Relationship between MODIS based Aerosol Optical Depth and PM10 over Croatia

This study analyzes the relationship between Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) obtained from Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and ground-based PM10 mass concentration distribution over a period of 5 years (2008–2012), and investigates the applicability of satellite AOD data for ground PM10 mapping for the Croatian territory. Many studies have shown that satellite AOD data are correlated to ground-based PM mass concentration. However, the relationship between AOD and PM is not explicit and there are unknowns that cause uncertainties in this relationship. The relationship between MODIS AOD and ground-based PM10 has been studied on the basis of a large data set where daily averaged PM10 data from the 12 air quality stations across Croatia over the 5 year period are correlated with AODs retrieved from MODIS Terra and Aqua. A database was developed to associate coincident MODIS AOD (independent) and PM10 data (dependent variable). Additional tested independent variables (predictors, estimators) included season, cloud fraction, and meteorological parameters — including temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, wind direction, as well as planetary boundary layer height — using meteorological data from WRF (Weather Research and Forecast) model. It has been found that 1) a univariate linear regression model fails at explaining the data variability well which suggests nonlinearity of the AOD-PM10 relationship, and 2) explanation of data variability can be improved with multivariate linear modeling and a neural network approach, using additional independent variables.     

Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) ostracods from Highway A16 (NW Switzerland): taxonomy, stratigraphy, ecology, and biogeography

Ostracods are a common microfaunal element of the Kimmeridgian of the Jura Mountains in NW Switzerland. The stratigraphical subdivision within the Kimmeridgian can as clearly be inferred from ostracods as it is the case from the ammonite biozonation. This proves the utiliy of the ostracod biozonation, especially where ammonites are not available or rare. The ostracod-bearing layers of the sequence under study (middle part of the Reuchenette Formation = Banné Member, Courtedoux Member and Lower Virgula Marls) have been deposited in waters with highly brackish to marine salinities (high in the pliohaline range to—predominanttly—brachyhaline according to the Venice System, Oertli 1964). From the base of the section (base of the Banné Member, high brachyhaline in average), salinities slowly decreased, with lowest salinities in the lower dinosaur track levels of Courtedoux Member (high pliohaline on average). They then increased again to higher salinities (high brachyhaline on average) above the upper dinosaur track levels of the Courtedoux Member and the Lower Virgula Marls (lowermost A. eudoxus Zone). These trends perfectly correlate with the increased occurence of ammonites above the upper dinosaur track levels. In terms of Kimmeridgian ostracod palaeobiogeography, the fauna of the NW Swiss Jura Mountains described in this work is most similar to the Aquitan and Paris Basins, a little less to Northern Germany, and even less (with not even half of the species in common) to Southern Germany. The NW Swiss Jura Mountains still belong to a largely boreally influenced “Western and Central European subprovince”, whereas Southern Germany (though located more to the north) was subjected to an enhanced tethyan influence.     

离心场中土体图像采集与位移测量系统的研制与应用

以存储前移为主要思路,开发了离心场中高质量图像高速采集与位移非接触测量系统。该系统由图像采集、数据存储、通讯控制、分析处理和辅助制样5个子系统组成,能够克服高速旋转的离心场的干扰,在离心模型试验过程中高速采集高质量图像。该系统能够对多点同时进行测量,从而得到土体表面任意时刻、任意区域的位移场,并具有对土体无干扰、测量精度高、前期准备工作量小、自动化程度高等优点。使用该系统对土坡破坏离心模型试验中的土坡变形过程进行了测量,结果表明,土坡的破坏过程可分为均匀变形、应变局部化和破坏后变形3个阶段,加载过程中首先在坡顶和坡脚产生应变局部化。     

坡顶加载时黏性土坡土钉加固前后的离心模型试验比较研究

为研究坡顶加载条件下黏性土坡的承载特性和变形规律,进行了素土坡和土钉加固土坡的加载离心模型试验。测量了土坡的承载和变形过程。通过对比两种土坡的承载特性和变性规律,土钉的加固作用体现在：限制了土坡向坡面方向的位移,使土坡的承载能力得到了明显提高;在加固土坡内形成的土钉影响区域改善了加载底板边缘处的薄弱程度;增大了土坡中上部土体的竖向压缩变形,减小了剪切变形,增强了土坡的稳定性。土坡上部土钉的加固效果随着坡顶荷载的增大而越明显;土坡中下部土与土钉的相互作用越靠近坡面越强     

降雨条件下土坡变形机制的离心模型试验研究

自行研制了离心场降雨模拟设备,进行了降雨条件下边坡的离心模型试验。试验模型在离心机中加载到50g,然后开始降雨。采用非接触位移测量系统测量了试验过程中边坡的位移场变化,通过T5张力计测量边坡中典型点的吸力变化。试验结果表明,边坡的位移随降雨量的增大逐渐发展,发生明显变形的区域也逐渐变大,主要集中在边坡表面。边坡某处应变迅速变化的时刻与土体含水率迅速增大的时刻相一致。边坡某点的应变随降雨量的增加不断增大,并存在2个拐点,形成湿润锋和稳定锋2个锋面,并把边坡分成3个区域,通过锋面的变化反映降雨条件下边坡的变形过程。     

