Runout and entrainment analysis of an extremely large rock avalanche—a case study of Yigong,Tibet, China

An extremely large rock avalanche occurred on April 9, 2000 at Yigong, Tibet, China. It started with an initial volume of material of 90?×?10⁶ m³ comprising mainly of loose material lying on the channel bed. The rock avalanche travelled around 10 km in horizontal distance and formed a 2.5-km-long by 2.5-km-wide depositional fan with a final volume of approximately 300?×?10⁶ m³. An energy-based debris flow runout model is used to simulate the movement process with a new entrainment model. The entrainment model considers both rolling and sliding motions in calculating the volume of eroded material. Entrainment calculation is governed by a second order partial differential equation which is solved using the finite difference method. During entrainment, it is considered that the total mass is changed due to basal erosion. Also the profile of the channel bed is adjusted accordingly due to erosion at the end of each calculation time step. For Yigong, the profile used in the simulation was extracted from a digital elevation model (DEM) with a resolution of 30 m?×?30 m. Measurements obtained from site investigation, including deposition depth and flow height at specific location, are used to verify the model. Ground elevation-based DEM before and after the event is also used to verify the simulation results where access was difficult. It is found that the calculated runout distance and the modified deposition height agree with the field observations. Moreover, the back-calculated flow characteristics based on field observations, such as flow velocity, are also used for model verifications. The results indicate that the new entrainment model is able to capture the entrainment volume and depth, runout distance, and deposition height for this case.     

Nonnative Species in British Columbia Eelgrass Beds Spread via Shellfish Aquaculture and Stay for the Mild Climate

Nonnative species cause economic and ecological impacts in habitats they invade, but there is little information on how they spread and become abundant. This is especially true for nonnative species in native Zostera marina eelgrass beds in coastal British Columbia, Canada, which play a vital role in estuarine ecosystems. We tested how nonnative species richness and abundance were related to both arrival vectors and environmental factors in northeast Pacific eelgrass. Using correlation tests and generalized linear models, we examined how nonnative macroinvertebrates (benthic, epifaunal, and large mobile) and some algae species were related to arrival vectors (shipping and aquaculture) and environmental factors (climate variables, human population density, and native richness and abundance). We found 12 nonnative species, 50 % with known negative impacts within eelgrass habitats. For benthic organisms, both nonnative richness and abundance were strongly correlated with shellfish aquaculture activities, and not with shipping activity. For epifaunal nonnative richness and abundance, neither vector was significantly correlated. Climate (temperature and salinity) helped explain nonnative richness but not abundance; there was no relationship of nonnative richness or abundance to native species richness and abundance or population density. Results suggest that aquaculture activities are responsible for many primary introductions of benthic nonnative species, and that temperature and salinity tolerances are responsible for post-introduction invasion success. While aquaculture and shipping vectors are becoming increasingly regulated to prevent further international spread of nonnative species, it will be important when managing nonnatives to consider secondary spread from intraregional transport through local shellfish aquaculture and shipping.     

A dredged material solidification treatment for fill soils in East China: A case history

Large amounts of sediments are dredged annually from Chinese oceans. Dredged materials (DMs) possess poor geotechnical properties and are normally treated as waste. This paper presents the first large-scale engineering application of DM solidification treatment in China. The technique has been used to treat approximately 1.8?×?10⁶?m³ of DM from Taihu Lake to produce fill soils. Portland cement was chosen as the solidification material, the amount of which is confirmed through indoor unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests. Special solidification machines process DM at 120?m³/hours. Field-based DM solidification engineering began in September 2006. Curing specimens were examined over 28 days. Results show that both UCS and failure strain of solidified DM could meet fill soil requirements. Bearing capacity was also assessed with a cone penetrometer test. Samples were examined after 2 years (after project completion), and the mean UCS of the specimens was 237.2?kPa, which completely satisfied the engineering request. Wuxi Taihu City Science and Technology Industrial Park has now been established on top of the solidified DM storage yard. The successful engineering of such facilities results in economic and environmental benefits; thus, engineering applications of DM solidification treatment are widely promoted in China.     

