Innovative Techniques for Measuring the Oil Content of Oil-Contaminated Porous Media

The oil content of oil-contaminated porous media is an important parameter for the assessment and remediation of oil pollution in soil and groundwater. However, an accurate measurement method is not available. In this study, we propose a new equation to calculate the oil content of water-bearing media based on traditional extraction–ultraviolet spectroscopy. Further, an improved experimental method was developed. The results indicate that the pure solid weight and oil content of oil-contaminated media can be accurately determined by introducing the oil drying loss coefficient (γ). The average relative errors of the improved method range from −0.14% to −0.96%. They are much smaller than errors of −4.49% to −10.97% of the original methods, indicating that the accuracy of measured oil content is enhanced. In addition, the accuracy of the new method does not depend on oil volatility and oil content.     

A Multiscale Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Salinization in Michigan

Managing nonpoint-source (NPS) pollution of groundwater systems is a significant challenge because of the heterogeneous nature of the subsurface, high costs of data collection, and the multitude of scales involved. In this study, we assessed a particularly complex NPS groundwater pollution problem in Michigan, namely, the salinization of shallow aquifer systems due to natural upwelling of deep brines. We applied a system-based approach to characterize, across multiple scales, the integrated groundwater quantity–quality dynamics associated with the brine upwelling process, assimilating a variety of modeling tools and data—including statewide water well datasets scarcely used for larger scientific analysis. Specifically, we combined (1) data-driven modeling of massive amounts of groundwater/geologic information across multiple spatial scales with (2) detailed analysis of groundwater salinity dynamics and process-based flow modeling at local scales. Statewide “hotspots” were delineated and county-level severity rankings were developed based on dissolved chloride (Cl⁻) concentration percentiles. Within local hotspots, the relative impact of upwelling was determined to be controlled by: (1) streams—which act as “natural pumps” that bring deeper (more mineralized) groundwater to the surface; (2) the occurrence of nearly impervious geologic material at the surface—which restricts fresh water dilution of deeper, saline groundwater; and (3) the space–time evolution of water well withdrawals—which induces slow migration of saline groundwater from its natural course. This multiscale, data-intensive approach significantly improved our understanding of the brine upwelling processes in Michigan, and has applicability elsewhere given the growing availability of statewide water well databases.     

基于手机位置数据的地震灾情指标选择

选取四川阿坝州九寨沟县MS7.0地震、新疆博尔塔拉州精河县MS6.6地震、四川广元市青川县MS5.4地震作为案例分析,绘制活跃Wi Fi数量、无线网络联网设备数量、汇总在线设备数量、活跃基站数量等4种地震灾情指标在地震发生前后数量变化的折线图。根据与地震前1天变化情况的对比分析,验证地震灾情指标的可用性,选取出效果好的指标,这对进一步研究震后快速获取极震区位置、影响场方向等具有重要意义。     

Carboniferous integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

The Carboniferous period lasted about 60 Myr, from ～358.9 Ma to ～298.9 Ma. According to the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the Carboniferous System is subdivided into two subsystems, i.e., Mississippian and Pennsylvanian, including 6 series and 7 stages. The Global Stratotype Sections and Points(GSSPs) of three stages have been ratified, the Tournaisian, Visean, and Bashkirian stages. The GSSPs of the remaining four stages(i.e., the Serpukhovian, Moscovian,Kasimovian, and Gzhelian) have not been ratified so far. This paper outlines Carboniferous stratigraphic subdivision and correlation on the basis of detailed biostratigraphy mainly from South China, and summarizes the Carboniferous chronostratigraphic framework of China. High-resolution biostratigraphic study reveals 37 conodont zones, 24 foraminiferal(including fusulinid) zones, 13 ammonoid zones, 10 brachiopod zones, and 10 rugose coral zones in the Carboniferous of China. The biostratigraphic framework based on these biozones warrants the precise correlation of regional stratigraphy of China(including2 subsystems, 4 series, and 8 stages) to that of the other regions globally. Meanwhile, the Carboniferous chemo-, sequence-,cyclo-, and event-stratigraphy of China have been intensively studied and can also be correlated worldwide. Future studies on the Carboniferous in China should focus on(1) the correlation between shallow-and deep-water facies and between marine and continental facies,(2) high-resolution astronomical cyclostratigraphy, and(3) paleoenvironment and paleoclimate analysis based on geochemical proxies such as strontium and oxygen isotopes, as well as stomatal indices of fossil plants.     

