Design Earthquakes in the U.K.

Three sites in the UK are taken, representative of low, medium and high hazard levels (by UK standards). For each site, the hazard value at 10⁻⁴ annual probability is computed using a generic seismic source model, and a variety of ground motion parameters: peak ground acceleration (PGA), spectral acceleration at 10 Hz and 1 Hz, and intensity. Disaggregation is used to determine the nature of the earthquakes most likely to generate these hazard values. It is found (as might be expected) that the populations are quite different according to which ground motion parameter is used. When PGA is used, the result is a rather flat magnitude distribution with a tendency to low magnitude events (\le 4.5 ML) which are probably not really hazardous. Hazard-consistent scenario earthquakes computed using intensity are found to be in the range 5.8–5.9 ML, which is more in accord with the type of earthquake that one expects to be a worst-case event in the UK. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Crater formation in soils by raindrop impact

The process of crater formation by the impact of water drops on soil, sand and various other target material was studied. Craters of various shapes and sizes were observed on different target materials or conditions, ranging from circumferential depression to completely hemispherical shape. Crater shape was dependent upon target material, its ?ow stress or shear strength and the presence and thickness of water on the surface. Between 5 and 22 per cent of impact energy was spent on cratering, but the relationship between crater volume and kinetic energy of a raindrop was curvilinear, indicating a lower ef?ciency of impact energy in removing target material as the energy increases. Impact impulse, on the other hand, showed a more linear relationship with crater volume, and the ratio of impulse over crater volume (I/V) remained constant for the entire range of drop sizes, impact velocities, and surface conditions used in this study. Surface shear strength, represented by the penetration depth of fall‐cone penetrometer, appeared to be a key factor involved in this process. An equation was developed which related crater volume to cone penetration depth and impact impulse. Crater volume, which appeared to be a better indicator of the total amount of material dislodged by a raindrop than splash amount, can thus be predicted using this equation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of crack movements observed in an alpine bedrock cliff

Crack widths and rock temperatures were monitored on an andestic bedrock cliff in the summit area of the Daisetsu Mountains, Hokkaido, northern Japan. Sequential data recorded the gradual widening of a crack to the point of critical crack extension, which resulted in catastrophic rock breakage. The data indicate that a combination of liquid water in?ltration into crack tip and subsequent freezing is the most signi?cant factor contributing to critical crack extension. The recorded sub‐critical crack movements involved a number of minor crack extensions and contractions, the timing of which correlates well with the magnitude of the reconstructed thermal stresses at the crack tip derived from thermal deformation of the plate‐shaped rock fragment. Larger crack extensions occurred when stress at the crack tip exceeded a threshold value, possibly re?ecting the control of rock fracture mechanics by which cracks are thought to propagate when the stress intensity factor at the crack tip exceeds the threshold values for stress corrosion cracking and the fracture toughness of the material. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

星载被动微波遥感反演降水算法回顾

根据不同的降水反演方法对多种利用SSM／I、TMI反演降水的算法进行归类总结，按下垫面检测和降水反演算法两大步骤进行简要描述，并分经验法、半经验(半物理)法、物理模式法及物理廓线法4类方法对多种算法作了回顾。     

ENSO事件与鲁西北夏季降水的关系

应用近百年ENSO事件的研究成果和ENSO事件影响年的资料，统计分析近50年来ENSO事件与鲁西北夏季降水关系，为短期气候预测和汛期气象服务提供参考依据。     

一次强暴雨形成的动力机制

分析了1998年7月武汉强暴雨的天气演变特征，并从理论上探讨了强暴雨形成的动力机制。结果表明：低空急流先于暴雨生成，暴雨最强时低空急流也最强；高空急流入口区右侧及低空急流左侧非热成风梯度的存在，使得中尺度不稳定波的波振幅出现空间不稳定现象，高空急流右侧不稳定波的波振幅和低空急流左侧不稳定波的波振幅向暴雨区增加，暴雨区恰为这两支波叠加后振幅最大的区域，高低空急流耦合下的非热成风、中尺度对流-对称不稳定可能是这类强暴雨产生的动力原因之一。     

1997年7月19日影响北京地区的暴雨个例分析

针对在实际业务预报中经常遇到的北京地区降水的两种特殊性(明显天气系统移来时，北京地区降水明显比周围偏多或偏少)，选取一个实例利用中尺度非静力模式(MM5)对降水比周围偏多情况进行了高分辨率数值模拟和敏感性试验。结果表明，该模式比较成功地模拟了此次天气过程及其相关的中尺度系统的发生发展，凝结潜热对天气过程的发生发展有重要作用，而地形在天气过程中也起着主要作用，低层潜在不稳定能量的储备和输送是暴雨发生不可缺少的条件。     

高速公路沿线暗浜填土的勘察和评价

目前，线路勘探中对浜填土检测不够重视或缺乏有效的方法，使浜填土的处理缺乏针对性，造成不必要的浪费或工程隐患。该文探讨了在线路勘探中暗浜的勘查技术及相应评价与整治方法。     

天津泰达地区粉土振动液化特性的研究

本文以动三轴试验和原位测试数据为基础，以天津地区砂性土为例，探讨砂性土振动液化机理及孔隙水压力变化规律，采用多种方法分析判别砂性土液化，为高烈度地区重要工程建筑抗震设计提供重要数据。     

Simulation of Orissa Super Cyclone (1999) using PSU/NCAR Mesoscale Model

In this study a non-hydrostatic version of Penn State University (PSU) -- NationalCenter for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) mesoscale model is used to simulate thesuper cyclonic storm that crossed Orissa coast on 29 October 1999. The model isintegrated up to 123 h for producing 5-day forecast of the storm. Several importantfields including sea level pressure, horizontal wind and rainfall are compared with theverification analysis/observation to examine the performance of the model. The modelsimulated track of the cyclone is compared with the best-fit track obtained from IndiaMeteorological Department (IMD) and the track obtained from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis. The model is found to perform reasonably well in simulating the track and in particular, the intensity of the storm.