Detection and evaluation of horizontal fractures in earth dams using the self-potential method

The self-potential method can be applied to evaluate the degree of water seepage into earth or rockfill dams. Spatial distribution of measured self-potential data can indicate possible anomalous water flow. Phenomena, such as piping, can be modelled as cylindrical bodies. Internal erosion can develop structures, which can be represented by a sphere or point source. Differential settlement in the dam structure occasionally creates horizontal fractures, which require equivalent geometrical body formula. An equation, which allows the calculation of a self-potential profile over a horizontal contact, was developed. This equation can also be applied to the inspection of water flow into horizontal drainage filters. When inverse interpretation returns bodies of relatively small amplitudes, then their probability can be tested statistically. A test, based on cross-correlation between a modelled curve and field data, can be used to evaluate their existence at a given probability level. An acceptance criterion is computed, using the concept of likelihood coefficient. The equation was applied to two case histories. The first is an example of water flow evaluation into a horizontal drainage filter. Several anomalous bodies were interpreted from residual self-potential data, i.e. from the difference between the theoretical response of the filter and the measured self-potential values, then, most of the interpreted bodies were statistically tested. The second case deals with detection and evaluation of a horizontal fissure. The interpreted parameters of the detected body corresponded well to a horizontal fracture found when the water level in the reservoir was lowered.     

Geography (or geographers) and earth system science

A response to Pitman’s recent arguments regarding a perceived invasion of geographers’ territory within the academic division of labour by earth system science. Geography is not the grand synthesiser, the only discipline which can explain the big picture, and arrogant claims that it is are counter-productive, both within and outwith the discipline. Geographers should just get on with what they are doing—well.     

Monazite behaviour and age significance in poly-metamorphic high-grade terrains: A case study from the western Musgrave Block, central Australia

Integrated, in situ textural, chemical and electron microprobe age analysis of monazite grains in a migmatitic metapelitic gneiss from the western Musgrave Block, central Australia has identified evidence for multiple events of growth and recrystallisation during poly-metamorphism in the Mesoproterozoic. Garnet + sillimanite-bearing metapelite underwent partial melting and segregation to palaeosome and leucosome during metamorphism between 1330 and 1296 Ma, with monazite grains in leucosome recording crystallisation at 1300 Ma. Monazite breakdown during melting is inferred to have occurred in the palaeosome. During a subsequent granulite facies event at 1200 Ma, deformation and metamorphism of leucosome and palaeosome resulted in partial disturbance of ages and potential minor growth on 1300 Ma monazite in leucosome. Growth of new, high-Y (+HREE) monazite in palaeosome domains occurred during garnet breakdown in the presence of sillimanite to cordierite and spinel, as a result of post-peak isothermal decompression. Diffusive enrichment of resorbed garnet rims in Y + HREE suggests garnet breakdown occurred slower than volume diffusion of REE. Monazite in both palaeosome and leucosome were subsequently partially to penetratively recrystallised during a retrogression event that is suggested to have occurred at 1150–1130 Ma. The intensity of recrystallisation and disturbance of ages appears linked to proximity to retrogressed garnet porphyroblasts and their occurrence in the relatively reactive or ‘fertile’ local environments provided by the palaeosome/mesosome volumes, which caused localised changes in retrogressive fluids towards compositions more aggressive to monazite. Like reaction textures, it is apparent that domainal equilibrium and reaction may control or at least strongly influence monazite REE and U–Th–Pb chemistry and hence ages.     

Paleoproterozoic accretion in the Northeast Siberian craton: Isotopic dating of the Anabar collision system

Geochronological database considered in the work and characterizing the Anabar collision system in the Northeast Siberian craton includes coordinated results of Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr dating of samples from crustal xenoliths in kimberlites, deep drill holes, and bedrock outcrops. As is inferred, collision developed in three stages dated at 2200–2100, 1940–1760, and 1710–1630 Ma. The age of 2000–1960 Ma is established for substratum of mafic rocks, which probably originated during the lower crust interaction with asthenosphere due to the local collapse of the collision prism. Comparison of Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isochron dates shows that the system cooling from ≈700 to ≈300°C lasted approximately 300 m.y. with a substantial lag relative to collision metamorphism and granite formation. It is assumed that accretion of the Siberian craton resulted in formation of a giant collision mountainous structure of the Himalayan type that was eroded by 1.65 Ga ago, when accumulation of gently dipping Meso-to Neoproterozoic (Riphean) platform cover commenced.     

