Development of solar flares and features of the fine structure of solar radio emission

The reason for the occurrence of different elements of the fine structure of solar radio bursts in the decimeter and centimeter wavelength ranges has been determined based on all available data from terrestrial and satellite observations. In some phenomena, fast pulsations, a zebra structre, fiber bursts, and spikes have been observed almost simultaneously. Two phenomena have been selected to show that the pulsations of radio emission are caused by particles accelerated in the magnetic reconnection region and that the zebra structure is excited in a source, such as a magnetic trap for fast particles. The complex combination of unusual fiber bursts, zebra structure, and spikes in the phenomenon on December 1, 2004, is associated with a single source, a magnetic island formed after a coronal mass ejection.     

海底淤泥层对海洋工程地震作用环境的影响问题

本提出了海底淤泥的流变性质对海洋工程的地震 作用环境的影响问题,并进行了有关的讨论。     

Phase properties of a class of random processes

The probability structure of the phase derivative of a class of random processes is derived in the time- and frequency-domains. It is shown that in the time-domain the phase derivative reflects the spectral properties of a stationary random process; whereas in the frequency-domain the phase derivative reflects the non-stationary character of a modulated white-noise random process. The analysis provides a theoretical basis for the qualitative conclusions drawn in some recent investigations regarding the properties of the phase derivatives of earthquake ground accelerations.     

Basic characteristics of active tectonics of China

Active tectonics is inferred to all the structures which have been active since the late Pleisto-cene, 100—120 ka B.P., are still active recently, and will be active in a certain time period in the future, such as active faults, active folds, active basi…     

浅水湖泊中沉积物碱性磷酸酶动力学参数的分布

东湖沉积物磷酸酶在较高的pH范围内表现出较高活性,故为碱性磷酸酶,东湖与严西湖沉积物中碱性磷酸酶的动力学参数表现出明显的空间异质性,且与间隙水和表层水中正磷酸根浓度无明显的对应关系,此外,它们在垂直方向上亦极具变化,除在沉积物表面显示较高催化效率之外,较沉层面（约距表面8－12cm)亦有类似峰值,这一结果补充说明了湖泊沉积物磷循环的另一活跃区域以及相应的生物化学机制。     

Multifractal measures of synchronization of microseismic oscillations in a minute range of periods

The paper considers synchronous continuous records of microseismic background obtained within a month before the Kronotskii (Kamchatka) December 5, 1997, earthquake (M = 7.8) at six IRIS broadband stations that are located in a large region extending from central European Russia (the town of Obninsk) to the Far East (Kamchatka and Sakhalin). By averaging and downsampling, initial records were discretized at an interval of 30 s and the microseismic background was examined in the range of periods from 1 min to 2.4 h, after scale-dependent trends due to the effects of tides and temperature variations had been removed. Microseismic fluctuations were analyzed with the help of estimates of the evolution of their multifractal singularity spectra in a moving time window 12 h wide. As the criterion characterizing the background properties in a current time window, we took the values of the generalized Hurst exponent α* realizing the maximum of the singularity spectrum. Hidden synchronization effects of a microseismic field preceding a seismic event are identified by estimating the evolution of the spectral measure of coherent behavior of α* variations in a moving time window 5 days long for various combinations of jointly analyzed stations.     

黄土的钻孔剪切试验特性研究

为研究钻孔剪切试验在黄土中的应用效果,在西安东郊典型的Q₃黄土中进行不同首级法向应力和不同法向应力增量条件下钻孔剪切试验。试验结果表明,抗剪强度随法向应力增大呈曲线形式增大,存在某一临界法向应力值,超过该值后抗剪强度与法向应力之间呈良好的线性关系,能较好地符合摩尔-库仑强度准则,所测得的抗剪强度参数相差较小;在分级加载试验中,法向应力增量越小,达到同一法向应力时的抗剪强度越大;分别加载试验与分级加载剪切试验相比,在相同法向应力下测得的抗剪强度值偏小,随法向应力增大,偏离程度增大;当法向应力较小时,剪切齿难以压入硬土中,导致所测得的黏聚力偏小、内摩擦角偏大,为此建议开发适合不同软硬土质的剪切板,并增加法向位移观测系统,用于判断法向应力施加过程的齿尖压入孔壁情况。     

