High-resolution simulation of upper-ocean submesoscale variability in the South China Sea: Spatial and seasonal dynamical regimes

Submesoscale processes in marginal seas usually have complex generating mechanisms, highly dependent on the local background flow and forcing. This numerical study investigates the spatial and seasonal differences of submesoscale activities in the upper ocean of the South China Sea (SCS) and the different dynamical regimes for sub-regions. The spatial and seasonal variations of vertical vorticity, horizontal convergence, lateral buoyancy gradient, and strain rate are analyzed to compare the submesoscale phenomenon within four sub-regions, the northern region near the Luzon Strait (R1), the middle ocean basin (R2), the western SCS (R3), and the southern SCS (R4). The results suggest that the SCS submesoscale processes are highly heterogeneous in space, with different seasonalities in each sub-region. The submesoscale activities in the northern sub-regions (R1, R2) are active in winter but weak in summer, while there appears an almost seasonal anti-phase in the western region (R3) compared to R1 and R2. Interestingly, no clear seasonality of submesoscale features is shown in the southern region (R4). Further analysis of Ertel potential vorticity reveals different generating mechanisms of submesoscale processes in different sub-regions. Correlation analyses also show the vertical extent of vertical velocity and the role of monsoon in generating submesoscale activities in the upper ocean of sub-regions. All these results suggest that the sub-regions have different regimes for submesoscale processes, e.g., Kuroshio intrusion (R1), monsoon modulation (R2), frontal effects (R3), topography wakes (R4).     

基于遥感数据和表层声速的全海深声速剖面反演

海洋声速剖面严重影响着水下声传播特性,近实时地获取声速剖面对水下声通信、水下定位、鱼群探测等都有重要意义。单经验正交函数回归（single Empirical Orthogonal Function regression,sEOF-r）方法通过建立声速剖面的经验正交系数与海面遥感数据之间的线性回归关系来反演声速剖面。但是,海洋是一个复杂的动力系统,声速与海面遥感数据并不是简单的线性关系,因此,本文基于Argo历史网格数据,通过自组织映射（Self-Organizing Map,SOM）生成海平面高度异常（Sea Level Anomaly,SLA）、海表面温度（Sea Surface Temperature,SST）等海表遥感数据以及表层声速仪测量的表层声速与声速剖面异常之间的非线性映射;然后利用近实时的海表遥感数据和表层声速反演三维海洋声速场。声速剖面反演的结果表明,在多源信息融合的优势下,本文方法的反演性能最稳定且精度最高,声速剖面的平均反演精度比经典sEOF-r方法提高约2 m/s,比未考虑表层声速的经典SOM方法提高约1 m/s。     

Self-Weight Penetration Characteristics of the Suction Foundation with Different Diameters in Sand

During the self-weight penetration process of the suction foundation on the dense sand seabed, due to the shallow penetration depth, the excess seepage seawater from the outside to the inside of the foundation may cause the negative pressure penetration process failure. Increasing the self-weight penetration depth has become an important problem for the safe construction of the suction foundation. The new suction anchor foundation has been proposed, and the self-weight penetration characteristics of the traditional suction foundation and the new suction anchor foundation are studied and compared through laboratory experiments and analysis. For the above two foundation types, by considering five foundation diameters and two bottom shapes, 20 models are tested with the same penetration energy. The effects of different foundation diameters on the penetration depth, the soil plug characteristics, and the surrounding sand layer are studied. The results show that the penetration depth of the new suction foundation is smaller than that of the traditional suction foundation. With the same penetration energy, the penetration depth of the suction foundation becomes shallower as the diameter increases. The smaller the diameter of the suction foundation, the more likely it is to be fully plugged, and the smaller the height of the soil plug will be. In the stage of self-weight penetration, the impact cavity appears around the foundation, which may affect the stability of the suction foundation.

