Developing markets for water reallocation: Revisiting the experience of Spanish water mercantilización

Economic instruments are being promoted as a desirable alternative to public sector action in the allocation and management of natural resources. A wide body of literature has developed that critically analyzes this phenomenon as part of a wider project of ‘neoliberalization of nature’, trying to uncover the underlying rationale and commonalities of geographically specific phenomena. The case of water is at the vanguard of these processes and is proving to be particularly contentious. In the European Union water policies are increasingly emphasizing the application of economic instruments to improve the allocative equity and economic efficiency in the use of scarce resources. However, there are few analyses of how these instruments are really working on the ground and whether they are meeting their objectives. This paper aims to contribute to this debate by critically analyzing the experience with water markets in Spain, the only country in the European Union where they are operative. It looks at water permit sales during the 2005–2008 drought period using the Tajo–Segura transfer infrastructure. The paper describes how the institutional process of mercantilización of water works in practice in Spain. It shows that the use of markets requires an intense process of institutional development to facilitate and encourage their operation. These institutions tend to favor the interests of clearly identifiable elites, instead of the public interest they supposedly promote.     

Deep water ventilation traced by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechococcus</Emphasis> cyanobacteria

The paper describes a finding of photoautotroph cyanobacteria Synechococcus in deep Adriatic waters during the spring of 2006. The maximum abundance in early May was positioned at 800 m, being of order of the values referred for the surface waters in the Adriatic Sea. The deep abundance maximum has been associated to the fast ventilation of deep Adriatic waters, usually occurring during wintertime strong cooling events. Two processes were detected: (1) deep convection in the South Adriatic Pit (SAP) and (2) density current going downslope. The first process was responsible for bringing the cyanobacteria down to 600-m depth in the area of convection, and the second one triggered the downslope transport of the cyanobacteria to the SAP very bottom. The depletion rate of Synechoccocus cyanobacteria in an extremely hostile environment has been computed to equal about 1 month.     

Coherence algorithm with a high-resolution time–time transform and feature matrix for seismic data

Traditional coherence algorithms are often based on the assumption that seismic traces are stationary and Gaussian. However, seismic traces are actually non-stationary and non-Gaussian. A constant time window and the canonical correlation analysis in traditional coherence algorithms are not optimal for non-stationary seismic traces and cannot describe the similarity between adjacent seismic traces in detail. To overcome this problem, a new coherence algorithm using the high-resolution time–time transform and the feature matrix is designed. The high-resolution time–time transform used to replace the constant time window can produce a frequency-dependent time local series to analyse non-stationary seismic traces. The feature matrix, constructed by the frequency-dependent time local series and the related local gradients, defines a new correlation metric that enhances more details of the geological discontinuities in seismic images than does the canonical correlation analysis. Additionally, the Riemannian metric is introduced for related calculations because the feature matrices are not defined in a Euclidean space but rather in a manifold space. Application to field data illustrates that the proposed method reveals more details of structural and stratigraphic features.     

Is the soil moisture precipitation feedback enhanced by heterogeneity and dry soils? A comparative study

The interaction between the land surface and the atmosphere is a crucial driver of atmospheric processes. Soil moisture and precipitation are key components in this feedback. Both variables are intertwined in a cycle, that is, the soil moisture – precipitation feedback for which involved processes and interactions are still discussed. In this study the soil moisture – precipitation feedback is compared for the sempiternal humid Ammer catchment in Southern Germany and for the semiarid to subhumid Sissili catchment in West Africa during the warm season, using precipitation datasets from the Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS), from the German Weather Service (REGNIE) and simulation datasets from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and the hydrologically enhanced WRF-Hydro model. WRF and WRF-Hydro differ by their representation of terrestrial water flow. With this setup we want to investigate the strength, sign and variables involved in the soil moisture – precipitation feedback for these two regions. The normalized model spread between the two simulation results shows linkages between precipitation variability and diagnostic variables surface fluxes, moisture flux convergence above the surface and convective available potential energy in both study regions. The soil moisture – precipitation feedback is evaluated with a classification of soil moisture spatial heterogeneity based on the strength of the soil moisture gradients. This allows us to assess the impact of soil moisture anomalies on surface fluxes, moisture flux convergence, convective available potential energy and precipitation. In both regions the amount of precipitation generally increases with soil moisture spatial heterogeneity. For the Ammer region the soil moisture – precipitation feedback has a weak negative sign with more rain near drier patches while it has a positive signal for the Sissili region with more rain over wetter patches. At least for the observed moderate soil moisture values and the spatial scale of the Ammer region, the spatial variability of soil moisture is more important for surface-atmosphere interactions than the actual soil moisture content. Overall, we found that soil moisture heterogeneity can greatly affect the soil moisture – precipitation feedback.     

