Thresholds of intrabed flow and other interactions of turbidity currents with soft muddy substrates

Controlled laboratory experiments reveal that the lower part of turbidity currents has the ability to enter fluid mud substrates, if the bed shear stress is higher than the yield stress of the fluid mud and the density of the turbidity current is higher than the density of the substrate. Upon entering the substrate, the turbidity current either induces mixing between flow‐derived sediment and substrate sediment, or it forms a stable horizontal flow front inside the fluid mud. Such ‘intrabed’ flow is surrounded by plastically deformed mud; otherwise it resembles the front of a ‘bottom‐hugging’ turbidity current. The ‘suprabed’ portion of the turbidity current, i.e. the upper part of the flow that does not enter the substrate, is typically separated from the intrabed flow by a long horizontal layer of mud which originates from the mud that is swept over the top of the intrabed flow and then incorporated into the flow. The intrabed flow and the mixing mechanism are specific types of interaction between turbidity currents and muddy substrates that are part of a larger group of interactions, which also include bypass, deposition, erosion and soft sediment deformation. A classification scheme for these types of interactions is proposed, based on an excess bed shear stress parameter, which includes the difference in the bed shear stress imposed by the flow and the yield stress of the substrate and an excess density parameter, which relies on the density difference between the flow and the substrate. Based on this classification scheme, as well as on the sedimentological properties of the laboratory deposits, an existing facies model for intrabed turbidites is extended to the other types of interaction involving soft muddy substrates. The physical threshold of flow‐substrate mixing versus stable intrabed flow is defined using the gradient Richardson number, and this method is validated successfully with the laboratory data. The gradient Richardson number is also used to verify that stable intrabed flow is possible in natural turbidity currents, and to determine under which conditions intrabed flow is likely to be unstable. It appears that intrabed flow is likely only in natural turbidity currents with flow velocities well below ca 3·5 m s^?1, although a wider range of flows is capable of entering fluid muds. Below this threshold velocity, intrabed flow is stable only at high‐density gradients and low‐velocity gradients across the upper boundary of the turbidity current. Finally, the gradient Richardson number is used as a scaling parameter to set the flow velocity limits of a natural turbidity current that formed an inferred intrabed turbidite in the deep‐marine Aberystwyth Grits Group, West Wales, United Kingdom.     

Contained density currents with high volume of release

Contained density currents with high volume of release reflect against the boundaries of the reception environment commonly leading to oscillatory flow. These flows exist in sediment clarifiers, compromising their operations, and deposited signatures of contained turbidity currents are found as part of the infill of sedimentary basins; for operation of the former and interpretation of the latter it is essential to understand the dynamic processes of these flows. Six lock‐exchange experiments with different initial densities were made in a horizontal flume, where the volume of the saline mixture in the lock was equivalent to the volume of the ambient fluid. A further two tests, with a repeated initial density, were made: one with high volume of release and very long duration; and another with low volume of release. Firstly, the movement of the current is discussed, including the oscillations within the experimental tank involving the density current and an upper layer counter‐current. It is shown that the cyclic behaviour is self‐similar with the reduced gravity of the initial density in the lock. Secondly, entrainment and water mixing processes are characterized. The time evolution of mixing is characterized qualitatively by analysing the background potential energy of the density distributions to show that mixing occurs even in the earlier stages of the current, and mainly within the first cycle of the oscillation. Quantified analysis reveals that, in currents with high volume of release, entrainment discharge is one order of magnitude higher, mainly due to the larger interface between the ambient fluid and the current. A model for the evolution of the mixing process is proposed for density currents with high volume of release. Finally, the dynamics of the head of the current is analysed. The entrainment in the head, when compared to the entrainment in the remainder body of the flows, is less important for the configuration with a larger lock.     

