四川九顶山西坡及龙肘山维管植物区系和植物多样性研究

横断山地区是一个十分自然的植物区系地区，在中国植物区系分区中是作为泛北极植物区中国-喜马拉雅亚区中的一个地区，其种子植物区系具有丰富的科、属、种，地理成分复杂，特有现象和替代现象明显。该地区作为植物区系和生物多样性的研究热点地区，长期以来极受中外植物学家关注。横断山脉东缘是中国-喜马拉雅和中国-日本植物区系的交汇过渡区域，北部的岷江流域以及南部的金沙江流域，孕育了该区丰富的物种资源和植被资源。而岷江干热河谷和金沙江干热河谷的相似性和相关性，更为该区的植物区系和生物多样性南北的对比研究提供了有利的条件。 本研究选择的九顶山西坡和龙肘山分别位于横断山区北部和南部，九顶山属岷江流域而龙肘山属金沙江流域。本研究结合植物区系研究和生物多样性研究，对该区的植物资源进行调查。通过样带调查和样线踏查结合，大量详实的野外样方调查和标本采集，进行传统的区系研究和生物多样性研究。研究该区物种多样性的海拔梯度格局及其潜在的影响影子，并利用新的区系评估质量方法对九顶山西坡的植物区系质量进行定量的研究，以期能更为深刻的理解该区的植物资源，为该区的资源保护和利用提供合理可行的建议。主要研究结论如下： 1）九顶山西坡植物区系的性质和特点 经鉴定和统计，九顶山西坡共有1707 种维管植物，分属617 属和140 科,其中种子植物1616 种，分属572 属117 科。就科的分布区成分构成而言，该区系的热带成分与温带成分相当，热带成分略占优势，表明九顶山西坡的植物区系与热带植物区系有较强的联系。但是，在九顶山西坡属的分布区类型所占的比例上，温带成分远远超过了热带成分，本区的种子植物分布表现出明显的温带性质。且温带分布类型的许多物种组成了九顶山西坡植被的建群种和优势种，是本区系最重要的成分，充分体现了本区系的温带性质。 2）九顶山西坡不同植被带的生物多样性海拔梯度格局 基于对土门-断头崖、茶山-九顶山、雁门沟-光光山三条垂直植被样带的调查，我们发现九顶山西坡的生物多样性沿海拔梯度的变化呈现出一定的规律性，不同样带之间有一定差异。就三条样带的物种组成相似性来看，虽然土门－断头崖样带属于涪江水系，而茶山－九顶山样带和雁门沟－光光山样带属于岷江水系，但不同水系对该区物种组成的影响并不明显。三条样带中，草本层物种丰富度均远远大于灌木层和乔木层，而以乔木层物种丰富度最低；α－多样性指数随着海拔梯度的变化在土门-断头崖样带中呈现单一下降趋势，在茶山-九顶山样带表现为双峰模型，而在雁门沟-光光山样带则表现为不显著波动变化；均匀度指数在土门-断头崖样带呈现出单一下降的趋势，在雁门沟-光光山样带表现为凹形曲线，而在茶山-九顶山样带却无明显的变化规律。β－多样性指数在土门-断头崖样带和茶山-九顶山样带呈现出明显的波动状态，植被类型替代现象明显；而在雁门沟-光光山样带却并未有十分显著的转折点，因其水平植被带受到干扰，同海拔替代现象不显著。 3）九顶山西坡维管植物丰富度的海拔梯度格局 我们考察了九顶山西坡和两条垂直样带（土门－断头崖和雁门沟－光光山样带）的不同分类等级（包括科、属、种）和不同生活型物种（乔木、灌木、禾草、蕨类和其它草本）的丰富度沿着海拔梯度的分布。结果发现，物种的丰富度海拔梯度格局具有不同的模式，单一下降和中间膨胀格局依然是其主流。不同生活型的物种具有不同的丰富度格局，但是对于环境需求相似的类型具有较相似的丰富度格局。不同的丰富度格局可能由多因素导致，包括：气候，海拔跨度，面积，人为干扰等等。 4）九顶山西坡区系质量评估 我们尝试使用传统的区系质量评估方法对九顶山西坡的区系质量进行评估，并尝试使用一种新的区系质量评估体系对该区的区系进行评价。在九顶山西坡随着海拔梯度的上升，平均保守性系数在各条植被带中均呈现出逐渐上升的趋势。区系质量指数随着海拔的升高都表现为双峰模型，在植被交错区区系质量指数相对较高，而在海拔的两极，区系质量指数都很低。大部分地区使用新方法计算所得的加权平均保守性系数和区系质量指数都比传统方法计算的平均保收性系数和区系质量指数要高，说明在九顶山西坡的三条样带中，大部分地区都是那些保守性系数较高的物种占据优势，同时也表明九顶山西坡具有很高质量的区系和自然植被。 5）龙肘山种子植物区系的性质和特点 龙肘山种子植物区系的物种较为丰富，共有154 科，544 属，1156 种。科的优势十分明显，单种属和寡种属数量众多，说明本区系植物成分较为复杂、起源古老、物种多样性指数较高。地理成分复杂，分布类型多样，其中热带成分在总数量上高于温带成分，但是许多温带成分的属是该区植被的重要建群类群和优势类群，表现出明显的亚热带性质。 6）龙肘山生物多样性的现状和特点 在海拔梯度上，龙肘山地区无论是科、属、种的数量，还是不同等级分类单元之间的数量比，均呈现先升后降的趋势，并在中海拔地区达到峰值。物种多样性指数从总体上来说变化幅度不大，略有先升后降的趋势，在中海拔梯度物种多样性最高。乔、灌、草三层的多样性指数表现出乔木层<灌木层<草本层的特征；乔木层均匀度的变化很大，而灌木层和草本层均匀度的变化较小；灌木层均匀度的波动又强于草本层。β－多样性指数呈现单峰模式，中海拔地区最高。就龙肘山东、西坡物种多样性相比较而言，两者虽然在数值上交替上升，但是却体现出了较为一致的趋势，但西坡因受到干热河谷气候的影响，其平均气温要高于东坡，导致了东坡植物群落和物种的分布比西坡要低。在区系成分构成上，低山区的相同海拔段，西坡的热带亚热带成分所占的比例要比东坡高，这是因为西坡的平均气温比东坡稍高，导致了热带、亚热带物种分布更多。而随着海拔的上升，东、西两坡的气候、土壤等条件趋于一致，其植物区系成分的构成格局也趋于一致。 The Hengduan Mountain region is a very natural floristic region; it belongs toChina-Himalaya sub-region of Holarctic region in floristic subarea of China. The flora in this areais rich in family, genus and species; has a very complex composition of geographical elements;especially with high richness of endemic species and obvious substitution phenomenon. Thisregion as a hot-spot area of floristic and biodiversity, has fascinated biologists in the world for along time. The eastern range of Hengduan Mountain is the transition zone of China – Himalayaforest sub-region and China-Japan forest sub-region in floristic. The water systems are quitedifferent, Minjiang River in the north and Jishajiang River in the south grow quit different but alsoabundant plant species and vegetation resources. The similarity and correlativity of Minjiang River dry valleys and Jinshajiang River dry valleys have provided advantageous condition tocontrast flora and biodiversity between north and south. In the present study, the Jiuding Mountainlies in the north of Hengduan Mountain and belongs to Minjiang River, and the LongzhouMountain lies in the south of Hengduan Mountain and belongs to Jinshajiang River. In our study, we combined the methods of floristic research and biodiversity investigation toexplore the resources of plant species and vegetations; sampled with transects along the altitudinalgradients and also with transverse straps with similar elevation; collected the vascular plant specimen with sampling plots of