Nitrate pollution of groundwater in the Yellow River delta,China

Nitrate pollution of groundwater in the Yellow River delta, China is an important issue related not only to nitrate dispersion and health concerns but also to mass transport and interactions of groundwater, sea, and river waters in the coastal area. The spatial distribution of nitrate, nitrate sources, and nitrogen transformation processes were investigated by field surveys and geochemical methods. Nitrate occurred mainly in shallow layers and had a spatial distribution coinciding with geomorphology and land/water use. Irrigation water from the Yellow River and anthropogenic waste are two main nitrogen sources of nitrate in the delta, and both denitrification and mixing processes could take place according to characteristics identified by ionic and isotopic data.     

Laboratory measurements of ‘porosity‐free’ intrinsic Vp and Vs in an olivine gabbro of the Oman ophiolite: Implication for interpretation of the seismic structure of lower oceanic crust

In order to determine ‘porosity‐free’ intrinsic ultrasonic compressional (Vp) and shear wave (Vs) velocities and Vp/Vs of an olivine gabbro from the Oman ophiolite, we developed a new experimental system using a piston‐cylinder type high‐pressure apparatus. The new system allowed us to measure velocities at pressures ranging from 0.20 to 1.00 GPa and at temperatures up to 300°C for Vp and 400°C for Vs. At room temperature, the Vp and Vp/Vs increase rapidly with pressure up to 0.40 GPa, while between 0.45 and 1.00 GPa the increase is more gradual. The change in increasing rate is attributed to closure of porosity at pressures above 0.45 GPa. Based on the linear regression of data obtained at higher pressures (0.45–1.00 GPa) and extrapolation to the lower pressures, combined with temperature derivatives of velocities of the sample measured at 1.00 GPa, we determined the intrinsic Vp and Vs of the sample as a function of pressure (P, in GPa) and temperature (T, in °C). The intrinsic velocities can be expressed as Vp (km/s) = 7.004 + 0.096 × P ? 0.00015 × T, and Vs (km/s) = 3.827 + 0.007 × P ? 0.00008 × T. We evaluated the intrinsic Vp and Vs of the olivine gabbro at oceanic crustal conditions and compared them with a velocity depth‐profile of the borehole seismic observatory WP‐2 area in the northwestern Pacific Basin. Although the intrinsic Vp (～7.0 km/s) and Vs (～3.8 km/s) for the olivine gabbro studied are comparable to those of seismic layer 3 in the WP‐2 area, the estimated vertical gradients of intrinsic velocities are significantly smaller than those reported from layer 3. These results suggest that velocity profiles of layer 3 in the WP‐2 area may reflect the presence of a minor porosity in lower oceanic crust, which closes with increasing depth and/or continuous changes in mineralogy of layer 3 rocks.     

TIDICS—Control of tidal residual circulation and tidal exchange in a channel-basin system

A self-excited oscillation of tidal flow occurs in a tidal channel-basin system with a narrow and high speed inflowing tidal jet. The mechanism of this oscillation was examined through hydraulic experiments. Results show that the oscillation is caused by alternation in the strength of asymmetric residual circulation caused by a biased supply of vorticity by asymmetric tidal vortex pairs, and that the mechanism of alternation also depends on negative feed-back between the residual circulation and the vorticity supply.The unstable state of the flow suggested the possibility of controlling the tidal current and tidal exchange in the channel-basin system and this was confirmed experimentally. Under fixed tidal conditions and with fixed basin dimensions, the tidal residual circulation was controlled to form two strong clockwise and anticlockwise circulations or a single circulation by changing the shape of the bay entrance.     

