NSF用于地球环境观测系统的设施

地球科学涉及的研究对象和问题通常以长时间、大尺度、大规模为特征。这些研究不仅需要在实验室中进行，而且更需要大范围、长时间系列的实地观测资料。用于观测、实验、分析与计算的设施和仪器对地球科学领域的研究十分重要。GEO地球科学设施计划（1999—2003）是GEO历史上首次提出的“设施计划”，它从地球环境观测系统、计算系统、实验室系统及样本与资料存贮系统4个方面对NSF已拥有和拟发展的设施作了阐述。通过对GEO在1999年前已拥有、计划1999—2003年使用及目前的实行情况3方面对NSF用于地球环境观测系统的设施作较为全面的介绍。     

建立地震发射台的建议

目前地球上有成千上万个地震台，但它们都是接收地震波的地震台。建议建立一种新型的地震台，这种地震台用人工的方法不断地向外发射地震波，照亮需要研究地区的地下结构，研究特定的科学问题。建立地震发射台的核心问题是选择合适的人工震源，近年来出现的绿色环保震源，以及现代信息处理技术的发展，使得建立照亮10万km2(深至Moho面)地区地下结构的地震发射台已经完全是可能的。     

Determining magma flow in sills,dykes and laccoliths and their implications for sill emplacement mechanisms

Three-dimensional seismic data from the Faeroe-Shetland Basin provides detailed information on the relationships between sills, dykes, laccoliths and contemporaneous volcanic activity. The data shows that sills are predominantly concave upwards, being complete or partial versions of radially or bilaterally symmetrical forms that possess flat inner saucers connected to a flat outer rim by a steeply inclined sheet. Such morphologies are only partially modified by pre-existing faults. Sills can be sourced from dykes or the steep climbing portions of deeper sills. Both sills and dykes can provide magma to overlying volcanic fissures and sills can be shown to feed shallow laccoliths. Magma flow patterns, as revealed by opacity rendering, suggest that sills propagate upwards and outwards away from the magma feeder. As an individual sill can consist of several leaves emplaced at different stratigraphic levels, and as a sill or dyke can provide magma to volcanic fissures, other sills and laccoliths, the data suggests that neutral buoyancy concepts may not provide a complete explanation for the mechanism and level of sill emplacement. Instead, the data suggests that the presence of lithological contrasts, particularly ductile horizons such as overpressured shales may permit sill formation at any level below the neutrally buoyant level. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Ken Thomson–deceased, April 2007     

增强型道格拉斯—普克压缩算法的设计与实现

本文首先论述了经典的道格拉斯—普克压缩算法，分析将其应用于多边形边界数据压缩所造成的图形失真现象，提出了一种增强型道格拉斯—普克压缩算法，并用实际的MapInfo矢量数据来检核该算法的可靠性。     

非洲、澳洲、南美洲的连环拼合与成因探讨

通过对非洲、澳大利亚、南美洲彼此之间的大陆架边界线相似的概率分析，指出巧合是不可能的，地球在过去几十亿年间一定发生了大规模的膨胀。     

Image resolution and evaluation of genetic hypotheses for planetary landscapes

The spatial resolution of image data tends to constrain the horizontal length scale of genetic hypotheses that are addressable by those data. No ‘simple’ formula exists when image resolution is sufficient to test a given geomorphic process, which is dependent on what characteristics are diagnostic of the particular process. Genetic hypotheses should be formulated along the lines of the “multiple working hypotheses” concept as described in a classic paper by Chamberlin [J. Geol. 5 (1897) 837]. An essential element of a viable working hypothesis is a clear indication of the characteristics predicted by, or a consequence of, the hypothesis. An untestable hypothesis is not an effective working hypothesis. The history of the study of lunar sinuous rilles is outlined as an illustration of the influence of image resolution and the formulation of genetic hypotheses on the subsequent advancement of understanding of the problem. Sinuous rilles on Venus and Mars, and controversial sinuous ridges on Mars are also reviewed. In the lunar case, the three-order-of-magnitude improvement in spatial resolution provided by Lunar Orbiter photographs over Earth-based telescopic photographs did not result in definitive examination and elimination of published hypotheses for the formation of sinuous rilles. Topographic data obtained from cartographically controlled Apollo orbital photographs, along with important observations and samples obtained by the astronauts on the lunar surface, did test and exclude several hypotheses. The formulation of a genetic hypothesis, including testable consequences of that hypothesis, is a greater determinant of its ultimate utility to the scientific community than is the image resolution available at any given time.     

