A fluidized landslide on a natural slope by artificial rainfall

An experiment to induce a fluidized landslide by artificial rainfall was conducted on a natural slope at Mt. Kaba-san in the village of Yamato, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. The experimental slope was 30 m long, 5 m wide, and the average slope gradient was 33°. A landslide initiated 24,627.5 s (410 m/27.5 s) after the start of sprinkling at a rainfall intensity of 78 mm/h. The landslide mass was 14 m long and 1.2 m deep (at maximum). It first slid, then fluidized, and changed into a debris flow. The travel distance was up to 50 m in 17s. The apparent friction angle of the fluidized landslide was 16.7°. Formation of the sliding surface was detected by soil-strain probes. Motion of the surface of the failed landslide mass was determined by stereo photogrammetry.     

Phototrophic activity and redox condition in Lake Hamana, Japan, indicated by sedimentary photosynthetic pigments and molybdenum over the last ∼250 years

We analyzed photosynthetic pigments, total organic carbon (TOC), biogenic silica, and Mo, a redox-sensitive element, in ²¹⁰Pb-dated sediment cores to reconstruct the historical changes in primary productivity and anoxia in the central basin of Lake Hamana, a brackish lake in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, over the last 250 years. The algal photosynthetic pigments we analyzed included chlorophyll a (and its derivatives), chlorophyll b (and its derivatives), and carotenoids such as -carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, diatoxanthin, fucoxanthin, alloxanthin, and -carotene. Marker pigments for phototrophic sulfur bacteria were also recorded, including okenone and bacteriopheophytin a, originating from Chromatium (a genus of purple sulfur bacteria), and isorenieratene and bacteriochlorophylls e ₁, e ₂ and e ₃ (and corresponding bacteriopheophytins) from brown Chlorobium (a brown-colored group of green sulfur bacteria). The occurrence of these pigments throughout the length of all cores indicates that the anoxia in Lake Hamana has existed over at least the last 250 years. The indicators related to primary productivity – TOC and pigments of aerobic and anaerobic phototrophs – and an indicator of anoxia, Mo, increased after 1860, indicating that productivity had increased in both the oxic and anoxic (sulfidic) zones. The depth profiles of the indicators in the sediment cores showed that among phototrophic sulfur bacteria, Chromatium preferentially increased relative to brown Chlorobium when the lake productivity was high, and hence high anoxia existed in the lake. This can be explained by a shallowing of the oxic/anoxic boundary zone due to changes in temporal and/or spatial extents of seasonal anoxia, which made the light intensity in the upper anoxic zone high enough for Chromatium to grow. The upper Chromatium layer may absorb the wavelengths of light that favor the growth of brown Chlorobium in the water column, resulting in a relative decrease in brown Chlorobium. During the 1950s, the trends among the indicators changed significantly. This change is attributed to the construction of training walls, built to direct tidal currents into the lake, on the Imagire-guchi Channel, the sole inlet of seawater to the lake, during 1954–1956, and the resultant increases of seawater intrusion and lake salinity. A decrease in okenone and bacteriopheophytin a, or in okenone/isorenieratene ratio, after 1960 accompanying a decrease in Mo, is attributed to a deepening of the anoxic zone, where the light intensity became too low for growth of Chromatium, more light-demanding than the brown Chlorobium. A decrease of zeaxanthin (cyanobacteria) after 1960 relative to lutein (green algae) and diatoxanthin (diatoms and dinoflagellates) indicated a change in algal assemblage, presumably due to the increased salinity. Principal component analysis with a data set of total algal carotenoids, okenone, isorenieratene, and Mo also suggested that a major change occurred around the 1950s.     

Superconducting gravimeter observations without a tilt compensation system

This paper examines the possibility of using superconducting gravimeter (SG) observations without a tilt compensation system. SG data obtained at Syowa Station, Antarctica, were recorded without tilt compensation from April 5, 2001 to January 4, 2002, however, tilt signals were registered during this time period. A tilt correction was applied to gravity data from August 2, 2001 to January 4, 2002. After the tilt correction, errors of tidal parameters were dramatically reduced and tidal parameters themselves almost coincide with those from the same length of tilt-controlled gravity data recorded in 2000, when tilt compensation system was used. The noise level of the thermal leveler in the seismic band was also investigated. Averaged power spectra of gravity from 15 quiet days each in 2000 and 2001 recorded with and without the tilt compensation system, respectively, were compared. ‘Quiet’ in this case, means very low earthquake activity and calm wind conditions. No significant difference in the seismic band, except at the frequency of 2 mHz, was noticed. The difference at 2 mHz occurred because of room temperature variations caused by the water cooler, which cools down a compressor by automatically switching on and off.     

