Decrease of size of hummocks with downstream distance in the rockslide-debris avalanche deposit at Iriga volcano, Philippines: similarities with Japanese avalanches

A morphometric investigation of the longitudinal distribution of hummocks at the southeastern foot of Iriga volcano in the Philippines showed that hummock size decreases away from the volcano. Aerial photographs and GIS analysis revealed that the size–distance relationship can be expressed as the exponential function A?=?α exp (?β D), where A is the area of a hummock and D is its distance from the source. This relationship is the same as that observed previously for freely spreading debris avalanches in Japan, including two avalanches at Bandai volcano. This size–distance relationship provides information about the physical characteristics of the event: the α value shows a strong correlation with the volume of the collapsed mass of the volcanic edifice, and the β value shows a strong correlation with the coefficient of friction of the debris avalanche. Thus, morphometric analysis of hummocks created by a volcanic avalanche illuminates both the physical properties of the volcanic body and the mobility of the avalanche. For the Iriga debris avalanche, the observed longitudinal hummock distribution is clearly a function of the volume of the collapsed mass and the coefficient of friction of the avalanche. The relationships so defined appear to be a geometric effect related to the areal extent of freely spreading hummocky avalanche deposits, especially their longitudinal dimensions.     

Microbiological and Chemical Studies in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo—II

The distribution of inorganic nitrogen compounds and the metabolic rates of these compounds by microorganisms as a whole were investigated in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo. The results obtained are as follows:

1. Of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the contents in sea water, those in bottom muds, the uptake or liberation rates of microorganisms as a whole in sea water, and the liberation rates from bottom muds to sea water are 0.2～4.0 μg at. N/l, 3～60 μg at.N/100 g, 0.01～0.5 μg at.N//lhr, and 0.3～1.9 μg at.N/100 cm²/hr, respectively, and these contents or rates of ammonia usually are the largest of these inorganic nitrogen compounds.
2. From the above-mentioned results and the others, it is suggested that the nitrogen in the seas circulates mainly in sea water itself and the course of nitrogen cycle, which passes through bottom muds, is not so important, and further that, of the cycle of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the main course is the course which ammonia is liberated from organic nitrogen compounds and it is immediately uptaked by microorganisms, and the course which it is oxidized to nitrate and the others are not so important.

     

中国老挝跨境生物多样性保护区的林地变化(英文)

This paper analyzed forest land use change in Trans-Boundary Laos-China Biodiversity Conservation Area which is called Namha National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (Namha NBCAs), with 1992 and 2002 TM (ETM). Based on GIS and statistical methods, the intensity, state index of land use change and transfer matrix were used to study spatiotemporal land use change in the region. The results showed that the area of forest land decreased greatly, also the area of bamboo and grassland decreased. The other way round, the area of unstocked forest, slash and burn and rice paddy land increased. As a whole, the intensity of forest land change was higher, but others were lower. From the transfer matrix, most of the forest land changed into unstocked forest and urban area, some to slash and burn. The grassland and bamboo were mainly transferred to forest and unstocked forest. The unstocked forest land mostly came from forest land and grassland. It was showed there were three main causes of the land use change namely: opium poppy cultivation, rubber plantation and also ecotourism activities and finally some policies were developed in order to address the land use change in the study areas.     

Geology and geochemistry of lavas at Nekoma volcano: Implications for origin of Quaternary low-K andesite in the north-eastern Honshu arc, Japan

Abstract Nekoma volcano forms part of the arc axis volcanic array of the North-eastern Honshu arc, Japan, which is commonly characterized by medium-K lava suites. However, Nekoma is exceptional because many of its lavas are low-K. This anomaly has been a matter of debate. Nekoma was active from 1.1 to 0.35 Ma. The volcano consists of thick andesite flows and domes associated with block and ash flow deposits produced during lava dome formation. A horseshoe-shaped collapse caldera was formed at the summit and small lava domes extruded into the caldera. Stratigraphy, published K–Ar ages, and tephrochronology define three stages of volcanic activity, about 1.1 Ma (Stage 1), 0.8–0.6 Ma (Stage 2) and 0.45–0.35 Ma (Stage 3; post caldera stage). Low-K andesites occur in all stages. Extremely low-K andesite was also associated in Stage 2 and medium-K andesite was dominant in Stage 3. In general, lavas changed from low-K to medium-K after caldera formation. Geochemical study of the Nekoma lavas shows that both low-K and medium-K lavas are isotopically similar and were derived from a common source. Adatara and Azuma volcanoes, which lie close to Nekoma, also have both low-K and medium-K andesites. However, Sr isotope ratios or temporal-spatial variations in K-level lava classification vary between the three centers. Comparisons of K suites and Sr isotope ratios with frontal arc volcanoes in North-east–Honshu suggest source heterogeneity existed in both medium- and low-K suites. The K contents of lavas and their Sr isotopes are not simply related. This requires re-examination of models for chemical variation of andesites in arcs.     

