Latitudinal and longitudinal variability of mesospheric winds and temperatures during stratospheric warming events

Continuous MF and meteor radar observations allow detailed studies of winds in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) as well as temperatures around the mesopause. This height region is characterized by a strong variability in winter due to enhanced planetary wave activity and related stratospheric warming events, which are distinct coupling processes between lower, middle and upper atmosphere. Here the variability of mesospheric winds and temperatures is discussed in relation with major and minor stratospheric warmings as observed during winter 2005/06 in comparison with results during winter 1998/99.Our studies are based on MF radar wind measurements at Andenes (69°N, 16°E), Poker Flat (65°N, 147°W) and Juliusruh (55°N, 13°E) as well as on meteor radar observations of winds and temperatures at Resolute Bay (75°N, 95°W), Andenes (69°N, 16°E) and Kühlungsborn (54°N, 12°E). Additionally, energy dissipation rates have been estimated from spectral width measurements using a 3 MHz Doppler radar near Andenes. Particular attention is directed to the changes of winds, turbulence and the gravity wave activity in the mesosphere in relation to the planetary wave activity in the stratosphere.Observations indicate an enhancement of planetary wave 1 activity in the mesosphere at high latitudes during major stratospheric warmings. Daily mean temperatures derived from meteor decay times indicate that strong warming events are connected with a cooling of the 90 km region by about 10–20 K. The onset of these cooling processes and the reversals of the mesospheric circulation to easterly winds occur some days before the changes of the zonal circulation in the stratosphere start indicating a downward propagation of the circulation disturbances from the MLT region to the stratosphere and troposphere during the stratospheric warming events. The short-term reversal of the mesospheric winds is followed by a period of strong westerly winds connected with enhanced turbulence rates and an increase of gravity wave activity in the altitude range 70–85 km.     

Dynamics of mesozooplankton assemblages in subtropical coastal waters of Hong Kong: A comparative study between a eutrophic estuarine and a mesotrophic coastal site

A monthly comparative study of mesozooplankton biomass and composition between a eutrophic Pearl River estuarine site (WE) and a mesotrophic coastal-oceanic site (EO) in Hong Kong waters was conducted to examine the response of mesozooplankton to nutrient-rich riverine discharge. Although the annual average mesozooplankton biomass was higher at WE than at EO, they were not statistically significant. Variations of mesozooplankton biomass at both stations followed similar trends of Chl a concentrations, with the exception of July at WE where mesozooplankton biomass was low but total Chl a was high. This mismatch may be due to the high flushing effect of the Pearl River discharge in summer and a time lag in mesozooplankton population growth. On the other hand, the composition of mesozooplankton was significantly modified by riverine discharge and eutrophication conditions. While small copepods dominated at both sites, the eutrophic estuarine water had a high abundance of barnacle and polychaete larvae, while cladocerans, bivalve larvae, gastropod larvae and chaetognaths mainly occurred at EO. Eutrophication increased the top-down role of copepods in the grazing community, revealed by an increase in the percentage of copepods in the total metazoan mesozooplankton, especially during the period of high river discharge. Moreover, mesozooplankton diversity at the two stations was similar, and they both showed relatively higher diversity during autumn and winter and lower diversity during summer, especially at WE. These results suggest that, despite high nutrient and Chl a concentrations in estuarine waters, mesozooplankton biomass were not enhanced compared to coastal waters with no river impact, possibly due to poor food quality and increased predation in the eutrophic estuarine waters.     

