Assessment of Debris-Flow Hazards of Alluvial Fans

A strategy is presented for the assessment ofdebris-flow hazards on alluvial fans on the basis ofa case study carried out on the southern foot of astratovolcano named Mt. Yatsugatake. Transformation ofcommercial forests into a golf course was planned ata corner of the Kikkakezawa fan. The case studyinvolves an assessment of hazards due to debris flowsof different magnitudes and their recurrenceintervals. The environmental conditions for therecurrence of these debris flows are discussed as wellas the extent of the areas affected by them. In orderto generalize the case study, concepts of hazardpotential, hazard and risk for debris flows onalluvial fans are established. Accordingly, the hazardpotential is the possible hazards at any location onan alluvial fan in an indefinitely long time period,which can be assessed on the basis of hydrological andother geoscientific investigations. Hazards associatedwith a particular land use can be evaluated on thebasis of the hazard potential considering the locationand the time period associated with the land use. Riskcan be further assessed considering the life styles inthis land and the social conditions.     

Wide-Field Camera for Gravitational Microlensing Survey: MOA-cam2

We have constructed a large, mosaic CCD camera called MOA-cam2 which has 4096 × 6144-pixelsto search for gravitational microlensing events. MOA-cam2 has three4096 × 2048-pixel SITe CCD chips, which have a very high quantum efficiency (nearly 80% in the wave region 500 to 800 nm),and three buttable sides. We have placed the threechips side by side with 100 m dead space. MOA-cam2 has been installed on the 61 cm Boller and Chivens telescope of the MOA collaboration at the Mt. John University Observatory (MJUO) in NewZealand since July 1998. The field coverage is 0.92° × 1.38° per exposure. The technical details of MOA-cam2 and the first images obtained with the Boller and Chivens telescope are presented. MOA-cam2 introduces a second phase of research on gravitational microlensing by the MOA collaboration.     

Mechanism and tectonic implications of the great Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963

The Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963 (h = 100 km, m_B = 7.8) is probably one of the largest intermediate-depth shocks to have occurred worldwide this century. The mechanism of this earthquake is studied in detail on the basis of P-wave first motion, surface wave and aftershock data. From the analysis of long-period multiple surface waves, a seismic moment of 3.1 × 10²⁸ dyn-cm is obtained, which is the largest reported so far for any intermediate or deep focus shock. This value, together with the estimated fault area of 90 × 70 km², gives an average dislocation of 7.0 m and a stress drop of 120 bar. This event represents an oblique thrust movement on a plane with dip direction N170°E, dip 48° and rake 52°. A geometrical consideration for the fault plane and the configuration of the inclined seismic zone beneath the Banda arc suggests, almost definitely, that the large-scale faulting took place within the subducted plate and offset it. Further repetition of such large-scale faulting might eventually break the subducted plate. The 1963 Banda Sea earthquake thus represents a seismological manifestation of the large-scale deformation of the subducted plate in the mantle.     

Under‐ice salinity and stable isotope distribution of Saroma‐ko Lagoon,Hokkaido, northern Japan

In winter, lakes and lagoons at high altitudes or high latitudes have interesting hydrological cycles that differ from those in other seasons or in other regions, because water surfaces are covered with ice. Hydrological balances of lakes and lagoons are complex dynamic systems, and to elucidate them, isotopic tracers of water have been used as effective tools along with observations of precipitation, evaporation, inflows, and outflows. Here, to understand hydrological processes during freezing periods in the brackish Saroma‐ko Lagoon, Hokkaido, northern Japan, we examined horizontal and vertical distributions of salinity and isotope compositions of lagoon water and ice in 2005 and 2006. Horizontal and vertical gradients of salinity and isotope compositions were observed from the river mouth to the sea channel, and factors determining these distributions were considered. The mixing of freshwater and seawater and a freezing effect were presumed to be factors in relationships between salinity and isotopes and in relationships between surface waters and ice just above the water. A simple box model for water balance was constructed based on these putative factors to reproduce the distributions of salinity and isotope compositions of surface waters and ice. An evaluation of the model revealed that this hydrological system is controlled primarily by horizontal advection of the epilimnion, freshwater influx, and the ice growth rate. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Determining the O/O ratio of water using a water-CO2 equilibration method: Application to glacial-interglacial changes in O-excess from the Dome Fuji ice core, Antarctica