地下水开采对桥梁结构影响的离心模型试验研究

地下水开采是导致地面不均匀沉降的重要因素之一,而地面不均匀沉降又会对桥梁结构造成较大的危害。通过离心模型试验研究了离心场中地基抽水对桥梁结构物的影响。在自主研制的离心场中地基抽水对结构物影响的模拟和测量系统基础上,测量了抽水过程中粉土地基中沉降的变化以及桥梁结构的变形分布规律,探讨了地面不均匀沉降对刚性桥梁、简支桥梁以及简支连续桥梁的影响规律。试验结果表明,水井抽水的初期非稳定渗流期是桥梁变形发展最快的阶段;减小桥垮长度以及桥面桥墩改用铰连接都可以使得桥面轴向应变减小;地基的水平位移会给刚性桥梁中部带来较大的变形     

Fluvial response to climatic and anthropogenic forcing in the Moselle drainage basin (NE France) during historical periods: evidence from OSL dating

The aim of this paper is to study a low energy fluvial system response to natural and anthropogenic forcing during the last two millennia. In contrast with longer timescales (Holocene to Quaternary), historical sedimentary archives are sparse in such systems which are typically characterized by the predominance of erosion compared with aggradation. We studied three main sections in the Moselle valley (northeastern France) by a multi‐proxy approach combining morphology, sedimentology, archaeological evidence, historical archives, and dating. The geochronological framework was based on Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) and validated by independent age control. The exposed sediments were allocated to different historical periods from Roman period to present. The first results show that, in contrast with many other fluvial systems, the Moselle and its tributaries did not experience major changes during historical periods. Climatic changes such as the Little Ice Age had a minor influence on floodplain aggradation (e.g. in grain size or sedimentation rates) in the Moselle valley and were only able to affect the fluvial style. This provides evidence that the reworking of sediments is the main fluvial process at short timescales in the valley floors of the Moselle catchment. In contrast, anthropogenic forcing seems important not only during recent centuries but also since Roman times. This is suggested by the case‐study of the Metz‐Mazelle section where significant headward erosion and sedimentation were recognized, and may be related to human occupation. The results therefore point to a need for increasing geoarchaeological and geochronological research in the Moselle catchment and similar low energy fluvial systems. Such research is actually essential to improve the knowledge of the fluvial response to environmental changes during the historical periods and to recognize the respective influence of natural variability and human forcing. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mantle-driven geodynamo features – Effects of compositional and narrow D″ anomalies

Lower mantle heterogeneity could cause deviations from axial symmetry in geodynamo properties. Global tomography models are commonly used to infer the pattern of core–mantle boundary heat flux via a linear relation that corresponds to a purely thermal interpretation of lower mantle seismic anomalies, ignoring both non-thermal origins and non-resolved small scales. Here we study the possible impact on the geodynamo of narrow thermal anomalies in the base of the mantle, originating from either compositional heterogeneity or sharp margins of large-scale features. A heat flux boundary condition composed of a large-scale pattern and narrow ridges separating the large-scale positive and negative features is imposed on numerical dynamos. We find that hot ridges located to the west of a positive large-scale core–mantle boundary heat flux anomaly produce a time-average narrow elongated upwelling, a flow barrier at the top of the core and intensified low-latitudes magnetic flux patches. When the ridge is located to the east of a positive core–mantle boundary heat flux anomaly, the associated upwelling is weaker and the homogeneous dynamo westward drift leaks, precluding persistent intense low-latitudes magnetic flux patches. These signatures of the core–mantle boundary heat flux ridge are evident in the north–south component of the thermal wind balance. Based on the pattern of lower mantle seismic tomography (Masters et al., 2000), we hypothesize that hot narrow thermal ridges below central Asia and the Indian Ocean and below the American Pacific coast produce time-average fluid upwelling and a barrier for azimuthal flow at the top of the core. East of these ridges, below east Asia and Oceania and below the Americas, time-average intense geomagnetic flux patches are expected.     

水平荷载作用下风电机桩基础的离心模型试验研究

桩基础是近海风机经常采用的基础形式。由于风电机组对基础的承载力和变形有着严格的要求,而水平荷载常常是控制荷载,因此,研究水平荷载作用下风机桩基础的应力、变形特性具有重要意义。针对风机单桩基础,选取典型的黏土地基,进行了水平加载条件下的离心模型试验,重点分析了桩身的响应及桩周围土体的变形特点。试验结果表明,在水平荷载作用下,桩顶的水平位移随着水平力的增加而增加,位移的增加速率在临界荷载之后增长较快;桩身弯矩分别在埋深1/5和3/5处附近分别出现极大值和极小值,且桩底具有一定弯矩值;桩周围土体的变形随着离桩距离的增加而减小,可分为主动区和被动区。桩对土体变形的影响区域随着水平力的增加而不断扩展,最后基本稳定在2倍桩径范围内。