Analysis of mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter in a sandstorm course and its affecting factors in the Taklimakan Desert

During the course of a major sandstorm from April 17 to April 23, 2008 in the Taklimakan Desert, data pertaining to the mass concentrations of different-sized atmospheric particulate matter were observed continuously with Grimm 1.108, Thermo RP 1400a, TSP, and CAWS-600 instruments. The results showed that: (1) during the entire sandstorm process there were some differences between the daily mean particle concentration peaks and the hourly mean particle concentration peaks because the actual sandstorm lasted for only about 4 hr, whereas more particles were accumulated in the floating dust days before and after the actual sandstorm; (2) the intensity of the sandstorm was enhanced with the increase of wind speed, and this was related to the peak mass concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter; the wind speed directly affected the concentration of atmospheric particulate matter: the higher the wind speed, the higher the mass concentration (>0.23 μm was 39,496.5 μg/m³, and >20.0 μm was 5,390.7 μg/m³); (3) the concentration changes of PM₁₀ and TSP were also related to the course and intensity of the sandstorm; and (4) the mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter had the following sequence during the dust weather: clear day < floating dust < floating and blowing dust < sandstorm. Temperature, relative humidity, and barometric pressure are important factors affecting the strength of storms, which could also indirectly affect the concentration change of atmospheric particulate matter.     

Assessment of shallow landslides from Hurricane Mitch in central America using a physically based model

Shallow landslides induced by heavy rainfall events represent one of the most disastrous hazards in mountainous regions because of their high frequency and rapid mobility. Recent advancements in the availability and accessibility of remote sensing data, including topography, land cover and precipitation products, allow landslide hazard assessment to be considered at larger spatial scales. A theoretical framework for a landslide forecasting system was prototyped in this study using several remotely sensed and surface parameters. The applied physical model SLope-Infiltration-Distributed Equilibrium (SLIDE) takes into account some simplified hypotheses on water infiltration and defines a direct relation between factor of safety and the rainfall depth on an infinite slope. This prototype model is applied to a case study in Honduras during Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Two study areas were selected where a high density of shallow landslides occurred, covering approximately 1,200 km². The results were quantitatively evaluated using landslide inventory data compiled by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) following Hurricane Mitch’s landfall. The agreement between the SLIDE modeling results and landslide observations demonstrates good predictive skill and suggests that this framework could serve as a potential tool for the future early landslide warning systems. Results show that within the two study areas, the values of rates of successful estimation of slope failure locations reached as high as 78 and 75%, while the error indices were 35 and 49%. Despite positive model performance, the SLIDE model is limited by several assumptions including using general parameter calibration rather than in situ tests and neglecting geologic information. Advantages and limitations of this physically based model are discussed with respect to future applications of landslide assessment and prediction over large scales.     

倾斜基岩上的土-框架相互作用研究

倾斜基岩上的框架是山地、丘陵地区多见的一种结构形式，但以往对其抗震性能研究很少。本文利用二次开发后的ANSYS对倾斜基岩上的框架的抗震性能进行了上下部相互作用分析。在研究中发现，考虑土一结相互作用后，结构的高阶振型在地震反应中的参与程度提高；可能在结构的地震反应傅里叶谱中形成双峰；并使地震反应沿结构高度的分布不再沿直线变化，而呈锯齿状分布。由于倾斜基岩将降低土层对地震波的放大作用，但基本不改变地基的卓越频率，因此倾斜基岩将会抑制上部结构的地震反应；而倾斜基岩上结构的地震反应分布将比相应平坦基岩上结构的地震反应分布更接近直线形分布，但变化形状基本相同。     

基于L1范数凸二次规划方法的航空重力测量数据稀疏重构（英文）

由于受到国界、测量成本和数据规模等因素的限制,航空重力测量本质上是一种欠奈奎斯特采样方法,本文通过离散傅里叶变换分析了航空重力测量的稀疏性,提出了利用压缩感知理论实现大规模重力异常数据高精度重构的思路。基于压缩感知理论,重力异常数据重构问题可以转化为基于L1范数的凸二次规划问题,本文结合预处理共轭梯度算法,提出了一种改进的内点法来解决此问题。进一步地,我们利用自主研发的SGA-WZ型捷联式航空重力仪在中国某地区进行了航空重力测量试验。通过对试验中测得的重力异常数据进行重构,与常用的线性插值重构方法对比,结果表明:本文提出的基于压缩感知理论的新方法能够以更高的重构精度,更有效地解决大规模重力异常数据的重构问题。     

