High-resolution seabed imagery as a tool for biodiversity conservation planning on continental margins

Submarine canyons increase seascape diversity on continental margins and harbour diverse and abundant biota vulnerable to fishing. Because many canyons are fished, there is an increasing emphasis on including them in conservation areas on continental margins. Here we report on sponge diversity and bottom cover in three canyons of South-eastern Australia, test the performance of biological and abiotic surrogates, and evaluate how biological data from detailed seabed surveys can be used in conservation planning in these habitats. The biological data on sponge assemblage structure and species richness were obtained from 576 seafloor images taken between 148 and 472 m depth, yielding 65 morphospecies. Seafloor characteristics were similar within and between canyons, being almost exclusively composed of sediments with very few rocky substrates of higher relief. This environmental homogeneity did not, however, translate into biological uniformity of the megabenthos, and environmental factors were consequently poor predictors of biological features. By contrast, total bottom cover of sponges was highly correlated with species richness and served as a good proxy for species-level data in this situation. Design strategies that employ information on cover or richness of sponges provided a large dividend in conservation effort by dramatically reducing the number of spatial units required to achieve a specified conservation target of 50–90% of species to be included in reserves. This demonstrates that image-derived data are useful for the design of reserves in the deep sea, particularly where extractive sampling is not warranted. Using biological data on the sponge megabenthos to identify conservation units can also minimise socio-economic costs to fisheries because of a smaller geographic and bathymetric ambit of conservation areas.     

Modes of development of slope canyons and their relation to channel and levee features on the Ebro sediment apron, off-shore northeastern Spain

Six submarine slope canyons in an area of the northwestern Mediterranean, offshore from the Ebro River and Delta, were surveyed with bathymetric swathmapping (SeaBeam) and mid-range side-looking sonar (SeaMARC I). All of the canyons have slightly winding paths with concave-upwards gradients that are relatively steep shallower than 1,200 m. Two major types of canyons are identified on the basis of their morphologic character at the base of the slope; Type-I canyons lead to an unchannelled base-of-slope deposit and Type-II canyons are continuous with channel-levee systems that cross the rise.Four Type-I canyons were surveyed in the area. Two of these are broad, U-shaped, steep (average gradients of 1:14), do not indent the shelf, and terminate downslope at debris-flow deposits. These two canyons, the most northern in the area, have rounded heads with extensive gullies separated by knife-edge ridges. Relief of the canyon walls is about equal on both sides of the canyons, although the right-hand walls (looking downslope) are generally steeper. The other two Type-I canyons in the area are similar in that they do not indent the shelf, but they are much smaller and shallower and coalesce before terminating in the base-of-slope region. The two Type-II canyons that feed leveed-channels are U-shaped with flatter floors, longer profiles and gentler gradients than Type-I canyons. They are closer to the Valencia Valley and have relatively small cross-sectional areas.We propose a four-stage evolutionary sequence to explain the development of the canyons observed in this section on the prograding Ebro margin. During the initial stage, slumping and erosion on the slope creates a network of small gullies. During the next stage, headward growth of one (or more) gully leads to a major indentation of the shelf. This is the critical factor for developing a channel that will incise the slope and provide a major conduit for moving sediment to the basin. Stage 3 is characterized by the development of a continuous channel accompanied by levee growth across the lobe. In the final stage, the channel-levee system becomes inactive either through destruction by mass wasting, infilling of the channel, or loss of the major sediment source.     

贵州水城曾家包包大型基岩滑坡的成因机制及稳定性

从滑坡的地质环境入手,通过地质调研及测绘,分析曾家包包大型基岩滑坡的特征、控制因素及成因机制,并运用sama法及不平衡推理法、毕肖普法对滑坡稳定性极限平衡进行计算分析。在此基础上,对在现今应力场作用下滑坡的稳定性采用了有限元模拟,并对模拟的结果进行分析,得出在天然条件下曾家包包滑坡曾处于稳定状态,岩体中的软弱夹层经长期持续的地下水浸润软化逐渐泥化形成倾角上陡下缓的贯通性滑移面,在雨季降雨异常集中期,岩体排水不畅形成较高的空隙水压力,斜坡岩体就会沿滑移面发生顺层滑移,从而形成大型基岩滑坡。     

基岩冲刷的数值模拟

为了探索采用数值模拟的方法来研究基岩冲刷的可行性,对二维散粒体河床的冲刷进行了试验研究,并采用二维k-ε模型,在贴体非正交曲线坐标系中用控制体积法对散粒体河床的冲刷进行了数值模拟,计算的冲坑深度与试验结果符合很好,结果令人满意.选用相同的控制基岩冲刷的参数,对不同下游水垫深度、不同入射流速时基岩冲刷深度的正确模拟说明,在对基岩特性有了充分的了解后,用数值方法来模拟基岩的冲刷过程及估算冲刷深度是合理、可行的.     

