Modelling and in-situ measurements of intense currents during a winter storm in the Gulf of Aigues-Mortes (NW Mediterranean Sea)

While oceanic circulation in the Gulf of Lion (GoL) has often been studied in calm weather or with northerly winds (Tramontane or Mistral) through observations and numerical circulation models, few studies have focused on southeasterly storm events. Yet, correct representation of the circulation during storms is crucial if the suspension of sediments is to be correctly modelled throughout the Gulf. The purpose of this paper is to describe the hydrodynamics in the Gulf of Aigues-Mortes (NW of the GoL) during the storm of 18 February 2007 by using a set of data from an ADCP station placed at a depth of 65 m on the sea bed off the coast at Sète, supplemented by the ocean circulation model SYMPHONIE. This storm was characterized by a moderate south-easterly wind (15 m . s^?1) and waves of up to 5 m of significant height at its apex. At the ADCP, strong currents of up to 0.8 m . s^?1 near the surface and 0.5 m . s^?1 near the bottom were recorded, parallel to the coast, flowing towards the south-west. The simulated currents were widely underestimated, even taking the effect of waves into account in the model. It was suspected that the representation of the wind in the atmospheric model was an underestimation. A new simulation was therefore run with an arbitrarily chosen stronger wind and its results were in much better agreement with the measurements. A simplified theoretical analysis successfully isolated the wind-induced processes, responsible for the strong currents measured during the apex and the strong vertical shear that occurred at the beginning of the storm. These processes were: 1/ the barotropic geostrophic current induced by a wind parallel to the coast and 2/ the Ekman spiral. The duration of the storm (about 36 h at the apex) explains the continuous increase of the current as predicted by the theory. The frictionally induced Ekman transport explains the current shear in the surface layer in the rising stage of the storm, and the addition of high waves and strong wind at the apex is more in favour of strong vertical mixing in the surface layer.     

Sediments of Lake Vens (SW European Alps,France) record large-magnitude earthquake events

We studied sediment cores from Lake Vens (2,327 m asl), in the Tinée Valley of the SW Alps, to test the paleoseismic archive potential of the lake sediments in this particularly earthquake-sensitive area. The historical earthquake catalogue shows that moderate to strong earthquakes, with intensities of IX–X, have impacted the Southern Alps during the last millennium. Sedimentological (X-ray images, grain size distribution) and geochemical (major elements and organic matter) analyses show that Lake Vens sediments consist of a terrigenous, silty material (minerals and organic matter) sourced from the watershed and diatom frustules. A combination of X-ray images, grain-size distribution, major elements and magnetic properties shows the presence of six homogenite-type deposits interbedded in the sedimentary background. These sedimentological features are ascribed to sediment reworking and grain sorting caused by earthquake-generated seiches. The presence of microfaults that cross-cut the sediment supports the hypothesis of seismic deposits in this system. A preliminary sediment chronology is provided by ²¹⁰Pb measurement and AMS ¹⁴C ages. According to the chronology, the most recent homogenite events are attributable to damaging historic earthquakes in AD 1887 (Ligure) and 1564 (Roquebillière). Hence, the Lake Vens sediment recorded large-magnitude earthquakes in the region and permits a preliminary estimate of recurrence time for such events of ~400 years.     

基于谱元-简正振型耦合方法的核幔边界D″区地震波波形模拟方法研究

本文拓展了一种模拟地震波在地球核幔边界D″区各向异性介质中传播的数值方法:谱元-简正振型耦合方法(CSEM).该方法通过在球对称各向同性介质空间采用简正振型方法,在各向异性的D″区采用谱元方法,并在两种介质的边界采用"DtN"算子耦合的策略计算一维模型PREM(见文献[1])或修改后的D″区横向各向同性VTI-PREM模型的理论地震图.模拟所得数值解结果与采用简正振型方法得到的解析解结果进行对比以验证方法的精度.在中国科学院地球深部结构重点实验室高性能计算机上使用128个CPU计算得到的结果显示,在10^-5～0.125 Hz的频率范围内谱元简正振型法得到的波形与简正振型方法能很好拟合.此外,对于VTI介质结构模型,谱元简正振型法能够准确模拟S波分裂现象,从而验证了谱元简正振型耦合方法对各向异性介质中地震波传播数值模拟是一种有效的方法.     

Comparison of two inverse analysis techniques for learning deep excavation response

Performance observation is a necessary part of the design and construction process in geotechnical engineering. For deep urban excavations, empirical and numerical methods are used to predict potential deformations and their impacts on surrounding structures. Two inverse analysis approaches are described and compared for an excavation project in downtown Chicago. The first approach is a parameter optimization approach based on genetic algorithm (GA). GA is a stochastic global search technique for optimizing an objective function with linear or non-linear constraints. The second approach, self-learning simulations (SelfSim), is an inverse analysis technique that combines finite element method, continuously evolving material models, and field measurements. The optimization based on genetic algorithm approach identifies material properties of an existing soil model, and SelfSim approach extracts the underlying soil behavior unconstrained by a specific assumption on soil constitutive behavior. The two inverse analysis approaches capture well lateral wall deflections and maximum surface settlements. The GA optimization approach tends to overpredict surface settlements at some distance from the excavation as it is constrained by a specific form of the material constitutive model (i.e. hardening soil model); while the surface settlements computed using SelfSim approach match the observed ones due to its ability to learn small strain non-linearity of soil implied in the measured settlements.     

