Determination of Bromine and Iodine in Twenty-three Geochemical Reference Materials by ICP-MS

Trace amounts (from nanogram to microgram levels) of bromine and iodine were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in twenty-three geochemical reference materials issued by the GSJ, USGS, IAEA etc. The pyrohydrolysis technique was used to separate bromine and iodine from samples analysed in the form of powder. The accuracy and precision of the experimental values were assessed by the comparative analysis of well established reference materials such as USGS AGV-1, BCR-1 and IGGE GBW07312. The measured values agreed well with reported values within a 10% error range. We also report reliable new data for these elements in these geochemical reference materials.     

Quaternary Tectonic Deformation in Front Area of the Tianjingshan Fault Zone and Analysis of Its Genesis

Through detailed field mapping, the tectonic deformation in the front area of the Tianjingshan fault zone is discussed in this paper. The result shows that there are two Quaternary thrust (oblique) fault-fold belts, namely: the Miaoshan and Hongjianshan fault-fold belts, in the front area of the south wall's strike-slip movement of the Tianjingshan fault zone. The Hejiakouzi Quaternary anticline, which is a part of the Miaoshan fault-fold belt, is mainly discussed. It is pointed out that the fold began to grow in the middle part near Hejiakouzi in the mid-late stage of middle Pleistocene epoch and then gradually developed towards the ends in late Quaternary. Based on the Cenozoic structural features, the genesis of the Miaoshan and Hongjianshan fault-fold belts and the kinematic relation they bear with the Tianjingshan fault zone are analyzed.     

A new aspect of condensation theory

This paper examines the effects of the mixing of dry air into a cloud top from the point of view of the droplet spectra. It is shown theoretically that the resulting cycling of the air up and down in the cloud, as seems to be the essential mechanism by which cumuli have been diluted to their observed liquid water mixing ratio, can double the largest drop radius and generate cloud parcels containing drops of all sizes up to this maximum. These changes in the droplet distribution with size occur by a process which is not greatly influenced by the cloud condensation nuclei or the details of droplet growth since maritime like spectra can develop in continental type cumuli. It shows that large numbers of cloud condensation nuclei should not have much effect in inhibiting the rainforming process by reducing coalescence growth. On the contrary, the controlling parameters which determine precipitation efficiency and times seem to be those which control the mixing.     

Analysis of effects of active sources on observed phase velocity based on the thin layer method

In the wave field induced by active sources, the observed phase velocity of surface waves is influenced by both mode incompatibility (i.e. non-planar spread of surface waves is idealized as plane waves) and body waves. Effects of sources are usually investigated based on numerical simulations and physical models. Several methods have been proposed to mitigate the effects. In application, however, these methods may also have difficulties since the energy of the body waves depends on soil stratification and parameters. There are multiple modes of surface waves in layered media, among which the higher modes dominate the wave field for soils with the irregular shear velocity profiles. Considering the mode incompatibility and the higher modes, we derive analytical expressions for the effective phase velocity of the surface waves based on the thin layer stiffness method, and investigate the effects of the body waves on the observed phase velocity through the phase analysis of the vibrations of both the surface waves and the body waves. The results indicate that the effective phase velocity of the surface waves in layered media varies with the frequency and the spread distance, and is underestimated compared to that of the plane surface waves in the spread range less than about one wavelength. The oscillations that appeared in the observed phase velocity are due to the involvement of the body waves. The mode incompatibility can be ignored in the range beyond one wavelength, while the influence range of the body waves is far beyond one wavelength. The body waves have a significant influence on the observed phase velocity of the surface waves in soils with a soft layer trapped between the first and the second layers because of strong reflections.     

A new soil freeze/thaw discriminant algorithm using AMSR‐E passive microwave imagery

The soil freeze–thaw controls the hydrological and carbon cycling and thus affects water and energy exchanges at land surface. This article reported a newly developed algorithm for distinguishing the freeze/thaw status of surface soil. The algorithm was based on information from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Enhanced (AMSR‐E) which records brightness temperature (Tb) in the afternoon and after midnight. The criteria and discriminant functions were obtained from both radiometer observations and model simulations. First of all, the microwave radiation from freeze–thaw soil was examined by carrying out experimental measurements at 18·7 and 36·5 GHz using a Truck‐mounted Multi‐frequency Microwave Radiometer (TMMR) in the Heihe River of China. The experimental results showed that the soil moisture is a key component that differentiates the microwave radiation behaviours during the freeze–thaw process, and the differences in soil temperature and emissivity between frozen and thawed soils were found to be the most important criteria. Secondly, a combined model was developed to consider the impacts of complex ground surface conditions on the discrimination. The model simulations quite followed the trend of in situ observations with an overall relation coefficient (R) of approximately 0·88. Finally, the ratio of Tb18·7H (horizontally polarized Tb at 18·7 GHz) to Tb36·5V was considered primarily as the quasi‐emissivity, which is more reasonable and explicit in measuring the microwave radiation changes in soil freezing and thawing than the spectral gradient. By combining Tb36·5V to indicate the soil temperature variety, a Fisher linear discrimination analysis was used to establish the discriminant functions. After being corrected by TMMR measurements, the new discriminant algorithm had an overall accuracy of 86% when validated by 4‐cm soil temperature. The multi‐year discriminant results also provided a good agreement with the classification map of frozen ground in China. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of frictional forces acting on sidewalls of buried box culverts

