Name : KURITA, Kei
Position : Professor
Division/Center : Division of Earth Mechanics
Research Area : Evolution of Planetary Bodies
Research:
Main research interests; 1) planetology, 2) volcanology, 3) physical properties of soft materials and 4) Convection.
In planetological studies, focussed
subjects are a) geomorphology of Mars and b) evolution of icy satellites.
As for Mars, we are
working on rampart craters and
martian volcanism by using the surface images. Morphology of rampart craters
are analyzed to deduce
its formation mechanism. Morphological
analysis of lava flows in Elysium region is aimed at determination of magmatic
types as well
as the eruption time scale. We
belong to the Mars Imaging Camera group of Nozomi, a Japanese probe to
Mars. As for the icy
satellites thermal and structural
evolution have been modeled through computer simulation with special care
on the phase changes of
ice/water. We have found the phase
diagram of H2O is a key factor for the life time of the internal ocean.
In volcanological studies,
physical process of caldera forming
large plinian eruption is a main subject. Our approach is based on a field
survey on Towada volcano
coupled with laboratory simulational
experiments on vesiculation and magmatic transport. With the chemical analysis
of melt
inclusions in crystals, we are
studying the preparatory process leading to the climactic caldera formation.
As for the physical
properties, we are particularly
interested in rheology and transport properties of soft materials such
as partially-molten state. In fluid
dynamical studies, laboratory
experiments on thermal convection of complex fluid is a main subject.
Although these subjects seem to
be diverse in the target and the way of approach, they are mutually interwoven
in the concept.
Throughout these subjects understanding
of self-organized evolutionary process in the planetary bodies is the main
theme. Strong
hope in setting-up our research
group is to provide diversified educational environment without any boundary
for graduate students.
Publications:
1.A. Namiki & K. Kurita, The influence of boundary
heterogeneity in experimental models of mantle convection, Geophs. Res.
Lett., 26,
1929-1932, 1999.
2.H. Demura & K. Kurita, A shallow volatile
layer at Chryse Planitia, Mars, Earth Planets Space, 50, 423-429, 1998.
3.I. Kumagai & K. Kurita, Interaction of periodic
wave trains in magma conduits, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter., 107, 131-141,
1998.
4.H. Taura, H. Yurimoto, K. Kurita & S. Sueno,
Pressure dependence on partition coefficients for trace elements between
olivine and the
coexisting melts, Phys. Chem.
Minerals, 25, 469-484, 1998.