Submarine canyons on the north of Chiwei Island:influenced by recent extension of the southern Okinawa Trough

Based on new multibeam bathymetric data and about 300 km long single seismic profiles, three topographic units were identified： the canyons, fractural valley and submarine terrace on the north of Chiwei Island where is a structural transition zone between the southern trough and the middle trough. The Chiwei Canyon and the North Chiwei Canyon are two of the largest canyons in the East China Sea （ECS） slope. Topographic features and architectures of them are described. The study shows that both of them are originated along faults. The evolution and spatial distribution of topographic units in the study area are controlled mainly by three groups of faults which were formed and reactive in the recent extensional phase of Okinawa Trough. The Chiwei Canyon was initia- ted during the middle Pleistocene and guided by F4 that is a N--S trending fault on the slope and F1, a large NW--SE trending fault on the trough. The pathway migration from the remnant channel to the present one of Chiwei Canyon is the result of uplift of tilted fault block that is coupled to the recent extension movements of the southern trough. The submarine terrace is detached from the ECS slope by the NEE -trending fault. The North Chiwei Canyon, developing during the late Pleistocene, is guided by FS, a N-S trending fault, diverted and blocked by the submarine terrace.     

Application of advanced system identification technique to extract roll damping from model tests in order to accurately predict roll motions

In this paper our previously developed advanced system identification technique [1] has been applied to extract the frequency dependent roll damping from a series of model tests run in irregular (random) waves. It is shown that this methodology accurately models the roll damping which can then be used to produce accurate predictions of the ships roll motion. These roll motion predictions are not only more accurate than the potential flow predictions but more accurate than potential flow models corrected using either empirical prediction methods [2] and even those corrected using roll damping obtained from free decay sallying experiments. This methodology has the potential to significantly improve roll motion prediction during full scale at sea trails of vessels in order to dramatically improve safety of critical operations such as helicopter landing or ship to ship cargo transfer.     

Regional disparities in China's marine economy

Understanding the performance of each coastal area as it develops is the primary task of policy-makers in a marine economy; however, quantitative regional differences in China's marine economy have not been empirically examined. This paper offers a methodological contribution by applying a series of techniques, including the variation coefficient, Gini coefficient, and Theil index decomposition, to illustrate the relative differences among coastal areas. Additionally, the coastal areas of China were divided into two categories to reveal the provincial differences and regional disparities in China's marine economy. The results show that although the numerical economic differences in Gross Ocean Product (GOP) among coastal areas have increased significantly during the 21st century, the gaps among coastal regions have gradually decreased. In addition, China's marine economy presents three levels of regional development (developed, medium-developed, and developing). The results of the Theil index decomposition show that the overall difference in China's marine economy is derived mainly from differences within the three macro marine economic regions; these differences account for more than 95% of the overall difference. Furthermore, the underlying reasons for and driving mechanism of regional differences in China's marine economy can be illuminated in terms of differences in natural resource endowments and geographic locations; industrial agglomeration and diffusion; changes in regional development policy; and foreign investment. These findings offer basic data support and policy recommendations for marine economy management at the national and regional levels.     

Axial friction response of full-scale pipes in soft clays

The axial friction response of subsea pipelines in soft clays is a very important aspect for designers of subsea pipelines but the response is not well understood so far. There is a pressing need for the comprehension of the response. In this paper, model tests are performed using full-scale pipes coated with polyethylene (PE) to study the effects of the set-up period, the pipe diameter, the buried depth of the pipe, the shear strength of soft clays and the loading rate on the axial friction response of pipelines in soft clays. The variations of the axial friction coefficient are analyzed using the effective stress method based on model test results. The results show that the axial friction resistance increases with the increasing pipe diameter but the effect of the pipe diameter on the axial friction coefficient can be neglected. The ultimate axial resistance also increases with the increase of the buried depth of pipelines, the undrained shear strength of soft clays and the loading rate. The axial friction coefficient increases with the increasing loading rate. However, the axial friction coefficient decreases with the increasing buried depth. The method to determine the axial friction coefficient is developed by analyzing model test results, which considers the effects of the diameter, the buried depth, the undrained shear strength of soft clays and the loading rate. The study results not only extend the industry data base but also supply a basis to determine the axial friction coefficient of PE-coated pipes in soft clays for ocean engineering geological investigations.     

