Slope stability FEM analysis and retaining wall design: a case study of clinker in Benxi of Liaoning

Stability is always the most important problem after high slope was excavated. The study analyzed the stress and strain inside the slope by Finite Element Method (FEM) and carried through stress distribution and failure zone, then analyzed the stability of the slope using three different methods and came to the conclusion that it is in unstable condition, so the designed retaining wall was put forward which makes the slope stable.     

Use of late ovarian atresia in describing spawning history of sardine, Sardina pilchardus

We investigated and compared the pattern of accumulation of recent and late atretic follicles in the ovaries of Iberian sardine, Sardina pilchardus, in relation to body size with the aim to examine whether late atresia can be used in back-calculations of individual spawning history. Oppositely to earlier stages, late atresia in sardine was shown to accumulate even at peak spawning periods in fish of larger size/age indicating a relationship between atretic intensity and the distant reproductive performance of the individuals. Despite the fact that intensity of late atresia was very high in some occasions, its accumulation was not shown to impede imminent spawning activity. Lack of dependence between imminent spawning activity and the intensity of late atresia was related to the differential pattern with which postovulatory and atretic follicles are associated to the lamellar epithelium of the ovary. Finally, the effect of the ‘reference trap’ which is a major source of bias when quantifying structures in stereological measurements, could be mediated or even completely removed by using a measure of ovarian growth, such as gonosomatic index in the present study, as a covariate when modeling variability in the intensity of atresia.     

The role of horizontal impulses of the faulting continental slope in generating the 26 December 2004 tsunami

For a long time, people have believed that the vertical displacement of seafloor due to undersea earthquakes is the primary cause of tsunami genesis. However, seismically-inverted seafloor deformation of the 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake shows that the total vertical displacement is not enough to have generated the powerful Indian Ocean tsunami. Based on the seismically-inverted data and a three-dimensional ocean general circulation model (OGCM), we show that the momentum force, transferred by the horizontal impulses of the faulting continental slope in that earthquake, has accounted for two thirds of the satellite-observed tsunami height and generated kinetic energy 5 times larger than the potential energy due to the vertical displacement. The asymmetric tsunami pattern, recorded by tide-gauges showing leading-elevation waves toward Sri Lanka and leading-depression waves toward Thailand, is best explained by the horizontally-forced mechanism. The same mechanism has also explained the March 2005 Nias earthquake and tsunami data, suggesting that the horizontal motions of faulting have played more important roles in tsunami genesis than previously thought.     

Analysis of stochastic characteristics of the Benue River flow process

Stochastic characteristics of the Benue River streamflow process are examined under conditions of data austerity. The streamflow process is investigated for trend, non-stationarity and seasonality for a time period of 26 years. Results of trend analyses with Mann-Kendall test show that there is no trend in the annual mean discharges. Monthly flow series examined with seasonal Kendall test indicate the presence of positive change in the trend for some months, especially the months of August, January, and February. For the stationarity test, daily and monthly flow series appear to be stationary whereas at 1%, 5%, and 10% significant levels, the stationarity alternative hypothesis is rejected for the annual flow series. Though monthly flow appears to be stationary going by this test, because of high seasonality, it could be said to exhibit periodic stationarity based on the seasonality analysis. The following conclusions are drawn： （1） There is seasonality in both the mean and variance with unimodal distribution. （2） Days with high mean also have high variance. （3） Skewness coefficients for the months within the dry season period are greater than those of the wet season period, and seasonal autocorrelations for streamflow during dry season are generally larger than those of the wet season. Precisely, they are significantly different for most of the months. （4） The autocorrelation functions estimated ＂over time＂ are greater in the absolute value for data that have not been deseasonalised but were initially normalised by logarithmic transformation only, while autocorrelation functions for i = 1, 2 365 estimated ＂over realisations＂ have their coefficients significantly different from other coefficients.     

Paleogene evolution and demise of the proto‐Paratethys Sea in Central Asia (Tarim and Tajik basins): Role of intensified tectonic activity at ca. 41 Ma

