Comparison of Five Numerical Codes for Automated Tracing of Coronal Loops

The three-dimensional (3D) modeling of coronal loops and filaments requires algorithms that automatically trace curvilinear features in solar EUV or soft X-ray images. We compare five existing algorithms that have been developed and customized to trace curvilinear features in solar images: i) the oriented-connectivity method (OCM), which is an extension of the Strous pixel-labeling algorithm (developed by Lee, Newman, and Gary); ii) the dynamic aperture-based loop-segmentation method (developed by Lee, Newman, and Gary); iii) unbiased detection of curvilinear structures (developed by Steger, Raghupathy, and Smith); iv) the oriented-direction method (developed by Aschwanden); and v) ridge detection by automated scaling (developed by Inhester). We test the five existing numerical codes with a TRACE image that shows a bipolar active region and contains over 100 discernable loops. We evaluate the performance of the five codes by comparing the cumulative distribution of loop lengths, the median and maximum loop length, the completeness or detection efficiency, the accuracy, and flux sensitivity. These algorithms are useful for the reconstruction of the 3D geometry of coronal loops from stereoscopic observations with the STEREO spacecraft, or for quantitative comparisons of observed EUV loop geometries with (nonlinear force-free) magnetic field extrapolation models.     

Observations of Low-Latitude Coronal Plumes

Using Fe ix/x 17.1 nm observations from the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), we have identified many coronal plumes inside low-latitude coronal holes as they transited the solar limb during the late declining phase of cycle 23. These diffuse, linear features appear to be completely analogous to the familiar polar plumes. By tracking them as they rotate from the limb onto the disk (or vice versa), we confirm that EUV plumes seen against the disk appear as faint, diffuse blobs of emission surrounding a brighter core. When the EIT images are compared with near-simultaneous magnetograms from the SOHO Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI), the low-latitude, on-disk plumes are found to overlie regions of mixed polarity, where small bipoles are in contact with unipolar flux concentrations inside the coronal hole. The birth and decay of the plumes are shown to be closely related to the emergence of ephemeral regions, their dispersal in the supergranular flow field, and the cancellation of the minority-polarity flux against the dominant-polarity network elements. In addition to the faint polar and nonpolar plumes associated with ephemeral regions, we note the existence of two topologically similar coronal structures: the giant plume-like features that occur above active regions inside coronal holes, and the even larger scale “pseudostreamers” that separate coronal holes of the same polarity. In all three cases, the basic structure consists of open field lines of a given polarity overlying a photospheric region of the opposite polarity; ongoing interchange reconnection at the X-point separating the open field domains from the underlying double-arcade system appears to result in the steady evaporation of material from the closed into the open region.     

山坡表层关键带结构与水文连通性研究进展

山丘区是洪水的"策源地",山丘区坡地、沟谷及间歇性河道为洪水的形成提供了通道,同时也是水文连通时空变化最为强烈的地带。然而,对流域表层关键带结构特征及其水文连通机制等的认识尚存不足,限制了产汇流理论及模型方法的发展和应用。通过对比国内外山坡水文实验,发现山坡物理结构连通性控制并深刻影响着水流的连通过程,现有水文连通实验侧重孔隙等微观尺度的规律研究,与水文模型理论存在尺度上的巨大偏差。为此,提出水文连通性应侧重揭示水流在山坡地表、地下的宏观表象通道及分布特征,探索径流连通的动力学机制,即山坡水文连通性研究重在剖析其结构特征的水文累积效应,应保持关键带结构特征合理概化与产汇流理论适度复杂之间的平衡。     

Timings of early crustal activity in southern highlands of Mars:Periods of crustal stretching and shortening

