Tidal gravity and ocean tide loading in Europe

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The results are presented from tidal gravity measurements at five sites in Europe using LaCoste and Romberg ET gravimeters. Improvements that we have made to the accuracies of these gravimeters are discussed. It is shown that the 'standard' calibration of the International Center for Earth Tides, used for worldwide tidal gravity profiles, is 1.2 per cent too high. The M₂ and O₁ observations are compared with model calculations of the Earth's body tide and ocean tide loading and it is shown that there is a very significant improvement in the agreement between observations and models compared to that obtained with previous tidal gravity measurements. For O₁, where the ocean tide loading and attraction in central Europe is only 0.4 per cent of the body tide, our measurements verify that the Dehant-Wahr anelastic body tide model gravimetric factor is accurate to 0.2 per cent. It is also shown that the effects of lateral heterogeneities in Earth structure on tidal gravity are too small to explain the large anomalies in previously published tidal gravity amplitudes. The observations clearly show the importance of conserving tidal mass in the Schwiderski ocean tide model. For sites in central Europe, the M₂ and O₁ observations and the models are in agreement at the 0.1 μgal (10⁻⁹ m s⁻²) level and tidal corrections to this accuracy can now be made to absolute gravity measurements.     

The bodily tide and the yielding of the Earth due to tidal loading

Summary. The theory of the bodily tide and of the yielding of the Earth to tidal loading is re-examined, with the purpose of checking the standard formula for the gravity tide which is used in the interpretation of tidal gravity measurements. Some remarks are made concerning the Green's function occurring in the theory of the gravity tide.     

Tidal tilt at Llanrwst, North Wales: tidal loading and Earth structure

Summary. Tidal tilt measurements in a disused lead mine at Llanrwst, North Wales, are used to examine the magnitudes of the local strain—tilt coupling perturbations that can be expected in mine and tunnel installations. From the spatial variability of the tilt signal and comparisons with tidal loading calculations on radially stratified Earth models, it is concluded that typical strain—tilt coupling perturbations are at the ± 10 per cent level. The general problem of using tidal loading tilt and strain measurements to investigate the elastic parameters of layered models of the crust and upper mantle is studied by examining the sensitivities of the load Green's functions to these parameters. It is shown that the load tilt essentially gives information on Young's modulus whereas the load strain, although more sensitive to the structure, depends on both Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio. These investigations show that, if load tilt or load strain can be measured to an accuracy of 1 or 2 per cent, then they can be used to improve models of the crust and upper mantle. It is concluded that due to the local strain—tilt coupling perturbations this accuracy cannot be achieved in mines or tunnels and that future measurements should be made in boreholes or near surface trenches. The tidal loading models are also used to examine the spatial variation of the M² loading tilt in Europe.     

白令海峡及其邻近海域潮汐潮能数值模拟

基于非结构三角形网格的FVCOM(Finite-Volume Coastal Ocean Model)海洋数值模式,对白令海峡及其邻近海域的潮汐、潮能进行数值模拟研究。模拟结果同验潮站和实测海流资料符合良好,较好地反映了白令海峡及其邻近海域的潮汐、潮流分布特征和运动状况。根据计算结果绘制了主要分潮的同潮图和潮流椭圆图,对该海域潮汐潮流特征进行了系统分析。结果表明,白令海陆架区、白令海峡和楚科奇海主要以M2分潮为主,而在诺顿湾海域以K1分潮为主,M2分潮潮流在白令海陆架东南部及阿纳德尔湾较强,K1分潮潮流在诺顿湾潮流达到最大值。在此基础上,对其潮汐能的传播与耗散进行分析,结果发现研究海域潮能通量较小,主要分潮在研究海域潮能耗散总量约为751 MW,M2潮能耗散占该总量的52%,K1潮能耗散占38%,潮能进入白令海陆架后,M2分潮主要在圣劳伦斯岛以南陆架区耗散,K1分潮主要在诺顿湾海区耗散。     

Tidal and rotational perturbations of Earth's gravity gradients

Summary. In view of present attempts to build orbiting gravity gradiometers with an accuracy of about 10⁻⁴ E, perturbing gravitational gradients arising from tide-generating bodies and from rotational deformations induced by polar motion are evaluated.     

Conservation of mass in tidal loading computations

Summary. A re-examination of methods for including mass conservation in tidal loading shows that the spherical harmonic correction of Farrell is incorrect. The effect of unconserved mass for a nearly ocean-covered earth shows that the proper spherical harmonic expansion of the Newtonian Green function is the average of the internal and external expansions.     

互花米草盐沼潮沟地貌特征

互花米草是我国从国外引进的能在淤泥质潮滩的高潮带下部和中潮带上部生长的禾木科植物,由于其植株高大、群落盖度高、根系发达等生物学特性,其对潮流动力特征有显著的影响。本文通过对江苏省东台市笆斗垦区外互花米草盐沼地的潮沟形态调查,发现互花米草盐沼潮沟具有以下一些特征:潮沟密度大,可达50km/km²以上;潮沟的宽深比小,大多在8以下;沿岸堤发育,且多呈不对称状;一级主潮沟与主潮沟接头处普遍呈逆弧形;盐沼外侧边缘发育有明显的陡坎冲沟。分析认为这些特征主要与互花米草发达的根系和致密的植株等生物学特性有关,发达的根系增加了盐沼滩面的稳定性,而互花米草高大的植株增加了对潮水运动的阻力,提高了滩面落潮水的归槽水位,改变了潮流的泥沙沉积地点和涨、落潮流的流向,从而形成比较特别的互花米草盐沼潮沟特征。     

