Old inherited origin for the present near-bimodal topography of Africa

Africa’s landscape is dominated by a manifold of second-order epeirogenic structures superimposed on a first-order bimodal topography. Bivariate regression analysis of Africa’s surface topography shows that this is a complexly folded surface with regionally elevated areas in southern and eastern Africa, and a topographically low northern and western Africa. The apparent spatial relationships between these features are analysed using anomaly correlation between surface topography and free-air gravity anomalies. Occurrences of positively correlated features between gravity and topography in Africa are found to be limited to second-order epeirogenic features. Geophysical modelling and geologic evidence indicate that Africa’s bimodal topography is genetically distinct from these second-order features, and linked to sources as deep as the sublithospheric mantle. The age, measured and modelled elevation of the bimodal topography require that topographic uplift of south-central Africa be episodic. We infer from our findings together with relative sea-level changes, that the near-bimodality of Africa’s topography is an ancient feature inherited at least from upper Paleozoic times. Our reconstructed paleotopography suggests that Africa was largely a low-lying continent dominated by its cratons, and that basement distribution disregards the present-day uplift patterns of Africa.     

中国西部退耕还林(草)和沙漠化土地绿化的区域性气候效应

中国正在实施的西部大开发必将导致较大规模的土地利用和地表覆盖(LULC)变化,其中最重要的两类LULC变化是退耕还林(草)和沙漠化土地绿化工程。利用最新的全球地表特征资料数据库(GLCCD)识别以上两项生态建设工程的实施规模与范围,并以此更新了目前比较流行的区域气候模式的下边界条件,利用修正了的区域气候模式研究上述大规模LULC变化可能对中国区域性气候造成的影响。使用的卫星资源数据库是由美国地质测绘局(USGS)和Nebraska-Lincoln大学牵头,根据NOAA卫星的AVHRR资料、USGS掌握的高分辨率数字化地图,以及生态区划和植被分布等资料组建的。     

辽宁西部地区地震前后重力异常反映

采用高精度拉科斯特重力仪在辽宁西部地区进行多期重力重复测量，获得了较为丰富的基础资料，通过对资料的分析与研究，进一步加深了辽宁西部地区重力场变化的认识。特别是１９９４年１０月和１９９６年７月，在测区内及其附近相继发生ＭＬ４．９级和ＭＬ５．０级地震。而这两次地震为１９８８年以来在辽宁西部地区发生的最大地震。通过对该区流动重力资料空间上和时间上的研究分析，从中获得了震前重力变化的某些前兆信息。通过对该     

Lower-crustal rifting in the Rukwa Graben, East Africa

An M_w 5.9 earthquake occurred in the Lake Rukwa rift, Tanzania, on 1994 August 18, and was well recorded by 20 broad-band seismic stations at distances of 160 to 800 km and 21 broad-band stations at teleseismic distances. The regional and teleseismic waveforms have been used to investigate the source characteristics of the main shock, and also to locate aftershocks that occurred within three weeks of the main shock. Teleseismic body-wave modelling yields the following source parameters for the main shock: source depth of 25 ± 2 km, a normal fault orientation, with a horizontal tension axis striking NE-SW and an almost vertical pressure axis (Nodal Plane I: strike 126°–142°, dip 63°–66°, and rake 280°–290°; Nodal Plane II: strike 273°–289°, dip 28°–31°, and rake 235°–245°), a scalar moment of 4.1 times 10¹⁷ N m, and a 2 s impulsive source time function. Four of the largest aftershocks also nucleated at depths of 25 km, as deduced from regional sPmp–Pmp times. The nodal planes are broadly consistent with the orientation of both the Lupa and Ufipa faults, which bound the Rukwa rift to the northeast and southwest, respectively. The rupture radius of the main shock, assuming a circular fault, is estimated to be 4 km with a corresponding stress drop of 6.5 MPa. Published estimates of crustal thickness beneath the Rukwa rift indicate that the foci of the main shock and aftershocks lie at least 10 km above the Moho. The presence of lower-crustal seismicity beneath the Rukwa rift suggests that the pre-rift thermal structure of the rifted crust has not been strongly modified by the rifting, at least to depths of 25 km.     

FARMING THE FOREST EDGE: VULNERABLE PLACES AND PEOPLE AROUND KIBALE NATIONAL PARK,UGANDA

ABSTRACT. Subsistence farmers near Kibale National Park, Uganda, fear and resent many wildlife species. In this article I compare records of crop damage by wildlife and livestock with local complaints about the worst animals and the most vulnerable crops. I discuss the concordance and discrepancies in complaints versus actual damage in light of physical parameters of risk and of social factors that shape perceptions and vulnerabilities. Crop losses were greatest at the edge of the forest, where immigrants are disproportionately represented. State proprietorship of wildlife amplifies local vulnerability and constrains traditional coping strategies, such as hunting.     

