Energy partitioning over a semi‐arid shrubland in northern China

During the last decade, the widely distributed shrublands in northern China have shown significant signs of recovery from desertification, the result of widespread conservation practices. However, to support the current efforts in conservation, more knowledge is needed on surface energy partitioning and its biophysical controls. Using eddy‐covariance measurements made over a semi‐arid shrubland in northwest China in 2012, we examined how surface energy‐balance components vary on diurnal and seasonal scales, and how biophysical factors control bulk surface parameters and energy exchange. Sensible heat flux (H) exceeded latent heat flux (λE) during most of the year, resulting in an annual Bowen ratio (β, i.e. H/λE) of 2.0. λE exceeded H only in mid‐summer when frequent rainfall co‐occurred with the seasonal peak in leaf area index (LAI). Evapotranspiration reached a daily maximum of 3.3 mm day^?1, and summed to 283 mm yr^?1. The evaporative fraction (EF, i.e. λE/R_n), Priestley–Taylor coefficient (α), surface conductance (g_s) and decoupling coefficient (Ω) were all positively correlated with soil water content (SWC) and LAI. The direct enhancement of λE by high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) was buffered by a concurrent suppression of g_s. The g_s played a direct role in controlling EF and α by mediating the effects of LAI, SWC and VPD. Our results highlight the importance of adaptive plant responses to water scarcity in regulating ecosystem energy partitioning, and suggest an important role for revegetation in the reversal of desertification in semi‐arid areas. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow processes and sedimentation in unidirectionally migrating deep‐water channels: From a three‐dimensional seismic perspective

Three‐dimensional seismic data were used to infer how bottom currents control unidirectional channel migration. Bottom currents flowing towards the steep bank would deflect the upper part of sediment gravity flows at an orientation of 1° to 11° to the steep bank, yielding a helical flow circulation consisting of a faster near‐surface flow towards the steep bank and a slower basal return flow towards the gentle bank. This helical flow model is evidenced by the occurrence of bigger, muddier (suggested by low‐amplitude seismic reflections) lateral accretion deposits and gentle channel wall with downlap terminations on the gentle bank and by smaller, sandier (indicated by high‐amplitude seismic reflectors) channel fills and steep channel walls with truncation terminations on the steep bank. This helical flow circulation promotes asymmetrical depositional patterns with dipping accretion sets restricted to the gentle bank, which restricts the development of sinuosity and yields unidirectional channel migration. These results aid in obtaining a complete picture of flow processes and sedimentation in submarine channels.     

三塘湖盆地石炭系卡拉岗组火山岩岩相研究

三塘湖盆地石炭系卡拉岗组火山岩岩性揭示该区火山岩岩相主要包括火山爆发相、溢流相,火山沉积相不发育。为了明确不同岩相分布规律,本文系统利用测井、地质、地震等多种资料,建立测井岩性识别模板,以单井相作为约束,开展地震反演,明确火山岩岩相的平面分布规律。研究结果表明:该区火山喷发方式以裂隙式为主,火山口呈串珠状沿主断裂排列;溢流相平面呈层状分布,溢流相安山岩最为发育。研究结果可有效指导该区火山岩油藏的勘探评价工作,同时为火山岩岩相研究提供可借鉴的研究思路。     

印度区域地质矿产概况

印度共和国是印度板块的主体,也是冈瓦纳大陆的重要组成部分,主要由七个古老克拉通（陆块群）、分隔克拉通的活动带与盆地等构成。自北向南依次为：①喜马拉雅活动带,主要为具有元古代基底的古近纪-新进纪活动带;②印度河-恒河平原过渡带（山前坳陷带）,主要由为第四系、古近系-新进系和第四系冲积物构成;③印度半岛克拉通,主要由西塔尔瓦尔、东塔尔瓦尔、巴斯塔、辛本,本德尔坎德、阿拉瓦利和印度南部麻粒岩地体等7个太古宙陆块（或次级克拉通）群构成;④萨德布尔活动带;⑤东高止山活动带;⑥德干高原玄武岩省（LIP）（图1）。     

An artificial neural network-based response surface method for reliability analyses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>-φ slopes with spatially variable soil

This paper presents an artificial neural network (ANN)-based response surface method that can be used to predict the failure probability of c-φ slopes with spatially variable soil. In this method, the Latin hypercube sampling technique is adopted to generate input datasets for establishing an ANN model; the random finite element method is then utilized to calculate the corresponding output datasets considering the spatial variability of soil properties; and finally, an ANN model is trained to construct the response surface of failure probability and obtain an approximate function that incorporates the relevant variables. The results of the illustrated example indicate that the proposed method provides credible and accurate estimations of failure probability. As a result, the obtained approximate function can be used as an alternative to the specific analysis process in c-φ slope reliability analyses.     

