Possibility of geodynamic monitoring by radon emanations

The crack opening displacement in the ground floor beam of a skeleton-type building on piles and lateral earth pressure between the piles were measured for a long time. In parallel we measured radon and thoron volumetric activity in the soil air samples in the building basement and in the box containing soil fragment. Two time intervals, when the crack opening expanded rapidly due to uneven subsidence of supporting columns, were established. Volumetric activity of radon entering from the soil basement and parent matter fragment was anomalous. Tidal, cyclonic, or technogenic deformations could be the cause of observed phenomena. According to the time series analysis, variability in atmospheric parameters such as pressure, temperature, and air humidity made geodynamic monitoring by radon emanations hard. Influence of described factors on measured parameters is still a matter of debate.     

Radon flux density at the Earth’s surface as a possible indicator of the stress and strain state of the geological environment

Usage of the radon flux density at the Earth’s surface as an indicator of seismic activity is proposed in addition to unit-volume radon activity in the soil air that has previously been used for this purpose. Numerical calculations based on the diffusion-convection equation for radon transport in porous media are presented, which confirm that the radon flux density is more sensitive to changes in convection rate than unit-volume radon activity. It has been indicated that the advantage in using radon flux density could be greatest for homogeneous geological media.     

Heat dispersion effect on thermal convection in a porous medium layer

Thermal convection resulting from vertical temperature gradients in porous media is analyzed. The effect of heat dispersion is taken into account. It is found that heat dispersion increases the thermal stability of the flow field and may inhibit the appearance of convection currents, which would appear if dispersion effects are omitted.The longitudinal as well as the lateral dispersivities affect the thermal stability and the dimensions of the convection cells. As a result of the convection currents the horizontal streamlines in the steady state are distorted. The thermal convection exhibits internal waves in the field.     

Radon-thoron monitoring in Tatun volcanic areas of northern Taiwan using LR-115 alpha track detector technique: Pre-calibration and installation

In the present study, experiments have been carried out to calibrate LR-115 alpha detector films in bare and cup-mode exposure for the measurement of radon and thoron concentrations in soil gas. Results showed non-uniformity in track formation on the films in bare-mode exposure. However, in cup-mode exposure the non-uniformity was reduced to a greater extent. The calibration factors obtained for radon in bare- and cup-mode exposures are 0.049 and 0.034 tr. cm^?2 per Bq m^?3 d, respectively. An attempt has been made to calibrate the radon-thoron discriminative cup with LR-115 films for simultaneous measurements of radon and thoron. This paper also presents the preliminary results of radonthoron monitoring in Tatun volcanic areas of northern Taiwan for the first time using radon-thoron discriminators with LR-115 films. The results show that the safe temperature to install the LR-115 films in volcanic areas is ≤ 65°C and thoron concentration in the study area is low.     

Small-scale convection induced by passive rifting: the cause for uplift of rift shoulders

Areas adjacent to rifts, or rift shoulders, are often observed to be uplifted as much as a kilometer or more. In some of these regions geologic data indicate a passive origin for the rifting itself (i.e. there was no anomalous heating of the regions before rifting). Purely conductive heat transport between the rift, where the lithosphere has been thinned, and the rift flanks cannot account for the magnitude of the uplift. Small-scale convection will be induced in the mantle beneath a rift due to the lateral temperature gradients there. Numerical experiments show that convection increases the amount of heat transported vertically into the rift and laterally out of it. In these calculations, the viscosity is taken to be dependent on temperature and pressure and, in some cases, stress. The mantle flow results in thinning of the adjacent lithosphere causing flanking uplift as well as slowing of the subsidence of the middle of the rift. The magnitude of the uplift is dependent on the geometry of the rift and the importance of stress-dependence in the rheology of the mantle. For viscosity parameters which are consistent with the pre-rift temperature structure small-scale convection can produce uplift at least twice as great as would be produced by lateral conduction alone.     

The effect of CO2 on the measurement of 220Rn and 222Rn with instruments utilising electrostatic precipitation

In some volcanic systems, thoron and radon activity and CO₂ flux, in soil and fumaroles, show a relationship between (²²⁰Rn/²²²Rn) and CO₂ efflux. It is theorized that deep, magmatic sources of gas are characterized by high ²²²Rn activity and high CO₂ efflux, whereas shallow sources are indicated by high ²²⁰Rn activity and relatively low CO₂ efflux. In this paper we evaluate whether the observed inverse relationship is a true geochemical signal, or potentially an analytical artifact of high CO₂ concentrations. We report results from a laboratory experiment using the RAD7 radon detector, known ²²²Rn (radon) and ²²⁰Rn (thoron), and a controllable percentage of CO₂ in the carrier gas. Our results show that for every percentage of CO₂, the ²²⁰Rn reading should be multiplied by 1.019, the ²²²Rn radon should be multiplied by 1.003 and the ²²⁰Rn/²²²Rn ratio should be multiplied by 1.016 to correct for the presence of the CO₂.     

