Statistical fusion of two-scale images of porous media

The reconstruction of the architecture of void space in porous media is a challenging task, since porous media contain pore structures at multiple scales. Whereas past methods have been limited to producing samples with matching statistical behavior, the patterns of grey-level values in a measured sample actually say something about the unresolved details, thus we propose a statistical fusion framework for reconstructing high-resolution porous media images from low-resolution measurements. The proposed framework is based on a posterior sampling approach in which information obtained by low-resolution (MRI or X-ray) measurements is combined with prior models inferred from high-resolution microscopic data, typically 2D. In this paper, we focus on two-scale reconstruction tasks in which the measurements resolve only the large scale structures, leaving the small-scale to be inferred. The evaluation of the results generated by the proposed method shows the strong ability of the proposed method in reconstructing fine-scale structures positively correlated with the underlying ground truth. Comparing our method with the recent method of Okabe and Blunt [12], in which the measurements are also used in the reconstruction, we conclude that our method is more robust to the resolution of the measurement, and more closely matches the underlying fine-scale field.     

Identifying groundwater pumping source information using simulated annealing

This study develops an approach referred to as SA‐MF using simulated annealing (SA) and a three‐dimensional groundwater flow model (MODFLOW‐2000) to determine the pumping source information, namely the pumping source location, the pumping rate and the pumping period. Eight scenarios, each with various cases for aquifers with homogeneous or heterogeneous conductivities, are used to test the applicability and accuracy of SA‐MF in determining the pumping source information. The results show that at least five measured heads should be used to analyse the pumping source identification problem and at least three observation wells are required to effectively determine the pumping source information. The SA‐MF gives good estimated results in both synthetic and real problems even if the measured heads contain measurement errors. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-method approach to dating glass: The case of Basiluzzo Islet (Aeolian archipelago,Italy)

A rhyolitic lava flow from Basiluzzo islet (Aeolian Islands), has been analysed with the Fission tracks (FT) and ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar methods on glass, and with the U/Th method on whole rock to constrain its age and to compare the behaviour of different dating methodologies on glass samples late Quaternary in age. Laser ⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar total fusion analyses were performed on populations of grains. Due to the low yields of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar the age data are characterised by very high errors. The weighted average of the ages of the whole population is 55.7 ± 8.7 ka (MSWD = 0.7). The isochron age calculated on all points is 40.6 ± 11.4 ka (MSWD = 0.6), with an initial ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of 297.8 ± 1.8; the isochron is characterised by very little spread among points. The procedure named ‘point-counting technique’ was adopted in FT dating. Spontaneous track mean size resulted reduced by around 20% compared to induced tracks, which indicates that the determined FT age, 28.6 ± 3.6 ka, is a reduced age, due to a certain amount of track annealing. For this reason the plateau technique for correcting thermally lowered ages was applied. We determined a plateau age (commonly assumed as a reliable estimate of the glass formation age) of 43.4 ± 7.1 ka. Four sub-samples of whole rock from Basiluzzo lava flow have been analysed using U/Th isochron method. The ²³⁸U/²³²Th and ²³⁰Th/²³²Th activity ratios of sub-samples have been determined by alpha counting and plotted on an isochron diagram. The resulting age is 46 ± 8 ka and the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratios are always close to one, demonstrating that no significant processes of alteration have occurred. The relatively high error associated with the age is due to a low fractionation of U/Th ratio in the analysed whole rocks. The ages obtained with different methods, 43.4 ± 7.1 ka (FT plateau age), 40.6 ± 11.4 ka (⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar isochron age of all grains), and 46 ± 8 ka (U/Th isochron) agree at the 1σ level, excluding a Holocene age for this sample. This could be valuable information for the Department of Civil Protection because it seems to mitigate the potential risk for present volcanic activity in the area. All ages are affected by very high analytical errors, which are due to the characteristics of the material analysed. Young ages result in low tracks numbers (FT dating) and barely detectable amounts of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar in the presence of high atmospheric contamination (⁴⁰Ar–³⁹Ar dating). Stratigraphic successions without strict chronologic constraints might however benefit even from age data with low precision.     

2006年12月26日台湾南部滨海Ms7.2级地震破裂过程研究

2006年12月26日12点26分27秒(GMT)台湾南部滨海发生M_s7.2(Harvard CMT)级地震.震中位于台湾南部滨海之南海次板块与菲律宾海板块碰撞引发造山作用生成的海洋增生楔内, 这次地震是该区域百年来震级最大的地震.我们利用中国数字地震台网(CSDN)和美国地震学联合研究所(IRIS) 提供的上地幔及远场范围宽频带P波垂向记录资料,基于点源和有限断层模型进行波形拟合反演,获得这次地震的震源机制解并给出了震源破裂过程.反演结果表明,本次地震为东倾正断层兼小幅度走滑破裂事件, 断层面走向为341.5°,倾角为77.9°,震源深度6 km.所得正断层震源机制解表明,地震可能与板块的拆离（break-off）作用引发的在台湾造山带局部存在伸张作用力有关.     

