Moon-based Earth observation: scientific concept and potential applications

Although Earth’s surface parameters obtained from satellite data have become more and more precise, it is still difficult to guarantee temporal consistency and spatial continuity for large-scale geoscience phenomena. Developing new Earth observation platforms is a feasible way to improve the consistency and continuity of such data. As the planet’s only natural satellite, the Moon has special advantages as a platform for observing Earth, including long lifetime, whole disk view, tectonic stability and unique perspective. After presenting the observation geometry constructed by using the ephemeris, this paper mainly discusses the characteristics of a lunar platform and the proper Moon-based sensors, as well as the scientific objectives of Moon-based Earth observation. Solid Earth dynamics, the energy budget of Earth, Earth’s environmental elements and the Earth-space environment are four potential applications analysed in this paper.     

The Digital Belt and Road program in support of regional sustainability

The Belt and Road initiative has a significant focus on infrastructure, trade, and economic development across a vast region, and it also provides significant opportunities for sustainable development. The combined pressure of climate variability, intensified use of resources, and the fragility of ecosystems make it very challenging, however, to achieve future sustainability. To develop the path in a sustainable way, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of these issues across nations and evaluate them in a scientific and well-informed approach. In this context, the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) program was initiated as an international venture to share expertise, knowledge, technologies, and data to demonstrate the role of Earth observation science and technology and big Earth data applications to support large-scale development. In this paper, we identify pressing challenges, present the research priorities and foci of the DBAR program, and propose solutions where big Earth data can make significant contributions. This paper calls for further joint actions and collaboration to build a digital silk road in support of sustainable development at national, regional and global levels.     

A new evil waveforms evaluating method for new BDS navigation signals

With the advent of new global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) and new signals, GNSS users will rely more on them to obtain higher-accuracy positioning. Evil waveform monitoring and assessment are of great importance for GNSS to achieve its positioning, velocity, and timing service with high accuracy. However, the advent of new navigation signals introduces the necessity to extend the traditional analyzing techniques already accepted for binary phase-shift keying modulation to new techniques. First, the well-known second-order step thread model adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization is introduced. Then the extended new general thread models are developed for the new binary offset carrier modulated signals. However, no research has been done on navigation signal waveform symmetry yet. Simulation results showed that, waveform asymmetry may also cause tracking errors, range biases, and position errors in GNSS receivers. It is thus imperative that the asymmetry be quantified to enable the design of appropriate error budgets and mitigation strategies for various application fields. A novel evil waveform analysis method, called waveform rising and falling edge symmetry (WRaFES) method, is proposed. Based on this WRaFES method, the correlation metrics are provided to detect asymmetric correlation peaks distorted by received signal asymmetry. Then the statistical properties of the proposed methods are analyzed, and a proper deformation detection threshold is calculated. Finally, both simulation results and experimentally measured results of Beidou navigation satellite system (BDS) M1-S B1Cd signal are given, which show the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed thread models.     

A novel approach to leveraging social media for rapid flood mapping: a case study of the 2015 South Carolina floods

Rapid flood mapping is critical for local authorities and emergency responders to identify areas in need of immediate attention. However, traditional data collection practices such as remote sensing and field surveying often fail to offer timely information during or right after a flooding event. Social media such as Twitter have emerged as a new data source for disaster management and flood mapping. Using the 2015 South Carolina floods as the study case, this paper introduces a novel approach to mapping the flood in near real time by leveraging Twitter data in geospatial processes. Specifically, in this study, we first analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of flood-related tweets using quantitative methods to better understand how Twitter activity is related to flood phenomena. Then, a kernel-based flood mapping model was developed to map the flooding possibility for the study area based on the water height points derived from tweets and stream gauges. The identified patterns of Twitter activity were used to assign the weights of flood model parameters. The feasibility and accuracy of the model was evaluated by comparing the model output with official inundation maps. Results show that the proposed approach could provide a consistent and comparable estimation of the flood situation in near real time, which is essential for improving the situational awareness during a flooding event to support decision-making.     

