Horizontal structure of planetary-scale waves at the cloud top of Venus deduced from Galileo SSI images with an improved cloud-tracking technique

An improved cloud tracking method for deriving wind velocities from successive planetary images was developed. The new method incorporates into the traditional cross-correlation method an algorithm that corrects for erroneous cloud motion vectors by re-determining the most plausible correlation peak among all of the local maxima on the correlation surface by comparing each vector with its neighboring vectors. The newly developed method was applied to the Venusian violet images obtained by the Solid State Imaging system (SSI) onboard the Galileo spacecraft during its Venus flyby. Although the results may be biased by the choice of spatial scale of atmospheric features, the cloud tracking is the most practical mean of estimating the wind velocities with extensive spatial and temporal coverage. The two-dimensional distribution of the horizontal wind vector field over 5 days was obtained. It was found from these wind maps that the solar-fixed component in 1990 was similar to that in 1982 obtained by the Pioneer Venus orbiter. The deviation of the instantaneous zonal wind field from the solar-fixed component shows a distinct wavenumber-1 structure in the equatorial region. On the assumption that this structure is a manifestation of an equatorial Kelvin wave, the phase relationship between the zonal wind and the cloud brightness suggests a short photochemical lifetime of the violet absorber. The momentum deposition by this Kelvin wave, which is subject to radiative damping, would induce a westward mean-wind acceleration of ～0.3 m s^?1 per Earth day.     

Empirical fragility analysis of building damage caused by the 2011 Great East Japan tsunami in Ishinomaki city using ordinal regression,and influence of key geographical features

Tsunamis are disastrous events typically causing loss of life, and extreme damage to the built environment, as shown by the recent disaster that struck the East coast of Japan in 2011. In order to quantitatively estimate damage in tsunami prone areas, some studies used a probabilistic approach and derived fragility functions. However, the models chosen do not provide a statistically sound representation of the data. This study applies advanced statistical methods in order to address these limitations. The area of study is the city of Ishinomaki in Japan, the worst affected area during the 2011 event and for which an extensive amount of detailed building damage data has been collected. Ishinomaki city displays a variety of geographical environments that would have significantly affected tsunami flow characteristics, namely a plain, a narrow coast backed up by high topography (terrain), and a river. The fragility analysis assesses the relative structural vulnerability between these areas, and reveals that the buildings surrounding the river were less likely to be damaged. The damage probabilities for the terrain area (with relatively higher flow depths and velocities) were lower or similar to the plain, which confirms the beneficial role of coastal protection. The model diagnostics show tsunami flow depth alone is a poor predictor of tsunami damage for reinforced concrete and steel structures, and for all structures other variables are influential and need to be taken into account in order to improve fragility estimations. In particular, evidence shows debris impact contributed to at least a significant amount of non-structural damage.     

A numerical model for far-field tsunamis and its application to predict damages done to aquaculture

The 1960 Chilean tsunami which traveled the Pacific Ocean and caused much damages to Japan is simulated from its generation to the terminal effects on coastal areas. In the computation of ocean propagation by the linear longwave theory, a new technique is introduced to keep the same accuracy as the linear Boussinesq equation and reduce the CPU time as well as the computer memory. In the coastal transformation computation, the energy dissipation due to sea-bottom scouring is suggested to be included, particularly in the case of long bays. To obtain accurate results, the current velocity requires finer spatial grids than the water surface elevation. Damage done to pearl culture rafts are explained in terms of the computed current velocity.     

The extent of lunar regolith mixing

The activity of solar cosmic-ray-produced⁵³Mn has been measured as a function of depth in the upper 100 g/cm² (～55 cm) of lunar cores 60009–60010 and 12025–12028. Additional samples which supplement our earlier work were analyzed from the Apollo 15 and 16 drill stems. These data, taken in conjunction with our previously published results and the²²Na and²⁶Al data of the Battelle Northwest group, indicate that in at least three of the four cases studied the regolith has been measureably disturbed within the last 10 m.y. In one case gardening to 19 g/cm² is required. Activities measured in the uppermost 2 g/cm² indicate frequent mixing within this depth range. No undisturbed profiles were observed nor were any major discontinuities observed in the profiles. The Monte Carlo gardening model of Arnold has been used to derive profiles for the gardened moon-wide average of⁵³Mn and²⁶Al as a function of depth. The⁵³Mn and²⁶Al experimental results are compared with these theoretical predictions. Agreement is good in several respects, but the calculated depths of disturbance appear to be too low.     

Depth profile of53Mn in the lunar surface

Measurements of cosmic-ray produced⁵³Mn are reported for a series of lunar surface samples down to a depth of 416 g/cm². These results clearly illustrate the decrease in activity with depth as the incident galactic cosmic rays are absorbed. Below 60 g/cm² the production rate decreases exponentially with a mean length, λ, of about 220 g/cm². These results indicate that, at the Apollo 15 site, the lunar regolith has been unmixed, on a meter scale, for the last 5 my. The neutron activation technique for⁵³Mn, which allowed samples smaller than 200 mg to be used for these measurements, is described.     

