Relationship between North Pacific SST anomalies and the atmospheric circulation anomalies in January 2008

Based on the NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) data, the relationship between the Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies (SSTAs) in the North Pacific and the atmospheric circulation anomalies in January 2008 is analyzed in this study. The SSTA mode most correlated with the Geopotential Height anomalies (GHAs) in January 2008 in the North Pacific exhibited a basin-wide horseshoe pattern with a warm center in November 2007. This persistent SSTA pattern would induce positive GHAs in the Aleutian Low area and East Asia and the northward extension of the West Pacific Subtropical High in January 2008 by maximum diabatic heating in the atmosphere over the Kuroshio Oyashio Extension (KOE) area, leading to the occurence of the circumpolar trough-ridge wave train anomaly in January 2008.     

Hydrothermal alteration and evolution of Zr-Th-U-REE mineralization in the microgranite of Wadi Ras Abda,North Eastern Desert,Egypt

Ras Abda plutonic suite, North Eastern Desert of Egypt, consists predominantly of Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline older granites. Minor exposures of pink microgranite are occurring along Wadi Ras Abda within the older granites. Previous studies on this area demonstrated that the microgranite is altered in some parts and contains anomalous concentrations of rare metal elements (Zr, Th, and U). These altered and mineralized zones are re-assessed using field observations, chemical analysis, and by the application of various transmitted light and electron microscopic techniques. The rare metals exist as mineral segregation grew freely into open cavities of the microgranite and concordant with the NNE strike-slip fault movement. The mineralized zones contain an assemblage of secondary magnetite, zircon, uranothorite, columbite-(Mn), fergusonite-(Y), and allanite-(Ce). The extreme abundance of zircon in the mineralized zone, along with other evidence, indicates a hydrothermal origin of this zircon together with associated rare metals. The geochemical investigation and mass balance calculations revealed extreme enrichment of Zr, Th, U, Y, Nb, Ta, and REE. Post-magmatic hydrothermal alterations resulted in such pronounced chemical and mineralogical heterogeneity. The hydrothermal fluids are thought to be oxidizing, alkaline and of medium temperature (>?250 °C). The average contents of the elements Zr (1606 ppm), Th (1639 ppm), U (306 ppm), Nb (955 ppm), and REE (1710 ppm) in the mineralized microgranite reach sub-economic levels and could be a potential source of these elements.     

Adsorption of copper (II) on mesoporous silica: the effect of nano-scale confinement

Nano-scale spatial confinement can alter chemistry at mineral–water interfaces. These nano-scale confinement effects can lead to anomalous fate and transport behavior of aqueous metal species. When a fluid resides in a nanoporous environments (pore size under 100 nm), the observed density, surface tension, and dielectric constant diverge from those measured in the bulk. To evaluate the impact of nano-scale confinement on the adsorption of copper (Cu²⁺), we performed batch adsorption studies using mesoporous silica. Mesoporous silica with the narrow distribution of pore diameters (SBA-15; 8, 6, and 4 nm pore diameters) was chosen since the silanol functional groups are typical to surface environments. Batch adsorption isotherms were fit with adsorption models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich) and adsorption kinetic data were fit to a pseudo-first-order reaction model. We found that with decreasing pore size, the maximum surface area-normalized uptake of Cu²⁺ increased. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model demonstrates that the adsorption is faster as the pore size decreases from 8 to 4 nm. We attribute these effects to the deviations in fundamental water properties as pore diameter decreases. In particular, these effects are most notable in SBA-15 with a 4-nm pore where the changes in water properties may be responsible for the enhanced Cu mobility, and therefore, faster Cu adsorption kinetics.     

