Variations in elastic thickness and flexure of the Maracaibo block

We estimate the lateral variations of the elastic thickness of the Maracaibo block with a 3D numerical approach by using centered finite differences. The calculation is based on solving the fourth-order partial differential equation that governs the bending of a thin plate fixed on its boundaries (zero displacement) with variable thickness (or elastic thickness for this particular case). An initial plate-load model is built and is iteratively modified to fit the general basement configuration and gravity data. The final result is an elastic thickness map that covers the Maracaibo block and the surrounding sections of the South American plate. It shows that the elastic thickness ranges from 30 km to 18 km with a mean value of 23.6 km and a mode of 26 km. The largest elastic thickness values are associated with the location of the Santa Marta Mountains and the Barinas Apure Basin, while the smallest ones with the Mérida Andes-Maracaibo Basin flexural system. The current basement configuration within the Maracaibo basin, formed as a result of its geodynamic evolution, has affected the mechanical properties of the Maracaibo block near the current Mérida Andes position. The load of the Perijá Range is compensated by a complex stress tensor, and that of the Santa Marta Mountains does not have an isostatic root as it is held by a relatively strong lithosphere.     

南海-热带东印度洋海温年际变化与南海季风爆发关系的初步分析

对５月东亚至热带东印度洋表面温度距平主要特征向量场的分析表明，以苏门答腊为中心的热带海洋温度异常与南海季风爆发有密切关系。当该海域海温较常年偏暖（冷）时，南海季风爆发往往迟（早），它可能是通过影响中南半岛与其南方热带海洋之间经向热力差异的变化来实现的。分析了从冬到夏南海－热带东印度洋海温距平主要特征向量场的时空演变，末夏初以苏门答腊为中心的热带海温距平场特征可以追溯到冬季南海海温场的变化，后者与南     

山东暴雨天气学预报指标的统计特征分析

采用山东省2000—2011年逐日、逐时降水资料和NCEP最终分析资料,研究了山东省暴雨天气学指标物理量的时空分布,获得了不同季节、区域和范围的暴雨预报指标特征。研究表明:山东暴雨有明显的夜间增强趋势。业务中常用的暴雨指标物理量均有不同程度的季节性变化特征,一方面表现在指标物理量的阈值有明显的季节性差异,例如暴雨的850 hPa比湿指标在4、5月仅为10 g·kg~(-1),而7月则可达14 g·kg~(-1);另一方面不同季节的水汽、动力和热力不稳定等因子对暴雨贡献也不尽相同,通常盛夏季节暴雨的水汽因子较高,而动力因子偏低,而且对流不稳定性较强,但斜压性减弱,其他季节的暴雨则相反。山东暴雨指标物理量的区域性差异没有季节性差异明显,同时各因子的区域差异也并不一致,具体来说鲁南暴雨需要更强的水汽,同时热力不稳定性因子也较高,K指数比其他区域约高0.5℃,而半岛地区暴雨动力因子更强。同时,大范围暴雨和区域暴雨需要更好的水汽条件、更强的动力条件,但对流不稳定条件较低,而局地暴雨则与此相反。     

新疆地区县(市)地震应急能力指标体系的建立与区域差异初探

从新疆地区地震活动性、灾害背景及区域协同联动应急模式出发,在遵循科学性、系统优化和可操作性及区域特性等原则的基础上,采用层次分析法建立了县级行政单元的地震应急能力评价指标体系;继而建立了基于基础设施条件、基础人力物力财力、(县级)专项能力和专项经验及基础环境背景4个一类指标集的县(市)绝对地震应急能力综合评价模型,并根据新疆地区4类人员问卷调查资料,计算和分析了样本支持条件下各指标的权重及结果,将其应用在新疆地区县(市)地震应急能力等级划分中。结果表明,地震应急能力的空间分布格局的产生与区域经济发展水平和地理位置等方面所具备的优势是相适应的,安居富民工程对提升区域地震应急能力发挥了重要作用,少数民族聚集区应急能力有待加强,寒旱、高海拔地区等特殊地理因素影响不可忽视。     

