Slow and Fast Rotating Coronal Holes from Geomagnetic Indices

The evolution of the 27-day recurrence in the series of two solar indices (Wolf number WN and 10.7 cm radio flux F) and two geomagnetic indices (Dst and ζ, variance of the geomagnetic field recorded at a magnetic observatory) have been studied over the 1957 – 2007 time span. Spectral energies contained in two period domains (25 – 27.3 and 27.3 – 31 days), designated as E ₁ and E ₂, have been computed. Whereas the evolution of E ₁ is the same for the four indices, that of E ₂ is essentially different for WN and F on the one hand, Dst and ζ on the other hand. Some general conclusions on the dynamics of the solar outer layers are inferred from these results. First the solar activity, as measured by WN, and when averaged over a few years, evolves in the same way whatever the latitude. Second, two families of coronal holes (CHs) are identified; the rapidly and the slowly rotating CHs evolve quite differently.     

Persistent organic pollutants and stable isotopes in biopsy samples (2004/2006) from Southern Resident killer whales

“Southern Resident” killer whales include three “pods” (J, K and L) that reside primarily in Puget Sound/Georgia Basin during the spring, summer and fall. This population was listed as “endangered” in the US and Canada following a 20% decline between 1996 and 2001. The current study, using blubber/epidermis biopsy samples, contributes contemporary information about potential factors (i.e., levels of pollutants or changes in diet) that could adversely affect Southern Residents. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes indicated J- and L-pod consumed prey from similar trophic levels in 2004/2006 and also showed no evidence for a large shift in the trophic level of prey consumed by L-pod between 1996 and 2004/2006. ∑PCBs decreased for Southern Residents biopsied in 2004/2006 compared to 1993–1995. Surprisingly, however, a three-year-old male whale (J39) had the highest concentrations of ∑PBDEs, ∑HCHs and HCB. POP ratio differences between J- and L-pod suggested that they occupy different ranges in winter.     

沈阳长白乡-观音阁断裂、抚顺浑河断裂的定位和活动性研究

本文基于对沈阳长白乡-观音阁断裂,以及抚顺浑河断裂开展的1:10000地质地貌填图工作,获得了这两条断裂在最老第四纪地层热释光的测年结果,它们分别为(112±6.7)ka和(150±9.0)ka。长白乡-观音阁断裂为一沿丘陵山地前缘分布的断裂,由2—3条分支断裂组成,最新的断面活动显示为压扭性正断层性质。断裂在晚更新世坡洪积扇堆积形成以来没有活动显示。3条浅层人工地震测线探测结果表明,其上断点均未错断第四系上更新统底界。断裂为中更新世活动断裂,晚更新世以来没有活动。浑河断裂为一沿丘陵山地前缘分布的断裂,由3—4条分支断裂组成,最新的断面活动显示为压扭性正断层性质。断裂在晚更新世坡洪积扇堆积形成以来没有活动显示。5条浅层人工地震测线探测结果表明,其上断点均在第四系上更新统底界以下。断裂为中更新世活动断裂,晚更新世以来没有活动。     

Late Carboniferous-Early Permian Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Evolution in the Northeast Ordos Basin,North China

<正>Sequence stratigraphical analysis was applied to the Upper Carboniferous-Lower Permian sedimentary succession of the northeastern Ordos Basin,north China based on data acquired from ten entire logging curves and eight outcrops.The facies framework of the lithostratigraphical unit,the Taiyuan Formation comprises seven facies in two facies associations,varying from fluvio-delta to shelf-barrier islands.The facies are presented within a chronostratigraphical framework,linked by systems tract,which in turn are limited by flooding surfaces and sequence boundaries.Six third-order depositional sequences are recognised,bounded by six type 2 unconformities.An upwards-shallowing epicontinental sea sedimentary model is created,which consists of a sandstone,coal seam and carbonate succession.     

Biological influences on modern sulfates: Textures and composition of gypsum deposits from Guerrero Negro,Baja California Sur,Mexico

Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) deposits from a range of sedimentary environments at Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico were investigated for microscale texture and composition in order to differentiate features formed under substantial microbial influence from those for which microbial effects were relatively minor or absent. Gypsum deposits were classified according to their sedimentary environment, textures, crystal habit, brine composition and other geochemical factors. The environments studied included subaqueous sediments in anchialine pools and in solar salterns, as well as subsurface sediments of mudflats and saltpans. Gypsum that developed in the apparent absence of biofilms included crystals precipitated in the water column and subsedimentary discs that precipitated from phreatic brines. Subsedimentary gypsum developed in sabkha environments exhibited a sinuous microtexture and poikilitically enclosed detrital particles. Water column precipitates had euhedral prismatic habits and extensive penetrative twinning. Gypsum deposits influenced by biofilms included bottom nucleated crusts and gypsolites developing in anchialine pools and saltern ponds. Gypsum precipitating within benthic biofilms, and in biofilms within subaerial sediment surfaces provided compelling evidence of biological influences on crystal textures and habits. This evidence included irregular, high relief surface textures, accessory minerals (S°, Ca-carbonate, Sr/Ca-sulfate and Mg-hydroxide) and distinctive crystal habits such as equant forms and crystals having distorted prism faces.     

