GEK measurements in a shallow water region

Evidence for the applicability of GEK (Geomagnetic Electrokinetography) measurements to shallow water regions is provided from observations in the shelf region of the East China Sea. The reason for the effectiveness of GEK measurements in this case is investigated theoretically, and it is shown to be attributable to the existence of a thick conductive sedimentary layer. In addition, it is shown that low conductive basement rock can be regarded as a good conductor for GEK measurements if the current width is broad enough and if the ratio of current width to water depth is larger than the resistivity ratio of basement rock to sea water. This implies that barotropic tidal currents can be measured with GEK in any ocean on the earth if they have significant magnitudes.     

Photochemistry of N2O4 Adsorbed on Ice Surfaces at 193 nm

A multi-layer deposited ice film was prepared through water vapor deposition on a Ni plate in a vacuum chamber at 90 K, and was used as it was or after annealing at 140 K. NO₂ was adsorbed as N₂O₄ approximately 90 K on the ice film prepared as above, and irradiated by 193 nm excimer laser light. The time-of-flight (TOF) spectra of the desorbed species, i.e., NO₂, NO, O₂ and O, were measured by a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The photochemical process obeyed an one-photon process. The relative yields of the products and their TOF spectra were dependent on the preparation condition of the ice film and also varied with the continuation of the laser irradiation. From the ice film annealed at 140 K, NO₂, NO and O₂ were desorbed with an approximate ratio of 1:1:0.01. From the non-annealed film, the relative yield of NO₂ was much smaller than that of NO. The TOF spectrum of NO from the non-annealed ice film consisted of distinctly different two components corresponding to the 1700 and 100 K translational temperature, respectively. The fast component was lost when additional ice was deposited on the adsorbed N₂O₄. NO was supposed to be a predissociation product from the electronically excited NO₂ prepared through the photodissociation of N₂O₄.     

Alkaline leaching characteristics of biogenic opal in Eocene sediments from the central Arctic Ocean: a case study in the ACEX cores

Accurate knowledge of the extent of biogenic opal preservation in marine sediment cores is important for paleoceanographic reconstructions. The alkaline leaching method is widely employed for %biogenic opal analysis due to its ease and speed. In this study, a revised method for measuring %biogenic opal in sediment from arctic coring expedition samples was suggested. The studied middle Eocene sediments from the central Arctic Ocean presented a problem in insufficiently leaching biogenic opal with a Na₂CO₃ solution. Based on XRD analysis, it was suggested that such an alkaline resistance results from slight diagenesis of biogenic opal. In order to solve this problem, an alkaline leaching method utilizing a 2 M NaOH solution was suggested for the accurate measurement of %biogenic opal in the Eocene sediments from the central Arctic. Furthermore, dissolution rates from lithogenic matter by NaOH solution were measured in order to correct the %biogenic opal values.     

Is there any seasonal variation in marine nematodes within the sediments of the intertidal zone?

The sediment parameters and nematode assemblages in the intertidal zone of the Hichirippu shallow lagoon, Hokkaido, Japan, were investigated. The objectives of this study were to observe the seasonal variation in the nematodes in the sediment, and to investigate the relationships between the nematodes and environmental factors. Samples were collected bi-monthly from five stations on the tidal flat from April 2003 to February 2004. It was found that the sediment parameters (Chl a concentration, AVS, TOC and TN contents) varied throughout the 10-month study. Fifty-four species of nematodes were found in the study area. The density and biomass of the nematodes varied in accordance with the sediment temperature during the sampling period. In this study, there was a seasonal variation in the nematode assemblage found in the intertidal zone of this shallow lagoon. The important factors affecting this variation were sediment temperature, and food competition among the nematodes themselves. The seasonal variation of the nematode also showed a relationship with the Chl a concentration in the sediment during the sampling period.     

Relations between Light Hydrocarbon, Carbon Monoxide, and Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in the Plume from the Combustion of Plant Material in a Furnace

To systematically explain relations between light hydrocarbons, CO, and CO₂ concentrations/emissions of biomassburning, we measured concentrations/emissions of carbon gases – CO,CO₂, light hydrocarbons (CH₄, C₂H₆,C₂H₄, C₂H₂, C₃H₈, C₃H₆,n-C₄H₁₀, i-C₄H₁₀, n-C₅H₁₂,i-C₅H₁₂), and THC (total hydrocarbon) – in the burning of dead plant material, mainly Imperata grass, byclosed-chamber experiments and by time-series analyses of gas concentrations in combustion plumes in relatively efficient and inefficient combustion situations. Concentrations of hydrocarbons measured were well correlated to [CO] although [C₂H₂] was exceptionally well correlated to[CO₂]. The phase diagrams (relation between [CO]/ [CO₂] and [hydrocarbon]/ [CO₂]) obtained by the time-seriesexperiments well illustrated the variation in the overall emission rates of the closed-chamber experiments. The higher rates of decrease in hydrocarbon concentration with increasing carbon number in the efficient case compared with the inefficient case probably reflected the rate of oxidation and the amount of radicals. The overall concentrations (or emissions) of C₂H₄ and C₃H₆ were higher thanthose of C₂H₆ and C₃H₈, suggesting a linkage to mechanisms in whichthe predominant path of hydrocarbon oxidation is through the degradation of alkyl radicals, which can be immediately converted into or formed from alkenes. For C₃ and C₄ species, normal-chain species hadhigher emissions than iso-chain species under lower combustion efficiency. This may be attributable to the presence of tertiary C–H bonds in iso-species,which show more reactivity in the abstraction of H than secondary C–H bonds unless the carbon number is large.     