2003年5月26日宫城县近海地震--由工程学角度研究强震动的特征与所造成的灾害

引言2003年5月26日下午6时24分发生了震源位于宫城县近海的7.0级地震(以下简称“5·26”地震)。地震造成港口设施、东北新干线天桥部分受损,并发生滑坡。由于天桥受损导致东北新干线部分区段运输中断,不仅延误了自治体的信息传递,移动电话等也不能及时通活。万没想到的是,在与这次地震发生的同一地区,即2003年7月26日的午前0时13分M5.5,7时13分M6.2,午后4时56分M5.3的地震又相继发生,震源均位于宫城县北部地区(以下简称为“7·26”地震)。“7·26”地震造成的灾害比“5·26”地震大得多,下面,对这两次地震的受灾情况做一介绍。1“5·26”…     

Experimental study of the joins forsterite–diopside–leucite– and forsterite–leucite–åkermanite up to 2.3 GPa [P(H2O) = P(Total)] and variable temperatures: Its petrological significance

We conducted a series of melting experiments in the join forsterite–diopside–leucite under 0.1 and 2.3 GPa and in the join forsterite–leucite–åkermanite under 2.3 GPa to understand paragenetic relationships amongst different types of lamproitic and lamprophyric magmas with K-rich mafic and ultramafic volcanic (kamafugitic) rocks. Both the joins were studied in the presence of excess water. The experimental results of the join forsterite–diopside–leucite at 0.1 GPa show that the five-phase point of forsterite (Fo)_ss + diopside (Di)_ss + leucite (Lc)_ss + liquid (Liq) + vapour (V) (equivalent to ugandite lava) occurs at Fo₂Di₅₀Lc₄₈ at 880 ± 5 °C. Phlogopite appears as the last phase at 830 ± 15 °C. The final crystalline assemblage of forsterite_ss + diopside_ss + leucite_ss + phlogopite is similar to the phenocryst assemblage of missourite lava. Present study suggests that an olivine leucitite (ugandite) can be derived from an olivine italite, a slightly potassic peridotite and a leucitite magma.

A study of the join Fo–Di–Lc [P(H₂O) = P(Total)] at 2.3 GPa shows that liquid compositions penetrate the primary phase volumes of forsterite_ss, phlogopite_ss, kalsilitess, K-feldspar_ss and diopside_ss. It has the following three five-phase points: 1) one occurring at Fo₉Di₄₉Lc₄₂ and 1005 ± 5 °C, where liquid and vapour coexists with forsterite_ss, phlogopite_ss and diopside_ss (phlogopite-bearing madupite), 2) the second one at Fo₄Di₅₀Lc₄₆ and 990 ± 10 °C, where diopside_ss, K-feldspar_ss and phlogopite_ss coexist with liquid and vapour (pyroxene-bearing minette), and 3) the third one at Fo₃Di₂₁Lc₇₆ and 775 ± 5 °C, where phlogopite_ss, kalsilite_ss and K-feldspar_ss are in equilibrium with liquid plus vapour (kalsilite-bearing minette).

The experimental results of the join Fo–Lc–åkermanite (Ak) show that the join 40 penetrates the primary phase volumes of forsterite_ss, phlogopite_ss, kalsilite, K-feldspar_ss, diopside_ss and merwinite_ss. The data indicate the presence of four five-phase points: 1) one occurring at Fo₇Lc₄₂Ak₅₁ and 1165 ± 5 °C, where phlogopite_ss, forsterite_ss, diopside_ss coexists with liquid and vapour (olivine-bearing madupite), 2) the second one at Fo₃Lc₄₉Ak₄₈ and 1140 ± 10 °C, where a liquid is in equilibrium with phlogopite_ss, K-feldspar_ss, diopside_ss and vapour (pyroxene-bearing minette), 3) the third one at Fo₁₈Lc₂₁Ak₆₁ and 1255 ± 10 °C, where merwinite_ss, forsterite_ss and diopside_ss are in equilibrium with liquid and vapour (merwinite-bearing wherlite), and 4) the fourth one at Fo₅Lc_73.5Ak_21.5 and 770 ± 5 °C, where kalsilite_ss, phlogopite_ss and K-feldspar coexist with liquid and vapour (kalsilite-bearing minette). The present data suggest that high pressure heteromorphic equivalent of a katungite magma is represented by a kalsilite-bearing minette, a pyroxene-bearing minette, or an olivine-bearing madupite.     

