The formation of explosive volcanos at the circum-Pacific convergent margin during the last century

The circum-Pacific convergent margin is known as"the Ring of Fire",with abundant volcano eruptions.Large eruptions are rare but very disastrous.It remains obscure how are large explosive volcanos formed and where are the danger zones.Three largest eruptions since 1900,the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai,the Mt.Pinatubo,and the Novarupta were found to be associated with subductions of volatile-rich sediments and located close to slab windows.Among them,the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is close to subducting seamount chains;the Mt.Pinatubo is right next to subducting fossil ridges.Both seamount chains and fossil ridges have water depths much shallower than the carbonate compensation depths(CCD)in the Pacific Ocean.Seismic image shows that a seamount is subducting towards the Novarupta volcano.Subduction of volatile-rich sediments and a slab window nearby are the two most important favorable conditions for catastrophic eruptions.Slab windows expose the mantle wedge to the hot asthenosphere,which increases the temperature and dramatically promotes the partial melting of the carbonate-fluxed domains,forming volatile-rich magmas that powered explosive eruptions.

Temporal and environmental factors drive community structure and function of methanotrophs in volcanic forest soils

Methanotrophs,organisms that obtain oxygen by oxidizing methane,are recognized as the only known biological sink for atmospheric CH_4,and forest soil methanotrophs play crucial roles in mitigating global warming.The succession patterns of methanotrophic communities and functions in Wudalianchi volcano forest soils could provide a basis for the study of evolutionary mechanisms between soil microorganisms,the environment,and carbon cycling of temperate forest ecosystems under climate change.In this study,the characteristics and drivers of methanotrophic community structure and function of two volcanic soils at different stages of development are analyzed,including an old volcano and a new volcano,which most recently erupted 300 years and 17-19×10^(5)years ago,respectively,and a non-volcano hills as control,based on space for time substitution and Miseq sequencing and bioinformation technology.The results showed that CH_(4) fluxes were significantly higher in old-stage volcano forest soils than new-stage forest soils and non-volcano forest soils.There were significant differences in the community composition and diversity of soil methanotrophs from different volcano forest soils.Methylococcus was the dominant genus in all soil samples.Additionally,the relative abundance of Methylococcus,along with Clonothrix,Methyloglobulus,Methylomagum,Methylomonas and Methylosarcina,were the important genera responsible for the differences in methanotrophic community structure in different volcano forest soils.The relative abundance of methanotroph belonging toγ-proteobacteria was significantly higher than that belonging toα-proteobacteria(P<0.05).Chao1,Shannon and Simpson indices of soil methanotrophic community were significantly lower in new-stage volcanos and were significantly affected by bulk density,total porosity,p H,nitrate,dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen.There were significant differences in community structure between new-stage and old-stage volcanoes.Bulk density and p H are important soil properties contributing to the divergence of methanotrophs community structure,and changes in soil properties due to soil development time are important factors driving differences in methanotrophs communities in Wudalianchi volcanic soils.

Submarine volcanism in the southern margin of the South China Sea

Submarine volcanism is widely developed in the South China Sea(SCS).However,the characteristics,distribution,and genesis of submarine volcanoes in the southern margin of the SCS remain obscure.In this study,we analyzed the characteristics of submarine volcanoes and identified a total of 43 submarine volcanoes in the southern margin of the SCS,based on a newly acquired 310-km seismic reflection profile,along with previous 45 multi-channel seismic(MCS)profiles,petrological results from volcanic rocks sampled by dredging and drilling,nearby ocean bottom seismometer(OBS)wide-angle seismic profiles,and gravity and magnetic data.The study ascertains that most of these volcanoes are located in fault-block belts and graben-horst zones with strong crustal stretching and thinning.These volcanoes exhibit positive high-amplitude external seismic reflections,weak and chaotic internal seismic reflections,and are accompanied by local deformation of the surrounding sedimentary strata.Meanwhile,they have higher positive gravity anomalies and higher magnetic anomalies than the background strata.The petrological dating results show that volcanic ages are primarily in the Pliocene-Pleistocene,with geochemical characteristics indicating dominance of oceanic island basalt(OIB)-type alkali-basalts.Extensional faults have obviously spatial correspondence with post-spreading volcanism,suggesting these faults may provide conduits for submarine volcanism.The high-velocity bodies(HVBs)in the lower crust and magma underplating exist in the southern SCS,which could provide a clue of genesis for submarine volcanism.The inference is that the intensity of post-spreading volcanism in the southern margin might be affected by stretching faults,crustal thinning and magma underplating.