Inhomogeneous distribution of REE in scheelite and dynamics of Archaean hydrothermal systems (Mt. Charlotte and Drysdale gold deposits, Western Australia)

Scheelite is a widespread accessory mineral in hydrothermal gold deposits, and its rare earth element (REE) patterns and Nd and Sr isotopic compositions can be used to constrain the path and origin of the mineralising fluids and the age of the hydrothermal activity. Micro-analyses by laser ablation high resolution inductively coupled mass spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence imaging reveal a very inhomogeneous distribution of the REE in single scheelite grains from the Mt. Charlotte and Drysdale Archaean gold deposits in Western Australia. Two end-member REE patterns are distinguished: type I is middle REE (MREE)-enriched, with no or minor positive Eu-anomaly, whereas type II is flat or MREE-depleted with a strong positive Eu-anomaly. The chemical inhomogeneity of these scheelites is related to oscillatory zoning involving type I and type II patterns, with zone widths varying from below 1 to 200 μm. Intra-sectorial growth discontinuities, syn-crystallisation brittle deformation, and variations in the relative growth velocities of crystallographically equivalent faces suggest a complex crystallisation history under dynamic hydraulic conditions. The co-existence of MREE-enriched and MREE-depleted patterns within single scheelite crystals can be explained by the precipitation of a mineral which strongly partitions MREE relative to light and heavy REE. Scheelite itself has such characteristics, as does fluorapatite, which is locally abundant and has REE contents similar to that of scheelite. In this context, the systematic increase of the Eu-anomaly between type I and type II patterns is produced by the difference between the partition coefficients of Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺, and not by fluid mixing or redox reactions. Consequently, the high positive Eu-anomaly typical of scheelite from gold ores may not necessarily be inherited from the hydrothermal fluid, but may reflect processes occurring during ore deposition. This case study demonstrates that in hydrothermal systems characterised by low REE concentrations in the fluid, and by the precipitation of a REE-rich mineral which strongly fractionates the REE, the REE patterns of such a mineral will be highly sensitive to the dynamics of the hydrothermal system. Received: 1 November 1999 / Accepted: 4 February 2000     

西北东部夏季极端干旱事件机理分析

利用国家气候中心提供的1951—2012年逐日降水、温度、综合气象干旱指数、逐月NCEP/NCAR再分析资料等,采用REOF分析、动力诊断、相关分析以及合成分析等方法,从大气环流异常特征、高空急流与季风异常等方面揭示西北东部夏季极端干旱事件的可能机理。研究发现西北东部夏季发生极端干旱时,副热带急流轴"倾斜",且急流与东亚夏季风强度均处于相对偏弱阶段。极端干旱的成因研究表明:急流轴"倾斜"及其强度减弱导致西北东部地区高层大范围的异常辐合;该地区为水汽源区,对流层整层水汽收支显著亏损;此外,该地区低层盛行来自内陆干旱区的异常西南风,东亚夏季风强度偏弱,高低层配置及大尺度环流形势不利于降水产生。     

Can the gold coast beaches withstand extreme events?

The Gold Coast sandy beaches of Queensland (Australia) are exposed to energetic wave conditions. Storms, particularly tropical cyclones, have a high potential of destruction. The Gold Coast has not experienced excessive erosive events over the past 30 years. However, some climate indicators suggest that cyclone frequency is likely to increase in response to global climate change within the near future. Over a 2-month period in early 2006, beach surveys were undertaken with a theodolite total station at four different sites. Offshore wave conditions were provided by SWAN regional wave modelling. During this study, the Gold Coast was exposed to three major storms, the first one being the second most energetic over the past 30 years. Results show a substantial variability of the beach response to these events along the Gold Coast, and that engineering structures do not have marked effects. Easterly swells have the greatest impact on the Gold Coast sub-aerial beach morphology. When low wave-energy conditions prevail, the southern Gold Coast beaches recover more quickly than the northern ones, as they are sheltered from high SE waves and draw advantage from the artificial sand bypassing system. Nevertheless, the data show that the Gold Coast beaches are exceedingly fragile. For instance, the early March decadal event considerably weakened the beaches, which resulted in surprisingly high erosion rates all along the Gold Coast during the two following annual wave events. This study suggests that the Gold Coast beaches would not be able to withstand the impact of an increased frequency of extreme events similar in scale to those of 1967.     

黄金岸线海滩能否抵挡极端事件的冲击

砂质海滩是最变化莫测和脆弱的海岸带类型之一。众所周知,海滩在高能环境中会被侵蚀,但海滩上不同位置点对于极端事件的抵御能力则大不相同。而且,侵蚀速率通常受控于海滩状况、机械结构和前期补给。     

A pilot study of genetic differentiation between two phenotypes of a Mediterranean population of the bivalve Cerastoderma glaucum and genetic discrimination with other Cerastoderma glaucum and Cerastoderma edule populations outside the Mediterranean

The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region of 29 individuals of Cerastoderma glaucum (from the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and the North Sea) and 18 individuals of Cerastoderma edule (from the Atlantic and the North Sea) and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) region of 43 individuals of C. glaucum (from the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and the North Sea) and 9 individuals of C. edule (from the Atlantic and the North Sea) were PCR amplified and sequenced. The ITS1 sequences led us to describe 27 genetic haplotypes, while 21 genetic haplotypes were determined via the COI sequences. The ITS1 and the COI sequences revealed an important genetic variability within the Mediterranean population of C. glaucum, which contained two different phenotypes: orange foot and yellow foot. A genetic differentiation between the two phenotypes was revealed by the nucleotide diversity index (π) and is strengthened by the AMOVA analysis. This result leads us to suspect the presence of two different groups in the same population of C. glaucum. Nevertheless to be confirmed this hypothesis requires further studies using more locations and a larger number of sample sizes.