Assimilating data into open ocean tidal models

The problem of deriving tidal fields from observations by reason of incompleteness and imperfectness of every data set practically available has an infinitely large number of allowable solutions fitting the data within measurement errors and hence can be treated as ill-posed. Therefore, interpolating the data always relies on some a priori assumptions concerning the tides, which provide a rule of sampling or, in other words, a regularization of the ill-posed problem. Data assimilation procedures used in large scale tide modeling are viewed in a common mathematical framework as such regularizations. It is shown that they all (basis functions expansion, parameter estimation, nudging, objective analysis, general inversion, and extended general inversion), including those (objective analysis and general inversion) originally formulated in stochastic terms, may be considered as utilizations of one of the three general methods suggested by the theory of ill-posed problems. The problem of grid refinement critical for inverse methods and nudging is discussed.     

Prediction of the measured response of a scaled soil-pile-superstructure system

The validity of the Winkler foundation model is investigated by predicting the experimentally measured displacement transfer functions and strain spectra of a single pile embedded in a sandbox and supporting a single-degree-of-freedom superstructure. The foundation-superstructure system is a scale model and was subjected to shake table excitations. The distributed springs and dashpots of the Winkler foundation model are frequency dependent and the calibrated model predicts satisfactorily the displacement transfer function at different depths for both fixed- and free-tip pile conditions. On the other hand, the pile-axial-strains are substantially underestimated when expressed in terms of the second derivative of the computed elastic line of the pile. It is shown that a much more dependable prediction is achieved when pile-axial-strains are expressed in terms of the inertial forces acting along the pile-superstructure system.     

泌阳碱矿形成的地球化学模拟研究

泌阳碱矿过去一直被认为是原生沉积矿床。通过综合分析泌阳凹陷的地质、石油地质、碱矿地质和水文地质条件，从不同方面论证泌阳碱矿不太可能属于原生沉积矿床。利用地球化学模拟技术，从理论上模拟了泌阳碱矿的形成过程，提出了一种水－岩相互作用成矿模式，并用大量的事实支持了这种观点。     

宁南深层岩溶地下水系统三维数值模拟

宁南“南北古脊梁”岩溶裂隙水系统的储水空间以岩溶裂隙为主,岩溶水的空间分布明显受南北向大型断裂构造控制。根据水动力场和水化学场特征,划分了3个相对独立的岩溶水子系统。通过三维数值模拟计算,确定了马渠—洪河岩溶水子系统天然资源量和可开采资源量,为本区的地下水合理开发利用提供了科学依据。     

工程岩体三维构模中钻孔数据处理方法

原始数据处理是工程岩体三维构模中存在的主要困难之一。从三维构模的角度,将工程岩体按几何特征抽象为4种结构单元类型。钻孔数据是描述工程岩体的重要原始数据,具有多尺度性。针对这个特点,提出钻孔数据纵向概化准则,解决工程岩体多尺度显示问题;根据地质学的地质数据解译方法,结合岩层层状分布的特点,提出层处理方法对钻孔数据进行概化处理,确定工程岩体所对应的结构单元类型,创建工程岩体结构单元三维构模数据,建立由钻孔数据所得到的工程岩体三维模型。     

PART II: Comparison of Theoretical and Experimental Estimations of Site Effects

— To check the reliability and the quality of the theoretically estimated ground responses obtained from the 2-D simulation by the application of the hybrid method in PART-I, we compare some of them with those obtained at the same sites from observed data using the Standard Spectral Ratio (SSR). The comparison validates our synthetic modeling and shows that in cases of complex geometries, the use of at least 2-D numerical simulations is required in order to reliably evaluate site effects and thus facilitate the microzonation of the city of Thessaloniki.     

The role of diapycnal mixing for the equilibrium response of thermohaline circulation

Using a zonally averaged, one-hemispheric numerical model of the thermohaline circulation, the dependence of the overturning strength on the surface equator-to-pole density difference is investigated. It is found that the qualitative behavior of the thermohaline circulation depends crucially on the nature of the small-scale vertical mixing in the interior of the ocean. Two different representations of this process are considered: constant vertical diffusivity and the case where the rate of mixing energy supply is taken to be a fixed quantity, implying that the vertical diffusivity decreases with increasing stability of the water column. When the stability-dependent diffusivity parameterization is applied, a weaker density difference is associated with a stronger circulation, contrary to the results for a fixed diffusivity. A counterintuitive consequence of the stability-dependent mixing is that the poleward atmospheric freshwater flux, which acts to reduce the thermally imposed density contrast, strengthens the thermally dominated circulation and its attendant poleward heat transport. However, for a critical value of the freshwater forcing, the thermally dominated branch of steady states becomes unstable, and is succeeded by strongly time-dependent states that oscillate between phases of forward and partly reversed circulation. When a constant vertical diffusivity is employed, on the other hand, the thermally dominated circulation is replaced by a steady salinity-dominated state with reversed flow. Thus in this model, the features of the vertical mixing are essential for the steady-state response to freshwater forcing as well as for the character of flow that is attained when the thermally dominated circulation becomes unstable.Responsible Editor: Jin-Song von Storch     

Influence of the zone of weakness on dip angle and shear heating of subducted slabs

We study the importance of the zones of weakness and the pattern of downgoing flow in steady-state models of subducting lithosphere, which interacts mechanically and thermally with the ambient mantle. The non-linear system of governing equations consists of (i) the momentum equation in stream function formulation and (ii) the steady-state heat transfer equation including conduction and advection of heat and dissipation. A finite element method has been applied to this system. We consider the viscosity to be a non-linear function of both the temperature and the stream function. In steady-state two-dimensional (2D) flow, the stream function isolines follow material trajectories. They are used to follow the top of the subducting slab, which because of its possible increase in water content, is assumed to have a lower viscosity. The zone of weakness has been thus obtained in the self-consistent fashion since the stream function as well as the temperature are the output from our modeling and no a priori assumptions about the shape of the bending lithosphere are taken into account. It was shown that several orders decrease of viscosity in the zone of weakness is required to obtain the dip angle of about 45°. If the decrease of viscosity is not sufficient enough, the subducted slab either sinks almost vertically or does not exhibit a plate-like behavior. We have also demonstrated that shear heating can unrealistically increase at the zone of weakness for fast subductions if decrease of viscosity is underestimated.     

MODELING OF THE DIVERSION CHANNEL CLOSURE FOR THE THIRD STAGE OF THE THREE GORGES PROJECT

The closure of third stage diversion channel for the Three Gorges Dam is characterized by large closure discharge, large drop in water surface, and high gap velocity. 1D and 2D flow mathematical models were used in this paper to simulate the hydraulic conditions during the closure. The variation of discharge in the diversion channel and the drops in water surface shared by the upstream and downstream cofferdams were computed using the ID model, and the detailed hydraulic patterns in the diversion channel were simulated using the 2D model. The computed results indicate that the designed closure scheme for discharge of 9,010 m^3/s was feasible for construction, while the designed closure scheme for discharge of 12,200 m^3/s was inapplicable.     

Integrated spatial sampling modeling of geospatial data

Sampling is to, by efficient selection of samples, acquire the accurate information about the population (the research object) at less cost. Spatial sampling is a kind of sampling toward geospatial objects or features with spatial correlation. The differences between effi-cient sampling and completely universal survey lie in quality, time and cost. Sampling provides a kind of economical, prompt and accurate survey[13]. Efficient spatial sampling can be regarded as the optimization of the sampl…