Recent studies show that oxygen three isotope measurement (¹⁶O, ¹⁷O, and ¹⁸O) of water provides additional information for investigating the hydrological cycle and paleoclimate. For determining the ¹⁸O/¹⁶O value of water, a conventional CO₂-water equilibration method involves measurement of the ratios of CO₂ isotopologues which were equilibrated with water. However, this long-established technique was not intended to measure the ¹⁷O/¹⁶O ratio, primarily because the historic ion correction scheme does not allow for possible deviations from a fixed (and mass-dependent) relationship between ¹⁷O/¹⁶O and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotope ratios. Here, we propose an improved method for obtaining the ¹⁷O/¹⁶O isotope ratio of fresh water by the equilibration method and measurement of the 45/44 CO₂ ion abundance ratio. Equations which we formulated for ¹⁷O/¹⁶O measurement have two features: first, instead of absolute isotope ratio (R), all equations are formulated in δ values, measured by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Second, we include two “assigned” δ values of water standards in the equations, because the δ¹⁸O are commonly measured against two working standards to normalize the span of the δ scale. This approach clarifies that the contribution from ¹⁷O (¹²C¹⁶O¹⁷O⁺) to the molecular ion current at mass-to-charge ratio m/z 45 signal depends not on the absolute ¹³C/¹²C ratio, but on the relative δ¹³C differences between the working standards and the sample. The pH value of water affects δ¹⁷O estimation because δ¹³C of CO₂ was changed in the water-CO₂ system. We reevaluated this effect using a set of equations, which explicitly includes CO₂ partial pressure effect on pH value. Our new estimation of pH effect is significantly smaller than previously reported value, but it does not alter the main conclusions in the previous study. The method was verified by δ¹⁷O measurements of an international standard reference water (GISP) provided by the IAEA. We applied the method to investigate ¹⁷O-excess of the ice core drilled at the Dome Fuji station, Antarctica. A total of 1320 samples from a 130 m section around Marine Isotope Stage 9.3 (∼330,000 years before present) were measured. The error of a measurement for δ¹⁷O is 0.175‰ and that of ¹⁷O-excess is 184 per meg. Although these analytical uncertainties hampered accurate estimation of the changes in ¹⁷O-excess, the averaged data indicate that ¹⁷O-excess around MIS 9.3 was higher than during the subsequent glacial period. This approach can be applied only to fresh water samples, and additional improvements will be needed to measure samples which contains significant amount of carbonate minerals.     

Projected future changes in the contribution of Indo-Pacific sea surface height variability to the Indonesian throughflow

The Indonesian throughflow (ITF) transports a significant amount of warm freshwater from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean, making it critical to the global climate system. This study examines decadal ITF variations using ocean reanalysis data as well as climate model simulations from the Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). While the observed annual cycle of ITF transport is known to be correlated with the annual cycle of sea surface height (SSH) difference between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ocean reanalysis data (1959–2015) show that the Pacific Ocean SSH variability controls more than 85% of ITF variation on decadal timescales. In contrast, the Indian Ocean SSH variability contributes less than 15%. While those observed contributions are mostly reproduced in the CMIP5 historical simulations, an analysis of future climate projections shows a 25–30% increase in the Indian Ocean SSH variability to decadal ITF variations and a corresponding decrease in the Pacific contribution. These projected changes in the Indian Ocean SSH variability are associated with a 23% increase in the amplitudes of negative zonal wind stress anomalies over the equatorial Indian Ocean, along with a 12º eastward shift in the center of action in these anomalies. This combined effect of the increased amplitude and eastward shift in the zonal wind stress increases the SSHA variance over the Indian Ocean, increasing its contribution to the ITF variation. The decadal ITF changes discussed in this study will be crucial in understanding the future global climate variability, strongly coupled to Indo-Pacific interactions.