Combining descriptor-based analyses and mean-field modeling of the electrochemical interface to comprehend trends of catalytic processes at the solid/liquid interface

Electrocatalysis is undergoing a renaissance due to its central importance for a sustainable energy economy,relying on green(electro-)chemical processes to harvest,convert,and store energy.Theoretical considerations by electronic structure methods are key to identify potential material motifs for electrocatalytic processes at the solid/liquid interface.Most commonly,heuristic concepts in the realm of materials screening by the compilation of volcano plots are used,which rely on a plethora of simplifications and approximations of the complex electrochemical interface.While the investigation of the catalytic processes at the solid/liquid interface mainly relies on descriptor-based approaches,in the present future article it is discussed that the inclusion of the liquid part of the interface by mean-field models is crucial to elevate screening approaches to the next level.

全球海啸相关研究进展综述

With the advancement of the global economy,the coastal region has become heavily developed and densely populated and suffers significant damage potential considering various natural disasters,including tsunamis,as indicated by several catastrophic tsunami disasters in the 21st century.This study reviews the up-to-date tsunami research from two different viewpoints:tsunamis caused by different generation mechanisms and tsunami research applying different research approaches.For the first issue,earthquake-induced,landslide-induced,volcano eruption-induced,and meteorological tsunamis are individually reviewed,and the characteristics of each tsunami research are specified.Regarding the second issue,tsunami research using post-tsunami field surveys,numerical simulations,and laboratory experiments are discussed individually.Research outcomes from each approach are then summarized.With the extending and deepening of the understanding of tsunamis and their inherent physical insights,highly effective and precise tsunami early warning systems and countermeasures are expected for the relevant disaster protection and mitigation efforts in the coastal region.

Coupling between the Cenozoic west Pacific subduction initiation and decreases of atmospheric carbon dioxides

At the beginning of the Cenozoic,the atmospheric CO_(2)concentration increased rapidly from~2000 ppmv at 60 Ma to~4600 ppmv at 51 Ma,which is 5–10 times higher than the present value,and then continuous declined from~51 to 34 Ma.The cause of this phenomenon is still not well understood.In this study,we demonstrate that the initiation of Cenozoic west Pacific plate subduction,triggered by the hard collision in the Tibetan Plateau,occurred at approximately 51 Ma,coinciding with the tipping point.The water depths of the Pacific subduction zones are mostly below the carbonate compensation depths,while those of the Neo-Tethys were much shallower before the collision and caused far more carbonate subducting.Additionally,more volcanic ashes erupted from the west Pacific subduction zones,which consume CO_(2).The average annual west Pacific volvano eruption is 1.11 km~3,which is higher than previous estimations.The amount of annual CO_(2)absorbed by chemical weathering of additional west Pacific volcanic ashes could be comparable to the silicate weathering by the global river.We propose that the initiation of the western Pacific subduction controlled the long-term reduction of atmospheric CO_(2)concentration.

