Raman microprobe study of synthetic diaplectic plagioclase feldspars

Raman microprobe spectra were made on three post shock, diaplectic plagioclase feldspars. Optical and X-ray diffraction studies indicated that feldspars maintained a partially or totally crystalline state after having passed through the mixed phase zone of Hugoniot response to shock waves (15–38 GPa). The appearance of uniquely glass-type spectra occurs at different shock pressures for each specimen according to its atomic structural arrangement, below 38 GPa for mosaic structured labradorite, near 40 GPa for anorthite and above 50 GPa for the highly ordered low albite. The diaplectic anorthite and labradorite glasses give spectra which indicate the presence of two glass types. Shifts in the band envelope frequencies compared to spectra of fused glass and statically pressure densified glass suggest that these glasses have specific structural arrangements. These differences suggest that the shock and fusion glass-forming processes are not exactly identical. The results from material shocked in the mixed phase region of Hugoniot response show that the phase transitions are effected at different pressures depending upon the feldspar structural type.     

Variability in the Relative Penetration of Ultraviolet Radiation to Photosynthetically Available Radiation in Temperate Coastal Waters, Japan

UVR and PAR wavelengths are attenuated to different extents within the water column, causing variations in spectral composition with depth. The present investigation (a) describes the variability of UVR and PAR penetration at a station in the temperate coastal waters of Sagami Bay and determines (b) the characteristics of relative UVR penetration to the euphotic zone. Examination of the seasonal irradiance profile measurements indicated eight measurements displaying two distinct attenuation coefficients (K _d) for specific UVR wavelengths and PAR. The two attenuation coefficients observed from specific wavelengths in the water column may be caused not only by chlorophyll pigments, but also by dissolved organic material in the upper layer. The 1% depth of surface UVR at 305, 320, 340, and 380 nm averaged 10.8 ± 5.7, 14.9 ± 9.5, 19.8 ± 12.1, and 30.4 ± 17.6 m, respectively. The depth of euphotic layer displayed less variability averaging 62 ± 15 m throughout the entire study. Relative UVR penetration within the euphotic zone averaged 17.8 ± 8.1, 22.9 ± 10, 30.5 ± 13.8, and 46 ± 46.9% for 305, 320, 340, and 380 nm, respectively. A large variation of the relative transmission of UVR within the euphotic zone was found although the spectral composition was relatively stable in the air throughout the study.     

Coupling behavior of shear deformation and end rotation of elastomeric seismic isolation bearings

This paper presents a mechanical model for predicting the behavior of elastomeric seismic isolation bearings subject to combined end rotations and shear deformation. The mechanical model consists of a series of axial springs at the top, mid‐height and bottom of the bearing to vertically reproduce asymmetric bending moment distribution in the bearings. The model can take into account end rotations of the bearing, and the overall rotational stiffness includes the effect of the variation of vertical load on the bearing and the imposed shear deformation. Static bending tests under various combinations of vertical load and shear deformation were performed to identify the mechanical characteristics of bearings. The test results indicate that bearing rotational stiffness increases with increasing vertical load but decreases with increasing shear deformation. Simulation analyses were conducted to validate the new mechanical model. The results of analyses using the new model show very good agreement with experimental observations. A series of seismic response analyses were performed to demonstrate the dynamic behavior of top‐of‐column isolated structures, a configuration where the end rotations of isolation bearings are typically expected to be larger. The results suggest that the end rotations of elastomeric bearings used in practical top‐of‐column isolated structures do not reduce the stability limit of isolation system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-affinities of landforms and folds in the Northeast Honshu Arc, Japan

A method to analyze self-affinities is introduced and applied to the large scale fold geometries of Quaternary and Tertiary sediments or geographical topographies in the inner belt of the Northeast Honshu Arc, Japan. Based on this analysis, their geometries are self-affine and can be differently scaled in different directions. We recognize a crossover from local to global altitude (vertical) variation of the geometries of folds and topographies. The characteristic length for the crossover of topographies (landforms) is about 25 km and is related to the half wavelength of the crustal buckling folds or possible maximum magnitude of inland earthquakes in the Northeast Honshu Arc. Moreover, self-affinity of the folds and topographies can be connected with the b-value in Gutenberg-Richter℉s law. We obtain two average Hurst exponents obtained from the self-affinities of folds in the Northeast Honshu Arc. This indicates that there are two possible seismic modes for the smaller and larger ranges in the focal regions in the Northeast Honshu Arc.     

