Effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere from joint inversion in western China and its implications*

The western China lies in the convergence zone between Eurasian and Indian plates. It is an ideal place to study the lithosphere dynamics and tectonic evolutions on the continental Earth. The lithospheric strength is a key factor in controlling the lithosphere dynamics and deformations. The effective elastic thickness (T_e) of the lithosphere can be used to address the lithospheric strength. Previous researchers only used one of the admittance or coherence methods to investigate the T_e in the western China. Moreover, most of them ignored the internal loads of the lithosphere during the T_e calculation, which can produce large biases in the T_e estimations. To provide more reliable T_e estimations, we used a new joint inversion method that integrated both admittance and coherence techniques to compute the T_e in this study, with the WGM2012 gravity data, the ETOPO1 topographic data, and the Moho depths from the CRUST1.0 model. The internal loads are considered and investigated using the load ratio (F). Our results show that the joint inversion method can yield reliable T_e and F values. Based on the analysis of T_e and F distributions, we suggest (1) the northern Tibetan Plateau could be the front edge of the plate collision of Eurasian and Indian plates; (2) the southern and part of central Tibetan Plateau have a strong lithospheric mantle related to the rigid underthrusting Indian plate; (3) the southeastern Tibetan Plateau may be experiencing the delamination of lithosphere and upwelling of asthenosphere.     

甘孜-玉树断裂带晚第四纪走滑速率与滑动分解作用

滑动速率是研究断裂运动学特征、地震活动性和区域应变分配的重要参数和依据。前人关于甘孜-玉树断裂带滑动速率的研究结果存在较大差异,因此,其晚第四纪滑动速率有待进一步调查研究。本文基于卫星影像解译和野外实地考察,对甘孜-玉树断裂带西段（玉树断裂）上典型断错地貌点进行测量分析,得到玉树断裂晚第四纪走滑速率为6.6±0.1-7.4±1.2mm/a。通过与前人对甘孜-玉树断裂带东段（甘孜断裂）滑动速率的研究结果进行对比,发现甘孜-玉树断裂带东、西段滑动速率不一致,其原因是甘孜断裂的左旋滑移在向西传递的过程中,一部分应变被分配到了巴塘盆地南缘断裂上。巴塘盆地南缘断裂的存在很好地解释了玉树断裂的走滑速率比甘孜断裂偏低的原因。但是,从区域变形来看,巴塘盆地南缘断裂分配的滑动速率恰好说明了甘孜-玉树断裂带东、西段及鲜水河断裂带的水平构造变形是协调一致的。     

Spatiotemporal variations of deep-sea sediment components and their fluxes since the last glaciation in the northern South China Sea

Sediment components and their fluxes of Cores MD12-3428(water depth: 903 m), MD12-3433(water depth: 2125 m),and MD12-3434(water depth: 2995 m), obtained along a transect on the continental slope of the northern South China Sea, have been conducted to reveal the spatiotemporal variations and the controlling factors of the sediment components and of their fluxes.Results show that deep-sea sediments in the northern South China Sea are composed mainly of terrigenous(59–89%) and carbonate(6–38%) particles, with minor components of opal(1.6–9.4%) and organic matter(0.7–1.9%). Fluxes of terrigenous and carbonate particles reach up to 2.4–21.8 and 0.4–6.5 g cm–2 kyr–1, respectively, values that are one to two orders of magnitude higher than the fluxes of opal and organic matter. Temporal variations of the percentages and fluxes of deep-sea sediment components have displayed clear glacial-interglacial cyclicity since the last glaciation. Terrigenous, opal, and organic matter percentages and their fluxes increas clearly during marine isotope stage 2, while carbonate percentages and fluxes show an opposite variation pattern or are characterized by an unremarkable increase. This implies that deep-sea carbonate in the South China Sea is affected by the dilution of terrigenous inputs during the sea-level lowstand. With increasing water depth along the transect, the terrigenous percentage increases but with largely decreased fluxes. Both the percentage and flux of carbonate decrease, while the percentages and fluxes of opal and organic matter display much more complicated variational features. The spatiotemporal variations of deep-sea sediment components and of their fluxes since the last glaciation in the northern South China Sea are strongly controlled by sea-level fluctuations. Simultaneously, terrigenous supply associated with monsoonal rainfall, marine primary productivity,and the dilution effect between terrigenous and biogenic particles, also play interconnected roles in the sediment accumulation processes.     

Simulating and mapping the risk of surge floods in multiple typhoon scenarios: a case study of Yuhuan County,Zhejiang Province,China

We propose a scenario-based method for simulating and mapping the risk of surge floods for use by local authorities concerned with public safety and urban planning in coastal areas. Focusing on the triad of hazard, vulnerability and adaptation capability, we estimate the comprehensive risk and display its spatial distribution using the raster calculation tool in ArcGIS. The detailed methodology is introduced via a case study of Yuhuan, an island county in Zhejiang Province, China, which is frequently affected by typhoon storm surges. First, we designed 24 typhoon scenarios and modeled the flood process in each scenario using the hydrodynamic module of MIKE 21. Second, flood depth and area were used for hazard assessment; an authorized indicator system of land use categories and a survey of emergency shelters were used for vulnerability and adaptation capability assessment, respectively; and a quantified model was used for assessment of the comprehensive risk. Lastly, we used the GIS raster calculation tool for mapping the risk of storm surges in multiple typhoon scenarios. Our principal findings are as follows: (1) Seawalls are more likely to be overtopped or destroyed by more severe storm surges with increasing typhoon intensity. (2) Most of the residential areas with inadequate emergency shelters are highly vulnerable to flood events. (3) As projected in the risk mapping, if an exceptional typhoon with a central pressure of 915 or 925 hPa made a landfall in Yuhuan, a wide range of areas would be flooded and at high risk. (4) Determining optimal strategies based on identification of risk-inducing factors is the most effective way of promoting safe and sustainable development in coastal cities.     