Stacking gravity tide observations in central Europe for the retrieval of the complex eigenfrequency of the nearly diurnal free-wobble

We have used tidal gravity measurements from six stations in central Europe to investigate the resonance in the diurnal tidal band, caused by inertial coupling between the mantle and outer core of the Earth. By the use of stacking it was possible to determine the eigenfrequency and quality factor of this eigenmode, commonly called the 'nearly diurnal free-wobble'. We assessed the effect of systematic errors from the ocean correction to the tidal measurements employing a Monte-Carlo method. The observed eigenfrequency is 1 + 1/(434 ± 7) cycles per sidereal day, and is significantly higher than predicted by theories. The observed quality factor is (2.8 ± 0.5) × 10³.     

Auckland and the creative industries: the spatial distribution of the design subsector

Auckland is New Zealand’s largest city with the largest concentration of creative sector employment and businesses in the country. This paper examines the spatial distribution of firms in the design creative subsector across the Auckland Region and in inner Auckland and ascertains the key determinants of firm location. The macrolevel findings indicate that the architectural and specialized design firms have similar spatial distribution patterns across the Auckland Region, while the advertising subsector demonstrates an extreme tendency toward spatial concentration only in inner Auckland. All three subsectors have a strong propensity to clustering within inner Auckland; however, one CBD (Central Business District) fringe area, Parnell outperforms the rest. The microlevel findings reveal hybridized creative clusters of uneven density. Parnell’s unique brand and place-specific characteristics were the key determinants of firm location which led to the spontaneous collocation of firms. These location decisions had the unintended consequence of creating agglomeration economies.     

近30年苏北滨海滩涂湿地演变特征与空间格局

苏北滨海滩涂湿地位于现代长江口与废黄河口之间,是最典型的淤泥质平原海岸,其演变特征及空间格局具有鲜明的特征。本文选用1980年、1992年、2008年的TM 和ALOS影像为主要数据源,构建了基于空间分割和转移矩阵分析模型,研究了近30年来苏北滨海滩涂湿地的演变特征及其空间格局。结果表明： ①苏北滨海滩涂发生了巨大变化,近30年间滩涂总面积减少了1273.11 km²,平均每年减少45.47 km²;滩涂湿地侵蚀/淤积面积约965.14 km²,0 m等深线冲刷后退减少的面积约为307.97 km²。②苏北滨海滩涂湿地区域差异性明显。南北方向上可划分为6个自然地理单元,东西方向上可划分为3个区域。③苏北滨海滩涂湿地演变中,湿地转型、湿地丧失和湿地演替分别占总面积的38.39%、14.80%、20.51%;其中天然湿地减少354.1 km²,人工湿地增加1061.45 km²,非湿地增加253.09 km²。④滩涂湿地主要植被群落演替特征和空间分布也呈现出差异性。湿地演替主要发生在净变区,与对应岸段的海岸侵蚀/淤积类型基本吻合。     

Mega-towns in China: Their spatial distribution features and growth mechanisms

As a special outcome of urbanization, mega-towns not only play an important role in the process of socio-economic development, but also are important contributors to urbanization. Based on a spatial database of mega-towns in China, this paper explores the spatial distribution features and growth mechanisms of China's 238 mega-towns using the nearest neighbour distance method, kernel density estimation, regression analysis, global autocorrelation, local autocorrelation and other spatial analysis methods. Results of spatial distribution features show that:(1) on the national scale, the existing 238 mega-towns mainly gathered in the southeast coastal areas of China; they formed two spatial core agglomerations, several secondary ones and a southeast coastal agglomeration belt;(2) on the regional scale, each economic region's index was less than 1, indicating that mega-towns in each region tended to be spatially agglomerated due to the close relationship with regional development level and their number;(3) on the provincial scale, 68% of provincial-level units in China tended to be a spatial agglomeration of mega-towns; only one province had a random distribution; the number of mega-towns in those evenly-distributed provinces was generally small. The growth of mega-towns was determined by a combination of various natural and humanistic factors, including topography, location, economy, population, traffic, and national policy. This paper chose digital elevation model(DEM), location advantage, economic density, population density, and highway density distribution as corresponding indicators as quantitative factors. By combining their local autocorrelation analysis, these factors all showed certain influence on the spatial growth of mega-towns and together scheduled it. In the future, provinces and cities should make full use of the mega-town functions to promote their socioeconomic development, especially the central and western regions in China.     

狼毒种群小尺度空间分布格局及空间关联性研究

空间分布格局、空间关联性对尺度具有较强的依赖性,种群在不同的尺度上往往表现出多种空间分布格局和空间关联性。在黑河上游高寒退化草地,采用点格局分析方法,研究了小尺度上狼毒(Stellera chamaejasme)种群的分布格局和空间关联性。结果表明:小尺度上随着种群的发育,狼毒种群的空间分布格局由聚集分布逐渐向随机分布过渡;两个形体大小程度越接近的种群之间,空间关联性越有可能表现为正关联,随着种群的共同发育,空间关联性逐渐向不显著过渡,形体大小差异程度越大,则越有可能表现为负关联,而较大尺度上空间关联性趋于复杂化。种群个体之间的相互庇护促使狼毒个体的数量不断增长,并通过种内竞争使斑块不断扩张,狼毒种群合作与竞争机制的相互转变实现了种群的扩散。