A 60-year record of rainfall from the sediments of Jinheung Pond,Jeongeup, Korea

This paper describes mean grain-size data from the ¹³⁷Cs- and ²¹⁰Pb-dated sediment core BS-3 (33-cm long) recovered from Jinheung Pond, located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula. Grain-size analysis of the Jinheung Pond sediments shows a clear signal for changes in annual precipitation over the past 60 years. Instrumental records of annual precipitation (AP) and the annual summation of the precipitation of >50 mm per day (AP50), which reflects the energy available for sediment transport, correlate well with the mean grain-size distributions measured in the core. The most plausible mechanism for this response in mean grain size is variations in the annual amount and intensity of precipitation. Heavy precipitation enhances soil erosion over the catchment area and increases the transport capacity of streams and rivers. Thus, coarser mean grain size should reflect higher precipitation, and smaller mean grain size should reflect lower rainfall. In the data from core BS-3, however, grain-size peaks attributed to increased annual precipitation are not prominent. This is because a dam prevents removal of fine particles from the pond via the outflow. Therefore, the mean grain-size value represents somewhat larger sediments together with fine clays. The results of this study show that sediments of dammed lakes and ponds are well suited for high-resolution environmental investigations, especially for records of changes in precipitation over time.     

Full‐scale shaking table test of a base‐isolated medical facility subjected to vertical motions

Base isolation is a well known technology that has been proven to reduce structural response to horizontal ground accelerations. However, vertical response still remains a topic of concern for base‐isolated buildings, perhaps more so than in fixed‐base buildings as isolation is often used when high performance is required. To investigate the effects of vertical response on building contents and nonstructural components, a series of full‐scale shaking table tests were conducted at the E‐Defense facility in Japan. A four‐story base‐isolated reinforced concrete building was outfitted as a medical facility with a wide variety of contents, and the behavior of the contents was observed. The rubber base isolation system was found to significantly amplify vertical accelerations in some cases. However, the damage caused by the vertical ground motions was not detrimental when peak vertical floor accelerations remained below 2 g with three exceptions: (1) small items placed on shelves slid or toppled; (2) objects jumped when placed on nonrigid furniture, which tended to increase the response; and (3) equipment with vertical eccentricities rocked and jumped. In these tests, all equipment and nonstructural components remained functional after shaking. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation of the sliding behavior between steel and mortar for seismic applications in structures

The friction developed between a steel base plate and a mortar base contributes shear resistance to the building system during a seismic event. In order to investigate the possible sliding behavior between the base plate and the mortar, a shake table study is undertaken using a large rigid mass supported by steel contact elements which rest on mortar surfaces connected to the shake table. Horizontal input accelerations are considered at various magnitudes and frequencies. The results provide a constant friction coefficient during sliding with an average value of approximately 0.78. A theoretical formulation of the friction behavior is also undertaken. The theoretical equations show that the sliding behavior is dependent on the ratio of the friction force to the input force. The addition of vertical accelerations to the system further complicates the sliding behavior as a result of the varying normal force. This results in a variable friction resistance which is a function of the amplitude, phase, and frequency of the horizontal and vertical input motions. In general, this study showed a consistent and reliable sliding behavior between steel and mortar. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Newly-generated Daliangshan Fault Zone—Shortcutting on the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system

The Daliangshan fault zone is the eastern branch in the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. It has been neglected for a long time, partly because of no destructive earthquake records along this fault zone. On the other hand, it is located on the remote and inaccessible plateau. So far it was excluded as part of the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. Based on the interpretation of aerophotographs and field investigations, we document this fault zone in detail, and give an estimation of strike-slip rate about 3 mm/a in Late Quaternary together with age dating data. The results suggest that the Daliangshan fault zone is a newly-generated fault zone resulted from shortcutting in the central section of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system because of the clockwise rotation of the Southeastern Tibetan Crustal Block, which is bounded by the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system. Moreover, the shortcutting may make the Daliangshan fault zone replace the Anninghe and Zemuhe fault zones gradually, and finally, the later two fault zones will probably die out with the continuous clockwise rotation.     

古里雅浅孔冰芯所记录的夏季风盛行时δ~(18)O与海温以及与500hPa高度场的关系

青藏高原古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max代表该区夏季风盛行时的温度状况 ,它与全球海温(SST)、北半球 5 0 0hPa高度之间的相关关系被分析 .对冰芯中 (δ18O) max产生重要影响的海洋相关区均位于海洋的洋流区或洋流汇合区 .它们分别在赤道东太平洋、太平洋西风漂流、东印度洋热池、莫桑比克海流、北大西洋海流、加那利海流和大西洋赤道海流 .其中位于低纬度海洋相关区的SST与冰芯中δ18Omax呈负相关关系 ,即当这些海区的SST升高 (或降低 )时 ,古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max减小 (或增大 ) .位于中纬度海洋相关区的SST与冰芯中 (δ18O) max呈正相关关系 ,即当这些海区的SST升高 (或降低 )时 ,古里雅冰帽浅孔冰芯中 (δ18O) max增大 (或减小 ) ;对 (δ18O) max产生重要影响的 5 0 0hPa高度上的相关区分别位于中低纬度大洋上的副热带高压区和巴尔喀什湖长波槽区 .这些相关区的高度均与冰芯中 (δ18O) max存在显著的负相关关系 ,即当这些相关区的高度值增加 (或降低 )时 ,冰芯中(δ18O) max减小 (或增大 ) .其影响机制表现为不同水汽来源向古里雅地区输送的差异 .欧洲脊和贝加尔湖脊的强度与 (δ18O) max存在显著的正相关关系 ,即当高压脊加强 (或减弱 )时 ,冰芯中 (δ18O) max增大(或减小 ) .它们对     

