Water exchange between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter

Variability in water-exchange time between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter is investigated based on the results of intensive field observation from November 2000 to March 2001. Water-exchange time between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter mainly depends on the strength of northerly monsoon, being about 16 days under the weak monsoon and about 12 days under the strong monsoon. Moreover, it becomes longer by about 1 day in spring tide and shorter in neap tide due to the coupling effect of estuarine circulation and vertical mixing. Water-exchange time also varies depending on the open-ocean condition. When the warm water mass approaches from the Pacific Ocean to the mouth of Tokyo Bay through the eastern channel of Sagami Bay, which connects Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, water-exchange time becomes longer by about 2 days because the warm water mass is blocked in the surface layer at the bay mouth. On the other hand, when the warm water mass approaches to the mouth of Tokyo Bay through the western channel of Sagami Bay, water-exchange time becomes shorter by about 1 day because the warm water mass intrudes into the middle or lower layers of Tokyo Bay. Such different behavior of warm water mass at the mouth of Tokyo Bay is due to the difference in density of approaching warm water masses, that is, the density of the warm water mass through the eastern channel is smaller than that of the warm water mass through the western channel of Sagami Bay.Responsible Editors: Yens Kappenberg     

Numerical modeling of tidal currents, sediment transport and morphological evolution in Hangzhou Bay, China

A 2D depth-averaged numerical model is set up to simulate the macro-scale hydrodynamic characteristics, sediment transport patterns and morphological evolution in Hangzhou Bay, a large macro-tidal estuary on the eastern coast of China. By incorporating the shallow water equations, the suspended sediment transport equation and the mass-balance equation for sediment; short-term hydrodynamics, sediment transport and long-term morphological evolution for Hangzhou Bay are simulated and the underlying physical mechanisms are analyzed. The model reproduces the spatial distribution patterns of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) in Hangzhou Bay, characterized by three high SSC zones and two low SSC zones. It also correctly simulates the residual flow, the residual sediment transport and the sediment accumulation patterns in Hangzhou Bay. The model results are in agreement with previous studies based on field measurements. The residual flow and the residual sediment transport are landwards directed in the northern part of the bay and seawards directed in the southern part. Sediment accumulation takes place in most areas of the bay. Harmonic analysis revealed that the tide is flood-dominant in the northern part of the bay and ebb-dominant in the southern part of the bay. The strength of the flood-dominance increases landwards along the northern Hangzhou Bay. In turn sediment transport in Hangzhou Bay is controlled by this tidal asymmetry pattern. In addition, the direction of tidal propagation in the East China Sea, the presence of the archipelago in the southeast and the funnel-shaped geometry of the bay, play important roles for the patterns of sediment transport and sediment accumulation respectively.     

Intense diurnal surface currents in the Bay of La Paz,Mexico

Currents in the northern Bay of La Paz were examined using an 8-month Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) record collected in the upper 185 m of the water column during 2007. Flow variability was dominated by tidal motions, which accounted for 43% (33% diurnal, 10% semidiurnal) of the total kinetic energy. The tidal motions had a pronounced vertical structure dominated within a shallow (∼30 m thick) surface layer by intense counterclockwise (CCW) rotary S₁ diurnal radiational currents that were highly coherent with the counterclockwise seabreeze. Motions within the semidiurnal frequency band were primarily associated with significant counterclockwise S₂ radiational tidal currents, which were also coherent with the seabreeze. Both S₁ and S₂ tidal ellipses in the upper layer were aligned perpendicular to the bay entrance with mean semi-major axes of 55 and 20 cm/s, respectively. Below the surface layer, tidal currents decayed rapidly to relatively weak, clockwise rotary barotropic motions. In contrast to those for radiational harmonics, tidal ellipses of the gravitational constituents (M₂, K₁ and O₁) were oriented cross-bay. Energy within the diurnal frequency band in the surface layer was dominated by a coherent component (barotropic, phase-locked baroclinic and radiational), which accounted for roughly 65% (59% from S₁ alone) of the total diurnal kinetic energy. Of the remaining diurnal band energy, 18% was associated with an incoherent baroclinic component and 17% with a background noise component. Below 30 m depth, the corresponding estimates are 40%, 32% and 28%, respectively. The persistent, surface-intensified CCW rotary currents observed at the mooring site are assumed to be forced by strong CCW seabreeze winds in the presence of a “slippery” low-density surface layer. This response may be further augmented by topographic narrowing at the bay entrance and by the close proximity of the diurnal and inertial frequency bands in the region.     