Flood and Typhoon Disasters in Viet Nam in the Half Century Since 1950

Disasters in Viet Nam are discussed by compiling recent data on the geophysical and social environments, the frequency of disasters, and the values of human and financial losses in 1953–1991. Examinations of yearly frequency and damages caused by typhoons indicate a relatively increasing value of losses in spite of a constant or decreasing frequency in the decade of the 1980s, meaning inadequate prevention programs. The two successive typhoons in 1985 are described as the most catastrophic disaster for 100 years, in which high waves combined with high tides destroyed the dike system and flooded a large area in the central part of Viet Nam, which suggests some serious deficiencies in prevention efforts, especially in coastal areas. Disasters on the coast have been significant because of the rapid growth of the population in the low lands and the destruction of coastal environments, such as coastal erosion caused by a deforestation of mangroves and a short supply of sand. As an example, coastal erosion at Ha Nam Nimh province in the northern part of Viet Nam at an average receding speed of around 15 m/year is described.     

Hydraulic and numerical study on the generation of a subaqueous landslide-induced tsunami along the coast

By carrying out the hydraulic experiments in a one-dimensional open channel and two-dimensional basin, we clarified the process of how a landslide on a uniform slope causes the generation of a tsunami. The effect of the interactive force that occurs between the debris flow layer and the tsunami is significant in the generation of a tsunami. The continuous flow of the debris into the water makes the wave period of the tsunami short. The present experiments apply numerical simulation using the two-layer model with shear stress models on the bottom and interface, and the results are compared. The simulated debris flow shows good agreement with the measured results and ensures the rushing process into the water. We propose that the model use a Manning coefficient of 0.01 for the smooth slope and 0.015 for the rough slope, and a horizontal viscosity of 0.01 m²/s for the landslide; an interactive force of 0.2 for each layer is recommended. The dispersion effect should be included in the numerical model for the propagation from the shore.     

Determination of three-dimensional in situ stresses from anelastic strain recovery measurement of cores at great depth

In order to examine whether the anelastic strain recovery (ASR) method can be applied for determining the in situ stress in hard rocks at great depths, the anelastic strain recovery of oriented cores was measured in six independent directions. The core specimens were taken from four depths within the range of about 2400–4500 m MD at the METI Niitsu well in Japan; the rock materials were mudstone, dolerite, basalt and andesite. For all the rocks the expansional anelastic strains were obtained, the magnitude of the strains in various directions continuously measured for 1 or 2 weeks was of the order of 1000 × 10^− 6 in mudstone; in contrast, strains of the other cores did not exceed a few hundred microstrains. These strains were used for a three-dimensional analysis of the principal in situ stresses. At the third depth, the principal stress directions were considered to be affected by fractures pre-existing near the core, and showed the features of a very local stress state. With the exception of this data, the directions determined by the ASR method were in agreement with those determined using other in situ measurement methods. Based on two assumptions, i.e., (i) the rock stress in vertical direction is equal to density-related gravitational overburden stress, (ii) the ratio of anelastic strain recovery compliance of shear deformation mode and the compliance of volumetric deformation mode is equal to 2, the values of the three principal stresses were estimated. The values of the minimum principal stress in the plane perpendicular to the well axis determined in this study were in agreement with those determined based on extended leak-off tests (ELOT or XLOT) conducted at the same well. Therefore, it can be said that the ASR method is well suited for use in directly determining the directions of principal in situ stresses in three dimensions and in estimating the magnitude of the stresses in isotropic rocks at great depths, such as those encountered when drilling deep into a submarine seismogenic zone.     

Quasi-periodic dust events in the summertime south polar region of Mars

A Hovmöller diagram analysis of the dust optical depth measured by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer shows the occurrence of quasi-periodic westwardly-propagating disturbances with timescales of 10-20 sols during summer in the south polar region of Mars. Dust clouds emerge repeatedly around the region with a latitude of around 70-80°S and a longitude of 240-300°E, move westward at speeds of 3-6 m s⁻¹, reach the region with a longitude of 60-120°E, and finally disappear. This longitude range coincides with elevated terrains in the south polar region, and in this region an increase of dust optical depth encircling the south pole is also observed. This implies that the quasi-periodic dust events will contribute to the enhancement of the atmospheric dust loading in this region. These dust events might be related to baroclinic instability caused by the thermal contrast across the CO₂ cap edge, or the horizontal advection or vertical convection with radiative-dynamical feedback. The westward movement of the dust clouds suggests steady westward winds blowing in the near-surface layer, where the quasi-periodic dust lifting is expected to occur. Such a westward cap-edge flow will be created by the Coriolis force acting on the flow from the ice side to the regolith side.