Residual vorticity induced by the action of tidal currents in combination with bottom topography in the Southern Bight of the North Sea

Abstract

Results are presented of calculations on the generation of residual vorticity by tidal currents over the bottom topography of the Southern Bight of the North Sea. A typical order of magnitude is 10^?6 to 10^?7 s ^?1. This is compared with current measurements on calm days, when similar magnitudes are found. At windspeeds less than about 5 m/s tidal generation of residual vorticity is important; at higher windspeeds wind effects begin to dominate. Our results are relevant in understanding the spatial variability of residual currents, because a non-zero vorticity implies the existence of horizontal gradients in the residual current field.     

Monitoring wetland ditch water levels in the North Kent Marshes,UK, using Landsat TM imagery and ground-based measurements

Abstract

An understanding of hydrology is a prerequisite for ensuring the successful management, conservation and restoration of wetland environments. Frequently, however, little is known about historical hydrological conditions, such as water levels, within wetlands. Moreover, many channel and ditch systems in wetlands are not routinely monitored, except perhaps for research purposes. A methodology is presented herein which makes use of satellite imagery to indirectly provide remotely sensed observations of water levels within channels and ditches. Using multi-temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery and simultaneous ground-based measurements of water levels, statistical relationships are established between satellite-derived effective wet ditch widths and measured water levels in the drainage system of the Elmley Marshes, southeast England. These relationships can be used subsequently to estimate historical ditch water levels and to monitor contemporary ditch water levels in the wetland. The study shows that satellite imagery has much to offer in monitoring changes in the hydrological regime of wetlands and in providing complimentary approaches to field monitoring.     

Acquisition de salinité et qualité des eaux d’une nappe profonde en Tunisie: approche statistique et géochimique

Abstract

The multi-layered Jeffara de Gabes aquifer system is greatly influenced by tectonics. This system is limited at the base and laterally by evaporite layers and has lateral contacts with the sebkhas (salt flats). The groundwater in this aquifer is characterized by high salinity (3–10 g L^-1). Multivariate statistical analysis and a geochemical approach were applied to determine the influence of the evaporite layers and sebkhas on the hydrochemical quality of the Jeffara de Gabes aquifer, and to understand the processes governing its salinity. According to these methods, and based in part on the Sr²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio, it is demonstrated that the strong salinity of the groundwater is due to interactions between water and the evaporite layers that act as a substratum of this aquifer, as well as saltwater intrusion from the sebkhas. Moreover, the medium- to poor-quality groundwaters are characterized by geochemical interactions: cationic exchange and the precipitation/dissolution process of minerals in the aquifer formations.

Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz

Citation Ben Alaya, M., Zemni, T., Mamou, A. et Zargouni, F., 2014. Acquisition de salinité et qualité des eaux d’une nappe profonde, Tunisie: approche statistique et géochimique. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 59 (2), 395–419.     

民采空区危险性两级模糊综合评判——以招远市北截村为例

在充分搜集资料的基础上,对招远市北截村民采空区进行实地勘查,从地质条件、灾害发育程度及采空区特征3个影响因素入手,选取了9个评判因子进行两级模糊综合评判,采取最大隶属度原则确定采空区危险性等级,并进行了评估分区。评判结果能较准确地反应实际情况,为该区地质灾害防治工作及开发建设规划提供了依据。     

川东褶皱带构造发育深度层次与变形样式

地壳上层的结构特征和变形样式在垂直方向上的变化远远大于其在水平维度上的分异。川东褶皱带自晚古生代以来地史演化统一、地层展布稳定,之后新生代盆、山演化分异幅度较大,使得不同深度的地层和基底得以出露,不同地壳深度层次的构造样式得以展示,这为研究应力的垂向分异,提供了很好的条件。本文基于地壳垂直方向上变形几何的不守恒、构造脱耦以及构造层次的概念,通过野外构造现象的详细解析、野外脆性破裂产状统计、断裂之间交切关系以及活动性质观察等综合分析,结合遥感图像研究,对川东褶皱区隔挡式褶皱和隔槽式褶皱形成提出了新的解释模型。以华蓥山与齐岳山为界,川东褶皱带被分为3个呈叠置关系的区域。研究表明华蓥山以西(Ⅰ区)没有发生强烈的构造变形,变形深度最小(<2 km); 华蓥山与齐岳山之间(Ⅱ区)构造样式为在北北东向剪切作用下形成的陡立构造面理,变形深度为2～5 km; 而齐岳山以东(Ⅲ区)的构造样式是发育轴向北东的宽缓褶曲,变形深度为4～6.6 km。研究分析后得出,川东褶皱带在晚古生代以来,没有经历过大幅度的地壳垂向运动和明显的旋转运动,而白垩纪以后,发育了早期北北东向和晚期北东向的两期构造变形。Ⅱ、Ⅲ两区的构造样式发育于同一应力场(北西-南东主应力场),而晚期北东向断裂活动是形成上述3个区域呈现出断块并置的原因。另外,由于后期不同断块抬升和剥露的差异,使3个区域迥异的构造样式呈现在地表。这一认识对研究油气相关的构造圈闭、固体多金属矿产相关的矿床深度问题以及大地构造学等问题都有创新意义。     

基于R树索引的三维场景细节层次自适应控制方法

针对大规模三维城市建模需要,介绍一种基于三维R树索引的多细节层次（简称LOD）管理方法,从叶节点层向根节点自动生成LOD场景,并设计实现LOD检索的算法。通过试验分析,证明本文的LOD定义参数能够定量控制三维场景中的渲染目标数目,进而实现三维场景的自适应可视化方法,尤其适合于建筑物和树木类型的地物目标。     

