Heat transfer and planetary evolution

The object of this account is to show how much one can interprete and predict about the present state of material forming planet size objects, despite the fact we do not and could never have the kind of exact or prior knowledge of initial conditions and in situ material behaviour that would make a formal mathematical analysis of the dynamical problems of planetary evolution an efficient or meaningful exercise The interest and usefulness of results obtained within these limitations stem from the highly non linear nature of planetary scale heat transfer problems when posed in any physically plausible form. The non linearity arising from a strongly temperature dependent rheology assumed for in situ planetary material is particularly valuable in deriving results insensitive to such uncertainties. Qualitatively, the thermal evolution of a planet is quite unlike that given by heat conduction calculation below a very superficial layer, and much unnecessary argument and confusion results from a persistent failure to recognise that fact. At depths that are no greater on average than a few tens of kilometres in the case of Earth, the temperature distribution is determined by a convective flow regime inaccessble to the laboratory experimenter and to the numerical methods regularly employed to study convective movement. A central and guiding quantitative result is the creation in homogeneous planet size objects having surface temperatures less than about half the absolute melting temperature of their material, of internal states with horizontally a veraged viscosity values 10²¹ poise. This happens in times short compared with the present Solar System age. The significance of this result for an understanding of such processes and features as isostasy, continental drift, a minimum in seismic S wave velocity in Earth's upper mantle, a uniformity of mantle viscosity values, the survival of liquid planetary cores and the differentiation of terrestrial planet material is examined. After a discussion and definition of lithospheric material, it is concluded that endogenous tectonic activity only continues on Earth's surface on account of water enhancing the deformability of its rocks.Metal/silicate differentiation of terrestrial planet material is predicted to have been a global scale catastrophic process in the many objects it formed predating the existing planets, but intersilicate and volatile/silicate separations are necessarily protracted, quasi continous processes arising from local shear instabilties in the convective flow of such a viscous material. In particular, these local magma producing instabilities require the involvement of lithospheric planetary material in convective movements and it is shown how this unsteadiness accounts for the distribution and salient features of planetary seismicity and vulcanicity at the present time.The picture that emerges for the state of Earth's silicate shell material after more than four billion years of average viscosity regulation and shear instability is one of chemical and isotopic heterogeneity on a wide range of length scales. The larger length scales of this range are introduced by the pattern of heterogeneity remixing rather than its generation. For example, at the largest scale, the predicted heterogeneity is radial and a feature indirectly arising from properties conferred on the shell material by major mineral phase transitions at depths 700km. These increase the adiabatic temperature gradient and have the effect of a barrier adequate in strength to prevent wholesale mixing of the material above and below for at least a large fraction of the Earth's history in which radiogenic heat has been the dominant cause of large scale internal movements. That such a barrier actually marks a chemical and isotopic heterogeneity of the mantle is because only the convective movements above it are prone to the shear heating instabilities on which differentiation absolutely depends. Many millions of such instabilities in this shallower shell material would by now have created a three dimensional heterogeneity extending downward in length scale to 1km. However, only 10% of this shell material has yet experienced these highly localised shear heating instabilities and one would predict a continuing emission of primitive volatile phases and a widespread metasomatism even if the same convective movements had not recycled material from the hydrosphere. Such recycling is a further aspect of convective self regulation.The mesoscale and lateral heterogeneity of near surface material more familiarly referred to as continental crust and its underlying mantle is another cumulative feature of the remixing process-in this case the result of separated ultrabasic and less refractory fractions of the upper shell material from many shear heating events being able to form superficial blocks, whose net buoyancy and coherency make them immune to entrainment and remixing by the radiogenically driven flow. This partial but permanent concentration of lower melting point silicate and volatile phases near the external surface has in turn caused a gradual increase of the horizontally averaged temperatures associated with the self regulating convective state at upper mantle depths. This thermal evolution has strengthened the barrier to convective mixing of the whole silicate shell presented by its major phase transitions but it could explain a persistent small scale incorporation of more primitive, i.e. less differentiated shell material from the phase transition region into the upper shell convective circulation.Clear your mind of cant (Johnson)     

Long-term variability of oxygen and mineral phosphorus concentrations in Lake Dal’nee (Kamchatka)

Many-year data on the concentrations of O₂ and mineral phosphorus in a fattening-spawning water body for the Pacific salmon (red salmon) are presented; the seasonal and year-to-year dynamics of these con-centrations are analyzed. It is found that the lake water mass features a high concentration of O₂, the upper 20-m layer being most aerated. It is shown that the year-to-year variability of the concentration of O₂ dissolved in the lake water depends on the amount of organic matter coming with groundwater and surface runoff. The oxygen and phosphorus regimes of the lake at low and abundant entries of puberal red salmon for spawning are considered.     

