Spatial trends of dustfall over northern China in the spring and their influencing factors

The spatial trends of dustfall of different sizes over northern China during April and May 2001,and March 2002,and their influencing factors,were analyzed.We divided the dustfall into seven grades based on particle size.Total dustfall and dustfall for each grade were highest in desert regions then in regions undergoing desertification,and the total dustfall,dustfall 100 μm and dustfall 250 μm were higher in western agricultural regions closer to desert areas than in eastern agricultural regions.The spatial trends in dustfall 300 μm in diameter were most strongly correlated with dust events,and the content of coarse particles increased with increasing severity of dust events.Because the spatial trend for dust events appears to be controlled by geomorphic conditions,vegetation coverage,soil moisture,and the distance from dust source,dustfall 300 μm in diameter appears to have the same controlling factors as dust events,but the control decreases with increasing particle size.Wind,the driving force for dust emissions,also influenced the spatial trends in dustfall 200 μm in diameter,and especially for dustfall 50 to 100 μm in diameter.Although dustfall 300 μm in diameter and precipitation were not strongly spatially correlated,there is some evidence that high precipitation decreased deposition by restraining blowing sand.The coarser the dustfall,the weaker the correlation with wind speed;however,transport of larger particles still occurs,and further research will be required to test the possibility that this dust is entrained mainly by the small-scale dust devils that are commonly observed in the study area.     

秦岭北缘断裂带温泉水渗流特征与地震活动水平研究

前人对秦岭北缘断裂带出露温泉水的氢氧同位素、He同位素和SiO2含量进行了计算,得到了温泉水的热储温度和循环深度。在此基础上,运用温度场作用下的热水垂向运移数学模型演算了循环深度和断层带渗透性之间的关系。根据1970～2008年的区域台网资料,对断裂带进行了分段地震活动多参数组合方法分析,并结合历史中强地震(公元前781年～公元2008年)的空间分布特点,分析总结了断层带不同区段渗透特征和地震活动的关系。最后对秦岭北缘断裂带的渗透性成因进行了解释。     

Seasonal variation of upper layer circulation in the northern part of the East/Japan Sea

Seasonal variation of upper layer circulation in the northern part of the East/Japan Sea and its mechanism were investigated using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis with satellite sea surface heights over the northern East/Japan Sea and a three-dimensional circulation model. The spatial structure and temporal variation of first EOF mode, which explains about 64% of the total variance, indicate that a large cyclonic circulation in the northern East/Japan Sea shows a semi-annual variation with maximum strength in summer and winter. According to numerical model result, the Liman Cold Current, accepted as a major current in the northern East/Japan Sea, is well mixed vertically by the winter monsoon and the current in the upper layer has a relatively deep structure, with a maximum westward speed of about 20 cm/s in winter. On the other hand, in summer the current has a stronger baroclinic structure of velocity than in winter. Numerical experiments showed that in summer the temporal variation of upper layer circulation is controlled by thermal forcing, such as sea surface heat flux and inflow of heat transport into the East/Japan Sea through the Korea/Tsushima Strait. Moreover, the cyclonic circulation in the upper layer of the northern East/Japan Sea is also generated and strengthened by the positive wind stress curl occupying most of the East/Japan Sea during the winter. The seasonal variation of each forcing that drives the circulation is responsible for the strength or weakness of the upper layer circulation in the northern East/Japan Sea. The contribution of each forcing to the seasonal variation of the upper layer circulation is examined through sensitivity experiments. According to these numerical experiments, the upper layer circulation in the northern East/Japan Sea is strengthened twice a year, in winter and summer, and this semi-annual variation is determined by a combination of wind (winter) and thermal (summer) forcing.     

Assessing changes in extreme sea levels: Application to the English Channel, 1900–2006

A recently extended and spatially rich English Channel sea level dataset has been used to evaluate changes in extreme still water levels throughout the 20th century. Sea level records from 18 tide gauges have been rigorously checked for errors and split into mean sea level, tidal and non-tidal components. These components and the interaction between surge and tide have been analysed separately for significant trends before determining changes in extreme sea level. Mean sea level is rising at 0.8–2.3 mm/year, depending on location. There is a small increase (0.1–0.3 mm/year) in the annual mean high water of astronomical tidal origin, relative to mean sea level, and an increase (0.2–0.6 mm/year) in annual mean tidal range. There is considerable intra- and inter-decadal variability in surge intensity with the strongest intensity in the late 1950s. Storm surges show a statistically significant weak negative correlation to the winter North Atlantic Oscillation index throughout the Channel and a stronger significant positive correlation at the boundary with the southern North Sea. Tide–surge interactions increase eastward along the English Channel, but no significant long-term changes in the distribution of tide–surge interaction are evident. In conclusion, extreme sea levels increased at all of the 18 sites, but at rates not statistically different from that observed in mean sea level.     

大兴安岭北部多年冻土监测进展

大兴安岭北部是我国多年冻土最为发育的地区之一, 多年冻土的存在和分布受植被、积雪等局地因素的影响十分显著, 形成了独特的兴安-贝加尔型多年冻土. 随着该区社会经济的发展, 多年冻土对寒区环境以及工程生产活动的影响越来越大. 近几年来逐步在大兴安岭北部建立了以多年冻土为主要研究对象的监测网络, 包括多年冻土地温监测网络、自动气象站、雪特性观测系统、活动层温度-水分观测系统以及地面融沉监测断面, 获得了一系列有意义的数据和成果. 做好大兴安岭北部多年冻土及其周围植被、气候及冻土灾害的监测具有重要的基础性和前瞻性科学价值.     