Fan‐hinged shear instead of frictional stick–slip as the main and most dangerous mechanism of natural,induced,and volcanic earthquakes in the earth's crust

Frictional stick–slip instability along pre‐existing faults has been accepted as the main mechanism of earthquakes for about 60 years,since it is believed that fracture of intact rocks cannot reflect such features inherent in earthquakes as low shear stresses activating instability,low stress drop,repetitive dynamic instability,and connection with pre‐existing faults.This paper demonstrates that all these features can be induced by a recently discovered shear rupture mechanism(fan‐hinged),which creates dynamic ruptures in intact rocks under stress conditions corresponding to seismogenic depths.The key element of this mechanism is the fan‐shaped structure of the head of extreme ruptures,which is formed as a result of an intense tensile cracking process,with the creation of inter‐crack slabs that act as hinges between the shearing rupture faces.The preference of the fan mechanism over the stick–slip mechanism is clear due to the extraordinary properties of the fan structure,which include the ability to generate new faults in intact dry rocks even at shear stresses that are an order of magnitude lower than the frictional strength;to provide shear resistance close to zero and abnormally large energy release;to cause a low stress drop;to use a new physics of energy supply to the rupture tip,providing supersonic rupture velocity;and to provide a previously unknown interrelation between earthquakes and volcanoes.All these properties make the fan mechanism the most dangerous rupture mechanism at the seismogenic depths of the earth's crust,generating the vast majority of earthquakes.The detailed analysis of the fan mechanism is presented in the companion paper“New physics of supersonic ruptures”published in DUSE.Further study of this subject is a major challenge for deep underground science,earthquake and fracture mechanics,volcanoes,physics,and tribology.

Sun Disturbances on Earth’s Volcanism

This paper searches for a connection between volcanoes and solar variability. Solar events have been investigated as possible interference with hazardous natural events on Earth. The first results pointed out that during the solar minimum, the frequency and strength of volcanoes increased. However, solar variability is not the only factor disturbing volcanic eruptions;there is also seasonality. There is a double interference from the Sun on the volcanoes, one from the solar cycles, and the second is the seasons.

A Seismic Facies Analysis to Determine the Relative Age and History of the Al Idrissi Mud Volcano from Offshore Larache Located in the NW Moroccan Atlantic Margin

Formed on top of the Gulf of Cadiz, the Al Idrissi mud volcano is the shallowest and largest mud volcano in the El Arraiche mud volcano field of the northwestern Moroccan margin. The development and morphology of mud volcanoes from the El Arraiche mud volcanoes group have been studied at a large scale. However, the time interval related to their formation period still needs to be better understood. In this regard, we interpreted and analyzed the seismic facies from the 2D reflection data of the GEOMARGEN-1 campaign, which took place in 2011. The aim was to identify the seismic sequences and draw the Al Idrissi mud volcano system to determine the formation period of the Al Idriss mud volcano. And as a result, the Al Idrissi mud volcano system is made of both buried and superficial bicone and was identified along with the Upper Tortonian to Messinian-Upper Pliocene facies. As the initial mud volcano extrusive edifice, the buried bicone was formed in the Late-Messinian to Early-Pliocene period. However, the superficial bicone, as the final extrusive edifice, was included in the Late Pliocene. In this case, the timing interval between the buried and superficial bicone is equivalent to the Late-Messinian to Upper-Pliocene period. Therefore, the latter corresponds to the Al Idrissi mud volcano formation period.

Influence of Volcanic Activity on Weather and Climate Changes

This paper examines possible connections between volcanic eruptions and their consequences on the weather. Gas emissions, such as CO2 and SO2, are vital in the troposphere and change temperatures on Earth’s surface. The water vapor discharges can be moved for three atmospheric layers creating extra atmospheric rivers and disrupting the Polar vortex. All those deviations will bring consequences to the weather. It depends on the intensity, the emission type, the kind of volcano, and the location. Then, eruptions can change the atmospheric layers with sudden fluctuations unexpected for the season.

Earthquake, Volcano and Earth Rotation Harmonics

Earthquake prediction is considered impossible for there is no scientific way to find the date and time, the location, and the magnitude of an earthquake. A new idea is introduced in this paper—earth rotation harmonics triggered natural volcano and earthquake. With earth rotation harmonics response model for a location, it could be possible to calculate the earthquake date and time, and the magnitude. Properties of earth rotation harmonics triggered earthquake are discussed and verified with earthquake data from USGS website. Also, both earth tide and ocean tide effects on earthquake are discussed and verified with earthquake data—tides did not trigger the natural earthquake, they only affect the earthquake activities and time.

