川滇菱形地块白垩纪古地磁学特征

在位于川滇菱形地块的西昌西南大德里向斜两翼的白恶系红和岩内采集古地磁学定向样品９６个,进行了古地学研究,研究结果表明,西昌晚白垩世末期的古地磁偏角为５．９°,古地磁倾角为４５．８°,地磁极位置为北纬８４．７°,东径１９３．３°,将该数据与作前期研究结果对比,则可见自楚雄至无谋,进而至西昌,其古地磁偏角逐渐靠近正北,而古地磁极纬度渐次升高,这反映了川滇菱形地块内的断块呈自西南至东北逐渐减弱的顺时针     

Transpressional deformation in northwestern Sardinia (Italy): insights on the tectonic evolution of the Variscan BeltDéformation transpressive dans le Nord-Ouest de la Sardaigne (Italie) : considérations sur l'évolution tectonique de la chaı̂ne Varisque

Structural investigations in northwestern Sardinia highlight the occurrence of a regional D2 transpressional deformation related both to NNE–SSW direction of compression and to a NW–SE shear displacement. The deformation is continuous and heterogeneous, showing a northward strain increase, indicated by progressively tighter folds and occurrence of F2 sheath folds. D2 transpression is characterised by the presence of a crustal-scale shear deformation overprinting previous D1 structures, related to nappe stacking and top-to-the-south and southwest thrusting. The L2 prominent stretching lineation points to an orogen-parallel extension and to a change in the tectonic transport from D1 to D2. It is attributed to the position of Sardinia close to the northeastern part of the Cantabrian indenter during the progressive evolution of the Ibero-Armorican Arc. D1 phase developed during initial frontal collision, whereas D2 deformation characterised the progressive effect of horizontal displacement during the increasing curvature of the arc. To cite this article: R. Carosi, G. Oggiano, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 287–294.     

Numerical studies on the influence of the variations of the Kuroshio Path on the transport of fish eggs and larvae

Main spawning and nursery grounds of the Pacific Sardine are formed in the coastal boundary regions of the Kuroshio S of Kyushu and S of Honshu, respectively. Numerical experiments on the transport and dispersion of particles in and neighbouring areas of the Kuroshio were done to investigate the transport process of the fish eggs and larvae from the spawning ground to the downstream nursery ground. Surface currents measured with GEK in the past were averaged for both paths with and without large meanders of the Kuroshio in the S of Honshu and used as the data basis. Particles were released in the Kuroshio SE of Kyushu. The results show that the transport rate of them into the S coastal waters of Honshu during large meandered path is larger than the rate during the straight path period. However, recruitment rates of the Pacific Sardine in the S coastal waters of Honshu decreases during the large meander periods of the Kuroshio path. This inverse correlation is considered to be caused by the poorer food environment strongly influenced by the intrusion of the Kuroshio water.     

Recursive evaluation of interaction forces of unbounded soil in the time domain

The interaction forces representing the contribution of the linear unbounded soil to the equations of motion of a nonlinear soil-structure-interaction analysis are specified in the form of convolution integrals. They can be evaluated recursively in the time domain. In this procedure, the forces at a specific time are computed from the displacements at the same time and from the most recent forces and most recent past displacements. It is, in principle, only approximate. When the dynamic-stiffness coefficients can be expressed as the ratios of two polynomials in frequency, the appropriately chosen recursive equations are exact. Two possibilities of choosing a recursive equation are discussed.

• (i) The impulse-invariant method, where the unknown recursive coefficients are calculated by solving a system of equations which are established by equating the rigorous and recursive formulations for a discretized unit impulse displacement.
• (ii) In the segment approach, the dynamic-stiffness coefficients in the time domain are interpolated piecewise. Applying the z-transformation analytically then results in an explicit recursive equation without solving a system of equations.

The recursive evaluation of the convolution integrals in the time domain leads to a dramatic reduction in the computational effort up to two and three orders of magnitude and in the storage requirement. This makes the time-domain analysis using the substructure method computationally competitive with the corresponding direct (non-recursive) frequency-domain procedure of determining the complex response which is, however, applicable only to a linear (total) system.     

