Impact of lightning on organic matter-rich soils: influence of soil grain size and organic matter content on underground fires

A detailed study was carried out on a piece of land that had been struck by lightning during the violent rainstorm that raged over the Island of S?o Miguel (Azores Archipelago) in late October 2006. Temperature and gas measurements (CO₂, CO, H₂S and CH₄) were performed in four study trenches, dug in an area of ∼3 m², where an underground fire had been initiated by the impact with a lightning stroke, followed by the emission of a column of gases and smoke. The soil under study was originally a well-pedogenized about 80 cm thick bed, made of volcanic clayey to silty tephra fallouts and contained 5.5–9.7% of organic matter. The underground fire was monitored for one week and revealed a peak release of 404 ppm CO and 3.4% CO₂ originating from a horizon located about 45 cm under the soil surface. Measurements of temperature, performed one week after the impact, indicated a maximum value of 326°C inside the soil, while 516.5°C were measured on the surface of a lava block interred about 20 cm under the surface. Subsequently, a stratigraphic and sedimentologic study proved the role of the grain-size of the soil and of the organic matter content of the different horizons of the impact area, in determining the ratio between anoxic/oxidised combustion conditions and in the progress of the process itself. It was also noticed that combustion was not total all over in the soil bed and that the process had slightly migrated toward SW during the observation period. The combustion process went on for about ten days, in spite of several other violent rainstorms, until it was artificially extinguished through the excavations made to obtain study trenches. This particular circumstance evidenced the potential natural hazard represented by this kind of atmospheric event, especially in a land where the volcanic nature of the soil may easily mislead inexperienced observers and, consequently, delay proper action.     

天然气水合物在油气藏形成过程中的封盖作用——谈造山带中烃源岩对盆地区油气资源的贡献

在中国的造山带中普遍发育优质烃源岩,它们形成于海槽环境,而海槽环境也是形成天然气水合物的有利环境。水合物有良好的封盖作用,其下的油气受到封盖会向相邻的台地区运移,即油气从古海槽区(现今为造山带)向台地区(现今为盆地区)转移。因此造山带中的烃源岩对盆地区油气资源应有积极贡献。认为现今台西南海域的水合物与相邻油气藏具有同源性,这是水合物的封盖作用与油气藏形成之间具有密切联系的生动实例。四川盆地有限的烃源岩分布不能提供巨大的天然气储量,周边造山带可能也提供了相当的资源量。建议在四川盆地和秦岭造山带中系统采集气-液包裹体,以对比它们的亲缘关系,借以验证造山带中的烃源岩是否对盆地区的天然气成藏具有贡献。     

Considering dynamic soil structure interaction (SSI) effects on seismic isolation retrofit efficiency and the importance of natural frequency ratio

This paper utilizes and expands on existing coupled BEM–FEM (finite element method) methods for the investigation of the effects of soil structure interaction (SSI) on both an un-retrofitted and seismically isolated typical bridge structure. A simple numerical model of the bridge and surrounding soil is formulated and excited by an earthquake excitation. Utilizing Newmark's β FEM solution method along with the closed form B-spline BIRF method, the structural damped period, composite damping ratio, pier relative displacement, and base shear demand are monitored. From these results, the effects of SSI on this structure are identified. Additionally, the importance of the relative rigidity between the soil-foundation system and the bridge structure is also investigated. The results of the studies indicate that the response of the complete structure system considered is affected by the inclusion of SSI effects. Furthermore, the efficiency of the isolation measures designed using fixed base conditions is decreased by considering SSI over a certain relative rigidity range that is quantified using the structure to soil-foundation natural frequency ratio.     

土耳其卡赞天然碱矿溶采对接井工程HSE管理

HSE管理是现代企业走出国门、承揽国际大型项目的必备条件,并且在现代工程管理中具有越来越重要的地位。土耳其卡赞天然碱矿水溶开采对接井工程的实施过程中,在借鉴国内外相关行业经验的基础上,结合项目自身特点,成立了HSE管理机构,加强了人员安全培训和机械设备的升级改造,使之符合当地的行业安全标准。引入了JSA工作安全分析工具,建立了切实可行的HSE管理体系,并强调了现场监督,从而实施了行之有效的HSE管理,为该项目的顺利运行提供了有力的安全保障。     

Determining useful benchmarks for the bioassessment of highly disturbed areas based on diatoms

Modern ecological assessments of running waters are based on the a priori definition of ecological benchmarks, given by reference-quality sites. Such benchmarks are established at the level of ecoregions, typologies, or site. Yet, in highly disturbed regions, such as coastal areas of European countries, the assessment of streams’ water quality based on the reference condition concept is very difficult, due to the lack of undisturbed sites. Among others, the reduced number of reference sites may have as a consequence the definition of imprecise ecological benchmarks. Here we tested the hypotheses that (1) the increase in the number of potential reference sites (2) the definition of more precise abiotic thresholds using the least disturbed condition approach (LDC), and (3) the use of diatom assemblages, as the most ubiquitous element in lowland areas, would result in refinement and eventual sub-division of existing river types of a highly disturbed area, such as the Portuguese centre-western region. For this purpose, abiotic data characterising natural conditions of 55 sites from a littoral highly disturbed region were used in a hierarchical classification analysis that revealed the existence of three different sub-groups. In addition, a three-step approach was used to define thresholds for the pressure variables in LDC. Based on these new thresholds, sites in LDC were selected. A hierarchical classification performed to the LDC diatom spring assemblages revealed the existence of two sub-groups, concordant with two of the abiotic sub-groups. Several species contributed to the dissimilarity between the two sub-groups (e.g., Achnanthidium minutissimum and Karayevia oblongella). Differences between the sub-groups were also found in the trait proportions of stalked species. New benchmark values for these two sub-groups, based on the scores of the official diatom index, the Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS), were different from the previous reference value used. Yet, no biological benchmark values were established for one of the groups due to the absence of sites in the LDC. Our study suggests that streambed substrate is an important characterisation variable in the river type definition and highlights that, in spite of the potential refinement in reference conditions and typology obtained, an alternative approach that does not require the use of reference sites should be explored in the future.     

