Effect of hot desert weathering on the bulk‐rock iron isotope composition of L6 and H5 ordinary chondrites

Abstract– Although iron isotopes are increasingly used for meteorites studies, no attempt has been made to evaluate the effect of terrestrial weathering on this isotopic tracer. We have thus conducted a petrographic, chemical, and iron isotopic study of equilibrated ordinary chondrites (OC) recovered from hot Moroccan and Algerian Saharan deserts environment. As previously noticed, we observe that terrestrial desertic weathering is characterized by the oxidation of Fe‐Ni metal (Fe⁰), sulfide and Fe²⁺ occurring in olivine and pyroxene. It produces Fe‐oxides and oxyhydroxides that partially replace metal, sulfide grains and also fill fractures. The bulk chemical compositions of the ordinary chondrites studied show a strong Sr and Ba enrichment and a S depletion during weathering. Bulk meteoritic iron isotope compositions are well correlated with the degree of weathering and S, Sr, and Ba contents. Most weathered chondrites display the heaviest isotopic composition, by up to 0.1‰, which is of similar magnitude to the isotopic variations resulting from meteorite parent bodies’ formation and evolution. This is probably due to the release of isotopically light Fe²⁺ to waters on the Earth’s surface. Hence, when subtle Fe isotopic effects have to be studied in chondrites, meteorites with weathering grade above W2 should be avoided.     

西藏地区人体舒适度指数的变化特征

采用1980～2009年西藏地区38个气象站的观测资料,分析了该地区人体舒适度指数的时空分布特征。结果表明:(1)无论年或者季节变化,舒适度指数均呈现从东南向西北方向逐渐减少的分布规律,普遍舒适的区域主要位于西藏南部和东南部地区;近30a来西藏地区人体舒适度指数呈现显著增加的趋势;舒适度指数与海拔高度、纬度、温度和相对湿度密切相关;(2)从舒适日数来看,西藏地区基本处于冷或偏冷、凉或偏凉的舒适度状态,寒冷和普遍舒适的日数较少;近30a来西藏地区1级和2级不舒适天数呈现逐渐减少趋势,3级、4级不舒适天数和5级舒适天数呈现逐渐增加的趋势;(3)从适合旅游的舒适天数来看,西北部以6～9月为适宜旅游月份,中部以5～9月或10月为适宜旅游月份,过渡到东南部地区以5～9月或10月为适宜旅游月份,甚至可以提前到4月;旅游适宜月份数和天数由北向南呈逐渐增加的趋势。     

Numerical modeling of soil–structure interface of a concrete-faced rockfill dam

Concrete-faced rockfill dams (CFRD) are widely used in large-scale hydraulic projects. The face slab, the key seepage-proof structure of great concern, has a strong interaction with the neighboring gravel cushion layer due to a significant difference in their stiffness. An elasto-plasticity damage interface element, a numerical format of the EPDI model, is described for numerical analysis of a CFRD that can trace the separation and re-contact between the face slab and the cushion layer at the interface. As verified by simulating slide block and direct shear interface tests, this element was confirmed to capture effectively the primary monotonic and cyclic behaviors of the interface. This element can easily be extended to the finite element method (FEM) programs that involve the Goodman interface element. The analysis of a typical CFRD showed that the interface model describes a significant effect on the stress response of the face slab under different conditions, including dam construction, water storage, and earthquake. Treatments of the cushion layer, such as an asphalt layer, changed the behavior of the interface between it and the face slab, which resulted in a significant effect on the stress response of the face slab. The top of the face slab exhibited a significant separation from the cushion layer during construction, induced mainly by construction of the neighboring dam body.     

西藏地区近几十年的增湿效应研究

利用1955-2000年西藏6个地面观测站的46年连续观测资料,分析了近几十年西藏自治区部分地区气温、降水及水汽压变化特征,并利用第二类热成风螺旋度解释气温与降水的关系.结果表明:西藏近几十年平均气温呈显著的上升趋势,尤其是20世纪90年代以来更为显著(10年上升了0.32℃);全区降水量也有增多趋势;1955-1964年西藏地区气温升高时,第二类热成风螺旋度上升,导致降水量同时增多.1965-1981年气温、降水和第二类热成风螺旋度的变化幅度均较小.1982～2000年气温显著上升时,第二类热成风螺旋度上升,引起湿旋转作用加强,温度扰动加强,从而进一步加速大气中的水汽凝结,形成更多的降水;与此同时,地面蒸发量却减少,导致地表水增加,引发更多的地质灾害,造成更大的经济损失.     

