Crustal Structure of the Chuan-Dian Block Revealed by Deep Seismic Sounding and its Implications for the Outward Expansion of the East Tibetan Plateau

The Chuan-Dian Block (CDB) is located in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, with a complex geological structure and active regional faults. The present tectonic condition with strong crustal deformation is closely related to the ongoing collision of the India and Eurasia plates since 65 Ma. The study of the crustal structure of this area is key to revealing the evolution and deep geodynamics of the lateral collision zone of the Tibetan Plateau. Deep seismic sounding is the most efficient method with which to unravel the velocity structure of the whole crust. Since the 1980s, 19 deep seismic sounding profiles have been captured within the CDB area. In this study, we systematically integrate the research results of the 19 profiles in this area, then image the 3D crustal velocity, by sampling with a 5 km spacing and 2D/3D Kriging interpolation. The results show the following. (1) The Moho depth in the study area deepens from 30 km in the south to 66 km in the north, whereas there is no apparent variation from west to east. The Pn wave velocity is higher in stable tectonic units, such as 7.95 km/s in the Lanping-Simao block and 7.94 km/s in the western margin of the Yangtze block, than in active or mobile tectonic units, such as 7.81 km/s in the Baoshan block, 7.72 km/s in the Tengchong block and 7.82 km/s in the Zhongdian block. (2) The crustal nature of the Tengchong block, the northern Lanping-Simao block and the Zhongdian block reflects a type of orogenic belt, having relatively strong tectonic activities, whereas the crustal nature of the central Lanping-Simao block and the western margin of the Yangtze block represents a type of platform. The different features of the upper-middle crust velocity, Moho depth and Pn wave velocity to both sides of the Red River fault zone and the Xianshuihe fault zone, reflect that they are clearly ultra-crustal. (3) Based on the distribution of the low velocity zones in the crust, the crustal material of the Tibetan Plateau is flowing in a NW–SE direction to the north of 26°N and to the west of 101°E, then diverting to flowing eastwards to the east of 101°E.     

中国对非洲直接投资的空间分布及其影响因素研究

基于2007~2011年中国对非洲直接投资数据和非洲43国的经济、人口、能源等数据,分析了中国对非洲直接投资的地理空间分布。在此基础上,运用因子分析方法提取5项影响因素的主因子,并以中国对非洲各国的人均直接投资额为因变量,各主因子为自变量进行回归分析,揭示了影响中国对非洲直接投资国别选择和空间分布的主要因素。实证结果表明,中国对非洲直接投资的空间分布与东道国的硬环境、城镇化、市场化有直接关系,与能源、市场规模的关系并不显著,这有效抨击了海外对于中国对非洲投资旨在资源掠夺的观点。此外,空间效应分析结果显示,中国对非洲各国的直接投资存在空间弱相关性,对周边国的溢出效应不明显。在实证研究基础上,就进一步促进中国对非洲直接投资的发展提出了若干政策建议。     

基于虚拟现实的蒸气云爆炸事故逃生路径模拟研究

以某化学制药厂为例,基于ArcGIS空间数据结构上,采用C#开发语言在ArcGlobe基础之上进行二次开发,实现了应急疏散路径的生成.并在三维模型GIS系统中实现可视化.通过GIS空间网络分析功能,结合三维展示系统,直观地将最短路径及最佳疏散路径展示出来.本文对在快速救援指挥中分配与管理救援人员,迅速采取措施,加快救援速度,防止发生二次事故,最大程度上降低生命财产损失十分有利,同时也为决策者制定救援方案提供了科学依据.     

远场大震的水位、水温同震响应及其机理研究

深井水温观测在中国已经开展了20年,但目前对于水温响应机理的研究还不充分。在对2004年12月26日印尼苏门答腊MS8.7地震后,中国地下流体观测井网中121个观测井水位、水温同震响应特征的研究中,作者发现了具有规律性的一类变化类型:当某些观测井水位出现振荡的时候,其同井水温绝大多数会出现几十分钟到数小时的下降—恢复过程。为了对此现象进行验证,又收集了河北唐山矿井2001年数字化以来39次远场大震水位、水温的同震响应资料,发现其具有相同的规律。在对可能造成水温下降的影响因素研究分析的基础上,提出了同震水温下降的气体脱逸模式,给出了在气泡脱逸过程中造成水温下降的2种主要影响因素,并利用此模式对部分观测现象进行了较合理的解释     

Soft-sediment deformation during thawing of ice-rich frozen soils: results of scaled centrifuge modelling experiments

The origin of periglacial involutions remains uncertain, largely because of the difficulties of field monitoring in modern permafrost regions. This paper describes an alternative approach, in which process studies are based on scaled centrifuge modelling of thawing ice-rich soils. Centrifuge scaling laws allow similitude in self-weight stresses between the model scale and the prototype (field) scale to be achieved. In these experiments, 120- to 130-mm-thick frozen models comprising a sand unit overlying ice-rich kaolinite clay (three models) or ice-rich silt (one model) were thawed under an acceleration of 20 gravities. The models were therefore equivalent to 2·4–2·6 m of frozen sediments (permafrost) at the prototype scale. Temperature profiles and porewater pressures during the thawing of each model are described. Porewater pressures significantly in excess of hydrostatic were not observed in the sand/silt model. In the sand/clay models, however, excess pressures developed rapidly after thawing, and observed fluctuations in pressure were interpreted as water-escape events. After thawing, careful sectioning of the models revealed small-scale deformation structures at the clay–sand interface, resulting from loading of the upper sand layer into very soft fluid-like clay and injection of clay upwards into the base of the sand. It is concluded that these experiments provide analogues for some Pleistocene involutions. Such involutions therefore mark phases of permafrost degradation when high porewater pressures caused loading and injection along sedimentary boundaries.     

