Estimation of the 3-D velocity structure of the Sorachi–Yezo and Oshima Belts in the western part of Hokkaido, Japan

We adopted the seismic tomography technique to refine the three-dimensional velocity structure model of the western part of Hokkaido, Japan. Using the P-wave first arrival data listed by Japan Meteorological Agency from 2002 to 2005, we could estimate a 3-D inhomogeneous velocity structure model with a low velocity at a depth of 14 km beneath Asahikawa. The crustal structure near Sapporo was characterized by lateral velocity change toward the southern seaside. The low-velocity zone near Urakawa, proposed by previous research, was also clarified. In general, the present model showed lower-velocity values for most of the crustal layers in the area concerned. The results of this study were affected by less number of higher magnitude events (M?≥?0.5) in the central part of the area of interest. However, the perturbation results for comparatively shallow layers (6–50 km) were good in resolution. It was found that the source region of the Rumoi–Nanbu earthquake of December 14, 2004 was characterized by a low-velocity zone, located between high velocity zones. Such an inhomogeneous crustal structure might play an important role in the relatively high seismic activity in the Rumoi–Nanbu earthquake source region.     

武汉和京都台站超导重力仪高精度潮汐重力观测结果

利用高精度潮汐重力场观测研究地球物理学和地球动力学问题已成为当今地学工作者的共识.由于某些信号十分微弱且具有区域和全球分布特征,相当一部分信号被混合在常规仪器的观测噪声水平上,因此获得全球分布的第一手高精度观测资料显得尤为重要.超导重力仪具有精度高,连续性和稳定性好等特征,期望能在测定区域和全球重力场的精细结构方面发挥重要作用.有18个台站参加的全球地球动力学合作项目于1997年7月份开始实施,其主要目的是解决诸如固体潮、地核近周日晃动、核模、地球自转和极移,地球和大气海洋的耦合机理以及由构造运动引起的重力场变化等热点问题.我们曾研究过中比法三国的超导重力仪潮汐观测资料,获得了欧洲和亚洲不同地区潮汐常数及分布特征.本文将利用武汉和日本京都三台超导重力仪观测资料研究亚洲地区大陆和海岛上的潮汐波振幅因子和相位滞后的时间变化特征以及各参数的误差估计等,同时将检测由大气和海潮变化产生的重力信号.文章分数据处理方法、潮汐参数测定、大气重力信号、海潮重力信号、潮汐参数的时间变化、非潮汐重力场变化特征等几方面叙述.     

K–Ar ages of the Akan-Shiretoko volcanic chain lying oblique to the Kurile trench: Implications for tectonic control of volcanism

The Akan‐Shiretoko volcanic chain, situated in the Southwestern Kurile arc, consists mainly of nine subaerial andesitic stratovolcanoes and three calderas. The chain extends in a SW–NE direction for 200 km, situated oblique to the Kurile trench at an angle of 25 degrees. Thirty‐seven new K–Ar ages, plus previous data, suggest that volcanic activity along the Akan‐Shiretoko volcanic chain began at ca 4 Ma at Akan, at the southwestern end of the chain, and systematically progressed northeastward, resulting in the southwest‐northeast‐trending volcanic chain. This spatial and temporal distribution of volcanoes can be explained by anticline development advancing northeastward from the Akan area, accompanied by magma rising through northeast‐trending fractures that developed along the anticlinal axis. The northeastward development of the anticline caused uplifting of the Akan‐Shiretoko area and changed the area from submarine to subaerial conditions. Anticline formation was likely due to deformation of the southwestern Kurile arc, with southwestward migration of the Kurile forearc sliver caused by oblique subduction of the Pacific plate. The echelon topographic arrangement of the Shiretoko, Kunashiri, Etorofu and Urup was formed at ca 1 Ma.     

On the atmospheric muon energy spectrum in the deep ocean and its parameterization

The energy spectrum of those muons in the deep ocean ( 1000 m) that have been produced in the terrestrial atmosphere and have penetrated sea-water is calculated by Monte Carlo simulation and presented in a simplified form for easy use.     

Assessment of agricultural drought in rainfed cereal production areas of northern China

Agricultural drought assessment is an important tool for water management in water-scarce regions such as Inner Mongolia and northeastern China. Conventional methods have difficulty of clarifying long-term influences of drought on regional agricultural production. To accurately evaluate regional agricultural drought, we assessed the performance of drought indices by constructing a new assessment framework with three components: crop model calibration and validation, drought index calculation, and index assessment (standard period setting, mean value and agreement assessments). The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model simulated well of county-level wheat and maize yields in the nine investigated counties. We calculated a major crop-specific index yield reduction caused by water stress (WSYR) in the EPIC crop model, by relating potential and rainfed yields. Using 26 agricultural drought cases, we compared WSYR with two meteorological drought indices: precipitation (P) and aridity index (AI). The results showed that WSYR had greater agreement (85 %) than either the precipitation (65 %) or aridity index (68 %). The temporal trend of the indices over the period 1962–2010 was tested using three approaches. The result via WSYR revealed a significant increase in the trend of agricultural drought in drought-prone counties, which could not be shown by the precipitation and aridity indices. Total number of dry year via WSYR from 1990s to 2000s increases more sharply than via P or AI. As shown by WSYR, the number of dry years in northeastern China and Inner Mongolia is generally increasing, particularly after the 2000s, in the western part of the study area. The study reveals the usefulness of the framework for drought index assessment and indicates the potential of WSYR and possible drought cases for drought classification.     

