Secular variations of carbon and helium isotopes at Izu-Oshima Volcano, Japan

Secular variations in ¹³C/¹²C ratios and chemical compositions of gas samples from October 1986 to July 1992 are reported from a 92–95 °C steam well located about 3 km north of Mt. Mihara, an active volcano on Izu-Oshima Island, Japan. The δ¹³C value steeply increased from −2.97‰ (relative to PDB carbonate) in December 1986 to −1.15‰ in March 1988 and then gradually decreased to −1.75‰ in July 1992. Over the same period, the CO₂ content changed similarly with time, even though the experimental error is relatively large. These variations are consistent with helium isotope changes. Initially rapid and then slow enhancements of ³He/⁴He ratio, δ¹³C value and CO₂ content are invoked by violent eruptions of Izu-Oshima volcano from 15 November to 18 December 1986. After the eruptive activity, depletion of magmatic gas emission and subsequent mixing with crustal fluids in the hydrothermal system may produce the gradual decreases of ³He/⁴He ratio, δ¹³C value and CO₂ content. Taking into account the rates of these decreases, we suggest that helium and carbon isotope ratios will return to the situation of before the magmatic eruption within 15 years.     

Excessive degassing of Izu-Oshima volcano: magma convection in a conduit

Excess degassing of magmatic H₂O and SO₂ was observed at Izu-Oshima volcano during its latest degassing activity from January 1988 to March 1990. The minimum production rate for degassed magma was calculated to be about 1×10⁴ kg/s using emission rates of magmatic H₂O and SO₂, and H₂O and S contents of the magma. The minimum total volume of magma degassed during the 27-month period is estimated to be 2.6×10⁸ m³. This volume is 20 times larger than that of the magma ejected during the 1986 summit eruption. Convective transport of magma through a conduit is proposed as the mechanism that causes degassing from a magma reservoir at several kilometers depth. The magma transport rate is quantitatively evaluated based on two fluid-dynamic models: Poiseuille flow in a concentric double-walled pipe, and ascent of non-degassed magma spheres through a conduit filled with degassed magma. This process is further tested for an andesitic volcano and is concluded to be a common process for volcanoes that discharge excess volatiles.     

Effects of deposit feeder Stichopus japonicus on algal bloom and organic matter contents of bottom sediments of the enclosed sea

Algae growing in an enclosed sea may inhibit eutrophication because they absorb nutrients in the water. However, dead algae often cause anaerobic conditions in the water just above and on sediment after they are deposited on the bottom. We found that Stichopus japonicus inhibited the anaerobic processes coupling water sulfite production in sediment. The present study investigates whether S. japonicus inhibits algal flourish and influences sediment properties such as organic matter contents. Aquarium experiments were carried out at Komatsushima port in Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan. The aquaria used in the experiments were supplied with water directly from the adjacent sea (6 L/min), laid with sand of 10 cm depths, and lighted at 12 h intervals. Six aquaria each containing a sea cucumber from Komatsushima port and six aquaria without any were used in the experiments. Water temperature ranged between 9 and 15 degrees C during December 2000 and April 2001. Salinity ranged between 32 per thousand and 34 per thousand. Algae began to cover the bottom of the aquaria without S. japonicus after 2 weeks, whereas no growth was evident in the aquaria containing sea cucumbers. Chlorophyll a concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (6.1+/-3.6 microg/g, mean S.D.+/-standard deviation) was significantly lower than that without it (60+/-17 microg/g, U-test, p<0.05). Phaeophytin concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (0.9+/-0.09 microg/g) was also significantly lower than that without it (4.5+/-1.0 microg/g, U-test, p<0.05). TOC concentration in the surface sediment of the aquaria with S. japonicus (2.6+/-1.3 microg/g) was slightly lower than that without it (4.0+/-1.2 microg/g). These results showed that algal biomass and organic matter concentration of the bottom were decreased in the presence of S. japonicus. Therefore, S. japonicus inhibits algal bloom and decrease the contents of organic matter deposited on the bottom of enclosed sea areas.     

