Validation of Jason-1 Nadir Ionosphere TEC Using GEONET

The Jason-1 dual-frequency nadir ionosphere Total Electron Content (TEC) for 10-day cycles 1–67 is validated using absolute TEC measured by Japan's GPS Earth Observation Network (GEONET), or the GEONET Regional Ionosphere Map (RIM). The bias estimates (Jason–RIM) are small and statistically insignificant: 1.62 ± 9 TECu (TEC unit or 10¹⁶ electrons/m², 1 TECu = 2.2 mm delay at Ku-band) and 0.73 ± 0.05 TECu, using the along-track difference and Gaussian distribution method, respectively. The bias estimates are –3.05 ± 10.44 TECu during daytime passes, and 0.02 ± 8.05 TECu during nighttime passes, respectively. When global Jason-1 TEC is compared with the Global Ionosphere Map (GIM) from the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (or CODE) TEC, the bias (Jason–GIM) estimate is 0.68 ± 1.00 TECu, indicating Jason-1 ionosphere delay at Ku-band is longer than GIM by 3.1 mm, which is at present statistically insignificant. Significant zonal distributions of biases are found when the differences are projected into a sun-fixed geomagnetic reference frame. The observed biases range from –7 TECu (GIM larger by 15.4 mm) in the equatorial region, to +2 TECu in the Arctic region, and to +7 TECu in the Antarctica region, indicating significant geographical variations. This phenomena is primarily attributed to the uneven and poorly distributed global GPS stations particularly over ocean and near polar regions. Finally, when the Jason-1 and TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) TECs were compared during Jason-1 cycles 1–67 (where cycles 1–21 represent the formation flight with T/P, cycles 22–67 represent the interleave orbits), the estimated bias is 1.42 ± 0.04 TECu. It is concluded that the offset between Jason/TOPEX and GPS (RIM or GIM) TECs is < 4 mm at Ku-band, which at present is negligible.     

Origin of manganese carbonates in Jurassic red shale, central Japan

Manganese carbonate deposits in Japanese Jurassic sedimentary rocks were studied petrogeochemically. The deposits are characteristically composed of spheroidal micronodules, up to 1 mm in diameter, and always contain well-preserved radiolarian shells. Chemical elemental composition and mineralogical characteristics indicate that the micronodules contain rhodochrosite in a mixed carbonate phase composition (Mn_86.7?92.2Ca_2.2?2.9Mg_2.6?6.7Fe_2.6?5.6)CO₃ Carbon and oxygen isotope values, which range from ?7.99 to ?4.78‰ and ?4.05 to 0.28‰ relative to PDB, respectively, suggest that the manganese carbonate was precipitated in a suboxic zone. The micronodules closely resemble agglutinated benthic foraminifera in shape. We suggest that agglutinated foraminiferal tests composed of radiolarian shells accumulated selectively on the sediment surface during redeposition of bottom sediments and were replaced by manganese carbonate in suboxic diagenetic conditions of manganese reduction.     

Petrogenesis of Mafic Inclusions in Rhyolitic Lavas from Narugo Volcano, Northeastern Japan

Mafic inclusions present in the rhyolitic lavas of Narugo volcano,Japan, are vesiculated andesites with diktytaxitic texturesmainly composed of quenched acicular plagioclase, pyroxenes,and interstitial glass. When the mafic magma was incorporatedinto the silica-rich host magma, the cores of pyroxenes andplagioclase began to crystallize (>1000°C) in a boundarylayer between the mafic and felsic magmas. Phenocryst rim compositionsand interstitial glass compositions (average 78 wt % SiO₂) inthe mafic inclusions are the same as those of the phenocrystsand groundmass glass in the host rhyolite. This suggests thatthe host felsic melt infiltrated into the incompletely solidifiedmafic inclusion, and that the interstitial melt compositionin the inclusions became close to that of the host melt (c.850°C). Infiltration was enhanced by the vesiculation ofthe mafic magma. Finally, hybridized and density-reduced portionsof the mafic magma floated up from the boundary layer into thehost rhyolite. We conclude that the ascent of mafic magma triggeredthe eruption of the host rhyolitic magma. KEY WORDS: mafic inclusion; stratified magma chamber; magma mixing; mingling; Narugo volcano; Japan     

Brachiopod zonation and age of the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation (Central Spitsbergen)

This study has defined five brachiopod assemblage zones within the Permian Kapp Starostin Formation of Festningen, Central West Spitsbergen. They are designated as the Horridonia timanica zone, the Waagenoconcha sp. A (Gobbett 1964) zone, the Megousia weyprechti zone, the Plerospirifer alatus zone and the Haydenella wilczeki zone in ascending order. Only the lower three zones are recognized in the same formation of Sveltihel.
The first zone, which is exactly equivalent to the 'Spirifer Limestone'as well as the Vøringcn Member of the Kapp Starostin Formation, is probably Kungurian in age. The last zone, situated near the uppermost portion of the Hovtinden Member, may possibly have a brachiopod assemblage matching that of the Cyclolobus -bearing beds of the Foldvik Creek Formation in Central East Greenland. Consequently, the uppermost beds of the Kapp Starostin Formation are chronologically dated as late Permian, most probably as Dzhulfian of the Tethys Province.     

Evolution of a provenance as revealed by petrographic analyses of Cretaceous formations in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada

Two contrasting marine sedimentary facies, the Haida Formation of sandy and argillaceous sediments and the conformably overlying Honna Formation of gravelly sediments were formed within different types of tectonic basins during mid- to Late Cretaceous time. The sediments of both formations were derived from the east. Sandstones from the two formations show characteristics of mature magmatic arc provenance and are classified as lithic and feldspathic arenites. However, the Honna sandstones are more feldspathic and less quartzose than the Haida sandstones. The Honna sandstones have many volcanic rock fragments (VRF) but the Haida sandstones do not. Feldspars of the VRF-rich Honna sandstones, however, do not seem to have been derived from the breakdown of volcanic rocks. The observed petrographic differences between the two formations can be ascribed to a process in which the volcanic cover and the basement rock denudation took place simultaneously in the source area during deposition of the Honna Formation.