Linear stability for some symmetric periodic simultaneous binary collision orbits in the four-body problem

We apply the analytic-numerical method of Roberts to determine the linear stability of time-reversible periodic simultaneous binary collision orbits in the symmetric collinear four-body problem with masses 1, m, m, 1, and also in a symmetric planar four-body problem with equal masses. In both problems, the assumed symmetries reduce the determination of linear stability to the numerical computation of a single real number. For the collinear problem, this verifies the earlier numerical results of Sweatman for linear stability with respect to collinear and symmetric perturbations.     

Heavy metal contamination in western Xiamen Bay sediments and its vicinity, China

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Fe) in surface sediments from nine sites in western Xiamen Bay and its vicinity were studied in order to understand current metal contamination due to urbanization and economic development in Xiamen, China. The sediment samples were collected in December 2004 and July 2005 respectively in order to examine temporal variations. In this study, we found that heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments sampled in the western Xiamen Bay and adjacent Maluan Bay and Yuandang Lagoon varied from 19 to 97mg kg(-1) for Cu, 45 to 60mg kg(-1) for Pb, 65 to 223mg kg(-1) for Zn, 0.11 to 1.01mg kg(-1) for Cd, 37 to 134mg kg(-1) for Cr, 25 to 65mg kg(-1) for Ni and 3.08 to 4.81% for Fe. Although all metal concentrations in sediments meets Chinese National Standard Criteria for Marine Sediment Quality, both metal enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I(geo)) show that Pb contamination exists in the entire study area and contamination of other metals are also present in some locations depending on the sources, of which sewage outlets and commercial ports are the main sources of contaminants to the area. This study shows that using the sediment quality standard criteria only to assess sediments cannot properly reflect sediment contamination. A multiple approaches should be applied for the sediment quality assessment.     

Threat from above! Assessing the risk from the Tonghua high-locality landslide in Sichuan,China

Landslides - In tectonically active steep mountain belts, such as those in west Sichuan in China, frequent landslide disasters can occur during the rainy season. High-locality landslides often...     

NanoSIMS analysis of organic carbon from the Tissint Martian meteorite: Evidence for the past existence of subsurface organic‐bearing fluids on Mars

Two petrographic settings of carbonaceous components, mainly filling open fractures and occasionally enclosed in shock‐melt veins, were found in the recently fallen Tissint Martian meteorite. The presence in shock‐melt veins and the deuterium enrichments (δD up to +1183‰) of these components clearly indicate a pristine Martian origin. The carbonaceous components are kerogen‐like, based on micro‐Raman spectra and multielemental ratios, and were probably deposited from fluids in shock‐induced fractures in the parent rock of Tissint. After precipitation of the organic matter, the rock experienced another severe shock event, producing the melt veins that encapsulated a part of the organic matter. The C isotopic compositions of the organic matter (δ¹³C = ?12.8 to ?33.1‰) are significantly lighter than Martian atmospheric CO₂ and carbonate, providing a tantalizing hint for a possible biotic process. Alternatively, the organic matter could be derived from carbonaceous chondrites, as insoluble organic matter from the latter has similar chemical and isotopic compositions. The presence of organic‐rich fluids that infiltrated rocks near the surface of Mars has significant implications for the study of Martian paleoenvironment and perhaps to search for possible ancient biological activities on Mars.     

田阳县近50a降水变化趋势特征分析

利用气候倾向率及相关系数分析方法,对站田阳站1959～2008年的年、季降水量、降水日数作统计分析。结果发现,田阳站50a年、季降水量随时间变化总趋势平稳少变,年降水气候倾向率为3.09mm/10a;小雨、中雨量级降水日数气候倾向率呈负值,小雨日数50a趋减9d;大雨以上强降水气候倾向率呈正值,表明强降水日数趋增。     