ecology. We explored the plant species richness patterns alongaltitudinal gradients and discussed the underlying factors aroused these patterns; and used a novelmethod to assess the quality of Jiuding Mountain’s flora. All for a deeper comprehension of the plant recourses of this region; and provided feasible and reasonable suggestion for the protectionof resources. The results were as follows: 1 The characteristic of the flora of the west slope of Jiuding Mountain We had collected 1707 species of vascular plants belonging to 617 genera in 140 families inthe west slope of Jiuding Mountain，in which included 1616 seed plant species belonging to 572genera and 117 families. As for the composition of the areal types of the Families of seed plants,tropic components and temperate components are well-balanced, and percentage of tropicscomponents is higher than that of temperate ones for a litter bit. This shows the flora in the westslope of Jiuding Mountain has strong relationship with the tropic flora. But for the composition ofthe areal types of genera, temperate components have far exceeded the tropics ones, indicated thewhole flora with a conspicuous temperate character. Temperate components possess maximumproportion in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain, and many of them belong to constructivespecies and dominant species in the vegetation, are most important components in JiudingMountain’s Flora, also have embodied the temperate character of this area sufficiently. 2 Biodiversity patterns along altitudinal gradients in different vegetation transects in the westslope of Jiuding Mountain Based on the investigation of three vegetation transects (including Tumen-Duantouya transect,Chashan-Jiudingshan transect and Yanmengou-Guangguangshan Transect) in the west slope ofJiuding Mountain, we found the change of biodiversity along the altitude gradients displayedcertain regularity, but have differences among different transects. The three transects belong todifferent water systems; the Tumen-Duantouya transect belongs to Fujiang River, and the othertwo belong to Minjiang River. From the similarity of species compositions of different transects,we found different water system didn’t show obvious impact on the species composition. In all thethree transects, the species richness of herb layer was remarkably higher than shrub and tree layer,and the species richness of tree layer was the lowest one. With the increasing of the altitude, theline of α-diversity was monotonically decreasing curve in Tumen-Duantouya transect, andbimodal curve in Chashan-Jiudingshan transect, but in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transectshowed a wave-like curve although not very obvious. Species evenness showed monotonicallydecreasing trends in Tumen-Duantouya transect, and very low at mid-altitude in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transect, but in Chashan-Jiudingshan transect changed irregularly. Changes inβ-diversity corresponded with the transition of vegetation in the Tumen-Duantouya transect andChashan-Jiudingshan transect, and the curve of β-diversity along altitude had obvious turningpoint; but in Yanmengou-Guangguangshan transect had no obvious turning point, and thesubstitution phenomenon was not obvious, transverse vegetation straps distributed interlaced. 