridge, and spit.To understand the long-term evolution of a coastal depositional system, primary process–response mechanisms and patterns found along the modern Chenier-Plain coast were first identified, especially tidal-inlet processes associated with the Sabine, Calcasieu, and Mermentau Rivers. Tidal prism (Ω) and quantity of littoral transport (M_total) are the most important factors controlling inlet stability. Greater discharge and/or tidal prism increase the ability of river and estuarine systems to interrupt longshore sediment transport, maintain and naturally stabilize tidal entrances, and promote updrift deposition. Thus, prior to human modification and stabilization efforts, the Mermentau River entrance would be classified as wave-dominated, Sabine Pass as tide-dominated, and Calcasieu Pass as tide-dominated to occasionally mixed.Hoyt [Hoyt, J.H., 1969. Chenier versus barrier, genetic and stratigraphic distinction. Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., 53: 299–306] presented the first detailed depositional model for chenier genesis and mudflat progradation, which he attributed to changes in Mississippi River flow direction (i.e., delta switching) caused by upstream channel avulsion. However, Hoyt's model oversimplifies Chenier-Plain evolution because it omits ridges created by other means. Thus, the geologic evolution of the Chenier Plain is more complicated than channel avulsions of the Mississippi River, and it involved not only chenier ridges (i.e., transgressive), but also ridges that are genetically tied to regression (beach ridges) and lateral accretion (recurved spits).A six-stage geomorphic process-response model was developed to describe Chenier-Plain evolution primarily as a function of: (i) the balance between sediment supply and energy dissipation associated with Mississippi River channel avulsions, (ii) local sediment reworking and lateral transport, (iii) tidal-entrance dynamics, and (iv) possibly higher-than-present stands of Holocene sea level. Consequently, the geneses of three different ridge types (transgressive, regressive, and laterally accreted) typically occur contemporaneously along the same shoreline at different locations.     

Multi-scale Numerical Simulation and 3D Modeling for Deep Mineral Exploration in the Jiaojia Gold District,China

In this study, deposit- and district-scale three-dimensional (3D) fault-and-intrusion structure models were constructed, based on which a numerical simulation was implemented in the Jiaojia gold district, China. The numerical simulation of the models shows the basic metallogenic path and trap of the gold deposits using mineral system theory. The objective of this study was to delineate the uncertainty of the geometry or buffer zones of the ore-forming and ore-controlling fault-and-intrusion domains in 3D environment representing the exploration criteria extraction and the gold potential targeting in the study area. The fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in three dimensions was used as the platform to define the stress deformation fracture ore storage and the hydrothermal seepage channel zone based on the gold deposit features and metallogenic model in the study area. The validity of the numerical simulation was verified by comparing it with robust 3D geological models of the large Xincheng gold deposit. The potential targeting zones are analyzed for uncertainty and then evaluated by Boolean operation in a 3D geological model using the computer-aided design platform. The research results are summarized as follows. (1) In the pre-mineralization period, the Jiaodong fault’s left lateral movement created the Jiaojia network faults and formed a fracture zone with NW- to NNW-trending dips of 20° to 40°. (2) During the mineralization period, hydrothermal flow was associated with the intrusion geometry and features. However, it was constrained by the Jiaojia fault, which blocked the vadose flow into the upper wall rock and made the hydrothermal route close to the fault in the footwall fracture zones. (3) Three gold potential targets were identified by the numerical simulation results in the study area: the NW-trending Sizhuang gold deposit, the NW-trending zone of Jiaojia gold deposit, and the NE-trending zone of the Xincheng gold deposit. (4) The numerical simulation results show the fault-and-intrusion metallogenic domain and the hydrothermal alteration zones, which reflect the main ore-controlling and ore-forming factors of mineralization. The information obtained through the numerical simulation discussed here can be used to define exploration criteria in the study area.

