Continuity of the North Qilian and North Qinling orogenic belts, Central Orogenic System of China: Evidence from newly discovered Paleozoic adakitic rocks

Adakitic intrusive rocks of  430–450 Ma were discovered in the North Qilian orogenic belt, the western section of the Central Orogenic System (COS) in China. These adakitic rocks were lower crust melts rather than slab melts as indicated by their crustal Ce/Pb, Nb/U, Ti/Eu, and Nd/Sm ratios and radiogenically enriched (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i of 0.7053–0.7066 and ε_Nd(t) of − 0.9 to − 1.7. While they are all characterized by low Yb (< 1.1 ppm) and Y (< 11.5 ppm) abundances with high Sr/Y (> 65) and (La/Yb)_N (> 13.7) ratios, these adakitic rocks are classified into the low-MgO–Ni–Cr and high-MgO–Ni–Cr groups. The low-MgO samples were derived from partial melting of thickened lower crust, whereas the high-MgO samples were melts from delaminated lower crust, which subsequently interacted with mantle peridotite upon ascent. Adakitic rocks from the adjacent North Qinling orogenic belt also originated from thickened lower crust at  430 Ma. In addition, the North Qilian and North Qinling orogenic belts both consist of lithological assemblages varying from subduction-accretionary complexes at south to central arc assemblages, which include adakitic rocks, then to backarc phases at north. Such a sequence reflects northward subduction of the Qilian and Qinling oceans. In these two orogenic belts, the occurrence of adakitic rocks of common origin and ages together with the similarities in tectonic configurations and lithological assemblages are considered to be the evidence for the continuity between eastern Qilian and western Qinling, forming a > 1000 km Early Paleozoic orogenic belt. In such a tectonic configuration, the Qilian and Qinling oceans that subducted from south possibly represent parts of the large “Proto-Tethyan Ocean”. This inference is supported by the coexistence of Early Paleozoic coral and trilobite specimens from Asia, America and Australia in the North Qilian orogenic belt. Post-400 Ma volcanic rocks occur in the North Qinling orogenic belt but are absent in the North Qilian orogenic belt, indicating that these two orogenic belts underwent distinct evolution history after the closure of the Proto-Tethyan Ocean ( 420 Ma).     

斜压大气中的特征波动和地转适应过程

本文对斜压大气的小扰动方程作了严格和全面的数学分析:论证了关于垂直边界条件的正确提法以及初始场一些特殊问题,澄清了迄今不正确的和混乱的提法;给出了解的存在、唯一和稳定性的证明。在这基础上,对大气的特征波动作了分类,并证明内波的能量总是向宇宙空间弥散掉,最终强度趋于零。因此,即使扰动的水平范围为无限,或者严格地考虑到地球表面为球面,也有地转适应过程,这是以在未研究过的机理。     

真空管地电阻探矿仪

一.地電阻儀所測量之數值地電阻探礦儀,簡稱地電阻儀,係物理探礦中測量地電阻率時所用之儀器。為欲觀察地下导電之情形,可將電流I,藉兩個電極C₁,C₂通入地下,再自另外兩個電極P₁,P₂     

Cycling of dissolved elemental mercury in Arctic Alaskan lakes

Aqueous production and water-air exchange of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) are important features of the environmental cycling of Hg. We investigated Hg⁰ cycling in ten Arctic Alaskan lakes that spanned a wide range in physicochemical characteristics. Dissolved gaseous Hg (DGM, dominated by Hg⁰) varied from 40 to 430 fM and averaged 200 fM. All surface waters were supersaturated relative to the atmosphere. DGM averaged 3 ± 2% of dissolved (i.e., filter passing) dissolved total mercury (DTM) and 15 ± 6% of dissolved labile Hg (DLM). In-lake DGM profiles generally followed the vertical distribution of light, indicating photoreduction of Hg(II) complexes as a source of Hg⁰. Additionally, DGM correlated linearly with DLM (r² = 0.82, p < 0.0001) in the lake surface, signifying that Hg complexes (mostly organic Hg associations) in dissolved phase are photoreducible and contribute to production of DGM. Further, a positive relation between DGM/DTM and both K_a (light attenuation coefficient; r² = 0.73, p < 0.02) and DOC (r² = 0.60, p = 0.02) suggests that solar radiation and dissolved organic matter control DGM production and its cycling. An average rate of DGM formation (0.6 ± 0.2% of DTM d⁻¹; range, 0.20.8) was estimated by assuming steady state with the evasional rate. In-lake DGM formation occurs at lower rates in waters with greater suspended particulate matter and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), pointing to the significant role of organic matter plays in controlling DGM formation in these aquatic systems. Estimated evasional fluxes of Hg⁰ (average, 140 ± 50 pmol m⁻² d⁻¹; range, 60-200) were comparable to those of temperate lakes (e.g., Wisconsin, Michigan). In arctic lakes, the rate of evasion during ice-free periods (7 ± 3 nmol m⁻² yr⁻¹) is similar to the atmospheric input of Hg (wet + dry) to the lakes based on levels in summertime precipitation but not including additional sources, e.g., springtime depletion.     