基于LLS的雷电流波头时间分布特征

利用湖北省2007—2013年雷电定位系统(Lightning Location System,LLS)监测的雷电流相关参数资料,采用数理统计方法,对雷电流波头时间的年、季、月、日变化以及累积概率和概率密度分布进行了统计分析。结果表明,正闪电平均波头时间为4.8μs,负闪和总闪电为3.6μs;一年中,正闪电7月波头时间最短,月变化特征大致呈"V"形;负闪和总闪电5—7月波头时间比其他月份短,月变化特征大致呈"U"形。正闪电波头时间季节、日变化明显,负闪和总闪电季节、日变化不明显。波头时间小于等于10μs时,正闪、负闪和总闪电的波头时间累积概率分别为95.5%、99.7%和99.6%,总闪电95%的波头时间大于1.5μs,50%的大于3.1μs,5%的大于6.0μs。波头时间在2~3μs时,正闪、负闪和总闪电的概率密度最大。气温较低月份,波头时间相对较长,反之,波头时间相对较短,其原因可能与雷电流幅值大小有关,具体原因有待进一步研究。     

广西凭祥盆地深水底流沉积类型及其研究意义

内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积是二十余年来在古代深水环境中新发现的一种具牵引流性质的沉积相类型,由于地层沉积记录十分有限,制约了深水底流沉积的沉积学研究。大比例尺实测地质剖面和精细露头测量表明,底流沉积发育于凭祥盆地深水沉积之中,通过对其沉积构造精细剖析和古水流测量,识别出内波、内潮汐沉积和复合流沉积,其中内波、内潮汐沉积以双向交错层理、单向交错层理、透镜状层理为特征,复合流沉积以复合流层理、丘状交错层理和较陡的爬升波纹层理为特征,进一步表明存在浊流和底流的交互作用,为古代地层中的深水底流沉积提供了又一研究实例。     

The effects of yawing motion with different frequencies on the hydrodynamic performance of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbines

Under real sea conditions, the hydrodynamic performance of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbines is affected by waves and currents. The wave circular frequency is a significant factor in determining the frequencies of the wave-induced motion responses of turbines. In this study, the ANSYS-CFX software (manufacturer: ANSYS Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States) is used to analyse the hydrodynamic performance of a vertical-axis turbine for different yawing frequencies and to study how the yawing frequencies affect the main hydrodynamic coefficients of the turbine, including the power coefficient, thrust coefficient, lateral force coefficient, and yawing moment coefficient. The time-varying curves obtained from the CFX software are fitted using the least-squares method; the damping and added mass coefficients are then calculated to analyse the influence of different yawing frequencies. The simulation results demonstrate that when analysing non-yawing turbines rotating under constant inflow, the main hydrodynamic coefficient time-varying curves of yawing turbines exhibit an additional fluctuation. Furthermore, the amplitude is positively correlated with the yawing frequency, and the oscillation amplitudes also increase with increasing yawing frequency; however, the average values of the hydrodynamic coefficients (except the power coefficient) are only weakly influenced by yawing motion. The power coefficient under yawing motion is lower than that under non-yawing motion, which means that yawing motion will cause the annual energy production of a turbine to decrease. The fitting results show that the damping term and the added mass term exert effects of the same level on the loads and moments of vertical-axis turbines under yawing motion. The results of this study can facilitate the study of the motion response of floating vertical-axis tidal current turbine systems in waves.     

长江河口北槽河道悬沙絮团特性及其影响因素研究

利用多种先进室内外测量仪器进行河口现场观测和室内电镜扫描获得相关资料,对长江河口北槽河道细颗粒泥沙絮凝的水沙环境、絮团的微观形态结构、絮团的粒径组成及其主要影响因素进行了综合分析和讨论。结果表明,北槽河道具有非常适宜细颗粒泥沙絮凝的潮流、盐度、含沙量和悬沙颗粒粒径等基本环境条件。北槽河道悬沙絮团形态多样,主要包括松散状絮团、蜂窝状絮团和密实状絮团。絮团主要由细粉砂和黏土类细颗粒泥沙组成,表面多粗糙不平,结构或密或疏。絮团粒径变化与潮周期动力过程密切相关,具有周期性变化特征。涨、落憩时絮团粒径较大,涨、落急时絮团粒径较小。絮团粒径涨憩大于落憩,小潮大于大潮。垂向上,絮团粒径由表层至底层逐渐增大。周期性潮流流速对北槽河道悬沙絮团粒径变化起到了控制作用。北槽细颗粒泥沙絮凝作用,是导致疏浚航道发生回淤的主要原因之一。     

