Erosion calderas: origins, processes, structural and climatic control

 The origin and development of erosion-modified, erosion-transformed, and erosion-induced depressions in volcanic terrains are reviewed and systematized. A proposed classification, addressing terminology issues, considers structural, geomorphic, and climatic factors that contribute to the topographic modification of summit or flank depressions on volcanoes. Breaching of a closed crater or caldera generated by volcanic or non-volcanic processes results in an outlet valley. Under climates with up to ∼2000–2500 mm annual rainfall, craters, and calderas are commonly drained by a single outlet. The outlet valley can maintain its dominant downcutting position because it quickly enlarges its drainage basin by capturing the area of the primary depression. Multi-drained volcanic depressions can form if special factors, e.g., high-rate geological processes, such as faulting or glaciation, suppress fluvial erosion. Normal (fluvial) erosion-modified volcanic depressions the circular rim of which is derived from the original rim are termed erosion craters or erosion calderas, depending on the pre-existing depression. The resulting landform should be classed as an erosion-induced volcanic depression if the degradation of a cluster of craters produces a single-drained, irregular-shaped basin, or if flank erosion results in a quasi-closed depression. Under humid climates, craters and calderas degrade at a faster rate. Mostly at subtropical and tropical ocean-island and island-arc volcanoes, their erosion results in so-called amphitheater valleys that develop under heavy rainfall (>∼2500 mm/year), rainstorms, and high-elevation differences. Structural and lithological control, and groundwater in ocean islands, may in turn preform and guide development of high-energy valleys through rockfalls, landsliding, mudflows, and mass wasting. Given the intense erosion, amphitheater valleys are able to breach a primary depression from several directions and degrade the summit region at a high rate. Occasionally, amphitheater valleys may create summit depressions without a pre-existing crater or caldera. The resulting, negative landforms, which may drain in several directions and the primary origin of which is commonly unrecognizable, should be included in erosion-transformed volcanic depressions. Received: 4 January 1998 / Accepted: 18 January 1999     

A Massive Coccolithophorid Bloom Observed in Mikawa Bay, Japan

In April 1996, a massive algal bloom of the coccolithophorid Gephyrocapsa oceanica developed in both Chita Bay and Atsumi Bay which comprise the bay known as Mikawa Bay of Japan. It was the first record of such a bloom in this area. In Chita Bay, the bloom persisted until the middle of May, however in Atsumi Bay, it remained until early June. From the analysis of salinity, water temperature, and current velocity and direction data, it is considered that the following mechanism accounts for the occurrence and maintenance of the bloom: Before the bloom, the standing crop of phytoplankton was poor, resulting in relatively rich nutrients throughout the bay. Thereafter, with the influx of oceanic water into Mikawa Bay, high salinity occurred firstly in Chita Bay. Under these hydrographic conditions, the bloom occurred first in Chita Bay, and extended throughout the bay with the clockwise circulation of water into Atsumi Bay. In Chita Bay, the bloom was influenced by rainfall and G. oceanica flowed out from this area. Whereas, in Atsumi Bay, the bloom persisted for longer due to the clockwise circulation and another influx of oceanic water.     

Ambient vibration test of an anchorage of South Bisan-seto suspension bridge

Dynamical properties of an anchorage of South Bisan-seto Suspension Bridge are determined by means of in situ measurement of the ambient vibrations. This anchorage, being located in the sea, is tall and slender; its natural frequencies are expected to be low. On the other hand, the elasticity of the ground estimated from the conventional geological data is highly dispersed. It even suggests the possibility of resonance between the towers and this anchorage. It is therefore necessary to know its natural frequencies precisely. Seismic motions and microtremors are acquired and used properly. The observation is repeated every year during the period of construction of the anchorage so that its inertial properties change significantly. First modes of the longitudinal and the transversal vibrations of the anchorage are identified and their frequencies determined. The elasticity modulus estimated from these natural frequencies is about five times as large as that of the geological survey while it is consistent with that obtained from the velocity of the elastic waves of the ground.     

