Whipple telescope observations of LS I +61 303: 2004–2006

In this paper we present the results of the past two years observations on the galactic microquasar LS I +61 303 with the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope. The recent MAGIC detection of the source between 200 GeV and 4 TeV suggests that the source is periodic with very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission linked to its orbital cycle. The entire 50-hour data set obtained with Whipple from 2004 to 2006 was analyzed with no reliable detection resulting. The upper limits obtained in the 2005–2006 season covered several of the same epochs as the MAGIC Telescope detections, albeit with lower sensitivity. Upper limits are placed on emission during the orbital phases of 0→0.1 and 0.8→1, phases which are not included in the MAGIC data set.      

Biodegradation and transport of benzene,toluene, and xylenes in a simulated aquifer: comparison of modelled and experimental results

Both laboratory experiments and numerical modelling were conducted to study the biodegradation and transport of benzene–toluene–xylenes (BTX) in a simulated semi‐confined aquifer. The factors incorporated into the numerical model include advection, hydrodynamic dispersion, adsorption, and biodegradation. The various physico‐chemical parameters required by the numerical model were measured experimentally. In the experimental portion of the study, BTX compounds were introduced into the aquifer sand. After the contaminants had been transported through the system, BTX concentrations were measured at 12 equally spaced wells. Subsequently, microorganisms obtained from the activated sludge of a sewage treatment plant and cultured in BTX mixtures were introduced into the aquifer through the 12 sampling wells. The distribution data for BTX adsorption by the aquifer sand form a nonlinear isotherm. The degree of adsorption by the sand varies, depending on the composition of the solute. The degradation time, measured from the time since the bacteria were added to the aquifer until a specific contaminant was no longer detectable, was 35–42 h for BTX. The dissolved oxygen, after degradation by BTX compounds and bacteria, was consumed by about 40–60% in the entire simulated aquifer; thus the aerobic conditions were maintained. This study provides insights for the biodegradation and transport of BTX in aquifers by numerical modelling and laboratory experiments. Experimental and numerical comparisons indicate that the results by Monod degradation kinetics are more accurate than those by the first‐order degradation kinetics. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A North-South Transect across the Central Mexican Volcanic Belt at ~100{degrees}W: Spatial Distribution, Petrological, Geochemical, and Isotopic Characteristics of Quaternary Volcanism

Within the Zitácuaro–Valle de Bravo (ZVB) regionof the central Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB), three lava serieshave erupted during the Quaternary: (1) high-K₂O basaltic andesitesand andesites; (2) medium-K₂O basaltic andesites, andesitesand dacites; (3) high-TiO₂ basalts and basaltic andesites. Thedominant feature of the first two groups is the lack of plagioclaseaccompanying the various ferromagnesian phenocrysts (olivine,orthopyroxene, augite, and hornblende) in all but the dacites.This absence of plagioclase in the phenocryst assemblages ofthe high-K₂O and medium-K₂O intermediate lavas is significantbecause it indicates high water contents during the stage ofphenocryst equilibration. In contrast, the high-TiO₂ group ischaracterized by phenocrysts of plagioclase and olivine. Thespatial distribution of these three lava series is systematic.The southern section of the ZVB transect, 280–330 km fromthe Middle America Trench (MAT), is characterized by high-K₂Omelts that are relatively enriched in fluid-mobile elementsand have the highest ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. Medium-K₂O basaltic andesiteand andesite lavas are present throughout the transect, butthose closest to the MAT are MgO-rich (3·5–9·4wt %) and have phenocryst assemblages indicative of high magmaticwater contents (3·5–6·5 wt % water) andrelatively low temperatures (950–1000°C). In markedcontrast, the northern section of the ZVB transect (380–480km from the MAT) has high-TiO₂, high field strength element(HFSE)-enriched magmas that have comparatively dry (< 1·5wt % magmatic water) and hot (1100–1200°C) phenocrystequilibration conditions. The central section of the ZVB transect(330–380 km from the MAT) is a transition zone and producesmoderately light rare earth element (LREE) and large ion lithophileelement (LILE)-enriched, medium-K₂O lavas with phenocryst assemblagesindicative of intermediate (1·5–3·5 wt %)water contents and temperatures. The high-K₂O series compositionsare the most enriched in LILE and LREE, with a narrow rangeof radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from 0·704245 to 0·704507,¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd values ranging from 0·512857 to 0·512927(_Nd = 4·27–5·63), and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb valuesfrom 38·248 to 38·442, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from15·563 to 15·585, and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb values from18·598 to 18·688. The medium-K₂O series compositionsare only moderately enriched in the LILE and LREE, with a broaderrange of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr, but similar ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pbvalues to those of the high-K₂O series. In contrast, the high-TiO₂series compositions have little enrichment in LILE or LREE andinstead are enriched in the HFSE and heavy rare earth elements(HREE). The high-TiO₂ lavas are isotopically distinct in theirlower and narrower range of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd. The isotopic variationsare believed to reflect the upper mantle magma source regionsas the low content of phenocrysts in most lavas precludes significantupper crustal assimilation or magma mixing, other than thatrepresented by the presence of quartz xenocrysts (< 2 vol.%) with rhyolitic glass inclusions, which are found in manyof these lavas. The systematic spatial variation in compositionof the three lava series is a reflection of the underlying subduction-modifiedmantle and its evolution. KEY WORDS: central Mexico; geochemistry; isotopes; Quaternary volcanism; hydrous lavas     

