Deccan basalts at Mahabaleshwar,India

Fortyone successive flows of the Deccan Traps have been investigated at Mahabaleshwar, India, and the rocks from the twenty two different flows have been newly analysed. All of these basalts are silica-saturated tholeiites; and the series shows minor gradual variation with the order of eruption. These seem to be a result of magmatic differentiation somewhat similar to that shown in the Skaergaard intrusion.     

Radiation Pressure and the Poynting-Robertson Effect for Fluffy Dust Particles

A correct understanding of the dynamical effect of solar radiation exerted on fluffy dust particles can be achieved with assistance of a light scattering theory as well as the equation of motion. We reformulate the equation of motion so that the radiation pressure and the Poynting-Robertson effect on fluffy grains are given in both radial and nonradial directions from the center of the Sun. This allows numerical estimates of these radiation forces on fluffy dust aggregates in the framework of the discrete dipole approximation, in which the first term of the scattering coefficients in Mie theory determines the polarizability of homogeneous spheres forming the aggregates.The nonsphericity in shape turns out to play a key role in the dynamical evolution of dust particles, while its consequence depends on the rotation rate and axis of the grains. Unless a fluffy dust particle rapidly revolves on its randomly oriented axis, the nonradial radiation forces may prevent, apart from the orbital eccentricity and semimajor axis, the orbital inclination of the particle from being preserved in orbit around the Sun. However, a change in the inclination is most probably controlled by the Lorentz force as a consequence of the interaction between electric charges on the grains and the solar magnetic field. Although rapidly and randomly rotating grains spiral into the Sun under the Poynting-Robertson effect in spite of their shapes and structures, fluffy grains drift inward on time scales longer at submicrometer sizes and shorter at much larger sizes than spherical grains of the same sizes. Numerical calculations reveal that the dynamical lifetimes of fluffy particles are determined by the material composition of the grains rather than by their morphological structures and sizes. The Poynting-Robertson effect alone is nevertheless insufficient for giving a satisfactory estimate of lifetimes for fluffy dust grains since their large ratios of cross section to mass would reduce the lifetimes by enhancing the collisional probabilities. We also show that the radiation pressure on a dust particle varies with the orbital velocity of the particle but that this effect is negligibly small for dust grains in the Solar System.     

中国西北帕米尔东北缘的活动断裂研究

在卫星遥感图像的详细地质解译分析基础上，结合野外地质与地貌观察，对帕米尔东北缘山前与印度－亚欧大陆碰撞相关的活动断层进行了分析。研究结果指出，NW－NWW走向的断层主要表现为南倾逆冲断层，并伴随有强烈的右旋走滑分量。流经活动断层带的水系显示出右旋累积位错：小水系的水平位错量为4.0-20.0m，大河流的水平位错量达8－12km。沿断层带的上新世至早更新世地层也显示出一致的水平位错，位错量为8－12km。这些证明表明，帕米尔东南山前的NW－NWW走向的断层很可能开始于上新世末期至早更新世早期（2.2-3Ma)。研究结果首次厘定了帕米尔东北缘山前与向北逆冲相伴随的右旋走滑速率在第四纪期间达4.0-6.8mm/a。根据与现代地震活动相关的活断层分析，推测帕米尔东北缘山前7级以上地震重复周期为1000a左右。     

Direct determinations of the rates of rhyolite dissolution and clay formation over 52,000 years and comparison with laboratory measurements

Four porous, glass-dominated rhyolites from Kozushima Island, different in age and extent of weathering, were studied. Because the four rhyolites are homogeneously weathered to considerable depth, and because their initial chemical compositions were equal, the different rock characteristics can provide information about rates of rhyolite dissolution and clay mineral formation over ∼52,000 yr. Because glass surfaces retreat without surface roughening, surface area (measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method; BET) was assumed to be approximately constant over time. The field dissolution rate, as inferred from the rate of loss of Si, was ∼6 × 10⁻¹⁹ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹. The estimated clay mineral formation rate was ∼1 × 10⁻¹⁹ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹. About 20% of dissolved Si precipitated as clays. In order to investigate the factors affecting the field dissolution rate, dissolution experiments that used powdered and block rhyolite samples were conducted. Under relevant field conditions (20°C and pH 6∼7), the rates were ∼5 × 10⁻¹⁷ and ∼5 × 10⁻¹⁸ mol cm⁻² s⁻¹ for powdered rhyolite and blocks, respectively. The dissolution rates obtained in this study decrease in the order powder > block > field. Because all surface areas were directly measured by BET, the differences are not attributable to the errors in surface area. The most plausible explanations of the slower rates are the lower degree of flushing and resultant high-solution saturation states in the pores (both in the field and in the rhyolite blocks used in experiments) plus the formation of alteration/hydrated layers at the glass surface.     

