Snowmelt and the hydrological interaction of forest–grassland ecosystems in Central Yakutia,eastern Siberia

In the last two decades the major focus of study in forest water and carbon balances in eastern Siberia has been on the effect of rain during the growing season. Little attention has been paid to the contribution of snowmelt water. The results of the present study indicate that weather conditions during the snowmelt period as well as the soil moisture conditions carried from the previous year's growing season strongly determined the water availability for the forest ecosystem at the beginning of the next growing season. In the forest–grassland intermingled ecosystem of lowland Central Yakutia, gradual snowmelt water flow from the forest into the adjacent grassland depressions increased when soil moisture was high and air temperature was low, whereas low soil moisture and high air temperatures accelerated soil thawing and consequently snowmelt water infiltration into the forest soil. We found that snow depth did not determine the volume of snowmelt water moving to the grassland depression since the thermokarst lake water level in the adjacent grassland was about 25 cm lower in 2005 than in May 2006, even though maximum snow depth reached 57 cm and 43 cm in the winter of 2004–05 and 2005–06, respectively. The contribution of snowmelt water to forest growth as well as the flow of water from the forest to the grasslands showed a strong annual variability. We conclude that warmer springs and high variability in precipitation regimes as a result of climate change will result in more snowmelt water infiltration into the forest soil when the previous year's precipitation is low while more snowmelt water will flow into the thermokarst lake when the previous year's precipitation is high. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Water molecules in beryl and cordierite: high-temperature vibrational behavior,dehydration, and coordination to cations

Natural samples of typical cyclosilicates beryl and cordierite include water and carbon dioxide molecules in channels formed by the open cavities. Water molecules in the channels have two forms that are distinguished by whether they coordinate to extra-framework cations (type II) or not (type I). We measured polarized infrared (IR) spectra for thin sections of the (100) plane of beryl or the (100) and (010) planes (cb and ca planes) of cordierite under various temperature conditions. The spectral features of major bands clearly showed the distinguishable behavior of types I and II water molecules under high temperature as follows. Over the temperature range from room temperature to 800°C where rapid dehydration did not occur, the decrease in band heights for type II water molecules were smaller than those for type I, and band shifts were more predominant for type II water molecules. The decrease in band heights and band shifts of type I/II bands differed also for beryl and cordierite, which arises from the different ways in which water molecules are fixed in the channels. Dehydration was enhanced at 850°C. The IR spectra at room temperature quenched from 850°C both for beryl and cordierite showed that the vibrational bands related to type II water molecules were stable after those related to type I water molecules disappeared. In addition, frequency changes of type II bands were observed, possibly because of changes of coordination states of type II water molecules to extra-framework cations in the channels.     

Seasonal variation of bivalve larvae on an exposed sandy beach on Kashima-nada: Tips for the sandy beach recruitment process

Bivalves are often the dominant macrobenthos species in exposed sandy beach environments. However, our understanding of their recruitment processes before post-settlement stages on sandy beaches with highly energetic environments is incomplete. To clarify the characteristics of the free-swimming planktonic stage that affects recruitment efficiency in sandy shore ecosystems, we investigated the temporal (weekly–biweekly) variation of bivalve planktonic larval concentration coupled with oceanographic conditions on an exposed sandy shore on the sea of Kashima-nada, Japan, from summer 2003 to autumn 2005. Larvae were observed throughout the year, but the surge of larval concentration composed of sandy beach and sessile bivalves occurred most prominently in summer, from August to September. The peak concentration of larvae during this season was more than 1000 times higher than in other seasons. The larval concentration was positively correlated with water temperature and northward wind velocity and negatively correlated with each of the nutrient concentrations. On the other hand, chlorophyll a concentration and salinity seemed to have little effect on the larval concentration. Based on this fundamental knowledge, further investigations about planktonic larvae in sandy beaches are needed.     

The Structure of Young Stellar Jets and Winds Revealed by High Resolution [Fe II] λ1.644μm Line Observations

We present high angular resolution spectra taken along the jets from L1551 IRS 5 and DG Tau obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The position-velocity diagrams of the [Fe II] λ 1.644 μmemission line revealed remarkably similar characteristics for the two sources, showing two distinct velocity components separated from each other in both velocity and space with the entire emission range blueshifted with respect to the stellar velocity. The high velocity component (HVC) has a velocity of –200 ––300 km s^-1 with a narrow line width, while the low velocity component (LVC) is around –100 km s^-1 exhibitinig a broad line width. The HVC is located farther away from the origin and is more extended than the LVC. Our results suggest that the HVC is a well-collimated jet originating from the region close to the star, while the LVC is a widely-opened wind accelerated in the region near the inner edge of the accretion disk.     

Experimental Study of the Applicability of the Remotely Positioned Laser Doppler Vibrometer to Rock-Block Stability Assessment

This paper examines a new method for evaluating the stability of rock blocks on slopes using a remotely positioned Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV). A series of experiments using physical models were conducted to evaluate the validity of this new method. Based on the experimental studies, the applicability of LDV was examined by comparing results with a conventional seismometer measurement. To examine the quantitative correlations between vibration properties and the stability of a rock block, the effects on the vibration properties of the size of the rock block, the initial block position, the slope incline, and the type of ground surface were studied. The experimental results showed that LDV measurements agreed with conventional seismometer measurements. There was also a good correlation between vibration properties and rock-block stability. On the other hand, it was found that for a boulder on tightly compacted ground, the application of block stability assessment by tonometry was difficult when measuring microtremors or sloppy vibration due to nearby vehicle traffic. Furthermore, numerical analysis of the slope model was carried out to examine the validity of the model experiment and application of the suggested technique. The results of the analysis demonstrated that the suggested technique was effective for application to stability monitoring of a block and evaluation of the effect of stability measures.     

