Creating an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum from a giant impact

The giant impact hypothesis is the dominant theory explaining the formation of our Moon. However, the inability to produce an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum has cast a shadow on its validity. Computer-generated impacts have been successful in producing virtual systems that possess many of the observed physical properties. However, addressing the isotopic similarities between the Earth and Moon coupled with correct angular momentum has proven to be challenging. Equilibration and evection resonance have been proposed as means of reconciling the models. In the summer of 2013, the Royal Society called a meeting solely to discuss the formation of the Moon. In this meeting, evection resonance and equilibration were both questioned as viable means of removing the deficiencies from giant impact models. The main concerns were that models were multi-staged and too complex. We present here initial impact conditions that produce an isotopically similar Earth–Moon system with correct angular momentum. This is done in a single-staged simulation. The initial parameters are straightforward and the results evolve solely from the impact. This was accomplished by colliding two roughly half-Earth-sized impactors, rotating in approximately the same plane in a high-energy, off-centered impact, where both impactors spin into the collision.     

Design Experience of a Demonstrator Descent Vehicle Introducing Aeroelastic Deployable Structural Elements to Space Engineering

The development project of a prototype demonstrator for a descent vehicle and the possibilities of descent from orbit using aero-elastic braking devices deployable in space and in the atmosphere is considered. The project was carried out jointly by the Lavochkin Scientific Production Association and the Moscow Aviation Institute teams in 2013–2015. The results are evaluated for both the project itself and the cooperation of the two organizations.     

新疆绿洲城镇组群内部经济联系及空间差异测度研究

绿洲城镇组群是新疆特殊区域形成的规模相对较小的单一中心空间自组织模式。运用城市中心性指数、城市经济联系模型和Theil系数对新疆八大绿洲城镇组群内部城镇中心性、经济联系及空间差异测度。结果显示：绿洲城镇组群内部的中心城市的中心性职能较强，周边城镇的中心性职能相对较弱，形成了单中心的空间自组织模式；绿洲城镇组群内部经济联系量和经济联系隶属度大小的排序一致，离中心城市的距离越近、经济发展水平越高，经济联系隶属度越高；近10 a年来绿洲城镇组群的整体空间差异一直在扩大，且呈现出继续扩大趋势。在此基础上，提出了建立区域合作协调机制、明确城镇组群发展方向、增强中心城市的辐射带动作用、实现产业合理分工以及构建制度保障体系促进绿洲城镇组群的协同发展。     

Simulating the Propagation of Infrasonic Waves and Estimating the Energy of the Chelyabinsk Meteoroid Explosion Observed on February 15, 2013

Results obtained from simulating the propagation of infrasonic waves from the Chelyabinsk meteoroid explosion observed on February 15, 2013, are given. The pseudodifferential parabolic equation (PDPE) method has been used for calculations. Data on infrasonic waves recorded at the IS31 station (Aktyubinsk, Kazakhstan), located 542.7 km from the likely location of the explosion, have been analyzed. Six infrasonic arrivals (isolated clearly defined pulse signals) were recorded. It is shown that the first “fast” arrival (F) corresponds to the propagation of infrasound in a surface acoustic waveguide. The rest of the arrivals (T1–T5) are thermospheric. The agreement between the results of calculations based on the PDPE method and experimental data is satisfactory. The energy E of the explosion has been estimated using two methods. One of these methods is based on the law of conservation of the acoustic pulse I, which is a product of the wave profile area S/2 of the signal under analysis and the distance to its source E _I [kt] = 1.38 × 10^–10 (I [kg/s])^1.482. The other method is based on the relation between the energy of explosion and the dominant period T of recorded signal E _T [kt] = 1.02 × (T [s]²/σ)^3/2, where σ is the dimensionless distance determining the degree of nonlinear effects during the propagation of sound along ray trajectories. According to the data, the explosion energy E _I,T ranges from 1.87 to 32 kt TNT.     

Daily-Seasonal Variation in the Number of Remotely Observed,Pulsed, ULF Electromagnetic Earthquakes and the Spatial Distribution of Their Generation Zones on the Earth’s Surface

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Based on data from long-term observations at two geophysical observatories, Borok and College, distantly spaced in latitude and longitude, the results of remote...     