Numerical investigation of the effect of seasonal variations of depthof-closure on shoreline evolution

The current study presents the effects of seasonal variations in the depth-of-closure(Dc)on shoreline evolution using a numerical,one-line shoreline model.Beach erosion of the southern beach of the Nha Trang Coast,which is located in south central of Vietnam,is selected as the study area.This study area is immensely influenced by the tropical monsoon climate that has a clear pattern of large waves in the northeast monsoon season and calm waves in the non-monsoon season.The analysis of the long-term measured shoreline variations from a video-camera system has found a strong correlation of these variations to the monsoon-dominated wave characteristics in the Nha Trang Bay.Therefore,a new approach for determining the depth-of-closure with consideration of the seasonal wave climate changes is purposed in the current study.By implementing this new approach into a numerical,one-line shoreline model,it is found that the seasonal variations of Dc appear to better describe the periodical shoreline evolution due to the monsoon-dominated wave characteristics for the Nha Trang Coast.Such important findings are considered to commonly apply for monsoon-dominated coastal regions in general.These findings are useful information not only for scientific readers but also for the coastal authorities and managers in order to make better countermeasure plans against this kind of erosion mechanism in the future.     

Rates of dissolution of aluminosilicates in seawater

Dissolution of eight clay minerals, four zeolites, and quartz in seawater has been monitored for81/2 years. For most of the minerals, dissolution can be described as a first-order reaction in which dissolved silica approaches from undersaturation steady concentration values with time. Characteristic reaction rate constants (k₁) are of the order of 10^?7 sec^?1. One of the zeolites, clinoptilolite, shows a different dissolution behavior: SiO₂ concentration in solution reaches a high value within one year, followed by a decline to a lower value, suggestive of precipitation of another silicate phase (possibly sepiolite).A mathematical solution is given for a kinetic equation combining the parabolic-rate and first-order rate processes. It is shown that in a wide range of silicate dissolution reactions taking place over long periods of time, the presence of the parabolic-rate dissolution processes cannot be detected, thereby making its inclusion in the kinetic equations unnecessary. The experimental rates of dissolution are comparable to the SiO₂^? dissolution rates in oceanic sediments near the sediment/water interface. But deeper in the sediment, the calculated dissolution rates are significantly lower than the near-interface and experimental values.     

Morphologic analysis of the temporal change of forest cover

A morphologic analysis of forest cover in a time span of twelve years is presented in this work. Two multispectral LANDSAT TM-4 images of the years 1989 and 2001 were used. These images cover a forest area where significant changes have occurred in such years. These images were expanded in terms of canonical-expansion variables that describe the spatial-spectral response of the forest masses. The images were modeled as a vector field of as many dimensions as the number of bands employed in the analysis. A vector field was constructed using canonical-variable bands. The set of canonical variables for each year was used to quantify a vector change of the forest masses. This vector change quantifies the degree of alteration of the forest masses. A region-growth algorithm was used to segment the areas occupied by the forest. This algorithm uses as input the canonical variables. The result of such segmentation is a binary image named the bitmap. From this bitmap, a morphologic analysis of the area occupied by the forest was undertaken. A DEM generated from a radar interferometric pair of the RADARSAT 1 satellite, was used to perform a cross-reference with the bitmaps. This cross-reference leads to the derivation of the elevation of occurrence of changes in the forest masses.     

Application of the Mussel Watch concept in studies of the distribution of hydrocarbons in the coastal zone of the Ebro Delta

The Mussel Watch concept was applied in a study of man-induced chemical changes in the Ebro Delta on the Catalonian coast to obtain a preliminary assessment of the distribution of synthetic organic compounds, petroleum and biogenic hydrocarbons in the local coastal zone. Mussels, oysters and clams were selected as the indicator organisms. Levels of petroleum accumulated by mussels were generally high, in the order of 100–800 μg^?1 dry weight, equivalent to those in mussels in the most polluted harbours and bays of California. The relative distributions of the steranes and pentacyclic triterpanes in the mussels were significantly different from those found in petroleum from a local field, indicating that local petroleum was not contributing to the present contamination. The composition of biogenic compounds was variable, probably reflecting differences in the composition of local plankton communities, PCB levels were high in relation to current levels in mussels from US sites, reflecting continuing PCB use in Spain. The Delta appears to be a point source of a number of organochlorine compounds, including HCB, the DDT compounds, endrin and γ-chlordane. Levels of the DDT compound o,p′-DDD, a pharmacologically active substance, were unexpectedly high; identification was confirmed by GS/MS. Many unidentified peaks were present on EC chromatograms, indicating a more complex pattern of contamination than might be suggested by printed summaries of data.     

