Verifying adequacy of the seismic deformation method by using real examples of earthquake damage

In a seismic design, the dynamic loads are generally dependent on the inertial interaction caused by earthquake. But for the foundations embedded in soil, the dynamic loads are influenced by both the inertial and kinematic interactions among superstructure, foundation and soil. Especially, when a foundation is embedded in soft surface ground, the effects due to the kinematic interaction increase and should be considered in seismic design. For this reason, a method called seismic deformation method (SDM), which is suitable for an intensive earthquake motion (level 2 earthquake motion), has been stipulated recently in a new design code called Seismic Design Code for railway structures (the Railway Code, drawn up by Railway Technical Research Institute, Japan, 1999) [Railway Technical Research Institute. Seismic Design Code for railway structures. Tokyo: Maruzen; 1999]. In order to grasp the suitability of the SDM to actual structures, pile foundations, which experienced the Hyogoken-Nanbu earthquake, were taken as the objects for investigations. Comparison studies between the SDM analysis and reconnaissance were conducted. As a result, the adequacy of the SDM to actual foundations was confirmed to prove good agreement between the two results from the viewpoint of engineering practice.In addition, determination of indices for seismic-performance evaluation and speculation of damage mechanism of the foundations are also discussed in this paper.     

He,Ne and Ar in peridotitic and eclogitic paragenesis diamonds from the Jwaneng kimberlite,Botswana—Implications for mantle evolution and diamond formation ages

We have undertaken helium, neon and argon step-heating, isotopic analyses of eleven polycrystalline diamonds of known peridotite/eclogite paragenesis from the Jwaneng kimberlite pipe, Botswana. In contrast to the findings of crustal noble gases in framesites from the same kimberlite pipe (Honda et al., 2004. Unusual noble gas compositions in polycrystalline diamonds: preliminary results from the Jwaneng kimberlite, Botswana. Chem. Geol. 203, 347–358.), the Jwaneng polycrystalline diamonds appear to contain similar noble gas isotopic compositions (particularly Ne) to those representing a mantle source for MORBs. This implies that the Jwaneng polycrystalline diamonds may have formed in recent times, possibly close to the time of kimberlite emplacement at ~ 235 Ma. In contrast, Jwaneng framesites could be as old as gem diamonds (mineral inclusion ages of ~ 2.9 Ga). Furthermore, the data indicate that the sub-continental mantle lithosphere in the region has heterogeneous Ne isotopic compositions, or that these compositions changed over time from crustal Ne (as observed in the framesites) to MORB-like (as observed in the polycrystalline diamonds).     

Fluid–rock interaction in the Qitianling granite and associated tin deposits, South China: Evidence from boron and oxygen isotopes

The behavior of boron and its isotopes in fluid-dominant processes and hydrothermal alteration of granites is examined using fresh and altered granite samples from the Qitianling granite and associated hydrothermal tin deposits in South China. Boron concentrations are highest in the fresh granite (37 ppm) and depleted as a result of two stages of fluid mobility and fluid–rock interaction within the granite. Constraints provided both by δ¹¹B and δ¹⁸O data suggest that the first stage was related to exsolution of aqueous fluids from the granite magma at a temperature of > 450 °C. This was followed by further boron depletion in the granite by hydrothermal circulation of meteoric water at lower temperatures (~ 350 °C) and low water/rock ratios. The sensitivity of coupled boron and oxygen isotope systematics to these processes suggests that they can provide valuable constraints on of fluid mobility in granite and associated mineralization.     

Oceanic Rossby waves induced by the meridional shift of the ITCZ in association with ENSO events

This study investigated the eastern Pacific Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) as an atmospheric forcing to the ocean by using various observed and reanalysis data sets over 29 years. Climatologically, a zonal band of positive wind stress curl (WSC) with a 10° meridional width was exhibited along the ITCZ. A southward shift of the positive WSC band during the El Niño phase induced a negative (positive) WSC anomaly along the northern (southern) portion of the ITCZ, and vice versa during the La Niña phase. This meridional dipole accounted for more than 25 % of interannual variances of the WSC anomalies (WSCAs), based on analysis of the period 1993–2008. The negative (positive) WSCA in the northern portion of the ITCZ during the El Niño (La Niña) phase was collocated with a positive (negative) sea surface height anomaly (SSHA) that propagated westward as a Rossby wave all the way to the western North Pacific. This finding indicates that this off-equatorial Rossby wave is induced by the WSCA around the ITCZ. Our analysis of a 1.5-layer reduced gravity model revealed that the Rossby waves are mostly explained by wind stress forcing, rather than by reflection of an equatorial Kelvin wave on the eastern coastal boundary. The off-equatorial Rossby wave had the same SSHA polarity as the equatorial Kelvin wave, and generation of a phase-preserving Rossby wave without the Kelvin wave reflection was explained by meridional movement of the ITCZ. Thus, the ITCZ acts as an atmospheric bridge that connects the equatorial and off-equatorial oceanic waves.     

