A Disconnection Event of Comet Lulin†

The cometary disconnection event (DE) is the separation of the entire cometary tail or a part of it from the cometary head. It is one of the most spectacular phenomena of comets. The driving mechanism remains unclear, and at present there are many competitive theories to explain the onset of DE. However, the variable solar wind is suspected to play a major role. Comet Lulin exhibited a DE on 4th Feb. 2009. The data around this date are analyzed, and it is found that the comet Lulin had already endured a DE on 3rd Feb. 2009. By comparing the morphologies of the plasma tails in these two DEs, it is concluded that the DE which occurred on 3rd Feb. 2009 is another DE, which is distinct from that of 4th Feb. 2009. In this paper, we describe the results of analysis on the DE dated 3rd Feb. 2009. The measured velocity of disconnection motion is about 68 km/s, and the calculated onset time of this DE is 3.635 ± 0.215 Feb. 2009 in UT decimal date. Combining the orbital characteristics of Comet Lulin before and after the DE occurrence and the solar-wind data measured by the STEREO-A spacecraft, it is concluded that the DE which occurred on 3rd Feb. 2009 was probably caused by the magnetic reconnection due to the interaction between the comet and a coronal mass ejection (CME).     

Orbit of Comet C/1857 D1 (d'Arrest)

Comet C/ 1857 D1 (d'Arrest) is one of a large number of comets with parabolic orbits. Given that there are sufficient observations of the comet, 299 in right ascension and 279 in declination, it proves possible to calculate a better orbit. The calculations are based on a 12th order predictor‐corrector method. The comet's orbit is highly elliptical, e = 0.99982 and, from calculated mean errors, statistically different from a parabola. The comet will not return for at least 44000 years and thus represents no immediate NEO threat (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Features of a comet nucleus: The case of 103P/Hartley 2

In the paper two chosen features of the comet 103P/Hartley 2 are studied. The first one are ‘cometary geysers’ which have been recorded by the camera on Deep Impact spacecraft. The numerical calculations related with this phenomenon have been carried out for large number of values of probable cometary characteristics. Our calculations confirm the assumption what also has been observed by NASA's scientists that the jets of carbon dioxide from the geysers are able to lift large chunks of water ice from the comet. The second discussed feature of the comet 103P/Hartley 2 is the lack of impact holes on the surface of its nucleus. The expected rate of impact holes on the surface of the nucleus of 103P/Hartley 2 is discussed. These holes could be the product of impacts between this comet and other small bodies orbiting in the main asteroid belt. The probability of such impacts, the total number of expected perceptible holes and changes in the luminosity of the comet caused by collisions are examined. We conclude that indeed the number of visible holes on its surface should be negligible (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

准噶尔盆地玛湖凹陷大油（气）区形成条件与勘探方向研究

准噶尔盆地西北缘玛湖凹陷是全球著名的湖相富烃凹陷,最新勘探成果展示出大油(气)区特征。为及时总结,丰富发展当代中国特色叠合盆地油气地质理论与勘探实践,本文主要分析了这一大油(气)区的基本形成条件与勘探领域。结果表明,玛湖凹陷大油(气)区得以形成主要缘于三大有利基础条件:前陆碱湖优质高效烃源岩、立体输导体系、三类规模有效储层与储盖组合,由此造就油气在充足的烃源条件下,沿立体的输导体系,被三套区域性盖层有效封盖,向着三类规模有效储层,在有利圈闭中运聚成藏,因此油气富集规律可归纳为"源-输控烃、储-盖控藏"。相应,按目的层和圈闭类型形成了三大有利油气成藏领域,由浅至深依次为三叠系下统百口泉组岩性油(气)藏群、二叠系下统风城组致密油、石炭系—下二叠统大构造油气藏群。玛湖凹陷大油(气)区的勘探突破缘于勘探理念创新,具有巨大勘探潜力和基础科学研究意义。     

