A geochemical approach to constraining the formation of glassy fallout debris from nuclear tests

Glassy nuclear fallout debris from near-surface nuclear tests is fundamentally reprocessed earth material. A geochemical approach to analysis of glassy fallout is uniquely suited to determine the means of reprocessing and shed light on the mechanisms of fallout formation. An improved understanding of fallout formation is of interest both for its potential to guide post-detonation nuclear forensic investigations and in the context of possible affinities between glassy debris and other glasses generated by high-energy natural events, such as meteorite impacts and lightning strikes. This study presents a large major-element compositional dataset for glasses within aerodynamic fallout from the Trinity nuclear test (“trinitite”) and a geochemically based analysis of the glass compositional trends. Silica-rich and alkali-rich trinitite glasses show compositions and textures consistent with formation through melting of individual mineral grains—quartz and alkali feldspar, respectively—from the test-site sediment. The volumetrically dominant glass phase—called the CaMgFe glass—shows extreme major-element compositional variability. Compositional trends in the CaMgFe glass are most consistent with formation through volatility-controlled condensation from compositionally heterogeneous plasma. Radioactivity occurs only in CaMgFe glass, indicating that co-condensation of evaporated bulk ground material and trace device material was the main mechanism of radioisotope incorporation into trinitite. CaMgFe trinitite glasses overlap compositionally with basalts, rhyolites, fulgurites, tektites, and microtektites but display greater compositional diversity than all of these naturally formed glasses. Indeed, the most refractory CaMgFe glasses compositionally resemble early solar system condensates—specifically, CAIs.     

Urban environments as habitats for rare aquatic species: The case of leeches (Euhirudinea, Clitellata) in Warsaw freshwaters

Reduced biological diversity in freshwater habitats situated in urban areas has been discussed in numerous studies. Certain municipal areas, however, can help save animal diversity of freshwater invertebrates. In the present study animals were collected or observed alive in 13 freshwater environments localized in Warsaw - the second largest city of Central Europe - in a densely populated, urban building complex close to the city, and also in suburban areas. Leech assemblages in all the environments under observation were numerically dominated by a few common species, but on the whole 19 species were collected or observed. The populations of six rare leech species inhabit both flowing and standing waters in Warsaw. Five of these species are on the Polish Red List of Species and one is strictly protected. The shallow Lake Powsinkowskie is the richest freshwater environment in the studied area in terms of species richness and rarity and also one of the richest lakes in Poland. Taxonomic diversity in the environments under study seems not to be directly related to the size of the water body or the level of degradation but rather to the habitat complexity, especially the diversity of the bottom in littoral zone. Certain freshwater habitats located inside this great urban complex still create good conditions for rare, highly specialized species.     

汶川8.0级地震前地震空间相关长度变化特征

分析了汶川8.0级地震前的地震空间长度的时空演变。在计算空间相关长度过程中采用长轴与孕震区主要断裂走向一致的椭圆型空间窗,并设计了优化程序。在本次特大地震前观测到了增长的地震空间相关长度。利用合成地震目录对结果进行了显著性检验,结果否定了零假设,表明观察到的模型不是由随机数据干扰造成的,这一观点的置信水平被证实为93.9%。     

兰州台阵响应函数及不同方位小地震事件FK分析结果

计算了兰州台阵不同频率的台阵响应函数,对台阵附近不同方位的4个小震进行了FK分析。结果显示兰州台阵2 Hz以下的台阵响应函数在原点附近呈现出对称的单主峰图样,而高于2Hz时台阵响应函数出现较多旁瓣,表明该台阵对于2 Hz以下的信号具有较好的分辨能力。小震的FK分析结果表明,根据甘肃省地震局地震目录和IASP91速度模型计算得到P波方位角和慢度与FK分析的结果总体上比较一致,但也存在一定差别,这种差别可能由所使用的理论模型和当地模型有差别以及未做台阵校正所引起。     

断裂区带变形分析方法及应用

应用GPS观测技术专门研究活动断裂区带的地壳形变及其服务于地震预测的数据处理方法目前还不够完善与充分。本文针对这一问题并结合实际的需求,从场的角度提出了适合于断裂区带活动特征分析的数据处理方法,并以川滇菱形块体东边界带为例,依据1999-2004年的GPS资料对其进行了简要分析。结果表明:①经过这种处理与描述可使人们从多角度更清楚全面地了解断裂及两侧的相对活动,及在空间上的演化特征;②走滑运动等值线显示川滇菱形块体东边界两侧相对活动量最大达15 mm/a,分布宽度约400 km,然而活动量的2/3只分布在断层两侧近100km的范围内,清晰而定量地显现了高剪切应变的积累与存在的空间;③走滑运动梯度显示川滇形块体东边界带南段变形大于北段;④张压性运动结果显示断裂两侧没有明显的差异变化。     

汶川特大地震之北川县城震害分析

2008年5月12日汶川8.0级地震在北川县城造成了巨大的破坏,导致上万人死亡,整个北川县城变为废墟。现场地震科考分析显示,造成北川县城建筑物和道路严重损毁以及人员重大伤亡的三个主要原因为:活断层错动产生的地表破裂效应,地震引发的次生地质灾害(崩塌、滑坡)和强地震动产生的振动破坏效应。北川县城主断裂和次级断裂沿线分布的建筑物震害较重,而邻近断裂的建筑物震害相对较轻;地震触发的王家岩滑坡和景家山崩塌对北川县城造成了极大的破坏,导致2000余人死亡;而振动破坏效应在北川县城普遍存在,它产生的水平剪切运动对建筑物的危害很严重。     

Lunar noise correlation,imaging and monitoring

Passive seismic techniques have revolutionarised seismology,leading for example to increased resolution in surface wave tomography,to the possibility to monitor changes in the propagation medium,and to many new processing strategies in seismic exploration.Here we review applications of the new techniques to a very particular dataset,namely data from the Apollo 17 lunar network.The special conditions of the lunar noise environment are investigated,illustrating the interplay between the properties of the noise and the ability to reconstruct Green's functions.With a dispersion analysis of reconstructed Rayleigh waves new information about the shallow shear velocity structure of the Moon are obtained.Passive image interferometry is used to study the effect of temperature changes in the subsurface on the seismic velocities providing direct observation of a dynamic process in the lunar environment.These applications highlight the potential of passive techniques for terrestrial and planetary seismology.