Lunar-A mission: Outline and current status     

H. Mizutani  A. Fujimura  S. Tanaka  H. Shiraishi  T. Nakjima 《Journal of Earth System Science》2005,114(6):763-768

The scientific objective of the Lunar-A, Japanese Penetrator Mission, is to explore the lunar interior by seismic and heat-flow experiments. Two penetrators containing two seismometers (horizontal and vertical components) and heat-flow probes will be deployed from a spacecraft onto the lunar surface, one on the near-side and the other on the far-side of the moon. The data obtained by the penetrators will be transmitted to the earth station via the Lunar-A mother spacecraft orbiting at an altitude of about 200 km. The spacecraft of a cylindrical shape, 2.2 m in maximum diameter and 1.7 m in height, is designed to be spin-stabilized. The spacecraft will be inserted into an elliptic lunar orbit, after about a half-year cruise during which complex manoeuvering is made using the lunar-solar gravity assist. After lunar orbit insertion, two penetrators will be separated from the spacecraft near perilune, one by one, and will be landed on the lunar surface. The final impact velocity of the penetrator will be about 285 m/sec; it will encounter a shock of about 8000 G at impact on the lunar surface. According to numerous experimental impact tests using model penetrators and a lunar-regolith analog target, each penetrator is predicted to penetrate to a depth between l and 3 m, depending on the hardness and/or particle-size distribution of the lunar regolith. The penetration depth is important for ensuring the temperature stability of the instruments in the penetrator and heat flow measurements. According to the results of the Apollo heat flow experiment, an insulating regolith blanket of only 30 cm is sufficient to dampen out about 280 K lunar surface temperature fluctuation to < 3 K variation. The seismic observations are expected to provide key data on the size of the lunar core, as well as data on deep lunar mantle structure. The heat flow measurements at two penetrator-landing sites will also provide important data on the thermal structure and bulk concentrations of heat-generating elements in the Moon. These data will provide much stronger geophysical constraints on the origin and evolution of the Moon than has been obtained so far. Currently, the Lunar-A system is being reviewed and a more robust system for communication between the penetrators and spacecraft is being implemented according to the lessons learned from Beagle-2 and DS-2 failures. More impact tests for penetrators onto a lunar regolith analogue target will be undertaken before its launch.  相似文献   

Optimum strong-motion array geometry for source inversion     

Masahiro Iida  Takashi Miyatake  Kunihiko Shimazaki 《地震工程与结构动力学》1988,16(8):1213-1225

Optimum strong-motion array geometry for source inversion is quantitatively determined for each of three types of earthquake faults: strike—slip, dip-slip and offshore subduction thrust. The estimation is done by using the source inversion method^1,2 previously developed and based on Wolberg's prediction analysis.³ Only the far-field S waves are taken into account in source inversion; we test only the ability to estimate seismic moments of subfault elements. A comparison of the optimum array geometries obtained in this study with the ones proposed on the basis of an empirical judgment at the 1978 International Workshop on Strong-Motion Earthquake Instrument Arrays⁴ shows that the Workshop geometries are not the best ones as far as source studies are concerned. The most preferable array involves two different kinds of stations regardless of the target fault type: stations close to the fault and aligned parallel to its strike, and stations surrounding the fault area with good azimuthal coverage. The former stations resolve the later stage of the rupturing process while the latter stations resolve the earlier stage.  相似文献   

Deep-seated rockslide-avalanches preceded by mass rock creep of sedimentary rocks in the Akaishi Mountains, central Japan     

Masahiro Chigira  Kenzo Kiho 《Engineering Geology》1994,38(3-4):221-230

Seven large rockslide-avalanches of sedimentary rocks are known in Japan. Almost all of these major landslides were preceded by gravitational deformation of rocks (mass rock creep, MRC), as inferred from geologic and geomorphic investigations of five rockslide-avalanches in the Akaishi Mountains. The MRC that preceded the rockslide-avalanches in the Akaishi Mountains was characterized by a slow but steady downslope bowing of steeply dipping foliations, which accompanied intensive deformation and fragmentation of the rock mass by shearing along foliations. This deformation and fragmentation of the rock mass provides a basic cause for the occurrence of rockslide-avalanches, which occur when a creeping rock mass has lost its support from the lower part of a slope by stream erosion. This type of MRC continues for a long time after a part of the creeping area has slid and results in longterm generation of debris by the landslide sear of the rockslide-avalanche.  相似文献   

Electrical conductivity measurement of gneiss under mid- to lower crustal P–T conditions     

