Installation of ocean bottom bases for observation of seafloor crustal movement

Abstract

Ocean bottom bases (OBBs) have been installed on both sides of the axis of the Sagami Trough east of the Izu Peninsula, central Japan, as the first step toward long‐term geodetic and geophysical observations at the plate boundary (subduction zone). The OBB is a platform for seafloor measurements; otherwise it is difficult to find an appropriate place for precise seafloor measurements in the subduction zones. It is made of a nonmagnetic concrete block of size 1100 × 1100 × 500 mm. It was lowered from a ship using a winch wire and installed on a predetermined place with its position being monitored by an acoustic transponder system and a 30‐kHz bottom pinger with an accuracy of about 2 m.

It was confirmed later during the divings on board the submersible Shinkai 2000 that the OBB was installed on a flat mud bottom in normal condition. No change has been recognized in the installation condition in 3 years; the OBB is stable enough to be used for acoustic range measurements on the seafloor as well as for several geophysical measurements.

The resolution of seafloor range measurement can be improved by two orders by using phase measurement techniques with the aid of pulse compression. Precise acoustic range measurement of the order of 10^?5 is feasible under the following conditions: two‐way measurements between the two OBBs installed on the slope facing each other with angles larger than 1.5°. Correction is necessary for the effect of long‐term temperature variation.     

西北太平洋柔鱼中长期预测方法研究

为了能更好预测西北太平洋柔鱼的资源量, 选择合适的预测方法及开发相应的预测系统颇为重要。利用相关性分析, 筛选出在产卵区显著影响西北太平洋柔鱼资源量的关键网格点, 并采用这些网格点的海表温度、产卵区适宜温度所占面积的比例和单位努力捕获量等数据组织样本, 然后利用线性回归、BP 神经网络、RBF 神经网络和支持向量机等预测方法进行实验。结果表明: 在西北太平洋柔鱼中长期预测中, BP 神经网络要优于其他方法。以相关性分析和BP 神经网络为基础建立的西北太平洋柔鱼资源量预测系统是有效可行的。     

Polydorid polychaetes (Spionidae) on farmed and wild abalone (Haliotis midae) in South Africa: an epidemiological survey

Although there has been an increase in our understanding of the shell-boring polydorids that infest abalone Haliotis midae in South Africa, abalone from a limited number of farms, and wild populations from east of Cape Agulhas only, have been examined. To gain further knowledge and a more complete understanding of the local distribution of polydorids, we examined up to 30 abalone from each of 14 farms in the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape provinces, and five wild sites in the Western Cape, west of Cape Agulhas. Farm and wild communities were significantly different from each other (ANOSIM, r = 0.632, p < 0.002) and Bray–Curtis cluster analysis showed that most farms clustered separately from wild sites. Boccardia proboscidea was present on all but one of the infested farms, whereas some were also infested by Dipolydora capensis. By contrast, D. capensis was present at all wild sites sampled, whereas B. proboscidea was absent from these sites. Polydora hoplura, a common shell-boring pest, was present at only two farms and two wild sites. There appeared to be some exchange of polydorids among farms and between farms and wild abalone. The farm on the East Coast did not cluster with any other sites, indicating a unique composition of polydorids on that coast. No new, potentially problematic, species was encountered, although four species showed an increase in their known distribution.     

Patterns of endemicity and range restriction among southern African coastal marine invertebrates

Southern Africa supports a rich marine biota of 12 734 currently described marine species. Although the distribution and overall species-richness patterns of several component taxa are well documented, studies considering range sizes are absent. This study considers range size frequencies and distribution patterns of seven major marine invertebrate taxa. The most commonly observed pattern of size frequency distributions is bimodal, with a predominance of species with either small or large range sizes, and few taxa with intermediate-sized ranges. This pattern is displayed by prosobranch and opisthobranch molluscs, polychaetes and amphipods, and for all invertebrate taxa examined combined. Peaks in small range sizes are likely a reflection of the numerous poorly sampled and/or endemic species in the region, while the high number of species with large range sizes can be attributed to the large proportion of widespread tropical Indo-Pacific species within the regional fauna. Overall, the largest peaks of range-restricted endemic species occurred around False Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban, St Lucia and Maputo Bay. These areas are all situated at or adjacent to recognised biogeographic breaks for invertebrate assemblages, but coincidentally also tend to also be areas of enhanced research and shipping activity. The Cape Point region supports the highest number of endemics, with 73 species restricted to ranges of <100 km and 28 species to ranges <200 km.     

