Mesospheric bore formation from large-scale gravity wave perturbations observed by collocated all-sky OH imager and sodium lidar

On 9 October 2007, long-horizontal-wavelength gravity waves were observed for the first time to steepen and form mesospheric bores at the altitude of ～87 km, by an all-sky OH imager located at Fort Collins (41°N, 105°W), Colorado. The collocated sodium lidar simultaneously observed the presence of a temperature inversion layer as the ducting region. One mesospheric bore uniquely later evolved into a large-amplitude soliton-like perturbation. When the gravity wave and the associated soliton-like perturbation passed through the lidar beams, the lidar detected strong vertical disturbance at 90 km, indicating convective instability. A large cold front system recorded several hours before in the troposphere was aligned to phase fronts of these large gravity waves. For all of the 7 mesospheric bores observed over a 5 year period, we found a similar alignment with a cold front 1000–1500 km away as the likely source of these large-scale gravity waves.     

Variability of gravity wave occurrence frequency and propagation direction in the upper mesosphere observed by the OH imager in Northern Colorado

Based on 5 years of OH imager data between September 2003 and September 2008 over Yucca Ridge Field Station, CO (40.7ºN, 104.9ºW), we presented the variation of gravity wave (GW) occurrence frequency and propagation direction in the upper mesosphere. In summer the GW occurrence frequency was extremely high at above 95% compared to other seasons (around 85%). The GW propagation direction showed a strong northward (poleward) preference in summer and a southward (equatorward) preference in winter. This could be possibly due to ducting of waves in the mesopause thermal structure and wave generation by the strong deep convection located at south side in summer and possible storms located at north side in winter. Westward traveling waves were rare, but eastward were frequent. In addition to seasonal variability, significant interannual variability was also observed.     

Diurnal variations of the planetary boundary layer observed with anL-band clear-air doppler radar

Based on continuous observations of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) with anL-band (1357.5 MHz) boundary-layer radar (BLR) at a hilly location in Japan, we have discovered that on clear days, a thin enhanced echo layer corresponding to the top of the PBL (or mixed layer) appeared at about 500 m height in the morning and ascended to about 1500 m in the afternoon. Strong upward velocities were observed below the echo layer (or inside the PBL), reaching 1500 m in the afternoon.     

Dynamic loading test and simulation analysis of full‐scale semi‐active hydraulic damper for structural control

A semi‐active hydraulic damper (SHD) for a semi‐active damper system, which is useful for practical structural control especially for large earthquakes, has been developed. Its maximum damping force is set to 1 or 2 MN, and it is controlled by only 70 W of electric power. An SHD with a maximum damping force of 1 MN was applied to an actual building in 1998. This paper first presents the results of a dynamic loading test to confirm the control performance of the SHD. Next, an analytical model of SHDs (SHD model) is constructed with the same concept for two kinds of SHDs based on the test results. Through simulation analyses of the test results using the proposed SHD model, the dynamic characteristics of the SHD can be well represented within practical conditions. Simulation analyses are also carried out using a simple structure model with the SHD model. It is shown that this SHD model can be used to precisely evaluate the control effect of the semi‐active damper system and is useful in practical SHD design under the applied conditions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sm–Nd, Rb–Sr and K–Ar geochronology of the Higo metamorphic terrane, west-central Kyushu, Japan

The Higo metamorphic terrane situated in west-central Kyushu island, southwest Japan, is composed of greenschist- to granulite-facies metamorphic rocks. The southern part of the metamorphic terrane consists mainly of garnet–biotite gneiss and garnet–cordierite–biotite gneiss, and orthopyroxene or cordierite-bearing S-type tonalite with subordinate amounts of hornblende gabbro. Rb–Sr, Sm–Nd and K–Ar isotopic ages for these rocks have been determined here. The garnet–biotite gneiss gives an Sm–Nd age of 227.1 ± 4.9 Ma and a Rb–Sr age of 101.0 ± 1.0 Ma. The hornblende gabbro has an Sm–Nd age of 257.9 ± 2.5 Ma and a K–Ar age of 103.4 ± 1.1 Ma. These age differences of the same samples are due to the difference in the closure temperature for each system and minerals. The garnet-cordierite–biotite gneiss contains coarse-grained garnet with a zonal structure conspicuously distinguished in color difference (core: dark red; rim: pink). Sm–Nd internal isochrons of the garnet core and the rim give ages of 278.8 ± 4.9 Ma (initial ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratio = 0.512311 ± 0.000005) and 226.1 ± 28.4 Ma (0.512277 ± 0.000038), respectively. These ages are close to formation of the garnet core and the rim. It has been previously suggested that the Higo metamorphic terrane belongs to the Ryoke metamorphic belt. But Sr and Nd isotopic features of the rocks from the former are different from those of the Ryoke metamorphic rocks, and are similar to those of the granulite xenoliths contained in the Ryoke younger granite.     