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by pneumatic-type fenders

Ship berthing and mooring monitoring system by using pneumatic-type fenders has been proposed. This system consists of present berth monitoring system including a mooring line load monitoring system, and a fender load monitoring system. The fender loads such as fender deflection and reaction force are calculated by measuring inner air pressure of the pneumatic fenders, which have unique characteristics in performance. Furthermore both loads for the mooring lines and the fenders can be used to estimate moored ship motions simultaneously. Total ship monitoring system at jetty can be achieved and contributes safe ship berthing and mooring.     

The chemical composition and the cadmium,chromium and vanadium contents of shall-water deposits in Tokyo Bay

The major elements and the minor elements cadmium, chromium and vanadium in 12 samples of shallow-water deposits collected in Tokyo Bay were studied. Average silica content of the deposits is 53.93%, which is approximate to the average of 54.15% of red clay. Iron (av. 5.67% Fe₂O₃), titanium (av. 0.71% TiO₂), especially manganese (av. 0.87% MnO), are more abundant in the deposits than in the deposits along the entire sea-coasts of Honshu and of Nanao Bay, Japan. The deposits show higher contents of cadmium (av. 0.61 ppm), the chromium (av. 86 ppm) and vanadium (av. 79ppm). About 3 to 17 times cadmium and manganese contents compared with those in the deposits along the sea-coasts of Honshu and of Nanao Bay, Japan was found. Such accumulation, of cadmium and manganese in the deposits is probably caused by artificial contamination rather than of natural origin. No relation was found between the contents of cadmium, chromium and vanadium and those of major elements.     

The in the Guliya shallow ice core during the prevailing summer monsoons and sea-air interactions

The correlations of the δ18Omax in the shallow ice core from the Guliya ice cap on the Tibetan Plateau with the global sea surface temperatures (SST) and height at the 500 hPa over the Northern Hemisphere were analyzed. The correlated regions on oceans that have a significant influence on the δ18Omax in the Guliya ice core are all located in ocean currents, or convergent regions of currents. They are the eastern Equatorial Pacific, the Northern Pacific Current, the Hot Pool in the eastern Indian Ocean, the Mozambique Current, the Northern Atlantic Current, the Canary Current and the Atlantic Equatorial Current. The δ18Omax in the Guliya ice core has negative correlations with the SST located in the lower latitudes, and positive correlations with the SST in the middle latitudes. The correlated areas at the 500 hPa that have a great impact on the δ8Omax are located in the subtropical highs over the mid-low-latitude oceans and the long-wave trough area over Balkhash Lake, where there are marked negative correlations between the heights in those areas and the δ18Omax. The influencing mechanism is displayed by the diversity of the vapor origins transported to the Guliya region. The strengths of the European ridge and the ridge over Baikal Lake have notable positive correlations with the 8180max. The two systems indirectly influence the vapor transportation towards the Guliya region by the adjustment of long-wave trough and ridge.     

The δ18O in the Guliya shallow ice core during the prevailing summer monsoons and sea-air interactions

The correlations of the δ18Omax in the shallow ice core from the Guliya ice cap on the Tibetan Plateau with the global sea surface temperatures (SST) and height at the 500 hPa over the Northern Hemisphere were analyzed. The correlated regions on oceans that have a significant influence on the δ18Omax in the Guliya ice core are all located in ocean currents, or convergent regions of currents. They are the eastern Equatorial Pacific, the Northern Pacific Current, the Hot Pool in the eastern Indian Ocean, the Mozambique Current, the Northern Atlantic Current, the Canary Current and the Atlantic Equatorial Current. The δ18Omax in the Guliya ice core has negative correlations with the SST located in the lower latitudes, and positive correlations with the SST in the middle latitudes. The correlated areas at the 500 hPa that have a great impact on the δ18Omax are located in the subtropical highs over the mid-low-latitude oceans and the long-wave trough area over Balkhash Lake, where there are marked negative correlations between the heights in those areas and the δ18Omax. The influencing mechanism is displayed by the diversity of the vapor origins transported to the Guliya region. The strengths of the European ridge and the ridge over Baikal Lake have notable positive correlations with the δ18Omax. The two systems indirectly influence the vapor transportation towards the Guliya region by the adjustment of long-wave trough and ridge.     

The δ~(18)O in the Guliya shallow ice core during the prevailing summer monsoons and sea-air interactions

1 Introduction The Tibetan Plateau is gigantic in extent and has the highest elevation and the most complex topography in the world. Its existence is of important significance for the formation of atmospheric circulation, weather and climate in China, much of Asia and even of the globe. Therefore, great attention is given to it. The analyses show that the influencing range of the Tibetan Plateau is the widest during the summer[1]. The powerful updrafts from the plateau warm low flow towar…