Evolution of sedimentary systems at large temporal and spatial scales cannot be scaled down to laboratory dimensions by conventional hydraulic Froude scaling. Therefore, many researchers question the validity of experiments aiming to simulate this evolution. Yet, it has been shown that laboratory experiments yield stratigraphic responses to allocyclic forcing that are remarkably similar to those in real‐world prototypes, hinting at scale independency with strong dependence on boundary conditions but weak dependence on the actual sediment transport dynamics. This paper addresses the dilemma by contrasting sediment transport rules that apply in the laboratory with those that apply in real‐world geological systems. It is demonstrated that the generation of two‐dimensional stratigraphy in a flume can be simulated numerically by the non‐linear diffusion equation. Sediment transport theory is used to demonstrate that only suspension‐dominated meandering rivers should be simulated with linear diffusion. With increasing grain‐size (coarse sand to gravel) and shallowness of river systems, the prediction of long‐term transport must be simulated by non‐linear, slope‐dependent diffusion to allow for increasing transport rates and thus change in stratigraphic style. To point out these differences in stratigraphic style, three stages in infill of accommodation have been defined here: (i) a start‐up stage, when the system is prograding to base level (e.g. the shelf edge) with no sediment flux beyond the base‐level point; (ii) a fill‐up stage, when the system is further aggrading while progressively more sediment is bypassing base level with the progression of the infill; and (iii) a keep‐up stage, when more than 90% of the input is bypassing the base level and less than 10% is used for filling the accommodation. By plotting the rate of change in flux for various degrees of non‐linearity (varying the exponent in the diffusion equation) it was found that the error between model and real‐world prototype is largest for the suspension‐dominated prototypes, although never more than 30% and only at the beginning of the fill‐up stage. The error reduces to only 10% for the non‐linear sandy‐gravelly and gravelly systems. These results are very encouraging and open up ways to calibrate numerical models of sedimentary system evolution by such experiments. 相似文献
We designed a new seismic source model for Italy to be used as an input for country-wide probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) in the frame of the compilation of a new national reference map.
We started off by reviewing existing models available for Italy and for other European countries, then discussed the main open issues in the current practice of seismogenic zoning.
The new model, termed ZS9, is largely based on data collected in the past 10 years, including historical earthquakes and instrumental seismicity, active faults and their seismogenic potential, and seismotectonic evidence from recent earthquakes. This information allowed us to propose new interpretations for poorly understood areas where the new data are in conflict with assumptions made in designing the previous and widely used model ZS4.
ZS9 is made out of 36 zones where earthquakes with Mw > = 5 are expected. It also assumes that earthquakes with Mw up to 5 may occur anywhere outside the seismogenic zones, although the associated probability is rather low. Special care was taken to ensure that each zone sampled a large enough number of earthquakes so that we could compute reliable earthquake production rates.
Although it was drawn following criteria that are standard practice in PSHA, ZS9 is also innovative in that every zone is characterised also by its mean seismogenic depth (the depth of the crustal volume that will presumably release future earthquakes) and predominant focal mechanism (their most likely rupture mechanism). These properties were determined using instrumental data, and only in a limited number of cases we resorted to geologic constraints and expert judgment to cope with lack of data or conflicting indications. These attributes allow ZS9 to be used with more accurate regionalized depth-dependent attenuation relations, and are ultimately expected to increase significantly the reliability of seismic hazard estimates. 相似文献
The concentrations of natural radionuclides in sediment of Wei River of China were measured using γ-ray spectrometry with
the aim of estimating the radiation hazard as establishing a database for radioactivity levels of river sediment of China.
