中国中奥陶世岩相古地理

本文是中国早、中、晚寒武世和早奥陶世岩相古地理诸文的继续。在笔者等的华北地区、华南地区和西北地区寒武纪和奥陶纪定量岩相古地理研究及编图成果的基础上,结合其他地区（主要是蒙兴地区、昆仑秦岭地区、西藏地区、海南岛地区和台湾地区）的地质资料,编制出了中国中奥陶世岩相古地理图,并撰写出本文。华北地区、华南地区和西北地区的研究程度较高,其岩相古地理图和文字论述都是定量的。其他地区的研究程度较低,其岩相古地理图和相应的文字论述则是定性的和概略性的。中国中奥陶世岩相古地理的基本格局仍和早奥陶世的一样为“两槽和三台相间分布”。两槽即天山北山蒙辽吉槽地和昆仑秦岭槽地,三台即准噶尔蒙兴台地、塔里木柴达木华北台地和西藏华南台地。但是这些古地理单元及其次级古地理单元的特征却与早奥陶世的有所不同或大不相同。     

我国古地理学的形成、发展、问题和共识

古地理是研究地质历史时期和人类历史时期的自然地理特征的科学,有重要的地学理论意义和生产实践意义,还与人类赖以生存的古今地理环境密切相关。我国古地理学来源于地层学、地史学、大地构造学、古生物学、沉积岩石学、自然地理学、第四纪地质学、考古学、人类历史地理学等,因此就相应地产生和形成了地层古地理学(或地史古地理学)、构造古地理学、生物古地理学、岩相古地理学(或沉积古地理学)、自然地理古地理学、第四纪古地理学、人类历史古地理学等分支学科。有许多类型的古地理图,如构造古地理图、生物古地理图、岩相古地理图、示意的或定性的古地理图、定量的古地理图、不同比例尺的古地理图、当今界限的古地理图、非当今界限的古地理图等。古地理图是古地理研究的集中表现,是古地理学的生长点。我国的古地理学有4个主要的发展趋势,即从单一到综合,从定性到定量,从手工作图到计算机作图,从理论到应用。《古地理学报》的创刊和开始进入我国科技期刊的先进行列是我国古地理学发展历史中的一件大事。2002年12月香山科学会议第197次学术讨论会围绕“多信息的古地理重建”这个主题,通过充分的讨论和争鸣,对我国古地理学的发展前景达到了共识,即根据多学科的、多层圈的、多时代的、第一手为主的和定量为主的信息资料,编制从长城纪到第四纪以及人类历史时期的、各种比例尺兼有的、既有地学理论意义又能为生产实践和人类生存环境的维护和改善服务的、综合各古地理学分支学科之长的古地理图,是时候了。这是一个巨大的工程。让我们共同努力,为促使这一有重大历史意义和现实意义的宏伟目标的早日实现而奋斗。     

An interval-parameter multi-stage stochastic programming model for water resources management under uncertainty

In this study, an interval-parameter multi-stage stochastic linear programming (IMSLP) method has been developed for water resources decision making under uncertainty. The IMSLP is a hybrid methodology of inexact optimization and multi-stage stochastic programming. It has three major advantages in comparison to the other optimization techniques. Firstly, it extends upon the existing multi-stage stochastic programming method by allowing uncertainties expressed as probability density functions and discrete intervals to be effectively incorporated within the optimization framework. Secondly, penalties are exercised with recourse against any infeasibility, which permits in-depth analyses of various policy scenarios that are associated with different levels of economic consequences when the promised water-allocation targets are violated. Thirdly, it cannot only handle uncertainties through constructing a set of scenarios that is representative for the universe of possible outcomes, but also reflect dynamic features of the system conditions through transactions at discrete points in time over the planning horizon. The developed IMSLP method is applied to a hypothetical case study of water resources management. The results are helpful for water resources managers in not only making decisions of water allocation but also gaining insight into the tradeoffs between environmental and economic objectives.     

Influence of uncertain boundary conditions and model structure on flood inundation predictions

In this study, the GLUE methodology is applied to establish the sensitivity of flood inundation predictions to uncertainty of the upstream boundary condition and bridges within the modelled region. An understanding of such uncertainties is essential to improve flood forecasting and floodplain mapping. The model has been evaluated on a large data set. This paper shows uncertainty of the upstream boundary can have significant impact on the model results, exceeding the importance of model parameter uncertainty in some areas. However, this depends on the hydraulic conditions in the reach e.g. internal boundary conditions and, for example, the amount of backwater within the modelled region. The type of bridge implementation can have local effects, which is strongly influenced by the bridge geometry (in this case the area of the culvert). However, the type of bridge will not merely influence the model performance within the region of the structure, but also other evaluation criteria such as the travel time. This also highlights the difficulties in establishing which parameters have to be more closely examined in order to achieve better fits. In this study no parameter set or model implementation that fulfils all evaluation criteria could be established. We propose four different approaches to this problem: closer investigation of anomalies; introduction of local parameters; increasing the size of acceptable error bounds; and resorting to local model evaluation. Moreover, we show that it can be advantageous to decouple the classification into behavioural and non-behavioural model data/parameter sets from the calculation of uncertainty bounds.     

Multi-offset phase analysis of surface wave data (MOPA)

Inaccuracy in the shear wave velocity profile inverted from surface wave data manifests from both modelling error and data uncertainty. An alternative method for dispersion curve evaluation by weighted linear regression of phase-offset data can be applied to both equispaced and non-equispaced data for objective identification of these often overlooked error sources.From field data, near-field effects are noted to at most half a wavelength and lateral discontinuities identified by marked changes in wavenumber with offset. Transition frequencies to dominant higher modes appear lower than when identified from standard plane-wave transform methods. Effects can be discriminated by their frequency, position or offset dependence.When a non-corrupt dispersion curve is extracted, the errors are up to 5% at low frequency. Through theoretical Gaussian error propagation analysis, the resulting shear wave velocity profile shows up to 18% uncertainty at depth.     