全球最大的活火山

全球最大的活火山--夏威夷莫纳罗亚火山近40年来首次喷发……Hawaii􀆳s Mauna Loa,the largest active volcano in the world,erupted for the first time in nearly 40 years,US authorities said,erupting lava and ash as emergency crews went on alert.

Geohazards and Risk in Developing Nations

Geohazards,such as earthquakes,landslides, tsunamis,volcanic eruptions,floods,melting permafrost, and metastable soils impact people’s lives worldwide.Population growth is forcing people to live in areas that have classically supported low population densities including steep slopes,low-lying coasts,and along floodplains and currently climate change is exacerbating risk in these regions.

Investigation into extremely acidic hydrothermal fluids off Kueishan Tao, Taiwan, China

Kueishan Tao (24°51′N, 121°55′E) is located at a tectonic junction of the fault system extension of Taiwan and the southern rifting end of the Okinawa Trough. A cluster of over 30 vents, at a water depth of about 10-20 m off the eastern tip of the tao emits hy-drothermal fluids and volcanic gases such as H2S. A sulfur chimney or mound, formed by condensation of the sulfur contained in the hydrothermal fluid, can usually be seen around the vents. The tallest chimney reaches 6 m. Vents discharging a yellowish fluid have temperatures between 92 and 116 ℃ and flow rates as high as 158 t/h; vents discharging a whitish fluid have lower temperatures of between 48 and 62 ℃ and lower flow rates of about 7.0 t/h. These world-record, breaking low pH (as low as 1.52) fluids are totally different from those found in the black and white-chimneys of the mid-ocean ridges. Magnesium and SiO2 data indicate that these hydrothermal fluids probably originate from a depth of 915-1 350 m below the surface.While the ratios of major ions relative to the sodium of these hydrothermal fluids are quite similar to open ocean water, the ratios of SO4 and chloride to sodium seem to be higher for some of the vents. It is suggested that the volcanic gases contribute SO4 and chlorine to the fluids, hence increasing their ratios relative to sodium. Some hydrothermal fluids, however, are found to be depleted of the major elements which can have been caused by phase separation. The concentrations of iron and manganese in the fluids are much lower than those found in the mid-ocean ridges, while the aluminium content is higher. Four species of benthos (Xenograpsus testudi-natus, a snail, a sea anemone, and a Sipuncala), 1 species of algae (Corallinaceae), and 1 species of fish (Siganus fusescens) were recorded near the hydrothermal vents. A mitochondria DNA sequence comparison of Xenograpsus testudinatus with 6 other decapod species shows the greatest number of nitrogen base differences in the DNA fragments from 225 to 270. The gene diversity in this DNA region possibly results from the unusual habitat. A sediment core was collected at a pond near the eastern side of the tao. No volcanic ash could be detected in the core sample spanning 3 620 a.

Potential Hazards of Eruptions around the Tianchi Caldera Lake, China

Since the eruption of the Tianchi volcano about 1000 years ago, there have been at least 3 to 5 eruptions of small to moderate size. In addition, hazardous avalanches, rock falls and debris flows have occurred during periods between eruptions. A future eruption of the Tianchi volcano is likely to involve explosive interaction between magma and the caldera lake. The volume of erupted magma is almost in a range of 0.1-0.5 km3. Tephra fallout may damage agriculture in a large area near the volcano. If only 1% of the lake water were ejected during an eruption and then precipitated over an area of 200 km2, the average rainfall would be 100 mm. Moreover, lahars are likely to occur as both tephra and water ejected from the caldera lake fall onto flanks of the volcano. Rocks avalanching into the caldera lake also would bring about grave hazards because seiches would be triggered and lake water with the volume equal to that of the landslide would spill out of the existing breach in the caldera and cause flooding downstream.

