Continuous Observation of Groundwater and Crustal Deformation for Forecasting Tonankai and Nankai Earthquakes in Japan

In 2006, we started construction of an observation network of 12 stations in and around Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula to conduct research for forecasting Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. The purpose of the network is to clarify the mechanism of past preseismic groundwater changes and crustal deformation related to Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes. Construction of the network of 12 stations was completed in January 2009. Work on two stations, Hongu-Mikoshi (HGM) and Ichiura (ICU), was finished earlier and they began observations in 2007. These two stations detected strain changes caused by the slow-slip events on the plate boundary in June 2008, although related changes in groundwater levels were not clearly recognized.     

A 27-kyr record of environmental change in central Asia inferred from the sediment record of Lake Hovsgol,northwest Mongolia

Geochemistry of a sediment core from Lake Hovsgol, northwest Mongolia provides a continuous, 27-kyr history of the response of the lake and the surrounding catchment to climate change. Principle component (PC) analysis of 19 major and trace elements, total inorganic carbon (TIC), and total organic carbon (TOC) in the bulk sediment samples revealed that the 21 chemical components can be grouped into four assemblages—group-1: Na, Mg, Ca, Sr, and TIC, hosted in carbonate minerals (calcite, dolomite, and magnesian calcite); group-2: Ni, Cu, and Zn, recognized as biophilic trace metals, and TOC; group-3: Al, K, Ti, V, Fe, Rb, Cs, Ba, and Pb, composed of rock-forming minerals; and group-4: Cr, Mn, and As, sensitive to the redox condition of the sediment. The four element assemblages originated from three relevant processes. Group-1 and group-2 components are authigenic products and comprise the end member on the PC-1 score, whose variation reflects changes in the water volume, i.e. the balance between precipitation and evaporation (P/E). Group-3 components from detrital materials of the catchment contribute to the PC-2 score, whose variability indicates erosion/weathering intensity in the drainage basin, which might be controlled by the amount of vegetation cover associated with moisture change. The group-4 components of redox-sensitive elements contribute to the PC-3 score and are not an end member because of their small amount. The first two PC scores suggest a sequential record of paleo-moisture evolution in central Asia. The P/E balance in the Lake Hovsgol region, inferred from the PC-1 score, gradually increased during the glacial/interglacial transition. This resembles climate change of the North Atlantic region on the glacial–interglacial scale, but does not reflect the abrupt climate shifts such as the warm Bølling-Allerød and the cold Younger Dryas of the North Atlantic on the millennial scale. A periodic variation of ~8.7 kyr was observed in the PC-2 score profile of detrital input to Lake Hovsgol over the last glacial and Holocene. The decrease in detrital input coincided with the copious supply of moisture from the Asian monsoon regime and the North Atlantic westerly winds to the Baikal drainage basin, which includes Lake Hovsgol. Our geochemical records from Lake Hovsgol demonstrate that the climate system of interior continental Asia was strongly influenced by change on both Milankovitch and sub-Milankovitch scales.     

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations and congener composition in masu salmon from Japan: A study of all 209 PCB congeners by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS)

We collected two subspecies of masu salmon: Oncorhynchus masou masou from four localities (southern Sea of Japan northward to Hokkaido) and O. masou ishikawae from upstream from Ise Bay close to a heavy industrial area. All 209 PCB congeners were analyzed using HRGC/HRMS. PCA ordination of congener concentrations divided data into three groups: (i) ssp. masou from Hokkaido, (ii) ssp. masou from the other regions and (iii) ssp. ishikawae. The highest ∑ PCB concentration (40.39 ng/wet wt) was in ssp. ishikawae followed by ssp. masou from southern waters; however the TEQ_{dioxin-like PCBs} was highest in ssp. masou from southern water (1.96 pg-TEQ_{dioxin-like PCBs}/g wet wt.) due to the high proportion of congener #126 in its complement (#126 has the highest toxic equivalency factor among congeners). There is likely a contamination source offshore in the southern Sea of Japan and/or along the migratory route of ssp. masou.     

