Sediment movement under unidirectional flows: an assessment of empirical threshold curves

A selection of threshold data sets from previous investigations is used to re-examine, selectively, some of the empirical curves that are most commonly used for the prediction of sediment threshold. Simple analytical formulae are derived describing single line curves for mean threshold values and envelopes for the initial movement of discrete particles and the commencement of mass sediment transport phases of the critical condition.The complexity of factors governing the prevailing conditions at threshold, together with the randomness of events, limits deterministic solutions; however, the curves provide an approach that can be used readily in practical applications. In contrast, the envelope presentation is more of a stochastic approach to the definition of threshold. It recognises that there is no definitive threshold condition under which a particular particle size can be displaced, but rather that a range of threshold values exist.The empirical threshold relationships were derived on the basis of a relatively large amount of data. However, the sources utilised have interpreted the ‘critical condition’ in various ways, implying that the formulae must be treated with caution in applications.     

Does subterranean flow initiate mud banks off the southwest coast of India?

Coastal waters off the southwest coast of India draw special attention because of the occurrence of mud banks at certain locations during southwest monsoon period. The present study puts forward a hypothesis of a subterranean flow, which could be a plausible mechanism to initiate the mud banks. The subterranean flow is believed to be coupled with activated trending faults and originate from the adjacent watershed (Vembanad Lake) separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land where submerged porous lime shell beds are present. When the lake water injection occurs through the fault, the mud/clay gets excited by its thixotrophic properties (as the overlying water looses its electrolyte) and transforms into a flowing fluid. The lowering of salinity due to the introduction of fresh water keeps the mud suspension in the water column for longer duration, leading to the formation of mud banks. The idea of subterranean flow through lime shell beds initiating formation of mud banks may apply globally to any coastal regions hugged by wetlands and of similar geological conditions.     

A Numerical Model for Natural Backfill of Pipeline Trenches Subjected to Unidirectional／Oscillatory Flows

A numerical model for the self-burial of a pipeline trench is developed. Morphological evolutions of a pipeline trench under steady-current or oscillatory-flow conditions are simulated with/without a pipeline inside the trench. The oscillatory flow in this study represents the action of waves. The two-dimensional Reynolds-averaged continuity and Navier-Stokes equations with the standard k-e turbulence closure, as well as the sediment transport equations, are solved with the finite difference method in a eurvilirrear coordinate system. Both bed and suspended loads of sediment transport are included in the morphological model. Because of the lack of experimental data on the backfilling of pipeline trenches, the numericalmodel is firstly verified against three closely-relevant experiments available in literature. A detailed measurement of the channel migration phenomenon under steady currents is employed for the assessment of the integral performance of themodel. The two experimental results from U-tube tests are used to validate the model‘s ability in predicting oscillatory flows. Different time-marching schemes are employed for the morphological computation under unidirectional and oscillatory conditions. It is found that vortex motions within the trench play an important role in the trench development.     

东海海底地形分区特征和成因研究

东海一直以其特殊的大地构造地位受到国内外地学界的关注,但作为主要受构造控制的东海海底地形的研究,以往简单趋势性描述居多,专门深入系统的研究尚不多见。不久前完成的高精度、全覆盖多波束海底地形勘测覆盖了东海部分外陆架、大陆坡全部、冲绳海槽和东部岛坡的一部分,取得了海量的测深数据。据此编绘的勘测多波束水深图和结合测区外的传统资料编绘的海底地形图使我们有机会可以重新审视和系统研究东海的海底地形特征。在定量确定了陆架坡折线、陆坡坡脚线和东部槽坡坡脚线的基础上划分出了大陆架、大陆坡、冲绳海槽平原和东部岛坡4大地形区,继之对各区的海底地形特征进行了研究和描述,并在区内选取了有代表性的5条剖面进行了剖析。另外,从地球内营力和外营力两方面分析了影响东海海底地形发育的因素。调查分析表明:整个东海地形分带明显,地形类型多样:大陆架十分宽阔,总体北宽南窄,从大陆向海平缓倾斜,发育了广泛的NW-SE向沙脊群,自大陆向东南呈扇形发散;大陆坡呈NE-SW向条带展布,海底地形陡峻,呈阶梯状下掉,总体北缓南陡,其上峡谷密布,上穿切外陆架,下直达海槽,同时坡麓上海台沟谷伴生发育;冲绳海槽北浅南深,其内在平坦的背景上发育了众多的海山和海丘,其中心又有槽中槽地形;东槽坡地形复杂,发育了     

