Resistivity mapping using the VLF-MT method around surface fault ruptures of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake, Japan

Abstract Distinctive fault ruptures, the Nojima Fault and Ogura Fault, appeared along the northwestern coast of Awaji Island at the time of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake (Kobe earthquake). In order to delineate the shallow resistivity structures around the faults just after they formed, Very Low Frequency Magnetotelluric (VLF-MT) surveys were made at five sites along the Nojima Fault and at one site along the Ogura Fault. Fourteen transects were made at the one site on the Ogura Fault, and another transect covers the area between the two faults. Changes in apparent resistivity or phase, or both, commonly occur when crossing the surface location of one of the faults, except for the northern transects at OGR-0 on the Ogura Fault. Apparent resistivity values of less than 100 Ωm were observed for Tertiary and Quaternary sediments and values larger than 200 Ωm for granitic rocks. The resistivity structures are related to the morphological characteristics of the fault ruptures. Remarkably conductive zones (less than 10 Ωm in apparent resistivity and 30–40 m in width) were found where the surface displacement is distinct and prominent along a single fault plane. If remarkably conductive zones were formed at the time of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake, the results provide a good constraint on the dimensions of a conductive zone near the surface that was made by one earthquake. Alternatively, if characteristic resistivity structures existed prior to the earthquake, the conductive zone was probably formed by some tens of earthquakes in relatively modern times. In this case, this phenomenon is inferred to be a concentration of fracturing in a narrow zone and is associated with the formation of clay minerals, which enhance rock conductivity.     

Hydrodynamical models of the Orion-KL Nebula

The interaction between an isotropic protostellar wind and an ambient molecular cloud is investigated by two-dimensional hydrodynamic computations. The wind-cloud interaction model is promising for explanation of the observed properties of the Orion-KL Nebula.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Summer Water Balance Characteristics of Koryto Glacier, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

The daily water balance for the drainage basin of Koryto Glacier, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia, was calculated during the period from August to September 2000. The result shows that 14×10⁶ m³ of meltwater and 2×10⁶ m³ of rainwater entered the basin, while 26×10⁶ m³ of water drained from the basin through proglacial streams. Thus, about ?9×10⁶ m³ of water storage reduction occurred in the basin. Vertical displacements of the glacier surface showed that the volume change due to contraction of subglacial cavities was nearly 20% of the total storage change. The remaining fraction of water storage during the period is thought to be stored in englacial and supraglacial locations. The estimate of water balance components in the early ablation season in 2000 indicates that meltwater was already stored within the glacier before the spring, even during the previous year, and that the stored water drained through the ablation season.     

Sea surface temperature distribution and its variability across the Tsushima Strait

The sea surface temperature distribution across the Tsushima Strait was monitored over a one-year period on board the ferry Kampu which runs between Shimonoseki, Japan and Pusan, Korea. A cold water region is always observed just near the Korean Coast, and a sharp temperature front is always present in the western channel. A temperature maximum or a warm core is usually found just on the southeast side of the front. The position of the warm core exhibits large short period fluctuations, but no significant seasonal variation is found. Sudden temperature increases followed by sudden temperature decreases are frequently observed in the temporal variation curves at fixed positions during the warming season from April to August. Such events are related to temperature maxima found sporadically in the temperature distribution in the eastern channel during this season, and seem to be caused by warm water intrusion into the Tsushima Strait from the East China Sea.     

Calcium-alkalinity relationship in the North Pacific

The dissolution of calcium carbonate in deep ocean water causes variation in calcium concentration (Ca) and alkalinity (TA) in the ratio of one to two. The decomposition of organic matter generates nitric acid, phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. A proton flux which is derived from this process also changes alkalinity. Using the variation in nitrate concentration (NO₃) as an index of the proton flux, the relationship betweenCa,TA andNO₃ is expressed asCa=0.5TA+0.63NO₃ The values of Ca obtained from direct measurements in the North Pacific are in good agreement with the values estimated from this equation.     

