Application of FLATModel, a 2D finite volume code, to debris flows in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula

FLATModel is a two-dimensional shallow-water approximation code with corrections and modifications that create a simulation tool adapted to debris-flows behaviour. FLATModel uses the finite volume method with the numerical implementation of the Godunov scheme and includes correction terms regarding the effect of flow over high slopes and curvature. Additionally, the stop-and-go phenomenon, the basal entrainment and a correction regarding the front inclination of the final deposit are incorporated into FLATModel. In addition, different flow resistance laws were integrated in the numerical code including Bingham, Herschel–Bulkley and Voellmy fluid model. Firstly, our numerical model was validated using analytical solutions of a dam-break scenario and published data on a laboratory experiment. Secondly, three real events, which occurred in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, were back-calculated. Although field observations of the three events are not very detailed, the back-analyses revealed interesting patterns on the flow dynamics, and the numerical results generally showed good agreement with field data. Comparing the different flow resistance laws, the Voellmy fluid model presents the best behaviour regarding both the flow behaviour and the deposit characteristics. Preliminary simulation runs incorporating the effect of basal entrainment offered satisfactory results, although the final volume is rather sensitive on the selected friction angle of channel-bed material. The outcomes regarding the correction of the calculated front inclination of the final deposit showed that this implementation strongly improves the simulation results and better represents steep fronts of final deposits.     

The Glarus thrust: excursion guide and report of a field trip of the Swiss Tectonic Studies Group (Swiss Geological Society, 14.–16. 09. 2006)

This excursion guide results form a field trip to the Glarus nappe complex organized by the Swiss Tectonic Studies Group in 2006. The aim of the excursion was to discuss old and recent concepts related to the evolution of the Glarus thrust. The major aspects were (i) the interplay between deformation, fluid flow and geochemical alteration, (ii) episodic versus continuous deformation and fluid flow, and (iii) the link between large-scale structures, microstructures, and geochemical aspects. Despite 150 years of research in the Glarus nappe complex and the new results discussed during the excursion, there exist controversies that still are unsolved.     

陕西关中盆地中部地下热水H、O同位素交换 及其影响因素

对关中盆地地下热水δ＆18O和8D数据的研究表明：盆地中部西安、咸阳深部的地压地热流体发生明显的δ^18O同位素交换,并出现^2H同位素交换,表明热储流体发生了强烈的水岩反应,盆地周边及中部的非地压地热流体^18O交换则不明显。根据研究区^18O同位素的交换程度（用^2H过量参数d表征）和水化学资料,可将关中盆地热储流体分为循环型和封闭型热储流体2类。地热水埋深越大、滞留时间越长、TDS和温度越高、地质环境越封闭,18^O交换程度就越大。西安和咸阳地下热水分属于不同的地热系统,具有不同的补给来源。     

GALILEO系统局域完备性监测设计与实现

根据GALILEO系统局域完备性概念和网络RTK的基本理论,建立导航系统局域网络完备性监测理论和算法。算法主要包括网络系统完备性算法和用户完备性算法,内容包括网络误差模型的建立、插值算法的选择、误差改正数完备性指标的计算、完备性指标的验证和用户保护水平的计算等。仿真结果表明,采用网络RTK技术和完备性监测算法,飞机的平面保护水平和垂直保护水平均小于完备性告警门限值,可以满足飞机Ⅱ类和Ⅲ类精密进近的完备性要求,为卫星导航系统在民航中的应用提供完备性理论基础。     

鄂尔多斯高原地下水流系统的多层结构循环模式—来自深孔中PACKER系统分层水头测定的证据

地下水流系统和循环模式分析是研究地下水形成机理的基础,对正确认识和评价地下水资源具有重要意义。鄂尔多斯高原在含水系统和众多地下水排泄区的控制下,形成了多个不同规模、不同循环深度、相互独立的地下水流系统。PACKER系统分层试验测定的不同深度水头的数据证明,鄂尔多斯高原地下水流系统存在托斯多层水流模式,区域性水流系统一般包含浅循环、中间循环和深循环3个循环系统。浅循环系统的发育深度在200m以内,深循环系统的发育深度大于400m。     

洞穴完井工艺在寿阳地区煤层气钻井中的应用

洞穴完井工艺包括钻井、完井、排水采气等工序,为提高煤层渗透率,最大限度的保证煤层气解析与运移,洞穴完井一般要求有效井径3-4m,及一定范围的破碎带。远东能源公司为开采寿阳地区15#煤层中的煤层气,部署了4口生产井．其井身设计为三开结构。钻井主要设备为T685WS顶驱车载钻机及多台不同型号的空压机,采用潜孔锤冲击钻进．以空气、空气泡沫为冲洗介质,钻进至15#目标煤层底板以下46m处完钻,然后利用可伸缩式扩孔器进行扩孔。在扩孔至距三开井底8～10m时．开始采用空气和清水憋压,通过瞬间释放压力,使煤层坍塌,如此反复,至造穴直径达到要求。由于严格按照技术标准及操作流程作业,采取的技术措施合理,4口井均已顺利投入生产,增产效果显著。可见该种洞穴完井技术的应用,不仅可以保护煤层原生结构及环境,并且还能减少煤层气射孔、压裂等环节的费用．对于煤层气井施工具有重要的经济意义。     

Inversely-Mapped Analytical Solutions for Flow Patterns around and within Inclined Elliptic Inclusions in Fluid-Saturated Rocks

