Palaeosecular variation over the past 5 Myr based on a new generalized database

A generalized database of global palaeomagnetic data from 3719 lava flows and thin dykes of age 0–5 Ma has been constructed for use with a relational database management system. The database includes all data whose virtual geomagnetic poles (VGP) lie within 45 of the spin axis and can be used for studies of palaeosecular variation and for geomagnetic field modelling. Because many of these data were collected and processed more than 15–20 years ago, each result has been characterized according to the demagnetization procedures carried out. Analysis of these data in terms of the latitude variation of the angular dispersion of VGPs (palaeosecular variation from lavas) strongly suggests that careful data selection is required and that many of the older studies may need to be redone using more modern methods. Differences between the angular dispersions for separate normal- and reverse-polarity data sets confirm that many older studies have not been adequately cleaned magnetically. Therefore, the use of the database for geomagnetic field modelling should be carried out with some caution. Using a VGP cut-off angle that varies with latitude, the best data set consists of 2636 results that show a smooth increase of VGP angular dispersion with latitude. Model G for palaeosecular variation, which is based on modelling of the antisymmetric (dipole) and symmetric (quadrupole) dynamo families, provides a good fit to these results.     

A model for the Am (Km) planetary geomagnetic activity index and application to prediction

We studied the existence of dynamical stochastic relations in the evolution of the am index. A first analysis of the autocorrelation functions showed evidence of several seasonalities. We first used linear (ARMA) models, and it was found that these do not account for the whole internal dynamics of the data series. We then used various non-linear models to provide a better fit to reality. The forecast performances of the non-linear models are not significantly different from those of the linear model. We give a tentative explanation for the failure of the non-linear predictions. Finally, ARCH models were used in order to take into account the fact that the confidence interval for the predicted value depends on past observations.     

重复航空摄影测量方法在乌鲁木齐河流域冰川变化监测中的应用

介绍重复航空摄影测量对比成图方法在监测乌鲁木齐河流域冰川规模和形态要素变化中的应用，以及成图过程中对控制加密和精度等问题的处理。检验表明，航空摄影测量对比成图方法能较准确地量测冰川长度、面积和储量等全形态要素的变化量，可以用于区域冰川变化的监测研究。测量资料表明，１９６４～１９９２年间，乌鲁木齐河流域１５５条冰川的规模均在缩小，冰川末端平均后退率为１２．４％，面积平均缩小率为１３．８％，冰储量减少１５．５％。     

剪切带的流体－岩石相互作用

作为大陆岩石圈中的应变局部化带，剪切带中一般都渗透着大量流体。流体的来源与剪切带所处的构造背景、流变域和水文条件有关，而剪切带中流体的流动则受岩石的渗透率、孔隙度、孔隙性质、流体的扩散和渗透能力、环境的温压条件、应力或载荷的梯度等因素所制约。剪切带中流体的成分、通量及赋存状态或流动方式，直接影响着岩石的流变。由应变局部化及力学失稳所引起的化学不平衡和由流体与岩石的相互作用，使剪切带岩石的矿物成分和化学成分发生调整，其变异程度取决于原岩的性质、剪切的温压条件和流体的成分及通量等。由于流体的渗透流动和流体与岩石的相互作用使剪切带的体积有所变化，体积变化过程是一种自组织行为。较大的体积亏损，意味着剪切带中渗透过大量的流体，这对剪切带的流变行为、化学行为和成矿作用都有深刻的影响。     

Magnetostratigraphy and palaeoclimate of Red Clay sequences from Chinese Loess Plateau

Two Red Clay profiles near Xi’an and Xifeng were investigated in an attempt to determine magnetostratigraphic and palaeoclimatic records. The results show that aeolian dust accumulation and the related East Asia palaeomonsoon system had begun by 6.5 Ma, and it is deduced that the Tibetan Plateau had reached a significant elevation at that time. The late Tertiary palaeoclimatic history of the Red Clay as reflected by magnetic susceptibility is reconstructed during the period of 6.5–2.5 Ma. Stepwise increase in susceptibility of aeolian dust accumulation appears to have a close correlation to the uplift processes of the Tibetan Plateau. The remarkable increase of aeolian dust accumulation at 3.2 Ma appears to be due to the influence of global ice volume on the East Asia monsoon. Palaeomonsoon variation during the late Tertiary as recorded in the Red Clay sequences from the Chinese Loess Plateau can be regarded as the product of a number of interacting factors, such as uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, solar radiation, global ice volume, etc. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Foundation of Xi’an Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

