Breakthroughs in the biodiversity, biogeography, biostratigraphy, and basin analysis of the Beaufort group

Over the past decade researchers working on the rocks of the Beaufort Group in the main Karoo Basin of South Africa have vastly increased our understanding of this important Permo-Triassic sequence. Many new fossil forms have been discovered, allowing for breakthroughs into the biodiversity, biogeography and biostratigraphy of the group. Taxonomic and phylogenetic advances are many and varied, and cover most of the vertebrate taxa, but with emphasis placed on the temnospondyl amphibians, archosauriforms and non-mammalian synapsids, in particular the anomodontia. Biostratigraphic breakthroughs have centered on the Middle Permian Eodicynodon and Tapinocephalus assemblage zones, the Late Permian Dicynodon Assemblage Zone, and the Triassic Lystrosaurus and Cynognathus assemblage zones. Correlation of these biozones with better dated sequences in Europe, Russia and China has allowed for many chronostratigraphic refinements, which are in turn vital for sequence stratigraphical analysis of the basin fill. Based on fossil data, both the lower (Ecca–Beaufort) and upper (Beaufort–Molteno) contacts of the group have been proved to be highly diachronous. The refined chronostratigraphic framework has also allowed for a better analysis of the basin evolution through time, particularly in terms of the correlation of external stimuli that affect basin sedimentation patterns.     

Detection of seepage paths in earth dams using self-potential and electrical resistivity methods

Earth and rockfill dams are designed to operate under steady state seepage. Anomalous seepage may be a threat to the integrity of the structure. In spite of advances made in the fields of geotechnical engineering, it is not possible to have 100% leak-proof structure. Any excessive and unplanned seepage may lead to the failure of the dam, especially in unconsolidated or fractured terrains. Geophysical methods play an important role in mapping seepage paths and monitoring the changes of the seepage with time, enabling to plan technically and economically worthwhile remedial measures. In the present paper, utilisation of electrical methods for delineation of seepage zones at two of the four Saddle dams of the Som-Kamla-Amba project, Rajasthan State, India; which is founded on heterogeneous rock mass, is discussed. Electrical resistivity method was used to delineate zones favourable for seepage, whereas, self-potential (SP) method was used to delineate the seepage paths. SP measurements have shown negative anomaly of the order of 10–20 mV in amplitude, indicating low seepage, coinciding with the seepage measurements made by the project authorities.     

白杨河水库砼坝的地震动力分析

水坝抗震能力的评估在新疆具有重要的现实意义．采用有限单元法对白杨河砼坝的动力强度及稳定性进行了计算，结果表明地震时坝的破坏不取决于空库或是满库，而是与它们的周期有关；而且下游坝面遭到破坏的可能性大于上游坝面．在考虑水平及竖向地震荷载作用下，白杨河砼坝满足强度及稳定性要求。     

Modelling of ground motion in the vicinity of massive structures

A two-dimensional elastic Chebyshev spectral element method (SPEM) is used to model the seismic wavefield within a massive structure and in its vicinity. We consider 2-D models where a linear elastic structure, with quadrangular cross-section, resting on an elastic homogeneous half-space, is impinged upon by the waves generated by a surface impulse at some distance. The scattering of Rayleigh waves and the response of the structure are extensively analysed in a parametric way, varying size, mechanical parameters and shape of the load. Some of the models considered are representative of embankments and earth dams. The simulation shows that some models resonate, storing part of the incoming energy. With realistic parameters, the lowest resonance frequency is due to pure shear deformation and is controlled by the shear velocity and height of the load. Flexural modes are excited only at higher frequencies. The acceleration at the top of the structure may be five/seven times higher than at the base, depending on the mass of the structure. The gradual release of trapped energy produces a ground roll lasting several seconds after the wave front has passed. The ground-roll amplitude depends on the sturcture's mass and can be as large as 30% of the peak acceleration. Outside resonance conditions, the ground motion is almost unaffected by the presence of the artefact; the horizontal motion on top of it is nearly twice the motion at ground level. Similar results should be expected when the incident field is an upcoming shear wave. A qualitative discussion shows that the presence of anelastic attenuation in the embankment does not significantly alter the preceding conclusions, unless it is of very low values (e.g. Q < 15).The modelling results that we discuss indicate that the soil-structure interaction may substantially alter the ‘free-field’ ground motion. From a practical point of view, the main conclusions are: (1) careful analysis is necessary when interpreting seismic records collected in the vicinity of large artefacts; (2) seismic hazard at a site may depend on the presence of man-made structures such as embankments, dams, tall and massive buildings.     

