Determination of the regional deformation rates of Shanghai and Kashima VLBI stations based on ITRF97

The vertical deformation rates (VDRs) and horizontal deformation rates (HDRs) of Shanghai VLBI station in China and Kashima and Kashima34 VLBI stations in Japan were re-analysed using the baseline length change rates from Shanghai to 13 global VLBI stations, and from Kashima to 27 stations and from Kashima34 to 12 stations, based on the NASA VLBI global solution glb1123 (Ma, 1999). The velocity vectors of the global VLBI stations were referred to the ITRF97 reference frame, and the Eulerian vectors of different models of plate motion were used for comparative solutions. The VDR of Shanghai station is estimated to be −1.91±0.56 mm/yr, and those of Kashima and Kashima34 stations, −3.72±0.74mm/yr and −8.81±0.84mm/yr, respectively. The difference between the last two was verified by further analysis. Similar estimates were also made for the Kokee, Kauai and MK_VLBA VLBI stations in mid-Pacific.     

CATASTROPHIC ECO-ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IN THE SONGNEN PLAIN, NORTHEASTERN CHINA SINCE 1900S

Although the Songnen Plain in the northeastern China was developed relatively late in the temperate zone of the world, its eco-environment has changed greatly. This paper analyzes the changes of land cover and the rates and trends ofdesertification during the past 100 years in the Songnen Plain. According to the macroscopic analysis, we find that the eco-environment in the plain has reached to the threshold of catastrophic change since the 1950s. The Thorn Needle Catastrophic Model was used to determine and validate this conclusion. Human activities, including large-scale construction projects, such as huge dams and dikes, and excessive grazing were the primary factors contributing to regional eco-environmental catastrophe. And irrational reclamation of the wilderness also affected the eco-environmental change. The results reveal the complex human-land interactions.     

Morphological characters of the two-ribbon flare of 1981 May 13 and their explanation

We give a summary of the morphology of the two-ribbon flare of 1981 May 13. One striking feature is that the Ha flare began at about 0338' UT and the double-ribbon structure was formed about 0346, $\text{before}$ the impulsive phase of the radio 3 cm burst at 04 11 UT. The 3 cm radio burst flux beginning at 03 33 UT showed only slow, stepwise increases lasting half an hour until the impulsive phase and this type of increase is usually regarded to be a typical thermal process. Each step in the radio flux corresponded to a variation in the Ha flare, showing that the radio and Hα emissions during this period came from the same thermal source. In this paper, we explain this behaviour in terms of Hyder's model: we think that the magnetic trough supporting the solar prominence rose for some reason, causing the prominence matter (the dark filaments) to fall along the magnetic lines and to hit the chromosphere and trigger off the flare. We give rough estimates of the energy density, the height of prominence and the infall matter at the different radio increments. We also give a qualitative explanation for the appearances of the single-peak structure in the radio burst at 0411 and the covering of the sunspot shortly after at 04 13 and propose several possible mechanisms.     

OQ208, a non-ideal VLBI calibrator of flux density

OQ208 is used ore and more frequently as a VLBI calibrator of flux density. A VLBI image of OQ208 at 5 GHz is firstly provided in this paper. Its structure consists of a compact core and a component. The angular distance between the core and the component is about 7 milli-arcsecond; the position angle is −125 degrees. In principle, OQ208 is not an ideal VLBI calibrator of flux density. This paper provides the structural information for correcting the structure effect when OQ208 is to be used as a calibrator.     

DCMT光电扫描主测微器的设计与研究

DCMT主测微器不同于其它类型的子午环测微器,它具有自校准测定仪器参数的功能。该测微器采用了活动光栅的方案,其优点是能观测近极星和各类准直像;活动光栅另一个显著优点是不同赤纬星几乎可用相同的观测时间.对“V”形光栅的工作原理和误差进行了详细讨论,并给出了一组严格的公式。其系统误差来源有:光栅形状改正、光栅驱动方向相对于光栅的倾斜、光栅驱动方向相对于赤径方向的倾斜、星径曲率改正。     

A taxonomical and ecological survey of rotiffer communities in Krottensee (Austria)

The composition and distribution of benthic, periphytic and planktonic rotifers in different habitats in Krottensee were investigated. Sixty-five rotifer taxa were identified, their relative abundance estimated. Classification of the data set by cluster analysis allowed the recognition of distinct habitat groups confined to acid bog ponds, macrophytes, sediments and open water. Five groups of rotifer taxa were identified on the basis of their habitat preferences and the occurrence of the taxa. Highest diversities were found on macrophytes and in acid bog ponds.     