Diamictite and oolitic ironstones, a sedimentary association at Ordovician–Silurian transition in the north Gondwana margin: New evidence from the inner nappe of Sardinia Variscides (Italy)

The contact between the Silurian black phyllite and the Cambro–Ordovician underlying rocks has been investigated over different tectonic units, affected by green-schist facies metamorphism, in the inner nappe zone of the Sardinia Variscides. In spite of strain and metamorphism, the field work highlighted the occurrence of diamictic sediments. In the Canaglia Tectonic Unit the diamictite consists of dark, massive metamorphic claystone bearing chamositic ooliths, chamositic nodules and millimetre to centimetre sized clasts, dispersed, or gathered in clusters, within the muddy matrix. In the Argentiera Tectonic Unit the diamictite consists of angular clasts, ranging in size from few millimetres to several decimetres, scattered within a finely laminated black sericitic meta-argillite. Field data, textural and compositional analyses suggest a glacio-marine environment for the formation of the diamictites.

The Canaglia diamictite deposited in a protected, glacial-influenced, shore. Compositionally it can be defined as ironstone; in the Upper part it hosts a horizon of clast-supported conglomeratic hard ironstone, mostly made of magnetite, which testifies for sub-aerial reworking. The source of the iron is to be related to local, glacio-eustatic driven, emergence of Upper Ordovician alkaline mafic volcanics. These are widespread in the uppermost Ordovician of the Canaglia Unit, possibly linked to the rifting stage that invested the north Gondwana margin, before the uppermost Ordovician–early Silurian sea level rise.

The Argentiera diamictite deposited beyond the iron-rich diamictite in the outer euxinic shelf that was reached by rain out of rafted debris.     

Modelling the extension of heterogeneous hot lithosphere

The consequences of weak heterogeneities in the extension of soft and hot lithosphere without significant previous crustal thickening has been analysed in a series of centrifuge models. The experiments examined the effects of i) the location of heterogeneities in the ductile crust and/or in the lithospheric mantle, and ii) their orientation, perpendicular or oblique to the direction of bulk extension. The observed deformation patterns are all relevant to the so-called “wide rifting” mode of extension. Weak zones located in the ductile crust exert a more pronounced influence on localisation of deformation in the brittle layer than those located in the lithospheric mantle: the former localise faulting in the brittle crust whereas the latter tend to distribute faulting over a wider area. This latter behaviour depends in turn upon the decoupling provided by the ductile crust. Localised thinning in the brittle crust is accompanied by ductile doming of both crust and mantle. Domains of maximum thinning in the brittle crust and ductile crust and mantle are in opposition. Lateral differences in brittle crust thinning are accommodated by lateral flow in the ductile crust and mantle. This contrasts with “cold and strong” lithospheres whose high strength sub-Moho mantle triggers a necking instability at the lithosphere-scale. This also differs from the extension of thickened hot and soft lithospheres whose ductile crust is thick enough to give birth to metamorphic core complexes. Thus, for the given lithospheric rheology, the models have relevance to backarc type extensional systems, such as the Aegean and the Tyrrhenian domains.     

Pressure–temperature evolution of the late Hercynian Calabria continental crust: compatibility with post‐collisional extensional tectonics

The late Hercynian tectonic evolution of the Calabria crust is characterized by peak metamorphic conditions up to 800 °C and 1000 MPa, and coeval mid‐crustal granitoid emplacement at 304–300 Ma. To check if a post‐collisional extensional framework, similar to that of other Hercynian massifs, can explain petrologic data, we model the pressure–temperature evolution of the crust during extension following granitoid emplacement. Model parameters are constrained by petrologic, geochemical and structural data. Computed P–T paths are characterized by nearly isothermal decompression followed by isobaric cooling, which show a good fit to petrologic P–T paths for duration of extension between 5 and 10 Ma. The model results, therefore, support an interpretation of the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of the Calabria crust in terms of the late Hercynian extension. In this framework, slab break‐off is a reasonable explanation for the common evolution of the southern European Hercynian massifs.     

