Experimental research on the mechanical properties of methane hydrate-bearing sediments during hydrate dissociation

This paper describes studies of the effect of hydrate dissociation on the safety and stability of methane hydrate-bearing sediments. Methane hydrates within the sediments were dissociating under the conditions of a confining pressure of 0.5 MPa, 1 MPa, 2 MPa and a temperature of −5 °C. After 6 h, 24 h, or 48 h, a series of triaxial compression tests on methane hydrate-bearing sediments were performed. The tests of ice-clay and sediments without hydrate dissociation were performed for comparison. Focusing on the mechanical properties of the sediments, the experimental results indicated that the shear strength of the ice-clay mixtures was lower than that of the methane hydrate-bearing sediments. The strength of the sediments was reduced by hydrate dissociation, and the strength tended to decrease further at the lower confining pressures. The secant modulus E_S of the sediments dropped by 42.6% in the case of the dissociation time of the hydrate of 48 h at the confining pressure of 1 MPa; however, the decline of the initial yield modulus E₀ was only 9.34%. The slower hydrate dissociation rate contributed to reducing the failure strength at a declining pace. Based on the Mohr–Coulomb strength theory, it was concluded that the decrease in strength was mainly affected by the cohesive reduction. Moreover, the mathematical expression of the M–C criterion related to the hydrate dissociation time was proposed. This research could be valuable for the safety and stability of hydrate deposits in a permafrost region.     

The role of the capture fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the Korean national economy: An input–output analysis

The aquaculture industry can meet food security needs and reduce the pressure on marine resources. The expansion of aquaculture allows the fisheries industry to restructure from hunting to farming, and thus drives the need for an analysis of the economic impacts of aquaculture industry in consideration of the interdependence between capture fisheries and aquaculture industry. This study attempts to analyze the economic impacts of two fishery sectors using input–output (I–O) analysis, with specific application to Korea. To this end, this study applies the I–O models to the Korean I–O tables generated by the Bank of Korea, paying particular attention to the two fishery sectors in Korea, considering them as exogenous, and then determining their impacts. Specifically, the production-inducing effects, employment-inducing effects, supply shortage effects, sectoral price effects, forward linkage effects, and backward linkage effects of the two fishery sectors are presented over the period 1995–2010. For example, the production-inducing effect of a KRW 1.0 change in fisheries investment is larger in the petroleum and chemical sectors than in other sectors. Moreover, the aquaculture sector has larger employment-inducing effects than the capture fisheries. Finally, the potential uses of the results of this analysis are presented from the perspective of policy instruments, and policy implications are discussed.     

A bottom-up approach to segment individual deciduous trees using leaf-off lidar point cloud data

Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) can generate three-dimensional (3D) point cloud which can be used to characterize horizontal and vertical forest structure, so it has become a popular tool for forest research. Recently, various methods based on top-down scheme have been developed to segment individual tree from lidar data. Some of these methods, such as the one developed by Li et al. (2012), can obtain the accuracy up to 90% when applied in coniferous forests. However, the accuracy will decrease when they are applied in deciduous forest because the interlacing tree branches can increase the difficulty to determine the tree top. In order to solve challenges of the tree segmentation in deciduous forests, we develop a new bottom-up method based on the intensity and 3D structure of leaf-off lidar point cloud data in this study. We applied our algorithm to segment trees in a forest at the Shavers Creek Watershed in Pennsylvania. Three indices were used to assess the accuracy of our method: recall, precision and F-score. The results show that the algorithm can detect 84% of the tree (recall), 97% of the segmented trees are correct (precision) and the overall F-score is 90%. The result implies that our method has good potential for segmenting individual trees in deciduous broadleaf forest.     

A GIHS-based spectral preservation fusion method for remote sensing images using edge restored spectral modulation

High spatial resolution and spectral fidelity are basic standards for evaluating an image fusion algorithm. Numerous fusion methods for remote sensing images have been developed. Some of these methods are based on the intensity–hue–saturation (IHS) transform and the generalized IHS (GIHS), which may cause serious spectral distortion. Spectral distortion in the GIHS is proven to result from changes in saturation during fusion. Therefore, reducing such changes can achieve high spectral fidelity. A GIHS-based spectral preservation fusion method that can theoretically reduce spectral distortion is proposed in this study. The proposed algorithm consists of two steps. The first step is spectral modulation (SM), which uses the Gaussian function to extract spatial details and conduct SM of multispectral (MS) images. This method yields a desirable visual effect without requiring histogram matching between the panchromatic image and the intensity of the MS image. The second step uses the Gaussian convolution function to restore lost edge details during SM. The proposed method is proven effective and shown to provide better results compared with other GIHS-based methods.     