Sound velocity measurements in dhcp-FeH up to 70 GPa with inelastic X-ray scattering: Implications for the composition of the Earth's core

We have determined the density evolution of the sound velocity of dhcp-FeH_x (x ≈ 1) up to 70 GPa at room temperature, by inelastic X-ray scattering and by X-ray diffraction. We find that the variation of V_P with density is different for the ferromagnetic and nonmagnetic dhcp-FeH_x, and that only nonmagnetic dhcp-FeH_x follows Birch's law. Combining our results with Birch's law for iron and assuming an ideal two-component mixing model, we obtain an upper bound of the hydrogen content in the Earth's inner core, 0.23(6) wt.% H, corresponding to FeH_0.13(3). The iron alloy with 0.23(6) wt.% H can satisfy the density, and compressional and shear sound velocities of the PREM inner core, assuming that there are no other light elements in the inner core.     

Variations in trace elements,isotopes, and organic geochemistry during the Hangenberg Crisis,Devonian–Carboniferous transition,northeastern Vietnam

The Hangenberg Crisis at the Devonian–Carboniferous boundary is known as a polyphase extinction event that affected more than 45 % of marine and terrestrial genera. As the cause of this event is still debated, analyses were carried out on sedimentary samples from the Devonian–Carboniferous Pho Han Formation in northeastern Vietnam to reconstruct the paleoenvironment around the time of this event using stable carbon isotopes; total sulfur; manganese; vanadium; molybdenum; and sedimentary organic matter, such as dibenzothiophenes, cadalene, and regular steranes. These geochemical signatures provide a high‐resolution redox history for this section and show that transgression‐driven high primary productivity, possibly enhanced by terrestrial input, caused severe oxygen depletion along the continental margin of the South China block during the Hangenberg Crisis.     

家用电器重复出现的地震前兆异常

据有关报导,１９９５年神户地震前家用电器出现了奇怪的异常现象。我们在实验室中利用范德格拉夫静电发电机用磨擦生电的方法,证实了这些收音机和电视的噪音以及频道混乱现象的存在。     

Life‐cycle reliability of RC bridge piers under seismic and airborne chloride hazards

Over the last two decades, the probabilistic assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) structures under seismic hazard has been developed rapidly. However, little attention has been devoted to the assessment of the seismic reliability of corroded structures. For the life‐cycle assessment of RC structures in a marine environment and earthquake‐prone regions, the effect of corrosion due to airborne chlorides on the seismic capacity needs to be taken into consideration. Also, the effect of the type of corrosive environment on the seismic capacity of RC structures has to be quantified. In this paper, the evaluation of the displacement ductility capacity based on the buckling model of longitudinal rebars in corroded RC bridge piers is established, and a novel computational procedure to integrate the probabilistic hazard associated with airborne chlorides into life‐cycle seismic reliability assessment of these piers is proposed. The seismic demand depends on the results of seismic hazard assessment, whereas the deterioration of seismic capacity depends on the hazard associated with airborne chlorides. In an illustrative example, an RC bridge pier was modeled as single degree of freedom (SDOF). The longitudinal rebars buckling of this pier was considered as the sole limit state when estimating its failure probability. The findings show that the life‐cycle reliability of RC bridge piers depends on both the seismic and airborne chloride hazards, and that the cumulative‐time failure probabilities of RC bridge piers located in seismic zones can be dramatically affected by the effect of airborne chlorides. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Linkage of deep sea rapid acidification process and extinction of benthic foraminifera in the deep sea at the Paleocene/Eocene transition

