Potential benefits of increased application of water to paddy fields in Taiwan

The potential benefits of increased application of water to paddy fields in Taiwan are investigated in this paper. A conceptual model is used to represent the hydrological system of the paddy field. A technique is presented to estimate the parameters of the model. Field experiments also are performed for parameter estimation and model verification. The simulated results are in good agreement with the observed during model verification. With parameters estimated from the field data, the model is used to simulate the effects of applying water beyond current practice. The simulation results show that the downward percolation increases when the irrigation water increases. However, the percolation reaches a capacity rate no matter how large the amount of water applied. This phenomenon results from the existence of a hard layer below the paddy field. The effects of raising the height of levees around paddy fields are also studied. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Competition policies for water environment technology imports in China

This paper analyzes the current state of water environment protections in China and explores the need for technology imports in this field. Few studies have discussed the import of water environment technologies in China. In particular, there is a lack of research on the competition policies of technology-importing countries. Based on the retrieval and analysis of technology patents in the water environment field, as well as the research on relevant competition policies, this paper indicates that China shall import and learn about related technologies from developed countries, such as the US and the EU. In addition, China ought to pay more attention to relevant EU competition policies. The relationship between water environment protections and EU market competition policies could serve as a reference for green exemption practices in Chinese anti-trust law. Lastly, this paper analyzes China’s relevant competition policy. It is also helpful for potential foreign investors to understand the transparent institutional framework.     

大兴安岭北段诺敏大山地区早白垩世侵入岩地球化学特征及其构造意义

笔者等选择大兴安岭北段诺敏大山地区早白垩世侵入岩进行了锆石U- Pb年代学和地球化学研究,探讨该区域侵入岩成因类型、岩浆来源及构造环境。该区侵入岩岩性主要为正长花岗岩、正长花岗斑岩和似斑状正长花岗岩,对其中正长花岗岩样品进行LA- ICP- MS锆石U- Pb测年表明,正长花岗岩侵位年龄为129. 5±0. 4 Ma,应为早白垩世岩浆活动的产物,结合区内侵入岩与地层相互接触关系,本区侵入岩形成时代为早白垩世。区内侵入岩具有富硅（SiO2= 67. 36%~74. 09%）、富碱（K2O+Na2O= 8. 88%~9. 34%）、高铝（Al2O3= 12. 56%~16. 15%）,低MgO、TiO2、CaO的特点,属于高钾钙碱性岩石系列;铝饱和指数（A/CNK）为0. 94~1. 31,为准铝质—过铝质岩石。微量元素富集Rb、U、Th、K等大离子亲石元素,强烈亏损Ti、Nb、Sr、P等高场强元素,具有明显的Eu负异常,属于高分异I型花岗岩。岩石Rb/Sr为0. 9~2. 0,Sr/Y为4. 2~7. 2,显示出高Sr、低Y的特点,指示岩浆源区为地壳物质的部分熔融。结合区域研究成果,蒙古—鄂霍茨克构造域在早白垩世之前已结束碰撞,诺敏大山地区早白垩世岩浆活动可能发生在蒙古—鄂霍茨克造山后的伸展环境。     

Downrush flow from waves on sloping seawalls

This paper investigates the characteristics of downrush flow from breaking waves on sloping seawalls, which cause toe scour. Flow visualization techniques were employed in these experiments. The velocity and pressure of the downrush flow at the toe were analyzed. It was found that the intensity of the flow is reduced as the structure slope decreases. The empirical formula for normalized flow intensity at the structure toe is presented as a function of the relative wave run-up height.     

淮北晚前寒武系交织丝藻的发现及其地层意义

本文旨在介绍安徽淮北地区多细胞交织丝藻的属、种特征，及其在地层对比与丝状藻演化方面的意义。     

Bimodal wave spectra in lower Chesapeake Bay, sea bed energetics and sediment transport during winter storms

The transition zone separating estuarine environments from the coastal ocean is characterized not only by distinctive morphological and sedimentary trends but by unique hydrodynamic forces as well. Lower Chesapeake Bay, a large coastal estuary within the Mid-Atlantic Bight of the U.S. East Coast, experiences complex wave and current-induced forces produced during winter storms. Wave and current measurements made near Thimble Shoal Light over five winter seasons show that most storms simultaneously produce both ocean and bay-generated wave trains that appear as distinct bimodal peaks in directional spectra. Analysis of selected storm wave records reveal that lower-frequency ocean waves, although nominally lower in amplitude than higher-frequency bay waves, are roughly equivalent to bay waves in terms of energy expended on beds of fine- to medium-grained sand at either end of the Thimble Shoal Channel. Grain-friction energy dissipation estimates calculated for waves and currents suggest that waves provide more net energy capable of transporting bottom sediment than currents, although strong barotropic flows briefly encountered during a major storm on 13–14 March 1993, exceeded wave energy expended at the bed by almost an order of magnitude. From analyses of wave orbital velocity spectra, it is shown that dual wave trains characterized by differences in peak frequency and direction may assist each other through interactions that increase their combined contribution to frictional energy dissipation and inferred sediment transport at the bed.     