Adsorption characteristics of copper ion on nanoporous silica

Adsorption by nanoporous media is critically involved in many fundamental geological and geochemical processes including chemical weathering,element migration and enrichment,environmental pollution,etc.Yet,the adsorption behavior of metal ions on nanoporous materials has not been systematically investigated.In this study,MCM-41 material with a monodisperse pore size(4.4 nm)and a large BET specific surface area(839 m^2/g)was hydrothermally prepared and used as a model silica adsorbent to study the adsorption characteristics of Cu^2+as a representative metal ion.The Cu^2+adsorption capacity was found to increase with increasing suspension pH in the range from 3 to 5 and to decrease in the presence of NaNO3.At 25℃,pH=5,and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 5 g/L,the adsorption capacity was determined to be 0.29 mg/g,which can be converted to a dimensionless partition coefficient of 45,indicating a strong enriching effect of nanoporous silica.The adsorption isotherm and kinetic data were fitted to several commonly used thermodynamic,kinetic,and diffusion models.The adsorption mechanism was also studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy.The results suggest that Cu2+ion adsorption is an entropy-driven endothermal process,possibly involving both outer-sphere and inner-sphere complexes.     

Characteristics of Vegetation Carbon,Nitrogen, and C/N Ratio in a Tamarix chinensis Coastal Wetland of China

Variations in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) of the vegetation in a Tamarix chinensis coastal wetland located in Laizhou Bay, China, are analyzed. It is found that T. chinensis accumulates more C and N than the surrounding herbs, and it allocates more C and N in the aboveground parts but less in the roots. Branches store more C, whereas leaves and flowers accumulate more N than other tissues. The C and N contents in the aboveground parts of T. chinensis are mainly influenced by pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water content, and clay content in the top 100 cm of soil as well as the distance from the sea. For the herbs, their C contents vary little in the supratidal zone, but they are higher than those in the intertidal zone. However, N contents in the herbs are higher in the aboveground parts and varied among different communities. The contents of C and N in the herbs are affected by EC, water content as well as the contents of organic C and total nitrogen (TN) in the top 10 cm of soil. The findings confirm that increasing the biomass of T. chinensis is an effective way to increase C sequestration in temperate coastal wetland.     

青藏高原东北缘重力场深部结构及其动力学特征

本文采用欧拉反褶积、场源参数成像(SPI)、场源边界提取(SED)、莫霍面反演、地壳三维可视化等多源方法,对青藏高原东北缘地区的布格重力场进行反演与分析,深入研究该地区的深部结构与变形特征,探讨区域深部孕震环境及动力学机制.研究表明,青藏高原东北缘的布格重力场整体呈负异常值,具有明显的分区性,表现出鄂尔多斯盆地异常值相对偏高、阿拉善块体次之、青藏高原块体极低的特点,其中海源断裂系形成了一条宽缓的弧形重力梯度条带,梯度值达1.2 mGal·km^-1.欧拉结果显示,鄂尔多斯盆地相比于青藏高原块体而言,场源点具有较强的均一性,场源强度值高(密度值高)且深度稳定在25~32 km范围内,而高原块体的中下地壳尺度广泛分布着低密度异常体.SPI图可知,海源弧形断裂系位于“浅源异常”弧形区,反映其地壳较为活跃,易发生中强地震.SED图揭示青藏高原地壳向东北扩展,经过几大断裂系的调节后运动矢量向东或东南转化,SED与GPS、SKS运动特征大致相同,说明地表-地壳-地幔的运动特征有着较强的一致性.青藏高原东北缘地区壳幔变形是连贯的,加之莫霍面由北向南、由东向西是逐渐加深的,因此属于垂向连贯变形机制,不符合下地壳管道流动力学模式.区域形成了似三联点构造格局,其中海源弧形断裂系的深部地壳结构复杂,高低密度异常体复杂交汇,是青藏高原、阿拉善、鄂尔多斯三大块体相互作用的重要枢纽,其运动学特征总体为中段走滑尾端逆冲,而断裂系正处于大型的弧形莫霍面斜坡带之上,具备强震的深部孕震环境,因此大尺度的运动调节与深部孕震条件共同促使了该地区中强震的多发.     

