Effect of local atomic disorder on the half-metallicity of full-Heusler Co2FeSi alloy: a first-principles study

This paper investigates the effect of atomic disorder on the electronic structure, magnetism, and half-metallicity of full-Heusler Co₂FeSi alloy by using the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and GGA+U schemes. It considers three types of atomic disorders in Co₂FeSi alloy: the Co--Fe, Co--Si, and Fe--Si disorders. Total energy calculations show that of the three types of disorders, the Fe--Si disorder is more likely to occur. It finds that for the Co--Si disorder, additional states appear in the minority band-gap at the E_F and the half-metallcity is substantially destroyed, regardless of the disorder level. On the other hand, the Co--Fe and Fe--Si disorders have little effect on the half-metallicity at a low disorder level. When increasing the disorder levels, the half-metallcity is destroyed at about 9 % of the Co--Fe disorder level, while that stays at 25 % of the Fe--Si disorder level.     

Sediment oxygen consumption in semi-closed Korean coastal bays during summer

We used an oxygen microsensor for high-resolution measurements of pore water oxygen concentration in semi-closed coastal bays of the South Sea of Korea during summer. The oxygen penetration depths ranged from 0.60 to 3.65 mm. Oxygen consumption rates were estimated to be 9.1 to 59 mmol m^?2 d^?1 (average: 22.8 mmol m^?2 d^?1). At the sediment-water interface, the oxidation rates of organic carbon were estimated to be 84–545 mg C m^?2 d^?1 (average: 211 mg C m^?2 d^?1). Approximately 38% (～211 mg C m^?2 d^?1) of pelagic primary production was regenerated in the surface sediment, indicating the tight benthic-pelagic coupling in the coastal sea of the South Sea of Korea.     

Classification comparisons between dual-pol, compact polarimetric and quad-pol SAR imagery

We present a study of the polarimetric information content of dual-pol imaging modes and dual-pol imaging extended by polarimetric scattering models. We compare Wishart classifications both among the partial polarimetric datasets and against the full quad-pol dataset. Our emphasis is the inter-comparisons between the classification results based on dual-pol modes, compact polarimetric modes and scattering model extensions of the compact polarimetric modes. We primarily consider novel dual-pol modes, e.g. transmitting a circular polarization and receiving horizontal and vertical polarizations, and the pseudo-quad-pol data derived from polarimetric scattering models based on dual-pol data. We show that the overall classification accuracy of the pseudo-quad-pol data is essential the same as the classification accuracy obtained directly employing the underlying dual-pol imagery.     

Development of the AUV ‘ISiMI’ and a free running test in an Ocean Engineering Basin

The Korea Ocean Research and Development Institute (KORDI) has developed a small AUV named ISiMI. The mission of ISiMI is to work as a test-bed AUV for the development and validation of various algorithms and instruments required to enhance the AUV's functions. The design concept of ISiMI is that of a vehicle small enough to cruise the Ocean Engineering Basin (OEB) of KORDI and to be handled by one or two people. The downsized design and the cruising ability in its tank enable fast experimental feedback on AUV technologies and a shorter development period for new technologies. This paper presents a review of our research work on the development of ISiMI, with a performance evaluation by simulation and an experimental test. After the design and implementation of ISiMI, including its positioning system in the OEB, are presented, a series of test results in the OEB and discussions of the results are presented, with comparisons of the simulation and experimental outputs.     

Estimation of hydrodynamic coefficients for flow around cylinders in side-by-side arrangement with variation in separation gap

A finite-volume method (FVM) using a multi-block grid technique has been applied to investigate the hydrodynamic coefficients and to categorize the two-dimensional flow pattern around a pair of adjacent cylinders (known here after as double cylinders). Matching grids were used at the interface between blocks (cylinders), and the boundary conditions are imposed around the periphery to exchange physical values across the interface. To validate the developed numerical method, a case with laminar viscous flow around a single cylinder was carried out, the results showed good agreement compared to previously published data. Hydrodynamic coefficients, Strouhal number, and stagnation point change were thoroughly investigated as a function of the separation between the two cylinders. It is found that the changes of hydrodynamic coefficients due to variations in separation are well characterized by the five different vortex flow patterns, which can also be used to explain the flow and vortex pattern around the double cylinders.     