Interaction between trench retreat and Anatolian escape as recorded by neogene basins in the northern Aegean Sea

The evolution of the North Aegean Sea is studied through the development of three deep basins: the North Aegean Trough, the North Skyros Basin and the Ikaria Basin. Bathymetric data, a 2D seismic dataset and the well-investigated stratigraphic records of the onshore deep basins of northern Greece and Western Turkey were used to make structural and seismic stratigraphic interpretations. The study area shows two sharp unconformities that correspond to the Eocene-Oligocene transition and the Miocene-Pliocene shift. These discontinuities were used as marker horizons for a more detailed structural and seismic stratigraphic interpretation resulting in the identification of several seismic units. A general seismic signature chart was established using onshore basin stratigraphy and well data, which was then used to constrain the ages of the different seismic units. The main features observed in the basins are interpreted as: 1) trans-tensional growth patterns in Pliocene and Quaternary sediments that combine NE–SW trending and steeply dipping fault zones that likely correspond to strike-slip corridors and E-W/WNW-ESE trending normal faults, 2) regional erosional truncations of Miocene sediments, likely related to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), 3) thick delta-turbidite deposits of Neogene age. Only the North Aegean Trough shows evidence of earlier development and polyphase deformation through inversion structures, and additional seismic units. Extension processes in the Aegean region have been driven by the Hellenic slab rollback since the middle Eocene. The widespread development of Neogene basins at the whole Aegean scale attests to a major tectonic change due to an acceleration of the trench retreat in the middle Miocene. The present study shows that the Neogene basins of the North Aegean Sea developed in dextral transtension with the northward migration of the associated NE-SW trending strike-slip faults. At regional scale, this tectonic pattern indicates that the westward escape of Anatolia started to interact with the trench retreat in the middle Miocene, around 10 Myr before the arrival of the North Anatolian Fault in the North Aegean Sea.     

南海海盆扩张机制的动力学模拟

南海处于印度-澳大利亚、欧亚和太平洋三大板块汇聚中心,地理位置独特,地质作用复杂,经历了拉张、张裂到海底扩张的演化过程,是水平拉张和地幔上涌共同作用下的被动扩张结构。以南海中央海盆的地质构造为背景建立二维有限元模型,对具有先存薄弱带情况下岩石圈在水平拉张力和上涌力共同作用下的减薄扩张情况进行动力学模拟。计算结果表明:(1)岩石圈在受到拉张作用时,薄弱带和断层的存在会使该区域发生应力集中,优先减薄破坏;(2)岩石圈在单纯的拉张力条件下很难发生破坏,如果同时施加一个较小地幔上涌力反而能引起较大的变形,说明地幔上涌力在海盆扩张中起着重要的作用;(3)由于下地壳的流变性,下地壳比上地壳发生了更大程度的减薄,而且下地壳的流变特性比薄弱带的存在更有助于海盆的扩张。     

合肥市郊低层大气的激光雷达探测研究

利用L300米散射激光雷达对合肥市郊大气边界层进行长期系统观测.分析讨论了大气边界层气溶胶消光系数与温度、湿度的关系, 大气边界层气溶胶消光系数垂直分布和时间变化的主要特征, 给出了激光雷达探测的大气边界层高度的统计特征及其与无线电气象探空仪探测大气边界层高度的比较结果.     

In-line response of a cylinder in oscillatory flow

The most widely used mathematical model to represent flow-induced in-line forces on structures is based on the Morison¹ equation. The present paper investigates the validity of using an extension of Morison's equation for non-stationary structures, by comparing predictions with results from a simple laboratory experiment. An elastically-mounted circular cylinder is placed in the sinusoidal flow of a U-tube, and responds in-line with the flow. Cylinder forces and responses are recorded over a range of Keulegan Carpenter numbers up to 35. An equation of motion is solved simply by using relative coordinates and by employing equivalent linearisation. The linear results are compared over a wide variation of parameters with solutions using the full nonlinear equation. Thereafter experimental results are compared with linear predictions.     

2004年厄尔尼诺事件的理论预测和实践检验

地球自转速度减慢、赤道东太平洋表层海温升高、日食-厄尔尼诺系数增大与厄尔尼诺事件发生时间在一切细节上有惊人的对应关系。这个综合检验结果给出了地球自转减速和日食-厄尔尼诺系数预测厄尔尼诺事件的有效性和准确性。2004年的弱厄尔尼诺已得到初步证实,2005年的拉尼娜有待检验。     

淮北平原降雨入渗补给系数随地下水埋深变化特征

水文地质参数对地下水资源评价起着至关重要的作用。其中,降雨入渗补给系数是影响浅层地下水水量、水质的重要参数。它对研究区域水量转化和水量平衡也十分重要。但是由于受降雨量、土壤类型、植被、地下水埋深等诸多因素的影响,准确判断降雨入渗补给系数存在很大困难。如果没有考虑这些因素的影响,尤其是降雨量和地下水埋深的影响,所推求的降雨入渗补给系数就会存在较大误差。结合安徽省淮北平原区五道沟水文实验站观测的降雨量、地下水补给量、地下水水位资料,利用两种不同的方法推求了不同降雨量等级的次降雨入渗补给系数。根据统计学理论研究了不同降雨量条件下,次降雨入渗补给系数随地下水埋深变化的分布规律,建立了次降雨入渗补给系数与地下水埋深的回归模型,并进行了相应的检验。研究表明,在控制地下水埋深的条件下,次降雨入渗补给系数随地下水埋深的变化符合指数分布;在地下水位自由变动的条件下符合伽玛分布。