Very-high-resolution seismic and magnetic investigations of a chemical munition dumpsite in the Baltic Sea

Very-high-resolution (VHR) seismic and magnetic investigations were carried out over a chemical munition dumpsite in the Bornholm Basin, south-western Baltic Sea. The main goal of the investigations was to image the shallow internal structure of the dumpsite and to map the lateral and vertical distribution of the dumped war material. The shallow geology was imaged in great detail on the seismic data. Seven seismic–stratigraphic units were identified, related to different stages in the Holocene and late-glacial history. A large number of diapir-like features were observed that most likely represent fluid expulsion phenomena. Four shipwrecks were identified in the dumpsite area. The wrecks have partly sunk into the soft upper sediments, their height above the sea floor reaching no more than 2 m. Seismic and magnetic data indicate the presence of a large number of buried objects. In most cases there is a good correlation between the seismic and magnetic data sets. The objects are generally buried no deeper than 1 to 2 m. Their size varies between 1.5 and 5 m, occasionally up to 10 m. Shallow pits in the sea bed are likely due to the impact of dumping. The data confirm the wide variety of dumped war material ranging from bombs and shells to encasements and containers. The distribution of the buried objects seems rather heterogeneous, with locally high object concentrations surrounded by areas of lower object density. The results of this case study demonstrate the benefit of complementary, concurrent geophysical investigations for munition dumpsite research. Finally this will yield a better assessment of the current status of the dumpsite and the possible ecological risks related to the dumped war material.     

Red-Pelaged Harbour Seals, in Humboldt County, California: why some Seals Rust

In this paper we present data on the occurrence of red-pelaged harbour seals, Phoca vitulina, at a haul-out in Humboldt County, California. Density of red seals ranged from 4% to 17.5% (n=21) and was comparable to that reported for San Francisco Bay, being the highest documented worldwide. The red colouration is the result of natural inorganic iron oxide/hydroxide pigments (limonite), which are present in small patches on the beach sand of the seals haul-out at the mouth of the Mad River. Thorough analysis of the river water and ocean water excluded these as possible sources for the iron oxide/hydroxide pigments. We found that the manmade reinforcement of the river bank adjacent to the haul-out consisted of greenshist boulders with a very high iron content. Weathering of these rocks produces red iron oxide/hydroxide particles which are then redeposited by rain or river action in small patches across the haul-out. Seals receive their red colouration through direct physical contact with these patches. SEM examination showed that these particles can adhere lastingly to the seals’ hair. Other studies provide reason for concern that this situation may detrimentally impact the seals’ health.     

亚热带地区发育于不同母岩风化壳上的红壤磁学特征对比及其环境意义

本研究对发育于亚热带地区花岗岩和变质岩风化壳之上的两个红壤剖面进行了系统的环境磁学测量及色度分析,探讨在同一地区不同母质上发育的红壤磁性差异的原因及其环境意义.研究区的两个剖面分别位于福建省南平市高铁北站和纺织厂附近,相距约15 km,气候条件基本相同.研究结果表明：（1）较强磁性的花岗岩母质层上发育的南平北站红壤（NPN）,在发育过程因母质层中多畴（MD）颗粒磁赤铁矿化的磁铁矿溶解,剖面上部的淋溶层和淀积层虽以较细的稳定单畴（SSD）颗粒和少量的假单畴（PSD）颗粒磁铁矿为主,但剖面磁性自下而上减弱.相较而言,南纺红壤（NF）剖面发育在磁性较弱的变质砂岩上,其过渡层和母质层以赤铁矿为主,因成壤过程中生成较细的超顺磁（SP）磁铁矿使得土壤淋溶层和淀积层磁性增强;说明母质不同是亚热带地区红壤磁性差异的主要原因.（2） NPN和NF两个剖面的气候条件基本相同,磁性差异比色度指标差异更为显著.亚热带地区因剖面受母质影响显著,整体磁性特征不能反映气候;黄度和红度的比值（b^*/a^*）远小于磁性的差异,说明针铁矿和赤铁矿的比值更能反映研究区的平均气候状况,即反映次生磁性矿物含量的参数为更适合的气候指标.     