南亚高压区Rossby波能量向上穿越对流层顶传播的特征与机制

夏季平流层盛行强东风,Rossby波能量难以从对流层向上传播至平流层,而冬季平流层盛行西风,Rossby波能量容易上传,因此以往对Rossby波能量向平流层传播的研究多考虑冬季的情况.而事实上,因为夏季高原上空南亚高压反气旋环流,并非只有强东风存在,所以Rossby波能量也可能在南亚高压区向上传播,从而影响平流层的温度、风场及大气成分等.因此,本文利用ERA-interim逐日再分析资料,分析了1979—2015年夏季南亚高压区Rossby波能量穿越对流层顶传播的特征与机制.结果表明:Rossby波能量可以从南亚高压西北部的窗口区上传至平流层,最高可到达平流层顶,而在南亚高压的其他部分,Rossby波能量均不能穿越对流层顶上传或穿越对流层顶后无法继续上传.南亚高压西北区Rossby波能量可以穿越对流层顶传播的原因是盛行西风,且西风急流出现的频率很小,同时涡动热量通量异常引起的垂直分量的第一项对其上传有很大贡献.南亚高压东北区也盛行西风,然而Rossby波能量不能向上穿越对流层顶的原因是强西风出现频率较高,且温度脊与高度脊位相相近,不利于上传.南亚高压南部均盛行东风,在平流层中下层均为稳定层结,因此Rossby波能量很难上传.南亚高压西南区在对流层位于青藏高原环流的伊朗高原下沉区附近,层结稳定,并且温度脊超前于高度脊,所以Rossby波能量很难上传.而南亚高压东南区在对流层位于南海-西太平洋热带幅合带,层结不稳定,存在Rossby波能量较弱的上传,达到对流层顶后无法继续上传,该区域温度脊落后于高度脊的温压场配置也为Rossby波能量在对流层内的传播提供了条件.     

RESEARCH ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF QUATERNARY ACTIVITIES OF SU-XI-CHANG FAULT

Running across the urban areas of Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou, the NW-trending Su-Xi-Chang Fault is an important buried fault in Yangtze River Delta. In the respect of structural geomorphology, hilly landform is developed along the southwest side of the Su-Xi-Chang Fault, and a series of lakes and relatively low-lying depressions are developed on its northeast side, which is an important landform and neotectonic boundary line. The fault controlled the Jurassic and Cretaceous stratigraphic sedimentary and Cenozoic volcanic activities, and also has obvious control effects on the modern geomorphology and Quaternary stratigraphic distribution. Su-Xi-Chang Fault is one of the target faults of the project "Urban active fault exploration and seismic risk assessment in Changzhou City" and "Urban active fault exploration and seismic risk assessment in Suzhou City". Hidden in the ground with thick cover layer, few researches have been done on this fault in the past. The study on the activity characteristics and the latest activity era of the Su-Xi-Chang Fault is of great significance for the prevention and reduction of earthquake disaster losses caused by the destructive earthquakes to the cities of Changzhou, Wuxi and Suzhou. Based on shallow seismic exploration and drilling joint profiling method, Quaternary activities and distribution characteristics of the Su-Xi-Chang Fault are analyzed systematically. Shallow seismic exploration results show that the south branch of the Su-Xi-Chang Fault in Suzhou area is dominated by normal faulting, dipping to the north-east, with a dip angle of about 60° and a displacement of 3~5m on the bedrock surface. The north branch of the Su-Xi-Chang Fault in Changzhou area is dominated by normal faulting, dipping to the south, with a dip angle of about 55°~70° and a displacement of 4~12m on the bedrock surface. All breakpoints of Su-Xi-Chang Fault on the seismic exploration profiles show that only the bedrock surface was dislocated, not the interior strata of the Quaternary. On the drilling joint profile in the Dongqiao site of Suzhou, the latest activity of the south branch of Su-Xi-Chang Fault is manifested as reverse faulting, with maximum displacement of 2.9m in the upper part of Lower Pleistocene, and the Middle Pleistocene has not been dislocated by the fault. The fault acts as normal fault in the Pre-Quaternary strata, with a displacement of 3.7m in the Neogene stratum. On the drilling joint profile in the Chaoyang Road site of Changzhou, the latest activity of the north branch of Su-Xi-Chang Fault is manifested as reverse faulting too, with maximum displacement of 2.8m in the bottom layer of the Middle Pleistocene. The fault acts as normal fault in the Pre-Quaternary strata, with a displacement of 10.2m in the bedrock surface. Combining the above results, we conclude that the latest activity era of Su-Xi-Chang Fault is early Middle Pleistocene. The Su-Xi-Chang Fault was dominated by the sinistral normal faulting in the pre-Quaternary period, and turned into sinistral reverse faulting after the early Pleistocene, with displacement of about 3m in the Quaternary strata. The maximum magnitude of potential earthquake on the Su-Xi-Chang Fault is estimated to be 6.0.