Differential timing of vertical-axis block rotations in the northern Ryukyu Arc: Paleomagnetic evidence from the Koshikijima Islands,Japan

Over 300 samples for paleomagnetic analysis and K–Ar dating were collected from 27 sites at NW–SE and NE–SW trending dike swarms (herein, NW dikes and NE dikes, respectively) in the Koshikijima Islands, northern Ryukyu Arc. The NW dikes are Middle Miocene in age and have directions (D = ? 37.7^°, I = 51.8^°, α₉₅ = 9.6^°, and κ = 40.8) that are deflected westward relative to the stable eastern Asian continent. Conversely, the NE dikes, of Late Miocene age, have directions (D = 16.1^°, I = 57.7^°, α₉₅ = 7.1^°, and κ = 41.9) that show no such deflection. These differences are interpreted as indicating that the Koshikijima Islands underwent approximately 40^° of counter-clockwise rotation during the Middle to Late Miocene. A synthesis of the paleomagnetic and structural data suggests a three-stage history of extensional deformation: (1) displacement upon normal faults (F₁ faults) without vertical-axis block rotation, (2) strike-slip reactivation of F₁ faults and oblique-normal displacement on NE–SW-trending faults (F₂ faults) with vertical-axis block rotation, and (3) oblique-normal displacement on F₂ faults without vertical-axis block rotation. Regional differences in the timing and amount of counter-clockwise vertical-axis block rotations indicate that the northern Ryukyu Arc rotated as several distinct rigid blocks.     

Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alteration of basalt in the Kuroko mine area, Japan: implications for the evolution of a Back Arc Basin hydrothermal system

Basalt in the Furutobe District of the Kuroko mine area in Japan is characterized by abundant chlorite and epidote. Fluid inclusion studies indicate that chlorite is formed at lower temperatures (230–250°C) than epidote (250–280°C). The seawater/basalt mass ratio for the early chlorite-rich alteration was high (max. 40), but that for the later alteration was low (0.1–1.8). The CaO, Na₂O and SiO₂ of the bulk rock correlate negatively with MgO, while FeO and Σ Fe correlate positively with MgO. These changes in the characteristic features of hydrothermal alteration from early to late are generally similar to those for a mid-ocean ridge geothermal system accompanying basalt alteration.The MgO/FeO ratios of chlorite and actinolite and the Fe₂O₃ concentration of epidote from the basalt are greater than those of mid-ocean ridge basalt probably owing to the differences in the Fe₂O₃/FeO and MgO/FeO ratios of the parent rocks. The lower CaO concentration and the higher Na₂O concentration of the bulk rock compared with altered mid-ocean ridge basalt can be interpreted in terms of the difference in original bulk rock compositions.The Furutobe basalt, as well as other submarine back arc basalts, contains more vesicles filled with hydrothermal minerals (epidote, calcite, quartz, chlorite, pyrite) than do the mid-ocean ridge basalts. The abundance of vesicles plays an important role in controlling the secondary mineralogy and geochemistry of hydrothermally altered submarine back arc basin basalts.     

Calcium-alkalinity relationship in the North Pacific

The dissolution of calcium carbonate in deep ocean water causes variation in calcium concentration (Ca) and alkalinity (TA) in the ratio of one to two. The decomposition of organic matter generates nitric acid, phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. A proton flux which is derived from this process also changes alkalinity. Using the variation in nitrate concentration (NO₃) as an index of the proton flux, the relationship betweenCa,TA andNO₃ is expressed asCa=0.5TA+0.63NO₃ The values of Ca obtained from direct measurements in the North Pacific are in good agreement with the values estimated from this equation.     

