Single-crystal elasticity of stishovite: New experimental data obtained using high-frequency resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and a Gingham check structure model

Single-crystal elasticity of stishovite was examined using a new experimental technique and an empirical macroscopic model. Employing high-frequency resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, single-crystal elastic constants of stishovite were determined: C₁₁ = 443(3), C₃₃ = 781(4), C₁₂ = 193(2), C₂₃ = 199(2), C₄₄ = 256(2), and C₃₃ = 316(2) GPa. The frequency range of the resonant ultrasound spectroscopy techniques was 6–20 MHz, which is much lower than the ～10 GHz range of the Brillouin scattering technique. Of the elastic constants, the shear elastic constants C₄₄ and C₆₆ are consistent with the average value of the previously mentioned Brillouin scattering. Conversely, the four elastic constants, C₁₁, C₃₃, C₁₂, and C₂₃, slightly deviate outside the range of previous Brillouin scattering results. The present results, except those for C₁₂, are consistent with recent lattice dynamic analysis of inelastic X-ray scattering data. The adiabatic bulk modulus was calculated as 298 GPa, which is smaller and more consistent with the result of compression experiments than any other Brillouin scattering results (301–312 GPa). The present result shows greater P-wave velocity anisotropy (24.7%) than any preceding work. To understand the unique elastic properties of stishovite, the Gingham check model was proposed and examined. The result shows that the octahedron of 6-coordinated Si in stishovite crystal has stiffness comparable to that of diamond.     

Dissecting large earthquakes in Japan: Role of arc magma and fluids

We synthesized information from recent high-resolution tomographic studies of large crustal earthquakes which occurred in the Japanese Islands during 1995–2008. Prominent anomalies of low-velocity and high Poisson's ratio are revealed in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the mainshock hypocenters, which may reflect arc magma and fluids that are produced by a combination of subducting slab dehydration and corner flow in the mantle wedge. Distribution of 164 crustal earthquakes ( M 5.7–8.0) that occurred in Japan during 1885–2008 also shows a correlation with the distribution of low-velocity zones in the crust and uppermost mantle. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the geophysical observations recorded so far in Japan. We consider that the nucleation of a large earthquake is not entirely a mechanical process, but is closely related to the subduction dynamics and physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle; in particular, the arc magma and fluids.     

Heat transport variation due to change of North Pacific subtropical gyre interior flow during 1993–2012

Applying segment-wise altimetry-based gravest empirical mode method to expendable bathythermograph temperature, Argo salinity, and altimetric sea surface height data in March, June, and November from San Francisco to near Japan (30^° N, 145^° E) via Honolulu, we estimated the component of the heat transport variation caused by change in the southward interior geostrophic flow of the North Pacific subtropical gyre in the top 700 m layer during 1993–2012. The volume transport-weighted temperature (T_I) is strongly dependent on the season. The anomaly of T_I from the mean seasonal variation, whose standard deviation is 0.14^°C, was revealed to be caused mainly by change in the volume transport in a potential density layer of 25.0?25.5σ_??. The anomaly of T_I was observed to vary on a decadal or shorter, i.e., quasi-decadal (QD), timescale. The QD-scale variation of T_I had peaks in 1998 and 2007, equivalent to the reduction in the net heat transport by 6 and 10 TW, respectively, approximately 1 year before those of sea surface temperature (SST) in the warm pool region, east of the Philippines. This suggests that variation in T_I affects the warm pool SST through modification of the heat balance owing to the entrainment of southward transported water into the mixed layer.     

Comparative Study on Conservation of Agricultural Heritage Systems in China,Japan and Korea

The paper compares the agricultural heritage conservation schemes of China, Japan and Korea and, in particular, the national programs and their implementation under Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)’s Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). This comparison allows an understanding of the background of developments, designation criteria, application procedures and implementation structures of GIAHS and of the respective domestic programs in terms of the differences in national circumstances of Japan, China and South Korea. The sequence of implementation of GIAHS and the national program differs in each of the three countries. China introduced a national program after GIAHS designation, Japan has GIAHS but no national program, and Korea implemented a national program before its GIAHS designation. Thus GIAHS candidate sites in China and Korea are now selected from among their respective pools of national agricultural heritage sites. On the other hand, commonalities can be seen in the perspectives of the three countries with regards to agricultural heritage conservation through the common emphasis placed on the designation criteria: historical significance, cultural value, fostering partnerships, rural revitalization and biodiversity conservation associated with the agricultural heritage systems etc. Thus, the cooperation between China, Japan and Korea and the perspectives they have will contribute to proposals for improvements to the FAO designation criteria for GIAHS. These will be comprehensively applicable to both developing and developed countries.     

