地球物理探矿研究中的新发展:大地电流

礦產原料當中可作為能力來源的一向被人重視,在這些礦物中作為內燃機燃料的基礎的石油尤其重要,我們可以舉幾個數字作為證例。 蘇聯在1955年所產的原油達7000萬噸,1960年的計劃產量將達13500萬噸。在美國1954年全國所消費的能量有66.8％是從石油和天然氣供給的,而煤炭供給的部分僅佔29.3％。但是在1950年時煤炭供給的能量尚佔全國消費的總能量     

Seismic performance and global ductility of RC frames rehabilitated with retrofitted joints by CFRP laminates

This paper presents a new FRP retrofi tting scheme to strengthen local beam-column joints in reinforced concrete(RC) frames.The new retrofi tting scheme was proposed following a preliminary study of four different existing retrofi tting schemes.A numerical simulation was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of FRP-strengthened reinforced concrete frames by bridging behavior of local joints to the whole structure.Local confi nement effects due to varying retrofi tting schemes in the joints were simulated in the frame model.The seismic behavior factor was used to evaluate the seismic performance of the strengthened RC frames.The results demonstrated that the new proposed retrofi tting scheme was robust and promising,and fi nite element analysis appropriately captured the strength and global ductility of the frame due to upgrading of the local joints.     

Effects of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) bed

The objective of this study is to clarify the effect of ulvoid (Ulva spp.) accumulation on the structure and function of an eelgrass bed by the coast of Iwakuni, Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We monitored eelgrass shoot density and volume of ulvoid accumulation in the study site and evaluated effects of the accumulated ulvoid canopy on the percent survival, seedling density, growth rates, photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) and carbon contents of eelgrass. Eelgrass shoot density decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid. Also, seedling density decreased by the increase in the ulvoid volumes. Shoot density, seedling density and leaf elongation were negatively correlated with ulvoid volume. Carbon contents in eelgrass decreased by the accumulation of ulvoid (canopy height: 25cm). These results suggest that accumulation of ulvoid bloom has significant negative impacts on the structure and function of eelgrass bed, i.e. decreases in vegetative shoot density, seedling density, shoot height and growth rate.     

Prevalence and distribution of fecal indicator organisms in South Florida beach sand and preliminary assessment of health effects associated with beach sand exposure

Fecal indicator levels in nearshore waters of South Florida are routinely monitored to assess microbial contamination at recreational beaches. However, samples of sand from the surf zone and upper beach are not monitored which is surprising since sand may accumulate and harbor fecal-derived organisms. This study examined the prevalence of fecal indicator organisms in tidally-affected beach sand and in upper beach sand and compared these counts to levels in the water. Since indicator organisms were statistically elevated in sand relative to water, the study also considered the potential health risks associated with beach use and exposure to sand. Fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, somatic coliphages, and F(+)-specific coliphages were enumerated from sand and water at three South Florida beaches (Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Hollywood Beach, and Hobie Beach) over a 2-year period. Bacteria were consistently more concentrated in 100g samples of beach sand (2-23 fold in wet sand and 30-460 fold in dry sand) compared to 100ml samples of water. Somatic coliphages were commonly recovered from both sand and water while F(+)-specific coliphages were less commonly detected. Seeding experiments revealed that a single specimen of gull feces significantly influenced enterococci levels in some 3.1m(2) of beach sand. Examination of beach sand on a micro-spatial scale demonstrated that the variation in enterococci density over short distances was considerable. Results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the physical and chemical parameters monitored in this study could only minimally account for the variation observed in indicator densities. A pilot epidemiological study was conducted to examine whether the length of exposure to beach water and sand could be correlated with health risk. Logistic regression analysis results provided preliminary evidence that time spent in the wet sand and time spent in the water were associated with a dose-dependent increase in gastrointestinal illness.     

南海海槽西部俯冲带日向滩地区俯冲九州—帕劳洋脊的成像

为了研究九州—帕劳洋脊(KPR)俯冲部分与同震破裂扩展、地震活动性和浅部甚低频地震的关系,对南海海槽西部俯冲带日向滩地区进行了三维地震层析成像。结合岸上和近海记录的主动源和被动源地震数据,成像了从该海槽轴附近到海岸地区的深部板块。我们的结果表明,俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊为西北—东南向的低速带,向下扩展到约30km的深度。在这个深度,我们认为俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊与板块分离,成为上覆大陆板块的底座。由于过去大地震的同震滑动地区没有延伸到俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊,我们认为九州—帕劳洋脊可能阻碍了破裂的扩展。俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊的内部在很宽的深度上分布有活跃的板内地震活动。浅部甚低频地震在俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊上部连续发生,而在俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊的东北部却是间歇地出现。因此,俯冲的九州—帕劳洋脊看来是这个地区同震破裂扩展和地震现象的一个重要因素。     

