Assimilation and prediction experiments of the Kuroshio path variability south of Japan were conducted to investigate the
predictability of the Kuroshio path. The assimilation and prediction system is composed of an eddy-resolving model and a three-dimensional
variational analysis scheme with vertical coupled temperature–salinity empirical orthogonal function modes. The sea surface
height (SSH) variability and the variations of the Kuroshio path of the assimilation fields are in good agreement with those
observed. The results of the assimilation are then used as the initial conditions for 138 cases of 90-day prediction experiments
conducted from 1993 to 2004. The predictive limit of our system is assessed by the SSH anomaly in the assimilation field and
is found to be around 40–60 days, which is much longer than that of the persistence. The prediction results show good performance
in the transition stage from a straight to a meandering path. For example, a large meandering event that occurred in August
2004 is successfully predicted in a 2-month forecast. Two types of failure cases are investigated. One is a case where the
eastward propagation speed of the meander is faster than a real state. The dynamical response of the model to the assimilation
revealed that an initial shock, caused by the dynamically unbalanced initial condition, induces the fast eastward propagation
of the meander. The other case exhibits an unrealistic meander. In this case, a cold anomaly at an intermediate layer in the
initial condition grows rapidly and results in the unrealistic meander. This implies that the Kuroshio path south of Japan
has a chaotic nature. These facts revealed by the failure cases give us some insight for improving the predictive skill of
the Kuroshio path variability. 相似文献
The genes coding for the α-and β-subunit of allophycocyanin (apcA andapcB) from the cyanophyteSpirulina maxima were cloned and sequenced. The results revealed 44.4% of nucleotide sequence similarity and 30.4% of similarity of deduced amino acid sequence between them. The amino acid sequence identities betweenS. maxima andS. platensis are 99.4% for α subunit and 100% for β subunit.
Transposable elements in cyanobacteria are briefly reviewed. Evidence is presented to show that transposable elements inSpirulina platensis is actually reflected on the phenotype change, i e., helical to straight filaments. Transposition intermediates of DNA were isolated from the extrachromosome and the transposition was related to helical variations inSpirulina. Uses of transposable elements for microalgal recombination are discussed based on the transposition mechanism.
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. 相似文献
The December 26, 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake that registered a moment magnitude (Mw) of 9.1 was one of the largest earthquakes in the world since 1900. The devastating tsunami that resulted from this earthquake
caused more casualties than any previously reported tsunami. The number of fatalities and missing persons in the most seriously
affected countries were Indonesia - 167,736, Sri Lanka - 35,322, India - 18,045 and Thailand - 8,212. This paper describes
two field visits to assess tsunami effects in Sri Lanka by a combined team of Japanese and Sri Lankan researchers. The first
field visit from December 30, 2004 – January 04, 2005 covered the western and southern coasts of Sri Lanka including the cities
of Moratuwa, Beruwala, Bentota, Pereliya, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Talpe, Matara, Tangalla and Hambantota. The objectives of the
first field visit were to investigate the damage caused by the tsunami and to obtain eyewitness information about wave arrival
times. The second field visit from March 10–18, 2005 covered the eastern and southern coasts of Sri Lanka and included Trincomalee,
Batticaloa, Arugam Bay, Yala National Park and Kirinda. The objectives of the second visit were mainly to obtain eyewitness
information about wave arrival times and inundation data, and to take relevant measurements using GPS instruments. 相似文献
The detailed stratigraphic survey and paleontological study (mollusks, corals, foraminifera and ostracods) of four low-level, ~3 m, marine terrace sections: Punta Canoas, Manzanillo del Mar, Playa de Oro, and Tierra Bomba Island, from the Cartagena region, southern Caribbean, supplemented with 22 radiocarbon dates, reveals that the northern terraces were deposited as parasequences in a clastic depositional system compared to the Tierra Bomba Island succession that was deposited in a carbonate depositional system between ~3600 and ~1700 cal yrs BP. Drier conditions and the southern location of the ITCZ at about 3 ka triggered stronger easterly Trades and more dynamic southwestward sediment drift fed by the Magdalena River mouth, thus promoting the formation of sand spits that ultimately isolated the Cienaga de Tesca coastal lagoon from the Caribbean Sea. Our estimates support the hypothesis that the present position of the terraces is the product of neotectonism rather than a higher 3 ka, sea-level. Upheaval of the terraces varies between ~3.8 mmyr?1 at Punta Canoas and ~2.2 mmyr?1 at Tierra Bomba to ~1.5 mmyr?1 at Manzanillo del Mar and Playa de Oro terraces. Our study corroborates previous contentions on the role of mud diapirism and the dynamics of the Dique Fault as late Holocene upheaval mechanisms. 相似文献
