Geostrophic adjustment near the coast

Geostrophic adjustment of a two-layer fluid near a straight coast is investigated for an initial pressure disturbance which has no closed geostrophic contours by using a reduced gravity (divergent barotropic) model. Propagation of a volume of water along the coast due to the internal Kelvin wave allows a non-zero solution for the final geostrophic state. Energy partitions among geostrophic motion, the internal Kelvin wave and internal Poincaré waves are obtained and compared with the result of the classical problem of geostrophic adjustment without the coast. It is found that energy partition to the geostrophic motion (EPG) with the coast is always smaller than that without the coast (EPG ), while the scale of the initial disturbance is the same. The difference betweenEPG andEPG is smaller than the energy partition to the internal Kelvin waves (EPK) and approachesEPK as the scale of the initial disturbance increases.     

Mesoscale eddy effects on temporal variability of surface chlorophyll a in the Kuroshio Extension

We investigated the relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentrations estimated from satellite observations and the activity of eddies in the Kuroshio Extension region. High (low) area-averaged Chl-a concentrations were frequently observed in the core of cyclonic (anticyclonic) eddies. Such relationships between Chl-a concentrations and eddy cores were not frequently observed in the southern part of the recirculation gyre, and advection of background meridional gradient of Chl-a by eddy-edge currents accounted for Chl-a spatial variability. Decadal-scale changes of Chl-a concentrations around the Kuroshio Extension were strongly affected by eddy activity and transport but not by large-scale near-surface isopycnal heaving. We also found that decadal changes of nutrient concentrations near the main stream could affect Chl-a concentrations in the southern part of the recirculation gyre via southward transport of eddies and mean flow.     

Study of a Bistatic Radar System Using VLBI Technologies for Detecting Space Debris and the Experimental Verification of its Validity

Space debris are increasing around the Earth. The observation of space debris is a key issue for the investigation and monitoring of space environment. But the observation opportunities and the detection ability are limited in existing monostatic radar systems. This paper proposes a bistatic radar which is composed of a transmitting station and a receiving-only station. A carrier wave modulated by PN-PSK signals is used in combination with a VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) recorder for range measurement between space debris and stations. The receiving radio wave is processed on the basis of VLBI techniques. Accordingly, the system is shown to have significant advantages over a monostatic radar. We actually formed a bistatic radar system, and observed a satellite in order to experimentally verify the validity. The configuration of the system, data analysis and the experimental results are described.     

Two layer model of the steady ocean response to large-scale heating and cooling

Steady response of a linear, two-layer baroclinic ocean to a steady thermal forcing was investigated on a mid-latitude -plane. Surface heat flux and its relaxation processes were parametrized as a form of heating function and Newtonian cooling term of cross interfacial velocityw in the continuity equation. Ageostrophic linear drag terms were employed to represent the western boundary layer for accomplishment of the steady circulation in the closed domain. In the interior, the dynamics belongs to thef-plane regime. The flow in the upper layer is zonal and eastward, which is the same as that expected in the channel without meridional boundary. The eastern boundary region is the so called Sverdrup region, in which the vortex stretching balances the term, thoughw contains a damping term. It directs the zonal flow southward (northward) in the south (north) followed by upwelling (downwelling) and forms the two gyres. Western boundary region is of the Stommel type except the upwelling (downwelling) in the south (north). The meridional circulation is similar to the Hadley Cell except southern and northern boundary layers. However, its strength is much greater than the latters.     

CFD, system-based and EFD study of ship dynamic instability events: Surf-riding, periodic motion, and broaching

CFD and system-based simulation are used to predict broaching, surf-riding, and periodic motion for the ONR Tumblehome model, including captive and free model test validation studies. CFD shows close agreement with EFD for calm water resistance, static heel (except for sway force and yaw moment), and static drift (except for roll moment). CFD predictions of static heel in following waves also compare well with EFD except for surge force, sway force, and pitch angle. Froude-Krylov calculations of wave-induced surge force in following waves provides good agreement for high Froude number, but significantly overestimates for Froude number less than 0.2. On the other hand, CFD successfully reproduces the reduction of the wave-induced surge force near Froude number 0.2, probably because CFD can capture the 3D wave pattern. CFD free model simulations are performed for several speeds and headings and validated for the first time for surf-riding, broaching, and periodic motions. System-based simulations are carried out based on inputs from EFD, CFD, and Froude-Krylov for a dense grid of speeds and headings to predict the instability map, which were found to produce fairly similar results.     

