A new soil freeze/thaw discriminant algorithm using AMSR‐E passive microwave imagery

The soil freeze–thaw controls the hydrological and carbon cycling and thus affects water and energy exchanges at land surface. This article reported a newly developed algorithm for distinguishing the freeze/thaw status of surface soil. The algorithm was based on information from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Enhanced (AMSR‐E) which records brightness temperature (Tb) in the afternoon and after midnight. The criteria and discriminant functions were obtained from both radiometer observations and model simulations. First of all, the microwave radiation from freeze–thaw soil was examined by carrying out experimental measurements at 18·7 and 36·5 GHz using a Truck‐mounted Multi‐frequency Microwave Radiometer (TMMR) in the Heihe River of China. The experimental results showed that the soil moisture is a key component that differentiates the microwave radiation behaviours during the freeze–thaw process, and the differences in soil temperature and emissivity between frozen and thawed soils were found to be the most important criteria. Secondly, a combined model was developed to consider the impacts of complex ground surface conditions on the discrimination. The model simulations quite followed the trend of in situ observations with an overall relation coefficient (R) of approximately 0·88. Finally, the ratio of Tb18·7H (horizontally polarized Tb at 18·7 GHz) to Tb36·5V was considered primarily as the quasi‐emissivity, which is more reasonable and explicit in measuring the microwave radiation changes in soil freezing and thawing than the spectral gradient. By combining Tb36·5V to indicate the soil temperature variety, a Fisher linear discrimination analysis was used to establish the discriminant functions. After being corrected by TMMR measurements, the new discriminant algorithm had an overall accuracy of 86% when validated by 4‐cm soil temperature. The multi‐year discriminant results also provided a good agreement with the classification map of frozen ground in China. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal variability of SST fronts and winds on the southeastern continental shelf of Brazil

Fourteen years (September 2002 to August 2016) of high-resolution satellite observations of sea surface temperature (SST) data are used to describe the frontal pattern and frontogenesis on the southeastern continental shelf of Brazil. The daily SST fronts are obtained using an edge-detection algorithm, and the monthly frontal probability (FP) is subsequently calculated. High SST FPs are mainly distributed along the coast and decrease with distance from the coastline. The results from empirical orthogonal function (EOF) decompositions reveal strong seasonal variability of the coastal SST FP with maximum (minimum) in the astral summer (winter). Wind plays an important role in driving the frontal activities, and high FPs are accompanied by strong alongshore wind stress and wind stress curl. This is particularly true during the summer, when the total transport induced by the alongshore component of upwelling-favorable winds and the wind stress curl reaches the annual maximum. The fronts are influenced by multiple factors other than wind forcing, such as the orientation of the coastline, the seafloor topography, and the meandering of the Brazil Current. As a result, there is a slight difference between the seasonality of the SST fronts and the wind, and their relationship was varying with spatial locations. The impact of the air-sea interaction is further investigated in the frontal zone, and large coupling coefficients are found between the crosswind (downwind) SST gradients and the wind stress curl (divergence). The analysis of the SST fronts and wind leads to a better understanding of the dynamics and frontogenesis off the southeastern continental shelf of Brazil, and the results can be used to further understand the air-sea coupling process at regional level.

     

A new aspect of condensation theory

This paper examines the effects of the mixing of dry air into a cloud top from the point of view of the droplet spectra. It is shown theoretically that the resulting cycling of the air up and down in the cloud, as seems to be the essential mechanism by which cumuli have been diluted to their observed liquid water mixing ratio, can double the largest drop radius and generate cloud parcels containing drops of all sizes up to this maximum. These changes in the droplet distribution with size occur by a process which is not greatly influenced by the cloud condensation nuclei or the details of droplet growth since maritime like spectra can develop in continental type cumuli. It shows that large numbers of cloud condensation nuclei should not have much effect in inhibiting the rainforming process by reducing coalescence growth. On the contrary, the controlling parameters which determine precipitation efficiency and times seem to be those which control the mixing.     

Effect of near-fault earthquake on bridges: lessons learned from Chi-Chi earthquake

The objective of this paper is to describe the lessons learned and actions that have been taken related to the seismic design of bridge structures after the Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake. Much variable near-fault ground motion data was collected from the rupture of Chelungpu fault during the Chi-Chi earthquake, allowing the seismic response of bridge structures subjected to these near-fault ground motions to be carefully examined. To study the near-fault ground motion effect on bridge seismic design codes, a two-level seismic design of bridge structures was developed and implemented. This design code reflects the near-fault factors in the seismic design forces. Finally, a risk assessment methodology, based on bridge vulnerability, is also developed to assist in decisions for reducing seismic risk due to failure of bridges. Director of Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering. Supported by: the Science Council, Chinese Taipei, under grant no. SC 90-2211-E-002-028.     