Palaeomagnetic timing of the rotation and translation of Cyprus

The geological evolution of the Mesozoic Troodos Ophiolite Complex in Cyprus, and the tectonic nature and timing of the palaeomagnetically indicated anticlockwise rotation of Cyprus of some 80° and ca. 15° northward translation, have been open for debate for some time. New palaeomagnetic data from 18 sites ( 180samples) in the post-ophiolite sediments, ranging in age from Upper Cretaceous to Upper Miocene, are presented. Most of the sites are of normal geomagnetic polarity, but indications of reversed polarity have been found in an older group of sediments (the Lefkara Formation of Upper Palaeocene age).Six sites from the older group of sediments (Upper Cretaceous to Eocene in age) give a site mean direction of the AF cleaned sediments of (D, I) = (323°, 29°) with α₉₅ = 18°, while 5 sites from a younger group of sediments (Oligocene to Miocene in age) give a cleaned site mean direction of (D, I) = (334°, 58°) with α₉₅ = 9°. These and published data suggest that an anticlockwise rotation of Cyprus of 60 ± 10° occurred early during the post-igneous evolution of the Cyprus oceanic crust between 90 and 50Ma, leaving only a minor anticlockwise rotation of 20 ± 10° to occur during the last 50 Ma. It is furthermore concluded that the northward translation of Cyprus of 15° mostly took place during the last 30Ma.It thus appears that a fairly rapid rotation of the Cyprus microplate first took place in the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary time with an average angular velocity of 1–2°/Ma, during which the northward translation was minor or negligible. In the latter half of the Tertiary, the sense of movement appears to have radically changed, the northward translation now being dominant with an average velocity of 5–6cm/yr. This temporal evolution is found to be in good agreement with the Mesozoic and Tertiary movements of the African lithospheric plate relative to Europe, as evidenced from the Atlantic sea-floor magnetic anomaly spreading history.     

Mid-latitude winds in the mesosphere: a superposed epoch analysis over the geomagnetic storm times

This study aims at looking for the characteristic patterns of mesospheric wind over the geomagnetic storm times. For this purpose, the geomagnetic storms preceded by a sudden commencement (SSC) have been selected from January 1995 to April 1999. By using the onset of SSC as the timing mark, a superposed epoch analysis has been performed on the available neutral wind data measured with medium frequency (MF) radars at Yamagawa (31.2°N, 130.6°E) and Wakkanai (45.4°N, 141.7°E). In doing so, the length of time chosen for the superposed analysis is from 7 days before the SSC onset to 21 days after the onset; subsets of wind data are superimposed for summer and winter months, respectively. Then with harmonic analysis on the superposed winds the mean winds in both summer and winter months have been obtained. Concerning mean wind characteristics, some interesting details are the reversal heights of the summer zonal winds, which is 79–80 km at Yamagawa and 84 km at Wakkanai. Strong wavy structures with 2–4 days period are observed at both Yamagawa and Wakkanai in both summer and winter. As for storm effects, significant enhancement of eastward wind is found 5 days after SSC onset at both Yamagawa and Wakkanai in winter. Moreover, the northward wind turns southward at Wakkanai 2 days after the onset of SSC, and the southward wind lasts for several days thereafter. In summer months, the post-storm enhancement tends to be small and mainly in the eastward wind at both Yamagawa and Wakkanai.     

Long term variations in the mesospheric mean flow observed at Grahamstown (South Africa) and Adelaide (Australia)

The seasonal and interannual behaviour of monthly mean winds at a height of 90 km recorded at Grahamstown (33.3°S, 26.5°E) and Adelaide (34.5°S, 138.5°E) between 1987 and 1994 are compared. The zonal wind is found to be consistently stronger at Grahamstown and is always eastward, whereas at Adelaide it sometimes reverses. Maxima tend to occur near the solstices, the primary maximum during summer at Grahamstown, in agreement with satellite results, and during winter at Adelaide. The meridional wind also tends to be stronger at Grahamstown, but at both stations is predominantly northward with a maximum in summer and generally not as strong as the zonal component. This seasonal behaviour is reasonably well understood in terms of the interaction of the mean flow with gravity waves propagating up from below, with coriolis forces also playing an important role in the case of the meridional wind. Satellite observations do not generally support the idea that longitudinal differences between the stations could be attributed to the presence of a tropospheric/stratospheric stationary wave. It is suggested that these differences are more probably associated with local effects. Interannual zonal wind patterns at the two sites are similar over the summer months but are less well correlated during the rest of the year. The underlying causes of this variability are not well understood but are most probably global in nature, at least during the summer.     