3D magnetotelluric modelling including surface topography

An edge finite‐element method has been applied to compute magnetotelluric (MT) responses to three‐dimensional (3D) earth topography. The finite‐element algorithm uses a single edge shape function at each edge of hexahedral elements, guaranteeing the continuity of the tangential electric field while conserving the continuity of magnetic flux at boundaries. We solve the resulting system of equations using the biconjugate gradient method with a Jacobian preconditioner. The solution gives electric fields parallel to the slope of a surface relief that is often encountered in MT surveys. The algorithm is successfully verified by comparison with other numerical solutions for a 3D‐2 model for comparison of modelling methods for EM induction and a ridge model. We use a 3D trapezoidal‐hill model to investigate 3D topographic effects, which are caused mainly by galvanic effects, not only in the Zxy mode but also in the Zyx mode. If a 3D topography were approximated by a two‐dimensional topography therefore errors occurring in the transverse electric mode would be more serious than those in the transverse magnetic mode.     

Jurassic uplift and erosion of the northeast Queensland continental margin: evidence from (U–Th)/He thermochronology combined with U–Pb detrital zircon age spectra

Abstract

The Jurassic–Cretaceous Great Artesian Basin is the most extensive, and largest volume, sedimentary feature of continental Australia. The source of its mud-dominated Cretaceous infill is attributed largely to contemporary magmatism along the continental margin to the east, but the source of its Jurassic infill, dominated by quartz sandstone, remains unconstrained. This paper investigates the question of a Jurassic sediment source for the northern part of the basin. Jurassic uplift and exhumation of the continental margin crustal sector to the east provided the primary Jurassic sediment source. (U–Th)/He data are presented for zircon and apatite from Pennsylvanian to mid Permian granitoids of the Kennedy Igneous Association distributed within the northern Tasmanides between the Townsville and Cairns regions and for coeval granites of the Urannha batholith from the Mount Carlton district (N Bowen Basin), also within the northern Tasmanides. The data from zircon indicate widespread Jurassic exhumation of a crustal tract located to the east of the northern Great Artesian Basin and largely occupied by rocks of the Tasmanides. Detrital zircon age spectra for samples of the Jurassic Hutton and Blantyre sandstones from the northeastern margin of the Great Artesian Basin show their derivation to be largely from rocks of the northern Tasmanides. In combination, the detrital age spectra and (U–Th)/He data from zircon indicate exhumation owing to uplift generating appreciable physiographic relief along the north Queensland continental margin during the Jurassic, shedding sediment westward into the Great Artesian Basin during its early development. A portion of (U–Th)/He data for zircon are consistent with late Permian–mid Triassic exhumation within the Tasmanides, attributable to the influence of the Hunter--Bowen Orogeny. Evidence of Cretaceous and Paleocene exhumation episodes is also indicated for some samples, mainly by apatite (U–Th)/He analysis, consistent with data previously published from fission track studies. Overall, new data from the present study reveal that the exhumation related to Jurassic regional uplift and the subsequent erosional reworking of the northeast Australian continental margin is critical for the evolution and development of the northern side of the Great Artesian Basin in eastern Australia. Apart from this, another two previously suggested Permian–Triassic and Cretaceous exhumation and uplift episodes along the northeast Australian continental margin are also confirmed by the dataset of this study.

1. KEY POINTS

2. U–Pb detrital zircon ages of sandstone samples from the northeastern Eromanga Basin reveal Paleozoic (480–280 Ma) and Proterozoic (1800–1400 Ma) age clusters.

3. (U–Th)/He zircon and apatite dating results of granitoids samples from Cairns, Townsville and the Mount Carlton districts are dominated by Jurassic (198–164 Ma) and Permian–Triassic (272–238 Ma) age clusters.

4. Combination of above two datasets proves the regional uplift-driving Jurassic exhumation episode in the northeast Australian continental is vital for the development of the northern Great Artesian Basin.

     

A Simplified Basin Model For Simulating Runoff: The Struma River GIS

A GIS‐based distributed‐parameter runoff simulation model for the Struma River Basin in southwestern Bulgaria calculates the monthly snow/rain proportion, direct or surface runoff, snow cover and snowmelt, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and total runoff. Simulation during the Bulgarian hydrologic year from November to October was compared with observed runoff data. The model closely replicates mean monthly runoff from climate conditions during the years 1961 –1990 as well as specific years. The simplified GIS model simulates hydrologic processes under limited data availability.     

A study on one‐dimensional consolidation of layered structured soils

The governing equations for one‐dimensional consolidation of layered structured soils under time‐dependent loading are established. Using simplified k‐σ′ and m_v‐σ′ models, n‐layered structured soils are transformed into (n + 1) or (n + 2)‐layered soils in which the thickness of upper and lower layers are gradually changing. The approximate solutions for the governing equations are then obtained under two types of boundary conditions, and the computer program is developed. Based on the solutions and computer program, the consolidation behavior of layered structured soils with soft interlayer is studied. It is shown that the permeability and compressibility of the soft interlayer have the greatest influences on the rate of settlement and rate of the dissipation of excess pore water pressure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.