Defining the range of ecological shelter zones in the shore zone of Three Gorges Reservoir,China

To maintaining a health ecological environment in Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area, ecological shelter zones (ESZ) need to be built in the TGR shore zone urgently. Based on the implication and function of ESZ, this study first analyzed the relationships amongst three subsystems of the TGR area, including the upstream production-living land, the downstream reservoir water body, and the ESZ. Then a simple and practical hydrological environment model for controlling the eutrophication of the TGR water body was constructed to determine ESZ range of TGR. Additionally, based on the pollutant degradation efficiency of ESZ and the assimilative capacity of reservoir water body, a raster reverse tracking method was proposed to determine the range of ESZ. Thirdly, take Yangdu town in Zhongxian county as a typical region, the ESZ range under three scenarios of different rainfall intensity, degradation efficiency and inflow water quality that corresponding to the three decisive factors of defining ESZ range were discussed. Finally, the statistical laws of the ESZ’s width at each boundary points were discussed to facilitate the ESZ construction projects, and selected standardized rate at 70, 90, and 99 % were labelled as “General”, “Good” and “Excellent” level to represent the performance of the width of the ESZ range. In conclusion, it suggest “Good” level width as basic width of ESZ, and additionally a special protection zone should be put on upstream environment for the extreme large width at the boundary points.     

Influence of confining pressure and impact loading on mechanical properties of amphibolite and sericite-quartz schist

In order to investigate the dynamic mechanical properties of amphibolite and sericite-quartz schist under confi ning pressure, two rocks are subjected to impact loadings with different strain rates and confi ning pressures by using split Hopkinson pressure bar equipment with a confi ning pressure device. Based on the experimental results, the stress-strain curves are analyzed and the effects of confi ning pressure and strain rates on the dynamic compressive strength, peak strain and failure mode are summarized. The results show that:(1) The characteristics of two rocks in the ascent stage of the stressstrain curve are basically the same, but in the descent stage, the rocks gradually show plastic deformation characteristics as the confi ning pressure increases.(2) The dynamic compressive strength and peak strain of two rocks increase as the strain rate increases and the confi ning pressure effects are obvious.(3) Due to the effect of confi ning pressure, the normal stress on the damage surface of the rock increases correspondingly, the bearing capacity of the crack friction exceeds the material cohesion and the slippage of the fractured rock is controlled, which all lead to the compression and shear failure mode of rock. The theoretical analysis and experimental methods to study the dynamic failure mode and other related characteristics of rock are useful in developing standards for engineering practice.     

Failure time variation derived from R–S relation: the role of the static stress perturbation

In general, earthquake cycle related to earthquake faulting could include four major processes which could be described by (1) fault locking, (2) self-acceleration or nucleation (possible foreshocks), (3) coseismic slip, and (4) post-stress relaxation and afterslip. A sudden static stress change/perturbation in the surrounding crust can advance/delay the fault instability or failure time and modify earthquake rates. Based on a simple one-dimensional spring-slider block model with the combination of rate-and-state-dependent friction relation, in this study, we have approximately derived the simple analytical solutions of clock advance/delay of fault failures caused by a sudden static Coulomb stress change applied in the different temporal evolution periods during an earthquake faulting. The results have been used in the physics-based explanation of delayed characteristic earthquake in Parkfield region, California, in which the next characteristic earthquake of M 6.0 after 1966 occurred in 2004 instead of around 1988 according to its characteristic return period of 22 years. At the same time, the analytical solutions also indicate that the time advance/delay in Coulomb stress change derived by the dislocation model has a certain limitation and fundamental flaw. Furthermore, we discussed the essential difference between rate- and state-variable constitutive (R–S) model and Coulomb stress model used commonly in current earthquake triggering study, and demonstrated that, in fact, the Coulomb stress model could be involved in the R–S model. The results, we have obtained in this study, could be used in the development of time-dependent fault interaction model and the probability calculation related to the time-dependent and renewal earthquake prediction model.     

