Isoprenoids of Okinawan mangroves as lipid input into estuarine ecosystem

Isoprenoids in the nonsaponifiable lipids (NSL) fraction of Okinawan mangroves were analyzed with special reference to their importance as lipid input into estuarine ecosystems. Triterpenoids and phytosterols comprised the major proportion of NSL. Identifications of the triterpenoids and phytosterols in NSL fraction were based on the interpretation of ¹³C-NMR and GC-MS spectra. The triterpenoids and phytosterols mainly comprised 11 and 6 compounds, respectively. The major components were lupeol, β-amyrin and taraxerol for triterpenoids, and β-sitosterol and stigmasterol for phytosterols. The diversity in the terpenoid composition was noted in both leaves and roots of mangrove species, implying the chemotaxonomic utility of terpenoids. Terpenoid compositions of the root are not always similar to that of leaf, suggesting that terpenoids in the root are produced by biosynthesis in situ, not by translocation of the synthate from the leaf. Terpenoids existed in greater proportion in the outer parts of the root. These data are likely to contribute to estimating the lipid input from mangrove trees adjacent to estuarine sediments and the ocean.     

Internal characteristics and numerical analysis of plunging breaker on a slope

Many investigations about the direct measurements of velocities to clarify the internal mechanism of the breaker have been carried out as a result of recent progress in the measuring techniques.This research attempts to clarify the breaking wave transformation system on a slope by an experiment and numerical analysis. In an experiment, the velocities in the surf zone were measured directly using an electromagnetic current meter, and the space distribution characteristic of the vorticity ω = (∂u/∂y − ∂u/∂x) and the skewness γ = (∂u/∂y + ∂u/∂x) were examined. Also, occurrence situations of the vortices at the time of water mass inrush were measured by video tape recorder (VTR) image processing. However, because the breaker is a violent phenomenon that is entrained with plentiful bubbles, the extent to which we can clarify breaker transformation in experiments is limited. Numerical simulations are substituted for experiments as a method to clarify breaker transformation.In numerical analysis, finite amplitude wave analysis based on the potential theory (non-viscous fluid) is possible before wave breaking; however, the analysis must take into account the viscous fluid after breaking. So, we use the Reynolds equations to develop a numerical simulation system of the breaker transformation on a sloping bottom. The numerical energy dissipation model of the breaker was compared to the experimental results, and a modified Simplified Marker and Cell (SMAC) method is presented. The internal characteristics of the breaker transformation are described using application examples.     

Palinspastic Reconstruction for Tectonics of Northeast China and Its Vicinity

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Incipient subduction and deduction along the eastern margin of the Japan Sea

The eastern margin of the Japan Sea has been under convergent tectonics since sometime after the Pliocene. The suture line is on the ocean-continent boundary between the Japan-Yamato Basins and the Tohoku (Northeast Japan) Arc. Incipient subduction, and obduction, of the oceanic and sub-oceanic crust are observed along the suture line with the occurrence of numerous N-S trending, fault-bounded ridges and troughs. Focal mechanism solutions of several compressional type earthquakes with magnitudes of M = 6.9 to 7.7 which have occurred along the zone are consistent with the observation of geological thrust faults. The convergent stresses in the Japan Sea may be due to India-Eurasia collision and its associated intra-plate or inter-microplate movements in East Asia. The eastward movement of the Amurian Plate causes Baikal extension along its western margin and the Japan Sea convergence along its eastern margin.     

Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic rifting and its dynamic setting in Eastern China and adjacent areas

During the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic, extension was widespread in Eastern China and adjacent areas. The first rifting stage spanned in the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous times and covered an area of more than 2 million km² of NE Asia from the Lake Baikal to the Sikhot-Alin in EW direction and from the Mongol–Okhotsk fold belt to North China in NS direction. This rifting was characterized by intracontinental rifts, volcanic eruptions and transform extension along large-scale strike–slip faults. Based on the magmatic activity, filling sequence of basins, tectonic framework and subsidence analysis of basins, the evolution of this area can be divided into three main developmental phases. The first phase, calc-alkaline volcanics erupted intensely along NNE-trending faults, forming Daxing'anling volcanic belt, NE China. The second phase, Basin and Range type fault basin system bearing coal and oil developed in NE Asia. During the third phase, which was marked by the change from synrifting to thermal subsidence, very thick postrift deposits developed in the Songliao basin (the largest oil basin in NE China).Following uplift and denudation, caused by compressional tectonism in the near end of Cretaceous, a Paleogene rifting stage produced widespread continental rift systems and continental margin basins in Eastern China. These rifted basins were usually filled with several kilometers of alluvial and lacustrine deposits and contain a large amount of fossil fuel resources. Integrated research in most of these rifting basins has shown that the basins are characterized by rapid subsidence, relative high paleo-geothermal history and thinned crust. It is now accepted that the formation of most of these basins was related to a lithospheric extensional regime or dextral transtensional regime. During Neogene time, early Tertiary basins in Eastern China entered a postrifting phase, forming regional downwarping. Basin fills formed in a thermal subsidence period onlapped the fault basin margins and were deposited in a broad downwarped lacustrine depression. At the same time, within plate rifting of the Lake Baikal and Shanxi graben climaxed and spreading of the Japan Sea and South China Sea occurred. Quaternary rifting was marked by basalt eruption and accelerated subsidence in the area of Tertiary rifting. The Okinawa Trough is an active rift involving back-arc extension.Continental rifting and marginal sea opening were clearly developed in various kind of tectonic settings. Three rifting styles, intracontinental rifting within fold belt, intracontinental rifting within craton and continental marginal rifting and spreading, are distinguished on the basis of nature of the basin basement, tectonic location of rifting and relations to large strike–slip faults.Changes of convergence rates of India–Eurasia and Pacific–Eurasia may have caused NW–SE-trending extensional stress field dominating the rifting. Asthenospheric upwelling may have well assisted the rifting process. In this paper, a combination model of interactions between plates and deep process of lithosphere has been proposed to explain the rifting process in East China and adjacent areas.The research on the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic extensional tectonics of East China and adjacent areas is important because of its utility as an indicator of the dynamic setting and deformational mechanisms involved in stretching Lithosphere. The research also benefits the exploration and development of mineral and energy resources in this area.     

High-resolution seismic stratigraphy of the Yamato Basin, Japan Sea and its geological application

Abstract High-resolution seismic stratigraphy of the Yamato Basin, Japan Sea, was successfully established using core-log-seismic data integration. The construction of synthetic seismograms by the combination of physical properties and well-log data from the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 797 was the key to accomplishing the high-resolution seismic stratigraphy. To achieve resolution comparable with well-log data and core lithology, single channel seismic reflection data taken from ODP underway geophysics were reprocessed, and then carefully compared with synthetic seismogram, core and well log profiles to identify seismic units. Ten seismic stratigraphic units were identified at the site, and seismic stratigraphic interpretation was successfully extended from the site to the nearby area along the Yamato Basin margin. The opal-A/opal-CT (biogenic silica/metastable diagenetic silica) boundary has different appearances at places from strong to weak, and mostly discontinuous. One of the significant results achieved from this study is clear distinction of the opal-A/CT boundary from a very strong reflector, which appears at 22 m below the opal-A/CT boundary. Through well-log and physical properties characterization of the different units, resistivity was found to be the best indicator of diatom content and with gamma-ray it also is an indicator of chert layers in the opal-CT zone. Velocity is not greatly effected by diatom ooze in the opal-A zone, however, it shows strong peaks and has an indirect relationship with gamma-ray in the opal-CT zone. Finally, successful correlation of Gamma-ray Attenuation Porosity Evaluator density and resistivity peaks with strong seismic reflectors from upper and lower stratified layers may provide new information on the late Neogene paleoceanography of the Japan Sea in high-resolution scale.