Disturbance of recruitment success of mantis shrimp in Tokyo Bay associated with effects of hypoxia on the early life history

We investigated effects of severe hypoxia (dissolved oxygen <1 ml l⁻¹) on recruitment of mantis shrimp Oratosquilla oratoria in Tokyo Bay. Ten-year field surveys were conducted to examine quantitative relationships in annual mean densities of larvae and juveniles, and spatial distribution of juveniles and severe hypoxia. There was no significant correlation between annual mean densities of larvae and juveniles, suggesting that mortality during larval or juvenile stages varies among years, which might have regulated abundance of young-of-the-year juveniles. Juvenile density was low in the severely hypoxic area, implying that hypoxia could affect survivals and spatial distribution of juveniles. Meanwhile, there are yearly fluctuations in juvenile density in normoxic areas of both northern and southern part of the bay. This evidence suggests that abundance of post-settled juveniles might have been determined by not only effects of hypoxia, but also other factors influencing mortality during the early life stages.     

垂直和倾斜断层围陷波的谱元法数值模拟及其波场特征对比

Fault zone trapped waves( F ZTWs) m ainly travel along the fractured fault zone( F Z)which is of low velocity and high attenuation. FZTWs often carry significant information about a fault  s internal structure,so it is important to understand their wave field characteristics for FZ structure inversion. Most previous simulations are based on vertical faults,while in this paper we implement the FZTW simulations on vertical or inclined faults and compare their wave fields in both time and frequency domains. The results show that the existence of fault zone and inclined angle of fault can significantly influence the features of waves near faults. In amplitude,a fault zone can generate a larger amplitude of waves. The velocity contrast between two walls of fault may lead to amplification of amplitudes in the low velocity fault wall. In frequency,a fault zone tends to influence the waves in the low frequency range. In a pattern of particle polarization of FZTWs,it tends to be single direction for vertical faults but fork to multiple directions for inclined faults,which might provide a new way to study the fault zone with FZTWs. These conclusions may be valuable for FZ structure inversion,and will enhance the knowledge on near-fault strong ground motions.     

Erosion of a cyclic saltmarsh in Morecambe Bay,North-West England

This paper presents results of investigations (1983–1992) into rates of change, morphology and processes occurring during the current erosional phase in a Morecambe Bay cyclic saltmarsh, in which it has narrowed from c. 1000 m (1975) to c. 150 m (1992). Monthly monitoring of marsh edge erosion and creek knickpoint retreat has revealed temporal and spatial variations. Highest frequency changes of low magnitude coincided with non-storm conditions and overmarsh tides above 5·80 m OD, which submerged the whole marsh. Less frequent changes of greater magnitude were associated with both overmarsh tides and strong onshore winds over 15 ms^?1, which generated high energy waves. The lowest frequency change of greatest magnitude occurred during an extreme onshore storm event and surge. Morphologically, during the erosional phase, a low angled landward slope was generated as erosion of the c. 0·5 m high active seaward cliff coincided with vertical accretion of 0·07 ma^?1 of relatively coarse sediment on the marsh surface immediately landward. Tidal hydrodynamics strongly influence the saltmarsh, which is confined to the upper 2·5 m of the macrotidal range (maximum c. 10·5 m). During overmarsh spring tides (maximum creek flood flow rate 0·13 ms^?1, up to bankfull level), flooding begins over lower landward creek banks before submerging the higher marsh edge. During ebb tides, water trapped by this higher edge can escape seaward only via the creeks (maximum ebb velocities 2·07 ms^?1 below bankfull level). Wave erosion also is limited to spring tides. Monthly mapping of the Kent Estuary channel pattern seaward of the saltmarsh showed that medium term higher erosion rates were related to the presence of a large channel, which lowered the adjacent creek base level and allowed larger waves to attack the marsh edge than when a sandbank flanked the marsh. Major River Kent channel shifts appear to initiate accretional or erosional phases of cyclic saltmarsh development.     

