Approaches for comparative evaluation of raster GIS-based landslide susceptibility zonation maps

Evaluation of maps generated from different conceptual models or data processing approaches at spatial level has importance in many geoenvironmental applications. This paper addresses the spatial comparison of different landslide susceptibility zonation (LSZ) raster maps of the same area derived from various procedures.     

Studies of sodar‐observed dot echo structures

Abstract

During moist weather under stably stratified and light wind conditions very often “dot” shaped echoes, either distributed randomly or arranged in a stratified layer, have been observed on sodar echograms. They last from a couple of hours to ten hours. Their horizontal widths are up to 200 m while their vertical sizes are up to 40 m. It is argued that dot echoes represent clusters of water vapour translated by the wind in the boundary layer, the back‐scattered acoustic energy being the contribution of correlated fluctuations in temperature and humidity (turbulent mixing) in the inertial subrange.     

Geochemistry of tin, tungsten and molybdenum in Swedish proterozoic granitoids: Their potential use in regional mineral exploration

The primary aim of this broad regional study is to statistically determine the Li-Sn-W-Mo-bearing potential of various granitoids using geochemical criteria. Computer based, univariate and multivariate statistical methods are applied to major- and trace-element data from about 660 granitic rock samples and over 800 major element analyses, selected from the Swedish geological literature. The granitoids are subdivided following earlier geotectonic chronologic and newer geochemical-statistical principles.Most granite types occurring in known Sn-W mineralized areas, except the granites around the W deposit of Baggetorp, were identified as potentially W-Sn-bearing. That is, they show significantly high mean and variance values for W and/or Sn as well as promising values of the probability parameters for these elements, compared to corresponding statistics for a calculated Swedish average granitoid (SAG).Evidence of very high total variability of Li, Sn and W within the individual granite types suggests the need for further tests, to control the variability errors due to sampling and preparation and errors of chemical analysis. These sources of error may obscure natural elemental heterogeneity of the granite type that is of interest in geochemical prospecting.Interpretations of Sn, W and Li frequency distribution patterns, petrochemical trends and multivariate similarity tests suggest that the primary chemistry of the granitoids is overprinted by (a) postmagmatic processes of broad regional nature, which have similarly affected the individual granite types, and (b) a wide variety of secondary alterations of local character. These conclusions imply that potential Sn and W deposits may be sought within all Swedish Proterozoic granitoids and their within all Swedish Proterozoic granitoids and their immediate sorroundings, where susch processes have redistributed and concentrated these where such processes have redistributed and concentrated these elements. However, the granites which are highly differentiated, Sn-W-Li-U-Th-F-enriched, and strongly and strongly magnetic are particularly promising target areas for further, extensive rock-geochemical prospecting and other exploration surveys. rock-geochemical prospecting and other exploration surveys.     

Provenance of sandstones from the Neoproterozoic Bombouaka Group of the Volta Basin,northeastern Ghana

The provenance and tectonic setting of sandstones from the Bombouaka Group of the Voltaian Supergroup, in the northeastern part of Ghana, have been constrained from their petrography and whole-rock geochemistry. Modal analysis carried out by point-counting sandstone samples indicates that they are quartz arenites. The index of compositional variability values and SiO₂/Al₂O₃, Zr/Sc, and Th/Sc values indicates that the sediments are mature. The sandstones are depleted in CaO and Na₂O. They are, however, enriched in K₂O, Ba, and Rb relative to average Neoproterozoic upper crust. These characteristics reflect intense chemical weathering in the source region as proven by high weathering indices (i.e., CIA, PIA, and CIW). In comparison with average Neoproterozoic upper crust, the sandstones show depletion by transition metals and enrichment by high field strength elements. They generally show chondrite-normalized fractionated light rare-earth element (LREE) patterns (average La_N/Sm_N = 4.40), negative Eu anomalies (average Eu/Eu* = 0.61), and generally flat heavy rare-earth elements (HREE) (average Gd_N/Yb_N = 1.13). The sandstones have La/Sc, Th/Sc, La/Co, Th/Co, Th/Cr, and Eu/Eu* ratios similar to those of sandstones derived from felsic source. Mixing calculations using the rare-earth elements (REE) suggests 48% tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite and 52% granite as possible proportions for the source of the sandstones. Both the petrographic and whole-rock geochemical data point to a passive margin setting for the sandstones from the Bombouaka Group.     

Formation of arcs and backarc basins inferred from the tectonic evolution of Southeast Asia since the Late Cretaceous

Results of the geological and geophysical surveys in the Daito ridges and basin in the northern West Philippine Basin suggest that the Daito Ridge was an arc facing toward the south from the Late Cretaceous to the Early Tertiary. The Late Cretaceous and Tertiary history of Southeast Asia is evaluated based on these data in the Daito ridges and basins and reconstructed based on overall plate kinematics that have operated in this area. During the Late Cretaceous, the Daito Ridge and the East Philippine Islands were positioned along the boundary between the Indian and Pacific Plates. The western half of the Philippines setting on the Indian Plate approached from the south and collided with the East Philippine–Daito Arc either during the latest Paleocene or the earliest Eocene. It is inferred that the bulk of the Philippine archipelago rotated clockwise and Borneo spun counterclockwise during the Tertiary.From the reconstruction, the formation of backarc basins and their spreading direction are assessed. As a result, some primary causes and significant characteristics are suggested for the opening of backarc basins in Southeast Asia. First, opening of some backarc basins commenced with or was triggered by collisions. Second, backarc basins opened approximately parallel to oceanic plate motion. Third, the formation of some backarc basins was triggered by the approach of a hot spreading center. Fourth, the spreading mode or direction of backarc basins was greatly affected by the configuration of the surrounding continent and was also rearranged to spread approximately parallel to oceanic plate motion.The formation of backarc basins and their spreading direction can be reasonably explained by plate kinematics. However, the generative force responsible for their formation is possibly within the subduction system, particularly to form horizontal tensional force in backarc side.     

