Low Energy Transfer to the Moon

In 1991, the Japanese Hiten mission used a low energy transfer with a ballistic capture at the Moon which required less Vthan a standard Hohmann transfer. In this paper, we apply the dynamical systems techniques developed in our earlier work to reproduce systematically a Hiten-like mission. We approximate the Sun–Earth–Moon-spacecraft 4-body system as two 3-body systems. Using the invariant manifold structures of the Lagrange points of the 3-body systems, we are able to construct low energy transfer trajectories from the Earth which execute ballistic capture at the Moon. The techniques used in the design and construction of this trajectory may be applied in many situations.     

Highly fractionated I-type granites in NE China (II): isotopic geochemistry and implications for crustal growth in the Phanerozoic

NE China is the easternmost part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). The area is distinguished by widespread occurrence of Phanerozoic granitic rocks. In the companion paper (Part I), we established the Jurassic ages (184–137 Ma) for three granitic plutons: Xinhuatun, Lamashan and Yiershi. We also used geochemical data to argue that these rocks are highly fractionated I-type granites. In this paper, we present Sr–Nd–O isotope data of the three plutons and 32 additional samples to delineate the nature of their source, to determine the proportion of mantle to crustal components in the generation of the voluminous granitoids and to discuss crustal growth in the Phanerozoic.

Despite their difference in emplacement age, Sr–Nd isotopic analyses reveal that these Jurassic granites have common isotopic characteristics. They all have low initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7045±0.0015), positive _Nd(T) values (+1.3 to +2.8), and young Sm–Nd model ages (720–840 Ma). These characteristics are indicative of juvenile nature for these granites. Other Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic granites in this region also show the same features. Sr–Nd and oxygen isotopic data suggest that the magmatic evolution of the granites can be explained in terms of two-stage processes: (1) formation of parental magmas by melting of a relatively juvenile crust, which is probably a mixed lithology formed by pre-existing lower crust intruded or underplated by mantle-derived basaltic magma, and (2) extensive magmatic differentiation of the parental magmas in a slow cooling environment.

The widespread distribution of juvenile granitoids in NE China indicates a massive transfer of mantle material to the crust in a post-orogenic tectonic setting. Several recent studies have documented that juvenile granitoids of Paleozoic to Mesozoic ages are ubiquitous in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, hence suggesting a significant growth of the continental crust in the Phanerozoic.     

Constitutive approach for rate‐sensitive anisotropic structured clays

This paper describes a constitutive approach to model the behavior of rate‐dependent anisotropic structured clay. Rate‐sensitivity is modeled using overstress viscoplasticity. Clay structure is treated as a viscous phenomenon whereby the viscosity of the undisturbed structured clay is initially very high and the viscosity degrades or decreases with plastic straining until the intrinsic or residual viscosity is reached. A microstructure tensor approach is used to make the structured viscosity anisotropic; whereas, the intrinsic viscosity is assumed to be isotropic. The behavior of the constitutive model is compared with the measured response of two clays (Gloucester and St. Vallier clay) from Eastern Canada during triaxial compression tests on specimens trimmed at different orientations to the vertical. The comparisons show that the constitutive framework is able to describe the anisotropic and rate‐sensitive response of both clays. The response of the model is also examined for the more general case of anisotropic consolidated triaxial compression and extension. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

40Ar/39Ar dating of the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones: Implications for crustal deformation around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis

We conducted a comprehensive ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronological study of the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones to obtain a better understanding of crustal deformation and tectonic evolution around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS). The new age data reveal that the main phase of deformation in the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones occurred from 22 to 11 Ma and from 18 to 13 Ma, respectively. Structural data collected during this study indicate that the Jiali shear zone underwent a change in shear sense from sinistral to dextral during its movement history. Based on a comparison with the deformation histories of other major shear zones in the region, we argue that the initial sinistral motion recorded by the Jiali shear zone was coincident with that of the Ailao Shan–Red River shear zone, which marked the northern boundary of the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina block during the Early Miocene. From the Middle Miocene (～18 Ma), the Jiali shear zone changed to dextral displacement, becoming linked with the dextral Gaoligong shear zone that developed as a consequence of continued northward indentation of the Indian continent into Asia. Since this time, the Jiali and Gaoligong shear zones have been united, defining the southwestern boundary of the EHS during clockwise rotation of the eastward-extruding Tibetan block, as revealed by recent GPS data. The temporal change in regional deformation pattern from southeastward block extrusion to clockwise rotation of crustal fragments may have played an important role in the development of the eastern Himalayan drainage system around the EHS.     