The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in sediment samples ranged from 10.4 to 39.9 Bq kg−1, 15.3 to 54.8 Bq kg−1 and 514.8 to 1,175.5 Bq kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of these radionuclides were compared with the typical world values and the average activities
of Chinese soil and Shaanxi soil. Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), external hazard index (Hex) and representative level index (Iγr) were calculated for the samples to assess the radiation hazards arising due to the use of these sediment samples in the
construction of dwellings. All the sediment samples have Raeq lower than the limit of 370 Bq kg−1, Hex less than unity and Iγr close to 1 Bq kg−1. The overall mean outdoor terrestrial gamma dose rate is 64.8 nGy h−1 and the corresponding outdoor annual effective dose is 0.079 mSv. None of the studied location is considered a radiological
risk and sediment can be safely used in construction. 相似文献
The control of polluted surface runoff and the assessment of possible impacts on groundwater is a concern at the local and
regional scale. On this background, a study investigates possible impacts of organic and inorganic pollutants (including bacteria)
originating from a permeable asphalt parking lot on the water quality immediately beneath it. The functioning of the permeable
pavement, including clogging and restricted vertical percolation, was also evaluated. Four nested sample ports (shallow and
deep) were installed below low- and high-traffic areas, including one port outside the parking lot. At least initially there
was a good hydraulic connection between the parking surface and the shallow sample ports. The presence of a geotextile layer
at the base of the parking lot structure, however, was identified in lab tests as one factor restricting vertical percolation
to the deeper ports. Clogging of the permeable surface was most pronounced in heavy traffic areas and below snow pile storage
areas. Corroborated by high electric conductivity and chloride measurements, sand brought in by cars during winter was the
principal cause for clogging. No bacteria or BOD were found in percolating water. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were
present at concentrations near minimum detection limit. Nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) were being leached into the ground
via the permeable parking lot surface at annual flux rates of 0.45–0.84 g/m2/year. A multi-species tracer test demonstrated a retention capacity of the permeable parking lot structure of >90% for metals
and 27% for nutrients, respectively. 相似文献
The petrological parameters Na8 and Fe8, which are Na2O andFeO contents in mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) melts correctedfor fractionation effects to MgO = 8 wt%, have been widely usedas indicators of the extent and pressure of mantle melting beneathocean ridges. We find that these parameters are unreliable.Fe8 is used to compute the mantle solidus depth (Po) and temperature(To), and it is the values and range of Fe8 that have led tothe notion that mantle potential temperature variation of TP= 250 K is required to explain the global ocean ridge systematics.This interpreted TP = 250 K range applies to ocean ridges awayfrom hotspots. We find no convincing evidencethat calculated values for Po, To, and TP using Fe8 have anysignificance. We correct for fractionation effect to Mg# = 0·72,which reveals mostly signals of mantle processes because meltswith Mg# = 0·72 are in equilibrium with mantle olivineof Fo89·6 (vs evolved olivine of Fo88·1–79·6in equilibrium with melts of Fe8). To reveal first-order MORBchemical systematics as a function of ridge axial depth, weaverage out possible effects of spreading rate variation, local-scalemantle source heterogeneity, melting region geometry variation,and dynamic topography on regional and segment scales by usingactual sample depths, regardless of geographical location, withineach of 22 ridge depth intervals of 250 m on a global scale.These depth-interval averages give Fe72 = 7·5–8·5,which would give TP = 41 K (vs 250 K based on Fe8) beneathglobal ocean ridges. The lack of Fe72–Si72 and Si72–ridgedepth correlations provides no evidence that MORB melts preservepressure signatures as a function of ridge axial depth. We thusfind no convincing evidence for TP > 50 K beneath globalocean ridges. The averages have also revealed significantcorrelations of MORB chemistry (e.g. Ti72, Al72, Fe72,Mg72, Ca72, Na72 and Ca72/Al72) with ridge axial depth. Thechemistry–depth correlation points to an intrinsic linkbetween the two. That is, the 5 km global ridge axial reliefand MORB chemistry both result from a common cause: subsolidusmantle compositional variation (vs TP), which determines themineralogy, lithology and density variations that (1) isostaticallycompensate the 5 km ocean ridge relief and (2) determine thefirst-order MORB compositional variation on a global scale.A progressively more enriched (or less depleted) fertileperidotite source (i.e. high Al2O3 and Na2O, and low CaO/Al2O3)beneath deep ridges ensures a greater amount of modal garnet(high Al2O3) and higher jadeite/diopside ratios in clinopyroxene(high Na2O and Al2O3, and lower CaO), making a denser mantle,and thus deeper ridges. The dense fertile mantle beneath deepridges retards the rate and restricts the amplitude of the upwelling,reduces the rate and extent of decompression melting, givesway to conductive cooling to a deep level, forces melting tostop at such a deep level, leads to a short melting column,and thus produces less melt and probably a thin magmatic crustrelative to the less dense (more refractory) fertile mantlebeneath shallow ridges. Compositions of primitive MORB meltsresult from the combination of two different, but geneticallyrelated processes: (1) mantle source inheritance and (2) meltingprocess enhancement. The subsolidus mantle compositional variationneeded to explain MORB chemistry and ridge axial depth variationrequires a deep isostatic compensation depth, probably in thetransition zone. Therefore, although ocean ridges are of shalloworigin, their working is largely controlled by deep processesas well as the effect of plate spreading rate variation at shallowlevels. KEY WORDS: mid-ocean ridges; mantle melting; magma differentiation; petrogenesis; MORB chemistry variation; ridge depth variation; global correlations; mantle compositional variation; mantle source density variation; mantle potential temperature variation; isostatic compensation相似文献