汝阳盆地早白垩世恐龙蛋壳的发现及其意义

汝阳盆地是豫西地区的一个中—新生代断陷盆地,自2006年以来发现了一个以巨型蜥脚类恐龙为代表的恐龙动物群。本文描述了近期发现于汝阳盆地下白垩统郝岭组中的若干恐龙蛋蛋壳碎片。基于以下对蛋壳宏观形态和显微特征的分析,这些蛋壳碎片可以归入长形蛋科(Elongatoolithidae)的长形蛋属(Elongatoolithus):蛋壳外表面具分散瘤点状或线性脊状的纹饰;蛋壳自内而外分为锥体层和柱状层,二层之间的界线不清晰;锥体层中锥体排列紧密;柱状层中具波浪状的平行生长纹。这一发现代表了长形蛋属在早白垩世地层中的首次记录,进一步拓展了该蛋属的地史和古地理分布。由以往已知的化石关联推测,这些蛋壳可能与该层位中的窃蛋龙类如刘店洛阳龙(Luoyanggia liudianensis)等具有相关性,表明汝阳盆地在早白垩世晚期具有适宜该类恐龙生存与繁殖的环境。     

短期线状集中分布地磁日变化感应电流异常机理初步解释——以2012年唐山4.8级地震为例

本文分析了2012年唐山4.8级地震前,震中附近出现的短期原地重现线状集中分布地磁日变化感应电流异常的时空变化特征,及其与地震、中-下地壳和上地幔高导层的关系,进一步证实了短期原地重现线状集中分布感应电流的走向与中-下地壳和上地幔高导层顶面界埋深走向一致,认为其机理可能是深部热流体的上涌导致壳幔高阻体出现带有上拱性质的拆离滑动,深部上涌的热流体和高导层内热流体侵入高导层内电阻相对较高的地区,高导层出现短时间高导电流通道,当地磁日变化感应电流扫描经过高导电流通道时,感应电流会呈线状集中分布于此,并基于趋肤效应分布于其顶面附近。由于重现异常是发生在震源下方中-下地壳和上地幔高导层的地震异常,且该异常不同于震源附近及其震源至地表的地震异常,因此对推进地震孕育与发生机理研究可能有一定作用。此外研究还发现,地震虽然主要位于重叠段的端部,但更有可能位于中-下地壳重叠段的端部,这一发现对日常震情跟踪中应用该异常确定未来地震位置有一定帮助。     

Estimation of constant-damage residual displacements in terms of maximum inelastic displacements for SDOF structures

Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering - This paper investigates the constant-damage residual displacement ratios Cr (i.e., the ratio of the residual displacement in terms of the maximum inelastic...     

塔中地区良里塔格组海平面变化对高频层序和沉积演化的控制

【研究目的】碳酸盐岩地层易受海平面变化影响而发育高频层序,但是反映海平面变化的地化指标的精度不足,导致高频层序对海平面振荡的响应认识不够深入,高频海平面变化对台地边缘礁滩沉积的高频层序和沉积演化的控制尚不明确。【研究方法】论文研究选取塔里木盆地塔中地区某钻井的上奥陶统良里塔格组连续取心资料,通过密集取样开展微相分析和碳、氧同位素测试分析。【研究结果】该井良里塔格组中上部发育7种微相类型,沉积演化分析表明良里塔格组沉积中—晚期,沉积环境由潮坪向生物礁-颗粒滩再到较深水的开阔台地演化。碳、氧同位素测试显示δ¹³C为0.5993‰~1.6228‰（均值1.139‰）,δ¹⁸O值为-8.3608‰~-5.1452‰（均值为-6.790‰）;δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O的振荡变化与微相变化和沉积旋回对应良好。古海洋条件分析表明,良里塔格组沉积时期气候温热,礁、滩体发育层段样品的古温度值最高,代表着高的碳酸盐产率;Z值所反映的古盐度在底部潮坪沉积段最高,在高频旋回的顶部古盐度均明显减小,指示可能存在大气淡水的影响。与塔北地区南缘和巴楚地区的δ¹³C和δ¹⁸O存在一定差异,主要受控于沉积环境和古水深。【结论】良里塔格组中—上部存在至少3个完整的海平面升降变化周期,内部又包括至少2个次级周期;不同级别的海平面振荡主要受古气候变化驱动,并控制了高频层序的发育。海平面先缓慢上升再持续稳定或小规模振荡,是连续厚层的生物碎屑和砂屑颗粒滩沉积发育的有利条件;良里塔格组沉积晚期海平面快速上升,沉积环境向滩间洼地和较深水的开阔台地转变。在高频层序顶部海平面的小规模下降导致的早期岩溶作用是礁滩体储层质量改善的重要因素。     

中国地质学会公布第三届科普奖评选结果

为推动中国地质学会地学科普研学工作的开展,根据 《中国地质学会精品地学研学路线、课程评选办法(试行)》, 学会组织开展了第二批精品地学研学路线、第一批精品地学 研学课程的申报、推荐和评审工作。     

环渤海区域旅游非均衡发展时空特征研究

受资源禀赋、地理区位、经济水平等因素的影响,环渤海区域旅游发展水平不尽相同,非均衡性问题日益突显,且差距有拉大的趋势。空间自相关是一种空间统计分析方法,旨在探索旅游要素的空间分布规律和作用机制。根据2004—2013年的数据,计算环渤海地区的接待入境旅游人数、国际旅游外汇收入、国内旅游人数、国内旅游收入4组全局Moran’s I值,分析该时期环渤海区域旅游空间集聚演变过程。在局部空间自相关方面,选取2013年截面数据,通过Moran散点图和LISA分析,探究环渤海区域旅游发展相关程度和集聚情况,为区域旅游发展政策制定提供决策依据。