Planetary-Scale Wave Structures of the Earth’s Atmosphere Revealed from the COSMIC Observations

GPS radio occultation（GPS RO） method,an active satellite-to-satellite remote sensing technique,is capable of producing accurate,all-weather,round the clock,global refractive index,density,pressure,and temperature profiles of the troposphere and stratosphere.This study presents planetary-scale equatorially trapped Kelvin waves in temperature profiles retrieved using COSMIC（Constellation Observing System for Meteorology,Ionosphere,and Climate） satellites during 2006-2009 and their interactions with background atmospheric conditions.It is found that the Kelvin waves are not only associated with wave periods of higher than 10 days（slow Kelvin waves） with higher zonal wave numbers（either 1 or 2）,but also possessing downward phase progression,giving evidence that the source regions of them are located at lower altitudes.A thorough verification of outgoing longwave radiation（OLR） reveals that deep convection activity has developed regularly over the Indonesian region,suggesting that the Kelvin waves are driven by the convective activity.The derived Kelvin waves show enhanced（diminished） tendencies during westward（eastward） phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation（QBO） in zonal winds,implying a mutual relation between both of them.The El Nino and Southern Oscillation（ENSO） below 18 km and the QBO features between 18 and 27km in temperature profiles are observed during May 2006-May 2010 with the help of an adaptive data analysis technique known as Hilbert Huang Transform（HHT）.Further,temperature anomalies computed using COSMIC retrieved temperatures are critically evaluated during different phases of ENSO,which has revealed interesting results and are discussed in light of available literature.     

海带雌性原生质体的分离与培养

于1993年1月 - 1993年4月，为了制备遗传性纯一的基因工程受体，用酶法从海带雌配子体单性生殖系分离雌性单倍体原生质体。从皱纹盘鲍消化腺及消化器官提取出鲍酶，在25°C下、1％（W／V）的鲍酶与2％（W／V）的纤维素酶（Onozuka R－10）合用能有效解离单细胞和原生质体。海带雌性原生质体经2d培养再生了细胞壁。     

Snow cover area change and its relations with climatic variability in Kashmir Himalayas,India

Snowmelt makes an essential component of the hydrological system of Kashmir Himalayas. The present study was carried out to examine the status of Snow Cover Area (SCA) using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 8-day Snow Cover Product between 2000 and 2016. The intra- and inter-annual variability in SCA and in meteorological parameters was observed and various statistical tests were used to study the interrelationship. Results of statistical analysis indicate decrease in maximum temperature (?0.05 °C/year) and minimum temperatures (?0.02 °C/year) while rise in precipitation (19.13 mm/year). It also showed an increase in annual mean SCA (43.5 sq km) during the study period. The analysis was also carried out on a seasonal basis. The results revealed that in Kashmir Himalayas, climate plays a dominating role in controlling the SCA. The results depict the short-term fluctuations in SCA and show the magnitude of change between two successive values being very large in SCA.     

Synthesis of soil‐hydraulic properties and infiltration timescales in wildfire‐affected soils

We collected soil‐hydraulic property data from the literature for wildfire‐affected soils, ash, and unburned soils. These data were used to calculate metrics and timescales of hydrologic response related to infiltration and surface runoff generation. Sorptivity (S) and wetting front potential (Ψ_f) were significantly different (lower) in burned soils compared with unburned soils, whereas field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_fs) was not significantly different. The magnitude and duration of the influence of capillarity during infiltration was greatly reduced in burned soils, causing faster ponding times in response to rainfall. Ash had large values of S and K_fs but moderate values of Ψ_f, compared with unburned and burned soils, indicating ash has long ponding times in response to rainfall. The ratio of S²/K_fs was nearly constant (~100 mm) for unburned soils but more variable in burned soils, suggesting that unburned soils have a balance between gravity and capillarity contributions to infiltration that may depend on soil organic matter, whereas in burned soils the gravity contribution to infiltration is greater. Changes in S and K_fs in burned soils act synergistically to reduce infiltration and accelerate and amplify surface runoff generation. Synthesis of these findings identifies three key areas for future research. First, short timescales of capillary influences on infiltration indicate the need for better measurements of infiltration at times less than 1 min to accurately characterize S in burned soils. Second, using parameter values, such as Ψ_f, from unburned areas could produce substantial errors in hydrologic modeling when used without adjustment for wildfire effects, causing parameter compensation and resulting underestimation of K_fs. Third, more thorough measurement campaigns that capture soil‐structural changes, organic matter impacts, quantitative water repellency trends, and soil‐water content along with soil‐hydraulic properties could drive the development of better techniques for numerically simulating infiltration in burned areas.     

Results of monitoring of the changes in the hydrochemical structure of the central and Southern Caspian Sea over 1995–2005

The results of decennial monitoring of the Caspian Sea were summarized, which allowed revealing the “pumping” of nutrients from the euphotic layer to deepwater depressions of the Central and Southern Caspian Sea. In parallel, in the deepwater depressions, growth of hypoxia to values of 0.2–0.5 ml O₂/l proceeds. In 2006, hydrogen sulfide was registered in the near-bottom layer of the South Caspian Sea Basin. It is shown that the transformation of the hydrochemical structure was directed towards the conditions observed at the times of Bruevich (1933–1934), but no complete coincidence has yet been reached.