Ocean Drilling Program Leg 199 Site 1220 provides a continuous sedimentary section across the Paleocene/Eocene (P/E) transition in the carbonate‐bearing sediments on 56–57 Ma oceanic crust. The large negative δ¹³C shift in seawater is likely due to the disintegration of methane hydrate, which is expected to be rapidly changed to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and well‐oxygenated seawater, leading to a reduction in deep‐sea pH. A pH decrease was very likely responsible for the emergence of agglutinated foraminiferal fauna as calcareous fauna was eliminated by acidification at the P/E transition at Site 1220. The absence of the more resistant calcareous benthic foraminifera and the presence of the planktonic foraminifera at Site 1220 is interesting and unique, which indicates that calcareous benthic foraminifera suffered greatly from living on the seafloor. Box model calculation demonstrates that, assuming the same mean alkalinity as today, pCO₂ must increase from 280 ppm to about 410 ppm for the calcite undersaturation in the deep ocean and for the oversaturation in the surface ocean during the P/E transition. The calculated increased pCO₂ coincides with paleo‐botanical evidence. The current global emission rate (～7.3 peta (10¹⁵) gC/y) of anthropogenic carbon input is approximately 30 times of the estimate at the P/E transition. The results at the P/E transition give an implication that the deep sea benthic fauna will be threatened in future in combination with ocean acidification, increased sea surface temperature and more stratified surface water.     

Speciation of Chromium in Artificially Contaminated Soil Reference Material GSJ JSO-2 Using XANES and Chemical Extraction Methods

The oxidation states of chromium in GSJ JSO-2 (artificially contaminated soil) and three other geochemical reference materials (GSJ JSO-1, JLS-1 and JMS-1) were observed using X-ray near edge structure (XANES). For comparison, other artificially contaminated soil materials (mimic-JSO-2) were prepared by adding Cr(VI) into JSO-1. Their oxidation states of chromium were determined using XANES. The chromium contents were 1118 μg g^-1 for JSO-2, 1352 μg g^-1 for mimic-JSO-2 and 69-113 μg g^-1 for the other reference materials. Most chromium was present as hexavalent in mimic-JSO-2. No hexavalent species were detected in other samples. These results for chromium oxidation state in JSO-2 and mimic-JSO-2 obtained with XANES resembled those obtained from a chemical extraction method. The present JSO-2 has no trace of Cr(VI), although Cr(VI) was added as a major species during preparation. On the other hand, the content of Cr(VI) obtained in mimic-JSO-2 agreed with the original Cr(VI) content. A time-elapse study showed that Cr(VI) contents in mimic-JSO-2 decreased gradually to 70% of the original abundance during 240-day preservation in dry conditions. Moreover, the abundance of Cr(VI) decreased markedly to 15% after 240 days in the wet mimic-JSO-2 containing 20% m/m of water. These experiments suggested that soil humidity enhanced the reduction of Cr(VI) and that Cr(VI) was reduced even in dry conditions. Consequently, it is reasonable to infer that Cr(VI) doped into JSO-2 was completely reduced to Cr(III) during the preservation period of 5 years. The certification of the long-term stability of the chemical form in reference materials will be much more important in future.     

Wind effects on sub-tidal currents in Puget Sound

Wind effects on sub-tidal currents are studied using current meter records obtained at six moorings across the main basin of Puget Sound. High correlations between wind speeds and currents are found near the surface and at mid-depths of about 100 m. Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis applied to the axial currents in 1984 and 1985 shows that mode 1, containing over 60% of the variance, is highly correlated with wind speed even without any near surface current records. When near surface stratification is strong, direct wind effects are limited to the upper 30 m with counter currents in the lower layer indicating a baroclinic response. The transport in the lower layer almost balances the transport in the upper layer. When near surface stratification is weak, direct wind effects on currents can be detected to about 100 m. In this case, there is no clear and consistent depth at which one can separate the upper from the lower layer. Time series show that the acceleration in the surface layer initially increases in the same direction as the wind when the wind starts blowing, but it reaches a maximum, starts decreasing, and eventually changes to the opposite direction (decelerates) while the wind continues to blow in one direction. Results of a continuously stratified normal mode model and estimations from the observations suggest that friction at solid boundaries is a major cause of these phenomena. The model shows that modal currents of normal modes 2 and 3 are as important as mode 1, although the resultant vertical structure of total current shows a two-layer type pattern with only one zero crossing. The effect of the baroclinic pressure gradient is only apparent at low frequencies and among lower modes.