Extensional and compressional structures are globally abundant on Mars. Distribution of these structures and their ages constrain the crustal stress state and tectonic evolution of the planet. Here in this paper, we report on our investigation over the distribution of the tectonic structures and timings of the associated stress fields from the Noachis-Sabaea region. Thereafter, we hypothesize possible origins in relation to the internal/external processes through detailed morphostructural mapping. In doing so, we have extracted the absolute model ages of these linear tectonic structures using crater size-frequency distribution measurements, buffered crater counting in particular. The estimated ages indicate that the tectonic structures are younger than the mega impacts events(especially Hellas) and instead they reveal two dominant phases of interior dynamics prevailing on the southern highlands, firstly the extensional phase terminating around3.8 Ga forming grabens and then compressional phase around 3.5-3.6 Ga producing wrinkle ridges and lobate scarps. These derived absolute model ages of the grabens exhibit the age ca. 100 Ma younger than the previously documented end of the global extensional phase. The following compressional activity corresponds to the peak of global contraction period in Early Hesperian. Therefore, we conclude that the planet wide heat loss mechanism, involving crustal stretching coupled with gravitationally driven relaxation(i.e.,lithospheric mobility) resulted in the extensional structures around Late Noachian(around 3.8 Ga). Lately cooling related global contraction generated compressional stress ensuing shortening of the upper crust of the southern highlands at the Early Hesperian period(around 3.5-3.6 Ga).     

Regional gravity survey and application in oil and gas exploration in China

Ground gravity survey for regional structure unit delineation and oil and gas exploration in China is addressed in this paper with examples. Gravity survey scales, coverage, technical regulations and achievements at the national level are introduced, including data processing and anomaly interpretation techniques. Bouguer anomalies of terrestrial territories of China and classification of anomalous feature zones are also described; they are well correlated with lithotectonical boundaries, fault zones, and unexposed igneous plutons. Recent study results of petroliferous sedimentary basins are presented as well, including concealed boundaries and major structures of large basins. It is concluded that gravity survey is the most effective and economic method in unveiling unexposed and deep-seated structures, targeting and delineating oil and gas-bearing sedimentary basins, and locating main trap structures within prolific basins in early stage of exploration in China. Suggestions for improving exploration of both conventional and unconventional oil and gas reservoirs in China are also given in the paper.     

珊瑚岛礁海岸多尺度波流运动特性研究新进展

珊瑚岛礁海岸波流动力复杂、地貌形态特殊、工程响应未知, 波浪传播变形和波生环流对建筑物安全、地形地貌演变、防灾减灾和生态环境保护都有重要影响。本文从大范围大洋海脊导波与岛礁波浪俘获、中等尺度的礁坪-潟湖-裂口系统波流特性、建筑物前沿的局部波流特性及工程响应等三种不同空间尺度上综述了波流运动特性研究的新进展, 主要包括深水大范围的海脊波浪引导与岛礁波浪俘获的理论解析、礁坪-潟湖-裂口系统整体物理模型实验、基于大水槽实验的建筑物影响下波流演化过程及越浪量和波浪力计算方法, 并提出亟需深入研究的重点内容。     

1995—2015年中国省际人口迁移网络的演化特征——基于异质性劳动力视角

自户籍制度放宽以来,中国经历了大规模的人口迁移。其中,异质性劳动力（高技能劳动力、普通劳动力）在迁移过程中表征出不同的空间格局和网络组织特征,对地区经济发展产生各异的影响。本研究基于人口普查和抽样调查微观抽样数据,使用复杂网络理论对1995—2015年中国异质性劳动力迁移的时空格局和网络演化展开分析,并分析了格局背后的可能成因。研究发现：① 省际高技能和普通劳动力迁移均呈现出持续高度不平衡的空间集聚特征,承载大量人口的迁移流主要由中国中西部地区指向东部沿海地区,但这种空间不平衡特征呈现出一定的减弱趋势。高技能劳动力的平均迁移距离比普通劳动力更长;② 两类劳动力迁移网络中均呈现明显的“小世界”特性,但普通劳动力迁移网络的迁移强度和关联程度均高于高技能劳动力迁移网络;③ 两类劳动力迁移网络均呈现出以北京、上海、广东为主要核心节点的网络结构。高技能劳动力网络结构呈现相对稳定的特征,而普通劳动力网络结构则呈现出变化的趋势;④ 地区经济差异、路径依赖效应、异质性劳动力在就业市场上的差异性以及劳动力市场对异质性劳动力需求的差异是导致两类劳动力迁移格局差异性的重要成因。     