Mixing of asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle-derived basalt magmas as shown by along-arc variation in Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of Early Miocene basalts from back-arc margin of the NE Japan arc

We report trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions of Early Miocene (22–18 Ma) basaltic rocks distributed along the back-arc margin of the NE Japan arc over 500 km. These rocks are divided into higher TiO₂ (> 1.5 wt.%; referred to as HT) and lower TiO₂ (< 1.5 wt.%; LT) basalts. HT basalt has higher Na₂O + K₂O, HFSE and LREE, Zr/Y, and La/Yb compared to LT basalt. Both suite rocks show a wide range in Sr and Nd isotopic compositions (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (SrI) = 0.70389 to 0.70631, initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd(NdI) = 0.51248 to 0.51285). There is no any systematic variation amongst the studied Early Miocene basaltic rocks in terms of Sr–Nd isotope or Na₂O + K₂O and K₂O abundances, across three volcanic zones from the eastern through transitional to western volcanic zone, but we can identify gradual increases in SrI and decreases in NdI from north to south along the back-arc margin of the NE Japan arc. Based on high field strength element, REE, and Sr–Nd isotope data, Early Miocene basaltic rocks of the NE Japan back-arc margin represent mixing of the asthenospheric mantle-derived basalt magma with two types of basaltic magmas, HT and LT basaltic magmas, derived by different degrees of partial melting of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle composed of garnet-absent lherzolite, with a gradual decrease in the proportion of asthenospheric mantle-derived magma from north to south. These mantle events might have occurred in association with rifting of the Eurasian continental arc during the pre-opening stage of the Japan Sea.     

Infrared emission from P/Halley's dust coma during March 1986

2 to 20 micrometers photometry of the inner dust coma of comet Halley was obtained at the NASA IRTF on Mar 6.85, 12.8, 13.75, 17.7, and 24.8. Positions offset 10" were measured as well as the central brightness. The strength of the 10 micrometers emission feature was observed to vary with location in the coma. The infrared emission is in general agreement with the dust size distribution measured from the Vega and Giotto spacecraft. Mar 6.8, 17.7, and 24.8 corresponded to strong dust jet activity. The strength of the 10 micrometers silicate emission is shown to be a sensitive indicator of grain size and thus of jet activity. Dust production rate on March 13.75, 6 h before Giotto encounter, was approximately 10(7) gm s-1.     

Reliability analysis of shallow foundations in reference to design codes development

In this study, FORM analysis is carried out for shallow foundation of a typical building in order to evaluate relative magnitude of uncertainties involved in the force and the resistance sides. The distinguished feature of this study is to take into account the uncertainty of the earthquake force as much as possible. Tthis is because, the seismic design dominates major part of structural design in Japan, and without referring to this problem, no useful information of practical value is gained. The results of the FORM analysis exhibited the reliability index values between 2.0 to 3.5, which is considered to be in a reasonable range. Since the 50 year maximum earthquake force is considered in the reliability calculation, calculated reliability index values are for the period of 50 years. The sensitivity factor obtained in a case more realistic ground variability is taken into account exhibited values not very different from those obtained in the upper structures.     

Formation of stars by implosion of a gas cloud

In the standard Friedmann cosmology the black-body radiation spectrum is usually taken (without explicit proof as far as we know) to have the same familiarT ⁴-form that it has in a flat space. With explicit use of the equation of motion of a quantized massless field propagating in a curved background Robertson-Walker metric we show (for the readily tractable scalar field case) that the assumption is in fact true for an open Universe. For a closed Universe, we find that there is an in principle modification to theT ⁴-law. Unfortunately, the correction turns out to be too small to be experimentally detectable. In passing, we also obtain a simple derivation for the cosmological red shift of frequencies.