Topography and landslides in weathered granitic rock areas—Hai Van landslide in central Vietnam

Many landslides occur every year during heavy rains at the Hai Van Pass and surrounding area in central Vietnam, where granitic rocks are distributed. As is common in granite areas, these landslides often occur as small-scale flow-type and slump-type landslides. However, several horseshoe-shaped loose slopes of widths and lengths of 500 to 800 m, which incorporate these landslides, are observed on slopes across the area. These topographies resemble those formed by past and present large-scale landslides. The presence of such a topography and the repeated occurrences of landslides within this topography are rare in granite areas, where shallow flow-type landslides are generally frequent. To understand the mechanism causing the landslides in the Hai Van region, and as a support for future risk assessment, the factors and processes leading to the formation of such a topography and their relationship with these landslides must be identified and assessed. This study investigated the history of past landslide movement in the Hai Van Pass and surrounding area through observations of drill cores and outcrops, and analysis of the direction of remanent magnetism in the granitic rocks. Mineral compositions, cracks, degrees of weathering, and topographic shapes of the granitic rocks and their relationship to the landslides occurring today were also investigated. The results of the study reveal no variation in the direction of remanent magnetism in the granitic rocks in the region that would indicate disturbance of the ground due to a past large-scale landslide. No evidence of such an event could also be found both in the drill cores and the rock outcrops. Further, results of the analysis of cracks and weathering pattern confirm that the topography of the region is affected by the weathering of the granitic rocks that progresses in concentric circles of various sizes. Thus, it can be concluded that these topographies were not formed by a singular large-scale landslide of the past, but rather by a composite of relatively shallow landslides occurring on the slope of dome structures unique to granite areas, which are formed by differential weathering and denudation regulated by cracks.     

Higher albedos and size distribution of large transneptunian objects

Transneptunian objects (TNOs) orbit beyond Neptune and do offer important clues about the formation of our solar system. Although observations have been increasing the number of discovered TNOs and improving their orbital elements, very little is known about elementary physical properties such as sizes, albedos and compositions. Due to TNOs large distances (>40 AU) and observational limitations, reliable physical information can be obtained only from brighter objects (supposedly larger bodies). According to size and albedo measurements available, it is evident the traditionally assumed albedo p=0.04 cannot hold for all TNOs, especially those with approximately absolute magnitudes H?5.5. That is, the largest TNOs possess higher albedos (generally >0.04) that strongly appear to increase as a function of size. Using a compilation of published data, we derived empirical relations which can provide estimations of diameters and albedos as a function of absolute magnitude. Calculations result in more accurate size/albedo estimations for TNOs with H?5.5 than just assuming p=0.04. Nevertheless, considering low statistics, the value p=0.04 sounds still convenient for H>5.5 non-binary TNOs as a group. We also discuss about physical processes (e.g., collisions, intrinsic activity and the presence of tenuous atmospheres) responsible for the increase of albedo among large bodies. Currently, all big TNOs (>700 km) would be capable to sustain thin atmospheres or icy frosts composed of CH₄, CO or N₂ even for body bulk densities as low as 0.5 g cm⁻³. A size-dependent albedo has important consequences for the TNOs size distribution, cumulative luminosity function and total mass estimations. According to our analysis, the latter can be reduced up to 50% if higher albedos are common among large bodies.Lastly, by analyzing orbital properties of classical TNOs (), we confirm that cold and hot classical TNOs have different concentration of large bodies. For both populations, distinct absolute magnitude distributions are maximized for an inclination threshold equal to 4.5° at >99.63% confidence level. Furthermore, more massive classical bodies are anomalously present at , a result statistically significant and apparently not caused by observational biases. This feature would provide a new constraint for transneptunian belt formation models.     

