Development of an arc-shaped precipitation system during the pre-monsoon period in Bangladesh

A numerical simulation is performed to understand the features and development processes of the arc-shaped precipitation system that dominates in Bangladesh during the pre-monsoon (March–May) period. An arc-shaped precipitation system of 26 April 2002 is simulated using the Cloud Resolving Storm Simulator (CReSS) with a horizontal grid increment of 2 km. The Pennsylvania State University/National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model is used for downscaling. Hourly outputs of the finest domain (grid increment of 5 km) of MM5 and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Reynolds weekly mean sea surface temperature data are used as the initial and boundary conditions for CReSS. Younger and more intense cells are formed in the southwestern end of the system. These cells move northeastward and merge with the system producing intense rainfalls. Simulation results indicate that low-level southwesterly or southerly wind brings warm moist air from the Bay of Bengal and helps develop new cells. The propagation speed of the system is 8 m/s, and the northeastern end moves faster than the southwestern end, creating clockwise rotation of the system. The propagation speed and the rotation of the simulated system coincide well with radar observations. The clockwise rotation of the system can be explained by the stronger (weaker) outflow and weaker (stronger) inflow in the northeastern (southwestern) end. The propagation of the system is attributable to the weak (≤7 m/s, storm relative) rear-to-front flow in the moist environment. Thus, the arc-shaped precipitation system common to the pre-monsoon period in Bangladesh develops through a balance of strong southwesterly or southerly moist inflow in the low altitudes below 2 km and relatively weak outflow in the rear of the system.     

Magnetic-Tower Jet Solution for Launching Astrophysical Jets

In spite of the large number of global three-dimensional (3-D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of accretion disks and astrophysical jets, which have been developed since 2000, the launching mechanisms of jets is somewhat controversial. Previous studies of jets have concentrated on the effect of the large-scale magnetic fields permeating accretion disks. However, the existence of such global magnetic fields is not evident in various astrophysical objects, and their origin is not well understood. Thus, we study the effect of small-scale magnetic fields confined within the accretion disk. We review our recent findings on the formation of jets in dynamo-active accretion disks by using 3-D MHD simulations. In our simulations, we found the emergence of accumulated azimuthal magnetic fields from the inner region of the disk (the so-called magnetic tower) and also the formation of a jet accelerated by the magnetic pressure of the tower. Our results indicate that the magnetic tower jet is one of the most promising mechanisms for launching jets from the magnetized accretion disk in various astrophysical objects. We will discuss the formation of cosmic jets in the context of the magnetic tower model.     

Measurement of the absolute intensity of cosmic X-rays

The intensity of the diffuse component of cosmic X-rays was measured with use of a rotating collimator system borne on a sounding rocket. A part of background counts proportional to the field of view of proportional counters enabled us to determine the intensity of the diffuse component to be 0.66±0.07 photons cm^–2 sec^–1 keV^–1 in the energy range between 3.6 and 9.0 keV. The spectrum in this energy range was found to be comparatively flat. The intensity of Sco X-1 was also measured and its time variation was investigated.     

Advanced mosasaurs from the Upper Cretaceous Nakaminato Group in Japan

Plotosaurus is a highly aquatically adapted mosasaur, which is supposed to inhabit the deep ocean basin. The geographic occurrence of this genus has been limited only to the west coast of North America. In this study, two Plotosaurus-type mosasaur caudal vertebrae derived from the Upper Cretaceous Nakaminato Group in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, are described with discussion on the paleobiogeographic significance of the Late Cretaceous mosasaur fauna in the Northwestern Pacific region. The two specimens are an intermediate caudal vertebra found in a beach cobble, which presumably originated from the Hiraiso Formation (upper Campanian), and a terminal caudal vertebra found in situ in the lower Isoai Formation (lower Maastrichtian). Because their relative centrum lengths (ratio of centrum length/centrum height, ~0.7) are very close to that of Plotosaurus, the specimens are referred to cf. Plotosaurus sp. The two specimens provide the first evidence that highly specialized Plotosaurus-type mosasaurs inhabited the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, suggesting that such forms had a wider distribution than previously recognized and might have existed since the late Campanian in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean.     

东亚夏季一个与鄂霍次克海阻高建立及副高北上相关的遥相关类型(英)

研究了鄂霍次克海阻高及西太平洋副热带高压的关系,解释了当鄂霍次克海阻高活跃时副热带高压北上缓慢的原因。具体如下(1)通过对鄂霍次克海阻高指数和500 hPa高度的相关分析发现,夏季东亚附近容易出现一个类似偶极子的遥相关类型;(2)这个遥相关类型与鄂霍次克海阻高发展时产生的从鄂霍次克海经日本东部海面到副热带方面传播的波列紧密相关;(3)伴随鄂霍次克海高压的发展,此波列的传播形成一个以日本东部海面为中心的气旋式环流,起着削弱副高北缘的重要作用。这个作用可以部分解释为什么1998年夏季副高会非常偏南。     

The SOLAR-A mission: An overview

The SOLAR-A spacecraft is to be launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan (ISAS) in August, 1991. As a successor of HINOTORI, this mission is dedicated principally to the study of solar flares, especially of high-energy phenomena observed in the X- and gamma-ray ranges. The SOLAR-A will be the unique space solar observatory during the current activity maximum period (1989–1992). With a coordinated set of instruments including hard X-ray and soft X-ray imaging telescopes as well as spectrometers with advanced capabilities, it will reveal many new aspects of flares and help better understand their physics, supporting international collaborations with ground-based observatories as well as theoretical investigations. An overview of this mission, including the satellite, its scientific instruments, and its operation, is given in this paper. Also the scientific objectives are briefly discussed.After the launch the name of SOLAR-A has been changed to YOHKOH.