Radiative relaxation of molecular vibration of the nitric oxide molecule as a possible source of the infrared shuttle glow

A model calculation to predict infrared Shuttle flow due to the radiative relaxation of vibration of the NO molecule is presented. Space Shuttles hit atmospheric NO molecules at a very high speed (≈ 8 km s^?1) and excite vibrational and rotational motions up to the temperature of 54,000 K. With the electric dipole radiation of Δν = 1, 2, 3, and particularly 4 (ν is the vibrational quantum number), the excited NO molecules emit infrared radiation before they collide with other molecules. The total radiation power is estimated to be 170AμW, where A is the cross-section area of the Shuttle in m² if no adsorption of the NO molecule takes place on the Shuttle surface. The intensity of each infrared line is calculated as a function of time, including all vibrational states up to ν = 35. For example, the 5039 cm^?1 line (ν = 24 → 20) has a maximum intensity of about 2.3 × 10^?21 W molecule at around 0.2 ms, which corresponds to 80 cm from the Shuttle surface if the recoil speed of the molecules is 4 km s^?1.     

The study of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea and the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands

In this study, the inverse method is used to compute the Kuroshio in the East China Sea and southeast of Kyushu and the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands, on the basis of hydrographic data obtained during September-October, 1987 by R/V Chofu Maru. The results show that: (1)A part of the Taiwan Warm Current has a tendency to converge to the shelf break; (2) the Kuroshio flows across the section C3 (PN) with a reduced current width, and the velocity of the Kuroshio at the section C3 increases and its maximum current speed is about 158 cm/s, and its volume transport here is about 26×106m3/s; (3) the Kuroshio has two current cores at the sections C3 (PN) and B2 (at the Tokara Strait); (4) the currents east of the Ryukyu Islands are found to flow northward over the Ryukyu Trench during September-October, 1987. The velocities of the currents are not strong throughout the depths. At the section C2 east of the Ryukyu Islands, the maximum current speed is at the 699 m levei and its magnitude is 25 cm/s, and i     

Photographic observations of the stalked crinoidMetacrinus rotundus carpenter in Suruga Bay,central Japan

Photographic observations were carried out at depths of the shelf edge at the mouth of Uchiura Inlet, Suruga Bay, central Japan in order to clarify the life style of the isocrinid stalked crinoid,Metacrinus rotundus (Echinodermata). The distribution of the species was found to be restricted to a narrow area where boulders and rock outcrops were locally present. Mean density of the crinoid was 0.05 m^–2, and this value was an order of magnitude smaller than that of the deeper isocrinid,Diplocrinus wyvillethomsoni, reported from the Bay of Biscay.Metacrinus rotundus formed a parabolic filtration fan with its arms recurved into the bottom current, and was thought to be a passive suspension feeder elevating the fan into the water column by its stalk. The distal half of the stalk lay along the hard substratum and about ten groups of cirri grasped the substratum. This mode of attachment was similar to that ofCenocrinus rather than that ofDiplocrinus. Metacrinus rotundus collect food at the layer between 10 and 50 cm above the sea floor, and do not utilize a higher layer even when this layer could be utilized by climbing over a larger boulder. Resuspended benthic materials are thought to be important as a food source forM. rotundus, and the crinoids seek not only locations of stronger currents but also the position where much resuspended matter is available.     

Finite difference analogue of the Coriolis force

It is shown by a numerical experiment with fine grid that the finite difference form of rotation of the Coriolis force used in ENDOH (1973) gives practically the same solution as that obtained by the use of the finite difference form pointed out byTakano (1974).     

A numerical experiment on the variations of western boundary currents: Part I. Formation of western boundary currents

A numerical experiment is made using a barotropic model for the western boundary currents. The time-dependent, non-linear vorticity equation is integrated with and without the variable of bottom topography. The inertial and frictional boundary flow is resolved with a fine grid size of 10 km. Connection of the western boundary currents with the general circulation is facilitated by giving the fixed Sverdrup transport at the eastern boundary of the model (400 km offshore).For the flat bottom topography, steady flow forRe=35 shows dynamical balance essentially of a frictional model. The transient response leading to the formation of the western boundary currents in the model seems to support theLighthill's theory (1969). ForRe=350, unsteady features revealed byBryan (1963) is re-established. A phenomenon of barotropic instability is also observed with sufficient resolution. For the model with a continental slope the steady flow is also obtained forRe=35. The boundary currents flow over the continental slope, deviating offshore as they flow northward.     

