Global distribution and climatological features of the 5–6-day planetary waves seen in the SABER/TIMED temperatures (2002–2007)

The paper is focused on the global spatial structure, seasonal and interannual variability of the ～5-day Rossby (W1) and ～6-day Kelvin (E1) waves derived from the SABER/TIMED temperature measurements for 6 full years (January 2002–December 2007). The latitude structure of the ～5-day W1 wave is related to the gravest symmetric wave number 1 Rossby wave. The vertical structure of the ～5-day Rossby wave amplitude consists of double-peaked maxima centred at ～80–90 km and ～105–110 km. This wave has a vertically propagating phase structure from the stratosphere up to 120 km altitude with a mean vertical wavelength of ～50–60 km. The ～6-day E1 wave is an equatorially trapped wave symmetric about the equator and located between 20°N and 20°S. Its seasonal behaviour indicates some equinoctial and June solstice amplifications, while the vertical phase structure indicates that this is a vertically propagating wave between 20–100 km altitudes with a mean vertical wavelength of ～25 km.     

Paleomagnetic evidence for a pre-early Eocene (∼ 50 Ma) bending of the Patagonian orocline (Tierra del Fuego,Argentina): Paleogeographic and tectonic implications

The southernmost segment of the Andes of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego forms a ～ 700 km long orogenic re-entrant with an interlimb angle of ～ 90° known as Patagonian orocline. No reliable paleomagnetic evidence has been gathered so far to assess whether this great orogenic bend is a primary arc formed over an articulated paleomargin, or is due to bending of a previously less curved (or rectilinear) chain. Here we report on an extensive paleomagnetic and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) study carried out on 22 sites (298 oriented cores), predominantly sampled in Eocene marine clays from the external Magallanes belt of Tierra del Fuego. Five sites (out of six giving reliable paleomagnetic results) containing magnetite and subordinate iron sulphides yield a positive fold test at the 99% significance level, and document no significant rotation since ～ 50 Ma. Thus, the Patagonian orocline is either a primary bend, or an orocline formed after Cretaceous–earliest Tertiary rotations. Our data imply that the opening of the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica (probably causing the onset of Antarctica glaciation and global climate cooling), was definitely not related to the formation of the Patagonian orocline, but was likely the sole consequence of the 32 ± 2 Ma Scotia plate spreading. Well-defined magnetic lineations gathered at 18 sites from the Magallanes belt are sub-parallel to (mostly E–W) local fold axes, while they trend randomly at two sites from the Magallanes foreland. Our and previous AMS data consistently show that the Fuegian Andes were characterized by a N–S compression and northward displacing fold–thrust sheets during Eocene–early Miocene times (50–20 Ma), an unexpected kinematics considering coeval South America–Antarctica relative motion. Both paleomagnetic and AMS data suggest no significant influence from the E–W left-lateral Magallanes–Fagnano strike–slip fault system (MFFS), running a few kilometres south of our sampling sites. We thus speculate that strike–slip fault offset in the Fuegian Andes may range in the lower bound values (～ 20 km) among those proposed so far. In any case our data exclude any influence of strike–slip tectonics on the genesis of the great orogenic bend called Patagonian orocline.     

Crustal velocity structure in the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran)

Inversion of local earthquake travel times and joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity measurements were used to derive a simple model for the velocity crustal structure beneath the southern edge of the Central Alborz (Iran), including the seismically active area around the megacity of Tehran. The P and S travel times from 115 well-located earthquakes recorded by a dense local seismic network, operated from June to November 2006, were inverted to determine a 1D velocity model of the upper crust. The limited range of earthquake depths (between 2 km and 26 km) prevents us determining any velocity interfaces deeper than 25 km. The velocity of the lower crust and the depth of the Moho were found by joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave group velocity data. The resulting P-wave velocity model comprises an upper crust with 3 km and 4 km thick sedimentary layers with P wave velocities (V_p) of ～5.4 and ～5.8 km s^?1, respectively, above 9 km and 8 km thick layers of upper crystalline crust (V_p ～6.1 and ～6.25 km s^?1 respectively). The lower crystalline crust is ～34 km thick (V_p ～ 6.40 km s^?1). The total crustal thickness beneath this part of the Central Alborz is 58 ± 2 km.     