Seasonal variations in pCO2 and its controlling factors in surface seawater of the northern East China Sea

Surface partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), temperature, salinity, nutrients, and chlorophyll a were measured in the East China Sea (ECS; 31°30′–34°00′N to 124°00′–127°30′E) in August 2003 (summer), May 2004 (spring), October 2004 (early fall), and November 2005 (fall). The warm and saline Tsushima Warm Current was observed in the eastern part of the survey area during four cruises, and relatively low salinity waters due to outflow from the Changjiang (Yangtze River) were observed over the western part of the survey area. Surface pCO₂ ranged from 236 to 445 μatm in spring and summer, and from 326 to 517 μatm in fall. Large pCO₂ (values >400 μatm) occurred in the western part of the study area in spring and fall, and in the eastern part in summer. A positive linear correlation existed between surface pCO₂ and temperature in the eastern part of the study area, where the Tsushima Warm Current dominates; this correlation suggests that temperature is the major factor controlling surface pCO₂ distribution in that area. In the western part of the study area, however, the main controlling factor is different and seasonally complex. There is large transport in this region of Changjiang Diluted Water in summer, causing low salinity and low pCO₂ values. The relationship between surface pCO₂ and water stability suggests that the amount of mixing and/or upwelling of CO₂-rich water might be the important process controlling surface pCO₂ levels during spring and fall in this shallow region. Sea–air CO₂ flux, based on the application of a Wanninkhof [1992. Relationship between wind speed and gas exchange over the ocean. Journal of Geophysical Research 97, 7373–7382] formula for gas transfer velocity and a set of monthly averaged satellite wind data, were −5.04±1.59, −2.52±1.81, 1.71±2.87, and 0.39±0.18 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ in spring, summer, early fall, and fall, respectively, in the northern ECS. The ocean in this study area is therefore a carbon sink in spring and summer, but a weak source or in equilibrium with the atmosphere in fall. If the winter flux value is assumed to have been the mean of autumnal and vernal values, then the northern ECS absorbs about 0.013 Pg C annually. That result suggests that the northern ECS is a net sink for atmospheric CO₂, a result consistent with previous studies.     

Evidence from fluid inclusions for a paleogeothermal gradient at the geothermal test well sites, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Homogenization temperatures of individual fluid inclusions from the geothermal test well sites near Los Alamos, New Mexico, systematically change as a function of depth in the cores. Inclusions in samples from depths between 1.5 and 3.0 km have re-equilibrated to thermal gradients higher than the present gradient of 50–60°C/km. The loci of maximum temperatures attained has a slope of about 70°C/km; the deepest sample has cooled to 200°C from a maximum of 230°C. The wide range of salinities (0.0 wt.% equivalent NaCl to more than 25 wt.% equivalent NaCl) observed in each sample indicates a large amount of pervasive fluid circulation had not occurred at the time of re-equilibration of these inclusions. The results are relevant to calculations for the thermal history of the test site.     

Distribution, abundance and life history of Mysis relicta (Lovén) in the Feldberg Lake District, Germany

