Analysis of the 2003 Varunawat Landslide,Uttarkashi, India using Earth Observation data

Mass movements such as landslides in mountainous terrains are natural degradation processes and one of the most important landscape-building factors. Varunawat Parbat overlooking Uttarkashi town witnessed a series of landslides on 23 September 2003 and the debris slides and rock falls continued for 2 weeks. This landslide complex was triggered due to the incessant rainfall prior to the event, and its occurrence led to the blockage of the pilgrim route to Gangotri (source of the Ganges river) and evacuation of thousands of people to safer places. Though there was no loss of lives due to timely evacuation, heavy losses to the property were reported. High-resolution stereoscopic earth observation data were acquired after the incidence to study the landslide in detail with emphasis on the cause of the landslide and mode of failure. Areas along the road and below the Varunawat foothill region are mapped for landslide risk. It was found that the foothill region of the Varunawat Parbat was highly disturbed by man-made activities and houses are dangerously located below steep slopes. The potential zones for landslides along with the existing active and old landslides are mapped. These areas are critical and their treatment with priority is required in order to minimise further landslide occurrences.     

Finite Element Modeling of Swelling Soil Pressures Using Joint/Interface Elements

There could be some discontinuities in a soil media such as layers, earth structures, cracks, and fissures so that estimation of stresses and deformations in these types of soil masses are somewhat different from continuous masses. The discontinuities in a soil mass could be considered as a special link between two blocks. Transmitted swelling pressures affected by the soil properties of the backfill especially at the interface between the backfill and retaining wall. In order to estimate the transmitted swelling pressure distribution behind a retaining wall, using with interface element, a new finite element model and a code (SWELPRES) have been developed. To evaluate the effect of backfill characteristics and interface element from the transmitted lateral swelling pressures, four cases of thickness of backfills with or without interface elements are investigated.     

Monitoring Large-Scale Tests for Nuclear Waste Disposal

Two large-scale “in situ” demonstration experiments and their instrumentation are described. The first test (FEBEX Experiment) involves the hydration of a compacted bentonite barrier under the combined effect of an inner source of heat and an outer water flow from the confining saturated granite rock. In the second case, the progressive de-saturation of Opalinus clay induced by maintained ventilation of an unlined tunnel is analyzed. The paper shows the performance of different sensors (capacitive cells, psychrometers, TDR’s) and a comparison of fill behaviour with modelling results. The long term performance of some instruments could also be evaluated specially in the case of FEBEX test. Capacitive sensors provide relative humidity data during long transient periods characterised by very large variations of suction within the bentonite.     

中国大别山东南缘首次发现大坝陨坑构造

简介首次在大别山东南缘安徽省境内发现的大坝陨坑构造。经初步评价,知陨坑呈椭圆形,长轴呈北北东向,长约19km,短轴长约12km,最大坑深约2km,是一个有中央隆起区的复杂型陨坑。在卫片上陨坑显示环形影像,地貌形态为一洼地。陨坑基座保存尚好,可对它直观和追索陨坑构造边界。形成于230Ma左右的各类撞击变质岩石系列齐全,其中含有柯石英等典型的撞击变质矿物及撞击碎理等超微构造,特别是在陨坑基座内壁普遍发现有鉴别陨坑构造最可靠的标志——干裂自角砾岩,都证明大坝环形影像是一个典型的陨星撞击坑构造。它的发现,具有很大的科学及经济意义,对今后褶皱山区寻找和研究陨坑构造具有示范和指导作用,同时大大丰富了建设大别山世界地质公园的地质依据。无庸置疑此发现将促进大别山旅游业的发展及陨星撞击科普知识的传播。     

中国对虾(Penaeus chinensis)四倍体诱导研究

利用光控和行为学原理,控制中国对虾在适当时候产卵,在一定的时刻以温度休克和细胞松弛素的方法诱导受精卵发育成为四倍体。作者发展了对虾染色体制备技术,以中肠和触角腺、精巢为材料,从后期幼体直到8～9cm左右次成虾均获得较好的分裂中相。染色体倍性检测结果表明,最好的四倍体诱导成功率达66.7％。共获得10cm左右的实验对虾几千尾。初步观察表明,四倍体中国对虾具有一定的生长优势。     

长牡蛎碱性磷酸酶的分离纯化及部分性质研究

本文以长牡蛎为酶源提取材料,用正丁醇抽提,硫酸铵分级分离,DEAE-52和Sephadex G-100柱层析,得到一定纯度的碱性磷酸酶,提纯倍数为61.96,比活力达1.326U/mg.该酶的最适pH值9.6,最适温度38℃,初速度6.8μmol/(dm~3·min),米氏常数Km值为1.30mmol/dm~3.实验结果表明,Mg~(2+)对该酶有明显的激活作用;Zn~(2+)、Cu~(2+)、Hg~(2+)对该酶有明显的抑制作用.     

