Case study of debris flow disaster scenario caused by torrential rain on Kiyomizu-dera,Kyoto, Japan - using Hyper KANAKO system

This paper presents debris-flow numerical simulations using the Hyper KANAKO system, developed by the authors. The system uses the debris flow simulator KANAKO 2D equipped with a graphical user interface (GUI); hence, a user can easily produce appropriate landform data for simulations using standard laser profiler data, and visualize the results using a GIS. Hyper KANAKO was applied to the streams around Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, Japan. Kiyomizu-dera is a famous temple in Japan which is visited by numerous tourists throughout the year. We simulated a disaster scenario of debris flow caused by torrential rain. We set the hydrograph using rainfall intensity data, and set the landform data using information from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) and a digital elevation model (DEM). We evaluated different mesh sizes and also used a digital surface model (DSM) to consider the building heights. The simulation results showed that with small mesh size, the debris flow moved through the roads, which seems realistic for a disaster situation. When buildings were considered, the flow direction changed, and a 1-m flow depth, which was deeper than in other cases, appeared in the flow path. This may pose a dangerous situation for evacuations.     

Bifurcation of barotropic flow and homogenization of potential vorticity in a rotating laboratory model

Laboratory experiments with a rotating tank confirm the bifurcation character of a barotropic flow driven by an inflow and an outflow described by Sakai (1986). The model, a circular basin with a topographic β-effect, simulates a mid-latitude oceanic feature. At a low Rossby number, stationary Rossby waves are observed which are symmetrical with a line connecting the inlet and the outlet. As the Rossby number increases, a bifurcation occurs and two kinds of vortex flows are observed. In the vortex, potential vorticity is almost uniform. In addition to the two vortex flows, a jet-like inertial flow can also be observed. In general, thre results of these experiments agree well with those of a low-order model and a numerical model.     

Garnet-amphibolites at Yokokawa in the Abukuma metamorphic belt,Japan

The mineralogy and petrochemistry of the garnet-amphibolites from the highgrade part of the Abukuma metamorphic belt have been studied, using five analyses of rocks, five of hornblendes, three of garnets and one analysis of cummingtonite, Garnetiferous amphibolites are rich in Fe, whereas non-garnetiferous ones are rich in Mg, especially in cummingtonite-amphibolite. The chemical composition of hornblendes associated with garnet is pargasitic and rich in FeO and poor in CaO, but that of non-garnetiferous rocks is rich in MgO. The garnets are rich in almandine molecule. Mg/Mg + Fe²⁺ ratios of both hornblendes and garnets correspond with those of the host rocks. The development of garnet in the Adirondack metabasites belonging to the upper almandine-amphibolite and granulite facies is observed in Mg-rich rocks as well as in Fe-rich rocks, in which both garnet and hornblende are rich in Mg respectively. However, under the conditions of the andalusite-sillimanite type metamorphism as shown in the Abukuma Plateau, Fe-rich garnet occurs in Fe-rich basic rocks, but cummingtonite occurs in Mg-rich ones instead of Mg-rich garnet. Finally, the problem of polymetamorphism is discussed. The cummingtonite-amphibolite may be the product of polymetamorphism, and Mg-rich garnet which had been present previously was decomposed to cummingtonite and plagioclase by the subsequent regional metamorphism of andalusite-sillimanite type.     

Analbite → monalbite transition in a heat treated twinned amelia albite

Amelia albite annealed at > 1080 °C for 3200 hrs by Duba and Piwinskii (1974) shows very fine twin lamellae (～1 μm) after the albite law, suggesting that it once underwent transformation into monalbite. A fragment of this specimen was investigated at 27 °C, 300 °C, 550 °C, 800 °C and 930 °C using the high-temperature precession technique. As the temperature increases, the splitting angle of c ^*-axes (likewise c ^*-axes) of two twin individuals continues to decrease. The photographs taken at 930 °C show that these two splitting angles have converged to 0^o, indicating completion of the transformation into monalbite. The transition point we observe supports the results of MacKenzie (1952) (920±20 °C) and Grundy et al. (1967) (930 °C) rather than those of Sueno et al. (1973) and Prewitt et al. (1974) (> 1080 °C); the discrepancy is most likely due to the differences in the degree of Al-Si disorder of the samples used in the experiments.     

Overview of the MITI Nankai Trough Wells: A Milestone in the Evaluation of Methane Hydrate Resources

Abstract. Bottom-simulating reflectors suggestive of the presence of methane hydrates are widely distributed below the ocean floor around Japan. In late 1999, drilling of the MITI Nankai Trough wells was conducted to explore this potential methane hydrate resource and a Tertiary conventional structure. The wells are located in the Northwest Pacific Ocean off Central Japan at a water depth of 945 m. A total of six wells were drilled, including the main well, two pilot wells, and three post survey wells at intervals of 10–100 m. All wells except the first confirmed the occurrence of hydrates based on logging-while-drilling, wire-line logging and/or coring using a pressure and temperature coring system in addition to conventional methods. Based on the various well profiles, four methane hydrate-bearing sand-rich intervals in turbidite fan deposits were recognized. Methane hydrates fill the pore spaces in these deposits, reaching saturation of up to 80 % in some layers. The methane hydrate-bearing turbiditic sand layers are less than 1 m thick, with a total thickness of 12–14 m. The bottom depth of high hydrate concentration correlates well with the depth of the bottom-simulating reflector. Based on these exploration results, the Japanese government inaugurated a 16-year methane hydrate exploitation program in 2001.