Structure and dynamics of the sudden acceleration of Kuroshio off Cape Shionomisaki

A sudden acceleration of the Kuroshio jet appears off Cape Shionomisaki in the high-resolution (horizontal resolution of 1/36°) JCOPE 2 ocean reanalysis data. Using this dataset, we investigated the structure of the Kuroshio acceleration. The increase in the velocity of the current is accompanied by a downstream flow separation from the coast and an outcrop of cold temperature inshore. The acceleration of Kuroshio appears when it takes a near-shore path. Cape Shionomisaki amplifies the responses to the Kuroshio flow by creating the zonal velocity acceleration toward the downstream region when the Kuroshio flows closer to the coast. The Kuroshio acceleration coincided with the topographic ridge on the continental shelf near Cape Shionomisaki. This relation suggests that the dynamics of the acceleration is linked to the topographic feature. We proposed an explanation of the Kuroshio acceleration using a hydraulic control theory. An analytical solution was applied to the coastal topography around the Kii Peninsula. The solution captured some aspects of the Kuroshio acceleration.     

Performances of Landfill Liners under Dry and Wet Conditions

This paper addresses the study conducted on the performance of landfill liner interface parameters. Interface shear strength parameters for various combinations of 9 different lining materials were studied and presented in this paper. This comprehensive testing program covers the interfaces between: (1) soil and compacted clay liner (CCL), (2) geomembrane (HDPEs or PVC) and soil, (3) geosynthetic clay liner (GCL)/CCL and soil, (4) geomembrane and geotextile, (5) geotextile and soil, (6) geotextile and GCL/CCL, and (7) geomembrane and GCL/CCL. The experiments were conducted for both at dry or optimum moisture condition and at saturated or wet condition. The interface performance under both conditions were compared to access the material performances. Tabulated summaries of interface test data under dry or optimum moisture condition (OMO) and saturated or wet condition are presented in the paper.     

Reproductive biology of Ilisha elongata (Teleostei: Pristigasteridae) in Ariake Sound,Japan: Implications for estuarine fish conservation in Asia

Elongate ilisha (Ilisha enlongata) is a commercially important species that contributes to clupeoid fisheries in Asian countries. In the present study, the reproductive biology of I. elongata in Ariake Sound, Japan is determined for the first time. Six maturity stages were described using ovarian and testicular histology throughout the annual cycle. The spawning season in Ariake Sound lasts from May to July, with peak spawning activity in May and June. Age at first maturity was estimated to be 2 years, with a few exceptions of 1 year in well-developed males. Ovaries that contained both tertiary yolk oocytes and postovulatory follicles occurred from late May to late July, indicating that I. elongata is a multiple spawner. The size–frequency distribution of oocytes provided evidence for its multiple spawning and accuracy of the fecundity estimates. The batch fecundity of this species was estimated at between 22,200 and 270,900 eggs per individual, increasing with age between two and six years. The present findings on the reproductive strategy of I. elongata in Ariake Sound are generally consistent with those in temperate or subtropical populations, but quite different from those of tropical population where first maturation occurs around 200 days and life spans are shorter, with a maximum age less than 3 years. The conservation implications of this reproductive strategy in a harsh, variable environment in Asian countries are also discussed.     

Satellite-measured temporal and spatial variability of the Tokachi River plume

River plumes have important effects on marine ecosystems. Variation in the extent and dispersal of river plumes is often associated with river discharge, wind characteristics and ocean circulation. The objectives of this study were to identify the Tokachi River plume by satellite, determine its relationship with river discharge and clarify its temporal and spatial dynamics. SeaWiFS multispectral satellite data (normalized water-leaving radiance: nL_w) with 1.1 km spatial resolution were used to determine the spatial and temporal variability of the plume during 1998–2002. Supervised maximum likelihood classification using six channels of nL_w at 412, 443, 490, 510, 555 and 670 nm with each band's spectral signature statistic was used to define classes of surface water and to estimate the plume area. Supervised maximum likelihood classification separated three to four classes of coastal water based on optical characteristics as a result of wind stress events. The satellite-observed plume area was correlated with the amount of river discharge from April to October. The plume distribution patterns were influenced by wind direction and magnitude, the occurrences of a near-shore eddy field and surface currents. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) was used to express the spatial and temporal variability of the plume using anomalies of nL_w(555) monthly averaged images. The first mode (44% of variance) showed the turbid plume distribution resulting from re-suspension by strong wind mixing along the coast during winter. This mode also showed the plume was distributed along-shelf direction in spring to early autumn. The second mode (17% of variance) showed spring pattern across-shelf direction. EOF analysis also explained the interannual variability of the plume signature, which might have been affected by the flow of the Oyashio Current and the occurrence of a near-shore eddy field.     

