Alkali ion migration in albite and K-feldspar

As part of a study of ion migration mechanisms in feldspars, the dynamical behaviour of the alkali metal cations ions in albite and K-feldspar has been investigated using a combination of dielectric spectroscopy and atomistic computer simulation techniques. The low-frequency dielectric properties of these minerals have been studied from room temperature to 1100 K. At each temperature, the dielectric constant, conductivity and dielectric loss were determined over a range of frequencies from 100 Hz to 10 MHz. At high temperatures a distinct Debye-type relaxation in the dielectric loss spectra was observed for both albite and K-feldspar; the activation energy for these processes was determined to be 1.33 eV in both albite and K–feldspar. Atomistic simulation techniques were used to elucidate the mechanism and energetics of the cation migration processes. Mechanisms involving the conventional hopping of Na⁺ and K⁺ ions between cation sites in the (010) plane were found to give calculated energy barriers in good agreement with the experimentally determined activation energies. These results assist in understanding the nature of the processes responsible for the observed dielectric behaviour.     

Challenges of calculating dunefield mobility over the 21st century

Attention has been directed towards both the impacts of future climate change on environmental systems and dunefield activity in the past, but there has been relatively little consideration of potential dune mobility in a future and possibly warmer world. This paper considers the use and limitations of four Global Circulation Models (GCMs) (Hadcm3, Hadcm2, CSIRO-mk2b and CGCM1), in combination with simple dune mobility indices to predict the activity of the Kalahari dunefield. It is clear that uncertainties surround GCM resolution and accuracy, mobility index robustness for the calculation of intra-annual dune mobility and data collection for mobility index calibration. Macro-scale studies that look at large areas of the world over long time scales are well suited to GCM and mobility index use, but dune mobility can be variable within a dunefield, and it is the extreme sand transporting events, occurring at high temporal resolutions, that are the most important for short term studies. To investigate intra-annual changes in dune mobility over a specific dunefield techniques such as downscaling, weather generators and probability curve fitting can help provide climate predictions for smaller areas over shorter time frames. However, these methods introduce uncertainty of their own, and they often rely on the accuracy of original GCM predictions or the climate parameter relationships observed at present. Analysis of intra-annual changes also requires mobility indices that can model monthly mobility patterns well, although existing indices have only been used for calculating annual dune mobility potential. When they are used for intra-annual predictions, the lack of lag response between precipitation decreases and the assumed vegetation dieback leads to an exaggerated amplitude pattern of dune mobility throughout the year. Calibration of dune mobility indices to dune mobility observed on the ground is therefore important but is hampered by a lack of observed measurements for individual months. Solutions are available to overcome some of the outlined problems, but they can provide their own set of uncertainties, which combine to further reduce the confidence given to future dune mobility predictions.     

Mobility of a remobilised parabolic dune in Kennemerland, The Netherlands

A parabolic dune in the Netherlands was remobilised in December 1998 by removing vegetation and soil. The main aim of the experiment was ecological: to investigate whether permanent rejuvenation at the landscape scale is possible by restoration of natural processes. If processes can be reactivated at coarse scale, periodic rejuvenation of the landscape over the long term is possible, without the need for managers to interfere further. The experiment provides the opportunity to address another important question: can large parabolic dunes in the Netherlands be mobile in the present climate? Mobility of the dune is investigated by means of erosion pins, aerial photography and measurement of cross sections. Activity indices are derived from erosion pin recordings and correlated to weather conditions. From 1999 to 2001, displacement of the dune ranged from 0 to 12 m in east–northeasterly direction. Activity of the dune is related to wind conditions, but the relationship is strongly influenced by precipitation and therefore differs for wet and dry periods. Periods with extreme wind speeds resulted in much less geomorphic change than expected.     

地电化学提取法的理论与实验研究

根据离子溶液电化学的基本性质和稳定电流场的基本理论,通过理论计算和物理模拟实验,指出：离子在外电场作用下,由所在地点迁移至接收电极所需时间与多种因素有关,当外界条件一定时,加大供电电流强度可减少接收时间;离子淌度值很小,由实测时量曲线计算出的ｕｉ值,一般不超过几个ｃｍ２·ｈ－１·Ｖ－１单位,因此欲提取深部离子,即使在最有利条件下也是非常困难的;由不同供电电流强度测出的时量曲线,计算得到的淌度值是相等的,因此改变供电电流强度并不能改变离子淌度值,但当围岩介质的颗粒度较大时,可使离子淌度值变大;离子的迁移质量与供电电量Ｑ＝Ｉ·ｔ成正比,因此在供电电流强度不变的条件下,采用间断供电方式可取得与连续供电相同的结果;通过浅部已存在的离子晕,用电提取法可以发现深部隐伏矿体。     

Uranium pollution of South African streams – An overview of the situation in gold mining areas of the Witwatersrand