3 Richness patterns of vascular plant species along altitude in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain Direct gradient analysis and regression methods were used to describe the species richnesspatterns along the altitudinal for Mt. Jiuding, as well as separately for Tumen-Duantouya Transectand Yanmengou-Guangguangshan Transect. Altitudinal gradient of diversity of units at differenttaxonomic level (including Family, Genus and Species) and at different life form (including tree,shrub, pteridophyte, grass and other herb) were tested to find differences among the richnesspattern. We found altitudinal richness also shows different patterns, and both monotonicallydecreasing pattern and hump-shaped pattern can be founded in vascular species richness. Speciesin different life forms show different altitudinal patterns, but those species with similarrequirements to environmental conditions show similar richness patterns along altitudinalgradients. Different richness patterns can be aroused by different climate, different altitudinal span,area factor, anthropogenic factor and so on. 4 Floristic quality assessments in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain We used both the conventional method broadly adopted in the USA and the new one toassess the floristic quality in the west slope of Jiuding Mountain. The Mean Coefficient ofConservatism (MC) had the trend of increment along the altitudinal gradients. The FloristicQuality Index (FQI) was a bimodal curve with increasing of elevation; FQI got maximum valuesin the transition zones of different vegetations in the middle altitude, and had very low values atthe two end of elevation. In most areas of the west slope of the Jiuding Mountain, the resultscalculated using the new methods were higher than those using the conventional method. Thisindicated the dominant species of the communities had very high coefficients of conservatism inmost areas of Jiuding Mountain, and the communities are relatively kept pristine and the habitats very integrative. 5 The characteristic of the flora of Longzhou Mountain The flora of Longzhou Mountain has very abundant in species composition; there are about1156 species of seed plants belonging to 544 genera in 154 families. In which, twelve families with more than 20 species include totally 232 genera and 532 species, and form the majority of itsflora. The origin of its flora is old, monospecific genera and oligotypic genera amounts to 510 innumber, which constitute 93.75% of total number of genera. The geographical components arevarious in Longzhou Mountain, the majority of flora are temperate and pantropic ones. The tropiccomponents overtopped temperate components on genera quantity, but many temperatecomponents belong to constructive species and dominant species in the vegetation, and the wholeflora shows an obvious subtropical character. 6 Current situation and characteristic of biodiversity in Longzhou Mountain With the increasing of altitude, the number of species, genus, family and the ratios ofdifferent taxonomic levels all displayed a trend of descending after rising first, and peaked atmiddle height area. The change of α-diversity was not very acutely, with the trend of descendingafter rising first in some degree, the middle height area had highest α-diversity. As studying thetree layer, shrub layer and herb layer respectively, the Shannon-Wiener index was in followingorder: tree layer < shrub layer < herb layer; the change of evenness was more complicatedly thanthat of diversity, the tree layer changed acutely, but the shrub layer and herb layer fluctuatedsmoothly. Changes in β-diversity also showed the trend of descending after rising first. TheJaccard index and Cody index all peaked at the middle height forest area. As for the comparison ofplant diversity and evenness between the west and east slope, the numerical values ascendedalternatively, but the trend of changing was similar. The distribution of similar plant communitiesand species in east slope were lower than the west slope for the influence of Jinsha River DryValley. As for the composition of different floristic components, in lower altitude area of westslope, the tropic and sub-tropic plants had higher ratio than east slope’s and even could be equal tothe temperate plants. With the increasing of elevation, the floristic composition become morelikely between the east and west slope and temperate plants dominated the flora.

