GIS Spatial-Temporal Modeling of Water Systems in Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Modeling landscape with high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) in a geographic information system can provide essential morphological and structural information for modeling surface processes such as geomorphologic process and water systems. This paper introduces several DEM-based spatial analysis processes applied to characterize spatial distribution and their interactions of ground and surface water systems in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. The stream networks and drainage basin systems were derived from the DEM with 30 m resolution and the regularities of the surface stream and drainage patterns were modeled from a statistical/multifractal point of view. Together with the elevation and slope of topography, other attributes defmed from modeling the stream system, and drainage networks were used to associate geological, hydrological and topographical features to water flow in river systems and the spatial locations of artesian aquifers in the study area. Stream flow data derived from daily flow measurements recorded at river gauging stations for multi-year period were decomposed into “drainage-area dependent“ and “drainage-area independent“ flow components by two-step “frequency“ and “spatial“ analysis processes. The latter component was further demonstrated to relate most likely to the ground water discharge. An independent analysis was conducted to model the distribution of aquifers with information derived from the records of water wells. The focus was given on quantification of the likelihood of ground water discharge to river and ponds through flowing wells, springs and seepages. It has been shown that the Oak Ridges Moraine (ORM) is a unique glacial deposit that serves as a recharge layer and that the aquifers in the ORM underlain by Hilton Tills and later deposits exposed near the steep slope zone of the ridges of ORM provide significant discharge to the surface water systems (river flow and ponds) through flowing wells, springs and seepages. Various statistics (cross- and auto-correlation coefficients, fractal R/S exponent) were used in conjunction with GIS to demonstrate the influence of land types, topography and geometry of drainage basins on short- and long-term persistence of river flows as well as responding time to precipitation events. The current study has provided not only insight in understanding the interaction of water systems in the GTA, but also a base for further establishment of an on-line GIS system for predicting spatial-temporal changes of river flow and groundwater level in the GTA.     

大围山：《冰河世纪Ⅳ》的烙印

1934年，李四光来到江西庐山，看着眼前完美的U型谷、冰擦痕和冰臼，他彻底地被震撼了。这，就是存在了至少50万年的第四纪冰川啊。而在20世纪初，一些外国专家断言“中国绝不可能有第四纪冰川遗迹”。     

近40年天山冰川变化的遥感监测

Both marginal fluctuation and areal change were used to detect the accurate dynamics of glacier change in the study area using Landsat MSS, ETM, SPOT HRV and topographic maps based on GIS. From 1963 to 1977, four of eight glaciers advanced, two of them retreated and another two kept stable, the glacier advanced generally. From 1977 to 1986, four of eight glaciers retreated and the others kept stable, but the retreated glaciers were those which advanced from 1963 to 1977. From 1986 to 2000, seven of eight glaciers retreated and only one glacier kept stable, the retreating velocity was 10-15 m/a. Glacier recession in this period became very fast and universal. From 1963 to 2000, the area of glaciers decreased from 5479.0 ha to 4795.4 ha, up to 12.5%. It is alarming that most of glacier retreats happened from 1986 to 2000. This was very consistent with change process of summer mean temperature in this region and global warming beginning in the 1980s.     

北羌塘盆地中部上侏罗统研究新进展

北羌塘盆地腹地自然条件恶劣 ,地层研究难度极大。经在北羌塘盆地腹地东湖、河湾山、长水河及半岛湖等地进行了详细的岩石地层及生物地层研究工作 ,依据岩石特征和生物化石特征 ,将上侏罗统二分 :下部灰岩层为索瓦组 ,含 L acunosella triobatiformis- Pentithyris vulgaris、Radulopecten fibrosus- Gervillella aviculoides组合 ,其时限为牛津期 ;上部灰岩、碎屑岩互层为白龙冰河组 ,具 Radulopecten scarburgensis、R.moondanensis、Cladophylliaqeibulaensis、Stylosmilia chaputi化石 ,其主体时限为基默里奇期—提塘期 ,顶部可能跨入早白垩世。白龙冰河组的确立 ,是北羌塘盆地上侏罗统岩石地层与生物地层研究上一个新进展     

地球将重现“小冰河世纪”