内蒙古平安地元古代构造混杂岩的发现与地质意义

正研究区位于内蒙古东部天山镇西平安地地区,古生代大地构造位置由南向北可划分为华北板块、白乃庙岛弧和索伦—林西缝合带(图1)。Xiao等(2015)和Jian等(2012)等认为温都尔庙—柯丹山—西拉木伦蛇绿混杂岩带是华北板块和西伯利亚板块的缝合带,研究区则位于该混杂岩带以南白乃庙岛弧一侧。     

北秦岭西段早侏罗世A型花岗岩及其地质意义

本文通过岩相学、岩石地球化学、锆石U?Pb定年和Lu?Hf同位素组成分析等方法,对出露于北秦岭西段宝鸡岩体王家山一带的黑云母花岗岩和其中的包体进行了研究。结果表明,该花岗岩形成时代为187±2 Ma,属于高钾钙碱性—钾玄岩系列岩石,富集Rb、Th、U等大离子亲石元素以及Nb、Zr和Hf等高场强元素,亏损Ba、Sr和Eu,具有高的全岩锆石饱和温度(825℃~838℃),显示A型花岗岩特征,形成于造山后的板内环境,可能为秦岭岩群副变质岩与安山质岩石部分熔融的产物。暗色包体显示塑性流变特征,具有岩浆结构,发育针状磷灰石和具有复杂成分环带的更长环斑结构长石,是幔源岩浆注入酸性岩浆发生混合作用的产物,形成时代为191±2 Ma,其锆石Hf同位素组成变化范围较大,εHf(t)值介于-11.26~-2.51,主要为富集地幔部分熔融产物。综合本文及前人已有研究结果,认为~190 Ma的早侏罗世早期秦岭地区早中生代碰撞造山过程已经结束,区域开始逐渐进入板内伸展构造演化阶段。     

西藏当雄九子拉地区石炭系诺错组中震积岩的发现及意义

西藏当雄九子拉地区石炭系诺错组地层序列中,首次发现了一套非正常沉积的粉砂岩和灰岩的组合.岩系中可识别出非正常的沉积构造,即微同沉积断裂、火焰状构造、同生变形构造及振动液化泄水构造等,这一软沉积变形构造具震积岩的识别标志特征,代表灾变事件震积的地质记录.在剖面结构上大致显示为7个单元的震积序列,自下而上由下伏弱震层(A)—液化脉(B)—震褶岩(C)—震裂岩(D)—阶梯状微断层(E)—火焰状构造(F)—上覆未震层(G)的渐变过程及震积作用逐渐减弱的趋势呈不同形式的组合出现,有ABG、ACDG、AEG、ABCG和ABFG等组合.本研究分析认为晚古生代诺错组早期存在一个强烈的构造活动时期,结合震积岩的分布及区域地质背景研究表明,九子拉北侧一带可能为近东西向同生断裂带,该断裂带的强烈构造活动是本区诺错组震积作用的直接诱发因素.从而佐证了九子拉地区正处于构造转换阶段.本研究对分析晚古生代的构造演化、沉积盆地类型奠定了基础,同时保存完好的震积事件地层记录对推断古断裂、古环境也具有较大意义.     

Physical Model Tests on the Effect of Anchoring on the Splitting Failure of Deep Large-Scale Underground Rock Cavern

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - A set of splitting cracks often occur in the high side wall of the deep underground hydropower station due to the excavation-induced unloading during the...     

Simulation Study on Electromagnetic Response Characteristics of Unfavorable Geological Body Under Complex Conditions

Geotechnical and Geological Engineering - The second phase of the Chongqing Rail Transit Line project has poor rock and soil stability, slow construction progress, complex and variable geological...     

南海北部天然气水合物富集特征及定量评价

为寻找有资源前景的高富集天然气水合物及水合物储层的精细刻画方法,利用南海6次钻探发现的高饱和度水合物层的测井、岩心和三维地震数据,分析水合物富集层测井与地震异常特征.发现:（1）不同饱和度的孔隙与裂隙充填型水合物层的测井和地震异常不同,裂隙充填型水合物层具有各向异性;（2）受高通量流体运移的影响,在粉砂沉积物的水合物稳定带底界附近能形成中等饱和度的水合物层,识别标志为稳定带内极性与海底一致的强振幅反射,而非BSR和振幅空白;（3）裂隙充填型中等饱和度水合物层在地震剖面上表现为地层上拱和弱-中等强度振幅反射.储层-疏导-气源的耦合控制着水合物的富集特征和分布,断层与流体运移控制着细粒粉砂质沉积物中水合物的富集与厚度.基于饱和度岩相的统计学反演,能识别3 m非水合物和低饱和度水合物层及空间分布.