DEM-based numerical modelling of runoff and soil erosion processes in the hilly–gully loess regions

For sake of improving our current understanding on soil erosion processes in the hilly–gully loess regions of the middle Yellow River basin in China, a digital elevation model (DEM)-based runoff and sediment processes simulating model was developed. Infiltration excess runoff theory was used to describe the runoff generation process while a kinematic wave equation was solved using the finite-difference technique to simulate concentration processes on hillslopes. The soil erosion processes were modelled using the particular characteristics of loess slope, gully slope, and groove to characterize the unique features of steep hillslopes and a large variety of gullies based on a number of experiments. The constructed model was calibrated and verified in the Chabagou catchment, located in the middle Yellow River of China and dominated by an extreme soil-erosion rate. Moreover, spatio-temporal characterization of the soil erosion processes in small catchments and in-depth analysis between discharge and sediment concentration for the hyper-concentrated flows were addressed in detail. Thereafter, the calibrated model was applied to the Xingzihe catchment, which is dominated by similar soil erosion processes in the Yellow River basin. Results indicate that the model is capable of simulating runoff and soil erosion processes in such hilly–gully loess regions. The developed model are expected to contribute to further understanding of runoff generation and soil erosion processes in small catchments characterized by steep hillslopes, a large variety of gullies, and hyper-concentrated flow, and will be beneficial to water and soil conservation planning and management for catchments dealing with serious water and soil loss in the Loess Plateau.     

Seismic earth pressures on rigid and flexible retaining walls

While limiting-equilibrium Mononobe–Okabe type solutions are still widely used in designing rigid gravity and flexible cantilever retaining walls against earthquakes, elasticity-based solutions have been given a new impetus following the analytical work of Veletsos and Younan [23]. The present paper develops a more general finite-element method of solution, the results of which are shown to be in agreement with the available analytical results for the distribution of dynamic earth pressures on rigid and flexible walls. The method is then employed to further investigate parametrically the effects of flexural wall rigidity and the rocking base compliance. Both homogeneous and inhomogeneous retained soil is considered, while a second soil layer is introduced as the foundation of the retaining system. The results confirm the approximate convergence between Mononobe–Okabe and elasticity-based solutions for structurally or rotationally flexible walls. At the same time they show the beneficial effect of soil inhomogeneity and that wave propagation in the underlying foundation layer may have an effect that cannot be simply accounted for with an appropriate rocking spring at the base.     

A comparison of time-domain transmitting boundaries

A non-linear interaction analysis with a (generalized) non-linear structure and a linear unbounded soil is analysed in the time domain, based either on the sub-structure method, which involves global convolution integrals, or on the direct method with local boundary conditions. Alternatively, the hybrid frequency–time-domain method of analysis, which is an iterative scheme, could be used. Approximate local boundary conditions to model the wave propagation towards infinity on the artificial boundary used in the direct method of non-linear soil–structure-interaction analysis to be performed in the time domain are examined. A semi-infinite rod supported elastically, which exhibits the same properties as certain unbounded soils such as dispersion and a cut-off frequency, is used for the investigation. For a transient excitation, the superposition boundary with frequent averaging, the well-known viscous damper and the extrapolation algorithm lead to good accuracy. Moving the artificial boundary further away from the structure (or more precisely, increasing the ratio of the distance of the artificial boundary to the wave length) improves the accuracy.     

Changes in the ionosphere prior to weak earthquakes in the Irkutsk region

Data from 15-minute measurements at the vertical ionospheric sounding station in Irkutsk during the summer months of 2008–2011 are analyzed in order to detect in the ionosphere effects of preparation of weak earthquakes of the K = 10–12 energy class. The method of revealing disturbances in ionospheric parameters by simultaneous observations of the sporadic E layer and regular F2 layer, which was previously applied by the authors in the case of stronger earthquakes, was used. The efficiency of using this method to detect ionospheric disturbances preceding earthquakes also in the case of weak earthquakes is demonstrated. Possible ionospheric precursors of the selected series of earthquakes are identified. For them, an empirical dependence relating the time of advance of the shock moment by the probable ionospheric precursor on the energy class of the earthquake and the epicenter distance to the observation point is found.     

Morphology of Crystals Growing in Impact Diamonds of the Popigai Astrobleme (Experimental Data)

Doklady Earth Sciences - Experimental results on the growth of cubic diamond on lonsdaleite-bearing diamonds from the Popigai astrobleme at 5.5 GPa and 1450°C in the Fe–Ni–C system...     

对流性强风暴系统的螺旋度动力学研究

利用风暴尺度的数值模式ＡＲＰＳ成功地模拟了１９７７年５月２０日在美国Ｏｋｌａｈｏｍａ州Ｄｅｌ Ｃｉｔｙ的一次强对流风暴过程。其模拟结果与实际的观测非常接近,模式积分 ４０分钟,初始对流单体发生了分裂,产生了新的对流单体。原有对流单体在原地维持成熟的结构,表现出较强的稳定性,而分裂出的新单体在移动过程中,逐渐向成熟位相发展,并且又分裂出新的单体。利用模拟结果,着重讨论了风暴发展过程中螺旋度和超螺旋度的空间结构和时间演变特征,以及在强风暴系统的对流发展过程中的动力学作用。初始环境场的螺旋性结构有利于风暴的发展。在风暴发展阶段,低螺旋度有利于大尺度向对流尺度的能量串级,而在风暴成熟阶段,高螺旋度则有利于对流单体的能量维持,从而形成长生命周期的对流系统。在风暴的发展过程中,风暴流场结构具有向Ｂｅｌｔｒａｍｉ流结构的调整趋势,螺旋度向高值发展。超螺旋度在流体粘性作用的影响下,可反映出螺旋度密度空间积分的时间变化趋势,负的超螺旋度可使螺旋度增加。在对流风暴发展阶段,超螺旋度为负值,对流单体的结构螺旋性增强、螺旋度的增大,在风暴到达成熟阶段后,超螺旋度转为正值。因此,超螺旋度可用来标志对流风暴系统的成熟程度。