Encystment and excystment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gyrodinium instriatum</Emphasis> Freudenthal et Lee

In the present study, we have investigated the conditions influencing encystment and excystment in the dinoflagellate Gyrodinium instriatum under laboratory conditions. We incubated G. instriatum in modified whole SWM-3 culture medium and in versions of modified SWM-3 from which NO₃ ⁻, PO₄ ³⁻, NO₃ ⁻ + PO₄ ³⁻, or Si had been omitted and observed encystment. Percentage encystment was high in the media without N and without P, while the percentage encystment in the medium lacking both N and P was highest. Moreover, to investigate N or P concentration which induced the encystment, Gyrodinium instriatum was also incubated in media with different concentrations of inorganic N and P; the concentrations of NO₂ ⁻ + NO₃ ⁻ and PO₄ ³⁻ were measured over time. The precursors of cysts appeared within 2 or 3 days of a decrease in NO₂ ⁻ + NO₃ ⁻ or PO₄ ³⁻ concentration to values lower than 1 μM or 0.2 μM, respectively. When cysts produced in the laboratory were incubated, we observed excystment after 8–37 days, without a mandatory period of darkness or low temperature. We incubated cysts collected from nature at different temperatures or in the dark or light and observed excystments. Natural cysts excysted at temperatures from 10 to 30°C, in both light and dark, but excystment was delayed at low temperatures. These studies indicate that G. instriatum encysts in low N or P concentration and excysts over a wide temperature range, regardless of light conditions, after short dormancy periods.     

The site for r-process nucleosynthesis

Following our hypothesis that each supernova (SN) event triggers star formation in the swept-up gas, so that newly formed stars inherit the elemental abundance pattern of individual SNe, we deduce the production sites and yields for r-process elements. We further show that a strong evidence for the origin of r-process nucleosynthesis products was just there in our backyard - supernova SN1987A -, and conclude that 20 M _⊙ SNe are the predominant production sites for r-process elements. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inhomogeneous chemical evolution of dwarf spheroidal galaxies

Stellar abundance pattern of n-capture elements such as barium is used as a powerful tool to infer how the star formation proceeded in dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies. It is found that the abundance correlation of barium with iron in stars belonging to dSph galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, i.e., Draco, Sextans, and Ursa Minor have a feature similar to that in Galactic metal-poor stars. The common feature of these two correlations can be realized by our in homogeneous chemical evolution model based on the supernova-driven star formation scenario if dSph stars formed from gas with a velocity dispersion of ∼ 26 km s^-1. This velocity dispersion together with the stellar luminosities strongly suggest that dark matter dominated dSph galaxies. The tidal force of the Milky Way links this velocity dispersion with the currently observed value ≲ 10 km s^-1 by stripping the dark matter in dSph galaxies. As a result, the total mass of each dSph galaxy is found to have been originally ∼ 25 times larger than at present. In this model, supernovae immediately after the end of the star formation can expel the remaining gas over the gravitational potential of the dSph galaxy. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

3rd ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network(ANGWIN)Science Workshop

<正>1.Overview The 3~(rd)ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network(ANGWIN)science workshop was held on 12–14 April 2016in Cambridge,UK.ANGWIN is a highly successful grassroots program that was started in 2011(in the Cornish English dialect ANGWIN means"the white").Although initially focused on the Antarctic,we now aim to develop collaborations in both polar regions.ANGWIN aims to use results from the network of instrumentation at international research     

Optimal Basis from Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Wavelet Analysis for Data Assimilation: Optimal Basis WADAi

Wavelet Analysis provides a new orthogonal basis set which is localized in both physical space and Fourier transform space. Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOFs), on the other hand, provide a global representation of data sets. Here we investigate the various ways in which one can combine these basis sets for optimal representation of data. EOFs represent the global large scale information and wavelet analysis are used to supplement this large scale information with local fine scale information. Here we begin to explore the application of these two basis sets for outputs from an Ocean General Circulation Model and we explore various applications, including data assimilation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.