Serpentinized Peridotites at the North Part of the Wadi Allaqi District (Egypt): Implications for the Tectono-Magmatic Evolution of Fore-arc Crust

The Neoproterozoic Allaqi-Heiani suture （800-700 Ma） in the south Eastern Desert of Egypt is the northernmost linear ophiolitic belt that defines an arc-arc suture in the Arabian- Nubian shield （ANS）. The Neoproterozoic serpentinized peridotites represent a distinct lithology of dismembered ophiolites along the Allaqi-Heiani suture zone. The alteration of peridotites varies, some contain relicts of primary minerals （Cr-spinel and olivine） and others are extremely altered, especially along thrusts and shear zones, with development of talc, talc-carbonate and quartz-carbonate. The fresh cores of the chromian spinels are rimmed by ferritchromite and Cr- magnetite. The fresh chromian spinels have high Cr# （0.62 to 0.79）, while Mg# shows wider variation （0.35-0.59）. High Cr# in the relict chromian spinels and Fo content in the primary olivines indicate that they are residual peridotites after extensive partial melting. The studied ophiolitic upper mantle peridotites are highly depleted and most probably underwent high degrees of partial melting at a supra-subduction zone setting. They can be produced by up to -20%-22% dynamic melting of a primitive mantle source. The mineralogical and geochemical features of the studied rocks reflect that the mantle peridotites of the north part of the Wadi Allaqi district are similar to the fore-arc peridotites of a supra-subduction zone.     

Concentrations of organochlorines in sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) from Southern Australian waters

Concentrations of DDTs, PCBs and HCHs were measured in sperm whales involved in two mass stranding events on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia in February 1998. DDTs and PCBs were present in all samples analysed, while only three contained HCHs. The relationships between organochlorines, sex, age and reproductive groups were marked by high variability. Differences in organochlorine concentrations were observed between animals from the two stranding sites and discussed in light of the ecology of this species. Concentrations of all pollutants were stratified throughout the vertical aspect of the blubber and possible reasons for and the implications of this are discussed. Concentrations of compounds were higher than those documented in this species in the Southern Hemisphere previously, although were relatively lower than those documented in the Northern Hemisphere. However, comparisons were confounded by spatial and temporal differences. Continued monitoring of marine mammals throughout this region in a co-coordinated, standardized manner is essential for establishing definite temporal and spatial variations in pollutant concentrations.     

Pushover analysis of reinforced concrete frames considering shear failure at beam-column joints

Since most current seismic capacity evaluations of reinforced concrete(RC) frame structures are implemented by either static pushover analysis(PA) or dynamic time history analysis,with diverse settings of the plastic hinges(PHs) on such main structural components as columns,beams and walls,the complex behavior of shear failure at beam-column joints(BCJs) during major earthquakes is commonly neglected.This study proposes new nonlinear PA procedures that consider shear failure at BCJs and seek to assess the actual damage to RC structures.Based on the specifications of FEMA-356,a simplified joint model composed of two nonlinear cross struts placed diagonally over the location of the plastic hinge is established,allowing a sophisticated PA to be performed.To verify the validity of this method,the analytical results for the capacity curves and the failure mechanism derived from three different full-size RC frames are compared with the experimental measurements.By considering shear failure at BCJs,the proposed nonlinear analytical procedures can be used to estimate the structural behavior of RC frames,including seismic capacity and the progressive failure sequence of joints,in a precise and effective manner.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000084

Seismic anisotropy and its main features along the convergent boundary between Africa and Iberia are detected through the analysis of teleseismic shear-wave splitting.Waveform data generated by 95 teleseismic events recorded at 17 broadband stations deployed in the western Mediterranean region are used in the present study.Although the station coverage is not uniform in the Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa,significant variations in the fast polarization directions and delay times are observed at stations located at different tectonic domains.Fast polarization directions are oriented predominantly NW-SE at most stations which are close to the plate boundary and in central Iberia;being consistent with the absolute plate motion in the region.In the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula,fast velocity directions are oriented nearly E—W;coincident with previous results.Few stations located slightly north of the plate boundary and to the southeast of Iberia show E—W to NE-SW fast velocity directions,which may be related to the Alpine Orogeny and the extension direction in Iberia.Delay times vary significantly between 0.2 and 1.9 s for individual measurements,reflecting a highly anisotropic structure beneath the recording stations.The relative motion between Africa and Iberia represents the main reason for the observed NW-SE orientations of the fast velocity directions.However,different causes of anisotropy have also to be considered to explain the wide range of the splitting pattern observed in the western Mediterranean region.Many geophysical observations such as the low Pn velocity,lower lithospheric Q values,higher heat flow and the presence of high conductive features support the mantle How in the western Mediterranean,which may contribute and even modify the splitting pattern beneath the studied region.     

加拉帕戈斯三联点北部岩石层的开裂

加拉帕戈斯三联点是由科科斯板块、纳斯卡板块和太平洋板块在加拉帕戈斯微板块处汇聚形成的脊-脊-脊型三向连接构造。在科科斯—纳斯卡裂谷的大部分内斜坡以北区域,长约250km、宽约50km的西北—东南向的火山岩裂谷横插在东太平洋海隆的南北向海山上。在过去的4百万年中,东北—西南向的东太平洋海隆为一系列的较小裂谷提供了条件,使得那些小裂谷通常与东太平洋海隆共同形成三联点,而且与正在扩张的科科斯—纳斯卡裂谷有50～100km的距离。本文假设该裂谷的位置是由压力控制的,并且压力与占主导作用的科科斯—纳斯卡裂谷相关,随着与东太平洋海隆的距离增大而增大。我们推测,在科科斯—纳斯卡裂谷的南侧也曾有类似的短暂性的裂谷发生,并且曾有助于旋转的加拉帕戈斯微板块的初期形成(大约是1.5百万年)。     