Intensity variations of the postnoon auroral bright spots observed at Zhongshan Station, Antarctica on August 8, 1999

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Bimodal representation of the tropical intraseasonal oscillation

The tropical intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) shows distinct variability centers and propagation patterns between boreal winter and summer. To accurately represent the state of the ISO at any particular time of a year, a bimodal ISO index was developed. It consists of Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) mode with predominant eastward propagation along the equator and Boreal Summer ISO (BSISO) mode with prominent northward propagation and large variability in off-equatorial monsoon trough regions. The spatial–temporal patterns of the MJO and BSISO modes are identified with the extended empirical orthogonal function analysis of 31?years (1979–2009) OLR data for the December–February and June–August period, respectively. The dominant mode of the ISO at any given time can be judged by the proportions of the OLR anomalies projected onto the two modes. The bimodal ISO index provides objective and quantitative measures on the annual and interannual variations of the predominant ISO modes. It is shown that from December to April the MJO mode dominates while from June to October the BSISO mode dominates. May and November are transitional months when the predominant mode changes from one to the other. It is also shown that the fractional variance reconstructed based on the bimodal index is significantly higher than the counterpart reconstructed based on the Wheeler and Hendon’s index. The bimodal ISO index provides a reliable real time monitoring skill, too. The method and results provide critical information in assessing models’ performance to reproduce the ISO and developing further research on predictability of the ISO and are also useful for a variety of scientific and practical purposes.     

南极中山站午后极光强度与太阳风参数的关系

本文利用1997年和1998年南极中山站多通道扫描光度计的地面观测数据和WIND卫星在弓激波上游对太阳风参数的观测数据，对午后高纬极光强度与太阳风等离子体密度、动压以及太阳风速度之间的相关性进行了定量研究。研究表明，午后极光630．0nm的强度与太阳风等离子体参数之间有较好的相关，630．0nm的强度表现出随太阳风等离子体密度、动压和速度的增大而增加的趋势，其相关系数分别为0．84、0．88和0．61；而557．7nm极光的强度与太阳风等离子体参数之间的相关较差。午后557．7nm极光的强度与太阳风等离子体参数之间的相关较差。午后557．7nm和630．0nm对太阳风参数的不同响应表明太阳风对630．0nm影响更直接，而557．7nm受到了磁层动力学过程的影响。     

Organizations and the interior characteristics of winter monsoon clouds by dual-polarization Doppler radar observation in Hokuriku, Japan

To understand the characteristics of winter monsoon clouds, dual-polarization Doppler radar observations were carried out at Mihama, Hokuriku, Japan. A series of organized disturbances associated with the passage of a cyclonic circulation was analyzed. The following scenario was proposed. Environmental circumstances, for example, temperature and wind profiles, surface heat and moisture fluxes, etc., determine the organizational style of mesoscale convections. This organization regulates the convection interior flow pattern including the location and intensity of updrafts. Subsequently, it influences interior microphysical properties, for example, the types of precipitation particles, their growth and distributions, their electrification, etc. In this paper, an observational example following this scenario is presented.     

Symmetropy of earthquake patterns: asymmetry and rotation in a disordered seismic source

We demonstrate that the idea of symmetropy can be used for quantification of earthquake patterns. The symmetropy can be considered as a measure of asymmetry. A pattern is richer in asymmetry when the symmetropy is smaller. The specific results of its applications are obtained as follows. In a discrete model of a seismic source with self-organized criticality, the spatial patterns of earthquakes during critical states and sub-critical states are distinguished by the behaviour of the symmetropy: sub-critical patterns show that the symmetropy is approximately a constant but this has various values during critical states. The critical patterns show asymmetric property without any asymmetric force from the outside and without asymmetric intracellular rule. We show that the emergence of asymmetric patterns is a generic feature of dynamic ruptures in our model. Such a generic asymmetry results from the model which is an inherently discrete system consisting of finite-sized cells. These cells may represent geometrical disordered fault zones. We further discuss rotational motions that generate seismic rotational waves. In micromorphic continuum theory, such rotations are attributed to dynamic ruptures in disordered systems. We note that the concept of disorder in this theory is expressed by a set of finite-sized microstructures and is consistent with the concept of disorder modelled in the present study. Thus, we suggest that the spatially asymmetric patterns of earthquakes might be related to the rotational motions, because both come from dynamic ruptures in a discrete fault zone without a well-defined continuum limit.