Magnetostratigraphic and paleoclimatic studies on the Red Earth Formation from the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan Province,China

Two red earth sections from the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan Province are dated using geomagnetic methods. The Brunhes/Matuyama (B/M) reversal boundary is recognized within the upper parts of the two sections,and the Jaramillo normal subzone occurs in the middle-lower parts of the vermiculated red soil (VRS),which indicate that the parent material for the VRS deposited in the middle Quaternary. Sedimentologic and geochemical studies suggest that the Chengdu Clay and part of the parent material for the VRS are of aeolian origin. Pollen analysis indicates that the Chengdu Plain was mainly covered by needle-leaved forest with a cool to cool temperate humid climate when the parent material for the VRS deposited. The relatively cool to cool temperate climatic condition in the Chengdu Plain in the middle Quaternary,which may be caused by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau,was a response to the geo-environmental changes of global significance.     

红外热成像技术在震后房屋损坏快速鉴定中的应用研究.

本文引入了目前地震现场房屋快速安全性鉴定工作的辅助手段——红外热像无损检测技术,借用图像处理手段、数学统计方法等,探讨了震后房屋破坏红外图像的表现效果,分析了红外图像与各影响因素的关系.文中以汶川地震现场建筑物的典型震害为代表,重点分析了框架结构、砖混结构、简单结构房屋的红外图像表现.本文所涉及的建筑材料主要有水泥砂浆、钢筋混凝土、红砖、黏土、楠木、石棉瓦、水泥板等:表面装饰层材质有红漆、白色抹灰、黄色涂料、白色壁纸、红色瓷砖、白色瓷砖等.材料的物理性质不同,其表现出的红外图像特征差别较大.统计相关分析结果显示:图像的表现效果在下午时段优于中午时段和上午时段;晴天拍摄图像的表现效果最佳,雨天次之,阴天最差.同时,要考虑红外热像无损检测技术检测漏水破坏的优势,充分利用雨天对建筑物破坏的影响;光照射情况与红外图像表现效果的关系为:直面照射条件优于倾斜照射和不能照射;破坏程度相关分析统计结果显示,构件的“基本完好、轻微破坏、中等破坏”这3个破坏等级,随着破坏程度的递进,图像的表现效果增强;而构件的“中等破坏、严重破坏、毁坏”这3个破坏等级,随着破坏程度的递进,图像的表现效果无显著变化;对结构类型数据统计结果显示,底框架结构图像的表现效果优于砖混结构、框架结构和简单结构;装饰层材质分类相关统计分析结果显示,图像表现效果与材质性质、颜色、表面粗糙状况等因素有关.     

Geochemical comparison between minettes and kersantites from the Western European Hercynian orogen: trace element and PbSrNd isotope constraints on their origin

Trace element and isotopic characteristics of late Carboniferous to early Permian minettes and kersantites have been determined. These lamprophyres have been sampled throughout the Western European Hercynian orogen, from Brittany to the west to Schwarzwald to the east. In spite of sharp petrological differences reflected by mineralogy and major element geochemistry, minettes and kersantites exhibit close identity with respect to trace element and isotopic features. These features comprise enrichment in incompatible elements, highCs/Rb and lowCe/Pb ratios, Ta and Ti relative depletion, high abundance in transition elements and highNi/Mg ratios. Pb isotope ratios are undistinguishable from those measured on Hercynian continental crust. Initial¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios are between0.5120 (ε_i −5) and0.5122 (ε_i −1) for minettes and kersantites whereas initial⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios vary between 0.7055–0.710 for minettes and 0.707–0.708 for kersantites. No simple mixing relations are visible on RbSr and SmNd isochron diagrams. The exceptional homogeneity of these geochemical characteristics along a 1000 km traverse does not allow for an hypothesis of enrichment through upper level assimilation and thus leads to propose that these rocks originated through melting of a mantle enriched by recycling of crustal material.     

