Effect of wood waste dumping on organic matter in seawater and surficial sediments of Alberni Inlet,British Columbia

Distribution of particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in seawater, and chemical composition of surficial sediments were studied in relation to pulpmill effluent and dumping of dredge spoil containing wood debris in Alberni Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. The maximum concentration of POC (377–584µg Cl^–1) was observed at the surface around the dumping area (5–7 km seaward of the inlet's head), and at the location immediately adjacent to the dump site POC was elevated throughout the water column (50 m). While POC tended to decrease in the surface layer for a distance of about 25km down-inlet, measureable effects of POC in the deeper water did not extend beyond 600m from the dump site. The dump site was conspicuous by the large maximum in C:N ratio (46.3). In contrast, DOC was observed to be highest (4.25mg Cl^–1) at the head of the inlet where pulpmill effluent was being discharged and a secondary maximum was found about 10km down-inlet from the dump site. The data suggest that a considerable proportion of the dredge spoil sinks rapidly near the dump site, probably within several hundred metres. Some of the spoil, perhaps low density wood debris may travel considerably further with the surface water where by leaching it may contribute to some extent to the surface DOC before sinking into deeper water.     

Pressure-induced alteration in fatty acid composition of barotolerant deep-sea bacterium

Barotolerant bacterium was isolated from sediment sample which was obtained from the depth of 4033 m in the Izu-Ogasawara Trench. The physiological property, growth characteristics and fatty acid composition were examined. The strain was a psychrotrophic and barotolerant bacterium, and was identified as species in the genusAlteromonas. The fatty acids of the strain were from C12 to C18. As the growth pressure increased, the portion of unsaturated fatty acid in membrane fraction increased due to an increase in the portion of C171 and C181, while the relative portion of C160 and C161 decreased. On the other hand, as the growth temperature decreased, the portion of unsaturated fatty acid increased due to the increase in the portion of C161 and C181.     

GEMS: Geothermal Expert Modeling System

In carrying out geothermal-energy development projects, an exhaustive study has to be conducted on the local subsurface geothermal system based on extensive geothermal surveys and well data. The New Energy and Industrial Development Organization has had an extensive geothermal research program under way since 1987, known as the Nationwide Geothermal Resources Exploration Project. In this program, the total analysis system, which is called the Geothermal Expert Modelling System (GEMS), has been developed to systematize all processes of building models of geothermal systems based on the various regional exploration data. The aim of the system is to select narrow promising areas (about 50–60 square kilometers) for more elaborate exploration from within a region extending over hundreds of square kilometers, by analyzing the various explorations, and by building a geothermal system model of the area. This scheme includes studies to consolidate individual geothermal survey data into an integrated data base and to work out a computer-aided support system for building geothermal models. It calls for the integration of these processes into a system on a user-friendly, engineering work-station that has sufficient graphic functions. An attempt was made to actually identify promising areas in regions covered by wide-area surveys on hydrothermal systems, using the proposed total analysis system.     

Diachronous evolution of sub-Himalayan piggyback basins, Nepal

The geomorphology and related geostructures in the region of the dun valleys in Nepal (e.g. the Deukhuri Dun, the Chitwan Dun, the Hetauda Dun and the Trijuga Dun) have been surveyed in order to understand the neotectonics along the Himalayan front. The sub-Himalayan intermontane basins developed as piggyback basins located on the thrust-sheet of the Himalaya Front Fault (HFF equivalent to the Frontal Churia Thrust, the Main Siwalik Thrust or the Main Frontal Thrust). Each piggyback basin is a result of the north-northeast–south-southwest crustal shortening between the Indian Shield and the Himalayas. The evolution of the dun valleys is recorded as current reversals between the Upper Siwalik Group and the basin fills. The Upper Siwalik Group formed as piedmont alluvial fans distributed along the foot of the Lesser Himalaya and/or the Inner Churia Range, and show predominantly southerly current directions. In contrast, the basin fills distributed along the southern margin of the dun valleys formed by north-flowing drainage systems. The oldest basin fills of the piggyback basins appear to have commenced by the middle Pleistocene in the Deukhuri Dun and the Chitwan Dun, by the late Pleistocene in the Hetauda Dun, and by the latest Pleistocene in the Trijuga Dun. The diachronous evolution of the dun valleys suggest that the morphogenesis of the HFF zone was controlled by west-to-east propagation in late Quaternary time. These morphotectonics suggest the oblique-slip thrusting of the HFF zone which can be related to the oblique convergence between the Indian Shield and the Himalayas, and/or the counter-clockwise rotation of the Indian Subcontinent.     

