Mineralogical and Geochemical Constraints on Arsenic Mobility in a Philippine Geothermal Field

Arsenic is usually associated with sulphide minerals formed in the geothermal environment. However, sulphide minerals are prone to dissolution after contact with meteoric water under surface oxidizing conditions. Secondary precipitates that form from the dissolution of the primary sulfides exert a greater influence on arsenic mobility in the geothermal environment. Fe-hydroxides have very good affinity with dissolved arsenate and are stable under most surface oxidizing conditions. Both amorphous silica directly precipitated from geothermal fluids and possibly a kaolinite alteration can host a small significant amount of arsenic. These silicates are also more stable under a wide range of pH and redox conditions.     

GeoSurveillance: a GIS-based system for the detection and monitoring of spatial clusters

This article introduces a software package named GeoSurveillance that combines spatial statistical techniques and GIS routines to perform tests for the detection and monitoring of spatial clustering. GeoSurveillance provides both retrospective and prospective tests. While retrospective tests are applied to spatial data collected for a particular point in time, prospective tests attempt to incorporate the dynamic nature of spatial patterns via analyzing time-series data to detect emergent clusters as quickly as possible. This article will outline the structure of GeoSurveillance as well as describe the statistical cluster detection methods implemented in the software. It concludes with an illustration of the use of the software to analyze the spatial pattern of low birth weights in Los Angeles County, California.      

Spatial partitioning between species of the phytoplankton-feeding guild on an estuarine intertidal sand flat and its implication on habitat carrying capacity

The fishery yield of Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum, increased considerably in the 1970s but has decreased rapidly since the middle 1980s on extensive intertidal sand flats in Ariake Sound (Kyushu, Japan). A survey conducted in 2004 on a 3.4-km² sand flat located in the central part of the Sound (Shirakawa sand flat) revealed four dominant species: two thalassinidean shrimps (Upogebia major and Nihonotrypaea japonica), which are deep-reaching burrow dwellers with strong bioturbation activities, and two bivalves (Mactra veneriformis and R. philippinarum). All four species belong to a phytoplankton (diatom)-feeding guild. In the late 1970s, the Manila clam population prevailed in high densities over the entire sand flat, whereas its distribution was restricted to the lowest quarter of the shore in 2004. In contrast, the population sizes and zones of occurrence of the other phytoplankton feeders have expanded in the absence of R. philippinarum, perhaps an indication of competitive release. After establishment, effects of the thalassinidean shrimps on sediment stability appear to have further reduced clam abundances. Across the sand flat in 2004, wet weight population biomass estimates for N. japonica, U. major, M. veneriformis, and R. philippinarum (whole body for shrimps and soft tissue for bivalves) were 304, 111, 378, and 234 tonnes, respectively. Based on Manila clam fishery yield records from Shirakawa, the carrying capacity of the Shirakawa sand flat in the late 1970s was estimated to be two times greater than the sum value for the whole phytoplankton-feeding guild in 2004. It is hypothesized that (1) the amount of phytoplankton determines the carrying capacity for the benthic community on the Shirakawa sand flat, with both phytoplankton and benthic biomass at maxima in the late 1970s, and (2) the subsequent increases in competition for space have caused further declines in the Manila clam population biomass to approximately one-eighth of its past value.     

Structure, biomass distribution and trophodynamics of the pelagic ecosystem in the Oyashio region, western subarctic Pacific

Biomass distribution and trophodynamics in the oceanic ecosystem in the Oyashio region are presented and analyzed, combining the seasonal data for plankton and micronekton collected at Site H since 1996 with data for nekton and other animals at higher trophic levels from various sources. The total biomass of biological components including bacteria, phytoplankton, microzooplankton, mesozooplankton, micronekton, fishes/squids and marine birds/mammals was 23 g C m⁻², among which the most dominant component was mesozooplankton (34% of the total), followed by phytoplankton (28%), bacteria (15%) and microzooplankton (protozoans) (14%). The remainder (9%) was largely composed of micronekton and fish/squid. Marine mammals/birds are only a small fraction (0.14%) of the total biomass. Large/medium grazing copepods (Neocalaus spp., Eucalanus bungii and Metridia spp.) accounted for 77% of the mesozooplankton biomass. Based on information about diet composition, predators were assigned broadly into mean trophic level 3–4, and carbon flow through the grazing food chain was established based on the estimated annual production/food consumption balance of each trophic level. From the food chain scheme, ecological efficiencies as high as 24% were calculated for the primary/secondary production and 21% for the secondary/tertiary production. Biomass and production of bacteria were estimated as 1/10 of the respective values for phytoplankton at Site H, but the role of the microbial food chain remains unresolved in the present analysis. As keystone species in the oceanic Oyashio region, Neocalanus spp. are suggested as a vital link between primary production and production of pelagic fishes, mammals and birds.     

