Mediterranean Talitrus saltator (Crustacea, Amphipoda) as a biomonitor of heavy metals contamination

The use of sandhoppers and beachfleas as biomonitors of heavy metals contamination is relatively recent. Using adult individuals of Talitrus saltator from nine localities on the northern Mediterranean Sea, we studied the concentrations of eight trace elements: Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn, both in the substratum and in the individuals. We also carried out a preliminary investigation of the correspondence between the sandhoppers' genetic variability and heavy metal contamination at the sampling sites. T. saltator accumulated Cd, Cu, Zn and Hg (at higher concentrations than in the sand) and also Al and Fe (at lower concentrations than in the sand). It seems that Mediterranean sandhoppers do not accumulate Pb and Cr. An intraspecific comparison between northern European (Baltic) and Mediterranean populations of T. saltator was made. Finally, we observed a tendency to a positive correlation between the sandhoppers' genetic variability and heavy metals contamination.     

PSHA模型的算法改进与中国地区未来地震概率评估

考虑到PSHA模型对未来地震预测特别是大震预测能起到很好的参考分析作用,尝试结合能量分布模型对其进行了改进,并以中国及周边地区200 a内的地震历史记录为基础,利用原始PSHA模型以及改进后的PSHA模型分别计算了中国及邻近地区2000～2010年间5级以上地震发生的概率,并对两种结果进行了比较分析,最终证明改进后的PSHA模型具有更好的可靠性.     

A computational study of the role of particle size standard deviation on the collision frequency in differential settling

The results of a simple computational model for differential settling are presented illustrating the significant role that particle size distribution plays in collision frequency and sedimentation rate of particles in a quiescent environment. The model tracks a large number of particles(order 10~5) with log-normally distributed diameters,as they settle at their Stokes settling velocities.Particle collisions are detected and result in larger particles that fall more rapidly.A number of simplifying assumptions are made in the model in order to avoid empirical correlations for phenomena such as collision efficiency and particle shape.These simplifying assumptions were needed to isolate and quantify the role of the particle size distribution.Simulated concentration profiles indicate that,even in the absence of collisions, the standard deviation(σ_D) of the particle size strongly influences the bulk mass settling rate as,for largerσ_D, more mass is concentrated in larger,faster falling particles.The collision frequency is also a strong function ofσ_D. For a given mass concentration the collision frequency first increases linearly with increasingσ_D as greater variation in particle size leads to greater variation in particle velocity,and shorter times for particles to catch each other.For largerσ_D more mass is concentrated in larger particles,so,for a given mass concentration,there are fewer particles per unit volume,increasing the mean distance between the particles and reducing the collision frequency.The implications of these results for sedimentation measurement using optical attenuation techniques are discussed.     

Coupled estimation of the energy slope and associated sand-silt transport during high stream power events in alluvial rivers

A coupled routing for the transport capacity and the energy slope is introduced through the definition of the control factor m whose value is linked to the bed form configuration.The coupling aims to further incorporate the interactions occurring in alluvial rivers and thus enhance the prediction of the fine sediment fluxes,especially during high stream power events.Based on a predictive rule for the control factor m that only involves water depth,velocity and bedform constitutive texture,the novel method is confronted to observations collected in one of the most strongly dynamic alluvial river namely the Lower Yellow River.Comparisons between time series of measured and computed concentrations illustrate that during high velocity events the main dynamics of the sediment transport is correctly reproduced.The main advantage of the present approach is to supply consistent time evolutions of sediment concentrations without making use of any detailed shear information.     

1997年翁布里亚—马尔凯（意大利）地震序列：地面形变与孕震构造的关系

1997年翁布里亚—马尔凯地震序列期间进行的野外测量,发现了与3次最大地震(M_w≥5.7)有关的地面和路面上产生的破裂。破裂集中发生在几个狭长的条带上,这些条带部分处于或邻近原来标绘出的大倾角的正断层。地面形变的几何形态与主震的矩心矩张量震源机制解所得出的北东走向的延长线是一致的。余震的分布表明,3个主震发生在南西向倾斜约40°的正断层上。地质调查、预期的同震高程变化模拟以及地震资料都表明;地面形变并不是深处的断层起始破裂直接造成的。     

ORIGIN OF CARBONATE MATERIALS IN THE NORTHERN BASIN OF LAKE BAIKAL AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO HOLOCENE PALEOCLIMATE

Fine-grained disseminated carbonate was found in Holocene sediments in a core taken from the northern basin of Lake Baikal. The core had two distinct facies. a terrigenous blue-clay overlain by a diatomaceous silt. Oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses, combined with SEM , X-ray diffraction and .palynology, show that the carbonate in the blue-clay layer is pedogenic in origin, rather than biogenic or authigenic . The S C values in the blue clay suggest that the carbonate is derived from a single source , while the carbonate in the diatom-rich layer might be transported by winds from different sources. On the assumption that the carbonate was formed during the post-glacial age and was transported primarily by river runoff, the 18O isotopic values suggest that the annual temperature in the northern Baikal drainage area was about 3℃ warmer during the middle Holocene (8500-7000 a, B. P.) than during the early Holocene (11 000-8 500a, B.P.) when the blue clay was being deposited . This interpretation is