Nonseismic phenomena in the generation and augmentation of tsunamis

While earthquakes generate about 90% of all tsunamis, volcanic activity, landslides, explosions, and other nonseismic phenomena can also result in tsunamis. There have been 53 000 reported deaths as a result of tsunamis generated by landslides and volcanoes. No death tolls are available for many events, but reports indicate that villages, islands, and even entire civilizations have disappeared. Some of the highest tsunami wave heights ever observed were produced by landslides. In the National Geophysical Data Center world-wide tsunami database, there are nearly 200 tsunami events in which nonseismic phenomena played a major role. In this paper, we briefly discuss a variety of nonseismic phenomena that can result in tsunamis. We discuss the magnitude of the disasters that have resulted from such events, and we discuss the potential for reducing such disasters by education and warning systems.     

Hydrogeologic role in sinkhole development in the desert of Kuwait

Sinkhole development is unlikely in desert areas with very low precipitation. However, a few cases of land subsidence and sinkhole development took place within the suburbs of Kuwait City. A few sinkholes developed in a sudden and rapid way, leading to great economic losses. In this paper the mechanism and causes of such a land subsidence are described. Decline in groundwater level and downward infiltration of excess irrigation are suggested to be the main factors in the development of the land subsidence in Kuwait. Urbanization and excessive garden irrigation are most probably the triggers of the sudden and rapid land subsidence.     

Cyclic sedimentation and climatically caused sea-level changes in the Late Palaeozoic of Central Europe

Significant short-term fluctuations are characteristic of geological history since Precambrian times. Only the younger Quaternary climatic fluctuations are known in more detail as a result of a high grade time resolution. Climatic change can also be postulated with respect to older, cold periods during which polar inland ice sheets developed. From a discussion of endogene and exogene interpretations it is shown that global climatic changes, and the sea-level changes induced by them, as well as changes in the position and extent of climatic zones throughout the world provide a control mechanism for sedimentation which is consistent with cyclic sedimentation in Late Palaeozoic times, and also if the basin subsides non-cyclically. The model allows an explanation of the development of the Permo-Carboniferous sedimentary cycles without numerous short-term vertical oscillations of the earth's crust. In reality, exogene and endogene controls on sedimentation act together in great variety of combinations.     

Stresses and displacements due to underground mining using a finite element procedure

Summary A two dimensional finite element procedure is applied to simulate a coal mining excavation sequence. A procedure with linear solution steps is developed and applied to an idealized mountain cross-section with exceptionally thick coal seams and large dip angle. The results provide information on pillar pressure, floor and roof stability, displacement characteristics and surface subsidence.The results presented here were obtained in the course of research sponsored by the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Grant No. 69-2570.     

影响生油门限深度的地质因素

本文根据三水盆地下第三系心组有机地化资料的分析,确定其生油门限深度为400米。进一步讨论了影响我国东部第三系含油气盆地成油门限值的几种地质因素。提出这些年青的盆地只要具有高地温梯度、高沉降速度、埋深大、剥蚀少就能在较短时间中形成油气。     

引黄入晋工程大梁水库坝基黄土湿陷变形特征及对工程的影响

引黄入晋工程大梁水库坝基存在大面积厚层上更新统（Q3）黄土。通过大量试验数据统计,湿陷起始压力、湿陷系数峰值的研究,以及不同埋深黄土微观结构的扫描电子显微镜研究,证实黄土的湿陷主要受架空孔隙的控制,随着土层埋深的加大,黄土结构逐渐由架空结构向局部架空或架空镶嵌型结构转变,因而湿陷性也逐渐减弱,为坝基黄土工程处理措施提供了依据。     

西影井水位特异动态的成因初析

西影井水位自1974－1978年三次井溢后，1989年9月以来又出现了一次大起大落的特异变化。很多学者都十分关注这罕见的现象，并认为是区域应力增强所致的。经过多年的调查与分析，笔者认为是大量抽取地下水引起的地面沉降与地裂并由此导致地下岩层的层间错动与井管变形破坏的结果。     

苏北箕状断陷形成的动力学机制

苏北盆地由多个小型箕状盆地组成,过去一直用“拉线作用”和“裂谷盆地”理论解释其成因,但大量地震资料显示,新生界地层“楔状实体”的形成除沉积因素外,更主要的是因为多次不均衡抬升削蚀所造成,实际是一个早第三纪残留盆地。新生代构造现象既是中生代时期构造作用的延续,也是始新世以来复杂应力环境作用的结果。印支－燕山中期,中国东部只受到太平洋－库拉板块一种力源作用,地层形变强烈,受力方向单一,以NW,NWW向挤压或左行剪切为主,发育了大量逆冲推覆构造,始新世,由印度板块向欧亚大陆冲撞引发的NE向挤压力加入到本区,使苏北盆地从此处在因两大板块非均速推进而产生的二元交变动力环境：印度板块力源占主导时,产生“右旋扭动”力偶,使燕山早－中期逆断层复活反转的同时,由于中国西部大陆的不断抬升,本区总的以沉积作用为主,而太洋板块力源占主导时又产生“左行剪切挤压”,在整体抬升基础上,斜坡－凸起处的过多蚀进一步加强了箕状盆地结构。两种力源的时空交替实际形成了一个完整的“断－坳－隆”沉降－抬升构造旋回,利用裂变途径迹资料探讨了不同方向构的形成年代。     

天津市高精度GPS地面沉降监测网数据处理中的若干技术问题探讨

本文以天津市区地面沉降GPS监测网为例,探讨了高精度GPS地面沉降监测网数据处理中的若干技术问题。研究表明,GPS数据处理软件、GPS监测网的框架基准、大气延迟改正和粗差对计算结果的精度有很大影响。在对GPS原始观测数据进行后处理时,只有对影响计算精度的各种误差源进行有效改正,GPS高程分量的精度才有可能达到毫米级,才能满足地面沉降监测的要求。