Measuring and modeling atmospheric particles and particle bound mercury Hg(p) at five characteristic-sampling sites

The main purpose of this study was to monitor ambient air particles and particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) in total suspended particulates (TSP) concentration, dry deposition at five characteristic-sampling sites. In addition, the calculated/measured dry deposition flux ratios of ambient air particles and particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) using three dry deposition models during the years of 2009–2010 were also studied. The results showed that the order of seasonal variations for mean particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations in TSP at Bei-shi (suburban/coastal), Chang-hua (downtown) and He-mei (residential) were all shown as spring > fall, winter > summer, respectively. However, the order of seasonal variations mean particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) concentrations in TSP that occurred at Gao-mei (wetland) were shown as spring > fall > winter > summer, respectively. Finally, the results of this study also indicated that using the Noll and Fang model exhibited batten prediction results for ambient air particles and particulate-bound mercury Hg(p) dry deposition when compared with the other depositions models at any of the characteristic-sampling sites for this study.     

Evolution of landslide hotspots in Taiwan

Among the disasters facing Taiwan, earthquakes and typhoons incur the greatest monetary losses, and landslide disasters inflict the greatest damage in mountainous areas. The nationwide landslide susceptibility map gives an indication of where landslides are likely to occur in the future; however, there is no objective index indicating the location of landslide hotspots. In this study, we used statistical analysis to locate landslide hotspots in catchments in Taiwan. Global and local spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed the existence of landslide clusters between 2003 and 2012 and identified a concentration of landslide hotspots in the eastern part of Central Taiwan. The extreme rainfall brought by typhoon Morakot also led to the formation of new landslide hotspots in Southern Taiwan. This study provides a valuable reference explaining changes in landslide hotspots and identifying areas of high hotspot concentration to facilitate the formulation of strategies to deal with landslide risk.     

Climate change outlook for water resources management in a semiarid river basin: the effect of the environmental water demand

Iran is a developing country with arid and semiarid regions. Poor management of water resources combined with the effects of climate change is leading to the drying of several rivers and wetlands. Several planned water development projects, primarily for agricultural expansion, will be implemented in the coming years which could worsen impacts on vulnerable aquatic ecosystems. Proper water resources management is essential to meet present and future residential, environmental, industrial, and agricultural demands in semiarid regions. This paper presents projections of how the availability of water resources will change in the Karkheh river basin of Iran for the period 2010–2059 employing sustainability criteria in the form of time-based reliability, volumetric reliability, resiliency, and vulnerability. This paper’s results show that consideration of environmental receptors as a stakeholder of water use places limitations on agricultural development within the Karkheh river basin.     

Influence of ferric iron on phase equilibria in greenschist facies assemblages: the hematite‐rich metasedimentary rocks from the Monti Pisani (Northern Apennines)

We have investigated the effects of different Fe₂O₃ bulk contents on the calculated phase equilibria of low‐T/intermediate‐P metasedimentary rocks. Thermodynamic modelling within the MnO–Na₂O–K₂O–FeO–MgO–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–H₂O–TiO₂–O (MnNKFMASHTO) chemical system of chloritoid‐bearing hematite‐rich metasedimentary rocks from the Variscan basement of the Pisani Mountains (Northern Apennines, Italy) fails to reproduce the observed mineral compositions when the bulk Fe₂O₃ is determined through titration. The mismatch between observed and computed mineral compositions and assemblage is resolved by tuning the effective ferric iron content by P–XFe₂O₃ diagrams, obtaining equilibration conditions of 475 °C and 9–10 kbar related to a post‐compressional phase of the Alpine collision. The introduction of ferric iron affects the stability of the main rock‐forming silicates that often yield important thermobaric information. In Fe₂O₃‐rich compositions, garnet‐ and carpholite‐in curves shift towards higher temperatures with respect to the Fe₂O₃‐free systems. The presence of a ferric‐iron oxide (hematite) prevents the formation of biotite in the mineral assemblage even at temperatures approaching 550 °C. The use of P–T–XFe₂O₃ phase diagrams may also provide P–T information in common greenschist facies metasedimentary rocks.