Kiyoshi Fuji-ta  Tomoo Katsura  Takuya Matsuzaki  Masahiro Ichiki  Tomoyuki Kobayashi 《Tectonophysics》2007,434(1-4):93-101

We conducted electrical conductivity measurements perpendicular and parallel to mineral foliation in dry gneiss at up to 1000 K and a constant pressure of 1 GPa. The analyzed gneisses were obtained from the Higo metamorphic belt, Kyushu, Japan. As the metamorphic conditions of these rocks have been well determined by previous studies, we were able to select samples that were representative of the middle to lower crust. Prior to the conductivity measurements, the samples were maintained at the maximum temperature for a long period, until the electrical conductivity had stabilized. Our experiment results reveal linear and reproducible conductivity data between temperatures of 600 and 1000 K. Conductivity measured perpendicular and parallel to foliation differ by an order of magnitude over the same temperature window. A plausible explanation for this discrepancy in conductivity is the contrasting configuration of minerals in the two sample orientations, as observed by backscattered electron image (BEI) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). We evaluated the conductivity and computed activation energy for each of the samples and compared the results with those of previous studies; our results are consistent with the conductivity values reported for other types of rocks. We also compared the experiment results with data derived from electromagnetic (EM) soundings. Electrical conductivity measurements undertaken perpendicular to foliation can account for the subsurface conductivity structure beneath central Kyushu, Japan.  相似文献   

Mass balance and sources of mercury in Tokyo Bay   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Masahiro Sakata  Kohji Marumoto  Masahiro Narukawa  Kazuo Asakura 《Journal of Oceanography》2006,62(6):767-775

The mass balance and sources of mercury in Tokyo Bay were investigated on the basis of observations from December 2003 to January 2005. Estimated input terms included river discharge (70 kg yr⁻¹) and atmospheric deposition (37 kg yr⁻¹), and output terms were evasion (49 kg yr⁻¹), export (13 kg yr⁻¹) and sedimentation (495 kg yr⁻¹). Thus, the outputs (557 kg yr⁻¹) considerably exceeded the inputs (107 kg yr⁻¹). In addition, the imbalance between the inputs and outputs of mercury was much larger than that of other trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn), which suggests that there are other major inputs of mercury to Tokyo Bay. The mercury concentrations in rivers correlated significantly with the concentrations of Al and Fe, major components of soil. In Japan, large amounts of organomercurous fungicides (about 2500 tons as Hg) were used extensively in fields in the past, and most of the mercury was retained in the soil. In this study, the mercury concentration in rivers was measured primarily in ordinary runoff. These observations lead to the hypothesis that field soil discharged into stormwater runoff is a major source of mercury in Tokyo Bay. As a preliminary approach to validating this hypothesis, we measured the concentrations of mercury and other trace metals in river water during a typhoon. The mercury concentrations in stormwater runoff increased to 16–50 times the mean value in ordinary runoff, which is much higher than the increases for other metals. This tends to support the hypothesis.  相似文献   

Errata: Intermediate Circulation in the Northwestern North Pacific Derived from Subsurface Floats     

Takanori Iwao  Masahiro Endoh  Nobuyuki Shikama  Toshiya Nakano 《Journal of Oceanography》2004,60(2):517-517

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Effects of temporal dynamics and vertical structure of the seagrass Zostera caulescens on distribution and recruitment of the epifaunal encrusting bryozoa Microporella trigonellata     

Naoko Kouchi  Masahiro Nakaoka  & Hiroshi Mukai 《Marine Ecology》2006,27(2):145-153

Seagrass is an ephemeral habitat for epifaunal sessile invertebrates attaching on seagrass leaves, and spatial and temporal dynamics of seagrasses strongly affect the distribution of epifauna. Zostera caulescens Miki, a seagrass species endemic to Japan, provides a complex habitat for epifauna with two types of shoots: vegetative, less than 1 m tall, and flowering, 5–7 m tall. We conducted monthly field observations and a manipulative field experiment to investigate the effects of the seagrass vertical structure and its temporal variation on the distribution and recruitment of the encrusting bryozoan Microporella trigonellata. The density of M. trigonellata on the leaves of flowering shoots, located at the seagrass canopy, varied temporally, reaching maximum in summer and minimum in winter. In contrast, M. trigonellata density on the leaves of vegetative shoots near the sea floor was consistently low throughout the study period. Early recruit bryozoans also showed this temporal and vertical variation in density; thus spatial and temporal variation in recruitment determined the distribution of the whole colonies. The field experiment revealed that the recruitment rate of M. trigonellata was significantly higher at the higher position of the water column (3 m above the sea floor) than at the lower position (0.5 m) in June. However, the recruitment rate was higher at the lower position in October when most of the flowering shoots started falling down. The temporal change in bryozoan habitat selection is considered to be adaptive to maintain their population on the seagrass leaves that show complex temporal dynamics.  相似文献   