Variations in the thermal conductivities of surface sediments in the Nankai subduction zone off Tokai, central Japan

We investigated the relationship between variations in the thermal conductivity of surface sediments and the topography in the Nankai subduction zone off Tokai, central Japan, the easternmost part of the Nankai subduction zone, which has an accretionary prism with varied topography. We analyzed sediment thermal conductivity data obtained from the trough floor and accretionary prism. Variations in the thermal conductivity of sediments were related to the topographic features formed by accretionary prism development. Thermal conductivities of 1.1?W/m?K were measured on the trough floor where thick terrigenous turbidites have been deposited. The thermal conductivity of Nankai Trough floor sediments decreases from northeast to southwest along the trough, probably because of the decreased grain size and/or changes in sediment mineral composition. High thermal conductivities (??1.0?W/m?K) were measured in fault scarps on the accretionary prism. A landward increase in these values on the prism may be explained by decreased porosity of the sediments attributable to tectonic deformation during accretionary prism development. At the base of the fault scarp of the frontal thrust, low thermal conductivities (<0.9?W/m?K) were measured, likely reflecting the high porosity of the talus deposits. Low thermal conductivity (0.9?W/m?K) was also measured in slope basins on the accretionary prism, likely also related to the high porosity of the sediments. Our results demonstrate that, for accurate heat flow measurement in an area of varied topography, the geothermal gradient and the thermal conductivity of the sediments must be measured within regions with similar topographic features.     

日本海东缘海洋天然气水合物矿藏之上的甲烷羽状流--地下甲烷运移到浅水的可能机制

在日本海会聚边缘的东侧,第三纪沉积物厚度大、有机质丰富,是日本最好的油气区。2003—2004年,在对该区南部的Naoetsu盆地中的UT-04海岭进行调查时,日本METI和JOG-MEC意外地发现了与气体活动有关的较大的麻坑、浅表层含气沉积物以及充气泥丘。高精度地震调查证实海底之下约170     

Differences in the damage caused by hypoxia to the macrobenthic communities in source regions of hypoxic water and in regions with advected hypoxic water

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of transported hypoxic water on macrobenthic species composition in Isahaya Bay, Kyushu, Japan. To this end, we conducted a field survey of water quality, sediment quality, and the macrobenthic community across seasons. Hypoxic intensity, defined as the percentage of the time that a region exhibits hypoxic conditions [dissolved oxygen (DO) <?3.0 mg L^?1], was calculated for the summer period from July 1 to September 30, 2014 based on continuous monitoring data derived from six monitoring towers in the bay. Here, we discuss how the hypoxia-induced damage, defined as the change in the species compositions of the macrobenthic communities in the bay due to hypoxia, differs between the inner and middle regions of the bay (with muddy sediment) and the outer regions of the bay (with sandy sediment). A decrease in the density of macrobenthic species that was correlated to the period of lowest DO concentration (<?1.0 mg L^?1) was observed in the inner region of the bay. A large number of species disappeared from the macrobenthic community in the outer region after the DO concentration had dropped to its lowest level, even though this region presented the lowest hypoxic intensity (6.6%). The species that disappeared, including crustaceans and some polychaetes, were presumed to be sensitive to, and to have escaped from, hypoxia. Fewer species disappeared from the inner and intermediate regions of the bay, which had high hypoxic intensities of 14.0 and 26.7%, respectively, than from the outer region. The reason for this appeared to be a predominance of hypoxia-tolerant species in the inner and intermediate regions but not in the outer region. Our study suggests that estimating the effect of hypoxia in a spatially heterogeneous environment must be done with caution.     