Ground‐motion attenuation relationship for the Sumatran megathrust earthquakes

A representative attenuation relationship is one of the key components required in seismic hazard assessment of a region of interest. Attenuation relationships for peak ground acceleration, peak ground velocity and response spectral accelerations for Sumatran megathrust earthquakes, covering M_w up to 9.0, are derived based on synthetic seismograms obtained from a finite‐fault kinematic model. The relationships derived are for very hard rock site condition and for a long‐distance range between 200 and 1500 km. They are then validated with recorded data from giant earthquakes on the Sumatran megathrust occurring since year 2000. A close examination of the recorded data also shows that spectral shapes predicted by most of the existing attenuation relationships and that specified in the IBC code are not particularly suitable for sites where potential seismic hazard is dominated by large‐magnitude, distant, earthquakes. Ground motions at a remote site are typically signified by the dominance of long‐period components with periods longer than 1 s, whereas the predominant periods from most of the existing attenuation relationships and the IBC code are shorter than 0.6 s. The shifting of response spectrum towards longer period range for distant earthquakes should be carefully taken into account in the formulation of future seismic codes for Southeast Asia, where many metropolises are located far from active seismic sources. The attenuation relationship derived in the present study can properly reproduce the spectral shape from distant subduction earthquakes, and could hopefully give insights into the formulation of future seismic codes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于地理探测器的大熊猫生境适宜度评价模型及验证

动物生境适宜度评价对于野生动物生境保护十分重要。基于物种活动点来建模的生态位模型是目前应用最广泛的动物生境评价方法,但该方法不能直接表达生境适宜度与环境因子间具有生态学意义的数量关系。本文以雅安地区为例,提出一种新的大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）生境适宜度评价方法,选取海拔、坡度、坡向、地形指数、距水源距离、植被类型、主食竹及距公路距离8个环境因子,引入地理探测器,在分别基于MAXENT模型和层次分析法（The Analytic Hierarchy Process,AHP）所构建生境适宜度模型的基础上,通过4个地理探测器（风险探测器、因子探测器、生态探测器和交互作用探测器）探寻大熊猫生境与各环境因子间的关系以及环境因子对大熊猫生境的影响机理,并将其预测结果与单一MAXENT模型和AHP法进行对比。结果表明：（1）AHP、AHP-Geogdetector、MAXENT和MAXENT-Geogdetector模型总体评价精度分别为85.6%、86.5%、91.3%和94.2%,kappa系数分别为0.699、0.718、0.821和0.882,AUC值分别为0.902、0.928、0.949和0.966,模型所预测的适宜和较适宜区与实际分布区重叠比分别为63.66%、61.30%、76.70%和90.10%,说明AHP-Geogdetector和MAXENT-Geogdetector模型精度均比相应的单一模型有所提高,且MAXENT-Geogdetector模型精度最高;（2）基于地理探测器的大熊猫生境适宜度评价模型能以“生境适宜度和环境因子间具有生态学意义的数量关系”的形式直接体现环境因子对动物生境利用的生态学作用,具有较好的生态学可解释性。因此,用地理探测器进行大熊猫生境适宜度评价具有较好的可行性。     

耿庄金矿含FeS2晶须环带重晶石巨晶的特征及成因意义

在山西耿庄金矿区含金隐爆角砾岩体的晶洞内,发现了含FeS2晶须环带重晶石巨晶,用扫描电镜、电子探针、Ｘ射线粉晶衍射等手段系统研究了重晶石及其所含FeS2晶须的矿物特征。结果表明,重晶石化学成分单一;晶体结构标准;发育完好;晶须为FeS2 Fe(Ni, Co)S2的类质同象系列。根据地质背景,结合包裹体研究成果,运用晶体生长和地球化学理论,讨论了重晶石巨晶及所含晶须的成因。认为重晶石巨晶是该区燕山期花岗岩浆活动的期后热液演化到后期阶段时,SO2-4与围岩中的钡反应而形成;所含的FeS2晶须是持续进行的火山隐爆作用所产生的大量H2S、SO2等与热液中分解出的Fe2+、Ni2+、Co2+反应而形成的;富碱、H2S溶解度增大,S2-增高有利于晶须的生长;重晶石和晶须生长的地质环境具有宏观上的一致性和具体条件的差异性。当pH值为1~8.5、lgfO2为-31~-38时,优先进入FeS2生长的优势场,形成FeS2晶须矿物。当pH值为5.5~10、lgfO2在-25~-36时形成重晶石;FeS2环带和重晶石的共生现象是两者共结晶交互生长的结果;重晶石的套叠生长和晶须环带特征,是耿庄地区隐爆作用脉动性和周期性作用的结果。耿庄含晶须重晶石巨晶,明确标示出所形成的地质条件和地质作用过程,为深入研究隐爆作用和理解该区成矿作用提供了矿物学证据。     

