Timing, Displacement and Growth Pattern of the Altyn Tagh Fault: A Review

The Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) is the longest, lithospheric scale and strike-slip fault in East Asia. In the last three decades, multidisciplinary studies focusing on the timing, displacement of strike-slip and growth mechanics of the ATF have made great progresses. Most studies revealed that the ATF is a sinistral strike-slip and thrust fault, which underwent multiple episodes of activation. The fault is oriented NEE with a length of 1600 km, but the direction, timing of activity and magnitude of its extension eastward are still unclear. The AFT was predominately active during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, in relation to the Mesozoic collision of the Cimmerian continent (Qiangtang and Lhasa block) and Cenozoic collision of India with Asia. The AFT strike-slipped with a left-lateral displacement of ca. 400 km during the Cenozoic and the displacement were bigger in the western segment and stronger in the early stage of fault activation. The slip-rates in the Quaternary were bigger in the middle segment than in the western and eastern segment. We roughly estimated the Mesozoic displacement as ca. 150-300 km. The latest paleomagnetic data showed that the clockwise vertical-axis rotation did not take place in the huge basins (the Tarim and Qaidam) at both side of ATF during the Cenozoic, but the rotation happened in the small basins along the ATF. This rotation may play an important role on accommodating the tectonic deformation and displacement of the ATF. Even if we have achieved consensus for many issues related to the ATF, some issues still need to be study deeply; such as: (a) the temporal and spatial coupling relationship between the collision of Cimmerian continent with Asia and the history of AFT in the Mesozoic and (b) the tectonic deformation history which records by the sediments of the basins within and at both side of AFT and was constrained by a high-resolution and accurate chronology such as magnetostratigraphy and paleomagnetic data.     

Improvement of X-Band Polarization Radar Melting Layer Recognition by the Bayesian Method and ITS Impact on Hydrometeor Classification

Using melting layer(ML) and non-melting layer(NML) data observed with the X-band dual linear polarization Doppler weather radar(X-POL) in Shunyi, Beijing, the reflectivity(ZH), differential reflectivity(ZDR), and correlation coefficient(CC) in the ML and NML are obtained in several stable precipitation processes. The prior probability density distributions(PDDs) of the ZH, ZDR and CC are calculated first, and then the probabilities of ZH, ZDR and CC at each radar gate are determined(PBB in the M...     

Determination of cosmogenic 32P and 33P in environmental samples

Understanding phosphorus dynamics in marine environment is of great importance, and appropriate tracers for phosphorus cycling in oceans are invaluable. In this study, two methods were developed for extraction, purification, and determination of naturally occurring 32P and 33P in rainwater, marine plankton and sediments using both a low-level beta counter (LBC) and an ultra-low-level liquid scintillation spectrometer (LSS). Blanks, chemical yields and counting efficiencies were quantified for both methods. The chemical purification of 32P and 33P separated by both procedures was validated by their decay curves. The absorber thickness of aluminum for LBC was assessed as 39.2 mg/cm 2 . 32P and 33P specific activities in some rain samples were determined by both methods and showed good consistent results. The advantage of the LSS over the LBC is apparent in its high counting efficiency and in determining samples with high concentration of stable phosphorus. However, when measuring environmental samples with low concentration of stable phosphorus, such as rainwater, both methods can be used and each has its distinct advantage.     

Analysis of Anomalous Characteristics of Regional Crustal Deformation before the September 16th, 2019 Zhangye MS5.0 Earthquake, Gansu, China

To study the crustal movement in the vicinity of the epicenter before the Zhangye M_S5.0 earthquake in 2019, the characteristics of crustal deformation before the earthquake are discussed through the GPS velocity field analysis based on the CMONOC data observed from GPS. The baseline time series between two continuous GPS stations and the strain time series of an area among several stations are analyzed in the epicenter area. The resulting time series of baseline azimuth around the epicenter reflects that the energy of the fault in the northern margin of Qilian Mountain is accumulated continuously before 2017. Besides, the movement trend of azimuth slows down after 2017, indicating the stress accumulation on both sides of the seismogenic fault zone has reached a certain degree. The first shear strain and EW-direction linear strain in the epicentral area of the Zhangye M_S5.0 earthquake remain steady after 2017, and the surface strain rate decreases gradually after 2016. It is illustrated that there is an obvious deformation loss at the epicentral region three years before the earthquake, indicating that a certain degree of strain energy is accumulated in this area before the earthquake.     

Integrated chronostratigraphy of Proterozoic-Cambrian boundary beds in the western Anabar region, northern Siberia

Carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks of the western Anabar region, northern Siberia, preserve an exceptional record of evolutionary and biogeochemical events near the Proterozoic/Cambrian boundary. Sedimentologically, the boundary succession can be divided into three sequences representing successive episodes of late transgressive to early highstand deposition; four parasequences are recognized in the sequence corresponding lithostratigraphically to the Manykal Formation. Small shelly fossils are abundant and include many taxa that also occur in standard sections of southeastern Siberia. Despite this coincidence of faunal elements, biostratigraphic correlations between the two regions have been controversial because numerous species that first appear at or immediately above the basal Tommotian boundary in southeastern sections have first appearances scattered through more than thirty metres of section in the western Anabar. Carbon- and Sr-isotopic data on petrographically and geochemically screened samples collected at one- to two-metre intervals in a section along the Kotuikan River, favour correlation of the Staraya Reckha Formation and most of the overlying Manykai Formation with sub-Tommotian carbonates in southeastern Siberia. In contrast, isotopic data suggest that the uppermost Manykai Formation and the basal 26 m of the unconformably overlying Medvezhya Formation may have no equivalent in the southeast; they appear to provide a sedimentary and palaeontological record of an evolutionarily significant time interval represented in southeastern Siberia only by the sub-Tommotian unconformity. Correlations with radiometrically dated horizons in the Olenek and Kharaulakh regions of northern Siberia suggest that this interval lasted approximately three to six million years, during which essentially all 'basal Tommotian' small shelly fossils evolved.     