Similarity of electrophoretic dissolved protein spectra from coastal to pelagic seawaters

Dissolved proteins in seawater samples collected from a coastal area of Tokyo Bay, Sagami Bay and a location off the Kuroshio Current were investigated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Four to nine protein bands were detected in SDS-PAGE in the apparent molecular weight (MW) range from 12 kilo Dalton (kDa) to 49 kDa. The 2-DE technique distinguished 10 to 46 protein spots exhibiting isoelectric point (pI)/MW ranging 4.3–9.2/12–63 kDa. The elecrophoretic patterns were similar between the coastal and pelagic samples, as well as previously reported patterns from various pelagic areas. The close similarity of electrophoretic mobility on both SDS-PAGE and 2-DE gels indicates the compositional homogeneity of dissolved proteins in seawater throughout a broad range of marine environments. Proteinaceous dissolved organic matter (DOM) that was unresolved and smeared staining characteristics on both SDS-PAGE and 2-DE gels was first observed in Tokyo Bay waters in the present study and its possible sources are discussed. Although the two protein species, 48 kDa and 39 kDa proteins, have been identified as homologues of Porin P and low molecular weight-alkaline phosphatase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, respectively, four strains of P. aeruginosa and two species of Pseudomonas spp. have been newly identified as the source organisms of these proteins using the N-terminal amino acid sequence data determined in previous studies.     

Diatoms grow faster using ammonium in rapidly flushed eutrophic Dokai Bay,Japan

The importance of the nitrogen source for phytoplankton growth in a highly eutrophic embayment, Dokai Bay, was investigated. The DIN concentration often exceeded 100 μM of which 40–70% was NH₄ ⁺. During two incubation experiments, the natural assemblage of mainly diatoms took up NH₄ ⁺ instead of NO₃ ⁻. The growth of two Skeletonema species isolated in Dokai Bay were significantly faster on NH₄ ⁺ (1.86 and 1.27 div. d⁻¹ respectively) than on NO₃ ⁻ (1.55 and 1.04 div. d⁻¹ respectively). Our results indicated that these diatoms could grow faster by using NH₄ ⁺ compared to NO₃ ⁻ in this eutrophic bay.     

Attenuation of compressional waves in peridotite measured as a function of temperature at 200 MPa

A technique has been developed to determine attenuation in rocks at high temperature using a gas-media, high-pressure apparatus. A pulse transmission technique and a spectral ratio method are used to study compressional seismic properties of rocks. Seismic waves are transmitted to and from the sample through buffer rods of mullite. The effect of seismic wave reflections within the sample assembly are cancelled out by taking ratios of the spectra measured at different temperatures. In order to obtain good signal-to-noise ratio for resolving the attenuation at high pressure and temperature, special care is taken in the sample assembly and the ultrasonic coupling between the sample, buffer rods and transducers. A very tight connection of the sample-buffer rod-transducer is essential for obtaining high frequency signals (>300 kHz) at high temperature. A small mass is attached to each outside end of the transducer to drive low frequency signals (<250 kHz) into the sample. Before attenuation measurements, the sample and the buffer rods are tightly compacted in a platinum tube at high pressure and room temperature to ensure pressure seal of the sample assembly. The frequency range of measurement covers 50 to 450 kHz for the sample. Attenuation is very small in the buffer rod compared to the sample for the entire temperature range of the study. Because of the small attenuation, a wide frequency band of 50 kHz to 3.2 MHz can be covered for investigating the attenuation in the buffer rod. The technique has been used to measure attenuation at high confining pressure, and temperatures including sub- and hyper-solidus of upper mantle rocks. Therefore, effects of partial melting on attenuation can be studied.The method is applied to the attenuation measurement in a peridotite as a function of temperature to 1225°C at 200 MPa confining pressure. At high temperature, signal amplitude decays more rapidly at high frequency than at low frequency, from which attenuation (andQ) can be determined using a spectral ratio method. No frequency dependence ofQ is resolved for both the sample and the buffer rod over the entire temperature and frequency ranges of the measurement. The results show thatQ decreases rapidly with increasing temperature even in the temperature range below the solidus of peridotites. Such temperature sensitivity ofQ is probably more useful to probe thermal structure in the upper mantle than that of conductivity at temperatures below the solidus. The results in this study are compared with available seismic velocity, electrical conductivity and solidus data for peridotites, suggesting that there is no discontinuous change in both mechanical and electrical properties of peridotites at the solidus temperature. Even at hypersolidus temperatures, it appears that velocity drops and conductivity increases continuously (not abruptly) with increasing melt fraction. This implies that mechanical and electrical properties of the upper mantle will gradually change at the boundary where the geotherm crosses the solidus.     

