Debris flows in the Swiss National Park: the influence of different flow models and varying DEM grid size on modeling results

In the Swiss National Park, debris flows are a frequent phenomenon and have repeatedly affected highways and hiking structures. In this study, we first investigated the main characteristics and dimensions of current debris flows by field work and empirical parameterization schemes. Additionally, we evaluated a topography-based flow-trajectory geographic information system model (MSF) and a flow-routing model (FLO-2D) in terms of debris flow-affected areas. Three generically different digital elevation models (DEM) with grid spacing of 25, 4, and 1 m were used in conjunction with the flow models. The evaluation of the DEM grid spacing shows that for both flow models the 25-m DEM can give an approximate estimation of the potential hazard zone. Four- and one-meter DEMs mostly confine the simulated debris flow to existing channels and are in accordance with observations of recent debris-flow events. The study shows that DEM quality and grid resolution are crucial for the resulting delineation of potentially affected areas and thus for hazard assessment and mapping.     

分形城市研究进展：从几何形态到网络关联

城市是人类文明最主要的聚集地,也是一个开放复杂演化巨系统,认识其空间复杂性成为城市科学研究的热点和前沿。城市研究正呈现“从位置和场所向关联和流,从物质空间向城市网络空间”的转向。人类对城市的认识也从“空间是机器”转向“城市有机生命体”。分形是大自然的语言和地理学第四代语言,是挖掘城市空间自组织规律的有效工具,在揭示城市有机体复杂演化机制方面发挥重要作用。目前分形城市研究以指标构建和实证分析为主,缺乏系统的梳理和回顾;内容上侧重几何分形,复杂城市网络视角下的结构分形研究薄弱。本文简要回顾了近30余年来分形城市研究的发展历程,梳理了分形城市研究脉络：从城市形态的几何分形到城市结构与关联的网络分形,从静态分形特征到动态异速生长,并展望了分形城市未来研究方向。     

Statistical Characterization of the Flow Structure in the Rhine Valley

The flow structure at the intersection between the Rhine and the Seez valleys nearthe Swiss city of Bad Ragaz has been documented by means of wind and pressuremeasurements collected from 9 September to 10 November 1999 during the MesoscaleAlpine Programme (MAP) experiment. To understand better the dynamics of theageostrophic winds that develop in this part of the Rhine valley, some key questionsare answered in this paper including the following: (i) How does air blow at theintersection of the Rhine and Seez valleys? and (ii) what are the dynamical processes(mechanical or thermal) driving the flow circulations in the valleys? Statistical analysis of the wind and pressure patterns at synoptic scale and at the scaleof the valley shows that five main flow patterns, SE/S, NW/W, NW/N, NW/S, SE/N(wind direction in the Seez valley/wind direction in the Rhine valley) prevail. The SE/S regime is the flow splitting situation. It is mainly driven by a strong pressure gradient across the Alps leading to foehn, even though some nocturnal cases are generated bylocal thermal gradients. The NW/W and NW/N regimes are mechanically forced bythe synoptic pressure gradient (as the flow splitting case). The difference between thetwo regimes is due to the synoptic flow direction [westerly (northerly) synoptic flowfor the NW/W (NW/N) regime], showing that the Rhine valley (particularly from BadRagaz to Lake Constance) is less efficient in channelling the flow than the Seez valley.The NW/S (occurring mainly during nighttime) and SE/N (occurring mainly duringdaytime) regimes are mainly katabatic flows. However, the SE/N regime is also partlyforced at the synoptic scale during the foehn case that occurred between 18 October and 20 October 1999, with a complex layered vertical structure. This analysis also shows that, contrary to what was observed in a broad section of theupper Rhine valley near Mannheim, very few countercurrents were observed near BadRagaz where the valley width is much smaller.     

FLOW PATTERNS AND DAMAGE OF DIKE OVERTOPPING

Damage of a dike may result in severe damage and suffering. To reduce downstream damage and loss of life, it is important to study the process of breaching of the damaged dike. It is not possible to understand the damage process without a clear understanding of the flow patterns encountered. In the present study, data obtained from nine experimental runs are analyzed. The flow patterns and progressive damage of dike overtopping are investigated. Two types of phenomena at the dike surface: erosion; and erosion and sliding, are observed during the overtopping event. Four stages of dike damage can be distinguished. The degradation rate of the dike crest is found to be dependent on the downstream slope of the dike. The degradation rate is higher when the downstream slope is steeper.     

