Deep sea circulation of particulate organic carbon in the Japan Sea

Seasonal and spatial variations of particulate organic carbon (POC) flux were observed with sediment traps at three sites in the Japan Sea (western and eastern Japan Basin and Yamato Basin). In order to investigate the transport processes of POC, radiocarbon (¹⁴C) measurements were also carried out. Annual mean POC flux at 1 km depth was 30.7 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the western Japan Basin, 12.0 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the eastern Japan Basin and 23.8 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the Yamato Basin. At all stations, notably higher POC flux was observed in spring (March–May), indicating biological production and rapid sinking of POC in this season. Sinking POC in the high flux season showed modern Δ¹⁴C values (>0‰) and aged POC (Δ¹⁴C < −40‰) was observed in winter (December–January). The Δ¹⁴C values in sinking POC were negatively correlated with aluminum concentration, indicating that Δ¹⁴C is strongly related to the lateral supply of lithogenic materials. The Δ¹⁴C values also showed correlations with excess manganese (Mn_xs) concentrations in sinking particles. The Δ¹⁴C-Mn_xs relationship suggested that (1) the majority of the aged POC was advected by bottom currents and incorporated into sinking particles, and (2) some of the aged POC might be supplied from the sea surface at the trap site as part of terrestrial POC. From the difference in the Δ¹⁴C-Mn_xs relationships between the Japan Basin and the Yamato Basin, we consider that basin-scale transport processes of POC occur in the Japan Sea.     

Analytical representation of phase characteristics for source time function modeled by stochastic impulse train

In order to discuss the relationship between the lower and higher frequency components of earthquake source spectra, we deal with impulse train model as source time function of earthquake, because spectral characteristics of source time function depend on occurrence times of impulse function which corresponds to small extent on the fault. Then, the spectral characteristics of source time function are obtained analytically and numerically from the stochastic viewpoints: namely, on one hand, the trend of impulse train dominates the frequency characteristics in low frequency range, and on the other hand, the fluctuation from the trend settles high frequency range. Furthermore, it is shown that the spectral properties of source time function can be determined using only two parameters which are number of impulses n and the probability density function of occurrence time of impulses f_T(t).     

Relationship between canopy height and the reference value of surface conductance for closed coniferous stands

When estimating the dry‐canopy evaporation rate of coniferous stands using the Penman–Monteith equation, it is crucial to determine the reference value of surface conductance G_s. This paper examines the relationship between canopy height and the reference value of G_s based on the maximum value of G_s with a vapour pressure deficit ≥ 1·0 kPa, ?_{s max}. There is a clear correlation between canopy height and ?_{s max} when the projected leaf area index ≥3·0. This suggests that using this relationship will enable more accurate determination of the reference value of G_s for closed stands. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A molecular and isotopic study of the macromolecular organic matter of the ungrouped C2 WIS 91600 and its relationship to Tagish Lake and PCA 91008

Abstract– Insight into the chemical history of an ungrouped type 2 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite, Wisconsin Range (WIS) 91600, is gained through molecular analyses of insoluble organic matter (IOM) using solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES), and pyrolysis‐gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (pyr‐GC/MS), and our previous bulk elemental and isotopic data. The IOM from WIS 91600 exhibits similarities in its abundance and bulk δ¹⁵N value with IOM from another ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Tagish Lake, while it exhibits H/C, δ¹³C, and δD values that are more similar to IOM from the heated CM, Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91008. The ¹³C NMR spectra of IOM of WIS 91600 and Tagish Lake are similar, except for a greater abundance of CH_xO species in the latter and sharper carbonyl absorption in the former. Unusual cross‐polarization (CP) dynamics is observed for WIS 91600 that indicate the presence of two physically distinct organic domains, in which the degrees of aromatic condensation are distinctly different. The presence of two different organic domains in WIS 91600 is consistent with its brecciated nature. The formation of more condensed aromatics is the likely result of short duration thermal excursions during impacts. The fact that both WIS 91600 and PCA 91008 were subjected to short duration heating that is distinct from the thermal history of type 3 chondrites is confirmed by Carbon‐XANES. Finally, after being briefly heated (400 °C for 10 s), the pyrolysis behavior of Tagish Lake IOM is similar to that of WIS 91600 and PCA 91008. We conclude that WIS 91600 experienced very moderate, short duration heating at low temperatures (<500 °C) after an episode of aqueous alteration under conditions that were similar to those experienced by Tagish Lake.     

Spiral mode of standing accretion shock instability in core-collapse supernovae

The study of standing accretion shock instability (SASI) in core-collapse supernova cores has been done with three-dimensional (3D) computer simulations. Rotations with various perturbations were introduced from outer boundary of an initial steady accreting flow. We found that one or two armed spiral accreting flow onto the proto-neutron star (PNS) is formed inside the shock wave depending on perturbations. The linear growth of spiral modes are clearly diagnosed by the mode analysis of the shock surface, and the lower m modes grow quickly in the linear regime.     

Synchronicity in Climate and Vegetation Transitions Between Europe and North America During the Holocene

Interpreting the postglacial climate history of the European continent using pollen data has proven difficult due in part to human modification of the landscape. Separating climate from human-caused changes in the vegetation requires a strategy for determining times of change across the entire region. We quantified transitions in the vegetation across Europe during the past 12,000 years using a mixture model approach on two datasets: radiocarbon dates from pollen diagrams and zone boundaries from selected reference sites. Major transitions in the vegetation, as recorded in pollen diagrams, appear synchronous across the continent. These transitions were also synchronous with those identified in North America pollen diagrams and major environmental changes recorded in North Atlantic marine records and Greenland ice cores. This synchronicity suggests that the major vegetation transitions in Europe during the Holocene and late glacial were primarily caused by large-scale atmospheric circulation change. These climate changes may have caused some of the cultural, political and migration changes in European societies during the Holocene.     

Structure refinement of a nonstoichiometric pyroxene synthesized under ambient pressure

Structure refinement was carried out on a nonstoichiometric clinopyroxene grown under the ambient pressure from a glass with composition of 23%(mol)Di+53%Es+24%An. The degree of nonstoichiometry in this crystal is significantly larger than those of clinopyroxenes reported previously, which were found in high pressure products. The refinement gave the empirical chemical formula (Ca_0.742Fe_0.087)(Mg_0.016Al_0.888Fe_0.075)(Al_0.500Si_1.500)O₆ for the crystal and showed that vacancies are located mainly at M2 sites. Despite replacement of Si by Al, the crystal has a smaller cell volume than diopside primarily owing to a significant amount of Mg at M1 being replaced by Al. Received: 25 June 1997 / Revised, accepted: 6 September 1997     

Compression melting in subduction zones

Magmatism at convergent plate boundaries is related to processes associated with subduction, where H₂O brought into the mantle is thought to play an essential role in producing the melts. One of the important aspects of the melting of hydrous systems is that the rock packet can melt during compression corresponding to a gentle or negative dT/dP slope of the solidus curve at relatively low temperatures. Here, the effects of compression on batch and fractional melting of hydrous peridotites in the mantle wedge of subduction zones are estimated, taking account of the flow pattern, energy balance and phase equilibrium constraints. The results show that a significant amount of melt, comparable to the eruption rate on volcanic arcs, can be produced in the downward flow along the plate. Further studies on distribution and transportation of H₂O in the mantle wedge and melt segregation processes are required to estimate the importance of compression melting.