长短桩高强复合地基在高层建筑中的应用

长短桩高强复合地基能充分调动桩间土体参与工作,并在竖向方向上的刚度梯度变化与附加荷载的应力扩散变化趋势相同。以考虑不同桩体长度、桩体刚度和考虑周围多层土体分布的长短桩相互作用计算模型为依据,对某高层建筑进行长短桩高强复合地基的分析设计计算,通过与实测数据对比,表明长短桩高强复合地基应用于高层建筑可以满足承载力和沉降的要求。长短桩高强复合地基因其高承载力、经济性优越和施工灵活并工期短的特点,将会成为高层建筑桩基础的巨大挑战。     

Spatial assessment of hydrologic alteration across the Pearl River Delta,China, and possible underlying causes

The alterations of the water level across the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were investigated using a ‘range of variability approach’ (RVA) based on monthly water level datasets extracted from 17 gauging stations. A mapping method was used to illustrate the spatial patterns in the degrees of alteration of water levels. The results indicated that more stations showing moderate and high alterations in monthly mean maximum and minimum water levels when compared with monthly maximum and minimum water levels. River channels characterized by higher alterations of water levels were observed mainly in the regions north of 22° 30′N. Alterations of water levels across the PRD were a consequence of various influencing factors. However, changed hypsography due to extensive and intensive human activities, particularly the large‐scale dredging and excavation of the river sand, may be taken as one of the major causes for the substantial hydrologic alteration. This study indicated that the river channels characterized by altered water levels are mostly those characterized by highly and moderately intensive sand dredging. The changed ratio of the streamflow between Makou and Sanshui stations, the major upstream flow control stations, also influenced the water level alterations of the Pearl River delta. The results of this study will be of great significance in water resources management and better human mitigation of the natural hazards due to the altered water level under the changing environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐structure‐specific intensity measure parameters and characteristic period of near‐fault ground motions

This paper focuses on the effects of long‐period pulse of near‐fault ground motions on the structural damage potential. Two sets of near‐fault ground motion records from Chi‐Chi, Taiwan earthquake and Northridge earthquake with and without distinct pulse are selected as the input, and the correlation analysis between 30 non‐structure‐specific intensity measure parameters and maximum inelastic displacements and energy responses (input energy and hysteretic energy) of bilinear single degree of freedom systems are conducted. Based on the frequency characteristic of near‐fault ground motions with remarkable long‐period components, two intensity indices are proposed, namely, the improved effective peak acceleration (IEPA) and improved effective peak velocity (IEPV). In addition a new characteristic period of these ground motions is defined based on IEPA and IEPV. Numerical results illustrate that the intensity measure parameters related to ground acceleration present the best correlation with the seismic responses for rigid systems; the velocity‐related and displacement‐related parameters are better for medium‐frequency systems and flexible systems, respectively. The correlation curves of near‐fault ground motions with velocity pulse differ from those of ground motions without pulse. Moreover, the improved parameters IEPA and IEPV of near‐fault impulsive ground motions enhance the performance of intensity measure of corresponding conventional parameters, i.e. EPA and EPV. The new characteristic period based on IEPA and IEPV can better reflect the frequency content of near‐fault ground motions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地震动瞬时能量谱与结构位移响应关系研究

本文通过HHT变换得到瞬时能量谱,并以HHT对地震动作用下的结构位移响应进行分析,发现长周期结构动力响应的显著特点:最大结构位移响应总是滞后于地震动激励的最大能量谱值时间.滞后的时间主要取决于结构的动力特性参数(特别是自振周期),也与地震动的类型有关.仿真计算的结果表明:长周期结构的破环与倒塌并不发生在地震动强度最大的时刻,而多数是在地震动末期,甚至在地震动完全消失之后.有益的结论为结构控制设计与安全提供科学依据.     

中国西南区域孕震区电离层TEC变化长时间序列分析

通过中国地壳运动网络提供的GPS观测数据,获取了高精度电离层TEC分布,采用滑动四分位法分析了中国西南区域2008年4—10月(太阳和地磁活动平静时段)6次连续的MW6.0以上地震期间孕震区电离层TEC长时间变化及其异常分布;并在此基础上利用GIM数据对比分析了全球TEC变化特征。鉴于电离层主要受到太阳和地磁等空间天气的影响,将TEC变化与太阳EUV辐射、行星际磁场南向分量IMF Bz以及地磁活动指数Dst和Kp进行了比较。结果发现,该时段内电离层TEC异常扰动与太阳和地磁活动有很好的相关性;除汶川地震外,其他地震前没有发现明显的跟地震相关的TEC异常扰动现象。同时,对比分析了与上述研究区位于同一地磁纬度的"检验区"(30°~50°E,15°~35°N)的GPS TEC随时间变化和异常分布情况,结果显示TEC异常分布的时空特征与研究区域较为一致。由于电离层是一个复杂的系统,其扰动具有多源性,而且地震电离层扰动现象是复杂多变的,因此需要联合地基和天基手段共同观测,并加强其机理研究。