Earth tides observed by gravity and GPS in southeastern Alaska

We analyzed gravity data obtained in Juneau and global positioning system (GPS) data obtained from three PBO sites in southeastern Alaska (SE-AK), which are part of a US research facility called ‘EarthScope’, and we compared the obtained tidal amplitudes and phases with those estimated from the predicted tides including both effects of the body tide and ocean tide. Global tide models predict the ocean tides in this region of complex coastline and bathymetry. To improve the accuracy of prediction, we developed a regional ocean tide model in SE-AK.Our comparison results suggest: (1) by taking into account the ocean tide effect, the amplitude differences between the observation and the predicted body tide is remarkably reduced for both the gravity and displacement (e.g. for the M₂ constituent, 8.5–0.3 μGal, and 2.4–0.1 cm at the AB50 GPS site in Juneau in terms of the vector sum of three components of the north–south, east–west and up–down), even though the ocean tide loading is large in SE-AK. (2) We have confirmed the precise point positioning (PPP) method, which was used to extract the tidal signals from the original GPS time series, works well to recover the tidal signals. Although the GPS analysis results still contain noise due to the atmosphere and multipath, we may conclude that the GPS observation surely detects the tidal signals with the sub-centimeter accuracy or better for some of the tidal constituents. (3) In order to increase the accuracy of the tidal prediction in SE-AK, it is indispensable to improve the regional ocean tide model developed in this study, especially for the phase.     

Meteor wind radar observations of tidal amplitudes over a low-latitude station Trivandrum (8.5°N, 77°E): Interannual variability and the effect of background wind on diurnal tidal amplitudes

Based on the horizontal winds measured using SKiYMET meteor wind radar during the period of June 2004–May 2007, the seasonal and interannual variability of the diurnal and semidiurnal amplitudes and phases in the mesospheric and lower thermospheric (MLT) region over a low-latitude station Trivandrum (8.5°N) are investigated. The monthly values of amplitudes and phases are calculated using a composite day analysis. The zonal and meridional diurnal tidal amplitudes exhibit both annual and semiannual oscillations. The zonal and meridional components of semidiurnal tide show a significant annual oscillation. The phase values of both diurnal and semidiurnal tides exhibit annual oscillation above 90 km. The effect of background wind in the lower atmosphere on the strength of diurnal tidal amplitudes in the MLT region is studied. The effect of diurnal tides on the background wind in the lower thermosphere is also discussed.     

Interannual variability of the S=1 and S=2 components of the semidiurnal tide in the Antarctic MLT

Twelve years of horizontal wind data from the Scott Base MF radar and the Halley SuperDARN radar recorded between January 1996 and December 2007 are analysed to study the interannual variability of the migrating (S=2) and non-migrating (S=1) components of the semidiurnal tide around 78°S in the Antarctic upper mesosphere. Significant quasi-biennial modulation of the summer time S=1 component is observed. During early summer the amplitude of the component is up to 4 ms^?1 stronger during the easterly phase of the equatorial stratospheric quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) measured at 30 hPa. No statistically significant effect is seen in amplitude of the migrating component of the tide, or in the phase (time of maximum) of either component. These results are discussed in the light of previous observations of the interannual variability of the semidiurnal tide.     

Inter-hemispheric asymmetry in polar mesosphere summer echoes and temperature at 69° latitude

An inter-hemispheric asymmetry is found in the characteristics of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) and upper mesosphere temperatures at conjugate latitudes (～69°) above Antarctica and the Arctic. The second complete mesosphere–stratosphere–troposphere (MST) radar summer observation season at Davis (68.6°S) revealed that PMSE occur less frequently, with lower strength and on average 1 km higher compared with their northern counterparts at Andenes (69.3°N). We consider the thermodynamic state of the mesosphere for conjoining hemispheric summers based on satellite and ground-based radar measurements, and show the mesopause region near ～80–87 km of the Southern Hemisphere (SH) to be up to 7.5 K warmer than its Northern Hemisphere (NH) counterpart. We show that this is consistent with our observation of asymmetries in the characteristics of PMSE and demonstrate how the mesosphere meridional wind field influences the existence and strength of the echoes in both hemispheres.     