新西海桥的非线性地震响应分析

本文讨论了日本第一座公路钢管混凝土拱桥——主跨230m的新西海桥的非线性地震响应特性。采用三维有限元计算模型,用纤维单元法考虑钢管混凝土的材料非线性,用P-δ效应考虑几何非线性,讨论了在纵桥向地震作用、横桥向地震作用以及纵、横桥两方向同时作用情况下该桥的非线性地震响应特性和抗震性能。计算表明,在纵桥向地震作用时轴力的作用显著,拱脚附近产生的内力较大;而横桥向地震作用时轴力和面外弯矩作用显著,拱脚以及拱肋与桥面连接附近产生的内力较大;横向地震响应远大于纵向地震响应;应考虑纵、横桥向地震力共同作用的影响。     

Incessant excitation of the Earth's free oscillations: global comparison of superconducting gravimeter records

Records of superconducting gravimeters (SGs) at Canberra (Australia), Esashi (Japan), Metsähovi (Finland) and Syowa Stations (Antarctica) were analyzed to search for further evidence of background free oscillations of the Earth. Spectrograms for 1-year period and averaged power spectra for seismically quiet periods were obtained for each of the stations. Anomalous features of the oscillations observed at Syowa Station, such as an apparent seasonal variation and a high intensity at frequencies between 3 and 4 mHz, were absent at the other SG stations. Among the SG stations used in this study, the background free oscillations were detected most consistently and distinctly at Canberra, where the noise level was comparable to that at the IDA quietest station, while that at Syowa Station was close to the critical limit for detecting the oscillations. The background free oscillations provide a good reference to evaluate the noise level in the milliHertz band.     

Early to Middle Miocene rotational tectonics of the Ou Backbone Range,northeast Japan

It is well known that a counterclockwise rotation occurred in the Miocene in northeast Japan. However, the detailed timing and mechanism of the rotation has been debated. Moreover, there has been no research about the relationship between rotational tectonics and the evolution of sedimentary basins. We carried out paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses in Nishiwaga Town, Iwate Prefecture, northeast Japan, where the stratigraphy and sedimentary basin formation have previously been clarified. We found that there was a counterclockwise rotational movement of about 45° at about 15 Ma. From our results and previous studies on the tectonics and sedimentary basin development, we are able to ascertain the following tectonic history and sedimentary basin evolution in this area: (i) before the rotational movement, sandstone and mudstone were deposited in a tranquil environment with no volcanic activity coupled with slow tectonic subsidence; (ii) between 16.4–15.1 Ma and 14 Ma, a counterclockwise rotation occurred with rapid tectonic subsidence and continuous explosive volcanism; (iii) at about 14 Ma, the counterclockwise rotation ended and there was a reduction in both subsidence and volcanism. This result shows the impact that rotational tectonics can have on sedimentary basin formation.     

A complete introduction to the SCJ proposal and its commentary on the development of seismically resilient cities

In modern society, the population, wealth and social functions are increasingly concentrated in a few large cities. Such concentration brings about efficiency while at the same time it increases the vulnerability of the society. To address this issue, the Science Council of Japan (SCJ) published a proposal entitled “Shape Cities and Societies Safer against Severe Earthquakes”. It makes a variety of suggestions for enhancing the seismic resilience of large cities, including: (1) comprehensive thinking based on the latest scientific knowledge and rich imagination; (2) selection of sites suitable for residence and social activities; (3) introducing the urban seismic coefficient; (4) promoting the enhancement of the seismic performance of buildings and civil structures; (5) easing the concentration of population and functions; (6) building communities that enable shelter and escape; (7) resilient technology of information and communication system and its effective utilization; (8) preparation and implementation of emergency response after earthquakes; (9) development and application of new structural seismic technology; (10) learning from domestic and foreign earthquake disasters and launching of international cooperation and knowledge sharing and (11) taking actions from a multidisciplinary perspective. The proposal is introduced in this paper.