Crustal structure of northeastern Tibet inferred from receiver function analysis

Sponsored by National Science & Technology Committee, the cooperation between China Academy of Geoscience and Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, University Joseph, France conducted a lithospherical experiment using 40 Minititan 3-component and 13 CEIS 1-component seismometers along the road from Gonghe to Yushu in Qinghai Province during 5 months after June, 1998. The interested area is on the north of Bangong- Nujiang fault, the east of Qaidam basin, the south of Center Qilian fault and the west of Longmenshan fault. And the profile across most tectonic parts of Eastern Tibet such as Southern Qilian, Eastern Kunlun fault, Bayan Har terrane, Jinshajiang suture (Figure 1), which is the first seismological profile across Eastern Tibet (Qinghai-Tibet) and will be beneficial on the comparison with the results of its center parts, especially on the understanding of the effect of the thousands-kilometer-faraway collision between Eurasia Plate and Indian Plate on the uplifting of south and north part of Eastern Kunlun fault, and on the thickening of crust and the feature of deep structure of Qilian mountain on the north of Tibet Plateau.     

Species selection and assessment of eco-engineering effects of seedlings for biogeomorphological landscape experiments

Landscape experiments of fluvial environments such as rivers and deltas are often conducted with live seedlings to investigate effects of biogeomorphological interactions on morphology and stratigraphy. However, such experiments have been limited to a single species, usually alfalfa (Medicago sativa), whereas important environments in nature have many different vegetation types and eco-engineering effects. Landscape experimentation would therefore benefit from a larger choice of tested plant species. For the purpose of experimental design our objective was to identify fast-germinating and fast-growing species and determine their sensitivity to flow conditions during and after settling, their maximum growth, hydraulic resistance and added bank strength. We tested germination time and seedling growth rate of 18 candidate species with readily available seeds that are fast growing and occur at waterlines, plus Medicago sativa as a control. We selected five species that germinate and develop within days and measured properties and eco-engineering effects depending on plant age and density, targeting typical experimental conditions of 0–0.3 m/s flow velocity and 0–30 mm water depth. Tested eco-engineering effects include bank strength and flow resistance. We found that Rumex hydrolapathum can represent riparian trees. The much smaller Veronica beccabunga and Lotus pedunculatus can represent grass and saltmarsh species as they grow in dense patches with high flow resistance but are readily erodible. Sorghum bicolor grows into tall, straight shoots, which add significantly to bank strength, but adds little flow resistance and may represent sparse hardwood trees. Medicago sativa also grows densely under water, suggesting a use for mangroves and perhaps peat. In stronger and deeper flows the application of all species changes accordingly. These species can now be used in a range of landscape experiments to investigate combined effects on living landscape patterns and possible facilitation between species. The testing and treatment methodology can be applied to new species and other laboratory conditions. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2019 The Authors Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd © 2019 The Authors Earth Surface Processes and Landforms Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Transmission + reflection anisotropic wave-equation traveltime and waveform inversion

A transmission + reflection wave-equation traveltime and waveform inversion method is presented that inverts the seismic data for the anisotropic parameters in a vertical transverse isotropic medium. The simultaneous inversion of anisotropic parameters and ε is initially performed using transmission wave-equation traveltime inversion method. Transmission wave-equation traveltime only provides the low-intermediate wavenumbers for the shallow part of the anisotropic model; in contrast, reflection wave-equation traveltime estimates the anisotropic parameters in the deeper section of the model. By incorporating a layer-stripping method with reflection wave-equation traveltime, the ambiguity between the background-velocity model and the depths of reflectors can be greatly mitigated. In the final step, multi-scale full-waveform inversion is performed to recover the high-wavenumber component of the model.  We use a synthetic model to illustrate the local minima problem of full-waveform inversion and how transmission and reflection wave-equation traveltime can mitigate this problem. We demonstrate the efficacy of our new method using field data from the Gulf of Mexico.     

Longitudinal velocity patterns and bed morphology interaction in a rill

Present‐day understanding of rill dynamics is hampered by a lack of detailed data on velocity distributions in rills. The latter are dif?cult to collect with traditional techniques due to the very low water depths and the relatively high ?ow velocities in rills. The objectives of this paper were to investigate the feasibility of miniaturized acoustic Doppler velocimeter (mADV) measurements in rill ?ow and to explore longitudinal variations in ?ow velocities and their relationship with rill bed morphology. Detailed data on longitudinal ?ow velocity were required to achieve these objectives. A 1·8 m long rill was formed freely in a ?ume at 5° slope and 0·001 m³ s^?1 discharge. Rill topography was characterized by an alternation of steps and pools. The ?ume surface was then ?xed to preserve rill roughness. A topographical scanning of the entire ?ume surface was made. Velocity was measured with a mADV along the rill, and at different depths. Flow depth in a longitudinal direction was also measured using an elevation gauge. A strong relationship exists between rill topography and ?ow hydraulics. Over steps, ?ow was unidirectional and rapidly accelerating until a threshold Froude number (Fn) value between 1·3 and 1·7 was reached and a hydraulic jump occurred leading to the formation of a pool. In the pool, the ?ow pattern was multidirectional and complex. The ?ow was subcritical when leaving the pool and accelerated over the next step until the threshold Froude number value was again reached. Energy loss in the rill was concentrated in the pools, mainly due to the action of a hydraulic jump. This mechanism of energy dissipation appeared to be an essential factor in rill formation and bedform evolution. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydraulics of interrill overland flow on rough,bare soil surfaces