Development-Conservation Dilemma in the NilgiriMountains of South India

The Nilgiri Mountains of south India is considered unique by anthropologists, geologists, climatologists, botanists as well as tourists. It has remained a subject of constant study and research over the last two centuries. Man-nature balance had continued undisturbed in the Nilgiris for thousands of years until the early 19th century when it became a British colony attracting, in due course, various developmental activities. Subsequently, the Nilgiris and its popular hill stations emerged as favourite places for the British population in India for rest and recuperation, game and for raising commercial plantations. In the process, the traditional indigenous crops were replaced by “English“ vegetables and the natural forests gave way to commercial plantations of coffee, tea and other exotic species of trees.     

Development and Extension of Seawater Desalination by Reverse Osmosis

Seawater desalination has been people‘s fond dream since ancient times,the dream is now becoming a reality.This paper presents a brief development history of reverse osmosis.Much attention was paid to innovative development in mebranes,modules.equipments and applied technology,including asymmetric and composite membranes,spiral-wound element and hollow fiber module,energy recovery equipments and different technological processes.The extension of reverse osmosis,such as desalination,pre-concentration,integrated processes and nanofiltration,is also briefly mentioned.     

The distribution of QSO absorption lines and its implications

The distribution of L absorption lines has been investigated in the fractal scheme. It is found that (1) the L absorption clouds distribute completely different from that of galaxies; (2) the L absorption clouds are anti-associated with galaxies and quasars. These results may imply that there are two kinds of objects formed by different processes of clustering. This is favourable for the cosmic-string theory on the formation of large-scale structure of the Universe. In the string model, the objects can be divided into two kinds according to their clustering with or without string loops as their initial density perturbation.On leave from the Center of Astrophysics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, P.R. China. Y. Chu is a research fellow of Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation.     

Relationship between footwall composition,crustal contamination,and fluid–rock interaction in the Platreef,Bushveld Complex,South Africa

In the northern limb of the 2.06-Ga Bushveld Complex, the Platreef is a platinum group elements (PGE)-, Cu-, and Ni-mineralized zone of pyroxenite that developed at the intrusion margin. From north to south, the footwall rocks of the Platreef change from Archaean granite to dolomite, hornfels, and quartzite. Where the footwall is granite, the Sr-isotope system is more strongly perturbed than where the footwall is Sr-poor dolomite, in which samples show an approximate isochron relationship. The Nd-isotope system for samples of pyroxenite and hanging wall norite shows an approximate isochron relationship with an implied age of 2.17 ± 0.2 Ga and initial Nd-isotope ratio of 0.5095. Assuming an age of 2.06 Ga, the ɛNd values range from −6.2 to −9.6 (ave. −7.8, n = 17) and on average are slightly more negative than the Main Zone of the Bushveld. These data are consistent with local contamination of an already contaminated magma of Main Zone composition. The similarity in isotope composition between the Platreef pyroxenites and the hanging wall norites suggests a common origin. Where the country rock is dolomite, the Platreef has generally higher plagioclase and pyroxene δ ¹⁸O values, and this indicates assimilation of the immediate footwall. Throughout the Platreef, there is considerable petrographic evidence for sub-solidus interaction with fluids, and the Δ _{plagioclase–pyroxene} values range from −2 to +6, which indicates interaction at both high and low temperatures. Whole-rock and mineral δD values suggest that the Platreef interacted with both magmatic and meteoric water, and the lack of disturbance to the Sr-isotope system suggests that fluid–rock interaction took place soon after emplacement. Where the footwall is granite, less negative δD values suggest a greater involvement of meteoric water. Consistently higher values of Δ _{plagioclase–pyroxene} in the Platreef pyroxenites and hanging wall norites in contact with dolomite suggest prolonged interaction with CO₂-rich fluid derived from decarbonation of the footwall rocks. The overprint of post crystallization fluid–rock interaction is the probable cause of the previously documented lack of correlation between PGE and sulfide content on the small scale. The Platreef in contact with dolomite is the focus of the highest PGE grades, and this suggests that dolomite contamination played a role in PGE concentration and deposition, but the exact link remains obscure. It is a possibility that the CO₂ produced by decarbonation of assimilated dolomite enhanced the process of PGE scavenging by sulfide precipitation.