The continent-ocean transition at the southeastern margin of the South China Sea

The South China Sea formed by magma-poor, or intermediate volcanic rifting in the Paleogene. We investigate the structure of the continent-ocean transition (COT) at its southern margin, off NW Palawan between the continental blocks of Reed Bank and the islands of Palawan and Calamian. Several surveys, recorded by the BGR from 1979 to 2008, established a comprehensive database of regional seismic lines, accompanied with magnetic and gravity profiles.We interpret two major rifted basins, extending in the NE direction across the shelf and slope, separated by a structural high of non volcanic origin.The continent-ocean transition is interpreted at the seaward limit of the continental crust, when magnetic spreading anomalies terminate some 80-100 km farther north. The area in between displays extensive volcanism - as manifest by extrusions that occasionally reach and cut the seafloor, by dykes, and by presumed basaltic lava flows - occurring after break-up.The COT is highly variable along the NW Palawan slope: One type shows a distinct outer ridge at the COT with a steep modern seafloor relief. The other type is characterised by rotated fault blocks, bounded by listric normal faults ramping down to a common detachment surface. Half-grabens developed above a strongly eroded pre-rift basement. The seafloor relief is smooth across this other type of COT.We suggest the pre-rift lithospheric configuration had major influence on the formation of the COT, besides transfer zones. Volcanic domains, confined to the north of competent crustal blocks correlate with the style of the COT.Gravity modelling revealed an extremely thinned crust across the shelf. We propose a depth-dependent extension model with crust being decoupled from mantle lithosphere, explaining the discrepancy of subsidence observed across the South China Sea region.     

海洋功能区划与海洋生态红线关系探讨

海洋生态红线制度是我国"五位一体"文明建设的具体要求。为进一步在自然科学与人文科学的联结点上探求深入开展生态红线工作的可能性,文章对比了实施多年的海洋功能区划与历史新阶段提出的海洋生态保护红线的概念和内涵,剖析了两者之间的区别与联系,指出海洋功能区划与海洋生态红线区划在法律地位和管控制度等方面具有一致性,在划分目标、空间管理及划分方法上具有差异性,海洋功能区划以"使用"为主,海洋生态红线以"保护"引领。在此基础上,建议未来海洋生态红线工作的开展可从海洋功能区划借鉴经验,建立完善的管控评估制度,确立生态保护红线的优先地位,处理好海洋功能区划与海洋生态红线区划的关系。同时,海洋生态红线区划应以维持海洋生态系统结构稳定和提高海洋生态系统服务功能为目标,将区域资源环境承载力评估作为一项参考指标,限制低承载区的开发利用,保证海洋生态环境健康可持续发展。     

二维横向各向同性介质中人为边界反射的吸收——差分法弹性波场模拟

本文对有限差分法弹性波场三分量正演模拟中遇到的人为边界反射问题进行了研究,分别获得2-D横向各向同性介质中U_x,U_z,与U_y位移分量模拟时的边界吸收条件.从吸收边界上反射系数与入射角之间的关系可以说明,本文提出的边界吸收条件的吸收能力比较强.     

Modelling landscape evolution

Geomorphology is currently in a period of resurgence as we seek to explain the diversity, origins and dynamics of terrain on the Earth and other planets in an era of increased environmental awareness. Yet there is a great deal we still do not know about the physics and chemistry of the processes that weaken rock and transport mass across a planet's surface. Discovering and refining the relevant geomorphic transport functions requires a combination of careful field measurements, lab experiments, and use of longer‐term natural experiments to test current theory and develop new understandings. Landscape evolution models have an important role to play in sharpening our thinking, guiding us toward the right observables, and mapping out the logical consequences of transport laws, both alone and in combination with other salient processes. Improved quantitative characterization of terrain and process, and an ever‐improving theory that describes the continual modification of topography by the many and varied processes that shape it, together with improved observation and qualitative and quantitative modelling of geology, vegetation and erosion processes, will provide insights into the mechanisms that control catchment form and function. This paper reviews landscape theory – in the form of numerical models of drainage basin evolution and the current knowledge gaps and future computing challenges that exist. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dynamic link between the level of ductile crustal flow and style of normal faulting of brittle crust

