A 3D multi-threshold,region-growing algorithm for identifying dust storm features from model simulations

Dust storms cause significant damage to health, property, and the environment worldwide every year. To help mitigate the damage, dust forecast models simulate and predict upcoming dust events, providing valuable information to scientists, decision makers, and the public. These simulation outputs are in four-dimensions (i.e., latitude, longitude, elevation, and time) and represent spatially heterogeneous dust storm features and their evolution over space and time. This research investigates and proposes an automatic multi-threshold, region-growing-based algorithm to identify critical dust storm features from 3D dust storm simulations. A multi-threshold scheme is defined for the identification of dust storm features with different dust concentrations. Based on the multi-thresholds, dust storm features are iteratively identified by developing a region-growing algorithm that splits a clustered dust storm feature into multiple sub-features. The proposed approach is compared with three commonly used methods in image processing and thunderstorm identification. The proposed approach outperforms the other three methods in sensitivity and quantitative/qualitative accuracy. This research approach may also be slightly adjusted to identify critical 3D features from simulation outputs for other severe weather and geographical phenomena.     

Comparison of ecophysiological characteristics between introduced and indigenous mangrove species in China

Due to its rapid growth, the introduced mangrove species Sonneratia apetala from Bangladesh has been widely used in mangrove restoration in southeastern China since 1985. As an indigenous mangrove species in Hainan, China, Sonneratia caseolaris was also planted in Guangdong Province for afforestation purposes. Both species have developed well in their new habitats, but their ecophysiological differences with the native mangrove species have not been studied. In this study, leaf gas exchange, water and nitrogen use efficiencies of two Sonneratia species were compared with those of selected native mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel, and Excoecaria agallocha) in Hainan and Shenzhen. The introduced S. apetala maintained lower carbon assimilation rate (A) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) than the indigenous S. caseolaris. In Shenzhen, the two introduced Sonneratia had comparable photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency (WUE) with the native mangrove species, except that PNUE in S. caseolaris was significantly higher than in the native mangrove species. The two Sonneratia species showed significant overlap in PNUE and long-term WUE. Photosynthetic parameters derived from leaf photosynthetic light–response curves and A–C_i curves also suggested lower carbon assimilation capacities for the introduced Sonneratia than for the native mangrove species in both study sites. The lower light compensation point (LCP) of two introduced Sonneratia in both study sites also indicated a better adaptation to a low light regime than the native mangrove species. The results of photosynthetic capacities indicated that the introduced mangrove species have little competitive advantage over local native mangrove species in their respective new habitats.     

地震孕育、发生、发展动态过程的三维有限元数值模拟

为探讨用数值方法模拟地震孕育、发生、发展动态过程的途径,从线性流变体介质内制约质点运动的运动方程出发,导出了模拟地震孕育、发生、发展动态过程的三维有限元方程及程序。还给出了模拟进程中地震孕育、发生、发展过程的约束条件,使得可以用同一个程序完整地模拟地震孕育、发生、发展的全过程,为地震过程本质的认识以及物理预报的实现提供了一个潜在的新手段。     

太平洋海温异常对大理雨季开始期的影响

采用大理州雨季开始期资料、1961年6月~2008年5月太平洋5°×5°共286个格点的逐月平均海温资料及NCEP/NCAR的SSTA资料,通过相关分析发现,太平洋海温与大理雨季开始期的关系密切,春季和上年秋季太平洋海温对大理雨季开始的影响较大。雨季开始前若发生厄尔尼诺事件,大理雨季开始期偏晚,反之,若发生拉尼娜事件,大理雨季开始期偏早。N ino3区的海温异常对大理雨季开始期的影响相当明显,当5月N ino3区的海温异常偏高时,大理雨季开始期偏晚;反之,当5月N ino3区的海温异常偏低时,大理雨季开始期偏早,N ino3区海温异常可以作为大理雨季开始期预测的一个强信号因子。     

地磁场能量在地球内部的分布及其长期变化

用国际参考地磁场模型(IGRF)分析了地磁场能量在地球内部的分布及其长期变化.结果表明,从1900年到2005年,地核以外地磁场总能量由6.818×1018J减少到6.594×1018J,减小了3.3%,地表以外地磁场总能量由8.658×101J减小到.63×101J,减小了11.4%.分析地球内部不同圈层地磁场能量的变化表明,地壳(A层)、上地幔(B层)、转换带(C层)、下地幔D′层的地磁场总能量在减小,但是下地幔"层的地磁场总能量却在快速增加.磁能密度随时间的变化更清楚地显示出磁能增加和减小的分界面在r=3840km处.上述结果表明,地核和地表以外地磁场总能量在趋势性减小的同时,也在进行重新分配.进一步分析表明,下地幔D"层磁能快速增长,主要是由高阶磁多极子的增强引起的.在地磁场倒转前,偶极矩减小而多极性相对增强在能量分布上的表现就是磁能向下地幔底部(特别是D"层)集中.     