Temporal and spatial variations of potential evaporation and the driving mechanism over Tibet during 1961–2001

Potential evaporation (PE) is the basic component of the global hydrological cycle and energy balance. This study detected the temporal and spatial variations of PE and related driving factors in Tibet, China, for the period 1961–2001, based on observed data recorded at 22 meteorological stations. The results showed that (1) Tibet experienced a statistically significant decrease of PE between 1961 and 2001, which started mainly in the 1980s, along with accelerated warming; (2) the mean annual PE in Tibet showed an east–west increasing trend, and the annual PE at most stations presented decreasing trends; (3) an inverse correlation of mean annual PE with elevation was detected (low–high decreasing trend), and the statistical equations to estimate PE were established based on longitude, latitude and elevation; and (4) PE in Tibet can be well expressed by related meteorological variables, with vapour pressure deficit the dominant factor in determining PE.

EDITOR Z. W. Kundzewicz ASSOCIATE EDITOR not assigned     

Nonsmooth dynamics prediction of measured bridge response involving deck‐abutment pounding

Earthquake‐induced deck‐abutment contact alters the boundary conditions at the deck level and might activate a different mechanical system than the one assumed during the design of the bridge. Occasionally this discrepancy between the assumed and the actual seismic behavior has detrimental consequences, for example, pier damage, deck unseating, or even collapse. Recently, an insightful shake‐table testing of a scaled deck‐abutment bridge model 1 , showed unexpected in‐plane rotations even though the deck was straight. These contact‐induced rotations produced significant residual displacements and damage to the piers and the bents. The present paper utilizes that experimental data to examine the validity and the limitations of a proposed nonsmooth dynamic analysis framework. The results show that the proposed approach satisfactorily captures the planar rigid‐body dynamics of the deck which is characterized by deck‐abutment contact. The analysis brings forward the role of friction on the physical mechanism behind the rotation of the deck, and underlines the importance of considering the frictional contact forces during deck‐abutment interaction even for straight bridges, which typically are neglected. Finally, the paper investigates the sensitivity of the rotation with respect to macroscopic contact parameters (i.e., the coefficient of friction and the coefficient of restitution). Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Storm surge risk assessment method for a coastal county in China: case study of Jinshan District,Shanghai

Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment - Storm surges, which may cause considerable casualties and economic losses, are among the most serious natural disasters that threaten the...     

An Analytical Method for Groundwater Inflow into a Drained Circular Tunnel

Groundwater inflow estimation is essential for the design and construction of tunnel and the assessment of the environmental impacts. Analytical solutions used in current engineering practice do not adequately account for the effect of the excavation‐induced drawdown, which leads to significant change in pore water pressure distribution and reductions of the water level beyond tunnel. Based on the numerical analysis results, this article proposes semianalytical method to predict the height of lowered water level and groundwater tunnel inflow. The tunnel problem is conceptualized as two‐dimensional flow in a plane perpendicular to the tunnel axis. The analytical formula, considering the effect of the excavation‐induced drawdown, provides a better prediction of the tunnel inflow compared to the existing analytical formulas, even for the cases with inclined groundwater level.     

新郑矿区地热资源潜能分析与保护建议

基于新郑矿区以平均每年0.0813×108m3的涌水量向地表排放热水,造成的地热资源损失和污染环境的现实,在分析地温地质条件基础上,利用热储资源量公式、卡明斯基公式和弹性储存量公式,分别计算了矿山开采前和开采后不同类型地热资源量,并对当前矿区地热潜能进行了评估。在此基础上,提出了选择煤层底板加固技术,保持岩溶裂隙水一定的水位、减少地下水排放和利用识别模型,选择适宜区段作为地热资源开采区,以调减矿山日常的排水量,尽可能维持渗流场基本不变,进而提高热储的潜能,实现节能减排,达到保护与利用地热资源的效果的建议。     

塔里木盆地西北缘露头区奥陶系古溶洞地质建模

塔里木盆地西北缘奥陶系大型古溶洞广泛出露,为古溶洞露头地质建模提供了优越的条件。综合野外资料和Google Earth影像分析,将大型古溶洞以形态结构特征为依据划分成管道—厅堂连通型溶洞、单一管道孤立型溶洞、流线型溶洞3种类型;以存在形式划分成单一溶洞和溶洞群。其中,管道—厅堂连通型溶洞以潜流带型为主,在平面上沿主方位通过岩溶管道连接厅堂分布,厅堂大小不等,在50～50000m³之间变化;单一管道孤立型溶洞以渗流带型为主,平面上呈现单一管道线条状;流线型溶洞分布在潜流带中,从剖面上看呈近圆形、椭圆形和豆荚状等多种形状,包括顺层和斜交地层2种类型。结合各露头剖面中构造、地层条件及发育溶洞类型,明确管道—厅堂联通型溶洞受不整合面控制,分布在三间房、五道班和西克尔剖面中;单一管道孤立型溶洞受断裂系统控制,分布在一间房和硫磺沟剖面中;流线型溶洞主要分布在西克尔剖面,沿溶蚀沟道两侧分布;多种不同因素的耦合控制了溶洞群的分布。以此建立了综合大型古溶洞特征及其控制因素的古溶洞发育概念地质模型,以溶洞群为主要体积计算单元,通过与塔北奥陶系串珠进行体积对比,明确了地质模型的油气勘探意义。