The astroclimatological comparison of the Paranal Observatory and El Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory

The new extremely large telescope projects need accurate evaluation of the candidate sites. In this paper, we present the astroclimatological comparison between the Paranal Observatory, located on the coast of the Atacama Desert (Chile), and the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos (ORM), located in La Palma (Canary Islands). We apply a statistical analysis using long-term data bases from Paranal and Carlsberg Automatic Meridian Circle (CAMC) weather stations. The monthly, seasonal and annual averages of the main synoptical parameters in the two sites are computed. We compare the long-term trends in order to understand the main differences between the two sites. Significant differences between the two analysed sites have been found. Temperature has increasing trends in both observatories with somewhat higher evidence at the ORM. Seasonal variations of pressure at Paranal have been highly decreasing since 1989, and we do not see the same phenomenon at the ORM. The two sites are dominated by high pressure. In cold seasons, relative humidity (RH) is lower than 60 per cent at CAMC and 15 per cent at Paranal. In warm seasons, RH is lower than 40 per cent at CAMC and 20 per cent at Paranal. The analysis of the dew point has shown better conditions at Paranal with respect to CAMC in winter, autumn and spring before 2001, while the two sites are becoming similar afterwards. Winds at the ORM are subject to pronounced local variations.     

The Durham/ESO SLODAR optical turbulence profiler

An instrument for monitoring of the vertical profile of atmospheric optical turbulence strength, employing the Slope Detection and Ranging (SLODAR) double star technique applied to a small telescope, has been developed by Durham University and the European South Observatory. The system has been deployed at the Cerro Paranal observatory in Chile for statistical characterization of the site. The instrument is configured to sample the turbulence at altitudes below 1.5 km with a vertical resolution of approximately 170 m. The system also functions as a general-purpose seeing monitor, measuring the integrated optical turbulence strength for the whole atmosphere, and hence the seeing width. We give technical details of the prototype and present data to characterize its performance. Comparisons with contemporaneous measurements from a differential image motion monitor (DIMM) and a multi-aperture scintillation sensor (MASS) are discussed. Statistical results for the optical turbulence profile at the Paranal site are presented. We find that, in the median case, 49 per cent of the total optical turbulence strength is associated with the surface layer (below 100 m), 35 per cent with the 'free atmosphere' (above 1500 m) and 16 per cent with the intermediate altitudes (100–1500 m).     

Seeing Conditions at Sutherland. Results of the 1992/93 seeing campaign

In order to decide whether the seeing conditions at SAAO/Sutherland justify the erection of a 3.5 m telescope and also to compare Sutherland with the Gamsberg/Namibia site, a seeing campaign covering 15 months has been carried out. For direct comparison with the results of the seeing campaign at Gamsberg twenty years before the same QUESTAR telescope was employed. The seeing is determined by the scattering of the star-trail exposed on a film in the focal plane of the telescope. The campaign commenced in February 1992. Up to May 1993, data for 204 nights, that is 47.3% of the total number of nights, were collected. Due to wind speeds above 30 km h^-1, 25 out of the 204 nights were not considered in the final reduction. The useful 179 nights are evenly distributed over the campaign period. The median seeing value for the whole period is = 0.52. There are differences during the year: the best season gives = 0.42, the worst = 0.67. Each night was divided into three intervals, although data for each of the three intervals were not always available. Generally, there is an improvement in the seeing during the course of a night. The results are compared to the seeing values of Gamsberg/Namibia and ESO/La Silla.     

LOLAS: an optical turbulence profiler in the atmospheric boundary layer with extreme altitude resolution

We report the development and first results of an instrument called Low Layer SCIDAR (Scintillation Detection and Ranging) (LOLAS) which is aimed at the measurement of optical-turbulence profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer with high altitude resolution. The method is based on the Generalized SCIDAR (GS) concept, but unlike the GS instruments which need a 1-m or larger telescope, LOLAS is implemented on a dedicated 40-cm telescope, making it an independent instrument. The system is designed for widely separated double-star targets, which enables the high altitude resolution. Using a 200-arcsec-separation double star, we have obtained turbulence profiles with unprecedented 12-m resolution. The system incorporates necessary novel algorithms for autoguiding, autofocus and image stabilization. The results presented here were obtained at Mauna Kea Observatory. They show LOLAS capabilities but cannot be considered as representative of the site. A forthcoming paper will be devoted to the site characterization. The instrument was built as part of the Ground Layer Turbulence Monitoring Campaign on Mauna Kea for Gemini Observatory.     

