Numerical studies on the structure of the cosmic ray electron halo in starburst galaxies

The structure of the cosmic ray electron halo of a starburst galaxy depends strongly on the nature of galactic wind and the configuration of the magnetic field. We have investigated these dependencies by solving numerically the propagation of electrons originating in starburst galaxies, most likely in supernova remnants. The calculations are made for several models for the galactic winds and for the configuration of the magnetic fields for comparison with observations. Our simulation of a quasi-radio halo reproduces both the extended structure of ∼9 kpc and the subtle hollow structure near the polar region of the radio halo that are observed in the starburst galaxy NGC 253. These findings suggest the existence of strong galactic wind in NGC 253.      

Subglacial drainage system structure and morphology of Brewster Glacier,New Zealand

A global positioning system and ground penetrating radar surveys is used to produce digital elevation models of the surface and bed of Brewster Glacier. These are used to derive maps of subglacial hydraulic potential and drainage system structure using three different assumptions about the subglacial water pressure (P_w): (i) P_w = ice overburden; (ii) P_w = half ice overburden; (iii) P_w = atmospheric. Additionally, 16 dye‐tracing experiments at 12 locations were performed through a summer melt season. Dye return curve shape, together with calculations of transit velocity, dispersivity and storage, are used to infer the likely morphology of the subglacial drainage system. Taken together, the data indicate that the glacier is underlain by a channelised but hydraulically inefficient drainage system in the early summer in which water pressures are close to ice overburden. By mid‐summer, water pressures are closer to half‐ice overburden and the channelised drainage system is more hydraulically efficient. Surface streams that enter the glacier close to the location of major subglacial drainage pathways are routed quickly to the channels and then to the glacier snout. Streams that enter the glacier further away from the drainage pathways are routed slowly to the channels and then to the snout because they first flow through a distributed drainage system. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Some remarks on the Gaussian beam summation method

Summary. Recently, a method using superposition of Gaussian beams has been proposed for the solution of high-frequency wave problems. The method is a potentially useful approach when the more usual techniques of ray theory fail: it gives answers which are finite at caustics, computes a nonzero field in shadow zones, and exhibits critical angle phenomena, including head waves. Subsequent tests by several authors have been encouraging, although some reported solutions show an unexplained dependence on the 'free' complex parameter ε which specifies the initial widths and phases of the Gaussian beams.
We use methods of uniform asymptotic expansions to explain the behaviour of the Gaussian beam method. We show how it computes correctly the entire caustic boundary layer of a caustic of arbitrary complexity, and computes correctly in a region of critical reflection. However, the beam solution for head waves and in edge-diffracted shadow zones are shown to have the correct asymptotic form, but with governing parameters that are explicitly ε-dependent. We also explain the mechanism by which the beam solution degrades when there are strong lateral inhomogeneities. We compare numerically our predictions for some representative, model problems, with exact solutions obtained by other means.     

中新世黄河水系演化重建：来自钾长石Pb同位素的约束

自剥蚀地貌中形成的剥蚀产物搬运到沉积区或汇水盆地沉积下来的过程,称为“源-汇”系统。从这些“汇”中识别“源”的信息,结合地层的沉积时代,约束黄河的形成时代、水系格局演化、流域内构造运动以及环境变迁成为黄河水系演化研究的重要内容。然而,时至今日学者们对黄河何时出现的认识并不一致,存在“中新世内流黄河和中新世外流黄河”之争。为了解决这些争议,我们运用大河物源示踪研究中新兴的碎屑钾长石Pb同位素方法,对黄河中下游沉积物开展碎屑钾长石Pb同位素分析(n=378),将其与长江中下游和华夏板块已报道的碎屑和基岩钾长石Pb同位素结果进行对比,结果表明三者之间的钾长石Pb同位素组成明显不同。台湾岛是中国东部陆架海中新世地层出露最齐全的地区。因而,我们将黄河中下游与台湾岛中新统的钾长石Pb同位素比值进行对比,结果表明二者之间不存在物源联系。结合中国东部渤海湾盆地、南黄海盆地和东海盆地中新统的物源示踪研究结果,说明黄河物质在中新世未流入上述盆地。总体而言,中国北方中新世的构造活动控制了黄河的演化过程,导致其此时处于分段演化阶段。     

Effects of overcrowding on floating behaviour in the mud whelk cominella glandiformis (Mollusca: Gastropoda)

The mud whelk Cominella glandiformis (Reeve, 1874) was observed on a tidal flat “floating” upside down beneath the water surface. Study in the laboratory showed that, when C. glandiformis is “floating”, the foot is distended with blood to approximately twice its normal surface area. In the laboratory C. glandiformis “floated” only during daylight hours, and the incidence of “floating” increased markedly as specimens became more overcrowded. Possibly “floating” is a rapid dispersal mechanism in response to overcrowding; it may also assist respiration in the event of overcrowding producing anaerobic conditions. Its occurrence only during daylight hours suggests that a reaction to light may also be involved.     

