The gaseous Halo of the Virgo Cluster Galaxy 45

Observations of the Virgo Cluster galaxy NGC 4569 in soft X-rays and in Hα reveal both an asymmetrically distributed hot gaseous halo and a giant filament of diffuse emission, respectively, extending from the same side of the disk, the latter one to at least 8.8 kpc. A deep longslit spectrum along the filament shows velocities systematically different from the systemic velocity of NGC 4569. With the inclination of the disk one can determine the Hα spur as a giant outflow in NGC 4569. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soil bentonite wall protects foundation from thrust faulting: analyses and experiment

When seismic thrust faults emerge on the ground surface,they are particularly damaging to buildings,bridges and lifelines that lie on the rupture path.To protect a structure founded on a rigid raft,a thick diaphragm-type soil bentonite wall(SBW) is installed in front of and near the foundation,at sufficient depth to intercept the propagating fault rupture.Extensive numerical analyses,verified against reduced–scale(1 g) split box physical model tests,reveal that such a wall,thanks to its high deformability and low shear resistance,"absorbs" the compressive thrust of the fault and forces the rupture to deviate upwards along its length.As a consequence,the foundation is left essentially intact.The effectiveness of SBW is demonstrated to depend on the exact location of the emerging fault and the magnitude of the fault offset.When the latter is large,the unprotected foundation experiences intolerable rigid-body rotation even if the foundation structural distress is not substantial.     

Palaeosurfaces and major valleys in the area of the Kjǿlen Mountains,southern Norway - consequences of uplift and climatic change

Protected area management in Norway is undergoing institutional changes with the implementation of management models aimed at increased public participation. At the same time tourism enterprises are increasing in number within the protected areas. Greater levels of interaction with stakeholders place new demands on lead institutions in terms of communication, transparency, involvement, and power sharing. A governance perspective was used to examine some facets of the interaction between a local council managing a national park in Norway and tourism companies using the park for their operations. The main objective was to assess how the tourism sector perceives the cooperation and interface with the management institution. Semi-structured interviews were used, together with a framework of United Nations Development Programme principles of good governance: legitimacy and voice, direction, performance, accountability, and fairness. The results showed rather negative evaluations by the tourism sector, and operators expressed views, implying that the current management model fails to achieve most of the principles of good governance. Although based on a one-sided view by one group of stakeholders, the study suggests that lack of access to important processes and decisions, perceived bias towards traditional conservation, neglect of cultural heritage, and undue restrictions on access could have serious implications for developing an effective management model.     

Caledonian Low-Temperature Granulite-Facies Metamorphism in the West Kunlun Orogenic Belt—SHRIMP Chronological Evidence from Zircon

The West Kunlun orogenic belt is located at the conjunction of the paleo-Asian tectonic system and the Tethys tectonic system. Petrological and mineralogical studies of the Early Cambrian metamorphic surface crust in this region have shown that in case the metamorphism reached low-temperature granulate facies, the typical mineral assemblage is biotite-garnet-silimanite-K feldspar-plagioclase-quartz. The peak metamorphic temperatures are within the range of 720–740°C and the pressure is 0.6 GPa ±. Three types of metamorphic zircon have been detected in the metamorphic rocks: the complex inclusion-bearing type ; the early relic zircon inclusion-bearing type; and the inclusion-free type. SHRIMP age determination of these three types of metamorphic zircon have revealed that these zircons were formed principally during 400–460 Ma, indicating that pre-Cambrian metamorphic surface crust rocks underwent low-temperature granulite facies metamorphism during the Caledonian. In combination with the geological characteristics of this region, it is considered that when the oceanic basin was closed, there occurred intense intracontinental subduction (type A), bringing part of the Early Cambrian metamorphic basement in this region downwards to the lower crust. Meanwhile, there were accompanied with tectonic deformation at deep levels and medium- to high-grade metamorphism. This study provided important chronological and mineralogical evidence for the exploration of the evolutionary mechanism and process of the West Kunlun Early Paleozoic. Part of the results from the research project “ Research on the West Kunlun pre-Cambrian tectonic events” under the program “ Research on the important geological problems of China’ s pre-Cambrian” (No. 200113900070) sponsored by the China National Geological Surveying Bureau.     

河北平原水系密度与隐伏活动构造的关系

以1926年出版的比例尺为1：5万的顺直地形图作为基础图件，用地理信息系统技术对河北平原作水系密度计量分析，揭示隐伏在第四纪巨厚的沉积物之下活动构造的信息，研究结果证实水系线密度统计图与使用其它地球科学方法获得的成果，例如基底活动断块图，地貌类型图和第四纪厚度图都有很好的对应，特别与布格重力图对应更好，研究结果发现水系密度图与布格重力异常图在总体一致性较好的前提下，多处反向异常区均为近代强震发生的区域，提出这种地表水系密度统计研究的成果不仅可以揭示深部隐伏的活动构造，而且具有较明确的时间含义。     