In a rheologically layered crust, compositional layers have an upper, elasto-plastic part and a lower, viscous one. When broken, the upper elastic part undergoes flexure, which is upward for the foot-wall and downward for the hanging wall. As a consequence of bending, stresses will develop locally that can overcome the strength of the plate and, therefore, impose the migration of active fault. In the lower, viscous part of each compositional layer, rocks can potentially flow. Numerical modelling of the behaviour of a crust made up of two compositional layers, during and following extension, shows that flow can take place not only in the lower crust but also, and more importantly, in the lower part of the upper crust. The ability of crustal rocks to flow influences the style and kinematics of rifted regions. When no flow occurs, subsidence will affect the extending areas, both hanging wall and foot-wall will subside with respect to an absolute reference frame such as sea level, and there will be a strict proportionality between extension and thinning. In addition, the downward movement of the fault blocks will decrease the local stresses created in the foot-wall and increase those of the hanging wall, thereby imposing a migration of fault towards the hanging wall. This is the behaviour of extensional settings developed on stabilised crust and which evolved in a passive margin. When flow does take place, middle crustal rocks will move towards the rifting zone causing isostatically driven upward movements that will be superimposed on movements associated with crustal and lithospheric thinning. Consequently, fault blocks will move upwards and the crust will show more extension than thinning. The upward movements will decrease the stresses developed in the hanging walls and increase those of the foot-wall. Faults will then migrate towards the foot-wall. Such a mode of deformation is expected in regions with thickened crust and has its most apparent expression in core complexes.     

Severe soil erosion during a 3‐day exceptional rainfall event: combining modelling and field data for a fallow cereal field

Exceptional rainfall events cause significant losses of soil, although few studies have addressed the validation of model predictions at field scale during severe erosive episodes. In this study, we evaluate the predictive ability of the enhanced Soil Erosion and Redistribution Tool (SERT‐2014) model for mapping and quantifying soil erosion during the exceptional rainfall event (~235 mm) that affected the Central Spanish Pyrenees in October 2012. The capacity of the simulation model is evaluated in a fallow cereal field (1.9 ha) at a high spatial scale (1 × 1 m). Validation was performed with field‐quantified rates of soil loss in the rills and ephemeral gullies and also with a detailed map of soil redistribution. The SERT‐2014 model was run for the six rainfall sub‐events that made up the exceptional event, simulating the different hydrological responses of soils with maximum runoff depths ranging between 40 and 1017 mm. Predicted average and maximum soil erosion was 11 and 117 Mg ha^?1 event^?1, respectively. Total soil loss and sediment yield to the La Reina gully amounted to 16.3 and 9.0 Mg event^?1. These rates are in agreement with field estimations of soil loss of 20.0 Mg event^?1. Most soil loss (86%) occurred during the first sub‐event. Although soil accumulation was overestimated in the first sub‐event because of the large amount of detached soil, the enhanced SERT‐2014 model successfully predicted the different spatial patterns and values of soil redistribution for each sub‐event. Further research should focus on stream transport capacity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

龙须菜在滩涂贝藻混养系统中的生态作用模拟研究

2005年5-7月,在室内采用实验生态学方法对壳长为48.35 mm±4.27 mm文蛤(Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus)成贝和龙须菜(Gracilaria lemaneiformis Weber-van Bosse)的4种配比(生物量配比分别为0∶1、1∶1、2∶1、4∶1)进行了混养实验,每周测定养殖水体中营养盐变化情况以及文蛤、龙须菜的存活和生长情况等。实验表明,加入了大型藻类的文蛤养殖系统,相对于空白对照组,其氨氮、亚硝氮和磷酸盐浓度显著降低,NH4-N从5.52μmol/L降至1.30μmol/L、NO2-N从0.31μmol/L降至0.06μmol/L,而PO4-P从0.48μmol/L降至0.006μmol/L。实验结束后,文蛤及龙须菜生长情况良好,文蛤特定生长率最高达到了0.84%,龙须菜最高则达到了1.79%。本实验条件下,在文蛤成贝养殖系统中加入大型藻类,对养殖水体中的NH4-N、NO2-N、PO4-P有明显的吸收效果,吸收率分别为86%、98%和99%,起到了良好的生态作用。     

