Considerations on the evaluation of the fertility of oxisols in Brazil

Based on the analysis of some of the physical and chemical properties of the reddish-colored soils from southeast Brazil four fertility classes of soils were proposed. The soils of class 1 which are characterized by a low inherent fertility are sandy soils which become less fertile after cultivation. The soils of class 2 which are derived from carbonate-cemented sandstone have a high base status under forest vegetation, but become very poor after cultivation and erosion. The soils of class 3 which have a moderate inherent fertility become more fertile after cultivation along with liming and fertilization. Class-4 soils are inherently fertile and their fertility can be maintained and enhanced easily by management practices. The potentially self-improving soils of classes 3 and 4 have a phosphate sorption coefficient above 1000 which corresponds to a definite content in clay, free Fe, total P, and water-soluble silica.     

Active optics experiments for thin meniscus mirror

The concept of the active support system for JNLT is summarized. Performance of the force sensor, the optical wavefront analyzer, and the actuator under development for JNLT is reported. The results of a series of active optics experiments carried out by assembling these elements to support, measure, and actively correct a 62 cm thin mirror are described.Paper presented at the symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Development, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.     

Application of chemical tracers to an estimate of benthic denitrification in the Okhotsk Sea

To estimate benthic denitrification in a marginal sea, we assessed the usefulness of \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) , a new tracer to measure the excess nitrogen gas (N₂) using dissolved N₂ and argon (Ar) with N* in the intermediate layer (26.6–27.4σ _θ ) of the Okhotsk Sea. The examined parameters capable of affecting \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) are denitrification, air injection and rapid cooling. We investigated the relative proportions of these effects on \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) using multiple linear regression analysis. The best model included two examined parameters of denitrification and air injection based on the Akaike information criterion as a measure of the model fit to data. More than 80 % of \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) was derived from the denitrification, followed by air injection. Denitrification over the Okhotsk Sea shelf region was estimated to be 5.6 ± 2.4 μmol kg^?1. The distribution of \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) was correlated with potential temperature (θ) between 26.6 and 27.4σ _θ (r = ?0.55). Therefore, we concluded that \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) and N* can act complementarily as a quasi-conservative tracer of benthic denitrification in the Okhotsk Sea. Our findings suggest that \({\text{N}}_{2}^{*}\) in combination with N* is a useful chemical tracer to estimate benthic denitrification in a marginal sea.     

Estimation of mean residence times of subsurface waters using seasonal variation in deuterium excess in a small headwater catchment in Japan

We measured deuterium excess (d = δD ? 8δ¹⁸O) in throughfall, groundwater, soil water, spring water, and stream water for 3 years in a small headwater catchment (Matsuzawa, 0·68 ha) in the Kiryu Experimental Watershed in Japan. The d value represents a kinetic effect produced when water evaporates. The d value of the throughfall showed a sinusoidal change (amplitude: 6·9‰ relative to Vienna standard mean ocean water (V‐SMOW)) derived from seasonal changes in the source of water vapour. The amplitude of this sinusoidal change was attenuated to 1·3–6·9‰ V‐SMOW in soil water, groundwater, spring water, and stream water. It is thought that these attenuations derive from hydrodynamic transport processes in the subsurface and mixing processes at an outflow point (stream or spring) or a well. The mean residence time (MRT) of water was estimated from d value variations using an exponential‐piston flow model and a dispersion model. MRTs for soil water were 0–5 months and were not necessarily proportional to the depth. This may imply the existence of bypass flow in the soil. Groundwater in the hillslope zone had short residence times, similar to those of the soil water. For groundwater in the saturated zone near the spring outflow point, the MRTs differed between shallow and deeper groundwater; shallow groundwater had a shorter residence time (5–8 months) than deeper groundwater (more than 9 months). The MRT of stream water (8–9 months) was between that of shallow groundwater near the spring and deeper groundwater near the spring. The seasonal variation in the d value of precipitation arises from changes in isotopic water vapour composition associated with seasonal activity of the Asian monsoon mechanism. The d value is probably an effective tracer for estimating the MRT of subsurface water not only in Japan, but also in other East Asian countries influenced by the Asian monsoon. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative trace element analysis of single fluid inclusions by proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE): application to fluid inclusions in hydrothermal quartz