安徽地区地震波衰减、场地响应及震源新参数的测定

根据安徽数字地震台网7个地震台的143条波形资料,研究了安徽地区的衰减模型和各台站的场地响应。采用三段几何衰减模型拟合,得到了安徽及邻近地区的几何衰减函数,得到安徽地区非弹性衰减Q值随频率f的关系为Q(f)=235.3×f0.616;7个台站的场地响应均无明显的放大效应,这与它们均处于岩石地基相符;并在本地区地震预测研究中尝试使用新参数,进行了初步的应用。     

Late Quaternary landscapes in Central Australia: sedimentary history and palaeoecology of Puritjarra rock shelter

Puritjarra rock shelter provides a long record of late Quaternary vegetation in the Australian arid zone. Analysis of the sedimentary history of this rock shelter is combined with reanalysis of charcoal and phytolith records to provide a first‐order picture of changing landscapes in western Central Australia. These show a landscape responding to increasing aridity from 45 ka with deflation of clay‐rich red palaeosols (<45 ka) and sharp declines in grassland and other vegetation at 40–36 ka, and at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) (24 ka). Vegetation in the catchment of the rock shelter recovered after 15 ka with expansion of both acacia woodland and spinifex grasslands, registering stronger summer rainfall in the interior of the continent. By 8.3 ka re‐vegetation of local palaeosols and dunes had choked off sediment supply to the rock shelter and the character of the sediments changed abruptly. Poaceae values peaked at 5.8 ka, suggesting the early–mid Holocene climatic optimum in Central Australia is bracketed between 8.3 and 5.8 ka. Local vegetation was disrupted in the late Holocene with a sharp decline in Poaceae at 3.8 ka, coinciding with an abrupt intensification of ENSO. Local grasslands recovered over the next two millennia and by 1.5 ka the modern vegetation appears to have become established. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

滇西动态重力网的分形特征及空间分辨力

介绍了用分形学描述地球物理观测网非均匀分布和联合应用分形特征与Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ定理确定最佳网格距的方法。研究了滇西动态重力网的分形特征，它的分形维Ｄｆ＝１．２７，最佳网格距ｒ０＝２８ｋｍ。讨论了１９８６年至１９９４年间网区发生的８次Ｍｓ＞５．０级地震前重力场变化的可信性，指出这些变化的波长均大于１００ｋｍ，至少２倍于网的最小空间分辨力，因而是可信的     

走滑断裂古地震探槽选址范例

探槽选址直接决定了古地震研究的质量,且理想探槽位置具有稀缺性。在收集82篇国内外走滑断裂古地震研究论文的基础上,分析了长序列古地震探槽选址和同震位移探槽选址的构造地貌共性特征。长序列古地震探槽一般布设在断塞塘、拉分盆地、小型湖盆、闸门脊汇水一侧及比较平缓的冲洪积扇或大型冲洪积扇末端等地貌位置。这些地貌位置的共同特征是位于连续的、较高沉积速率的沉积环境,且通常富集14C测年物质。在探槽选址的过程中,不仅要对现今沉积环境,也要对其古地理环境进行评价。然而以发掘古地震同震位移为目的的探槽选址则不同,成功的研究点往往较频繁发生侵蚀和下切事件,其中冲沟是最常见的地貌标志。探槽布设以垂直和平行探槽为主,采取逐次掘进或相间平行排列的方式开挖。由于理想探槽位置的稀缺性,所以在这些优质的探槽点一定要开展长期详细地深入研究,最大限度获得古地震事件的长序列,同时也要注意新技术和新方法的应用。     

基于已知钻孔的场地类别模糊等值线的建立

对照现行《建筑抗震设计规范》（GB50011-2001）场地类别划分方法,应用模糊数学原理,推导了场地类别的模糊二次评价方法,得出了场地类别的模糊向量和模糊特征周期,实现了场地类别划分的连续化;在此基础上,基于收集到的杭州市254个建筑场地波速钻孔实测资料,通过建立场地类别地质模型,实现了场地类别、特征周期的模糊等值线,与实测资料对比,结果表明：由该模糊等值线得出的建筑场地抗震类别与现行《建筑抗震设计规范》给出的场地类别是统一的,模糊特征周期与规范给出的特征周期基本上是吻合的,该模糊等值线对建筑抗震设计具有指导意义。     

煤炭地下气化技术及其应用前景

煤炭地下气化是一种煤炭原位开采技术。文中介绍了煤炭地下气化的工艺过程、技术特征、技术发展历程及其应用前景,特别强调煤炭地下气化应用过程的科学选址及地下水污染防控问题。煤炭地下气化的析气过程是基于煤岩混杂的渗滤通道反应,包含沿径向及沿轴向的煤气化反应过程。随气化通道扩展形成单个稳定气化周期。基于长距离定向钻井及连续油管的移动注气点后退气化工艺,奠定了煤炭地下气化商业化应用的技术基础。地下气化煤气可用于燃气蒸汽联合循环发电,并逐步用作化工原料气。通过科学选址并采取地下水污染防控措施,可以使煤炭地下气化成为新一代的绿色化学采煤技术,具有广阔的应用前景。