耦合GF-2遥感影像与街景影像的广州市城中村识别

及时准确地获取城中村的空间分布及其环境质量信息对于优化城市空间、改善人居环境具有重要意义。本文以广州市越秀区为例,提出了耦合GF-2高分遥感影像和百度街景影像的城中村识别方法。首先,从街景影像中提取越秀区的街道空间品质特征;其次,在对高分遥感影像预处理并进行多尺度分割的基础上计算光谱、形状、纹理、场景特征和建筑结构5类共计23个特征;最后,融合两种影像的特征用于构建随机森林分类器进行城中村识别。结果表明,基于高分影像和基于街景影像的城中村识别整体精度分别为94.5%和85.7%,Kappa系数分别为0.58和0.31,而两者融合后的分类精度和Kappa系数为96.1%和0.67;其中基于街景影像获取的度量街道空间品质的5个指标贡献了31.6%的特征重要性。鸟瞰视野高分影像和人本视角街景影像提供的信息综合互补,构建了更有区分度的特征空间,减少了城中村的错分现象。本文证实了高分影像和街景影像在特征尺度的融合提升了城中村识别精度。街景影像中的信息可以融入到高分遥感影像等数据源中,辅助进行城中村等非正规居住空间的识别。     

The mafic–ultramafic complex of Aniyapuram,Cauvery Suture Zone,southern India: Petrological and geochemical constraints for Neoarchean suprasubduction zone tectonics

Several Precambrian mafic–ultramafic complexes occur along the Cauvery Suture Zone (CSZ) in Southern Granulite Terrain, India. Their origin, magmatic evolution and relationship with the associated high-grade rocks have not been resolved. The Aniyapuram Mafic–Ultramafic Complex (AMUC), the focus of the present study in southern part of the CSZ, is dominantly composed of peridotites, pyroxenites, gabbros, metagabbros/mafic granulites, hornblendites, amphibolites, plagiogranites, felsic granulites and ferruginous cherts. The rock types in the AMUC are structurally emplaced within hornblende gneiss (TTG) basement rocks and are highly deformed. The geochemical signature of the amphibolites indicates tholeiitic affinity for the protolith with magma generation in island arc-setting. N-MORB normalized pattern of the amphibolites show depletion in HFS-elements (P, Zr, Sm, Ti, and Y) and enrichment of LIL-elements (Rb, Ba, Th, Sr) with negative Nb anomalies suggesting involvement of subduction component in the depleted mantle source and formation in a supra-subduction zone tectonic setting. Our new results when correlated with the available age data suggest that the lithological association of AMUC represent the remnants of the Neoarchean oceanic lithosphere.     

Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Xing-Meng Orogenic Belt: Constraints from detrital zircon geochronology of western Erguna–Xing’an Block,North China

To better constrain the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the western part of the Erguna–Xing’an Block, detrital zircon U–Pb dating was applied on the Ordovician to Devonian sedimentary strata along the southeast part of the China–Mongolia border. Most of the zircons from five sedimentary samples display fine-scale oscillatory growth zoning and Th/U ratios higher than 0.1, indicating a magmatic origin. All five Ordovician–Devonian samples display the similar age distribution patterns with age groups at ∼440 Ma, ∼510 Ma, ∼800 Ma, ∼950 Ma, and few Meso- to Paleo-Proterozoic and Neoarchean grains. This age distribution pattern is similar to those from adjacent blocks in the southeastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Considering previous tectonic studies, we propose bidirectional provenances from the Erguna–Xing’an Block and Baolidao Arc.Consequently, a new model was proposed to highlight the Early Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the western Erguna–Xing’an Block, which constrains two main Early Paleozoic tectonic events of the Xing-Meng Orogenic Belt: (a) pre-Late Cambrian collision between Erguna–Kerulen Block and Arigin Sum-Xilinhot-Xing’an Block; (b) the Early Paleozoic subduction of Paleo-Asian Ocean and pre-Late Devonian collision between Erguna–Xing’an Block and Songliao-Hunshandake Block.     

