Maximum entropy regularization of time-dependent geomagnetic field models

We incorporate a maximum entropy image reconstruction technique into the process of modelling the time-dependent geomagnetic field at the core–mantle boundary (CMB). In order to deal with unconstrained small lengthscales in the process of inverting the data, some core field models are regularized using a priori quadratic norms in both space and time. This artificial damping leads to the underestimation of power at large wavenumbers, and to a loss of contrast in the reconstructed picture of the field at the CMB. The entropy norm, recently introduced to regularize magnetic field maps, provides models with better contrast, and involves a minimum of a priori information about the field structure. However, this technique was developed to build only snapshots of the magnetic field. Previously described in the spatial domain, we show here how to implement this technique in the spherical harmonic domain, and we extend it to the time-dependent problem where both spatial and temporal regularizations are required. We apply our method to model the field over the interval 1840–1990 from a compilation of historical observations. Applying the maximum entropy method in space—for a fit to the data similar to that obtained with a quadratic regularization—effectively reorganizes the magnetic field lines in order to have a map with better contrast. This is associated with a less rapidly decaying spectrum at large wavenumbers. Applying the maximum entropy method in time permits us to model sharper temporal changes, associated with larger spatial gradients in the secular variation, without producing spurious fluctuations on short timescales. This method avoids the smearing back in time of field features that are not constrained by the data. Perspectives concerning future applications of the method are also discussed.     

Constitutive models and salt migration mechanisms of saline frozen soil and the-state-of-the-practice countermeasures in cold regions

A series of saline soil-related problems, including salt expansion and collapse, frost heave and thaw settlement, threaten the safety of the road traffic and the built infrastructure in cold regions. This article presents a comprehensive review of the physical and mechanical properties, salt migration mechanisms of saline soil in cold environment, and the countermeasures in practice. It is organized as follows:(1) The basic physical characteristics;(2) The strength criteria and constitutive models;(3) Water and salt migration characteristics and mechanisms; and(4) Countermeasures of frost heave and salt expansion. The review provides a holistic perspective for recent progress in the strength characteristics, mechanisms of frost heave and salt expansion, engineering countermeasures of saline soil in cold regions. Future research is proposed on issues such as the effects of salt erosion on concrete and salt corrosion of metal under the joint action of evaporation and freeze-thaw cycles.     

From ACH tomographic models to absolute velocity models

The ACH method, a widely used tomographic inverse method, is characterized by the use of relative residuals in order to avoid possible biases coming from outside the target volume. The ACH method thus does not really retrieve the 3-D structure of the target volume, but instead leads to velocity contrasts relative to the layer average of the velocity, this average value remaining unknown ( Aki et al. 1977 ). Two artefacts derive from this particularity: (1) velocity contrasts are known only in the horizontal direction and it is not possible, in a strict mathematical sense, to estimate the contrasts in the vertical direction with ACH alone; (2) negative anomalies are often interpreted as low velocities, whereas negative anomalies may correspond to high velocities if the average value of the corresponding layer is sufficiently high. The converse is true of positive anomalies. We show with synthetic data how these artefacts can affect the interpretation of tomographic images. We propose to correct the artefacts by reintroducing the 1-D regional average model, and show in synthetic experiments how effective this correction can be.
  The application of this procedure to data recorded in the Kunlun region shows that the retrieval of the absolute values of the 3-D velocity model is helpful for interpreting the tomographic images and better defining which features are anomalous.     

西北地区春季多雨与少雨年的高空环流特征

对西北地区1961—2000年119个气象站的春季降水,分析了其空间分布和时间变化及其多雨与少雨年的500 hPa高度场、OLR场、700 hPa风场、湿度场。结果表明:多雨年中纬度500 hPa春季高度距平场东正西负,东亚大槽弱,欧洲低槽强,700 hPa春季矢量风距平场非洲至欧洲、西伯利亚海和菲律滨海盆为辐散区,印度和中国西北地区为辐合区,北半球欧亚700 hPa春季比湿距平场正中心位于阿拉伯海到孟加拉湾和长江流域,OLR主要负距平中心在东南沿海和孟加拉湾,西北地区亦为负距平,主要正距平中心在西太平洋。少雨年500 hPa春季高度距平场西正东负,中亚到新疆的高压脊强,东亚槽偏强,700 hPa春季矢量风距平场欧洲、西西伯利亚、泰国为辐合区,中国西北地区为辐散区,700 hPa春季比湿距平场正中心位于孟加拉湾和菲律宾海盆,OLR负距平中心在东南沿海—青藏高原北—新疆北部,西北地区亦为正距平,主要正距平中心在西太平洋。     

Asperity models and characteristic earthquakes

Summary. An asperity model is presented, including the effects of coupled elementary faults. This coupling is introduced by way of percolation theory. We postulate that the elementary faults have a typical size, whose dimensions are of order 0.3–0.4 km, and two kinds of characteristic earthquakes are obtained, one in the low magnitude range involving the rupture of a single elementary fault, and one in the high magnitude range involving a percolated cluster of faultlets, whose dimensions are proportional to the total fault. The magnitude–frequency relation of this model is constructed and the Gutenberg–Richter relation is obtained with a b value of 1 in the range of intermediate earthquakes. A relative enhancement in the probability of occurrence of large earthquakes is also observed. This effect is associated with 'characteristic earthquakes', whose magnitudes are related to the size of the active fault. Possible premonitors are discussed.