The type three ordinary chondrities: A review

The ordinary chondrites are the largest group of meteorites, and the type 3 ordinary chondrites are those which experienced only very mild parent metamorphism; their study provides a unique means of studying the first solid material to from in the early solar system which is either free from the effects of mild metamorphism, or in which the effects of mild metamorphism can be distinguished from primary, nebular effects. In this paper we list all known type 3 ordinary chondrites and references to their study, their compositional data and data relating to the metamorphic history. We review current theories on their formation and the effects of metamorphism, with emphasis on quantitative considerations. Studies on the thermoluminescence properties of these meteorites, which have provided many new insights into their metamorphic history, are reviewed. Some of the least metamorphosed meteorites show evidence for aqueous alteration, which provides a link between the type 3 ordinary chondrites and objects containing water in various forms the carbonaceous chondrites, comets and planets with wet mantles.     

1979年加州凯奥蒂湖地震序列震源机制分析:美国加州地震比中国大陆地震破裂过程简单的证据

本文详细分析了1979年美国加利福尼亚凯奥蒂湖地震序列在时间和空间之中发展的非常有序的过程.对凯奥蒂湖地震序列,在三种情况下分别做出34次地震的断层面解.分析了美国地质调查局观测报告中地震初动的可信性.论证了伯克利加利福尼亚大学的地壳模型与美国地质调查局的地壳模型对于求断层面解的等效性.与唐山地震序列相比,凯奥蒂湖地震序列表现出4个主要特点:1.震中分布呈规则的狭长条带,与断层的关系密切;2.断层面解中出现的矛盾初动少;3.断层面解之间的一致性好;4.断层面解随时间没有明显的变化.这些都表明,凯奥蒂湖地震序列比唐山地震序列特征简单,前者基本上是沿卡拉维拉斯断层发生的面破裂,而后者却是在一定震源区中发生的体破裂.唐山地震序列的特征在中国大陆是有代表性的.若凯奥蒂湖地震序列的这些特点,在加州也具有代表性,则这两个地震序列的差别,可以作为美国加州地震比中国大陆地震发生环境和发生过程都简单的一个证据.     

1979年加州凯奥蒂湖地震序列震源机制分析:美国加州地震比中国大陆地震破裂过程简单的证据

本文详细分析了1979年美国加利福尼亚凯奥蒂湖地震序列在时间和空间之中发展的非常有序的过程.对凯奥蒂湖地震序列,在三种情况下分别做出34次地震的断层面解.分析了美国地质调查局观测报告中地震初动的可信性.论证了伯克利加利福尼亚大学的地壳模型与美国地质调查局的地壳模型对于求断层面解的等效性.与唐山地震序列相比,凯奥蒂湖地震序列表现出4个主要特点:1.震中分布呈规则的狭长条带,与断层的关系密切;2.断层面解中出现的矛盾初动少;3.断层面解之间的一致性好;4.断层面解随时间没有明显的变化.这些都表明,凯奥蒂湖地震序列比唐山地震序列特征简单,前者基本上是沿卡拉维拉斯断层发生的面破裂,而后者却是在一定震源区中发生的体破裂.唐山地震序列的特征在中国大陆是有代表性的.若凯奥蒂湖地震序列的这些特点,在加州也具有代表性,则这两个地震序列的差别,可以作为美国加州地震比中国大陆地震发生环境和发生过程都简单的一个证据.     

Statistical identification of orographic effects in the regional analysis of extreme rainfall

Regional models of extreme rainfall must address the spatial variability induced by orographic obstacles. However, the proper detection of orographic effects often depends on the availability of a well‐designed rain gauge network. The aim of this study is to investigate a new method for identifying and characterizing the effects of orography on the spatial structure of extreme rainfall at the regional scale, including where rainfall data are lacking or fail to describe rainfall features thoroughly. We analyse the annual maxima of daily rainfall data in the Campania region, an orographically complex region in Southern Italy, and introduce a statistical procedure to identify spatial outliers in a low order statistic (namely the mean). The locations of these outliers are then compared with a pattern of orographic objects that has been a priori identified through the application of an automatic geomorphological procedure. The results show a direct and clear link between a particular set of orographic objects and a local increase in the spatial variability of extreme rainfall. This analysis allowed us to objectively identify areas where orography produces enhanced variability in extreme rainfall. It has direct implications for rain gauge network design criteria and has led to promising developments in the regional analysis of extreme rainfall. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

North American microtektites from the Caribbean Sea and their fission track age

Over 6000 microscopic glass spherules between 125 μm and 1 mm in diameter were found in a sediment core (RC9-58) from the Caribbean Sea. These glassy objects are mostly confined to a zone ～ 40 cm thick at a depth of ～ 250 cm. We believe that the microscopic glass objects are microtektites belonging to the North American strewnfield, based on their geographical location, appearance, physical properties, stratigraphic age (middle Upper Eocene), fission track age (～34.6 my) and major element compositions. The occurrence of North American microtektites in the Caribbean Sea indicates that the North American strewnfield is two to three times larger than previously indicated. An estimate on the abundance of microtektites in core RC9-58 indicates that the North American strewnfield may contain greater than 10¹⁷ g of tektite material.     

