Prediction method of sand-movement direction in rivers by geochemical elements

 The analysis of sand samples by X-ray fluorescent spectroscopy (XRF) gives the ratio of the geochemical elements to construct the sand samples. The application of the ratio matching to sand samples represents the correlation number between two sand samples with respect to geochemical elements. When the correlation number between two sand samples is low, the two samples are not geochemically similar each other. This denotes that the exchange of sand between two sampling points is scarce or the two samples are independent. When the correlation number between two sand samples is high, the two samples are geochemically similar, signifying that the exchange of sand between two sampling points is frequent or there is sand movement between two sampling points. If there exists prominent sand movement in the study area, the correlation number is almost 1 and kilo count number per second of each geochemical element per weight decreases along the flow direction. The decrease is caused by the reduction of sizes and the adherence of dirt on the surface of sand particles. Since the flow direction in rivers is usually the same as the direction of sand movement, it can be verified. This study obtains satisfactory results applying the method of prediction in sand movement to sediments in rivers. Received: 17 May 1995 · Accepted: 14 August 1995     

Estimation of electron temperature by VLF waves propagating in directions near the resonance cone

A ray tracing computer program for non-ducted whistler mode waves in a warm plasma in the magnetosphere is developed, where electron temperature effects are taken into account. The refractive index is calculated from the warm-plasma approximation and is used in the ray tracing after its accuracy has been checked by comparison with the hot-plasma solution without approximation. The ray paths do not depend appreciably on electron temperature. However, there are regions where the waves are heavily damped by Landau damping. By paying attention to this damping region, the electron temperature can be estimated from a satellite observation of the Doppler shift and damping of a ground-based VLF signal.     

Source mechanism of long-period events at Kusatsu–Shirane Volcano, Japan, inferred from waveform inversion of the effective excitation functions

We investigate the source mechanism of long-period (LP) events observed at Kusatsu–Shirane Volcano, Japan, based on waveform inversions of their effective excitation functions. The effective excitation function, which represents the apparent excitation observed at individual receivers, is estimated by applying an autoregressive filter to the LP waveform. Assuming a point source, we apply this method to seven LP events the waveforms of which are characterized by simple decaying and nearly monochromatic oscillations with frequency in the range 1–3 Hz. The results of the waveform inversions show dominant volumetric change components accompanied by single force components, common to all the events analyzed, and suggesting a repeated activation of a sub-horizontal crack located 300 m beneath the summit crater lakes. Based on these results, we propose a model of the source process of LP seismicity, in which a gradual buildup of steam pressure in a hydrothermal crack in response to magmatic heat causes repeated discharges of steam from the crack. The rapid discharge of fluid causes the collapse of the fluid-filled crack and excites acoustic oscillations of the crack, which produce the characteristic waveforms observed in the LP events. The presence of a single force synchronous with the collapse of the crack is interpreted as the release of gravitational energy that occurs as the slug of steam ejected from the crack ascends toward the surface and is replaced by cooler water flowing downward in a fluid-filled conduit linking the crack and the base of the crater lake.     

Differences in seasonality and temperature dependency of stand transpiration and canopy conductance between Japanese cypress (Hinoki) and Japanese cedar (Sugi) in a plantation

In this paper, we present an investigation of interspecies differences in transpiration of the 2 most common plantation forest tree species in Japan, both in the family Cupressaceae with different northern limits of native distribution, Japanese cypress (Hinoki; Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.) and Japanese cedar (Sugi; Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). The stem sap flow rate was measured in 2 nearby stands of similar leaf area index in a 42‐year‐old plantation. Single‐tree and stand‐scale transpiration rates (E_tre and E_sta, respectively) were observed during an ideal autumn environment. At the stand scale, mean sap flux density of Hinoki was greater than that of Sugi, whereas total sapwood area per ground area was smaller in Hinoki than Sugi. Because the 2 variables had counterbalancing effects on transpiration, E_sta of Hinoki was similar to (94% of) that of Sugi. This offset was also found between the mean E_tre of the 2 species. E_sta was similar between the stands from May to October, whereas E_sta of Sugi was notably greater than that of Hinoki from February to April. During these 3 months, the difference in cumulative E_sta was 21.7 mm, which accounted for 79% of the difference in annual E_sta between Hinoki and Sugi (192 and 219 mm/year, respectively). We found that canopy conductance (G_c) and its sensitivity to the mean vapour pressure deficit during daylight hours in Sugi were particularly high in early spring, whereas those in Hinoki shifted gradually throughout the growing season. This difference was related to the optimal temperature of G_c in Sugi, which was approximately 10 °C lower than that in Hinoki. Our results suggest that plantations of water‐conserving species such as Hinoki produce timber slowly but yield water resources generously. Moreover, for plantations of trees sensitive to high temperature, such as Sugi, managers should be concerned about possible future decline caused by anticipated global warming.     

Are measurements from excised leaves suitable for modeling diurnal patterns of gas exchange of intact leaves?