Indentation of a continent with a built-in thickness change: experiment and nature

Orogens oblique to the direction of plate convergence are currently attributed to obliquity between the margins of one or both of the sutured continents to their direction convergence. We use a single analogue experiment and natural examples to illustrate a potential additional factor: variations in strength of the indented continent at a high angle to the convergence direction. The wavelengths of structures in laterally shortened lithosphere depend on the strength of the most competent layers. Lateral variations in crustal thickness must therefore lead to structures oblique to any applied lateral compression.

An analogue experiment was performed to explore this phenomenon. A two-layer ‘indented continent’ was modelled by a brittle upper crust of sand above a lower crust of high-viscosity polymer floating on a single layer of low-viscosity syrup representing the mantle. The well-known strike-slip structures allowing lateral escape to distant weak boundaries were hindered by lateral boundaries in front of the indenter. This allowed us to focus on the effects of a thickness change built into the ‘indented continent’ along a zone parallel to the direction in which a vertical rigid wall advancing at a steady rate represented the indenter. Vertical escape led to an ‘orogenic belt’ oblique to the advancing wall; this obliquity influences subsequent lateral escape. Model scaling and interpretations are based on Extended Thin Sheet Approximation (ETSA) and standard theories of faulting.

Four sectors of the Alpine–Himalayan orogen (Iran, Tunisia, the Eastern Alps and the Himalaya) are oblique to the continental convergence direction, and we point to thickness changes at high angles to the suture that may account for this geometry. As crustal thicknesses north of oblique sectors of the Himalayas are not yet known, we speculate on them.

We infer from the main difference between our experiment and all our examples chosen from nature that vertical orogenic escape was oblique to our model suture but can be parallel to natural sutures.     

Effect of daylength on flowering and seed morphology ofSpergularia diandraoccurring in the Negev Desert, Israel

Spergularia diandrais a common annual plant in the deserts of Israel. It displays a quantitative long-day response to flowering. The longer the daylength, from 8 to 18 h, the earlier the time of flowering. Tiny wind-dispersed seeds, which mature on plants under these daylengths, differed in their seed coat structure and size. In addition, in natural populations nine types of seeds were found: three plant genotypes with smooth, hairy or partially hairy seeds; and within each genotype there are three seed phenotypes: black, brown and yellow. The flowering and ‘escape’ strategy of seed dispersal diversity are discussed.     

Responses to Predation Cues and Food in Two Species of Sympatric, Tropical Sea Urchins

Abstract. We examined the responses of two tropical sea urchins, Lytechinus variegatus and Tripneustes ventricosus, to cues from predators, simulated predation events and food. Cues released from damaged conspecifics, heterospecifics and heteroclassics (holothurian) were used to simulate predation events in field experiments. Responses to the presence of seagrass, spiny lobster or both were tested in tanks. Findings were supplemented by natural history observations of dispersion patterns off Bermuda. In field experiments, neither species formed groupings in the presence of conspecific, heterospecific or heteroclassic cues. Flight responses were greatest in conspecific treatments; responses to heterospecific cues were intermediate to control and conspecific cues. Urchins in pre‐assembled associations remained in groups in control trials but dispersed when exposed to predation cues. Lytechinus exhibited greater sensitivity to predation cues than Tripneustes. Cues from a damaged sea cucumber invoked a response from Lytechinus but not Tripneustes. Both species employed a two phased response to cues from damaged conspecifics: initially a rapid, but ephemeral (2 min), alarm response followed by a slower (≈ 35 % lower) sustained flight phase for 6+ min, which in nature would disperse urchins downstream and away from a predator. In tank experiments, Lytechinus formed groupings only around food or food + predators. The presence of a predator reduced the aggregation response to food, suggesting that Lytechinus employed a risk aversion strategy. Tripneustes exhibited escape or refractory behavior in both control and experimental treatments in laboratory tanks.     

Crustal structure of seismic velocity in southern Tibet and east-westward escape of the crustal material——An example by wide-angle seismic profile from Peigu Tso to Pumoyong Tso

The Tibetan plateau, which results from continu- ous collision between India continent and southern Eurasia continent, is cross-cut by no less than three major east-west sutures[1—6]. Yarlung Zangbo suture, marked by one 1500km long ophiolite belt appearing at the southernmost Tibet, separates the Tethyan Hi- malaya to the south from the Lhasa block to the north. In order to understand the deep structure of Tibetan crust and the uplifting process of Tibetan Plateau, one wide-angle seismic…