Crustal intrusion beneath the Louisville hotspot track

We report here the first detailed 2D tomographic image of the crust and upper mantle structure of a Cretaceous seamount that formed during the interaction of the Pacific plate and the Louisville hotspot. Results show that at ～ 1.5 km beneath the seamount summit, the core of the volcanic edifice appears to be dominantly intrusive, with velocities faster than 6.5 km/s. The edifice overlies both high lower crustal (> 7.2–7.6 km/s) and upper mantle (> 8.3 km/s) velocities, suggesting that ultramafic rocks have been intruded as sills rather than underplated beneath the crust. The results suggest that the ratio between the volume of intra-crustal magmatic intrusion and extrusive volcanism is as high as ～ 4.5. In addition, the inversion of Moho reflections shows that the Pacific oceanic crust has been flexed downward by up to ～ 2.5 km beneath the seamount. The flexure can be explained by an elastic plate model in which the seamount emplaced upon oceanic lithosphere that was ～ 10 Myr at the time of loading. Intra-crustal magmatic intrusion may be a feature of hotspot volcanism at young, hot, oceanic lithosphere, whereas, magmatic underplating below a pre-existing Moho may be more likely to occur where a hotspot interacts with oceanic lithosphere that is several tens of millions of years old.     

Eutrophication and warming-driven green tides (Ulva rigida) are predicted to increase under future climate change scenarios

The incidence and severity of extraordinary macroalgae blooms (green tides) are increasing. Here, climate change (ocean warming and acidification) impacts on life history and biochemical responses of a causative green tide species, Ulva rigida, were investigated under combinations of pH (7.95, 7.55, corresponding to lower and higher pCO₂), temperature (14, 18 °C) and nitrate availability (6 and 150 μmol L^? 1). The higher temperature accelerated the onset and magnitude of gamete settlement. Any two factor combination promoted germination and accelerated growth in young plants. The higher temperature increased reproduction, which increased further in combination with elevated pCO₂ or nitrate. Reproductive success was highest (64.4 ± 5.1%) when the upper limits of all three variables were combined. Biochemically, more protein and lipid but less carbohydrate were synthesized under higher temperature and nitrate conditions. These results suggest that climate change may cause more severe green tides, particularly when eutrophication cannot be effectively controlled.     

Two extraterrestrial dust horizons found in the Dome Fuji ice core,East Antarctica

Two silicate-rich dust layers were found in the Dome Fuji ice core in East Antarctica, at Marine Isotope Stages 12 and 13. Morphologies, textures, and chemical compositions of constituent particles reveal that they are high-temperature melting products and are of extraterrestrial origin. Because similar layers were found ～ 2000 km east of Dome Fuji, at EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica)-Dome C, particles must have rained down over a wide area 434 and 481 ka. The strewn fields occurred over an area of at least 3 × 10⁶ km². Chemical compositions of constituent phases and oxygen isotopic composition of olivines suggest that the upper dust layer was produced by a high-temperature interaction between silicate-rich melt and water vapor due to an impact explosion or an aerial burst of a chondritic meteoroid on the inland East Antarctic ice sheet. An estimated total mass of the impactor, on the basis of particle flux and distribution area, is at least 3 × 10⁹ kg. A possible parent material of the lower dust layer is a fragment of friable primitive asteroid or comet. A hypervelocity impact of asteroidal/cometary material on the upper atmosphere and an explosion might have produced aggregates of sub-μm to μm-sized spherules. Total mass of the parent material of the lower layer must exceed 1 × 10⁹ kg. The two extraterrestrial horizons, each a few millimeters in thickness, represent regional or global meteoritic events not identified previously in the Southern Hemisphere.     

Sea level rise in the north-western part of the Arabian Gulf

Relative sea level variations in the north-western part of the Arabian Gulf have been estimated in the past using no more than 10 to 15 years of observations. In this study, we have almost doubled the period to 28.7 years by examining all available tide gauge data in the area and constructing a mean gauge time-series from seven coastal tide gauges. We found for the period 1979–2007 a relative sea level rise of 2.2 ± 0.5 mm/year. Using the subsidence observed at 6 GPS stations within a radius of 100 km of the tide gauges as an indication of the vertical land motion, the corresponding absolute sea level rise is 1.5 ± 0.8 mm/year that is in agreement with the global estimate of 1.9 ± 0.1 mm/year (Church and White, 2011) for the same studied period. By taking into account the temporal correlations we conclude that previous published results underestimate the true sea level rate uncertainty in this area by a factor of 5–10.     

