Vertical extent of zonal winds on Venus

Possible interrelationships of different observations have been studied to clear up some obvious inconsistencies and develop a coherent picture of the kinematics of the Venus atmosphere. There is a wind shear in the vicinity of 60 km with vertical dimensions on the order of a scale height. The kinematical model has negligible surface winds, speeds increasing with altitude to approximately 45 km, a layer of high-speed retrograde zonal winds extending from approximately 45 to 60 km, a wind shear between 60 and 65 km, and slow atmospheric motions above this. Spacecraft data show that the region of high-speed winds is thicker on the day side of the planet than on the night side.     

Rb-Sr and K-Ar systems of biotite in surface environments regulated by weathering processes with implications for isotopic dating and hydrological cycles of Sr isotopes

Biotite is widely used for Rb-Sr and K-Ar isotopic dating and influences Sr isotope geochemistry of hydrological regimes. The isotopic system of biotite behaves diversely in response to surface weathering; i.e. the complete preservation of original Rb-Sr and K-Ar isotopic ages or dramatic reduction. In this study, we have explored the relation between the behavior of isotopic systems and complex weathering processes of biotites in the weathering profiles distributed on the Mesozoic granitoids in South Korea. In the lower parts of the profiles, biotite in the early stages of weathering was transformed into either oxidized biotite or hydrobiotite, with a mass release of ⁸⁷Sr and ⁴⁰Ar forced by the rapid oxidation of ferrous iron. During the transformation to oxidized biotite, ⁸⁷Sr and ⁴⁰Ar were preferentially released relative to Rb and K, respectively, via solid-state diffusion through the biotite lattice, resulting in a drastic reduction of original isotopic age. The reduction of Rb-Sr age was greater than that of K-Ar age because K was preferentially released over Rb whereas ⁸⁷Sr and ⁴⁰Ar were released proportionally to each other. However, during the transformation of biotite to hydrobiotite (i.e., to regularly interstratified biotite-vermiculite), ⁸⁷Sr, Rb, ⁴⁰Ar, and K were completely retained in the alternating biotite interlayer, and thus the original isotopic age can be preserved. In the upper parts of the profiles, where iron oxidation was almost completed, ⁸⁷Sr, Rb, ⁴⁰Ar, and K were gradually and proportionally released, with no further significant change in isotopic age during the gradual transformation of the early-formed oxidized biotite into hydrobiotite and vermiculite or during their final decomposition to kaolinite. The ratios and amounts of isotopes released from weathered biotites are dependent upon the degree of iron oxidation and the pathways of mineralogical transformation. Regional and local variations in isotopic systems affected by particular weathering processes should be considered when dating biotite or biotite-bearing rocks in weathering environments, modeling the transfer of Sr isotopes to hydrologic regimes, and tracking the provenance of sediments.     

The Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian boundary (Upper Permian) at Meishan of Changxing County, South China

Section D at Meishan, Changxing County in the Zhejiang Province, China, has been extensively studied in various aspects of the stratigraphy during the past 20 years. It was ratified by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as the Global Standard Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Permian–Triassic boundary in 2000, and is also a potential stratotype for the Wuchiapingian–Changhsingian boundary. However, the contact relationship between the Longtan (Wuchiapingian) and Changxing (Chainghsingian) formations has been a controversial subject for years. Recent studies on Section C, about 300 m west of Section D, at Meishan confirm a complete depositional succession around the boundary and suggest that the proposed boundary level, the FAD of Clarkina wangi within the lineage from C. longicuspidata to C. wangi, is consistent with the first appearance of the index Changhsingian fusulinid Palaeofusulina sinensis and tapashanitid ammonoids.     

