Characterization of cristobalite in ash and dome rock from the Soufriere Hills volcano, Montserrat： Implications for respiratory health hazards

A link between the inhalation of respirable silicas （SiO2） and respiratory diseases such as silicosis is widely recognized. Ash from dome collapse eruptions on Montserrat has been found to contain high levels （〉20%） of silicas in the form of cristobalite, tridymite, quartz and/or amorphous silica. The toxicity of these silica polymorphs varies widely. Cristobalite and quartz （tridymite less well established） are viewed as carcinogenic to humans whereas amorphous silica generally shows a reduced biological response. In assessing the potential health effects of volcanic ash particulates it is vital to determine the types and concentration of silicas as well as their size （respirable fraction）, shape and surface properties. The aim of this study is to develop methods to assess potentially toxic respirable airborne silicas in the dome collapse ash （applicable to a range of ash types） and to develop a model to predict the levels and types of respirable silicas from future eruptions. The model is being developed by comparing dome rock with related ash from a series of previous eruption events. Mineralogical assessment using conventional scanning X-ray diffraction （XRD） was hampered by difficulties in differentiating characteristic peaks for cristobalite and tridymite in complex multi-component ash samples （containing high levels of plagioclase）. These difficulties have been largely overcome using an Enraf-Nonius PDS120 diffractometer with curved （120 degrees 20） position sensitive detector （PSD）. The determination of size, shape and elemental characteristics of ash particulate and dome rock samples has been carried out using automated analytical scanning electron microscopy. The quantification of mineral proportions using PSD-XRD was highly successful with an accuracy of 1 to 2 wt%. However, the determination of phase proportions using automated analytical SEM was problematic due to scattering effects and the multiphase nature of many of the particles.     

Statistical analysis for the hydrogeological evaluation of the fracture networks in hard rocks

The hydrogeological effectiveness of fracture sets is determined and evaluated by the fuzzy c-mean and hierarchical clustering. These cluster analyses combine the geological spatial attributes and the hydraulic relevant attributes of fractures. Based on the results of the clustering the fracture set volumes are estimated.     

A Review of Studies Dealing with Tree Rings and Rockfall Activity: The Role of Dendrogeomorphology in Natural Hazard Research

Over the last few years, rockfall research has increasingly focused on hazard assessment and risk analysis. Input data on past rockfall activity were gathered from historical archives and lichenometric studies or were obtained through frequency–volume statistics. However, historical records are generally scarce, and lichenometry may only yield data with relatively low resolutions. On forested slopes, in contrast, tree-ring analyses may help, generally providing annual data on past rockfall activity over long periods. It is the purpose of the present literature review to survey the current state of investigations dealing with tree-ring sequences and rockfall activity, with emphasis on the extent to which dendrogeomorphology may contribute to rockfall research. Firstly, a brief introduction describes how dendrogeomorphological methods can contribute to natural hazard research. Secondly, an account is provided of the output of dendrogeomorphological studies investigating frequencies, volumes or spatial distributions of past rockfall activity. The current and potential strengths of dendrogeomorphology are then presented before, finally, the weaknesses of tree rings as natural archives of past rockfall activity are discussed and promising directions for further studies outlined.     

Climatic characteristics of summer high temperature and assessment methods in the large cities of North China

Based on the high temperature data of June to August in 1961-2000 in North China, the high temperature weather processes are investigated, and a more complete data set for severe high temperature processes is created. The climatic characteristics of adverse high temperature weather in Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Jinan and Taiyuan are analyzed respectively. The major features of the East-Asia Subtropical High and Transformed Continental High are discussed. The outcomes indicate that the influence of both East Asia Subtropical High and Transformed Continental High on these weather events varies, by a larger margin, from one city to another over North China and they are also closely related to the relative humidity. It is found that the behaviours of East-Asia Subtropical High and Transformed Continental High are the major important systems that give rise to the summer high temperature weather over the region. Based on these findings, the 5-day, 10-day and monthly assessment models for such high impact events have been developed. The assessment outcomes prove to be useful in assessing severe high-temperature events in major cities of North China.     

Documentary Evidence of an Economic Character as a Source for the Study of Meteorological and Hydrological Extremes and their Impacts on Human Activities

This paper deals with documentary evidence of an economic character as a proxy for direct study of meteorological and hydrological extremes. Taxation records and reports of those who administrated domains and estates are described with respect to information about meteorological and hydrological extremes. Based on data from eight domains or estates from Moravia (in the Czech Republic), frequency series of floods and convective storms (including hailstorms) were developed for the period 1650–1849. One example of disastrous weather, which took place on 10 August 1694 in the Pern?tejn domain, is used to demonstrate the potential for such studies of the intensity of extremes and their impact on human activities. The importance of economic evidence in the instrumental period is shown through tax rebate data contingent upon hailstorm damage in Moravia (1896–1906). The benefits of employing documentary economic evidence for historical climatology and the study of the impact of meteorological and hydrological extremes on human activities are discussed.     