Global distribution of gaseous mercury in the troposphere

Atmospheric mercury concentrations were measured during a nautical expedition on the Atlantic Ocean between Hamburg (54°N, 10°E) and Santo Domingo (20°N, 67°W). In addition, samples were taken during flights on a commerical aircraft in the upper and middle troposphere between 60°N and 55°S, mostly over the Pacific Ocean. The data obtained in the lower troposphere over the Northern Atlantic show considerable variation in the Hg concentrations, with values ranging between 1 and 11 ng/m³; the average concentration was found to be 2.8 ng/m³. The upper tropospheric data show an interhemispheric difference with average values of 1.45 ng/m³ and 1.08 ng/m³ in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, respectively. This suggests that mercury production occurs predominantly over the continents both by natural and anthropogenic processes. The mercury content in aerosols was found to be 0.3 ng/m³, or one-tenth of the atmospheric concentration. The data indicate a mean residence time of mercury in the atmosphere of a few months to one year.     

FEM validation of a double porosity elastic model for consolidation of structurally complex clayey soils

Laboratory consolidation of structured clayey soils is analysed in this paper. The research is carried out by two different methods. The first one treats the soil as an isotropic homogeneous equivalent Double Porosity (DP) medium. The second method rests on the extensive application of the Finite Element Method (FEM) to combinations of different soils, composing 2D or fully 3D ordered structured media that schematically discretize the complex material. Two reference problems, representing typical situations of 1D laboratory consolidation of structured soils, are considered. For each problem, solution is obtained through integration of the equations governing the consolidation of the DP medium as well as via FEM applied to the ordered schemes composed of different materials. The presence of conventional experimental devices to ensure the drainage of the sample is taken into account through appropriate boundary conditions. Comparison of FEM results with theoretical results clearly points out the ability of the DP model to represent consolidation processes of structurally complex soils. Limits of applicability of the DP model may arise when the rate of fluid exchange between the two porous systems is represented through oversimplified relations. Results of computations, obtained having assigned reasonable values to the meso‐structural and to the experimental apparatus parameters, point out that a partially efficient drainage apparatus strongly influences the distribution along the sample and the time evolution of the interstitial water pressure acting in both systems of pores. Data of consolidation tests in a Rowe's cell on samples of artificially fissured clays reported in the literature are compared with the analytical and numerical results showing a significant agreement. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

长江中游经济带区域经济差异及其时空演变特征

以长江中游经济带的鄱阳湖生态经济区、皖江城市带、武汉城市圈、长株潭城市群各地级市为研究单元,以1995-2011年常住人口总数、总GDP和人均GDP为测度指标,采用标准差、变异系数、泰尔指数、空间自相关等方法,在ArcGIS及GeoDA等软件的支持下,从时空角度分析了研究区域经济差异及其演变特征。结果表明：从时间演变特征看,长江中游经济带总体发展水平不断上升,绝对经济差异在不断扩大,且这种扩大趋势从2000年后逐步增强;相对经济差异不显著,4个经济区中1995-2003年武汉城市圈经济相对发展最快,鄱阳湖生态经济区发展最慢,2003-2011年皖江城市带发展最快,武汉城市圈发展速度有所下降;各经济区内部经济差异不断扩大,其中武汉城市圈内部经济差异最大。从空间演变特征看,区域内经济发展的空间差异逐渐加大,空间集聚趋势越来越弱,扩散效应逐渐增强,高水平发展的城市出现极化现象,中心城市的辐射带动作用不强。交通区位、区域政策、中心城市的联动、资源禀赋与产业结构是引起区域经济差异的主要原因。     

大学英语教学中文化导入要素的选择

在研究英美文化实用语料基础上,论述了在大学英语教学中必须导入生态、宗教、物质、社会、知识、观念、历史、海洋八种文化要素,以及其作为必须导入的首要因素与英语教学的有机联系。     

GENDER,RACE, AND COMMUTING AMONG SERVICE SECTOR WORKERS*

The generality that women work closer to home and have shorter commuting times than men needs to be assessed for racial groups. Statistical analysis of commuting times for a large sample of service workers in the New York metropolitan area shows that black and hispanic women commute as far as their male counterparts and their commuting times far exceed those of white men and women. Workplace factors, such as income, occupation, and job accessibility, are important in explaining these findings.