Search for Young Giant Planets with the Subaru 8-Meter Telescope: Instrument and Strategy

Earth, Moon, and Planets -     

Magnetic and electric field observations during the 2000 activity of Miyake-jima volcano, Central Japan

Magnetic and electric field variations associated with the 2000 eruption of Miyake-jima volcano are summarized. For about 1 week prior to the July 8 phreatic explosion, significant changes in the total intensity were observed at a few stations, which indicated uprising of a demagnetized area from a depth of 2 km towards the summit: this non-magnetic source can be regarded as a vacant space itself. Electric and magnetic field variations were observed simultaneously associated with the tilt-step event, which was the abrupt (∼50 s) inflation at a few km depth within the volcano followed by gradual recovery (∼several hours). The electric field is ascribed to the electrokinetic effect most probably due to forced injection of fluids from the source, while the magnetic field to the piezomagnetic effect due to increased pressure. Large magnetic variations amounting to a few tens of nT were observed at several stations since July 8, and they turned almost flat after the August 18 largest eruption. Magnetic changes are explained mostly by the vanishing of magnetic mass in the summit and additionally by the thermal demagnetization at a rather shallow depth. A large increase in the self-potential by 130 mV was also observed near the summit caldera associated with the August 18 eruption, which suggests that the hydrothermal circulation system sustained within the volcano for the past more than 10 years was destroyed by this eruption.     

Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene basin formation around northwestern Kyushu, Japan

Cenozoic basin-forming processes in northwestern Kyushu were studied on the basis of geological and geophysical data. Gravity anomaly analysis delineated four sedimentary basins in the study area: Goto-nada, Nishisonogi, Amakusa-nada, and Shimabara. Borehole stratigraphy and reflection seismic interpretation suggest that the Goto-nada Basin was subdivided into the Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene depocenters (Goto-nada 1 and 2). In the Paleogene, Amakusa-nada Basin was rapidly subsiding together with the Shimabara Basin as part of a large graben. Goto-nada 1 and Nishisonogi basins belonged to another depositional area. After stagnant subsidence stage in the early Miocene, the study area became a site of basaltic activity (since 10 Ma) and vigorous subsidence in the Plio-Pleistocene. Goto-nada 2 Basin is accompanied with numerous east–west active faults, and separated from the Amakusa-nada Basin by a northeast– southwest basement high, Nomo Ridge. Plio-Pleistocene subsidence of the Amakusa-nada Basin is related with low-angle normal faulting on the eastern flank of the Nomo Ridge. Shimabara Basin is a composite volcano-tectonic depression which is studded by east–west faults. Focal mechanism on active faults suggests transtensional stress regime in the study area.     

Quaternary tectonic rotation in central Japan: Paleomagnetism of the Eboshidake volcanic rocks

Abstract   Neotectonic crustal deformation in central Japan near a triple-junction of plates is investigated on the basis of paleomagnetic data. The progressive thermal demagnetization test isolated characteristic remanent magnetization from 18 sites of the early Quaternary Eboshidake volcanic rocks erupted around the termination of active strike-slip faults. The site-mean directions show considerably large scatter in declinations, and easterly deflection in average (D_m = −161.7°). On the basis of inclination statistics, measured inclinations (I_m = −48.9°, δI = 6.6°) are concordant with an expected value from latitude of the study area. Because the sampling was planned to cover a wide stratigraphic range and eliminate the effect of geomagnetic secular variation, an easterly deflection is attributed to clockwise rotation around vertical axis. Together with previous paleomagnetic data, the present study indicates that clockwise-rotated areas in central Japan are aligned on a northeast–southwest recent shear zone delineated through geodetic survey. Deflection and scatter of paleomagnetic declinations of the Eboshidake volcanic rocks are much greater than those extrapolated from a recent strain rate, and might be explained by complicated motion anticipated at fault terminations and/or enhanced crustal rotation under elevated temperatures around a Quaternary volcanic province.     

Microbiological and Chemical Studies in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo—II

The distribution of inorganic nitrogen compounds and the metabolic rates of these compounds by microorganisms as a whole were investigated in the Seas of Hiuchi and Bingo. The results obtained are as follows:

1. Of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the contents in sea water, those in bottom muds, the uptake or liberation rates of microorganisms as a whole in sea water, and the liberation rates from bottom muds to sea water are 0.2～4.0 μg at. N/l, 3～60 μg at.N/100 g, 0.01～0.5 μg at.N//lhr, and 0.3～1.9 μg at.N/100 cm²/hr, respectively, and these contents or rates of ammonia usually are the largest of these inorganic nitrogen compounds.
2. From the above-mentioned results and the others, it is suggested that the nitrogen in the seas circulates mainly in sea water itself and the course of nitrogen cycle, which passes through bottom muds, is not so important, and further that, of the cycle of inorganic nitrogen compounds, the main course is the course which ammonia is liberated from organic nitrogen compounds and it is immediately uptaked by microorganisms, and the course which it is oxidized to nitrate and the others are not so important.