青藏高原及邻近地区地壳与上地幔剪切波三维速度结构

本文利用30个基准台所记录的238条长周期面波资料,经过适配滤波和分格频散反演,得到中国大陆及邻区147个分格10—105s的纯路径频散,进而反演出青藏高原及邻近地区深至170km的剪切波三维速度结构.研究表明,青藏高原中西部地区和东部地区的地壳平均厚度分别为70±7km和65±7km,地壳平均剪切波速度分别为3.55和3.62km/s,上地幔顶盖平均速度分别为4.63和4.61km/s; 岩石层厚度均为120±10km;东部地区下地壳内30—40km深度处普遍存在低速层;青藏高原及其东侧的上地幔低速层内有横贯东西且明显向上隆起的低速腔.滇西缅北地区的地壳厚45±5km,上地壳及下地壳内都有低速层;上地幔顶盖的速度为4.42km/s,比青藏高原本体及恒河平原都低.恒河平原地壳厚34±2km,速度平均为3.45km/s;上地幔顶盖厚86±10km,速度平均为4.63km/s,顶盖内55—83km深处有一个低速夹层.     

潼峪金矿区成矿断裂构造特征

潼峪金矿区发育过冲剪滑型、平移剪张型和平移剪滑型三种不同性质、不同方向成矿断裂,分布在金罗斑背形的不同部位,其形成有先后差异,但变形环境大体相同,具脆-韧性变形特征。空间上一般不超越褶皱主体。三类断裂中,前两者具石英脉型金矿化,后者形成构造蚀变岩型及小规模石英脉型金矿化。矿化差异与断裂产出的褶皱部位及其相应的应力应变条件的不同有关。     

基于高精度DEM和RS技术的滑坡环境指标参数快速提取方法——以陕西省宝鸡市金台区长乐塬特大型滑坡为例

DEM和RS技术是研究滑坡地质灾害的重要资料和手段。近年来,随着高空间分辨率遥感卫星和高精度雷达卫星的上天,可以获取现时性高精度的DEM,使滑坡地质灾害的研究由二维向三维提升。利用IRS-P5数据生成的5m精度的DEM,借鉴GOOGLE的三维可视性原理,将其和高空间分辨率QuickBird(0.61m)数据叠置到数字地球之上,制作成三维可视性图像,进行滑坡环境指标参数提取方法研究。研究结果表明,该方法可直接读取滑坡环境指标的三维参数,具有客观、准确、快速的特点,可为滑坡灾害评估和区域地质灾害危险性评价提供定量化资料。     

栓皮栎叶芽休眠解除过程的模拟*

树木的休眠及其解除是一个在理论和实践中都十分重要又悬而未决的问题。本文利用全国范围内获得的观测资料,对栓皮栎这个重要用材树种的叶芽休眠之解除过程进行了模拟。其出发点是:林木存在绝对低温需要,在此需要得到满足后,进一步的低温和驱温的协同作用使林木的生长能力逐步恢复直到休眠解除。研究表明:接近林木基点的温度对低温积累是最有效的,休眠后期的不稳定高温会部分抵消前期低温的影响。栓皮栎对低温的绝对需要量为5个低温单位,休眠完全解除共需34个低温单位和194个驱温单位。在整个分布区内,栓皮栎的休眠解除被划分成四个基本类型,即北方型、中部型、华南型及西南型。并对树木的休眠解除现象进行了深入的讨论。     

上海市三甲医院对周边地区住房价格的空间影响效应分析

选取上海市区7家三级甲等综合性医院,运用特征价格模型和多元回归分析方法,实证分析它们对周边住宅价格的空间影响效应。研究结果显示：① 总体上,相比其他环境区位因素,三甲医院对周边住宅价格的影响程度较小,而建筑面积、物业管理费、学区房、轨道交通、建筑楼高、至 CBD 的距离等因素的影响程度较大。② 三甲综合医院对周边住宅价格产生负面影响。在相同情况下,住宅离医院距离越近,则价格越低。住宅与医院的距离每缩短50 m,住宅价格平均下浮0.602%。③ 由于三甲综合医院区位各不相同,距离CBD远近不一,对住宅价格的影响也存在空间差异。一般来说,距离CBD越近,住宅价格受医院的负面影响也越小。