Geomagnetic diurnal-variation anomalies and their relation to strong earthquakes

The diurnal-variation anomalies of the vertical-component in geomagnetic field are mainly the changes of phase and amplitude before strong earthquakes. On the basis of data recorded by the network of geomagnetic observatories in China for many years, the anomalous features of appearance time of the minima of diurnal variations (i.e, low-point time) of the geomagnetic vertical components and the variation of their spatial distribution (i.e, phenomena of low-point displacement) have been studied before over 30 strong earthquakes with M _S≥6.6 such as Kunlunshan M _S=8.1 earthquake on November 14, 2001; Bachu-Jashi M _S=6.8 earthquake on February 24, 2003; Xiaojin M _S=6.6 earthquake on September 22, 1989, etc. There are good relations between such rare phenomena of geomagnetic anomalies and the occurrence of earthquakes. It has been found that most earthquakes occur in the vicinity of the boundary line of sudden change of the low-point displacement and generally within four days before and after the 27th or 41st day counting from the day of appearance of the anomaly. In addition, the anomalies of diurnal-variation amplitude near the epicentral area have been also studied before Kunlunshan M _S=8.1 earthquake and Bachu-Jiashi M _S=6.8 earthquake. Foundation item: National Science Technology Tackle Key Project during the Tenth Five-year Plan (2001BA601B01-05-04)     

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS OF BASIC CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PRECIPITATION DURING RAINING SEASONS IN REGIONS SOUTH OF CHANGJIANG RIVER AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SST ANOMALIES

1 INTRODUCTION The Jiangnan Region is in the eastern part of China that is south of the Changjiang River and north of Nanling Mountains. It encompasses southern Hunan, southern Jiangxi, most of Fujian and southern Zhejiang. It is a base for the production of grain and cotton among other well-developed agricultural economy. Its eastern coastal area is also an important industrial base. Climatic anomalies in the region are threats to human life and property for tens of millions peopl…     

中国海及邻域岩石圈三维密度分布

利用中国海及邻域的 2 0× 2 0网格密度异常和 15′× 15′的网格平均布格重力异常 ,采用约束最小二乘方法反演 ,得到了中国海及邻域岩石圈内六个层面上 15′× 15′的密度分布结果 .反演结果表明 :(1)中国海及邻域岩石圈密度极不均匀 ,反映了区内强烈的构造活动特征 ;(2 )层内密度分布与大地构造有明显的相关性 ,不同的构造单元存在着密度差异 ,断裂带表现为密度异常梯级带 .     

施甸5级震群前中短-短临的地震活动参数动态演化

通过2001年施甸5级震群前地震学各项参数异常的动态追踪，研究了中强地震孕育、发生的中短—短临的演化过程。结果表明：在云南地区出现b值、小震调制比、波速比等地震活动性参数异常以及中强地震的有规律迁移的中期异常背景上，出现了孕震区的频度、b值、应变加速等群体中短异常，以及云南省内的3、4级地震连续增频、3级日频次异常和显的3、4级地震平静的短临异常。特别是3、4级地震异常平静，标志了明显的临震信息，并初步探讨了中强地震连续发生中如何识别单个地震的震兆问题。     

Three—dimensional P velocity structure in Beijing area

A detail three-dimensional P wave velocity structure of Beijing,Tianjin and Tangshan area(BTT area)was deter-mined by inverting local earthquake data.In total 16 048 Pwave first arrival times from 16048 shallow and mid-depth crustal earthquakes,which occurred in and around the BTT area from 1992to 1999were used.The first arrival times are recorded by Northern China Unived Telemetry Seismic Network and Yanqing-Huailai Digital Seismic Network.Hypocentral parameters of 1 132 earthquakes with magnitude ML=1.7-6.2 and the three-dimensional P wave velocity structure were obtained simultaneously.The inversion result reveals the com-plicated lateral heterogeneity of P wave velocity structure around BTT area.The tomographic images obtained are also found to explain other seismological observations well.     

