The microphysics of the frequent, and frequently positive, lightning of Hokuriku winter clouds was investigated by systematic, in situ observation of individual precipitation particle type and charge.
Japan
How Land Use Affects Nutrient Pollution in a Changing Climate
As heavy rain falls more frequently, the land alongside a river has a greater effect on the waterway’s nutrient levels—for better or worse.
Groundwater Drawn Downward After Kumamoto Quake
A unique set of high-frequency groundwater level monitoring reveals a loss of approximately ten million cubic meters of groundwater after a major earthquake.
Earthquakes Shake Up Groundwater Systems
Increased permeability temporarily boosts water flow.
Déjà Vu: Understanding Subduction Zones’ Cycle of Seismicity
A unique geodetic data set from Japan’s Nankai subduction zone offers an unparalleled opportunity to study surface deformation spanning almost an entire seismic cycle.
Hiroshima Bomb Created Asteroid Impact–Like Glass
The glass rained from the sky as the bomb annihilated the Japanese city.
Unraveling the Origin of Slow Earthquakes
Different nucleation styles detected in five slow-slip events in the same area of Japan’s Ryukyu subduction zone suggest the physical properties along this tectonic plate interface change over time.
Next Olympics Marathon Course Has Dangerous “Hot Spots” for Spectators
Spectators’ health may be jeopardized by high heat loads along the 2020 Olympics marathon course in Tokyo, a bicycle-mounted meteorological survey found.
In a Submarine Trough, Permeable Rocks May Lead to Quakes
In Japan’s submarine Nankai Trough, rock permeability is much higher when measured at larger scales, likely because of big fractures and faults that are not captured at small scales.
Two Active Volcanoes in Japan May Share a Magma Source
Evidence collected following the 2011 eruption of Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano suggests that the powerful event affected the behavior of an active caldera nearby.