Volume transport of the Soya Warm Current revealed by bottom-mounted ADCP and ocean-radar measurement

The vertical structure of the Soya Warm Current (SWC) was observed by a bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) in the region of the SWC axis near the Soya Strait during a 1-year period from May 2004. The ADCP data revealed a marked seasonal variability in the vertical structure, with positive (negative) vertical shear in summer and fall (winter and spring). The volume transport of the SWC is estimated on the basis of both the vertical structure observed by the ADCP and horizontal structure observed by the ocean radars near the strait. The transport estimates have a minimum in winter and a maximum in fall, with the yearly-averaged values in the range of 0.94–1.04 Sv (1 Sv = 10⁶ m³ s⁻¹). These lie within a reasonable range in comparison to those through other straits in the Japan Sea.     

Generation of greenhouse effect gases from different landfill types

Recently much attention is focussed on the problems of global warming due to greenhouse effect gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane. Because these gases cause important problems to the global environment, their generation from landfill sites containing solid wastes has drawn attention and their environmental impact is causing concern.

Generally, the gases associated with a greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. However, there are no general basic data available concerning gases generated from biodegradation of solid wastes in landfill sites. Specifically, no assessment has been made concerning greenhouse effect gases from different landfill types.

This paper proposes a quantitative model for estimating the gasification rate by different landfill types. The model is based on measurement data for a long-term material balance for an aerobic landfill and an anaerobic landfill, obtained with two types of large-scale lysimeters.

This paper will also give an estimate for the amount of greenhouse effect gases by for different types of landfill and propose countermeasures for their reduction.     

Late Cenozoic evolution of epithermal gold metallogenic provinces in Kyushu, Japan

Kyushu Island, Japan, is located at the junction of the Southwest Japan arc and the Ryukyu arc. There are two major late Cenozoic epithermal gold-silver provinces in Kyushu, which are termed the Northern and Southern provinces. The provinces are characterized by: 1) Pliocene volcanism dominated by calc-alkaline andesite, followed by Quaternary volcanism including extrusion of both calc-alkaline and tholeiitic magmas; 2) formation of extensional grabens; 3) Pliocene to Pleistocene mineralization, which was dominated by abundant low sulfidation (LS) epithermal deposits with a few high sulfidation (HS) examples. The two epithermal gold-silver provinces have evolved differently since about 5 Ma; the Northern province has exhibited diminished hydrothermal activity from the Pliocene to Pleistocene, whereas the Southern province has witnessed increased hydrothermal activity mainly in easterly and northerly directions. Changes of tectonic setting from the Pliocene to Pleistocene account for the variable trends in epithermal gold deposit formation. Westward oblique subduction of the Philippine Sea plate beneath the Southwest Japan arc caused development of the Hohi graben and arc-related volcanism at about 6 Ma. This was associated with widespread LS mineralization in and surrounding the Hohi graben, as is represented by the Bajo and Taio deposits. The subduction of the relatively buoyant Kyushu-Palau ridge during the early Pliocene strengthened the coupling between the slab and overriding Ryukyu arc, leading to polygenetic andesite volcanism with associated HS (Kasuga, Iwato, and Akeshi) and LS (Kushikino) mineral deposits forming in the Southern province. A change of the subduction direction of the Philippine Sea plate, from west to north-northwest in the early Pliocene, increased the orthogonal convergence rate between the Southwest Japan arc and the Philippine Sea plate, resulting in a decrease of volcanic and hydrothermal activity in the Hohi graben of the Northern province. The more northerly subduction of the Philippine Sea plate shifted the locus of the Kyushu-Palau ridge subduction northward, resulting in underplating of the older (85–60 Ma), negatively buoyant Amami basin oceanic slab in the Southern province, rather than continued subduction of the young (27–15 Ma), buoyant Shikoku basin slab. This replacement caused steepening of the slab angle and slab-rollback in the Southern province, which was associated with regional extension, an eastward shift of the Ryukyu volcanic front, and development of the Kagoshima and Shimabara grabens, as well as the Okinawa trough. Rhyolite and basalt volcanism, in addition to andesite volcanism, have occurred since 2 Ma in the area of the Ryukyu back arc; coincident LS mineralization at Hishikari and Ohkuchi was affiliated with the rhyolite volcanism. Another change of the subduction direction of the Philippine Sea plate to the northwest occurred at 2–1 Ma. The forearc sliver of the Southwest Japan arc shifted westward, in association with right-lateral strike-slip faulting along the Median tectonic line, due to the increase of the westward convergence rate. This shift resulted in shortening and cessation of graben development in the Hohi area, restricting the subsequent volcanism and related hydrothermal activity to the central part of the graben.     

Multi-functional heat pulse probe measurements of coupled vadose zone flow and transport

Simultaneous measurement of coupled water, heat, and solute transport in unsaturated porous media is made possible with the multi-functional heat pulse probe (MFHPP). The probe combines a heat pulse technique for estimating soil heat properties, water flux, and water content with a Wenner array measurement of bulk soil electrical conductivity (EC_bulk). To evaluate the MFHPP, we conducted controlled steady-state flow experiments in a sand column for a wide range of water saturations, flow velocities, and solute concentrations. Flow and transport processes were monitored continuously using the MFHPP. Experimental data were analyzed by inverse modeling of simultaneous water, heat, and solute transport using an adapted HYDRUS-2D model. Various optimization scenarios yielded simultaneous estimation of thermal, solute, and hydraulic parameters and variables, including thermal conductivity, volumetric water content, water flux, and thermal and solute dispersivities. We conclude that the MFHPP holds great promise as an excellent instrument for the continuous monitoring and characterization of the vadose zone.     