俄罗斯科学家最近公布了一项研究成果，预测地球在经历一个短暂的变暖期后，即将进入一个全球变冷的时期，预计气温50年后到达谷底。     

Lambert冰川流域东西两侧气候环境变化特征

During the 1992-1993 joint Australian-Chinese over-snow traverse of the western Lambert Glacier Basin (LGB), two firn cores were drilled respectively at MGA and LGB16. During the 1996-1997 and 1997-1998 austral summers, two firn cores were drilled respectively at DT001 and DT085 on the eastern LGB. Based on the measurements made during the expeditions, the climatic and environmental features on both sides of the LGB have been studied. Results show that during the past 50 years, the trends of both air temperature and accumulation rate show a slight increase on the east side of the LGB, in contrast to the west side of the LGB. The spatial trends of the accumulation rate measured by accumulation canes at 2 km intervals along the nearly 500 km of the traverse lines on both sides of the LGB are different. Moreover, correlations of δ^18O vs T10 along the two sides of the LGB are also different. In addition, the variations of sea salt ion concentrations show different trends in the past 50 years. All the evidence shows that the Lambert Glacier is a dividing region for the different climatic regimes over the East Antarctic ice sheet, which may be due to different moisture resources resulting from special local circumfluence such as cyclone activities, local terrain influences.     

西藏北羌塘盆地光明湖地区上侏罗统白龙冰河组烃源岩有机质特征

通过对研究区露头烃源岩样品进行Rock-Eval热解模拟实验、干酪根镜鉴、镜质体反射率、族组分分离、单体烃碳同位素等分析,对北羌塘盆地光明湖地区侏罗系白龙冰河组烃源岩有机质特征进行研究.结果表明,该区白龙冰河组烃源岩以碳酸盐岩为主,有机碳含量0.01%~1.21%,平均值为0.39%,有机质丰度较高;干酪根显微组分以腐泥组为主,含量70%~92%,平均值为80%,以Ⅱ1型为主,主峰碳、(nC21-/nC22+)轻/重比及Pr/nC17-Ph/nC18的相关图均表明有机质来自低等水生生物,有机质类型较好;镜质体反射率最小值1.409%,最大值2.423%,平均值为1.909%,有机质的热演化程度总体较高,达到高成熟-过成熟阶段.     

低梯度外流冰舌（冰河）对劳伦冰盖的外排作用

对南极西部冰盖的研究表明 ,虽然冰河(两旁是缓慢移动的冰 )和外流冰舌 (两旁是岩石 )的面积范围很小但却是绝大部分外排冰量的原因 ,其动力作用可能对冰盖的整体活动产生了强烈的影响。冰河具有表面梯度低 (＜０．３°或＜５ｍ／ｋｍ )、驱动应力低 (＜２５ｋＰａ)和表面速度快等特征 ,这些特征使得冰河对底部条件的变化以及对气候的作用非常敏感。就像现在南极西部的冰盖那样 ,原古时期的劳伦冰盖的东北边缘也可能是通过成片成片的梯度低、移动快的冰体形式向外排放 ,造成了末次冰期时期的不稳定性 ,这可由反复出现的、快速的冰山排放期所…     

Characteristics of the subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits and related subglacial processes of Qiangyong Glacier,Tibet

Subglacially-formed debris-rich chemical deposits were found both on bedrock surface and in bedrock crevice on the edge of Qiangyong Glacier, one of the continental glaciers in Tibet. Grain size distribution, internal structures and chemical components of the chemical deposits were analyzed. It can be inferred that the temperature of some part of the ice-bedrock interface is close to the melting point and there exists pressure melting water under Qiangyong Glacier. Debris, especially those from continental aerosols, can release Ca^ in the water. At the lee-side of obstacles on glacier bed the CO2 in the melting water might escape from the water and the melting water might refreeze due to the dramatically reduced pressure, making the enrichment and precipitation of CaCO3. The existence of subglacial melting water and the process of regelation under Qiangyong Glacier indicate that sliding could contribute some proportion to the entire movement of Qiangyong Glacier and it belongs to multiolex cold-temperate glaciers.     

时间在挪威峡湾停顿

如果打开一张世界地图，你会发现，除了挪威以外，世界上再也找不到第二个地方的海岸线是如此的支离破碎，那蜿蜒伸展嵌入内陆的海湾就被称为峡湾。从北到南，一个接一个，无穷尽的曲折峡湾和无数的冰河遗迹构成了壮丽的峡湾风光。