To examine the feasibility of using ecophysiological data from excised leaves for a meteorological simulation model of gas exchange, we compared the obtained gas exchange rates and the modelled ones using excised leaves and those using intact leaves. Instantaneous gas exchange rates of excised leaves and stomatal control in response to environmental conditions were not significantly different from those of attached leaves. Modelled gas exchange rates based on excised leaf data showed a good fit to the diurnal patterns of in situ measurements. This suggests that use of excised leaf data to predict gas exchange of intact leaves is permissible as long as the effects of excision are pre‐screened as described in this paper. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation of vertical profiles of leaf drying times after daytime rainfall within a Bornean tropical rainforest

South‐east Asian Bornean tropical rainforests have large and complex canopy structures. To clarify how forest structure affects wet‐canopy evaporation, it is necessary to consider wet‐canopy evaporation processes within the forest canopy, such as vertical profiles of canopy drying time. In a previous study a method was proposed that utilizes sap flow measurements to estimate canopy drying time after rainfall (CDTobs) during daytime. In this present study, the method was applied to estimations of the vertical variations in CDTobs in 11 individual trees of various heights, ranging from 2·7 m to 53 m. The study derived vertical profiles and showed that the lengths of CDTobs in lower canopy trees were 2–4 h longer than those in the upper canopy trees. The new method for CDTobs profiles presented in this study, which is available for validation of multi‐layer biosphere‐atmospheric models, is a useful illustration for clarifying wet‐canopy evaporation processes in tropical rainforests. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interpretation of El Niño–Southern Oscillation‐related precipitation anomalies in north‐western Borneo using isotopic tracers

We examined rainfall anomalies associated with the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, using the oxygen isotopic composition of rainfall. Two precipitation‐sampling campaigns were conducted for isotope analysis: (a) at the Lambir Hill National Park (4.2° N, 114.0° E) from July 2004 to October 2006 and (b) at the Gunung Mulu National Park (3.9° N, 114.8° E) from January 2006 to July 2008. The records from these campaigns were merged with a previously published rainfall isotope dataset from Gunung Mulu site to create a 7‐year‐long record of the oxygen isotopic composition of Sarawak rainfall. The record exhibits clear intraseasonal variations (ISVs) with periods ranging from 10 to 70 days. The ISVs of 10‐ to 90‐day band‐pass filtered oxygen isotopic composition are linked to the synoptic‐scale precipitation anomalies over the southern South China Sea (SCS). The lead–lag correlation map of precipitation with the filtered oxygen isotope anomalies shows that an anomalous wet condition responsible for the decrease in oxygen isotopic composition appears over the SCS in association with the passage of north‐eastward propagation of the boreal summer intraseasonal oscillation (BSISO) in the summer monsoon season. The anomalous wet condition in spring is connected with eastward‐propagating Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), whereas the sustained wet condition in winter is responsible for the occurrence of the Borneo vortex (BV) over the SCS. ENSO modulates the frequency of these synoptic conditions on a seasonal and longer time scale, showing a strong correlation between the seasonal isotopic anomalies and the Southern Oscillation index. We therefore discern, from the significant correlation between the isotope anomalies and area‐averaged Sarawak rainfall anomalies (R = ?0.65, p < 0.01), that ENSO‐related precipitation anomalies are linked to the seasonal modulation of the BSISO and MJO activity and BV genesis.     

Estimation of sub-annual inter-catchment groundwater flow using short-term water balance method

Predicting inter-catchment groundwater flow (IGF) is essential because IGF greatly affects stream water discharge and water chemistry. However, methods for estimating sub-annual IGF and clarifying its mechanisms using minimal data are limited. Thus, we quantified the sub-annual IGF and elucidated its driving factors using the short-term water balance method (STWB) for three forest headwater catchments in Japan (named here catchment A, B and As). Our previous study using the chloride mass balance indicated that annual IGF of catchment A (49.0 ha) can be negligible. Therefore, we calculated the daily evapotranspiration (ET) rate using the Priestley–Taylor expression and the 5-year water balance in catchment A (2010–2014). The sub-annual IGF of the three catchments was then calculated by subtracting the ET rate from the difference between rainfall and stream discharge during the sub-annual water balance periods selected using the STWB. The IGF rates of catchment B (7.0 ha), which is adjacent to catchment A, were positive in most cases, indicating that more groundwater flowed out of the catchment than into it, and exhibited positive linear relationships with rainfall and stream discharge. This suggested that as the catchments became wetter, more groundwater flowed out of catchment B. Conversely, the IGF rates of catchment As (5.3 ha), included in catchment A, were negative in most cases, indicating that more groundwater flowed into the catchment than out from it, and exhibited negative linear relationships with rainfall and stream discharge. Given the topography of the catchments studied, infiltration into the bedrock was the probable reason for the IGF outflow from catchment B. We hypothesized that in catchment As, the discrepancy between the actual hydrological boundary and the surface topographic boundary could have caused an IGF inflow. This study provides a useful tool for determining an IGF model structure to be incorporated into rainfall-runoff models.