新疆阜康-吉木萨尔断裂带的几何特征与活动性研究

根据详实的野外资料对新疆阜康 -吉木萨尔断裂带的构造几何特征和活动性进行了分析与研究 ,结果表明 :断裂带由东、西两大段组成 ,西段由 4条次级S倾逆断裂左行斜列组成 ,东段由 3条次级S倾逆断裂右行斜列组成 ,总体上呈向北微凸的近EW向展布 ,长达 14 0km ,控制着东天山北缘的第四纪构造演化和地貌发育 ;组成断裂往往是低角度的逆断层 ,与褶皱共生 ,切割深度 5～ 6km ,第四纪晚期多期 (次 )活动 ,以间歇性稳定滑动为特征 ;断裂带端部段落倾角较大 ,活动量较小 ,全新世平均垂直滑动速率为 0 .10～ 0 4 0mm/a ,中部段落以低倾角的推覆为特征 ,活动强烈 ,全新世平均垂直滑动速率达 0 80～ 1 0 0mm/a以上     

Sudbury Breccia (Canada): a product of the 1850 Ma Sudbury Event and host to footwall Cu–Ni–PGE deposits

The Sudbury Structure, formed by meteorite impact at 1850 Ma, consists of three major components: (1) the Sudbury Basin; (2) the Sudbury Igneous Complex, which surrounds the basin as an elliptical collar; and (3) breccia bodies in the footwall known as Sudbury Breccia. In general, the breccia consists of subrounded fragments set in a dark, fine-grained to aphanitic matrix. A comparison of the chemical composition of host rocks, clasts and matrices indicates that brecciation was essentially an in-situ process. Sudbury Breccia forms irregular-shaped bodies or dikes that range in size from mm to km scale. Contacts with the host rocks are commonly sharp. The aspect ratio of most clasts is approximately 2 with the long axes parallel to dike walls. The fractal dimension (Dr)=1.55. Although there appears to be some concentration of brecciation within concentric zones, small Sudbury Breccia bodies within and outside these zones have more or less random strikes and steep dips. Sudbury Breccia bodies near an embayment structure tend to be subparallel to the base of the Sudbury Igneous Complex. Sudbury Breccia occurs as much as 80 km from the outer margin of the Sudbury Igneous Complex. In an inner zone, 5 to 15 km wide, breccia comprises 5% of exposed bedrock with an increase in brecciation intensity in embayment structures. Sudbury Breccia may be classified into three types based on the nature of the matrix: clastic, pseudotachylite and microcrystalline. Clastic Sudbury Breccia, the dominant type in the Southern Province, is characterized by flow-surface structures. Possibly, a sudden rise in pore pressure caused explosive dilation and fragmentation, followed by fluidization and flowage into extension fractures. Pseudotachylite Sudbury Breccia, mainly confined to Archean rocks, apparently formed by comminution and frictional melting. Microcrystalline Sudbury Breccia formed as a result of the thermal metamorphism, of the North Range footwall, by the Sudbury Igneous Complex. This produced a zone, approximately 1.2 km wide, wherein the matrix of the breccia either recrystallized or, locally, melted. An overprint of regional metamorphism obliterated contact effects in the South Range footwall. The Ni–Cu–PGE magmatic sulphide deposits may be classified into four types based on structural setting: Sudbury Igneous Complex–footwall contact, footwall, offset, and sheared deposits. Sudbury Breccia is the main host for footwall deposits (e.g., McCreedy East, Victor, Lindsley). Sudbury Breccia locally hosts mineralization in radial (e.g., Parkin and Copper Cliff) and concentric (e.g., Frood–Stobie) offset dikes.     