Observed relationship between the drag coefficient,Cd, and stability parameter, (−z/L)

Momentum and heat flux were measured with a sonic anemometer at the Marine Observation Tower in the port of ItÔ. Under unstable conditions (T _w -T _a =3C4C), using the eddy correlation method, results show thatCd=(1.2±0.3)×10^–3 andCh=(1.5±0.3)×10^–3 at 5.5 m above mean sea level except for the case of weak winds.An unexpected relationship betweenCd and (–z/L) was observed, that is,Cd decreases as (–z/L) increases. If roughness variation over the sea is taken into account, we can explain the decrease in the range of (–z/L) less than 1, but not in the range greater than 1. This is due to a strong instability effect and the change of roughness class, from moderately rough to smooth.     

Numerical study of the meridional overturning circulation with “mixing hotspots” in the Pacific Ocean

Using an idealized ocean general circulation model, we examine the effect of “mixing hotspots” (localized regions of intense diapycnal mixing) predicted based on internal wave-wave interaction theory (Hibiya et al., 2006) on the meridional overturning circulation of the Pacific Ocean. Although the assumed diapycnal diffusivity in the mixing hotspots is a little larger than the predicted value, the upwelling in the mixing hotspots is not sufficient to balance the deep-water production; out of 17 Sv of the downwelled water along the southern boundary, only 9.2 Sv is found to upwell in the mixing hotspots. The imbalance as much as 7.8 Sv is compensated by entrainment into the surface mixed layer in the vicinity of the downwelling region. As a result, the northward transport of the deep water crossing the equator is limited to 5.5 Sv, much less than estimated from previous current meter moorings and hydrographic surveys. One plausible explanation for this is that the magnitude of the meridional overturning circulation of the Pacific Ocean has been overestimated by these observations. We raise doubts about the validity of the previous ocean general circulation models where diapycnal diffusivity is assigned ad hoc to attain the current magnitude suggested from current meter moorings and hydrographic surveys.     

Geochemistry and Origin of Ananai Stratiform Manganese Deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan

Abstract. Major and trace element contents are reported for Permian manganese ore and associated greenstone from the Ananai manganese deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, central Shikoku, Japan. The manganese deposit occurs between greenstone and red chert, or among red chert beds. Chemical compositions of manganese ore are characterized by enrichments in Mn, Ca, P, Co, Ni, Zn, Sr and Ba, and negative Ce and positive Eu anomalies relative to post-Archean average Australian Shale (PAAS). Geochemical features of the manganese ore are similar to those of modern submarine hydrother-mal manganese deposits from volcanic arc or hotspot setting. In addition, geochemical characteristics of the greenstone closely associated with the Ananai manganese deposit are analogous to those of with-in plate alkaline basalt (WPA). Consequently, the Ananai manganese deposit was most likely formed by hydrothermal activity related to hotspot volcanism in the Panthalassa Ocean during the Middle Permian. This is the first report documenting the terrestrially-exposed manganese deposit that was a submarine precipitate at hotspot.     

Rare Earth, Major and Trace Elements in the Kunimiyama Ferromanganese Deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, Central Shikoku, Japan

Abstract. Rare earth, major and trace element geochemistry is reported for the Kunimiyama stratiform ferromanganese deposit in the Northern Chichibu Belt, central Shikoku, Japan. The deposit immediately overlies greenstones of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) origin and underlies red chert. The ferromanganese ores exhibit remarkable enrichments in Fe, Mn, P, V, Co, Ni, Zn, Y and rare earth elements (excepting Ce) relative to continental crustal abundance. These enriched elements/ Fe ratios and Post-Archean Average Australian Shale-normalized REE patterns of the ferromanganese ores are generally analogous to those of modern hydrothermal ferromanganese plume fall-out precipitates deposited on MOR flanks. However in more detail, Mn and Ti enrichments in the ferromanganese ores are more striking than the modern counterpart, suggesting a significant contribution of hydrogenetic component in the Kunimiyama ores. Our results are consistent with the interpretation that the Kunimiyama ores were umber deposits that primarily formed by hydrothermal plume fall-out precipitation in the Panthalassa Ocean during the Early Permian and then accreted onto the proto-Japanese island arc during the Middle Jurassic. The presence of strong negative Ce anomaly in the Kunimiyama ores may indicate that the Early Permian Panthalassa seawater had a more striking negative Ce anomaly due to a more oxidizing oceanic condition than today.