Preservation of extraterrestrial 3He in 480-Ma-old marine limestones.

We have measured the helium abundance and isotopic composition of a suite of Lower Ordovician marine limestones and associated fossil meteorites from Kinnekulle, Sweden. Limestone 3He/4He ratios as high as 11.5 times the atmospheric value in fused samples and up to 23 times atmospheric in a single step-heat fraction indicate the presence of extraterrestrial helium, and demonstrate that at least a fraction of the extraterrestrial 3He carried by interplanetary dust particles must be retained against diffusive and diagenetic losses for up to 480 Ma. The carrier phase has not been identified but is not magnetic. Extrapolation of high-temperature 3He diffusivities in these sediments is consistent with strong retention of extraterrestrial 3He under ambient Earth-surface conditions. Combination of the observed helium concentrations with sedimentation rates estimated from conodont biostratigraphy suggest that the flux of extraterrestrial 3He in the Early Ordovician was about 0.5 x 10(-12) cm3 STP cm-2 ka-1, ignoring potential post-deposition helium loss. This value is indistinguishable from the average 3He flux estimated for the Cenozoic Era. In contrast, previous studies of fossil meteorites, Ir abundances, and Os isotopic ratios in the limestone suggest that the total accretion rate of extraterrestrial material during the studied interval was at least an order of magnitude higher than the Cenozoic average. This disparity may reflect significant post-depositional loss of 3He from IDPs within these old limestones; if so, the match between the Ordovician flux and the Cenozoic average would be fortuitous. Alternatively, the size distribution of infalling objects during the Early Ordovician may have been enriched only in extraterrestrial material too large to retain 3He during atmospheric entry heating (> approximately 30 micrometers). The fossil meteorites themselves also preserve extraterrestrial helium. Meteorite 3He concentrations of 2 to 9 x 10(-12) cm3 STP g-1 are several orders of magnitude lower than found in most modern meteorites, suggesting very substantial helium loss (probably >99.9%) from these chemically altered objects. The Meteorites carry 3He concentrations only a factor of a few higher than the host limestones. The meteorites themselves cannot be the source of the extraterrestrial 3He observed in the limestones.     

红层泥岩填料的力学特性及本构模型研究

在红层泥岩地区进行道路工程施工时,考虑到材料短缺和成本问题,常常采用就地取材的方式作为路基填料。为了研究红层泥岩填料的适用性,选取甘肃省永登县某工点的风化红层泥岩填料为研究对象,在室内开展一系列三轴CU剪切试验,探究含水率、围压和压实度对应力-应变曲线、峰值(残余)强度、抗剪强度指标的影响,并对不同类型的应力-应变曲线,分别采用相应的模型进行拟合。研究结果表明：含水率、围压和压实度对其物理力学特性具有显著影响;对符合应变软化型规律的曲线,采用沈珠江的双曲线模型拟合的规律一般;对符合应变硬化型规律的曲线,采用Duncan-Chang模型拟合的规律较好。研究结果可以为甘肃省红层泥岩路基的病害处治与维修提供参考依据。     

Porosity and pathway determination in crystalline rock by positron emission tomography and neutron radiography

This study demonstrates that positron emission tomography (PET) and neutron radiography (NR) techniques are complementary methods for determining the fluid pathway and porosity in crystalline rock. After preliminary injection of an organic solvent (e.g. isopropanol) front followed by the injection of the polymer solution (e.g. epoxy used for both techniques) and resin hardening, rock cutting may be performed. Flow pathway may be imaged by using a β⁺ emitter (e.g. ⁶⁸Ga) in the resin. With a high-resolution PET camera, determination of the original water carrier features is possible in granodiorite pieces 20 cm in size and in simulated features with porosities of the order of 0.2. The use of a β⁺ tracer and the camera field, however, limit the lateral resolution of the technique (10 mm). Neutron radiography makes it possible to visualize the simulated porous phases by neutron transmission. The transmission process depends on the neutron scattering properties of the hydrogen-rich material (e.g. epoxy resin). Combination of 2D pictures may rebuild the 3D pattern. Lateral resolution may be in the range of 1 mm; however, the thickness of the rock sample must not exceed 10 cm. Complementarity of these techniques is discussed and they are compared with other methods used to determine porosity.     

