Tomochika Tokunaga

Consolidation patterns during initiation and evolution of a plate-boundary decollement zone: Northern Barbados accretionary prism

Borehole logs from the northern Barbados accretionary prism show that the plate-boundary decollement initiates in a low-density radiolarian claystone. With continued thrusting, the decollement zone consolidates, but in a patchy manner. The logs calibrate a three-dimensional seismic reflection image of the decollement zone and indicate which portions are of low density and enriched in fluid, and which portions have consolidated. The seismic image demonstrates that an underconsolidated patch of the decollement zone connects to a fluid-rich conduit extending down the decollement surface. Fluid migration up this conduit probably supports the open pore structure in the underconsolidated patch.

Modeling of earthquake-induced hydrological changes and possible permeability enhancement due to the 17 January 1995 Kobe Earthquake, Japan

Hydrologic changes associated with the 17 January 1995 Kobe Earthquake occurred in Awajishima Island very close to the epicenter. These included: (1) large drop of water table in the mountainous area; (2) rapid increase of discharge along active faults; and (3) change of chemistry of discharged water. A simple horizontal flow model was constructed to explain the observed changes; and optimal sets of specific yield and the change of hydraulic conductivity were estimated. Results suggest that this model can explain the observed phenomena consistently. The hydraulic conductivity is estimated to increase at least five times than that before the Earthquake; however, quantitative measurement of the increase of discharge just after the earthquake would constrain better the change of the hydraulic conductivity. The specific yield of the unconfined aquifer is between 0.3 and 1.7% depending on the assumed recharge rate but independent of the assumed depth to the impermeable basement. The change in chemical composition of the discharged water could be explained by the upward movement of deeper water due to the invasion of saltwater into the aquifer.

Effects of human activities and urbanization on groundwater environments: An example from the aquifer system of Tokyo and the surrounding area

The Kanto plain that is the largest depositional plain in Japan has the largest urbanized area called Tokyo Metropolitan Area. This plain has experienced extensive groundwater withdrawals for water resources and human induced disasters such as land subsidence in the process of urbanization. Japanese national government and local governments have monitored groundwater levels and settlement of ground surface for about half a century. These data are useful not only for the prevention of these disasters but for the evaluation of the change of groundwater flow beneath the urbanized area. However, few hydrological and hydrogeological studies about the change of groundwater flow in this plain have been conducted until now except for several studies which were limited in areal extent. In this paper, changes of the distribution of hydraulic heads in the central part of this plain are discussed using the long-term groundwater level observation data to evaluate the change of groundwater flow. The temporal changes in the distribution of hydraulic heads in a major confined aquifer (the second aquifer) and the areal extent of the urbanized area for approximately 50 years can be summarized as follows. In the latter half of the 1950s, urban area was limited in the southern region of the study area and hydraulic head gradually declined from the northwest to the southeast in the study area. After the 1960s, urban area extended toward the north and groundwater in the northern part was largely abstracted until the 1980s. As a result, hydraulic heads in this area markedly declined. On the other hand, hydraulic heads in the southern part began to rise because of the restriction of groundwater withdrawals. In recent years, low hydraulic head area has been formed from the northern region to the central region. These results suggest that the groundwater flow which was affected by urbanization (groundwater withdrawals) has continued to change over several decades, even after the regulation of withdrawals, and hence, the continued monitoring of the groundwater environment is important for the sustainable use of groundwater resources.

Ultra-high-resolution large-dynamic-range optical fiber static strain sensor using Pound–Drever–Hall technique

We report the realization of a fiber-optic static strain sensor with ultrahigh resolution and large dynamic range for the applications of geophysical research. The sensor consists of a pair of fiber-Bragg-grating-based Fabry-Perot interferometers as sensor heads for strain sensing and reference, respectively. The Pound-Drever-Hall technique is employed to interrogate the sensor heads, and a cross-correlation algorithm is used to figure out the strain information with high precision. Static strain resolution down to 5.8 nanostrains is demonstrated. The dynamic range can be extended up to hundreds of microstrains, and the measuring period is a few tens of seconds.

