Living with limits: growth,resources, and climate change

Is it possible for all of humanity to enjoy the standards of living of today's high-income countries? What would happen if these limits were reached, perhaps because of climate change or a shortage of natural resources essential to production? How would society manage – or fail to manage – such limits? Notwithstanding the current financial and economic crises, these are perhaps the biggest questions confronting our species (and of a host of other species, who are the victims of our decisions). The article begins by considering the biggest economic event of our lifetimes – the ‘great convergence’ and its implications for the demand for resources. The discussion then turns to a specific limit on our development, climate change, which is different from most other limits, because it involves a global public good: the atmosphere. What such limits might mean for our civilization is discussed. One can persuade people to tackle climate change only if those concerned with the dangers persuade ordinary people that action will not come at the expense of their prosperity.     

Laboratory Work in Secondary School Geography

Abstract

Determining the direction in which to face another location on the globe is a problem with significant social and religious meaning, and one with a rich and interesting history in the Western world. Yet a fully satisfying geographic solution to this problem is hindered by our intuitive perception of the world as a flat surface-where a “straight” path (1) is the shortest distance, and (2) maintains a constant angle. On a curved surface, however, only one of these two properties can be satisfied: the first, by a great circle; the second, by a rhumb line. These two solutions are analyzed, compared, and applied to the direction-facing problem.     

On the Lack of Asteroids in the Hecuba Gap

The lack of asteroids in the 2/1-resonance is explained by the global stochasticity of the solutions in the Sun-Jupiter-Saturn-asteroid model. The explanation is based on data obtained with Laskar's frequency map analysis and on simulations showing the decisive influence of Jupiter's orbit perturbations related to the "Great Inequality". This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

常德1631年大震事件的多场点群发式构造模型

根据对常德1631年地震事件的史料鉴别,尤其是江陵为典型七度震害这一事实,运用震声传播方向和地光物理场以及地震烈度衰减关系,拟合推断此地震事件的序列主要由安乡北6 3/4级地震、常德北太阳山7级地震、澧县6级地震、大庸6级地震和澧县—安乡6 1/2级地震组成,相应的地震地质背景是江汉—洞庭地区晚更新世以来的剩余形变呈四象限分布。若考虑地震-构造相关分布为“Z”字型,则该地震事件的主控构造——太阳山断裂带东断裂具左旋走滑的力学机制。根据区域地震—构造相关发展过程,常德大震事件可视为1668年郯城8 1/2级地震的前震序列组成部分。     

Revisiting and rethinking regional urbanization in Changjiang River Delta, China

China is entering a critical and accelerating phase of urbanization.As one of the most urbanized regions in China,the Changjiang(Yangtze)River Delta has experienced dramatic urbanization and urban transformation.However,in the recent years,many changes have taken place in this region and there is limited attention to the regional urbanization path evolution,its problems and the way to solve these problems.Therefore,we should revisit the urbanization process in the Changjiang River Delta again.In this paper,we revisited urbanization paths of the Changjiang River Delta by data analysis,influence factors of urbanization by the Gray Relational Analysis,and major challenges to urbanization of the Changjiang River Delta by theoretical considerations.We found that the urbanization of the Changjiang River Delta had experienced several stages of large-scale spatial and urban system restructuring.Within the Changjiang River Delta,Shanghai,Zhejiang and Jiangshu had experienced different urbanization path with local characteristics.But with their development model gradually converging,their urbanization model is also converging.We also found that the major influence factors affecting the Changjiang River Delta urbanization were dynamic change and urbanization was driven by different key factors in different socio-economic development stages.Meanwhile,the Changjiang River Delta urbanization is facing many problems such as existing institutional arrangements,including the hukou(household registration)system and others which can not meet the needs of current socioeconomic development and urbanization.Therefore,it is imperative to promote institutional innovation and adopt a new urbanization development strategy for the sake of the orderly and sustainable urbanization development in the Changjiang River Delta.     