A six-step practical approach to semivariogram modeling

Geostatistical prediction and simulation are being increasingly used in the earth sciences and engineering to address the imperfect knowledge of attributes that fluctuate over large areas or volumes—pollutant concentration, electromagnetic fields, porosity, thickness of a geological formation. Central to the application of such techniques is the need to know the spatial continuity, knowledge that is commonly condensed in the form of covariance or semivariogram models. Their preparation is subdivided here into the following steps: (1) Data editing, (2) Exploratory data analysis, (3) Semivariogram estimation, (4) Directional investigation, (5) Simple modeling, (6) Nested modeling. I illustrate these stages practically with a real data set from a geophysical survey from Elk County, Kansas, USA. The applicability of the approach is not limited by the physical nature of the attribute of interest.     

Some economics of ‘dangerous’ climate change: Reflections on the Stern Review

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change concluded that there can be “no doubt” the economic risks of business-as-usual (BAU) climate change are “very severe” [Stern, 2006. The Economics of Climate Change. HM Treasury, London, p. 188]. The total cost of climate change was estimated to be equivalent to a one-off, permanent 5–20% loss in global mean per-capita consumption today. And the marginal damage cost of a tonne of carbon emitted today was estimated to be around $312 [p. 344]. Both of these estimates are higher than most reported in the previous literature. Subsequently, a number of critiques have appeared, arguing that discounting is the principal explanation for this discrepancy. Discounting is important, but in this paper we emphasise that how one approaches the economics of risk and uncertainty, and how one attempts to model the very closely related issue of low-probability/high-damage scenarios (which we connect to the recent discussion of ‘dangerous’ climate change), can matter just as much. We demonstrate these arguments empirically, using the same models applied in the Stern Review. Together, the issues of risk and uncertainty on the one hand, and ‘dangerous’ climate change on the other, raise very strongly questions about the limits of a welfare-economic approach, where the loss of natural capital might be irreversible and impossible to compensate. Thus we also critically reflect on the state-of-the-art in integrated assessment modelling. There will always be an imperative to carry out integrated assessment modelling, bringing together scientific ‘fact’ and value judgement systematically. But we agree with those cautioning against a literal interpretation of current estimates. Ironically, the Stern Review is one of those voices. A fixation with cost-benefit analysis misses the point that arguments for stabilisation should, and are, built on broader foundations.     

3D structure of the Earth's crust beneath the northern part of the Bohemian Massif

The SUDETES 2003 wide-angle refraction/reflection experiment covered the area of the south-western Poland and the northern Bohemian Massif. The good quality data that were gathered combined with the data from previous experiments (POLONAISE'97, CELEBRATION 2000) allowed us to prepare a 3D seismic model of the crust and uppermost mantle for this area. We inverted travel times of both refracted and reflected P waves using the JIVE3D package. This allowed us to obtain a model of P-wave velocity distribution as well as the shape of major boundaries in the crust. We also present a detailed uncertainty analysis for both the boundary depths and the velocity field. In doing the uncertainty analysis we found an interesting, strong dependence between uncertainty and inversion scheme (order of used phases). We also compared the model with surface geology and found good correlation between velocity inhomogeneities in the uppermost crust (down to 2 km) and major geological units. The higher velocity lower crust (6.9–7.2 km/s) could result from remelting of the lower crust or magmatic underplating.     

Digital quantification of the miospore coloration to assess the thermal maturity: Novel RGB-based measuring technique

The post depositional thermal maturity and its related chemical changes induce the sporomorphs color alteration, which is a common useful tool in the optical microscopy of the organic matters (OM) and their pre-geochemical studies. The present contribution uses the modern available opportunity of digital technology to achieve a quantifying system technique, which includes color measurements and their possible graphic presentation. The normal digital images of sporomorphs from several ages and geological settings are used to obtain color measurements in the form of digital Red, Green and Blue triple color system (RGB). These measurements were accomplished using some software programs such as Photoshop™^© or ImageJ with employing average microscope setup. The triple RGB color readings are plotted on a ternary diagram, which is divided into three fields. These fields express the maturity levels. The presented new RGB-based quantifying technique is economic and provides a simple examination for maturity, which is linked to the hydrocarbon generation. This can partially replace or walk side by side with the vitrinite reflectance microscopy.     

Second-guessing uncertainty: Scenario planning for management of the Indian Ocean tuna purse seine fishery

An important task of natural resource management is deciding amongst alternative policy options, including how interventions will affect the dynamics of resource exploitation. Yet predicting the behaviour of natural resource users in complex, changeable systems presents a significant challenge for managers. Scenario planning, which involves thinking creatively about how a socio-ecological system might develop under a set of possible futures, was used to explore uncertainties in the future of the Indian Ocean tuna purse seine fishery. This exercise stimulated thinking on how key social, economic and environmental conditions that influence fleet behaviour may change in the future, and how these changes might affect the dynamics of fishing effort. Three storylines were explored: an increase in marine protection, growing consumer preference for sustainable seafood, and depletion of tuna stocks. Comparing across several possible future scenarios, a number of critical aspects of fleet behaviour were identified that should be important considerations for fishery managers, but which are currently poorly understood. These included a switch in fishing practices, reallocation of effort in space, investment in new vessels and exit from the fishery. Recommendations for future management interventions in the Indian Ocean were offered, along with suggestions for research needed to reduce management uncertainty.