Prediction of eruption of Hawaiian volcanoes

Prediction of Hawaiian volcanic eruptions depends primarily on the interpretation of records of earthquakes and tumescence of the volcano. Recent work byJ. P. Eaton of the U. S. Geological Survey appears to demonstrate the presence of two distinct groups of earthquakes. One group originates at a depth of 40 to 60 km, within the earth’s mantle, and is thought to mark the zone of origin of the magma. The other group is of shallower origin and results from change of shape and size of the volcanic edifice. Earthquakes of the deep group occur from time to time, often in swarms, between eruptions and are not useful in predicting an outbreak. Those of the shallow group may accompany the swelling and splitting open of the volcano preceding eruption, but they may also accompany shrinking of the volcano and sinking of the mountain top that appears to result from withdrawal of magma beneath the volcano without surface eruption. Determining whether the quakes result from swelling of shrinking of the volcano depends largely on measurements of tilting of the ground surface. If the volcano is in a swollen condition and continues to swell, a large number of earthquakes of shallow origin is highly suggestive, if not definitely indicative, of imminent eruption. The place of origin of the quakes indicates, sometimes very closely, the location of the coming eruption. It is not yet possible, however, to predict the time of outbreak except in a rather general manner. Sometimes it can be predicted within a few days. At times there may be an oscillation of ground tilting directly preceding the eruption, suggesting a pulsation of magmatic pressure at depth, but this is not yet certain. There appears to be some indication that summit eruptions of either Mauna Loa or Kilauea are preceded by a less definite earthquake pattern, and are therefore less readily predictable, than flank eruptions. No cycle of activity of any great value in predicting activity has been recognized in Hawaii. Intervals between eruptions of Mauna Loa have ranged from a few months to more than 9 years, and Kilauea has been even more variable. In the case of Mauna Loa there has been a rough alternation between summit and flank eruptions, but with many exceptions to this general sequence. Astronomical and tidal cycles have been studied in relation to both time of outbreak and strength of eruption, but without demonstration of any very definite relationship. Eruptions have occurred in every month of the year, but there is a slight tendency for them to cluster just before and after solstice, particularly winter solstice.     

Theory of Basin Scale Dynamics of a Stratified Rotating Fluid

The dynamics of a stratified fluid contained in a rotating rectangular box is described in terms of the evolution of the lowest moments of its density and momentum fields. The first moment of the density field also gives the position of the fluids centre-of-mass. The resulting low-order model allows for fast assessment both of adopted parameterisations, as well as of particular values of parameters. In the ideal fluid limit (neglect of viscous and diffusive effects), in the absence of wind, the equations have a Hamiltonian structure that is integrable (non-integrable) in the absence (presence) of differential heating. In a non-rotating convective regime, dynamically rich behaviour and strong dependence on the single (lumped) parameter are established. For small values of this parameter, in a self-similar regime, further reduction to an explicit map is discussed in an Appendix. Introducing rotation in a nearly geostrophic regime leads through a Hopf bifurcation to a limit cycle, and under the influence of wind and salt to multiple equilibria and chaos, respectively.     

Quantification of the stability of river flow regimes

Abstract

An important characteristic of a river flow regime type is the time of year when high and low flows are likely to occur. How likely is it, however, to observe an identified seasonal pattern each individual year? Stability is an often neglected property of a flow regime, though shifts in the seasonal behaviour of flows affect both environmental and economic activities. An approach to characterize objectively the stability of a flow regime type, based on the concept of entropy, is presented. The stabilities of river flow maxima and minima are studied separately to investigate their respective contributions to the stability character of a particular regime type. A quantitative “instability index” permits a study of the development of a flow regime's stability in time, especially important in the context of a possible climate change. The method is presented using the example of a quantitative flow regime classification developed for Scandinavia and western Europe.     

