Relationships between tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons (polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides) and antioxidative responses of marine mussels, Perna viridis

Marine mussels, Perna viridis, were transplanted from a reference site to various polluted sites around Hong Kong. After 30 d of exposure, antioxidative responses in the gills and hepatopancreas and tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides (CPs)] were determined for individual mussels. Glutathione S transferase (GST) and glutathione (GSH) were positively correlated with tissue PCB concentrations. Only one of the enzymatic antioxidants, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), showed significant response to tissue PCB. No significant correlation was found between tissue concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons and other enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and NADPH DT-diaphorase (DT-d). Oxidative stress, measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, was correlated with chlorinated pesticide concentrations in tissues. This study demonstrated a correlation between GST/GSH and chlorinated hydrocarbons. The apparent lack of correlation between trace organic pollutants and some of the enzymatic antioxidants may be due to the inhibitory effects caused by these chemicals. The above results suggest that more investigations are needed before these enzymes can be used as biomarkers.     

Chemical equilibria of thermal waters for the application of geothermometers from the Guanzhong basin, China

In this study, representative samples from thermal wells and springs were chemically analyzed and geothermometers were used to calculate the deep temperatures of geothermal reservoirs on the basis of water–mineral equilibrium. In some cases, however, the chemical components are not in equilibrium with the minerals in the reservoir. Therefore, log(Q/K) diagrams are used to study the chemical equilibrium for the minerals that are likely to participate. The Na–K–Mg triangular diagram is also applied to evaluate the equilibrium of water with reservoir rocks. Standard curves at the reference temperatures are prepared to reveal which type of silica geothermometer is appropriate for the specified condition. This study shows that water samples from geothermal wells W9 and W12 are in equilibrium with the selective minerals, and chalcedony may control the fluid–silica equilibrium. It is estimated that there is an exploitable low-temperature reservoir with possible temperatures of 80–90°C in the Guanzhong basin.     

Modelling of meteorological conditions at an urban scale for the PUMA winter campaign

For the winter 2000 campaign of the Pollution of Urban Midlands Atmosphere project, observation and numerical modelling of meteorological conditions over the West Midlands conurbation, UK, was undertaken. Modelling was performed using the regional atmospheric meteorological system (RAMS). This paper presents a comparison of modelled and observed wind and temperature for 25 and 26 January 2000. The RAMS model uses two nested grids with a mesh size of 2 km for the inner grid which is embedded in the outer grid with a mesh size of 8 km. Statistical evaluation of the model results against the observational data of wind speed, direction and temperature at 10 m was conducted. In general, the modelling results are in a reasonable agreement with observation. The statistical evaluation suggests that model performance is poorer for the inner grid than the outer grid as the model uncertainties (mainly mean bias) transfer from the outer to inner one. The low indices of agreement of temperature and wind are mainly associated with the systematic root-mean-square-difference values. For temperature, the systematic bias may also be affected by representation of cloud amount by the model. For wind, the model tends to have a poor performance for calm conditions, as under a stable anti-cyclonic situation local wind patterns associated with topography may develop, although the topography of the region is relatively flat. The results for the inner grid reveal some subtle spatial patterns at a scale smaller than 10 km near hills and valleys with differences in elevation of a few hundred metres.     

多种驱动力作用下东亚大陆形变及应力场演化

将印度板块持续地向北推进、下伏地幔小尺度对流对增厚大陆岩石层的搬离作用以及剥蚀作用视为形成现今东亚大陆形变和应力场格局的主驱动力。在一梯形区域内，利用数值模拟的方法，研究了东亚大陆在不同的边界条件、不同的剥蚀率系数及不同的岩石力学参数条件下的形变及应力场格局。与现代空间大地测量技术 CGPS)以及利用地震观测得到的结果进行了对比。结果表明，本文模型预测的结果与上述的观测结果有较好的吻合，其西部地区比东部吻合得更好。说明控制东亚大陆西部形变和应力场基本格局的主驱动力，来源于印度板块对欧亚板块的碰撞、挤压，而对东部地区还应当考虑其与太平洋板块和菲律宾板块的相互作用。与此同时，下伏地幔小尺度对流对增厚大陆岩石层的搬离作用以及风化剥蚀对应力场的演化过程也不可忽视。      

Study of the Earth’s free core nutation by tidal gravity data recorded with international superconducting gravimeters