Most climate models project a weakening of the Walker circulation under global warming scenarios. It is argued, based on a global averaged moisture budget, that this weakening can be attributed to a slower rate of rainfall increase compared to that of moisture increase, which leads to a decrease in ascending motion. Through an idealized aqua-planet simulation in which a zonal wavenumber-1 SST distribution is prescribed along the equator, we find that the Walker circulation is strengthened under a uniform 2-K SST warming, even though the global mean rainfall–moisture relationship remains the same. Further diagnosis shows that the ascending branch of the Walker cell is enhanced in the upper troposphere but weakened in the lower troposphere. As a result, a "double-cell" circulation change pattern with a clockwise(anti-clockwise) circulation anomaly in the upper(lower) troposphere forms, and the upper tropospheric circulation change dominates. The mechanism for the formation of the "double cell" circulation pattern is attributed to a larger(smaller) rate of increase of diabatic heating than static stability in the upper(lower) troposphere. The result indicates that the future change of the Walker circulation cannot simply be interpreted based on a global mean moisture budget argument. 相似文献
We investigated responses of shallow-water benthic foraminifera to changes in climate and ocean conditions, using sediment core ASC2 from Aso-kai lagoon, central Japan. Six AMS 14C dates reveal that the studied interval corresponds to sediments deposited from ~AD 700 to 1600. Sulfur content of the bulk sediment and multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) axis 1 of fossil benthic foraminifera indicate that the composition of the benthic foraminifera community was closely related to dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration in the hypolimnion. The sulfur content and MDS axis 1 also revealed two shifts over the 900-year interval. In the first phase (~AD 700–1250), the Shannon–Wiener Index (H′), E (S200), evenness and rank abundance curve (RAC) kurtosis indicate a gradual deterioration in structure of the benthic foraminifera community. In that period, there are statistically significant correlations between the faunal composition (MDS axis 1) and faunal structure [Shannon–Wiener (H′), E (S200), evenness and RAC kurtosis]. In the second phase (~AD 1250–1600), however, faunal composition and structure show no marked correspondence. Instead, abundance of benthic foraminifera fluctuated on a scale of ~200 years. Thus, a shift in the biotic response of benthic foraminifera in Aso-kai lagoon occurred in ca. AD 1250. Gradual deterioration of benthic foraminifera, with taxonomic losses, is consistent with declining DO in the first phase, possibly associated with the increasing influence of the Tsushima Warm Current. The possibility that closure of Aso-kai lagoon and development of the sand bar affected benthic foraminifera cannot, however, be ruled out. No corresponding response was observed in the second phase, during which there was no distinct taxonomic loss. Large variations in abundance, however, were a consequence of strength of the East Asian summer and winter monsoons. The shift in the biotic response of benthic foraminifera in Aso-kai lagoon during the period AD 700–1600 was apparently a result of changes in climate and ocean conditions on the East Asian continental margin. 相似文献
The SELENE mission, consisting of three separate satellites that use different terrestrial-based tracking systems, presents
a unique opportunity to evaluate the contribution of these tracking systems to orbit determination precision. The tracking
data consist of four-way Doppler between the main orbiter and one of the two sub-satellites while the former is over the far
side, and of same-beam differential VLBI tracking between the two sub-satellites. Laser altimeter data are also used for orbit
determination. The contribution to orbit precision of these different data types is investigated through orbit overlap analysis.
It is shown that using four-way and VLBI data improves orbit consistency for all satellites involved by reducing peak values
in orbit overlap differences that exist when only standard two-way Doppler and range data are used. Including laser altimeter
data improves the orbit precision of the SELENE main satellite further, resulting in very smooth total orbit errors at an
average level of 18 m. The multi-satellite data have also resulted in improved lunar gravity field models, which are assessed
through orbit overlap analysis using Lunar Prospector tracking data. Improvements over a pre-SELENE model are shown to be
mostly in the along-track and cross-track directions. Orbit overlap differences are at a level between 13 and 21 m with the
SELENE models, depending on whether 1-day data overlaps or 1-day predictions are used. 相似文献