Theoretical constraints to gully erosion research: time for a re‐evaluation of concepts and assumptions?

Gullies are conceptualized in the literature as essentially fluvial forms with dimensional boundaries arbitrarily defined between rills and river channels. This notion is incompatible with the existing variability of form and process, as mass movements frequently exert a fundamental control on gully initiation and expansion, to the point of features outgrowing their original contributing area. The inability of a conceptual framework to incorporate existing observations inevitably constrains methodologies and research results. In this commentary, several examples of published results are contrasted with the prevailing assumption of an essentially fluvial nature, with the purpose of encouraging discussion on the need for a revised conceptual framework in gully erosion research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Behaviour of piles subjected to passive subsoil movement due to embankment construction – A simplified 3D analysis

Two trial piles were installed at the berm section of an embankment in the later stage of its construction and one of them was fitted with an oversized casing to isolate its top 3 m from the action of surrounding soil. Lateral bending behaviour these two piles subjected to passive sub soil movements were very different from each other because of the casing and is modelled in this paper using a three dimensional analysis. The effect of relative stiffness of the piles on their lateral bending behaviour is investigated. The effect of interface joint slip on the pile’s behaviour is also investigated in a later section of this paper.     

High-harmonic geoid signatures related to glacial isostatic adjustment and their detectability by GOCE

The Earth’s asthenosphere and lower continental crust can regionally have viscosities that are one to several orders of magnitude smaller than typical mantle viscosities. As a consequence, such shallow low-viscosity layers could induce high-harmonic (spherical harmonics 50–200) gravity and geoid anomalies due to remaining isostasy deviations following Late-Pleistocene glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). Such high-harmonic geoid and gravity signatures would depend also on the detailed ice and meltwater loading distribution and history.ESA’s Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite mission, planned for launch in Summer 2008, is designed to map the quasi-static geoid with centimeter accuracy and gravity anomalies with milligal accuracy at a resolution of 100 km or better. This might offer the possibility of detecting gravity and geoid effects of low-viscosity shallow earth layers and differences of the effects of various Pleistocene ice decay scenarios. For example, our predictions show that for a typical low-viscosity crustal zone GOCE should be able to discern differences between ice-load histories down to length scales of about 150 km.One of the major challenges in interpreting such high-harmonic, regional-scale, geoid signatures in GOCE solutions will be to discriminate GIA-signatures from various other solid-earth contributions. It might be of help here that the high-harmonic geoid and gravity signatures form quite characteristic 2D patterns, depending on both ice load and low-viscosity zone model parameters.     

Observation of recent tectonic movements by extensometers in the Pannonian Basin

In Hungary four extensometric observatories were established in the last two decades. The extensometers were installed primarily for observations of Earth tides. A 15-year continuous data series (1991–2005) was recorded at the Sopronbánfalva station and a 7-year record (1993–1999) was obtained at the Pécs station. The length of the measured continuous data series at the two other stations (Bakonya and Budapest) is only a few years. The long-term data records were also applied to the investigation of long-periodic deformations caused by recent tectonic movements. To get an insight into the present day tectonic processes on the margin of the Pannonian Basin, the measurement results of two additional stations (Vyhne in Slovakia and Beregovo in Ukraine) were also included into the investigations. The seasonal variations in the long data series due to temperature and air pressure effects were eliminated. The residual curve – after the correction of the seasonal effects and filtering the “high frequency” components (e.g. earthquakes, Earth tides, etc.) – contains the instrumental drift. It is impossible to determine this curve mathematically. It can be diminished by special instrumental solutions and by regular calibration of the instruments. This paper shows methods and possible solutions how the instrumental drift was investigated and eliminated in order to get the most reliable data for studying recent tectonic movements. The reliability of the extensometric measurements was tested by the tidal evaluation of the data series. The results of the observations show that the Pannonian Basin is under compressive stress. The strain rates measured by extensometers on the margin of the basin are about three orders of magnitude higher than the intra-plate strains obtained by GPS measurements. The reason for this large difference arises from the interaction between the plate boundary and intra-plate forces and from the different measurement techniques. Investigations showed that the rate of the tectonic movements varies, and depends on the local geographical and topographical conditions.     

Seismically reactivated Hattian slide in Kashmir, Northern Pakistan

The Pakistan 2005 earthquake, of magnitude 7.6, caused severe damage on landscape and infrastructure, in addition to numerous casualties. The event reactivated Hattian Slide, creating a rock avalanche in a location where earlier mass movements had happened already, as indicated by satellite imagery and ground investigation. The slide originated on Dana Hill, in the upper catchment area of Hattian on Karli Stream, a tributary of Jhelum River, Pakistan, and buried the hamlet Dandbeh and several farms nearby. A natural dam accumulated, impounding two lakes, the larger one threatening parts of downstream Hattian Village with flooding. An access road and artificial spillways needed to be constructed in very short time to minimize the flooding risk. As shown by this example, when pointing out the risk of large-scale damage to population and infrastructure by way of hazard indication maps of seismically active regions, and preparing for alleviation of that risk, it is advisable to consider the complete Holocene history of the slopes involved.     