Single fluid inclusion analogues with known elemental composition and regular shape were analyzed for trace element contents by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE)—a nondestructive method for the analysis of single fluid inclusions—to evaluate the accuracy and detection limits of this type of analysis. Elements with concentrations of 10 to 1000 ppm were measured with average estimated relative error of ±7%. For natural fluid inclusions with 30 μm radius and 20 μm depth in quartz, the total analytical errors were estimated to be ±40% relative for Ca, ±16% for Fe, ±13% for Zn, ±12% for Sr, and ±11% for Br and Rb, by considering uncertainties in microscopic measurements of inclusion depths. Detection limits of 4 to 46 ppm for elements of mass numbers 25-50 were achieved for analyses of a spherical fluid inclusion with 30 μm radius and 20 μm depth in quartz, at an integrated charge of 1.0 μC. The trace element compositions of single fluid inclusions in a hydrothermal quartz crystal were also determined. The elemental concentrations in the inclusions varied widely: 0.2-9 wt.% for Ca and Fe, 300-8000 ppm for Mn and Zn, 40-3000 ppm for Cu, 100-4000 ppm for Br, Rb, Sr, and Pb, and less than 100 ppm for Ge. Elemental concentrations of secondary fluid inclusions on the same trail varied over an order of magnitude, even though all these inclusions were formed from the same fluid. Elemental concentrations in inclusions on the same trail are positively correlated with each other, except for Cu and Rb. Ratios of almost all elements in the inclusions on the trail were essentially unchanged; thus, the elemental ratios can provide original information on trace element compositions of a hydrothermal fluid.     

Transitions in thermal convection with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity in a wide box

Numerical models are systematically presented for time-dependent thermal convection of Newtonian fluid with strongly temperature-dependent viscosity in a two-dimensional rectangular box of aspect ratio 3 at various values of the Rayleigh number Ra_b defined with viscosity at the bottom boundary up to 1.6×10⁸ and the viscosity contrast across the box r_η up to 10⁸. We found that there are two different series of bifurcations that take place as r_η increases. One series of bifurcations causes changes in the behavior of the thermal boundary layer along the surface boundary from small-viscosity-contrast (SVC) mode, through transitional (TR) mode, to stagnant-lid (ST) mode, or from SVC mode directly to ST mode, depending on Ra_b. Another series of bifurcations causes changes in the aspect ratio of convection cells; convection with an elongated cell can take place at moderate r_η (10³–10^5.5 at Ra_b=6×10⁶), while only convection of aspect ratio close to 1 takes place at small r_η and large r_η. The parameter range of r_η and Ra_b for elongated-cell convection overlaps the parameter range for SVC and ST modes and include the entire parameter range for TR mode. In the elongated-ST regime, the lid of highly viscous fluid along the top boundary is not literally ‘stagnant’ but can horizontally move at a velocity high enough to induce a convection cell with aspect ratio much larger than 1.     

Partial derivative of love numbers

We present a simple formula for the partial derivatives of Love numbers with respect to density, bulk modulus and rigidity without urging the Adams-Williamson condition in the liquid core. Partials of the second degree Love numbers are computed for model 1066 A. Love numbers prove to be either completely or virtually independent of the elastic profile within the whole core. Delta-function-like changes occur in Love numbers when we perturb the density of the top and bottom layers of the outer core.     

The behaviour of dissolved silica during the mixing of river and sea waters in Tokyo Bay

The behaviour of dissolved silica was studied in Tokyo Bay during six surveys in 1979 and 1980. The data from late spring and mid-summer samples showed concave mixing curves of silica versus salinity, whereas for the winter samples a simple conservative dillution curve was obtained. Plots of particulate silicon to particulate aluminium showed that even for winter samples as well as summer ones there were some processes removing silica from solution. The processes could not be adequately explained by adsorption onto suspended solids. The data are indicative of uptake by diatoms as the principal removal mechanism. Most of the diatom skeletons settled to the bottom where dissolution was rapid. The silica-salinity curves in this study thus demonstrate an apparent removal process for dissolved silica. This is because during summer the displacement rate of biogenic silica from a unit water column to the bottom as fecal pellets or by sinking is greater than the supply rate of dissolved silica by the action of diffusion and mixing of bottom water enriched with dissolved silica whereas in winter these rates are reasonably balanced.