Interannual and Decadal Variabilities of NPIW Salinity Minimum Core Observed along JMA’s Hydrographic Repeat Sections     

Toshiya?NakanoEmail author  Ikuo?Kaneko  Masahiro?Endoh  Masafumi?Kamachi 《Journal of Oceanography》2005,61(4):681-697

We investigated the variation of the North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW) distribution in the western North Pacific, focusing on the intermediate salinity minimum (S < 34.2) core observed along the meridional hydrographic sections including the 137°E repeat section by the Japan Meteorological Agency. This core is a cross-section of a low salinity tongue extending westward along the recirculation in the subtropical gyre. The core size shows remarkable variabilities in interannual and decadal time scales. The salinity change in the density layer during the period of core expansion (shrinking) represents the spatial salinity change in the tongue toward the west (east). Thus, we conclude that the core size variation is associated with the zonal wobble of the tongue having thicker distribution to the east, rather than temporal changes of the water mass itself. The core size at 137°E is well correlated with the meridional gradient of the depth in the isopycnal surface at the salinity minimum representing the recirculation intensity, suggesting a relation with the intensity of the subtropical gyre. A significant lag-correlation between the gradient and the wind forcing over the North Pacific suggests that the first mode baroclinic Rossby waves excited in the central North Pacific propagated westward to change the intensity of the recirculation in interannual time scales. In decadal time scales, it is found that the wind stress curl and heat flux fields in the North Pacific precede the recirculation by about 11 years.  相似文献   

The effect of groundwater on topographic changes in a gravel beach     

Kwang-Ho Lee  Norimi Mizutani  Dong-Soo Hur  Atsushi Kamiya 《Ocean Engineering》2007,34(3-4):605-615

In recent years, several attempts to stabilize the beach by control of the percolation of water have been proposed. However, morphodynamics in the surf zone is still not clear because of the complexity of wave actions and sediment transport. Especially, there is a little research on gravel beach morphodynamics including wave breaking in the surf zone. The present study investigates experimentally how groundwater level influences topographic changes in a gravel beach and simulates numerically the wave fields and flow patterns in the surf zone, considering the porosity of the media and the presence of groundwater. In experiments, water-level control tank was designed to control the simulated groundwater elevation and the wave flume was divided into two parts to maintain a constant mean water level. The experimental results show that the berm formed in the upper portion of the shoreline moves up the beach as the groundwater level falls and the lower the groundwater level, the steeper the beach surface. The numerical model was developed to clarify these features capable of simulating the difference of groundwater and mean water level. Numerical results showed different flow patterns due to the groundwater elevation; wave run-up weakens and wave run-down strengthens by the seaward currents caused by elevated groundwater. These deformations of the flow pattern explain well how the beach profile is affected by the groundwater elevation.  相似文献   

Air-sea exchange of mercury in Tokyo Bay     

Masahiro Narukawa  Masahiro Sakata  Kohji Marumoto  Kazuo Asakura 《Journal of Oceanography》2006,62(3):249-257

In Tokyo Bay the concentrations of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) in the surface seawater and total gaseous mercury (TGM) over the sea were measured during December 2003, October 2004 and January 2005. Based on these data, the evasional fluxes of mercury from the sea surface were estimated using a gas exchange model. In addition, an automatic wet and dry deposition sampler was used to measure the wet and dry depositional fluxes of mercury from December 2003 to November 2004 at three locations in and near Tokyo Bay. The results indicate that the average DGM and TGM levels of seven locations are 52 ± 26 ng m⁻³ and 1.9 ± 0.6 ng m⁻³, respectively, which shows that the surface seawater in Tokyo Bay is supersaturated with gaseous mercury, leading to an average mercury evasional flux of 140 ± 120 ng m⁻²d⁻¹. On the other hand, the annual average wet and dry depositional fluxes of mercury at three locations were 19 ± 3 μg m⁻²yr⁻¹ and 20 ± 9 μg m⁻²yr⁻¹, respectively. These depositional fluxes correspond to the daily average total depositional flux of 110 ± 20 ng m⁻²d⁻¹. Thus, it is suggested that in Tokyo Bay, the evasional fluxes of mercury are comparable to the depositional fluxes.  相似文献