Mostly Dormant Comets and their Disintegration into Meteoroid Streams: A Review

The history of associating meteor showers with asteroidal-looking objects is long, dating to before the 1983 discovery that 3200 Phaethon moves among the Geminids. Only since the more recent recognition that 2003 EH1 moves among the Quadrantids are we certain that dormant comets are associated with meteoroid streams. Since that time, many orphan streams have found parent bodies among the newly discovered Near Earth Objects. The seven established associations pertain mostly to showers in eccentric or highly inclined orbits. At least 35 other objects are tentatively linked to streams in less inclined orbits that are more difficult to distinguish from those of asteroids. There is mounting evidence that the streams originated from discrete breakup events, rather than long episodes of gradual water vapor outgassing. If all these associations can be confirmed, they represent a significant fraction of all dormant comets that are in near-Earth orbits, suggesting that dormant comets break at least as frequently as the lifetime of the streams. I find that most pertain to NEOs that have not yet fully decoupled from Jupiter. The picture that is emerging is one of rapid disintegration of comets after being captured by Jupiter, and consequently, that objects such as 3200 Phaethon most likely originated from among the most primitive asteroids in the main belt, instead. They too decay mostly by disintegration into comet fragments and meteoroid streams. The disintegration of dormant comets is likely the main source of our meteor showers and the main supply of dust to the zodiacal cloud. Editorial handling: Frans Rietmeijer.     

浅基岩埋深条件下多年冻土的瞬变电磁法探测研究

瞬变电磁法（TEM）在青藏高原、东北等地区的多年冻土调查中取得了较好的应用效果,但局限于松散沉积层较厚情形,在基岩埋深较浅条件下探测多年冻土基本处于空白。兰州马衔山多年冻土具有分布范围小、温度高、基岩埋深浅的特点,是应用TEM探测浅基岩埋藏条件下多年冻土分布的理想地区。以马衔山多年冻土为主要研究对象,以季节冻土为对照研究了瞬变电磁响应特征,结合区域构造特征、地层露头、钻孔岩心、地温监测数据等信息,论证并探讨了TEM应用于浅基岩埋深时对多年冻土的探测效果。结果表明：马衔山多年冻土分布受构造断裂形成的低阻带控制,下部为负温岩层,实际分布面积为0.11 km²;TEM应用于浅基岩埋深的多年冻土勘探时更多的对地下岩层做出响应,可结合地质、地貌、水文、植被等信息,利用多年冻土的特点和电阻率的变化情况来判断多年冻土的分布范围;当基岩埋深特别浅时可以与探地雷达、钻孔等其他手段联合反演,从而准确地识别多年冻土与下伏基岩。     

A depth average SPH model including μ(I) rheology and crushing for rock avalanches

Classical depth-integrated smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) models for avalanches are extended in the present work to include a μ(I)− rheological model enriched with a fragmentation law. With this improvement, the basal friction becomes grain distribution dependent. Rock avalanches, where grain distribution tends to change with time while propagating, are the appropriate type of landslide to apply the new numerical proposal. The μ(I)− rheological models considered in the present work are those of Hatano and Gray, combined with two different fragmentation laws, a hyperbolic and a fractal-based law. As an application, Frank avalanche, which took place in Canada in 1903, is analyzed under the scope of the present approach, focusing in the influence of the rheological and fragmentation laws in the evolution of the avalanche.     

On the linear elastic responses of the 2D bonded discrete element model

The bonded discrete element model (DEM) is a numerical tool that is becoming widely used when studying fracturing, fragmentation, and failure of solids in various disciplines. However, its abilities to solve elastic problems are usually overlooked. In this work, the main features of the 2D bonded DEM which influence Poisson's ratio and Young's modulus, and accuracy when solving elastic boundary value problems, are investigated. Outputs of numerical simulations using the 2D bonded DEM, the finite element method, a hyper elasticity analysis, and the distinct lattice spring model (DLSM) are compared in the investigation. It is shown that a shear interaction (local) factor and a geometric (global) factor are two essential elements for the 2D bonded DEM to reproduce a full range of Poisson's ratios. It is also found that the 2D bonded DEM might be unable to reproduce the correct displacements for elastic boundary value problems when the represented Poisson's ratio is close to 0.5 or the long-range interaction is considered. In addition, an analytical relationship between the shear stiffness ratio and the Poisson's ratio, derived from a hyper elasticity analysis and applicable to discontinuum-based models, provides good agreement with outputs from the 2D bonded DEM and DLSM. Finally, it is shown that the selection of elastic parameters used the 2D bonded DEM has a significant effect on fracturing and fragment patterns of solids.     