Effects of Earth's rotation on convection in magma chambers

The rotation of the Earth is predicted to have a strong influence on the convective motions in basaltic magmas which cool at high and intermediate latitudes on the Earth's surface. Convection in layers greater than 100 m deep is characterised by large Taylor numbers and small Rossby numbers, for which laboratory experiments provide evidence of strong rotationally-induced flows. In the case of convection driven by either thermal or compositional buoyancy fluxes from horizontal top or bottom boundaries Coriolis forces induced by the Earth's rotation are expected to cause the turbulent convective motions to form into intense vortices whose axes tend to be close to the vertical. These vortices should be tall and thin, be very unsteady, and have rapid vertical motion in their cores. Earth's rotation is likely to have little or no effects on convection in very shallow convecting layers ( < 100 m) of basaltic magmas or in chambers of more viscous (granitic) magmas. When convection is driven by horizontal density differences (such as those produced by cooling or crystallization at sloping or vertical walls or by simple lateral variation of layer depth) in basaltic chambers of order 10 km or greater in width the rotation of the Earth may cause relatively rapid horizontal (geostrophic) circulation over the lateral scales of the chamber. These predictions involve some extrapolation of fluid dynamical principles from laboratory to magma chamber conditions. Speculative comments on some possible petrological implications are included.     

热带对流热量与水汽收支的数值模拟研究

应用二维云分辨模式,数值研究了热带地区的对流活动,并诊断了热量和水汽的收支,发现在垂直温度平流和凝结潜热释放之间、垂直水汽平流和降水之间都维持着大体平衡,推断出质量加权平均温度及可降水分的局地变化分别由热量及水汽方程中的剩余项决定.机制研究表明,深对流与浅对流在热量及水汽循环中存在较大差异,深对流中水汽的凝结及潜热释放起着主导作用,而大尺度垂直平流的加湿和冷却在浅对流中发挥主导作用.最后讨论了对流触发后热量及水汽循环的调整机制.     

均匀覆盖层中氡迁移的数值模拟

氡能从地下深部运移到地表,可带来反映地下地质状态的信息.本文以氡在均匀覆盖层中的迁移过程为对流-扩散方式作为理论基础,推导了二维氡浓度微分方程,用有限差分方法计算了无限氡源层、有限单氡源层、有限双氡源层在均匀覆盖层中氡浓度的数值解,以二维断面的形式展示了氡的分布,其结果与野外实测相符.     

Radon and thoron content in atmospheric air at Giza,Egypt

Summary The radon and thoron content in atmospheric air at Giza was determined through the period from January (1958 to July 1959) by using the emanometrical technique. The concentration of radon and its decay products was equal to (88±4) 10^–18 Curie/c.c. and that of thoron and its decay products was equal to (51±11) 10^–18 Curie/c.c.     

氡迁移的接力传递作用

在扩散和对流等作用的基础上，提出了用于解释氡法探寻深部矿藏、预报地震和研究地球动力学带等方面的氡迁移的接力传递作用．这种作用可能是镭传氡和氡传氡，也可能是借助于其它的物质或自然力来传递，传递方式有二棒接力和多棒接力．扩散和对流等10多种作用．一般地说，只能使氡气作短距离的迁移，而接力传递作用则可以解释氡作长距离的迁移．     

From Satellite Gradiometry Data to Subcrustal Stress Due to Mantle Convection

Subcrustal stress induced by mantle convection can be determined by the Earth’s gravitational potential. In this study, the spherical harmonic expansion of the simplified Navier–Stokes equation is developed further so satellite gradiometry data (SGD) can be used to determine the subcrustal stress. To do so, we present two methods for producing the stress components or an equivalent function thereof, the so-called S function, from which the stress components can be computed numerically. First, some integral estimators are presented to integrate the SGD and deliver the stress components and/or the S function. Second, integral equations are constructed for inversion of the SGD to the aforementioned quantities. The kernel functions of the integrals of both approaches are plotted and interpreted. The behaviour of the integral kernels is dependent on the signal and noise spectra in the first approach whilst it does not depend on extra information in the second method. It is shown that recovering the stress from the vertical–vertical gradients, using the integral estimators presented, is suitable, but when using the integral equations the vertical–vertical gradients are recommended for recovering the S function and the vertical–horizontal gradients for the stress components. This study is theoretical and numerical results using synthetic or real data are not given.     