Characteristics of ionic components in precipitation in Kitakyushu City,Japan

Precipitation samples were collected by filtrating bulk sampler in Kitakyushu City, Japan, from January 1988 to December 1990. Volume weighted annual mean of pH was 4.93, but the pH distribution indicated that most probable value lay in the range pH 6.0–6.4. Volume weighted annual mean concentrations of major ionic components were as follows; SO ₄ ^2– : 84.2, NO ₃ ^– : 28.1, Cl^–: 86.3, NH ₄ ⁺ : 45.5, Ca²⁺: 63.3, Mg²⁺: 27.0, K⁺: 3.4, Na⁺: 69.0 µ eq l^–1. The highest concentrations of these ionic components were observed in winter and the lowest occurred in the rainy season. The ratio of ex-SO ₄ ^2– /NO ₃ ^– exhibited the lowest ratio in summer, and the highest ratio in winter. Good correlations were obtained between Cl^– and Na⁺, ex-SO ₄ ²⁺ and ex-Ca²⁺, NO ₃ ^– and ex-Ca²⁺, and NH ₄ ⁺ and ex-SO ₄ ^2– , respectively. However, no correlation between Cl^– and Na⁺ with Ca²⁺ was observed. The relationship of H⁺ with (ex-SO ₄ ^2– + NO ₃ ^– ) - (ex-Ca²⁺ + NH ₄ ⁺ ) indicated positive correlation.     

Seismic-response-controlled structure with active mass driver system. Part 2: Verification

An Active Mass Driver (AMD) system is proposed to suppress actively the response of a building to irregular external excitations such as earthquakes and typhoons.¹ This system has been introduced to an actual ten-storey office building constructed in Tokyo in August, 1989. The proposed analytical methods utilize circuits of the system and mechanical characteristics to understand the real control effect of the system. Simulation analyses are also performed to verify the analytical model and the control effect during observed earthquakes.     

Origin of sector trilling in cordierite in Daimonji hornfels,Kyoto, Japan

Sector trilling of cordierite in hornfels in the inner part of a contact aureole at Daimonji, Japan is a new type which consists not only of six (100) sectors (a-sectors) forming trilling, but also of (001) sectors (c-sectors) and high-index sectors (h-sectors). Complex twins within and among these sectors were studied from a viewpoint of a pseudo twin. The complex texture originated from both growth and transformation processes. The c-sector consists of three groups of domains which are related by a pseudo twin. This intrasector pseudo twin indicates that the initial phase of the c-sector was hexagonal cordierite (indialite) which later transformed to orthorhombic. The a-sector is related to adjacent sectors by a rotation of 120° around the c axis, resulting in an intersector pseudo twin. The a-sector is interpreted to have formed by overgrowth of orthorhombic cordierite on prism faces of indialite. The h-sector with the dendritic texture is also interpreted to have grown as orthorhombic cordierite. In hornfels in the middle part of the aureole, cordierites with sector trilling often coexist with single crystals of cordierite, and the sector trilling has no c- and h-sectors. This trilling type suggests that nucleation of indialite was subsequently followed by growth of orthorhombic cordierite in its stable field.