Short time scales of magma-mixing processes prior to the 2011 eruption of Shinmoedake volcano, Kirishima volcanic group, Japan

We estimated time scales of magma-mixing processes just prior to the 2011 sub-Plinian eruptions of Shinmoedake volcano to investigate the mechanisms of the triggering processes of these eruptions. The sequence of these eruptions serves as an ideal example to investigate eruption mechanisms because the available geophysical and petrological observations can be combined for interpretation of magmatic processes. The eruptive products were mainly phenocryst-rich (28 vol%) andesitic pumice (SiO₂ 57 wt%) with a small amount of more silicic pumice (SiO₂ 62–63 wt%) and banded pumice. These pumices were formed by mixing of low-temperature mushy silicic magma (dacite) and high-temperature mafic magma (basalt or basaltic andesite). We calculated the time scales on the basis of zoning analysis of magnetite phenocrysts and diffusion calculations, and we compared the derived time scales with those of volcanic inflation/deflation observations. The magnetite data revealed that a significant mixing process (mixing I) occurred 0.4 to 3 days before the eruptions (pre-eruptive mixing) and likely triggered the eruptions. This mixing process was not accompanied by significant crustal deformation, indicating that the process was not accompanied by a significant change in volume of the magma chamber. We propose magmatic overturn or melt accumulation within the magma chamber as a possible process. A subordinate mixing process (mixing II) also occurred only several hours before the eruptions, likely during magma ascent (syn-eruptive mixing). However, we interpret mafic injection to have begun more than several tens of days prior to mixing I, likely occurring with the beginning of the inflation (December 2009). The injection did not instantaneously cause an eruption but could have resulted in stable stratified magma layers to form a hybrid andesitic magma (mobile layer). This hybrid andesite then formed the main eruptive component of the 2011 eruptions of Shinmoedake.     

The spatial correlation between earthquakes and landslides in Hokkaido (Japan), a GIS-based analysis of the past and the future

Although earthquakes are thought to be one of the factors responsible for the occurrence of landslides in Hokkaido, there exist no enough records which can allow correlating many of the old slope failures in the island with earthquakes. In the absence of these records, an attempt was done in this study to use the abundance, frequency, magnitude, depth, and distribution of historical earthquakes to deduce that many of the slope failures in the region were triggered by strong and continuous seismicity. The determination of the zones of influences of selected earthquakes using an existing empirical function has also supported this conclusion. Moreover, the use of a 10% probability of exceedance of earthquake intensity in 50 years, and the geological and slope maps has allowed preparing a landslide hazard map which explains the role of future earthquakes in the formation of slope failures. The result indicates a high probability of occurrences of landslides in the hilly regions of the southeastern part of Hokkaido due to expected strong seismicity and earthquake intensities in these areas. On the other hand, the low level of intensity in the north has given rise to low probability of landslide hazard. There are also places in the center of the island and high intensity regions in the east where the probability of landslide hazard was influenced by the contribution of the geological and slope maps.     

Analysis of formation pressure test results in the Mount Elbert methane hydrate reservoir through numerical simulation

Targeting the methane hydrate (MH) bearing units C and D at the Mount Elbert prospect on the Alaska North Slope, four MDT (Modular Dynamic Formation Tester) tests were conducted in February 2007. The C2 MDT test was selected for history matching simulation in the MH Simulator Code Comparison Study. Through history matching simulation, the physical and chemical properties of the unit C were adjusted, which suggested the most likely reservoir properties of this unit. Based on these properties thus tuned, the numerical models replicating “Mount Elbert C2 zone like reservoir”, “PBU L-Pad like reservoir” and “PBU L-Pad down dip like reservoir” were constructed. The long term production performances of wells in these reservoirs were then forecasted assuming the MH dissociation and production by the methods of depressurization, combination of depressurization and wellbore heating, and hot water huff and puff. The predicted cumulative gas production ranges from 2.16 × 10⁶ m³/well to 8.22 × 10⁸ m³/well depending mainly on the initial temperature of the reservoir and on the production method.This paper describes the details of modeling and history matching simulation. This paper also presents the results of the examinations on the effects of reservoir properties on MH dissociation and production performances under the application of the depressurization and thermal methods.     

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.     

Solar radiation management and ecosystem functional responses

Geoengineering such as solar radiation management (SRM) can be an emergent option to avoid devastating climatic warming, but its ramifications are barely understood. The perturbation of the Earth’s energy balance, atmospheric dynamics, and hydrological cycling may exert unexpected influences on natural and human systems. In this study, I evaluate the impacts of SRM deployment on terrestrial ecosystem functions using a process-based ecosystem model (the Vegetation Integrative Simulator for Trace gases, VISIT) driven by the climate projections by multiple climate models. In the SRM-oriented climate projections, massive injection of sulphate aerosols into the stratosphere lead to increased scattering of solar radiation and delayed anthropogenic climate warming. The VISIT simulations show that canopy light absorption and gross primary production are enhanced in subtropics in spite of the slight decrease of total incident solar radiation. The retarded temperature rise during the deployment period leads to lower respiration, and consequently, an additional net terrestrial ecosystem carbon uptake by about 20%. After the SRM termination, however, along with the temperature rise, this carbon is released rapidly to the atmosphere. As a result of altered precipitation and radiation budget, simulated runoff discharge is suppressed mainly in the tropics. These SRM-induced influences on terrestrial ecosystems occurr heterogeneously over the land surface and differed among the ecosystem functions. These responses of terrestrial functions should be taken into account when discussing the costs and benefits of geoengineering.     

