Relationships between surface-active organic substances, chlorophyll a and nutrients in the northern Adriatic Sea

Surface-active organic substances (SAS), nutrients, chlorophyll a (Chl a), dissolved oxygen (O₂), salinity (S) and temperature (T) were measured approximately monthly in the northern Adriatic Sea (NA) during two years. Results were elaborated for two stations of different trophic status. Exhaustive statistical examinations of measured variables were performed to contribute to better understanding of the processes and interdependence of the measured parameters. The results of those analyses allowed the region to be described based on several groups of data relevant for particular processes. Chl a appear to be independent parameter; orthosilicate, nitrite and ammonium represent the parameter group most relevant for regeneration processes; the second group includes nutrients dominant in freshwater inputs (orthophosphate and nitrate), while in the third group are parameters related to primary production processes (T, O₂, organic phosphorus and SAS). Probably due to time lags between nutrient uptake and phytoplankton growth as well as between cells growth/division and SAS release, both, the correlation between nutrients and Chl a and the correlation between Chl a and SAS were not statistically significant. Although significantly higher nutrient and Chl a concentrations were found in the mesotrophic western part of the region in comparison to the oligotrophic eastern part, the SAS concentration differences were less marked. It is assumed that more OM is produced, but also at the same time remineralized, at the mesotrophic western part, leading to higher concentrations of regenerated nutrients there. Presence of different phytoplankton taxa and/or fractions (micro and nano) at the two stations may have also contributed to minimize the difference in SAS contents. Higher SAS acidities were noticed in the mesotrophic than in the oligotrophic part.     

Intermittent generation of mafic enclaves in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen Volcano recorded in mineral chemistry

Mafic enclaves in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano show chemical and textural variability, such as bulk SiO₂ contents ranging from 52 to 62 wt% and fine- to coarse-grained microlite textures. In this paper, we investigated the mineral chemistry of plagioclase and hornblende microlites and distinguished three enclave types. Type-I mafic enclaves contain high-Mg plagioclase and low-Cl hornblende as microlites, whereas type-III enclaves include low-Mg plagioclase and high-Cl hornblende. Type-II enclaves have an intermediate mineral chemistry. Type-I mafic enclaves tend to show a finer-grained matrix, have slightly higher bulk rock SiO₂ contents (56–60 wt%) when compared with the type-III mafic enclaves (SiO₂?=?53–59 wt%), but the overall bulk enclave compositions are within the trend of the basalt–dacite eruptive products of Quaternary monogenetic volcanoes around Unzen volcano. The origin of the variation of mineral chemistry in mafic enclaves is interpreted to reflect different degree of diffusion-controlled re-equilibration of minerals in a low-temperature mushy dacitic magma reservoir. Mafic enclaves with a long residence time in the dacitic magma reservoir, whose constituent minerals were annealed at low-temperature to be in equililbrium with the rhyolitic melt, represent type-III enclaves. In contrast, type-I mafic enclaves result from recent mafic injections with a mineral assemblage that still retains the high-temperature mineral chemistry. Taking temperature, Ca/(Ca?+?Na) ratio of plagioclase, and water activity of the hydrous Unzen magma into account, the Mg contents of plagioclase indicate that plagioclase microlites in type-III enclaves initially crystallized at high temperature and were subsequently re-equilibrated at low-temperature conditions. Compositional profiles of Mg in plagioclase suggest that older mafic enclaves (Type-III) had a residence time of ~100 years at 800 °C in a stagnant magma reservoir before their incorporation into the mixed dacite of the 1991–1995 Unzen eruption. Presence of different types of mafic enclaves suggests that the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano tapped mushy magma reservoir intermittently replenished by high-temperature mafic magmas.     

An Analytical Solution for Mechanical Responses Induced by Temperature and Air Pressure in a Lined Rock Cavern for Underground Compressed Air Energy Storage

Mechanical responses induced by temperature and air pressure significantly affect the stability and durability of underground compressed air energy storage (CAES) in a lined rock cavern. An analytical solution for evaluating such responses is, thus, proposed in this paper. The lined cavern of interest consists of three layers, namely, a sealing layer, a concrete lining and the host rock. Governing equations for cavern temperature and air pressure, which involve heat transfer between the air and surrounding layers, are established first. Then, Laplace transform and superposition principle are applied to obtain the temperature around the lined cavern and the air pressure during the operational period. Afterwards, a thermo-elastic axisymmetrical model is used to analytically determine the stress and displacement variations induced by temperature and air pressure. The developments of temperature, displacement and stress during a typical operational cycle are discussed on the basis of the proposed approach. The approach is subsequently verified with a coupled compressed air and thermo-mechanical numerical simulation and by a previous study on temperature. Finally, the influence of temperature on total stress and displacement and the impact of the heat transfer coefficient are discussed. This paper shows that the temperature sharply fluctuates only on the sealing layer and the concrete lining. The resulting tensile hoop stresses on the sealing layer and concrete lining are considerably large in comparison with the initial air pressure. Moreover, temperature has a non-negligible effect on the lined cavern for underground compressed air storage. Meanwhile, temperature has a greater effect on hoop and longitudinal stress than on radial stress and displacement. In addition, the heat transfer coefficient affects the cavern stress to a higher degree than the displacement.     