Spatial sensitivity of seismic hazard results to different background seismic activity and temporal earthquake occurrence models

Spatial sensitivity of seismic hazard results to different models with respect to background seismic activity and earthquake occurrence in time is investigated. For the contribution of background seismic activity to seismic hazard, background area source with uniform seismicity and spatially smoothed seismicity models are taken into consideration. For the contribution of faults, through characteristic earthquakes, both the memoryless Poisson and the time dependent renewal models are utilized. A case study, involving the assessment of seismic hazard for the Bursa province in Turkey, is conducted in order to examine quantitatively the influence of these models on seismic hazard results. The spatial variation of the difference in Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) values obtained from these different models is presented in the form of difference maps for return periods of 475 and 2475 years. Best estimate seismic hazard maps for PGA and Spectral Accelerations (SA) at 0.2 and 1.0 s are obtained by using the logic tree method.     

阜新矿震台网无线信道测试

为了提高矿震台网的运行率,保障地震数据的连续率、完整率,对阜新矿震台网的信道进行了测试,主要包括制作传播路径地形剖面图以了解信道传输的视通条件、对信道传播损耗的理论计算及功率储备的测量、进行接收场强及背景干扰的测试以确定传输频点。结果显示,阜新矿震台网无线传输信道的场强在50~73 dB之间,能够保证无线信号传输质量,符合遥测台网建设技术规范要求。     

Consequences of short‐term changes in coastal processes: a case study

In 1997–98, unique critical beach erosion led to structural failure along the Penarth, South Wales, UK coastline and anthropogenic activities, such as the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage and offshore marine aggregate dredging, were suggested as causes. The time‐frame of significant erosion was between 1995 and 1997 and forcing agents (extreme sea level and wind direction) and shoreline indicators (mean beach level and MHW) were analysed in order to assess change. Water level analysis showed that although there was no significant difference between actual and predicted mean sea levels, extreme sea levels at that time were significantly higher (t = 3·305; d.f. = 8; p < 0·05). Three wind direction analyses (annual mean, mean annual maximum gust and mean annual maximum gust ≥28 kn) between 1995 and 1997 also showed significant differences (p < 0·05). All comprised more easterly components which meant they approached the beach from the sea. Furthermore, gusts ≥28 kn from the northeast quadrant, that is, 0° to 90° true, were significantly more frequent during these years (t = 3·674; d.f. = 8; p < 0·01). Justification of statistical significances was established and there was supporting evidence of unusual meteorological conditions at that time. Relationships showed correlation between forcing agents (extreme sea level and wind direction) and shoreline indicators (mean beach level and Mean High Water). Furthermore, regression analysis showed winds from the northeast quadrant resulted in steeper longshore gradients, as a consequence of beach material loss. Therefore, it was concluded that the critical erosion of Penarth beach between 1995 and 1997 was caused by increased wave attack from the northeast and southeast quadrants, generated by unique significant changes in wind direction and extreme sea levels. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Stanley unconformity in Lake Huron basin: evidence for a climate-driven closed lowstand about 7900 <Superscript>14</Superscript>C BP,with similar implications for the Chippewa lowstand in Lake Michigan basin

J.L. Hough in 1962 recognized an erosional unconformity in the upper section of early postglacial lake sediments in northwestern Lake Huron. Low-level Lake Stanley was defined at 70 m below present water surface on the basis of this observation, and was inferred to follow the Main Algonquin highstand and Post-Algonquin lake phases about 10 ¹⁴C ka, a seminal contribution to the understanding of Great Lakes history. Lake Stanley was thought to have overflowed from the Huron basin through the Georgian Bay basin and the glacio-isostatically depressed North Bay outlet to Ottawa and St. Lawrence rivers. For this overflow to have occurred, Hough assumed that post-Algonquin glacial rebound was delayed until after the Lake Stanley phase. A re-examination of sediment stratigraphy in northwestern Lake Huron using seismic reflection and new core data corroborates the sedimentological evidence of Hough’s Stanley unconformity, but not its inferred chronology or the level of the associated lowstand. Erosion of previously deposited sediment, causing the gap in the sediment sequence down to 70 m present depth, is attributed to wave erosion in the shoreface of the Lake Stanley lowstand. Allowing for non-deposition of muddy sediment in the upper 20 m approximately of water depth as occurs in the present Great Lakes, the inferred water level of the Stanley lowstand is repositioned at 50 m below present in northwestern Lake Huron. The age of this lowstand is about 7.9 ± 0.3¹⁴C ka, determined from the inferred ¹⁴C age of the unconformity by radiocarbon-dated geomagnetic secular variation in six new cores. This relatively young age shows that the lowstand defined by Hough’s Stanley unconformity is the late Lake Stanley phase of the northern Huron basin, youngest of three lowstands following the Algonquin lake phases. Reconstruction of uplift histories for lake level and outlets shows that late Lake Stanley was about 25–30 m below the North Bay outlet, and about 10 m below the sill of the Huron basin. The late Stanley lowstand was hydrologically closed, consistent with independent evidence for dry regional climate at this time. A similar analysis of the Chippewa unconformity shows that the Lake Michigan basin also hosted a hydrologically closed lowstand, late Lake Chippewa. This phase of closed lowstands is new to the geological history of the Great Lakes. This is the ninth in a series of ten papers published in this special issue of Journal of Paleolimnology. These papers were presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Great Lakes Research (2004), held at the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. P.F. Karrow and C.F.M Lewis were guest editors of this special issue.