GIS方法在南沙群岛海区海底灾害地质研究中的应用

采用GIS方法，对南沙群岛海区海底灾害地质进行空间叠加分析。利用模糊数学方法，对不同灾害地质因素赋予不同的模糊影响权值；运用模糊叠加模型，得到南沙群岛海区海底灾害地质综合评价图。与前人的研究工作进行对比的结果表明，GIS方法是进行海底灾害地质评价的一种有效方法。     

Ecology of beach wrack in northern New England with special reference to Orchestia platensis

The northern New England beach wrack community with special reference to the cosmopolitan amphipod crustacean, Orchestia platensis, was examined at estuarine and open coastal habitats. Beach wrack was dominated by the plant genera Ascophyllum, Zostera, Spartina and Chondrus, and was most abundant during spring and late summer. Animal community numbers, biomass and frequency in fresh to moderately decomposed wrack were dominated by O. platensis throughout the year at all habitats; oligochaetes and Collembola were also important. The abundance of O. platensis showed high spatial and temporal variability, with low abundance generally associated with decreased amounts of wrack during colder months. An exception was the winter presence of the species at one estuarine habitat, in patchy aggregations within gravel-cobble refuges. The abundance of O. platensis averaged 1280 (0.04 m²)⁻¹, with a maximum of 7040 (0.04 m²)⁻¹. The life cycle of O. platensis is bivoltine, with summer-hatched young reaching maturity within 1 month. Laboratory studies indicate females with up to 4 broods (30 days)⁻¹, averaging 18 eggs brood⁻¹.Orchestia platensis is omnivorous, eating fresh plant tissue, live oligochaetes, Limulus eggs and diatom ‘fuzz’. The rate of laboratory consumption of algae and Zostera was 0.05 mg plant mg⁻¹ wet body weight day⁻¹. Presumptive predators of O. platensis are juvenile green crab, Carcinus maenus, and the earwig. Anisolabis maritima. The mobility, aggregation and aggressiveness of O. platensis assist the species in establishing and maintaining populations in the rigorous wrack habitat. The general competitive superiority of O. platensis over its congener, O. gammarella, and the co-occurrence of these species on both eastern and western Atlantic shores is discussed.     

大港油田官142断块巨厚砂岩的储层流动单元

以黄骅坳陷官142断块中生界油藏为例,探讨巨厚砂岩储层流动单元的研究方法。巨厚砂岩储层流动单元研究包括两个层次,一为确定渗流屏障和连通体的分布,二为连通体内部储层渗流差异分析。研究表明,官142断块渗流屏障主要有泥质屏障、钙质砂岩胶结屏障和钙质砂砾岩胶结屏障3种类型。通过对连通体内部砂体渗流差异性分析,将连通体划分为3类流动单元。其中A类流动单元以粗孔、粗喉类型为主,渗流性能好,吸水强度大;B类流动单元储层为中孔、中喉型,渗流性能中等,吸水强度次之;C类流动单元储层多为粉细砂岩、砂砾岩或钙质胶结稍差的储层,吸水强度较差。通过流动单元的划分与研究,对预测该区的剩余油分布规律和优化调整方案提供依据。     

低渗透储层水平井—直井联合布井极限注采井距研究

低渗透储层水平井—直井联合布井技术具有广泛的应用前景,其布井方式至关重要。首先利用劈分流场的方法直观地给出常规储层水平井—直井联合布井的产能评价方法;然后针对低渗透储层的渗流特点,在考虑启动压力梯度条件下建立新的井网渗流物理模型并求解得到产能评价公式;最后经分析计算给出启动压力梯度影响的面积井网极限注采井距关系曲线。研究结果为低渗透储层部署水平井—直井联合井网提供理论依据。     

岩石中的渗透率、流体流动及热液成矿作用

热液成因的固体金属矿床形成过程中都曾拥有一段流动的历史。成矿物质以溶液的形式从矿源地穿过孔隙或断裂达到了现在的栖身之所,在此过程中流体通过的路径决定了它们的走向,而溶液本身也改变了路径的特征。因此,对于此类矿床的研究不能仅仅囿于眼之所见,而应将古流体流动的观念融入其中,并考察它们的跋涉之路。文中总结了近年来国内外在岩石孔隙、断裂介质及与其相关渗透率对热液成矿作用的控制等领域的研究成果和最新进展,对岩石渗透率、渗透率的影响因素、岩石中流体流动的特征等问题进行了阐述,讨论了渗透率对于热液成矿作用深度、成矿规模、矿质沉淀机制等方面的重要影响,藉此在固体金属矿床研究中强化流"体运动"的观念,并促进构造地质学和成矿作用地球化学间一个新研究方向的发展。