Rapid and Simple Measurement of H2 Emission from Active Faults Using Compact Sampling Equipments

Smaller equipment has been developed for sampling and measuring H₂ in fault zones. A considerable volume of hydrogen emission, suggesting the presence of fluid paths along fault zones, was detected within a 1‐h simple field procedure at an active fault in Central Japan, the Atotsugawa Fault. The equipment enabled measurements in a thin fault gouge with a thickness of 10 mm; this led to pervasive sampling from small fault zones hosted in harder rocks. A rapid evaluation of the spatio‐temporal heterogeneity of hydrogen emissions along the faults, using the present method, would increase knowledge of fluid circulation around faults.     

In-water algorithms for ADEOS/OCTS

In-water algorithms for OCTS standard products were developed using in situ data and installed for operationally processing at NASDA/EOC. This paper describes the in-water algorithms Version 1.0 for chlorophylla concentration, pigment concentration, and attenuation coefficient at a wavelength of 490 nm. The selected OCTS standard algorithms (Ver. 1.0) are as follows:      

A diametral deformation method forin situ stress and rock property measurement

Summary Failure deformation of a borehole boundary in response to hydraulic loading via a plastic cylinder is directly related to both the initial stress state and the material properties of the ground. These relationships are utilized for determination ofin situ stress states and material properties of complex geological formations, including fractured hard rock and soft ductile media, by directly measuring diametral deformation of the borehole in relation to the applied pressure. This new method was first developed by means of finite element simulation models, and later confirmed by laboratory model studies. This method was then field tested in an outcropping of homogeneous sandstone and later applied to three underground geological formations: highly stratified shale, rock salt, and fractured green schist. Some of the results of these field applications are presented here to illustrate the validity and usefulness of this method, especially for complex ground where the conventional methods of overcoring and hydrofracturing may be ineffective. The instrumentation of this method involves a borehole probe which utilizes electrically powered hydraulic pumping and computerized data acquisition for rapid measurement and on-site analysis. The significance of the new method is its ability to obtain input data ofin situ stress states and material properties for finite element analysis of earth structures in complex ground.     

Seismic return motion

Possibilities of backswing of fault displacement are investigated on the basis of a simple crack model. Although it has been suggested that the backswing would not occur in real earthquakes because of friction, there is evidence that some earthquakes might have caused return motion “locally” on the fault surface. This paper attempts to derive conditions for such local return motion. Spatial extension of the crack beyond the stress-filled region into the stress-deficient region gives a favorable site for the return motion, the site being just outside the stress-filled region. In our model the return motion occurs at this site when the frictional stress is less than about 30% of the regional stress in the stress-filled region. The overall return motion, on the other hand, would not occur unless the frictional stress is less than 10% of the regional stress.     

Dispersion and attenuation of elastic waves due to multiple scattering from cracks

Multiple scattering from cracks is considered in the two-dimensional plane-strain condition. It is assumed that identical cracks are distributed uniformly in space and that the effective waves propagate normal to the crack surfaces. Then, the apparent dispersion and attenuation are calculated as functions of frequency for three independent modes of wave propagation: SV, P and SH.The calculated results show that, in each case, the attenuation coefficient Q^?1 takes a peak value when the wavelength is nearly twice the crack width, while phase velocity has a maximum deviation from the intrinsic value at a frequency lower than the peak frequency for Q^?1.     

Raman microprobe study of synthetic diaplectic plagioclase feldspars

Raman microprobe spectra were made on three post shock, diaplectic plagioclase feldspars. Optical and X-ray diffraction studies indicated that feldspars maintained a partially or totally crystalline state after having passed through the mixed phase zone of Hugoniot response to shock waves (15–38 GPa). The appearance of uniquely glass-type spectra occurs at different shock pressures for each specimen according to its atomic structural arrangement, below 38 GPa for mosaic structured labradorite, near 40 GPa for anorthite and above 50 GPa for the highly ordered low albite. The diaplectic anorthite and labradorite glasses give spectra which indicate the presence of two glass types. Shifts in the band envelope frequencies compared to spectra of fused glass and statically pressure densified glass suggest that these glasses have specific structural arrangements. These differences suggest that the shock and fusion glass-forming processes are not exactly identical. The results from material shocked in the mixed phase region of Hugoniot response show that the phase transitions are effected at different pressures depending upon the feldspar structural type.     