造山带弧形构造——西昆仑—帕米尔弧及其预测

对比利牛斯等造山带典型弧形构造的分析表明,弧形构造是造山带尤其是板内碰撞造山带的普遍特征,可分为挤压逆冲-推覆主动型构造和推覆-滑覆被动型弧形构造。西昆仑—帕米尔是与比利牛斯Basque弧在空间形态、运动学及动力学特征等方面一致的挤压逆冲-推覆主动型弧形构造,推测该弧中部存在一巨大的底部低角度逆掩断层并由根部带向北延伸达100多公里,康西瓦断裂(基底缝合带)可能是主根部逆冲断层带。     

西菲律宾海沉积物稀土元素地球化学

对取自西菲律宾海区3个沉积物柱样（WP1、WP2和WP40）的32个样品的稀土元素（REE）地球化学行为进行了系统的研究。区内沉积物表现出以下特征：①稀土元素含量及总量（ZREE）较低，WP1、WP2和WP40孔的ΣREE依次为72．91×10－6，54．15×10－6和54．18×10－6，REE在粘土粒级中得到了较大富集；②REE球粒陨石标准化的分布模式曲线表现为负斜率，富集轻稀土，WP1、WP2和WP40孔LREE／HREE比值平均值为37．36，26．33和17．16，页岩标准化曲线大致呈水平；③与球粒陨石和页岩相比，Ce都表现为强烈的亏损；以球粒陨石为标准，WP40孔表现为弱的Eu正异常，其他两孔表现为弱的Eu负异常；以页岩为标准，皆显示Eu正异常；④ΣREE纵向变化曲线与CaCO3旋回曲线有良好的对应关系。上述特征表明：①沉积物的来源复杂，有陆源、火山源、生物源和自生源，在所研究的三个孔中，WP1孔含有较多的陆源物质，WP2和WP40含有较多的火山物质；②被粘土吸附是本区REE重要的存在形式；③沉积物形成环境为氧化条件；④据ΣREE的纵向变化曲线与CaCO3旋回曲线，将本区沉积物自下而上划分为末次冰期亚间冰期沉积、冰期最盛期沉积和全新世沉积。     

The Uplift of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Subsidence of the West Sichuan Foreland Basin

Based on fission track dating of apatite, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance of rock samples from the Longmenshan (Longmen Mountain)area and the West Sichuan foreland basin and computer modelling it is concluded that (l)the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at least by 3-4 km with an uplift rate of no less than 0.3-0.4 mm/a since 10 Ma B.P.; (2) the Longmenshan thrust nappe belt has uplifted at least by 5-6 km with an uplift rate of more than 0.5- 0.6 mm /a since 10 Ma B.P.; (3) the Longmenshan detachment belt has uplifted by 1 - 2 km at a rate of 0.016-0.032 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (4) the West Sichuan foreland basin has uplifted by 1.7-3 km at a rate of 0.028-0.05 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (5) the uplift rate of the area on the west side of the Beichuan-Yingxiu-Xiaoguanzi fault for the last 10 Ma is 40 times as much as that on its east side; (6) the uplifting of the the Songpan - Garze fold belt and the subsidence of the West Sichuan foreland basin 60 Ma ago exhibit a mirro-image correlation, i.e     

The fountains of Pretoria

The occurrence of groundwater in South Africa is to a very large degree limited to a surficial zone of weathered and fractured hard rock formations. Primary aquifers include narrow strips of alluvium along certain river stretches and to Cenozoic coastal deposits. Coupled with a rainfall that is well below the world average, South Africa is therefore poorly endowed with large springs. These are almost totally confined to karst areas.     

鄂西震旦系上统含磷岩系的划分与对比

上震旦统陡山沱组是鄂西地区最具工业价值的含磷地层。著名的磷矿有荆襄磷矿、宜昌磷矿、兴(山)神(农架)保(康)磷矿。迄今已有20多年的勘探史,但由于各矿区研究程度不一,又缺古生物依据,亦不能依靠同位素年龄来作划分对比,故在地层及磷矿层的划分、对比上认识不一。笔者结合磷矿特征及含磷岩系岩类组合、剖面结构特点、稀土元素特征等,将本区划分为4个磷矿分布区,将陡山沱组划分为3个岩性段、5个含磷层位。