Ocean currents determine functional connectivity in an Antarctic deep‐sea shrimp

The coherency among larval stages of marine taxa, ocean currents and population connectivity is still subject to discussion. A common view is that organisms with pelagic larval stages have higher dispersal abilities and therefore show a relatively homogeneous population genetic structure. Contrary to this, local genetic differentiation is assumed for many benthic direct developers. Specific larval or adult migratory behavior and hydrographic effects may significantly influence distribution patterns, rather than passive drifting abilities alone. The Southern Ocean is an ideal environment to test for the effects of ocean currents on population connectivity as it is characterized by several well‐defined and strong isolating current systems. In this study we studied the genetic structure of the decapod deep‐sea shrimp Nematocarcinus lanceopes, which has planktotrophic larval stages. We analysed 194 individuals from different sample localities around the Antarctic continent using nine microsatellite markers. Consistent with a previous study based on mitochondrial DNA markers, primarily weak genetic patterns among N. lanceopes populations around the continent were found. Using ocean resistance modeling approaches we were able to show that subtle genetic differences among populations are more likely explained by ocean currents rather than by geographic distance for the Atlantic Sector of the Southern Ocean.     

强潮流作用下桥墩不对称“双肾型”冲刷地貌特征与机理

本文在海图地形资料分析桥轴线附近的海床自然冲刷的基础上,利用多波束测深技术研究大桥主墩附近局部冲刷地形。结果表明,该大桥桥位附近地形冲刷较显著,且大桥主墩位置有持续冲刷的趋势;主墩上、下游群桩最大冲刷深度呈上游最深、中部淤积、下游渐深的不对称形态,最大局部冲刷深度为4 m;桥墩整体冲刷坑形态呈南北“双肾型”;潮流流向与桥墩迎流面存在偏南的入射角,使得各桥墩南侧的最大冲深和冲刷范围均大于北侧。     

基于长期观测的辽东湾口东部海域水动力特征研究

辽东湾口东部海域是辽东湾与渤海中部进行物质和能量交换的主要通道之一。本文利用坐底式海床基平台获取的近8个月的水动力连续观测资料,通过谱分析和调和分析方法对该海域的潮汐、潮流特征进行分析,并讨论了余流及底层温度的季节变化规律。研究结果表明:该海域潮汐属于不规则半日潮,平均潮差为0.95 m,最大可能潮差为2.27 m。潮流属于不规则半日潮流,M₂分潮流为其优势分潮流。主要分潮流运动形式为往复流,最大流速方向为西南-东北向。余流的季节性特征较为明显:秋季,余流流速在中层达到最大,流向以西南向为主;冬季,余流流速垂向变化较小,并呈西南偏西向流动;春季,流速随深度增加而减小,流向从表层至底层呈现逆时针旋转的特征。受底层潮流、水平温度梯度及海面温度日变化的影响,底层温度表现出短期的高频变化特征:秋季,短期振荡以半日周期信号为主;冬季,全日周期信号较为显著;春季,短期振荡的现象较弱。     

琼州海峡潮流能资源的数值模拟评估

近年来,我国能源消耗量不断的增长使我们更加重视可再生能源的开发利用,而我国近海拥有复杂的海岸线和广阔的大陆架,其中许多海域蕴藏着丰富的潮流能资源。潮流能资源评估则是其电站站址选择、发电量预测等工程设计的首要工作。结合两个站位的潮流实测数据,本文利用FVCOM海洋环流数值模式较好的模拟了琼州海峡潮波传播状况,分析了该海域潮流能资源水平分布规律和时间变化特征,初步估算了该水道的潮流能的理论蕴藏量,并采用FLUX方法对该水道的技术可开发量进行了评估。结果表明,琼州海峡中心海域功率密度高,两岸资源低;可能最大流速、大潮年平均最大功率密度、小潮年平均功率密度和年平均功率密度等特征值分布基本相似;其丰富区域出现在海峡东口南部海域以及海峡中部海域,其中东口南部海域可能最大流速可达4.6 m/s,表层流大潮年平均最大功率密度为5996 W/m²,小潮平均最大功率密度仅为467 W/m²,年平均功率密度为819 W/m²,代表点超过0.7 m/s的潮流流速年统计时间约为4717 h;海峡潮流能资源理论蕴藏量为189.55MW,利用FLUX、FARM、GC方法得到该水道的潮流能可开发量分别为249GW/yr、20.2GW/yr和263GW/yr。