锆石裂变径迹年龄和逐层蒸发法铅年龄测定对比研究

本文阐述了颗粒锆石裂变径迹法及双带源逐层蒸发法的方法原理，对取自美国菲什（Fish）峡谷凝灰岩中的锆石裂变径迹年龄国际标准样及取自香港花岗岩中锆石的两种年龄结果进行了对比，并分析了它们年龄差异的原因，认为铅年龄代表锆石的结晶年龄，而裂变径迹表观年龄代表岩体的冷却年龄或最后一次热事件的年代。开展不同方法的对比研究，可以得到更多的信息，以期更好地探讨研究区的演化历史。     

基于模拟退火优化的海马齿生长参数确定

为确定海马齿生长的相关参数,对海马齿进行了室内水培实验,连续监测海马齿生长及生态因子状况。考虑营养盐循环,基于一级衰减模式构建海马齿生长模型。使用基于单纯形实验设计的Morris法进行全局定性灵敏度分析发现,对所有状态变量均敏感的参数为氨氮硝化率和有机氮矿化常数,表明所构建模型主要由氮的循环系统所支配;最适光照是对海马齿生长最为灵敏的参数,光照是影响海马齿生长的最主要生态因子。以各状态变量的最大均方误差为代价函数,使用模拟退火算法对模型参数进行优化及确定,选取多指标对模型进行评估。结果表明,模拟值可以很好地拟合实测值,最大平均绝对百分误差为5.023%;对参数分析发现,海马齿对硝酸盐氮的吸收具有一定的偏向性,对磷具有较高的耐受性;海马齿生长速率较快,具有一定的开发前景。     

单相介质AVO反演的精度分析

振幅随偏移距变化（AVO）反演是一个非线性的组合最优化过程,理论上可先将该非线性问题线性化,然后求解线性问题;或者直接利用非线性的模拟退火、遗传算法等方法求解.但无论哪种反演思路,实际中影响其精度的因素很多,因此分析AVO反演中的误差来源对提高反演精度和评价反演方法的可靠性非常重要.本文对能造成反演误差的主要因素,噪音、薄层调谐、地震数据处理中的误差、入射角范围等进行了分析,讨论了这些因素可能对反演结果造成的影响,发现在AVO反演过程中可以从优化参数选择和针对性处理方面来减小这些误差,提高反演精度.     

Microstructures associated with static and dynamic recrystallization of Carrara marble (Alpi Apuane,NW Tuscany,Italy)

The present contribution summarizes the first results of a study focusing on microstructures from Alpi Apuane marbles. Its aim is both an analysis of the evolution of the metamorphic complex recorded in marbles and the supply of basic material for process-oriented studies on calcite microstructures due to natural deformation. Quantitative analysis of the variations of statically recrystallized microstructures suggest a relationship with the peak metamorphic temperatures. Previously unrecognized post-thermal peak shear zones, showing overprint microstructures typical of grain-boundary migration and dynamic recrystallization, are described; they document the natural deformation of Carrara marble.     

Incorporating Information About Edge Effects When Simulating Lithofacies

Some years ago, earth scientists came to realize that knowing more about the geology of an orebody or an oil reservoir makes it easier to make the appropriate decisions concerning mine planning or reservoir exploitation. Geostatistical techniques for simulating lithofacies—that is, the geometry of the geology—were developed as a result of this. These methods should be able to produce geological images that respect not only the anisotropies of the different lithofacies but also their spatial layout relative to one another. While indicator variograms ensure that anisotropies are respected, another tool needs to be incorporated in the simulation technique to reflect the relative spatial layout of the different lithofacies. We propose to use the concept of edge effects that define the position of one lithofacies relative to another. Simple tests using direct and cross indicator variograms confirm the presence or absence of edge effects. We investigate if and how edge effect information can be incorporated in the different indicator simulation techniques—sequential indicator simulations, simulated annealing, the truncated Gaussian method and plurigaussian simulations. Results show that the choice of simulation method must be guided by the edge effect characteristics of the experimental lithologic data.     

Maturity modelling integrated with apatite fission-track dating: Implications for the thermal history of the Mid-Polish Trough (Poland)

The Mid-Polish Trough (MPT) is situated in the easternmost part of the Central European Basin System (CEBS) and stretches NW–SE across the Polish Basin. It was characterised by pronounced subsidence and thick sediment accumulation between the Permian and the Late Cretaceous. Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene basin inversion led to the formation of the Mid-Polish Swell (MPS). The study area is located within the Pomeranian segment of the MPT/MPS (NW Poland) and experienced up to 7 km Permian-Mesozoic subsidence. PetroMod 1-D modelling was performed on several well-sections in order to study Permian to recent burial-uplift evolution. The modelling was calibrated with new vitrinite reflectance (VR_r) data and allowed to constrain the magnitude of uplift and related erosion as well as provided a first overview of the temperature history. The base of the studied Permian–Mesozoic successions attained maximum burial depths of 4800–5400 m before the onset of the inversion, less than in the axial trough area. The thickness of pre- and most probably also syn-inversion Upper Cretaceous deposits is estimated as 300 m. Erosion associated with inversion processes removed between 900 and 1400 m of the Mesozoic sediments, i.e. 1000–1500 m less than in the most inverted central part of the trough. VR_r data suggest constant Permian–Mesozoic heat flows corresponding to present-day values (40–45 mW/m²). Apatite fission-track (AFT) ages modelled with the PetroMod module PetroTracks show a good fit with AFT ages directly measured on well samples, and further support the assumption of steady heat flow in the range 40–45 mW/m². Palaeotemperatures appear to have decreased towards the East European Craton margin, which is compatible with the present day distribution of heat flow. Thermal history modelling shows a relatively simple Permian–Mesozoic heat flow pattern in the Pomeranian segment of the MPT. Such a scenario implies that the present-day heat flow distribution has not changed essentially since Mesozoic times.