静海地震台地磁短周期变化及其在地震短临预报中的应用

近年来的一些研究表明，由于地震前孕震区地下介质的电性结构的变化，将导致地磁短周期转换函数发生异常变化。通过对地震前后的地磁短周期转换函数的参数的计算、分析和研究，有可能提取出可靠的地震短临前兆异常（曾小苹等，１９９０）。为了进一步开展对该方法研究工作并使其在我区地震预测预报研究中得到应用，我们使用了静海台的地磁记录资料，分析计算了该台地磁短周期转换函数在地震前后的变化情况，确立了该方法应用天津地区地震预报的短临异常特征及指标，取得了较好的效果。     

大地电磁场的两种大震短临异常

根据中法电磁合作台运行6年的资料，在年变形态对比的基础上合理地选取有效测道值构建了相应的时间序列图。从中发现昆仑山口西8．1级大震前一个多月时间中，正常大地电磁场中叠加间歇性畸变干扰，按形态分为‘阶跃突跳’、‘单尖突变’两种类型。简略地讨论了产生两种异常现象的可能机制。     

Seasonal and Diurnal Variation of Surface Ozone and a Preliminary Analysis of Exceedance of its Critical Levels at a Semi-arid Site in India

The mixing ratios of surface O₃ were measured at St. John's College, Agra, an urban and traffic influenced area for the period of 2000–2002. The monthly averaged O₃ mixing ratios ranged between 8 to 40 ppb with an annual average of 21 ppb. Strong diurnal and seasonal variations in O₃ mixing ratios were observed throughout the year except for monsoon season. The mixing ratios of O₃ follow the surface temperature cycle and solar radiation (r = 0.72 and r = 0.65 with temperature and solar radiation, respectively). Concentrations were higher with winds associated with NE and NW direction indicating the impact of pollution sources on surface O₃ concentration. Exceedance of ozone critical level was calculated using the AOT 40 index and found to be 840 ppb.h and 2430 ppb.h for summer and winter seasons, respectively. The present O₃ exposures are lower than the critical level of O₃ and suggest that the present level of O₃ does not have any impact on reduction in crop yields.     

Water exchange between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter

Variability in water-exchange time between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter is investigated based on the results of intensive field observation from November 2000 to March 2001. Water-exchange time between Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean during winter mainly depends on the strength of northerly monsoon, being about 16 days under the weak monsoon and about 12 days under the strong monsoon. Moreover, it becomes longer by about 1 day in spring tide and shorter in neap tide due to the coupling effect of estuarine circulation and vertical mixing. Water-exchange time also varies depending on the open-ocean condition. When the warm water mass approaches from the Pacific Ocean to the mouth of Tokyo Bay through the eastern channel of Sagami Bay, which connects Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, water-exchange time becomes longer by about 2 days because the warm water mass is blocked in the surface layer at the bay mouth. On the other hand, when the warm water mass approaches to the mouth of Tokyo Bay through the western channel of Sagami Bay, water-exchange time becomes shorter by about 1 day because the warm water mass intrudes into the middle or lower layers of Tokyo Bay. Such different behavior of warm water mass at the mouth of Tokyo Bay is due to the difference in density of approaching warm water masses, that is, the density of the warm water mass through the eastern channel is smaller than that of the warm water mass through the western channel of Sagami Bay.Responsible Editors: Yens Kappenberg     

Global scale annual and semi-annual variations of daytime NmF2 in the high solar activity years

The annual and semi-annual variations of the ionosphere are investigated in the present paper by using the daytime F2 layer peak electron concentration (NmF2) observed at a global ionosonde network with 104 stations. The main features are outlined as follows. (1) The annual variations are most pronounced at magnetic latitudes of 40–60° in both hemispheres, and usually manifest as winter anomalies; Below magnetic latitude of 40° as well as in the tropical region they are much weaker and winter anomalies that are not obvious. (2) The semi-annual variations, which are usually peak in March or April in most regions, are generally weak in the near-pole regions and strong in the far-pole regions of both hemispheres. (3) Compared with their annual components, the semi-annual variations in the tropical region are more significant.In order to explain the above results, we particularly analyze the global atomic/molecular ratio of [O/N2] at the F2 layer peak height by the MSIS90 model. The results show that the annual variation of [O/N2] is closely related with that of NmF2 prevailing in mid-latitudes and [O/N2] annual variation usually may lead to the winter anomalies of NmF2 occurring in the near-pole region. Moreover, NmF2 semi-annual variations appearing in the tropical region also have a close relationship with the variation of [O/N2]. On the other hand, the semi-annual variations of NmF2 in the far-pole region cannot be simply explained by that of [O/N2], but the variation of the solar zenith angle may also have a significant contribution.