An improved Ewing heat probe frame

The standard Ewing heat probe frame has been improved through the design of a new takedown model whose parts are held together by lynch pins. When a 600 lb (272 kg) unit of this type is taken apart, the heaviest single piece of the dismantled unit weighs only 75 lb (34 kg).This makes it feasible for one person to handle, transport, and assemble the new unit. A central, main support member of a heat probe using this frame can be suspended over the side of a research vessel while the heavier temperature recorder and ballast weights are attached by means of the quickaction lynch pins. This makes it possible to use this device on relatively small vessels which are not designed for coring work, having a minimum of free deck space and without launching platforms or hydraulic A-frame booms.     

关于“峰丛”、“峰林”与“锥状喀斯特”及“塔状喀斯特”涵义的比较和认识

“峰丛”和“峰林”是在中文文献中使用的两种主要的喀斯特地貌术语。而在其他国家,这两种地貌通常被定义为“锥状喀斯特”和“塔状喀斯特”,但峰丛、峰林与锥状喀斯特、塔状喀斯特并不完全相同。中国喀斯特分布广泛,本文把西方和中国的喀斯特专业术语连接起来,能让西方地貌学家更好地了解中国的喀斯特。本文是朱学稳教授近期发表于《中国岩溶》第28卷第2期上的 “我国峰林喀斯特的苦干问题讨论”论文的英文附加篇。 峰丛喀斯特地貌遍及贵州省及其临近省份大部分地区,其锥体石山较爪哇、牙买加和菲律宾群岛的更高更陡。尽管后者为西方所熟知,但贵州的峰丛可以说是峰丛和锥状喀斯特的典型代表。不过广西的峰林仅在中国以外东南亚的小部分地区可以看见。许多被西方认为是塔状喀斯特的地貌并非真正的峰林。问题产生的原因在于西方学者通过山体形状来区分锥状喀斯特和塔状喀斯特,而中国的学者是根据石峰之间是否存在喀斯特平原来区分峰林和峰丛。 峰丛喀斯特是一种发育成熟的石灰岩地貌,具有深厚的包气带、完整的地下排泄系统,以及发育时间长并免遭更新代冰川破坏的山体形貌。峰林喀斯特是一种极端地貌,仅在横向夷平持续时间比较长的特定环境中形成。峰林形成条件是：（1）石灰岩质纯;（2) 石灰岩层厚;（3）喀斯特平原上有冲积层发育;（4）地下水位变化幅度不大;（5）冲积平原有外源沉积物的流入补充;（6）缓慢构造抬升与喀斯特平原表面剥蚀相适应;（7）具有使石灰岩快速溶蚀的炎热湿润气候;（8）周围喀斯特平原下降时,地面蚀低和石灰岩山体边坡后退平衡。如果构造条件合适的话,峰丛可以演化为峰林。但如果有其他因素起作用,峰林和峰丛似乎可以并行发育。二者的起源仍然备受争论,并且峰林的起源恐怕是多种的。建议国际学术文献中应更加广泛地应用“峰丛”和“峰林”术语,“锥状喀斯特”和“塔状喀斯特”则主要用于对形态方面的描述。     

AVO analysis with partial stacking to detect gas anomalies in the GÜEPAJÉ-3D project

We applied analysis AVO with partial stacking to an onshore gas field in order to detect gas at the top of the Ciénaga de Oro formation (FCO), by using seismic gathers of the Güepajé-3D project. The technique was supported by petrophysical analysis of the Ayombe-1 well.The sensitivity of seismic response to changes in the saturating fluid was evaluated by fluid substitution technique in an interval of the Ayombe-1 well. As a result, a class I AVO anomaly at the top of the FCO was observed, even though the gas and water responses were similar. After applying AVO with partial stack technique at the top of FCO, AVO class I anomalies were observed in the Ayombe-1 and Güepajé-1 gas wells and none in the dry Güepajé-3 well. In spite of being reported with gas, the results in the Güepajé-2 well indicated any to an incipient class I anomaly related to a weak seismic response associated to gas.When the technique was applied to the seismic volume of the Güepajé-3D Project, a map of the direct gas indicator was obtained. The map shows a high correlation with the structural surface at top of FCO. Lithic factors such as compaction, cementation and carbonate overlaying the FCO and variable thickness of partial and full saturated layers, may cause anomalies in zones unlikely to contain gas.     

