Simulated interannual variation in summertime atmospheric circulation associated with the East Asian monsoon

The reproducibility of the interannual variability of the summertime East Asian circulation is examined using an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). An ensemble experiment is conducted using observed sea surface temperature (SST) of recent 20 years as a lower boundary condition. The spatial pattern associated with the first principal mode of observation of geopotential height at 500 hPa is characterized by a meridional wavy pattern extending over eastern Siberia, the vicinity of Japan and the subtropical western Pacific. The principal component (PC) time series of the leading mode is represented well by a high-resolution version of the AGCM with horizontal resolution T106 and with 56 vertical levels (T106L56), while with a lower resolution version, T42 and 20 vertical levels, the reproducibility is considerably degraded. The reproducibility by the AGCM suggests the importance of SST as a boundary condition. However, the simulated interannual variations show the alternating appearance of two distinct circulation regimes, a cold summer regime and a hot summer regime, exhibiting interesting bimodality in probability density distribution in PC phase space. This implies that the system’s response to the continuously varying boundary condition includes nonlinearity. The nature of this nonlinearity is suggested to be wave breaking in the westerly region of the high latitudes that requires high resolution for the reproduction. Using the T106L56 model, another ensemble experiment was carried out with doubled CO₂. The climate change appears as an increase in residence frequency of the cold summer regime of the principal patterns of the present-day climate. This paper is a contribution to the AMIP-CMIP Diagnostic Sub-project on General Circulation Model Simulation of the East Asian Climate, coordinated by W.-C. Wang.     

What underlies the Philippine island arc? Clues from the Calaton Hill, Tablas island, Romblon (Central Philippines)

We report here for the first time the occurrence of a high-temperature metamorphic/plutonic complex (amphibolites, metagabbros, hornblende pyroxenites and hornblendites) in Calaton Hill, Tablas island, Romblon, Central Philippines. The mineral assemblages and relic magmatic textures in these rocks imply apparent derivation from arc-related protoliths. Major element and trace element data are also comparable to those of gabbroic rocks in arc-related setting. Subsolidus re-equilibration under granulite to amphibolite facies is documented by the triple junctions between mineral phases in the different lithologies, the recrystallization of plagioclase and the presence of coronas around olivine with mineral assemblage of orthopyroxene + amphibole ± green spinel. The formation of hornblendite and the pervasive occurrence of amphiboles in the different lithologies are being attributed to the infiltration of a younger hydrous arc magma which also caused metamorphism and hybridization on the surrounding rocks. The characteristics of the Calaton Hill samples are comparable with those of the well-studied xenoliths from Ichinomegata, NE Honshu arc, Japan. We therefore interpret the Calaton Hill metamorphic/plutonic complex as representative of the lower crust underlying the Philippine island arc.     

Coupling fluvial processes and landslide distribution toward geomorphological hazard assessment: a case study in a transient landscape in Japan

This study quantified the relationship among deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DGSDs), landslides, and river rejuvenation in the upper reaches of the Kumano River in the Kii Mountains of Japan, an area of frequent bedrock landslides. River profiles and hillslope landforms were examined, and high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) were used to identify DGSDs and landslides. Many of the deep-seated landslides were associated with rainstorms in 1889 and 2011. Landslide volumes were related to landslide areas on the basis of 52 deep-seated landslides that failed during the 2011 rainfall, providing basic data for landscape denudation and sediment yield. River rejuvenation occurred stepwise, incising moderate relief paleosurfaces and forming two series of knickpoints and V-shaped inner gorges that are up to 400-m deep. More than 65% of DGSDs and 75% of the landslides were located in association with the incised inner gorges along the peripheries of the paleosurfaces or were entirely contained within the inner gorges. DGSDs and landslides associated with the incised inner valley slopes tended to be larger than those developed within the paleosurfaces and may be long-term transient hillslope responses to river incision. Hillslope undercutting caused by rejuvenated river incision may play an important role in long-term slope stability and distribution of mass movements, and could serve as an indicator of landslide hazard.     

Two－Dimensional Model of Hydraulic Fracturing in Geosciences：Effects of Fluid Buoyancy

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Distribution of fault rocks in the fracture zone of the Nojima Fault at a depth of 1140 m: Observations from the Hirabayashi NIED drill core

Abstract Characteristics of deformation and alteration of the 1140 m deep fracture zone of the Nojima Fault are described based on mesoscopic (to the naked eye) and microscopic (by both optical and scanning electron microscopes) observations of the Hirabayashi National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) drill core. Three types of fault rocks; that is, fault breccia, fault gouge and cataclasite, appear in the central part of the fault zone and two types of weakly deformed and/or altered rocks; that is, weakly deformed and altered granodiorite and altered granodiorite, are located in the outside of the central part of the fault zone (damaged zone). Cataclasite appears occasionally in the damaged zone. Six distinct, thin foliated fault gouge zones, which dip to the south-east, appear clearly in the very central part of the fracture zone. Slickenlines plunging to the north-east are observed on the surface of the newest gouge. Based on the observations of XZ thin sections, these slickenlines and the newest gouge have the same kinematics as the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake (Kobe earthquake), which was dextral-reverse slip. Scanning electron microscopy observations of the freeze-dried fault gouge show that a large amount of void space is maintained locally, which might play an important role as a path for fluid migration and the existence of either heterogeneity of pore fluid pressure or strain localization.     