Distribution, abundance and life history characteristics of Mysis relicta were studied in the Feldberg Lake District (Lake Breiter Luzin, Lake Schmaler Luzin, Lake Zansen) located in northeastern Germany. Between July 2001 and November 2002 mysids were collected by vertical net hauls. In order to determine the impact of the current trophic conditions on the distribution of mysids in these lakes, oxygen concentration, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and water transparency were also measured. All investigated lakes are mesotrophic at present. Lake Breiter Luzin exhibited great seasonal and spatial variations in mysid abundance. Density of adults and juveniles had a mean of 44.9 ± 57.1 and 68.7 ± 99.6 m⁻², respectively. Highest abundance of adults was 110.4 ± 76.5 m⁻² in summer, lowest abundances of 2.0 ± 4.0 m⁻² occurred in spring. For juveniles, highest density of 218.4 ± 174.6 m⁻² was detected in summer and lowest of 0.8 ± 1.8 m⁻² in winter. No mysids were caught in any of the daytime hauls, but they were widely distributed throughout the water column at night. Size frequency distribution of mysids suggested that reproduction occurred year-round, the most consistent influx of juveniles occurred in early summer and a smaller second cohort in autumn. Highest mysid abundance was 189.2 ± 318.6 adults and 127.0 ± 66.3 juveniles m⁻² in Lake Schmaler Luzin, and 59.6 ± 5.6 adults and 79.4 ± 11.2 juveniles m⁻² in Lake Zansen. There were great spatial differences in abundance in both lakes.     

Nutrient distributions over the Southwestern South Atlantic continental shelf from Mar del Plata (Argentina) to Itajaí (Brazil): Winter–summer aspects

Nutrient distributions observed at some depths along the continental shelf from 27°05′S (Brazil) to 39°31′S (Argentina) in winter, 2003 and summer, 2004 related to salinity and dissolved oxygen (mL L⁻¹) and saturation (%) data showed remarkable influences of fresh water discharge over the coastal region and in front of the La Plata estuary. In the southern portion of the study area different processes were verified. Upwelling processes caused by ocean dynamics typical of shelf break areas, eddies related to surface dynamics and regeneration processes confirmed by the increase of nutrients and the decrease of dissolved and saturation oxygen data were verified. High silicate concentrations in the surface waters were identified related to low salinities (minimum of 21.22 in winter and 21.96 in summer), confirming the importance of freshwater inputs in this region, especially in winter. Silicate concentration range showed values between 0.00 and 83.52 μM during winter and from 0.00 to 41.16 μM during summer. Phosphate concentrations worked as a secondary trace of terrestrial input and their values varied from 0.00 to 3.30 μM in winter and from 0.03 to 2.26 μM in summer; however, in shallow waters, phosphate indicated more clearly the fresh water influence. The most important information given by nitrate concentrations was the presence of water from SACW upwelling that represents a new source of nutrients for marine primary production. Nitrate maximum values reached 41.96 μM in winter and 33.10 μM in summer. At a depth ∼800 m, high nitrate, phosphate and silicate concentrations were related to Malvinas Current Waters, Subantarctic Shallow Waters and Antarctic Atlantic Intermediate Waters (AAIW). Dissolved oxygen varied from 3.41 to 7.06 mL L⁻¹ in winter and from 2.65 to 6.85 mL L⁻¹ in summer. The percentage of dissolved oxygen saturation in the waters showed values between 48% and 113% in winter and from 46% to135% in summer. The most important primary production was verified in the summer, and situations of undersaturation were mainly observed below 50 m depth and at some points near the coast. The anti-correlation between nutrients and dissolved oxygen which showed evident undersaturation also revealed important potential sites of remineralization processes. The nutrient behaviours showed some aspects of the processes that occur over the Southwestern South Atlantic continental shelf and in their land–sea interfaces between Mar del Plata and Itajaí.     

Oceanography of coastal and riverine waters around Timika, West Central Irian Jaya, Arafura Sea

Oceanographic studies have been carried out in coastal and riverine waters of the area around Timika, West Papua in November 1999, March–April, July and November 2000. The temperature of the seawater along the coast is around 28 °C in winter (November 99), rising to 30.0 °C (November 00). In the open sea, 30 miles off the coast at 40 m water depth, the temperature is >30 °C with no stratification. Water temperature near the coast is consistently lower than in the open sea. This is thought to be due the cooling effect of the land, being densely covered by mangrove forest. In the upper parts of the Kamora, West Tipuka, East Tipuka, Ajkwa, Minajerwi, Mawati and Otakwa Rivers, at salinity zero psu, water temperature varies between 24.6 and 26.2 °C, which is as cold as the temperature in the upwelling Banda Sea to the NW. Some of these rivers are fed by glacial melt water from the high mountains to the east. At mid estuary, warm seawater is found under the cooler river water.Salinity near this coast varied between 24 and 30, and offshore salinity was 31–33 with no stratification. Inshore surface waters were turbid (11–14 ntu), and near bottom waters were generally much more turbid from river sediment supply and tidal resuspension. The Ajkwa River estuary has the highest turbidity (750 ntu) at zero salinity. Offshore waters were very clear (5.0–6.0 ntu), and there was no increase in turbidity near the bottom.     