中国地磁台环境场的计算与分析

根据国际参考地磁场(IGRF)模型,计算出1945年5月—1990年5月中国部分地磁台的计算年均值,并与相应观测年均值比较,计算出地磁台各个地磁要素的磁异常值以及地磁台异常场的模量,本文的计算结果将为认识地磁台的地磁场环境、地磁台站资料评比提供依据。     

青藏块体及其周边地震活动

本文从青藏块体及其周边地区地震活动幕的划分入手,分析各期地震活动的图象特征,寻求本区地震发生的时空规律,探讨本区的地震活动与印度板块运动的内在联系,从而对今后本区地震活动的大形势进行了预测。     

新疆伽师强震群强震主破裂面走向初探

1997年1月21日-1998年8月27日新疆伽师发生了包含9次6级地震的强震群,震源机制解表明有NE向和NW向两个节面．有观点认为主破裂面为NNW向．本通过数字地震台阵的余震序列精确定位、震源破裂过程及滑动方向、震群空间分布图像、地震烈度等震线长轴走向和微、宏观震中动态变化方向等多种方法分析后,综合判定9次6级地震的主破裂面走向极可能为北东方向．     

A Study of Seismicity and Earthquake Hazard at the Proposed Kalabsha Dam Site,Aswan, Egypt

High and Aswan Dams Authority (HADA) proposed a plan aiming at constructing a rockfill dam in the Kalabsha area, about 60 km south of Aswan High Dam. The aim of this dam is to restrain the overflow of water to the Kalabsha Valley for keeping one billion cubic meters from being lost due to seepage and evaporation. The safety of dams during earthquakes is extremely important because failure of such a structure may have disastrous consequences on life and property. Therefore, different factors were considered as part of a site assessment. Five seismic source zones, close enough to the site to give rise to potentially damaging earthquake ground motions, were identified. Seven active faults that have the potential for producing significant earthquakes and that pass through or near the dam site were also identified. The earthquake loading represented by ground motions at the site was evaluated. Probabilistic seismic hazard procedures were used for assessing the earthquake loading at six individual sites using Area-and Line-Source Models (ASM & LSM). The ASM is based on current observed seismicity, whereas the LSM is based on geological slip rates. The output represents the expected acceleration amplitude with 90 percent probability of not being exceeded in exposure times of 20, 50, and 100 years. The results from the two models appear to be different, the expected ground motions from ASM were twice as high as expected from LSM. This difference is due to the load of the Aswan reservoir (Nasser Lake) triggering earthquakes on those parts of the faults that lie under the lake at Kalabsha area. The hazard at the selected sites is given by the hazard curve that is represented by the relationship between the peak ground acceleration and its annual exceedance probability. By comparing the curves for the six individual sites for the same source model, it can be concluded that the potential ground acceleration level for all the sites is almost the same. Considering the mean results from the two models, the annual exceedance probability of the expected ground acceleration from ASM is approximately ten times higher than the annual exceedance probability from LSM.Since ASM is based on current seismicity, it is more appropriate forrepresenting the actual hazard for the dam site.     

基于多源卫星图像融合的水坝检测方法的研究

本文提出了一种基于多源卫星图像融合的水坝检测方法，该方法在特征级融合的模式下，利用多源卫星图像特征信息互补的优势，先后提取多个卫星图像中目标的特征信息，再通过多传感器数据融合方法中的逻辑模板法对特征进行融合，得到系统的目标结果输出。试验结果显示，该算法能在大幅复杂背景下有效地对水坝进行检测并定位，并减少了单源卫星图像进行目标检测的错判、误判率。整个算法能完全实现自动检测，可达到预想的目的。     

CHANNEL SHRINKAGE AND ITS INSTABILITY IN THE LOWER YELLOW RIVER1

From the mid 1980s through the late 1990s, the channel of the lower Yellow River experienced serious shrinkage, which has decreased the flood conveyance of the channel and the sediment carrying capacity of the flow, raised the water levels of floods, and, thus, severely threatened the safety of flood control along the river. The completion of Xiaolangdi Dam in 1999 could help mitigate the channel shrinkage problem, but the situation has not changed yet. This paper analyses the characteristics, mechanisms, and conditions resulting in channel shrinkage, points out channel instabilities, and puts forward approaches of channel rehabilitation.