Rodinia超大陆构造演化研究的新进展和主要目标

概略评述了1997年以来国际上有关Rodinia超大陆构造演化问题的研究成果，并提出今后工作的主要目标。Rodinia超大陆的聚合造山发生在1300－1000Ma，基本形式表现为早期弧一陆碰撞和晚期陆－陆碰撞，并在1000－900Ma继以伸展作用。Rodinia超大陆的裂解发生于830Ma之后，但其过程具有明显的时，空分布不均一性，地幔柱可能是导致超大陆裂解的主要机制，大火成岩省”是地幔柱发育的关键性标志，已经初步证实裂解过程影响地球大气圈和水圈中二氧化碳的循环，进而改变晚前寒武纪的全球气候，控制生物圈的兴衰和岩石圈表层的碳酸盐，铁，锰和磷等沉积，这些现象可用“雪球化地球”（Snowball Earth)模式概括。     

El Niño Impact on Polar Motion Prediction Errors

The polar motion prediction is computed as a least-squares extrapolation of the polar motion data. The least-squares model consists of a Chandler circle with constant or variable amplitude, annual and semiannual ellipses, and a bias. The model with constant amplitude of the Chandler oscillation is fit to the last three years of polar motion data and the model with variable amplitude of the Chandler oscillation is fit to the whole time series ranging from 1973.0 to 2001.1. The variable amplitude of the Chandler oscillation is modeled from the envelope of the Chandler oscillation filtered by the Fourier transform band pass filter from the long-term IERS EOPC01 polar motion series. The accuracy of the polar motion prediction depends mostly on the phase variation of the annual oscillation, which is treated as a constant in the least-squares adjustment. There were two significant changes of the annual oscillation phase of the order of 30° before the two El Niño events in 1982/83 and 1997/98.     

Low Electrical Resistivity And Seismic Velocity At The Base Of The Upper Crust As Indicator Of Rheologically Weak Layer

Conductivity models were compiled in two geological provinces with thinsediments. The first province is the margin of the Precambrian East EuropeanPlatform. The second one is the Phanerozoic Rhenish Massif as a part of CentralGermany Hercinicum. In both provinces, a conducting layer was revealed at thebase of the upper crust by the magnetotelluric soundings. Its depth is around10 km in the East European Platform and around 15 km in the Rhenish Massif.The conductance of the layer reaches a few tens of Siemens in the first provinceand is almost an order of magnitude greater in the second one.A good correlation between the conductor and a seismic wave-guide (low-velocityzone) exists at the base of the upper crust. Simultaneous decrease of both electricalresistivity and seismic velocity, suggests an increase of porosity and permeability inpresence of saline water. The depth of rheological weak layer in the PhanerozoicRhenish Massif corresponds to the commonly accepted depth of the thermallyinduced brittle/ductile transition. Contrary similar layer in the Precambrian EasternEuropean Platform is much shallower than the thermally induced transition. Somenew mechanism should be considered.     

关于当代地球科学发展趋势的点滴认识

面对资源、环境、人口、地质灾害等人类的生产、生活乃至生存的严峻危机，需要我们掌握地球内部的客观规律，不断更新和寻找地球科学理论和新的思维方式，掌握地球科学发展趋势，以协调好人与自然、人地关系及社会经济和可持续发展理论，造福于人类。