Models in geography revisited

Agent based models (ABMs) have many applications, and illustrate a rapidly developing field of enquiry, spanning both the physical-mathematical and human-social sciences. ABMs are seen as most appropriate in situations where decisions or actions are distributed around particular locations, and in which structure is viewed as emergent from the interaction between individuals. ABMs may be used either as representational devices, to reproduce the patterns observed or desired in the system of interest, or as foundational tools contributing to the development of social or economic theory. The role and status of models and modelling is itself an instantiation of a wider debate concerning representation and explanation. Today, a case can be made that the nature of explanation and the use of scientific interpretation reflect much less definite and exclusive positions and permit more diverse approaches than hitherto. The underlying proposition of this commentary is, therefore, that the time is right for a positive application of ABMs within the discipline of geography, and for a rediscovery and reappraisal of the richness and depth of insight in the model-building enterprise more generally. First, the context for ABM development and application is set with reference to the agency-structure debate. Second, some aspects of the heritage of models in geography is presented, based upon reviews of two benchmark publications bearing that title. Next, some of the most significant characteristics, uses, potentials and limitations of ABMs, are reviewed. Finally, some constructive ways forward are suggested, as informed by theory and method from the interpretative social sciences.     

Cation distribution and structure modelling of spinel solid solutions

 This paper presents an improved generalisation of cation distribution determination based on an accurate fit of all crystal-chemical parameters. Cations are assigned to the tetrahedral and octahedral sites of the structure according to their scattering power and a set of bond distances optimised for spinel structure. A database of 295 spinels was prepared from the literature and unpublished data. Selected compositions include the following cations: Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Si⁴⁺, Ti⁴⁺, V³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺, Mn³⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺ and vacancies. Bond distance optimisation reveals a definite lengthening in tetrahedral distance when large amounts of Fe³⁺ or Ni²⁺ are present in the octahedral site. This means that these cations modify the octahedral angle and hence the shared octahedral edge, causing an increase in the tetrahedral distance with respect to the size of the cations entering it. Some applications to published data are discussed, showing the capacity and limitations of the method for calculating cation distribution, and for identifying inconsistencies and inaccuracies in experimental data. Received: 19 February 2001 / Accepted: 1 June 2001     

Re-discussion on the Jiaochang Arcuate Structure, Sichuan Province, and the Seismogenic Structure for Diexi Earthquake in 19331

The Jiaocbang arcuate structure is one of the numerous arcuate structural belts in Sichuan. The present paper gives a further argument about the characteristics of that arcuate structure and the new activity of the Songpinggou fault and affirms that the Songpinggou fault is an active fault in the Holocene epoch. The Diexi M7.5 earthquake took place in 1933 on the west wing of that arcuate structure, near the apex of the arc. Many authors have given quite different opinions about the genetic structure of that earthquake. The authors have made on-the-spot investigations time and again over recent years. Besides this, the authors have also further studied the shape of intensity contour lines, the distribution characteristics of ground surface seismic hazards, the left-lateral dislocation of buildings along the Songpinggou fault, the NWtrending ground fissures that developed on the ground surface after earthquake, and so on. On this basis, it is still considered that the seismogenic fault of the 1933 Diexi M7.5 earthquake was the Songpinggou fault on the west wing of the Jiaochang arcuate structure.     

Compression mechanisms of coesite

 The structure of coesite has been determined at ten pressures up to a maximum of 8.68 GPa by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The dominant mechanism of compression is the reduction of four of the five independent Si–O–Si angles within the structure. There is no evidence of the fifth linkage, Si1–O1–Si1, deviating from 180°. Some Si–O bond distances also decrease by up to 1.6% over the pressure range studied. The pattern of Si–O–Si angle reduction amounts to a rotation of the Si2 tetrahedron around the [001] direction. This rotation induces significant internal deformation of the Si1 tetrahedron. Comparison of the experimental data with rigid-unit distance least-squares simulations of coesite suggests that this pattern of compression, the anomalous positive values of both s₂₃ and K′′ in the equation of state of coesite, its high elastic anisotropy and the unusual straight Si1–O1–Si1 linkage within the structure are all consequences of the connectivity of the tetrahedral framework. Received: 11 July 2002 / Accepted: 14 January 2003 Acknowledgements The help of Christian Baerlocher of ETH Zurich in providing both the DLS-76 software and advice in its use is gratefully acknowledged, as are discussions with Paul Ribbe of Virginia Tech and the comments of two anonymous reviewers. The data analysis was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant EAR-0105864 to N.L. Ross and R.J. Angel.     