Elasticity of CaIrO<Subscript>3</Subscript> with perovskite and post-perovskite structure

Compression behaviors of CaIrO₃ with perovskite (Pv) and post-perovskite (pPv) structures have been investigated up to 31.0(1.0) and 35.3(1) GPa at room temperature, respectively, in a diamond-anvil cell with hydrostatic pressure media. CaIrO₃ Pv and pPv phases were compressed with the axial compressibility of β _a > β _c > β _b and β _b > β _a > β _c, respectively and no phase transition was observed in both phases up to the highest pressure in the present study. The order of axial compressibility for pPv phase is consistent with the crystallographic consideration for layer structured materials and previous experimental results. On the other hand, Pv phase shows anomalous compression behavior in b axis, which exhibit constant or slightly expanded above 13 GPa, although the applied pressure remained hydrostatic. Volume difference between Pv and pPv phases was gradually decreased with increasing pressure and this is consistent with the results of theoretical study based on the ab initio calculation. Present results, combined with theoretical study, suggest that these complicate compression behaviors in CaIrO₃ under high pressure might be caused by the partially filled electron of Ir⁴⁺. Special attention must be paid in case of using CaIrO₃ as analog materials to MgSiO₃, although CaIrO₃ exhibits interesting physical properties under high pressure.     

Strenulagus (Mammalia: Lagomorpha) from the Middle Eocene Irdin Manha Formation of the Erlian Basin, Nei Mongol, China

New material of Strenulagus solaris, a stem lagomorph, from the lower part of the Middle Eocene Irdin Manha Formation at the Irdin Manha and Huheboerhe localities, Erlian Basin, Nei Mongol, China includes remains of isolated cheek teeth, fragmentary upper incisors(d I2) and postcranial elements, reported from the species for the first time. The tarsal bones display advanced features, such as a wide calcaneofibular articulation surface and, along with an increase in hypsodonty, the new data document the early stage of lagomorph evolution in the Middle Eocene of the Erlian Basin. This finding is stratigraphically well constrained and probably predates that of the type material of S. solaris from the Khaychin Formation, Bugin-Tsav Basin, Mongolia.     

The early Cambrian Chahmir shale-hosted Zn–Pb deposit,Central Iran: an example of vent-proximal SEDEX mineralization

The Chahmir zinc–lead deposit (1.5 Mt @ 6 % Zn + 2 % Pb) in Central Iran is one among several sedimentary-exhalative Zn–Pb deposits in the Early Cambrian Zarigan–Chahmir basin (e.g., Koushk, Darreh-Dehu, and Zarigan). The deposit is hosted by carbonaceous, fine-grained black siltstones, and shales interlayered with volcaniclastic sandstone beds. It corresponds to the upper part of the Early Cambrian volcano-sedimentary sequence (ECVSS), which was deposited on the Posht-e-Badam Block during back-arc rifting of the continental margin of Central Iran. Based on crosscutting relationships, mineralogy, and texture of sulfide mineralization, four different facies can be distinguished: stockwork (feeder zone), massive ore, bedded ore, and distal facies (exhalites with barite). Silicification, carbonatization, sericitization, and chloritization are the main wall-rock alteration styles; alteration intensity increases toward the proximal feeder zone. Fluid inclusion microthermometry was carried out on quartz associated with sulfides of the massive ore. Homogenization temperatures are in the range of 170–226 °C, and salinity is around 9 wt% NaCl eq. The size distribution of pyrite framboids of the bedded ore facies suggests anoxic to locally suboxic event for the host basin. δ³⁴S_(V-CDT) values of pyrite, sphalerite, and galena range from +10.9 to +29.8?‰. The highest δ³⁴S values correspond to the bedded ore (+28.6 to +29.8?‰), and the lowest to the massive ore (+10.9 to +14.7?‰) and the feeder zone (+11.3 and +12.1?‰). The overall range of δ³⁴S is consistent with a sedimentary environment where sulfide sulfur was derived from two sources. One of them was corresponding to early ore-stage sulfides in bedded ore and distal facies, consistent with bacterial reduction from coeval seawater sulfate in a closed or semiclosed basin. However, the δ³⁴S values of late ore-stage sulfides, observed mainly in massive ore, interpreted as a hydrothermal sulfur component, leached from the lower part of the ECVSS. Sulfur isotopes, along with the sedimentological, textural, mineralogical, fluid inclusion, and geochemical characteristics of the Chahmir deposit are in agreement with a vent-proximal (Selwyn type) SEDEX ore deposit model.     

