The ionospheric eclipse factor method (IEFM) and its application to determining the ionospheric delay for GPS

A new method for modeling the ionospheric delay using global positioning system (GPS) data is proposed, called the ionospheric eclipse factor method (IEFM). It is based on establishing a concept referred to as the ionospheric eclipse factor (IEF) λ of the ionospheric pierce point (IPP) and the IEF’s influence factor (IFF) . The IEF can be used to make a relatively precise distinction between ionospheric daytime and nighttime, whereas the IFF is advantageous for describing the IEF’s variations with day, month, season and year, associated with seasonal variations of total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. By combining λ and with the local time t of IPP, the IEFM has the ability to precisely distinguish between ionospheric daytime and nighttime, as well as efficiently combine them during different seasons or months over a year at the IPP. The IEFM-based ionospheric delay estimates are validated by combining an absolute positioning mode with several ionospheric delay correction models or algorithms, using GPS data at an international Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) service (IGS) station (WTZR). Our results indicate that the IEFM may further improve ionospheric delay modeling using GPS data.     

Atmospheric Artifact Compensation in Ground-Based DInSAR Applications

In this letter, a coherence-based technique for atmospheric artifact removal in ground-based (GB) zero-baseline synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquisitions is proposed. For this purpose, polarimetric measurements acquired using the GB-SAR sensor developed at the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya are employed. The heterogeneous environment of Collserola Park in the outskirts of Barcelona, Spain, was selected as the test area. Data sets were acquired at X-band during one week in June 2005. The effects of the atmosphere variations between successive zero-baseline SAR polarimetric acquisitions are treated here in detail. The need to compensate for the resulting phase-difference errors when retrieving interferometric information is put forward. A compensation technique is then proposed and evaluated using the control points placed inside the observed scene.     

Investigation of the stable isotope fractionation in speleothems with laboratory experiments

Many speleothems show evidence for calcite precipitation under disequilibrium conditions. To improve the understanding of these kinetic processes, several laboratory experiments were performed to study the fractionation of stable oxygen and carbon isotopes during the precipitation of calcite. Carbonate was precipitated under controlled conditions from both a body of standing water (beaker experiments) and a solution flowing along a channel (channel experiments) at a relative humidity of 100%. Slow degassing of CO₂, simulated by the beaker experiments, results in δ¹⁸O values in equilibrium with the solution. In contrast, the δ¹³C values show a significant enrichment, inversely proportional to the height of the solution in the beakers. Fast degassing of CO₂, simulated by the channel experiments, showed an enrichment of both δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O and a slope of Δδ¹³C/Δδ¹⁸O of 1.4±0.6. These results represent experimental evidence for the Hendy effect, which is manifested in (i) a progressive increase in δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C away from the growth axis and (ii) a positive correlation between δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C along a single growth layer of a stalagmite.     

华北克拉通东南缘约1.8 Ga高压麻粒岩相变质作用:岩石学和锆石U-Pb年代学证据

华北克拉通北邻中亚造山带,南接秦岭-大别-苏鲁造山带.它通常被认为是约18亿年固结形成的陆块.其基底的形成与演化,一直受到广泛关注(Zhao et al.,1998,2000,2005;Zhai et al.,2000,2005;Wilde et al.,2002,2005;Guo et al.,2005;Kroner et al.,2005,2006;Lu et al.,2008).大多数研究者都注重于华北克拉通内部、北部和东西陆块结合带(中间带),较少关注东南缘基底的形成与演化研究.     

Simulations of 3D DC borehole resistivity measurements with a goal-oriented <Emphasis Type="Italic">hp</Emphasis> finite-element method. Part II: through-casing resistivity instruments

We simulate direct current (DC) borehole resistivity measurements acquired in steel-cased deviated wells for the assessment of rock formation properties. The assumed data acquisition configuration considers one current (emitter) and three voltage (collector) electrodes that are utilized to measure the second difference of the electric potential along the well trajectory. We assume a homogeneous, 1.27-cm-thick steel casing with resistivity equal to 10^− 5 Ω· m. Simulations are performed with two different numerical methodologies. The first one is based on transferring two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric optimal grids to a three-dimensional (3D) simulation software. The second one automatically produces optimal 3D grids yielded by a 3D self-adaptive goal-oriented algorithm. Both methodologies utilize high-order finite elements (FE) that are specially well-suited for problems with high-contrast coefficients and rapid spatial variations of the electric field, as it occurs in simulations that involve steel-cased wells. The method based on transferring 2D-optimal grids is efficient in terms of CPU time (few seconds per logging position). Unfortunately, it may produce inaccurate 3D simulations in deviated wells, even though the error remains below 1% for the axisymmetric (vertical) well. The method based on optimal 3D grids, although less efficient in terms of CPU time (few hours per logging position), produces more accurate results that are validated by a built-in a posteriori error estimator. This paper provides the first existing simulations of through-casing resistivity measurements in deviated wells. Simulated resistivity measurements indicate that, for a 30° deviated well, measurements in conductive layers 0.01 Ω· m) are similar to those obtained in vertical wells. However, in resistive layers (10,000 Ω· m), we observe 100% larger readings in the 30° deviated well. This difference becomes 3,000% for the case of a 60° deviated well. For this highly-deviated well, readings corresponding to the conductive formation layer are about 30% smaller in magnitude than those in a vertical well. Shoulder effects significantly vary in deviated wells.     