A numerical study on the formation and variation of a clockwise-circulation during winter in the Yellow Sea

In the Yellow Sea, the north-westerly wind dominates in winter and the existence of horizontal clockwise circulation has been suggested (Yanagi and Takahashi, 1993). The formation and variation mechanisms of this clockwise circulation is investigated using the wind forced numerical model which has a simplified basin configuration of the Yellow Sea. The model results show that two vortices (an anticlockwise vortex off Chinese coast and a clockwise vortex off Korean coast) are generated by the uniform north-westerly wind. Both vortices propagate along the shelf slope as the first mode shelf waves. An anti-clockwise vortex can not grow because it does not balance to the wind forcing. On the other hand, a clockwise vortex can grow and it reaches to the equilibrium condition at the northern part of the Yellow Sea, because this circulation can balance to the wind forcing. The time scale to become into the equilibrium condition is about 2 days. From this fact, it is ascertained that a clockwise circulation in the basin is generated periodically according to the variable wind forcing with 4 days period. The steady part of the current field exists with the fluctuating one which is induced by the periodical north-westerly wind.     

Degradation of outer membrane proteins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechococcus</Emphasis> sp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis>

To examine the possibility that outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Synechococcus sp. remain in seawater, we investigated the stability of OMPs in vitro and in situ. Some fractions prepared from Synechococcus sp. CSIRO-94 were treated with trypsin and proteinase K. Four tightly bound OMPs were separated from Synechococcus. We designated the two major OMPs of 52 kDa and 48 kDa as Omp52Sy and Omp48Sy, respectively. Degradation of the OMP in natural seawater was monitored in microcosms to which intact Synechococcus cells and outer membrane (OM) were added. Omp52Sy and Omp48Sy were the most stable against trypsin and proteinase K among the OMPs when they were embedded in the OM. However, in the microcosm experiment using intact cells, Omp52Sy and Omp48Sy were detected in the particulate fraction only during the first 4 days, after which they could not longer be detected. Omp52Sy and Omp48Sy were the most stable proteins among the Synechococcus OMPs in vitro, but they might be degraded in situ. This indicates that stability of Synechococcus porin differs depending on complex formation with other membrane molecules, which might cause different preservation of microbial membrane proteins in the dissolved protein pool in the ocean. This study suggests that Gram negative bacterial OM with thin peptidoglycan forms a lipid bilayer that proptects OMP, but Synechococcus OM with thick peptidoglycan cannot form a lipid bilayer. The incomplete bilayer might not be able to protect from protease attack in the natural environment.     

Shipboard calibration of an infrared absorption gas analyser for total carbon dioxide determination in sea water

A new method for shipboard calibration of an infrared absorption carbon dioxide analyser was devised, utilizing the oxidative decomposition reaction of oxalic acid by permanganate in acid solution. With the present method, shipboard analysis of total carbon dioxide in 2 ml of sea water can be carried out with an error of less than 0.5 %. Some improvements in the analyser system are also presented.     

Hydration of rhyolitic glass during weathering as characterized by IR microspectroscopy

The mechanism and rate of hydration of rhyolitic glass during weathering were studied. Doubly polished thin sections of two rhyolites with different duration of weathering (Ohsawa lava: 26,000 yr, Awanomikoto lava: 52,000 yr) were prepared. Optical microscope observation showed that altered layers had developed along the glass surfaces. IR spectral line profile analysis was conducted on the glass sections from the surface to the interior for a length of 250 μm and the contents of molecular H₂O (H₂O_m), OH species (OH) and total water (H₂O_t) were determined. The diffusion profile of H₂O_m in Ohsawa lava extends beyond the layer observed by optical microscope. The content of H₂O_m in the hydrated region is much higher than that of OH species. Thus, the reaction from H₂O_m to OH appears to be little and H₂O_m is the dominant water species moving into the glass during weathering. Based on the concentration profiles, the diffusion coefficients of H₂O_m(D_H2Om) and H₂O_t(D_H2Ot) were determined to be 2.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 3.4 × 10⁻¹⁰ μm² s⁻¹ for Ohsawa lava, and 5.2 × 10⁻¹¹ and 4.1 × 10⁻¹¹ μm² s⁻¹ for Awanomikoto lava, respectively. The obtained D_H2Om during weathering are more than 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than the diffusion coefficient at ∼20 °C that is extrapolated from the diffusivity data for >400 °C. This might suggest that the mechanism of water transport is different at weathering conditions and >400 °C.