用1Hz GPS观测数据推导中强震震源过程的能力:2008年日本岩手—宫城内陆地震例子

通过反演研究2008年日本岩手—宫城内陆地震（M～6.9）,说明了用1Hz全球定位系统（GPS）观测数据推导中强震（M6级）震源过程的能力。比较了此次地震采样率为1Hz的GPS观测波形,发现与强震仪记录波形有很好的一致性。由于震源区及其周围有足够多的GPS台站很好地记录到了地面运动,因而使我们仅仅采用1Hz的GPS观测数据就可进行波形反演。反演的结果与大地测量和强震仪数据联合反演的结果相当一致,如地震矩（Mw～6.9）、累积滑动量分布和破裂传播等。这种一致性证明,采样率为1Hz的GPS观测数据不仅能用来推导M6级中强震破裂过程的动态特征,而且能用来推导其持久（或静态）的滑动。     

Using analytic element models to delineate drinking water source protection areas

Since 1999, Ohio EPA hydrogeologists have used two analytic element models (AEMs), the proprietary software GFLOW and U.S. EPA's WhAEM, to delineate protection areas for 535 public water systems. Both models now use the GFLOW2001 solution engine, integrate well with Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, have a user-friendly graphical interface, are capable of simulating a variety of complex hydrogeologic settings, and do not rely upon a model grid. These features simplify the modeling process and enable AEMs to bridge the gap between existing simplistic delineation methods and more complex numerical models. Ohio EPA hydrogeologists demonstrated that WhAEM2000 and GFLOW2000 were capable of producing capture zones similar to more widely accepted models by applying the AEMs to eight sites that had been previously delineated using other methods. After the Ohio EPA delineated protection areas using AEMs, more simplistic delineation methods used by other states (volumetric equation and arbitrary fixed radii) were applied to the same water systems to compare the differences between various methods. GIS software and two-tailed paired t-tests were used to quantify the differences in protection areas and analyze the data. The results of this analysis demonstrate that AEMs typically produce significantly different protection areas than the most simplistic delineation methods, in terms of total area and shape. If the volumetric equation had been used instead of AEMs, Ohio would not have protected 265 km2 of critical upgradient area and would have overprotected 269 km2 of primarily downgradient land. Since an increasing number of land-use restrictions are being tied to drinking water protection areas, this analysis has broad policy implications.     

A mechanism for anomalous decline in radon precursory to an earthquake

Mechanisms for interpreting anomalous decreases in radon in ground water prior to earthquakes are examined with the help of a case study to show that radon potentially is a sensitive tracer of strain changes in the crust preceding an earthquake. The 2003 Chengkung earthquake of magnitude (M) 6.8 on December 10, 2003, was the strongest earthquake near the Chengkung area in eastern Taiwan since 1951. The Antung radon-monitoring station was located 20 km from the epicenter. Approximately 65 d prior to the 2003 Chengkung earthquake, precursory changes in radon concentration in ground water were observed. Specifically, radon decreased from a background level of 780 pCi/L to a minimum of 330 pCi/L. The Antung hot spring is situated in a fractured block of tuffaceous sandstone surrounded by ductile mudstone. Given these geological conditions, we hypothesized that the dilation of brittle rock mass occurred at a rate faster than the recharge of pore water and gas saturation developed in newly created cracks preceding the earthquake. Radon partitioning into the gas phase may explain the anomalous decrease of radon precursory to the 2003 Chengkung earthquake. To support the hypothesis, vapor-liquid, two-phase radon-partitioning experiments were conducted at formation temperature (60 degrees C) using formation brine from the Antung hot spring. Experimental data indicated that the decrease in radon required a gas saturation of 10% developed in rock cracks. The observed decline in radon can be correlated with the increase in gas saturation and then with the volumetric strain change for a given fracture porosity.     

Microbial responses using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to oil and chemical dispersant in enclosed ecosystems

Microbial responses to the addition of oil with or without a chemical dispersant were examined in mesocosm and microcosm experiments by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of bacterial ribosomal DNA and direct cell counting. When a water-soluble fraction of oil was added to seawater, increases in cell density were observed in the first 24h, followed by a decrease in abundance and a change in bacterial species composition. After addition of an oil-dispersant mixture, increases in cell density and changes in community structure coincided, and the amount of bacteria remained high. These phenomena also occurred in response to addition of only dispersant. Our results suggest that the chemical dispersant may be used as a nutrient source by some bacterial groups and may directly or indirectly prevent the growth of other bacterial groups.