A first modeling of dynamic and static crustal strain field from near-field dilatation measurements: example of the 2013 $$M_w$$ 6.2 Ruisui earthquake,Taiwan

We analyze the high-resolution dilatation data for the October 2013 \(M_w\) 6.2 Ruisui, Taiwan, earthquake, which occurred at a distance of 15–20 km away from a Sacks–Evertson dilatometer network. Based on well-constrained source parameters (\(\hbox {strike}=217^\circ \), \(\hbox {dip}=48^\circ \), \(\hbox {rake}=49^\circ \)), we propose a simple rupture model that explains the permanent static deformation and the dynamic vibrations at short period (\(\sim \)3.5–4.5 s) for most of the four sites with less than 20 % of discrepancies. This study represents a first attempt of modeling simultaneously the dynamic and static crustal strain using dilatation data. The results illustrate the potential for strain recordings of high-frequency seismic waves in the near-field of an earthquake to add constraints on the properties of seismic sources.     

中国东南部地区4-6月强降水的低频变化特征

利用全国2 400多台站逐日降水资料,分析了中国东南部地区4—6月10~30 d低频强降水的时空变化特征。结果表明:4—6月10~30 d低频强降水的方差大值区在中国的长江及其以南地区,中心位于江南的中东部,东南部地区4—6月10~30 d低频强降水距平的第一模态反映该区域呈一致变化。功率谱分析表明第一模态时间变化的周期以10~30 d低频分量为主。根据区域强降水及其10~30 d低频强降水、区域强降水正交经验函数(EOF)分析的第一模态时间系数(PC1)及PC1的10~30 d低频分量的年际方差,结合它们两两之间逐年的相关系数,确定了区域强降水10~30 d强振荡典型年份。对典型年降水异常分布的方差分析,表明强振荡年区域总降水量异常主要是由10~30 d强降水的低频变化引起的。     

A case study of flood risk transfer effect caused by land development in flood-prone lowlands

Many researches mention the land development in the watershed increases the peak flow rate and volume of the surface runoff. However, another phenomenon, the land development in the lowlands with filling method probably results in flood risk transfer effect, is rarely mentioned. This study took Heshunliao Farm as study object and used SOBEK model to assess the phenomenon. The terrain of this farm was flat and low, at an elevation of about 1.3–3 m before development. A filling method has been adopted to raise the surficial elevation in the development zone to 3–5 m. The western end of the development zone is still maintained its original elevation. The storm sewer system, detention basin, and pumping stations have been built in the development zone. There are two effects in the development of the low-lying land. One is the increase in the peak outflow rate in the development zone. Under a 10-year return period rainfall, the peak outflow rate after development has increased to 9.94 cm, compared to 2.62 cm when there was no development. Another effect is that the disappearance of the original flood-accumulated space due to land development activities transfers the risk of flooding to the surrounding land. Under a 10-year return period rainfall, the flooded area of the developed area was reduced from 78.4 ha before land development to 0.32 ha after the development, while the flooded area of the western end of the development zone increased from 13.28 ha before development to 27.20 ha after development.     

Influence of heterogeneity on unsaturated hydraulic properties (2) – percentage and shape of heterogeneity

In subsurface porous media, the soil water retention curve (WRC) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity curve (UHC) are two important soil hydraulic property curves. Spatial heterogeneity is ubiquitous in nature, which may significantly affect soil hydraulic property curves. The main theme of this paper is to investigate how spatial heterogeneities, including their arrangements and amounts in soil flumes, affect soil hydraulic property curves. This paper uses a two‐dimensional variably saturated flow and solute transport finite element model to simulate variations of pressure and moisture content in soil flumes under a constant head boundary condition. To investigate the behavior of soil hydraulic property curves owing to variations of heterogeneities and their arrangements as well, cases with different proportions of heterogeneities are carried out. A quantitative evaluation of parameter variations in the van Genuchten model (VG model) resulting from heterogeneity is presented. Results show that the soil hydraulic properties are strongly affected by variations of heterogeneities and their arrangements. If the pressure head remains at a specific value, the soil moisture increases when heterogeneities increase in the soil flumes. On the other hand, the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity decreases when heterogeneities increase in the soil flumes under a constant pressure head. Moreover, results reveal that parameters estimated from both WRC and UHC also are affected by shapes of heterogeneity; this indicates that the parameters obtained from the WRC are not suitable for predicting the UHC of different shapes in heterogeneous media. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

