A tree‐ring width based drought reconstruction for southeastern China: links to Pacific Ocean climate variability

We present a drought reconstruction for southeastern China based on a tree‐ring width chronology of Cryptomeria fortunei developed from two sampling sites in central Fujian. A reconstruction of July–February drought variability, spanning AD 1855–2011, was developed by calibrating total tree‐ring width data with the self‐calibrating Palmer drought severity index (scPDSI). The reconstruction was verified against an independent data set, and accounts for 36% of the actual scPDSI variance during the period 1955–2011. Relatively dry intervals were reconstructed between AD 1859–1880, 1899–1911, 1927–1933, 1946–1959, 1964–1970 and 1987–1997. Relatively wet conditions prevailed during 1855–1858, 1881–1898, 1912–1926, 1934–1945, 1960–1963, 1971–1986 and 1998–2011. Comparisons between our scPDSI reconstruction and a moisture‐sensitive tree‐ring width record from Vietnam revealed consistencies between the two data sets, suggesting similar drought regimes. Spectral peaks of 2.2–6.4 years may be indicative of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity, as also suggested by the significant correlations with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the eastern equatorial and southeastern Pacific Ocean and an extreme event analysis. The analysis of links between our scPDSI reconstruction and the large‐scale regional climatic variation shows that there is a relationship between regional drought variation and East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) intensity.     

Numerical simulation on mining-induced water inrushes related to geologic structures using a damage-based hydromechanical model

A large number of statistics indicate that water inrush has a direct relationship with geological structures such as fault and karst collapse columns. Understanding the mechanism of water inrushes controlled by geologic structures is of vital importance for adopting effective measures to prevent their occurrence. The work begins with formulization of a damage-based hydromechanical model based on elastic damage theory. Next, the model is numerically implemented with finite element method by employing a finite element package called COMSOL Multiphysics, and is also validated against some existing experimental observations. Finally, the model is used to simulate the mining-induced groundwater inrushes when the effect of faults and karst collapse columns is considered in the numerical simulation, and some suggestive conclusions for preventing water inrushes and optimizing underground mining operations are drawn.     

Landform‐oriented flow‐routing algorithm for the dual‐structure loess terrain based on digital elevation models

The loess landform in the Loess Plateau of China is with typical dual structure, namely, the upper smooth positive terrain and the lower cliffy negative terrain (P–N terrain for short). Obvious differences in their morphological feature, geomorphological mechanism, and hydrological process could be found in the both areas. Based on the differences, a flow‐routing algorithm that separately addresses the dual‐structure terrain would be necessary to encompass this spatial variation in their hydrological behaviour. This paper proposes a mixed flow‐routing algorithm to address aforementioned problems. First, the loess landform surface is divided into P–N terrains based on digital elevation models. Then, specific catchment area is calculated with the new algorithm to simulate the water flows in both positive and negative terrain areas. The mixed algorithm consists of the multiple flow‐routing algorithm (multiple‐flow direction) for positive areas and the D8 algorithm for negative areas, respectively. The approach is validated in two typical geomorphologic areas with low hills and dense gullies in the northern Shaanxi Loess Plateau. Four indices are used to examine the results, which show that the new algorithm is more suitable for loess terrain in simulating the spatial distribution of water accumulation, as well as in modeling the flow characteristics of the true surface by considering the morphological structures of the terrain. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synchronous pattern of moisture availability on the southern Tibetan Plateau since 17.5 cal. ka BP – the Tangra Yumco lake sediment record

A possible asynchronicity of the spatial and temporal moisture availability on the Tibetan Plateau has been a controversial subject of discussion in recent years. Here we present the first attempt to systematically investigate possible spatial and temporal variations in moisture availability by examining two lakes, Tangra Yumco and Nam Co, on an east–west transect on the southern Tibetan Plateau using identical proxies for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. In this study, an independent record from Tangra Yumco was analysed applying a multi‐proxy approach to reconstruct variations in moisture availability since the Lateglacial. Results were subsequently compared with previously published records from Nam Co and additional records from Tso Moriri (northwestern Himalaya) and Naleng Co (southeastern Tibetan Plateau). Our results show that Tangra Yumco was at least partially ice covered prior to 17.1 cal. ka BP. A temperature rise after 17.1 cal. ka BP probably resulted in thawing of the permafrost. At 16.0 cal. ka BP moisture availability increased, representing an initial monsoonal intensification. Warmer conditions between 13.0 and 12.4 cal. ka BP and cooler conditions between 12.4 cal. ka BP and the onset of the Holocene reflect the Bølling‐Allerød and Younger Dryas. At the onset of the Holocene moisture availability rapidly increased, with moisture highest prior to 8.5 cal. ka BP when temperatures were also highest. After 8.5 cal. ka BP the moisture availability gradually decreased and showed only minor amplitude variations. These findings are consistent with the records from large lakes like Nam Co, Tso Moriri, and Naleng Co, revealing a synchronous pattern of moisture availability on the southern Tibetan Plateau.     

Application of the numerical manifold method for stress wave propagation across rock masses

In this paper, the numerical manifold method (NMM) is extended to study wave propagation across rock masses. First, improvements to the system equations, contact treatment, and boundary conditions of the NMM are performed, where new system equations are derived based on the Newmark assumption of the space–time relationship, the edge‐to‐edge contact treatment is further developed for the NMM to handle stress wave propagation across discontinuities, and the viscous non‐reflection boundary condition is derived based on the energy minimisation principle. After the modification, numerical comparisons between the original and improved NMM are presented. The results show that the original system equations result in artificial numerical damping, which can be overcome by the Newmark system equations. Meanwhile, the original contact scheme suffers some calculation problems when modelling stress wave propagation across a discontinuity, which can be solved by the proposed edge‐to‐edge contact scheme. Subsequently, the influence of the mesh size and time step on the improved NMM for stress wave propagation is studied. Finally, 2D wave propagation is modelled, and the model's results are in good agreement with the analytical solution. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.