Analytical representation of phase characteristics for source time function modeled by stochastic impulse train

In order to discuss the relationship between the lower and higher frequency components of earthquake source spectra, we deal with impulse train model as source time function of earthquake, because spectral characteristics of source time function depend on occurrence times of impulse function which corresponds to small extent on the fault. Then, the spectral characteristics of source time function are obtained analytically and numerically from the stochastic viewpoints: namely, on one hand, the trend of impulse train dominates the frequency characteristics in low frequency range, and on the other hand, the fluctuation from the trend settles high frequency range. Furthermore, it is shown that the spectral properties of source time function can be determined using only two parameters which are number of impulses n and the probability density function of occurrence time of impulses f_T(t).     

Topography of the Seismic Velocity Discontinuities beneath the Chugoku and Shikoku Districts,Southwest Japan

The first P-arrival-time data from 513 local earthquakes were analyzed to study lateral variation of the depth to the Conrad and Moho discontinuities beneath the Chugoku and Shikoku districts, southwest Japan, as well as to determine earthquake hypocenters and P-wave station corrections. The depth to the discontinuity was estimated by minimizing the travel-time residuals of more than 8700 first P arrivals observed at 55 seismic stations. The Conrad and Moho discontinuities are located within depth ranges of 15–25 km and 30–40 km, respectively. The Moho is deeper under the mountain area than under the Seto Inland Sea area, and especially deep under the Pacific Coast of the Shikoku district and the mountain area in the Chugoku district. The depth variation of the Moho is quite similar to the Bouguer gravity anomaly distribution and the lateral variations of the P-wave velocity. The deep Moho under the southern Shikoku is located at the portion in which the continental Moho under the island arc meets the oceanic Moho that is the boundary interface between the oceanic crust and the Philippine Sea (PHS) plate dipping toward the back arc. Although there are high mountains in the northern and middle Shikoku, the Moho is not so deep because subduction of the PHS plate prevents the Moho from getting deep, while the Moho is deep due to isostatic balance under the mountain area in the Chugoku district. In addition, we indicated the possibility that the upper boundary of the oceanic crust just above the high-velocity PHS plate is in contact with the deep Moho under the western Chugoku. The contact of the Moho with the oceanic crust can explain the markedly negative gravity anomaly observed in the western Chugoku and the later phase that appears just after the first P arrival from local earthquakes.     

Halogen systematics in the Mallik 5L-38 gas hydrate production research well,Northwest Territories,Canada: Implications for the origin of gas hydrates under terrestrial permafrost conditions

The authors report here halogen concentrations in pore waters and sediments collected from the Mallik 5L-38 gas hydrate production research well, a permafrost location in the Mackenzie Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada. Iodine and Br are commonly enriched in waters associated with CH₄, reflecting the close association between these halogens and source organic materials. Pore waters collected from the Mallik well show I enrichment, by one order of magnitude above that of seawater, particularly in sandy layers below the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). Although Cl and Br concentrations increase with depth similar to the I profile, they remain below seawater values. The increase in I concentrations observed below the GHSZ suggests that I-rich fluids responsible for the accumulation of CH₄ in gas hydrates are preferentially transported through the sandy permeable layers below the GHSZ. The Br and I concentrations and I/Br ratios in Mallik are considerably lower than those in marine gas hydrate locations, demonstrating a terrestrial nature for the organic materials responsible for the CH₄ at the Mallik site. Halogen systematics in Mallik suggest that they are the result of mixing between seawater, freshwater and an I-rich source fluid. The comparison between I/Br ratios in pore waters and sediments speaks against the origin of the source fluids within the host formations of gas hydrates, a finding compatible with the results from a limited set of ¹²⁹I/I ratios determined in pore waters, which gives a minimum age of 29 Ma for the source material, i.e. at the lower end of the age range of the host formations. The likely scenario for the gas hydrate formation in Mallik is the derivation of CH₄ together with I from the terrestrial source materials in formations other than the host layers through sandy permeable layers into the present gas hydrate zones.     

Geochemical Features of Vein Anhydrite from the Kakkonda Geothermal System, Northeast Japan

