The causality between the rapid rotation of a sunspot and an X3.4 flare

Using multi-wavelength data of Hinode, the rapid rotation of a sunspot in ac-tive region NOAA 10930 is studied in detail. We found extraordinary counterclockwise rotation of the sunspot with positive polarity before an X3.4 flare. From a series of vector magnetograms, it is found that magnetic force lines are highly sheared along the neu-tral line accompanying the sunspot rotation. Furthermore, it is also found that sheared loops and an inverse S-shaped magnetic loop in the corona formed gradually after the sunspot rotation. The X3.4 flare can be reasonably regarded as a result of this movement. A detailed analysis provides evidence that sunspot rotation leads to magnetic field linestwisting in the photosphere. The twist is then transported into the corona and triggers flares.     

Sedimentary records of the late Early Cretaceous compressional setting in the South China block: A case study of the Xingning Basin,Guangdong Province

Recently, some scholars have proposed that the South China Block (SCB) was controlled by a compressive tectonic regime in the middle–late Early Cretaceous, challenging the belief that the SCB was under an extensional setting during the Cretaceous. The Early Cretaceous tectonic setting constraint in the SCB can offer vital insight to clarify the Mesozoic subduction history of the Paleo-Pacific. Therefore, to determine the SCB tectonic regime during the Early Cretaceous, this study investigated sedimentary rocks from the Lower Cretaceous Heshui Formation in the Xingning Basin, a foreland basin located in the southeastern SCB. Provenance analysis was performed using sandstone modal analysis, sandstone geochemical characteristics, and detrital zircon geochronology. Based on the results, we discussed basin sediment sources and the SCB tectonic regime during the Early Cretaceous. The results showed that the maximum Heshui Formation depositional age was 103 Ma ± 1.6 Ma in the Early Cretaceous Albian. Detrital framework modes and geochemical characteristics of sandstone indicated that Heshui Formation's source rocks were granites and sedimentary rocks. The detrital zircon U–Pb ages could be classified into two major and four subordinate age populations. The Wuyi Terrane to the north and southeast coastal regions to the east were the primary potential Heshui Formation source areas. However, the lower and upper sandstones are different in the peak ages, ~437 and ~146 to 104 Ma, respectively, indicating that the major source area shifted from the Wuyi Terrane to the southeastern coastal regions during the late Early Cretaceous. The sandstone modal analysis results indicated that the source area comprised mainly collisional–orogenic material. The SCB was under a compressive tectonic regime during the late Early Cretaceous and this compression action continued until at least 103 Ma ± 1.6 Ma.     

A Study of the Scale Height of the Thin Galactic Disk in the Solar Neighborhood

An attempt is made to determine the scale height of the thin Galactic disk in the solar neighborhood using various stellar samples from the accurate astrometric data of the Hipparcos satellite. Using the Tycho color indices and considering the completeness of the samples, several samples were selected from the main sequence and the horizontal branch. Based on two rather complete samples, it is found that the scale height of the Galactic disk defined by the O-B type main sequence stars is 103.1 ± 3.0 pc and the Sun is located at height of 15.2 ± 7.3 pc above its mean plane; while the scale height of the Galactic disk defined by the horizontal branch stars is 144.0 the ±10.0 pc and the Sun is located at height 3.5 ± 5.4 pc above the mean plane. Owing to the incompleteness of observational samples, it is not possible to use the main sequence stars of spectral types A, F, G, K and M to make a reliable determination of the scale height.     

Observations of Giant Pulses of the Crab Pulsar

The Crab Pulsar was observed at 1540 MHz with the 25m radio telescope at Urumqi with a filterbank de-dispersion backend. A total of 2436 giant pulses with pulse energies larger than 4300 Jy μs were detected in two observing sets. All of these giant pulses are located in the main pulse (MP) and inter pulse (IP) windows of the average profile of the Crab Pulsar. The ratio of the numbers of giant pulses detected in the IP and MP windows is about 0.05. Our results show that, at 1540 MHz, the emission in the IP is contributed by giant and normal pulses, while that in the MP is almost dominated by giant pulses. The distribution of energy of the 2436 giant pulses at 1540 MHz can be described by a power-law with index α=3.13±0.09. The intrinsic threshold of giant pulse energy in the MP window is about 1400 Jy μs at 1540 MHz.     