Managing coastal bathing water quality: the contribution of microbiology and epidemiology

The EU Bathing Water Directive with a life of 25 years (EEC, 1976) has contributed significantly to the improvement of the quality of coastal recreational waters throughout Europe and has successfully protected public health. Improvement of the standards of living and general public demands has made it necessary to consider updating it (EU, 1994) introducing important changes in microbiological parameters. Measurement of microbial pollution is of primary importance to this new proposal, as is to the regulatory schemes introduced by the very recent 'Annapolis Protocol' (WHO/US EPA, 1999). This report discusses the microbiological aspects of the health-related management of bathing seawater in the context of the scientific information available from epidemiological and microbiological studies.     

Climatological distribution of lightning density observed by satellites in China and its circumjacent regions

The 0.5°×0.5°grid resolution distribution of lightning density in China and its circumjacent regions have been analyzed by using the satellite-borne OTD (Apr 1995-Mar 2000) and LIS (Dec 1997-Mar 2003) databases. It is shown that: (i) Firstly, the variability of the lightning density (LD) is particularly pronounced over the different subareas, 9 times greater over the south than the north side of Himalayas Mountains, 2.5 times greater over the eastern than the western area of China. While the maximum and minimum LD are respectively 31.4fl/km2/a (in Guangzhou region) and less than 0.2fl/km2/a (in the desert of western China). Secondly, the LD of China's continent regularly varies with latitude and distance off coast, which is consistent with annual mean precipitation in varying trend. In conclusion, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the China's three-step staircase topography and the latitude are three important factors affecting macro-scale characteristics of the LD distribution, (ii) The regional differences     

Dispersion performance of nanoparticles in water

Engineering Nanoparticles(ENPs)’superior characteristics of adsorption depends on their dispersion in the medium.In this study,multi-walled carbon nanotubes(nonmetal),iron nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles(metallic simple substance),and Nano-TiO2,Nano-Fe2O3 and Nano-ZnO(metal oxide)were selected and respectively added into pure water and aqueous solution with 1%Sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS)surfactant.The dispersion effects were compared by leaving the solutions standing at room temperature under ultrasound.The results show that the dispersion of iron nanoparticles is the lowestamong the six ENPs,and that of multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWCTS)is the highest.Adding anionic surfactants(SDBS)can obviously improve the dispersion performance of ENPs.The concentration of solution decreases by only 5%in 10 daysafter adding 1%SDBS for ultrasonic dispersion.     

Depositional System of the Carboniferous Huanglong Formation, Eastern Sichuan Basin: Constraints from Sedimentology and Geochemistry

Using analyses of the lithology, sequences, paleoenvironment, and tectonic setting, the depositional system of the Carboniferous Huanglong Formation in the eastern Sichuan Basin was identified. The lithological characteristics of the Lower Member, Middle Member, and Upper Member were analyzed and classified. Before the use of carbon, oxygen, and strontium isotopes in the analysis, all of the geochemical data were tested for validity. On the basis of the Z values obtained from carbon and oxygen isotopes, the paleoenvironments of the three members were elucidated. Lower Member was dominantly an enclosed marine environment with intense evaporation and little freshwater input into the sea. Middle Member developed in a semi-enclosed to normal marine environment with many rivers. Upper Member was formed in a normal marine environment. The east Sichuan Basin was enclosed by paleouplifts before the deposition of the Huanglong Formation, forming a relatively enclosed depositional setting. Paleogullies developed in the Silurian strata that underlie the Carboniferous rocks; these paleogullies can be identified. On the basis of a comprehensive analysis, we propose that the Huanglong Formation developed in a platform system. Four microfacies were identified: supratidal flat, dolostone flat, grain shoal, and shelf microfacies. The high-permeability and high-porosity characteristics of the grain shoal microfacies are favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation, while the supratidal flat and shelf microfacies developed very few high-quality reservoirs. The paleogullies, in which increased amounts of grain shoal microfacies developed, controlled the distribution of high-quality reservoirs.     

A Comparative Analysis of Primary and Extreme Characteristics of Dry or Wet Status between Asia and North America

In this study, the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) was used to analyze the average and extreme dry/wet states of Asia and North America from 1953 to 2003. The results indicate that the two continents underwent drying trends during this period. Compared with North America, Asia showed more severe drought trends. However, more significant and regular seasonal variation for drought was found in North America. The driest regions in Asia were located in the northern region of China, Mongolia, and eastern mid-Siberian plateau. Most regions in central North America were relatively wetter than other regions. The northern and southwestern regions of North America, as well as the Atlantic and Pacific coastal areas, experienced the most drought during this period. A sharp increase of the drought area and the number of extreme drought events took place from 1997 to 2003 in both Asia and North America. Severe drought events were more likely to occur during the summer on both continents. Asia had the most extreme drought events during July, but North America reached its highest drought frequency from June to September. In Asia, a persistent increasing trend of extreme drought emerged throughout the studied period. However, a more complex evolution of drought emerged in North America: a decreasing trend appeared before the mid-1960s and an increasing trend appeared after the late 1970s. A relatively steady dry/wet status was observed between the mid-1960s and the late 1970s. The role of exceptional, extreme drought events with respect to the La Nin?a event was considered during 1997–2003.