Acute toxicity of temporally varying seawater CO2 conditions on juveniles of Japanese sillago (Sillago japonica)

CO(2) ocean storage by which liquefied CO(2) is injected into the deep-sea to mitigate the climate change would increase the CO(2) concentrations of the surrounding seawater. The biological impacts of such dynamic CO(2) environments are, however, unknown. We examined the acute toxicity of temporally changing seawater CO(2) concentrations on juveniles of Sillago japonica. Step-wise increases in ambient CO(2) to fCO(2) (fractional CO(2) concentration of the gas mixture bubbled into seawater) levels of 7% and 9% resulted in mortalities of 0.15 and 0.40-0.67 after 18 h, respectively. In contrast, one-step increases to these CO(2) levels killed all fish within 15 min. Further, a sudden drop of fCO(2) from 9-10% CO(2) to normocapnia (0.038%) killed all the surviving fish within a few minutes. These results demonstrate that impacts of ocean CO(2) storage need to be examined under conditions mimicking the dynamic changes in CO(2) levels expected to occur by the CO(2) injection procedure.     

Grain-growth kinetics in wadsleyite: Effects of chemical environment

Grain-growth kinetics in wadsleyite was investigated using a multianvil high-pressure apparatus. Fine-grained wadsleyite aggregates were synthesized by isostatic hot-pressing and were subsequently annealed under high pressure and temperature in a controlled chemical environment. Wadsleyite samples show normal grain-growth characterized by a log-normal grain-size distribution following the relation, where n is a constant, L the grain-size at time t, L₀ the grain-size at time t = 0 and k is a rate constant that depends on temperature T and chemical environments (fO₂: oxygen fugacity in Pa, C_OH: water content in H/10⁶Si) as:

     

Seismological evidence for compositional variations at the base of the mantle transition zone under Japan Islands

Temperature and water content anomalies just above the 660-km discontinuity under the Japan Islands are estimated from seismological observations. Two sets of seismological observations of P-wave velocity perturbations and depth variations of the 660-km discontinuity are used, which are (1) long-wavelength (~ 500 km) variations from seismic tomography based on a grid parameterization and waveform analysis of ScS reverberations and (2) moderate-wavelength (~ 150 km) variations from seismic tomography with a block parameterization and receiver-function analysis. To estimate temperature and water content anomalies, partial derivatives of velocity and depth variations with respect to temperature and water content determined by mineral physics studies are used. Under Southwest Japan, low temperature and high water-content anomalies are obtained from both sets of seismological observations, which have already been found by a previous study. Under Northeast Japan, however, there are discrepancies between the results estimated from the two data sets, possibly due to the different resolution scales. This discrepancy is dismissed when examining distributions of the temperature and water content anomalies. These anomalies can be grouped into two geographical locations, one group under Southwest Japan, the other under Northeast Japan. The two groups are clearly separated and exhibit common features in both sets of the seismological observations. The grouping is interpreted by a compositional difference between the subducting Pacific slab under Southwest Japan and a normal mantle under Northeast Japan.     

Impacts of global warming on hydrological cycles in the Asian monsoon region

The hydrologic changes and the impact of these changes constitute a fundamental global-warmingrelated concern. Faced with threats to human life and natural ecosystems, such as droughts, floods, and soil erosion, water resource planners must increasingly make future risk assessments. Though hydrological predictions associated with the global climate change are already being performed, mainly through the use of GCMs, coarse spatial resolutions and uncertain physical processes limit the representation of terrestrial water/energy interactions and the variability in such systems as the Asian monsoon. Despite numerous studies, the regional responses of hydrologic changes resulting from climate change remains inconclusive. In this paper, an attempt at dynamical downsealing of future hydrologic projection under global climate change in Asia is addressed. The authors conducted present and future Asian regional climate simulations which were nested in the results of Atmospheric General Circulation Model （AGCM） experiments. The regional climate model could capture the general simulated features of the AGCM. Also, some regional phenomena such as orographic precipitation, which did not appear in the outcome of the AGCM simulation, were successfully produced. Under global warming, the increase of water vapor associated with the warmed air temperature was projected. It was projected to bring more abundant water vapor to the southern portions of India and the Bay of Bengal, and to enhance precipitation especially over the mountainous regions, the western part of India and the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. As a result of the changes in the synoptic flow patterns and precipitation under global warming, the increases of annual mean precipitation and surface runoff were projected in many regions of Asia. However, both the positive and negative changes of seasonal surface runoff were projected in some regions which will increase the flood risk and cause a mismatch between water demand and water availability in the agricul     

Stardust in Antarctic micrometeorites

Abstract— We report the discovery of presolar silicate, oxide (hibonite), and (possibly) SiC grains in four Antarctic micrometeorites (AMMs). The oxygen isotopic compositions of the eighteen presolar silicate (and one oxide) grains found are similar those observed previously in primitive meteorites and interplanetary dust particles, and indicate origins in oxygen‐rich red giant or asymptotic giant branch stars, or in supernovae. Four grains with anomalous C isotopic compositions were also detected. ¹²C/¹³C as well as Si ratios are similar to those of mainstream SiC grains; the N isotopic composition of one grain is also consistent with a mainstream SiC classification. Presolar silicate grains were found in three of the seven AMMs studied, and are heterogeneously distributed within these micrometeorites. Fourteen of the 18 presolar silicate grains and 3 of the 4 C‐anomalous grains were found within one AMM, T98G8. Presolar silicate‐bearing micrometeorites contain crystalline silicates that give sharp X‐ray diffractions and do not contain magnesiowüstite, which forms mainly through the decomposition of phyllosilicates and carbonates. The occurrence of this mineral in AMMs without presolar silicates suggests that secondary parent body processes probably determine the presence or absence of presolar silicates in Antarctic micrometeorites.