Dynamic evolution of nutrient discharge under stormflow and baseflow conditions in a coastal agricultural watershed in Ishigaki Island,Okinawa, Japan

Excessive terrestrial nutrient loadings adversely impact coral reefs by primarily enhancing growth of macroalgae, potentially leading to a phase‐shift phenomenon. Hydrological processes and other spatial and temporal factors affecting nutrient discharge must be examined to be able to formulate effective measures for reducing nutrient export to adjacent reefs. During storm events and baseflow periods, water samples were obtained from the tropical Todoroki River, which drains an intensively agricultural watershed into Shiraho coral reef. In situ nutrient analyzers were deployed for 6 months to hourly measure dissolved nutrient (NO₃⁻‐N and PO₄³⁻‐P) concentrations. Total phosphorus (TP) and suspended solid concentration (TSS) were increased by higher rainfall intensity (r = 0·94, p < 0·01) and river discharge Q (r = 0·88, p < 0·01). In contrast, NO₃⁻‐N concentration tends to decrease drastically (e.g. from 3 to 1 mg l⁻¹) during flood events. When base flow starts to dominate afterwards, NO₃⁻‐N manifested an increasing trend, but decreases when baseflow discharge becomes low. This counter‐clockwise hysteresis for NO₃⁻‐N highlights the significant influence of groundwater discharge. N delivery can therefore be considered a persistent process compared to sediment and P discharge, which are highly episodic in nature. Based on GIS analysis, nutrient concentration along the Todoroki River was largely affected by the percentage of sugarcane/bare areas and bedrock type. The spatial distribution of N concentration in the river reflects the considerable influence of subsurface geology—higher N levels in limestone‐dominated areas. P concentrations were directly related to the total length of artificial drainage, which enhances sediment transport. The use of high‐resolution monitoring data coupled with GIS‐based spatial analysis therefore enabled the clarification of control factors and the difference in the spatio‐temporal discharge characteristics between N and P. Thus, although erosion‐reduction schemes would reduce P discharge, other approaches (e.g. minimize fertilizer) are needed to reduce N discharge. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Picritic primary magma and its source mantle for Oshima-Ōshima and back-arc side volcanoes,Northeast Japan arc

Oshima-shima volcano is an endmember of a geochemical variation which is characterized by a low FeO content toward the back-arc side across the NE Japan arc. Analyses of the basalts show primitive characteristics. Variation trends of the chemical compositions indicate initial olivine control then olivine+clinopyroxene control from a picritic to a differentiated basalt. The more magnesian basalts have the more magnesian olivine phenocrysts. The most magnesian (MgO 15%) of all rock samples, contains olivine phenocrysts with a composition of Fo 93.7 as a liquidus phase and is considered a product of a mantle-derived magma. The possible range in FeO and MgO content of source mantle for the Oshima-shima magma can be demonstrated. Ichinomegata lherzolite inclusions, also from the back-arc side of NE Japan, is unlikely to be a candidate for the source mantle for high FeO. The upper mantle beneath the back-arc side is considered to be compositionally zoned; a Fe-rich mantle (Ichinomegata lherzolite) at shallower place and a Fe-poor mantle (the source mantle for back-arc side volcanoes).     

Accretionary rims on inclusions in the Allende meteorite

Many inclusions in Allende, particularly those with irregular shapes, are surrounded by a sequence of thin layers which differ from one another in texture, mineralogy and mineral-chemistry. The layer underlying all others contains either: IA, pyroxene needles + olivine + clumps of hedenbergite and andradite; IB, olivine doughnuts; or IC, rectangular olivine crystals. The next layer outward, II, contains tiny (<5 μm) olivine plates and Layer III large (5–10 μm) olivine laths. The final layer, IV, occurs as clumps of andradite + hedenbergite surrounded by magnesium-rich pyroxene needles. It separates Layer III from the Allende matrix which is more poorly sorted and more sulfide-rich than Layer III. Nepheline and iron sulfide are common constituents of most layers, the latter being particularly fine-grained and abundant in Layer II. Although not every layer is present on every inclusion, the sequence of layers is constant. Evidence that the rims are accretionary aggregates includes the presence of highly disequilibrium mineral assemblages and the fact that they are highly porous masses consisting of many euhedral crystals with few intergrowths. In addition, the layers are thickest in topographic hollows on the surfaces of inclusions and the inner layers are absent or discontinuous beyond such irregularities, suggesting that the probability of accretion of crystals was low initially, except in pockets, and became greater later, after a soft cushion of accreted condensate crystals had already formed. Separation of assemblages of different mineralogy, mineral-chemistry and texture into different rim layers seems best explained by nebular models in which long, slow cooling histories allow differentiation during condensation by grain/gas separation processes.     

Fractionation of sulfur isotopes and selenium between coexisting sulfide minerals from the Besshi deposit,Central Shikoku,Japan

Fractionation of sulfur isotopes and selenium was measured between coexisting pyrite and chalcopyrite and between coexisting pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite from the Besshi deposit of Kieslager-type, Central Shikoku, Japan. In all the pyrite-chalcopyrite pairs studied, ³⁴S is enriched in pyrite relative to chalcopyrite, while selenium is enriched conversely in chalcopyrite relative to pyrite. The mean ³⁴S_py-cp value is +0.53±0.36 per mil, and the mean value of the distribution coefficient of selenium, D_cp-py, is 2.58±0.64. In all the pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite pairs studied, the two minerals are very close to each other both in sulfur isotope and Se/S ratios. The mean ³⁴S_po-cp value is –0.08±0.16 per mil and the mean D_cp-po value is 0.99±0.05. The results have been discussed in comparison with similar data obtained for the Hitachi deposits of Kieslager-type, Japan (Yamamoto et al. 1983).     

