Study of the Earth’s free core nutation by tidal gravity data recorded with international superconducting gravimeters

By stacking high-precision tidal gravity observations obtained with superconducting gravimeters at six stations in China, Japan, Belgium, France, Germany and Finland, the local systematical discrepancies in the parameter fitting, caused by atmospheric, oceanic tidal loading and the other local environmental perturbations, are eliminated effectively. As a result, the resonance parameters of the Earth’s free core nutation are accurately determined. In this study, the eigenperiod of free core nutation is given as 429.0 sidereal days, which is in agreement with those published in the previous studies. It is about 30 sidereal days less than those calculated in theoretical models (about 460 sidereal days), which confirms the real ellipticity of the fluid core of the Earth to be about 5% larger than the one expected in assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. The quality factor (Q value) of free core nutation is given as about 9543, which, compared with those determined before based on the body tide observations, is much larger, but more close to those obtained using the VLBI observations. The complex resonance strength is also determined as (−6.10×10⁻⁴, −0.01 ×10⁻⁴)°/h, which can principally describe the deformation characteristics of an anelastic mantle.     

Fluvial sediment transport and deposition following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo generated extreme sediment yields from watersheds heavily impacted by pyroclastic flows. Bedload sampling in the Pasig–Potrero River, one of the most heavily impacted rivers, revealed negligible critical shear stress and very high transport rates that reflected an essentially unlimited sediment supply and the enhanced mobility of particles moving over a smooth, fine-grained bed. Dimensionless bedload transport rates in the Pasig–Potrero River differed substantially from those previously reported for rivers in temperate regions for the same dimensionless shear stress, but were similar to rates identified in rivers on other volcanoes and ephemeral streams in arid environments. The similarity between volcanically disturbed and arid rivers appears to arise from the lack of an armored bed surface due to very high relative sediment supply; in arid rivers, this is attributed to a flashy hydrograph, whereas volcanically disturbed rivers lack armoring due to sustained high rates of sediment delivery. This work suggests that the increases in sediment supply accompanying massive disturbance induce morphologic and hydrologic changes that temporarily enhance transport efficiency until the watershed recovers and sediment supply is reduced.     

Spatially irregular sedimentation in a small, morphologically complex lake: implications for paleoenvironmental studies

A sub-bottom acoustic survey of Devil Lake on the Canadian Shield in southern Ontario reveals three acoustic facies: (I) a moderately acoustically transparent, laminated sequence interpreted as a glacilacustrine deposit in glacial Lake Iroquois or a subsequent phase in water depths up to 200 m greater than at present, (II) a transitional more transparent, less layered facies interpreted as being deposited in a more distal glacial lake from erosion of sediment in the watershed exposed by the failure of the ice dam and lowering of the glacial lake before stabilization by the development of forests, and (III) an acoustically transparent facies with similar transmissivity to the water column, interpreted as Holocene gyttja. Each is spatially variable in extent and thickness in response to those processes. There is only a very weak relation between sediment thickness and the water depth in which it was deposited. Wave processes prevent deposition in water depths less than about 6 m and evidence of erosion to the greatest depths of the lake (>40 m) is pervasive. The data demonstrate the value of acoustic survey in assessing lacustrine processes and the history of lakes, and the significance of such documentation in planning a coring program and in interpreting the results.     

Mixing, sediment accumulation and focusing using 210Pb and 137Cs

The Portil lagoon is a natural freshwater reservoir located at the southwest of Spain, near the coast. In its surroundings an important tourist complex has been developed since the earlier 1970s. This has resulted in increased loads of nutrients, specially during summer months. In order to evaluate the impact from humans on the lagoon caused by anthropogenic activities, we have determined vertical profiles of excess ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs in a sediment core taken from its bottom. Vertical profile of excess ²¹⁰Pb seems to indicate that the sediment core was affected by large-scale mixing processes. Nevertheless this possibility was ruled out based on the shape of the ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution after modelling the ¹³⁷Cs profile considering large-scale mixing. The chronology developed from ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs has allowed us to calculate the temporal evolution of the mass sedimentation rate during the last century. This mass sedimentation rate increased in 1973: from 0.08(2) g cm^-2 a^-1 in the period 1900-1973 to 0.17(5) g cm^-2 a^-1 in the period 1973-1995. This increase could be related to land-movements in the drainage area and to permitted sewage inputs into the lagoon, both with its origin in the growing/running of the surrounding tourist complex.     