Three-dimensional finite element simulation of fracture propagation in rock specimens with pre-existing fissure(s) under compression and their strength analysis

A FORTRAN program, consistent with the commercially available finite element (FE) code ABAQUS, is developed based on a three-dimensional (3D) linear elastic brittle damage constitutive model with two damage criteria. To consider the heterogeneity of rock, the developed FORTRAN program is used to set the stiffness and strength properties of each element of the FE model following a Weibull distribution function. The reliability of the program is assessed against available experimental results for granite cylindrical specimens with a throughgoing, flat and inclined fissure. The calibration procedure of the material parameters is explained in detail, and it is shown that the compressive to tensile strength ratio can have a substantial influence on the failure response of the specimens. Numerical simulations are conducted for models with different levels of heterogeneity. The results show a smaller load bearing capacity for models with less homogeneity, representing gradual coalescence of fully damaged elements forming throughout the models during loading. The maximum load bearing capacity is studied for various combinations of inclination angles of two centrally aligned, throughgoing and flat fissures of equal length embedded in cylindrical models under uniaxial and multiaxial loading conditions. The key role of the compressive to tensile strength ratio is highlighted by repeating certain simulations with a lower compressive to tensile strength ratio. It is proven that the peak loads of the rock models with sufficiently small compressive to tensile strength ratios containing two throughgoing fissures of equal length are similar, provided that the minimum inclination angles of the models are the same. The results are presented and discussed with respect to the existing experimental findings in the literature, suggesting that the numerical model applied in this study can provide useful insight into the failure behaviour of rock-like materials.     

High-frequency monitoring of hydrological and biogeochemical fluxes in forested catchments of southern Chile

The variability of rainfall-dependent streamflow at catchment scale modulates many ecosystem processes in wet temperate forests. Runoff in small mountain catchments is characterized by a quick response to rainfall pulses which affects biogeochemical fluxes to all downstream systems. In wet-temperate climates, water erosion is the most important natural factor driving downstream soil and nutrient losses from upland ecosystems. Most hydrochemical studies have focused on water flux measurements at hourly scales, along with weekly or monthly samples for water chemistry. Here, we assessed how water and element flows from broad-leaved, evergreen forested catchments in southwestern South America, are influenced by different successional stages, quantifying runoff, sediment transport and nutrient fluxes during hourly rainfall events of different intensities. Hydrograph comparisons among different successional stages indicated that forested catchments differed in their responses to high intensity rainfall, with greater runoff in areas covered by secondary forests (SF), compared to old-growth forest cover (OG) and dense scrub vegetation (CH). Further, throughfall water was greatly nutrient enriched for all forest types. Suspended sediment loads varied between successional stages. SF catchments exported 455 kg of sediments per ha, followed by OG with 91 kg/ha and CH with 14 kg/ha, corresponding to 11 rainfall events measured from December 2013 to April 2014. Total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) concentrations in stream water also varied with rainfall intensity. In seven rainfall events sampled during the study period, CH catchments exported less nutrients (46 kg/ha TN and 7 kg/ha TP) than SF catchments (718 kg/ha TN and 107 kg/ha TP), while OG catchments exported intermediate sediment loads (201 kg/ha TN and 23 kg/ha TP). Further, we found significant effects of successional stage attributes (vegetation structure and soil physical properties) and catchment morphometry on runoff and sediment concentrations, and greater nutrients retention in OG and CH catchments. We conclude that in these southern hemisphere, broad-leaved evergreen temperate forests, hydrological processes are driven by multiple interacting phenomena, including climate, vegetation, soils, topography, and disturbance history.     

北京主城区伪基站时空规律分析

随着公众移动通信的快速发展,伪基站的泛滥不仅破坏正常电信秩序,危害公共安全,而且严重损害群众财产权益,侵犯公民个人隐私,已成为社会一大公害。如何从垃圾短信大数据中挖掘出伪基站活动的时空规律,寻找有效的防控方案,从源头上进行打击和治理成为管理部门和研究者共同关注的焦点。本文基于北京市垃圾短信数据,利用非负矩阵分解的方法分析伪基站的时空分布规律;并利用TF-IDF构建垃圾短信分类模型,对垃圾短信进行分类,结合土地利用数据,分析伪基站在发送不同类型垃圾短信时的时空分布规律。结果显示：北京市垃圾短信多分布于路网和中心城区;白天垃圾短信数量远远多于晚上;垃圾短信的分布随时间的推移沿着路网逐渐向内收缩;发送不同类型垃圾短信的伪基站的时空分布具有一定的差异;通过非负矩阵分解得到的结果,与垃圾短信分类后得到的结果有很好的匹配。研究表明,非负矩阵分解具有实现上的简便性、分解形式和分解结果上的可解释性等优点,可以有针对性的为有关部门建言打击伪基站的有效方案,对于伪基站违法行为的治理具有一定的意义。     

Experience with a Water Detector in the Study of the Permafrost Structure

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The results of a study of the geoelectric section of the upper layers of the Earth at observation sites in Yakutia via vertical electrical sounding and surface impedance...