山体效应对北半球林线分布的影响分析

通过搜集整理了北半球516 个林线数据, 结合WorldClim 气象数据计算了林线数据点上的大陆度, 并依据SRTM高程数据提取了林线处的山体基面高度(作为山体效应的代用因子), 然后以纬度、大陆度和山体基面高度为解释变量, 建立三元回归模型。结果表明:线性回归模型的判定系数R²为0.904, 二次回归模型的R²高达0.912。相比先前不考虑基面高度的林线分布模型(R² = 0.79), 纳入了山体基面高度的林线分布模型能够更加有效的拟合半球尺度的林线分布; 结果还表明, 山体基面高度对北半球林线高度分布的贡献率达到了48.94% (p =0.000), 而纬度和大陆度分别为45.02% (p = 0.000) 和6.04% (p = 0.000)。这揭示了山体效应对半球尺度林线分布具有重要的影响。基面高度在北美洲地区对林线高度的贡献率最大(50.49%, p=0.000), 在欧亚大陆东部地区为48.73% (p = 0.000), 在欧亚大陆西部地区为43.6% (p=0.000)。这一结果说明山体效应对林线分布高度的影响虽有区域差异, 但都有较高的贡献率。     

RELIGION AND POLITICS: NEW RELIGIOUS SITES AND SPATIAL TRANSGRESSION IN ISRAEL*

ABSTRACT. In order to view the establishment of new religions centers and how they are received by local populations, I analyze such basic geographical concepts as scale, space, location, and image. I see how these can alter the perception and further refine the concept of spatial transgression in three case studies in Israel: the building of the Mormon Center in Jerusalem, the establishment of the Bahá‘í Gardens in Haifa, and the struggle to build a mosque in Nazareth. In this article I seek to identify the factors influencing the presence or absence of conflict to help explain the different “stories” revealed. The article also constitutes an addition to the literature on Israeli (and Palestinian) religiogeographical controversies by focusing on nonmainstream or nondominant cases and by comparing the relative roles of different factors that shape the success or failure of spatial transgressions in religious geography.     

Clay slides in the Målselv valley, northern Norway: Characteristics, occurrence, and triggering mechanisms

The distribution of a large number of clay slides in the Målselv valley, northern Norway, is analysed and put into context with the stratigraphic organization of the valley-fill sediments. About 32% of the landslides larger than 10⁴ m³ occur close to the valley margins, where mud is either exposed or at shallow depth. About 57% of the landslides occur mid-valley, where relatively thin (< 15 m) coarse-grained deltaic sediments overlay fine-grained marine and glaciomarine sediments, and about 11% of the landslides occur in front of ice-contact deposits. The slide-prone areas are all characterized by the occurrence of heterogeneous sediments (interbedded clay, silt and sand), in addition to the presence of steep slopes eroded by rivers. The heterogeneous nature of the sediments probably enhanced groundwater drainage and leaching of salts from the clay, increasing sensitivity. Thus, the distribution and organization of the valley-fill sediments and groundwater drainage probably controlled the position of the slide scars and sliding planes. Since deglaciation of the valley (11,500 BP–present), isostatic rebound has enhanced fluvial incision and the creation of steep slopes due to a fall in relative sea level of up to 80 m.Arcuate-shaped, ‘bottleneck’ landslide scars ranging from c. 10⁴ to 10⁷ m³ in size is the dominant morphological signature of the slides, typical for quick clay slides or earth flows involving fluid mud. Their most common triggering mechanism is probably erosion at the toe slopes by the river Målselv or its tributaries. River erosion close to the valley margin, where glaciomarine and marine sediments are present, seems to give the most severe slides. The overall valley-fill organization controls the distribution of clay slides, which may apply to other fjord valleys having similar sediment distribution.     

沉积物ESR测年及在川西-滇北河流阶地定年中的应用

ESR能够直接测定第四纪碎屑沉积物年代,尤其是对老于距今20万年以上的沉积物而被广泛应用,但其不很高的测年精度及可重复性不高又限制了其应用的广泛性。野外样品采集及室内分析测试的各个环节都会对ESR测年精度产生影响,因此控制这些环节造成的各种误差是提高ESR测年精度的关键。川西-滇北地区部分河流阶地沉积物ESR年代测定结果与地层层序以及区域地质构造事件基本吻合,表明ESR法测定该区河流阶地沉积物的年代是可行的。在野外采样以及实验室内样品处理测试过程中,采取合理的措施,可以把ESR测年的误差控制在10％～15％的范围内,基本能够满足研究的需要。     

藏北高原主要断裂带电性结构特征

对600线的部分测点及2100线的全部测点构成的五道梁-绿草山大地电磁深探测剖面进行了二维非线性共轭梯度反演,得到青藏高原中北部二维电性结构模型.根据该电性结构模型,结合研究区域重、磁及区域地质资料推断了青藏高原中北部主要断裂的位置、产状和切割深度等信息.研究结果表明,青藏高原中北部发育有F1-F16一系列深断裂.其中,F1(苟鲁山克错-囊谦断裂带)和F9(乌兰乌拉湖-玉树断裂带)共同构成金沙江缝合带的北界,是松潘-甘孜-可可西里地块与羌塘-唐古拉地块的分界线;F4、F10-F12共同构成昆仑断裂带,F4(阿尼玛卿断裂带)是南部松潘-甘孜-可可西里地体和北部北昆仑-柴达木地体的分界线;F6、F13-F16为柴北缘断裂带,由南倾的岩石圈深断裂F6和一系列产状相背、北倾的逆冲断裂F13-F16所构成;F7和F8可能反映岩石圈内产状平缓、隐伏的滑脱构造形迹.