Selective chemical degradation of kerogen from Nenjiang Formation of the southern Songliao Basin

A sequential selective chemical degradation has been performed on the kerogen from the Nenjiang Formation of the southern Songliao Basin by using a series of mild chemical degradations (alkaline hydrolysis, cleavage of ether-bonds and sulfur-bonds, and ruthenium tetroxide (RuO4) oxidation). Subsequently, the GC-MS analyses are carried out on different degradation products. The results show that chemical degradations can release a great number of GC/MS-determinable biomarkers from insoluble kerogen, such as, alkaline hydrolysis products mainly comprise n-alkanes, fatty acids and alkanols; thiophene compounds are predominantly ether-bound to kerogen matrix; the products from the cleavage of sulfur-sulfur and sulfur-carbon bonds in the kerogen include fatty acids, alkanols and some n-alkanes with high carbon numbers; RuO4 oxidation products are predominantly monocarboxylic acids and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids. The distributions of main degradation products indicate that organic matter in this kerogen is predominantly derived from algae and bacteria, and that small amounts of high plant-derived organic matter are possibly combined into kerogen matrix at the late stage by sulfur bonds and other means. This study will provide an important approach for further discussing sources of organic matter in source rocks and their depositional paleoenvironments.     

On the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols — Part II: Trends between some chemical components of rainwater and physical variables over the United States

Summary Annual average results of rainwater analysis, carried out byC. Junge at about 60 stations of the United States sampling network are used in an attempt to correlate the ionic species present in rain, as a general contribution to atmospheric chemicstry. Correlation with physical parameters is attempted at the same time in some cases, and the resulting trends discussed. The results obtained are presented in the general form of linear and planar correlation, and linear regression coefficients.     

On the chemical composition of atmospheric aerosols — Part I: Some stoichiometric aspects of the problem

Summary Following a recent hypothesis on the role of activated sodium chloride particles as possible condensation and sublimation nuclei, an analysis of data given byC. Junge on the chemical composition of aerosols, is made. It is established that all reported giant nuclei fall into three distinct categories of composition and that within each of these categories the ratio of the sums of anions to the sums of cations for constituents for which analyses were made, remains remarkably constant throughout the days of sampling, and for both geographic positions at which sampling has been carried out. A dependence of the hydroxide-carbonate content, on that of nitrate is also indicated in the «alkaline» nuclei. The system is treated as a saturated solution, and it is shown by the procedure of continuous variations that singularities occur at particular ratios of the prevalent chemical groups in solution, possibly indicating formation of complex species. This, together with the presence of double salts in the solid phase may be partly the reason for the constancy of ratio of sums in the groups of particles studied byJunge, while the grouping itself may depend on the origin and subsequent transformations of the particles.Parts of this paper were presented at the 174-th National Meeting of the American Meteorological Society, on the 29-th of January, 1959, in New York.     

A physical–chemical model for the static water retention characteristic of unsaturated porous media

Water retention characteristic or water retention curve (WRC) is an important constitutive feature of porous media, and also meanwhile is an indispensable requirement in hydraulic transport modelling. Previous experiments have indicated that the specific surface area of porous media has effects on the WRC. It has also been observed that a linear relationship generally exists between the air–water interface area and the water saturation within unsaturated porous media. However it seems that no detailed study on their internal linkage with the WRC has been reported yet. This paper, at first gives a review of the development of WRC modelling, then it tries to explain the water retention characteristic according to the physical and chemical behaviours of the phases involved in unsaturated porous media. Using the traditional capillary theory, the volume averaging theorem and the advances in physical chemistry of interfacial surfaces, this paper then derives out a formula which represents the water retention characteristic of porous media. This formula demonstrates the internal linkage of the WRC to the specific surface area of porosities. It also shows agreements with the experimental observations mathematically. Based on this formula, a fitting model is proposed for the static WRC of porous media. Finally, this model is tested to fit the WRC measurements of a wide range of porous materials. Comparison with other main models is presented.     

Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of the intertidal sediments of Pereque Beach, Guarujá (SP), Brazil

Physical and chemical characteristics of intertidal sediments and their relationships with bacteria and cyanobacteria were analyzed at four stations at Pereque Beach. Granulometric analysis showed that Pereque beach has sediment that is classified as sand. The lowest value of the sediment C/N rates (6.08), mainly due to a higher concentration of organic nitrogen, was found at the northern part of Pereque Beach, where organic matter of marine source was more prominent. In this area, density (9.6x10(6)cells cm(-3)), biomass (1992.04ngC cm(-3)) and activity of bacteria were higher than at the southern end. In contrast, cyanobacteria density varied from 2.0 to 4.0x10(5)cells cm(-3), with biomass and total chlorophyll a of the sediment being higher at the southern part, where there are water input from Pereque River and higher organic matter of continental origin. The variability in the microbial population is discussed in the light of the sediment granulometry, organic matter quality, fresh water inflow and pollution.     

