Characteristics of an atypical large-meander path of the Kuroshio current south of Japan formed in September 2017

Since September 2017, the Kuroshio has taken a large-meander (LM) path in the region south of Japan. We examined characteristics of the 2017–present LM path in comparison with previous LM paths, using tide gauge, altimetric sea surface height, and bottom pressure data. The 2017–present LM path was formed from a path passing through a channel south of Hachijo-jima Island, while a typical LM path originated from a path through a channel north of Miyake-jima Island. The meander trough of this atypical path was found to be shifted far to the east and to vary on a timescale of months. These characteristics are different from those of a typical LM path but they are similar to those of the 1981–1984 LM path. Therefore, we identified two types of LM path; a stable and unstable LM paths. The 2017–present unstable type large meander has a zonal scale greater than that of the 2004–2005 stable type large meander and protrudes from the eastern boundary of the Shikoku Basin, i.e., Izu-Ogasawara Ridge. No significant bottom pressure depression was observed, associated with the formation of the 2017–present LM path, indicating that baroclinic instability was not important in the formation of this LM path. Due to no significant bottom steering, even during the 2017–present LM period, a mesoscale current path disturbance occurred southeast of Kyushu, propagated eastward, and amplified the offshore displacement of the Kuroshio.

     

Near-field beam pattern measurement of qualification model of ALMA band 8 (385–500 GHz) cartridge receiver

We have developed a near-field vector beam measurement system covering the range of frequencies from 385 to 500 GHz. The measurement set-up is capable of measurements with dynamic range exceeding 50 dB and amplitude and phase stability respectively of 0.1 dB/h and 1 degree/5 min at room temperature. Beam patterns of the ALMA band 8 corrugated horns and receiver optics block were measured at room temperature and lately compared with physical optics calculations obtained in the far-field. Both co-polar and cross-polar beam patterns of a qualification model of the ALMA band 8 cartridge cooled in a cartridge-test-cryostat have also been measured in the near-field as a detector of a submillimeter vector network analyzer. The measurements presented in this work refer to the lowest, middle and upper frequencies of band 8. The comparisons between software model and experimental measurements at these frequencies show good agreement down to ?30 dB for the main polarization component. The cross-polarization level of the beam propagating through the receiver optics block was also characterized. We found that a cross-polarization level better than ?28 dB can be achieved at all measured frequencies. The measured beam pattern of this receiver corresponds to efficiency of greater than 92% at the sub reflector (diameter of 750 mm) of the ALMA 12 m optics.     

Mechanism of currents through the straits of the Japan Sea: Mean state and seasonal variation

The mechanism governing the mean state and the seasonal variation of the transports through the straits of the Japan Sea is studied using a newly presented, simple analytical model and a basin scale general circulation model (GCM). The GCM reproduces the transports through the straits of the Japan Sea realistically owing to its fine horizontal resolution of about 20 km and realistic topography. A series of experiments conducted by changing surface forcing shows that the annual mean wind-driven circulation in the North Pacific Ocean is most responsible for the formation of the mean transports. It is also found that the seasonal variation of the alongshore component of monsoonal wind stress over the North Pacific basin, especially that over the Okhotsk Sea, is responsible for the seasonal variation of the transports. The simple analytical model can explain these simulated features very well. The physical concept of this model is based on the formation of the around-island circulation through the adjustment of coastally trapped waves and Rossby waves and geostrophic control at the narrow straits. It solves the sea surface heights (SSHs) at the edge of each strait and the transport through it. The value of the line integral of the SSH along the island is determined by the baroclinic Rossby waves approaching the island from the east and the alongshore wind stress around the island. The basin scale seasonal variation of SSH along the coast induced by the variation of the alongshore monsoonal wind stress can also be incorporated into this model by giving the SSH anomaly at the northeastern point of the Soya Strait. Thus, it is suggested that both the mean state and the seasonal variation are caused mainly by wind stress forcing. Minor modification by the seasonal heat flux forcing brings the amplitude and the phase of the seasonal variation closer to the observed values.     

Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites near the Nojima Fault, Japan

Abstract Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) has been used to infer finite strain fabrics in plastically deformed rocks, but there are few studies of magnetic properties in fractured fault rocks. Changes in magnetic and fractal properties of fractured granites from the Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University (DPRI) 500 m drilling core towards the Nojima Fault and of the well-foliated fault gouge are described. Fractal analysis of fractured granites shows that the fractal dimension ( D ) increases linearly toward the gouge zone of the fault. In weakly fractured granites ( D = 1.05–1.24), it was found that the degree of AMS correlates positively with the fractal dimension, suggesting a fracture-related magnetic fabric due to fracturing. In strongly fractured granites ( D = 1.25–1.50), weaker, nearly isotropic AMS is found, suggesting erasure by the fragmentation of the magnetic minerals. Within the fault gouge zone, an isotropic AMS fabric was found, as well as twofold increases in magnetic intensity and susceptibility. These changes reflect the production of new magnetite grains, subsequently confirmed by hysteresis studies, which suggests that fault gouge might be regarded as the source of the regional geomagnetic field contrast along active faults. Thus, AMS is clearly a potentially useful tool for inferring the fracturing texture of magnetic minerals in fractured rocks and detecting active faults from the high susceptibility contrast of fault gouge.     

