Field observations of nearshore bar formation

The formation of an inner nearshore bar was observed during a high‐energy event at the sandy beach of Vejers, Denmark. The bar accreted in situ during surf zone conditions and the growth of the bar was associated with the development of a trough landward of the bar. Measurements of hydrodynamics and sediment fluxes were obtained from electromagnetic current meters and optical backscatter sensors. These process measurements showed that a divergence in sediment transport occurred at the location of the developing trough, and observed gradients in cross‐shore net sediment flux were consistent with the morphological development. The main cause for the flux gradients were cross‐shore gradients in offshore‐directed mean current (undertow) speed which depended upon local relative wave height and local bed slope. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Field measurements of interrill erosion under ­different slopes and plot sizes

Despite numerous studies, the effect of slope on interrill erosion is not clearly established. Several interactions exist between erosion parameters that are not taken into account under experimental laboratory measurements and results need to be validated in the field. The influence of slope steepness (2 to 8 per cent) on soil loss for a crusted interrill area and the detachment and transport processes involved in the interaction between slope, rain characteristics and plot size were investigated. Sediment discharge and runoff rates were measured in bounded plots (1 m2 and 10 m2) under natural and simulated rainfall, allowing the analysis of a combination of detachment and transport processes at various scales in the field. Runoff rate increased from 20 to 90 per cent with increasing slope and rain intensity for both plot sizes, whereas sediment concentration increased from 2 to 6 g l−1 with increasing slope only for the 10 m2 plots. At the 1 m2 scale, erosion was transport‐limited due to the reduced rain‐impacted flow. Interactions between slope angle and rain intensity were observed for detachment and transport processes in interrill erosion. Results show the importance of an adapted experimental set‐up to get reference data for interrill erosion model development and validation. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A viscoelastic shear zone model of compressional and extensional plate boundaries

A model is proposed describing the mechanical evolution of a shear zone along compressional and extensional plate boundaries, subject to constant strain rate. The shear zones are assumed as viscoelastic with Maxwell rheology and with elastic and rheological parameters depending on temperature and petrology. Stress and strain are computed as functions of time and depth. For both kinds of boundaries the model reproduces the existence of a shallow seismogenic zone, characterized by a stress concentration. The thickness of the seismogenic layer is evaluated considering the variations of shear stress and frictional strength on faults embedded in the shear zone. Assuming that a fault dislocation takes place, the brittle-ductile transition is assumed to occur at the depth at which the time derivative of total shear stress changes from positive to negative values. The effects of different strain rates and geothermal gradients on the depth of the brittle-ductile transition are studied. The model predictions are consistent with values inferred from seismicity data of different boundary zones.     

Divergent response of an intertidal swash bar

This paper examines the processes responsible for the morphodynamics of an intertidal swash bar at Skallingen, Denmark, during seven successive storms (one with a large surge of +3·02 m DNN). During this period a subtidal bar migrated landward onto the foreshore and continued to migrate across the intertidal zone as a swash bar. The onshore migration of the inner subtidal bar resulted from the erosion of sediment from the upper foreshore and dune ramp during the large storm surge that was transported seaward, causing the landward displacement of the bar through accretion on the landward slope. The magnitude and direction of suspended sediment transport within the intertidal zone, and more specifically at and close to the crest of the swash bar, varied with the ratio of both the significant (H_s) and average (H_avg) wave heights to the water depth (h_cr) at the swash bar crest (the local depth minimum). The transition between onshore and offshore suspended sediment transport was associated with the average wave of the incident distribution breaking on the swash bar crest (H_avgh ≈ 0·33). While the onshore‐directed transport was largest at infragravity frequencies, sediment resuspension was best explained by the skewed accelerations under the surf bores. Offshore transport was dominated by the cross‐shore mean currents (undertow) that developed when the significant wave of the distribution broke on the swash bar crest (H_sh ≈ 0·33) and weakened as the average wave of the distribution started to break at the crest (H_avgh ≈ 0·33) and the surf zone approached saturation. In contrast to subtidal bars, the swash bar at Skallingen exhibited a divergent behaviour with respect to the cross‐shore position of the breaker zone, migrating onshore when the average wave broke seaward of the crest and migrating offshore when the average wave broke landward of the crest. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Transitional, entraining, cloudy, and coastal boundary layers