In this paper, an inverse mapping is used to transform the previously-derived analytical solutions from a local elliptical coordinate system into a conventional Cartesian coordinate system. This enables a complete set of exact analytical solutions to be derived rigorously for the pore-fluid velocity, stream function, and excess pore-fluid pressure around and within buried inclined elliptic inclusions in pore-fluid-saturated porous rocks. To maximize the application range of the derived analytical solutions, the focal distance of an ellipse is used to represent the size of the ellipse, while the length ratio of the long axis to the short one is used to represent the geometrical shape of the ellipse. Since the present analytical solutions are expressed in a conventional Cartesian coordinate system, it is convenient to investigate, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the distribution patterns of the pore-fluid flow and excess pressure around and within many different families of buried inclined elliptic inclusions. The major advantage in using the present analytical solution is that they can be conveniently computed in a global Cartesian coordinate system, which is widely used in many scientific and engineering computations. As an application example, the present analytical solutions have been used to investigate how the dip angle of an inclined elliptic inclusion affects the distribution patterns of the pore-fluid flow and excess pore-fluid pressure when the permeability ratio of the elliptic inclusion is of finite but nonzero values.     

Micromechanical approach to unsaturated water flow in structured geomaterials by two-scale computations

This article presents a micromechanical approach to the problem of unsaturated water flow in heterogeneous porous media in transient conditions. The numerical formulation is based on the two-scale model obtained previously by periodic homogenization. It allows for a coupled solution of the non-linear flow equations at macroscopic and microscopic scales and takes into account the macroscopic anisotropy of the medium and the local non-equilibrium of the capillary pressure. The model was applied to simulate two-dimensional water infiltration at constant flux into an initially dry medium containing inclusions of square and rectangular shapes. The numerical results showed the influence of the inclusion–matrix conductivity ratio and the local geometry on the macroscopic behavior. The influence of the conductivity ratio manifested itself by the acceleration or retardation of the onset of the macroscopic water flux at the outlet, while the local geometry (anisotropy) significantly affected the macroscopic spatial distribution of the water flux. Such type of approach can be extended to simulate coupled phenomena (for example hydro-mechanical problems) with evolving local geometry.     

The dynamics and thermodynamics of large ash flows

 Ash flow deposits, containing up to 1000 km³ of material, have been produced by some of the largest volcanic eruptions known. Ash flows propagate several tens of kilometres from their source vents, produce extensive blankets of ash and are able to surmount topographic barriers hundreds of metres high. We present and test a new model of the motion of such flows as they propagate over a near horizontal surface from a collapsing fountain above a volcanic vent. The model predicts that for a given eruption rate, either a slow (10–100 m/s) and deep (1000–3000 m) subcritical flow or a fast (100–200 m/s) and shallow (500–1000 m) supercritical flow may develop. Subcritical ash flows propagate with a nearly constant volume flux, whereas supercritical flows entrain air and become progressively more voluminous. The run-out distance of such ash flows is controlled largely by the mass of air mixed into the collapsing fountain, the degree of fragmentation and the associated rate of loss of material into an underlying concentrated depositional system, and the mass eruption rate. However, in supercritical flows, the continued entrainment of air exerts a further important control on the flow evolution. Model predictions show that the run-out distance decreases with the mass of air entrained into the flow. Also, the mass of ash which may ascend from the flow into a buoyant coignimbrite cloud increases as more air is entrained into the flow. As a result, supercritical ash flows typically have shorter runout distances and more ash is elutriated into the associated coignimbrite eruption columns. We also show that one-dimensional, channellized ash flows typically propagate further than their radially spreading counterparts. As a Plinian eruption proceeds, the erupted mass flux often increases, leading to column collapse and the formation of pumiceous ash flows. Near the critical conditions for eruption column collapse, the flows are shed from high fountains which entrain large quantities of air per unit mass. Our model suggests that this will lead to relatively short ash flows with much of the erupted material being elutriated into the coignimbrite column. However, if the mass flux subseqently increases, then less air per unit mass is entrained into the collapsing fountain, and progressively larger flows, which propagate further from the vent, will develop. Our model is consistent with observations of a number of pyroclastic flow deposits, including the 1912 eruption of Katmai and the 1991 eruption of Pinatubo. The model suggests that many extensive flow sheets were emplaced from eruptions with mass fluxes of 10⁹–10¹⁰ kg/s over periods of 10³–10⁵ s, and that some indicators of flow "mobility" may need to be reinterpreted. Furthermore, in accordance with observations, the model predicts that the coignimbrite eruption columns produced from such ash flows rose between 20 and 40 km. Received: 25 August 1995 / Accepted: 3 April 1996     

Accelerating ground warming in the Canadian Prairie provinces: Is it a result of global warming?

The results of precision temperature logs made to depths of several hundred meters in some 80 wells in Western Canada, most of which are located in the Prairie Provinces, show evidence of warming at the ground surface in the 0.5 K to 3.5 K range (average=2.2±0.7 K, for 80 unevenly distributed sites). Modeling shows that this warming mostly pertains to this century and it has been most substantal in the last four decades if the ramp function of the linear increase of surface temperature is assumed. Using the step function model's increase of surface temperature (land clearing, forest fires, etc.) the calculated onset of warming would pertain mostly to the last two decades. Contour maps of ground temperatures currently and previously and a contour map of the ground warming magnitude dilineate a large regional character of the ground temperature change at the southern marigin of permafrost for the large area of the Prairie Provinces. In many cases however, the magnitude of ground warming is much larger than the magnitude of air warming. This is especially evident for the northern areas of Alberta in the boreal forest ecoprovince. The magnitude of ground warming is equal to the magnitude of surface air warming in southern Alberta in the grassland and aspen parkland ecoprovinces. The analysis of the temperature depth response to the surface warming from well data shows the integrated effect of surface air warming together with the increases in ground temperature due to natural terrain effects and other anthropogenical changes to the surface of the earth.