Chemical evolution in the high arsenic groundwater of the Huhhot basin (Inner Mongolia,PR China) and its difference from the western Bengal basin (India)

Elevated As concentrations in groundwater of the Huhhot basin (HB), Inner Mongolia, China, and the western Bengal basin (WBB), India, have been known for decades. However, few studies have been performed to comprehend the processes controlling overall groundwater chemistry in the HB. In this study, the controls on solute chemistry in the HB have been interpreted and compared with the well-studied WBB, which has a very different climate, physiography, lithology, and aquifer characteristics than the HB. In general, there are marked differences in solute chemistry between HB and WBB groundwaters. Stable isotopic signatures indicate meteoric recharge in the HB in a colder climate, distant from the source of moisture, in comparison to the warm, humid WBB. The major-ion composition of the moderately reducing HB groundwater is dominated by a mixed-ion (Ca–Na–HCO₃–Cl) hydrochemical facies with an evolutionary trend along the regional hydraulic gradient. Molar ratios and thermodynamic calculations show that HB groundwater has not been affected by cation exchange, but is dominated by weathering of feldspars (allitization) and equilibrium with gibbsite and anorthite. Mineral weathering and mobilization of As could occur as recharging water flows through fractured, argillaceous, metamorphic or volcanic rocks in the adjoining mountain-front areas, and deposits solutes near the center of the basin. In contrast, WBB groundwater is Ca–HCO₃-dominated, indicative of calcite weathering, with some cation exchange and silicate weathering (monosiallitization).     

GPS网平差观测量选取的理论分析

由多台GPS接收机在不同时段进行静态观测而组成的观测网形,当采用高精度的科研软件与常用商用软件解算基线时,其基线向量的方差阵不同,前者的方差阵结构是完全的、严密的。同时,在进行GPS网平差时,选取GPS基线的方式及数量的不同,构造的网形也就不同,采用不同的数学模型其得到的平差结果和精度指标也不相同。文章先从理论上进行分析,后用示例进行比较论证。     

A Disconnection Event of Comet Lulin†

The cometary disconnection event (DE) is the separation of the entire cometary tail or a part of it from the cometary head. It is one of the most spectacular phenomena of comets. The driving mechanism remains unclear, and at present there are many competitive theories to explain the onset of DE. However, the variable solar wind is suspected to play a major role. Comet Lulin exhibited a DE on 4th Feb. 2009. The data around this date are analyzed, and it is found that the comet Lulin had already endured a DE on 3rd Feb. 2009. By comparing the morphologies of the plasma tails in these two DEs, it is concluded that the DE which occurred on 3rd Feb. 2009 is another DE, which is distinct from that of 4th Feb. 2009. In this paper, we describe the results of analysis on the DE dated 3rd Feb. 2009. The measured velocity of disconnection motion is about 68 km/s, and the calculated onset time of this DE is 3.635 ± 0.215 Feb. 2009 in UT decimal date. Combining the orbital characteristics of Comet Lulin before and after the DE occurrence and the solar-wind data measured by the STEREO-A spacecraft, it is concluded that the DE which occurred on 3rd Feb. 2009 was probably caused by the magnetic reconnection due to the interaction between the comet and a coronal mass ejection (CME).     

The Global Distribution of Diapycnal Mixing and Mixing Coefficient Tensor in the Upper 2000m Ocean from Argo Observations

Diapycnal Mixing (DM) within the upper 2000m of the global ocean is calculated by a fine-scale parameterization using the multiyear-mean density gridded product that created by employing all the Argo float observations to date through the recently published equation of seawater TEOS-10. The geographic distribution of Argo-derived DM derived in this study is spatial-dependent and varies with latitude and depth. The magnitude and pattern of DM is favorably validated by comparisons with previous studies. Furthermore, the mixing coefficient tensor K is calculated and analyzed. Components of the tensor fitting for the geopotential coordinate models are also presented. It is found that the tensor components in horizontal direction, K_xx and K_yy, have similar magnitude and distribution pattern. In the vertical, K_zz is enhanced over regions with rough topography and strong wind (e.g., Westerly region), suggesting agreement with previous estimates. This work presents a scheme to estimate the DM and mixing coefficient tensor using Argo observations, and offers a useful Argo-based mixing product for the purpose of promoting the study and modeling of ocean circulation and other processes.