Exploring the 7:4 mean motion resonance—I: Dynamical evolution of classical transneptunian objects

In the transneptunian classical region (), an unexpected orbital excitation in eccentricity and inclination, dynamically distinct populations and the presence of chaotic regions are observed. For instance, the 7:4 mean motion resonance () appears to have been causing unique dynamical excitation according to observational evidences, namely, an apparent shallow gap in number density and anomalies in the colour distribution, both features enhanced near the 7:4 mean motion resonance location. In order to investigate the resonance dynamics, we present extensive computer simulation results totalizing almost 10,000 test particles under the effect of the four giant planets for the age of the solar system. A chaotic diffusion experiment was also performed to follow tracks in phase space over 4-5 Gyr. The 7:4 mean motion resonance is weakly chaotic causing irregular eccentricity and inclination evolution for billions of years. Most 7:4 resonant particles suffered significant eccentricities and/or inclinations excitation, an outcome shared even by those located in the vicinity of the resonance. Particles in stable resonance locking are rare and usually had 0.25<e<0.3. For other regions, 7:4 resonants had quite large mobility in phase space typically leaving the resonance (and being scattered) after reaching a critical e∼0.2. The escape happened in 10⁸-10⁹ yr time scales. Concerning the inclination dependence for 7:4 resonants, we found strong instability islands for approximately i>10°. Taking into account those particles still locked in the resonance at the end of the simulations, we determined a retainability of 12-15% for real 7:4 resonant transneptunian objects (TNOs). Lastly, our results demonstrate that classical TNOs associated with the 7:4 mean motion resonance have been evolving continuously until present with non-negligible mixing of populations.     

Japanese Ocean Flux Data Sets with Use of Remote Sensing Observations (J-OFURO)

We have constructed ocean surface data sets using mainly satellite data and called them Japanese Ocean Flux data sets with Use of Remote sensing Observations (J-OFURO). The data sets include shortwave radiation, longwave radiation, latent heat flux, sensible heat flux, and momentum flux etc. This article introduces J-OFURO and compares it with other global flux data sets such as European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) and National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data and da Silva et al. (1994). The usual ECMWF data are used for comparison of zonal wind. The comparison is carried out for a meridional profile along the dateline for January and July 1993. Although the overall spatial variation is common for all the products, there is a large difference between them in places. J-OFURO shortwave radiation in July shows larger meridional contrast than other data sets. On the other hand, J-OFURO underestimates longwave radiation flux at low- and mid-latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. J-OFURO latent heat flux in January overestimates at 10°N–20°N and underestimates at 25°N–40°N. Finally, J-OFURO shows a larger oceanic net heat loss at 10°N–20°N and a smaller loss north of 20°N in January. The data of da Silva et al. in July show small net heat loss around 20°S and large gain around 20°N, while the NCEP reanalysis (NRA) data show the opposite. The da Silva et al. zonal wind speed overestimates at low-latitudes in January, while ECMWF wind data seem to underestimate the easterlies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The anoxic water mass in Hiuchi-Nada

Distribution of the anoxic water mass in the eastern part of Hiuchi-Nada was investigated from 1981 to 1983. A cold water mass was found on the bottom of the area concerned in summer, and a second (i.e. lower) thermocline appeared just above the cold water mass. The anoxic water was observed below a second thermocline. The horizontal distribution of the cold water mass coincided with that of the anoxic water mass, and also with a region of high concentration of organic matter in the sediment. These results suggest two important effects of the second thermocline on the generation of the anoxic water mass. Firstly, it prevents supply of dissolved oxygen from the upper to bottom layer of the water column. Secondly, it accelerates settling of particulate material resulting in a large accumulation of organic matter in the bottom water and the sediment which leads to an increase in the rate of oxygen consumption. The net oxygen consumption rate in the bottom layer in this sea was much smaller than that in Mikawa Bay where anoxia occurs at almost the same level as in Hiuchi-Nada. This finding also suggests the important role of the second thermocline.