Thermal profiles within river beds

This pilot study uses a chemical technique (KEtX) to establish vertical profiles of average monthly water temperature within river beds: the hyporheic zone at the interface between surface water and groundwater. Data are presented for two gravel-bed sites and one sand-bed site on the River Wissey, Norfolk, UK. From February to October 1992, average monthly temperatures were determined at 10cm intervals down 1 m profiles. A strong seasonal pattern was defined at all sites with hyporheic temperatures being relatively warm in winter and cool in summer. Isothermal periods occurred in March-April and September-October. Temperature ranges within the hyporheic were decreased (4.6–7.7°C) compared with those of surface waters (10 and 10.9°C). Temperature profiles were similar at all sites during winter, but the sand-bed site had relatively low temperatures at a standard depth within the hyporheic during summer and the temperature gradient became isothermal later in the autumn at this site. It is suggested that the influence of flows and substratum characteristics on temperature patterns, especially in regulated rivers, may have significant ecological implications, for example for determining the timing of salmonid fry and invertebrate emergence.     

Seasonal variation of the total electron content, maximum electron density and equivalent slab thickness at a South-American station

Total electron content (TEC) and foF2 ionosonde data obtained at Tucumán (26.9°S; 65.4°W) from April 1982 to March 1983 (high solar activity period) are analyzed to show the seasonal variation of TEC, NmF2 (proportional to square of foF2) and the equivalent slab thickness EST. Bimonthly averages of the monthly median for January–February, April–May, July–August and October–November have been considered to represent summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons, respectively. The results show that the higher values of TEC and maximum electron density of F2-layer NmF2 are observed during the equinoxes (semiannual anomaly). During daytime, both in TEC and in NmF2 the seasonal or winter anomaly can be seen. At nighttime, this effect is not observed. Also, the observed NmF2 values are used to check the validity of International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) to predict the seasonal variability of this parameter. In general, it is found that averaged monthly medians (obtained with the IRI model) overestimate averaged monthly median data for some hours of the day and underestimate for the other hours.     

Seasonal variation in the toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants in Corpus Christi Bay, TX

Seasonal variation in pore water and sediment-water interface (SWI) toxicity at two sites of suspected contamination was investigated using sea urchin embryological development (Arbacia punctulata) and copepod hatching success (Schizopera knabeni). Site S1, located inside a marina, was fine-grained and S2, located near a neighboring stormwater outfall, was sandy. Both sites were cored in summer and winter, along with reference sites of equivalent grain sizes. Whereas the muddy contaminated site displayed a slight decrease in sea urchin toxicity from summer to winter, pore water from the sandy contaminated site exhibited an increase in sea urchin toxicity. The sandy sites displayed slight toxicity increase to copepod hatching success in winter, which occurred in the SWI of S2 and in the pore water from the reference site, R2, where it coincided with sedimentation. Cu was the most prevalent metal in the sediment samples. Although Cu concentration increased in the whole sediments and pore waters from summer to winter, its concentration in overlying SWI exposure decreased from summer to winter. Organic compounds exhibited opposite behavior, with smaller variety identified in the winter pore water samples, but more chemicals detected in the SWI samples in winter.     

