Errors due to the anisotropic-common-ray approximation of the coupling ray theory

The common-ray approximation eliminates problems with ray tracing through S-wave singularities and also considerably simplifies the numerical algorithm of the coupling ray theory for S waves, but may introduce errors in travel times due to the perturbation from the common reference ray. These travel-time errors can deteriorate the coupling-ray-theory solution at high frequencies. It is thus of principal importance for numerical applications to estimate the errors due to the common-ray approximation applied. The anisotropic-common-ray approximation of the coupling ray theory is more accurate than the isotropic-common-ray approximation. We derive the equations for estimating the travel-time errors due to the anisotropic-common-ray (and also isotropic-common-ray) approximation of the coupling ray theory. The errors of the common-ray approximations are calculated along the anisotropic common rays in smooth velocity models without interfaces. The derivation is based on the general equations for the second-order perturbations of travel time.     

A DEVICE FOR MEASURING GULLY HEADWALL MORPHOLOGY

This paper describes a low-cost device for measuring the three-dimensional morphology of a gully headwall. The device was designed to operate in a gully system with the following characteristics: overhanging banks caused by a thick, dense root mat; retreat of the underlying unconsolidated sediments through small slab failures, leading to a considerable variation in retreat rate at each point on the headwall; and changes in the orientation of the headwall owing to changes in sediment properties and the topographical and hydrological controls of gully growth. The device is used to measure a series of closely spaced vertical profiles of the headwall, and the collected data are combined to draw a contour map showing the distance from the plane of the instrument to the headwall. Comparing maps for sequential times enables retreat rates for the diffferent proportions of the headwall to be quantified.     

Scenario prediction of changes in water balance components in the Lena Basin in the context of possible climate changes

The dynamics of meteorological elements in the Lena R. Basin is predicted for the XXI century under four IPCC global scenarios of SRES family, corresponding to specified scenarios of the economic, technological, political, and demographic development of the civilization. The obtained predictions are used to simulate variants of possible changes in water balance components in the Lena Basin up to the mid-XXI century. The calculation procedure is based on the use of land-surface model SWAP and a climate scenario generator MAGICC/SCENGEN.     

西南天山布隆金矿床成矿作用同位素地质年代学

位于新疆西南天山阿合奇县的布隆金矿是一个国内较少见的低温热液石英重晶石脉型金矿床,它赋存于上泥盆统细碎屑岩中,金矿体受层间缓倾斜破碎带控制.根据矿脉矿物组合及相互穿插关系,原生成矿期成矿作用可分为:①黄铁矿-石英阶段;②石英-黄铁矿-菱铁矿-重晶石阶段;③方解石-石英-重晶石阶段和④重晶石阶段.年代学研究表明,主成矿阶段(②阶段)含金石英脉Rb-Sr等时线年龄为258±15 Ma,表明成矿作用发生在晚二叠世末,与中亚南天山大规模的金成矿作用发生时期相一致.     

Reconnaissance de la structure géologique du bassin de saïss occidental, Maroc, par sondages électriques

A geophysical study, based on 96 electrical resistivity measurements with a line length up to 4 km, was performed in the southern and southwestern parts of the Meknes Plateau, Morocco, which is a part of the Saiss Basin, located between the Rif Range to the north and the Middle Atlas Range to the south. This basin, whose maximum depth is 1.5km in the north, is filled with Triassic to Quaternary deposits overlying the Palæozoic basement and includes two main aquifers. The interpretation of the resistivity measurements, calibrated from deep boreholes, made it possible to obtain a new hydrogeological model for the Saiss Basin. The understanding of the basin structure is of primary importance for the water supply of this area, which has been affected by severe droughts in recent years.     

Aerodynamic Parameters of a UK City Derived from Morphological Data

Detailed three-dimensional building data and a morphometric model are used to estimate the aerodynamic roughness length z ₀ and displacement height d over a major UK city (Leeds). Firstly, using an adaptive grid, the city is divided into neighbourhood regions that are each of a relatively consistent geometry throughout. Secondly, for each neighbourhood, a number of geometric parameters are calculated. Finally, these are used as input into a morphometric model that considers the influence of height variability to predict aerodynamic roughness length and displacement height. Predictions are compared with estimations made using standard tables of aerodynamic parameters. The comparison suggests that the accuracy of plan-area-density based tables is likely to be limited, and that height-based tables of aerodynamic parameters may be more accurate for UK cities. The displacement heights in the standard tables are shown to be lower than the current predictions. The importance of geometric details in determining z ₀ and d is then explored. Height variability is observed to greatly increase the predicted values. However, building footprint shape only has a significant influence upon the predictions when height variability is not considered. Finally, we develop simple relations to quantify the influence of height variation upon predicted z ₀ and d via the standard deviation of building heights. The difference in these predictions compared to the more complex approach highlights the importance of considering the specific shape of the building-height distributions. Collectively, these results suggest that to accurately predict aerodynamic parameters of real urban areas, height variability must be considered in detail, but it may be acceptable to make simple assumptions about building layout and footprint shape.