The search for a cometary outbursts mechanism: a comparison of various theories

In the paper the potential sources of energy of cometary outbursts have been reviewed. Considerations focus on four probable sources of the outbursts' energy. These are the polymerization of hydrogen cyanide HCN, impacts with the meteoroids, destruction of cometary grains in the field of strong solar wind and the transformation of amorphous water Ice into the crystalline one. The values of released energy and jumps of cometary brightness caused by these mechanisms have been discussed. A modern approach to the problem of the thermodynamical evolution of the comet nucleus which includes amorphous water ice is considered as the starting point in the discussion presented in the paper. The main characteristics of an outburst of a hypothetical comet belonging to the Jupiter family comet are calculated. The obtained results are in a good agreement with the characteristics observed during the real outbursts of comets. The main conclusion of this paper confirms a general presumption that the cometary outbursts can have different causes. However, the hypothesis concerning the amorphous water ice transformation appears to be the most probable one. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Thermal destruction of cometary materials – application to activity of comets

Destruction mechanisms connected with thermodynamical behaviour of cometary material are reviewed with a special consideration of their effects on activity of comets. Consequences of thermal stresses which occur in the interior of a comet are discussed with reference to changes in the cometary brightness. Moreover, thermal destruction of grains placed in the head of the comet as well as on the surface of the nucleus is considered. It has been shown that the destruction of the cometary material can lead to an essential increase in the activity of the comet. Calculations have been carried out for a large assumed range of cometary parameters. The obtained simulated changes in the brightness of comets are consistent with the ones observed during the real variations and outbursts of brightness. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Evolution of the north flank of Tenerife by recurrent giant landslides

Geomorphologic analysis of submarine and subaerial surface features using a combined topographic/bathymetric digital elevation model coupled with onshore geological and geophysical data constrain the age and geometry of giant landslides affecting the north flank of Tenerife. Shaded relief and contour maps, and topographic profiles of the submarine north flank, permit the identification of two generations of post-shield landslides. Older landslide materials accumulated near the shore (<40-km) and comprise 700 km³ of debris. Thickening towards a prominent axis suggests one major landslide deposit. Younger landslide materials accumulated 40–70 km offshore and comprise the products of three major landslides: the La Orotava landslide complex, the Icod landslide and the East Dorsal landslide complex, each with an onshore scar, a proximal submarine trough, and a distal deposit lobe. Estimated lobe volumes are 80, 80 and 100 km³, respectively. The old post-shield landslide scar is an amphitheatre, 20–25 km wide, partly submarine, now completely filled with younger materials. Age–width relationships for Tenerife's coastal platform plus onshore geological constraints suggest an age of ca. 3 Ma for the old collapse. Young landslides are all less than 560 ka old. The La Orotava and Icod slides involved failures of slabs of subaerial flank to form the subaerial La Orotava and Icod valleys. Offshore, they excavated troughs by sudden loading and basal erosion of older slide debris. The onshore East Dorsal slide also triggered secondary failure of older debris offshore. The slab-like geometry of young failures was controlled by weak layers, deep drainage channels and flank truncation by marine erosion. The (partly) submarine geometry of the older amphitheatre reflects the absence of these features. Relatively low H/L ratios for the young slides are attributed to filling of the slope break at the base of the submarine edifice by old landslide materials, low aspect ratios of the failed slabs and channelling within troughs. Post-shield landslides on Tenerife correlate with major falls in sea level, reflecting increased rates of volcanism and coastal erosion, and reduced support for the flank. Landslide head zones have strongly influenced the pattern of volcanism on Tenerife, providing sites for major volcanic centres.