Mesozoic–Cenozoic stress field magnitude in Sichuan Basin,China and its adjacent areas and the implication on shale gas reservoir: Determination by acoustic emission in rocks

The Sichuan Basin is one of the vital basins in China, boasting abundant hydrocarbon reservoirs. To clarify the intensity of the tectonic stress field of different tectonic episodes since the Mesozoic and to identify the regional dynamic background of different tectonic movements in the Sichuan Basin and its adjacent areas, the characteristics of the acoustic emission in rocks in different strata of these areas were researched in this paper. Meanwhile, the tectonic stress magnitude in these areas since the Mesozoic was restored. The laws state that the tectonic stress varied with depth was revealed, followed by the discussion of the influence of structural stress intensity on structural patterns in different tectonic episodes. These were conducted based on the paleostress measurement by acoustic emission method and the inversion principle of the stress fields in ancient periods and the present, as well as previous research achievements. The results of this paper demonstrate that the third episode of Yanshanian Movement (Yanshanian III) had the maximum activity intensity and tremendously influenced the structural pattern in the study area. The maximum horizontal principal stress of Yanshanian III varied with depth as follows: 0.0168 x + 37.001 (MPa), R² = 0.8891. The regional structural fractures were mainly formed in Yanshanian III in Xujiahe Formation, west Sichuan Basin, of which the maximum paleoprincipal stress ranging from 85.1 MPa to 120.1 MPa. In addition, the law stating the present maximum horizontal principal stress varies with depth was determined to be 0.0159 x+10.221 (MPa), R²=0.7868 in Wuling Mountain area. Meanwhile, it was determined to be 0.0221 x+9.4733 (MPa), R²=0.9121 in the western part of Xuefeng Mountain area and 0.0174 x+10.247 (MPa), R²=0.8064 in the whole study area. These research results will not only provide data for the simulation of stress field, the evaluation of deformation degree, and the prediction of structural fractures, but also offer absolute geological scientific bases for the elevation of favorable shale gas preservation.     

二连浩特市水资源与经济社会和谐度评价

以二连浩特市人水关系为研究对象,从取水总量和谐度、用水效率和谐度、水生态环境保护和谐度三个方面构建了二连浩特市水资源与经济社会和谐度评价体系。从评价结果可以看出,二连浩特市开展节水型社会建设以来,水资源与经济社会和谐度发生了较显著的改善。评价体系较好地反映了二连浩特市水资源与经济社会和谐度,对北方干旱缺水地区节水型社会建设具有借鉴意义。     