Biaxial effects in modelling earthquake response of R/C structures

Recent studies reveal that R/C structural members subjected to biaxial flexure due to two-dimensional earthquake excitation can deform much more than would be predicted by conventional one-dimensional response analysis. The biaxial flexure may therefore have a significant effect on the dynamic collapse process of structures subjected to intense ground motions. The present paper is intended to develop a new formulation of the two-dimensional restoring force model of R/C columns acted upon by biaxial bending moments, and to discuss the dynamic response properties of R/C structures. The model considered is a two-dimensional extension of various non-linear models for one-dimensional response analysis, including the degrading trilinear stiffness model which is one of the simpler idealizations of the restoring force characteristics of flexural-failure-type R/C structures. The modelling validity is then examined by comparison with experimental data on the biaxial bending behaviour of R/C columns. Calculations are made to study the role of different system properties on the influence of inelastic biaxial bending on the dynamic structural response. It is shown that the inelastic biaxial effect is generally significant and, in some cases, critical in the case of R/C structures with stiffness-degrading properties, while the effect is not so important for the non-degrading inelastic cases.     

Young,olivine xenocryst-bearing alkali-basalt from the oceanward slope of the Japan Trench

Young (6 Ma) alkali-basalts were collected from the toe of the oceanward slope of the northern Japan Trench. Two types of olivine are present in these lavas, xenocrysts with reaction rims and magmatic. The forsterite (Fo) (no. 91–92) values and NiO contents (0.3–0.5 wt%) of the xenocrysts are similar in composition to those of the depleted mantle peridotite. The groundmass olivines have relatively lower Fo values (no. 81–88) and NiO contents (0.1–0.5 wt%). Reaction rims and the vicinity of the silicate inclusion in xenocrysts show the intermediate compositions between the xenocryst and magmatic olivines. Chromian spinel inclusions in the xenocrysts also show the depleted composition in the range of abyssal peridotite. CO₂ fluid inclusions in the xenocryst records pressures before entrainment into the host magma up to 0.4 GPa, which corresponds to a depth of up to 14 km of lithospheric mantle. These data indicate that the xenocrysts originate from MORB-depleted mantle.     

Dielectric anisotropy and deformation of crustal rocks: physical interaction theory and dielectric mylonites

The theory of physical interaction field by a differential geometrical approach combines the deformation field with the physical field (e.g., electromagnetic field), and derives a new tensorial relation between the deformation and the dielectric anisotropy of the crustal rocks. This relation can be applied to dielectric anisotropies of deformed natural rocks such as mylonites or gneisses. The dielectric anisotropies of mylonites are observed to increase as plastic strains of mylonites increase. Moreover, the derived tensorial relation can be linked to the electromagnetic potential field (deformational anomalies) in a deformed crust. A physico-geometrical consideration on this theory of physical interaction field is mathematically similar to ones on the theory of field in the Finsler space or on the concept of a unified gauge field.     

Exsolution textures in orthopyroxene in aluminous granulites as indicators of UHT metamorphism: New evidence from the Eastern Ghats Belt, India

Highly aluminous orthopyroxene, coexisting with sapphirine, cordierite, sillimanite, quartz and garnet in various combinations, constitute granoblastic mosaic peak metamorphic assemblages in aluminous granulites from three localities in the Eastern Ghats Belt, India. Orthopyroxene contains four types of intergrowths: (a) involving sapphirine with or without cordierite, (b) involving spinel, but without sapphirine, (c) involving cordierite, but without sapphirine and spinel, and (d) involving garnet, without sapphirine, spinel or cordierite. On the basis of textural and compositional data, origin of the intergrowths is ascribed to breakdown of Mg-Tschermak component, locally also involving Fe- and Ti-Tschermak. An attempt is made to compute the “pre-breakdown” compositions of orthopyroxene by image analysis, which shows maximum Al₂O₃ content of 13.4 wt.% in the pristine orthopyroxene. Geothermometry, phase equilibria consideration and application of existing experimental data on alumina solubility in orthopyroxene coexisting with sapphirine and quartz, collectively indicate extreme thermal conditions of metamorphism (> 1000 °C) for the studied assemblages. This re-affirms the notion that Al₂O₃ solubility in orthopyroxene is the most powerful indicator of UHT metamorphism (Harley, S.L., 2004. Extending our understanding of ultrahigh temperature crustal metamorphism. J. Mineral. Petrol. Sci. 99, 140–158). The intergrowths are considered to have formed due to cooling from the thermal peak spanning a temperature range of approximately 150 °C. Appearance of diverse types of intergrowths is probably related to subtle differences in bulk composition, particularly Fe:Mg ratios.     

Determination of Ti, K, Sm and Gd Values in Geological Survey of Japan Reference Materials by Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis

Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of the titanium, potassium, samarium and gadolinium contents of nine Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) reference materials (JB-1, 1a, 2, 3; JA-1, 2, 3; JR-1, 2). Firstly, the values in JB-1 were determined by the standard addition method: pressed powder disks of JB-1 were used for neutron irradiation and gamma-ray measurements, after known quantities of standard reagents had been added. Secondly, the contents of eight other reference materials were determined by comparison methods using JB-1 as the comparative standard. The precision of analyses were obtained by replicate determinations on these samples. The relative standard deviation was generally less than 5%. For most samples, analysed values agreed well (< 5%) with the recommended values.