Atmospheric boundary layers are marvelously varied and complex. Recent research has examined some of that variety. Boundary layers over land undergo drastic changes throughout the day as the sun rises and sets, and as clouds form and dissipate. Air is entrained at the top of the boundary layer at varying rates. As air moves over the coast, the boundary layer reacts to changes in surface forcing. All of these changes affect pollutant transport and weather formation. In this paper, research attempting to understand transitional, cloud-topped, and coastal boundary layers, and boundary-layer top entrainment, is reviewed.     

Dye dispersion in the surf zone: Measurements and simple models

To examine the spatial and temporal effect of low-volume land-based runoff on beach contamination, discrete batches of dye were released at the shoreline at three beaches in Santa Monica Bay in 2000 (Malibu Creek, Santa Monica Canyon and Pico–Kenter drain). Dye concentration was measured at the shoreline 25, 50 and 100 m alongshore from the dye release point for up to 40 min after dye release. The shoreline concentration time series are characterized either by approximately exponential decay in concentration after passage of the dye patch maximum concentration or by persistent low concentration up to 30 min after passage of the initial dye patch front. In the absence of detailed measurements of physical conditions, several simple advection–diffusion models are used to simulate shoreline concentration time series for an idealized surf zone in order to probe the roles of alongshore current shear and rip currents in producing the observed characteristics in dye concentration time series. Favorable qualitative and quantitative comparison of measured and simulated time series suggest alongshore current shear and rip currents play key roles in generating the observed characteristics of nearshore dye patch dispersion. The models demonstrate the potential effects of these flow features on the extent and duration of beach contamination owing to a continuous contamination source.     

山西地震带不同基准的重力场变化

对2011—2017年山西及周边的流动重力观测资料,在绝对点控制下重新做平差计算,从不同尺度分析重力场的动态变化和跨断裂重力段差变化,重点对不同基准的重力场累积变化特征进行比较,结果显示:①文中的平均值基准可以明显削弱单期数据或个别测点对重力场造成的非正常影响;②在山西地震带持续出现了区域性的重力异常,形成了与构造断裂较为一致的重力梯度带;③山西地震带北部测段重力段差的变化幅值最大,南部次之但强于中部,反映了北部的构造活动比较活跃。     

汤加-克马德克俯冲带现今非均匀应力场特征及其动力学意义

汤加-克马德克俯冲带是太平洋板块向澳大利亚板块俯冲碰撞的动力作用区,是全球俯冲带动力学研究的热点区域.本研究基于EHB地震目录,对汤加-克马德克俯冲带(18.5°S-28.5°S)区域进行平面拟合,得到该范围内俯冲带走向约为196°,倾角约为48°;利用该俯冲带研究区域内Global CMT目录,对不同位置、不同深度进行区域应力张量反演,得到汤加-克马德克俯冲带研究区内精细的应力图像.结果显示:(1) 俯冲带浅部(60~300 km)应力结构非均匀特征明显,主应力轴倾伏角变化多样,并且最大主压应力轴方位在24°S左右发生明显偏转,我们推测这可能与洋底构造路易斯维尔海链俯冲有关;(2)中部(300~500 km)最大主压、主张应力轴由北向南逐渐发生偏转,这可能与由北向南流动的地幔流对俯冲板片产生推挤作用有关,并且这种推挤作用向南逐渐减弱;(3)深部(500~700 km)最大主压应力轴沿俯冲方向分布;(4)本文的结果还发现了主俯冲带深部西侧"偏移"板片与主俯冲带应力结构不同,表明"偏移"板片与主俯冲带是分离的.     