秦巴山区中山地小流域土地持续利用模式探讨——以柞水县薛家沟流域为例

在分析薛家沟流域土地利用现状、持续利用条件和限制因素的基础上 ,依据流域立体分异特性 ,提出川平地以粮食种植、坡地以经济果木和防护林为主导的山地林果药菌立体开发的土地利用模式

黄土中主要温室气体组分特征

Scientists have paid much attention to the greenhouse effects and the greenhouse gases for the fact of global warming. There are many uncertainties in the prediction of future climatic change. One of the important reasons causing the uncertainties is insufficient researches of the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases, especially, there is a missing sink in the global carbon cycle. The recent researches proposal that there may be an important carbon sink in the middle-latitude terrestrial ecosystems (vegetation and soil) in the North Hemisphere, despite that there is much disputation about its position and amplitude. Chinese loess is located in the middle latitude area in the North Hemisphere, what kind of role does it play in and how does it influence on the balance of the global greenhouse gases budget? For this reason, many samples were taken and analyzed from wide range and multi-stratum of Chinese loess to understand characteristics of major greenhouse gases in loess and loess possible effect on global greenhouse gas budget. Using self-made spiral corer, we totally took 81 gas samples and 65 soil samples from 7 loess profiles in China such as Zhaitang loess section of Beijing, Pianguan, Xingxian, Lishi, Puxian, Jishan loess section of Shanxi Province, and Luochuan loess section of Shaanxi Province. The gas concentrations for CO_2, CH_4 and N_2O, the contents of N_2, O_2 and carbonate, and the carbon isotopic compositions of CO_2 and carbonate in loess strata sequences are observed and measured. In addition, 19 gas samples data of the Weinan loess section, Shaanxi Province are combination with this research to study characteristics of greenhouse gases in loess. This research indicates that (1) the free gases in loess are neither paleo-atmospheric gases nor modern atmospheric gases; (2) the concentrations of CO_2, CH_4 and N_2O in loess are higher than atmospheric level; (3) the δ~(13)C of loess CO_2 shows that the CO_2 in loess mainly comes from the oxygenolysis of organic matters, but because of isotopic exchange with carbonate in loess, the carbon isotopic exchange with carbonate in loess, the carbon isotopic compositions of loess CO_2 are much more heavier than organic original CO_2; (4) the concentration of CH_4 in Malan loess is lower because it is not favorable for the decomposition of anaerobic bacteria in the Malan Loess; (5) estimation of the total amount of the carbonate in loess reveals that loess is a huge carbon reservoir (about 850PgC). In addition, the impact of the deuterogenic carbonatization during the loess accumulation on the global carbon cycle was discussed, and the preliminary conclusion is that the research work is still not enough to evaluate the effect of loess on the sources and sinks of the anthropogenic CO_2.

