The Victorian Bushfires of 2002–03 and the Politics of Blame: a Discourse Analysis

This paper identifies contrasting environmental discourses on bushfire from the public debate that followed the Victorian fires of 2002–03. Submissions to the inquiry into the 2002–03 Victorian bushfires provide a particularly rich source of documentation. It is argued that environmental events such as bushfire only become political issues, or problems, when they are constituted as such through environmental discourse. Through the analysis, three contrasting discourses on bushfire are identified—here labelled the ‘conservationist’, ‘ruralist’ and ‘wise use’ discourses. In examining how different ‘constructions’ of bushfire have led to conflict, each discourse is shown to consist of a range of actors who draw on shared storylines. Having established a better understanding of the different attitudes, beliefs, interests and values that underpin debates about bushfire, the paper concludes with a brief discussion of the prospects for compromise among the discourses and the potential for improved land and fire management outcomes.     

Modeling Spatially and Temporally Complex Land‐Cover Change: The Case of Western Honduras*

This article presents an econometric analysis of land‐cover change in western Honduras. Ground‐truthed satellite image analysis indicates that between 1987 and 1996 net reforestation occurred in the 1,015‐km² study region. While some reforestation can be attributed to a 1987 ban on logging, the area of reforestation greatly exceeds that of previously clear‐cut areas. Further, new area was also deforested between 1987 and 1996. Thus, the observed land‐cover changes represent a complex mosaic of changing land‐use patterns across time and space. The analysis contributes to the literature on land‐cover change modeling in that: (1) it compares two econometric approaches to capture complex and often bidirectional changes in land cover from 1987 to 1996 as a function of agricultural suitability and transportation costs, and (2) it addresses techniques to identify and correct for spatial autocorrelation in a categorical regression framework.     

郑州强对流天气成因分析

对2004年郑州出现的7次强对流天气过程的天气形势、影响系统及稳定度的分析结果表明：华北低涡和NW气流形势下存在着低层升温、高层降温机制,使大气层结趋于不稳定,当测站高低空温差或温度平流差达到一定量值,且近地层存在辐合系统时,易出现强对流; SW气流或高压控制时,大气高温高湿,具有较强不稳定能量,若850 hPa或地面出现辐合系统时,易产生强对流;地面湿度连续数天加大或保持在某一值域,其上空温湿24 h变化呈上趋冷下趋暖或上趋干下趋湿并达到一定量值,预示强对流的发生;700～500 hPa湿度明显减小,24 h温度露点差加大4 ℃以上,或近地层θse≥350K,中低层Δθse≥26 K,θse小值位于700 hPa或500 hPa,其厚度≥2000 m,易出现强雷雨大风; 700 hPa以下t-td≤4.3 ℃,或连续4天850 hPa t-td≤7 ℃、700 hPa t-td≤5 ℃、500 hPa t-td≤9 ℃,PW≥12,可预示短时暴雨的出现.     

河北怀来ML4.4地震前的地热异常

2002年8月3日15时57分在河北怀来发生了ML4．4地震，在震中距100km范围内的4个台站，三马坊、赤城、矾山、张家口台数字化地热观测均有一定的异常反映，其中，三马坊、赤城台有较明显的临震异常。介绍了各台的地热观测情况，利用差分法、减组合滤波等非潮汐方法进行了分析，指出，该震例总结对今后的地震监测和预报有一定的借鉴和参考作用。     

黄土震陷灾害典型震例的综合研究

阐述了1995年甘肃永登5.8级地震时造成的黄土震陷灾害形成条件、震害形态特征、黄土的基本性质及湿陷性和静、动土力学参数与震陷灾害的成因关系。并用震陷量预测计算方法和三维有限元数值模拟方法检验了黄土震陷灾害预测的理论、方法并解释了永登5.8 级地震黄土震陷现象。     

小波分析方法在提取井水位潮汐因子震前变化特征的初步应用

运用小波分析方法对1990年常熟、1995年苍山和1996年南黄海三个中强地震前江苏地区井水位固体潮的变化特征进行了研究，发现井水位M2波潮汐因子在地震前几个月几乎都出现一个幅度较大、周期为半月或一个月左右的异常信号，表明小波分析方法在处理和分析井水位潮汐资料方面可能是一种有效的方法。     

地震活动相关性定量方法及其在印度板块动力触角对中国西部地区地震影响中的应用

针对地震活动相关性分析的实际需要,提出了一种定量分析不同区域地震活动相关性的方法。以此研究了印度板块东、西触角强震对青藏块体地震活动的影响,结果表明阿萨姆地区的强震活动与青藏块体的强震活动具有很高的相关性,而帕米尔地区的强震影响较小。通过与R值评分及基于板块动力作用分析结果的比较,证实了本方法的有效性。     

Texture and petrology of modern river, beach and shelf sands in a volcanic back-arc setting, northeastern Japan

Abstract The focus in the present study is on characterizing spatial patterns of textural and petrological variabilities, and on evaluating mechanisms influencing the textural and petrological components of modern river, beach and shelf sands in a volcanically active back‐arc tectonic setting. Abashiri Bay and the surrounding area in eastern Hokkaido, Japan, has volcanic source land within a back‐arc region associated with subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk (North American) Plate. A total of 41 river, beach and shelf sands were obtained for grain‐size and modal composition analyses. Multivariate analytical techniques of hierarchical cluster and principal component analyses were performed on the textural and petrological data for investigating relations among quantitative variables. On the basis of grain‐size data, four sedimentary zones were identified: zone I, palimpsest zone; zone II, relict zone; zone III, modern (proteric) zone; zone IV, coastal sedimentary zone. All sands are feldspatholithic and quartz‐deficient. The framework (quartz, feldspar and rock fragment) modal compositions were also classified into four clusters, A–D. The characteristic components of each cluster are as follows: cluster A, felsic volcanic rock fragments; cluster B, andesitic–basaltic volcanic rock fragments; cluster C, mixed or plagioclase; cluster D, sedimentary rock fragments. Almost all sands in western and central Abashiri Bay belong to cluster A, where the original compositions are influenced by Kutcharo pyroclastic flow deposits. Andesitic–basaltic lava and Neogene volcaniclastic and sedimentary rocks have a major influence on the compositions of shelf sands in eastern Abashiri Bay. The modal compositions are basically controlled by the source lithology. Compositional maturity (percentage of quartz to feldspar and rock fragments; Q/FR%) slightly increased, in order, from river (1.2), zone IV (coastal, 1.7), zone II (relict, 2.2), zone I (palimpsest, 3.6), to zone III (modern proteric, 7.0). Greater maturity in the recycled sediments is indicative of weathering under the sea or abrasion by transportation induced by sea‐level fluctuations, waves, or sea currents. Several controlling factors – (i) source lithological; (ii) mineralogical; (iii) climatic; and (iv) geomorphological controls – might still cause low maturity through all sedimentary zones other than the continental margin sands previously reported.