A New Parameter as an Indicator of the Degree of Deformation of Coals

The deformation of coal is effected by thermal effect, pressures and tectonic stress, and the tectonic stress is the principal influence factor. However, the proposition of a useful quantitative index that responds to the degree of deformation of coals quantitatively or semi-quantitatively has been a long-debated issue. The vitrinite reflectance ellipsoid, that is, the reflectance indication surface（RIS） ellipsoid is considered to be a strain ellipsoid that reflects the sum of the strain increment caused by stress in the process of coalification. It has been used to describe the degree of deformation of the coal, but the effect of the anisotropy on the RIS ellipsoid has not yet been considered with regards to non-structural factors. In this paper, Wei＇s parameter（ε） is proposed to express the deformation degree of the strain ellipsoid based on considering the combined influence of thermal effect, pressure and tectonic stress. The equation is as follows： ε=√[（ε_1-ε_0）~2＋（ε_2-ε_0）~2＋（ε_3-ε_0）~2]/3, where ε_1=lnR_（max）, ε_2=lnR_（int）, ε_3=lnR_（min）, and ε_0=（ε_1＋ε_2＋ε_3）/3. Wei＇s parameter represents the distance from the surface to the spindle of the RIS logarithm ellipsoid; thus, the degree of deformation of the strain ellipsoid is indicated quantitatively. The formula itself, meanwhile, represents the absolute value of the degree of relative deformation and is consequently suitable for any type of deformation of the strain ellipsoid. Wei＇s parameter makes it possible to compare degrees of deformation among different deformation types of the strain ellipsoid. This equation has been tested in four types of coal： highly metamorphic but weakly deformed coal of the southern Qinshui Basin, highly metamorphic and strongly deformed coal from the Tianhushan coal mining area of Fujian, and medium metamorphic and weakly or strongly deformed coal from the Huaibei Coalfield. The results of Wei＇s parameters are consistent with the actual deformation degrees of the coal reservoirs determined by other methods, which supports the effectiveness of this method. In addition, Wei＇s parameter is an important complement to the indicators of the degrees of deformation of coals, which possess certain theoretical significance and practical values.

Impact of 1.5°C and 2.0°C global warming on aircraft takeoff performance in China

Associated with global warming, climate extremes such as extreme temperature will significantly increase. Understanding how climate change will impact the airflights is important to the planning of future flight operations. In this study, the impacts of 1.5 and 2 degree's global warming on the aircraft takeoff performance in China are investigated using a unique climate projection data from an international collaboration project named HAPPI. It is found that the mean summer daily maximum temperature, which is a major factor that affects the flight through changing the aircraft's takeoff weight, will increase significantly with magnitude less than 1.5℃ over most parts of China except for the Tibetan Plateau. The half a degree additional global warming will lead to higher extreme temperature in the arid and semi-arid western China, the Tibetan Plateau and the northeastern China, while the change in eastern China is weak. Five airports including Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Lasa and Urumqi will see ～1.0°-2.0℃(1.4°-3.0℃) higher daily maximum temperature under 1.5℃(2.0℃) scenario. The half-degree additional warming will lead to a shift toward higher extreme temperature in these five sites. For both1.5° and 2.0℃ scenarios, the number of weight-restriction days will increase significantly at 3 airports including Beijing, Shanghai, and Lasa. Urumqi will witness an increase of weight-restriction days only in 2.0℃ future.