A circum-earth shear zone at low-latitudes and episodic large earthquakes in it and the circum-Pacific seismic zone

Although the temporal and spatial distribution of earthquakes looks like non-uniform, it is not com- pletely random. Locations of seismic zones are associ- ated with active tectonics. On a global or regional scale, several major or great earthquakes occur…     

磁层顶边界层剪切流引起的MHD波模转化

采用非本征模方法（non-modal analysis）研究了磁层顶边界层中剪切流导致的MHD波模转化及其与背景流场的能量交换过程.发现在分别代表磁层顶内、外边界层及过渡区的均匀剪切流场中,初始设定的Alfvén波扰动可部分转化为快、慢磁声波.而且,在不同区域,根据等离子体参数的不同,发生的波模转化过程也不相同.在外边界,Alfvén波主要转化为慢磁声波;在内边界,Alfvén波则主要转化为快磁声波;而在二者之间的过渡区中,Alfvén波可同时转化为两种类型的磁声波.我们还发现,含有较强快波分量的扰动可从磁层顶剪切流场中获得能量而得到线性放大.上述物理过程可能对解释磁鞘至磁层的能量及动量异常输运现象有所帮助.     

Diel cycles of hydrogen peroxide in marine bathing waters in Southern California, USA: In situ surf zone measurements

Hydrogen peroxide is photochemically produced in natural waters. It has been implicated in the oxidative-induced mortality of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), a microbial water quality measure. To assess levels and cycling of peroxide in beach waters monitored for FIB, diel studies were carried out in surf zone waters in July 2009 at Crystal Cove State Beach, Southern California, USA. Maximum concentrations of 160–200 nM were obtained within 1 h of solar noon. Levels dropped at night to 20–40 nM, consistent with photochemical production from sunlight. Day-time production and night-time dark loss rates averaged 16 ± 3 nM h⁻¹ and 12 ± 4 nM h⁻¹ respectively. Apparent quantum yields averaged 0.07 ± 0.02. Production was largely dominated by sunlight, with some dependence on chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) levels in waters with high absorption coefficients. Peroxide levels measured here are sufficient to cause oxidative-stress-induced mortality of bacteria, affect FIB diel cycling and impact microbial water quality in marine bathing waters.     

Relating millimeter-scale turbulence to meter-scale subtidal erosion and accretion across the fringe of a coastal mangrove forest

Within a wave-exposed mangrove forest, novel field observations are presented, comparing millimeter-scale turbulent water velocity fluctuations with contemporaneous subtidal bed elevation changes. High-resolution velocity and bed level measurements were collected from the unvegetated mudflat, at the mangrove forest fringe, and within the forest interior over multiple tidal cycles (flood–ebb) during a 2-week period. Measurements demonstrated that the spatial variability in vegetation density is a control on sediment transport at sub-meter scales. Scour around single and dense clusters of pneumatophores was predicted by a standard hydraulic engineering equation for wave-induced scour around regular cylinders, when the cylinder diameter in the equations was replaced with the representative diameter of the dense pneumatophore clusters. Waves were dissipated as they propagated into the forest, but dissipation at infragravity periods (> 30 s) was observed to be less than dissipation at shorter periods (< 30 s), consistent with the predictions of a simple model. Cross-wavelet analysis revealed that infragravity-frequency fluctuations in the bed level were occasionally coherent with velocity, possibly indicating scour upstream of dense pneumatophore patches when infragravity waves reinforced tidal currents. Consequently, infragravity waves were a likely driver of sediment transport within the mangrove forest. Near-bed turbulent kinetic energy, estimated from the turbulent dissipation rate, was also correlated with bed level changes. Specifically, within the mangrove forest and over the unvegetated mudflat, high-energy events were associated with erosion or near-zero bed level change, whereas low-energy events were associated with accretion. In contrast, no single relationship between bed level changes and mean current velocity was applicable across both vegetated and unvegetated regions. These observations support the theory that sediment mobilization scales with turbulent energy, rather than mean velocity, a distinction that becomes important when vegetation controls the development of turbulence.     