济阳地区深部结构与含油气性讨论

Oil and gas exploration of marine strata in China's Pre-Cenozoic residual basins is regarded as a worldwide puzzle because of existent problems and cruxes. Objectively speaking, the subsurface geologic structure is complicated, and the surface conditions of some areas are tough. On the other hand, there are still many problems to be solved in oil and gas exploration technologies of Pre-Cenozoic marine fades, and theoretic cognition about petroleum geology is not profound yet. Therefore, it is principal to explore integrated geophysical research ways of Pre-Cenozoic residual basins. Seismic prospecting and geophysical integrated interpretation technologies aimed at middle Paleozoic marine facies with deeper burial and complicated geologic conditions have not formed due to bad quality of deep strata data. Pre-Cenozoic strata, and especially extension, thickness and internal structure of Paleozoic strata can not be recognized from seismic profiles, so it is hard to systematically cognize structural features and oil-gas resources prospect of Pre-Cenozoic basins. To further investigation of fabric and structural features, basin prototype, formation and evolution pattern of Pre-Cenozoic basins, and also their control over formation, migration and aggregation of oil and gas, will play a guiding and promotive role in developing new surveying areas, selecting advantageous zones and predicting oil-gas resources.This paper follows the modem macrocontrol theory of "Region constrains local, deep strata controls shallow ones", and uses the integrated geophysical method of "One guide, two hinges, three combinations and multi feedbacks'*. Based on several years of geological and geophysical results of the Shengli Oilfield, and 14 newly-joint regional seismic profiles, deep structure and oil-gas bearing capacity of the Jiyang area are discussed and new cognitions are drawn as below.Seismic identification marks Tr, Tg, Tgl and Tg2 are established for importantPre-Cenozoic geological interfaces, and promoted to the whole Jiyang area.Through area-wide tracking and clogging of important seismic reflection marker,the isochronic framework of pre-Tertiary basin is set up in the Jiyang area for the firsttime, which is vital for basin research.Integrated with geological and geophysical research results, the Jiyang area isdivided into four first-order tectonic sequences- basement, lower tectonic layer,upper tectonic layer, and top tectonic layer. The basement and lower tectonic sequence which are related to Pre-Cenozoic are studied with emphasis.Through the research of regional seismic profiles, the point of view is given thatthe Kongdian Formation of Jiyang is structural transition period. The top-bottomunconformable interface of the Kongdian Formation is found out for the first time,and the basin model is determined primarily, which lay a basis for prototype basinresearch of the Jiyang Kongdian Formation.The distribution status of Middle-Paleozoic is delineated in the Jiyang area.The maximum thickness of Paleozoic lies in the top of the south declivity of half-graben. The thickness gets thinner towards the center of Mesozoic and Cenozoic half-graben basin, and even disappears. Structural action in the west-north affects the distribution of Paleozoic residual strata.6. The features of second-order tectonic sequence of the Jiyang depression isstudied and its evolution history of is rebuilt.Combined with the 5-stage evolution history of the China continent and structure evolution features of the Jiyang area, the structure sedimentary process since Paleozoic is divided into 5 periods - basement forming , Indosinian orogenic, Yanshan negative reversal, Himalayan extension and Neogene subsidence period.Combined with the research results of gravity, magnetic surveying and regionalprofiles, this paper brings forward the idea for the first time that the western boundaryof the Jiyang depression is the Ningjin-Yangpan fracture zone, and forms aside-column assemblage with the Wudi fracture zone.The opinion that under Middle-Cenozoic basins in the middle Jiyang area theremight superimpose an old residual basin is given for the first time. And if it is provedto be true, a new exploration space will be pioneered for Jiyang and even north China.There exists many types of tectonic-stratigraphic traps formed under piezotropy,extension and compound action in Pre-Cenozoic Jiyang. Therein all kinds of burialhills are the most important oil-gas trap type of Pre-Cenozoic, which should besurveyed layeredly according to the layout of oil sources.As such a new challenging project and field, the paper systematically analyses different geophysical responses of the Jiyang area, frames the deep structure of the area, and preliminarily recognizes the Pre-Cenozoic residual basins. It breaks through to a certain extent in both theory and practice, and is expected to provide new geophysical and geotectonic clues for deep exploration in Shengli.