Structural heterogeneity of an ultra-low-velocity zone beneath the Philippine Islands: Implications for core–mantle chemical interactions induced by massive partial melting at the bottom of the mantle

An ScP phase reflected and converted at the core–mantle boundary (CMB) beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands shows clear pre- and postcursors, recorded on short-period seismic networks in Japan. These waveform variations can be explained by interaction of the ScP wavefield with thin layers at the CMB. The results of forward modeling of double-array stacks reveal two different structural heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands. One of the structures represents a decreased velocity, and increased density across the reflector at the lowermost ～10 km of the mantle, with P- and S-wave velocity reductions of 5–10% and ～30%, respectively, and an increase in density of 5–10%. Another structure consists of a pair of reflectors at ～10 km and ～5 km above the CMB, both of which are characterized by reduced P- and S-wave velocities. The upper reflector is the interface of a low-velocity zone in which P- and S-wave velocities decrease of 10% and 30%, respectively, accompanied by an extremely large increase in density (20–25%). The lower reflector is characterized by a 25% reduction in S-wave velocity relative to the above low-velocity layer, as well as a 5% decrease in P-wave velocity and no change in density. The nature of the low-velocity zone detected locally at the CMB is comparable with that of ultra-low-velocity zones (ULVZs) observed by various seismic probes in the South Pacific and Central America. Extensive observations of the ULVZ beneath the region east of the Philippine Islands indicate massive partial melting at the bottom of the mantle. Low-S-velocity basal layer partly detected within the ULVZ may be resulting from core–mantle chemical interactions, driven by massive partial melting.     

Synchronization signals in the variations of groundwater chemical composition in Kamchatka in relation to the strong (M W ≥ 6.6) earthquakes

We consider the results of the statistical analysis using the methods of the principal components and canonical coherences applied to the processing of long (1986–2005) time series of hydrogeochemical observations at the flowing wells and springs in Kamchatka. The time-frequency diagrams of the evolution of informative statistics characterizing the collective behavior of multidimensional hydrogeochemical time series are constructed, and the time intervals and frequency bands where the synchronization signals (Lyubushin, 2007) appear are identified. The features of their occurrence are analyzed in comparison to the strong (M _w = 6.6?7.8) local earthquakes. It is found that such signals in the measurements of some multidimensional time series can arise both before and after earthquakes, i.e. these signals have a precursory (P2) and postseismic (P3) character.     

Numerical simulation of the influence of lower-crustal flow on the deformation of the Sichuan-Yunnan Region

On the basis of distribution of active fault and regional rheological structure, a three-dimensional finite element model of Sichuan-Yunnan region, China, is constructed to simulate contemporary crustal motion and stress distri- bution and discuss the dynamic mechanism of crustal motion and deformation in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. Lin- ear Maxwell visco-elastic model is applied, which includes the active fault zones, the elastic upper crust and vis- cous lower crust and upper mantle. Four different models with different boundary conditions and deep structure are calculated. Some conclusions are drawn through comparison. Firstly, the crustal rotation about the eastern syntaxis of the Himalaya in the Sicuan-Yunnan region may be controlled by the special dynamic boundary condition. The drag force of the lower-crust on the upper crust is not negligible. At the same time, the main active fault zones play an important role in the contemporary crustal motion and deformation in Sichuan-Yunnan region.     

Seismotectonic destruction of the Earth’s crust in the zone of interaction of the northeastern side of the Baikal rift and the Aldan-Stanovoy block

The paper presents the modern structural-tectonic pattern and a tectonodynamic model of the zone of interaction of the most seismically active northeastern side of the Baikal rift zone (BRZ) and the conjugate system of seismogenic structures of the Aldan-Stanovoy block, where disastrous events with M ≥ 6.0 have been reported. Regularities in the structural formation of active faults and their kinematics are discussed. The faults form block structures accumulating significant tectonic strain. Motions between large tectonic blocks cause sudden release of the strain, which results in catastrophic events (M ≥ 6.0) with focal mechanisms of definite kinematic type.     