Oxygen diffusion rates in quartz exchanged with CO2

Oxygen self diffusion rates were determined in quartz samples exchanged with¹⁸O-enriched CO₂ between 745 and 900°C and various pressures, and the diffusion profiles were measured using an ion microprobe. The activation energy (Q) and preexponential factor (D₀) at P(CO₂) = P(tot) = 100 bar, for diffusion parallel to the c-axis are 159 ( ± 13) kJ/g atom and 2.10 (+0.75/ −0.55) × 10⁻⁸ cm²/s. This rate is approximately 100 times slower than that obtained from hydrothermal experiments and 100 times faster than a previous 1-bar quartz-O₂ exchange experiment. The oxygen diffusion rate measured at 0.6 bar, 888°C, and at 900°C in vacuum is in agreement with the previous 1-bar exchange experiments with¹⁸O₂. The effect of higher CO₂ pressures is small. At 900°C, the diffusion rate exchanged with CO₂ is = 2.35 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm²/s at 100 bar, 2.24 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm²/s at 3.45 kbar and 8.13 × 10⁻¹⁵ cm²/s at 7.2 kbar.There is probably a diffusing species, other than oxygen, that enhances the oxygen diffusion rate in these quartz-CO₂ systems, relative to that occurring at very low pressures or in a vacuum. The effect of this diffusing species, however, is not as strong as that associated with H₂O. Preserved oxygen isotope fractionations between coexisting minerals in a slowly cooled, high-grade metamorphic terrane will vary depending upon whether a water-rich phase was present or not. Closure temperatures will be approximately 100°C higher in rocks where no water-rich phase was present during cooling. The measured fractionations between coexisting minerals in metamorphic rocks may potentially be used as a sensor of water presence during retrogression.     

Microcosm experiments on the effect of nutrient enrichment and a soil layer on the development of freshwater plankton

We investigated the response of phytoplankton and zooplankton to experimental alteration of nitrate and phosphate levels in outdoor enclosures. Experiments were conducted in summer and winter and in the absence and presence of a layer of soil. The tubs (12 in all) except the two plain water controls were manured initially with a mixture of fresh cowdung (50g 1⁻¹), mustard oil cake (25 g l⁻¹) and poultry wastes (25 g l⁻¹; mostly excreta), prior to enrichment. Water samples were collected from the experimental tubs twice a week to measure selected physico-chemical and biological variables. Water temperature in the summer experiments ranged from 20–30 °C and during the winter experiments from 11–15 °C. The pH values ranged from 8.0 to 9.5 and the dissolved oxygen levels from 8.2–10.0 mg l⁻¹. The levels of soluble reactive phosphorus and nitrate nitrogen ranged from undetectable levels to 1800 μg l⁻¹ and 6000 μg l⁻¹, respectively. The increase in chlorophyll-a following enrichment was rapid (3–7 days) during summer, but slower in winter (7–14 days). The predominant phytoplankton species observed in the tubs belong to the genera Sphaerocystis, Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Cosmarium, Ulothrix, Zygnema, Gonium and Pandorina. The rotifer species observed were Brachionus calyciflorus, Rotaria neptunia, Lecane bulla, L. luna, L. unguitata, Euchlanis dilatata, Asplanchna intermedia, Pseudoharringia spp., Eosphora spp., Lepadella ovalis, Epiphanes brachionus, Hexarthra mira and Cephalodella gibba. The cladocerans observed were Macrothrix spp. and Alona spp.     

Paleomagnetism of the triassic nicola volcanics and geotectonics of the quesnellia subterrane of terrane I, British Columbia