Aging Affects the Neural Representation of Speed in Macaque Area MT

Human perception of speed declines with age. Much of the decline is probably mediated by changes in the middle temporal (MT) area, an extrastriate area whose neural activity is linked to the perception of speed. In the present study, we used random-dot pa

Microorganisms linked to Neoproterozoic microspar carbonate sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary facies analyses.

Microorganisms linked to Neoproterozoic microspar carbonate sedimentation in the Jilin-Liaoning area

Molar-tooth carbonate refers to a sort of rock that has ptygmatical folded structure comparable to the ivory. This kind of carbonate exists in a special time range (from Middle to Neoproterozoic). Its origin and the possibility to use it in stratigraphic correlation of the paleocontinent is the key task of the IGCP447, a project on Proterozoic molar tooth carbonates and the evolution of the earth (2001-2005). The importance lies in that the molar-tooth structure is the key to solving problems related to Precambrian biological and global geochemical events. The molar-tooth structure is associated with microorganisms. Development and recession of such carbonates have relations with the evolution process of early lives and abrupt changes in sea carbonate geochemistry. In recent years, based on researches on petrology, geochemistry and Sr isotope of molar-tooth carbonate in the Jilin-Liaoning and Xuzhou-Huaiyang area, the authors hold that it can be used as a marker for stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary facies analyses.

Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Zhuanghai area, Bohai-Bay Basin, east China: the application of balanced cross-sections

The technique of balancing cross-sections, an important method for studying the tectonic history of sedimentary basins, has many applications. It enables one to compile charts for petroleum exploration and development, and growth sections of ancient structures can be restored so that the structural growth history can be studied. In order to study tectonic evolution in the Zhuanghai area of the Bohai-Bay basin, we selected two seismic profiles and compiled two structural growth sections. Based on the two balanced cross-sections, the evolution can be divided into four phases: the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase, Late Jurassic - Cretaceous phase, Palaeogene extension phase, and Late Palaeogene-to-present phase. The whole area was uplifted during the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase because of intense extrusion stress related to the Indo-China movement. During the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, intense extension occurred in east China, and the whole area rifted, leading to the deposition of a thick sedimentary sequence. In the Late Cretaceous, the area suffered uplift and compression associated with the sinistral strike slip of the Tanlu fault. In the Palaeogene, a rifting basin developed in the area. Finally, it became stable and was placed in its present position by dextral strike-slip motion. In addition, some problems associated with compiling balanced cross-sections are discussed.

Paleoceanographic records in the sedimentary cores from the middle Okinawa Trough

Two gravity piston cores (Cores 155 and 18) involved in this study were collected from the middle Okinawa Trough. Stratigraphy of the two cores was divided and classified based on the features of planktonic foraminifera oxygen isotope changes together with depositional sequence, millennium-scale climatic event comparison, carbonate cycles and AMS(14)C dating. Some paleoclimatic information contained in sediments of these cores was extracted to discuss the paleoclimatic change rules and the short-time scale events presented in interglacial period. Analysis on the variation of oxygen isotope values in stage two shows that the middle part of the Okinawa Trough may have been affected by fresh water from the Yellow River and the Yangtze River during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The oxygen isotope value oscillating ranges of the cores have verified that the marginal sea has an amplifying effect on climate changes. The delta(13)C of benthic foraminifera Uvigerina was lighter in the glacial period than that in the interglacial period, which indicates that the Paleo-Kuroshio's main stream moved eastward and its influence area decreased. According to the temperature difference during the "YD" period existing in Core 180 and other data, we can reach the conclusion that the climatic changes in the middle Okinawa Trough area were controlled by global climatic changes, but some regional factors had also considerable influence on the climate changes. Some results in this paper support Fairbanks's point that the "YD" event was a brief stagnation of sea level rising during the global warming up procession. Moreover, the falling of sea level in the glacial period weakened the exchange between the bottom water of the Okinawa Trough and the deep water of the northwestern Pacific Ocean and resulted in low oxygen state of bottom water in this area. These procedures are the reasons for carbonate cycle in the Okinawa Trough area being consistent with the "Atlantic type" carbonate cycle.