Long-term trends of physical, chemical and biological variables in the River Danube 1957–1995: A statistical approach

: A 39-year series (1957 – 1995) of data on fourteen physical, chemical and biological variables from the Austrian section of the River Danube west of Vienna – Nußdorf was analysed statistically to detect long-term trends of the variables in relation to human activities (represented by time), discharge and water temperature. ¶ Principal component analysis distinguished four main components explaining 72 % of the total variance: PC1 contains total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus, ammonium and potassium permanganate values, PC2 contains nitrate-N, chloride and oxygen, PC3 contains BOD5 and nitrite-N, and PC4 contains numbers of bacteria. Trends in time were most pronounced for variables in PC1, but also occurred in PC2; variables in PC3 and PC4 had no trends. Seasonal patterns were marked for variables in PC2, slightly less in PC1, and least in PC3 and PC4. Concentrations were minimal in summer and maximal in winter, inversely related to discharge (maximal in summer). Following reductions in point-source nutrient inputs to the Danube, in both Germany and Austria, mean concentrations in the river have fallen by at least half since the 1980s. Chloride and nitrate-N also show trends towards lower concentrations. The Danube is well-oxygenated, with concentrations near air saturation values.¶ A mathematical relationship between concentrations of the variables and river discharge (Q), water temperature (T) and time (t), was established to determine mean trends and predictions against a background of considerable seasonal and stochastic variability; for the single variables Q explained 0 – 20 % and T explained 2 – 58 % of the variation in the concentrations. The relationship was highest for variables in PC2 and lowest for those in PC3 and PC4, where Q and T had little or no influence.¶ Reasons for rising and falling long-term trends with time are discussed in detail. Austria now contributes only minor proportions to the nutrient load of the Danube, which is causing eutrophication of the Black Sea downstream, and water quality of the Austrian section of the river is good.¶ The advantages and problems of statistical process analysis are discussed in relation to environmental monitoring programs and the different specific requirements of compliance monitoring.     

Kinematic features of the seismogenic fault of the Tangshan earthquake and the recurrence period of large earthquakes

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Manifestation of the Lunar–Solar Tide and Free Oscillations of the Earth in the Variations of the Magnetic Field

The results of processing and analyzing the instrumental observations of the Earth’s magnetic field at the Geophysical Observatory Mikhnevo of the Institute of Geosphere Dynamics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IGD RAS) for 2010–2015 are presented. Quasi-harmonic components with the periods close to the lunar–solar tidal waves are revealed in the spectra of geomagnetic variations over a period of 0.4 to 30 days. The elliptical S₁ tidal wave which is detected in the geomagnetic variations has modulations with periods of 1/3, 1/2, and 1 year. The spectra of the geomagnetic variations contain peaks corresponding to the free oscillations of the Earth. The analysis of the time series of the magnetic field for the period of the strong earthquakes in the absence of geomagnetic disturbances revealed the fine structure of the Earth’s fundamental spheroidal mode ₀S₂, which splits into five singlets. The established features of the spectrum of geomagnetic variations are helping the development of the new method for studying the deep structure of the Earth and the properties of the inner geospheres for estimating the viscosity of the Earth’s outer core and dynamics of the current systems in the outer (liquid) core, as well as for exploring, with the use of empirical data, the general regularities governing the regimes of energy exchange processes in the geospheres.     

Oil contamination of sedimentary shores of the Galápagos Islands following the wreck of the Jessica

Sediment samples were collected from sandy beaches at a variety of sites in the southern Galápagos Archipelago to assess levels of hydrocarbon contamination following the wreck of the oil tanker Jessica. Hydrocarbon levels in sediments were generally very low by international standards ranging between 0.4 and 48.9 ppm, with contamination attributable to the Jessica only detected at three sites Santa Fe, Playa Estación (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz) and Long Beach (Isabela). There was evidence of residual hydrocarbon contamination from sources other than the wreck of the Jessica.     

Dynamical diagnosis of the breakup of the stratospheric polar vortex in the Northern Hemisphere

The research on climate change in polar regions, especially on the role of polar in the global climate system, has gain unprecedented level of interest. It has been the key scientific issue of the International Polar Year program (IPY, 2007―2008). In this paper, we dealt with the debate upon the breakup time of the stratospheric polar vortex in boreal spring. An observational study of the relation between strato- spheric polar vortex breakup and the extra-tropical circulation was performed. The mean breakup date―when the winter westerly at the core of polar jet turns to summer easterly―is about April 10. The breakup time has large interannual variation with a time span of about 2 months. It also has a long-term trend with the 1990s and 2000s witnessing more and more late breakups of polar vortex. Composite of wind speed at the core of polar jet for the extremely early and late breakup years shows that late years have two periods of westerly weakening while early breakup years have only one. The first weakening in the late years happens in middle January with wind speed dropping sharply from more than 40 m s?1 to about 15 m s?1. This is accompanied with anomalous activities of planetary waves in both strato- sphere and troposphere; while the second weakening in the late breaking years is mainly the results of diabatic heating with very weak wave activities. In early breakup years, the transition from westerly to easterly is rapid with wind speed dropping from more than 30 m s?1 to less than ?10 m s?1 within a month. This evolution is associated with a strong bidirectional dynamical coupling of the stratosphere and troposphere. The circulation anomalies at low troposphere are also analyzed in the extremely early and late breakup years. It shows that there are significant differences between the two kinds of extreme years in the geopotential height and temperature composite analysis, indicating the dynamical cou- pling of stratosphere and troposphere with the evolution of stratospheric polar vortex.     

