Rockfall hazard in the Daisekkei Valley, the northern Japanese Alps, on 11 August 2005

This paper describes a rockfall event in the Daisekkei Valley of Mount Shirouma-dake (2,932 m), the northern Japanese Alps. The rockfall occurred on a steep cliff comprising well-jointed felsites and produced debris of ≥8,000 m³. Most debris was deposited on an elongated snowpatch located immediately beneath the cliff, and it caused casualties among people who were trekking along a trail on the snowpatch. Additionally, a large rock block slipped 1 km on the snowpatch. The rockfall could have been due to the differential retreat of the rockwall, which contains areas of high- and low-density joints. Seasonal and diurnal freeze–thaw activities and snow avalanches and wash appear to be important factors responsible for the retreat. Although some rock blocks that can collapse further remain on the rockwall, the position of the mountain trail in the Daisekkei Valley is fixed. Fundamental reform of tourism systems for climbers, including education on natural hazards, is required.     

Spatial distribution of earthquakes in the Kii peninsula,Japan, south of the Median Tectonic Line

Precise data obtained by a high-sensitivity micro-earthquake observatory network are used to determine simultaneously the crustal structure and the spatial distribution of small earthquakes in the Kii peninsula region, Japan. The spatial distribution of hypocenters thus determined clearly shows two distinct groups of earthquakes: (1) a group of shallow (H ? 10 km) earthquakes on the western coast of the Kii peninsula near Wakayama; (2) a group of mantle earthquakes, having a depth ranging from 30 to 70 km and trending NE-SW, in the central part of the Kii peninsula. Along the trend of the second group, a marked structural anomaly is found which suggests the presence of a high-velocity zone at depths below 20 km. A projection of the hypocenters of the earthquakes belonging to the second group onto a vertical plane strikingNW-SE shows a wedge-like distribution to a depth of 70 km. The spatial relation between this wedge-like distribution and the 1944 Tonankai earthquake (M = 8.0) suggests a common tectonic process which is now taking place in the Kii peninsula region. The activity of the earthquakes of the first group terminates abruptly to the north at the Median Tectonic Line. This activity is represented by numerous but relatively small events (M < 5) without any conspicuous major earthquakes in history. It is suggested that the strength of the crust in this region of shallow activity is too weak to sustain stresses large enough to be released in a major event; rather, the stresses which probably originate from the tectonic activity represented by the earthquakes of the second group are released by numerous minor fracturings of the low-strength crust. A possibility of using the weak crust for detecting a remote stress accumulation is suggested.     

Utilization of laser range finder and differential GPS for high‐resolution topographic measurement at Hacituğrul Tepe,Turkey

Topographic maps are fundamental for geoarchaeological field studies and archaeological excavations. However, traditional methods of topographic mapping, as well as modern high‐tech methods such as airborne laser scanning and photogrammetry of high‐resolution satellite images, are often cost‐ineffective for field studies in terms of time, money, and labor. We here propose a method to measure topography for archaeological sites and surrounding areas quickly and accurately, using a laser range finder (LRF) and differential global positioning system DGPS. Three‐dimensional coordinates of points on land surfaces are measured through the LRF, targeted from multiple measuring locations whose positions are acquired with the DGPS. The point data are then interpolated to produce a digital elevation model (DEM) using a geographic information system (GIS). High‐resolution DEMs can be obtained with this method, with horizontal and vertical accuracies on the order of 10 cm. We here demonstrate the method for measuring detailed topography of the Hacituğrul Tepe in central Turkey. Digital topography data incorporated in GIS can also be part of an archaeological database, providing opportunities for quantitative analyses of topography and archaeological materials. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.