Sedimentary Features of Tsunami Deposits in Carbonate-Dominated Beach Environments: A Case Study from the 25 October 2010 Mentawai Tsunami

This study provides a case history of tsunami deposition in a carbonate-dominated environmental setting. We present the results of a sedimentological investigation conducted on deposits formed by the 25 October 2010 Mentawai Island Tsunami and report on deposits analyzed at three sites on North Pagai Island: Sabeu Gunggung, Macaroni Resort, and Tumalei. The deposits are mainly composed of medium to coarse sand-sized fragments of corals, shells and foraminifera, with thickness ranging from 3 to 26 cm. The deposits consist of two to five layers, with fining-upward trends dominating. Local topography noticeably affects the thickness, number of layers, and distribution of tsunami deposits. The foraminiferal assemblage and diversity vary at each sample point, along transect and between different transects. Based on the foraminiferal content, most of the deposit material likely came from shallower depths. In addition, density distribution of the tsunami deposit material exhibits some degree of variability in terms of the range of densities in each sample and the trend of the overall density along each transect. In contrast to heavy mineral-dominated deposits, the density of carbonate grains as a function of size may be an important consideration when carbonate-dominated deposits are used to interpret hydraulic conditions that created a particular tsunami deposit. Since there are relatively few studies of tsunami deposits in carbonate-dominated environmental settings such as the Mentawai Islands, our study provides a useful case history of tsunami deposition in such an environmental setting.     

High frequency variability of current in the western channel of the Tsushima/Korea Straits

The temporal characteristics and spatial structures of high frequency variability of the current in the western channel of the Tsushima/Korea Straits (TKS) are studied using ADCP data from 10?years along the cruise line of a regular ferry, “Camilla”, between Busan and Hakata. The eddy kinetic energy analysis shows that the high frequency variability has strong seasonal and spatial dependencies. From December to April, the variability is prominent in the entire western channel of the TKS. From July to October, it is enhanced only in the Korean coastal zone. The EOF analysis for the component of the high frequency currents normal to the ferry route illuminates three types of dominant modes, a transport mode and a vortex mode in the western channel during December–April, and a baroclinic coastal-trapped mode in the Korean coastal zone during July–October. The transport mode with a uniform current direction throughout the channel shows good correlation with the high frequency variability of the volume transport through the western channel with dominant time scales of 3.5 and 7?days. The vortex mode with alternating current directions across the channel explains well the variability of the eddy vorticity in the western channel with dominant time scales of 5–8?days. The baroclinic coastal-trapped mode in the Korean coastal zone has characteristics of both baroclinic Kelvin wave and topographic Rossby wave in the vertical current structure with dominant time scales of 14 and 32?days.     

Anomalous Love-wave phase velocities in the Pacific: sequential pure-path and spherical harmonic inversion

Summary. We have determined the lateral distribution of Love-wave phase velocities in the Pacific for the periods 40, 67, 91 and 125 s. Application of the pure-path and spherical harmonic representation methods indicates that the velocities are primarily a function of the age of the seafloor. A comparison of the results from these two techniques indicates inherent modelling constraints in both methods. The pure-path method is limited by its a priori nature while the spherical harmonic approach is unsuitable in describing sharp lateral velocity gradients. To circumvent these limitations, we propose the sequential application of the pure-path and spherical harmonic methods. The sequential inversion separates the velocity distribution into two separate components; velocity as a function of the age of the oceanic plate and variations superimposed on this relationship. Application of this method demonstrates the presence of velocity anomalies which cannot be modelled by an age–velocity relationship. These anomalies are tentatively correlated with regions of anomalous seafloor depths and/or the presence of active hot-spots. In the central south Pacific, an area with numerous active hot-spots coincides roughly with a region of anomalously slow Love wave velocities. A method for determining the errors associated with the slowness distributions calculated by the spherical harmonic method is presented and provides a means for determining the resolvability of these features.     

Raman spectroscopy and heat capacity measurement of calcium ferrite type MgAl2O4 and CaAl2O4

Raman spectroscopy of calcium ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ and CaAl₂O₄ and heat capacity measurement of CaAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite were performed. The heat-capacity of CaAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite measured by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was represented as C_P(T)=190.6–1.116 × 10⁷T^–2 + 1.491 × 10⁹T^–3 above 250 K (T in K). The obtained Raman spectra were applied to lattice dynamics calculation of heat capacity using the Kieffer model. The calculated heat capacity for CaAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite showed good agreement with that by the DSC measurement. A Kieffer model calculation for MgAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite similar to that for CaAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite was made to estimate the heat capacity of the former. The heat capacity of MgAl₂O₄ calcium ferrite was represented as C_P(T)=223.4–1352T ^–0.5 – 4.181 × 10⁶T ^–2 + 4.300 × 10⁸T ^–3 above 250 K. The calculation also gave approximated vibrational entropies at 298 K of calcium ferrite type MgAl₂O₄ and CaAl₂O₄ as 97.6 and 114.9 J mol^–1 K^–1, respectively.     

Geochemical characteristics of the high reduction zone of stenols in Suwa sediments and the environmental factors controlling the conversion of stenols into stanols

Detailed geochemical analyses of the high reduction zone in Lake Suwa sediments suggested that the stenol to stanol conversion rate in this zone is primarily controlled by the proportion of autochthonous contribution to organic matter and the redox potential in these sediments, and that land-derived stenols were kept insensitive to hydrogenation in lacustrine sediments as compared with those derived from plankton. These results indicate that stanols derived directly from organisms on land may contribute significantly to stanols found in lacustrine sediments which contain minor proportions of autochthonous organic materials.In order to express the relative autochthonous vs terrigenous contribution to organic matter in lacustrine sediments, the autochthonous contribution index (ACI) was defined based on the characteristic distribution of sterol in plankton and land plants. It systematically increased from river inlet towards lake center and correlated closely with the δ¹³C value in same sediments. This strongly indicates that ACI is a useful indicator providing informatiom on autochthonous vs terrigenous contribution to the organic material in lacustrine sediments.