La scintillazione delle stelle nella previsione del tempo

Riassunto Richiamate brevemente le conoscenze fondamentali sulla scintillizzazione stellare, si espongono i principi generali di un procedimento inteso a ricavare elementi d'integrazione alle osservazioni sinottiche per la formulazione del presagio meteorico locale, partendo dalla accurata e sistematica misura della scintillazione stessa. Lo studio ha carattere preliminare, contenendo considerazioni generali la cui applicazione dovrà trovare conferma dallo sviluppo delle relative osservazioni.

---

Zusammenfassung Nach einem Überblick über die Entwicklung unserer Kenntnissen zur Erklärung des Funkelns der Sterne, gibt der Verf. die allgemeinen Richtlinien einer Methode, welche, stützend auf systematischen Beobachtungen dieser Erscheinung, die synoptischen Verfahren der Wettervorhersage unterstützen und ergänzen kann. Die Schrift gilt als vorläuflge Mitteilung, besonders in Anbetrachtung der Notwendigkeit einer entsprechenden Entwicklung und Verfeinerung der Beobachtungen.

     

Rapidly installed temporary gauging for hurricane waves and surge,and application to Hurricane Gustav

Hurricanes can produce extreme nearshore waves and surge, but permanent gauging stations are often much sparser than is desired. This paper describes the rationale behind and outline for rapidly installed temporary coastal gauges, and presents results during Hurricane Gustav (2008). Within 48 h prior to landfall, twenty self-recording pressure gauges were deployed in depths of 1.4–23 m over more than 700 km of coastline, using helicopters to cover the large distances. Results showed a complex picture that was strongly dependent on location. East of the Mississippi Delta, open coast waves were large, and surge reached 3.8 m NAVD88 in marshes. West of the delta but near landfall, waves and surge were generally smaller as the river levees blocked flow from East to West. West of landfall, both waves and surge were very small and the most prominent feature was a water level drawdown that reached 1.5 m. Wave spectra varied strongly depending both on location and time from landfall.     

Ornamental plants and the production of nature(s) in the Spanish real estate boom and bust: the case of Alicante

The Spanish real estate boom and bust of the 2000s caused immense economic, social, and environmental changes across the country. Massive urbanization, however, does not necessarily entail the end of nature and natural processes, instead marking a radical transformation of environments and societies. Through a political ecology approach, we analyze how ornamental species have become a fundamental part of new natures induced by urbanization in the Spanish province of Alicante. We connect the economic and ecological characteristics of ornamental plants like the palm tree to urbanization and real estate trends in Alicante. Our evidence indicates that, in Alicante, economic recession and environmental crises (manifested in the pests affecting palm trees) have mutually reinforced one other, creating a new geography of ecological desolation in many areas.     

A prototype system for earthquake early-warning and alert management in southern Italy

The Irpinia Seismic Network (ISNet) is deployed in Southern Apennines along the active fault system responsible for the 1980, November 23, M _s 6.9 Campania–Lucania earthquake. It is set up by 28 stations and covers an area of about 100 × 70 km². Each site is equipped with a 1-g full-scale accelerometer and a short-period velocimeter. Due to its design characteristics, i.e., the wide dynamic range and the high density of stations, the ISNet network is mainly devoted to estimating in real-time the earthquake location and magnitude from low- to high- magnitude events, and to providing ground-motion parameters values so to get some insights about the ground shaking expected. Moreover, the availability of high-quality of data allows studying the source processes related to the seismogenetic structures in the area. The network layout, the data communication system and protocols and the main instrumental features are described in the paper. The data analysis is managed by Earthworm software package that also provides the earthquake location while custom software has been developed for real-time computation of the source parameters and shaking maps. Technical details about these procedures are given in the article. The data collected at the ISNet stations are available upon request.