Application of a 3-D chemical fate prediction model (FATE3D) to predict dioxin concentrations in the Tokyo Bay

A 3-D chemical fate prediction model (FATE3D) was applied to predict the dioxin concentrations in the seawater of Tokyo Bay, Japan. The simulations were carried out for a period of one year (from September 2002 to August 2003). Parameters such as meteorological data, flow field conditions, concentrations and sinking rates of organic particulate matter, initial and boundary conditions, and loading fluxes and physico-chemical properties of dioxins were used as the model inputs.The simulation results compared favorably with the field measurements of dioxin concentrations in the bay for both the particulate and dissolved phases, indicating the validity and predictive capability of the model. Furthermore, the differences in the seasonal cycles and distributions between the particulate- and dissolved-phase dioxins in the bay were estimated from the simulation results.However, the particulate-phase dioxin concentrations in the bottom layers (+1 m from the bottom) were underestimated, probably because the resuspension process was not taken into account in the model. The improvement of the model's predictive capability, including the resuspension process, shall be the focus of our next study.     

Initiation of the Mekong River delta at 8 ka: evidence from the sedimentary succession in the Cambodian lowland

Modern deltas are understood to have initiated around 7.5–9 ka in response to the deceleration of sea-level rise. This episode of delta initiation is closely related to the last deglacial meltwater events and eustatic sea-level rises. The initial stage of the Mekong River delta, one of the world's largest deltas, is well recorded in Cambodian lowland sediments. This paper integrates analyses of sedimentary facies, diatom assemblages, and radiocarbon dates for three drill cores from the lowland to demonstrate Holocene sedimentary evolution in relation to sea-level changes. The cores are characterized by a tripartite succession: (1) aggrading flood plain to natural levee and tidal–fluvial channel during the postglacial sea-level rise (10–8.4 ka); (2) aggrading to prograding tidal flats and mangrove forests around and after the maximum flooding of the sea (8.4–6.3 ka); and (3) a prograding fluvial system on the delta plain (6.3 ka to the present). The maximum flooding of the sea occurred at 8.0 ± 0.1 ka, 2000 years before the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand, and tidal flats penetrated up to 20–50 km southeast of Phnom Penh after a period of abrupt ～5 m sea-level rise at 8.5–8.4 ka. The delta progradation then initiated as a result of the sea-level stillstand at around 8–7.5 ka. Another rapid sea-level rise at 7.5–7 ka allowed thick mangrove peat to be widely deposited in the Cambodian lowland, and the peat accumulation endured until 6.3 ka. Since 6.3 ka, a fluvial system has characterized the delta plain, and the fluvial sediment discharge has contributed to rapid delta progradation. The uppermost part of the sedimentary succession, composed of flood plain to natural-levee sediments, reveals a sudden increase in sediment accumulation over the past 600–1000 years. This increase might reflect an increase in the sediment yield due to human activities in the upper to middle reaches of the Mekong, as with other Asian rivers.     

Temporal and spatial variations in the spawning activity of the micronektonic shrimp,Sergia lucens (hansen) in Suruga Bay,Japan

Temporal and spatial variations in the spawning activity ofSergia lucens were investigated in relation to some environmental conditions of Suruga Bay. The daily egg abundance varied considerably with the coefficient of variation from 81% to 269% in July. The spawning activity was most clearly affected by temperature, but the relationship to lunar period and content of chlorophylla were not obvious. Timing of the July spawning is predictable with increase of the surface temperature to 24°C and strong vertical movements of the 18°C isotherm depth; it is also related to modal length of the shrimp in June. It is suggested that intrusion of cold water at 20–50 m affects reproduction of the shrimps and vertical distribution of eggs and larvae. The shrimp population seemed to relate principally to two spawning grounds,i.e. the head part and the western part of the bay. The timing of spawning is not always synchronous throughout the bay. The spawning is sporadic and the distribution of eggs is patchy. This may reflect a recent decrease in the population of the shrimp due to increased fishing pressure.A part of the present paper is based on the thesis submitted by G. H. B. in partial fulfilment of the requirements for her degree of Master of Science at the Tokyo University of Fisheries in 1986.     