Hydraulic subsurface measurements and hydrodynamic modelling as indicators for groundwater flow systems in the Rotondo granite,Central Alps (Switzerland)

Regional groundwater flow in high mountainous terrain is governed by a multitude of factors such as geology, topography, recharge conditions, structural elements such as fracturation and regional fault zones as well as man‐made underground structures. By means of a numerical groundwater flow model, we consider the impact of deep underground tunnels and of an idealized major fault zone on the groundwater flow systems within the fractured Rotondo granite. The position of the free groundwater table as response to the above subsurface structures and, in particular, with regard to the influence of spatial distributed groundwater recharge rates is addressed. The model results show significant unsaturated zones below the mountain ridges in the study area with a thickness of up to several hundred metres. The subsurface galleries are shown to have a strong effect on the head distribution in the model domain, causing locally a reversal of natural head gradients. With respect to the position of the catchment areas to the tunnel and the corresponding type of recharge source for the tunnel inflows (i.e. glaciers or recent precipitation), as well as water table elevation, the influence of spatial distributed recharge rates is compared to uniform recharge rates. Water table elevations below the well exposed high‐relief mountain ridges are observed to be more sensitive to changes in groundwater recharge rates and permeability than below ridges with less topographic relief. In the conceptual framework of the numerical simulations, the model fault zone has less influence on the groundwater table position, but more importantly acts as fast flow path for recharge from glaciated areas towards the subsurface galleries. This is in agreement with a previous study, where the imprint of glacial recharge was observed in the environmental isotope composition of groundwater sampled in the subsurface galleries. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of a coil‐type TDR probe for measuring the volumetric water content in weathered granitic bedrock

As a first step toward describing water flow processes in bedrock, a coil‐type time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe capable of measuring volumetric water content, θ, in weathered bedrock at three depths was prepared. Because the coil‐type TDR probe is large in diameter (19 mm), it can be installed even in highly weathered bedrock more easily and appropriately than conventional TDR probes that consists of two or three rods of small diameter (5‐8 mm). The probe calibrations suggest that the values measured by the probe are very sensitive to changes in θ. Using the calibrated probe together with commercially available profile soil moisture sensors, the θ profile was monitored for 1 year. Even rainfall events with relatively small cumulative rainfall of 15 mm increased the bedrock θ, and the increments were comparable to those in the soil. After the end of the rainfall events, the bedrock θ displayed a more rapid drop than the soil, and varied little during the period of no rainfall. The water storage showed similar tendencies. These observations suggest that the bedrock θ is controlled by clearly distinguishable macropores and micropores within the bedrock. It is concluded that the coil‐type TDR probe is very effective in determining θ in weathered bedrock, and that bedrock, conventionally defined by conducting cone penetration tests and treated as impermeable, does conduct and hold substantial amounts of water, and therefore contribute greatly to hydrological processes in headwater catchments. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基岩岛屿地下水数值模拟发展研究现状

基岩岛屿占我国岛屿的90%以上,且岛屿上的淡水资源十分珍贵。目前,岛屿上的供水(船运、雨水收集、海水淡化等)存在成本高、设备易坏等缺点。因此,岛屿的地下水资源无疑是优质、可靠、稳定的供水源。为了更好地开发基岩岛屿地下水资源,认为针对基岩岛屿地下水模拟,从地下水理论、地下水模拟的国内外研究现状和模拟模型等方面进行了综述。总结认为: 基岩岛屿的地下水多以“淡水蘑菇体”的形式储存,有别于沙质岛屿; 模拟模型应概化为横向各项同性的达西流或非达西流,或二者的耦合模型,并归纳了相应的地下水流运动方程; 基岩岛屿地下水模拟模型应分为孔隙型、裂隙型和孔隙-裂隙型3种类型; 在岛屿边界设定上,基岩海岸应设为隔水边界,沙质海岸应设为定水头边界。综述研究认为: 基岩岛屿地下水模拟模型应尽可能精细、完整、精准地刻画基岩岛屿的地质地貌,设置完整的岛屿补径排项; 模拟时,应准确对应基岩岛屿的地下水类型,选准模拟方法与模拟软件; 模型验证工作也是十分重要,需多次与岛屿水量均衡,且与实测水量和水位作对照,不断地修善模型。以上综述成果为我国今后开展基岩岛屿地下水数据模拟提供了理论依据。     

漳州地热田基岩裂隙水系统温度分布特征

为研究漳州地热田基岩裂隙水系统温度分布特征,建立了新的三维基岩裂隙水系统概念模型,并利用Fluent软件求解模型。结果表明:基岩裂隙热水温度场受到断裂区的强烈控制,在北东—南西向断裂中,强烈对流形成的高温热柱刺穿了基岩顶部形成热田高温中心;基岩热流在断裂区中部高温区达到最大,在北东—南西方向上最大值为343.02mW/m2,在北西—南东方向最大值为368.72mW/m2,并向边缘逐渐降低;第四系孔隙水的存在和运动使得地表热流的最大值和局部值降低。未来漳州热田应加强深部温度的测量研究。     

Tasman Geosyncline greenstones and ophiolites

Palaeozoic greenstones lying at the base of stratigraphic sequences or in fault blocks in the Tasman Geosyncline are compared with the Penrose Conference definnition of an ophiolite by using tabulated petrological, structural, and metallogenic data. Of 45 occurrences, only 9 are recognizably ophiolites: 4 are in rift zones adjoining Precambrian continental crust at the ends of the geosyncline; and away from the margins, in that part of the geosyncline most typically of West Pacific‐type, only 5 of the 33 greenstone occurrences are recognizably ophiolites. Ophiolites are rare in the Tasman Geosyncline, in contrast to several Atlantic‐type geosynclines. This may be a characteristic of West Pacific‐type geosynclines in general.

Alpine‐type serpentinites are rather common in the Tasman Geosyncline. The metallogeny of some shows affinities with ophiolites, suggesting a common origin as oceanic crust. Their relative abundance suggests that West Pacific‐type geosynclines, such as the Tasman Geosyncline, may have developed on oceanic crust of unusual composition. Alternatively, it may reflect differences of deformation style between Atlantic‐ and West Pacific‐type geosynclines.

The term ophiolite has been used uncritically in plate tectonic analyses of the Tasman Geosyncline, calling in question the objectivity of these analyses. If objectivity is to be maintained, some indication should be given of the quality of the data used in plate tectonic analyses.