江苏水稻障碍型冷害时空变化特征及敏感性分析

利用江苏35站1961—2014年的气象观测数据和水稻产量数据,基于ArcGis软件统计分析了水稻关键生育期内低温冷害的时空变化特征和敏感性。结果表明：（1）低温冷害总次数呈现“北多南少”的总体特征,20世纪70年代发生的冷害次数最多,21世纪00年代为第二高值期;（2）全省低温冷害持续天数主要是3～6 d,其中持续3 d的比重最大,平均占50%左右,淮北存在6 d以上的低温冷害过程,但比重基本不足10%,淮北遭遇低温冷害的时间要早于淮南,淮南基本上都是在9月上旬才会发生;（3）低温冷害总体发生几率存在“北大南小”的特征,年代际波动明显,20世纪70年代的发生几率最大,21世纪00年代次之,20世纪80—90年代最小;（4）江苏西北部低温冷害强度最强,21世纪00年代低温冷害强度最强,20世纪70年代次之,20世纪80—90年代最弱;（5）江苏中部是水稻对低温冷害的高敏感地区。     

印度-亚洲碰撞：从挤压到走滑的构造转换

印度-亚洲板块碰撞导致喜马拉雅山脉的崛起、青藏高原的生长、两倍于正常地壳厚度的巨厚陆壳体,以及大量青藏高原腹地的物质沿着大型走滑断裂朝东、东南、西的方向逃逸。印度-亚洲碰撞如何造成板块汇聚边界由挤压到走滑的构造转换对认识大陆岩石圈的变形机制具有重要意义。本文通过总结喜马拉雅造山带及青藏东南缘~55Ma以来的构造、变质、岩浆记录,发现高喜马拉雅的挤出起始于始新世加厚的喜马拉雅造山带中—下地壳的部分熔融,受控于渐新世以来同期发育的向南逆冲和平行造山带的韧性伸展,并建立了高喜马拉雅"三维挤出"构造模式。晚始新世以来,羌塘地块和拉萨地块的物质通过"岩石圈横弯褶皱和壳内解耦"的运动学机制,围绕东构造结发生顺时针旋转并向青藏高原东南缘逃逸。结合东南亚板块重建的资料,我们认为:印度-亚洲的"陆-陆碰撞"到印度洋板块-亚洲东南大陆的"洋-陆俯冲"的转换是导致从印度-亚洲主碰撞带的挤压到青藏东南缘走滑转换的根本原因。     

基于GODAS数据的西太平洋暖池热状态特征及其对ENSO事件的影响

利用1981—2011年共31 a美国GODAS月平均次表层海温资料,以5~366 m次表层垂直平均海温表征上层海洋热含量(HC),运用合成、相关等统计学方法,分析了西太平洋暖池(以下简称暖池)热状态气候特征及其对ENSO事件的影响。结果表明:暖池区HC异常变化最大,异常变化最大的区域与其高值中心区域并不重合,而是在经向上向其两侧偏离;暖池区HC季节变化与SST季节变化高度一致,年际变率大于SST的年际变率;暖池热状态与ENSO事件有密切联系,最大冷(暖)异常恰好对应于ENSO循环过程中的El Ni1o(La Ni1a)事件,并且ENSO事件前期暖池HC存在明显东传信号。     

A semi-analytical model of barotropic and baroclinic flows for an open Panama Gateway

A semi-analytical model of the Panama throughflow is presented. The model expresses the throughflow transport as a function of deep water formation in the North Pacific and in the North Atlantic, and of the Panama Gateway depth. The model is derived from the integral of the momentum equation along a circumpolar path, and can be interpreted from the point of view of the vorticity balance. The important conditions are whether the deep water, whose location is considered to be above the bottom water formed around Antarctica, originates from the North Atlantic or from the North Pacific, and whether the Panama Gateway is shallower than the lower boundary of the deep water. The present model indicates that the barotropic transport through the Panama Gateway is eastward, except for the case where the deep water is formed in the North Pacific and the sill of the Panama Gateway is shallow. The baroclinic structure of the Panama throughflow depends on whether the deep water is formed in the North Pacific or in the North Atlantic. These qualitative implications of the model are consistent with recent numerical studies and proxy-based paleoceanographic studies. Numerical experiments performed in the present study reinforce confidence in the semi-analytical model.     

