Quasi-stationary flow structure in turbidity currents

A turbidity current is a particle-laden current driven by density differences due to suspended sediment particles. Turbidity currents can transport large amounts of sediment down slopes over great distances, and play a significant role in fluvial, lake and submarine systems. To better understand the sediment transport process, the flow system of an experimentally produced turbidity current in an inclined flume was investigated using video processing. We observed that the current progresses with constant frontal velocity and maintains an unchanged global interface geometry. In addition, the spatio-temporal profiles of the inner mean and turbulence velocity obtained by ultrasound velocity profiler (UVP) showed that similar distributions were maintained, with low dissipation. The results indicate that the turbidity current progressed in a quasi-stationary state, which enabled long-distance sediment transport. To understand the mechanisms behind the quasi-stationary flow, we analyzed the forces acting on the turbidity current. We found that under particular densities of suspended particles, the gravitational force is balanced by the viscous forces along the slope direction. We conclude that this specific force balance induces the quasi-stationary flow structure, enabling the long-distance transport of a substantial amount of sediment downstream with low dissipation.     

大同阳高震区及其邻区壳幔速度结构与深部构造

利用通过本区６条宽角反射／折射剖面资料对大同阳高震区及邻区地壳上地幔速度结构与构造进行了详细的研究。结果表明,地壳上地幔速度结构与构造在纵向和横向上具有明显的不均一性。浅部基底断裂发育,而在其深部,根据波组特征、壳内界面及速度等值线起伏变化和低速异常体的边界等推测有３处地壳深断裂带。本区最明显的上地壳低速体位于大同—阳原附近,其南界存在地壳深断裂,大同阳高地震群与该低速异常体和深断裂有关。     

大同 阳高震区及其邻区壳幔速度结构与深部构造

利用通过本区６条宽角反射／折射剖面资料对大同 阳高震区及邻区地壳上地幔速度结构与构造进行了详细的研究。结果表明,地壳上地幔速度结构与构造在纵向和横向上具有明显的不均一性。浅部基底断裂发育,而在其深部,根据波组特征、壳内界面及速度等值线起伏变化和低速异常体的边界等推测有３处地壳深断裂带。本区最明显的上地壳低速体位于大同—阳原附近,其南界存在地壳深断裂,大同 阳高地震群与该低速异常体和深断裂有关     

The spatial and temporal changes inV p /V s before strong earthquakes in Kamchatka

A method was developed to obtain from a signal station the spatial and temporal distribution ofV _p /V _s ratios before earthquakes of magnitude>6. It was shown thatV _p /V _s values strongly depend upon the relative positions of the stations, the future large earthquake and the foci of the smaller earthquakes used forV _p /V _s determination. The appearance of a zone of anomalousV _p /V _s values with linear dimensions of the order of 100 km was noted at least 4 years before a deep earthquake of magnitude 7. Similar size anomalous zones were detected one year before some magnitude 6 earthquakes. V _p /V _s values decreased by a small but distinct amount during this time. Additionally, local short term minima inV _p /V _s ratios were observed some months before the major event. The epicenters of the large earthquakes were located within the 100 km size zone where the gradients of theV _p /V _s field were largest.     

红河断裂带闭锁程度和滑动亏损分布特征研究

利用1999~2013年青藏高原东南缘的GPS速度场观测数据,采用DEFNODE程序反演红河断裂带走滑速率、三维闭锁程度和滑动亏损分布。反演结果表明:红河断裂带北、中、南段右旋走滑速率分别约为(5.9±1.2)mm/a,(4.8±0.6)mm/a和(4.3±0.4)mm/a,在地表以下6km的闭锁程度分别为0.43,0.22和0.25,其滑动亏损速率分别为3.3mm/a,2.6mm/a和2.3mm/a,红河断裂带闭锁程度和应变积累程度都比较低,与近年来红河断裂带整体活动微弱的现状相吻合。     

Does effective climate policy require well-informed citizen support?