A Numerical Simulation of the Seasonal Cycle of Temperature, Salinity and Velocity Fields in Tokyo Bay

To understand when oxygen-depleted waters occur, how they develop and when they dissipate in inner Tokyo Bay, realistic simulations were attempted with fine spatial and temporal resolution by applying realistic time dependent external forcing. A 3D hydrodynamic model was driven by time-dependent external forcing factors/parameters such as solar radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind velocity, and fluvial discharge, under the open boundary conditions of 1995. A simulated time series of salinity and temperature agreed fairly well with observed data, except in summer. The model failed to reproduce the development of the surface mixed layer in summer. Several sensitivity analyses on the external forcing parameters such as wind velocity and vertical diffusivity were conducted to reproduce the mixed layer. However, changing these parameter values did not improve the model results.     

Analysis of RC slab–beam–column sub‐assemblages subjected to bidirectional lateral cyclic loading using a new 3D macroelement

An existing two‐dimensional macroelement for reinforced concrete beam–column joints is extended to a three‐dimensional macroelement. The three‐dimensional macroelement for beam–column joints consists of six rigid interface plates and uniaxial springs for concrete, steel, and bond–slip, which model the inside of a beam–column joint. The mechanical models for the materials and the stiffness equation for the springs are also presented. To validate the model, we used test results from three slab–beam–column sub‐assemblages subjected to bi‐lateral cyclic load. It is revealed that the new joint model is capable of capturing the strength of beam–column joints and the bidirectional interaction in joint shear response, including the concentration of damage in the beam–column joint, the pinching nature in hysteretic behavior, the stiffness degradation, and strength deterioration resulting from cyclic and bidirectional loading. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Further characterization of carbonaceous materials in Hayabusa‐returned samples to understand their origin

Carbonaceous materials in the sample catcher of the Hayabusa spacecraft were assigned as category 3 particles. We investigated the category 3 particles with a suite of in situ microanalytical methods. Possible contaminants collected from the cleanrooms of the spacecraft assembly and extraterrestrial sample curation center (ESCuC) were also analyzed in the same manner as category 3 particles for comparison. Our data were integrated with those of the preliminary examination team for category 3 particles. Possible origins for the category 3 particles include contamination before and after the operation of the Hayabusa spacecraft.     

高岭土一维增湿的湿陷-流变分析方法研究

塑性单元体与黏性单元体并联之后再与弹性单元体串联即构成三要素模型,其各单元体都具有非线性本构关系。通过考虑增湿过程中饱和度对三要素模型中的黏性单元体和塑性单元体的影响,建立了弹-塑-黏性与湿陷性耦合的湿陷流变本构模型。湿陷对塑性单元体的影响表现为应变不变条件下屈服应力的降低;而对黏性单元体的影响表现为速率敏感系数的升高。两种影响可以通过试验确定。以此模型为基础,分析了高岭土的单轴压缩固结试验中的湿陷-流变变形,提出了一种湿陷-流变分析方法。试验中,在干燥条件下观测了蠕变;在增湿过程中观测了湿陷。试验中对含水量的测量精度高。理论所得含水率-应变-时间关系与实测结果接近,并区分了增湿过程中的湿陷和干燥条件下的蠕变,证明了本方法的有效性。     

Seismic response analysis on the stability of running vehicles

The seismometer network of the Japanese expressway system has been enhanced since the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Using earthquake information from the instruments, the expressways are closed if the peak ground acceleration (PGA) is larger than or equal to 80cm/s². The aim of this regulation is to avoid secondary disasters, e.g. cars running into the collapsed sections. However, recent studies on earthquake damage have revealed that expressway structures are not seriously damaged under such‐level of earthquake motion. Hence, we may think of relaxing the regulation of expressway closure. But before doing this, it is necessary to examine the effects of shaking to automobiles since the drivers may encounter difficulties in controlling their vehicles and traffic accidents may occur. In this study, a vehicle was modelled with a six‐degree‐of‐freedom system and its responses were investigated with respect to PGA, peak ground velocity (PGV) and Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) seismic intensity using five ground motion records. It was observed that the response of the vehicle shows a larger amplitude for the record that has larger response spectrum in the long period range compared to other records. However, similar response amplitudes of the vehicle were observed for all the records with respect to the JMA seismic intensity. The response characteristics of the vehicle model may be very useful for decision‐making regarding the relaxation of the expressway closure under seismic motion. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The micrometeoroids in the thermosphere and mesosphere

This Letter reviews the results by computer simulations on the three-body problem carried out at Leningrad University Astronomical Observatory (Anosova, 1986, 1988, 1989). The intensive systematic studies of triple systems with negative and positive total energies have yielded the general features of the evolution of these systems. The processes of formation of the wide and hard binaries have been studied in details. The scenario of the general class of the final motions of the triple systems with negative total energy is considered, the necessary conditions of disruption of these systems are formulated.