Large-scale ionospheric gradients over Europe observed in October 2003

It is well known that ionospheric perturbations are characterised by strong horizontal gradients and rapid changes of the ionisation. Thus, space weather induced severe ionosphere perturbations can cause serious technological problems in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. During the severe ionosphere storm period of 29–31 October 2003, reported were several significant malfunctions due to the adverse effects of the ionosphere perturbations such as interruption of the WAAS service and degradation of mid-latitudes GPS reference services. To properly warn service users of such effects, a quick evaluation of the current signal propagation conditions expressed in a suitable ionospheric perturbation index would be of great benefit. Preliminary results of a comparative study of ionospheric gradients including vertical sounding and Total Electron Content (TEC) data are presented. Strong enhancements of latitudinal gradients and temporal changes of the ionisation are observed over Europe during the 29–30 October storm period. The potential use of spatial gradients and rate of change of foF2 and TEC characterising the actual perturbation degree of the ionosphere is discussed. It has been found that perturbation induced spatial gradients of TEC and foF2 strongly enhance during the ionospheric storm on 29 October over the Central European region in particular in North–South direction exceeding the gradients in East–West direction by a factor of 2.     

Convection in a rotating cylinder with its sidewall having a finite thermal conductance

Abstract

An investigation is made of steady thermal convection of a Boussinesq fluid confined in a vertically-mounted rotating cylinder. The top and bottom endwall disks are thermal conductors at temperatures T_t and T_b with δT = T_t ? T_b >0. The vertical sidewall has a finite thermal conductance. A Newtonian heat flux condition is adopted at the sidewall. The Rayleigh number of the fluid system is large to render a boundary layer-type flow. Finite-difference numerical solutions to the full Navier-Stokes equations are obtained. The vertical motions within the buoyancy layer along the sidewall induce weak meridional flows in the interior. Because of the Coriolis acceleration, the meridional flows give rise to azimuthal flows relative to the rotating container. Strong vertical gradients of azimuthal flows exist in the regions near the endwalls. As the stratification effect increases, concentration of flow gradients in thin endwall boundary layers becomes more pronounced. The azimuthal flow field exhibits considerable horizontal gradients. The temperature field develops horizontal variations superposed on the dominant vertical distribution. As either the sidewall thermal conductance or the stratification effect decreases, the temperature distribution tends to the profile varying linearly with height. Comparisons of the sizes of the dynamic effects demonstrate that, in the bulk of flow field, the vertical shear of azimuthal velocity is supported by the horizontal temperature gradient, resulting in a thermal-wind relation.     

西南峡谷型水库的季节性分层与水质的突发性恶化

选择西南云贵高原乌江流域的百花湖水库进行了气象、水温度和水化学(DO、FeⅡ和MnⅡ)的连续监测(13个月).结果表明,由于气候等原因,百花湖水库的水体在夏季形成分层,但是没有典型分层湖泊的温跃层变化,这种水体温度结构可以在4-10月保持稳定;这种"不显著的"温度分层结构,有效限制了上下水团的混合,形成显著的水体溶解氧分层,氧化/还原界面可达到水深8m左右.20世纪90年代初以来,贵州多座水库频繁出现的季节性水质恶化现象,与水库水体混合期(多为夏末初秋),水体分层结构失稳有关.上下层水体的垂直交替,使下层水体中的还原性物质带入上层湖水,造成表层水体缺氧和表观浑浊,鱼类窒息死亡.在百花湖水库的研究表明,西南地区深水水库,可以在夏季出现一定的水体温度分层结构,并导致显著的水体水化学(如溶解氧)分层,进而影响水库水环境质量.     

Three-dimensional numerical simulations of crustal deformation and subcontinental mantle convection

3-D simulations of mantle convection allowing for continental crust are explored to study the effects of crustal thickening on lithosphere stability and of continents on large-scale mantle flow. Simulations begin with a crustal layer within the upper thermal boundary layer of a mantle convection roll in a 1 × 1 × 1 Cartesian domain. Convective stresses cause crust to thicken above a sheet-like mantle downwelling. For mild convective vigor an initial crustal thickness variation is required to induce 3-D lithospheric instability below the zone of crustal convergence. The amplitude of the required variation decreases with increasing convective vigor. Morphologically, instability is manifest in formation of drip-like thermals that exist within the large-scale roll associated with initial crustal thickening. A strong surface signature of the drips is their ability to cause deviations from local Airy compensation of topography. After the initial thickening phase, the crustal accumulation that forms serves as a model analog to a continent. Its presence leads to mantle flow patterns distinctly different from the steady-state roll that results in its absence. Large lateral thermal gradients are generated at its edge allowing this region to be the initiation site for continued small-scale thermal instabilities. Eventually these instabilities induce a restructuring of large-scale mantle flow, with the roll pattern being replaced by a square cell. Although preliminary and idealized, the simulations do show the fluid dynamical plausibility behind the idea that significant mantle variations can be generated along the strike of a largely 2-D mountain chain by the formation of the chain itself. The ability of a model continent to cause a change in fundamental convective planform also suggests that the effects of continental crust on mantle convection may be low-order despite the seemingly trivial volume of crust relative to mantle.     