Stress field change around the Mount Fuji volcano magma system caused by the Tohoku megathrust earthquake, Japan

Crustal deformation by the M _w 9.0 megathrust Tohoku earthquake causes the extension over a wide region of the Japanese mainland. In addition, a triggered M _w 5.9 East Shizuoka earthquake on March 15 occurred beneath the south flank, just above the magma system of Mount Fuji. To access whether these earthquakes might trigger the eruption, we calculated the stress and pressure changes below Mount Fuji. Among the three plausible mechanisms of earthquake–volcano interactions, we calculate the static stress change around volcano using finite element method, based on the seismic fault models of Tohoku and East Shizuoka earthquakes. Both Japanese mainland and Mount Fuji region are modeled by seismic tomography result, and the topographic effect is also included. The differential stress given to Mount Fuji magma reservoir, which is assumed to be located to be in the hypocentral area of deep long period earthquakes at the depth of 15 km, is estimated to be the order of about 0.001–0.01 and 0.1–1 MPa at the boundary region between magma reservoir and surrounding medium. This pressure change is about 0.2 % of the lithostatic pressure (367.5 MPa at 15 km depth), but is enough to trigger an eruptions in case the magma is ready to erupt. For Mount Fuji, there is no evidence so far that these earthquakes and crustal deformations did reactivate the volcano, considering the seismicity of deep long period earthquakes.     

Mid-Quaternary decoupling of sediment routing in the Nankai Forearc revealed by provenance analysis of turbiditic sands

Coring during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expeditions 315, 316, and 333 recovered turbiditic sands from the forearc Kumano Basin (Site C0002), a Quaternary slope basin (Site C0018), and uplifted trench wedge (Site C0006) along the Kumano Transect of the Nankai Trough accretionary wedge offshore of southwest Japan. The compositions of the submarine turbiditic sands here are investigated in terms of bulk and heavy mineral modal compositions to identify their provenance and dispersal mechanisms, as they may reflect changes in regional tectonics during the past ca. 1.5 Myrs. The results show a marked change in the detrital signature and heavy mineral composition in the forearc and slope basin facies around 1 Ma. This sudden change is interpreted to reflect a major change in the sand provenance, rather than heavy mineral dissolution and/or diagenetic effects, in response to changing tectonics and sedimentation patterns. In the trench-slope basin, the sands older than 1 Ma were probably eroded from the exposed Cretaceous–Tertiary accretionary complex of the Shimanto Belt and transported via the former course of the Tenryu submarine canyon system, which today enters the Nankai Trough northeast of the study area. In contrast, the high abundance of volcanic lithics and volcanic heavy mineral suites of the sands younger than 1 Ma points to a strong volcanic component of sediment derived from the Izu-Honshu collision zones and probably funnelled to this site through the Suruga Canyon. However, sands in the forearc basin show persistent presence of blue sodic amphiboles across the 1 Ma boundary, indicating continuous flux of sediments from the Kumano/Kinokawa River. This implies that the sands in the older turbidites were transported by transverse flow down the slope. The slope basin facies then switched to reflect longitudinal flow around 1 Ma, when the turbiditic sand tapped a volcanic provenance in the Izu-Honshu collision zone, while the sediments transported transversely became confined in the Kumano Basin. Therefore, the change in the depositional systems around 1 Ma is a manifestation of the decoupling of the sediment routing pattern from transverse to long-distance axial flow in response to forearc high uplift along the megasplay fault.     

Evolution and effect of the stress concentration and rock failure in the deep multi-seam coal mining

Supports crushing accident occasionally occurs in the protected seam exploitation of deep multi-seam coal mining structure and results in adverse effect to the production. To prevent its recurrence in a newly developed working field, a 3D numerical extraction model was built based on the geologic and mining conditions of Jining coal mine to evolve the changes, state and characteristics of the reconstructed vertical and lateral stress in rock interlayer after protective seam exploitation. Stress release and increase zones of this mining structure were separated. Mining-induced localized stress concentration and the interlayer rock failure behavior were explored. The action of concentrated stress on the hydraulic supports in protected seam was discussed upon the major stress redistribution. Using the infinitesimal strain method, a mechanical model was created to further explore, from the vertical and lateral directions, the cause and mechanism of localized stress concentration and rock failure behavior in rock interlayer. The field investigation was finally performed to verify the numerical and mechanical results, and the essential control measures were proposed to prevent this accident. Key findings of this study bring some new insights into the deep multi-seam coal extraction and help to promote a more reliable underground mining.     

Age and associated stress field of middle Miocene back-arc basalt magmatism in Northeast Japan

A large volume of middle Miocene basaltic rocks is widely distributed across the back-arc region of Northeast Japan, including around the Dewa Mountains. Petrological research has shown that basaltic rocks of the Aosawa Formation around the Dewa Mountains were generated as a result of the opening of the Sea of Japan. To determine the precise ages of the middle Miocene basaltic magmatism, we conducted U–Pb and fission-track (FT) dating of a rhyolite lava that constitutes the uppermost part of the Aosawa Formation. In addition, we estimated the paleostress field of the volcanism using data from a basaltic dike swarm in the same formation. The rhyolite lava yields a U–Pb age of 10.73 ±0.22 Ma (2σ) and a FT age of 10.6 ±1.6 Ma (2σ), and the paleostress analysis suggests a normal-faulting stress regime with a NW–SE-trending σ₃-axis, a relatively high stress ratio, and a relatively high magma pressure. Our results show that the late Aosawa magmatism occurred under NW–SE extensional stress and ended at ~ 11 Ma.