On wave-free floating-body forms in heaving oscillation

Some wave-free heaving forms are obtained in a manner similar to Bessho's earlier work by using a source and vertical dipole combination to generate bulbous-shaped two and three-dimensional bodies which have zero radiation damping. Then the combinations of higher singularities, such as triple-pole and quadra-pole, are considered. Using the thin-ship approximation, where the boundary condition is satisfied on the centreline, a simple procedure for generating any arbitrary shape that has the same property is established. The existence of wave-free frequencies of such bodies are verified numerically, in two dimensions by a standard singularity-distribution method based on the actual body-contour and in three-dimensions by using vortex-ring distribution for an axisymmetric body. Experiments are carried out for the models obtained theoretically and the results support the theoretical predictions fairly well. Finally, some suggestions are made to apply such a wave-free body to a moored buoy to suppress its heaving oscillation.     

Sea-floor fissures, biological communities and sediment fatty acids of the Northern Okushiri Ridge, Japan Sea: Implications for possible methane seepage

A biological community was discovered in the Northern Okushiri Ridge, northeastern Japan Sea. The community was closely associated with sea-floor fissures, and presumed to be supported by methanotrophic and/or thiotrophic bacterial production. Sediments inside of and in the vicinity of the fissures were collected, and the short-chain (C_9–20) sediment fatty acids were analyzed for amounts and compositions. The fatty acid compositions were compared with those from a known methane seep and a submarine volcano in the Sagami Bay, central Japan, and from a whale skeleton at the Torishima Seamount, northwestern Pacific Ocean. As a result, a close relationship between the sediments from the Northern Okushiri Ridge, the known methane-seep, and the whale skeleton was found. This finding represents the first discovery of methane seepage and associated biological communities in the Japan Sea. This also supports the hypothesis that the eastern margin of the northern Japan Sea is at the early stage of new subduction.     

Effect of helix bending deflection on load settlement behaviour of screw pile

A screw pile has higher end bearing capacity than any other straight pipe piles due to its larger helix with respect to central shaft. However, larger helices are not frequently used as it will bend and may reduce the actual bearing capacity of the ground. In the present study, the effect of helix bending deflection on the load settlement behaviour and ultimate bearing capacity is investigated. To achieve the objectives, model scale pile load tests were conducted. The effect of helix bending on the load settlement behaviour at higher stress level was also investigated in this research. The helices with different helix-to-shaft-diameter ratios and thicknesses were used, so that clear difference of deformed and non-deformed screw piles in the load settlement behaviour can be observed. Dry Toyoura sand in dense state was used as a model ground. It is observed from test results that the helix bending deflection starts affecting the load settlement behaviour of the ground if it is more than the critical helix bending deflection. The ratio of critical helix bending deflection to outstand length decreases with increase in helix-to-shaft-diameter ratio, and its relationship is presented in this study. It is also observed that the Roark’s formula for flat circular plate having uniform load over a very small circular area with fixed outer edges showed good agreement with the measured helix bending deflection. In order to estimate the optimum helix thickness, the well-agreed equation is also modified with respect to critical helix bending deflection.

     

Chemistry and Sulfur Isotopes of the Chert-Clastic Sequence Surrounding the Kajika Massive Sulfide Ores at the Ashio Copper Mine, Ashio Terrane, Central Japan

Abstract. Chemical and sulfur isotopic compositions were obtained for a series of rocks within the chert‐clastic sequence surrounding the Kajika massive sulfide ore horizon at Shibukawasawa in the Ashio copper‐mining district, Ashio Terrane, central Japan. The sequence is lithologically classified into three units: chert, siliceous shale with basic volcanics, and sandstone‐shale, in ascending stratigraphic order. The Kajika ore horizon corresponds to the lowermost part of the unit that contains siliceous shale with basic volcanics. The rocks around the Kajika ore horizon are enriched in P₂O₅ (max. 0.22 %), Ba (max. 2400 ppm), Cu (595 ppm), V (323 ppm), Pb (168 ppm), Zn (124 ppm), and Mo (24 ppm) in siliceous shale; and Ba (4220 ppm), Zr (974 ppm), Cr (718 ppm), Ni (492 ppm), V (362 ppm), Zn (232 ppm), Nb (231 ppm), and Co (71 ppm) in the basic volcanics. The siliceous shale is enriched in a number of redox‐sensitive elements such as Cu, V, Pb, Zn, and Mo, which are known to be enriched in black shale and anoxic and hydrothermal sediments. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides in the chert and sandstone‐shale lie in the range of 0±2 %, and those in the siliceous shale range from ‐5 to ‐14 %. The measured δ³⁴S values in the basic volcanics are ‐0.3, ‐2.7, and ‐31.5 %. These heavier δ³⁴S signatures (around 0 %) recorded throughout the sequence indicate that the rocks formed under anoxic bottom‐water conditions. Slightly lighter δ³⁴S values recorded in siliceous shale might reflect significant mixing of sulfides that formed by sulfate‐reducing bacteria in an overlying oxic environment. The long‐term duration of anoxic conditions indicated by the heavier δ³⁴S signature is considered to have played an important role in protecting the Kajika sulfide ores from oxidative decomposition and preserving the ores in sedimentary accumulations.