Facular structures derived from precise two-color contrast observations

A precise solar surface photometric observing system was developed and intensity observations of the whole Sun were carried out at a fairly quiet period from December 1987 to April 1988, attaining the photometric accuracy of 10^–3. Using 28 days observation of 4 hours duration each and 0.3 s time interval, we obtained the center-to-limb variation of the ratio of the facular intensity contrast (I _f÷I_o) between two colors of 545 nm (G) and 770 nm (R): (I _f÷I₀)_G÷(I_f÷I₀)_R = 2.20 – 1.16, where is the direction cosine between the line of sight and the surface normal. While this relationship was obtained mostly for active regions from the whole Sun data, we also found an almost identical relation for the quiet Sun network by excluding active regions. This suggests the similarity of faculae at both places.Using the above relation and the difference of optical depth, , in two colors, we found that the facular temperature gradient, dT/d _G, is smaller than that of the quiet photosphere if the gradient is measured more or less vertically (i.e., seen at > 0.7) in accord with Foukal and Duvall (1985), while it is larger than that of the quiet photosphere if the temperature gradient is measured more obliquely (i.e., seen at > 0.7). These findings are free from the low spatial resolution of the present observations because the contrast ratio was used, and also independent of a specific model of hot-wall or hillock. In particular, if the true contrast of facular bright points of 0'2 size is taken as 40% in the green from high-resolution observations, the facular point temperature may even be increasing towards higher geometrical levels ar _G 1. We found also that the area filling factor in active regions is on the order of a few percent or so in accordance with the previous studies.     

Multifractal analysis of earthquakes

Multifractal properties of the epicenter and hypocenter distribution and also of the energy distribution of earthquakes are studied for California, Japan, and Greece. The calculatedD _q-q curves (the generalized dimension) indicate that the earthquake process is multifractal or heterogeneous in the fractal dimension. Japanese earthquakes are the most heterogeneous and Californian earthquakes are the least. Since the earthquake process is multifractal, a single value of the so-called fractal dimension is not sufficient to characterize the earthquake process. Studies of multifractal models of earthquakes are recommended. Temporal changes of theD _q-q curve are also obtained for Californian and Japanese earthquakes. TheD _q-q curve shows two distinctly different types in each region; the gentle type and the steep type. The steeptype corresponds to a strongly heterogeneous multifractal, which appears during seismically active periods when large earthquakes occur.D _q for smallq or negativeq is considerably more sensitive to the change in fractal structure of earthquakes thanD _q forq2. We recommend use ofD _q at smallq to detect the seismicity change in a local area.     

Development of new drain method for protection of existing pile foundations from liquefaction effects

Pile foundation as well as other underground structures could be seriously affected by soil liquefaction during strong earthquakes. Damages on pile foundation due to liquefaction can be reduced by implementation of some soil improvement method. Main objective of present study is developing of drain method that can improve the soil in order to mitigate the destructiveness of liquefaction on superstructure supported by pile foundation. Series of shaking table tests were conducted on 2×2 pile foundation and soil model was improved by drains. Configurations of drains around piles, intensity of shaking were one of the parameters that were changing during the tests in order to investigate the response of pile foundation in improved soil condition.Shaking table tests and performed On-site experiment showed the following effects of the new drain method. (1) When the intensity of earthquake motion is 200 gal or less, generation of excess pore water pressure is reduced and the pile bending moment is decreased, (2) when the intensity of earthquake motion is stronger (300 gal or more), drainage effect prevents disappearance of subgrade reaction, and (3) proposed new type of drain can control excess pore water pressure without clogging.     

Scattering objects in the lower mantle beneath northeastern China observed with a short-period seismic array