     

Glacially Folded Outwash Near Lago Llanquihue, Southern Lake District, Chile

Folded outwash occurs in four distinct clusters in an arcuate arrangement just west of the terminal Llanquihue moraines deposited by the Lago Llanquihue piedmont ice lobe at the last glacial maximum. These clusters are physically connected along the eastern side to the Llanquihue terminal moraines, and along the western side to the Llanquihue outwash plain. Each cluster consists of three to eleven elongated ridges. The maximum height of individual ridges varies from cluster to cluster beween 18 and 28 m; the maximum length of individual ridges is between 93 and 1074 m. The average orientation of the ridges ranges over a 60° sector relative to former ice-flow direction. The folded out-wash sediments are cut by two distinct internal fault systems with only a faint surface expression below the Holocene top soil.
The folded outwash ridges are interpreted as a push moraine system produced by the same mechanical forces that act in a critically tapered wedge. The folded sediment is a sandy gravel with an angle of friction on the order of φ = 40°. Interpretations of structural data and of mechanical comparisons point to a basal thrust plane in a sand unit with φ between 24° and 30° and with a pore water pressure index of l = 0.7.
It is very unlikely that the observed and analyzed features wereformed under permafrost conditions.     

斜坡破坏过程的断裂力学分析

本文运用断裂力学的原理和方法,分析了斜坡破坏过程中后缘开裂、滑动面的形成和结构面连通的机理,以及破坏中所遵循的轨迹。通过模拟实验、数值分析和应用,证明断裂力学方法是一种分析斜坡破坏机理的有效方法。     

From Micro to Meso: an exercise in determining hydraulic conductivity of fractured sandstone cores from detailed characterization of the fractures

Hydraulic conductivities of fractured sandstone bore cores of 0.1 m in diameter are calculated using detailed characterization of the fracture geometry parameters determined using a resin casting technique. The accuracy of the measurements was about  0.25–1.25 μm  with the image size used. The values of the effective fracture apertures vary between 10 μm and 50 μm. For modelling purposes the samples are sectioned serially, perpendicular to the flow direction along the cylinder axis. The hydraulic conductivity of individual slices is estimated by summing the contribution of the matrix (assumed uniform) and each fracture (depending on its length and aperture). Finally, the hydraulic conductivity of the bulk sample is estimated by a harmonic average in series along the flow path. Results of this geometrical upscaling compare favourably with actual conductivity measured in hydraulic and pneumatic experiments carried out prior to sectioning. This study shows that the determination of larger-scale conductivity can be achieved, based on the evaluation of fracture geometry parameters (e.g. fracture aperture, fracture width and fracture length), measured using an optical method, at least at the laboratory scale.     

Spatio-temporal Rainfall Distribution and Markov Chain Analogue Year Stochastic Daily Rainfall Model in Ethiopia

This paper aims at the spatiotemporal distribution of rainfall in Ethiopia and developing stochastic daily rainfall model. Particularly, in this study, we used a Markov Chain Analogue Year (MCAY) model that is, Markov Chain with Analogue year (AY) component is used to model the occurrence process of daily rainfall and the intensity or amount of rainfall on wet days is described using Weibull, Log normal, mixed exponential and Gamma distributions. The MCAY model best describes the occurrence process of daily rainfall, this is due to the AY component included in the MC to model the frequency of daily rainfall. Then, by combining the occurrence process model and amount process model, we developed Markov Chain Analogue Year Weibull model (MCAYWBM), Markov Chain Analogue Year Log normal model (MCAYLNM), Markov Chain Analogue Year mixed exponential model (MCAYMEM) and Markov Chain Analogue Year gamma model (MCAYGM). The performance of the models is assessed by taking daily rainfall data from 21 weather stations (ranging from 1 January 1984-31 December 2018). The data is obtained from Ethiopia National Meteorology Agency (ENMA). The result shows that MCAYWBM, MCAYMEM and MCAYGM performs very well in the simulation of daily rainfall process in Ethiopia and their performances are nearly the same with a slight difference between them compared to MCAYLNM. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) in the four models: MCAYGM, MCAYWBM, MAYMEM and MCAYLNM are 2.16%, 2.27%, 2.25% and 11.41% respectively. Hence, MCAYGM, MCAYWBM, MAYMEM models have shown an excellent performance compared to MCAYLNM. In general, the light tailed distributions: Weibull, gamma and mixed exponential distributions are appropriate probability distributions to model the intensity of daily rainfall in Ethiopia especially, when these distributions are combined with MCAYM.     