Moored instrument observations in the Kuroshio south of Kyushu

In each of the (fiscal) years 1979–1982, multilayer current measurements by means of moored instruments were carried out in the Kuroshio off Tanegashima Island, south of Kyushu, with particular interest in the baroclinic layer (0–1,000 m) of the intense current. Most of the moored instruments were in position for more than 30 days, the maximum duration being 145 days. This paper describes some noticeable features of the mean and fluctuation fields in the surface Kuroshio as inferred from the the new data sets.Vertical profiles of horizontal velocities show that the eastward current of the Kuroshio in the region is confined to the upper 600 m on average and below this level the mean current is directed to the southwest along the local isobaths. This is believed to be the first observation of the level of no motion in this region. It is argued that the indicated level of no motion would lead to much smaller values for the Kuroshio transport than previous values referred to the 1,000 m level — for example, earlier estimates by Nitani (1972).The fluctuation field in the upper intense current appears to be dominated by an organized motion with a time scale of about 30 days. This can be seen clearly in the time variations of water temperature and local volume transport, but less clearly in the velocity records. The horizontal transfer components of momentum and heat are calculated and it is suggested that the transverse momentum transfer, UV tends to be negative (offshore) in the region of anticyclonic shear of the upper Kuroshio; no evidence for a negative eddy viscosity effect is found.     

Zonation and species diversity of smaller macrobenthos in the westernmost part of Wakasa Bay (the Sea of Tango)

Grab samples of the smaller macrobenthos (>1 mm, <1g wet weight) were obtained seasonally at fourteen stations along two transects in the shallow coastal waters of the westernmost part of Wakasa Bay. According to Morisita's similarity index (C _i , two faunal groups were recognized to be present throughout the year. The boundary between them was found to lie between depths of 10 and 20 m where the silt-clay fraction increased abruptly in the sediment, although the boundary was less obvious in summer. Statistics on community structure (species diversity, species richness, and evenness) also showed marked differences between the two assemblages. The change in faunal features was found to be roughly parallel to changes in sediment characteristics. On the nearshore sandy bottom, the influence of wave action is considered to be the major factor affecting the fauna as it results in a decrease in evenness and species richness. On the other hand, on the offshore muddy bottom, stagnant conditions cause the benthic fauna to decrease in density and to bear some resemblance to those of enclosed bays. The highest species diversity was found on the silty sand bottom (20 m deep). This can be understood as an edge effect of an ecotone.     

EMRIDGE: The electromagnetic investigation of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

From July to November 1988, a major electromagnetic (EM) experiment, known as EMRIDGE, took place over the southern end of the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeast Pacific. It was designed to complement the previous EMSLAB experiment which covered the entire Juan de Fuca Plate, from the spreading ridge to subduction zone. The principal objective of EMRIDGE was to use natural sources of EM induction to investigate the processes of ridge accretion. Magnetotelluric (MT) sounding and Geomagnetic Depth Sounding (GDS) are well suited to the study of the migration and accumulation of melt, hydrothermal circulation, and the thermal evolution of dry lithosphere. Eleven magnetometers and two electrometers were deployed on the seafloor for a period of three months. Simultaneous land-based data were made available from the Victoria Magnetic Observatory, B.C., Canada and from a magnetometer sited in Oregon, U.S.A.Changes in seafloor bathymetry have a major influence on seafloor EM observations as shown by the orientation of the real GDS induction arrows away from the ridge axis and towards the deep ocean. Three-dimensional (3D) modelling, using a thin-sheet algorithm, shows that the observed EM signature of the Juan de Fuca Ridge and Blanco Fracture Zone is primarily due to nonuniform EM induction within the ocean, associated with changes in ocean depth. Furthermore, if the influence of the bathymetry is removed from the observations, then no significant conductivity anomaly is required at the ridge axis. The lack of a major anomaly is significant in the light of evidence for almost continuous hydrothermal venting along the neo-volcanic zone of the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge: such magmatic activity may be expected to have a distinct electrical conductivity signature, from high temperatures, hydrothermal fluids and possible melt accumulation in the crust.Estimates of seafloor electrical conductivity are made by the MT method, using electric field records at a site 35 km east of the ridge axis, on lithosphere of age 1.2 Ma, and magnetic field records at other seafloor sites. On rotating the MT impedance tensor to the principal axis orientation, significant anisotropy between the major (TE) and minor (TM) apparent resistivities is evident. Phase angles also differ between the principal axis polarisations, and TM phase are greater than 90° at short periods. Thin-sheet modelling suggests that bathymetric changes accounts for some of the observed 3D induction, but two-dimensional (2D) electrical conductivity structure in the crust and upper mantle, aligned with the ridge axis, may also be present. A one-dimensional (1D) inversion of the MT data suggests that the top 50 km of Earth is electrically resistive, and that there is a rise in conductivity at approximately 300 km. A high conductivity layer at 100 km depth is also a feature of the 1D inversion, but its presence is less well constrained.     

