Latitudinal and local variations of the life history characteristics of the thalassinidean decapod, Upogebia yokoyai: A hypothesis based on trophic conditions

Mean total length of the eldest cohort (MTLe) of the thalassinidean decapod, Upogebia yokoyai sampled at 16 sites showed a latitudinal variation from south-west islands of the Ryukyu Archipelago (24° N) to the Seto-Inland Sea of Japan (34° N). Local variations were however also found from sites in the same latitudes. The level of the organic content in each habitat showed a positive correlation with MTLe. We hypothesized that MTLe is strongly affected by the trophic condition, resulting in the local variations. To test this hypothesis, two estuaries with different organic content were compared; Kodono River (Kochi Prefecture, 33° N) which was relatively oligotrophic and Sakata River (Hiroshima Prefecture, 34° N) which was highly eutrophicated. The Kodono River population showed slow growth after settlement, and growth stopped in May to June. This population survived for only one or two years, resulting in small MTLe. On the other hand, the Sakata River population showed fast growth from August to December. This population survived for three years, resulting in large MTLe. Maturation was estimated to occur two years after settlement in both populations. Low salinities may partially affect MTLe. Habitats in the Seto-Inland Sea (33.5–34.8° N) were eutrophicated, but many habitats in the subtropical islands (24–31° N) were relatively oligotrophic. Latitudinal variation of MTLe was reflected by the geographical difference in trophic condition. A negative relationship between population density and growth was found, which was explained in terms of reduced survival of recruits in the eutrophicated habitats.     

Thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan arc: A 2-D numerical analysis

Abstract   The development of voluminous granitic magmatism and widespread high-grade metamorphism in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan have been explained by the subduction of a spreading ridge (Kula–Pacific or Farallon–Izanagi plate boundaries) beneath the Eurasian continent and the formation of a slab window. In the present study, the thermal consequences of the formation of a slab window beneath a continental margin are evaluated through a 2-D numerical simulation. The model results are evaluated by comparison with the Mid-Cretaceous geology of southwest Japan. Of particular interest are the absence of an amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphic belt near the Wadati–Benioff plane, and significant melting of the lower crustal-mafic rocks sufficient to form a large amount of granitic magma. Because none of the model results simultaneously satisfied these two geological interpretations, it is suggested that subduction of plate boundaries in Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with the opening of a slab window. According to previous studies, and the results of the present study, two different tectonic scenarios could reasonably explain the geological interpretations for Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan: (i) The spreading ridge did not subduct beneath the Eurasian continent, but was located off the continental margin, implying the continuous subduction of very young oceanic lithosphere; (ii) ridge subduction beneath the continental margin occurred after active spreading had ceased. Consequently, in both tectonic scenarios, the subduction of plate boundaries at the Mid-Cretaceous southwest Japan was not associated with a slab window, but very young (hot) oceanic lithosphere.     

Vegetation development and carbon storage on a glacier foreland in the High Arctic, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard

The distribution of organic carbon and its relationship to vegetation development were examined on a glacier foreland near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard (79°N). In a 0.72-km² area, we established 43 study plots on three line transects along primary succession from recently deglaciated area to old well-vegetated area. At each plot, we measured the type and percent coverage of vegetation types. The organic carbon content of vegetation, organic soil, and mineral soil samples was determined based on their organic carbon concentration and bulk density. Cluster analysis based on vegetation coverage revealed five types of ground surfaces representing variations in the amounts and allocation patterns of organic carbon. In the later stages of succession, 7%–24% and 31%–40% of organic carbon was contained in the organic and deeper soil layers, respectively. Organic carbon storage in the later stages of succession ranged from 1.1 – 7.9 kg C m⁻². A larger amount of organic carbon, including ancient carbon in a raised beach deposit, was expected to be contained in much deeper soil layers. These results suggest that both vegetation development and geological history affect ecosystem carbon storage and that a non-negligible amount of organic carbon is distributed in this High Arctic glacier foreland.     

