Tephrochronology and tephrostratigraphy of two Pleistocene continental fossiliferous successions from central Italy     

F. Marcolini  G. Bigazzi  F. P. Bonadonna  E. Centamore  R. Cioni  G. Zanchetta 《第四纪科学杂志》2003,18(6):545-556

The stratigraphical context of two Middle Pleistocene fossiliferous palaeosols from Central Italy (Abruzzo and Tuscany) have been studied. Small mammals and molluscs occur in both palaeosols, which are covered by tephra layers that were analysed using an interdisciplinary approach. Application of fission‐track dating to apatites separated from the Case Picconetto tephra (Pescara, Abruzzo), yielded an age of 0.48 ± 0.04 Ma, indistinguishable from those previously determined for the Campani Quarry (Lower Valdarno, Tuscany) (0.46 ± 0.05 Ma and 0.48 ± 0.05 Ma). Geochemical and petrographic investigations indicate that these tephra originated from different volcanoes, the Alban Hills Volcanic Complex and the Vico Volcano (Latium) respectively. Small mammal and mollusc assemblages indicate different palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions for the Case Picconetto and Campani Quarry palaeosols. Warm and humid conditions can be inferred for the Campani Quarry site, whereas open and cold conditions can be inferred for Case Picconetto. On the basis of faunal data, fission‐track dates and attribution of tephra to specific volcanic eruptions, we suggest a correlation of these faunas with marine oxygen isotope stage 14 (Case Picconetto) and with marine oxygen isotope stage 11 (Campani Quarry), respectively. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

Numerical manifold method for dynamic nonlinear analysis of saturated porous media     

H. W. Zhang  L. Zhou 《国际地质力学数值与分析法杂志》2006,30(9):927-951

It is well known that the Babuska–Brezzi stability criterion or the Zienkiewicz–Taylor patch test precludes the use of the finite elements with the same low order of interpolation for displacement and pore pressure in the nearly incompressible and undrained cases, unless some stabilization techniques are introduced for dynamic analysis of saturated porous medium where coupling occurs between the displacement of solid skeleton and pore pressure. The numerical manifold method (NMM), where the interpolation of displacement and pressure can be determined independently in an element for the solution of u–p formulation, is derived based on triangular mesh for the requirement of high accurate calculations from practical applications in the dynamic analysis of saturated porous materials. The matrices of equilibrium equations for the second‐order displacement and the first‐order pressure manifold method are given in detail for program coding. By close comparison with widely used finite element method, the NMM presents good stability for the coupling problems, particularly in the nearly incompressible and undrained cases. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the validity and stability of the manifold element developed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

Reliability assessment of granular filters in embankment dams     

Roberto Mínguez  Fernando Delgado  Ignacio Escuder  Manuel G. de Membrillera 《国际地质力学数值与分析法杂志》2006,30(10):1019-1037

Empirical criteria have been used successfully to design filters of most embankment large dam projects throughout the world. However, these empirical rules are only applicable to a particular range of soils tested in laboratory and do not take into account the variability of the base material and filter particle sizes. In addition, it is widely accepted that the safety of fill dams is mainly dependent on the reliability of their filter performance. The work herein presented consists in a new general method for assessing the probability of fulfilling any empirical filter design criteria accounting for base and filter heterogeneity by means of first‐order reliability methods (FORM), so that reliability indexes and probabilities of fulfilling any particular criteria are obtained. This method will allow engineers to estimate the safety of existing filters in terms of probability of fulfilling their design criteria and might also be used as a decision tool on sampling needs and material size tolerances during construction. In addition, sensitivity analysis makes possible to analyse how reliabilities are influenced by different sources of input data. Finally, in case of a portfolio risk assessment, this method will allow engineers to compare the safety of several existing dams in order to prioritize safety investments and it is expected to be a very useful tool to evaluate probabilities of failure due to internal erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.  相似文献   

The Electron Energy Spectrum from Large Solar Flares   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

G. M. Simnett 《Solar physics》2006,237(2):383-395

We report on the differential electron spectrum for intense transient events seen at one AU by the EPAM instrument on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft. Over an observing period from September 1997 to September 2005, there were 45 major events that could be reliably identified with a source flare on the Sun. In the ∼40 – 300 keV energy range, the electron spectral index was between one and three for all but two of the events. Twenty-five of the events were associated with Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) X-ray class X flares. We compare this result with the spectral index measured from electron pulse events, lasting approx. one hour or less, where the spectral index is typically much softer than three. This suggests that the measured spectral index of near-relativistic electrons at one AU may be a reliable indicator of the source. We also examine the likelihood that fast coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are responsible in themselves for accelerating near-relativistic electrons and conclude that they do not.  相似文献   

Spinor: Visible and Infrared Spectro-Polarimetry at the National Solar Observatory     

Hector Socas-Navarro  David Elmore  Anna Pietarila  Anthony Darnell  Bruce W. Lites  Steven Tomczyk  Steven Hegwer 《Solar physics》2006,235(1-2):55-73

The Spectro-Polarimeter for Infrared and Optical Regions (SPINOR) is a new spectro-polarimeter that will serve as a facility instrument for the Dunn Solar Telescope at the National Solar Observatory. This instrument is capable of achromatic polarimetry over a very broad range of wavelengths, from 430 to 1600 nm, allowing for the simultaneous observation of several visible and infrared spectral regions with full Stokes polarimetry. Another key feature of the design is its flexibility to observe virtually any combination of spectral lines, limited only by practical considerations (e.g., the number of detectors available, space on the optical bench, etc.). Visiting Astronomers, National Solar Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.  相似文献   

A major sulphur isotope event at c. 510 Ma: a possible anoxia–extinction–volcanism connection during the Early–Middle Cambrian transition?     