Robotic photosieving from low‐cost multirotor sUAS: a proof‐of‐concept

Measurement of riverbed material grain sizes is now a routine part of fieldwork in fluvial geomorphology and lotic ecology. In the last decade, several authors have proposed remote sensing approaches of grain size measurements based on terrestrial and aerial imagery. Given the current rise of small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) applications in geomorphology, there is now increasing interest in the application of these remotely sensed grain size mapping methods to sUAS imagery. However, success in this area has been limited owing to two fundamental problems: lack of constraint of image scale for sUAS imagery and blurring effects in sUAS images and resulting orthomosaics. In this work, we solve the former by showing that SfM‐photogrammetry can be used in a direct georeferencing (DG) workflow (i.e. with no ground validation) in order to predict image scale within margins of 3%. We then propose a novel approach of robotic photosieving of dry exposed riverbed grains that relies on near‐ground images acquired from a low‐cost sUAS and which does not require the presence of ground control points or visible scale objects. We demonstrate that this absence of scale objects does not affect photosieving outputs thus resulting in a low‐cost and efficient sampling method for surficial grains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessing the use of U–Th methods to determine the age of cold-water calcareous algae

Calcitic crusts of calcareous red algae could be suitable material for age determination of raised marine deposits and palaeothermometry at annual to sub-annual resolution. We examined the potential of U–Th dating of cold-water calcareous algae by analysing fossil specimens (n=10) from Kapp Ekholm (Svalbard) and recent specimens from Norway (n=3) and Scotland (n=1). After initial measurements using α-spectrometry, thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS) was used to study the material in more detail. Recent specimens contain 0.19–1.55 μg g⁻¹ U, and the measured (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios vary between 1.12 and 1.30. Fossil specimens contain 1–168 μg g⁻¹ U, and display variable and highly elevated initial (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios. In general, the TIMS results show increasing (²³⁴U/²³⁸U) activity ratios and concentrations of U and Th with increasing stratigraphic age. From this it is evident that marine calcareous red algae contain U in-vivo and they experience substantial post-mortem uptake of U. We conclude that direct U–Th dating of fossil calcareous algae from raised marine deposits is not viable without further geochemical understanding of the in-vivo uptake and post-depositional pathways of U and Th in such deposits. Despite the convincing open-system behaviour of the material, comparison with previously published chronostratigraphy from the site shows that the calcareous algae generally yield ages that are too old. This is in contrast to the expected result based on simple continuous post-mortem U accumulation and calls for a complex model comprising migration of U and multi-component addition of Th (detrital/colloidal) to explain the observed trends.     

玉溪-临沧剖面宽角地震探测——红河断裂带及滇南地壳结构研究

云南位于南北地震带南段,地震活动具有频度高、强度大的特点,中小地震几乎遍及云南南部,是中国大陆内部地震活动最强的地区之一.滇南地区跨越多个重要的地质构造单元和多条地震带,其中红河断裂带是跨越该地区的一条大型的走滑断裂带,作为印支地块和华南地块两大地块的分界断裂,对人们认识板块相互运动及其深部动力学背景具有重要意义.中国地震局于2010年启动了"中国地震科学台阵探测--南北地震带南段"项目,在云南省中西部跨越红河断裂带布设一条近东西向的深地震宽角反射/折射探测剖面,本文利用该东西向深地震宽角反射/折射剖面来研究红河断裂带及滇南地区详细的地壳结构及其孕震背景.研究结果表明:沿测线地壳结构呈西薄东厚的特征,以红河断裂带为界,断裂带以西地壳较薄,约34 km,以东地壳加厚至44 km左右;红河断裂带两侧速度结构具有明显的差异,断裂带西侧速度较低,东侧速度明显偏高.由震相特征及获取的地壳结构可以看出,红河断裂带两侧由浅至深速度结构的异常特征说明该古缝合带两侧块体地壳结构岩性的巨大差异性.