ALBERT

Description: The scattering and trapping of water waves by three-dimensional submerged topography, infinite and periodic in one horizontal coordinate and of finite extent in the other, is considered under the assumptions of linearized theory. The mild-slope approximation is used to reduce the governing boundary value problem to one involving a form of the Helmholtz equation in which the coefficient depends on the topography and is therefore spatially varying. Two problems are considered: The scattering by the topography of parallel-crested obliquely incident waves and the propagation of trapping modes along the periodic topography. Both problems are formulated in terms of 'domain' integral equations which are solved numerically. Trapped waves are found to exist over any periodic topography which is 'sufficiently' elevated above the unperturbed bed level. In particular, every periodic topography wholly elevated above that level supports trapped waves. Fundamental differences are shown to exist between these trapped waves and the analogous Rayleigh-Bloch waves which exist on periodic gratings in acoustic theory. Results computed for the scattering problem show that, remarkably, there exist zeros of transmission at discrete wavenumbers for any periodic bed elevation and for all incident wave angles. One implication of this property is that total reflection of an incident wave of a particular frequency will occur in a channel with a single symmetric elevation on the bed. The zeros of transmission in the scattering problem are shown to be related to the presence of a 'nearly trapped' mode in the corresponding homogeneous problem. The scattering of waves by multiple rows of periodic topography is also considered and it is shown how Bragg resonance - well-established in scattering of waves by two-dimensional ripple beds - occurs in modes other than the input mode.

Description: Magnetic susceptibility (MS) of surface sediment varies systematically across the Loess Plateau in central China, decreasing exponentially from 〉200×10−8 m3/kg at the northern margin of the Qinling Shan to ≤30×10−8 m3/kg near the southern margin of the Mu Us Desert. MS correlates highly with loess median grain size (r2=0.79), which decreases south-southeastward across the plateau. It also correlates with mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) (r2=0.58 and 0.60, respectively), and with their product MAT×MAP (r2=0.83), which is considered a measure of potential pedogenic activity. Because regional isopleths depicting grain size and the primary meteorological parameters are nearly parallel, it is difficult to determine their relative influence on MS. A simple MS model, based on the observed spatial variation in loess thickness, permits quantitative assessment of the effect of the dust accumulation rate on the MS signal of surface sediment and isolates the likely role of climate in the production of magnetic minerals. The model suggests that 84% of the loess MS variance is dictated by the diluting effect of dust and 10–11% is associated with meteorological factors, primarily precipitation. The observed and modeled relationships support hypotheses that attribute variations in MS in the loess-paleosol succession to varying rates of dust deposition and in situ production of magnetic minerals in the accretionary soils, both of which are controlled by monsoon climate.

Description: Bakaninbreen, Svalbard, was in the late phase of a prolonged surge during 1995–96. In order to investigate the nature of the basal mechanical and hydraulic regime, sets of tilt sensors equipped with pore-pressure sensors were installed into the basal till layer. Water-pressure transducers were also installed in the boreholes above the ice–till interface. During 1995, the measured mean strain rate in the till was 0.44 a−1 up-glacier of the surge front, while down-glacier the rate was 0.04 a−1. Our interpretation indicates that deformation was the dominant component of basal motion. Strain rates fluctuated strongly, and periods of both positive (down-glacier) and negative (up-glacier) strain occurred. No consistent relationship was apparent between effective pressure and strain rate within the basal till layer. The viscosity of the basal sediments ranged from 1.3 × 1012 to 3.4 × 1012 Pa s. Such high values suggest that the till layer beneath Bakaninbreen may be partially frozen. Analysis of simultaneous measurements of pore-water and borehole water pressure suggests the hydraulic diffusivity of the till layer ranges from 1.2 to 5.0 × 10−6 m2 s−1, and the hydraulic conductivity from 3.2 × 10−7 to 7.7 × 10−8 m s−1.