Precursor and coda portions of short-period PcP waves (reflected P wave from the core-mantle boundary, CMB) recorded at J-array stations in Japan were analyzed in order to extract weak scattered signals originating from small-scale heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle beneath northeastern China. Two nuclear explosions at Lop Nor in China detonated on 21 May 1992 (Mb=6.5) and 8 June 1996 (Mb=5.9) were used for our analysis.Three-dimensional grids above the CMB were defined in the area around the PcP bounce points beneath northeastern China to calculate theoretical travel times of scattered waves which propagate from the sources to each grid point and arrive at each station based on the IASP91 model. Subsequently the waveforms were aligned with respect to the theoretical travel times and the semblance (an amplitude dependent measure of coherency) was calculated for each grid point. In order to obtain a more accurate travel time correction, we applied a cross correlation method to PcP waveforms in order to reduce picking error of the PcP onset time. A cross convolution method was also applied so that the two events could be analyzed simultaneously without using unstable deconvolutions.We could identify regions with relative high semblance values in semblance contour maps at about 200 and 375 km above the CMB. Stacking waveforms with respect to the theoretical travel times for the grid points with relative high semblance values indicate coherent wavelets originating at those grid points, that is, they correspond to scattered waves originating from small-scale heterogeneities in the lowermost mantle. Our results indicate the existence of small-scale scattering objects in the D″ layer, especially in the depth range of 200 and 375 km above the CMB beneath northeastern China. Considering recent tomographic images of high velocity anomalies in this area, these scattering objects could be fragments of old oceanic crusts which have subducted through the lower mantle and have accumulated in the D″ layer beneath northeastern China.     

焉耆盆地活动断层的晚第四纪右行走滑

本研究对天山东南侧山间盆地——焉耆盆地的晚第四纪右行走滑活动断层的位移和滑动速率进行了测量.详细的卫星图像分析和野外调查表明活动断层(开都河断层带)主要分布在盆地的南缘,具典型的走滑断层特征.发育在晚更新世—全新世冲积扇中的水系记录了3～250 m的右行错断和位移的累积.冲积扇中的断层陡坎高1 m到25 m,沿断层带走向左行雁列状断层崖呈现,向NE和SW倾.基于河道的错断,14C数据和断层岩组构的分析可以得出:①活动断层的平均右行走滑速率为8 mm/a,垂直分量的速率为1 mm/a,(②典型的单次地震断裂事件产生的错断量为3～7 m,③大地震事件(Ms>7)的平均重复间隔约为500年,④开都河断层带最新的地震断裂事件发生在过去2 500 a间.与印度—欧亚板块碰撞相关联的天山是一个逆冲构造占主导地位的造山带,而山间盆地中晚第四纪的走滑断层表明了这种造山机制中具有水平滑动.     

Slip sense inversion on active strike-slip faults in southwest Japan and its implications for Cenozoic tectonic evolution

Analyses of deflected river channels, offset of basement rocks, and fault rock structures reveal that slip sense inversion occurred on major active strike-slip faults in southwest Japan such as the Yamasaki and Mitoke fault zones and the Median Tectonic Line (MTL). Along the Yamasaki and Mitoke fault zones, small-size rivers cutting shallowly mountain slopes and Quaternary terraces have been deflected sinistrally, whereas large-size rivers which deeply incised into the Mio-Pliocene elevated peneplains show no systematically sinistral offset or complicated hairpin-shaped deflection. When the sinistral offsets accumulated on the small-size rivers are restored, the large-size rivers show residual dextral deflections. This dextral offset sense is consistent with that recorded in the pre-Cenozoic basement rocks. S–C fabrics of fault gouge and breccia zone developed in the active fault zones show sinistral shear sense compatible with earthquake focal mechanisms, whereas those of the foliated cataclasite indicate a dextral shear sense. These observations show that the sinistral strike-slip shear fabrics were overprinted on dextral ones which formed during a previous deformation phase. Similar topographic and geologic features are observed along the MTL in the central-eastern part of the Kii Peninsula. Based on these geomorphological and geological data, we infer that the slip sense inversion occurred in the period between the late Tertiary and mid-Quaternary period. This strike-slip inversion might result from the plate rearrangement consequent to the mid-Miocene Japan Sea opening event. This multidisciplinary study gives insight into how active strike-slip fault might evolves with time.     

The S pole distribution on magnetic grains in pyroxenite determined by magnetotactic bacteria

North-seeking bacteria (NSB) with 1 μm diameters migrate to the S pole only. They were applied to identify the S pole determination on a polished surface of magnetite-rich pyroxenite whose natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity was 5.64 × 10⁻³ Am² kg⁻¹. The microscopic observations were performed under dark-field illumination in a controlled magnetic field to 10 μT. The NSB formed clusters on limited areas of magnetite grains and scattered over the whole magnetite grains.

The NRM decreased to 1.02 × 10⁻⁵ Am² kg⁻¹ by alternating field (AF) demagnetization to 60 mT but no clusters appeared, while small populations of the NSB scattered on each grain. These scattered bacteria may gather toward the S pole resulting from magnetic domain walls.