Collapse simulation of a four‐story steel moment frame by a distributed online hybrid test

The collapse of a one‐bay, four‐story steel moment frame is simulated in this study by the proposed peer‐to‐peer (P2P) Internet online hybrid test system. The typical beam hinging mechanism, which is ensured by a strong‐column, weak‐beam design, is reproduced. The plastic hinges at the column bases are taken as the experimental portions, while the superstructure is analyzed numerically by a general‐purpose finite element program. The implicit plastic rotations of the two column bases are treated as boundary displacements. In order to account for the complex behavior of the column bases, the P2P system is modified to use the secant stiffness during iterations, and the physical specimens are designed such that the plastic hinge behavior can be obtained. For this study, the three substructures are distributed to different locations. A large ground motion is repeatedly imposed until the column bases lose their capacity to sustain the gravity load. As a result, significant deterioration is observed at both column bases. The proposed P2P system is thus demonstrated to be able to accommodate multiple‐tested substructures involving unstable behavior. The results suggest that the P2P Internet online hybrid test system provides a reliable means of studying structures up to collapse. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Correlations between oxygen-isotopic composition and petrologic setting in a coarse-grained Ca, Al-rich inclusion

Oxygen-isotopic compositions in conjunction with petrologic investigation have been determined for a coarse-grained type B2 Ca, Al-rich inclusion (CAI) from the reduced CV3 Vigarano using secondary ion mass spectrometry. The oxygen-isotopic compositions of minerals are distributed along the carbonaceous chondrite anhydrous mineral line indicating mixing between ¹⁶O-rich and ¹⁶O-poor nebular components. The O-isotopic heterogeneities among and within minerals in the CAI interior indicate that CAI formation started in an ¹⁶O-rich nebula and subsequently continued in an ¹⁶O-poor nebula. ¹⁶O-rich signatures of melilite and fassaite in the Wark-Lovering rim and of olivine of the accretionary rim indicate that the nebular environment during formation of the CAI returned to an ¹⁶O-rich composition after processing in an ¹⁶O-poor nebula. These O-isotopic variations in the CAI support multiple heating events in the solar nebula and indicate that the nebular environments fluctuated from ¹⁶O-rich to ¹⁶O-poor and back to ¹⁶O-rich compositions during the formation of a single CAI.     

GEMS: Geothermal Expert Modeling System

In carrying out geothermal-energy development projects, an exhaustive study has to be conducted on the local subsurface geothermal system based on extensive geothermal surveys and well data. The New Energy and Industrial Development Organization has had an extensive geothermal research program under way since 1987, known as the Nationwide Geothermal Resources Exploration Project. In this program, the total analysis system, which is called the Geothermal Expert Modelling System (GEMS), has been developed to systematize all processes of building models of geothermal systems based on the various regional exploration data. The aim of the system is to select narrow promising areas (about 50–60 square kilometers) for more elaborate exploration from within a region extending over hundreds of square kilometers, by analyzing the various explorations, and by building a geothermal system model of the area. This scheme includes studies to consolidate individual geothermal survey data into an integrated data base and to work out a computer-aided support system for building geothermal models. It calls for the integration of these processes into a system on a user-friendly, engineering work-station that has sufficient graphic functions. An attempt was made to actually identify promising areas in regions covered by wide-area surveys on hydrothermal systems, using the proposed total analysis system.     

Giant planet formation

The accumulation of giant planets involves processes typical for terrestrial planet formation as well as gasdynamic processes that were previously known only in stars. The condensible element cores of the gas-giants grow by solid body accretion while envelope formation is governed by stellar-like equilibria and the dynamic departures thereof. Two hypotheses for forming Uranus/Neptune-type planets — at sufficiently large heliocentric distances while allowing accretion of massive gaseous envelopes, i.e. Jupiter-type planets at intermediate distances — have been worked out in detailed numerical calculations: (1) Hydrostatic gas-accretion models with time-dependent solid body accretion-rates show a slow-down of core-accretion at the appropriate masses of Uranus and Neptune. As a consequence, gas-accretion also stagnates and a window is opened for removing the solar nebula during a time of roughly constant envelope mass. (2) Gasdynamic calculations of envelope accretion for constant planetesimal accretion-rates show a dynamic transition to new envelope equilibria at the so called critical mass. For a wide range of solar nebula conditions the new envelopes have respective masses similar to those of Uranus and Neptune and are more tightly bound to the cores. The transitions occur under lower density conditions typical for the outer parts of the solar nebula, whereas for higher densities, i.e. closer to the Sun, gasdynamic envelope accretion sets in and is able to proceed to Jupiter-masses.