基于改进的双线性旅行时插值的三维射线追踪

旅行时射线追踪的精度和效率一直是影响地震层析成像质量和效果的关键因素。这里在三维近地表速度结构层析成像应用中,结合旅行时插值算法与最短路径算法,提出了一种三维初至波射线追踪算法。通过对双线性旅行时插值算法进行改进,并运用判定条件与简化插值计算公式进行快速计算,减少了插值次数,降低了运算量,同时也保证了较高的射线精度,有效地解决了三维射线追踪算法的计算低效率,射线精度不高的问题。     

内蒙古高原中东部地区137Cs背景值的确定方法(英文)

In isotope 137 Cs tracing studies, it is a premise to determine suitable 137 Cs reference inventory(CRI) plots and the CRI values. Owing to the heterogeneous spatial distribution of 137 Cs deposition in the ground and diverse, or even irregular, operations in sampling and testing procedures, CRI determination is usually faced with many difficulties and uncertainties. In addition, more difficulties occur in an investigation of a large-scale region because of time constraints and measurement cost limitations. In this study, traditional CRI acquiring methods were summarized first, and then a new complex scheme was established, involving seven core steps and coupling the model estimate and sample measurement. The above CRI determination methodology was implemented in the central-eastern Inner Mongolia Plateau. The case study results showed that the CRI in the dark chestnut soil sub-region, located in the east and south of Xing'an City, exhibited 2447 Bq·m–2; the CRI in the aeolian sandy soil sub-region, positioned in the south central Tongliao City and central Chifeng City, showed 2430 Bq·m–2; the CRI in the sandy chernozem soil sub-region, situated in the northwestern Chifeng City, presented 2384 Bq·m–2; and the CRI in the chestnut soil sub-region, in the southern Xilin Gol City, was 2368 Bq·m–2. The newly proposed CRI determination scheme was proved effective, and the determined CRI plots and CRI values were convincing. The methodology offered a framework for 137 Cs tracing studies in large-scale regions or long-distance transects.     

GPU accelerated marine data visualization method

The study of marine data visualization is of great value. Marine data, due to its large scale, random variation and multiresolution in nature, are hard to be visualized and analyzed. Nowadays, constructing an ocean model and visualizing model results have become some of the most important research topics of ‘Digital Ocean'. In this paper, a spherical ray casting method is developed to improve the traditional ray-casting algorithm and to make efficient use of GPUs. Aiming at the ocean current data, a 3D view-dependent line integral convolution method is used, in which the spatial frequency is adapted according to the distance from a camera. The study is based on a 3D virtual reality and visualization engine, namely the VV-Ocean. Some interactive operations are also provided to highlight the interesting structures and the characteristics of volumetric data. Finally, the marine data gathered in the East China Sea are displayed and analyzed. The results show that the method meets the requirements of real-time and interactive rendering.     

Re-Os同位素在沉积地层精确定年及古环境反演中的应用进展

Re-Os同位素亲有机质的性质,使得富有机质沉积岩在沉积的过程中能够吸附富集海水中的Re、Os,沉积岩的沉积压实过程也是其中Re-Os同位素体系封闭计时的过程,沉积岩Re-Os同位素等时线年龄代表地层沉积时代,Os同位素初始比值187Os/188Os反映沉积时海水的Os同位素比值。Re-Os同位素体系在富有机质沉积岩中的成功应用,能够直接确定地层沉积时代,从而对地层界线进行直接厘定,并且能够对一些沉积矿床形成时代、冰川事件发生时代进行厘定和限制。通过沉积岩Re-Os同位素特征,可以对古环境进行反演,有助于了解全球大气海洋的演化,气候的变化,对研究生物灭绝等重大地质事件发生的时限和机制以及金属矿床的成矿物质来源具有重要意义。文章阐述了Re-Os同位素在富有机质沉积岩中应用的原理,并列举了Re-Os同位素在沉积地层精确定年及古环境反演中应用实例,说明了富有机质沉积岩Re-Os同位素分析精度及其影响因素,以使Re-Os同位素体系作为一种强有力的工具,解决更多的沉积地层时代问题以及更好地对古环境进行反演。