Test Investigation on Liquefied Deformation Structure in Saturated Lime-Mud Composites Triggered by Strong Earthquakes

Three identical model boxes were made from transparent plexiglass and angle iron. Using the method of sinking water and according to the sedimentary rhythm of saturated calcium carbonate （lime-mud） intercalated with cohesive soil, calcites with particle sizes diameters of ≤ 5 μm, 10–15 μm and 23–30 μm as well as cohesive soil were sunk alternatively in water of three boxes to build three test models, each of which has a specific size of calcite. Pore water pressure gauges were buried in lime-mud layers at different depths in each model, and connected with a computer system to collect pore water pressures. By means of soil tests, physical property parameters and plasticity indices （Ip） were obtained for various grain-sized saturated lime-muds. The lime-muds with Ip ranging from 6.3 to 8.5 （lower than 10） are similar to liquid saturated silt in the physical nature, indicating that saturated silt can be liquefied once induced by a strong earthquake. One model cart was pushed quickly along the length direction of the model so that its rigid wheels collided violently with the stone stair, thus generating an artificial earthquake with seismic wave magnitude greater than VI degree. When unidirectional cyclic seismic load of horizontal compression-tension-shear was imposed on the soil layers in the model, enough great pore water pressure has been accumulated within pores of lime-mud, resulting in liquefaction of lime-mud layers. Meanwhile, micro-fractures formed in each soil layer provided channels for liquefaction dewatering, resulting in formation of macroscopic liquefaction deformation, such as liquefied lime-mud volcanoes, liquefied diapir structures, vein-like liquefied structures and liquefied curls, etc. Splendid liquefied lime-mud eruption lasted for two to three hours, which is similar to the sand volcano eruption induced by strong earthquake. However, under the same artificial seismic conditions, development of macroscopic liquefied structures in three experimental models varied in shape, depth and quantity, indicating that excess pore water pressure ratios at initial liquefaction stage and complete liquefaction varied with depth. With size increasing of calcite particle in lime-mud, liquefied depth and deformation extent increase accordingly. The simulation test verifies for the first time that strong earthquakes may cause violent liquefaction of saturated lime-mud composed of micron-size calcite particles, uncovering the puzzled issue whether seafloor lime-mud can be liquefied under strong earthquake. This study not only provides the latest simulation data for explaining the earthquake-induced liquefied deformations of saturated lime-mud and seismic sedimentary events, but also is of great significance for analysis of foundation stability in marine engineering built on the soft calcium carbonate layers in neritic environment.

Geochemical Characteristics of Gases from the Wudalianchi Volcanic Area,Northeastern China

The origins of gases in springs, pools and wells from the Wudalianchi (WDLC) volcanic area are discussed based upon molecular and isotope compositions of the gases. Nine gas and water samples were collected from bubbles and water of the springs and pools in the WDLC volcanic area, Northeastern China, in August 1997. The molecular components were measured with a MAT-271 mass spectrometer (MS), helium isotope ratios with a VG-5400 MS, and δ13C with a MAT-251 MS in the Lanzhou Institute of Geology. The gases are enriched in CO2, and most of the CO2 concentrations are over 80% (V). The helium and methane concentrations have relatively wide ranges of 0.7 to 380×10?6 and 4 to 180×10?6, respectively. The 3He/4He ratios are between 1.05 Ra and 3.1 Ra (Ra = 1.4×10?6); the 4He/20Ne values are between 0.45 and 1011, larger than the atmospheric value (0.32). The δ13C (PDB) values of carbon dioxide range from ?9.6 to ?4.2%%. These geochemical data demonstrate that the spring water is from aquifers at different depths, and that helium and carbon dioxide are derived from the mantle, and are contaminated by crust gases during deep fluid migration. Also, there are larger fluxes of deep-earth matter and energy in the WDLC volcanic area.