Characteristics of the Activity of the Lintong-Chang＇an Fault in the Late Pleistocene

Analysis of fault outcrops and trench sections indicates fault displacements of 0.2m - 6.0 m on the bottom paleosol layer of the Epipleistocene with the maximum rate of 0.047 mm/a and an average displacement of 1.1 meters. The activity appears as fissures on the fault surface in the late Epipleistocene and there is no obvious displacement. The fault activity is weak and the most active segment is the Bailuyuan segment.     

Tomographic study of the deep tectonics in the Yecheng-Shiquanhe area of the Tibetan Plateau

The profile crossing the west Kunlun region cov-ers the area between the Tarim Basin and the Kara-korum Fault, which is the highest (~5000 m a.s.l.) andthe most narrow part (400—500 km from north tosouth) of the Tibetan Plateau, thus attracting great at-tention of the geological community because of itsunique tectonic features. The Geological Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Auton-omous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) carried out mineral exploration and geologicalmapping in th…     

County Shelter Planning from the Perspective of the Demands of the Vulnerable?Based on the Survey of the 6·17 Changning Earthquake

县域避难场所规划建设薄弱,灾后老年人等避难弱者的需求不能得到充分满足。长宁“6·17”地震发生后,笔者赴灾区调研,对老人、妇女、儿童等避难弱者进行访谈,深入了解避难弱者的避难经历、对避难场所的认知及相关需求,总结避难弱者在灾后初期、中期、后期阶段的需求变化及对避难空间的诉求。在避难弱者需求视角下提出县域避难场所规划提升措施,包括建立避难弱者数据库、优化避难场所选址、提高避难场所建设标准、加强对避难弱者“定制化”的防灾宣传和避难引导等,以保障避难弱者的生命安全,提升避难生活质量。     

Study of the Seismicity of Strong Earthquakes in the Yunnan Area

INTRODUCTIONYunnanis located in the east margin of the collision zone between the India Plate and theEurasian Plate on the Chinese Continent , where crustal movement is violent and moderate-strongearthquakes are frequent withlarge magnitudes and wide distributions .It is also a place of particularinterest to geo-science researchers both at home and abroad. Since 1970 , 8 earthquakes withmagnitude 7·0 have occurred here .It is a perfect site to study seismicity.Whether or not seismicit…     

On the relation of variations in the travel times of seismic waves with the changes in the speed of the Earth’s rotation

The results of long-term sounding of the lithosphere by seismic waves from the deep-focus Hindu Kush earthquakes are presented. The travel time series of the first longitudinal wave on a fixed base are constructed for six seismic observation stations (SS) located on the Russian Platform (the Obninsk SS), on the Siberian Platform (the Eltsovka SS), on the Cis-Ural Trough (the Arti SS), in the Central-Ural Megazone (the Sverdlovsk SS), in the Transbaikalia (the Bodaibo SS), and in the Northern Tien Shan (the Przhevalsk SS). The time series duration in years for these stations ranged from 1964–1970 to 2007. The travel time series of seismic waves for the stations indicated are characterized by multi-slope negative linear trends caused by changes in the stress-strain state of rocks. From the comparison of the trend slopes at different stations it follows that the changes in the stress conditions within the lithosphere are relatively weak in the aseismic regions of the Russian and Siberian Platforms and in the Ural Megazone, whereas in the seismically active regions of Tien Shan, Transbaikalia and the Cis-Ural Trough they are more pronounced. The correlation has been observed between the time series trends of the average annual travel times of seismic waves and the time series of the Earth’s rotation speed. The strongest correlation between the series can be seen for the stations, located on the platforms with weak manifestations of both seismicity and active geodynamic processes. Within the long-term periods of deceleration and acceleration of the Earth’s rotation, travel times of seismic waves are decreased and increased, respectively.     

The Precursory Meanings of the Deviation of the Magnitude- Frequency Distribution of Earthquakes from the Gutenberg- Richter Law

INTRODUCTIONThe famousformulalgN=a-bMwas put forward by Gutenbergand Richter (1944) ,accordinto seismicity studies in California . From then on, the magnitude-frequency distribution of thearthquakes within a certain area was considered one of the most important features of seismicity,anwas widely used (Tsuneji Rikitake ,1978 ;Li Shanbang,1981 ;Geng Luming,1993) .In particularthe coefficientbinthe formula is commonly appliedinresearchinto earthquake precursors relatingstrongearthquakes…