Microwave observations of Saturn's rings: anisotropy in directly transmitted and scattered saturnian thermal emission

We present a new Very Large Array (VLA) image of Saturn, made from data taken in October 1998 at a wavelength of λ3.6 cm. The moderate ring opening angle (B≈15°) allows us to explore direct transmission of microwave photons through the A and C rings. We find a strong asymmetry of photons transmitted through the A ring, but not in the C ring, a new diagnostic of wake structure in the ring particles. We also find a weak asymmetry between east and west for the far side of the ansae. To facilitate quantitative comparison between dynamic models of the A ring and radio observations, we extend our Monte Carlo radiative transfer code (described in Dunn et al., 2002, Icarus 160, 132-160) to include idealized wakes. We show the idealized model can reproduce the properties of dynamic simulations in directly transmitted light. We examine the model behavior in directly transmitted and scattered light over a range of physical and geometric wake parameters. Finally, we present a wake model with a plausible set of physical parameters that quantitatively reproduces the observed intensity and asymmetry of the A ring both across the planet and in the ansae.     

Overtopping Discharge of Wind-Waves on Simple Slope Dikes

An empirical formula for estimating the overtopping discharge of wind-waves on a smooth-impermeable-simple slope dyke is derived through model tests in this paper, it can be adopted by related design departments in the determination of the crest elevation of the dyke.     

桩式离岸堤保滩促淤工程消浪效果试验研究

在上海奉贤南北港保滩促淤工程中，采用了一种新型结构型式－桩式离岸堤，并通过物理模式试验进行了桩式离岸堤消浪效果研究。针对离岸堤通常建于近岸水区破波带的特点，重点研究水深，堤高以及堤身结构对波浪衰减的影响，同时对桩式离岸堤堤后水域的波浪底流速 分析探讨。研究结果表明，桩式离岸堤不仅具有良好的消浪效果。而且可在较大范围内改变波态，即由引起水体剧烈紊动的破波转变为浅水推进波，从而有效地改善海滩上的动力条件，促进海滩免受侵蚀，是一种具有广泛应用前景和新型保滩促淤结构。     

一种时空数据静态可视化表达方法

本文简要介绍了时空数据可视化的必要性,以及目前人们采用的时空数据可视化方法,并分析了这些方法的局限性,提出了一种将年轮(annual ring)作为时空载体,结合视觉变量对面状地物的属性数据进行静态可视化的方法。该方法将面状地物的同心环按照类似树木年轮的生长特征进行划分,作为空间和时间的载体,不同时期属性数据映射到相应的同心环中,同心环的厚度和色彩的差异揭示了属性数据的变化。最后以武汉市城市管理网格化平台的统计评价数据为例实现了对比率量表数据的时态可视化表达。本文所提出的静态时空可视化方法将面状地物的空间、属性和时间紧密地结合在一起,克服了以往静态可视化方法中时间-空间、时间-属性相分离的不足,试验证明了这种方法在实践中的可行性。     

A Review of Studies Dealing with Tree Rings and Rockfall Activity: The Role of Dendrogeomorphology in Natural Hazard Research

Over the last few years, rockfall research has increasingly focused on hazard assessment and risk analysis. Input data on past rockfall activity were gathered from historical archives and lichenometric studies or were obtained through frequency–volume statistics. However, historical records are generally scarce, and lichenometry may only yield data with relatively low resolutions. On forested slopes, in contrast, tree-ring analyses may help, generally providing annual data on past rockfall activity over long periods. It is the purpose of the present literature review to survey the current state of investigations dealing with tree-ring sequences and rockfall activity, with emphasis on the extent to which dendrogeomorphology may contribute to rockfall research. Firstly, a brief introduction describes how dendrogeomorphological methods can contribute to natural hazard research. Secondly, an account is provided of the output of dendrogeomorphological studies investigating frequencies, volumes or spatial distributions of past rockfall activity. The current and potential strengths of dendrogeomorphology are then presented before, finally, the weaknesses of tree rings as natural archives of past rockfall activity are discussed and promising directions for further studies outlined.     

新疆库鲁克塔格地区二叠纪脉岩群岩石地球化学特征，Nd、Sr、Pb同位素组成与岩石成因

库鲁克塔格地区二叠纪脉岩群非常发育,主要岩石类型是辉绿岩,并有少量的斜闪煌斑岩、斜长玢岩和花岗斑岩。花岗斑岩属高钾钙碱性系列,具有A型花岗岩的稀土元素和微量元素地球化学特征;斜长玢岩的地球化学特征与花岗斑岩相似,二者都亏损U、Nb、Ta。斜闪煌斑岩的岩石化学组成属过碱性系列,显著富集轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素。辉绿岩的岩石化学组成以钙碱性系列为主,稀土元素总量变化较大,Cs、Rb、Ba、Th元素丰度变化大,普遍亏损U、Nb、Ta。研究证明,辉绿岩脉的这些地球化学特征都与同化混染作用有关,大离子亲石元素丰度的变化还与热液蚀变有关。辉绿岩具有富集型Nd、Sr同位素组成,且变化范围大,是岩浆源区同化混染作用的结果。它们的铅同位素组成属低U(Th)/Pb值的正常铅,主要受混染物控制,并不代表源区特征。库鲁克塔格地区岩石圈地幔Nd、Sr、Pb同位素比塔里木板块西缘岩石圈地幔的富集程度更高,且变化范围大,反映了这两个地区岩石圈地幔的演化历史存在明显差异。     