1927年古浪8级地震的破裂习性及破裂机制的数值模拟

1927年古浪8级地震是继1920年海原8．5级地震之后发生在海原一祁连山断裂带上的另一次特大地震。对这次地震的破裂习性，前人的研究结果存在较大分歧。本文在多探槽揭露和地面追踪调查基础上，结合相关的历史资料分析后，认为本次地震是由构成古浪推覆体的天桥沟一黄羊川断裂、皇城双塔断裂冬青顶断裂段以及武威一天祝隐伏断裂等共同作用的结果。对古浪推覆体平面和剖面变形机制的有限元数值模拟结果显示，其应力和应变的集中区主要分布在天桥沟一黄羊川断裂西段、皇城一双塔断裂冬青顶一带以及武威一天祝隐伏断裂和古浪一双塔断裂所在的古浪峡一带，这与地震地表破裂带的展布是一致的，同时也进一步说明了1927年古浪8级地震是该推覆体整体活动的结果。     

中国太湖梅梁湾湖流及散度场：水—气耦合模式

Research is conducted on the distribution features of flow and divergence fields under the stress of ununiform and unsteady wind at Meiliang Bay on Lake Taihu by using a 3D atmospheric boundary layer model and a 2D hydrodynamic model for the area of the lake. Some meaningful results were achieved.     

地下岩体应力场-渗流场-热场三场耦合作用的数值模拟研究初探

在地下岩体变形、地震的孕育与发生过程中,多种物理场、化学场是同时存在并相互影响的,其中应力场、渗流场和热场是其最重要的物理场.文中综述了近40年来地下岩体应力场-渗流场-热场三场耦合作用的研究现状,基于渗流场与热场、应力场与热场、以及三场耦合作用的研究,从场与场之间相互影响关系入手,综合分析了从以变量为媒介到以场为媒介,从松散耦合到强耦合,从观测统计模型到数值模拟的发展历程,并阐述了地下岩体三场耦合存在的问题和发展趋势.     

Wind effects on the lateral structure of density-driven circulation in Chesapeake Bay

The response of the density-driven circulation in the Chesapeake Bay to wind forcing was studied with numerical experiments. A model of the bay with realistic bathymetry was first applied to produce the density-driven flow under average river discharge and tidal forcing. Subsequently, four spatially uniform wind fields (northeasterly, northwesterly, southwesterly, and southeasterly) were imposed to examine the resulting cross-estuary structure of salinity and flow fields. In general, northeasterly and northwesterly winds intensified the density-driven circulation in the upper and middle reaches of the bay, whereas southeasterly and southwesterly winds weakened it. The response was different in the lower bay, where downwind flow from the upper and middle reaches of the bay competed with onshore/offshore coastal flows. Wind remote effects were dominant, over local effects, on volume transports through the bay entrance. However, local effects were more influential in establishing the sea-level slopes that drove subtidal flows and salinity fields in most of the bay. The effect of vertical stratification on wind-induced flows was also investigated by switching it off. The absence of stratification allowed development of Ekman layers that reached depths of the same order as the water depth. Consequently, bathymetric effects became influential on the homogeneous flow structure causing the wind-induced flow inside the bay to show a marked transverse structure: downwind over the shallow areas and upwind in the channels. In the presence of stratification, Ekman layers became shallower and the wind-induced currents showed weaker transverse structure than those that developed in the absence of stratification. In essence, the wind-driven flows were horizontally sheared under weak stratification and vertically sheared under stratified conditions.     

低速带的波场数值模拟及影响因素初步分析

低速带具有“自由表面、低速度、高吸收”的特征,能引起反射波能量减弱,产生很强的频散,造成近地表波场畸变,严重影响地震勘探的精度。而地震采集过程又不可避免遇到以下低速带问题:①低速带存在与否会对地震波传播造成什么影响;②近地表变化大,怎么才能得到精确的低速带参数;③存在低速带时,激发井深、最佳的药量(与子波频率有关)、最佳的耦合(与低速带速度相关)等采集参数会对采集资料的品质产生什么影响。本文通过数值模拟,集中对低速带与地震波激发的井深、速度、子波主频等核心采集参数的关系进行分析研究,同时在低速带背景下对数值模拟的网格、边界等问题也进行了讨论。模拟得到的波场特征及低速带参数影响的机理分析,对做好野外地震波激发,获取高品质的地震资料,具有理论意义和指导作用。     

Hydrochemical characteristics and salinization processes of groundwater in the shallow aquifer of Eastern Laizhou Bay,China

