A method to solve the paleotectonic analysis problem

The method to determine the rates of tectonic movements is based on the use of dynamic models of sedimentary basins. A standard dataset should be provided as input information: the present-day position of sedimentary layer interfaces (chronostratigraphic boundaries), land surface and basement, the layer ages, and the uncertainty limits within which the depth of sedimentation of each layer may have differed. In terms of dynamic models, the paleotectonic analysis problem is reduced to the determination of such tectonic rates that, at prescribed reference times, the model surface topography within the assumed limits would be constrained. At the final moment, the interfaces would be brought into agreement with the contemporary geologic cross-section. The analysis the problem of tectonic rates determination has shown that it has no unique solution. One of the ways to obtain the unique solution is to seek it within a prescribed class of functions, for example, the Fourier series. This method differs from the paleotectonic analysis methodology in that it treats the tectonic rates of motion as functions of time and spatial variables. Under certain conditions, it proves feasible to reconstruct the rates of tectonic movements not only within the time intervals represented in the deposited strata, but within periods of erosion as well. It also is possible to take into account the deformation-induced changes in thickness of the layers. The method's application is illustrated with an example of the Terek-Caspian Trough. As follows from the computation, the tectonic movements since the Middle Jurassic may be presented as a sum of two components: an overall slowing-down subsidence whose rate is proportional to the square root of the age, and local movements which follow a regular oscillatory time pattern with a period of 60–70 MY. The character of the local movements is such that the profile appears to break into a northern and southern segment. When one was being uplifted, the other segment was sinking, andvice versa. These two segments are separated by a deep-seated fault. This may have been a result of an external compression on the trough.     

LONG-TERM SOIL AND VEGETATION RECOVERY IN FIVE SEMIARID MONTANA GHOST TOWNS*

Five semiarid Montana ghost towns abandoned for more than 45 years were studied to understand better the nature of soil and vegetation recovery following severe human impacts. Discriminant analysis was used to interpret and classify variation among land-use intensity groups. Recovery at the five towns was strongly linked to the degree of the initial soil disturbance, vegetation type, and precipitation. Recovery of the vegetation to ambient conditions was far from complete in all but one town.     

攀枝花市大气污染物降水清除机制的研究

本文采用了主成份分析及因子分析的方法,研究了影响降水pH值的主要源及其贡献和这些源被降水清除的机制。分析结果表明:大气中一次污染物是影响降水pH及各种成分浓度的主要因素。人为污染源包括高排放源、低排放源和汽车源,它们的排放物以碱性物质为主;自然污染源包括输送物、腐烂物、自然NOx等,它们的排放物主要是酸性物质;在一般情况下,降水的pH值取决于高、低排放源排放的碱性物质的多寡;降水量越大,清除的污染物越多,在雨季各测点降水平均pH值为6.31～7.10。在高排放源影响小的地方,对持续时间长的大雨,降水后期的pH能反映自然源的影响,其值小于5.60。可见,攀枝花市酸雨几率极低甚至降水呈碱性,     

Long-term growth of the oil industry in the United States

A number of growth models have been developed and used in an attempt to project the historical pattern of oil activities to some estimate of their upper limit. Techniques are outlined for the estimation of parameters of the logistic and Gompertz curves. Factor analysis indicated a close relationship between production and demand, whereas annual discoveries and discoveries classified by year of discovery tended to comprise unique factors which were indifferent to changes in time. The growth models projected relatively high values for ultimate demand and production in comparison to the figures for ultimate reserves. Inasmuch as these trends seemed to be occurring independently, some reconciliation of the results was necessary. Using the highest projections of estimates for reserves suggests that over 420 billion barrels of oil in place will eventually be discovered in the United States, with perhaps 200 billion barrels of this eventually to be proved in the form of reserves. Projections for production were higher, corresponding to a trend indicating high levels in demand for crude oil. The only credible long-term estimate of demand was given by a bounded exponential growth model, in which ultimate cumulative demand for crude oil would reach about 416 billion barrels. These figures imply that over 150 billion barrels of oil would be imported into the United States from 1970 to 2070. Provided the time pattern for one of the variables has been determined, then estimates of the other variables probably would be facilitated because of the high interrelationship between variables. Models are suggested in which accurate pivotal forecasting in the short term might be possible—assuming the particular future trend in some of the independent variables has been predetermined.Research Council of Alberta Contribution No. 596.     

On minimum spanning trees and the intergradation of clusters

Cluster analysis groups samples, but does not generally show gradations between clusters. To illustrate these relationships, principal-coordinate analysis and multidimensional scaling can be employed, but these methods may not be appropriate due to structural distortion. A minimum spanning tree (MST) computes a point-to-point path through the original matrix, and clusters are mapped on the MST diagram. The MST linkages, therefore, provide a natural continuum between the clusters, without distortion. Forty-six Silurian Tonoloway Limestone samples were analyzed for 16 sedimentary features indicative of subaerial exposure. Cluster analysis identified nine clusters which were reduced to five final, ordered groups by MST.     

Mixing caused by lateral internal seiching within a partially mixed estuary

The salinity fluctuations at an STD near the halocline in Southampton Water have been spectrally analysed. Mixing is shown to commence at a layer Richardson number of about 20. The predominant energy inputs have periods of 7–9 and 3·5–4·5 min. These motions arise from lateral internal seiching and it is considered that they are produced by interaction of the surface seiche with the shallow side of the estuary. The wavelengths of the standing wave are calculated to be about 120 and 60 m respectively, and these compare well with echo-sounding surveys of the elevation of the halocline.     

Surface sediment analysis of a rock glacier

Three trend surface techniques are used to evaluate the nature and distribution of the surface sediments of a rock glacier. Trend surface analysis, vector trend analysis, and most predictable surface (MPS)mapping suggest that long-term rock glacier creep causes the highly variable debris cover to display crude sorting and orientation patterns. Poorly sorted and randomly oriented surface materials may be the result of insufficient time for slowly evolving rock glacier sediment distributions to be established and/or the site of glacial erosion or deposition.     

Numeric examination of multivariate soil samples

Numerical methods for the examination of multivariate soil samples are presented in geometric terms. Techniques of coordinate representation by principal components, by nonmetric scaling, and by a new method are discussed, as are techniques for agglomerative hierarchic cluster analysis. These are illustrated by two sets of previously published data.