Correction of the effect of relative wind direction on wind speed derived by advanced microwave scanning radiometer

The sea surface wind speed (SSWS) derived by a microwave radiometer can be contaminated by changes of the brightness temperature owing to the angle between the sensor azimuth and the wind direction (Relative Wind Direction effect: RWD effect). We attempt to apply the method proposed by Konda and Shibata (2004) to the SSWS derived by Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR) on Advanced Earth Observing Satellite II (ADEOS-II), in order to correct for the RWD effect. The improvement of accuracy of the SSWS estimation amounts to roughly 60% of the error caused by the RWD effect. Comparison with in situ observation at the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array shows that the root mean square error of the corrected SSWS is 1.1 ms⁻¹. It is found that the impact of the RWD effect on the estimation of the latent heat flux can amount to about 30 Wm⁻² on average. We applied the method to the SSWS derived by AMSR for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) and obtained a similar result.     

西南日本黒濑川带的解剖：晚二叠世和早侏罗世增生混杂岩的构造-地层学与浅变质作用

The Kurosegawa belt forms a relatively narrow terrane that can be traced continuously throughout southwest and central Japan. The major constituent continental fragments of the Kurosegawa belt include Early Paleozoic granitic rocks, high-grade metamor-phic rocks, Carboniferous metamorphic rocks (epi-dote-amphibolite facies), Triassic-Early Jurassic metamorphic rocks (pumpellyite-actinolite facies), serpentinites of unknown age, Silurian–Devonian volcanoclastic rocks intercalated with limestones, and Permian–Jurassic shallow marine sediments (e.g., Ichikawa et al., 1956; Maruyama et al., 1984; Faure, 1985; Yoshikura et al., 1990; Aitchison et al., 1991, 1996; Hada et al., 1992, 2001; Isozaki et al., 1992). These diverse rock suites are highly disrupted, form-ing lenticular bodies within the Late Permian accre-tionary complex (AC) which collectively are covered by younger (Cretaceous) marine to brackish water sediments (e.g., Aitchison et al., 1991; Isozaki et al., 1992). We characterize the tectono-stratigraphic ar-chitecture and low-grade metamorphism of the accre-tionary complex preserved in the Kurosegawa belt of the Kitagawa district in eastern Shikoku, Southwest Japan, in order to understand its internal structure, tectono-metamorphic evolution, and assessments of displacement of continental fragments within the complex.     

An empirical model for landslide travel distance prediction in Wenchuan earthquake area

Sliding mass of landslides highly endangered the area along travel path, especially landslides with long travel distance. It is necessary to develop an effective prediction model for preliminarily evaluating landslide travel distance so as to improve disaster prevention and relocation. This paper collected 54 landslides with 347–4,170 m travel distance triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake to discuss the effectiveness of various influential factors on landslide travel distance and obtained an empirical model for its prediction. The results revealed that rock type, sliding source volume, and slope transition angle were the predominant factors on landslide travel distance. The validity of proposed model was verified by the satisfactory agreement between observations and predictions. Therefore, this model might be practically applicable in Wenchuan earthquake area and other similar geomorphological and geological regions.     

Near-Infrared Colors of the Binary Kuiper Belt Object 1998 WW 31

We have measured near-infrared colorsof the binary Kuiper Belt object (KBO)1998 WW₃₁ using the Subaru Telescope withadaptive optics. The satellite was detectednear its perigee and apogee(0.18“ and 1.2” apart from the primary).The primary and the satellite have similar H–Kcolors, while the satellite is redder thanthe primary in J–H. Combined with the Rband magnitude previously published byVeillet et al., 2002, the color of the primaryis consistent with that of optically red KBOs. Thesatellite's R-, J-, H-colors suggest thepresence of ～1 μm absorption band dueto rock-forming minerals. If the surface of thesatellite is mainly composed by olivine, thesatellite's albedo is higher value than the canonicallyassumed value of 4%.     