     

Numerical Simulation of Icing on Nrel 5-MW Reference Offshore Wind Turbine Blades Under Different Icing Conditions

Offshore wind energy resources are operational in cold regions, while offshore wind turbines will face the threat of icing. Therefore, it is necessary to study icing of offshore wind turbines under different icing conditions. In this study, icing sensitivity of offshore wind turbine blades are performed using a combination of FLUENT and FENSAP-ICE software, and the effects of liquid water content (LWC), medium volume diameter (MVD), wind speed and air temperature on blade icing shape are analyzed by two types of ice, namely rime ice and glaze ice. The results show that the increase of LWC and MVD will increase the amount of ice that forms on the blade surface for either glaze ice or rime ice, and an increase of MVD will expand the adhesion surface between ice and blade. Before reaching the rated wind speed of 11.4 m/s, it does not directly affect the icing shape. However, after reaching the rated wind speed, the attack angle of the incoming flow decreases obviously, and the amount of ice increases markedly. When the ambient air temperature meets the icing conditions of glaze ice (i.e., −5°C to 0°C), the lower the temperature, the more glaze ice freezes, whereas air temperature has no impact on the icing of rime ice. Compared with onshore wind turbines, offshore wind turbines might face extreme meteorological conditions, and the wind speed has no impact on the amount of ice that forms on the blade surface for most wind speeds

     

Analysis and comparison of heat flux of landfast ice during 2016 in the Prydz Bay,Antarctica

Long term in situ atmospheric observation of the landfast ice nearby Zhongshan Station in the Prydz Bay was performed from April to November 2016. The in situ observation, including the conventional meteorological elements and turbulent flux, enabled this study to evaluate the sea ice surface energy budget process. Using in situ observations, three different reanalysis datasets from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Interim Re-analysis(ERA-Interim), National Centers for Environmental Prediction Reanalysis2(NCEP R2), and Japanese 55-year Reanalysis(JRA55), and the Los Alamos sea ice model, CICE, output for surface fluxes were evaluated. The observed sensible heat flux(SH) and net longwave radiation showed seasonal variation with increasing temperature. Air temperature rose from the middle of October as the solar elevation angle increased.The ice surface lost more energy by outgoing longwave radiation as temperature increased, while the shortwave radiation showed obvious increases from the middle of October. The oceanic heat flux demonstrated seasonal variation and decreased with time, where the average values were 21 W/m~2 and 11 W/m~2, before and after August,respectively. The comparisons with in situ observations show that, SH and LE(latent heat flux) of JRA55 dataset had the smallest bias and mean absolute error(MAE), and those of NCEP R2 data show the largest differences.The ERA-Interim dataset had the highest spatial resolution, but performance was modest with bias and MAE between JRA55 and NCEP R2 compare with in situ observation. The CICE results(SH and LE) were consistent with the observed data but did not demonstrate the amplitude of inner seasonal variation. The comparison revealed better shortwave and longwave radiation stimulation based on the ERA-Interim forcing in CICE than the radiation of ERA-Interim. The average sea ice temperature decreased in June and July and increased after September,which was similar to the temperature measured by buoys, with a bias and MAE of 0.9°C and 1.0°C, respectively.     

准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷深层油气流体相态研究

准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷深层(5000m)是我国深层油气勘探当前的一个热点风险领域。为给区域下步油气勘探提供参考,通过对区内烃源岩和油气进行系统的地质地球化学正演、反演对比综合研究,重点分析了油气流体相态。结果表明,研究区深层稳定发育石炭系—二叠系四套烃源岩,有机质丰度高,普遍达到中等—好质量,类型多种多样,既可生油亦可生气,加之所有烃源岩均已基本进入高—过成熟演化,因此深层油气流体相态总体应高熟轻质,可能包括高熟轻质油、干酪根裂解气、油裂解气等。原油地球化学研究表明,原油随埋藏深度增加、层位变老,油质有逐渐变轻的趋势,成熟度有逐渐增大的趋势,保存条件亦逐渐变好,因此预测深层原油油质更轻、成熟度更高、保存条件更好。天然气地球化学研究表明,中浅层天然气可能属于混合来源,包括干酪根裂解气和油裂解气,规模性的高过成熟天然气可能在深层。因此,研究区深层油气资源丰富,相态轻质,成藏有利,值得勘探。这些认识还可供具有相似油气地质背景地区在研究和勘探时类比参考。     

The smoke is rising but where is the fire? Exploring effective online map design for wildfire warnings

The current study sought to offer guidance for developing effective web-based mapping tools for wildfire warnings by identifying (1) the important content for facilitating individuals’ decision-making, and (2) the optimal interface design for ensuring usability and ease of information access. A map-based warning tool was prototyped in the Australian context, followed by a usability and effectiveness evaluation through individual interviews and verbal protocol analysis to assess participants’ interaction with the mapping interface and information in response to the simulated warning scenario. The results demonstrated variations in participants’ approaches to wildfire warning response, revealing varied information needs. Specifically, most participants relied on their own assessment of the prospective threat, requiring specific wildfire-related information before eliciting a response. In contrast, the decision of a minority of the participants was motivated by response guidance from agencies, and accurate wildfire information was less important for their response. Imperative information for both types of residents therefore needs to be highlighted in a map-based warning tool to cater to a wide audience. Furthermore, a number of heuristics were identified for designing effective interactive functions to facilitate the control of, and access to, the various maps and textual information presented on the map-based warning interface.     