Characteristics of the semidiurnal tide in the MLT over Maui (20.75°N, 156.43°W) with meteor radar observations

Semidiurnal tidal features have been examined in the Mesosphere and Lower Thermosphere (MLT) from the long-term (2002–2007) meteor wind data over Maui (20.75°N, 156.43°W). Amplitude and phase obtained from the harmonic analysis exhibit large day to day variability. Mean amplitude obtained from the monthly mean data over the observation period is found to vary within ～8–28 m/s and 10–32 m/s for the zonal and meridional winds, respectively. The amplitude has revealed clear semiannual oscillation (SAO) pattern with maxima during solstices and altitudinal growth in both wind components. Significant resemblance in its variability with other observations carried out from the low latitude sites all over the globe is obtained. Vertical wavelength estimated from the phase gradients exposes large values (>90 km) in all seasons. Contribution of the semidiurnal tide to the total tidal variability in the MLT is found to vary over wide range throughout the year with generally higher influence during winter season over diurnal and terdiurnal components.     

The diurnal variation of polar mesospheric cloud frequency near 55°N observed by SHIMMER

We present the first measurement of polar mesospheric cloud (PMC) occurrence frequency over the diurnal cycle from a satellite. The observations are made during the 2007 northern hemisphere PMC season by the Spatial Heterodyne IMager for MEsospheric Radicals (SHIMMER), which views the limb near 309 nm typically between 34 and 98 km. The PMC diurnal variation is derived between 50 and 58°N, where local times at the tangent point precess by ～30 min/day allowing for observations between 0330 and 2130 local time during the PMC season. We find that the occurrence frequencies exhibit a strong semidiurnal behavior with peaks near 0600 and 1800 local time and a minimum between 0900 and 1600 during which they are on average an order of magnitude less. The semidiurnal dependence is strongly correlated with concurrent ground-based measurements of meridional winds and temperatures measured at the same latitude. Our results for PMC frequency over the diurnal cycle can be used to help reconcile observations from other satellites that only permit cloud measurements at discrete local times.     

Sedimentary features of the Yangtze River-derived along-shelf clinoform deposit in the East China Sea

A predominant sigmoidal clinoform deposit extends from the Yangtze River mouth southwards 800 km along the Chinese coast. This clinoform is thickest (∼40 m) between the 20 and 30 m isobaths and progressively thins offshore, reaching water depths of 60 and 90 m and distances up to 100 km offshore. Clay mineral, heavy metal, geochemical and grain-size analyses indicate that the Yangtze River is the primary source for this longshore-transported clinoform deposit. ²¹⁰Pb chronologies show the highest accumulation rates (>3 cm/yr) occur immediately adjacent to the Yangtze subaqueous delta (north of 30 °N), decreasing southward alongshore and eastward offshore. The interaction of strong tides, waves, the China Coastal Current, winter storms, and offshore upwelling appear to have played important roles in trapping most Yangtze-derived sediment on the inner shelf and transporting it to the south.     