Global adjustment of star positions for the compilation of independent catalogs

Presented is a method of global adjustment of stars' right ascensions for the compilation of an independent catalog obtained with a meridian circle. The concept of the problem is shown first, in which corrections to the catalog positions of observed stars can be determined directly by solving a set of observation equations constructed over many of nights. Some parameters such as clock correction, azimuth of artificial azimuth marks, and the correction to an adopted value of the latitude are assumed to vary regularly over the observation period. The present method is applied to the determination of the absolute azimuth of the Tokyo PMC by using upper and lower transits of azimuth stars.     

Soil radon in winter months under snowpack in Hokkaido, Japan

Soil radon (²²²Rn) has been monitored during winter months under cool-temperate deciduous stands of different surface geology in Tomakomai and in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Radon level was lower in Tomakomai of immature soil of porous volcanic ash emitted from an active volcano (Mt. Tarumae), compared with those in Sapporo of alluvial sediments. In Tomakomai, mean value of the ²²²Rn activity concentration was higher in winter (570 Bq m^?3) than in summer (350 Bq m^?3) at a depth of 1 m, which is consistent with the results in cold and dry winter reported in the literature. In contrast, soil radon decreasing with decreasing soil temperature from mid-September (5.0 kBq m^?3) remained low (2.6 kBq m^?3) under persistent snow in Sapporo, which had already been observed in the same location. Measurements of the activity concentrations of ²²²Rn in snow and in snow air as well as in soil air indicate that the small amount of ²²²Rn is released from the ground surface to the overlying snowpack with a ²²²Rn flux density of 0.4 mBq m^?2 s^?1 under thick snow cover in Sapporo.     

U–Pb zircon age from the radiolarian‐bearing Hitoegane Formation in the Hida Gaien Belt,Japan

The dating of radiolarian biostratigraphic zones from the Silurian to Devonian is only partially understood. Dating the zircons in radiolarian‐bearing tuffaceous rocks has enabled us to ascribe practical ages to the radiolarian zones. To extend knowledge in this area, radiometric dating of magmatic zircons within the radiolarian‐bearing Hitoegane Formation, Japan, was undertaken. The Hitoegane Formation is mainly composed of alternating beds of tuffaceous sandstones, tuffaceous mudstones and felsic tuff. The felsic tuff and tuffaceous mudstone yield well‐preserved radiolarian fossils. Zircon grains showing a U–Pb laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry age of 426.6 ± 3.7 Ma were collected from four horizons of the Hitoegane Formation, which is the boundary between the Pseudospongoprunum tauversi to Futobari solidus–Zadrappolus tenuis radiolarian assemblage zones. This fact strongly suggests that the boundary of these assemblage zones is around the Ludlowian to Pridolian. The last occurrence of F. solidus is considered to be Pragian based on the reinterpretation of a U–Pb sensitive high mass‐resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) zircon age of 408.9 ± 7.6 Ma for a felsic tuff of the Kurosegawa belt, Southwest Japan. Thus the F. solidus–Z. tenuis assemblage can be assigned to the Ludlowian or Pridolian to Pragian. The present data also contribute to establishing overall stratigraphy of the Paleozoic rocks of the Fukuji–Hitoegane area. According to the Ordovician to Carboniferous stratigraphy in this area, Ordovician to Silurian volcanism was gradually reduced to change the sedimentary environment into a tropical lagoon in the early Devonian. And the quiet Carboniferous environment was subsequently interrupted, throwing it once more into the volcanic conditions in the Middle Permian.     

Trace-element compositions of single fluid inclusions in the Kofu granite, Japan: Implications for compositions of granite-derived fluids

