A Faraday rotation template for the Galactic sky

Using a set of compilations of measurements for extragalactic radio sources, we construct all-sky maps of the Faraday rotation produced by the Galactic magnetic field. In order to generate the maps, we treat the radio source positions as a kind of 'mask' and construct combinations of spherical harmonic modes that are orthogonal on the masked sky. As long as relatively small multipoles are used, the resulting maps are quite stable to changes in the selection criteria for the sources, and show clearly the structure of the local Galactic magnetic field. We also suggest the use of these maps as templates for cosmic microwave background (CMB) foreground analysis, illustrating the idea with a cross-correlation analysis between the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe ( WMAP ) data and our maps. We find a significant cross-correlation, indicating the presence of a significant residual contamination.     

Dissipationless mergers of elliptical galaxies and the evolution of the fundamental plane

We carry out numerical simulations of dissipationless major mergers of elliptical galaxies using initial galaxy models that consist of a dark matter haloes and a stellar bulge with properties consistent with the observed fundamental plane. By varying the density profile of the dark matter haloes [standard Navarro, Frenk & White (NFW) profile versus adiabatically contracted NFW profile], the global stellar to dark matter mass ratio and the orbit of the merging galaxies, we are able to assess the impact of each of these factors on the structure of the merger remnant. Our results indicate that the properties of the remnant bulge depend primarily on the angular momentum and energy of the orbit; for a cosmologically motivated orbit, the effective radius and velocity dispersion of the remnant bulge remain approximately on the fundamental plane. This indicates that the observed properties of elliptical galaxies are consistent with significant growth via late dissipationless mergers. We also find that the dark matter fraction within the effective radius of our remnants increases after the merger, consistent with the hypothesis that the tilt of the fundamental plane from the virial theorem is due to a varying dark matter fraction as a function of galaxy mass.     

Sediment transport in analogue flume models compared with real‐world sedimentary systems: a new look at scaling evolution of sedimentary systems in a flume

Evolution of sedimentary systems at large temporal and spatial scales cannot be scaled down to laboratory dimensions by conventional hydraulic Froude scaling. Therefore, many researchers question the validity of experiments aiming to simulate this evolution. Yet, it has been shown that laboratory experiments yield stratigraphic responses to allocyclic forcing that are remarkably similar to those in real‐world prototypes, hinting at scale independency with strong dependence on boundary conditions but weak dependence on the actual sediment transport dynamics. This paper addresses the dilemma by contrasting sediment transport rules that apply in the laboratory with those that apply in real‐world geological systems. It is demonstrated that the generation of two‐dimensional stratigraphy in a flume can be simulated numerically by the non‐linear diffusion equation. Sediment transport theory is used to demonstrate that only suspension‐dominated meandering rivers should be simulated with linear diffusion. With increasing grain‐size (coarse sand to gravel) and shallowness of river systems, the prediction of long‐term transport must be simulated by non‐linear, slope‐dependent diffusion to allow for increasing transport rates and thus change in stratigraphic style. To point out these differences in stratigraphic style, three stages in infill of accommodation have been defined here: (i) a start‐up stage, when the system is prograding to base level (e.g. the shelf edge) with no sediment flux beyond the base‐level point; (ii) a fill‐up stage, when the system is further aggrading while progressively more sediment is bypassing base level with the progression of the infill; and (iii) a keep‐up stage, when more than 90% of the input is bypassing the base level and less than 10% is used for filling the accommodation. By plotting the rate of change in flux for various degrees of non‐linearity (varying the exponent in the diffusion equation) it was found that the error between model and real‐world prototype is largest for the suspension‐dominated prototypes, although never more than 30% and only at the beginning of the fill‐up stage. The error reduces to only 10% for the non‐linear sandy‐gravelly and gravelly systems. These results are very encouraging and open up ways to calibrate numerical models of sedimentary system evolution by such experiments.     

Crustal structure at the easternmost termination of the Variscan belt based on CELEBRATION 2000 and ALP 2002 data

The eastern margin of the Variscan belt in Europe comprises plate boundaries between continental blocks and terranes formed during different tectonic events. The crustal structure of that complicated area was studied using the data of the international refraction experiments CELEBRATION 2000 and ALP 2002. The seismic data were acquired along SW–NE oriented refraction and wide-angle reflection profiles CEL10 and ALP04 starting in the Eastern Alps, passing through the Moravo-Silesian zone of the Bohemian Massif and the Fore-Sudetic Monocline, and terminating in the TESZ in Poland. The data were interpreted by seismic tomographic inversion and by 2-D trial-and-error forward modelling of the P waves. Velocity models determine different types of the crust–mantle transition, reflecting variable crustal thickness and delimiting contacts of tectonic units in depth. In the Alpine area, few km thick LVZ with the Vp of 5.1 km s^− 1 dipping to the SW and outcropping at the surface represents the Molasse and Helvetic Flysch sediments overthrust by the Northern Calcareous Alps with higher velocities. In the Bohemian Massif, lower velocities in the range of 5.0–5.6 km s^− 1 down to a depth of 5 km might represent the SE termination of the Elbe Fault Zone. The Fore-Sudetic Monocline and the TESZ are covered by sediments with the velocities in the range of 3.6–5.5 km s^− 1 to the maximum depth of 15 km beneath the Mid-Polish Trough. The Moho in the Eastern Alps is dipping to the SW reaching the depth of 43–45 km. The lower crust at the eastern margin of the Bohemian Massif is characterized by elevated velocities and high Vp gradient, which seems to be a characteristic feature of the Moravo-Silesian. Slightly different properties in the Moravian and Silesian units might be attributed to varying distances of the profile from the Moldanubian Thrust front as well as a different type of contact of the Brunia with the Moldanubian and its northern root sector. The Moho beneath the Fore-Sudetic Monocline is the most pronounced and is interpreted as the first-order discontinuity at a depth of 30 km.     