Quantification of seep-related methane gas emissions at Tommeliten,North Sea

Tommeliten is a prominent methane seep area in the Central North Sea. Previous surveys revealed shallow gas-bearing sediments and methane gas ebullition into the water column. In this study, the in situ methane flux at Tommeliten is re-assessed and the potential methane transport to the atmosphere is discussed, with regards to the hydrographic setting and gas bubble modeling. We have compiled previous data, acquired new video and acoustic evidence of gas bubble release, and have measured the methane concentration, and its C-isotopic composition in the water column. Parametric subbottom sonar data reveal the three-dimensional extent of shallow gas and morphologic features relevant for gas migration. Five methane ebullition areas are identified and the main seepage area appears to be 21 times larger than previously estimated. Our video, hydroacoustic, subbottom, and chemical data suggest that ～1.5×10⁶ mol CH₄/yr (～26 tons CH₄/yr) of methane gas is being released from the seepage area of Tommeliten. Methane concentration profiles in the vicinity of the gas seeps show values of up to 268 nM (～100 times background) close to the seafloor. A decrease in δ¹³C-CH₄ values at 40 m water depth indicates an unknown additional biogenic methane source within the well oxygenated thermocline between 30 and 40 m water depth. Numerical modeling of the methane bubbles due to their migration and dissolution was performed to estimate the bubble-derived vertical methane transport, the fate of this methane in the water column, and finally the flux to the atmosphere. Modeling indicates that less than ～4% of the gas initially released at the seafloor is transported via bubbles into the mixed layer and, ultimately, to the atmosphere. However, because of the strong seasonality of mixing in the North Sea, this flux is expected to increase as mixing increases, and almost all of the methane released at the seafloor could be transferred into the atmosphere in the stormy fall and winter time.     

海潮误差对GRACE时变重力场解算的影响研究

海潮误差是 GRACE 时变重力场反演中重要的误差源,目前发布的海潮模型中主要包含振幅较大的主潮波分量模型,在时变重力场反演中次潮波的影响也是不可忽略的,因此,GRACE 时变重力场反演中的海潮误差主要包括受限于海潮模型误差和次潮波影响.本文利用轨道模拟方法检测了短周期潮波的混频周期以及次潮波对ΔC20, ΔC30的时序特征,并进一步通过轨道模拟结果分析了海潮误差对时变重力场反演的影响,然后通过实测数据解算分析了海潮误差对当前 GRACE 时变重力场解算的影响,研究发现:(1) 利用轨道模拟能够有效地检测短周期潮波的混频周期;(2)时变重力场解算过程中,次潮波的影响大于海潮模型误差的影响;(3)海潮模型误差以及次潮波影响是当前 GRACE 没有达到基准精度的重要因素之一.     

Semidiurnal tides from the extended Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (CMAM) and comparisons with TIMED Doppler interferometer (TIDI) and meteor radar observations

The extended Canadian Middle Atmosphere Model (extended CMAM) is a general circulation model, which extends from the surface to about 210 km. Spatial complex spectral analysis is applied to horizontal winds simulated by the extended CMAM to obtain semidiurnal tidal amplitudes and phases (from e5 to w5) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region. The dominant w2 migrating component and the presence of eight nonmigrating tides (w3, w4, w5, e1, e2, e3, e4 and e5) in the mid-latitudes are identified. Components w1 and s0, which tend to maximize at high latitudes, will be discussed separately in a later paper. The migrating semidiurnal tide (w2) has amplitudes reaching over 20 m s⁻¹ for both zonal and meridional winds in the mid-latitude region. Its form compares well to the published results. The amplitudes of nonmigrating semidiurnal tides are non-negligible compared with the migrating semidiurnal tides. The amplitudes for w3 and e2 exceed 12 and 8 m s⁻¹, respectively.Comparisons are made with four nonmigrating semidiurnal components (w3, w4, e1 and e2) derived from the TIMED Doppler interferometer (TIDI) wind measurements between 85 and 105 km altitude and between 45°S and 45°N latitude. Overall, the basic CMAM and TIDI latitudinal structures of the amplitudes agree well and the agreement between the annual mean amplitudes varies with component. Relative to the TIDI results, the CMAM seasonal variations of w4 are in good agreement, of e2 are in reasonable agreement, of w3 are in partial agreement and of e1 are in poor agreement.The 11 semidiurnal components from the model are superimposed to generate the total semidiurnal winds at Jakarta (6°S, 106°E) and Kototabang (0°, 100°E) and are compared with measurements from two equatorial meteor radar stations at these sites. The relative contributions of components to the reconstructed amplitude vary from month to month. The CMAM reconstructions are generally larger than the radar results by a factor varying between one and two. The phases in the radar data are typically stationary with respect to height, whereas they generally decrease with height in the CMAM reconstruction.     