THE INTERLINKAGE OF LARGE-SCALE SYSTEMS BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW LATITUDES RELATED TO PROPAGATION OF THE PLANETARY WAVE AROUND EAST ASIA IN SUMMER*

This study has reviewed recent studies about impact of the Rossby wave propagation on the weather of East Asia.Then,we have focused on the northward progression of the subtropical high affected by the propagations and their interaction.The following results are obtained:(1) The two kinds of meridional Rossby wave propagations often affect the East Asian weather in summer,which propagate in two conflicting directions(northwest-southeastward and southwest-northeast-ward).This is considered as the interaction of the large-scale systems between high and low latitudes with wave propagation,especially to the circulation systems around East Asia.(2) The northward progression of the subtropical high is largely restrained,aecompanied by the southward shift of the convective activity in middle latitudes,under the strong and persistent Rossby wave propagation from high to low latitudes.And the opposite role could be found in the Rossby wave propagation from low to high latitudes.     

Single particle analysis of oceanic suspended matter during the SEEDS II iron fertilization experiment

Suspended particles collected from surface seawater during the SEEDS II (Subarctic Iron Experiment for Ecosystem and Dynamics Study II) experiment were analyzed individually using an electron probe X-ray micro analyzer and characterized by size and elemental composition. Their numbers, relative abundances, and relative particle volume all showed clear differences between samples collected inside vs. outside the phytoplankton bloom that developed following the addition of iron. Throughout the study, Si-rich, Ca-rich and Organic particles were dominant and their number increased inside the fertilized patch; these particles accounted for 21%, 13% and 58% of the particles examined, respectively. Si-rich or Ca-rich particles commonly consisted of fragments of diatom frustules and coccolithophorids. There was consistently greater percentage of Ca-rich particles and lower percentage of Si-rich particles inside the patch than outside of it in number, but both types of these particles apparently occupied a larger volume inside the patch than outside of it. Organic particles, that showed having peaks in smaller diameter particles, increased apparently inside the patch with time after iron fertilization. The Organic particles had a more diverse mixture of both bio-related and crustal trace elements than the other types of particles. These results suggest that the increase in suspended particles following the iron enrichment was due to a combination of detrital material and live phytoplankton.     

江西永平铜矿花岗质岩石的岩石结构、地球化学特征及其成矿意义

江西永平铜矿位于华南怀玉山—北武夷山铜铅锌多金属成矿带内,是赣东北地区除了德兴铜矿外的另一个大型铜矿基地。该矿区存在两种类型的花岗质岩石,一种是花岗岩;另一种是英安斑岩。英安斑岩具有典型斑状结构和石英眼结构,而花岗岩则具有单向固结结构。在化学成分上,两者属于高钾的钙碱性系列岩石,英安斑岩贫硅、富Al、Fe、Mg、Ca,以及具有较大的Na_2O/K_2O(0.02～0.64)等特点;而花岗岩富硅、贫Al、Ca,以及富碱和具有较小的Na_2O/K_2O(0.02～0.03)等特点。两种类型的岩石具有一致的REE配分曲线。它们均富集大离子亲石元素(Ba、Rb、K),亏损高场强元素(Th、Nd、Ta、Ti)以及元素Sr和P,显示了与俯冲作用有关的岩浆作用。在结构和化学成分上,花岗岩则类似于美国Climax斑岩钼(铜)矿成矿斑岩的性质(如具有单向固结结构、较高的分异指数、富Si、贫Al、Ca、富Na_2O K_2O以及K_2O>Na_2O)。与英安斑岩有关的蚀变作用主要有夕卡岩化、黑云母化、白云母化、绿泥石化和萤石化,而与花岗岩有关的蚀变作用主要是白云母化和萤石化;相应地,与英安斑岩有关的成矿作用主要为铜,而与花岗岩有关的成矿作用则主要为钼。2件辉钼矿样品的Re-Os年龄分别为156.7±2.8Ma和155.7±3.6Ma,表明与花岗岩有关的钼成矿作用发生在156Ma左右。本文认为,永平铜钼矿的成矿地球动力学背景应是由挤压向伸展的转换环境。     

Coseismic changes in the chemical composition of volcanic gases from the Owakudani geothermal area on Hakone volcano,Japan

The chemical and isotopic compositions of volcanic gases at a borehole and a natural fumarole in the Owakudani geothermal area, Hakone volcano, Japan, have been repeatedly measured since 2001, when a seismic swarm occurred in the area. The CO₂/H₂O and CO₂/H₂S ratios were high in 2001. It increased in 2006 and again in 2008 when seismic swarms occurred beneath the geothermal area. The observed increases suggest the injection of CO₂- and SO₂-rich magmatic gas into the underlying hydrothermal reservoir, implying that the magmatic gas was episodically supplied to the hydrothermal system in 2006 and 2008. The earthquake swarms probably resulted from the injection of gas through the shallow crust accompanying the break of the sealing zone.     

Tracing depositional consequences of environmental radionuclides (137Cs and 210Pb) in Slovenian forest soils

Depth distribution profiles of environmental radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb) have been investigated in soil to elucidate the underlying environment of semi-natural temperate deciduous and/or coniferous forest soils in Slovenia (?irovski vrh, Idrija, Ko?evski Rog, Pohorie, Gori?nica and Rakitna). Surface enrichment of both nuclides was observed at all the sites investigated in this study, suggesting that the soils had undergone little natural or anthropogenic disturbance for at least the last several decades. Apparent annual burial rates of ¹³⁷Cs (0.1–0.2 cm y^??1) were estimated to be about 1.3 times higher than those of ²¹⁰Pb at individual sites of different lithology, which suggests strong affinity of ²¹⁰Pb to soil organic matter. Variability of the vertical distribution profiles of these nuclides depends not only on “in situ” pedology but also on geographical and meteorological conditions, especially precipitation and wind direction.