Elemental abundances in the Milky Way stellar disk(s), bulge,and halo

We present a review of elemental abundances in the Milky Way stellar disk, bulge, and halo with a focus on data derived from high-resolution stellar spectra. These data are fundamental in disentangling the formation history and subsequent evolution of the Milky Way. Information from such data is still limited and confined to narrowly defined stellar samples. The astrometric Gaia satellite will soon be launched by the European Space Agency. Its final data set will revolutionize information on the motions of a billion stars in the Milky Way. This will be complemented by several ground-based observational campaigns, in particular spectroscopic follow-up to study elemental abundances in the stars in detail. Our review shows the very rich and intriguing picture built from rather small and local samples. The Gaia data deserve to be complemented by data of the same high quality that have been collected for the solar neighborhood.     

Study of metal contents of elasmobranch fishes: part 1—metal concentration in the muscle tissues of a dogfish, squalus mitsukurii

Concentrations of Hg, Zn, Fe, Cd and Cu in the muscle tissues of a dogfish, Squalus mitsukurii, were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and found to be in the ranges of f0·019–2·13, 1·8–3·6, 1·5–5·7, 0·001–0·018 and 0·12–0·70 μg/g wet weight, respectively. The frequency distributions of concentrations, with the exception of mercury, were found to be log-normal. The correlation coefficient between mercury content and total length was positive and large and statistically highly significant. For other metals negative correlations were observed. Mercury concentration in the muscle was found to increase in proportion to the total length cubed. Regression of mercury concentration on age of sharks was shown to be linear. Analysis of covariance showed that the difference between sexes was not statistically significant, either in slope or in height. The concentration of mercury in the muscle tissues of embryos was considerably lower, Cd roughly the same and Zn and Fe higher than those of mothers. The concentrations of Zn, Fe and Cu are higher in the embryonic stage and immediately after birth than in later stages of growth.     

Effects of the Anticyclonic Eddies on Water Masses, Chemical Parameters and Chlorophyll Distributions in the Oyashio Current Region

Data from the R/V Mirai cruise (May–June 2000) have been examined to discover how mesoscale processes associated with eddy dynamics direct affect the water masses, the distributions and the vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen, nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon in the western subarctic Pacific. Using maps of the temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll and sea-air pCO₂ difference we show that the boundaries of the anticyclone eddies in the study region were composed of high productivity coastal Oyashio water. The coastal waters were wrapped around the anticyclone eddies (thus creating a high productivity belt) and intruded inside of them. Using SeaWifs data we demonstrate that temporal variations in the position and the strength of anticyclone eddies advected the Kuril island coastal high productivity waters to the pelagic part, resulting in temporal variations of the chlorophyll in the Oyashio region. Computed vertical fluxes of the dissolved oxygen (DO), inorganic carbon (DIC) and silicate show that the anticylonic eddies in the Kuroshio-Oyashio Zone are characterized by enhanced vertical fluxes of the DO and DIC between the upper (σ_θ = 26.7–27.0) and lower (σ_θ = 27.1–27.5) intermediate layer, probably due to the intrusions of the Oyashio waters into the eddies. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chemical modification of sea water by submarine volcanism at Nishinoshima-Shintô Island

Sea water samples, still hot from volcanic emanations were taken in a bay of Nishinoshima-Shintô Island just after volcanic activity had ceased and were analysed for borate-B, fluoride-F and bromide-Br. The hot water is considered to be formed by the conservative mixing of volcanic emanations with sea water, and the emanations containedCl, B, F andBr in the ratio of 1∶1.84×10^?3∶0.474×10^?3∶6.47×10^?3 by weight. RatiosB/Cl andF/Cl can be used as effective measures of the contribution of volcanic emanations to sea water.     

Estimation of the spatial distribution of ground motion parameters for two recent earthquakes in Japan

A recent development in strong motion instrumentation in Japan provides an opportunity to collect valuable data sets, especially after moderate and large magnitude events. Gathering and modeling these data is a necessity for better understanding of regional ground motion characteristics. Estimations of the spatial distribution of earthquake ground motion plays an important role in early-stage damage assessments for both rescue operations by disaster management agencies as well as damage studies of urban structures. Subsurface geology layers and local soil conditions lead to soil amplification that contributes to the estimated ground motion parameters of the surface. We present a case study of the applicability of the nationally proposed GIS-based soil amplification ratios [J. Soil Dyn. Earthqu. Eng. 19 (2000) 41–53] to the October 6, 2000 Tottori-ken Seibu (western Tottori Prefecture) and the March 24, 2001 Geiyo earthquakes in Japan. First, ground motion values were converted to those at a hypothetical ground base-rock level (outcrop) using an amplification ratio for each 1×1 km area, based on geomorphological and subsurface geology information. Then a Kriging method, assuming an attenuation relationship at the base-rock as a trend component, is applied. Finally, the spatial distribution of ground motion at ground surface is obtained by applying GIS-based amplification factors for the entire region. The correlation between the observed and estimated ground motion values is reasonable for both earthquakes. Thus, the proposed method is applicable in near real-time early-damage assessments and seismic hazard studies in Japan.     

The effects of a constant volume deformation on the magnetization of an artificial sediment

Anhysteretic remanent magnetization (DC field = 1 Oe, peak AC field = 1000 Oe) was given to an artificial sediment consisting of a kaolinite matrix and a 0.03% magnetic fraction of needle-shaped magnetite grains. The mean grain size of the clay flakes and the magnetite needles was approximately 0.5 μm. This sediment was subjected to plane strain while maintaining constant volume. The axis of maximum compression was shortened by as much as 331/3%, which produced no significant change in the direction of magnetization with a decrease in intensity of 28%. A continuous deformation model, in which the magnetite needles are embedded in a plastically deforming linearly homogeneous medium, failed to explain these results. A discontinuous deformation model was more successful. In this model, deformation occurs mainly in shear zones bounding blocks which translate along the shears. Only those magnetite grains in the shear zones rotate, and from symmetry considerations no net change in the direction of magnetization is predicted. Because magnetite grains rotate in opposite directions in complementary sets of shears, the model predicts a decrease in intensity comparable to that which was observed.     

日本结构控制的工程应用

提出了包括基础隔震系统、质量阻尼系统和其他阻尼器的结构振动控制系统,阐述了结构控制系统在日本的实际工程应用,同时还介绍了于2000年11月召开的第二届日本结构控制学术会议的情况.     

Warped temperature profiles observed in the sediment of geothermally active areas in the Japan Sea— A hypothesis of double diffusive sinking

Some temperature profiles observed in sea floor sediments of the Japan Sea, west of the northern part of Honshu, show distinct gradients changing with depth, for which we use the term warping. Using a simplified model, this warping can be attributed to an abrupt temperature change in the bottom water just above the sediment. The bottom water temperature change might be explained by the hypothesis that warm and salt surface water in the region sank to the sea bottom, through colder and less saline water, maintaining a relatively warmer temperature than the bottom water which originates from ordinary lateral intrusion.