丹霞山国家珍稀濒危保护植物丹霞梧桐空间分布的微地貌环境特征研究

以广东丹霞山狮子岩—阳元山景区为研究地,以国家珍稀濒危保护植物丹霞梧桐(Firmiana danxiaensis)的空间分布为研究内容,通过实地考察获取其空间分布的数据（经纬度、海拔、坡度和坡向等）,利用ArcGIS10.0在精度为1 m的DEM地形数据上进行空间分析,总结丹霞梧桐空间分布的微地貌环境特征。研究发现：① 研究区丹霞梧桐主要分布在海拔180 m等高线穿过坡度60o附近的土壤比较贫瘠的垂直节理或水平层理比较发育的崖壁上,并与圆叶小石积(Osteomeles subrotunda)、忽地笑(Lycoris aurea)、卷柏(Selaginella tamariscina)等植物伴生,属于比较耐旱的崖壁植物;② 丹霞梧桐的空间分布不受坡向因素的严格制约,坡度和海拔是影响丹霞梧桐分布的2个重要因素。根据以上分布规律,可以推测180 m等高线穿过坡度60o地带的丹霞山其他崖壁地带,亦可能会有丹霞梧桐的分布,并建议在目前已经发现丹霞梧桐分布比较集中的狮子岩东南坡,设立国家珍稀濒危保护植物丹霞梧桐重点保护带。     

测高数据在计算海平面时的取权

根据卫星测高数据分布所具有的低纬时稀疏、高纬时密集的特点,提出了计算平均海平面时非交叉点数据的解析定权公式和交叉点数据的解析定权公式。     

Preliminary study on weathering and pedogenesis of carbonate rock

South China is the largest continuous distribution area of carbonate rock in the world. The origin of the soils over the bedrock carbonate rock has long been a controversial topic. Here further exploration is made by taking five soil profiles as examples, which are developed over the bedrock dolomitite and limestone and morphologically located in upland in karst terrain in the central, west and north Guizhou as well as west Hunan, and proved to be the weathering profiles of carbonate rock by the research results of acid-dissolved extraction experiment of bedrock, mineralogy and trace element geochemistry. Field, mineralogical and trace element geochemical characteristics of weathering and pedogenesis for carbonate rock are discussed in detail. It is pointed out that weathering and pedogenesis of carbonate rock are important pedogenetic mechanisms for soil resources in karst area, providing a basis for further researches on the origin of soils widely overlying bedrock carbonate rocks in South China. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 498330003) and National Key Basic Research Project (Grant No. 95pre-39).     

地震烈度仪数据传输协议

中国地震烈度速报与预警系统建设即将全面启动,面对未来地震预警系统中大量地震烈度仪的接入,为了方便数据的传输、汇集、共享、使用和管理,设计一种地震烈度仪数据传输协议。本文介绍烈度仪数据传输协议设计思想和特点,并给出一种参考实现,重点表述各个模块的功能和逻辑关系。     

The effect of seafloor topography in the Southern Ocean on tabular iceberg drifting and grounding

Antarctic tabular icebergs are important active components in the ice sheet-ice shelf-ocean system. Seafloor topography is the key factor that affects the drifting and grounding of icebergs, but it has not been fully investigated. This study analyzes the impact of seafloor topography on the drifting and grounding of Antarctic tabular icebergs using Bedmap-2 datasets and iceberg route tracking data from Brigham Young University. The results highlight the following points. (1) The quantitative distributions of iceberg grounding events and the tracking points of grounded icebergs are mainly affected by iceberg draft and reach their peak values in sea water with depths between 200 m and 300 m. The peak tracking point number and linear velocity of free-drifting icebergs are found in the Antarctic Slope Front (water depth of approximately 500 m). (2) The area of possible grounding regions of small-scale icebergs calved from ice shelf fronts accounts for 28% of the sea area at water depths less than 2000 m outside the Antarctic coastline periphery (3.62 million km²). Their spatial distribution is mainly around East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula. The area of possible grounding regions of large tabular icebergs with long axes larger than 18.5 km (in water depths of less than 800 m) accounts for 74% of the sea area. (3) The iceberg drifting velocity is positively correlated with ocean depth in areas where the depth is less than 2000 m (R=0.85, P<0.01). This result confirms the effect of water depth variations induced by seafloor topography fluctuations on iceberg drifting velocity.