中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔（734～933m）榴辉岩和片麻岩元素及Sr-Nd同位素地球化学研究

对中国大陆科学钻探工程主孔两段榴辉岩与片麻岩互层的岩芯样品(Ⅰ:734.21-737.16m和Ⅱ:929.67-932.86m)分别进行了主要元素和微量元素以及Sr-Nd同位素分析。结果表明:(1)榴辉岩具有较大的成分变化范围(SiO2含量为46.8%-59.8%),表现出平坦或轻稀土(LREE)富集的分布模式和大离子亲石元素(LILE)富集或亏损以及Nb、Ta负异常特征。部分榴辉岩样品具有明显低的活动性元素(Rb、Ba和K)含量,指示了板块俯冲过程中的脱水变质效应;(2)两段岩芯中的片麻岩具有明显不同的主量和微量元素组成,其中第Ⅰ段具有相对较低的SiO2含量(61.3%～66.2%)和高的重稀土(HREE)含量,而第Ⅱ段具有明显偏高的SiO2含量(73.8%～74.1%)和低的HREE含量。但两段均表现出LREE富集和Eu负异常以及LILE富集和高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti)负异常特征;(3)榴辉岩和第Ⅰ段岩芯中的片麻岩具有相近的且偏高的εNd(750Ma)值(-3.6- 0.5),而第Ⅱ段岩芯中的片麻岩具有明显偏低的εNd(750Ma)值(-8.7)。部分片麻岩样品表现出较高的87Sr/86Sr比值(0.7070)和非常低的Rb/Sr比值(0.008),指示岩石Rb-Sr同位素体系受到了变质扰动。非活动性元素如Zr、Hf、Nb、Ta、Ti、Y、REE和Ti在脱水变质过程中没有受到明显扰动,因此可用于恢复榴辉岩和片麻岩的原岩性质及其形成的大地构造背景。根据分析样品的元素和Nd同位素特点,推测榴辉岩原岩具有板内玄武岩性质,第Ⅰ段岩芯中的片麻岩原岩为玄武质岩浆上升过程中同化地壳物质形成的中性岩,而第Ⅱ段岩芯中的片麻岩原岩为地壳物质重熔形成的酸性岩。因此,深钻榴辉岩和片麻岩原岩为新元古代华南陆块北缘裂谷构造带双峰式岩浆活动的产物,在岩浆侵位过程中经历了高温大气降水热液蚀变。     

Multi-reference evaluation of uncertainty in earth orientation parameter measurements

Uncertainties in polar motion and length-of-day measurements are evaluated empirically using several data series from the space-geodetic techniques of the global positioning system (GPS), satellite laser ranging (SLR), and very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) during 1997–2002. In the evaluation procedure employed here, known as the three-corner hat (TCH) technique, the signal common to each series is eliminated by forming pair-wise differences between the series, thus requiring no assumed values for the “truth” signal. From the variances of the differenced series, the uncertainty of each series can be recovered when reasonable assumptions are made about the correlations between the series. In order to form the pair-wise differences, the series data must be given at the same epoch. All measurement data sets studied here were sampled at noon (UTC); except for the VLBI series, whose data are interpolated to noon and whose UT1 values are also numerically differentiated to obtain LOD. The numerical error introduced to the VLBI values by the interpolation and differentiation is shown to be comparable in magnitude to the values determined by the TCH method for the uncertainties of the VLBI series. The TCH estimates for the VLBI series are corrupted by such numerical errors mostly as a result of the relatively large data intervals. Of the remaining data sets studied here, it is found that the IGS Final combined series has the smallest polar motion and length-of-day uncertainties.     

变化中的地球所面临的挑战:全球变化的科学理解(英文)

简要介绍了变化中的地球所面临的挑战 ,并在描述地球系统科学近年来所取得成就的基础上给出了全球变化的科学理解。同时也简要介绍了世界正在面临的主要环境问题 ;描述了气候系统研究所达成的共识、面临的挑战及所取得的研究进展 ;并从大气、海洋和陆地间的CO2 交换、转换、不确定性等方面阐述了碳循环 ;然后 ,简单描述了全球水循环研究进展 ;最后 ,展望了在变化的地球中生存所要面临的挑战与机遇。     

浅议学科交叉与地球系统科学

以整体系统的观念认识地球 ,强化学科间的交叉与渗透 ,是 2 1世纪初地球科学发展的主题。各国都十分重视推动学科交叉研究 ,并将学科交叉分为Modidisciplinary、Interdisciplinary、Transdiscipli nary三个层次。地球系统科学的两大前沿为“地球系统的联系”和“地球系统的演化” ,2 1世纪地球科学的突破在于地球系统变化理论的形成。笔者指出 :目前 ,我们的观念还跟不上地球科学的发展 ,尤其是“学科交叉”的理念不强 ,缺乏地球系统科学的思维 ,但我们有开展地球系统科学研究的有利条件     

中国科学院固体地球科学知识创新工程现状与发展态势

回顾了中国科学院国家知识创新试点工程实施以来特别是启动阶段3年里固体地球科学知识创新工程试点各项工作的进展情况，包括项目与经费、创新成果、人才吸引、科研竞争力提升、院地合作推进等方面，分析和总结了中国科学院固体地球科学知识创新工程现状，并展望了固体地球科学知识创新工程若干重要发展态势。     

The newest observational evidence on asymmetrical deformation of the Earth

IntroductionWhat is the shape of the Earth? Does it change continuously? It is a scientific question since the ancient times and is still being observed and explored at present. In 250 BC, Greek scholar Eratosthene supposed the shape of the Earth to be spherical according to the observations to the Sun and estimated the perimeter of the Earth to be 4 000 km (King-Hele, 1976) according to the camel-walking distance. Until the 16th century, the Earth was considered to be a very symmetrical …