Analysis of time-varying rainfall infiltration induced landslide

A case study of rainstorm-induced landslide is modeled following the hourly rainfall time series from the stage of infiltration caused by induced slope movement and soil saturated to excess pore pressures—Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope-Stability Analysis (TRIGRS). The grid-based landslide stability analysis was conducted to model the increased pore pressures and runoff in the study area under the specified rainfall conditions. The generated time variances of pore pressures help determine landslide characteristics and mechanisms under rainfall conditions. Inputs of soil properties and permeability parameters for landslide stability analysis in the study area were prepared by TRIGRS adopted for transient infiltration analysis. Results of the analyses show that under heavy rainfall conditions, the infiltrated slope is unstable and the time of debris masses movement initiated is correlated to the recorded time. In the initiated landslide, characteristics and effects are considered and reflected in the numerical modeling under combinations of topography, land use, climatic and geological conditions. Results reveal that there is a plane failure surface and a potential circular failure surface at the study site besides the rock topple failures in the crest. A grid-based slope-stability analysis incorporated with the GIS spatial functions is more advantageous than the traditional two-dimensional analysis for specified slope profiles to determine the whole behavior of a slope.     

Rainfall duration and debris-flow initiated studies for real-time monitoring

A rainfall-induced debris flow warning is implemented employing real-time rain gauge data. The pre-warning for the time of landslide triggering derives the threshold or critical rainfall from historical events involving regional rainfall patterns and geological conditions. In cases of debris flow, the time taken cumulative runoff, to yield abundant water for debris triggering, is an important index that needs monitoring. In gathered historical cases, rainfall time history data from the nearest rain gauge stations to debris-flow sites connected to debris flow are used to define relationships between the rainfall intensity and duration. The effects by which the regional rainfall patterns (antecedent rainfall, duration, intensity, cumulative rainfall) and geological settings combine together to trigger a debris-flow are analyzed for real-time monitoring. The analyses focused on 61 historical hazard events with the timing of debris flow initiation and rainfall duration to burst debris-flow characteristics recorded. A combination of averaged rainfall intensity and duration is a more practical index for debris-flow monitoring than critical or threshold rainfall intensity. Because, the outburst timing of debris flows correlates closely to the peak hourly rainfall and the forecasting of peak hourly rainfall reached in a meteorological event could be a valuable index for real-time debris-flow warning.     

Characterization of lattice strain induced by neutron irradiation

Powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement have been used to study structural damage induced by neutron irradiation of orthoclase (Or₉₄) from Benson Mines, New York. X-ray diffraction profiles of samples exposed to total neutron doses in excess of 6.3×10¹⁸ n/ cm² exhibit small but measurable peak broadening in comparison with unirradiated orthoclase. Rietveld structure refinements and transmission electron microscope observations indicate that the X-ray peak broadening arises primarily from the effect of strain rather than particle size. The results reveal a positive correlation between the neutron dose and the anisotropic strain percentage calculated from the Lorentzian profile parameters. This strain-induced broadening probably stems from numerous point defects created by recoiling atoms during neutron collisions. These observations have important implications for the diffusive behavior of ³⁹Ar and ⁴⁰Ar.     

A GIS Process for Delimitating Areas Potentially Endangered by Debris Flow

A GIS rules-based approach is proposed for delimiting areas potentially endangered by debris flow for downstream guarded areas. Data were used to define rules for nine pilot areas in the Chen-You-Lan river watershed in Nantou County of Taiwan. A preliminary regressed relationship between debris volume and runout distance in the pilot areas is first formulated. The GIS processes for applying the rules are linked to delimit hazardous areas affected by debris within the first approximated debris fan. Rules applied to delimit potentially endangered areas incorporate geomorphological factors (gradient or curvature, aspect), direction of flow, fan angle of the debris and location of the overflow points. The delimited zone is then calibrated using the regression formula for debris volume against the affected area. The verification of the delineation of the areas using the adopted approach, with reference to micro-geomorphological results concerning pilot cases validates the proposed model. The model can be used to delineate potentially hazardous zones approximately associated with debris flow in rivers in Taiwan.     

Quality assessment of FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and GRACE GPS observables: analysis of multipath, ionospheric delay and phase residual in orbit determination

The precise orbit determination antennas of F3/C and GRACE-A satellites are from the same manufacturer, but are installed in different configurations. The current orbit accuracy of F3/C is 3 cm at arcs with good GPS data, compared to 1 cm of GRACE, which has a larger ratio of usable GPS data. This paper compares the qualities of GPS observables from F3/C and GRACE. Using selected satellites and time spans, the following average values for the satellite F3/C and satellite A of GRACE are obtained: multipath effect on the pseudorange P1, 0.78 and 0.38 m; multipath effect on the pseudorange P2, 1.03 and 0.69 m; occurrence frequency of cycle slip, 1/29 and 1/84; standard error of unit weight, 4 and 1 cm; dynamic–kinematic orbit difference, 10 and 2 cm. For gravity determination using F3/C GPS data, a careful selection of GPS data is critical. With six satellites in orbit, F3/C’s large amount of GPS data will make up the deficiency in data quality.