The proto‐Paratethys Sea covered a vast area extending from the Mediterranean Tethys to the Tarim Basin in western China during Cretaceous and early Paleogene. Climate modelling and proxy studies suggest that Asian aridification has been governed by westerly moisture modulated by fluctuations of the proto‐Paratethys Sea. Transgressive and regressive episodes of the proto‐Paratethys Sea have been previously recognized but their timing, extent and depositional environments remain poorly constrained. This hampers understanding of their driving mechanisms (tectonic and/or eustatic) and their contribution to Asian aridification. Here, we present a new chronostratigraphic framework based on biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy as well as a detailed palaeoenvironmental analysis for the Paleogene proto‐Paratethys Sea incursions in the Tajik and Tarim basins. This enables us to identify the major drivers of marine fluctuations and their potential consequences on Asian aridification. A major regional restriction event, marked by the exceptionally thick (≤ 400 m) shelf evaporites is assigned a Danian‐Selandian age (ca. 63–59 Ma) in the Aertashi Formation. This is followed by the largest recorded proto‐Paratethys Sea incursion with a transgression estimated as early Thanetian (ca. 59–57 Ma) and a regression within the Ypresian (ca. 53–52 Ma), both within the Qimugen Formation. The transgression of the next incursion in the Kalatar and Wulagen formations is now constrained as early Lutetian (ca. 47–46 Ma), whereas its regression in the Bashibulake Formation is constrained as late Lutetian (ca. 41 Ma) and is associated with a drastic increase in both tectonic subsidence and basin infilling. The age of the final and least pronounced sea incursion restricted to the westernmost margin of the Tarim Basin is assigned as Bartonian–Priabonian (ca. 39.7–36.7 Ma). We interpret the long‐term westward retreat of the proto‐Paratethys Sea starting at ca. 41 Ma to be associated with far‐field tectonic effects of the Indo‐Asia collision and Pamir/Tibetan plateau uplift. Short‐term eustatic sea level transgressions are superimposed on this long‐term regression and seem coeval with the transgression events in the other northern Peri‐Tethyan sedimentary provinces for the 1st and 2nd sea incursions. However, the 3rd sea incursion is interpreted as related to tectonism. The transgressive and regressive intervals of the proto‐Paratethys Sea correlate well with the reported humid and arid phases, respectively in the Qaidam and Xining basins, thus demonstrating the role of the proto‐Paratethys Sea as an important moisture source for the Asian interior and its regression as a contributor to Asian aridification.     

Seismic‐stratigraphic constraints on the age of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group,Faroe–Shetland region,Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Lower Palaeogene extrusive igneous rocks of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group (FIBG) dominate the Faroese continental margin, with flood basalts created at the time of breakup and separation from East Greenland extending eastwards into the Faroe‐Shetland Basin. This volcanic succession was emplaced in connection with the opening of the NE Atlantic; however, consensus on the age and duration of volcanism remains lacking. On the Faroe Islands, the FIBG comprises four main basaltic formations (the pre‐breakup Lopra and Beinisvørð formations, and the syn‐breakup Malinstindur and Enni formations) locally separated by thin intrabasaltic sedimentary and/or volcaniclastic units. Offshore, the distribution of these formations remains ambiguous. We examine the stratigraphic framework of these rocks on the Faroese continental margin combining onshore (published) outcrop information with offshore seismic‐reflection and well data. Our results indicate that on seismic‐reflection profiles, the FIBG can be informally divided into lower and upper seismic‐stratigraphic packages separated by the strongly reflective A‐horizon. The Lower FIBG comprises the Lopra and Beinisvørð formations; the upper FIBG includes the Malinstindur and Enni formations. The strongly reflecting A‐horizon is a consequence of the contrast in properties of the overlying Malinstindur and underlying Beinisvørð formations. Onshore, the A‐horizon is an erosional surface, locally cutting down into the Beinisvørð Formation; offshore, we have correlated the A‐horizon with the Flett unconformity, a highly incised, subaerial unconformity, within the juxtaposed and interbedded sedimentary fill of the Faroe‐Shetland Basin. We refer to this key regional boundary as the A‐horizon/Flett unconformity. The formation of this unconformity represents the transition from the pre‐breakup to the syn‐breakup phase of ocean margin development in the Faroe–Shetland region. We examine the wider implications of this correlation considering existing stratigraphic models for the FIBG, discussing potential sources of uncertainty in the correlation of the lower Palaeogene succession across the Faroe–Shetland region, and implications for the age and duration of the volcanism.     

Subpollen Particles as Atmospheric Cloud Condensation Nuclei

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Bioparticles constitute a significant fraction of atmospheric aerosol. Their size range varies from nanometers (macromolecules) to hundreds of...     

Amplitude–Frequency Characteristics of Geomagnetic Noise at Low Frequencies

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The features of the geomagnetic noise distribution over frequencies in different bandwidths and in the signal accumulation mode are investigated. It is...     

Atmospheric Loading Displacements

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - A method for calculating of the Earth’s surface displacements due to atmospheric loading effect is presented. The load displacements are...     

Organized Roll Circulation and Transport of Mineral Aerosols in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - An investigation into mesoscale roll circulation and its transport characteristics in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is carried out. The case...