Multi-functional heat pulse probe measurements of coupled vadose zone flow and transport

Simultaneous measurement of coupled water, heat, and solute transport in unsaturated porous media is made possible with the multi-functional heat pulse probe (MFHPP). The probe combines a heat pulse technique for estimating soil heat properties, water flux, and water content with a Wenner array measurement of bulk soil electrical conductivity (EC_bulk). To evaluate the MFHPP, we conducted controlled steady-state flow experiments in a sand column for a wide range of water saturations, flow velocities, and solute concentrations. Flow and transport processes were monitored continuously using the MFHPP. Experimental data were analyzed by inverse modeling of simultaneous water, heat, and solute transport using an adapted HYDRUS-2D model. Various optimization scenarios yielded simultaneous estimation of thermal, solute, and hydraulic parameters and variables, including thermal conductivity, volumetric water content, water flux, and thermal and solute dispersivities. We conclude that the MFHPP holds great promise as an excellent instrument for the continuous monitoring and characterization of the vadose zone.     

鄂霍次克微板块东部俯冲带区域地震b值及应力场特征

古登堡-里克特震级-频度关系式中的b值与剪切应力(或偏应力)大小被认为存在着负相关的关系,因此b值常被用作估算区域应力大小的指标.本文利用1970—2018年鄂霍次克微板块东部俯冲带区域的地震目录,使用最大似然法对该区域的b值进行空间扫描,得到了该区域沿海沟走向不同区域及不同深度的b值分布,进而调查与分析其应力状态及地球动力学特征.结果显示不同俯冲区域的b值分布具有4个共同特征:1)地壳范围内的高b值特征,表明其剪切应力较低;2)俯冲板片与上覆板块耦合强烈的区域b值较低,表明该位置剪切应力较高;3)弧前区域b值较高,表明其剪切应力较低;4)海沟东侧的太平洋板块与软流层接触的区域b值较高,表明该位置剪切应力较低.上述这些b值分布结果及其剪切应力分布,是能够与俯冲带的地球动力学结构与特征相关联的.我们也发现在水平方向上,在浅部区域(0～40km深度范围),勘察加地区的剪切应力相对于北日本地区和千岛地区更低;在更深的区域(40～80km深度范围),千岛地区弧前区域的剪切应力较低.由本文俯冲带区域力平衡估算得到的俯冲接触面上的剪应力大小能够解释鄂霍次克微板块东部俯冲带不同接触界面上的b值大小及...     

2011-2014年康定周边地形变场变化与芦山7.0级地震及康定两次中强地震的关系研究

收集康定地震区及周边（99.6°~105.2°E,27.8°~33.0°N范围内）连续GPS观测站的资料求解站速度场,采用刚性-线弹性运动方程计算方法,拟合计算得到研究区域规格网格点（0.4°×0.4°）的速度值和主应变率值。基于该结果分析研究区内的运动特征和应变场变化情况,并讨论其与地震孕育发生的关系。分析结果表明,芦山7.0级地震发生前研究区呈现应变能量积累态势,而地震之后研究区呈应变能量释放调整态势,2014年康定地震的发生就是该区构造运动调整下的产物。     

廊固凹陷深部剪切破裂构造的地震学证据

基于区域地震台网观测数据,采用近震波形反演方法,确定2018年2月12日河北永清M4.3地震的最佳双力偶源震源机制解为：节面Ⅰ走向297°,倾角58°,滑动角-32°;节面Ⅱ走向45°,倾角63°,滑动角-144°;是一个略带正断分量的右旋走滑地震.结合近震转换波测定主震的震源深度在19 km附近.地震序列的双差定位结果显示：永清地震序列震中呈北东向窄带展布,表明此次地震主要向北东向破裂;深度集中分布在17~19 km,整体形态近于铅直,显示发震断裂具有走向北东、倾向南东、倾角陡立的特征,与节面Ⅱ的性质比较吻合,推测节面Ⅱ为发震断层面.将发震断层面参数与震源区附近断裂性质进行对比分析,形成了关于廊固凹陷附近区域地震构造的一些认识：（1）推测永清地震的发震构造不是地壳浅部发育的先存正断裂,而是震源区下方一条地壳尺度的深断裂,该深断裂为新生断裂,具有右旋走滑正断性质,倾角陡峭、近于直立、宽度较大,向上与夏垫断裂相通.（2）综合震源区附近多条深地震反射剖面探测结果,推测永清地震的发震断裂与新夏垫断裂同属一条断裂,称为：新夏垫深断裂.该断裂从夏垫向西南方向延伸至文安,并可能与霸县-束鹿-邯郸断裂带相联系,总长度超过150 km.（3）基于2006年文安M5.1地震与2018年永清M4.3地震在震源机制上的相似性及震源位置上的关联性,结合区域构造条件,认为两次地震的发震构造均为新夏垫深断裂.（4）根据研究区几次显著地震的震源深度分布特征,参考区域断层构造、电性结构和流变学模型,推测活化克拉通块体新生断裂的脆韧性转换界面深度在15 km附近.