Citizen support for climate policies is typically seen as an important criterion in climate policy making. Some studies of climate policy support assume that a significant number of citizens need to be aware of the policies in question and able to provide informed opinions. In this study, we probe this assumption using a web-based survey of residents of the Canadian province of British Columbia (n = 475) by assessing: (1) citizen awareness and knowledge of climate policies, (2) citizen support for different climate policies, (3) the relationship between citizen knowledge and policy support, and (4) the effect of information provision on policy support. Our main finding is that most survey respondents are not aware of any of British Columbia's climate policies, and have little understanding of the potential effect of these on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Once they are made aware of different types of climate policies, respondents are more likely to express support for regulations, such as the zero-emissions electricity standard and energy efficiency regulations, and less likely to support a carbon tax. Statistical analysis indicates that citizen knowledge of policy is not associated with higher policy support. Furthermore, providing information on likely policy effectiveness to our survey respondents did not translate into higher support, suggesting that widespread knowledge and well-informed citizen support are not necessarily required for implementation of effective climate policies.     

Slip line theory applied to a retaining wall–unsaturated soil interaction problem

An extension of slip line theory to unsaturated soils is presented and applied to the problem of a rigid retaining wall rotating about its toe into unsaturated soils. Suction is introduced using the effective stress concept. Soil–wall interface friction is defined carefully. The influence of suction on limiting passive earth pressures is analysed for two soils under steady state evaporation and infiltration. Suction increases the limiting passive stress at the soil–wall interface, with a dependence on the steady state flow type. The displacement of the retained soil is studied assuming the wall undergoes a rotation increment. The results show a clear difference in the displacement for evaporation and infiltration.     

Contribution of climatic and anthropogenic effects to the hydric deficit of peatlands

The present study makes use of a detailed water balance to investigate the hydrological status of a peatland with a basal clay‐rich layer overlying an aquifer exploited for drinking water. The aim is to determine the influence of climate and groundwater extraction on the water balance and water levels in the peatland. During the two‐year period of monitoring, the hydrological functioning of the wetland showed a hydric deficit, associated with a permanent unsaturated layer and a deep water table. At the same time, a stream was observed serving as a recharge inflow instead of draining the peatland, as usually described in natural systems. Such conditions are not favourable for peat accumulation. Field investigations show that the clay layer has a high hydraulic conductivity (from 1·10^?7 to 3·10^?9 m.s^?1) and does not form a hydraulic barrier. Moreover, the vertical hydraulic gradients are downward between the peat and the sand aquifer, leading to high flows of groundwater through the clay layer (20–48% of the precipitation). The observed hydric deficit of the peatland results from a combination of dry climatic conditions during the study period and groundwater extraction. The climatic effect is mainly expressed through drying out of the peatland, while the anthropogenic effect leads to an enhancement of the climatic effect on a global scale, and a modification of fluxes at a local scale. The drying out of the peatland can lead to its mineralisation, which thus gives rise to environmental impacts. The protection of such wetlands in the context of climate change should take account of anthropogenic pressures by considering the wetland‐aquifer interaction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluating the effect of non-uniform and deficient irrigation—Part I

A method for evaluating the effect of non-uniform and deficient irrigation is presented. The method is based on a deterministic mathematical model that evaluates the effect of the soil water fluctuation in the root zone during the irrigation season on the crop yield.The problem is viewed in conjunction with the management strategy of irrigation water application under the assumption that only shortage of water causes a reduction in yield. The parameters describing the deficit zone of the application pattern, the soil-crop-atmosphere system and the crop response are incorporated in the model. Crop yield predictions are made through the relative water use and a multiplicative and an additive yield functions.A numerical example is used to illustrate the use of the model in sprinkler irrigation practice. The results agree well with those derived from the mathematical model evaluating the irrigation regime and the yield on each square of the irrigated area separately.     

1989年8月17日太阳边缘耀斑和速度场研究

本文利用云南天文台二维光谱仪观测的１９８９年８月１７日耀斑的Ｈβ波段光谱资料，采用多云模型的方法，得到此耀斑的观测视向速度分布，并在一定的简化和假设下，采用ＭＨＤ理论计算了几种情况下耀斑环内物质运动的视向速度分布，与观测的视向速度分布加以比较，研究和探讨耀斑环中的物质运动情况。通过分析比较，得出此耀斑环内物质运动可能属于下述两种模式：物质从环顶沿两环腿螺旋下落和物质从环足沿一环腿螺旋上升到环顶后沿另一腿螺旋下落