Assessment of the reliability of 2D inversion of apparent resistivity data

The reliability of inversion of apparent resistivity pseudosection data to determine accurately the true resistivity distribution over 2D structures has been investigated, using a common inversion scheme based on a smoothness‐constrained non‐linear least‐squares optimization, for the Wenner array. This involved calculation of synthetic apparent resistivity pseudosection data, which were then inverted and the model estimated from the inversion was compared with the original 2D model. The models examined include (i) horizontal layering, (ii) a vertical fault, (iii) a low‐resistivity fill within a high‐resistivity basement, and (iv) an upfaulted basement block beneath a conductive overburden. Over vertical structures, the resistivity models obtained from inversion are usually much sharper than the measured data. However, the inverted resistivities can be smaller than the lowest, or greater than the highest, true model resistivity. The substantial reduction generally recorded in the data misfit during the least‐squares inversion of 2D apparent resistivity data is not always accompanied by any noticeable reduction in the model misfit. Conversely, the model misfit may, for all practical purposes, remain invariant for successive iterations. It can also increase with the iteration number, especially where the resistivity contrast at the bedrock interface exceeds a factor of about 10; in such instances, the optimum model estimated from inversion is attained at a very low iteration number. The largest model misfit is encountered in the zone adjacent to a contact where there is a large change in the resistivity contrast. It is concluded that smooth inversion can provide only an approximate guide to the true geometry and true formation resistivity.     

Centrifuge modelling of the seismic performance of soft buried barriers

The paper presents the results of an experimental work carried out in a geotechnical centrifuge at the Schofield Centre of Cambridge University. Two reduced scale models of soft barriers in a sand layer underwent a series of ground shaking. In the first model a thin horizontal layer made of latex balloons filled with a cross-linked gel was created at about mid-height of the sand layer. In the second, the same balloons were deployed to form a V-shaped barrier aimed at isolating a relatively shallow volume of sand. The aim of the study was to get experimental evidence of the capability of such soft barriers to isolate a volume of soil thus reducing amplification of ground motion during severe seismic events. The experimental results were compared with FE numerical analyses of the same models, carried out also in free field to have a benchmark condition. By validating the FE modelling via the comparison with the experimental results, a robust model has been built, aimed at being used for carrying out a wider parametric numerical testing. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of such soft barriers to reduce amplification in the isolated volumes during seismic events.     

Magnetization of multidomain particles of magnetite

Measurements have been made on specimens in which grains of magnetite of diameter 200 μm were dispersed and immobilized. The results obtained for magnetization and demagnetization by isothermal, anhysteretic and heating procedures are given, and discussed in terms of a model which assumes that the grains comprise a central core of magnetic domains separated by 180° domain walls enclosed in a thin surface layer comprised of pseudo single-domain-like domains.     

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the seismic behavior of inclined micropiles

This paper presents a thorough study of the behavior of inclined micropiles under seismic loading. Analysis is carried out using a full three-dimensional finite element modeling. The soil media is assumed to be elastic with Rayleigh damping, while micropiles are modeled as 3D elastic beam elements. The structure is described by a single degree of freedom system composed of a concentrated mass and a column. The paper is composed of four parts. The first part includes a literature survey on the behavior of inclined micropiles. The second part presents the numerical model used in this study. The third part concerns analysis related to the influence of micropiles inclination on the seismic behavior of a group of micropiles embedded in a homogeneous soil with a uniform stiffness. The last part deals with the seismic behavior of inclined micropiles embedded in a soil layer with a depth-based increasing stiffness. The results of this study provide valuable information about the influence of micropiles inclination on dynamic amplification and on the seismic-induced internal forces in micropiles.     

Estimation of the mean velocity of particulate flows by counting

Using Smoluchowski's theory of the probability after-effect it is possible to estimate the mean speed or velocity of a particulate flow by counting the number of particles present in a selected region at a sequence of equal time intervals. Apart from a knowledge of the dimensions of the region the only conditions are that the process is, in a wide sense, stationary and that the speeds of individual particles are independent. Subsequent refinements and extensions to the theory by Furth, Ruben, Rothschild and Lindley are incorporated to provide a method of velocity estimation of wide application in geomorphology. Finally, a numerical example on pedestrian speeds is assessed against an independent estimate.