Deep structure and origin of active volcanoes in China

We synthesize significant recent results on the deep structure and origin of the active volcanoes in China's Mainland. Magmatism in the western Pacific arc and back-arc areas is caused by dehydration of the subducting slab and by corner flow in the mantle wedge, whereas the intraplate magmatism in China has different origins. The active volcanoes in Northeast China （such as the Changbai and Wudalianchi） are caused by hot upwelling in the big mantle wedge （BMW） above the stagnant slab in the mantle transition zone and deep slab dehydration as well. The Tengchong volcano in Southwest China is caused by a similar process in the BMW above the subducting Burma microplate （or Indian plate）. The Hainan volcano in southernmost China is a hotspot fed by a lower-mantle plume which may be associated with the Pacific and Philippine Sea slabs＇ deep subduction in the east and the Indian slab＇s deep subduction in the west down to the lower mantle. The stagnant slab finally collapses down to the bottom of the mantle, which can trigger the upwelling of hot mantle materials from the lower mantle to the shallow mantle beneath the subducting slabs and may cause the slab-plume interactions.

S-wave velocity structure beneath Changbaishan volcano inferred from receiver function

The S wave velocity structure in Changbaishan volcanic region was obtained from teleseismic receiver function modeling. The results show that there exist distinct low velocity layers in crust in volcano area. Beneath WQD station near to the Tianchi caldera the low velocity layer at 8 km depth is 20 km thick with the lowest S-wave velocity about 2.2 km/s At EDO station located 50 km north of Tianchi caldera, no obvious crustal low velocity layer is detected. In the volcanic region, the thickness of crustal low velocity layer is greater and the lowest velocity is more obvious with the distance shorter to the caldera. It indicates the existence of the high temperature material or magma reservoir in crust near the Tianchi caldera. The receiver functions and inversion result from different back azimuths at CBS permanent seismic station show that the thickness of near surface low velocity layer and Moho depth change with directions. The near surface low velocity layer is obviously thicker in south direction. The Moho depth shows slight uplifting in the direction of the caldera located. We con- sider that the special near surface velocity structure is the main cause of relatively lower prominent frequency of volcanic earthquake waveforms recorded by CBS station. The slight uplifting of Moho beneath Tianchi caldera indicates there is a material exchanging channel between upper mantle and magma reservoir in crust.

Behavior of Siderophile and Chalcophile Elements in the Subcontinental Lithospheric Mantle beneath the Changbaishan Volcano,NE China

The mantle xenoliths in the Quaternary ChangbaishanVolcano in southern Jilin Province contain spinel-facies lherzolites. The equilibration temperatures for these samples range from 902℃ to 1064℃ based on the two-pyroxene thermometer of Brey and Kohler （1990）, and using the oxybarometry of Nell and Wood （1991）, the oxidation state was estimated from FMQ-1.32 to -0.38 with an average value of FMQ-0.81 （n = 8）, which is comparable to that of abyssal peridotites and the asthenospheric mantle. ThefO2 values of peridotites, together with their bulk rock compositions （e.g., Mg#, Al2O3, CaO, Ni, Co, Cr） and mineral compositions （e.g., Mg# of olivine and pyroxene, Cr# [=Cr/ [Cr＋Al]] and Mg# [=Mg/[Mg＋Fe2~] of spinel）, suggest that the present-day subcontinental lithospheric mantle （SCLM） beneath the Changbaishan Volcano most likely formed from an upwelling asthenosphere at some time after the late Mesozoic and has undergone a low degree of partial melting. The studied lherzolite xenoliths show low concentrations of S, Cu, and platinum group elements （PGE）, which plot a flat pattern on primitive-mantle normalized diagram. Very low concentrations in our samples suggest that PGEs occur as alloys or hosted by silicate and oxide minerals. The compositions of the studied samples are similar to those of peridotite xenoliths in the Longgang volcanic field （LVF） in their mineralogy and bulk rock compositions including the abundance of chalcophile and siderophile elements. However, they are distinctly different from those of peridotite xenoliths in other areas of the North China Craton （NCC） in terms of Cu, S and PGE. Our data suggest that the SCLM underlying the northeastern part of the NCC may represent a distinct unit of the newly formed lithospberic mantle.