Unique problems associated with seismic analysis of partially gas-saturated unconsolidated sediments

Gas hydrate stability conditions restrict the occurrence of gas hydrate to unconsolidated and high water-content sediments at shallow depths. Because of these host sediments properties, seismic and well log data acquired for the detection of free gas and associated gas hydrate-bearing sediments often require nonconventional analysis. For example, a conventional method of identifying free gas using the compressional/shear-wave velocity (V_p/V_s) ratio at the logging frequency will not work, unless the free-gas saturations are more than about 40%. The P-wave velocity dispersion of partially gas-saturated sediments causes a problem in interpreting well log velocities and seismic data. Using the White, J.E. [1975. Computed seismic speeds and attenuation in rocks with partial gas saturation. Geophysics 40, 224–232] model for partially gas-saturated sediments, the difference between well log and seismic velocities can be reconciled. The inclusion of P-wave velocity dispersion in interpreting well log data is, therefore, essential to identify free gas and to tie surface seismic data to synthetic seismograms.     

Core-based reconstruction of paleoenvironmental conditions in the southern Drake Passage (West Antarctica) over the last 150 ka

A deep-sea sediment core (GC98-06) from the southernmost Drake Passage, West Antarctica, shows late Quaternary depositional environments distinctly different from sedimentary drifts commonly found along the southwestern Pacific margin of the Drake Passage. The chronology of the core has been inferred using geochemical tracers of paleoproductivity and diatom biostratigraphy, and represents the paleoceanographic conditions in a continental rise setting during the last 150,000 years. Three dominant sediment types associated with distinct sedimentary processes have been identified using textural/compositional analyses: (1) hemipelagic mud (interglacial sediments) deposited from pelagic settling of bioclasts, meltwater plumes, and ice-rafted detritus; (2) terrigenous mud (glacial sediments) delivered by turbid meltwater plumes; and (3) massive muds marking the boundaries from interglacial to glacial periods. The succession of the sedimentary facies in core GC98-06 is interpreted to reflect temporal changes in environmental conditions prevailing on the continental rise of the southern Drake Passage in the course of successive climatic stages over the last 150 ka: from the bottom upward, these are glacial, interglacial, glaciation, glacial, and interglacial episodes. Variability in sediment flux and diatom abundance seem to have been related to changes in glacial advance, sea-ice extent, and specific sedimentary environments, collectively influenced by mid- to late Quaternary climatic changes.     

Organic biomarkers in the twilight zone—Time series and settling velocity sediment traps during MedFlux

The transfer of material through the twilight zone of the ocean is controlled by sinking particles that contain organic matter (OM) and mineral ballast. During the MedFlux field program in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea in 2003, sinking particulate matter was collected in time series (TS) and settling velocity (SV) traps and analyzed for amino acids, lipids, and pigments (along with ballast minerals) [Lee, C., Armstrong, R.A., Wakeham, S.G., Peterson, M.L., Miquel, J.C., Cochran, J.K., Fowler, S.W., Hirschberg, D., Beck, A. Xue, J., 2009b. Particulate matter fluxes in time series and settling velocity sediment traps in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Deep-Sea Research II, this volume [doi:10.1016/j.dsr2.2008.12.003]]. The goal was to identify how organic chemical compositions of sinking particles varied as a function of their in-situ settling velocity. The TS record was used to define the biogeochemical character and temporal pattern in flux during the period of SV trap deployment. Temporal variations in organic and mineral compositions are consistent with particle biogeochemistry being driven by the seasonal succession of phytoplankton. Spring diatom bloom conditions led to a high flux of rapidly sinking aggregates and zooplankton fecal matter; summer oligotrophy followed and was characterized by a higher proportion of slowly sinking phytoplankton cells. Bacterial degradation is particularly important during the low-flux summer period. Settling velocity traps show that a large proportion of particulate organic matter sinks at 200–500 m d⁻¹. Organic compositions of this fast-sinking material mirrors that of fecal pellets and aggregated material that sinks as the spring bloom terminates. More-slowly sinking OM bears a stronger signature of bacterial degradation than do the faster-sinking particles. The observation that compositions of SV-sorted fractions are different implies that the particle field is compositionally heterogeneous over a range of settling velocities. Thus physical and biological exchange between fast-sinking and slow-sinking particles as they pass down the water column must be incomplete.     