During more than a century of gold mining in South Africa large amounts of tailings were produced, which now cover vast areas in densely populated regions. These dumps contain elevated levels of uranium and other toxic heavy metals associated with gold in the mined ore. Large-scale extraction of uranium from auriferous ore only took place during the cold war, leaving tailings with high uranium concentrations that were deposited before and after this period. Recent studies found elevated levels of the radioactive heavy metal in groundwater and streams, mainly attributed to the discharge of contaminated water from mines. In this paper the contribution of seepage from slimes dams to the uranium pollution of adjacent streams is analysed. Based on geochemical analyses of samples, field observations and long-term in situ measurements of hydraulic and hydrochemical parameters at selected mining sites across the Witwatersrand goldfields, the extent, mechanisms and dynamics of diffuse stream contamination by tailings seepage is characterised. Temporal and spatial variations of the process and the associated hazard potential are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Current state of research on flow failure considering void redistribution in liquefied deposits

In liquefied ground, lateral flow is sometimes much larger than surface settlement and may exceed several meters even in a gentle slope of less than a few percent. It occurs not only during but also after earthquake shaking. Conventional laboratory soil tests using uniform sand cannot reproduce this phenomenon. Its mechanism is still poorly understood. In this paper, there is a major focus on the mechanism involving void redistribution or water film effects in layered sand deposits using recent findings obtained by different researchers on void redistribution and the associated lateral flow movement that potentially occurs in layered sand deposits. 1G shake table tests, 1D tube tests, torsional simple shear tests, in situ soil investigations, case history studies, etc. are used to develop an understanding of the lateral flow mechanism during liquefaction. Some of the major findings are; sand deposits in the field consist of sublayers with different particle sizes and permeability and readily develop water films by post-liquefaction void redistribution at sublayer boundaries. The water films may have served as sliding surfaces for large flow during the 1964 Niigata earthquake without the constraint of the dilatancy effect because the water films serve as shear stress isolators. The potential of this type of flow failure will be high for loose sand with relative density around 40% or less.     

煤燃烧过程中微量元素的迁移和富集

煤中微量元素在燃烧过程中产生迁移与富集。大部分元素在煤的燃烧产物中得以富集,一些挥发性强的元素将扩散到大气中。在飞灰中,大部分环境有害元素的富集程度与其粒度成反比,即在细粒飞灰中更加富集,由此对人体健康的潜在危害也更大。在我国,大型燃煤电厂的环境问题值得重视,同时大量的民用炉灶产生的环境污染更加严重,值得进一步研究与治理。     

A spatiotemporal analysis of aggregate labour force behaviour by sex and age across the European Union

This study investigates the causes of variation in age-specific male and female labour force participation rates using annual data from 154 regions across ten European Union member states for the period 1983–1997. Regional participation rates appear to be strongly correlated in time, weakly correlated in space and to parallel their national counterparts. An econometric model is designed consistent with these empirical findings. To control for potential endogeneity of the explanatory variables, we use an instrumental variables estimation scheme based on a matrix exponential spatial specification of the error terms. Many empirical studies of aggregate labour force behaviour have ignored population distribution effects, relying instead on the representative-agent paradigm. In order for representative-agent models to accurately describe aggregate behaviour, all marginal reactions of individuals to changes in aggregate variables must be identical. It turns out that this condition cannot apply to individuals across different sex/age groups.

不同尺度下交通对空间流动性的影响

交通的变化对社会经济空间组织产生了重大影响。在宏观与微观尺度下,从理论上分析了交通对空间流动性的影响,借鉴物理学中动能与势能转化理论,构建了单一城市的流动性测度方法,并基于ArcGIS软件的空间分析方法,使用2005年、2010年和2015年的电子地图数据和统计数据,以全国285个设区市和典型市域——赣州市为研究区开展了实证研究。结果表明：① 交通流是空间流动性最显性的表现,与时间、空间及距离相互作用,形成特殊的空间组织形式—流动空间。② 不同尺度下交通对空间流动性的影响表现不一：宏观尺度下,交通的改变使区际流动空间得以生成,相互依赖程度也随着流动性的增强而增强,微观尺度下,交通的变化改变了城市内部的空间组织。③ 全国主要设区市陆路交通网密度呈阶梯状分布,中心城市和交通变化量最大的城市流动性最大,交通的变化对设区市的流动有明显的正向带动作用,对市域内人流的迁移与扩散、功能区的范围扩展与方向迁移、精英空间的变化具有较为显著的引导作用。     

Overcoming remoteness: the necessity of air travel in Australian universities

ABSTRACT

Air travel has become central to Australian academic practice, with flying increasingly seen as crucial to the progression of successful academic careers. This paper seeks to understand why academic air travel has come to be perceived as so necessary, particularly given its significant environmental, social, and economic implications. Drawing on the mobilities paradigm and social practice theory, we seek to understand how air travel practices are a key part of contemporary academic careers. We conducted an online survey of 301 academics and 24 in depth semi-structured interviews to understand academic air travel in Australia, finding that it is seen as a means to connect and collaborate within and between academic communities, and to counteract the effects of ‘remoteness'. This remoteness is experienced domestically and internationally, by Australian academics who feel they must travel to perceived centres of knowledge production to further their careers. Academics often frame their ‘need' for connections as necessarily involving physical co-presence. Air travel offers career benefits for those who can take advantage of it, and corresponding drawbacks for those ‘stuck on the ground’. We conclude by discussing the need for valuing localised forms of collaboration as markers of success, and developing imaginative alternatives to academic flying.