Dynamic Modelling of Fault Slip Induced by Stress Waves due to Stope Production Blasts

Seismic events can take place due to the interaction of stress waves induced by stope production blasts with faults located in close proximity to stopes. The occurrence of such seismic events needs to be controlled to ensure the safety of the mine operators and the underground mine workings. This paper presents the results of a dynamic numerical modelling study of fault slip induced by stress waves resulting from stope production blasts. First, the calibration of a numerical model having a single blast hole is performed using a charge weight scaling law to determine blast pressure and damping coefficient of the rockmass. Subsequently, a numerical model of a typical Canadian metal mine encompassing a fault parallel to a tabular ore deposit is constructed, and the simulation of stope extraction sequence is carried out with static analyses until the fault exhibits slip burst conditions. At that point, the dynamic analysis begins by applying the calibrated blast pressure to the stope wall in the form of velocities generated by the blast holes. It is shown from the results obtained from the dynamic analysis that the stress waves reflected on the fault create a drop of normal stresses acting on the fault, which produces a reduction in shear stresses while resulting in fault slip. The influence of blast sequences on the behaviour of the fault is also examined assuming several types of blast sequences. Comparison of the blast sequence simulation results indicates that performing simultaneous blasts symmetrically induces the same level of seismic events as separate blasts, although seismic energy is more rapidly released when blasts are performed symmetrically. On the other hand when nine blast holes are blasted simultaneously, a large seismic event is induced, compared to the other two blasts. It is concluded that the separate blasts might be employed under the adopted geological conditions. The developed methodology and procedure to arrive at an ideal blast sequence can be applied to other mines where faults are found in the vicinity of stopes.     

Temporal changes in pelagic copepod assemblages off Ubatuba,Brazil

The inner shelf waters off Southeastern Brazil are periodically enriched by bottom intrusions of the cold and nutrient‐rich South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), which is transported offshore by the Brazil Current. This study examined the temporal contrasts in abundance and structure of pelagic copepod assemblages in a neritic station off Ubatuba, in relation to hydrography and phytoplankton biomass, to investigate the effects of SACW bottom intrusions on copepod population dynamics during three consecutive years. The water‐column characteristics shifted from a well‐mixed, more turbid and phytoplankton‐poor scenario during subsidence conditions to a stratified, less turbid and high Chl‐a concentration scenario during SACW bottom intrusions, leading to increased copepod diversity, abundance, and biomass. The rise in copepod diversity during SACW intrusions was related to the contribution of oceanic species in addition to coastal water species. The copepod community was numerically dominated by small‐sized species, such as Oncaea waldemari, Oithona plumifera, and clausocalanid and paracalanid copepodids, regardless of seasonality and SACW intrusions. Some large calanoid species contributed considerably to the total copepod biomass during intrusions. In addition to confirming that SACW seasonal intrusions play a key role in pelagic processes off Southeast Brazil, this study showed that the multiannual variability of SACW seasonal intrusions is important in regulating the structure and dynamics of copepod communities in this subtropical area.     

Sedimentary records of multidecadal-scale variability of diatom productivity in the Bungo Channel, Japan, associated with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

In order to examine the responses of primary productivity in the southern coastal sea of Japan to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) in the 20th century, sedimentary records of diatom productivity (diatom valve fluxes) were reconstructed using core samples from the Bungo Channel (BC) in southwest Japan. The record of the Thalassionema spp. flux—the best index of fall primary productivity in the BC—indicated a multidecadal-scale duration with a low flux (1943–1982) and those with a high flux (1913–1943 and 1982–2001); apparent shifts were recognized in 1943 and 1982. The shift in 1982 was also recognized in the flux records of other early summer to fall predominant genera in the BC and, previously, in the biogenic silica records from a broad region of the southeast BC. This indicates that in our records, this shift reflects a general trend in the primary production in the southeast BC. A comparison among the Thalassionema spp. flux records, meteorological data from an observatory adjacent to the core site, and the PDO index showed that the flux records were more similar to the PDO index than the other meteorological records, which suggests that the multidecadal-scale variability of the BC primary productivity may be associated with some marine-derived forcing. The bottom intrusions of nutrient-rich water that upwelled from the shelf slope into the BC, the axis movement or the transport of the Kuroshio Current off the BC, and a basin-scale wind stress in the North Pacific might play an important role in this forcing and mediate between the BC primary productivity and the PDO.