Mongolian herders’ vulnerability to <Emphasis Type="Italic">dzud</Emphasis>: a study of record livestock mortality levels during the severe 2009/2010 winter

The livelihoods of people inhabiting inland Eurasia have long been jeopardized by repeated natural hazards associated with a harsh environment and a cold, arid climate. Dzud is a Mongolian word indicating harsh winter conditions. In the present study, we considered dzud damage (e.g., livestock loss) to result from a combination of climate hazard (e.g., cold surges) and herders’ socioeconomic vulnerability. For this study, we integrated crucial socioeconomic factors accounting for major spatiotemporal variations in Mongolia by applying principal component analysis (PCA) to a comprehensive province-level, multiyear dataset. We subsequently characterized the regionality of herders’ vulnerability to the dzud event that occurred during the 2009/2010 winter by conducting a cluster analysis of the provincial principal component (PC) scores for the pre-dzud year (2009). Our results revealed a distinct geographical pattern of vulnerability. Herding households in the northern and northeastern (relatively wet and plain) areas were found to be well prepared for harsh winters, with shelters against wind and availability of forage, including hay, as well as easy access to major urban markets. By contrast, herding households in the southern and southwestern (arid and mountainous) areas were poorly prepared, with inadequate circumstances that facilitate pursuing of otor (movement of nomadic herders in search of better pastures) and lack of access to markets and dzud relief support because of their remote locations. The time coefficients of PC 2, related to winter preparedness, indicated that vulnerability increased between 2003 and 2009 (the pre-dzud year). This was partly responsible for the record-level mortality observed in 2010 across the southern and southwestern rural region, in conjunction with harsh winter weathers.     

Constraints on the source mechanism of harmonic tremors based on seismological, ground deformation, and visual observations at Sakurajima volcano, Japan

Vulcanian-type eruptive activity has occurred from the summit crater of Sakurajima volcano, Japan, since 1955. Over this period, harmonic tremors have commonly occurred either several hours after swarms of B-type earthquakes (herein termed HTB: Harmonic Tremor following B-type earthquake swarm) or immediately after explosive eruptions (herein termed HTE: Harmonic Tremor after an Eruption). In this study, we analyzed the spectra and particle motions of HTBs and HTEs. Both HTBs and HTEs have spectra with peaks at fundamental frequencies and higher frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequencies. The peak frequencies of HTBs remained within a certain range, whereas those of HTEs showed a gradual increase. The spectra of an HTB that occurred on 20 July 1990 had stable fundamental frequencies of 1.46–1.66 Hz and at least 9 peaks of higher modes; in contrast, the HTE that occurred 3 minutes after an explosive eruption at 11 h 15 m (JST) on 11 October 2002 showed clear frequency gliding from 0.8 to 3.7 Hz in the fundamental mode. The peak frequencies of higher modes of the HTE also showed an increase corresponding to the shift of the fundamental mode towards a higher frequency. Particle motion analysis mainly identified Rayleigh waves from the prograde elliptical motion at the deepest borehole station (HAR) and retrograde motions at the other shallower stations. Love waves were dominant at the stations north and south of the crater. The distribution patterns of Rayleigh and Love waves of HTBs are similar to those of HTEs. The nature of the dominant surface waves of both HTBs and HTEs suggest that the sources of harmonic tremors are located at a shallow depth, corresponding to a gas pocket in the uppermost part of the volcanic conduit. Differences in the temporal characteristics of the HTB and HTE spectra reflect the internal condition of the gas pocket: HTBs are associated with inflation of the conduit, whereas HTEs occur following an eruption, associated with deflationary ground deformation. HTBs are caused by resonance of the gas pocket embedded beneath the lava dome. Although HTEs occur within the open conduit, the small size of vents enables resonance within the bubbly magma conduit. The positive gliding of dominant peaks toward higher frequencies is interpreted to result from shortening of the bubbly magma conduit due to a rise in the bubble nucleation level; this rise results from the re-pressurization that accompanies the ascent of magma from deep within the reservoir.     

A nonlinear parametric model based on a power law relationship for predicting the coastal tsunami height

When a subduction-zone earthquake occurs, the tsunami height must be predicted to cope with the damage generated by the tsunami. Therefore, tsunami height prediction methods have been studied using simulation data acquired by large-scale calculations. In this research, we consider the existence of a nonlinear power law relationship between the water pressure gauge data observed by the Dense Oceanfloor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET) and the coastal tsunami height. Using this relationship, we propose a nonlinear parametric model and conduct a prediction experiment to compare the accuracy of the proposed method with those of previous methods and implement particular improvements to the extrapolation accuracy.