420芦山地震峡口滑坡监测数据分析

基于420芦山地震前后获取的峡口滑坡监测数据,对地震发生时峡口滑坡地下水位、深部位移及地表位移变化情况进行了分析,结果表明：（1）芦山地震前,峡口滑坡地下水位出现持续异常上升,涨幅在1m以上, 4月20日即芦山地震发生当日,地下水位达到峰值,震后,地下水位开始迅速下降,降幅在1.5m左右; （2）芦山地震发生当天,受芦山地震的影响,滑坡深部发生了一次大于1mm的位移,其后恢复基本稳定的状态。利用R/S分析方法对峡口滑坡稳定性进行分析,受芦山地震影响, 4月份峡口滑坡的Hurst指数明显有所下降,说明滑坡的稳定性有所降低。但总体上滑坡的Hurst指数均大于0.5,说明滑坡一直处于稳定状态。     

Scale matching of multiscale digital elevation model (DEM) data and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model: a case study of meteorological simulation in Hong Kong

It is becoming easier to combine geographical data and dynamic models to provide information for problem solving and geographical cognition. However, the scale dependencies of the data, model, and process can confuse the results. This study extends traditional scale research in static geographical patterns to dynamic processes and focuses on the combined scale effect of multiscale geographical data and dynamic models. The capacity for topographical expression under the combined scale effect was investigated by taking multiscale topographical data and meteorological processes in Hong Kong as a case study. A meteorological simulation of the combined scale effect was evaluated against data from Hong Kong Observatory stations. The experiments showed that (1) a digital elevation model (DEM) using 3 arc sec data with a 1 km resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model gives better topographical expression and meteorological reproduction in Hong Kong; (2) a fine-scale model is sensitive to the resolution of the DEM data, whereas a coarse-scale model is less sensitive to it; (3) better topographical expression alone does not improve weather process simulation; and (4) uncertainty arising from a scale mismatch between the DEM data and the dynamic model may account for 38 % of the variance in certain meteorological variables (e.g., temperature). This case study gives a clear explanation of the significance and implementation of scale matching for multiscale geographical data and dynamic models.     

Seasonally frozen soil effects on the dynamic behavior of highway bridges

Frozen ground is significantly stiffer than unfrozen ground. For bridges supported on deep foundations, bridge stiffness is also measurably higher in winter months. Significant changes due to seasonal freezing in bridge pier boundary conditions require additional detailing in order to ensure a ductile performance of the bridge during a design earthquake event. This paper reports the latest results obtained from a project that systematically investigated the effects of seasonally frozen soil on the seismic behavior of highway bridges in cold regions. A bridge was chosen and was monitored to study its seismic performance and assess the impact of seasonally frozen soil on its dynamic properties. A Finite Element (FE) model was created for this bridge to analyze the impact of seasonal frost. It was found that when frost depth reaches 1.2 m, the first transverse modal frequency increases about 200% when compared with the no-frost case. The results show that seasonal frost has a significant impact on the overall dynamic behavior of bridges supported by pile foundations in cold regions, and that these effects should be accounted for in seismic design.     

南海西南部海盆附近中尺度涡及其水文特征

根据"东方红2"于2011年9月在南海西南部11°N~15°N、111°E~114°E海域测得的CTD资料及据此的地转流计算结果,结合南海的海流数值计算结果的对比分析,得出南海西南部海盆附近水域中尺度涡的基本分布规律及其水文特征:(1)以12°N~13°N附近宽约100km的条带作为分界,其北部是气旋式运动,南部是反气旋式运动。(2)气旋涡中心产生上升流,底层水上升,中心密度大。表层表现为低温高盐高密特征;200m层表现为低温低盐高密特征;1 000m层则表现为低温高盐高密特征。(3)在反气旋涡中心产生下降流,海水密度小。表层表现为高温低盐低密特征;200m层表现为高温高盐低密特征;1 000m层则表现为高温低盐低密特征。(4)在8~9月,上述北气旋、南反气旋的分布流态基本不变;(5)季风的影响是因素之一,而地形影响更是调查区域双涡旋流动结构的重要动力机制。