Hydrogeochemistry and isotope analyses used to determine groundwater recharge and flow in low-gradient catchments of the province of Buenos Aires,Argentina

The region known as Pampa Plain, in Argentina, is a vast area characterized by slopes of less than 0.05%. The surface sediment is silty sand, mainly Aeolian, referred to as Pampean Loess, which is a phreatic aquifer unit of utmost importance for the water supply of the region. On account of the slight gradient, hydrogeological analyses using only hydraulic measurements are difficult to perform, often leading to confusing results. Thus, the study presented relies on hydrochemical modeling and isotopic determinations as well. The study area comprises three catchments in the inter-mountainous area corresponding to El Moro, Tamangueyú and Seco creeks, and covering 2,570 km² in the province of Buenos Aires. Measurements of piezometric levels and samples of groundwater, surface water and rainwater were carried out between January and March 2005. Major ion results were analyzed by means of hydrochemical graphs and hydrogeochemical modelling using NETPATH. The resulting data show that it is possible to identify local changes in recharge, flow direction and stream/groundwater relationship by using hydrochemical and isotopic information, which may become a useful and more precise tool for the study of particularly flat landscapes.     

Field scale heterogeneity of redox conditions in till-upscaling to a catchment nitrate model

Point scale studies in different settings of glacial geology show a large local variation of redox conditions. There is a need to develop an upscaling methodology for catchment scale models. This paper describes a study of field-scale heterogeneity of redox-interfaces in a till aquitard within an area of 600?×?600 m. The results showed significant variation of the depths to the redox-interface and thickness of the aquitard. Nitrate was present above the redox-interface but reduced to non-detectable levels a few metres below the interface. An upscaling approach for an area of 92 km² is proposed. Two models are proposed to predict the depth to the redox-interface in the aquitard and the resulting nitrate recharge concentrations to an underlying aquifer. The first model assumes that the depth to the redox-interface reflects the hydraulic head in the aquitard, and the second model assumes that the depth of the redox-interface is randomly distributed according to a log-normal probability distribution function. The upscaling approach using the random redox model estimated recharge concentrations comparable to the observed concentration in the underlying aquifer. The presented upscaling approach is applicable in distributed catchment models where sub-grid variability cannot be represented by the large grids.     

印度板块和亚洲大陆在何时何地碰撞

印度板块和亚洲大陆的初始碰撞时间是所有相关的喜马拉雅-西藏造山体系演化模式的主控条件,并严重影响到对众多与青藏高原隆升和东亚大陆挤出相关的地质过程速率的解释,以及对新生代全球气候变化的理解。尽管印度板块和亚洲大陆汇聚的速率在55Ma突然减缓被广泛地认为是初始碰撞的标志,但这次碰撞所造成的主要构造效应直到20多个百万年以后才显现出来。对印度板块和亚洲大陆相对位置的重新估算,表明它们在55Ma时并没有达到可以彼此发生碰撞的距离。基于来自西藏新的野外证据和对已有数据的重新评估,认为初始碰撞发生在始新世—渐新世之交（约34Ma）,并对55Ma时发生的地质事件提出了另一种解释     

滇西北兰坪地区金顶超大型铅锌矿床架崖山-北厂 矿段岩石地层特征

详细描述了滇西北兰坪金顶矿区架崖山-北厂主矿段露采剖面的岩石地层学特征。架崖山-北厂矿段出露正常沉积岩和非正常沉积岩两大岩石系列,分别由灰白色白云质灰岩、黑色泥晶灰岩、青灰色泥灰岩、杂色泥质粉砂岩、砖红色粉砂岩、红色膏溶角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩、灰褐色灰岩角砾岩、杂色垮塌角砾岩组成。空间上以非正常沉积岩系列灰褐色灰岩角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩为中心,正常沉积岩系列灰白色白云质灰岩、黑色泥晶灰岩、杂色泥质粉砂岩、青灰色泥灰岩和红色膏溶角砾岩分布于其周围。灰褐色灰岩角砾岩和浅灰色钙质砂岩构成了金顶矿区的2种主要矿石类型,二者空间上密切共生,近直立的灰岩角砾岩分布于近水平的钙质砂岩层的下部,构成似“蘑菇”状的几何形态。架崖山-北厂矿段岩石地层学的特征揭示了兰坪金顶铅锌矿泥底辟机制的成因特点,为矿区勘查和外围寻找金顶式矿床提供了新恩路。