Magnetotail response during a strong substorm as observed by GEOTAIL in the distant tail

Simultaneous energetic particle and magnetic field observations from the GEOTAIL spacecraft in the distant tail (X_GSM -150 Re) have been analysed to study the response of the Earths magnetotail during a strong substorm (AE 680 nT). At geosynchronous altitude, LANL spacecraft recorded three electron injections between 0030 UT and 0130 UT, which correspond to onsets observed on the ground at Kiruna Ground Observatory. The Earths magnetotail responded to this substorm with the ejection of five plasmoids, whose size decreases from one plasmoid to the next. Since the type of magnetic structure detected by a spacecraft residing the lobes, depends on the Z extent of the structure passing underneath the spacecraft, GEOTAIL is first engulfed by a plasmoid structure; six minutes later it detects a boundary layer plasmoid (BLP) and finally at the recovery phase of the substorm GEOTAIL observes three travelling compression regions (TCRs). The time-of-flight (TOF) speed of these magnetic structures was estimated to range between 510 km/s and 620 km/s. The length of these individual plasmoids was calculated to be between 28 Re and 56 Re. The principal axis analysis performed on the magnetic field during the TCR encountered, has confirmed that GEOTAIL observed a 2-D perturbation in the X-Z plane due to the passage of a plasmoid underneath. The first large plasmoid that engulfed GEOTAIL was much more complicated in nature probably due to the external, variable draped field lines associated with high beta plasma sheet and the PSBL flux tubes surrounding the plasmoid. From the analysis of the energetic particle angular distribution, evidence was found that ions were accelerated from the distant X-line at the onset of the burst associated with the first magnetic structure.     

Dust ring formation due to ice sublimation of radially drifting dust particles under the Poynting-Robertson effect in debris disks

In a disk with a low optical depth, dust particles drift radially inward by the Poynting-Robertson (P-R) drag rather than are blown out by stellar radiation pressure following destructive collisions. We investigate the radial distribution of icy dust composed of pure ice and refractory materials in dust-debris disks taking into account the P-R drag and ice sublimation. We find that icy dust particles form a dust ring by their pile-ups at the edge of their sublimation zone, where they sublime substantially at the temperature 100-110 K. The distance of the dust ring is 20-35 AU from the central star with its luminosity L_??30L_⊙ and 65(L_?/100L_⊙)^1/2 AU for L_??30L_⊙, where L_⊙ is the solar luminosity. The effective optical depth is enhanced by a factor of 2 for L_??100L_⊙ and more than 10 for L_??100L_⊙. The optical depth of the outer icy dust disk exceeds that of the inner disk filled with refractory particles, namely, the residue of ice sublimation, which are further subjected to the P-R effect. As a result, an inner hole is formed inside the sublimation zone together with a dust ring along the outer edge of the hole.     

The chemical composition and the cadmium,chromium and vanadium contents of shall-water deposits in Tokyo Bay

The major elements and the minor elements cadmium, chromium and vanadium in 12 samples of shallow-water deposits collected in Tokyo Bay were studied. Average silica content of the deposits is 53.93%, which is approximate to the average of 54.15% of red clay. Iron (av. 5.67% Fe₂O₃), titanium (av. 0.71% TiO₂), especially manganese (av. 0.87% MnO), are more abundant in the deposits than in the deposits along the entire sea-coasts of Honshu and of Nanao Bay, Japan. The deposits show higher contents of cadmium (av. 0.61 ppm), the chromium (av. 86 ppm) and vanadium (av. 79ppm). About 3 to 17 times cadmium and manganese contents compared with those in the deposits along the sea-coasts of Honshu and of Nanao Bay, Japan was found. Such accumulation, of cadmium and manganese in the deposits is probably caused by artificial contamination rather than of natural origin. No relation was found between the contents of cadmium, chromium and vanadium and those of major elements.     