Fluid inclusions in quartz from miarolitic cavities, pegmatites, and quartz veins in Miocene biotite-granite plutons, Kofu, Japan, were analyzed by particle-induced X-ray emission to examine chemistries and behaviors of granite-derived fluids in island-arc granite. Most inclusions are aqueous two-phase inclusions, and halite-bearing polyphase inclusions are also observed in quartz veins in the upper part of the plutons. From element contents of fluid inclusions in the miarolitic cavities, the original fluid released from the granite plutons during solidification is inferred to have concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ge, Br, Rb, Pb, and Ba of several tens to hundreds of parts per million by weight (ppm) and a salinity of about 10 wt% NaCl equivalent. We estimated the formation conditions of the fluid to have been at about 1.3–1.9 kb and 530–600°C on the basis of the homogenization temperatures of the inclusions and the solidification conditions of the plutons. The polyphase inclusions probably originated from hypersaline fluid by boiling of part of the released fluid during its ascent in the plutons. The polyphase inclusions contain several hundreds to tens of thousands of ppm of Fe and Mn, and tens to several hundreds of ppm of Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, and Pb. The salinities are about 35 wt% NaCl equivalent. Compositional variations in two-phase inclusions from the miarolitic cavities and quartz veins are primarily explained by mineral precipitation with dilution by surface water exerting a secondary influence. Thus, chemistries and behaviors of the granite-derived fluids in the plutons can be explained by mineral precipitation, boiling, and dilution of the originally released fluid.     

Computer simulation of the MgSiO3 polymorphs

Six polymorphs of MgSiO₃ have been studied using molecular dynamic (MD) simulation techniques, based on the empirical potential (MAMOK), which is composed of terms to describe pairwise additive Coulomb, van der Waals attraction, and repulsive interactions. Crystal structures, bulk moduli, volume thermal expansivities, and enthalpies were simulated for the known MgSiO₃ polymorphs; orthoenstatite, clinoenstatite, protoenstatite, garnet, ilmenite, and perovskite. The simulated values compare very well with the available experimental data, and the results are quite satisfactory in view of the diversity of the crystal structures of the six polymorphs, the wide range of simulated properties, and the simplicity of the MAMOK potential. MD simulation was further successfully used to study the possibile existence of a post-protoenstatite phase at high temperature, and a C2/c phase at high pressure, both phases being suggested or inferred previously from experimental works.     

Petroloy of the Taga Volcano Group,Izu Peninsula,Central Japan

The Taga Volcano Group of the Izu Peninsula is divided into four volcanoes: Older Taga, Atami, Shimo-Taga and Himenosawa. Each volcano consists of basalt-andesite lavas and volcaniclastic sediments, mainly of low alkali tholeiite composition.The activity of the Shimo-Taga Volcano is divided into three stages (early, middle and later). Rocks of the first two stages consist of lavas and volcaniclastic sediments of olivine basalt, phyric and aphyric basaltic andesite. The later stage rocks consist of volcaniclastic sediments which were erupted as mudflow deposits.Basalts and andesites of the first two stages are considered to have been derived from a zoned magma chamber. They were produced by fractional crystallization, which involved the gravitational separation of plagioclase, olivine and/or pyroxene crystals. Eruption of aphyric and phyric basaltic andesite from the upper part of the chamber occurred first, followed by olivine basalt from lower parts of the chamber.

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Zusammenfassung Die Taga-Vulkan Gruppe besteht aus dem älteren Taga, dem Atami, dem Shimo-Taga und dem Himenosawa Vulkan. Jeder dieser Vulkane wird aus basaltisch-andesitischen Laven und vulkano-klastischen Sedimenten, hauptsächlich subalkalisch tholeiitischer Zusammensetzung, aufgebaut.Die Eruptionstätigkeit des Shimo-Taga Vulkans läßt sich in drei Phasen, eine Früh-, Mittel- und Spätphase untergliedern. Laven und vulkanoklastische Sedimente der ersten beiden Phasen bestehen aus Olivinbasalten, sowie aus basaltischen Andesiten mit porphyrischem und nichtporphyrischem Gefüge. Während des letzten Stadiums wurden vulkanoklastische Sedimente in Form von vulkanoklastischen Schlammströmen eruptiert.Die Basalte und Andesite der ersten beiden Stadien werden als Produkte einer zonierten Magmenkammer gedeutet. Sie entstanden durch fraktionierte Kristallisation und durch die gravitative Abtrennung von Plagioklas, Olivin und/oder Pyroxenkristallen. Der Eruption der porphyrischen und nichtporphyrischen basaltischen Andesite aus dem obersten Teil der Magmakammer folgte die Eruption von Olivinbasalten aus dem tieferen Teil der Magmakammer.