胡杨和灰杨的叶绿素荧光参数及茎水势对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地生境的响应

通过测定胡杨（Populus euphratica）、灰杨（Populus pruinosa）叶绿素荧光参数和茎水势,研究了二者成龄叶片样本的电子传递和光能的吸收、分配和耗散对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地生境的适应特征。结果表明,无论清晨弱光下还是正午强光下,胡杨茎水势均比灰杨低,胡杨具有更强的吸水能力;在光合有效辐射不十分高的晴天内,胡杨的光系统Ⅱ的电子传递速率ETR对时间的积分面积大于灰杨,表明胡杨的日能量积累量大于灰杨;胡杨的非光化学淬灭系数NPQ呈单峰状,灰杨呈双峰态,正午的光合有效辐射对灰杨造成了一定程度的光抑制;午后14时（光合有效辐射最大,PAR=1216 μmo·m-2·s-1）,胡杨Y(NO)∶Y(NPQ)∶Y(Ⅱ)=18%∶50%∶32%,主动耗散能量的比例占到50%,表现了极强的抗性,而灰杨3者比例为Y(NO)∶Y(NPQ)∶Y(Ⅱ)=16%∶19%∶65%,通过提高主动散热（NPQ机制）比例,胡杨较灰杨具有更强的强光适应能力。胡杨与灰杨皆可通过提高激发能热耗散比例适应较高光合有效辐射,但胡杨较灰杨具有更强的调节能力和抗性。     

Stochastic modeling of Iranian earthquakes and estimation of ground motion for future earthquakes in Greater Tehran

Strong-motion data from eight significant well-documented earthquakes in Iran have been simulated using a stochastic modeling technique for finite faults proposed by Beresnev and Atkinson [Bull Seismol Soc Am 87 (1997) 67–84; Seism Res Lett 69 (1998) 27–32]. The database consists of 61 three-component records from eight earthquakes of magnitude ranging from M 6.3 to M 7.4, recorded at hypocentral distances up to 200 km. The model predictions are in good agreement with available Iranian strong-motion data as evidenced by near-zero average of differences between logarithms of the observed and predicted values for all frequencies. The strength factor, sfact, a quantity that controls the high-frequency radiation from the source is determined, on an event-by-event basis, by fitting simulated to observed response spectra.     

内流河流域水资源利用对径流年际年内变化影响的分析——以塔里木河流域为例

以塔里木河流域为例 ,探讨了干旱区内流河流域近 40年来 ,由于人口增长、灌溉面积扩大、河流水资源引用程度日益增加等原因所引起的河流径流多年变化及年内变化等水文效应及其变化的原因。     

Multivariate statistical analysis of deformation tensors: independent vs. correlated tensor observations

In the presence of errors in measuring a random displacement field (under the normal distribution assumption of displacement field), stochastic behaviors of principal components of deformation tensors (strain tensor and tensor of change of curvature (TCC)), based on the intrinsic assumption of geometrical modeling of surface deformation analysis, are discussed. We divided the contents into two parts: In the first, we considered independent random vectors of repeated tensor measurements. In the second step, we considered correlations among repeated measurements. Then, covariance components between tensor elements by Helmert estimator, based on prior information of variance components, are estimated. As a case study, both assumptions are applied to the estimation of principal components of deformation rate tensor observations in Zagros region (Western Iran). The results of numerical analysis showed that greatest shortening is accommodated in oblique orientation (NS) with respect to the Main Recent Fault (MRF), northwest part of North Zagros, Central Iran block and MRF, respectively. Most of the extensions occurred in the east part of the belt. The pattern of eigenspace components of TCC shows highest positive values across the NW region, nearly in orthogonal direction to the MRF and Main Zagros Fault (MZF). The pattern has insignificant values in the Central Zagros. It takes the significant negative values across the SW part, especially along the SPF and Persian Gulf shore. The effect of non-independent observations on the estimation of eigenspace components of deformation tensors (strain tensor and TCC) shows that the estimation of covariance components has influence on the confidence intervals of eigenspace components, especially in seismically active regions of the belt (along the Persian Gulf shore, NW of the belt and region between the Central Iran block and MRF). The results demonstrate the importance of considering the correlation structure among the observations on statistical behavior of principal components of deformation tensors in seismically active regions.     