Establishing constraints on groundwater ages with Cl,C, H,and noble gases: A case study in the eastern Paris basin,France

Groundwaters from the Tithonian/Kimmeridgian, Oxfordian and Upper Dogger aquifers, within the eastern part of the Paris basin (France), were characterised using ³H, ¹⁴C and ³⁶Cl, and noble gases tracers, to evaluate their residence times and determine their recharge period. This information is an important prerequisite to evaluating the confinement properties of the Callovo-Oxfordian clay formation sandwiched between the Oxfordian aquifer and the Dogger aquifer, currently being investigated by the French nuclear waste management agency (Andra) for radioactive waste disposal. Data presented in this paper are used to test 4 hypotheses.     

Resource allocation for regional earthquake risk mitigation: a case study of Tehran,Iran

This paper presents a new optimization model to help cities in seismically active developing countries decide (1) How much to spend on pre-earthquake mitigation versus waiting until after an event and paying for reconstruction or simply not rebuilding damaged buildings? (2) Which buildings to mitigate and how? and (3) Which buildings to reconstruct and how? It extends previously developed optimization models to consider the particular issues that arise in such countries. First, the model allows for the possibility that some damaged buildings will not be reconstructed immediately and keeps track of any lost building inventory. Second, buildings can be mitigated to, or when damaged, reconstructed to, any appropriate structural type and seismic design level. Finally, the model objectives include minimizing the chance of an extremely high death toll in any one earthquake and minimizing the average annual death toll across earthquakes. The model is illustrated through a case study analysis for Tehran, Iran.     

广东省1960～2007年降雨侵蚀力变化趋势分析

降雨侵蚀力反映由降雨引起的土壤侵蚀的潜在能力.本文利用广东省25个站点48年(1960～2007)的日雨量资料计算了各站的降雨侵蚀力,并用Mann-Kendall(M-K)非参数检验和克里格空间插值法分析了降雨侵蚀力的时空变化规律.结果表明:广东省降雨侵蚀力的空间分布呈沿海向内陆逐渐递减的趋势.全省大部分地区的年降雨侵蚀力呈现不明显上升趋势,且存在较明显的年代际和年际变化.降雨侵蚀力的年内分布特征和降雨量分布类似,呈"双峰型",主要集中在4～9月的雨季.对于季节序列,冬季、春季和夏季大部分地区的降雨侵蚀力有不同程度的上升,秋季全省几乎所有地区呈下降趋势.汛期的降雨侵蚀力变化特征与年降雨侵蚀力相似.     

Long-Term Observations of Isotope Ratio Accuracy and Reproducibility Using Quadrupole ICP-MS

High precision isotope ratio and trace element determination can be achieved with modern quadrupole ICP-MS provided that short and long-term instrument performance is accurately monitored. Here we present results for the isotope ratios ⁶Li/⁷Li, ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁹Sm, ¹⁶⁰Dy/¹⁶¹Dy, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²³⁵U/²³⁸U with which we determined long-term isotope ratio stability of relevance to both trace element and isotope determination. With respect to trace element determination, we first present long-term observations regarding oxide formation rates of Ba and Nd on light REE and heavy REE, as well as Zr on Ag. These showed good correlations and could be used to correct effectively the interference. The efficacy of this correction was demonstrated with analyses of the rock reference material BHVO-2 at both low and high oxide formation rates. Next, we studied the long-term reproducibility of a Dy isotope ratio that was measured to correct for the isobaric interference on Gd. It was found that, regardless of tuning condition, the ratio reproduced very well (0.58% RSD, 1s) and that the estimate of the Gd concentration did not suffer from the large correction (> 10%) caused by the Dy isobar. Long-term reproducibilities of Li, Sm and U isotope ratios, required for accurate mass bias correction when isotopically enriched internal standards of these elements are employed, were measured in the rock reference materials AGV-2 and JA-3 over a time period of up to 3 years. As expected, the Li isotope ratio showed the largest variability (RSD = 7%), but the other two ratios had relative external reproducibilities of only 1.01% (1s, U) and 0.67% (Sm). The mass bias-induced scatter in measurements for Sm and U was so small that the internal standard correction was effective, even for samples with high concentrations of these elements. With regard to Pb-isotope ratio determination, we also present long-term reproducibility for NIST SRM 982, run as an unknown and two accuracy tests for Pb separated from granitoids and from meteorites. It is demonstrated that the obtained ratios, including those involving ²⁰⁴Pb, are accurate relative to MC-ICP-MS determinations and of comparable precision to conventional TIMS analysis. The excellent agreement between all data sets shows the potential of modern quadrupole ICP-MS instrumentation for Pb-isotope determination, particularly for samples with very low Pb content.