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on microbial alteration of sinking fecal pellets

We used a new experimental device called PASS (PArticle Sinking Simulator) during MedFlux to simulate changes in in situ hydrostatic pressure that particles experience sinking from mesopelagic to bathypelagic depths. Particles, largely fecal pellets, were collected at 200 m using a settling velocity NetTrap (SV NetTrap) in Ligurian Sea in April 2006 and incubated in high-pressure bottles (HPBs) of the PASS system under both atmospheric and continuously increasing pressure conditions, simulating the pressure change experienced at a sinking rate of 200 m d⁻¹. Chemical changes over time were evaluated by measuring particulate organic carbon (POC), carbohydrates, transparent exopolymer particles (TEP), amino acids, lipids, and chloropigments, as well as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved carbohydrates. Microbial changes were evaluated microscopically, using diamidinophenylindole (DAPI) stain for total cell counts and catalyzed reporter deposition-fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD-FISH) for phylogenetic distinctions. Concentrations (normalized to POC) of particulate chloropigments, carbohydrates and TEP decreased under both sets of incubation conditions, although less under the increasing pressure regime than under atmospheric conditions. By contrast, dissolved carbohydrates (normalized to DOC) were higher after incubation and significantly higher under atmospheric conditions, suggesting they were produced at the expense of the particulate fraction. POC-normalized particulate wax/steryl esters increased only under pressure, suggesting biochemical responses of prokaryotes to the increasing pressure regime. The prokaryotic community initially consisted of 43% Bacteria, 12% Crenarchaea and 11% Euryarchaea. After incubation, Bacteria dominated (90%) the prokaryote community in all cases, with γ-Proteobacteria comprising the greatest fraction, followed by the Cytophaga–Flavobacter cluster and α-Proteobacteria group. Using the PASS system, we obtained chemical and microbial evidence that degradation by prokaryotes associated with fecal pellets sinking through mesopelagic waters is limited by the increasing pressure they experience.     

Investigating the effect of ballasting by CaCO3 in Emiliania huxleyi: I. Formation, settling velocities and physical properties of aggregates

To investigate the role of ballasting by biogenic minerals in the export of organic matter in the ocean, a laboratory experiment was conducted comparing aggregate formation and settling velocity of non-calcifying and calcifying strains of the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi. Experiments were conducted by making aggregates using a roller table and following aggregate properties during incubation for a period of 40 days. Size, shape, and settling velocities of aggregates were described by image analysis of video pictures recorded during the roller tank incubation. Our results show that biogenic calcite has a strong effect on the formation rate and abundance of aggregates and on aggregate properties such as size, excess density, porosity, and settling velocity. Aggregates of calcifying cells (AGG_CAL) formed faster, were smaller and had higher settling velocities, excess densities, and mass than those of non-calcifying cells (AGG_NCAL). AGG_CAL showed no loss during the duration of the experiment, whereas AGG_NCAL decreased in size after 1 month of incubation. Potential mechanisms that can explain the different patterns in aggregate formation are discussed. Comparison of settling velocities of AGG_CAL and AGG_NCAL with aggregates formed by diatoms furthermore indicated that the ballast effect of calcite is greater than that of opal. Together these results help to better understand why calcite is of major importance for organic matter fluxes to the deep ocean.