     

Dissolution of silica accompanied by oxygen consumption in the bottom layer of Japan’s central Seto Inland Sea in summer

Distribution of silicic acid (Si(OH)₄) in bottom water was investigated in the central Seto Inland Sea under stratified conditions in summer. Water samples were collected at 10 stations on April 24 and 25 and July 7 and 8, 2012. In July, stratification progressed, and a cold water mass (dome) of <20 °C appeared. In response to the cold dome, low oxygen content was observed in the bottom layer of the eastern part of Hiuchi-Nada. In this water mass site, apparent oxygen utilization values calculated from dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations increased, coinciding with increase of Si(OH)₄ concentrations from April to July. This suggests that increase of Si(OH)₄ [dissolution of biogenic silica (diatom frustules)] was accompanied by DO consumption due to degradation of organic matter such as plankton soft tissue. These findings suggest that a bacterial degradation of the organic matrix that covers diatom frustules could accelerate the dissolution of biogenic silica in bottom water under stratified conditions.     

Podiform chromitite formation in a low-Cr/high-Al system: An example from the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR)

Recent reassessment of abyssal peridotites obtained during the dredging of the oblique supersegment and the easternmost subsection of the Southwest Indian Ridge by the R/V Knorr Cruise 162 and the R/V Yokosuka YK98-07 revealed the occurrence of dunites containing podiform chromitites and dunites with variable chromite concentration closely associated with lherzolite and harzburgite. The size of the chromitite pods varies from a few mm to 2 cm in width. Chromites in the podifom chromitites have very low Cr# (=0.22–0.23) and low TiO₂ (<0.17 wt%). They are almost free of silicate inclusions except for a few euhedral sulfide grains which occur far from cracks and lamellae and are considered primary in origin. The lherzolite which possibly represents the wallrock hosting the dunites with podiform chromitites also show low spinel Cr#(=0.16) and low Cr# in the clinopyroxenes (=0.09–0.10) and orthopyroxenes (=0.07–0.09). The small size of the SWIR podiform chromitites is strongly controlled by the low Cr/Al available in the wallrock and the invading melt. The presence of sulfide inclusions and the absence of PGEs further attest to the low Cr/Al (i.e. low refractoriness) in the system involved in the genesis of the SWIR podiform chromitites. Lastly, the discovery of podiform chromitites in the SWIR implies that the formation of podiform chromitite at mid-oceanic ridges, regardless of its spreading rate, is highly possible.     

利用断层应力积累探讨大地震发生的地点——以日本2011年东北9级大地震为例

大地震在哪里发生是地震预报首先要解决的问题.利用反演GNSS观测数据得到的2011年日本东北9级大地震前7年(2004-2010年)断层上的应力变化,我们发现了这次地震断层的孕震区.为了进一步研究该孕震区的演化过程,本文继续反演这次大地震在1997-2003年间的断层应力变化过程.通过这两期的反演工作,我们看到,在这1...     

Spatiotemporal variations of Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatism in eastern Asia (Tan‐Lu Fault to SW Japan): evidence for flat‐slab subduction and slab rollback

Here, we examine spatiotemporal variations of Jurassic–Cretaceous magmatism along a c. 1000‐km transect across eastern Asia, including SW Japan, the Korean, Jiaodong and Liaodong peninsulas, and eastern Jilin Province. Integration of tectonic regime data with age data from igneous rocks in eastern Asia (from the Tan‐Lu Fault to SW Japan) suggests a shallowing of the subduction angle and subsequent flat‐slab subduction during the Jurassic, and slab rollback during the Early Cretaceous. The combination of a subducting plateau and root‐enhanced suction provides the best explanation for the flat‐slab subduction. In the final stage (Albian) of slab rollback, the geotectonic setting changed from subduction–accretion to a continental arc in the area close to the ancient trench (i.e. the Inner Zone of SW Japan).