A New Model for Heat Flow in Extensional Basins: Estimating Radiogenic Heat Production

Radiogenic heat production (RHP) represents a significant fraction of surface heat flow, both on cratons and in sedimentary basins. RHP within continental crust—especially the upper crust—is high. RHP at any depth within the crust can be estimated as a function of crustal age. Mantle RHP, in contrast, is always low, contributing at most 1 to 2 mW/m² to total heat flow. Radiogenic heat from any noncrystalline basement that may be present also contributes to total heat flow. RHP from metamorphic rocks is similar to or slightly lower than that from their precursor sedimentary rocks. When extension of the lithosphere occurs—as for example during rifting—the radiogenic contribution of each layer of the lithosphere and noncrystalline basement diminishes in direct proportion to the degree of extension of that layer. Lithospheric RHP today is somewhat less than in the distant past, as a result of radioactive decay. In modeling, RHP can be varied through time by considering the half lives of uranium, thorium, and potassium, and the proportional contribution of each of those elements to total RHP from basement. RHP from sedimentary rocks ranges from low for most evaporites to high for some shales, especially those rich in organic matter. The contribution to total heat flow of radiogenic heat from sediments depends strongly on total sediment thickness, and thus differs through time as subsidence and basin filling occur. RHP can be high for thick clastic sections. RHP in sediments can be calculated using ordinary or spectral gamma-ray logs, or it can be estimated from the lithology.     

Competitive Adjustment and Advancement in Global Commodity Chains II: The Case of the Singapore Garment Industry

This is the second part of a contribution to the debate on the possibilities of leveraging economic globalisation — through incorporation in international production networks and global commodity chains (GCCs) — as a strategy for developing countries to industrialise and advance their position in the world economy. In the first part, we analysed the experience of the East Asian apparel industry and addressed the issues of sustaining positions, upgrading to more rewarding roles, and advancing to less dependent positions within production networks and GCCs. We developed an analytical framework at both the firm and industry levels, and subsequently identified alternative firm- and industry-level strategies and trajectories. The present paper deals with these issues in the context of the Singapore apparel industry. Based on extensive empirical research, we demonstrate that although the East Asian experience of upgrading and repositioning within the GCC is to some extent emulated in the case of the Singapore apparel industry, the outcomes have been less favourable in terms of the depth, extent and strength of these trajectories. The differing outcomes can be explained in terms of different (systemic) conditions in the Singapore business environment, including the agency of local players, the geography of sourcing networks, and the role of the state and prevailing business attitudes. Our conclusions merit continued attention in both research and policy circles on the development of capabilities at the firm level, and the role of local business and institutional environments in local industry development processes under globalisation.     

An oases dynamics model and its application in the Manas oasis

This study applies theories of systems and system dynamics to ecological economic systems in the oasis environment, with the intention of finding the basic characteristics of the oasis environment and its feedback structures. This study explores the inner mechanisms of economic development in the oasis environment and its relationship to policy variables. This model is applied to economic development in the Manas oasis of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. System dynamics method starts from studying feedback structure within the system study and then searches for the best solution through identifying the right "policy point" and through model simulation in the computer. It embodies the cream of "systems cybernetics theory". This study is justified because the nature of the oasis system and the simulation results are scientifically sound and practically feasible.     

Issues of Globalization and Reflexivity in the Japanese Tourism Production System: The Case of Whistler,British Columbia

This article examines contemporary Japanese overseas tourism from a supplier‐side perspective using the concept of production systems. We first outline characteristics of the evolving structure of Japanese overseas tourism, with an emphasis on the global spread of Japanese travel companies. This provides a frame for presenting an empirical account of the transactional relationships in the Japanese package tour production system in Whistler, British Columbia, where Japanese tour operators play a pivotal role. We conclude that the recent expansion of Japanese travel companies is fostering the functional integration of the global tourism production system and exhibits increasing reflexivity.     

Markets, ethnicity and environment in a vulnerable landscape: the case of small-scale vegetable production on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria, 1991–2001

This paper explores changing socio-environmental interactions in the vegetable producing areas of the Jos Plateau over the decade 1991–2001. It considers the pressures of market forces and ethnic competition and the tensions which arise as interactions between the two are played out in a fragile physical, social and institutional environment. The region has seen a remarkable expansion in irrigated vegetable production, as dry season surveys in 1991 and 2001 attest. Local farmers appear extremely positive in their perceptions of change, pointing not only to expanded production, but also to other improvements, like growing percentages of children in school and improved transport. But behind this rosy view of change there are tensions and a series of unresolved questions which may soon have to be addressed. We examine the changing nature of socio-environmental interactions over the decade and ask whether and how current levels of production can be sustained in the context of a currently largely unregulated production system and growing competition for land. Given the important role of the Plateau as a source of temperate fruit and vegetables in West Africa, these questions have significance far beyond the Plateau region itself.     

新疆城市化过程及机制分析

城市人则城市化研究的核心问题。在分析新疆城市化现状特征的基础上，围绕新疆城市发展的阶段和过程，采用多因素的灰色关联分析和比较分析等手段，对新疆1978－2000年间城市化发展过程进行分析和探讨，寻求并探索新疆城市化发展的特征、水平和演化机制。研究结果发现各因素与城市化的关联度不仅在横向上存在着指标间的差异，在纵向上显示出1990－2000间各指标与城市化的相关性明显高于1978－1989年间，部分指标与城市化关系发生了负向变化。表明近20多年来新疆城市化稳定发展，城市化系统条件（农村和城市的控制性次系统及整个社会经济文化）有一定的提高，体现了系统各因素与城市化发展的同向性以及区域发展的合理趋势，但整体薄弱的社会经济基础是新疆城市化落后的根本原因，产业结构升级转换仍将是新疆城市化的主要动力。     

基于RS与GIS的干旱区绿洲景观格局变化研究——以金塔绿洲为例

景观生态学是宏观生态研究的一个新领域。景观格局变化研究,是目前景观生态学的研究热点。利用遥感的手段获取试验区1990和2000年景观格局的基础数据,并利用GIS做分析的工具,计算出6个指标值,采用格网化的方法,将研究区域的景观斑块转化成5m×5m的格网,进行空间分析,计算得出了景观斑块的转移矩阵,为景观格局在空间上的变化分析打下基础。分析显示:①多样性、均匀性、优势度3个指标数值上有很大的相关性,只需考虑多样性;②绿洲景观格局的变化与水资源的变化密切相关;③绿洲有沙漠化的威胁;④城镇居民点用地扩展迅速,主要在未利用土地上发展,金塔绿洲内城镇居民区有城市化的趋势;⑤城镇居民点破碎化指标值未能真正体现其景观特性,当不考虑少数几个大的斑块时,能够得到较为理想的结果。