天山北麓河流阶地序列及形成年代

天山北麓河流阶地序列及其年代一直是悬而未决的问题。根据详细的野外工作, 确定天山北麓发育7 级河流阶地, 其中T₇、T₆、T₅ 及T₂ 等主要阶地为河流切割先期冲积扇而形 成, 与4 级阶地对应的4 期冲积扇分别为F₁、F₂、F₃ 与F₄。由于天山北麓构造隆升向盆地方 向迁移, 冲积扇呈串珠状发育, 背斜带间发育的冲积扇平面形态则由于南北背斜的限制而变 得不规则。基于黄土-古土壤序列对比分析、ESR 与OSL 测年以及前人研究成果, 确定天山 北麓河流下切形成T₇、T₆、T₅ 及T₂ 等阶地的时间分别为约0.54 Ma BP、0.3~0.2 Ma BP、 28~8 ka BP 和全新世早期。阶地年代表明, 天山北麓3 级主要阶地T₇、T₆、T₅ 及对应冲积扇 发育与天山更新世3 个冰期间冰期旋回基本对应。     

崩滑土体坡面运动过程研究现状与展望

崩滑土体坡面运动包括刚性块体整体滑动、崩滑泥流、崩滑破碎3种形态;根据粗颗粒间介质差异,崩滑破碎运动可分为无粘碎屑崩滑运动、粘性碎屑崩滑运动;根据运动过程不同形态,将崩滑破碎运动分为崩滑破碎、粗颗粒与泥浆混合运动、泥石流3个阶段。概述崩滑土体坡面运动过程调查实验研究现状;分析块体滑动摩擦理论、流体理论、散粒体理论在崩滑土体坡面运动过程应用情况,指出块体滑动摩擦理论、流体理论在描述崩滑破碎运动过程的不足;分析崩滑破碎后,间隙介质对粗颗粒运动的影响,指出目前散粒体理论描述崩滑土体坡面运动过程的不足,提出通过设定颗粒间的细观力学参数来再现崩滑土体复杂破碎运动过程的思路和重点研究的内容,为下一步研究提供依据。     

江苏近海辐射状沙脊地貌的发育

本文阐述江苏近海辐射状沙脊的分布和形态特征,划分了沙脊和潮谷的地貌类型,讨论了沙脊地貌的发育规律。     

新月形沙丘维持相对稳定的两种过程

新月形沙丘顶部稳定性是风沙地貌学尚未解决的科学问题。研究新月形沙丘的顶部稳定性,对于绿洲边缘风沙运动规律揭示、防沙工程建设和沙区生态环境保护等具有重要的现实意义。选择民勤沙区新月形沙丘,通过测定沙丘各部位风速、风蚀风积和粒度等,分析了新月形沙丘顶部稳定机理。主风向（NW）作用是新月形沙丘最高点与沙脊线重合、沙丘前移和高度降低的过程;反向风（SE）作用是沙丘最高点与沙脊线分离、沙丘背风坡风蚀与沙丘增高的过程。由于研究区以NW风为主,新月形沙丘沿NW-SE方向前移,SE风只能风蚀减缓沙丘背风坡的坡度。人为干预将会阻止或减少从迎风坡向沙丘顶部输送沙量,使得新月形沙丘背风坡尤其是背风坡上部风蚀过程增强,新月形沙丘逐渐过渡为抛物线形沙丘。     

基于引力模型的安徽城市空间格局研究

依据引力模型的原理,构建新型引力和断裂点公式,通过安徽省17个城市间引力值和断裂点距离的计算和分析,研究安徽省城市的空间格局,得出结论:安徽省内区域性城市群初步形成,合肥市已经成为区域中心城市,城市间锁定效应和屏蔽效应显现,城市发展偏心化以及城市分布东紧西松加剧。提出应建立一个以中心城市为主的城市空间格局,依托中心城市,实行联动发展,注重城市交通基础设施建设,强调政府在城市空间布局中的主导作用。     