Groundwater salinization has become a crucial environmental problem worldwide and is considered the most widespread form of groundwater contamination in the coastal zone. In this study, a hydrochemical investigation was conducted in the eastern coastal shallow aquifer of Laizhou Bay to identify the hydrochemical characteristics and the salinity of groundwater using ionic ratios, deficit or excess of each ions, saturation indices and factor analysis. The results indicate that groundwater in the study area showed wide ranges and high standard deviations for most of hydrochemical parameters and can be classified into two hydrochemical facies, Ca²⁺‐Mg²⁺‐Cl^‐ facies and Na⁺‐Cl^‐ facies. The ionic ratio, deficit or excess of each ions and SI were applied to evaluate hydrochemical processes. The results obtained indicate that the salinization processes in the coastal zones were inverse cation exchange, dissolution of calcite and dolomite, and intensive agricultural practices. Factor analysis shows that three factors were determined (Factor 1: TDS, EC, Cl^‐, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and SO₄^2‐; Factor 2: HCO₃^‐ and pH; Factor 3: NO₃^‐ and pH), representing the signature of seawater intrusion in the coastal zone, weathering of water–soil/rock interaction, and nitrate contamination, respectively. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

渤海湾盆地黄骅坳陷应力场的三维数值模拟分析

采用有限元方法模拟了渤海湾盆地黄骅坳陷的现今应力场特征.模型的构建主要基于黄骅坳陷精细三维地震数据体,包括了七个主要层序底面及近真实的断层产状.根据模拟结果,对比已知油气藏的分布位置和断裂的展布方向,定量分析了黄骅坳陷第一主应力、第三主应力、应力强度以及主应力方向的分布特征,并探讨了影响黄骅坳陷构造特征的主要因素.据此,得出以下认识:1)通过改变模型的边界条件发现,在右旋剪切作用下模型中压性应力场低值区的分布特征及主应力方向分别与黄骅坳陷中已知油藏的分布及断裂展布方向具有较好的对应关系.2)黄骅坳陷内构造样式及其构造应力场方向自北向南存在一定的差异,而造成这种差异的原因与地形的变化、沧东断层空间形态的变化、断层组合样式的变化以及滑脱面的变化密切相关.     

Using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and tritium to improve conceptual model of groundwater flow in the South Coast Aquifers of Laizhou Bay,China

The southern coastal plain of Laizhou Bay, which is the area most seriously affected by salt water intrusion in north China, is a large alluvial depression, which represents one of the most important hydrogeological units in the coastal region of northern China. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs, including CFC‐11, CFC‐12 and CFC‐113) and tritium were used together for dating groundwater up to 50 years old in the study area. There are two cones of depression, caused by intensive over‐exploitation of fresh groundwater in the south and brine water in the north. The assigned CFC apparent ages for shallow groundwater range from 8 a to >50 a. A binary mixing model based on CFC‐113 and CFC‐12 concentrations in groundwater was used to estimate fractions of young and pre‐modern water in shallow aquifers and to identify groundwater mixing processes during saltwater intrusion. Discordance between concentrations of different CFC compounds indicate that shallow groundwater around the Changyi cone of depression is vulnerable to contamination. Pumping activities, CFC contamination, mixing and/or a large unsaturated zone thickness (e.g. >20 m) may be reasons for some groundwater containing CFCs without tritium. Saline intrusion mainly occurs because of large head gradients between fresh groundwater in the south and saline water bodies in the north, forming a wedge of saline water below/within fresh aquifer layers. Both CFC and tritium dates indicate that the majority of the saline water is from >50 a, with little or no modern seawater component. Based on the distribution of CFC apparent ages, tritium contents plus chemical and physical data, a conceptual model of groundwater flow along the investigated Changyi‐Xiaying transect has been developed to describe the hydrogeological processes. Three regimes are identified from south to north: (i) fresh groundwater zone, with a mixing fraction of 0.80–0.65 ‘young’ water calculated with the CFC binary mixing model (groundwater ages <34 a) and 1.9–7.8TU of tritium; (ii) mixing zone characterized by a mixing fraction of 0.05–0.65 young groundwater (ages of 23–44 a), accompanied by local vertical recharge and upward leakage of older groundwater; and (iii) salt water zone, mostly comprising waters with ages beyond the dating range of both CFCs and tritium. Some shallow groundwater in the north of the Changyi groundwater depression belongs to the >50a water group (iii), indicating slow velocity of groundwater circulation and possible drawing in of saline or deep groundwater that is tracer‐free. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

唐山台跨断层基线破年变和趋势转折异常的数值模拟分析

唐山地震台多条短基线测线自2012年以来出现的破年变和趋势转折异常现象得不到合理解释。经核实,潜在干扰因素为观测场地附近的大型建筑施工。为定量分析建筑施工对趋势转折现象和年变消失现象的影响,本文基于多年跨断层数据,利用二维线弹性模型有限元方法,对断层运动进行模拟分析。结果显示:场地附近的大型建筑施工会造成断层水平张性运动趋势的转缓,且在时间上与观测异常现象匹配,但不会导致由张性转为压性的运动;同时,建筑施工会造成跨断层基线年变振幅减小,但不会引起年变消失。唐山台基线的短期快速变化和年变消失的异常变化具有较高的可信度,与区域构造运动和应力场改变有关。     