无机生油假说及其在中国的应用前景

无机生油假说认为,原油和天然气和近地表的生物物质没有根本联系,它们是生成于地幔内的非生物来源的碳氢化合物。因而油气不是一个不可再生资源,而是一个可再生资源。无机生油假说得到地质学、物理学和化学等三个基本学科的支持。在地质观察上,发现全球许多大油田的油气储藏与原始生物物质之间数量上有巨大落差,难于解释它们是由生物生成的。此外,有许多地区在结晶基底或变质基底内,或直接位于其上的沉积岩中发现石油。从生物生油假说来说,也是无法理解的。在化学上,早在二战期间,德国已由人工合成石油(费托合成),并生产了占德国战争中用油的9%的石油。无可争辩地说明,无机可以生成石油。根据化学(物理学)热力学理论分析确认,甲烷是唯一一种在标准温压条件(温度为298.15 K;压力为101325 Pa)下稳定的碳氢化合物,从甲烷形成正常烷属烃只有在压力>3×106kPa、温度>700°C时(相当于地下深度约100 km)才有可能。在地壳内的温压条件下由生物变质形成石油的假说,与化学热力学的基本原则相抵触。从氧化的有机分子,如碳水化合物(C6H12O6)形成较高的碳氢化合物在任何条件下都是不可能的。根据我国长期对深部构造的研究,笔者认为在中国东部及西太平洋蘑菇云岩石圈地幔发育的地区是寻找巨型无机油气田的有利地区,建议在发育蘑菇云岩石圈地幔地区开展无机油气田的勘探,并在无机油气田远景地区布置超深参数钻,以评价含油气远景。另外建议加强物探工作,尤其是研究地震勘探处理基底内三维含油气构造的技术。     

The upper Cenomanian–lower Turonian carbonate platform of the Preafrican Trough,Morocco: Biostratigraphic,paleoecological and paleobiogeographical distribution of ostracods

The upper Cenomanian–lower Turonian paleoenvironments of the Preafrican Trough carbonate platform is characterized by analyzing the structure of the ostracod assemblages and the information provided by other groups, and also by linking together the paleontological and geochemical data (detrital influx-redox-paleoproductivity proxies, δ¹³C curve). Two different domains (eastern and western) can be recognized on the platform during the late Cenomanian, before the onset of the OAE2. The western domain corresponds to a low-energy environment developed on a mid and/or outer ramp with hypoxic waters, low detrital influx and low paleoproductivity. The paleoecological assemblages show limited specific diversity but variable density. The ostracods are opportunistic and unspecialized (r strategists), being associated with Buliminidae, surface and intermediate-water planktonic foraminifera, and fishes. The eastern domain corresponds to an inner ramp and/or peritidal environment with oxic waters, low detrital influx and low paleoproductivity, developed in a higher energy environment with paleoecological assemblages showing high diversity but variable density. The ostracods are more specialized (K strategists), being represented by diverse and constant assemblages associated with diversified benthic foraminifera, calcareous sponges and echinoderms, as well as intermediate- and deep-water planktonic foraminifera. The onset of the OAE2 has no influence on the western ostracod assemblages, but leads to the decline of the ostracod fauna and the disappearance of the deep-water planktonic foraminifera in the eastern domain. During the early Turonian, after the OAE2, the platform becomes an outer ramp with increased paleoproductivity, but is associated with a decrease of taxonomic diversity in hypoxic waters. The ostracods are very sparse and unspecialized, associated with siliceous sponges, Buliminidae, surface-living planktonic foraminifera, fishes and pelagic crinoids. Marine paleobiogeographic communication is relatively easy across the carbonate platforms between the Preafrican Trough and other Moroccan regions, as well as between Morocco and different parts of the South Tethyan and East Atlantic margins belonging to the Cenomanian–Turonian South Tethyan Ostracod Province (STOP). Thirteen new species are described: Cytherella tazzouguertensis n. sp., Bairdiacypris chaabetensis n. sp., Bythocypris amelkisensis n. sp., Pontocypris tadighoustensis n. sp., Procytherura? elongatissima n. sp., Loxoconcha akrabouensis n. sp., Hemiparacytheridea sagittaemucronata n. sp., Rehacythereis errachidiaensis n. sp., Rehacythereis zizensis n. sp., Veenia (Nigeria) tardaensis n. sp., Veenia (Nigeria) mediacostarobusta n. sp., Xestoleberis? preafricanensis n. sp., and Xestoleberis circinatus n. sp.     

