Paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic records through Marine Isotope Stage 19 at the Chiba composite section, central Japan: A key reference for the EarlyeMiddle Pleistocene Subseries boundary

Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 19 is an important analogue for the present interglacial because of its similar orbital configuration, especially the phasing of the obliquity maximum to precession minimum. However, sedimentary records suitable for capturing both terrestrial and marine environmental changes are limited, and thus the climatic forcing mechanisms for MIS 19 are still largely unknown. The Chiba composite section, east-central Japanese archipelago, is a continuous and expanded marine sedimentary succession well suited to capture terrestrial and marine environmental changes through MIS 19. In this study, a detailed oxygen isotope chronology is established from late MIS 20 to early MIS 18, supported by a U-Pb zircon age and the presence of the Matuyama–Brunhes boundary. New pollen, marine microfossil, and planktonic foraminiferal δ18O and Mg/Ca paleotemperature records reveal the complex interplay of climatic influences. Our pollen data suggest that the duration of full interglacial conditions during MIS 19 extends from 785.0 to 775.1 ka (9.9 kyr), which offers an important natural baseline in predicting the duration of the present interglacial. A Younger Dryas-type cooling event is present during Termination IX, suggesting that such events are linked to this orbital configuration. Millennial- to multi-millennial-scale variations in our δ18O and Mg/Ca records imply that the Subarctic Front fluctuated in the northwestern Pacific Ocean during late MIS 19, probably in response to East Asian winter monsoon variability. The climatic setting at this time appears to be related to less severe summer insolation minima at 65˚N and/or high winter insolation at 50˚N. Our records do not support a recently hypothesized direct coupling between variations in the geomagnetic field intensity and global/regional climate change. Our highly resolved paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic records, coupled with a well-defined Matuyama–Brunhes boundary (772.9 ka; duration 1.9 kyr), establish the Chiba composite section as an exceptional climatic and chronological reference section for the Early–Middle Pleistocene boundary.ArticleQuaternary Science Reviews 191: 406-430(2018)journal articl

Progressive mixed-magma recharging of Izu-Oshima volcano, Japan: A guide to magma chamber volume

To discover how magmas move and interact beneath an arc we have examined the temporal and spatial evolution of the largest Izu-Bonin frontal arc volcano Izu-Oshima and the adjacent Izu-Tobu field of backarc volcanoes. Extensive 14C ages and geochemical analysis of subaerial satellite cones as well as other effusives has enabled us to construct a well-constrained ?14 ka?14 ka record of Izu-Oshima volcanism.The geochemistry of Izu-Oshima is found to change systematically through the last 14?000 yr. Ba/La, Pb/Ce, 87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd and 206Pb/204Pb all decrease between 10 ka and 5 ka before increasing between 5 ka and the present, while La/Yb and Nb/Zr show the reverse. These changes in composition match the addition of Izu-Tobu (backarc) magma to the Izu-Oshima plumbing system with a maximum of a 40% Izu-Tobu at around 5 ka. Progressive but asymptotically declining changes in composition through the 10–5 ka period are found to fit a model where pre-mixed magma is episodically added to, and mixed with, a chamber beneath Izu-Oshima. The 5–0 ka period reverses this trend, but is again progressive and declining, suggesting a switch to a progressive influx of pure Izu-Oshima frontal arc magma. Combining flux and eruption volume estimates with the observed geochemical mixing rates indicates that the accessible melt volume of the Izu-Oshima magma system is ?16 km3?16 km3. Interaction and pre-mixing between the fluid-dominated frontal arc melt and the sediment-bearing backarc magmas must occur at deeper levels within the arc crust. This deep reservoir receives a continuous feed from the frontal arc mantle, but may periodically intercept rising magmas from the backarc source to produce episodes of magma mixing on timescales of ?5000 yr?5000 yr.This study demonstrates that interaction between frontal arc and backarc magma needs to be considered to achieve better understanding of material transfers and elemental budgets at subduction zones

Long-distance magma transport from arc volcanoes inferred from the submarine eruptive fissures offshore Izu-Oshima volcano, Izu–Bonin arc

Long-distance lateral magma transport away from volcanic centers in island arcs is emerging as a common phenomenon where the regional stress regime is favorable. It should also be recognized as an important factor in the construction and growth of island arcs, and a potential trigger for devastating eruptions. In this contribution, we report on recent investigations into the magma dynamics of Izu-Oshima volcano, an active basaltic volcano with an extensive fissure system.Izu-Oshima is flanked by numerous, subparallel NW–SE trending submarine ridges extending up to 22 km to the NW and the SE from the central vent. During a recent submersible survey we have identified that these ridges are fissures which erupted basaltic spatter and lava flows. Furthermore, lavas are petrographically similar along each ridge, while there are noticeable differences between ridges. The subparallel ridges are observed to transect a series of seamounts – the Izu-Tobu monogenetic volcanoes – which are dispersed across this area of the rear-arc. However, there are consistent petrographic and chemical differences between these seamounts and the ridges, indicating that they have different magma sources, yet, they are essentially bounding each other in dive tracks. The most appropriate scenario for their development is one where the Izu-Tobu Volcanoes are fed by an “in-situ” underlying source, while the NW–SE ridges are fed by lateral magma transport from Izu-Oshima.Magma erupted from each ridge is of a consistent geochemistry along its length, but has experienced crystal fractionation and some plagioclase accumulation. Compositions of the ridges are also very similar to lavas from the subaerial cones that can be traced down the flanks of Izu-Oshima. This implies that pairs of subaerial cones and submarine ridges represent the locus of magma transport events away from the storage system beneath Izu-Oshima. Hence, magma from this crustal reservoir moved upward to feed the on-edifice cones, as well as laterally to supply submarine fissures and dykes to a distance of 22 km