The stability zone of gas hydrate in the slope of East China Sea and neighboring trough basin area

We analyze the distribution of temperature and heat flow of the sea floor sediment in the area of East China Sea slope and West basin area of the Okinawa Trough. Based on the Sonar Buoy and OBS data, 6 velocity layers are recognized, each of which has velocity of 1.8(1.8 similar to 2.2) km/s,2.2(2.0 similar to 2.5)km/s,2.8 (2.7 similar to 3.2)km/s,3.4 similar to 3.6km/s,4.2(4.1 similar to 4.7)km/s and 5.1km/s, respectively. The upper velocity layer of 1.8 similar to 2.2 km/s corresponds to the Quaternary sediment stratum. The layer with velocity 3.4 similar to 4.2km/s is the Pliocene sediment stratum. The area that is suitable for stable existence of gas hydrate by the temperature and pressure is 70,000km(2) about 1/10 the total area of East China Sea. The thickness of the stability zone ranges from 400m (Middle Part of Okinawa Trough) to 1100m (North and South Part of Okinawa Trough). The Quaternary and Pliocene layers are suitable for stable exitence of gas hydrate. According to the tectonic stability and heat flow, the north part and south part of the Okinawa Trough are the most perspective area for the gas hydrate explorations.

Seismic profiles across the middle Tan-Lu fault zone in Laizhou Bay, Bohai Sea, eastern China

The stratigraphic architecture, structure and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Tan-Lu fault zone in Laizhou Bay, eastern China, are analyzed based on interpretations of 31 new 2D seismic lines across Laizhou Bay. Cenozoic strata in the study area are divided into two layers separated by a prominent and widespread unconformity. The upper sedimentary layer is made up of Neogene and Quaternary fluvial and marine sediments, while the lower layer consists of Paleogene lacustrine and fluvial facies. In terms of tectonics, the sediments beneath the unconformity can be divided into four main structural units: the west depression, central uplift, east depression and Ludong uplift. The two branches of the middle Tan-Lu fault zone differ in their geometry and offset: the east branch fault is a steeply dipping S-shaped strike-slip fault that cuts acoustic basement at depths greater than 8 km, whereas the west branch fault is a relatively shallow normal fault. The Tan-Lu fault zone is the key fault in the study area, having controlled its Cenozoic evolution. Based on balanced cross-sections constructed along transverse seismic line 99.8 and longitudinal seismic line 699.0, the Cenozoic evolution of the middle Tan-Lu fault zone is divided into three stages: Paleocene-Eocene transtension, Oligocene-Early Miocene transpression and Middle Miocene to present-day stable subsidence. The reasons for the contrasting tectonic features of the two branch faults and the timing of the change from transtension to transpression are discussed. Crown Copyright (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of 'sinking in' and 'piling up' on estimating the contact area under load in indentation

The phenomena of the 'piling up' and 'sinking-in' of surface profiles in conical indentation in elastic-plastic solids with work hardening are studied using dimensional and finite-element analysis. The degree of sinking in and piling up is shown to depend on the ratio of the initial yield strength Y to Young's modulus E and on the work-hardening exponent n. The widely used procedure proposed by Oliver and Pharr for estimating contact depth is then evaluated systematically. By comparing the contact depth obtained directly from finite-element calculations with that obtained from the initial unloading slope using the Oliver-Pharr procedure, the applicability of the procedure is discussed.

An New Area Function for Sharp indenter Tips in Nanoindentation

A new area function is introduced and applied to a Berkovich tip in order to characterize the contact projected area between an indenter and indented material. The function can be related directly to tip-rounding, thereby having obviously physical meaning. Nanoindentation experiments are performed on a commercial Nano Indenter XPsystem. The other two area functions introduced by Oliver and Pharr and by Thurn and Cook respectively are involved in this paper for comparison. By comparison from experimental results among different area functions, the indenter tip described by the proposed area function here is very close to the experimental indenter.