Paleomagnetic data from 46 sites (674 specimens) of the Westcoast Crystalline Gneiss Complex on the west coast of Vancouver Island using AF and thermal demagnetization methods yields a high blocking temperature WCB component (> 560°C) with a pole at 335°W, 66°N (δ_p = 4°, δ_m = 6°) and a lower coercivity WCA component ( 25 mT, < 500°C) with a pole at 52°W, 79°N (δ_p = 7°, δ_m = 8°). Further thermal demagnetization data from 24 sites in the Jurassic Island Intrusions also defines two high blocking temperature components. The IIA component pole is at 59°W, 79°N (δ_p = 7°, δ_m = 8°) and IIB pole at 130°W, 73°N (δ_p = 12°, δ_m = 13°). Combined with previous data from the Karmutsen Basalts and mid-Tertiary units on Vancouver Island and from the adjacent Coast Plutonic Complex, the geotectonic motions are examined for the Vancouver Island segment of the Wrangellian Subterrane of composite Terrane II of the Cordillera. The simplest hypothesis invokes relatively uniform translation for Terrane II from Upper Triassic to Eocene time producing 39° ± 6° of northward motion relative to the North American craton, combined with 40° of clockwise rotation during the Lower Tertiary.     

Jurassic magnetostratigraphy, 3. Bathonian-Bajocian of Carcabuey, Sierra Harana and Campillo de Arenas (Subbetic Cordillera, southern Spain)

Four sections in Majocian-Bathonian (Middle Jurassic) pelagic limestone with standard ammonite zonation have yielded magnetic polarity sequences. Magnetic directions in these red to white limestones were obtained by thermal demagnetization and were stable from about 300°C to in excess of 450°C. The polarity patterns indicate that the majority of the Bajocian and Bathonian is characterized by quite frequent reversals of the magnetic field. Lengthy periods of constant polarity, particularly constant normal polarity, were not observed. The average frequency of reversals is about 6 per ammonite zone, which roughly may be interpreted as a frequency of a reversal every 260,000 years, a rate comparable to that of the Miocene-Pliocene. Paleolatitudes of these sites (25–28°) are about 10° south of their present positions; variable clockwise block rotations within the Subbectic region have rotated these sites relative to stable Iberia.     

Noble gas elemental and isotopic abundances in deep-sea trenches in the western Pacific

Noble gas elemental and isotopic abundances were measured in seven deep-sea water samples from five different sampling sites in the Nankai Trough, the Japan Trench and the Kuril Trench. The samples were obtained by the manned submersible “Nautile”. Most of the sampling sites are associated with clam colonies and/or fluid venting. Excesses both in³He/⁴He ratio and He concentration are observed in a seawater sample collected a few kilometers off the clam colonies which were found at a depth of 3830 m at the mouth of the Tenryu Canyon. Concentrations of noble gases (Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe) in this sample show progressive depletion from Ne to Xe relative to those in 1°C air-saturated seawater, which can be attributed to mixing of hot water ( 15°C) with cold ambient water ( 1°C). Isotopic compositions of Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe in this sample are atmospheric. These observations may reflect venting of hot pore water around the Tenryu Canyon. All the other samples show a significant excess in concentration of all noble gases relative to 1°C air-saturated seawater and the isotopic compositions are atmospheric. This excess of noble gas concentrations may appear to be air contamination in the samples. However, results of hydrocarbon analyses of the Kaiko samples imply that such large amount of air contamination is improbable. Decomposition of gas hydrate in deep-sea sediments is a more likely explanation for the observed excess of noble gas concentration.     

Controls on shell Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca in cultured planktonic foraminiferan, Globigerinoides ruber (white)

Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were determined on a single species of planktonic foraminiferan, Globigerinoides ruber (white), collected from the Gulf of Eilat and cultured in seawater at five different salinities (32 to 44), five temperatures (18 to 30 °C) and four pH values (7.9 to 8.4). The Mg/Ca-temperature calibration of cultured G. ruber (with an exponential slope of 8 ± 3%/°C) agrees well with previously published calibrations from core-tops and sediment traps. However, the dependence of Mg/Ca on salinity (with an exponential slope of 5 ± 3%/psu) is also significant and should be included in the calibration equation. With this purpose, we calculated a calibration equation for G. ruber dependent on both temperature and salinity within the 95% confidence limits:

Mg/Ca(mmol/mol)=exp[0.06(±0.02)*S(psu)+0.08(±0.02)*T(°C)−2.8(±1.0)],R²=0.95