Seafloor spreading in the Weddell Sea from magnetic and gravity data

A re-compilation of magnetic data in the Weddell Sea is presented and compared with the gravity field recently derived from retracked satellite altimetry. The previously informally named ‘Anomaly-T,’ an east–west trending linear positive magnetic and gravity anomaly lying at about 69°S, forms the southern boundary of the well-known Weddell Sea gravity herringbone. North of Anomaly-T, three major E–W linear magnetic lows are shown, and identified with anomalies c12r, c21–29(r) and c33r. On the basis of these, and following work by recent investigators, isochrons c13, c18, c20, c21, c30, c33 and c34 are identified and extended into the western Weddell Sea. Similarly, a linear magnetic low lying along the spine of the herringbone is shown and provisionally dated at 93–96 Ma. Anomaly-T is tentatively dated to be M5n, in agreement with recent tectonic models.Although current tectonic models are generally in good agreement to the north of T, to the south interpretations differ. Some plate tectonic models have only proposed essentially north–south spreading in the region, whilst others have suggested that a period of predominantly east–west motion (relative to present Antarctic geographic coordinates) occurred during the mid-Mesozoic spreading between East and West Gondwana. We identify an area immediately to the south of T which appears to be the southerly extent of N–S spreading in the herringbone. Following recent work, the extreme southerly extent of the N–S directed spreading of the herringbone is provisionally dated M9r/M10. In the oldest Weddell Sea, immediately to the north and east of the Antarctic shelf, we see subtle features in both the magnetic and gravity data that are consistent with predominantly N–S spreading in the Weddell Sea during the earliest opening of East and West Gondwana. In between, however, in a small region extending approximately from about 50 km south of T to about 70°S and from approximately 40° to 53°W, the magnetic and gravity data appear to suggest well-correlated linear marine magnetic anomalies (possible isochrons) perpendicular to T, bounded and offset by less well-defined steps and linear lows in the gravity (possible fracture zones). These magnetic and gravity data southwest of T suggest that the crust here may record an E–W spreading episode between the two-plate system of East and West Gondwana prior to the initiation of the three-plate spreading system of South America, Africa and Antarctica. The E–W spreading record to the east of about 35°W would then appear to have been cut off at about M10 time during the establishment of N–S three-plate spreading along the South American–Antarctic Ridge and then subducted under the Scotia Ridge.     

新疆东天山沙泉子地区地球化学特征及找矿预测

新疆东天山沙泉子地区位于雅满苏—沙泉子成矿区的东段 ,地层简单 ,但岩性复杂。受沙泉子深大断裂及沙泉子火山机构共同作用 ,地球化学异常表现为以 Cu- Zn- Ag- Mo为主的内环、以 Pb- Zn(Cu- As- Sb)为主的中环和以 Au或 Au- Ag- As- Sb异常区为主的外环 ,从中心至外围 Cu、Zn等异常强度、规模逐渐减弱 ,Au、As、Sb异常逐渐增强 ,在元素的空间分布上表现出Cu、Zn、Pb、Ag— Pb、Zn、As、Sb(Ag)— Au、As、Sb的元素分带现象。提出沙泉子北、苦水北二处找矿预测远景区 ,有较好的找矿前景     

Insights into river bank erosion processes derived from analysis of negative erosion‐pin recordings: observations from three recent UK studies

Recent studies of river bank erosion in three catchments in the UK have been characterized by the persistent occurrence of negative erosion‐pin results. The cause of these negative recordings is considered with reference to field data from the Afon Trannon, Nant Tanllwyth and River Arrow, and to a laboratory study of freeze–thaw and desiccation processes. It seems that there is potential for, and in some cases evidence of, a number of different circumstances that generate negative results, but none of these alone is sufficient to explain all incidents. Factors considered include: deposition of sediment during high flows; soil fall from the upper parts of the bank on to lower erosion pins; loosening of the soil surface and expansion/contraction of the soil mass with fluctuations in temperature and moisture content; movement of the erosion‐pin within the bank and human interference. Each has its own implications for the use of erosion pins. Further issues arise when including negative data in subsequent data analysis, and it is demonstrated that attempts to correlate erosion rates with hydro‐meteorological data in order to ascertain causes of erosion will be influenced by the way in which negative data are handled. It is thus suggested that any study of river bank erosion using erosion pins should state whether or not negative data were obtained, and if so, how they were included in data analysis. Failure to include this information could lead to comparison of mean erosion rates that reflect bank processes very differently. The studies presented here offer a clear example of the value of ‘anomalous’ field data: results which do not appear to fit expected patterns can reveal as much about the processes in operation as those that do. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.