Application of Dangerous Probability Function in Risk Estimation of Surface Rupture Earthquake：Taking the Lingwu Fault in Ningxi1 Region as on Example

Based on the fitting on paleoearthquake data of intra-plate regions in the northern part of Chi-na and giving a statistical model of time interdependence,the potential damage earthquakes in a definite future period and characteristics of present shocks along the Lingwu fault have been analyzed by using dangerous probability function and some new data concerned.We have in-ferred that the fault has entered a period that earthquakes will probably occur.There exists a potential danger that a strong earthquake with Ms7.0-7.5 will occur in 10-100a.     

塔里木盆地巴楚—麦盖提地区石炭系混合沉积研究*

通过岩心、薄片观察,从岩石学特征入手,结合测井资料,对塔里木盆地巴楚—麦盖提地区石炭系的陆源碎屑—碳酸盐混积岩和混积层系进行了研究。根据混积强度将混积岩划分为混积型碎屑岩、混积型碳酸盐岩和高度混积岩。巴楚组下泥岩段和中泥岩段发育混积型碎屑岩,巴楚组生屑灰岩段、中泥岩段和小海子组发育混积型碳酸盐岩,卡拉沙依组上泥岩段、巴楚组下泥岩段及巴什托局部地区的中泥岩段发育高度混积岩。高度混积岩出现在海退期沉积的碎屑岩段,代表了陆源碎屑—碳酸盐强烈混合的过渡性沉积环境。研究区石炭系可识别出4个三级层序,混积层系主要发育在海侵体系域早期和高位体系域晚期,以间断混合和相缘混合为主。研究认为混积强度是评价混合沉积环境性质的主要参数,并将其划分为4级。下泥岩段存在混积强度达3级以上的混积界面,能用于地层对比。最后,结合混合沉积特征讨论了构造运动和海平面变化对研究区石炭系层序组以上的混合沉积的控制作用。     

山西太岳山种子植物区系特征

调查的基础L，统计了太岳山种子植物有97科、316属、575种（含变种），分析了该区系的主要特征，即植物区系地理成分复杂，温带成分占优势；植物资源种类丰富，区系起源古老；植物区系具明显的过渡性；植被类型复杂，具明显的垂直分布．对该区野生经济植物进行了分类统计，为植物资源合理利用与生物多样性保护提供了基础资料穹科学依据．     

Correlation between incompetent beds and slope deformation at Badong town in the Three Gorges reservoir, China

Badong town is a new immigration area in the Three Gorges reservoir, China, which is built on many giant deep-seated landslides. In this region, the slope deformation is very severe and it is strongly correlated with the incompetent beds, which are distributed widely in the rock mass. In this paper, two giant deep-seated translational rock landslides used as study cases are Huangtupo landslide and Zhaoshuling landslide. Firstly, the composition materials, structures and deformation characteristics of the two landslides are analyzed. Then, the position, structure, mineral composition and the formation mechanism of the incompetent beds are studied in detail. Finally, based on the comparison of the position, mineral and structure between incompetent beds and sliding zones of the landslides, the correlations between incompetent beds and giant landslide are discussed. The results indicate that 13 large incompetent beds exist in the middle Triassic Badong Formation strata, which can be divided into three types as weak interlayers, crushed beds and groundwater corrosion zones. The dominant minerals in the incompetent beds are illite, chlorite, quartz and calcite. The contents of the clay minerals in different positions are quite distinct, and the maximum difference of clay content exceeds 70 %. In addition, it is found that the contents of minerals in incompetent beds are similar to the slide zones of the landslides. The initial deformation of slopes normally developed along the incompetent beds, which induced subsequent shear displacement easily. Under the effect of gravity, the deep slip zones were generated mainly along the incompetent beds and the failure mode evolved from creep to integral slide gradually. The results can provide an important reference for the mechanism analysis and prevention of landslides in Badong town.     

鄂西秭归盆地中三叠世-早侏罗世沉积记录及其对秦岭印支碰撞造山作用的启示

随着印支期南秦岭勉略洋盆闭合,华南和华北两大块体最终拼贴、构成中国大陆的基本轮廓。普遍认为这一洋陆转换、碰撞造山发生在三叠纪,但具体时间和空间过程仍存在较多争议。秭归盆地位于秦岭逆冲褶皱带东段南缘,是扬子北缘前陆盆地系统的重要组成,在沉积序列和碎屑来源上与秦岭印支期造山作用密切相关。该盆地经历早中三叠世滨-浅海相到晚三叠世-早侏罗世三角洲-河流相的沉积转变,中三叠统巴东组和上三叠统九里岗组之间发育平行不整合。不整合面之上的上三叠统-下侏罗统砂岩在碎屑组分上不仅含有泥岩、粉砂岩等沉积岩岩屑和千枚岩、板岩和片岩等中-低级变质岩岩屑,而且还见有中酸性火山岩岩屑。结合碎屑锆石颗粒U-Pb定年和古流向数据,这些火山岩岩屑揭示北部的秦岭造山带源区在晚三叠世(225~200Ma)存在火山活动,与同期的花岗质侵入岩一起反映秦岭印支期的同碰撞造山岩浆活动。