Soil organic carbon pools in alpine to nival zones along an altitudinal gradient (4400–5300 m) on the Tibetan Plateau

To accurately estimate soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in upper alpine to nival zones on the Tibetan Plateau, we inventoried SOC pools in 0–0.3 m profiles along an altitudinal gradient (4400–5300 m asl). We also studied vegetation properties and decomposition activity along the gradient to provide insight into the mechanisms of SOC storage. The vegetation cover and belowground root biomass showed a gradual increased with altitude, reaching a peak in the upper alpine zone at 4800–4950 m before decreasing in the nival zone at 5200–5300 m.Decomposition activity was invariant along the altitudinal gradient except in the nival zone. SOC pools at lower sites were relatively small (2.6 kg C m⁻² at 4400 m), but increased sharply with altitude, reaching a peak in the upper alpine zone (4950 m; 13.7 kg C m⁻²) before decreasing (1.0 kg C m⁻² at 5300 m) with altitude in the nival zone. SOC pool varied greatly within individual alpine meadows by a factor of five or more, as did bulk density, partly due to the effect of grazing. Inventory data for both carbon density and bulk density along altitudinal gradients in alpine ecosystems are of crucial importance in estimating global tundra SOC storage.     

Influences of catchment characteristics on nitrogen concentration in largely forested streams during the base flow period

Based on measured stream nitrogen concentrations at outlets of 12 small sub‐areas (1·3–54·7 km²) in a largely forested catchment during the base flow period, we investigated the influences of discharges and different catchment characteristics on stream nitrogen concentration. Our field surveys were carried out during the 11‐month's period from April 2001 to February 2002 and the correlations between nitrogen concentrations and catchment characteristics were studied. The results showed that the vegetation cover was strongly correlated to total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate + nitrite ? nitrogen (NO_x‐N) concentrations. That is, the TN and NO_x‐N concentrations had positive correlations with mean normalized difference vegetation cover index (NDVI) of each sub‐area during dormant seasons (mean NDVI < 0 · 70) and had negative correlations during the growing season (mean NDVI ≥ 0 . 70). The significance of catchment characteristics to TN and NO_x‐N concentrations was ranked as vegetation cover > soil > topography > land use, and the best models can account for 55–64% of the variance of TN and NO_x‐N concentrations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Uptake Coefficient of I2 on Various Aqueous Surfaces

Uptake coefficient of I₂ on aqueous surfaces was measured by using an impinging flow method. Dependence of the uptake coefficient on the gas-liquid contact time and pH was investigated. The uptake coefficient was (3.7± 2.0)×10^–4 at 120 ms, 293 K and pH = 5.6. In the alkaline region, the uptake coefficient was larger by one order of magnitude than that in the neutral and acidic region. The I₂ uptake on KI solutions and synthetic sea water solutions was also measured. According to the analysis by the reactive uptake model, the uptake of I₂ was shown to be mainly determined by liquid phase reactions and the accommodation coefficient of I₂ on aqueous surfaces was estimated to be 0.01.     

Long-term continuous in situ potentiometrically measured redox potential in anoxic groundwater with high methane and iron contents

The in situ redox potential (Eh) in anoxic groundwater with high methane and iron contents (approximately 12.3 and 28.4 mg/L, respectively) was potentiometrically measured to identify the processes that control Eh. The measured Eh ranged from −213 to −187 mV; it had an inverse correlation with the concentration of methane and no correlation with that of iron. The saturation indices indicate that goethite and amorphous FeS were nearly at solubility equilibrium. A comparison of the measured Eh with those calculated for the particular redox pairs indicates that either Fe²⁺/FeOOH or CH₄/CO₂, but not sulfur redox pairs, controlled the measured Eh. The inverse relationship between measured Eh and methane concentration suggests possible control of the redox conditions by the CH₄/CO₂ redox pair. Furthermore, the equilibrium solubility state of goethite, which has higher crystallinity and lower solubility than Fe(OH)₃ indicates that the iron reaction was electrochemically irreversible. This further supports the contribution of the CH₄/CO₂ pair to controlling the measured Eh of groundwater.