Geotechnical Properties of Low Calcium and High Calcium Fly Ash

In this paper, a comparative study has been made for physical and engineering properties of low calcium and high calcium Indian fly ash. The grain size distribution of fly ash is independent of lime content. Fly ash particles of size >75 μm are mostly irregular in shape whereas finer fractions are spherical for low calcium fly ash. For high calcium fly ash, chemical and mineralogical differences have been observed for different size fractions. Compared to low calcium fly ash, optimum moisture content is low and maximum dry density is high for high calcium fly ash. Optimum moisture content is directly proportional and maximum dry density is inversely proportional to the carbon content. The mode and duration of curing have significant effect on strength and stress–strain behavior of compacted fly ash. The gain in strength with time for high calcium fly ash is very high compared to that of low calcium fly ash due to presence of reactive minerals and glassy phase.     

层状介质高频电磁场响应及位移电流影响

所讨论的电磁场频率介于传统的低频电磁法和雷达频率之间。在这个频率范围内,传导电流和位移电流都是不可忽略的。采用高密度采样算法计算水平层状磁偶线圈模型的电磁响应,通过对归一化的电磁响应在不同地电情况的模拟,比较分析了高频电磁场响应特征以及位移电流对高频电磁响应的贡献。     

Practical Research of IKONOS-2 Geopositioning and Its Accuracy in Tibet of China

This paper presents the studies of the refining of IKONOS-2 RPC, the transform of the datum, the mode of the control point distribution and the method of IKONOS stereo triangulation, so that IKONOS imagery can be used to collect the precise geospatial data and produce the large scale map. The transform between the IKONOS-2 image space and the national coordinate system based on the RPC have been developed, and the results of block adjustment with various control schemes in a practical project near Himalayas have been examined and analysed. The encouraging results of high positioning accuracy have been obtained.     

黄骅坳陷北大港构造带古近系沙河街组高分辨率层序地层格架及其对储层非均质性的控制

陆相湖盆层序的发育是在湖盆蓄水量周期性变化的条件下实现的。层序发育过程实际上是基准面旋回变化过程中湖泊冲刷沉积作用彼此消长的过程。北大港构造带古近系沙河街组可划分为2个长期基准面旋回、8个中期基准面旋回和43个短期基准面旋回。在等时地层格架内,基于基准面变化过程中的沉积响应及其伴生的可容空间变化的分析,探讨了基准面旋回变化与储层展布及储层非均质性之间的相关关系:基准面旋回的升降变化对储层的非均质性、空间展布以及有利储层的分布等均具有明显的控制作用;短期基准面旋回控制储层砂体内部的非均质模式,中长期基准面旋回控制了储层砂体的层间非均质性特征;在中长期基准面低位处,尤其是在基准面旋回的转换点处,储层发育良好,砂体厚度、展布面积均较大,物性相对较好;而在中长起基准面较高位处,则出现相反的储层特征。     

藏南地区金和锑矿床(点)类型及其时空分布特征

本文首次对藏南地区金和锑矿床(点)地质特征、成因类型和空间分布特点进行了总结，对金和锑成矿作用与中新生代构造一岩浆活动的关系进行了论证，对区域地壳演化过程中金和锑成矿动力学机制进行了讨论。该区的金和锑矿床(点)可按容矿围岩划分为：①变质岩为主要容矿围岩矿床(点)，包括金和金一锑矿床(点)；②沉积岩为主要容矿围岩矿床(点)，包括金、锑、金一锑和锑多金属矿床(点)；③火山岩为主要容矿围岩矿床(点)，以金一银矿床为代表。根据金和锑矿床(点)空间分布特点和地质特点，将本区划分为4个矿化集中区：拉昂错一马攸木一帕羊金矿化集中区(A)，然勒金和锑矿化集中区(B)，洛扎一措美锑矿化集中区(C)和邛多江金一锑矿化集中区(D)。各矿化集中区内大多数金和锑矿床(点)与燕山晚期～喜马拉雅早期富碱火成岩具密切时空分布关系，它们是古板块对接碰撞期和碰撞期后大规模构造一岩浆活动的产物。近东西向挤压性和南北向张性断裂交汇部位以及富碱火成岩发育区是寻找金和锑矿床(点)的有利场所。