Structural similarity and variety at the tips in a wide range of strike–slip faults: a review

Strike–slip faults are often accompanied by a variety of structures, particularly at their tips. The zones of additional fracturing are classified as tip‐damage zones. These zones can be subdivided into several different damage patterns based on the nature and orientation of faults and fractures developed. Damage zones at the ends of small strike–slip faults (mode II tips) develop wing cracks, horsetail splays, antithetic faults, synthetic branch faults and solution surfaces. Similar tip‐damage patterns are also commonly observed at larger (regional) scales, but with a dominance of faulting over tensile cracks and solution surfaces. Wing cracks and horsetail splays developed at small‐scale faults are replaced by normal faults in large‐scale faults. Antithetic faults and synthetic branch faults are observed at small and large scales. Thrust faults are developed at large scales, in a similar pattern to solution surfaces at a small scale. All these structures may show slightly different angular relationships to the master fault at small and large scale, but develop in response similar stress distribution and mechanics around the fault. Thus, mode II tip‐damage zones show similar patterns over a wide range of fault scales.     

Food Deserts in the Prairies? Supermarket Accessibility and Neighborhood Need in Edmonton,Canada*

The U.S. and U.K. literatures have discussed “food deserts,” reflecting populated, typically urban, low‐income areas with limited access to full‐service supermarkets. Less is known about supermarket accessibility within Canadian cities. This article uses the minimum distance and coverage methods to determine supermarket accessibility within the city of Edmonton, Canada, with a focus on high‐need and inner‐city neighborhoods. The results show that for 1999 both of these areas generally had higher accessibility than the remainder of the city, but six high‐need neighborhoods had poor supermarket accessibility. We conclude by examining potential reasons for differences in supermarket accessibility between Canadian, U.S., and U.K. cities.     

油页岩综合利用对周围环境的影响——以抚顺矿区为例

世界能源日益减少的局面为油页岩的开发应用带来广阔的前景，但油页岩工业所带来的环境影响亦不容忽视。以抚顺油页岩为例，从油页岩综合利用和油页岩工业对环境的影响等方面系统讨论了在我国发展油页岩工业时，如何本着节约能源、保护环境、实现可持续发展的观念，利用现有先进技术，科学发展油页岩工业，降低生产过程中的固、液、气污染物对环境的危害。     

激光剥蚀等离子体质谱分析中激光剥蚀参数对信号响应的影响

探讨了激光剥蚀等离子体质谱固体微区分析中激光剥蚀参数对元素分析信号灵敏度及稳定性的影响。这些参数包括激光功率、脉冲频率、剥蚀孔经、散焦距离、剥蚀方式等。讨论了优化的激光剥蚀等离子体质谱信号采集及数据处理方式。在全质量范围内选用具有代表性的元素作为研究对象,建立了激光剥蚀的一般性特征规律和266nm紫外激光系统的最佳操作条件。在选定的激光剥蚀参数下,大多数被测元素的检出限为22.8~457ng/g,能够满足固体微区分析的要求。     

GPS观测在气象中的应用

简述了GPS的组成及发展概况，以及如何利用地面GPS观测探测大气可降水汽量（PWV），从而可以得到高精度，几乎连续和实时的水汽序列，骤报降水量以及监测恶劣天气，为天气预报和气候分析作出贡献。     

中下扬子区二叠系露头层序地层研究

按新近国际年代地层划分方案（ICS，2000），下扬子区二叠纪地层自下向上分为3统，9阶和相对应的华南传统6阶划分。二叠系从阿瑟尔阶至长兴阶（44Ma)共划分出14个三级层序，每个三级层序平均时限约为3.14Ma，其中“紫松阶”）相当阿瑟尔＋2／3萨克马尔阶）1个（船山组中上部）、“隆林阶、（相当1／3萨克马尔阶＋阿丁斯克阶）2个（分别对应船山组上部和梁山组或镇江组）、“栖霞阶”（相当库班甘德阶＋1／3罗德阶）3个（栖霞组），“茅口阶”（相当于2／3罗德阶＋沃德阶＋卡皮丹阶）4个（孤峰组，茅口组，堰桥组，银屏组和武穴组），吴家坪阶2个（龙潭组或吴家坪组），长兴阶2个（长兴组或大隆组）；共归并为4个层序组（sequence set)。