Effects of temperature on the vegetative cell liberation of seven species of red-tide algae from the bottom mud in Osaka Bay

Mud samples were collected from the eastern coast of Osaka Bay from April 1984 to August 1985 and were incubated atin situ mud temperatures to examine the effects of temperature on the liberation of seven species of red-tide algae. Skeletonema costatum appeared extensively over a wide temperature range of 9–25°C. The percentage of liberation of benthicHeterosigma akashiwo cells tended to decrease with decreasing temperature, but this species also showed high percentages of liberation (40–100 %) in April whenin situ mud temperatures were still low (9.5–10°C). Germination of benthicHeterocapsa triquetra cells was active at temperatures lower than 10°C but was inhibited to below 20% at temperatures higher than 21°C. This indicates that the supply of vegetativeHeterocapsa cells from bottom muds to seawaters becomes inactive from summer to early autumn. The optimum temperature range for the liberation of benthicChattonella sp. cells was 16–21°C. ForProrocentrum micans, Prorocentrum minimum, andProrocentrum triestinum, no vegetative cells were released from bottom mud at any of the temperatures examined (9–25°C).Field observations on the population dynamics of vegetative cells conducted from April to September 1984 revealed that a close link exists between liberation ofS. costatum andH. triquetra and their blooms in the waters of Osaka Bay. On the basis of these findings, the ecological role of benthic cells in initiating red tides in Osaka Bay is discussed.     

Temporal variations in productivity and planktonic ecological structure in the East Sea (Japan Sea) since the last glaciation

We investigated the biogenic components (biogenic opal, calcium carbonate, and organic carbon) of the marine sediments in core TY99PC18 recovered from the southeastern part of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea). Our results indicate that primary productivity by diatoms increased after the last glaciation (15,000 ¹⁴C years b.p.) probably because of the onset of vertical mixing of seawater and nutrient supply from the deep water. Between 5,000 and 10,000 ¹⁴C years b.p. a shift in the dominant primary producer, i.e. from diatoms to coccolithophores, coincides with decreased productivity, which could be related to the influx of warm, low-nutrient waters at that time. During the late Holocene (after 5,000 ¹⁴C years b.p.) the productivity of diatoms increased once more probably due to renewed ventilation and vertical mixing.     

Barium Increasing Prior to Opal during the Last Termination of Glacial Ages in the Okhotsk Sea Sediments

Ba and Ti in a sediment core (10 m long) from the Okhotsk Sea, covering the last 120 kyrs, were measured. The authigenic Ba (Ba_ex) contents were calculated and compared with the opal. The correlation coefficient between Ba_ex and opal was quite small (r = 0.34), but it greatly grew larger (r = 0.90), if the Ba_ex contents were multiplied by a simple function increasing with depth, except for two intervals. This may be due to the gradual change in the sedimentation environment during the glacial ages. One of the exceptional interval is found at 60–170 cm in depth, corresponding to 10–17 calendar kyr ago, the last termination period of glacial ages, where the Ba_ex began to increase prior to opal. Since the calcium carbonate contents similarly increased prior to the opal increase, the Ba_ex may be also related to calcareous organisms besides siliceous ones. The other is the last interglacial period around 120 kyr ago when the opal contents were high, but those of the Ba_ex were not increased. This can be explained, if the Ba_ex was reduced to sulfide and dissolved away in a strongly anoxic environment during the biologically productive period. During the glacial ages, the mass accumulation rate (MAR) of lithogenic Ti was about twice the amount of that during the interglacial ages. For opal, however, the contrast between the glacial and interglacial ages was more remarkable in its MAR than in its concentration in sediments, due to the larger variation in the bulk sedimentation rates. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.