The November 2004 superstorm: Comparison of low-latitude TEC observations with LLIONS model results

We investigate the effects of penetration electric fields, meridional thermospheric neutral winds, and composition perturbation zones (CPZs) on the distribution of low-latitude plasma during the 7–11 November 2004 geomagnetic superstorm. The impact on low-latitude plasma was assessed using total electron content (TEC) measurements from a latitudinally distributed array of ground-based GPS receivers in South America. Jicamarca Radio Observatory incoherent scatter radar measurements of vertical E×B drift are used in combination with the Low-Latitude IONospheric Sector (LLIONS) model to examine how penetration electric fields and meridional neutral winds shape low-latitude TEC. It is found that superfountain conditions pertain between ～1900 and 2100 UT on 9 November, creating enhanced equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crests at ±20° geomagnetic latitude. Large-amplitude and/or long-duration changes in the electric field were found to produce significant changes in EIA plasma density and latitudinal location, with a delay time of ～2–2.5 h. Superfountain drifts were primarily responsible for EIA TEC levels; meridional winds were needed only to create hemispherical crest TEC asymmetries. The [O/N₂] density ratio (derived from the GUVI instrument, flown on the TIMED satellite) and measurements of total atmospheric density (from the GRACE satellites), combined with TEC measurements, yield information regarding a likely CPZ that appeared on 10 November, suppressing TEC for over 16 h.     

High resolution mapping of Earth tide response based on GPS data in Japan

We observe the Earth tidal fields at diurnal and semi-diurnal periods using Kinematic Precise Point Positioning (KPPP) GPS analysis. Our KPPP GPS solutions compare well with super-conducting gravimeter (SG) observations and a theoretical Earth tidal model, that includes both ocean tide loading model and body tides. We make a high resolution map of the observed Earth tidal response fields using the Japanese GEONET GPS network which consists of 1200 sites. We find that: (1) the average phase of GPS data lags 0.11 ± 0.04° from our theoretical Earth tidal model, (2) the average amplitude ratio between GPS and the theoretical Earth tidal model is 1.007 ± 0.003, (3) the amplitude in the Kyushu district is about 1.0–1.5 ± 0.3% larger than in the Hokkaido district, and (4) the amplitude at the Japan Sea side is about 0.5 ± 0.2% larger than that at the Pacific Ocean side. These results suggest that we may be able to place constraints on Earth structure using GPS-derived tidal information.     

High resolution OSL dating back to MIS 5e in the central Sea of Okhotsk

Marine sediments contain important archives of past ocean and climate changes, but at high latitudes the absence of carbonate has prevented the construction of accurate chronological models. We have begun a study to (1) determine the accuracy of luminescence ages in deep-sea marine sediments, e.g. by comparison with marine oxygen isotope stratigraphy where possible, (2) describe changes in sedimentation rate through time, and (3) test whether it is possible to date back to marine isotope stage 5e (MIS 5e). We show here that optical dating of fine grains of quartz from the central Sea of Okhotsk is able to provide an accurate and precise chronology for the reconstruction of the palaeoceanic and palaeoclimatic environment at our site. The upper 6.5 m of the 18.42 m long core MR0604-PC07A is believed, based on its magnetic susceptibility and the oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) records to contain the last ～150 ka. Forty OSL samples were taken from this upper part of the core. The single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) procedure is used for equivalent dose (D_e) determination. The luminescence characteristics of fine-grained quartz (4–11 μm) extracted from the core are described. The OSL signal is dominated by the fast component and a dose recovery test shows that we can accurately measure a known dose given in the laboratory prior to any heat treatment. Dose rates were determined using high-resolution gamma spectrometry, and vary between 0.4 and 1.6 Gy/ka. The OSL ages from this section lie between ～140 ka and ～15 ka and are in very good agreement with the δ¹⁸O stratigraphy up to MIS 5e. A clear change in sedimentation rate is identified: between ～139 and 110 ka, the sedimentation rate was ～0.09 m/ka, but then from ～110 to 15 ka, the sedimentation rate decreases to a constant value of ～0.04 m/ka. Our data confirm that OSL dating using widely distributed fine-grain quartz has great potential for dating deep-sea sediments. Because luminescence methods use clastic materials, they do not depend on the presence of biogenic carbonate. As a result it is now likely that we can establish a chronology in regions of the ocean that were previously undatable.