Abstract. Cathodoluminescence (CL) color, rare earth element (REE) content, sulfur and oxygen isotopes and fluid inclusions of anhydrite, which frequently filled in hydrothermal veins in the Kakkonda geothermal system, were investigated to elucidate the spatial, temporal and genetical evolution of fluids in the deep reservoir. The anhydrite samples studied are classified into four types based on CL colors and REE contents: type-N (no color), type-G (green color), type-T (tan color) and type-S (tan color with a high REE content). In the shallow reservoir, only type-N anhydrite is observed. In the deep reservoir, type-G anhydrite occurs in vertical veins whereas type-T and -N in lateral veins. Type-S anhydrite occurs in the heat-source Kakkonda Granite. The CL textures revealed that type-G anhydrite deposited earlier than type-T in the deep reservoir, implying that fracture system was changed from predominantly vertical to lateral.
Studies of fluid inclusions and δ³⁴S and δ¹⁸O values of the samples indicate that type-N anhydrite deposited from diluted fluids derived from meteoric water, whereas type-G, -T and -S anhydrites deposited from magmatic brines derived from the Kakkonda Granite with the exception of some of type-G with recrystallization texture and no primary fluid inclusion, which deposited from fossil seawater preserved in the sedimentary rocks. Type-G, -T and -S anhydrites exhibit remarkably different chondrite-normalized REE patterns with a positive Eu anomaly, with a convex shape (peak at Sm or Eu) and with a negative Eu anomaly, respectively. The difference in the patterns might result from the different extent of hydrothermal alteration of the reservoir rocks and contribution of the magmatic fluids.     

Carbon isotopic thermometry and geobarometry of sillimanite isograd in thermal aureoles: the depth of emplacement of upper crustal granitic bodies

Carbon isotope fractionation between coexisting calcite and graphite (C ) has been studied in metamorphosed limestones from three thermal aureoles around Cretaceous granitic bodies (i.e., Tanohata, Tono, and Senmaya aureoles) in the Kitakami Mountains, Northeast Japan. C in each aureole decreases toward the granitic bodies, and becomes virtually uniform near the sillimanite isograd for metapelites, although calcite has variable isotopic ratios reflecting the original sedimentary compositions. The relationships indicate that isotopic equilibrium has been attained in metamorphosed limestone of sillimanite grade. Estimated C at the sillimanite isograd is similar in the Tanohata and Tono aureoles, but different in the Senmaya aureole with smaller carbon isotopic fractionations. From the temperature dependence of C and the negative dP/dT of andalusite–sillimanite equilibrium, we conclude that the sillimanite isograd in the Senmaya aureole was under higher temperature and lower pressure than in the other two localities. Temperatures at the sillimanite isograd are estimated by using existing calibrations of carbon isotopic exchange between calcite and graphite, whereas pressures are estimated from carbon isotopic temperatures and the andalusite–sillimanite equilibrium (Holdaway and Mukhopadhyay 1993a). Consistency of the P–T estimates is examined in the light of phase equilibria in the pelitic system. The estimated pressures at the sillimanite isograd are at about 2.1–2.7(±0.2) kbar for the Tanohata and Tono aureoles and less than 1 kbar for the Senmaya aureole, respectively. Geobarometry of sillimanite isograd in thermal aureoles indicates a marked difference in the depth of solidification of upper crustal granitoids: the Senmaya pluton has intruded and solidified at a very shallow level of less than 4 km whereas the Tanohata and Tono plutons are more deep-seated (ca. 8–10 km). The method can also be an effective tool in studying low-pressure type metamorphism in which geothermobarometry using garnet is not always applicable.Editorial responsibility: J. Hoefs     

SELENE project status

SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) project started as a joint mission of the former ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) and the former NASDA (National Space Development Agency: the two organizations were merged into JAXA in 2002) of Japan in 1998. The launch target is rescheduled for 2006 due to delay of completion of launch vehicle, H-IIA. The SELENE project is now under a sustained design phase. The flight model components were manufactured, and the interface tests between the bus-system and the mission instruments were completed by the end of March 2004. The functional checks and calibration for the flight model components are being carried out at present. From the beginning of 2005, the final assembly tests will start.     

Effect of bed roughness on turbulent boundary layer and net sediment transport under asymmetric waves

This paper presents an investigation of the roughness effects in the turbulent boundary layer for asymmetric waves by using the baseline (BSL) k–ω model. This model is validated by a set of the experimental data with different wave non-linearity index, N_i (namely, N_i = 0.67, N_i = 0.60 and N_i = 0.58). It is further used to simulate asymmetric wave velocity flows with several values of the roughness parameter (a_m/k_s) which increase gradually, namely from a_m/k_s = 35 to a_m/k_s = 963. The effect of the roughness tends to increase the turbulent kinetic energy and to decrease the mean velocity distribution in the inner boundary layer, whereas in the outer boundary layer, the roughness alters the turbulent kinetic energy and the mean velocity distribution is relatively unaffected. A new simple calculation method of bottom shear stress based on incorporating velocity and acceleration terms is proposed and applied into the calculation of the rate of bed-load transport induced by asymmetric waves. And further, the effect of bed roughness on the bottom shear stress and bed-load sediment transport under asymmetric waves is examined with the turbulent model, the newly proposed method, and the existing calculation method. It is found that the higher roughness elements increase the magnitude of bottom shear stress along a wave cycle and consequently, the potential net sediment transport rate. Moreover, the wave non-linearity also shows a big impact on the bottom shear stress and the net sediment transport.