Genesis and Mixing/Mingling of Mafic and Felsic Magmas of Back-Arc Granite: Miocene Tsushima Pluton, Southwest Japan

The Middle Miocene Tsushima granite pluton is composed of leucocratic granites, gray granites and numerous mafic microgranular enclaves (MME). The granites have a metaluminous to slightly peraluminous composition and belong to the calc‐alkaline series, as do many other coeval granites of southwestern Japan, all of which formed in relation to the opening of the Sea of Japan. The Tsushima granites are unique in that they occur in the back‐arc area of the innermost Inner Zone of Southwest Japan, contain numerous miarolitic cavities, and show shallow crystallization (2–6 km deep), based on hornblende geobarometry. The leucocratic granite has higher initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7065–0.7085) and lower ε_Nd(t) (?7.70 to ?4.35) than the MME of basaltic–dacitic composition (0.7044–0.7061 and ?0.53 to ?5.24), whereas most gray granites have intermediate chemical and Sr–Nd isotopic compositions (0.7061–0.7072 and ?3.75 to ?6.17). Field, petrological, and geochemical data demonstrate that the Tsushima granites formed by the mingling and mixing of mafic and felsic magmas. The Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data strongly suggest that the mafic magma was derived from two mantle components with depleted mantle material and enriched mantle I (EMI) compositions, whereas the felsic magma formed by mixing of upper mantle magma of EMI composition with metabasic rocks in the overlying lower crust. Element data points deviating from the simple mixing line of the two magmas may indicate fractional crystallization of the felsic magma or chemical modification by hydrothermal fluid. The miarolitic cavities and enrichment of alkali elements in the MME suggest rapid cooling of the mingled magma accompanied by elemental transport by hydrothermal fluid. The inferred genesis of this magma–fluid system is as follows: (i) the mafic and felsic magmas were generated in the mantle and lower crust, respectively, by a large heat supply and pressure decrease under back‐arc conditions induced by mantle upwelling and crustal thinning; (ii) they mingled and crystallized rapidly at shallow depths in the upper crust without interaction during the ascent of the magmas from the middle to the upper crust, which (iii) led to fluid generation in the shallow crust. The upper mantle in southwest Japan thus has an EMI‐like composition, which plays an important role in the genesis of igneous rocks there.     

East Asian,Indochina and Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon - An update

This review provides a summary of the major research progress in the variability of East Asian, Indochina and Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon. Time scales of the reviewed phenomena range from diurnal to interannual and interdecadal. Research results published in the past decades are the major sources for this review.     

An extreme flood caused by a heavy snowfall over the Indigirka River basin in Northeastern Siberia

Flooding is one of the greatest disasters that produces strong effects on the ecosystem and livelihoods of the local population. Flood frequency is expected to increase globally making its risk assessment an urgent issue. In spring-summer 2017, an extreme flooding occurred in the Indigirka River lowland of Northeastern Siberia that inundated a large area. In this study, the extent and climatic drivers of the flooding were determined using the results of field observations, satellite images, and climate reanalysis dataset, and its possible effects on the ecosystem were discussed. In 2017, a significant lowland area of around 16,016 km² was covered with water even in July, which was 5,217 km² (around 4% of the total area) greater than the water-covered area in 2015 when usual hydrological condition in the area was observed. The hydrographic signature obtained for the Indigirka River water level in 2017 was unusual. Although the water level rose sharply at the end of May (which was typical for the Arctic region), it did not fall afterwards and even increased again to an annual daily maximum value in the middle of July. The climate reanalysis dataset obtained for the temporal–spatial variations of snow water equivalent, snowmelt, and runoff over the lowland revealed that a large amount of snowmelt runoff in June and July 2017 produced a large water-covered area and unusually high river water levels that lasted until summer. Snow depth from winter to spring was largest in 2017 over the period from 2009 to 2017, and the surface of the lower reach of the lowland was partially covered with snow even in the end of June due to the extreme snowfall that occurred in October 2016. Such unusual hydrological conditions waterlogged most trees over the lowland, which caused serious ecosystem devastation and changes in the material cycle.