Untersuchung der Sorptionseigenschaften des Kationenaustauschers KB-2M mit Makronetzstruktur zur Abtrennung von Zinkionen aus Ab- und Spülwässern

Study of Sorptional Properties of the Cation Exchanger KB-2M with Macroreticular Structure for Recovery of Zinc Ions from Sewage and Rinsing Water Although a number of ion-exchange methods have been employed for the recovery of some transition metals from industrial effluents, knowledge about ion-exchange resins with macroreticular structure is poor. The present paper describes the mechanism of sorption on such exchangers and their application for recovery of zinc from sewage rinsing water. Ion exchanger of macroreticular structure are polymers with long-chained cross-linking agents. We have synthesized carboxylic ion-exchange resins by hydrolysis of copolymerisates of methyl acrylate with different cross-linking agents: divinylbenzene, divinyl sulfide, divinyl ester of ethylene glycol and divinyl ester of di- or triethylene glycol. The sorption process on modifications of the carboxylic resins KB-2 of various structure was studied with different methods: potentiometric titration, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray structural analysis. The initial zinc concentration in rinsing water was 0.05 mol/L at pH from 3 to 6. For the sorption, 0.2…1.0 g of resin were equilibrated with 100 mL of zinc solution. After equilibrium (12 h), the resin was separated from solution. The zinc ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after stripping with 100 mL of 10% sulfuric acid. The distribution ratio D was calculated (D: mmole of Zn sorbed per gram of resin divided by mmole of Zn per millilitre of solution). By means of infrared spectroscopy, the mechanism of sorption of zinc ions from rinsing water was determined. There may be a possibility of the formation of complexes in the cation-exchange resin phase. It was found out in this paper that the cation-exchanger KB-2M of macroreticular structure is the most effective for the sorption of the Zn²⁺-ions from sewage and rinsing water.     

基于构造应力场识别震源机制解节面中发震断层面——以盈江地区为例

为了识别震源机制解节面中的实际发震断层面,本研究在反演震源处应力场的基础上,进一步计算震源机制解两个节面的不稳定系数,将其中最不稳定的节面视为实际发震断层面.本研究将上述方法应用于地震资料丰富且中强震发震构造研究较为深入的云南盈江地区,获得以下结论: (1) 2008年3月21日和2011年3月10日地震发震断层为震源机制解中NEE向节面,对应震中附近的大盈江断裂; 2008年8月21日地震的发震断层为震源机制解中NS向节面,对应震中附近近NS向苏典断裂; 2014年5月23日地震断层面识别结果为NEE向节面,其发震断层可能为昔马—盘龙山断裂; 2014年5月30日地震的发震断层为震源机制解中NS向节面,其发震断层可能是与苏典断裂平行的断裂.(2)盈江地区总体断层面识别结果显示盈江地区发震断层走向优势分布为近NS向和NEE向,呈现出共轭断层,研究区最大主压应力方向为NNE向; 断层走向和最大主压应力轴走向关系符合安德森断层理论.(3)本研究表明基于应力场识别震源机制解节面中发震断层面方法物理意义明确,实际应用结果合理可靠.