The effects of frictional forces acting on the sidewalls of buried box culverts are presented as determined with finite element method (FEM) and detailed soil modelling. The possibility of reducing earth pressure on deeply buried concrete box culverts by the imperfect trench installation (ITI) method has been contemplated during the last several decades. There have been limited research results published primarily regarding the qualitative aspect of load reduction in ITIs. It was found during the course of this study that significant frictional forces develop along the sidewalls of box culverts and adjacent sidefills in ITIs. Current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials provisions do not consider these frictional forces, but they cannot be neglected in ITIs, as their effect is dominant. An optimum geometry for the soft zone in ITIs is presented to maximize earth load reductions. The soil–structure interaction at the box culvert–soil interface was found to have a significant effect on total earth pressure acting on the bottom slab. Predictor equations for earth load reduction rates were formulated for ITIs incorporating the optimum soft zone geometry based on the FEM. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

电离层E_S层对综合射束污染的初步分析

本文考虑到干涉仪对电离层中不同尺度不规则性的滤波作用、结合密云米波综合孔径系统、提出了电离层E_(?)层是电离层不规则性影响该系统的主要根源。不规则性的尺度约在700～1000米的范围。再考虑到E_(?)层的漂移运动,提出了文中所描述的模型。用电子计算机进行了E_(?)层对综合射束污染的模拟计算,结果指出:射束主瓣的增益下降约10％,副瓣由13％增大到18％;综合射束在赤经方向出现不对称性,从而引起约0.6秒的赤经误差;射束的边缘处和两个扇形区出现了杂瓣。     

Effects of brace stiffness on performance of structures with supplemental Maxwell model‐based brace–damper systems

Shear‐type buildings with Maxwell model‐based brace–damper systems are studied in this paper with a primary emphasis on the effects of brace stiffness. A single‐story building with a viscous damper installed on top of a Chevron‐brace is first investigated. Closed‐form solutions are derived for the simple structure, relating the brace stiffness and damper coefficient to the targeted reduction in response displacement or acceleration. For a given brace stiffness, the solution is minimized to give a set of formulae that will allow the optimal damper coefficient to be determined, assuring the desired performance. The model is subsequently extended to multistory buildings with viscous dampers installed on top of Chevron‐braces. For a targeted reduction in the mean square of the interstory drift, floor acceleration or base shear force, the minimum brace stiffness and optimal damper coefficients are obtained through an iterative procedure. The response reduction, which signifies the improved performance, is achieved by a combination of brace stiffness and viscous damper coefficients, unlike conventional approaches where damper coefficients are typically optimized independent of brace stiffnesses. Characteristics of multi‐degree‐of‐freedom systems are studied using a 2‐story and a 10‐story buildings where the effects of brace stiffness on the overall performance of the building can be quantified. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂西磷矿矿集区地质及其资源远景分析

鄂西磷矿的分布与产状受神农架背斜和黄陵背斜控制,为荆襄式晚震旦世沉积型磷块岩矿床。受浅海台地台坪亚相,磷块岩、泥(页)岩、白云岩含磷建造和水下隆起古构造等控制。晚震旦世陡山沱期磷矿评价标志为:上震旦统陡山沱阶;浅海台地台坪亚相;磷块岩、泥(页)岩、白云岩含磷建造;成矿地段陡山沱阶厚度一般小于200m,最佳150～50m;水下隆起带;磷块岩矿床一般分布在冰碛砾岩为0m的区域;含磷建造等深线一般小于1000m。评价结果表明,荆襄、宜昌、新华、神农架和保康磷矿区的深部及外围具有较好的资源远景,资源潜力大。     

Distribution and characteristics of marine habitats in a subpolar bay based on hydroacoustics and bed shear stress estimates—Potter Cove,King George Island,Antarctica

Marine habitats worldwide are increasingly pressurized by climate change, especially along the Antarctic Peninsula. Well-studied areas in front of rapidly retreating tidewater glaciers like Potter Cove are representative for similar coastal environments and, therefore, shed light on habitat formation and development on not only a local but also regional scale. The objective of this study was to provide insights into habitat distribution in Potter Cove, King George Island, Antarctica, and to evaluate the associated environmental processes. Furthermore, an assessment concerning the future development of the habitats is provided. To describe the seafloor habitats in Potter Cove, an acoustic seabed discrimination system (RoxAnn) was used in combination with underwater video images and sediment samples. Due to the absence of wave and current measurements in the study area, bed shear stress estimates served to delineate zones prone to sediment erosion. On the basis of the investigations, two habitat classes were identified in Potter Cove, namely soft-sediment and stone habitats that, besides influences from sediment supply and coastal morphology, are controlled by sediment erosion. A future expansion of the stone habitat is predicted if recent environmental change trends continue. Possible implications for the Potter Cove environment, and other coastal ecosystems under similar pressure, include changes in biomass and species composition.