西藏改则地区在东亚季风前期大气层特征

利用JICA项目改则站第二阶段加密探空观测资料,着重揭示了该地区大气层结构的观测事实,尤其是边界层风、温、湿特征。主要结论如下：（1）该地区不论是对流层还是边界层,温度递减率都较大,白天可以接近或超过干绝热直减率,在清晨出现逆温的频率较多。（2）该地区白天近地层存在逆湿现象,近地层上部是否存在逆湿现象与天气和下垫面背景有关。（3）该地区近地层风速极值也出现在早晚时刻,白天风速较小。边界层风则随高度呈多峰值变化。     

Climate change scenarios of precipitation extremes in Central Europe from ENSEMBLES regional climate models

The study examines future scenarios of precipitation extremes over Central Europe in an ensemble of 12 regional climate model (RCM) simulations with the 25-km resolution, carried out within the European project ENSEMBLES. We apply the region-of-influence method as a pooling scheme when estimating distributions of extremes, which consists in incorporating data from a ‘region’ (set of gridboxes) when fitting an extreme value distribution in any single gridbox. The method reduces random variations in the estimates of parameters of the extreme value distribution that result from large spatial variability of heavy precipitation. Although spatial patterns differ among the models, most RCMs simulate increases in high quantiles of precipitation amounts when averaged over the area for the late-twenty-first century (2070–2099) climate in both winter and summer. The sign as well as the magnitude of the projected change vary only little for individual parts of the distribution of daily precipitation in winter. In summer, on the other hand, the projected changes increase with the quantile of the distribution in all RCMs, and they are negative (positive) for parts of the distribution below (above) the 98% quantile if averaged over the RCMs. The increases in precipitation extremes in summer are projected in spite of a pronounced drying in most RCMs. Although a rather general qualitative agreement of the models concerning the projected changes of precipitation extremes is found in both winter and summer, the uncertainties in climate change scenarios remain large and would likely further increase considerably if a more complete ensemble of RCM simulations driven by a larger suite of global models and with a range of possible scenarios of the radiative forcing is available.     

爆炸离心模型试验系统研究与初步试验

依托清华大学50 g-t土工离心机,开发了离心模型爆炸试验系统。该系统由模型箱系统、数据采集系统、数据存储系统、通信系统、分析系统以及引爆系统6部分组成,能克服高速离心力场的干扰,采集到高质量的数据。该系统能同时测量应力、应变和加速度等相关参数。使用该系统对水平地基进行了爆炸荷载初步试验。试验结果表明,该系统具有测试爆炸条件下相关参数的能力,为进行更复杂的爆炸试验奠定了基础。     

The role of collapsing and cone rafting on eruption style changes and final cone morphology: Los Morados scoria cone, Mendoza, Argentina

Payún Matru Volcanic Field is a Quaternary monogenetic volcanic field that hosts scoria cones with perfect to breached morphologies. Los Morados complex is a group of at least four closely spaced scoria cones (Los Morados main cone and the older Cones A, B, and C). Los Morados main cone was formed by a long lived eruption of months to years. After an initial Hawaiian-style stage, the eruption changed to a normal Strombolian, conebuilding style, forming a cone over 150 metres high on a northward dipping (～4°) surface. An initial cone gradually grew until a lava flow breached the cone’s base and rafted an estimated 10% of the total volume. A sudden sector collapse initiated a dramatic decompression in the upper part of the feeding conduit and triggered violent a Strombolian style eruptive stage. Subsequently, the eruption became more stable, and changed to a regular Strombolian style that partially rebuilt the cone. A likely increase in magma flux coupled with the gradual growth of a new cone caused another lava flow outbreak at the structurally weakened earlier breach site. For a second time, the unstable flank of the cone was rafted, triggering a second violent Strombolian eruptive stage which was followed by a Hawaiian style lava fountain stage. The lava fountaining was accompanied by a steady outpour of voluminous lava emission accompanied by constant rafting of the cone flank, preventing the healing of the cone. Santa Maria is another scoria cone built on a nearly flat pre-eruption surface. Despite this it went through similar stages as Los Morados main cone, but probably not in as dramatic a manner as Los Morados. In contrast to these examples of large breached cones, volumetrically smaller cones, associated to less extensive lava flows, were able to heal raft/collapse events, due to the smaller magma output and flux rates. Our evidence shows that scoria cone growth is a complex process, and is a consequence of the magma internal parameters (e.g. volatile content, magma flux, recharge, output volume) and external conditions such as inclination of the pre-eruptive surface where they grew and thus gravitational instability.     

Taking correlations into account: a diagonal correlation model

GPS Solutions - The true covariance matrix of the GPS phase observations is unknown and has to be assumed or estimated. The variance of the least-squares residuals was empirically shown to have an...     

Practical use of Phragmites australis to study evapotranspiration in a wetland zone of Lake Balaton (southwest Hungary)

In the present study, evapotranspiration (ET) data from a common reed-dominated wetland and its meteorological controls was analysed using measured ET (ET _m) in compensation evapotranspirometers. Six seasons in the time period between 2003 and 2012 were assessed with the objective of converting theoretical observations into long-term practical use. They reveal the effects of annual fluctuations and allow for a more exact understanding of the results of ET losses, which remain an elusive and substantial part of the hydrologic budget particularly in wetland habitats. Daily measured ET rates were strongly influenced by weather variables causing considerable variation of ET characteristics between the two distinguished season types. The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the major meteorological elements impacting the sum of seasonal ET was much higher in the warm growing seasons (857 mm), due to increased available energy for ET, than in the cool season (385 mm). The sum of average ET totalled 778.6 mm over measurements. A simplified water budget analysis confirmed that adequate water volume, caused by precipitation, entered the Kis-Balaton wetland (KBW) area during the cool season. Conversely, in warm seasons, only 21.5 % of total ET resulted from rainfall, accentuating its seasonality in wetland. This information about annual variability of long-term ET values would assist in finding an ideal solution for determining the proper water level needed. The current balance of habitat types in wetland should be permanently assessed by selection of the suitable water level in order to sustain the most appropriate wetland ecological conditions.