By stacking high-precision tidal gravity observations obtained with superconducting gravimeters at six stations in China, Japan, Belgium, France, Germany and Finland, the local systematical discrepancies in the parameter fitting, caused by atmospheric, oceanic tidal loading and the other local environmental perturbations, are eliminated effectively. As a result, the resonance parameters of the Earth’s free core nutation are accurately determined. In this study, the eigenperiod of free core nutation is given as 429.0 sidereal days, which is in agreement with those published in the previous studies. It is about 30 sidereal days less than those calculated in theoretical models (about 460 sidereal days), which confirms the real ellipticity of the fluid core of the Earth to be about 5% larger than the one expected in assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. The quality factor (Q value) of free core nutation is given as about 9543, which, compared with those determined before based on the body tide observations, is much larger, but more close to those obtained using the VLBI observations. The complex resonance strength is also determined as (−6.10×10⁻⁴, −0.01 ×10⁻⁴)°/h, which can principally describe the deformation characteristics of an anelastic mantle.     

Natural hydraulic cracking: numerical model and sensitivity study

Natural hydrofracturing caused by overpressure plays an important role in geopressure evolution and hydrocarbon migration in petroliferous basins. Its mechanism is quite well understood in the case of artificial hydraulic fracturing triggered by high-pressure fluid injection in a well. This is not so for natural hydraulic fracturing which is assumed to initiate as micro-cracks with large influence on the permeability of the medium. The mechanism of natural hydraulic cracking, triggered by increasing pore pressure during geological periods, is studied using a fracturing model coupled to the physical processes occurring during basin evolution. In this model, the hydraulic cracking threshold is assumed to lie between the classical failure limit and the beginning of dilatancy. Fluid pressure evolution is calculated iteratively in order to allow dynamic adjustment of permeability so that the fracturing limit is always preserved. The increase of permeability is interpreted on the basis of equivalent fractures. It is found that fracturing is very efficient to keep a stress level at the rock’s hydraulic cracking limit: a fracture permeability one order of magnitude larger than the intrinsic permeability of the rock would be enough. Observations reported from actual basins and model results strongly suggest that natural hydraulic cracking occurs continuously to keep the pressure at the fracturing limit under relaxed stress conditions.     

Sedimentary cycles of trace elements in Salawusu River Valley since 150 ka BP

The paper makes some analyses on 11 trace elements in the Milanggouwan stratigraphical section in the Salawusu River valley, which is regarded as a prototype geology-palaeoclimate record since 150 ka BP. The results show that the content and variation of trace elements has experienced remarkably regular changes in the pace with coarse and fine sedimentary cycles of palaeo-aeolian sands to its overlying fluvio-lacustrine facies or/and palaeosols. The trace elements with chemical properties of relatively active (V, Sr, Cu, Ni, As) and relatively stable (P, Pb, Rb, Mn, Nb, Zr) are a manifestation of the corresponding 27 changeable cycles between peak and valley values, appearing a multi-fiuctuational process line of relative gathering and migration since then. The low numerical value distribution of these two types of trace elements in the aeolian sand facies represents erosion and accumulation under wind force during the cold-dry climate. Whereas their enrichments in both fluvio-lacustrine facies and palaeosols are related to the valley’s special low-lying physiognomic position between the Ordos Plateau and the Loess Plateau under the warm and humid climate conditions. The above relatively migrated and gathered change of the trace elements is the result of 27 climatic cycles of cold-dry and warm-humid, which is probably caused by repeated alternations of winter monsoon and summer monsoon in the Mu Us Sandy Land influenced by the climate vicissitudes in northern hemisphere during glacial and interglacial periods since 150 ka BP.     

“面向区域”的GIS控件的设计与使用

本文提出了一个“面向区域”GIS控件的概念———即以特定的地理区域为对象,将基础地理信息连同有关的GIS功能操作融合为一个可重用的程序模块,以Microsoft的COM(即“组件对象模型”)技术为基础,组织为“GIS化”的ActiveX控件。这种GIS控件,将面向对象技术中的“对象”扩展到了整个特定的地理区域空间,其核心思想是不仅封装了GIS的数据模型,必要的功能操作,而且封装了所有的基础地理信息。由于省去了对空间数据的处理,因而这种GIS控件可被广大非GIS专业的信息系统开发者灵活、简便地用于各种管理信息系统、办公自动化系统和决策支持系统的GIS功能扩充,也可用于构建一般的地理信息系统,因而有利于GIS技术应用的普及。文章最后给出了有关陕西省的应用实例     

电法勘探在汤岗子地热田中的应用

文章从不同岩石的电性差异及地热区视电阻率与温度的关系出发,通过综合电法在汤岗子地热田又找到了新的地热资源,说明综合电法对勘查地热是行之有效的.