Finite element analysis and experimental verification of the scrap tire rubber pad isolator

A new base isolation system using scrap tire rubber pads (STRP) has been introduced for seismic mitigation of ordinary residential buildings. The rubber and the steel reinforcing cords used in manufacturing the tire are the alternative materials of the proposed base isolation system. The steel reinforcing cords represent the steel plates used in conventional laminated rubber bearings. These steel reinforcing cords shall prevent the lateral bulging of the rubber bearing. The proposed base isolation system has no bonding between the superstructure and the foundation beam which allows for rollover deformation. In the first part of the study, the STRP layers were just stacked one on top of another without applying the adhesive. This paper presents loading test as well as finite element analysis (FE analysis) of strip STRP isolators that are subjected to any given combination of static vertical and lateral loads. The results of the static vertical and horizontal loading test conducted on STRP isolators were used to calculate the mechanical properties of the isolators, including stiffness and damping values. The load–displacement relationship of STRP isolators were compared between experimental and FE analysis results and the results were found to be in close agreement. The stress state within the STRP isolators was also analyzed in order to estimate the maximum stress demand in the rubber and steel reinforcing cords. These STRP isolators have several advantages over conventional laminated rubber bearings including superior damping properties, lower incurred cost, light weight and easily available material. This study suggests that using the STRP as low cost base isolation device for ordinary residential buildings is feasible.     

Spatio-temporal analysis of recent groundwater-level trends in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

A groundwater-monitoring network has been in operation in the Red River Delta, Vietnam, since 1995. Trends in groundwater level (1995?C2009) in 57 wells in the Holocene unconfined aquifer and 63 wells in the Pleistocene confined aquifer were determined by applying the non-parametric Mann-Kendall trend test and Sen??s slope estimator. At each well, 17 time series (e.g. annual, seasonal, monthly), computed from the original data, were analyzed. Analysis of the annual groundwater-level means revealed that 35?% of the wells in the unconfined aquifer showed downward trends, while about 21?% showed upward trends. On the other hand, confined-aquifer groundwater levels experienced downward trends in almost all locations. Spatial distributions of trends indicated that the strongly declining trends (>0.3?m/year) were mainly found in urban areas around Hanoi where there is intensive abstraction of groundwater. Although the trend results for most of the 17 time series at a given well were quite similar, different trend patterns were detected in several. The findings reflect unsustainable groundwater development and the importance of maintaining groundwater monitoring and a database in the Delta, particularly in urban areas.     

Molecular-scale mechanisms of distribution and isotopic fractionation of molybdenum between seawater and ferromanganese oxides

The distribution of Mo between seawater and marine ferromanganese oxides has great impacts on concentration and isotopic composition of Mo in modern oxic seawater. To reveal the adsorption chemistry of Mo to ferromanganese oxides, we performed (i) detailed structural analyses of Mo surface complexes on δ-MnO₂, ferrihydrite, and hydrogenetic ferromanganese oxides by L₃- and K-edge XAFS, and (ii) adsorption experiments of Mo to δ-MnO₂ and ferrihydrite over a wide range of pHs, ionic strengths, and Mo concentrations. XAFS analyses revealed that Mo forms distorted octahedral (Oh) inner-sphere complexes on δ-MnO₂ whereas it forms a tetrahedral (Td) outer-sphere complex on ferrihydrite. In the hydrogenetic ferromanganese oxides, the dominant host phase of Mo was revealed to be δ-MnO₂. These structural information are consistent with the macroscopic behaviors of Mo in adsorption experiments, and Mo concentration in modern oxic seawater can be explained by the equilibrium adsorption reaction on δ-MnO₂. In addition, the large isotopic fractionation of Mo between seawater and ferromanganese oxides detected in previous studies can be explained by the structural difference between and adsorbed species on the δ-MnO₂ phase in ferromanganese oxides. In contrast, smaller fractionation of Mo isotopes on ferrihydrite is due to little change in the Mo local structures during its adsorption to ferrihydrite.The structures of Mo species adsorbed on crystalline Fe (oxyhydr)oxides, goethite, and hematite were also investigated at pH 8 and I = 0.70 M (NaNO₃). Our XAFS analyses revealed that Mo forms inner-sphere complexes on both minerals: Td edge-sharing (46%) and Oh double corner-sharing (54%) for goethite, and Td double corner-sharing (14%) and Oh edge-sharing (86%) for hematite. These structural information, combined with those for amorphous ferrihydrite and δ-MnO₂, show the excellent correlation with the magnitude of adsorptive isotopic fractionation of Mo reported in previous studies: the proportion of Oh species or their magnitude of distortion in Mo surface complexes become larger in the order of ferrihydrite < goethite < hematite < δ-MnO₂, a trend identical to the magnitude of isotopic fractionation.Based on the comparison with previous reports for Mo surface species on various oxides, the chemical factors that affect Mo surface complex structures were also discussed. The hydrolysis constant of cation in oxides, log K_OH (or the acidity of the oxide surfaces, PZC) is well correlated with the mode of attachment (inner- or outer-sphere) of Mo surface complexes. Furthermore, the symmetric change in Mo species from Td to Oh is suggested to be driven by the formation of inner-sphere complexes on specific sites of the oxide surfaces.     

西南日本地区地壳P、S波速度结构与地震活动的关系

选用密集的高精度地震台网Hi-net 2002～2004年记录的836个地震事件的23,895条P波和21,969条S波的到时资料,计算得到了日本西南地区水平分辨率约33 km,垂直分辨率4～15 km的三维地壳P波和S波速度结构,并进一步获得泊松比分布.研究表明,在大山火山下存在显著的低速异常,表明该火山可能是一个潜在的活火山.速度异常图像清楚地显示了菲律宾板块俯冲至西南日本地区下,其上方存在的低速高泊松异常表明可能有流体的存在,分析得出可能来自板块俯冲过程中的脱水作用.并进一步探讨了流体在地震孕育及触发的过程中可能起的重要作用.