Geostrophic response near the coast

Geostrophic response of a two-layer fluid near a straight coast is investigated for a successive disturbance by the use of the inviscid, reduced gravity model. Poincare waves, coastal motion (which is trapped by the coast) and a geostrophic eddy are created. The energy of these motions is obtained. The manner in which the ocean responds is found to depend considerably on the way the disturbance is applied. When the water is supplied continuously to a calm upper layer adjacent to the coast, a quasi-steady geostrophic eddy is formed and its energy increases in proportion toT ² (T is the duration for which water is supplied). The energy of the coastal motion increases in proportion toT. When the water is supplied continuously into the upper layer from a certain portion of the coast, a geostrophic eddy is not formed. The coastal motion has the same structure as in the former case and its energy increases in proportion toT.     

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.     

Volcanic gases and sublimates from Showashinzan

Volcanic gases from Showashinzan are qualitatively the same as those liberated from igneous rocks when they are heated in vacuum. Their main components are H₂O, CO₂, and H₂. Then follow HCl, HF, N₂, SO₂, H₂S, S, CH₄, CO, Ar, Si, B, Mg, Na, K, Ca, Al, Fe, P, Br, NH₃, As, Zn, Sr, Ba, Cu, Pb, Sn, Sb, Bi, Ge, Ag, Cr, Ni, Mo, Rn, Ra, etc. They come through fumaroles of high temperature (～750°C.). Metallic compounds deposit as sublimates around the outlet of fumaroles. They are fractionated there according to their thermodynamic properties. When the temperature of gases falls, heavy metal elements deposit before reaching the surface of the earth. Ra is among them. Owing to the contribution of Ra thus depositted, Rn content of vapor is larger in low temperature fumaroles than in high temperature ones. Chemical compounds of H, C, N, O, and S vary their composition according to the condition of temperature and pressure. Sulfur exists as SO₂ more than H₂S. As the temperature of gases falls, SO₂ and H₂ decrease and H₂S increases. Mutual relation among them is ruled by the chemical equilibrium: SO₂+3H₂=H₂S+2H₂O. The structure of Showashinzan is not simple. Some deviations from the general rule are explained in connection with ground water.     

Depositional ages and characteristics of Middle–Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous lacustrine deposits in southeastern Mongolia

Lower Cretaceous lacustrine oil shales are widely distributed in southeastern Mongolia. Due to the high organic carbon content of oil shale, many geochemical studies and petroleum exploration have been conducted. Although most of the oil shales are considered to be Early Cretaceous in age, a recent study reveals that some were deposited in the Middle Jurassic. The present study aims at establishing depositional ages and characteristics of the Jurassic and Cretaceous lacustrine deposits in Mongolia. The Lower Cretaceous Shinekhudag Formation is about 250 m thick and composed of alternating beds of shale and dolomite. The Middle Jurassic Eedemt Formation is about 150 m thick and composed of alternating beds of shale, dolomitic marl, and siltstone. The alternations of shale and dolomite in both formations were formed by lake level changes, reflecting precipitation changes. Shales were deposited in the center of a deep lake during highstand, while dolomites were formed by primary precipitation during lowstand. Based on the radiometric age dating, the Shinekhudag Formation was deposited between 123.8 ±2.0 Ma and 118.5 ±0.9 Ma of the early Aptian. The Eedemt Formation was deposited at around 165–158 Ma of Callovian–Oxfordian. The calculated sedimentation rate of the Shinekhudag Formation is between 4.7 ±2.6 cm/ky and 10.0 ±7.6 cm/ky. Shales in the Shinekhudag Formation show micrometer‐scale lamination, consisting of algal organic matter and detrital clay mineral couplets. Given the average thickness of micro‐laminae and calculated sedimentation rate, the micro‐lamination is most likely of varve origin. Both Middle–Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous lacustrine oil shales were deposited in intracontinental basins in the paleo‐Asian continent. Tectonic processes and basin evolution basically controlled the deposition of these oil shales. In addition, enhanced precipitation under humid climate during the early Aptian and the Callovian–Oxfordian was another key factor inducing the widespread oil shale deposition in Mongolia.     

Coastal acoustic tomography system and its field application

The coastal acoustic tomography system (CATS), composed of five moored acoustic stations, has been constructed to measure current fields. The system is developed with special considerations in mind, including the use of Global Positioning System clock signals in the synchronization of the system clock timing among the multiple acoustic stations, and the use of the differently coded Gold sequences to identify the acoustic signals corresponding to individual stations from a received signal. The CATS was successfully applied to map the structure of strongly nonlinear tidal currents in the coastal sea. In spite of the limited spatial resolution caused by inadequate sound transmission data, the two-dimensional tidal vortices features of growth, translation, and decay processes are reconstructed through an inverse analysis of the acoustic travel time obtained among the station pairs. It is evident that the CATS is a powerful tool for measuring variable current fields generated in the coastal seas