Oxygen and Carbon Isotopes of Cold-water Corals—Reconstructing Paleotemperature Changes and Calcification Mechanism

Cold-water corals represent an intriguing paleoceanographic archive with a great potential to reconstruct high-resolution paleoenvironmental changes. Compared to those of shallow-water corals, proxies derived from cold-water corals have been complicated by biologically mediated vital effects. The oxygen and carbon stable isotope compositions of cold-water coral skeletons are more depleted than the expected carbonate-seawater equilibrium values by 4‰~6‰ and about 10‰, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to correct for the vital effects before using δ¹⁸O as a temperature proxy. The principles and methods of reconstructing paleotemperature variations of intermediate and deep oceans using oxygen and carbon isotopes of cold-water corals are reviewed, as well as three existing cold-water coral calcification models and their advantages and disadvantages. It is suggested that further micro-scales analysis and targeted experiments are required to clarify the calcification processes of cold-water corals.     

山东黄县盆地古近系李家崖组含煤岩系沉积相特征及演化

山东黄县盆地是中国东部一个重要的煤和油页岩共生盆地,古近系李家崖组是盆地主要的含煤岩系发育层段。根据层序地层学理论,建立了古近系层序地层格架;依据钻测井、岩心资料划分了李家崖组的沉积相类型,编制了分体系域的沉积相图。主要结论如下:(1)李家崖组发育湖泊、辫状河三角洲以及扇三角洲3种沉积相类型。(2)层序Ⅰ低水位体系域以辫状河三角洲相为主,湖扩展体系域以扇三角洲相和湖泊相为主,高水位体系域以扇三角洲相为主;层序Ⅱ低水位体系域以辫状河三角洲相为主,湖扩展体系域以扇三角洲相和湖泊相为主,高水位体系域以湖泊相为主。(3)层序Ⅰ发育时期: 低水位期盆地初始形成—湖扩展期盆地扩张—高水位期盆地萎缩;层序Ⅱ发育时期: 低水位期盆地再次缓慢扩张—湖扩展期盆地加速扩张—高水位期盆地萎缩消亡。     

Ultimate bearing capacity of energy piles in dry and saturated sand

Acta Geotechnica - The influence of thermal loads on the ultimate bearing capacity of energy piles is examined. Five laboratory model tests were carried out to investigate piles equipped with...     

Applying VGI to collaborative research in the humanities: the case of ARTL@S

ABSTRACT

Using Artl@s as an example of a project that relies on volunteered geographic information (VGI), this article examines the specific challenges that exist, beyond those frequently discussed in general VGI systems (e.g., participants’ motivation and data quality control) in regard to sharing research data in humanities: (1) most data from the humanities is qualitative and collected from multiple data sources which are often inconsistent and unmappable; (2) data is usually interconnected with multiple relationships among different tables which creates challenges for both mapping and query functionality; (3) data is both geographical and historical. Consequently addresses that no longer exist have to be geolocated and visualized on historical basemaps and spaces must be represented diachronically; (4) the design of web map application needs to balance both sophisticated research requirements and a user-friendly interface; (5) finally contributors expect their data to be cited or acknowledged when used in other studies and users need metadata and citation information in order to reuse and repurpose datasets.

In this article, we discuss how Artl@s, a project which developed a georeferenced historical database of exhibition catalogues, addresses these challenges. Artl@s provides a case study for VGI adoption by digital humanities scholars for research data sharing, as it offers features, such as flexible batch data contribution, interrelated spatial query, automatic geolocalization of historical addresses, and data citation mechanisms.     

常量元素记录的毛乌素沙地东南缘全新世气候变化

毛乌素沙地处于中国季风边缘的半干旱区,对气候变化响应敏感,是研究过去全球气候变化的理想场所。对沙地东南缘锦界剖面全新统砂质黄土-古风成砂-古土壤互层沉积序列进行研究,在OSL测年基础上,通过沉积物常量元素氧化物含量及其比值分析,结合粒度、磁化率特征,探讨了毛乌素沙地东南缘7.9ka BP以来气候变化。结果表明：（1）地层常量元素氧化物以SiO₂和Al₂O₃为主,其他元素含量依次为Na₂O、K₂O、Fe₂O₃、CaO、MgO。各种元素活动性不同,K、Na活动性较强,易淋失;Si活动性较稳定,风成砂中易富集;Ca、Mg、Al、Fe活动性较弱,古土壤中富集。（2）7.9ka BP以来气候变化分为6个阶段。7.9～7.3 ka最温暖湿润时段;7.3～6.8 ka,气候转冷干;6.8～4.3 ka,整体上温暖湿润,期间存在2次由暖湿变冷干的波动,并出现过6次风沙活动,即6.6～6.3、6.1、5.9、5.7～5.5、5.3～5.0、4.7～4.4 ka;4.3～2.5ka BP,气候转冷干;2.5～1.8ka BP出现过短暂湿润期,但暖湿程度不及全新世中期;1.8ka BP以来气候渐趋干旱并接近现代气候。（3）全新世气候变化与毗邻的萨拉乌苏河流域、浑善达克沙地等记录的气候变化具有很好的一致性,这是通过东亚冬夏季风强弱消长变化对全球变化的区域响应。