Historical variation in the meteor flux as found in Chinese and Japanese chronicles

Numbers of meteors recorded in Chinese and Japanese histories are counted. Two distinct maxima in Chinese records are found in the 11th and 15th centuries, and the latter is also recorded in Japan. Of those records, numbers of bright meteors with sound and great fireballs that appeared in the daytime are also investigated.Correlations between the meteor numbers and the apparitions of naked-eye comet likely to be found, and seasonal variations in the meteor flux recorded during nineteen centuries show two maxima in July–August and October–November, the latter may be related to the Taurid complex.     

Frictional discharge at fault asperities: Origin of fractal seismo-electromagnetic radiation

To investigate the relation between the rock friction and the fractal electromagnetic radiation before the main-shock of earthquakes, we conducted a friction experiment simulating the motion of an asperity on a fault plane, and observed photon emissions due to electric discharge by dielectric breakdown of ambient gases from friction contacts between rock minerals. This indicates that frictional discharges (plasma generations) could occur locally at microscopic asperities on fault surfaces. From concepts on the fractal size-distribution and temporal evolution of fault asperities, the frictional discharge occurring at asperities on the fault plane can be one of origins of the fractal electromagnetic radiation (Benioff electromagnetic radiation) prior to earthquakes.     

Noble gas systematics for coexisting glass and olivine crystals in basalts and dunite xenoliths from Loihi Seamount

Noble gas isotopes including ³He/⁴He, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar and Xe isotope ratios were determined for coexisting glass and olivine crystals in tholeiitic and alkalic basalts and dunite xenoliths from Loihi Seamount.Glass and coexisting olivine crystals have similar ³He/⁴He ratios (2.8–3.4) × 10^?5, 20 to 24 times the atmospheric ratio (R_A), but different ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios (400–1000). Based on the results of noble gas isotope ratios and microscopic observation, some olivine crystals are xenocrysts. We conclude that He is equilibrated between glass and olivine xenocrysts, but Ar is not.The apparent high ³He/⁴He ratio (3 × 10^?5; = 21 R_A) coupled with a relatively high ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio (4200) for dunite xenoliths (KK 17-5) may be explained by equilibration of He between MORB-type cumulates and the host magma.Except for the dunite xenoliths, noble gas data for these Loihi samples are compatible with a model in which samples from hot spot areas may be explained by mixing between P (plume)-type and M (MORB)-type components with the addition of A (atmosphere)-type component.Excess ¹²⁹Xe has not been observed due to apparent large mass fractionation among Xe isotopes.