East Asia plate tectonics since 15 Ma: constraints from the Taiwan region

15 Ma ago, a major plate reorganization occurred in East Asia. Seafloor spreading ceased in the South China Sea, Japan Sea, Taiwan Sea, Sulu Sea, and Shikoku and Parece Vela basins. Simultaneously, shear motions also ceased along the Taiwan–Sinzi zone, the Gagua ridge and the Luzon–Ryukyu transform plate boundary. The complex system of thirteen plates suddenly evolved in a simple three-plate system (EU, PH and PA). Beneath the Manila accretionary prism and in the Huatung basin, we have determined magnetic lineation patterns as well as spreading rates deduced from the identification of magnetic lineations. These two patterns are rotated by 15°. They were formed by seafloor spreading before 15 Ma and belonged to the same ocean named the Taiwan Sea. Half-spreading rate in the Taiwan Sea was 2 cm/year from chron 23 to 20 (51 to 43 Ma) and 1 cm/year from chron 20 (43 Ma) to 5b (15 Ma). Five-plate kinematic reconstructions spanning from 15 Ma to Present show implications concerning the geodynamic evolution of East Asia. Amongst them, the 1000-km-long linear Gagua ridge was a major plate boundary which accommodated the northwestward shear motion of the PH Sea plate; the formation of Taiwan was driven by two simple lithospheric motions: (i) the subduction of the PH Sea plate beneath Eurasia with a relative westward motion of the western end (A) of the Ryukyu subduction zone; (ii) the subduction of Eurasia beneath the Philippine Sea plate with a relative southwestward motion of the northern end (B) of the Manila subduction zone. The Luzon arc only formed south of B. The collision of the Luzon arc with Eurasia occurred between A and B. East of A, the Luzon arc probably accreted against the Ryukyu forearc.     

内蒙古伊盟盐海子YaO2孔氧碳同位素记录的第四纪末次冰期及全新世气候特征

从内蒙古伊盟盐海YaO2孔氧碳同位素资料中可以看到:东亚季风气候在22 000aBP时由第四纪末次冰期气候开始转入末次间冰期气候。东亚季风带第四纪末次冰期时的气候环境是湿冷的淡化期。而末次间冰期的气候环境是热干的成盐期。其次,末次冰期以来,气候由湿冷转变为热干,5400aBP时气候达到热干的大暖期的最热点。之后又逐级降至现代暖趋冷的气候特征。东亚季风气候带的末次间冰期开始界线在22 000aBP左右。δ18O资料告诉我们内蒙古高原第四纪末次冰期曾有过冰川或冰盖地貌景现,在22000aBP以后才消融进入第四纪末次间冰期。     

A statistical analysis of NaI D1 profile fluctuations at the center of the solar disk

Three radial-velocity fluctuation arrays V(Δλ, Y) and line-formation fluctuation arrays L(Δλ, Y),where Δλ is wavelength displacement from the center of Nai D₁ and Y is displacement on the Sun's surface along the spectrograph slit, were obtained from Sacramento Peak Observatory spectrograms. The variations of these line profile fluctuations are qualitatively described. The RMS_υ's, coherences, and power spectra shapes for V(Δλ, Y) fluctuations are examined at different Δλ with the corresponding effective heights of formation calculated with Mein weighting functions. Results include: (a) possible anticorrelation between continuum fluctuations and those near line center; (b) RMS _υ ^(cr) 's, which are root-mean-square values of the radial velocity corrected for instrumental and atmospheric blurring, are large (1.5 to 4.0 km s^?1) primarily due to large corrections for atmospheric blurring; (c) RMS _υ ^(cr) minima at effective heights of formation above 350 km suggest penetration of granulation velocities into the upper photosphere; (d) very rough determinations of RMS _υ ^(cr) 's, which are additionally corrected for line-of-sight averaging, range from around 5 km s^?1 in the low chromosphere to a sharp minimum ≤ 0.5 km s^?1 located in the upper photosphere; (e) power spectra shapes reflect decreasing average fluctuation scales above the temperature minimum (possibly high-frequency oscillations) and in the low and middle photosphere (possibly penetration of granulation); and (f) RMS _υ ^(cr) 's and average fluctuation scales suggest changes in the resolvable velocity field occurring near the temperature minimum.     

New Bathymetry and Magnetic Lineations Identifications in the Northernmost South China Sea and their Tectonic Implications

The seafloor spreading of the South China Sea (SCS) was previously believed to take place between ca. 32 and 15 Ma (magnetic anomaly C11 to C5c). New magnetic data acquired in the northernmost SCS however suggests the existence of E–W trending magnetic polarity reversal patterns. Magnetic modeling demonstrates that the oldest SCS oceanic crust could be Late Eocene (as old as 37 Ma, magnetic anomaly C17), with a half-spreading rate of 44 mm/yr. The new identified continent–ocean boundary (COB) in the northern SCS generally follows the base of the continental slope. The COB is also marked by the presence of a relatively low magnetization zone, corresponding to the thinned portion of the continental crust. We suggest that the northern extension of the SCS oceanic crust is terminated by an inactive NW–SE trending trench-trench transform fault, called the Luzon–Ryukyu Transform Plate Boundary (LRTPB). The LRTPB is suggested to be a left-lateral transform fault connecting the former southeast-dipping Manila Trench in the south and the northwest-dipping Ryukyu Trench in the north. The existence of the LRTPB is demonstrated by the different patterns of the magnetic anomalies as well as the different seafloor morphology and basement relief on both sides of the LRTPB. Particularly, the northwestern portion of the LRTPB is marked by a steep northeast-dipping escarpment, along which the Formosa Canyon has developed. The LRTPB probably became inactive at ca. 20 Ma while the former Manila Trench prolonged northeastwards and connected to the former Ryukyu Trench by another transform fault. This reorganization of the plate boundaries might cause the southwestern portion of the former Ryukyu Trench to become extinct and a piece of the Philippine Sea Plate was therefore trapped amongst the LRTPB, the Manila Trench and the continental margin.