地球公转轨道偏心率变化的构造运动响应

最近3Ma发生的主要构造运动和气候变化事件,在准0.4Ma周期上与地球轨道偏心率变化存在一致性。据黄土高原地层记录划分的构造气候旋回界限,日历年龄分别为0.07、0.46、0.83、1.32、1.70、2.08、2.74MaBP,对应于偏心率曲线波动幅度由大变小时段的特定转折位置。文中分析了地球公转运动变速的基本数据及其对地球自转运动和圈层相互作用的可能影响,探讨了轨道偏心率变化对构造运动的驱动机制,并指出了构造气候旋回研究可为地质力学理论发展展示良好的前景。      

南黄海崂山隆起中、古生界油气保存条件分析

崂山隆起位于南黄海盆地中部,海相中-古生界分布广泛且厚度大,其构造演化经历了加里东、海西、印支、燕山和喜山等多期构造运动,早期油气聚集可能在后期受到不同程度的破坏,因此,油气保存条件是崂山隆起油气勘探能否取得突破的关键因素。通过综合分析构造运动中抬升剥蚀作用和断裂作用与油气保存的关系,以及盖层条件与油气保存的关系,探讨崂山隆起内部油气保存条件的差异性以指导该区油气勘探。结果表明：崂山隆起呈差异性油气保存特点,位于崂山隆起中南部的高石稳定带是一个早期断裂不发育的弱变形区,后期构造运动改造破坏程度较弱,特别是下古生界具备较为优越的生储盖组合,构造多以断背斜和低幅宽缓背斜为主,发育多个大型圈闭,岩浆活动相对较弱,油气保存条件较为优越;而崂山隆起北部的青峰变形带断裂系统发育,地层褶皱变形强烈,单个圈闭规模较小,油气保存条件相对较差;高石稳定带中南部是进一步油气勘探和调查参数井钻探的重点目标区。     

大别山东缘郯庐断裂带造山后左行平移活动时间：锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb定年结果的限定

郯庐断裂带在造山阶段之后发生了明显的左行平移活动,但到目前为止对于其发生时间仍存在较大争议。大别山东缘郯庐断裂带内存在一系列花岗质、基性岩脉,其形成与郯庐断裂带左行平移活动密切相关,因而对其形成年龄的测定可以为断裂带左行平移时间提供限定。本次工作在大别山东缘郯庐断裂带内糜棱岩及岩脉中采集了6个样品开展锆石LA-ICP-MS年龄测定。两个花岗质糜棱岩样品均得到了新元古代和印支期两组年龄结果,但并未得到早白垩世年龄结果,可能指示了强烈的构造变形抑制了锆石的生长。与断裂带左行平移活动同期的基性岩墙侵位时间为128 Ma左右;斜切糜棱岩面理的基性岩墙侵位于127 Ma 左右;发生韧性变形形成糜棱岩的二长花岗岩侵位时间为128 Ma左右;仅出现NE向劈理的钾长花岗岩侵位于126 Ma。综合以上结果,大别山东缘郯庐断裂带与下扬子地区存在类似的构造背景,其早白垩世左行平移事件的发生时间为128 Ma之前,之后断裂带在区域伸展背景下转变为正断层活动。     

GPS measurements (2003–2006) in the Sikhote Alin network,the Far East

This paper considers results of geodynamic studies using the GPS method in the territory of the Far East. GPS measurements using TRIMBLE-4700 geophones were launched along the Sikhote Alin profile in 2003. The technology of the GPS measurements and the problems of selecting the measurement sites and network configuration with reference to the region’s structure are discussed. The results of GPS measurements in 2003–2006 were used to study the fault system of the Far East continental margin. Different models of the Eurasia rotation (from the known NNR-NUVEL-1A to the recent ones) were analyzed. The solid-body rotation of Eurasia was predicted in the framework of the AR-IR-2006 model with a pole located at 51.045°N latitude, 255.842° longitude and rotating at a rate of 0.2423°/Ma. The parameters of the Amur plate rotation were preliminarily estimated (57.6° ± 0.5°N, 117.1 ± 0.5°E, and 0.083° ± 0.004°/m.y) using results on the Sikhote Alin and Transbaikalian network.     

Multi-causal pathways of public opposition to dam projects in Asia: A fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)

Scholars overwhelmingly adopt the case study method when analyzing causal conditions inducing anti-dam-protests. We have carried out the first medium-N-study on this topic analyzing public opposition to 12 dam projects in Asia. For this purpose, we employ a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) which is based on a thorough review of scholarly writings and press reports on the dam projects at question as well as an online survey and semi-structured interviews. We identify two causal recipes sufficient for the emergence of significant anti-dam-protests. First, lacking social safeguards in combination with the presence of political opportunity structures and higher levels of development are sufficient for significant anti-dam-protests to emerge. Second, lacking social safeguards in combination with rampant corruption and environmental risk induce these protests. Current scholarly literature particuarly emphasizes political opportunity structures and development as causal conditions inducing significant protests. Our findings build on this literature to highlight the importance of project-specific conditions.