极地冰芯中记录的火山作用及其对气候的影响

大多数火山喷发以强酸 (主要是硫酸 )的形式在极地冰芯中留下痕迹 ,通过冰芯连续电导率 (ECM)或各个雪冰样品SO42 - 浓度测定能够恢复历史上的火山作用。极地冰芯中已知年代的火山喷发还可用于冰芯定年。极地冰芯记录的火山信号大小依赖于火山喷发的规模和类型 ,火山喷发的地理位置和酸性气体组成 ,大气气溶胶传输 ,以及沉降地点的年积累率和沉积后生过程等。单个火山喷发通常会导致数月至数年的半球乃至全球范围的气候相对变冷 (这种现象在极区变得更明显 ) ,但过去大规模的爆炸性火山喷发对气候的影响及其与气候变化之间的联系仍有待于进一步研究     

Drainage, sediment transport, and denudation rates on the Nanga Parbat Himalaya, Pakistan

The Nanga Parbat Himalaya presents some of the greatest relief on Earth, yet sediment production and denudation rates have only been sporadically addressed. We utilized field measurements and computer models to estimate bank full discharge, sediment transport, and denudation rates for the Raikot and Buldar drainage basins (north slope of Nanga Parbat) and the upper reach of the Rupal drainage basin (south slope).The overall tasks of determining stream flow conditions in such a dynamic geomorphic setting is challenging. No gage data exist for these drainage basins, and the overall character of the drainage basins (high relief, steep flow gradients, and turbulent flow conditions) does not lend itself to either ready access or complete profiling.Cross-sectional profiles were surveyed through selected reaches of these drainage basins. These data were then incorporated into software (WinXSPRO) that aids in the characterization (stage, discharge, velocity, and shear stress) of high altitude, steep mountain stream conditions.Complete field measurements of channel depths were rarely possible (except at several bridges where the middle of the channel could actually be straddled and probed) and, when coupled with velocity measurements, provided discrete points of field-measured discharge calculations. These points were then used to calibrate WinXSPRO results for the same reach and provided a confidence level for computer-generated results.Flow calculations suggest that under near bank full conditions, the upper Raikot drainage basin produces discharges of 61 cm and moves about 11,000 tons day⁻¹ (9980 tons day⁻¹) of sediment through its channel. Bank full conditions on the upper portion of the Rupal drainage basin generate discharges of 84 cm and moves only about 3800 tons day⁻¹ (3450 tons day⁻¹) of sediment. Although the upper Rupal drainage basin moves more water, the lower slope of the drainage basin (0.03) generates a much smaller shear stress (461 Pa) than does the higher slope (0.12) of the upper Raikot drainage basin (1925 Pa).Dissolved and suspended sediment loads were measured from water/sediment samples collected throughout the day and night over a period of 10 days at the height of the summer melt season but proved to be a minor variable in transport flux. Channel bed loads were measured using a pebble count method of bank material and then used to generate ratings curves of bed loads relative to discharge volumes. When coupled with discharge data and basin area, mean annual sediment yield and denudation rates for Nanga Parbat are produced. Denudation rates calculated in this fashion range from 0.2 mm year⁻¹ in the slower, more sluggish Rupal drainage basin to almost 6 mm year⁻¹ in the steeper, faster flowing Raikot and Buldar drainage basins.     

深海岩芯高分辨率的古环境记录-以南海北部陆坡17940-2柱状样为例

本文将深海岩芯高分辩率记录的替代性指标分为沉积型和生物型两类。沉积型替代性指标主要包括沉积物的粒度，沉积速率，粘土矿物；生物型替代性指标主要包括有孔虫，氧同位素，古水温，有机碳通量。对比研究发现，17940—2柱状样沉积物的粒度、沉积速率、有孔虫，氧同位素，古水温，有机碳通量等指标记录海洋环境变化信息程度优于其它替代性指标；沉积型替代性指标与生物型替代性指标记录海洋环境变化信息不同步；海洋环境变化的突变与渐变影响替代性指标记录的同步性。     

THE SEDIMENTATION AND DREDGING OF GUANTING RESERVOIR

1 INTRODUCTION Guanting Reservoir is located on the Yongding River (a large tributary of the Haihe River) and at the border of Beijing Municipality and Hebei Province. The reservoir receives three tributaries: the Sanggan River with a drainage area of 25,840 km2, the Yanghe River with 16,170 km2, and the Guishui River with 852 km2. The drainage area above the reservoir is 43,402 km2. The reservoir has two arms. The Sanggan River and Yanghe River join the Yongding River at the ups…