湘东北中生代基性岩脉岩石地球化学及构造意义

湘东北中生代发育以辉绿岩类和煌斑岩类为代表的基性岩脉,属陆内拉斑玄武岩系,部分煌斑岩属于碱性系列。岩石富集LREE,δEu负异常不明显,其形成主要受软流圈地幔部分熔融作用制约。煌斑岩类微量元素总体上具有洋岛玄武岩(OIB)岩浆源区特征,富集Nd、P、Cs而K、Rb、Sr、U、Th等富集程度不明显,Ta、Nb略有富集。辉绿岩类表现出Ta、Nb、Ti亏损,但LILE并不富集,反映地壳混染程度的增强。基性岩脉形成于陆内拉张带的构造环境,岩浆活动未受到中生代大洋板块俯冲的影响。基性岩脉在时、空及物质组成上与湘东南玄武质岩石基本一致,属于整个湘东南岩石圈拉张-减薄带的一部分。     

Sedimentary facies during early stages of flooding in an extensional basin: the Brèche Rouge de Carboneras (Late Miocene, Almería/SE Spain)

The intramontane basins of the Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain) formed subsequent to the main phase of orogenic deformation during the middle Miocene in a close genetic relation to the Trans-Alboran Shear zone. Left lateral movements along a local branch (Carboneras fault zone, CF; strike NE–SW) of this zone played a major role in controlling the formation and dynamics of the Nijar-Carboneras Basin. To the south of the fault, a major phase of strike-slip faulting is recorded during the late Tortonian. The expression of this event is the Brèche Rouge de Carboneras (BRC), which seals a deep denudational surface on top of dislocated fault blocks formed by volcanics of the Cabo de Gata complex and early Tortonian shallow marine calcarenite. The sedimentary facies of this widely distributed unit in the Carboneras-Subbasin mirror the submarine topography and the distribution of the fault zones. Along strike-slip fault zones, autoclastic breccias and neptunian dikes preferentially oriented NW–SE and NE–SW occur, which are interpreted to represent the near-surface expression of the faults. Red limestone forms the groundmass of the autoclastic breccia and infills of neptunian dikes, which exhibit multiple phases of opening of fissures, gravitational sedimentary infill, lithification, and renewed creation of cracks. Steep relief, probably along fault scarps, was mantled by epiclastic volcanic conglomerate with a red carbonate matrix. Well-lithified coarse skeletal limestone rich in planktonic foraminifera formed pavements along sediment starved rocky surfaces in deep water. Laterally, within topographic depressions, the pavement limestone grades into thick accumulations of skeletal rudstone composed of fragmented azooxanthellate corals and stylasterid hydrozoans, which were concentrated by powerful bottom currents and gravitiy flows. Within the shallow water zone of dip slope ramps, cross-bedded calcarenite and calcirudite formed. Based on textures, fabrics and biota, rocks of the BRC were grouped into nine genetic lithofacies which document cryptic, deep-aphotic and shallow-photic environments typical of a sediment starved extensional basin.     

Boreal temperature variability inferred from maximum latewood density and tree-ring width data, Wrangell Mountain region, Alaska

Variations in both width and density of annual rings from a network of tree chronologies were used to develop high-resolution proxies to extend the climate record in the Wrangell Mountain region of Alaska. We developed a warm-season (July–September) temperature reconstruction that spans A.D. 1593–1992 based on the first eigenvector from principal component analysis of six maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies. The climate/tree-growth model accounts for 51% of the temperature variance from 1958 to 1992 and shows cold in the late 1600s–early 1700s followed by a warmer period, cooling in the late 1700s–early 1800s, and warming in the 20th century. The 20th century is the warmest of the past four centuries. Several severely cold warm-seasons coincide with major volcanic eruptions. The first eigenvector from a ring-width (RW) network, based on nine chronologies from the Wrangell Mountain region (A.D. 1550–1970), is correlated positively with both reconstructed and recorded Northern Hemisphere temperatures. RW shows a temporal history similar to that of MXD by increased growth (warmer) and decreased growth (cooler) intervals and trends. After around 1970 the RW series show a decrease in growth, while station data show continued warming, which may be related to increasing moisture stress or other factors. Both the temperature history based on MXD and the growth trends from the RW series are consistent with well-dated glacier fluctuations in the Wrangell Mountains and some of the temperature variations also correspond to variations in solar activity.     

Geochronology, geochemistry and tectonic implications of Xiongshan diabasic dike swarm, northern Fujian

Sm/Nd isotopic age determination showed that Xiongshan dike swarm was at 585.7 Ma ± 30 Ma. The trace element geochemistry and Sr/Nd/Pb isotope gemhemistry studies indicate that the dike swarm was products of back-arc basin spreading ridge and the magma originated from the depleted mantle region which was metasomatized by LILE-rich liquids/melts derived from subduction slab. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.