High precision locations of multiplets on south-eastern flank of Mt. Etna (Italy): reconstruction of fault plane geometry

On 9 January 2001, a seismic swarm, located on the south-eastern flank of Mt. Etna and with nearly identical waveforms, caused some damage to Zafferana Etnea village, 3 km from the epicentral area.An analysis of the seismicity occurring in the last 8 years in this area has revealed other earthquakes with the same characteristics; some pre-empted and followed (up to a few months) the 2001 January swarm, others were recorded more than five years beforehand.Using similarity of waveforms, these earthquakes were classified into three families.The use of a multiplet-technique has allowed to obtain the spatial distribution of the events with higher precision (mean error of 10-20 m) with respect to traditional localization techniques.Mt. Etna earthquakes relocation clearly describes the geometry of the seismogenic tectonic structure; the hypocenters lie on a NE-SW oriented plane that is coincident with one of the focal planes obtained by first-arrival polarities. This alignment is also coherent with one of the main regional tectonic trends cutting the Mt. Etna area, and can be interpreted as a right-lateral strike seismic source on the south-eastern flank of Mt. Etna, distant from eruptive centres, which repeats from time to time and is able to produce strong energy releases.     

Accuracy of Sonic Anemometers: Laminar Wind-Tunnel Calibrations Compared to Atmospheric In Situ Calibrations Against a Reference Instrument

Two Gill Solent Ultrasonic anemometers, models 1012R2 and 1210R3, weretested in field parallel measurements against a windvane based hot-film anemometerwith additional sensors for temperature and wet-bulb temperature, the MIUU (MIUU:Meteorology Institute, Uppsala University) instrument. This instrument was shown toretain its precision from laminar wind-tunnel tests when used in atmospheric turbulentflow. This contrasts strongly to the observed results for the two sonic anemometers,which were first calibrated in laminar wind-tunnel flow. Individual three-dimensionalcalibration matrices were constructed, and were shown to reduce the remaining calibration uncertainty for the wind speed to 0.4–0.8% for all azimuths and for angles of attack within ±40°. In the field intercomparison tests of the sonics against the MIUU instrument, it was found that the precision not only of the mean wind speed but of all second-order moments studied (variances and covariances, with and without temperature) deteriorated by a factor of typically three to four. Most of the scatter appears to be random, but in the case of the wind speed, a clear dependence on wind direction is found as well. It is concluded that the correction for the effect of the vertical supporting rods of the R2 and R3 instruments, which gives nearly perfect agreement for laminar flow, does not work entirely satisfactory in the natural turbulent flow. This, in turn, is likely to be so because of high sensitivity of the wake behind the cylindrical supporting rods to the character of the approach flow.     

Thrust geometries in unconsolidated Quaternary sediments and evolution of the Eupchon Fault, southeast Korea

Abstract The Korean peninsula is widely regarded as being located at the relatively stable eastern margin of the Asian continent. However, more than 10 Quaternary faults have recently been discovered in and reported from the southeastern part of the Korean Peninsula. One of these, the Eupchon Fault, was discovered during the construction of a primary school, and it is located close to a nuclear power plant. To understand the nature and characteristics of the Quaternary Eupchon Fault, we carried out two trench surveys near the discovery site. The fault system includes one main reverse fault (N20°E/40°SE) with approximately 4 m displacement, and a series of branch faults, cutting unconsolidated Quaternary sediments. Structures in the fault system include synthetic and antithetic faults, hanging‐wall anticlines, drag folds, back thrusts, pop‐up structures, flat‐ramp geometries and duplexes, which are very similar to those seen in thrust systems in consolidated rocks. In the upper part of the fault system, several tip damage zones are observed, indicating that the fault system propagates upward and terminates in the upper part of the section. Pebbles along the main fault plane show a preferred orientation of long axes, indicating the fault trace. The unconformity surface between the Quaternary deposits and the underlying Tertiary andesites or Cretaceous sedimentary rocks is displaced by this fault with a reverse movement sense. The stratigraphic relationship shows normal slip sense at the lower part of the section, indicating that the fault had a normal slip movement and was reversely reactivated during the Quaternary. The inferred length of the Quaternary thrust fault, based on the relationship between fault length and displacement, is 200–2000 m. The current maximum horizontal compressive stress direction in this area is generally east‐northeast–west‐southwest, which would be expected to produce oblique slip on the Eupchon Fault, with reverse and right‐lateral strike‐slip components.