Geochronology,geochemistry and Hf isotope of Late Triassic magmatic rocks of Qingchengzi district in Liaodong peninsula,Northeast China

The initiation timing and mechanism of lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton (NCC) was still controversial. Late Triassic igneous rocks especially mantle derived mafic rocks would provide constrains on Early Mesozoic lithospheric mantle geodynamics and initiation of lithospheric thinning. This paper reports Late Triassic magmatic rocks, including lamprophyre, diorite dykes and biotite monzogranite cropped out in Qingchengzi district of Liaodong peninsula, northeastern NCC. LA–ICPMS zircon U–Pb dating yield ages of 210–227 Ma and 224 Ma for lamprophyres and biotite monzogranite respectively. Lamprophyre is ultrapotassic, strongly enriched in REE and LILEs, depleted in HFSEs, and negative Hf isotopes, which are discriminating signatures of crustal source, but distinguishingly high compatible element contents indicate the primary magma originated from mantle source—a fertile one. Lamprophyre derived from partial melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle, which was modified by slab-derived hydrous fluids/melts associated with deep subduction between the Yangtze Craton and the NCC. The diorite displays distinct features with relatively enriched Nb, Ta, HREE and depleted Th, U, which suggest it derived from a relatively depleted source. The depletion was caused by break-off of the Yangtze slab during deep subduction introducing asthenospheric mantle into the source. The biotite monzogranite shows adakitic affinity, and originated from partial melting of the thickened lower crust with addition of small proportion of mantle material. The recognition of Late Triassic magmatism implies extensional tectonic settings in Liaodong peninsula and suggests initiation of lithospheric thinning of North China Craton in eastern segment might begin early in Late Triassic.     

Geochronology,geochemistry, and mineralization of the granodiorite porphyry hosting the Matou Cu–Mo (±W) deposit,Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt,eastern China

Porphyry and skarn Cu–Fe–Au–Mo deposits are widespread in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt (MLYMB), eastern China. The Matou deposit has long been regarded as a typical Cu–Mo porphyry deposit within Lower Yangtze part of the belt. Recently, we identified scheelite and wolframite in quartz veins in the Matou deposit, which is uncommon in other porphyry and skarn deposits in the MLYMB. We carried out detailed zircon U–Pb dating and geochemical and Sr–Nd–Hf isotopic studies of the granodiorite porphyry at Matou to define any differences from other ore-related granitoids. The porphyry shows a SiO₂ content ranging from 61.85 wt.% to 65.74 wt.%, K₂O from 1.99 wt.% to 3.74 wt.%, and MgO from 1.74 wt.% to 2.19 wt.% (Mg^# value ranging from 45 to 55). It is enriched in light rare earth elements and large ion lithophile elements, but relatively depleted in Nb, Ta, Y, Yb and compatible trace elements (such as Cr, Ni, and V), with slight negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu^* = 0.88–0.98) and almost no negative Sr anomalies. Results of electron microprobe analysis of rock-forming silicate minerals indicate that the Matou porphyry has been altered by an oxidized fluid that is rich in Mg, Cl, and K. The samples show relatively low ε_Nd(t) values from −7.4 to −7.1, slightly high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values from 0.708223 to 0.709088, and low ε_Hf(t) values of zircon from −9.0 to −6.5, when compared with the other Cu–Mo porphyry deposits in the MLYMB. Zircon U–Pb dating suggests the Matou granodiorite porphyry was emplaced at 139.5 ± 1.5 Ma (MSWD = 1.8, n = 15), which is within the age range of the other porphyries in the MLYMB. Although geochemical characteristics of the Matou and other porphyries in the MLYMB are similar and all adakitic, the detrital zircons in the samples from Matou suggest that Archean lower crust (2543 ± 29 Ma, MSWD = 0.25, n = 5) was involved with the generation of Matou magma, which is different from the other porphyries in the belt. Our study suggests that the Matou granodiorite porphyry originated from partial melting of thickened lower crust that was delaminated into the mantle, similar to the other porphyries in the MLYMB, but it has a higher proportion of lower crustal material, including Archean rocks, which contributed to the formation of the porphyry and related W-rich magmatic-hydrothermal system.