Geochemistry of organic matter and elements of black shale during weathering in Northern Guizhou,Southwestern China: Their mobilization and inter-connection

Different from previous studies on effect of weathering upon geochemical variation along a single weathered profile, this paper provides a new methodology validated by comparing a weathered outcrop samples and their stratigraphic counterpart un-weathered core samples in a nearby shallow borehole. This outcrop and borehole penetrated the Ordovician-Silurian Wufeng–Longmaxi shales, located in the same anticline structure in the northern part of Guizhou Province, Southern China. The mineral composition, major, trace and rare earth elements (REEs) composition and Rock-Eval parameters of outcrop and core samples were analyzed and compared. Organic matter (OM) was observed in the microscope and extracted for elements analysis. The results show that short-term weathering still has significant influence on OM, mineral and elemental composition of black shales. The elements composition shows the outcrop profile was moderately weathered. The REEs compositions do not alter much during weathering process and the REEs composition and their relative ratios still are valid for rock origin determination. The OM, mainly composed by graptolite and bitumen, even entering the highly-over thermal maturity, is still sensitive to the weathering with a systematic loss 30–50% of TOC along the outcrop profile, which suggests that the OM consumption is predominantly controlled by weathering duration and the distance from the weathering surface. In turn, OM has significant influence on the trace elements transportation behavior during weathering. Some trace elements associated with the OM such as V, Cr, Th, U, Ni and Co, change significantly in their absolute concentration during weathering, but their relative ratios do not necessarily change too much and might be still reliable proxies for paleo-environmental determination. The mobility of shale minerals during weathering is in the following order: plagioclase?>?potassium feldspar and dolomite >pyrite and OM. Short-term weathering can also result in considerable transportation of elements and significant variation of minerals content in black shale, which may pose potentially high environmental and engineering risk in the regions rich in black shale.     

Simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunami run-up: one-dimensional approach

In the present study, laboratory experiments were conducted to validate the applicability of a numerical model based on one-dimensional nonlinear long-wave equations. The model includes drag and inertia resistance of trees to tsunami flow and porosity between trees and a simplified forest in a wave channel. It was confirmed that the water surface elevation and flow velocity by the numerical simulations agree well with the experimental results for various forest conditions of width and tree density. Further, the numerical model was applied to prototype conditions of a coastal forest of Pandanus odoratissimus to investigate the effects of forest conditions (width and tree density) and incident tsunami conditions (period and height) on run-up height and potential tsunami force. The modeling results were represented in curve-fit equations with the aim of providing simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunamis. The run-up height and potential tsunami forces calculated by the curve-fit formulae and the numerical model agreed within ± 10% error.     

Predicting rock size distribution in mine blasting using various novel soft computing models based on meta-heuristics and machine learning algorithms

Blasting is well-known as an effective method for fragmenting or moving rock in open-pit mines. To evaluate the quality of blasting, the size of rock distribution is used as a critical criterion in blasting operations. A high percentage of oversized rocks generated by blasting operations can lead to economic and environmental damage. Therefore, this study proposed four novel intelligent models to predict the size of rock distribution in mine blasting in order to optimize blasting parameters, as well as the efficiency of blasting operation in open mines. Accordingly, a nature-inspired algorithm (i.e., firefly algorithm – FFA) and different machine learning algorithms (i.e., gradient boosting machine (GBM), support vector machine (SVM), Gaussian process (GP), and artificial neural network (ANN)) were combined for this aim, abbreviated as FFA-GBM, FFA-SVM, FFA-GP, and FFA-ANN, respectively. Subsequently, predicted results from the abovementioned models were compared with each other using three statistical indicators (e.g., mean absolute error, root-mean-squared error, and correlation coefficient) and color intensity method. For developing and simulating the size of rock in blasting operations, 136 blasting events with their images were collected and analyzed by the Split-Desktop software. In which, 111 events were randomly selected for the development and optimization of the models. Subsequently, the remaining 25 blasting events were applied to confirm the accuracy of the proposed models. Herein, blast design parameters were regarded as input variables to predict the size of rock in blasting operations. Finally, the obtained results revealed that the FFA is a robust optimization algorithm for estimating rock fragmentation in bench blasting. Among the models developed in this study, FFA-GBM provided the highest accuracy in predicting the size of fragmented rocks. The other techniques (i.e., FFA-SVM, FFA-GP, and FFA-ANN) yielded lower computational stability and efficiency. Hence, the FFA-GBM model can be used as a powerful and precise soft computing tool that can be applied to practical engineering cases aiming to improve the quality of blasting and rock fragmentation.     

The relationship between groundwater and natural vegetation in Qaidam Basin

To accurately evaluate ecological risks trigged by groundwater exploitation, it must be clarified the relationship between vegetation and groundwater. Based on remote sensing data sets MOD13Q1, groundwater table depth (WTD) and total dissolved solids (TDS), the relationship between groundwater and natural vegetation was analyzed statistically in the main plain areas of Qaidam Basin. The results indicate that natural vegetation is groundwater-dependent in areas where WTD is less than 5.5 m and TDS is less than 7.5 g/L. Aquatic vegetation, hygrophytic vegetation and hygrophytic saline-alkali tolerant vegetation are mainly distributed in areas with WTD <1.1 m. Salt-tolerant and mesophytic vegetation mainly occur in areas with WTD of 1.4-3.5 m, while the xerophytic vegetation isprimarily present in areas where WTD ranges from 1.4 m to 5.5 m. Natural vegetation does not necessarily depend on groundwater in areas with WTD >5.5 m. For natural vegetation, the most suitable water TDS is less than 1.5 g/L, the moderately suitable TDS is 1.5-5.0 g/L, the basically suitable TDS is 5.0-7.5 g/L, and the unsuitable TDS is more than 7.5 g/L.     