Contact metamorphosed dunite-harzburgite complex in the Chugoku district,western Japan

The Tari-Misaka ultramafic complex, which is emplaced into the Paleozoic sediments and thermally metamorphosed by two younger granitic masses, is divided into four zones on the basis of the mineral assemblage. They are, in order of increasing metamorphic grade: Zone I antigorite-olivine-orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene. Zone II olivine-talc. Zone III olivine-anthophyllite. Zone IV olivine-orthopyroxene. Strongly serpentinized clinopyroxene-bearing harzburgite in Zone I is similar to ordinary Alpine-type harzburgite. In Zonne II, two kinds of olivine are recognized. One is Mg-rich olivine (Fo₉₃ to Fo₉₇) with opaque inclusions and is probably a recrystallization product of serpentine with talc. The other is Fe-rich olivine (Fo₈₈ to Fo₉₃) free of opaque inclusions and is probably a relic of the primary peridotite. Olivine in Zone III and Zone IV is also relatively Mg-rich (Fo₉₁ to Fo₉₅). Chromitite in Zone IV commonly has an assemblage, olivine+cordierite+Mg-Al spinel (Mg/Mg+Fe²⁺, more than 0.9). Enstatite is rare and coexists with less magnesian Mg-Al spinel (Mg/Mg+Fe²⁺, less than 0.9). Petrological and mineralogical characters of the ultramafic rocks can be well explained by thermal metamorphism of strongly serpentinized peridotite by granitic intrusion. Metamorphic zones are consistent with the experimental results in the system MgO-SiO₂-H₂O. The assemblage olivine+cordierite indicates that the metamorphism occurred at relatively low pressures (<3kb).     

Metasomatized harzburgite xenoliths from Avacha volcano as fragments of mantle wedge of the Kamchatka arc: Implication for the metasomatic agent

Abstract   Abundant peridotite xenoliths have been found in pyroclasitics of Avacha (Avachinsky) volcano, the south Kamchatka arc, Russia. They are mostly refractory harzburgite with or without clinopyroxene: the Fo of olivine and Cr/(Cr + Al) atomic ratio of spinel range from 91 to 92 and from 0.5 to 0.7, respectively. They are metasomatized to various extents, and the metasomatic orthopyroxene has been formed at the expense of olivine. The metasomatic orthopyroxene, free of deformation and exsolution, is characterized by low contents of CaO and Cr₂O₃. The complicated way of replacement possibly indicates low viscosity of the metasomatic agent, namely hydrous fluids released from the relatively cool slab beneath the south Kamchatka arc. This is a good contrast to the north Kamchatka arc, where the slab has been hot enough to provide slab-derived melts. High content of total orthopyroxene, 40 vol% on average, in metasomatized harzburgite from Avacha suggests silica enrichment of the mantle wedge, and is equivalent to some subcratonic harzburgite. Some subcratonic harzburgites therefore could have been formed by transportation of subarc metasomatized peridotites to a deeper part of the upper mantle.     

Missing ophiolitic rocks along the Mae Yuam Fault as the Gondwana–Tethys divide in north-west Thailand

Abstract Thailand comprises two continental blocks: Sibumasu and Indochina. The clastic rocks of the Triassic Mae Sariang Group are distributed in the Mae Hong Son–Mae Sariang area, north‐west Thailand, which corresponds to the central part of Sibumasu. The clastic rocks yield abundant detrital chromian spinels, indicating a source of ultramafic/mafic rocks. The chemistry of the detrital chromian spinels suggests that they were derived from three different rock types: ocean‐floor peridotite, chromitite and intraplate basalt, and that ophiolitic rocks were exposed in the area, where there are no outcrops of them at present. Exposition of an ophiolitic complex denotes a suture zone or other tectonic boundary. The discovery of chromian spinels suggests that the Gondwana–Tethys divide is located along the Mae Yuam Fault zone. Both paleontological and tectonic aspects support this conclusion.     

Displacement behavior of CH4 adsorbed on coals by injecting pure CO2, N2, and CO2–N2 mixture

Gas adsorption isotherms of Akabira coals were established for pure carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrogen (N₂). Experimental data fit well into the Langmuir model. The ratio of sorption capacity of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂ is 8.5:3.5:1 at a lower pressure (1.2 MPa) regime and becomes 5.5:2:1 when gas pressure increases to 6.0 MPa. The difference in sorption capacity of these three gases is explained by differences in the density of the three gases with increasing pressure. A coal–methane system partially saturated with CH₄ at 2.4 MPa adsorption pressure was experimentally studied. Desorption behavior of CH₄ by injecting pure CO₂ (at 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 MPa), and by injecting the CO₂–N₂ mixture and pure N₂ (at 3.0 and 6.0 MPa) were evaluated. Results indicate that the preferential sorption property of coal for CO₂ is significantly higher than that for CH₄ or N₂. CO₂ injection can displace almost all of the CH₄ adsorbed on coal. When modeling the CH₄–CO₂ binary and CH₂–CO₂–N₂ ternary adsorption system by using the extended Langmuir (EL) equation, the EL model always over-predicted the sorbed CO₂ value with a lower error, while under-predicting the sorbed CH₄ with a higher error. A part of CO₂ may dissolve into the solid organic structure of coal, besides its competitive adsorption with other gases. According to this explanation, the EL coefficients of CO₂ in EL equation were revised. The revised EL model proved to be very accurate in predicting sorbed ratio of multi-component gases on coals.