     

Field measurements of normal and shear fracture compliance

Field estimates of the normal and shear compliance of water saturated fractures were obtained from a seismic experiment carried out on a wave‐cut platform of Upper Caithness Flagstone on the North coast of Scotland. The rocks are cut by two orthogonal sets of vertical fractures. Vertical geophones were glued to the rock surface and seismic waves were generated by striking the surface with a sledge hammer. First arrival traveltimes were obtained for source‐receiver distances up to 30 m. Differences of compressional velocity with direction across the platform were interpreted as resulting from the compliance of the fractures intersected by the transmitted waves. The average normal compliance for fractures at this site is 4.0 × 10^?12± 1.0 × 10^?12 m/Pa. There is much less certainty about the precise value of shear compliance. However, the normal/shear compliance ratio is determined to be ≤0.1.     

Water contents and deformation mechanism in ductile shear zone of middle crust along the Red River fault in southwestern China

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we measured water contents of quartz and feldspar for four thin sections of felsic mylonite and two thin sections of banded granitic gneiss col- lected from a ductile shear zone of middle crust along the Red Rivers-Ailaoshan active fault. The ab- sorbance spectra and peak position suggest that water in quartz and feldspar of granitic gneiss and felsic mylonite occurs mainly as hydroxyl in crystal defect, but also contains inclusion water and grain boundary water. The water contents of minerals were calculated based on the absorbance spectra. Water content of feldspar in granitic gneiss is 0.05 wt%-0.15 wt%, and that of quartz 0.03 wt%-0.09 wt%. Water content of feldspar ribbon and quartz ribbon in felsic mylonite is 0.095 wt%-0.32 wt%, and those of fine-grained feldspar and quartz are 0.004 wt%-0.052 wt%. These data show that the water content of weakly deformed feldspar and quartz ribbons is much higher than that of strongly deformed fine-grained feldspar and quartz. This suggests that strong shear deformation leads to breakage of the structures of constitutional water, inclusion and grain boundary water in feldspar and quartz, and most of water in minerals of mylonite is released to the upper layer in the crust.     

Variable and conflicting shear stress estimates inside a boundary layer with sediment transport

This paper presents a comparison between two methods for estimating shear stress in an atmospheric internal boundary layer over a beach surface under optimum conditions, using wind velocities measured synchronously at 13 heights over a 1.7 m vertical array using ultrasonic anemometry. The Reynolds decomposition technique determines at‐a‐point shear stresses at each measurement height, while the Law‐of‐the‐Wall yields a single boundary layer estimate based on fitting a logarithmic velocity profile through the array data. Analysis reveals significant inconsistencies between estimates derived from the two methods, on both a whole‐event basis and as time‐series. Despite a near‐perfect fit of the Law‐of‐the‐Wall, the point estimates of Reynolds shear stress vary greatly between heights, calling into question the assumed presence of a constant stress layer. A comparison with simultaneously measured sediment transport finds no relationship between transport activity and the discrepancies in shear stress estimates. Results do show, however, that Reynolds shear stress measured nearer the bed exhibits slightly better correlation with sand transport rate. The findings serve as a major cautionary message to the interpretation and application of single‐height measurements of Reynolds shear stress and their equivalence to Law‐of‐the‐Wall derived estimates, and these concerns apply widely to boundary layer flows in general. © 2015 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.