关于美声唱法的几个认识问题

美声唱法是一种科学的、具有代表性的歌唱方法。我国目前对美声唱法的学习和认识存在许多不足。分析了美声唱法在我国的现状,对美声唱法的科学性、民族化、时代性等方面存在的问题进行了探索与思考,提出了自己的认识。     

Mineral chemistry of Plio-Quaternary subvolcanic rocks,southwest Yazd Province,Iran

The NW–SE-trendingLate Cretaceous–Cenozoic Urumieh-Dokhtar Magmatic Arc (UDMA) in southwest Iran hosts numerous Plio-Quaternary subvolcanic porphyritic andesitic to rhyodacitic domes intruded into a variety of rock sequences. Bulk-rock geochemical data show that the calc-alkaline dacitic to rhyodacitic subvolcanic rocks share compositional affinities with high-silica adakites, including high ratios of Na₂O/K₂O >1, Sr/Y (most >70), and La/Yb (>35), high Al₂O₃ (>15 wt.%), low Yb (<1.8 ppm) and Y (<18 ppm) contents, no significant Eu anomalies, and flat to gently upward-sloping chondrite-normalized heavy rare-earth element (HREE) patterns. All analysed rocks are characterized by enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSEs). They also display typical features of subduction-related calc-alkaline magmas. In chondrite-normalized rare-earth element patterns, the light rare-earth elements (LREEs) are enriched ((La/Sm) _N = 3.49–7.89) in comparison to those of the HREE ((Gd/Yb) _N = 1.52–2.38). Except for the G-Aliabad Dome, plagioclase crystals in the Shamsabad, Ostaj, Abdollah, and Bouragh Domes are mostly oligoclase to andesine (An_19–49). Amphibole and biotite are abundant ferromagnesian minerals in the subvolcanic rocks. Calcic amphiboles are dominantly magnesiohornblende, magnesiohastingsite, and tschermakite with Mg/(Mg + Fe_tot) ratios ranging from 0.58 to 0.78. In all the studied domes, amphiboles are typically ferric iron-rich, but that those the Shamsabad Dome have the highest Fe³⁺/(Fe³⁺ + Fe²⁺) ratios, between 0.69 and 0.98. Amphiboles from the Ostaj and Shamsabad Domes are relatively rich in F (0.39–1.01 wt.%) in comparison to the other studied domes. This phase commonly shows pargasitic and hastingsitic substitutions with a combination of tschermakitic and edenitic types.

Temperature-corrected Al-in-hornblende data show that amphibole phenocrysts from the Ostaj, Abdollah, and G-Aliabad Domes crystallized at pressures ranging from 2.14 to 3.42 kbar, 3.49 to 3.96 kbar, and 2.02 to 3.47 kbar, respectively. Temperatures of crystallization calculated with the amphibole–plagioclase thermometer for the Ostaj, Abdollah, and G-Aliabad subvolcanic domes range from 735°C to 826°C (mean = 786 ± 29), 778°C to 808°C (mean = 791 ± 13), and 866°C to 908°C (mean = 885 ± 12), respectively. In the annite–siderophyllite–phlogopite–eastonite quadrilateral, biotite from the G-Aliabad, Bouragh, and Ostaj Domes are characterized by relatively low total Al contents with variable Fe_tot/(Fe_tot + Mg) values from 0.26 to 0.43. All biotite analyses define a nearly straight line in the X _Mg versus Fe_tot plot, with r = –0.96 correlation coefficient. In comparison to other domes, the F content of biotite from the G-Aliabad Dome shows high concentrations in the range of 1.80–2.57 wt.% (mean = 2.20). Inferred pre-eruptive conditions based on the calcic amphibole thermobarometric calculations for the Shamsabad, Abdollah, and Ostaj Domes show that the calc-alkaline subvolcanic magma chamber, on average, was characterized by a water content of 6.10 wt.%, a relatively high oxygen fugacity of 10^–10.66 (ΔNNO + 1.28), a temperature of 896°C, and a pressure of 2.75 kbar.