Precise arrival time detection of polarized seismic waves using the spectral matrix

I present a statistical method for detecting the arrival times of polarized seismic waves on three-component seismic observations in the time and frequency domains. In this method, the polarization, which is a representation of the 3D particle motion of seismic waves, is evaluated on the basis of a spectral matrix in the time and frequency domains and the statistical parameters are defined by using the eigenvalues of the spectral matrix for detecting the arrival times of linearly and elliptically polarized waves, where the idea of a statistical test of hypothesis is introduced. An evaluation of a synthetic signal revealed that the method can detect the arrival times of linearly and elliptically polarized waves within 10 sampling points at signal-to-noise ratios of −7 dB. Application of the method to an earthquake suggested that it can be used to detect the arrival times of both linearly and elliptically polarized waves, which are difficult to identify manually.     

Effects of dry density and exchangeable cations on the diffusion process of sodium ions in compacted montmorillonite

As a part of the safety assessment of the geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, the effects of dry density and exchangeable cations on the diffusion process of Na⁺ ions in compacted bentonite were studied from the viewpoint of the activation energy for diffusion. The apparent self-diffusion coefficients of Na⁺ ions in compacted Na-montmorillonite and in a Na- and Ca-montmorillonite mixture were determined by one-dimensional, non-steady diffusion experiments at different temperatures and dry densities. A unique change in activation energy as a function of dry density was found for the Na⁺ ions in compacted Na-montmorillonite. The activation energy suddenly decreased from 18.1 to 14.1 kJ mol^− 1 as the dry density increased from 0.9 to 1.0 Mg m^− 3, whereas it increased to 24.7 kJ mol^− 1 as the dry density increased to 1.8 Mg m^− 3. Examination of the effect of exchangeable cations on the activation energies determined that the activation energies were almost constant, approximately 25 kJ mol^− 1, for the montmorillonite specimens at a dry density of 1.8 Mg m^− 3. However, three different activation energy values were obtained at a dry density of 1.0 Mg m^− 3. These findings cannot be explained by the conventional diffusion model (the pore water diffusion model), which suggests that the predominant diffusion process alternates among pore water diffusion, interlayer diffusion, and external surface diffusion.     

Seismic experiments on Showa-Shinzan lava dome using firework shots

Seismic experiments were conducted on Showa-Shinzan, a parasitic lava dome of volcano Usu, Hokkaido, which was formed during 1943–1945 activity. Since we found that firework shots fired on the ground can effectively produce seismic waves, we placed many seismometers on and around the dome during the summer festivals in 1984 and 1985. The internal structure had been previously studied using a prospecting technique employing dynamite blasts in 1954. The measured interval velocity across the dome in 1984 ranges 1.8–2.2 km/s drastically low compared to the results (3.0–4.0 km/s) in 1954; in addition, the velocity is 0.3–0.5 km/s higher than that in the surrounding area. The variation of the observed first arrival amplitudes can be explained by geometrical spreading in the high velocity lava dome. These observations show a marked change in the internal physical state of the dome corresponding to a drop in the measured highest temperature at fumaroles on the dome from 800°C in 1947 to 310°C in 1986.     

Activation energy for diffusion of helium in water-saturated, compacted Na-montmorillonite

It is important to clarify the migration behavior of hydrogen gas dissolved in water-saturated, compacted bentonite, which is a promising material for geologic disposal of high-level waste and TRU waste disposal. The diffusion coefficients of helium, which can be detected under extremely low background conditions, in water-saturated, compacted Na-montmorillonite were determined as a function of temperature by a transient diffusion method. The activation energies for diffusion of helium were then obtained. The activation energies were from 6.9 ± 4.8 to 19 ± 2.8 kJ mol^− 1 and were regarded to be independent of dry density. The activation energies of helium in water-saturated Na-montmorillonite were roughly equal to those in bulk water, 14.9 kJ mol^− 1, and in ice, from 11 to 13 kJ mol^− 1. It is possible that helium diffuses not only in pore water but also in interlayer water.