新疆境内塔拉斯 费尔干纳断裂早侏罗世走滑的古地震证据

在野外考察过程中,于新疆乌恰地区早侏罗世康苏组沼泽相砂岩层中,发现并识别出软沉积物液化变形层,变形包括负载构造,球枕构造及卷曲变形构造。通过模拟试验的对比研究认为,该软沉积物变形机制与液化作用有关,触发沉积物液化的动力是古地震,并且根据地震震级与液化最大震中距的关系,推测出造成早侏罗世软沉积物变形的里氏地震震级为6相似文献   

辽河断陷大民屯凹陷静北潜山孢粉化石新发现

静北潜山的油气勘探始于上世纪70年代初,并将钻井揭示的未见化石的碳酸盐岩和石英砂岩沉积划归中元古界长城系,沿用至今.2002年在对该区的地层研究中,首次发现了晚古生代孢粉化石,从而证实静北潜山存在晚古生代地层.本文以孢粉化石为主要依据,对潜山地层进行了重新划分,并与邻区进行对比.在此基础上对本区的构造和沉积作一讨论.     

不整合运移通道类型及输导油气特征

在对不整合空间结构特征研究的基础上,提出了油气沿不整合运移的通道类型:宏观上,存在由不整合面之上底砾岩和不整合面之下半风化岩石两种高效运载层组合成的双运移通道型和单运移通道型两种通道类型;微观上,底砾岩连通孔隙、半风化岩石构造卸荷风化裂缝系统及溶蚀孔洞系统可作为油气运移的主要通道。通过对不整合面上、下岩石物性分析,认为半风化岩石“孔洞缝”系统较底砾岩连通孔隙有更高的输导油气的能力。研究结果表明,不同的运移通道类型具有不同的输导油气特征。在地史时期,构造裂缝系统和溶蚀孔洞系统一直是不整合输导油气的主要通道;对于软地层构成的不整合来说,开始应是卸荷、风化裂缝系统和底砾岩连通孔隙共同构成不整合输导油气的主要通道,当上覆沉积载荷达到一定程度后,主要是底砾岩连通孔隙起输导油气通道作用;对于脆硬地层构成的不整合来说,卸荷、风化裂缝系统和底砾岩连通孔隙一直是不整合输导油气的主要通道。     

蒙古塔木察格坳陷白垩系震积岩特征及其地质意义

通过岩芯观察,结合构造背景研究,在蒙古塔木察格坳陷白垩纪地层中识别出震积岩。震积岩的主要标志有微同沉积断裂、同沉积塑性变形构造、液化脉、震积枕状及伴生构造等。通过对塔219 井、塔1943 井等岩芯的系统观察,建立了蒙古塔木察格坳陷白垩系震积岩的垂向序列。震积岩的垂向序列自下而上依次为砂岩脉（砂火山）层段、水塑性褶皱变形层段、斧式构造层段、滑塌构造层段、阶梯状微断层和震裂缝层段、准原地沉积湖泊津浪丘状层理和内碎屑角砾岩层段、异地沉积震浊积岩层段,对应于地震由强变弱的一个变化过程。震积岩的发现具有重要的研究意义,有助于分析盆地边界断裂的强烈活动时期。     

鄂尔多斯盆地东缘煤储层微孔隙结构特征及其影响因素

在对鄂尔多斯盆地东缘58套采自不同层位不同地域煤样显微组分测试和低温液氮比表面测试的基础上,从比表面积、吸附曲线形态、阶段孔径结构分布、阶段孔径比表面积贡献、FHH分形特征几个方面刻画了煤储层微孔隙特征。同时,就“孔比表面积—孔隙结构—煤物质组成与化学结构”这一因果链,分析了鄂尔多斯盆地东缘煤微孔隙特征与煤变质程度、煤岩显微组分以及矿物组分与类型的关系。研究发现,Ro在0.60%~1.91%范围内,比表面积及FHH分形分维数先明显降低,Ro至1.3%后又略有回升,同时吸附回线“滞后环”及分形尺度对应的压力范围明显减小,孔径3~4 nm“墨水瓶”型孔明显减少乃至消失,并成为比表面积减少的主要贡献者。在相似煤级条件下,惰质组分较镜质组分有更多的比表面积贡献。粘土矿物组分含量>10%时,孔径3~4 nm“墨水瓶”型孔对比表面贡献明显,且随煤级增高影响作用相对加大。     

Natural radioactivity in sediment of Wei River,China

The concentrations of natural radionuclides in sediment of Wei River of China were measured using γ-ray spectrometry with the aim of estimating the radiation hazard as establishing a database for radioactivity levels of river sediment of China. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K in sediment samples ranged from 10.4 to 39.9 Bq kg⁻¹, 15.3 to 54.8 Bq kg⁻¹ and 514.8 to 1,175.5 Bq kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides were compared with the typical world values and the average activities of Chinese soil and Shaanxi soil. Radium equivalent activity (Ra_eq), external hazard index (H _ex) and representative level index (I _γr) were calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these sediment samples in the construction of dwellings. All the sediment samples have Ra_eq lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg⁻¹, H _ex less than unity and I _γr close to 1 Bq kg⁻¹. The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 64.8 nGy h⁻¹ and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.079 mSv. None of the studied location is considered a radiological risk and sediment can be safely used in construction.