祁连山东段庄浪河流域地貌特征及其构造指示意义

晚新生代以来,青藏高原北东向扩展,致使祁连山地区遭受了强烈的构造隆升,造就了祁连山地区复杂的构造格局和急剧变化的构造地貌,其典型水系流域地貌特征揭示了该地区的新构造活动和地貌演化过程。庄浪河流域位于祁连山东段,作为青藏高原北东向扩展的前缘地区,庄浪河流域的地貌参数对构造活动非常敏感,提取庄浪河流域的地貌信息,有助于揭示祁连山东段庄浪河流域地貌对构造活动的响应,及系统探讨该区地貌发育特征及其所蕴含的构造意义。庄浪河流域内及边缘发育有庄浪河断裂、天祝盆地南缘断裂、疙瘩沟隐伏断裂以及金强河-毛毛山-老虎山断裂。晚新生代以来,这些断裂仍在活动,并且控制着流域内的构造变形、山体隆升和河流水系地貌发育。本研究采用ALOS DEM 12.5 m数据,基于ArcGIS空间分析技术,通过高程条带剖面、河流坡降指标体系（K,SL,SL/K）和Hack剖面、面积-高程积分值（HI）和积分曲线（HC）等方法,对庄浪河流域地貌特征进行了初步分析。结果表明,庄浪河地区地形起伏由北西向南东递减,构造活动存在东西分异的规律;庄浪河流域内部K值、SL、SL/K、HI值西侧高于东侧,Hack剖面西侧相比东侧上凸更明显;H...     

近20 a中亚净初级生产力与实际蒸散发特征分析

中亚碳、水循环在气候变异和人为活动的影响下呈现新的时空特征。但由于观测数据稀缺,生态过程特殊,植被、土壤空间异质性强,中亚植被净初级生产力(NPP)、实际蒸散发(AET)的时空特征相关信息相对不足,且时效性不高。利用全球尺度的NPP、AET、土地覆被数据,气象站点与区域气候数据分析近20 a中亚地区NPP和AET的时空特征。结果表明：与1990年相比,2000年中亚地区农田NPP增幅小于自然植被,植被总固碳量增加了254.65 Tg C;近20 a中亚地区实际总蒸散量先增后降,农田对中亚水资源散失的贡献减小,自然植被的贡献增大,自然植被与农田面积变化决定中亚总蒸散量动态;北部农田区、东部山区及山前绿洲为NPP和AET的高值区,中西部荒漠为低值区。     

2010年玉树Ms7.1地震前的重力变化

利用中国地壳运动观测网络1998—2008年绝对重力和相对重力观测资料,获得了玉树地震区域重力场及其动态变化,从动态的观点研究了2010年4月14日玉树Ms7.1地震前区域重力场演化特征及其与地震活动的关系。结果表明：1)重力变化与甘孜 玉树断裂构造活动存在密切的空间联系,重力测量较好地反映了伴随活动断层的物质迁移和构造变形引起的地表重力变化效应;2)区域重力场动态图像较完整地反映了2010年4月14日玉树7.1级地震孕育、发生过程中出现的流动重力观测得到的异常前兆信息;3)玉树震中附近重力点值时序变化累积量超过80× 10^-8 ms-2,较好地反映了玉树地震前重力测点随时间的剧烈波动性上升变化。     

新近纪以来的构造运动是中国气藏形成的重要因素

新近纪以来的构造运动是全球最新的地壳形变和造山运动的发展演化阶段。由于中国地处印度陆块、西伯利亚陆块与太平洋板块所围限的三角地带。是世界上新近纪以来构造运动比较活跃的地区,以及天然气极易散失,也难以保存的特点,因此,新近纪以来构造运动特征是研究中国气藏形成和保存不可忽视的重要地质因素。总结中国天然气的成藏历程,虽然各类盆地有所不同,但都有上新世以来构造运动的影响。上新世以来的构造运动对于中国天然气的成藏及分布有一定的破坏作用,促使一些盆地天然气受到了一定程度的散失,但总体上以促进成藏、聚集作用为主：①在西部盆岭之间形成了一系列中国式的前陆型盆地,为形成大中型气田刨造了有利条件。并控制了盆地本部气藏的最终定型。②在中部的四川盆地形成了成排成带的背斜,是四川盆地气藏形成、定型的主要时期;鄂尔多斯盆地的整体快速隆升及进一步西倾,促进了从靖边至乌审旗气田群天然气的进一步聚集。③在东部,上新世末期的渤海运动为以渤中拗陷为主体的渤海海域晚期成藏刨造了有利的地质条件;在其他盆地也促进了二次生烃及次生气藏的形成;并形成了一批无机成因的二氧化碳气田。④在近海海域,既促进了有机成因气藏的形成,也促进了无机成因非烃气藏以及无机与有机成因天然气的混源,致使区内形成了比较复杂的气藏特征。总之,新近纪以来活跃的构造运动形成了中国天然气以晚期、超晚期生烃成藏、定型为主的成藏模式,是研究中国气藏形成不可忽视的重要的地质阶段。     

On the Tectonic Evolution of the Kunlun-Karakorum Area, Southern Xinjiang, Northwest China

IntroductionTheKtmlundearakorumMountainRangeislocatedinthesouthernpartoftheXinjiangUygUrAutonomousRegion,NorthwestChina,belongingtotheconnectionpaftbetWeentheQinghai-TibetPlateauandthePamirPlateau.So,itstectonicfeaturesandevolutionaryhistoriesarecloselylinkedwiththesetWoplateaus(seefig.l).ThecompIexityofgeologicalstrUctUresinthisarealeadstoalotofcontfoversiesabolltitsevolutionhistoryforalongtime.TheXinjiangGeotTansect,runningacrosstheTianshanMountains,theTarimBasinandtheKunlun-Kara…