Behavior of diorite under impact by variously-shaped projectiles

SummaryBehavior of Diorite Under Impact by Variously-Shaped Projectiles The effects of striker diameter and tip geometry on the crater and crack network produced in diorite by normal projectile impact in the energy range from 4–30 J was investigated. Ejecta kinematics were determined by high-speed photography; elastic strain wave propagation was measured by embedded gages in a composite specimen; and the damage pattern was ascertained from an examination of the sectioned specimen. It was found that the projectile nose shape exerts a strong influence on the shape of the elastic transient, on the crater geometry, on the extent of the crack network and on the average size of the ejecta. The crater depth was found to be the most repeatable parameter in identical tests using the same striker and initial kinetic energy.With 7 Figures     

Raman spectra of methane hydrate up to 86 GPa

High-pressure Raman studies of methane hydrate were performed using a diamond anvil cell in the pressure range of 0.1–86 GPa at room temperature. Raman spectra of the methane molecules revealed that new softened intramolecular vibration mode of ν ₁ appeared at 17 GPa and that the splitting of vibration mode of ν ₃ occurred at 15 GPa. The appearance of these two modes indicates that an intermolecular attractive interaction increases between the methane molecules and the host water molecules and between the neighboring methane molecules. These interactions might result in the exceptional stability of a high-pressure structure, a filled ice Ih structure (FIIhS) for methane hydrate, up to 40 GPa. At 40 GPa, a clear change in the slope of the Raman shift versus pressure occurred, and above 40 GPa the Raman shift of the vibration modes increased monotonously up to 86 GPa. A previous XRD study showed that the FIIhS transformed into another new high-pressure structure at 40 GPa. The change in the Raman spectra at 40 GPa may be induced by the transition of the structure.     

Carbonate deposits on submerged seamounts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Abstract   The lithology of shallow-water carbonates collected from 19 sites on 16 seamounts in six areas of the northwestern Pacific Ocean using the Deep-sea Boring Machine System are described. The areas include the Amami Plateau, Daito Ridge, Oki-Daito Ridge, Urdaneta Plateau, Kyushu-Palau Ridge and Ogasawara Plateau. Chronological constraint is provided by calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy, larger foraminiferal biostratigraphy and strontium (Sr) isotope stratigraphy. Large amounts of shallow-water carbonates accumulated on the seamounts during the Oligocene, a relatively cool period, whereas limited carbonate deposits formed during the Early Miocene, a relatively warm period. This might indicate that deposition of shallow-water carbonates on seamounts in the northwestern Pacific Ocean was not necessarily controlled by climatic conditions, but was related to volcanism and tectonics that served as foundations for reef/carbonate-platform formation. Remarkable differences in biotic composition exist between Cretaceous and Cenozoic shallow-water carbonates. Late Cretaceous shallow-water carbonates are distinguished by the occurrence of rudists, solenoporacean algae and microencrusters. Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene shallow-water carbonates are dominated by Halimeda or nummulitid and discocyclinid larger foraminifers. Scleractinian corals became common from the Oligocene onward. Nongeniculate coralline algae and larger foraminifers were common to abundant throughout the Eocene to the Pleistocene. The replacement of major carbonate producers in the shallow-water carbonate factory during post-Cretaceous time is in accordance with previous studies and is considered to reflect a shift in seawater chemistry.     

Subaqueous eruption and emplacement of the Shinjima Pumice, Shinjima (Moeshima) Island, Kagoshima Bay, SW Japan

The Shinjima Pumice is a fines-depleted pumice lapilli tuff emplaced several thousands years ago at about 100–140 m below sea level. This 40-m-thick deposit comprises many poorly defined flow units, which are 1–10 m thick, diffusely stratified and showing upward-coarsening of pumice clasts with a sharp to transitional base. Parallel to wavy diffuse stratifications are commonly represented by alignment of pumice clasts, especially in the lower half of the flow units. Pumice clasts of block to coarse-lapilli size commonly have thermal-contraction cracks best developed on the surfaces, demonstrating that they were hot but cooled down to the ambient temperatures prior to their emplacement. These features are suggestive of the direct origin of the Shinjima Pumice from subaqueous eruptions. A theoretical consideration on the behavior of subaqueous eruption plumes and hot and cold pumice clasts suggests that subaqueous eruption plumes commonly collapse by turbulent mixing with the ambient water and are transformed into water-logged mass flows.     

Prediction method of sand-movement direction in water by geochemical elements

The analysis of sand samples by x-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF) gives the ratio of the geochemical elements to construct the sand samples. The x-ray analysis therefore shows the geochemical characteristics of sand in the sampled area. In this study, sand is sampled on coasts and rivers of the Noto Peninsula to determine the geochemical elements and to show the geological characteristics that occur, especially iron and calcium. The experiments show the effect of rivers and Kotogahama beach on iron and calcium, respectively. Applying the method of ratio matching to the measured data of the geochemical elements, the direction of movement of sand on the coast is determined by considering the correlation matrix and the ratio of geochemical elements between sand samples at two locations. The predominant longshore direction movement of sand offshore in the study area is from south to north. Sand in rivers is not directly transported to adjacent beaches; however, offshore sand is transported to beaches. The estimated direction of movement of sand longshore near coastal structures agrees with observations. The proposed method to predict the direction of movement of sand gives the correct one in comparison with the observed data in rivers.