Seismic risk and damage prediction: case of the buildings in Constantine city (Algeria)

Located at the North-Eastern part of Algeria (Tellian Atlas), Constantine has crucial administrative, economic, scientific and cultural importance. It has continuously experienced significant urban evolutions during the different periods of its history. The city is located in an active seismic region within Algeria and has been struck in the past by several moderate and strong earthquakes. The strongest earthquake recorded since the beginning of instrumental seismology took place on October 27, 1985 with a magnitude M \(_\mathrm{S}=\) 5.9. Constantine presents a high seismic risk, because of its dense housing and high population density (2,374 inhabitants/km \(^{2})\) . This requires a risk assessment in order to take preventive measures and reduce the losses in case of potential major earthquake. For this purpose, a scenario based approach is considered. The building damage assessment methodology adopted for the Algerian context is adapted from HAZUS approach. In the present case, the effective Algerian seismic code response spectrum (RPA 99/2003) is considered as a seismic hazard model. The prediction of the expected damages is performed for a set of almost 29,000 buildings.     

Application of singular value decomposition (SVD) and semi-discrete decomposition (SDD) techniques in clustering of geochemical data: an environmental study in central Iran

Common multivariate clustering techniques are ineffective in identifying subtle patterns of correlation, and clustering of variables or samples within complex geochemical datasets. This study compares the combination of singular value decomposition (SVD) and semi discrete decomposition (SDD), with that of hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), to examine patterns within a multielement soil geochemical dataset from an agricultural area in the vicinity of Pb–Zn mining operations in central Iran. SVD was used to both identify patterns of correlation between variables and samples and to “denoise” the data, and SDD to simultaneously cluster the samples and variables. The results reveal various spatial associations of mining waste-associated metals As, Ba, Pb and Zn, and within the remaining elements whose distribution is largely controlled by the major oxides. SVD–SDD was found to be superior to HCA, in its ability to detect subtle clusters in soil geochemistry indicative of mine-related contamination in the study area.     

The first electric field pulse of cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning discharges

In this study, the first electric field pulse of cloud and cloud-to-ground discharges were analyzed and compared with other pulses of cloud discharges. Thirty eight cloud discharges and 101 cloud-to-ground discharges have been studied in this analysis. Pulses in cloud discharges were classified as ‘small’, ‘medium’ and ‘large’, depending upon the value of their relative amplitude with respect to that of the average amplitude of the five largest pulses in the flash. We found that parameters, such as pulse duration, rise time, zero crossing time and full-width at half-maximum (FWHMs) of the first pulse of cloud and cloud-to-ground discharges are similar to small pulses that appear in the later stage of cloud discharges. Hence, we suggest that the mechanism of the first pulse of cloud and cloud-to-ground discharges and the mechanism of pulses at the later stage of cloud discharges could be the same.     

Correction of highly noisy strong motion records using a modified wavelet de-noising method

During the past earthquakes, many valuable acceleration time histories were recorded by analog and digital accelerometers. These records are important sources of information in the field of earthquake engineering and engineering seismology. However, a large number of these records are contaminated by noise and it is necessary to correct them for practical applications. On the other hand, only a few records can be corrected using conventional filtering because of mathematical limitations of the method. However, advances in the field of time–frequency analysis and wavelet transform theory provide useful non-linear and adaptive de-noising methods for removing of non-stationary and high-energy noise from the recorded signals. In this paper, the characteristics and capabilities of the modified non-linear adaptive wavelet de-noising method are examined for correction of highly noisy strong motion records. In the frequency domain, it is shown that this method can attenuate the noise in the whole frequency range of engineering interest while in the time domain it can detect and remove non-stationary noise. In addition, the displacement response spectra of these wavelet de-noised records are more stable than conventional filtered records with respect to different correction functions. It is found that a large number of noisy acceleration records that are usually discarded from sets of records used for estimating the ground motions can be corrected using this new method.     

Maritime trade, biological invasions, and the properties of alternate inspection regimes

We analyze the problem of preventing biological invasions caused by ships transporting internationally traded goods between countries and continents. Specifically, we ask the following question: should a port manager have a small number of inspectors inspect arriving ships less stringently or should this manager have a large number of inspectors inspect the same ships more stringently? We use a simple queuing-theoretic framework and show that if decreasing the economic cost of regulation is very important then it makes more sense for the port manager to choose the less stringent inspection regime. In contrast, if reducing the damage from biological invasions is more salient then the port manager ought to pick the more stringent inspection regime.