Projections of Extreme Rainfall in Hong Kong in the 21st Century

The possible changes in the frequency of extreme rainfall events in Hong Kong in the 21st century wereinvestigated by statistically downscaling 30 sets of the daily global climate model projections (involvinga combination of 12 models and 3 greenhouse gas emission scenarios,namely,A2,A1B,and B1) of theFourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.To cater for the intermittentand skewed character of the daily rainfall,multiple stepwise logistic regression and multiple stepwise linearregression were employed to develop the downscaling models for predicting rainfall occurrence and rainfallamount,respectively.Verification of the simulation of the 1971-2000 climate reveals that the models ingeneral have an acceptable skill in reproducing past statistics of extreme rainfall events in Hong Kong.Theprojection results suggest that,in the 21st century,the annual number of rain days in Hong Kong is expectedto decrease while the daily rainfall intensity will increase,concurrent with the expected increase in annualrainfall.Based on the multi-model scenario ensemble mean,the annual number of rain day is expected todrop from 104 days in 1980-1999 to about 77 days in 2090-2099.For extreme rainfall events,about 90% ofthe model-scenario combinations indicate an increase in the annual number of days with daily rainfall 100mm (R100) towards the end of the 21st century.The mean number of R100 is expected to increase from 3.5days in 1980-1999 to about 5.3 days in 2090-2099.The projected changes in other extreme rainfall indicesalso suggest that the rainfall in Hong Kong in the 21st century may also become more extreme with moreuneven distributions of wet and dry periods.While most of the model-emission scenarios in general projectconsistent trends in the change of rainfall extremes in the 21st century,there is a large divergence in theprojections among different model/emission scenarios.This reflects that there are still large uncertainties inmodel simulations of future extreme rainfall events.     

Decadal and interannual variability of the Indian Ocean Dipole

This study investigates the decadal and interannual variability of the Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD）. It is found that the long-term IOD index displays a decadal phase variation. Prior to 1920 negative phase dominates but after 1960 positive phase prevails. Under the warming background of the tropical ocean, a larger warming trend in the western Indian Ocean is responsible for the decadal phase variation of the IOD mode. Due to reduced latent heat loss from the local ocean, the western Indian Ocean warming may be caused by the weakened Indian Ocean westerly summer monsoon. The interannual air-sea coupled IOD mode varies on the background of its decadal variability. During the earlier period （1948-1969）, IOD events are characterized by opposing SST anomaly （SSTA） in the western and eastern Indian Ocean, with a single vertical circulation above the equatorial Indian Ocean. But in the later period （1980-2003）, with positive IOD dominating, most IOD events have a zonal gradient perturbation on a uniform positive SSTA. However, there are three exceptionally strong positive IOD events （1982, 1994, and 1997）, with opposite SSTA in the western and eastern Indian Ocean, accompanied by an El Nifio event. Consequently, two anomalous reversed Walker cells are located separately over the Indian Ocean and western-eastern Pacific; the one over the Indian Ocean is much stronger than that during other positive IOD events.     

Damage evaluation and conservation treatment of the tenth century Korean rock-carved Buddha statues

This study focuses on the lithological characterization, quantitative deterioration assessment and conservation treatment of the tenth century rock-carved Buddha statues in Korea. The Buddha statues were carved on light gray macrocrystalline biotite granite, and features microcline phenocrysts and pegmatite patches. The rock-forming minerals are quartz, plagioclase, microcline and biotite showing micrographic and porphyritic textures. Feldspars and biotite in the host rock have been partly altered into sericite and chlorite by weathering. The surface of the Buddha statues is remarkably irregular due to granular disintegration and the differential weathering of the quartz and microcline. In addition, horizontal and vertical cracks in the host rock have promoted mechanical weathering. Biological colonization of the statues was serious, and featured dark gray and yellowish green lichen, dark green bryophyte and some plants. The Buddha statues were evaluated as the highly weathered rock by ultrasonic survey. The lower parts under the influence of water and areas with severely broken surfaces showed a much more advanced weathering grade. Therefore, scientific conservation treatment was carried out for the long-term maintenance and conservation of the Buddha statues. After pretests, dry, wet and chemical cleanings were applied to the statues. Next, joining of cracked parts and surface consolidating were executed. Finally, the site environment was improved by installation of drain and trimming trees around the statues to ensure more stable long-term conservation.