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2016.10.001

The Francevillian Group in Gabonese Republic was recently established as a typical sedimentary sequence for the Paleoproterozoic.However,its age is rather poorly constrained,mainly based on Rb-Sr and Nd-Sm datings.This study reports new zircon data obtained from Chaillu massif and N'goutou complex,which constrain the protolith age of the basement orthogneisses and the igneous age of an intrusive granite,respectively.Most zircons from the orthogneisses are blue and exhibit oscillatory zoning in cathode-luminescence images.Zircons with lower common lead abundances tend to be distributed close to the concordia curve.Two age clusters around 2860 Ma and 2910 Ma are found in zircons plotted on the concordia curve.Based on the Th/U ratios of zircons,these ages correspond to the protolith ages of the orthogneisses,and the zircons are not metamorphic in origin.Syenites and granites were collected from the N'goutou complex that intrudes into the FA and FB units of the Francevillian Group.The granitoids exhibit chemical composition of A-type granite affinity.Half of zircons separated from the granite are non-luminous,and the remaining half exhibit obscure internal textures under cathode-luminescence observation.All zircon grains contain significant amounts of common lead;the lead isotopic variability is probably attributed to the mixing of two components in the zircons.The zircon radiogenic ~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb ratio is 0.13707 ± 0.0010.corresponding to a ~(207)Pb/~(206)Pb age of 2191 ± 13 Ma.This constrains the minimum depositional age of the FA and FB units.Furthermore,the FB unit consists of manganese-rich carbonate rocks and organic carbon-rich black shales with macroscopic fossils.Based on our age constraints,these organisms appeared in the study area just after the last Paleoproterozoic Snowball Earth event,in concert with global scale oxidation event encompassing the Snowball Earth.     

Variability in the Relative Penetration of Ultraviolet Radiation to Photosynthetically Available Radiation in Temperate Coastal Waters, Japan

UVR and PAR wavelengths are attenuated to different extents within the water column, causing variations in spectral composition with depth. The present investigation (a) describes the variability of UVR and PAR penetration at a station in the temperate coastal waters of Sagami Bay and determines (b) the characteristics of relative UVR penetration to the euphotic zone. Examination of the seasonal irradiance profile measurements indicated eight measurements displaying two distinct attenuation coefficients (K _d) for specific UVR wavelengths and PAR. The two attenuation coefficients observed from specific wavelengths in the water column may be caused not only by chlorophyll pigments, but also by dissolved organic material in the upper layer. The 1% depth of surface UVR at 305, 320, 340, and 380 nm averaged 10.8 ± 5.7, 14.9 ± 9.5, 19.8 ± 12.1, and 30.4 ± 17.6 m, respectively. The depth of euphotic layer displayed less variability averaging 62 ± 15 m throughout the entire study. Relative UVR penetration within the euphotic zone averaged 17.8 ± 8.1, 22.9 ± 10, 30.5 ± 13.8, and 46 ± 46.9% for 305, 320, 340, and 380 nm, respectively. A large variation of the relative transmission of UVR within the euphotic zone was found although the spectral composition was relatively stable in the air throughout the study.     

Coupling behavior of shear deformation and end rotation of elastomeric seismic isolation bearings

This paper presents a mechanical model for predicting the behavior of elastomeric seismic isolation bearings subject to combined end rotations and shear deformation. The mechanical model consists of a series of axial springs at the top, mid‐height and bottom of the bearing to vertically reproduce asymmetric bending moment distribution in the bearings. The model can take into account end rotations of the bearing, and the overall rotational stiffness includes the effect of the variation of vertical load on the bearing and the imposed shear deformation. Static bending tests under various combinations of vertical load and shear deformation were performed to identify the mechanical characteristics of bearings. The test results indicate that bearing rotational stiffness increases with increasing vertical load but decreases with increasing shear deformation. Simulation analyses were conducted to validate the new mechanical model. The results of analyses using the new model show very good agreement with experimental observations. A series of seismic response analyses were performed to demonstrate the dynamic behavior of top‐of‐column isolated structures, a configuration where the end rotations of isolation bearings are typically expected to be larger. The results suggest that the end rotations of elastomeric bearings used in practical top‐of‐column isolated structures do not reduce the stability limit of isolation system. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.