Building frequency fluctuations from continuous monitoring of ambient vibrations and their relationship to temperature variations

Building frequencies (fundamental and higher modes) are a critical parameter especially in the field of structural health monitoring mainly based on the stability of the structural dynamic parameters of individual building (frequencies, damping and modes shape). One of the most used methods to find out these parameters is based on the use on ambient vibration analysis. In this work, we study the fluctuations over a month period of the fundamental frequencies (transverse and longitudinal) of a 3.5-story RC-building made of 2 identical units connected by a structural joint. Time independent building frequencies is a strong assumption; as illustrated by our experiment showing that over an observation period of a month, building frequencies fluctuate of about 3.5 %. A clear correlation is found between the building frequency fluctuations and temperature variations, with a phase-shift interpreted as the characteristic time of heat diffusion within the walls. This allows: (1) determining the thermal diffusivity of the structure, (2) inferring its relative stiffness variations, and (3) showing that its Young modulus varies linearly with temperature.     

Mapping Baltic Sea shallow water environments with airborne remote sensing

It is known that the structure of benthic macrophyte and invertebrate habitats indicate the quality of coastal water. Thus, a large-scale analysis of the spatial patterns of coastal marine habitats makes it possible to adequately estimate the status of valuable coastal marine habitats, provide better evidence for environmental changes, and describe the processes behind the changes. Knowing the spatial distribution of benthic habitats is also important from the coastal management point of view. Our previous results clearly demonstrated that remote sensing methods can be used to map water depth and distribution of taxonomic groups of benthic algae (e.g., red, green, and brown algae) in the optically complex coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. We have as well shown that benthic habitat mapping should be done at high spatial resolution owing to the small-scale heterogeneity of such habitats in Estonian coastal waters. Here we tested the capability of high spatial resolution hyperspectral airborne image in its application for mapping benthic habitats. A big challenge is to define appropriate mapping classes that are also meaningful from the ecological point of view. In this study two benthic habitat classification schemes??broader level and finer level??were defined for the study area. The broader level classes were relatively well classified, but discrimination among the units of the finer classification scheme posed a considerable challenge and required a careful approach. Benthic habitat classification provided the highest accuracy in the case of the Spectral Angle Mapper classification method applied to a radiometrically corrected image. Further processing levels, such as spatial filtering and glint correction, decreased the classification accuracy.     

短期前兆综合异常方法在青藏高原北部地区的应用——以兴海地震为例

通过对青藏高原北部地区118个定点前兆台项资料的研究,提出了利用前兆台网提取前兆综合异常度指标的方法,包括空间综合度和时间综合度.利用前者来研究青藏高原北部地区强震前短期前兆异常的时空演化特征;利用后者来判定未来中强地震的发震时间.在空间综合异常度的研究中较好地解决了前兆台网分布不均匀引起的异常集中区与震中偏离的问题.作为实例给出了2000年9月12日青海省兴海Ms6.6地震前前兆异常的时间和空间综合异常度高值区存在扩散-向震中集中-发震-扩散的过程.     

Seismic response control of a complex structure using multiple MR dampers： experimental investigation

This paper presents an experimental investigation on semi-active seismic response control of a multistory building with a podium structure using multiple magnetorheological (MR) dampers manipulated by a logic control algorithm. The experiments are performed in three phases on a seismic simulator with a slender 12-story building model representing a multi-story building and a relatively stiff 3-story building model typifying a podium structure. The first phase of the investigation is to assess control performance of using three MR dampers to link the 3-story building to the 12-story building, in which seismic responses of the controlled two buildings are compared with those of the two buildings without any connection and with rigid connection. The second phase is to investigate reliability of the semi-active control system and robustness of the logic control algorithm when 2 out of 3 MR dampers fail and when the electricity supply to MR dampers is completely stopped. The last phase is to examine sensitivity of semi-active control performance of two buildings to change in ground excitation. The experimental results show that multiple MR dampers with the logic control algorithm can achieve a significant reduction in seismic responses of both buildings. The proposed semi-active control system is of high reliability and good robustness.