The characteristics of rill development and their effects on runoff and sediment yield under different slope gradients

Rill formation is the predominant erosion process in slope land in the Loess Plateau, China. This study was conducted to investigate rill erosion characteristics and their effects on runoff and sediment yielding processes under different slope gradients at a rate of 10°, 15°, 20° and 25° with rainfall intensity of 1.5 mm min-1 in a laboratory setting. Results revealed that mean rill depth and rill density has a positive interrelation to the slope gradient. To the contrary, width-depth ratio and distance of the longest rill to the top of the slope negatively related to slope gradient. All these suggested that increasing slope steepness could enhance rill headward erosion, vertical erosion and the fragmentation of the slope surface. Furthermore,total erosion tended to approach a stable maximum value with increasing slope, which implied that there is probably a threshold slope gradient where soil erosion begins to weaken. At the same time, the correlation analysis showed that there was a close connection between slope gradient and the variousindices of soil erosion: the correlation coefficients of slope gradient with maximal rill depth, number of rills and the distance of the longest rill from the top of the slope were 0.98, 0.97 and-0.98, respectively,indicating that slope gradient is the major factor of affecting the development of rills. Furthermore,runoff was not sensitive to slope gradient and rill formation in this study. Sediment concentration,however, is positively related to slope gradient and rill formation, the sediment concentrations increased rapidly after rill initiation, especially. These results may be essential for soil loss prediction.     

Effect of bioactive peptides (BPs) on the development of Pacific white shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus vannamei</Emphasis> Boone, 1931)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of replacing fish meal (FM) with bioactive peptides (BPs) in diet of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). The changes in growth performance, body composition, non-specific immunity, and water quality were examined after the shrimp were fed four diets, in which 0% (control), 33.3%, 66.7% and 100% of FM was replaced by BPs, respectively. The groups were designated as Con, 1/3BPs, 2/3BPs, and 3/3BPs. A total of 720 shrimp with an initial body weight of 1.46 ± 0.78 g were fed the experimental diets for 56 days. The results revealed that: 1) the weight gain rate (WGR) in 1/3BPs, 2/3BPs, and 3/3BPs was significantly higher than that in Con (P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found on survival rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR); 2) the whole-body crude protein (CP) and crude lipids (CL) were significantly different among groups, while there was no significant difference between crude ash and phosphorus contents; 3) the levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), lysozyme (LZM), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenol oxidase (PO) and bactericidal activity increased significantly with the inclusion of BPs; 4) in terms of water quality, no significant difference was found in pH and dissolved oxygen among diets during the whole experimental period. Moreover, even though nitrite and ammonium levels tended to increase with time, there was no significant difference among groups. The results indicated that BPs is an applicable alternative of protein source, which can substitute FM in the diets of L. vannamei; it is able to effectively promote growth performance and improve immunity. Moreover, BPs in the diets had no negative impact on water quality.     

东昆仑东段巴隆地区朝火鹿陶勒盖花岗闪长岩体锆石U-Pb年龄、地球化学及其地质意义

东昆仑造山带晚古生代—早中生代由于布青山-阿尼玛卿洋的俯冲发育有大量岛弧型花岗岩类。选取东昆北巴隆地区朝火鹿陶勒盖花岗闪长岩体寄主岩和闪长质暗色微粒包体进行了岩相学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学及地球化学研究。结果表明,岩体寄主岩的结晶年龄为242.3±1.3Ma,暗色微粒包体结晶年龄为241.2±0.8Ma,显示其形成于中三叠世;寄主岩和暗色微粒包体A/CNK值介于0.86~1.06之间,为准铝质-弱过铝质;稀土元素总量分别为119×10~(-6)~170×10~(-6)、189×10~(-6),稀土元素配分模式显示右倾型,具有负Eu异常;岩石富集Rb、Ba、Th等大离子亲石元素,亏损Nb、Ta、Ti等高场强元素,具有弧岩浆岩特征。野外及岩相学特征均显示包体为基性岩浆进入酸性岩浆快速冷凝形成的,为俯冲板片断离导致幔源岩浆上侵形成的岩浆混合作用的产物,是布青山-阿尼玛卿洋俯冲晚期的岩浆记录。