野外科学观测研究台站（网络）和科学数据中心建设发展

中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所成立80年来,十分重视野外台站（网络）和科学数据中心的建设,取得了辉煌成就。研究所建立了4个野外观测研究网络,引领了中国生态系统研究网络的建设与发展;成立了2个国家级科学数据中心,1个中国科学院数据中心,1个数据出版系统并于2016年加入了世界数据系统;拥有2个国家级野外观测研究站,1个中国科学院野外研究站,形成了独具特色的野外观测研究平台和数据共享服务平台。本文回顾了中国生态系统研究网络、国家生态系统观测研究网络、中国通量观测研究网络、中国物候观测网和禹城站、拉萨站、千烟洲站以及地球系统科学数据中心、生态科学数据中心、资源环境科学数据中心和全球变化科学研究数据出版系统的发展历程。地理资源所台站（网络）从无到有,不断发展壮大,引领了中国野外观测研究事业的发展,支撑了地理学、生态学等重要科学成果产出,科技支撑能力和示范能力大幅提升,有力支撑了华北平原、青藏高原以及南方山地丘陵区的生态文明建设;成为中国地球系统科学、野外台站、资源环境等学科和领域最大的科学数据汇聚中心,数据共享服务成效显著,在国内外具有广泛影响力。在未来发展中,地理资源所将充分发挥野外台站（网络）综合中心作用,强化生态系统、碳水通量、物候等观测研究网络的能力建设,稳步提升野外观测研究站条件保障能力和科学数据中心的数据汇聚能力、分析挖掘能力以及共享服务能力,持续推动和引领中国科学数据的共享,在科学研究和支撑国家需求等方面做出更大贡献。     

内蒙古固阳福顺店渣尔泰山群增隆昌组的风暴沉积特征

本文着重叙述了渣尔泰山群增隆昌组的沉积特征和沉积相序特征 ,并对其成因进行了分析 ,区内的增隆昌组白云岩为一风暴沉积相序 ,该相序的发现对进一步研究渣尔泰山群的沉积环境及古地理特征具有一定意义。     

Methodology for preliminary assessment of Natech risk in urban areas

Concern for natural hazard-triggered technological disasters (Natech disasters) in densely populated and industrialized areas is growing. Residents living in urban areas subject to high natural hazard risk are often unaware of the potential for secondary disasters such as hazardous materials releases from neighboring industrial facilities, chemical storage warehouses or other establishments housing hazardous materials. Lessons from previous disasters, such as the Natech disaster during the Kocaeli earthquake in Turkey in 1999 call for the need to manage low frequency/high consequence events, particularly in today’s densely populated areas. However, there is little guidance available on how local governments and communities can assess Natech risk. To add to the problem, local governments often do not have the human or economic resources or expertise to carry out detailed risk assessments. In this article, we propose a methodology for preliminary assessment of Natech risk in urban areas. The proposed methodology is intended for use by local government officials in consultation with the public. The methodology considers possible interactions between the various systems in the urban environment: the physical infrastructure (e.g., industrial plants, lifeline systems, critical facilities), the community (e.g., population exposed), the natural environment (e.g., delicate ecosystems, river basins), and the risk and emergency management systems (e.g., structural and nonstructural measures). Factors related to vulnerability and hazard are analyzed and qualitative measures are recommended. Data from hazardous materials releases during the Kocaeli, Turkey earthquake of August 17, 1999 are used as a case study to demonstrate the applicability of the methodology. Limitations of the proposed methodology are discussed as well as future research needs.

岩心中的天然缝与诱导缝的识别与分析——以鄂尔多斯盆地延长组岩心裂缝为例

由于取心成本昂贵, 从岩心中获得天然缝、诱导缝和其他构造特征的准确信息显得尤为重要。岩心裂缝识别中的一项重要任务是判识天然缝和诱导缝。文中综合论述了天然缝和诱导缝的物理特征, 重点分析了天然缝形态及发育过程和诱导缝的多种成因模式, 并以鄂尔多斯盆地延长组岩心中裂缝为例进行分析。文中引用了国外对裂缝研究常用的专业术语, 指出裂缝面形态结构是追踪模式Ⅰ裂缝(节理)从扩展初始点到终止处的运动学的关键, 这在岩心裂缝和露头裂缝分析中是非常有用的。     

红黏土承载比的土团尺寸效应研究

高液限红黏土用于路基填筑时,因其不良的水理特性,需要掺石灰或水泥改良。但红黏土成团现象十分突出,进行灰土拌和时不易达到均匀状态,影响预期改良效果。通过对不同直径的红黏土土团及石灰改良土土团进行承载比试验,结果表明：干密度随着土团直径尺寸的增大呈现先增大后减小的特征,红黏土和石灰土的最大干密度对应的土团直径处在0.2～ 5 mm范围内;而最大承载比CBR值对应的土团直径分别处在5～10 mm和2～5 mm的范围内。石灰土和红黏土的吸水率、膨胀率均随着土团尺寸的增大,呈现先减小后增大的整体变化趋势。在2～10 mm的范围内,两种土的膨胀量最小。石灰改良只对直径小于5 mm的土团的膨胀特性起到明显的抑制作用。可见,现场施工中严格控制土团的大小对保证土体的强度和水稳定性具有十分重要的意义。