Realization of nano static strain sensing with fiber Bragg gratings interrogated by narrow linewidth tunable lasers

Aiming at realizing a static strain sensor of nano-strain resolution, which is required in most geophysical applications, this paper presents a thorough analysis on the strain resolution of a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) static strain sensor interrogated with a narrow linewidth tunable laser. The main noise sources of the sensor are discussed, and the strain resolution is deduced with a cross-correlation algorithm. The theoretical prediction agrees well with our experimental result, and the analysis is further validated by numerical simulations. Based on the analysis, the paper provides the guidelines for optimizing this type of sensor to realize ultra-high resolution. It is shown that with properly designed FBGs and interrogation systems, nano static strain resolution can be realized, as we recently demonstrated in experiment.

Sub-nano resolution fiber-optic static strain sensor using a sideband interrogation technique

We propose a novel sideband interrogation technique with multiplex radio frequency intensity and phase modulation to measure the resonance frequency difference between two optical resonators. Based on this new technique, an ultrahighly sensitive fiber-optic static strain sensor system consisting of a pair of identical fiber Fabry-Perot interferometers is built by incorporating a cross-correlation data processing algorithm. A static strain resolution down to 0.8 nε is demonstrated experimentally, which makes the sensor system a useful tool for geophysical research applications.

Sensing the earth crustal deformation with nano-strain resolution fiber-optic sensors

Crustal deformation measurement with a high resolution on the order of nano-strains in static to low frequency region is required for geophysical research. Optical fiber sensors are very attractive in this research field due to their unique advantages including high resolution, small size and easy deployment. In this paper, a fiber optic strain sensor with nano-strain-resolution and large measurement range for sensing the earth crustal deformation is reported. With this sensor the tide induced crustal deformation and the seismic wave were successfully recorded in field experiments.

Ultrahigh Resolution Multiplexed Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor for Crustal Strain Monitoring

We demonstrated a multiplexed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor with static strain resolution of 10 nanostrain (nε) for crustal strain monitoring. Each sensor unit consists of a pair of identical FBGs for strain sensing and reference, respectively. A narrow linewidth tunable laser is used to interrogate the FBGs, and a cross-correlation algorithm is incorporated to demodulate the wavelength difference induced by strain. When no strain is applied, an ultrahigh wavelength precision corresponding to strain resolution of 3.3 nε was obtained, indicating the ultimate resolution of the sensor system. With a variable strain applied by a piezo-stage, strain resolution of 17.6 nε was demonstrated. When the sensor is adopted for the in situ monitoring of crustal deformation, the strain induced by oceanic tide is clearly recorded with a resolution of 10 nε, providing a potential tool for the geophysical measurements.

The Channeled Scabland: Back to Bretz?: Comment and ReplyCOMMENT

The major controversy regarding the origin of the Channeled Scabland is whether the landforms were formed mainly by multiple periodic floods or by a grand-scale cataclysmic flood from late Pleistocene Glacial Lake Missoula. Evidence for the multiple flood—as many as 40 as estimated by [Waitt (1980

Flood hazard assessment in the Kujukuri Plain of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, based on GIS and multicriteria decision analysis

A simple flood hazard assessment based on GIS and multicriteria decision analysis was presented, and the sensitivity analysis was applied to evaluate the uncertainty of input factors. The location chosen for the study is the Kujukuri Plain, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The model incorporates six factors: river system, elevation, depression area, ratio of impermeable area, detention ponds, and precipitation. A hazard map for the year 2004, as an example, was obtained. The method of analytic hierarchy process was applied to calculate the weighting values of each factor. The hazard map was compared with the actual flood area, and good coincidence was found between them. The relative importance and uncertainty of the six input factors and weights were evaluated by using the global sensitivity analysis, i.e., extended FAST method, and the results showed a robust behavior of the model. The flood hazard assessment method presented here is meaningful for the flood management and environment protection in the area under the similar condition as this study.