Strain partitioning across a subduction thrust fault near the deformation front of the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand: A magnetic fabric study on IODP Expedition 375 Site U1518

Understanding the distribution of strain along thrust and splay faults in active accretionary systems is crucial to understand the mechanical properties of the sediments and the strength of the fault zone and its slip behavior. This paper investigates the distribution of strain through sediment compaction and texture development across the Pāpaku fault, a major splay fault near the deformation front of the Hikurangi subduction margin, New Zealand using the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility technique (AMS). International Ocean Discovery Program Site U1518 penetrated hanging wall, fault zone and footwall sequences to a maximum depth of 484.9 meters below seafloor. A total of 330 discrete samples was subjected to AMS measurements and magnetic remanence data used to reconstruct the axial orientation of each sample in a geographic reference frame. The AMS display distinct fabric differences between hanging wall, through the fault zone and footwall domains, demonstrating that strain is partitioned across the fault zone. Hanging wall sequences show a strike-parallel northeasterly lineation of K$_{max}$ and weakly prolate shapes, typical for a component of northeast-southwest lateral shortening. In contrast, footwall sequences are more oblate and show a clustering of K$_{max}$ in northerly direction. This demonstrates that strain in the footwall is dominated by gravitational loading, however a component of sub-horizontal east-westerly strain, parallel to the convergence direction of the Pacific Plate exists. Strain decoupling between hanging- and footwall sequences occurs near the top of the Pāpaku fault zone. Differences in the degree of magnetic susceptibility between footwall sediments incorporated into the fault zone, and the underlying undeformed footwall sequences are indicative for the progressive dewatering of the underconsolidated footwall sequences

Investigation of potential wood smoke impact on air quality in a Melbourne suburb.

An air monitoring program was conducted during 2005 to measure the impact of wood smoke from solid fuel heaters in a Melbourne residential suburb where there is extensive use of solid fuel heaters. A number of air pollutants including fine and course particles, organic air toxics benzene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen were monitored to determine the impact on air quality. Air quality was assessed by comparing the monitoring results to national and State air quality policy objectives and advisory reporting standards. Measured levels were also compared to other EPA air monitoring sites in Melbourne. The study found the main impact to air quality was caused by particles measured during April and May by coarse particles from surrounding soil and mainly by fine particles from wood smoke. Elevated fine particle levels were measured on nine days during June, highest concentration of 43 µg/m³ being measured. Multielemental analysis by Ion Beam Analysis was also undertaken to characterise the fine particles. Measured levels were also compared to other EPA air monitoring sites in Melbourne. The findings of this study are summarised in this paper.International Union of Air Pollution Prevention and Environmental Protection Associations (IUAPPA); Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ); ECOTEC

Modeling the Afferent Dynamics of the Baroreflex Control System

In this study we develop a modeling framework for predicting baroreceptor firing rate as a function of blood pressure. We test models within this framework both quantitatively and qualitatively using data from rats. The models describe three components: arterial wall deformation, stimulation of mechanoreceptors located in the BR nerve-endings, and modulation of the action potential frequency. The three sub-systems are modeled individually following well-established biological principles. The first submodel, predicting arterial wall deformation, uses blood pressure as an input and outputs circumferential strain. The mechanoreceptor stimulation model, uses circumferential strain as an input, predicting receptor deformation as an output. Finally, the neural model takes receptor deformation as an input predicting the BR firing rate as an output. Our results show that nonlinear dependence of firing rate on pressure can be accounted for by taking into account the nonlinear elastic properties of the artery wall. This was observed when testing the models using multiple experiments with a single set of parameters. We find that to model the response to a square pressure stimulus, giving rise to post-excitatory depression, it is necessary to include an integrate-and-fire model, which allows the firing rate to cease when the stimulus falls below a given threshold. We show that our modeling framework in combination with sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation can be used to test and compare models. Finally, we demonstrate that our preferred model can exhibit all known dynamics and that it is advantageous to combine qualitative and quantitative analysis methods

Authigenic greigite as an indicator of methane diffusion in gas hydrate- bearing sediments of the Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

Authigenic ferrimagnetic iron sulfides, essentially greigite (Fe3S4), are commonly found in gas hydrate-bearing marine sediments of active accretionary prisms. Greigite is a by-product, either intracellular or extracellular, of microbial activity, and therefore provides good indication of microbial processes which are closely related to the occurrence of gas hydrate. A high-resolution rock magnetic study was conducted at Site U1518 of International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 375, located in the frontal accretionary wedge of the Hikurangi Margin, offshore New Zealand. Samples were collected throughout the entire recovered stratigraphic sequence, from the surface to ∼492 m below seafloor (mbsf) which includes the Pāpaku fault zone. This study aims to document the rock magnetic properties and the composition of the magnetic mineral assemblage at Site U1518. Based on downhole magnetic coercivity variations, the studied interval is divided into five consecutive zones. Most of the samples have high remanent coercivity (above 50 mT) and first-order reversal curves (FORC) diagrams typical of single-domain greigite. The top of the hanging wall has intervals that display a lower remanent coercivity, similar to lower coercivities measured on samples from the fault zone and footwall. The widespread distribution of greigite at Site U1518 is linked to methane diffusion and methane hydrate which is mainly disseminated within sediments. In three footwall gas hydrate-bearing intervals, investigated at higher resolution, an improved magnetic signal, especially a stronger FORC signature, is likely related to enhanced microbial activity which favors the formation and preservation of greigite. Our findings at the Hikurangi Margin show a close linkage between greigite, methane hydrate and microbial activity

Authigenic greigite as an indicator of methane diffusion in gas hydrate- bearing sediments of the Hikurangi Margin, New Zealand

Authigenic ferrimagnetic iron sulfides, essentially greigite (Fe3S4), are commonly found in gas hydrate-bearing marine sediments of active accretionary prisms. Greigite is a by-product, either intracellular or extracellular, of microbial activity, and therefore provides good indication of microbial processes which are closely related to the occurrence of gas hydrate. A high-resolution rock magnetic study was conducted at Site U1518 of International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 375, located in the frontal accretionary wedge of the Hikurangi Margin, offshore New Zealand. Samples were collected throughout the entire recovered stratigraphic sequence, from the surface to ∼492 m below seafloor (mbsf) which includes the Pāpaku fault zone. This study aims to document the rock magnetic properties and the composition of the magnetic mineral assemblage at Site U1518. Based on downhole magnetic coercivity variations, the studied interval is divided into five consecutive zones. Most of the samples have high remanent coercivity (above 50 mT) and first-order reversal curves (FORC) diagrams typical of single-domain greigite. The top of the hanging wall has intervals that display a lower remanent coercivity, similar to lower coercivities measured on samples from the fault zone and footwall. The widespread distribution of greigite at Site U1518 is linked to methane diffusion and methane hydrate which is mainly disseminated within sediments. In three footwall gas hydrate-bearing intervals, investigated at higher resolution, an improved magnetic signal, especially a stronger FORC signature, is likely related to enhanced microbial activity which favors the formation and preservation of greigite. Our findings at the Hikurangi Margin show a close linkage between greigite, methane hydrate and microbial activity