Meso-scale circulation at the intermediate-depth east of Mindanao observed by Argo profiling floats

The meso-scale circulation at the intermediate depth east of Mindanao is studied using Argo profiling floats observations. The trajectories and the parking-depth velocities of Argo floats show that the intermediate-depth circulation east of Mindanao contains significant meso-scale features that are highly variable both in space and in time. Both cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies at the intermediate depth (1000–2000 m) are indicated by the trajectories east of Mindanao. The mean tangential velocities of these eddies are about 10 cm/s at 2000 m and over 20 cm/s at 1000 m, which indicates that the geostrophic calculation may contain large errors due to the vigorous eddy activity at the reference levels. The analyses also suggest that these eddies might play an important role in mass and vorticity balances of the intermediate-depth circulation east of Mindanao.     

Principal aspects of the Ordovician biotic radiation

The Ordovician radiation is among the major bioevents in earth history that have drawn great attention from geologists all over the world, and there have been hundreds of publications treating various aspects of this radiation. The study of the event involves a broad spectrum of research fields and concerns many scientific questions. Many opinions and hypotheses have been proposed on the triggering and controlling factors of the radiation. Herein the authors critically review the study of the Ordovician rad...     

Origin of CO_2 in natural gas from the Triassic Feixianguan Formation of Northeast Sichuan Basin

The natural gas from the Triassic Feixianguan Formation of Northeast Sichuan Basin contains high H2S whereas relatively low CO2 concentrations and the CO2 display high δ13C values (ranging from -5.81‰ to 3.3‰ (PDB)). This seems to contradict the conventional wisdom that TSR should be a primary source of CO2 in natural gas from the Feixianguan Formation. In contrast, many authigenic calcite samples from these sites display very low δ13C values (ranging from -18.4‰ to -10.3‰ (PDB)). This suggests that the carbon from TSR source dominated the formation of calcite whereas the carbon from inorganic source came into CO2 in natural gas. In order to assess the origin of CO2 from these H2S-rich sites, we have calculated the relative contributions of organic and inorganic carbon sources to the CO2 and authigenic calcite. The organic carbon source possibly originated from TSR, whereas the inorganic one might be generated from marine carbonates dissolution. This calculation is based on the carbon isotopic compositions of CO2 and authigenic calcite as well as an isotopic mass balance. The results show that the contribution of organic carbon source to the CO2 is only 2%, whereas that to authigenic calcite is as high as 43% on average. Such results combined with thermodynamic evidence indicate that the isotopically light CO2 produced by TSR process may contribute to authigenic calcite precipitation during burial diagenesis. Distinguishable from Ordovician reservoir of Tarim Basin, Feixianguan reservoir of Northeast Sichuan Basin experienced rapid tectonic uplift due to Yanshanian movement after TSR occurred. Such tectonic event could induce temperature decrease and further promote carbonates dissolution. During these processes, secondary porosity has developed in Feixianguan carbonate reservoirs. Therefore, much attention should be paid to the structural highs in search of high quality carbonate reservoirs.     

Fast and dynamic generation of linear octrees for geological bodies under hardware acceleration

In the application of 3D Geoscience Modeling,we often need to generate the volumetric representations of geological bodies from their surface representations.Linear octree,as an efficient and easily operated volumetric model,is widely used in 3D Geoscience Modeling.This paper proposes an algorithm for fast and dynamic generation of linear octrees of geological bodies from their surface models under hardware acceleration.The Z-buffers are used to determine the attributes of octants and voxels in a fast way,a...     

Geochemical evidence for strong ongoing methanogenesis in Sanhu region of Qaidam Basin

Sanhu depression of Qaidam Basin is the largest biogenic gas production region in China.Headspace samples were collected from two wells in this region,and hydrogen and propylene compounds were detected in these samples with a certain concentration.The stable hydrogen isotope ratio of H 2 is relatively light (-700‰--820‰).The stable carbon isotope ratio of propylene ranges from -27‰ to -40‰,which coincides with the rule of change of the stable carbon isotope of kerogen at the corresponding horizon.The charac...     

The formation and evolution of Chepaizi-Mosuowan paleo-uplift and its control on the distributions of sedimentary facies in the Junggar Basin

The Chepaizi-Mosuowan paleo-uplift is a large-scale uplift stretching across the Junggar Basin formed during the Yanshanian. It has experienced four evolutionary stages: the initial forming stage (J1), the intense development stage (J2+3), the waning and burial stage (K-E), and the tilting and extinction stage (N-Q). The most intense period of activities is the Middle Jurassic. Dur-ing the Early Jurassic, the Chepaizi-Mosuowan paleo-structure was a low amplitude uplift. Because of the subsequent strong upli...     

Spatial distribution and inducement of collapsed buildings in Yushu earthquake based on remote sensing analysis

At 7:49 a.m. on April 14th, 2010, an earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale occurred in Yushu County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. There was great loss of property and life.     

Heavy mineral stratigraphy of sediments from the southern outer shelf of the East China Sea since the last glaciation using fuzzy C-means cluster method

Correspondence analysis and fuzzy C-means cluster methods were used to divide the stratigraphy of heavy mineral assemblages,and the sediment sources and depositional dynamics of the environment reconstructed.The assemblages were taken from marine sediments from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene in Core Q43 situated on the outer shelf of the East China Sea.Based on the variable boundaries of the mineral assemblage at 63 and 228 cmbsf (cm below sea floor),the core might have previously been divided into th...     

Anti-proliferative activity of phlorotannin extracts from brown algae Laminaria japonica Aresch

In this study,we evaluated the anti-proliferative activity of phlorotannins derived from brown algae Laminaria japonica Aresch extracts on the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) and on murine leukemic cells (P388) by MTT assay.Cells were incubated with 100 μg/mL of the phlorotannin extract (PE) for 48 h.The inhibitory rate of PE on BEL-7402 and P388 cells was 30.20±1.16% and 43.44±1.86%,respectively,and the half-inhibitory concentration of PE (IC50) on P388 and BEL-7402 cells was 120 μg/mL and >...     

峡口高地应力软岩隧道施工监测及支护对策研究

针对高应力软岩公路隧道的特点,对湖北宜巴高速公路峡口隧道开展了地应力测试、隧洞收敛下沉、接触应力、结构受力等项目的监测工作。地应力测试结果表明,虽然隧洞埋深不大,但由于构造应力的存在,仍属于高地应力区。施工监测结果表明,高应力软岩隧道变形与结构受力具有明显的时空效应,与开挖方式、工作面距离以及支护时机密切相关。由于隧洞围岩软弱破碎,加之处于高应力作用下,在工作面通过后,岩体产生持续性的流变变形,导致隧洞产生挤压大变形和结构受力的持续增加,达到支护结构强度极限,最终导致围岩失稳和支护体系的失效。基于上述研究成果,提出了相应的高应力软岩大变形支护设计对策。研究成果为高应力软岩隧道变形与结构受力的时空效应性提供了监测数据支持,为峡口隧道的施工和支护设计提供了依据,对我国西部其他高应力软岩公路隧道的建设具有借鉴意义