The hypocentral resolution of microearthquake surveys carried out at sea

Summary. The ability to locate the hypocentres of earthquakes occurring along ridge crests and fracture zones accurately is a prerequisite to solving several problems associated with seafloor tectonics and oceanic crustal formation. Such resolution has rarely been achieved in the past, often because the seismic networks deployed were inadequate for the task. We demonstrate that sea surface receivers are not useful in such studies, and that the minimum acceptable size for a seafloor network is five receivers, of which at least one must be capable of detecting shear waves unambiguously.     

Spatial distribution of surface conditions and runoff generation in small arid watersheds, Zin Valley Badlands, Israel

High rill density may be regarded as indicative of frequent and integrated runoff along a drainage network. However, field observations of soil development and rill geometry in small, first-order catchments (0.1 to 1 ha) of the Zin Valley Badlands, northern Negev, Israel, suggest a pattern of partial area contribution and frequent flow discontinuities along hillslopes and channels. Changing soil properties, associated with an increase of slope angle and slope length, appear to be responsible for high infiltration on the slopes, leading to nonuniform runoff generation within small drainage basins. Runoff observation, sprinkling tests, and soil analysis along ridges and sideslopes were carried out to test this hypothesis. The results confirmed that infiltration capacity on the sideslopes is significantly higher than on the ridges. Under current rainfall conditions, only extreme rainfall intensities are sufficient to generate runoff along entire slopes. The discontinuous nature of most runoff events causes erosion on ridges and deposition on slopes, which enhances soil development on the valley sideslopes, creating a positive feedback on infiltration rate and depth. This demonstrates that the links between within-storm rainfall conditions and spatial distribution of soil characteristics have to be incorporated into our understanding of landscape development in badlands.     

LUTI模型的概念结构、实现方法及发展趋势

回顾了LUTI模型概念、起源和发展过程,对模型的一般架构和实现技术方法进行了系统的总结分析,在此基础上讨论了LUTI模型发展所面临的问题与挑战。研究发现,作为模拟城市空间发展过程常用的数学模型,LUTI模型是基于城市土地利用-交通相互作用规律,从社会经济活动空间分布的角度模拟城市空间演化过程。根据LUTI模型,城市空间演化过程是土地利用系统和交通系统不断的相互作用过程,其中交通模型根据城市活动空间分布及交通设施评价城市交通状况,而土地利用模型根据交通可达性和其他影响因素预测城市空间发展趋势;城市发展过程中城市活动空间分布在交通的作用下发生改变后,将改变城市房租、交通状况等因素,进而再次导致城市活动空间分布随之变化,如此不断相互作用、趋于平衡。LUTI在国外被广泛用于城市空间政策检验、辅助决策。就LUTI模型的发展而言,已有研究更多地侧重要解决的现实问题,而对模型的理论结构关注较少,导致模型的发展滞后于城市的发展。应用中面临的诸多问题要求LUTI模型理论上的进一步突破。将LUTI的工作原理植入城市研究的背景中,旨在让读者对LUTI模型原理、结构、实现技术及面临的问题有深入了解,推进LUTI模型在中国应用与发展。     

丹霞地貌的坡地形态演化——以浙江新昌丹霞地貌为例

在对新昌丹霞地貌进行调查、研究并对国内外的坡地研究回顾的基础上,对丹霞地貌的坡地形态、组成和演化方式及成因进行分析.丹霞地貌坡地在形态和演化方式上的特点比较符合King的坡地理论,在形态组成上可以分为凸形面、自由面、搬运坡和凹形面4部分,在演化上以平行后退和坡地替代两种方式为主.丹霞坡地的类型根据发育阶段可分为幼年期陡壁形态、中年期King型完整King模式形态及老年期丘陵坡地形态.丹霞坡地地貌演化的过程是自由面逐渐后退、缩小的过程,丹霞坡地在坡地退行速度上远小于其他现代坡地.