公路走廊带景观破碎度的空间分异研究

近年来,我国公路对自然生态环境的影响随着通车里程的增加而日益显著。在公路选线的过程中,全面分析拟建公路走廊带内景观破碎度的空间分异特征,可有效减少公路修建对生态环境的不利影响。本文利用遥感分类技术和GIS(地理信息系统)空间分析方法,以湖南长湘公路走廊带某段土地斑块和景观分类为基础,借助斑块密度指数、最大斑块指数和相似邻近比指数,在斑块类型水平和景观水平两个层面全面分析公路走廊带内自然林地景观、农业景观和城乡建设景观破碎度的空间分异特征。结果表明:长湘公路走廊带内景观破碎度高的地区主要分布在大型斑块边缘、平原地区以及公路沿线;自然林地景观和农业景观的破碎度较低,城乡建设景观的破碎度较高;城乡建设景观的破碎度与公路相关性最强,表现出顺应公路走向的条带状蔓延特征。该研究成果可为公路选线方案的制订和完善提供环境影响方面的参考。     

Landscape transform and spatial metrics for mapping spatiotemporal land cover dynamics using Earth Observation data-sets

Analysis of Earth observation (EO) data, often combined with geographical information systems (GIS), allows monitoring of land cover dynamics over different ecosystems, including protected or conservation sites. The aim of this study is to use contemporary technologies such as EO and GIS in synergy with fragmentation analysis, to quantify the changes in the landscape of the Rajaji National Park (RNP) during the period of 19 years (1990–2009). Several statistics such as principal component analysis (PCA) and spatial metrics are used to understand the results. PCA analysis has produced two principal components (PC) and explained 84.1% of the total variance, first component (PC1) accounted for the 57.8% of the total variance while the second component (PC2) has accounted for the 26.3% of the total variance calculated from the core area metrics, distance metrics and shape metrics. Our results suggested that notable changes happened in the RNP landscape, evidencing the requirement of taking appropriate measures to conserve this natural ecosystem.     

Cultivated land change in the Belt and Road Initiative region

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)–a development strategy proposed by China – provides unprecedented opportunities for multi-dimensional communication and cooperation across Asia, Africa and Europe. In this study, we analyse the spatio-temporal changes in cultivated land in the BRI countries (64 in total) to better understand the land use status of China along with its periphery for targeting specific collaboration. We apply FAO statistics and GlobeLand30 (the world’s finest land cover data at a 30-m resolution), and develop three indicator groups (namely quantity, conversion, and utilization degree) for the analysis. The results show that cultivated land area in the BRI region increased 3.73×10⁴ km² between 2000 and 2010. The increased cultivated land was mainly found in Central and Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, while the decreased cultivated land was mostly concentrated in China. Russia ranks first with an increase of 1.59×10⁴ km² cultivated land area, followed by Hungary (0.66×10⁴ km²) and India (0.57×104 km2). China decreased 1.95×10⁴ km² cultivated land area, followed by Bangladesh (–0.22×10⁴ km²) and Thailand (–0.22×10⁴ km²). Cultivated land was mainly transferred to/from forest, grassland, artificial surfaces and bare land, and transfer types in different regions have different characteristics: while large amount of cultivated land in China was converted to artificial surfaces, considerable forest was converted to cultivated land in Southeast Asia. The increase of multi-cropping index dominated the region except the Central and Eastern Europe, while the increase of fragmentation index was prevailing in the region except for a few South Asian countries. Our results indicate that the negative consequence of cultivated land loss in China might be underestimated by the domestic- focused studies, as none of its close neighbours experienced such obvious cultivated land losses. Nevertheless, the increased cultivated land area in Southeast Asia and the extensive cultivated land use in Ukraine and Russia imply that the regional food production would be greatly improved if China’ “Go Out policy” would help those countries to intensify their cultivated land use.     

基岩地区地源热泵系统浅层地热地质条件评估工作方法

在北京地区建设地源热泵系统之前,需要开展浅层地热地质条件评估,以作为政府部门为地源热泵系统立酉备案的必要的技术文件,是一项专业前期可行性研究工作。其评估工作方法和内容,在基岩地区和第四系松散沉积区应有很大的不同。在基岩地区应倜重于野外实地调查,包括填制工作区地质图、工作区岩石特征,岩石完整性调查和水井普测等;并通过充分的资料收集和必要的勘查手段,查明工作区地层、岩石、构造等地质条件,特别是划分构造带、构造影响带范围,进而判断换热孔钻遇地层的可钻性和换热能力,进行相关技术和经济分析及评价。     

Application of Air Decks in Production Blasting to Improve Fragmentation and Economics of an Open Pit Mine

In blasting with air decks, repeated oscillation of shock waves within the air gap increases the time over which it acts on the surrounding rock mass by a factor at between 2 and 5. The ultimate effect lies in increasing the crack network in the surrounding rock and reducing the burden movement. Trials of air deck blasting in the structurally unfavourable footwall side of an open pit manganese mine has resulted in substantial improvements in fragmentation and blast economics. Better fragmentation resulted in improved shovel loading efficiency by 50–60%. Secondary blasting was almost eliminated. Use of ANFO explosive with this technique reduced explosive cost by 31.6%. Other benefits included reductions in overbreak, throw and ground vibration of the order of 60–70, 65–85 and 44% respectively. This paper reviews the theory of air deck blasting and describes in detail the air deck blast trials conducted in a manganese open pit mine in India. The blast performance data have been analysed to evaluate the benefits of air decking over conventional blasting.     

非传统钻进方法热能碎岩的原理及其初步实践

提出了一种非传统的利用热能破碎岩石的新型钻进方法,包括热力钻进法,热熔岩石钻 和超高频电加热－机械切割组合钻进法,介绍了其碎岩机理,适用范围,初步应用情况及前景。