Study on the managanese nodule

Chemical and X-ray analyses were performed on the fifteen manganese nodules collected from the Pacific Ocean floor. The results were discussed compared with the previous data on the manganese nodules. Minerals were found to be todorokite, δ-MnO₂ and other silicates, montmorillonite, illite, phillipsite and α-SiO₂. Average composition shows that copper is concentrated on the deep sea nodules more than the shallow ones, and that the todorokite rich nodules contain more copper and nickel than the δ-MnO₂ rich ones. The analyses of fresh water iron-manganese precipitates by bacterial activity suggest that biological process is one of the important factors on the genesis of the sedimentary iron-manganese deposits, including the manganese nodule. The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research     

Variation of carbon and nitrogen uptake capacity in a regional upwelling area around Hachijo Island

Capacities for inorganic carbon, nitrate and ammonium uptake were measured around Hachijo Island, 300 km south of Tokyo, where local upwelling occurred. The phytoplankton population inside the upwelling area had a high capacity for nitrate uptake and a low capacity for uptake of ammonium. Nutrient concentration and phytoplankton biomass were higher in the upwelling plume than outside. On a chlorophylla basis, phytoplankton populations inside the upwelling area showed a lower capacity for carbon and nitrogen uptake than those outside the upwelling. Low temperature, relatively limited availability of light caused by extensive water mixing within the upwelling plume, and the difference in species composition of phytoplankton must be considered in explaining these lower uptake capacities.     

Recent Landslides in Western Hokkaido,Japan

—Western Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, is prone to landsliding due to geologic, geomorphologic and climatic change. From 1985 to 1997, many rapid large-scale landslides occurred in western Hokkaido, several of which are reviewed in this paper. The 1988 Kamaya Slide, the 1991 Tachimachi-misaki Slide (which was preceded by the 1985 Orito Slide), the 1993 Okushiri-Port Slide, and the 1994 Motochi Earthflow are described. Finally, two sea-cliff rockfalls are also described.¶The Okushiri-port Slide and the Toyohama Tunnel Rockfall claimed 29 and 20 lives, respectively. Except for the Okushiri-port Slide, which was induced by Hokkaido Nansei-oki Earthquake, most of the slides and rockfalls were probably related to geological structures, such as gentle-dipping strata interbedded with clayey tuffs and were triggered by long-duration and/or high precipitation, causing increased groundwater levels and/or high water pressures.     

Twilight anomaly,midday recovery and cutoff latitudes during the intense polar cap absorption event of March 1991

A study was made of the polar cap absorption (PCA) event on 23–24 March 1991 produced by the largest solar proton event at E>10 MeV since August 1972. This PCA event was related to a solar flare in the eastern hemisphere lasting only 2 days and exhibiting a long time delay between the flare and the increase of ionospheric absorption. Midday recovery occurred regularly each PCA day near the cutoff lati- tudes during the noontime hours and is attributed to the daily variation in the proton cutoff latitudes. The maximum absorption during the PCA event was observed at high latitudes or near the cutoff latitudes where ionization may be due to both solar protons and trapped particles. The minimum in the absorption values during the night-time hours would appear to be caused by the chemistry of the D-region as well as access of the solar protons into the polar cap area.     

An analytical and experimental investigation of the effect of impact on coarse granular rocks

SummaryAn Analytical and Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Impact on Coarse Granular Rocks The interaction between metallic strikers and coarse, granular rock, associated with many mechanical rock breaking methods was investigated by theoretical and experimental methods. Cylindrical steel strikers of 12.7 mm diameter with flat, conical and hemispherical tips and masses of about 18.5 g were fired by means of a gas gun at blocks of diorite and spessartite with initial energies ranging from 4 to 34 J, generating substantial fracturing. The damage pattern in the rocks was ascertained, partly with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. A synthetic model consisting of long square bars of cement paste bonded with an adhesive was constructed as a simulator of diorite and tested to further delineate the failure mechanisms in this material.As previously, it was also found here that the geometry of the striker tip significantly affects the damage pattern and extent in diorite. A crucial difference in this pattern was observed between that found in diorite, a coarsegrained rock, and in spessartite, a more finely-grained substance. The crack network in diorite consisted of numerous kinked fractures extending a distance not in excess of 20 grain lengths, whereas only 5 to 7 nearly straight cracks with a length in excess of 20 times the grain size were found in spessartite that appeared to have propagated without regard to the grain packing structure or material defects. The synthetic rock model successfully reproduced the crack pattern found in diorite under impact.An analytical model to predict the region of grain and grain boundary failure incorporating one failure criterion for grains and another for grain boundaries was constructed. The first involved the development of failure surfaces based on an empirical limiting strength analogous to the modified Griffith criterion. Grain boundary failure was stipulated upon attainment of a combination of critical tensile and Coulomb type of shear stress. The model successfully delineated the major features of damage in the synthetic rock and in diorite and established upper bound predictions for the extent of damage.With 19 Figures