Genetic model and exploration target area of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area,Xiamen, China

The geothermal resources in Fujian Province are mainly hydrothermal resources of medium-low temperature. To better understand the whole process and conditions of heat control in the middle and deep crust, this study focuses on the analysis of heat accumulation model in Hongtang Area of Xiamen, and the main conditions of the model such as faults and sags are explored and interpreted in detail by using gravity and wide-field electromagnetic methods. 4 main faults (F33, F2, F12 and HT-F1) and 10 secondary faults (HT-F2, HT-F3, HT-F4, HT-F5, HT-F6, HT-F7, HT-F8, HT-F9, HT-F10 and HT-F11) were inferred, and the distribution range of sags was delineated. The convective geothermal system is composed of four components: Heat source, geothermal reservoir, heat-conductive fault and heat retaining cover, which form a quaternary heat accumulation model. According to the model, the intersection of the main faults F12, HT-F1 and F33 can be delineated as the primary target area of geothermal exploration, while the intersection of the secondary faults (F12 and HT-F6; F12 and HT-F2; HT-F9, HT-F10 and F12; F12 and HT-F11; F33 and HT-F3; HT-F8 and HT-F3; HT-F2, HT-F10 and HT-F1) can be delineated as the secondary target area. Borehole DR01, which is located in the primary target area, shows that the water temperature increases from fast to slow in the depth range of 0–500 m, and stays at 36℃ below 500 m. The reliability of the heat accumulation model and the target area was tested via geothermal boreholes, which is of great significance to the exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in Hongtang Area of Xiamen.     

Lithofacies paleogeography mapping and reservoir prediction in tight sandstone strata: A case study from central Sichuan Basin,China

Sand-rich tight sandstone reservoirs are potential areas for oil and gas exploration. However, the high ratio of sandstone thickness to that of the strata in the formation poses many challenges and uncertainties to traditional lithofacies paleogeography mapping. Therefore, the prediction of reservoir sweet spots has remained problematic in the field of petroleum exploration. This study provides new insight into resolving this problem, based on the analyses of depositional characteristics of a typical modern sand-rich formation in a shallow braided river delta of the central Sichuan Basin, China. The varieties of sand-rich strata in the braided river delta environment include primary braided channels, secondary distributary channels and the distribution of sediments is controlled by the successive superposed strata deposited in paleogeomorphic valleys. The primary distributary channels have stronger hydrodynamic forces with higher proportions of coarse sand deposits than the secondary distributary channels. Therefore, lithofacies paleogeography mapping is controlled by the geomorphology, valley locations, and the migration of channels. We reconstructed the paleogeomorphology and valley systems that existed prior to the deposition of the Xujiahe Formation. Following this, rock-electro identification model for coarse skeletal sand bodies was constructed based on coring data. The results suggest that skeletal sand bodies in primary distributary channels occur mainly in the valleys and low-lying areas, whereas secondary distributary channels and fine deposits generally occur in the highland areas. The thickness distribution of skeletal sand bodies and lithofacies paleogeography map indicate a positive correlation in primary distributary channels and reservoir thickness. A significant correlation exists between different sedimentary facies and petrophysical properties. In addition, the degree of reservoir development in different sedimentary facies indicates that the mapping method reliably predicts the distribution of sweet spots. The application and understanding of the mapping method provide a reference for exploring tight sandstone reservoirs on a regional basis.     

Full probabilistic design of slopes in spatially variable soils using simplified reliability analysis method

ABSTRACT

A simplified reliability analysis method is proposed for efficient full probabilistic design of soil slopes in spatially variable soils. The soil slope is viewed as a series system comprised of numerous potential slip surfaces and the spatial variability of soil properties is modelled by the spatial averaging technique along potential slip surfaces. The proposed approach not only provides sufficiently accurate reliability estimates of slope stability, but also significantly improves the computational efficiency of soil slope design in comparison with simulation-based full probabilistic design. It is found that the spatial variability has considerable effects on the optimal slope design.