M.L. Hough  G.A. Shields  L.Z. Evins  H. Strauss  R.A. Henderson  S. Mackenzie 《地学学报》2006,18(4):257-263

A new approach to constraining seawater δ³⁴S and sulphate concentration using francolite‐bound sulphate reveals an abrupt increase in δ³⁴S to +50‰ around the Early–Middle Cambrian boundary. Such high δ³⁴S values are best explained by increased rates of pyrite burial due to ocean anoxia coupled with an increased sensitivity of the ocean sulphate reservoir to perturbations due to low sulphate concentrations of 500–700 μgL^?1. We argue that the spread of anoxic waters at this time was partly the result of greenhouse warming related to the eruption of the Kalkarindji Large Igneous Province of northern Australia and that it triggered the collapse of early metazoan reef ecosystems during the latest Early Cambrian. Mass extinctions of the last 260 Myr have all coincided with enhanced volcanic activity, while several are also associated with positive shifts in seawater δ³⁴S. Extending this correlation back in time further implicates volcanically induced climate change as a major determining factor in biosphere evolution. Terra Nova, 18, 257–263, 2006  相似文献   

An HLLC Riemann solver for relativistic flows – II. Magnetohydrodynamics     

A. Mignone  G. Bodo 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2006,368(3):1040-1054

An approximate Riemann solver for the equations of relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) is derived. The Harten–Lax–van Leer contact wave (HLLC) solver, originally developed by Toro, Spruce and Spears, generalizes the algorithm described in a previous paper to the case where magnetic fields are present. The solution to the Riemann problem is approximated by two constant states bounded by two fast shocks and separated by a tangential wave. The scheme is Jacobian-free, in the sense that it avoids the expensive characteristic decomposition of the RMHD equations and it improves over the HLL scheme by restoring the missing contact wave.
Multidimensional integration proceeds via the single step, corner transport upwind (CTU) method of Colella, combined with the constrained transport (CT) algorithm to preserve divergence-free magnetic fields. The resulting numerical scheme is simple to implement, efficient and suitable for a general equation of state. The robustness of the new algorithm is validated against one- and two-dimensional numerical test problems.  相似文献   

Statistical description of the radiation field in a homogeneous medium of finite optical thickness     

A. G. Nikoghossian 《Astrophysics》2006,49(2):228-239

The problem of finding statistical averages which characterize the radiation field in a semi-infinite atmosphere has been discussed by the author in a series of papers. In this paper some of the results obtained there are generalized to media of finite optical thickness. The average number of scattering events undergone by a photon during its random walk in an atmosphere and the average time required for this are determined. Three different types of averages are considered, depending on the photon characteristics over which the averages are taken. Special attention is devoted to the asymptotic behavior of these quantities for media with large optical depths taking the influence of continuum absorption into account. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 263–275 (May 2006).  相似文献   

The HNCO ring in the Sgr B2 region     

Y.C. Minh  W.M. Irvine   《New Astronomy》2006,11(8):594-599

The large-scale structure associated with the 2′N HNCO peak in Sgr B2 [Minh, Y.C., Haikala, L., Hjalmarson, Å., Irvine, W.M., 1998. ApJ 498, 261 (Paper I)] has been investigated. A ring-like morphology of the HNCO emission has been found; this structure may be colliding with the Principal Cloud of Sgr B2. This “HNCO Ring” appears to be centered at (l,b) = (0.7°,−0.07°), with a radius of 5 pc and a total mass of 1.0 × 10⁵ to 1.6 × 10⁶ M. The expansion velocity of the Ring is estimated to be 30–40 km s⁻¹, which gives an expansion time scale of 1.5 × 10⁵ year. The morphology suggests that collision between the Ring and the Principal Cloud may be triggering the massive star formation in the Sgr B2 cloud sequentially, with the latest star formation taking place at the 2′N position. The chemistry related to HNCO is not certain yet, but if it forms mainly via reaction with the evaporated OCN⁻ from icy grain mantles, the observed enhancement of the HNCO abundance can be understood as resulting from shocks associated with the collision between the Principal Cloud and the expanding HNCO Ring.  相似文献   

High-resolution observations of a complete sample of 27 FR II radio galaxies and quasars with 0.3 < z < 0.6     

G. M. Gilbert  J. M. Riley  M. J. Hardcastle  J. H. Croston  G. G. Pooley  P. Alexander 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2004,351(3):845-890

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