     

2022年6月1日四川芦山MS6.1地震的发震构造与力学机制探讨

2022年6月1日17时00分08秒（北京时间）四川雅安市芦山县发生M_S6.1地震,此次地震是继2008年汶川M_S8.0、2013年芦山M_S7.0地震后发生在龙门山断裂带的又一显著地震,与后者在空间上仅相距9 km.为揭示此次地震的发震构造特征及其与2013年芦山M_S7.0地震的关系,进而理解龙门山断裂带强震孕育动力学过程与地震危险性,本文采用CAP全波形反演方法计算了芦山M_S6.1地震的震源机制解,利用多阶段定位法对2013年芦山M_S7.0地震以来余震区地震进行了精确定位,并基于库仑应力讨论两次地震的应力触发关系.结果显示,芦山M_S6.1地震的震源机制解为：节面Ⅰ的走向、倾角和滑动角分别为221°、40°和105°;节面Ⅱ的参数为22°、52°和78°,矩心深度14 km,震源机制断层面解呈现一组与龙门山断裂带性质接近的节面.反演给出的P轴方位角为120°,倾角为6°,反映了此次地震主要受NWW-SEE向水平挤压应力作用,与龙门山断裂带南段背景构造应力场一致.地震精定位结果显示芦山M_S6.1地震序列发生在2013年芦山M_S7.0地震发震断层北西侧的一条倾向南东的反冲断层上,据此可判断震源机制解的节面Ⅱ为发震断层面.在此基础上,通过指定发震与接收断层,计算获得2013年芦山M_S7.0地震对此次M_S6.1地震所在断层的最大库仑应力加载值可达1.5 MPa,说明前者对后者有显著的触发作用.

     

西藏樟木堆积体结构及其稳定性

樟木口岸是我国与尼泊尔王国之间唯一的陆路通商口岸,也是西藏地区目前唯一具有一定规模的国际贸易口岸,但该口岸坐落于一大型堆积体之上,长期面临地质灾害的威胁。为进一步论证该堆积体的稳定问题,本文在野外调查基础上,对该堆积体的工程地质结构、岩土类型以及斜坡的变形破坏规律和稳定性进行了初步分析。结果表明：该堆积体并非单一土质结构,尚存在冰水堆积等类型,斜坡发生整体滑坡的可能性小,以地形坡度、人类工程活动等控制的局部滑移为主。     

地震折射波法探测研究张强地区的构造特征

张强地区位于中朝地台北缘的吉黑地槽区,其基底岩系和构造特征与中朝地台的基底和构造特征有明显的差别,通过２００ｋｍ的折射波法探测,得出如下结论：（１）本区基底构造线方向呈现近ＳＮ或ＮＮＷ向,二条此方向的断层划分出三个构造单元。（２）该区内中生代前基底分为两套地层,其岩性、断层特征和基底埋深均有差别。     

Microphysical modeling of ethane ice clouds in titan’s atmosphere

A time-dependent microphysical model is used to study the evolution of ethane ice clouds in Titan’s atmosphere. The model simulates nucleation, condensational growth, evaporation, coagulation, and transport of particles. For a critical saturation of 1.15 (a lower limit, determined by laboratory experiments), we find that ethane clouds can be sustained between altitudes of 8 and 50 km. Growth due to coalescence is inefficient, limiting the peak in the size distribution (by number) to 10 μm. These clouds vary with a period of about 20 days. This periodicity disappears for higher critical saturation values where clouds remain subvisible. Rainout of ethane due to methane cloud formation raises the altitude of the ethane cloud bottom to near the tropopause and may eliminate ethane clouds entirely if methane cloud formation occurs up to 30 km. However, clouds formed above the troposphere from other gases in Titan’s atmosphere could be sustained even with rainout up to 30 km. Although the optical depth of ethane clouds above 20 km is typically low, short-lived clouds with optical depths of order 0.1-1 can be created sporadically by dynamically driven atmospheric cooling. Ethane cloud particles larger than 25 μm can fall to the surface before total evaporation. However, ethane clouds remain only a small sink for tholin particles. At the peak of their cycle, the optical depth of ethane clouds could be comparable to that of tholin in the near-infrared, resulting in a 5% increase in Titan’s albedo for wavelengths between 1 and 2 μm. A number of factors limit our ablility to predict the ethane cloud properties. These factors include the mixing time in the troposphere, the critical saturation ratio for ethane ice, the existence of a surface reservoir of ethane, the magnitude and timing of dynamically driven temperature perturbations, and the abundance and life cycle of methane clouds.