区域自动气象站蓄电池异常状态判别方法

针对天津市一种常见的CAWS600型区域自动气象站对其供电及功耗进行了详细分析,利用对电池放电特性曲线的归一化处理,得到了针对12V38AH铅酸蓄电池的剩余容量估算方法,同时利用该站蓄电池工作电压的统计规律,提出了针对蓄电池工作电压的极值判定、时间/空间一致性质量控制方法,并对2017年逐10min观测数据进行检验。检验结果显示,文章提出的质量控制方法可以有效识别出蓄电池异常站点,针对2017年个站蓄电池持续放电情况可提前10d定位。     

森林植被动态变化信息的遥感检测

本文以云南省泸水县为例,探讨了利用遥感技术从LANDSAT TM图像中检测森林植被动态变化的方法。该方法,首先对1988年的LANDSAT TM图像进行几何校正,并将1999年的L ANDSAT TM图像与其配准。其次,分别从1988年和1999年的L ANDSAT TM图像中提取植被指数。然后,将1999年的植被指数减去1988年的植被指数,得到植被指数差值图像。最后,利用目视识别的方法,在植被指数差值图像上确定森林植被增加和减少的阈值,从而提取出森林植被的动态变化信息。由于云和雪的影响,造成一些伪变化的信息,为此,进一步将云和雪的信息提取出来,并将这部分伪变化信息掩模掉。该研究表明,此法可以简单有效地将森林植被的动态变化信息予以检测.     

基于乡村多功能评价的城市边缘区“三生”空间划分研究

城市边缘区乡村多元价值凸显,迫切需以乡村多功能理论为指导划分“三生”空间,以空间重构促进转型发展。论文首先从生产、生活与生态功能方面评价城市边缘区多功能时空变化;其次进行图斑尺度“三生”空间适宜性评价,两者共同得到基于乡村多功能的“三生”空间适宜性;最后据此设计算法划分“三生”空间。研究发现：① 城市边缘区乡村休闲娱乐、观光农业等功能显现,需要重构多功能空间促进转型发展;② 江苏徐州市铜山区乡村非农生产与生活功能主要分布在与中心城区较近地区,农业空间主要分布在中心城区远郊外围,生态功能则表现出高度空间异质性,农业、非农生产与生活功能在提升,而生态功能则普遍下降;③ 县域“三生”空间划定需多尺度联合,既要考虑乡镇尺度多功能差异,还要体现图斑尺度适宜性,才能为空间规划提供有意义的借鉴。论文提出的基于乡村多功能评价的“三生”空间划分可为即将开展的国土空间规划提供科学依据。     

A study of coral reef resilience and implications of adaptive management and rehabilitation in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam

The Province of Khanh Hoa, Vietnam, is located in the western South China Sea and boasts a shoreline of 385 km and many islands. Previous studies have indicated the extreme diversity and abundance of coral reefs in its waters as compared with other coastal provinces of Vietnam. A study on the resilience of coral reefs against increased surface water temperature and anthropogenic impact is conducted at 19 reef sites in 2015. At each site, a series of parameters (e.g., coral covers, genus diversity, and coral recruitment, substratum heterogeneity, depth, water exchange level, and sediment deposit and water temperature) are measured quantitatively or semi-quantitatively. The measured data are rated based on the relationship between the parameter values and coral susceptibility; the consideration that reef health reflects the biological capability to adapt to environmental changes and the recruitment potential if bleached; and positive or negative influences of physical factors in the mitigation of thermal stress and protecting corals from bleaching. A cumulative analysis enables researchers to divide the studied reefs into four categories based on varying levels of reef health to support resilience, recovery, and vulnerability in the case of increased water temperature. Relevant management interventions for each category and other supporting activities are suggested to enhance management effectiveness and to plan the rehabilitation of coral reefs for biodiversity conservation and touristic development, taking into account the involvement of related stakeholders.     

西北区域气象计量实验室综合能力比对结果分析

分析评价西北区域参加实验室比对的试验结果,及时发现问题并进行纠正,总结实施实验间比对工作的经验,提高实验室检定/校准能力和质量管理水平。参加比对的计量检定实验室分别对气压、温度、湿度、风速比对样品进行比对试验,用归一化偏差(En)进行统计分析。2011年西北区域气象计量检定的温度、湿度、气压实验室比对结果为满意,风速实验室比对结果为较满意。该次比对的实验数据客观、真实、可信,是对各参加比对实验室检定/校准能力的综合评价,较为客观地反映了各技术机构检定装置的测量能力、检定人员的技术水平以及西北区域气象计量标准装置的现状。