Role of condensation nuclei as carriers of radioactive particles

Summary The effect on the deposition of thoron and radon decay products of attachment to condensation nuclei is described. Methods are suggested of using these decay products as markers for condensation nuclei and comparison is made between radioactive and non radioactive determinations of the diffusion coefficients of marked nuclei. The spontaneous production of condensation nuclei by irradiation of clean air by alpha and beta particles and by X-rays is described.     

断层错动引起的上覆土体破裂演化规律研究

断层引起的地面永久大变形是工程特别是生命线工程地震破坏的重要原因之一, 而研究断层错动下上覆土体变形和破裂的发展演化规律, 则是预测地面永久变形状态和分析断层危害性的基础． 本文采用有限元方法对垂直断层错动引起的上覆土体破裂演化规律进行了研究, 建立了垂直断层作用下上覆土体模拟的有限元模型, 对断层错动作用下上覆土体的破裂发展过程进行了模拟分析, 并分析了加载速率、 土体特性及断层倾角等参数对上覆土体的破裂演化发展过程的影响． 结果表明: ① 断层倾角越陡, 地表出现破裂时需要增加的垂直位移越大; ② 由于惯性力的影响, 断层加载速率对地表破裂所需施加位移和土层破裂角产生一定的影响; ③ 断层类型对土层地表破裂角与膨胀角、 摩擦角之间的关系有很大影响． 该分析结果可为新建工程的抗震设计和已建工程结构的抗震加固等工作提供依据．      

Thermal conductivity in a vadose zone: A novel spectral solution and application by the implication of significant coherence of thermal condition in the shallow soil water layer

In the context of the heterogeneity in the unsaturated or vadose zone, accurately representing the analytical mechanisms and in-situ water content within the soil layer poses a significant challenge. Particularly in shallow layers, thermal conditions exhibit rapid changes in response to evolving surface temperatures. This study proposes a hypothesis suggesting that the in situ heat mechanism may notably impact the soil water layer. The research introduces an innovative approach to theoretically uncover thermal conditions, including soil temperature, soil temperature gradients, and heat flux, within the shallow Quaternary gravel layer at various depths through spectral analysis of temporal observations. The study presents a stochastic inverse solution to estimate thermal conductivity by leveraging spectral analysis of soil heat flux and temperature gradients. The findings reveal that thermal conditions exhibit the most prominent periodic fluctuations during the diurnal process over a 24-hour cycle. The soil temperature gradients and heat flux measurements at depths of 0.1, 0.3, 0.6, and 1.2 m demonstrate their ability to capture changes in soil temperature and air temperature to a certain extent within the frequency domain. Furthermore, the analysis highlights the intrinsic uncertainty and sensitivity of estimating thermal conductivity in heterogeneous soil environments. The wide variability observed in thermal conductivity values, coupled with their dependence on soil type and environmental conditions, underscores the need for careful consideration of these factors in future studies and modeling efforts. Applying the derived inverse spectral solution allows for determining thermal conductivity throughout the soil-water system across depths ranging from 0.1 to 1.2 m. As a result, this research demonstrates the feasibility and practicality of assessing the thermal conductivity of the soil layer in conjunction with heat flux and temperature gradients through spectral analysis.     

How flat is the lower-mantle temperature gradient?

The temperature gradient in the lower mantle is fundamental in prescribing many transport properties, such as the viscosity, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. The adiabatic temperature gradient is commonly employed for estimating these transport properties in the lower mantle. We have carried out a series of high-resolution 3-D anelastic compressible convections in a spherical shell with the PREM seismic model as the background density and bulk modulus and the thermal expansivity decreasing with depth. Our purpose was to assess how close under realistic conditions the horizontally averaged thermal gradient would lie to the adiabatic gradient derived from the convection model. These models all have an endothermic phase change at 660 km depth with a Clapeyron slope of around −3 MPa K⁻¹, uniform internal heating and a viscosity increase of 30 across the phase transition. The global Rayleigh number for basal heating is around 2×10⁶, while an internal heating Rayleigh number as high as 10⁸ has been employed. The pattern of convection is generally partially layered with a jump of the geotherm across the phase change of at most 300 K. In all thermally equilibrated situations the geothermal gradients in the lower mantle are small, around 0.1 K km⁻¹, and are subadiabatic. Such a low gradient would produce a high peak in the lower-mantle viscosity, if the temperature is substituted into a recently proposed rheological law in the lower mantle. Although the endothermic phase transition may only cause partial layering in the present-day mantle, its presence can exert a profound influence on the state of adiabaticity over the entire mantle.