Micromorphological Analysis of Coastal Sediments from Willapa Bay, Washington, USA: A Technique for Analysing Inferred Tsunami Deposits

Tsunami deposits are provisionally distinguished in the field on the basis of anomalous sand horizons, fining-up and fining-landward, coupled with organic-rich, fragmented `backwash' sediments. In this paper, micromorphological features of a sediment sequence previously interpreted as being of tsunami origin are described. These characteristics are shown to be consistent with the macro-scale features used elsewhere, but show additional details not seen in standard stratigraphies, including possible evidence for individual waves, possibly wave-magnitude progression, organic fragment alignment and intraclast microstructures. Although replication and more complete studies are needed, this analysis confirms the identification of a tsunami in Willapa Bay in ca.1700 AD, while demonstrating a widely applicable technique for confirming or refuting possible tsunami deposits.     

The control of syndepositional faulting on the Eogene sedimentary basin fills of the Dongying and Zhanhua sags, Bohai Bay Basin

CopyrightbyScienceinChinaPress2004Theconfigurationandpredictionofdepositionalsystemsinasedimentarybasinhavelongbeenoneofthemajortasksofbasinanalysisandsedimentarygeologicalresearch.Intermsofsequencestratigraphy,originallyestablishedinstudyoftectonicallytablecontinentalmargins,thesealevelchangehasbeenusedtoeffectivelyinterpretandpredictthedistributionandevolutionofdepositionalsystemsinthesebasins[1,2].Butintectonicallyactivebasins,tectonismmaycontrolpredominatelythearchitectureandevolutionofth…     

Rupture Property of the 1927 Gulang Ms8.0 Earthquake and Numerical Simulation of Rupture Mechanism

INTRODUCTIONThe1927GulangMS8.0earthquake is a severe earthquake followed the HaiyuanMS8.5earthquake of1920inthe Qilian Mt._Hexi Corridor earthquake zone.The most severely hit region wasaround Gulang and Liangzhou(the present Wuwei)of Gansu Province,with a…     

Simulating the migration of drifters deployed in the Bay of Biscay, during the Prestige crisis

A main conclusion following the oil spill from the Prestige tanker was that improvements in ocean circulation models were necessary; this was in order to predict, more accurately, the trajectories followed by the oil slicks and hence assist in fight against oil pollution operations. In this contribution, the results of the validation of a semi-empirical ocean circulation model, parameterised for the Bay of Biscay and forced with operational oceano-meteorological remote sensing observations, are shown. The model results have been validated with observations from drifting buoys, deployed in the Bay of Biscay during the crisis. The results show that the model explains a relatively large percentage of the current variability. The comparisons between the real and the estimated drifter trajectories indicate that for 3, 5 and 7 day-long trajectories, the drifter position is estimated with errors of approximately 23, 35 and 46km, respectively. The model reproduces relatively well the trajectory followed by the drifter with the shortest period (23 days).     

Rupture Property of the 1927Gulang Ms8.0 Earthquake and Numerical Simulation of Rupture Mechanism1

The 1927 Gulang M_S8.0 earthquake is a severe earthquake that followed the Haiyuan M_S8.5 earthquake of 1920 in the Qilian Mt._Hexi Corridor earthquake zone. There are divergences of opinion in the previous studies about the rupture properties of the earthquake. Based on trenching and field investigation, and analysis of historical data, we hold that the earthquake resulted from the joint process of the Tianqiaogou_Huangyangchuan fault, Dongqingding segment of the Huangcheng_Shuangta fault and the Wuwei_Tianzhu buried fault, which constitute the Gulang nappe. By finite_element numerical simulation on the deformation mechanism of Gulang nappe, it is found that the stress and strain mainly concentrate in the western segment of the Tianqiaogou_Huangyangchuan fault, the Dongqingding segment of the Huangcheng_Shuangta fault, and the Gulangxia segment of the Wuwei_Tianzhu buried fault and the Gulang_Shuangta fault. The stress concentration coincides with the distribution of the earthquake surface rupture. It also proves that the earthquake is an outcome of the Gulang nappe activity as a whole.