When the sample acquired saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) to 1 T, the NSB formed dense clusters at the opposite side to the applied field direction on the many grains as expected. This evidence indicated that the NSB can be useful micro-organisms for the determination of fine magnetic structures. Some grains also had NSB clusters at the edge of the grains toward the field direction or did not exhibit any clusters. The complicated distribution of the clusters (the S poles) may be explained by shape anisotropy of the magnetic grains.     

Defining hydrochemical evolution of streamflow through flowpath dynamics in Kawakami headwater catchment,Central Japan

The hydrochemical behaviour of catchments is often investigated by inferring stream chemistry through identification of source areas involved in hydrograph separation analysis, yet its dynamic evolution of hydrologic pathways has received little attention. Intensive hydrometric and hydrochemical measurements were performed during two different storms on March 29, 2001 and August 21–22, 2001 to define hydrochemical evolution under the dynamic of flow pathways in a 5·2 ha first‐order drainage of the Kawakami experimental basin (KEB), Central Japan, a forested headwater catchment with various soil depths (1·8 to 5 m) overlying late Neogene of volcanic bedrocks. The hydraulic potential distribution and flow lines data showed that the change in flow direction, which was controlled by rainfall amount and antecedent wetness of the soil profile, agreed well with the hydrochemical change across the slope segment during the storm. Hydrograph separation predicted by end‐member mixing analysis (EMMA) using Ca²⁺ and SiO₂ showed that near surface riparian, hillslope soil water and deep riparian groundwater were important in stream flow generation. The evidence of decrease in solutes concentration at a depth of 1 m in the hillslope and 0·6 m in the near surface riparian during peak storm suggested a flushing of high solutes concentration. Most of the solutes accumulated in the deep riparian groundwater zone, which was due to prominent downward flow and agreed well with the residence time. The distinct flow pathways and chemistry between the near surface riparian and deep riparian groundwater zones and the linkage hillslope aquifer and near surface riparian reservoir, which controls rapid flow and solutes flushing during the storm event, are in conflict with the typical assumption that the whole riparian zone resets flow pathways and chemical signature of hillslope soil water, as has been reported in a previous study. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development of density measurement for metals at high pressures and high temperatures using X-ray absorption imaging combined with externally heated diamond anvil cell

A technique for density measurement under high pressure and high temperature was developed using the X-ray absorption imaging method combined with an externally heated diamond anvil cell. The densities of solid and liquid In were measured in the pressure and temperature ranges of 3.2–18.6 GPa and 294–719 K. The densities obtained through the X-ray absorption imaging method were in good agreement (less than 2.0% difference) with those obtained through X-ray diffraction. Based on the measured density, the isothermal bulk modulus of solid In is determined as 48.0 ± 1.1?40.9 ± 0.8 GPa at 500 K, assuming K′ = 4 to 6. The compression curve of liquid In approaches that of solid In at higher pressures and does not cross over the solid compression curve in the measurement range. The present technique enables us to determine the densities of both solids and liquids precisely in a wide pressure and temperature range.     

Change in tectonic force inferred from basin subsidence: Implications for the dynamical aspects of back-arc rifting in the western Mediterranean

A method has been developed that allows temporal changes in tectonic force during rift basin formation to be inferred from observed tectonic subsidence curves and has been applied to the Gulf of Lions (the Provençal Basin) and the Valencia Trough in order to gain some understanding of the dynamical aspects of back-arc basin rifting in the western Mediterranean Sea. Two distinct tectonic force regimes active at different times during the evolution of each of these back-arc basins are identified. The first, which can be seen in both basins, is characterized by tensional forces that gradually abate with time to vanish some ～ 20 my after the onset of rifting. The magnitude of tectonic force required to initiate the rifting process is significantly greater in the Valencia Trough than in the Provençal Basin. Subsequently, the dynamic development of these back-arc basins differs. In the Provençal Basin, there is a renewal of force, with extensional deformation concentrated in the central part of the rift whereas, in the Valencia Trough, the second tectonic force regime is inferred to be one that causes compression that subsequently relaxes. Such temporal patterns of tectonic force are interpreted to be related to the causative driving processes, allowing constraints to be placed on the transient interaction between the overriding and subducting plates in a back-arc setting. The models also allow inferences to be made about the rheological structure of the lithosphere. A significant variation of initial crustal thickness is inferred for the Provençal Basin but not for the Valencia Trough. In both basins, a wet rheology is required in order to initiate rifting given currently accepted bounds on tectonic force magnitudes; adoption of a dry rheology leads to insufficiently high strain rates for significant lithosphere extension in both cases.