Mathematical approach to calculate indices for depositional environments of pelagic-hemipelagic-terrigenous sediments on the basis of metallic element concentrations

Modern marine sediments can be classified into terrigenous, hemipelagic, and pelagic types according to the distances from the land for the sites recovered and in terms of lithological characteristics of sediments. Ancient cherts are the best sedimentary rocks to reconstruct ancient depositional environments and hemipelagic and pelagic cherts can be identified in terms of lithologic and stratigraphic characteristics. However, geochemical characteristics of modern sediments and ancient cherts can discriminate them into these three types. Particularly, the degree of correlation between Fe and Mg in clay minerals is the most effective criterion for the classification, because the concentration of pelagic clay minerals in which the Fe/Mg ratio is constant may become indices for the classification into the three types. The correlation coefficient and goodness-of-fit to a certain regression line were used as indices of the classification and calculated for several sets of modern sediments and ancient cherts totalling to more than 400 samples. The correlation coefficients and the student-t values for the coefficients become better classification indices than the goodness-of-fit andF-values of the analysis of variance. Goodness-of-fit andF-values can be only used as subsidiary indices for the main classification indices of the correlation coefficients. The classification on the basis of the degree of correlation between Fe and Mg is effective and this approach can be used for other major chemical elements such as Al, K, and Na, if some sequential values of chemical analyses are available.     

V p/V s-ratios from the central Kolbeinsey Ridge to the Jan Mayen Basin,North Atlantic; implications for lithology,porosity and present-day stress field

The horizontal components from twenty Ocean Bottom Seismometers deployed along three profiles near the Kolbeinsey Ridge, North Atlantic, have been modelled with regard to S-waves, based on P-wave models obtained earlier. Two profiles were acquired parallel to the ridge, and the third profile extended eastwards across the continental Jan Mayen Basin. The modelling requires a thin (few 100 m) layer with very high V _p/V _s-ratio (3.5–9.5) at the sea-floor in the area lacking sedimentary cover. The obtained V _p/V _s-ratios for the remaining part of layer 2A, 2B, 3 and upper mantle, correspond to the following lithologies: pillow lavas, sheeted dykes, gabbro and peridotite, respectively. All crustal layers exhibit a decreasing trend in V _p/V _s-ratio away-from-the-axis, interpreted as decreasing porosity and/or crack density in that direction. A significant S-wave azimuthal anisotropy is observed within the thin uppermost layer of basalt near the ridge. The anisotropy is interpreted as being caused by fluid-filled microcracks aligned along the direction of present-day maximum compressive stress, and indicates crustal extension at the ridge itself and perpendicular-to-the-ridge compression 12 km off axis. Spreading along the Kolbeinsey Ridge has most likely been continuous since its initiation ca. 25 Ma: The data do not suggest the presence of an extinct spreading axis between the Kolbeinsey Ridge and the Aegir Ridge as has been proposed earlier. The V _p/V _s-ratios found in the Jan Mayen Basin are compatible with continental crust, overlain by a sedimentary section dominated by shale.     

Alkaline phosphatase activity and phosphatase hydrolyzable phosphorus for phytoplankton in hiroshima bay, Japan

We investigated the seasonal variability of free alkaline phosphatase activity in seawater and alkaline phosphatase hydrolysable phosphorus (APHP) at 3 stations in Hiroshima Bay using alkaline phosphatase extracted from the dinoflagellates Alexandrium tamarense and Gymnodinium catenatum. The dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) was lower than 1 μM in all samples; the lowest values were in May. The amount of APHP was high at the surface and bottom waters of all stations in May, showing DIP-depleted conditions. In August and November, the amount of APHP was much less than the amount of APHP in May, indicating that the availability of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) for these species was low and/or uptake during the dinoflagellate blooming might have occurred in the area. The results obtained from short-term variations of AP activity might suggest that the growth of dinoflagellates in this season may be partly supported by the AP produced by other diatoms.     

Phosphorus mass balance in a highly eutrophic semi-enclosed inlet near a big metropolis: a small inlet can contribute towards particulate organic matter production

Terrigenous loading into enclosed water bodies has been blamed for eutrophic conditions marked by massive algal growth and subsequent hypoxia due to decomposition of dead algal cells. This study aims to describe the eutrophication and hypoxia processes in a semi-enclosed water body lying near a big metropolis. Phosphorus mass balance in a small inlet, Ohko Inlet, located at the head of Hiroshima Bay, Japan, was quantified using a numerical model. Dissolved inorganic phosphorous inflow from Kaita Bay next to the inlet was five times higher than that from terrigenous load, which may cause an enhancement of primary production. Therefore, it was concluded that not only the reduction of material load from the land and the suppression of benthic flux are needed, but also reducing the inflow of high phosphorus and oxygen depleted water from Kaita Bay will form a collective alternative measure to remediate the environmental condition of the inlet.