Constraining the origin and evolution of confined turbidite systems: southern Cretan margin,Eastern Mediterranean Sea (34°30–36°N)

Bathymetric, 9.5-kHz long-range sidescan sonar (OKEAN), seismic reflection and sediment-core data are used in the analysis of two tectonic troughs south of Crete, Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Here, up to 1.2 s two-way travel time (TWTT) of strata have accumulated since the Middle Miocene in association with extension in the South Aegean region. The study area comprises >100-km- long by >25-km-wide basins filled by sediments subdivided into two seismic units: (1) an upper Unit 1 deposited in sub-basins which follow the present-day configuration of the southern Cretan margin; (2) a basal Unit 2, more than 500 ms (TWTT) thick, accumulated in deeper half-graben/grabens distinct from the present-day depocentres. Both units overlap a locally stratified Unit 3 comprising the pre-Neogene core complex of Crete and Gavdos. In this work, the interpreted seismic units are correlated with the onshore stratigraphy, demonstrating that denudation processes occurring on Crete and Gavdos in response to major tectonic events have been responsible for high sedimentation rates along the proximal southern Cretan margin. Consequently, topographically confined sedimentary units have been deposited south of Crete in the last 12 Ma, including turbidites and other mass-flow deposits fed by evolving transverse and axial channel systems. Surface processes controlling facies distribution include the direct inflow of sediment from alluvial-fan systems and incising mountain rivers onto the Cretan slope, where significant sediment instability processes occur at present. In this setting, seismic profiles reveal eight different types of stratigraphic contacts on basin-margin highs, and basinal areas show evidence of halokinesis and/or fluid escape. The acquired data also show that significant changes to the margin’s configuration occurred in association with the post-Alpine tectonic and eustatic episodes affecting the Eastern Mediterranean.     

高压技术在深海沉积物兼性嗜压菌的筛选和鉴定中的应用

通过自行改进的高压培养罐及高压设备,对深海沉积物进行可培养微生物的筛选,获得6株具有较强耐受压力的细菌.16SrDNA的测序结果表明这些细菌分别属于6个不同的菌属.压力生长试验的结果表明这6株细菌在40MPa的条件下仍然具有较强的生长能力,属于兼性嗜压菌.对不同压力下生长的细菌做显微镜检,结果显示,除了一株芽孢杆菌在40MPa下的菌体形态发生了明显的变化外,其它5株细菌在压力条件下的菌体的分裂均没有受到明显的影响.     

Studies on ultrastructure of oocyte in process of maturing in pen shell

The present paper deals with the ultrastructural changes of oocyte in the process of maturing in pen shell Atrinapectinata Linne. When it develops from the antecedent growth period to the accelerating growth period the annulate lamellae emerge, the RER better develop, the yolk granules with single and double layer membrane and are visible. In the well-developed mitochondria there is yolk stored. The Golgi vacuoles are brewing yolk granules. At the mature period the annulate lamellae and the Golgi bodies disappear, and there are only a few RER and mitochondria with poor cristae in the cytoplasm. All these might be well used for judging the maturity of the ootids in the process of the artificial propagation.     

冲绳海槽中段沉积岩芯碳酸盐和烧失量的古环境意义

对冲绳海槽中段 3个沉积岩芯碳酸盐和烧失量的系统分析得知 ,岩芯沉积物的CaCO3含量一般 >1 0 % ,最高含量接近 30 % ,烧失量大都在 1 0 %～ 30 %之间变化 ,反映了该海区处于溶跃面之上钙质生物极为发育的生物地球化学环境。结合δ1 8O曲线所反映的气候环境变化 ,探讨了 1 2 0kaB .P .以来碳酸盐旋回的“大西洋型”演变特点 ,同时对该区沉积地层中的火山热液活动印记作了一定的探讨。