Equatorial field-aligned irregularities deduced from the echo-train and hybrid whistlers

Summary Equatorial field-aligned irregularities have been studied by using low-latitude echotrain and hybrid whistlers observed at Sakushima Station (geomag. lat. 24°). The structure is discussed in relation to the propagation mode trapped by field-aligned irregularities. We then find that the field-aligned irregularities responsible for the trapping of low latitude whistlers are of such small dimension as the HF ducts.     

Analysis of tubular steel bridge piers

A one‐dimensional model is proposed for the static and dynamic analysis of tubular steel bridge piers subjected to strong ground motions. The present formulation does not require experimental results nor shell analysis to obtain the constitutive equation of the model, which shows strength deterioration. The material properties and dimensions of bridge piers are required for static and dynamic analysis of the present model. The present analysis consists of two steps. The first step is to obtain the stress and strain relationship of the base plastic‐hinge region, where local inelastic buckling is observed. The modified Shanley's model and fiber elements are used to establish the compressive skeleton curve. The strength deterioration is taken into account in the resulting constitutive model. The second step is to analyze static and dynamic responses of tubular steel bridge piers. For overall analysis, the base plastic‐hinge region is discretized in the circumferential direction by using fiber elements whose constitutive equation was obtained in the first step. The validity of the present model has been confirmed through comparisons with existing experimental results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Incorporation of Be isotopes and other trace metals into marine ferromanganese deposits

Two-to threefold inward increase of ¹⁰Be, ⁹Be, Cu and Ni have been found in surface layers of marine ferromanganese deposits. We interpret this phenomenon as reflecting the manner in which the Be isotopes and probably other trace metals (e.g. Cu and Ni) are incorporated. On reaching the sea floor exchangeable Be is released from its carrier phase to the pore water of the ferromanganese deposits, diffuses inward and gets fixed into the deposits. The fixation process may be related to the mineralogical reorganizations suggested by previous studies. We have modeled this concept and applied it to a Mn crust on which detailed analyses of Cu, Ni and natural decay-series nuclides, as well as Be isotopes are made. Post-depositional fixation of Th isotopes may also occur. The redistributions of Be and Th isotopes are confined to regions very close to the surface of the deposits. For all practical purposes, they will not affect growth rate determinations conventionally done using these isotopes. The “linearly” extrapolated ${}^{10}\text{Be}{}^9\text{Be}$ ratio to the surface from deep layers of a Mn deposit does not necessarily represent that ratio in sea water.     

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.

     

Performances of Landfill Liners under Dry and Wet Conditions

This paper addresses the study conducted on the performance of landfill liner interface parameters. Interface shear strength parameters for various combinations of 9 different lining materials were studied and presented in this paper. This comprehensive testing program covers the interfaces between: (1) soil and compacted clay liner (CCL), (2) geomembrane (HDPEs or PVC) and soil, (3) geosynthetic clay liner (GCL)/CCL and soil, (4) geomembrane and geotextile, (5) geotextile and soil, (6) geotextile and GCL/CCL, and (7) geomembrane and GCL/CCL. The experiments were conducted for both at dry or optimum moisture condition and at saturated or wet condition. The interface performance under both conditions were compared to access the material performances. Tabulated summaries of interface test data under dry or optimum moisture condition (OMO) and saturated or wet condition are presented in the paper.     

Evidence of earth catastrophe by anomalous shocked quartz at the K/T boundary

Anomalous shocked quartz with high density (less than 1 % of density-deviation) is considered to be a relict of ultra high-pressure at meteoritic impact. The shocked quartz grains can be found only in terrestrial and artificial impact craters, meteorites and the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K/T) boundary samples. Volcanic activity is considered to be started or accelerated by enormous impact event.     

Damage assessment after 2001 Gujarat earthquake using Landsat-7 satellite images

In this paper, we present a method of earthquake damage detection by comparing the optical images with panchromatic bands for the Gujarat, India earthquake, which occurred on January 26, 2001. The data used in this study are optical remote sensing images taken by Landsat-7 satellite on January 8 and February 29, 2001, before and after the earthquake. We have investigated the pre and post-earthquake satellite images calculating the differences in the reflection intensity (digital number) of the two images. The estimated affected area has been subtracted on a pixel unit based on the obtained frequency distributions of the differences in the optical sensor values, which show significant changes in the reflectance due to the earthquake disaster. We have investigated the accuracy of our analysis result using a classification method for the training areas with aerial photographs taken after the earthquake. The two damage detection methods show a very similar result.     

Estimating the permeability of the Nojima Fault Zone by a hydrophone vertical seismic profiling experiment

Abstract A multi-offset hydrophone vertical seismic profiling (VSP) experiment was done in a 747 m deep borehole at Nojima Hirabayashi, Hyogo prefecture, Japan. The borehole was drilled to penetrate the Nojima Fault, which was active in the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake. The purpose of the hydrophone VSP is to detect subsurface permeable fractures and permeable zones and, in the present case, to estimate the permeability of the Nojima Fault. The analysis was based on a model by which tube waves are generated when incident P-waves compress the permeable fractures (or permeable zones) intersecting the borehole and a fluid in the fracture is injected into the borehole. Permeable fractures (or permeable zones) are detected at the depths of tube wave generation, and fracture permeability is calculated from the amplitude ratio of tube wave to incident P-wave. Several generations of tube waves were detected from the VSP sections. Distinct tube waves were generated at depths of the fault zone that are characterized by altered and deformed granodiorite with a fault gouge, suggesting that permeable fractures and permeable zones exist in the fault zone. Tube wave analysis shows that the permeability of the fault gouge from 624 m to 625 m is estimated to be approximately 2 × 10⁻¹² m².