化学方法改良吹填土固结沉降性质研究

大连市大窑湾港区的吹填土为高分散性低液限粉质黏土,其特点是亲水性高,含水量大,排水率低,这造成了吹填土承载力低,在荷载作用下变形量大,在很长一段时间内无法作为正常建筑地基使用.通过在盐水环境下添加不同剂量的浓度为0.1%的絮凝剂Praestol-2515或Praestol-650溶液,可以观察到土颗粒迅速聚合,土粒粒径明显增大,粒间胶结更加均匀和紧密,形成絮状物,从而促进了土颗粒与自由水分的分离,导致过饱和吹填土（悬浊液）沉降速度大大提高,极大地缩短了吹填土的排水固结时间,在短期内达到建筑地基所需要的变形量和承载能力.研究结果对于沿海地区过饱和吹填土的造陆工程,以及类似的高含水率黏性土的地基处理具有重要的启示意义.     

Assessing vulnerability to drought based on exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity: A case study in middle Inner Mongolia of China

In this paper,we proposed a framework for evaluating the performance of ecosystem strategies prepared for enhancing vulnerability reduction in the face of hazards due to climate change.The framework highlights the positive effects of human activities in the coupled human and natural system(CHANS) by introducing adaptive capacity as an evaluation criterion.A built-in regional vulnerability to a certain hazard was generated based upon interaction of three dimensions of vulnerability:exposure,sensitivity and adaptive capacity.We illustrated the application of this framework in the temperate farming-grazing transitional zone in the middle Inner Mongolia of the northern China,where drought hazard is the key threat to the CHANS.Specific indices were produced to translate such climate variance and social-economic differences into specific indicators.The results showed that the most exposed regions are the inner land areas,while counties located in the eastern part are potentially the most adaptive ones.Ordos City and Bayannur City are most frequently influenced by multiple climate variances,showing highest sensitivity.Analysis also indicated that differences in the ability to adapt to changes are the main causes of spatial differences.After depiction of the spatial differentiations and analysis of the reasons,climate zones were divided to depict the differences in facing to the drought threats.The climate zones were shown to be similar to vulnerability zones based on the quantitative structure of indexes drafted by a triangular map.Further analysis of the composition of the vulnerability index showed that the evaluation criteria were effective in validating the spatial differentiation but potentially ineffective because of their limited time scope.This research will be a demonstration of how to combine the three dimensions by quantitative methods and will thus provide a guide for government to vulnerability reduction management.     

《跨边界资源管理》书评

由郭荣星教授撰写的《跨边界资源管理(第二版)》(英文名:Cross-Border Resource Management-Second Edition",由荷兰Elsevier出版社于2012年出版;网络版:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/bookseries/14748177/10)是一本系统阐述在跨边界地区或是边界过渡地区对自然与环境资源如何有效管理的学术专著。在跨边界地区,政府行为和管理手段是复杂的,司法权通常受制于两个或以上的独立政权或行政/军事势力影响。本书的作者对跨边界地区的地理、政治、法理、社会、经济学以及文化多个问     

极端干旱条件下策勒绿洲引种植物水分生理特征研究

在塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘的中国科学院策勒沙漠研究站植物引种筛选实验区内,以3 a生文冠果、花棒和紫叶小檗为实验材料,研究三种植物经历持续干旱到短期复水过程中的生理生态响应。结果表明：（1）干旱复水后花棒和紫叶小檗的chla、chlb、叶绿素总量以及chla/b值均随土壤含水量的增加而显著增加,文冠果的叶绿素及其组分含量减少。水分变化对chla含量影响较大。（2）三种植物的MDA含量、SS含量在复水后并没有减少,而是显著的增加,文冠果的增加量最大;各物种的脯氨酸的含量降低,紫叶小糪减少的最多。（3）三种植物的清晨水势和正午水势随土壤水分含量的增加而降低,花棒和紫叶小檗的水势变化较小,水分亏缺迹象不显著。文冠果和花棒的抗逆性较强,而紫叶小檗对水分变化比较敏感。本研究结果可为研究区引种植物的适应性及防护林建设中的植物种选择提供理论参考。     

Seasonal changes in food uptake by the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in a farm pond: Evidence from C and N stable isotopes

This study investigated the seasonal changes in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stable isotope values of several typical food sources of Apostichopus japonicus in a farm pond, including particulate organic matter (POM), macroalgae, benthic microalgae and animals such as nematode and copepod. The stable isotope technique was used to quantify relative contributions of various sources to the food uptake by A. japonicus. The results showed that significant changes occurred in the C and N stable isotope values of sea cucumber food sources due to the seasonality of micro-or macroalgae prosperity and the fluctuation of environmental conditions. The sea cucumber A. japonicus exhibited corresponding alterations in feeding strategy in response to the changes in food conditions. Calculation with a stable isotope mixing model showed that macroalgae was the principal food source for A. japonicus throughout the 1-yr investigation, with the relative contribution averaging 28.1% - 63.2%. The relative contributions of other food sources such as copepod and nematode, POM, benthic microalgae to the total food uptake by sea cucumber averaged 22.6% - 39.1%, 6.3% - 22.2%, 2.8% - 6.5%, and 2.8% - 4.2%, respectively. Together these results indicated that the seasonal changes in food sources led to the obvious temporal differences in the relative contribution of various food sources utilized by A. japonicus. Such findings provide the basic scientific information for improving the aquaculture techniques of A. japonicus, particularly for optimizing the food environment of A. japonicus culture in farm ponds.