鲁西南深埋粘性土物理力学指标多元统计研究

运用R因子分析和R型聚类两种多元统计分析方法,对鲁西南地区深埋粘性土的20组样的8个物理力学指标数据进行了分析。利用R因子分析方法,揭示了各指标对鲁西南地区深埋粘性土状态和力学性质的影响关系。利用R型聚类分析方法,研究了深部粘性土各物理力学指标之间的相关性,为进一步从物理力学指标对深埋粘性土的特殊状态和力学特性的研究打下基础。     

南极中国长城站空气微生物含量监测(英)

The outdoor air borne microbial content over Great Wall Station, Antarctica has been monitored, including its diurnal variations and states in fair or foul weather conditions.The results obtained show: the concentration averaged 161. 9 CFU. m-3. When the weather condition was fair, its range of variation is 0～1 336. 2 CFU. m-3, the average value was 1488. 3 CFU. m-3,when the weather was foul, the range of variation was 471. 4-4 296. 8 CFU. m-3. The average value of air borne microbial number in either fair or foul weather was 383. 0 CFU. m-3. This value is over than 21 times that obtained during 1986/1987.The results seem to show that the influence of human activities have been increasing on Antarctic ecosystem. The diurnal variation of the outdoor air borne microbes shows that the peak of content appeared at about 01: 00, and the trough at about 13: 00 in a whole day. Analyses were made of the relationships between the microbial concentration with its related indexes, i. e. relevant air temperature relative humidity or wind force.The results showed some particularities as compared with those from the areas outside Antarctica.     

大埋深条件下降雨入渗补给的初步分析

运用SWAP模型对太行山山前平原--河北省栾城县田间土壤水分运动进行了数值模拟.从土水势及土壤含水量等方面,初步分析了降雨灌溉入渗补给条件下土壤水分运动的规律.通过分析和讨论,探求了大埋深条件下降雨入渗过程,初步揭示了降雨入渗对地下水位变化的影响.     

2008年深圳洪涝灾害的气候背景和环流条件

用NCC/CMA资料分析了2008年6月深圳降水异常事件的成因,结果认为:2007年7月—2008年2月赤道西太平洋海表温度异常偏低、2008年前冬今春青藏高原积雪面积偏大是深圳异常降水事件的前期气候背景;2008年6月东亚阻塞高压的异常强大及乌拉尔山长波槽的异常加深发展,促进了经向环流异常增强;偏强的冷空气以阶梯槽的形式频繁入侵华南,为深圳异常降水事件提供了动力条件。副高西段较常年偏南,西伸脊点偏东;强劲的季风潮为深圳地区输送了巨大的水汽和热量;冷暖空气在华南地区的频繁交汇与维持是深圳异常降水事件的主要成因。上述多种因素的异常共同导致了深圳异常降水事件的发生。     

强震造成的活动地块地壳形变差异探讨

20 0 1年 11月 14日发生在昆仑山口西的 8 1级地震 ,在地表产生了长度大于 35 0km的破裂带 ,最大水平位移 6m左右 ,为左旋走滑断层。在昆仑山口西 8 1级地震周围不同活动地块内不同构造部位布设的GPS基准站对地震的响应存在明显的差异。其中位于柴达木活动地块内部的德令哈基准站在地震的当天观测到 7 5mm的同震位移 ,位于川滇活动地块西南边界带的下关基准站在震后 3d发生了 6 8mm以上的明显位移 ,而位于同一地块内部的昆明基准站和位于祁连山活动地块内的西宁基准站、位于拉萨活动地块内的拉萨基准站震时和震后都没有产生明显的位移。GPS基准站的观测资料表明 ,强震所处的活动地块和其相邻活动地块对强震有明显的响应 ,如果相隔一活动地块 ,则受强震的影响较小 ;在活动地块内 ,活动强烈的边界带或其它活动较强的部位对强震引起的地壳形变的响应明显大于活动强度较弱的部位 ;强震对相邻活动地块影响的差异 ,主要与强震所处活动地块运动时对其产生的作用方式的差异有关