中国在美洲OFDI的基本特征与决定因素

利用2004-2014年中国在OFDI（Outward Foreign Direct Investment, 对外直接投资）的4616家企业数据,分析了其行业结构特征、地理分布特征及其变动,建立了东道国的属性特征和东道国—母国的关系特征相融合的OFDI区位决定模型,定量识别了中国在美洲OFDI的国别决定因素及其行业间差异。研究发现：① 中国在美洲OFDI的国家分布高度集中,行业主体是服务业,国有企业为主导投资者,私营企业投资地位不高。但随时间推移,国家分布趋于离散,制造业地位提升、服务业地位下降,私营企业比重上升。② 国内制造业企业是中国在美洲OFDI的投资主体,且投资行业高度集中于批发零售、商务服务、进出口贸易,这是制造业企业构建国际价值增长链,参与全球化的客观表现,印证了其逐步且连续的国际扩张历程。与制造业公司向服务领域的延伸不同,进出口贸易公司、商务服务公司侧重于原有主营业务优势的拓展。③ 关系变量的引入,有效提升了OFDI国家差别的解释力度。出口显著促进了OFDI,符合互补模型的表现,预示着中国在美洲的OFDI仍处于熟悉海外市场的初始阶段。在这一阶段,良好且紧密的政治社会关系能有效促进OFDI,并且民间力量的推动逊色于国家力量的推动。④ 中国在美洲的OFDI,市场寻求动机最为明显,能源获取动机、技术获取动机、降低生产成本的动机,没有获得模型的充分确认。⑤ 与批发零售业、商务服务业、制造业追求市场规模的共性不同,地质勘查与开发业更侧重于资源寻求,并由此决定了良好政治关系以及国有企业的特殊重要性。     

湖南省传统聚落景观基因组图谱的空间形态与结构特征

传统聚落保有显著的价值,深入开展相关研究有利于促进经济社会的可持续发展和新型城镇化战略的实施。结合传统聚落景观基因组图谱,本文探讨了湖南省传统聚落景观的空间形态与结构特征。首先,根据传统聚落景观基因组的空间排列特征将湖南省传统聚落的空间形态归结为向心圆环式、扇形扩张式、多向扩张式、条带式、离散式和组团式等5种基本类型,并进一步归纳了各种形态类型的特征。其次,运用空间句法理论,通过构建传统聚落景观基因组的空间轴线模型,系统地剖析了湖南省传统聚落景观的空间结构特征,发现湖南省传统聚落的空间结构具有对称和平行等鲜明的几何特征,存在着“界域”和“街—巷—码头”等典型结构,还具有典型的风水意象特征。因此,结合传统聚落景观基因组图谱从地理学的视角揭示传统聚落的地学特征,有利于完善传统聚落景观基因理论,深化对传统聚落的认识,促进相关保护工作。     

关于业务上应用条件对称不稳定相关问题的讨论

条件对称不稳定（CSI）理论常常被用来作为倾斜对流的发展机制之一,在业务上常用来解释与锋面相联系的一条或多条中尺度雨带、雷达图像上观测到的带状雨带的成因等。条件对称不稳定的诊断包括CSI斜率判据、斜升对流有效位能（SCAPE）、湿对称不稳定（MSI）、相当位涡（EPV）等判据。业务预报人员存疑较多的问题是这些方法是否具有一致性并在业务上如何使用。针对上述问题,首先通过与业务预报人员较熟悉的条件不稳定类型作类比,来说明条件对称不稳定两种判据与条件不稳定两种判据的相似性。但在业务使用上,判别条件对称不稳定时多使用CSI斜率判据,即等动量面的坡度大于等位温面坡度而小于等湿球位温面坡度。由于条件对称不稳定通常出现在大气处于几乎饱和的情况下,此时的CSI斜率判据则演变为湿对称不稳定判据,即等动量面坡度小于等湿球位温面坡度。为判别相当位涡与湿对称不稳定判据是否具有一致性,文中的推导和实例分析均表明,二维相当位涡实际上是湿对称不稳定判据的另一种表现形式,但是湿对称不稳定判据需主观去比较等相当位温面与等动量面斜率大小,而二维相当位涡则可通过其是否小于0进行客观判断。需注意的是,在与推导条件对称不稳定斜率判据相同的二维坐标下,相当位涡与湿对称不稳定判据才具有一致性,将相当位涡扩展到常规坐标下使用三维相当位涡作为湿对称不稳定判据是不可取的。