边坡离心模型试验中的降雨模拟研究

为了在离心机试验中模拟降雨引起的滑坡,设计和使用了一套降雨模拟系统。这套系统的构成主要是针对离心试验的特殊要求进行设计的。所采用的特殊技术可以均匀分配雨水,将雨滴的尺寸效益和科氏加速度引起的雨滴偏移最小化,实现了不同强度和历时的降雨模拟。通过一个降雨条件下砂土边坡的离心模型试验,成功应用了该套降雨模拟系统,研究了边坡中的降雨入渗过程。     

基于物探数据的内蒙古哈达门沟金矿三维地质体建模

目前,可控源音频大地电磁法(CSAMT)的数据处理多以测线(断面)进行,以二维反演断面图作为成果输出,难以清晰、直观地显示三维地电结构的分布特征。以内蒙古哈达门沟CSAMT二维勘探数据为基础,结合当前三维地质体建模技术,利用三维建模软件,采用插值方法得到哈达门沟三维地质体模型,实现了多角度、多层面展现地下地质体的分布特征。应用这种三维可视化手段能较好地反映异常区域的分布、空间位置与形态,通过对良导体和相关构造的空间分布形态进行基本勾画,对矿产资源的进一步勘探、开发具有较好的找矿指导作用。     

Hydrological response of a Brazilian semi‐arid catchment to different land use and climate change scenarios: a modelling study

Brazilian semi‐arid regions are characterized by water scarcity, vulnerability to desertification, and climate variability. The investigation of hydrological processes in this region is of major interest not only for water planning strategies but also to address the possible impact of future climate and land‐use changes on water resources. A hydrological distributed catchment‐scale model (DiCaSM) has been applied to simulate hydrological processes in a small representative catchment of the Brazilian northeast semi‐arid region, and also to investigate the impact of climate and land‐use changes, as well as changes associated with biofuel/energy crops production. The catchment is part of the Brazilian network for semi‐arid hydrology, established by the Brazilian Federal Government. Estimating and modelling streamflow (STF) and recharge in semi‐arid areas is a challenging task, mainly because of limitation in in situ measurements, and also due to the local nature of some processes. Direct recharge measurements are very difficult in semi‐arid catchments and contain a high level of uncertainty. The latter is usually addressed by short‐ and long‐time‐scale calibration and validation at catchment scale, as well as by examining the model sensitivity to the physical parameters responsible for the recharge. The DiCaSM model was run from 2000 to 2008, and streamflow was successfully simulated, with a Nash–Sutcliffe (NS) efficiency coefficient of 0·73, and R² of 0·79. On the basis of a range of climate change scenarios for the region, the DiCaSM model forecasted a reduction by 35%, 68%, and 77%, in groundwater recharge (GWR), and by 34%, 65%, and 72%, in streamflow, for the time spans 2010–2039, 2040–2069, and 2070–2099, respectively, could take place for a dry future climate scenario. These reductions would produce severe impact on water availability in the region. Introducing castor beans to the catchment would increase the GWR and streamflow, mainly if the caatinga areas would be converted into castor beans production. Changing an area of 1000 ha from caatinga to castor beans would increase the GWR by 46% and streamflow by 3%. If the same area of pasture is converted into castor beans, there would be an increase in GWR and streamflow by 24% and 5%, respectively. Such results are expected to contribute towards environmental policies for north‐east Brazil (NEB), and to biofuel production perspectives in the region. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.