A set of laboratory experiments on bare, rough soil surfaces was carried out to study the relationship between soil surface roughness and its hydraulic resistance. Existing models relating roughness coefficients to a measure of surface roughness did not predict the hydraulic resistance well for these surfaces. Therefore, a new model is developed to predict the hydraulic resistance of the surface, based on detailed surface roughness data. Roughness profiles perpendicular to the flow are used to calculate the wet cross‐sectional area and hydraulic radius given a certain water level. The algorithm of Savat is then applied to calculate the hydraulic resistance. The value for the equivalent roughness, which is used in the algorithm of Savat, could be predicted from the roughness profiles. Here, the tortuosity of the submerged part of the surface was used, which means that the calculated roughness depends on flow depth. The roughness increased with discharge, due to the fact that rougher parts of the surface became submerged at higher discharges. Therefore, a single measure of surface roughness (e.g. random roughness) is not sufficient to predict the hydraulic resistance. The proposed model allows the extension of the flow over the surface with increasing discharge to be taken into account, as well as the roughness within the submerged part of the surface. Therefore, the model is able to predict flow velocities reasonably well from discharge and roughness data only. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exploring for Geothermal Resources with Electromagnetic Methods

Electrical conductivity of the subsurface is known to be a crucial parameter for the characterization of geothermal settings. Geothermal systems, composed by a system of faults and/or fractures filled with conducting geothermal fluids and altered rocks, are ideal targets for electromagnetic (EM) methods, which have become the industry standard for exploration of geothermal systems. This review paper presents an update of the state-of-the-art geothermal exploration using EM methods. Several examples of high-enthalpy geothermal systems as well as non-volcanic systems are presented showing the successful application of EM for geothermal exploration but at the same time highlighting the importance of the development of conceptual models in order to avoid falling into interpretation pitfalls. The integration of independent data is key in order to obtain a better understanding of the geothermal system as a whole, which is the ultimate goal of exploration.     

Spatial Variation in MTBE Biodegradation Activity of Aquifer Solids Samples Collected in the Vicinity of a Flow-Through Aerobic Biobarrier

The spatial variation in methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) biodegradation activity of aquifer solids samples collected in the vicinity of a flow-through aerobic biobarrier was assessed through use of standard laboratory microcosms. These were prepared by collecting soil cores at a range of locations and depths along different flow paths through the biobarrier. Sections of core samples were placed in sealed bottles with MTBE-free groundwater from the site. The groundwater was filtered to remove microbes, and sparged with O₂. The initial MTBE concentration in the microcosms was adjusted to about 1 mg/L. Biodegradation activity was characterized by the magnitude of MTBE concentration reductions occurred over 4 weeks relative to control microcosms. Sampling locations and depths were selected to allow investigation of relationships between MTBEdegrading activity and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, MTBE, soil type, and initial microbial conditions (biostimulated vs. bioaugmented). The results suggest a relatively wide-spread presence of MTBE-degrading microbial consortia, with varying levels of MTBE-degrading activity. Significant changes in activity were observed over 0.3-m vertical distances in the same location; for example, cores from the most upgradient sampling locations contained sections with no discernible MTBEbiodegradation over 4 weeks, as well as sections that achieved order-of-magnitude MTBE concentration reductions within 2 weeks. None of those cores, however, achieved MTBE biodegradation to nondetect levels (<0.005 mg/L), as was observed in some cores from downgradient locations. Cores from the bioaugmented regions had the highest frequency of MTBE biodegradation to nondetect levels among their sections suggesting a direct effect of the inoculum and its distribution when it was implanted. Most cores with no activity were associated with the upgradient, low-DO, and high-MTBE concentration field environments, but low-DO field environments also yielded MTBE-degrading samples. There were no other clear correlations between MTBE-degrading activity in the microcosms and the local field environment conditions at the time of sampling.     

The importance of three centuries of land-use change for the global and regional terrestrial carbon cycle

Large amounts of carbon (C) have been released into the atmosphere over the past centuries. Less than half of this C stays in the atmosphere. The remainder is taken up by the oceans and terrestrial ecosystems. Where does the C come from and where and when does this uptake occur? We address these questions by providing new estimates of regional land-use emissions and natural carbon fluxes for the 1700–2000 period, simultaneously considering multiple anthropogenic (e.g. land and energy demand) and biochemical factors in a geographically explicit manner. The observed historical atmospheric CO₂ concentration profile for the 1700 to 2000 period has been reproduced well. The terrestrial natural biosphere has been a major carbon sink, due to changes in climate, atmospheric CO₂, nitrogen and management. Due to land-use change large amounts of carbon have been emitted into the atmosphere. The net effect was an emission of 35 Pg C into the atmosphere for the 1700 to 2000 period. If land use had remained constant at its distribution in 1700, then the terrestrial C uptake would have increased by 142 Pg C. This overall difference of including or excluding land-use changes (i.e. 177 Pg C) comes to more than half of the historical fossil-fuel related emissions of 308 Pg C. Historically, global land-use emissions were predominantly caused by the expansion of cropland and pasture, while wood harvesting (for timber and fuel wood) only played a minor role. These findings are robust even when changing some of the important drivers like the extent of historical land-use changes. Under varying assumptions, land-use emissions over the past three centuries could have increased up to 20%, but remained significantly lower than from other sources. Combining the regional land-use and natural C fluxes, North America and Europe were net C sources before 1900, but turned into sinks during the twentieth century. Nowadays, these fluxes are a magnitude smaller than energy- and industry-related emissions. Tropical regions were C neutral prior to 1950, but then accelerated deforestation turned these regions into major C sources. The energy- and industry-related emissions are currently increasing in many tropical regions, but are still less than the land-use emissions. Based on the presented relevance of the land-use and natural fluxes for the historical C cycle and the significance of fossil-fuel emissions nowadays, there is a need for an integrated approach for energy, nature and land use in evaluating possible climate change mitigation policies.