双重含水介质水文地质参数的高分辨率识别

某火山岩矿区由于受后期构造影响,含水介质除了发育成岩裂隙-孔洞外,还发育有多组构造裂隙和剪切破碎带。抽水试验显示:抽水早期(≤6min)各观测孔的降深明显大于泰斯理论降深(单重均质),中后期(6min)趋于一致,呈现出双重含水介质的释水特征。本次研究在充分分析双重介质释水机理的基础上,结合时间步长为20s的高分辨率降深资料,采用分段泰斯模型进行了水文地质参数的识别。结果表明:剪切破碎带等强导水介质的弹性给水度略小于成岩裂隙-孔洞弱导水介质的弹性给水度;但导水系数相差很大,强导水介质一般为5 590~6 130m2/d,而弱导水介质仅715~743m2/d,这必然会导致未来矿山开拓过程中初见涌水量和稳定涌水量的显著差异,需要引起足够的重视。     

Inorganic chemistry,granulometry and mineralogical characteristics of the dust fall over phosphate mine adjacent area,central Jordan

Eight selected heavy metals and phosphorus (Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ni and P) were analyzed in the dust fall samples collected from the surrounding areas adjacent to Al-Hisa phosphate mine central Jordan during summer 2008. The chemical analysis was done using the ICP-AES, after being digested with (HNO₃/HCl/HF) acid mixture, beside the identification of their mineral constituents using the XRD. Moreover, the particulate matter (PM) size was investigated and divided into four fractions (PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10, PMC_10–100 and PM_>100). The PM₁₀–PM₁₀₀ were found to be the most abundant in the local atmosphere followed by PM_2.5–PM₁₀, while the respirable fraction (PM_2.5) and giant fraction (PM_>100) showed lower levels. The studied samples contain less PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ particulates (9.39 and 28.67), respectively, than samples located far from the mine area (blank samples) (17.32 and 51.7) for PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, respectively. The meteorological effects, mainly the prevailing wind direction beside the distance to emission sources affect the distribution of dust particle sizes. Heavy metal contents in studied samples are similar to some extent to those found in Isa Town (Bahraian), which related to similar arid and low precipitation climatic conditions. The effect of phosphate mining activities was obvious as indicated from the presence of apatite as the main mineral phase and the higher P contents. Moreover, the studied samples contain higher Zn, Ni, Cu and to lesser extent Cr than blank samples. They exhibited a significant positive correlation with P, as they are usually associated with the phosphate rocks.     

Experimental study of nonlinear behaviors of a free-floating body in waves

Nonlinear behaviors of a free-floating body in waves were experimentally investigated in the present study. The experiments were carried out for 6 different wave heights and 6 different wave periods to cover a relatively wide range of wave nonlinearities. A charge-coupled device (CCD) camera was used to capture the real-time motion of the floating body. The measurement data show that the sway, heave and roll motions of the floating body are all harmonic oscillations while the equilibrium position of the sway motion drifts in the wave direction. The drift speed is proportional to wave steepness when the size of the floating body is comparable to the wavelength, while it is proportional to the square of wave steepness when the floating body is relatively small. In addition, the drift motion leads to a slightly longer oscillation period of the floating body than the wave period of nonlinear wave and the discrepancy increases with the increment of wave steepness.     

The aeolian sedimentation record of the Thar desert

A review of the aeolian sedimentary record of the Thar desert is presented. This includes a regional survey of the major dune forms, their genesis and their relationship to climate and other regional landforms. A key aspect of this work is the chronometry of the dunes using luminescence methods. Luminescence dating of sand has enabled quantification of the duration of the phases of sand aggradation and quiescence, time scales of dune migration and the dating of pedogenic carbonates. We demonstrate that the conventional wisdom of synchronicity of dune aggradation with glacial epoch is not true in the context of Thar sands and here only a short durationwindow of opportunity existed for dune aggradation. Luminescence ages further suggest that this window occurred during a transitional climatic regime from glacial to interglacial about 4–10 ka after the glacial epoch. Other inferences included are that:

水平荷载作用下单桩非线性m法试验研究

通过对大量模型试验结果的分析，提出了简便合理的水平荷载作用下单桩的计算方法。该方法将常用m法中单一m值与位移建立指数关系，并由bm有k两参数来描述。将这一关系引和常用单桩m法计算中，则计算结果可考虑单桩非线性响应影响。