Meso-scale available gravitational potential energy in the world oceans

The pitfalls of applying the commonly used definition of available gravitational potential energy （AGPE） to the world oceans are re-examined. It is proposed that such definition should apply to the meso-scale problems in the oceans, not the global scale. Based on WOA98 climatological data, the meso-scale AGPE in the world oceans is estimated. Unlike previous results by Oort et al. , the meso-scale AGPE is large wherever there is a strong horizontal density gradient. The distribution of meso-scale AGPE reveals the close connection between the baroclinic instability and the release of gravitational potential energy stored within the scale of Rossby deformation radius.

Crustal density structures and isostasy beneath the Western North China craton,Trans-North China Orogen,and surrounding regions

To determine the lateral and vertical variations in crustal structure and their influence on the seismicity of the Western North China Craton,the Trans-North China Orogen,and the surrounding regions,the wavelet multi-scale structures,Moho depth,crustal density structures,and isostatic state are modelled using Bouguer gravity anomaly data,topography,and earthquake focal mechanisms.We obtained homogeneous crustal densities and deviations of<1 km between the crustal thicknesses estimated from the isostatic model and those inverted from the Bouguer gravity anomalies in the Ordos Block,the Inner Mongolia Suture Zone,the Sichuan Basin,and the Jizhong Depression.These results provide new evidence for relatively simple and stable continental crustal structures,and indicate that these regions will remain stable in both the vertical and lateral directions.The Hetao Graben,Yinchuan Graben,Weihe Basin,and Shanxi graben system have heterogeneous crustal densities and are isostatically over-compensated.In contrast,the crust beneath the Yinshan Uplift,Lvliang Uplift,and northern and central Taihang Uplift is thin and under-compensated.The heterogeneous crustal densities and non-isostatic state beneath the Tibetan Plateau and Qinling Central China Orogen indicate that these two blocks are unstable in the vertical and lateral directions.Although Cenozoic deformation of the North China Craton is thought to be driven by lithospheric stresses related to the India-Eurasia collision and Pacific slab retreat in South East Asia,we suggest that gravitational potential energy created by the heterogeneous crustal structure modulates these first-order forces.The results of this study could constrain the causes of seismicity in systems surrounding the Ordos Block.

A Study of the Pit-Aided Construction of Egyptian Pyramids

Pyramids,symbols of the Ancient Egyptian civilization,are visited by tourists and studied by researchers from all around the world.However,the techniques used by Ancient Egyptians to construct the pyramid,specifically,how such a tall structure could have been constructed from huge blocks of stone with the limited productive forces at the time,remains a mystery to the world.Though numerous theories,such as the use of ramps,levers,pulleys,fluid buoyancy,and cast-in-place concrete,have been proposed in academia,no consensus has been reached to date.Based on mechanical principles and the productive forces available at the time,the famous Pyramid of Khufu is used as a case study in this paper to propose a theory of pit-aided construction.The main steps include the digging of the pit,the transportation of stone blocks into the pit,the layer-by-layer construction,and the layer-by-layer filling of soil until the top of the pyramid is completed.The main idea of the pit-aided construction was to use the self-weight of the stone material to achieve the transportation of stone blocks by converting potential energy to kinetic energy,thereby avoiding the large amounts of work that must be done to elevate the huge blocks of stone.The proposed theory of pit-aided construction is consistent with the cultural custom of burial that is associated with tomb construction,namely laying the deceased to rest through burial,and is also consistent with the productive forces available in Ancient Egypt at the time.

Characteristics and geological significance of the stress state of the lithosphere in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its neighboring areas

The present-day lithospheric stress state of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and neighboring areas is controlled by both the lithosphere itself and the underlying mantle.In other words,the stress is affected by the gravitational potential energy(GPE)difference caused by the change in the density distribution within the lithosphere and the drag force on the base of the lithosphere caused by mantle convection.The study of the lithospheric stress state plays an important role in further understanding the dynamic background and mechanism for the evolution of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.In this study,the Crust1.0 crustal density model combined with the S40RTS mantle shear wave velocity variation model was used to calculate the GPE.The EGM2008gravity field model was used to calculate the drag force from mantle convection at the base of the lithosphere.The lithospheric and joint stress fields of the two sources were obtained by solving the force balance under the thin sheet approximation.This way,we could comprehensively analyze the characteristics of the stress state within the Plateau.Six regions were classified according to the GPE stress field,mantle drag force stress field,the relative magnitude of the two stress fields,and correlation between the two stress fields and surface deformation.The lithospheric stress fields of the Tarim Basin and other stable blocks are mainly controlled by the GPE difference.The lithospheric stress field in the collision zone between the Indian Plate and the QinghaiTibetan Plateau is predominantly controlled by the deep mantle drag force.The lithospheric stress field in the interior of the Plateau is controlled by both GPE and mantle drag.The correlation between the lithospheric stress field and surface deformation at the southeast margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is poor.It is hypothesized that the presence of lower crustal flow with lower effective viscosity leads to crust-mantle decoupling,and the mantle drag force has a weaker influence on the shallow crust,resulting in the inconsistency between the average lithospheric stress field and surface deformation.

Numerical simulation of the segmentation of the stress state of the Anninghe-Zemuhe-Xiaojiang faults

We established a three-dimensional finite element model of the Anninghe-Zemuhe-Xiaojiang faults region using contact surfaces of different sizes to describe the spatial segmentation characteristics of the faults. Our model is based on constraints from GPS observations, models of the crust and upper mantle, precise earthquake locations, the tectonic stress field, the slip rate of the faults, and the rheology of the lithosphere in the Sichuan-Yunnan area. Considering the influence of strong earthquakes since A.D. 1327, we analyzed the main controlling factors of the characteristics of the strong earthquakes and also studied by numerical simulation the possible areas of future earthquake risk and their relationship with tectonic stress. The numerical results showed that the gravitational potential energy of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the interaction of adjacent blocks are the main kinetic factors affecting the characteristics of the tectonic stress distribution. There appears to be some correspondence between the distribution of tectonic stress and the b value; however, we also found that some low b value locations correspond to regions of lower stress. This contradiction may be the result of some comprehensive factors, such as the release of strain energy caused by strong earthquakes.