Ice core record of Be over the past millennium from Dome Fuji, Antarctica: A new proxy record of past solar activity and a powerful tool for stratigraphic dating

The cosmogenic nuclide ¹⁰Be was analyzed by using accelerator mass spectrometry on an ice core drilled at the Dome Fuji station, inland Antarctica, for 700–1900 yr CE. The measured concentration of ¹⁰Be in the Dome Fuji ice core and the derived ¹⁰Be flux show similar fluctuations, with both increasing at known solar-activity minima over the last millennium in agreement with earlier observations of ¹⁰Be and ¹⁴C. Based on the similar nature of the ¹⁰Be flux to the reconstructed ¹⁴C production rate patterns, a ¹⁰Be–¹⁴C correlation age model for the Dome Fuji ice core was successfully constructed. This age model agrees well with the initial version of the tephrochronology of the core. The ¹⁰Be-flux record contains information on variability in the amount of cosmic radiation incident on the atmosphere, which is mainly attributable to high-frequency change in solar activity and low-frequency background intensity adjustment of the geomagnetic field. High-resolution ¹⁰Be analyses of the Dome Fuji ice cores promise to provide potentially important information on the history of cosmic radiation intensity over the past several hundred thousand years.     

Morphology,structure and flow phases in soil pipes developing in forested hillslopes underlain by a Quaternary sand–gravel formation,Hokkaido, northern main island in Japan

Preferential flow pathways, such as soil pipes, are usually present in the soil of slopes. Subsurface flow through the soil pipes affects the subsurface drainage system and is responsible for sediment removal from slopes. However, a record of the inner structure of soil pipes has rarely been reported for slopes. A fibrescope examination of the morphology and flow phases in soil pipes in hillslopes underlain by a Quaternary sand–gravel formation provided the following information: the main pores of the soil pipes ran mostly parallel with the slope gradient; the cross‐sections of the soil pipes were approximately circular; and occurred on a few occasions; with some triple junctions being present. In addition, both full flow and partly full‐depth conditions occurred simultaneously in the soil pipe. The full flow condition has long been used in hydrological studies to model the pipe flow mechanism. Both the full flow condition and the partly full‐depth condition, however, must be examined closely in order to evaluate the subsurface hydrology in heterogeneous soil and the hydrogeomorphological processes of subsurface hydraulic erosion. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Climate model benchmarking with glacial and mid-Holocene climates

Past climates provide a test of models’ ability to predict climate change. We present a comprehensive evaluation of state-of-the-art models against Last Glacial Maximum and mid-Holocene climates, using reconstructions of land and ocean climates and simulations from the Palaeoclimate Modelling and Coupled Modelling Intercomparison Projects. Newer models do not perform better than earlier versions despite higher resolution and complexity. Differences in climate sensitivity only weakly account for differences in model performance. In the glacial, models consistently underestimate land cooling (especially in winter) and overestimate ocean surface cooling (especially in the tropics). In the mid-Holocene, models generally underestimate the precipitation increase in the northern monsoon regions, and overestimate summer warming in central Eurasia. Models generally capture large-scale gradients of climate change but have more limited ability to reproduce spatial patterns. Despite these common biases, some models perform better than others.     

A computerized geologic mapping system based on logical models of geologic structures

In this article we describe the basic framework of the computerized geologic mapping system cigma. The system, whic is based on a mathematical formulation of geologic concepts, consists of the following six subsystems: (1) input of geologic data set; (2) inference of stratigraphic sequence; (3) construction of logical models of geologic structures; (4) determination of three-dimensional geologic boundary surfaces; (5) construction of three-dimensional solid model of geologic structures; and (6) graphical presentation. Geologic structures are summarized in several tables called logical models of geologic structures. Each model is constructed automatically from input data on structural relations between geologic bodies. The model interprets the data automatically to create data files necessary to determine the shapes of geologic boundaries; it also provides a threedimensional solid model of geologic structures referring to the shapes of boundaries. As a prototype, we introduce two types of contacts corresponding to conformity and unconformity into the logical model and show that it is possible to draw a geologic map automatically. More complex geologic structures can be introduced into the geologic mapping system through further formulation of geologic structures.     

Determination of rare earth elements,thorium and uranium in seaweed samples on the coast in Niigata Prefecture by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

The determination of rare earth elements (REEs), Th and U in seaweeds of various species and in ambient surface seawater were performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The seaweeds and the seawater samples were collected at 10 different coastal areas of Niigata Prefecture in Japan twice a year (spring and autumn) in 2004 and 2005. Results showed that concentration of REEs in seaweed species from Niigata Prefecture were about 10³ times higher than those in seawater, and the enrichment factors of REEs were larger in heavy REE than light REE. A significant concentration difference of REEs, Th and U was found among species even in the same phylum. Undaria pinnatifida had the highest concentration of U. Considering that U. pinnatifida has low concentrations of REEs among typical brown algae, different REEs and U uptake mechanisms are suggested. The concentration of REEs, Th and U did not vary remarkably between sampling points and/or seasons.     

Influence of bedrock groundwater on streamflow characteristics in a volcanic catchment

Groundwater movements in volcanic mountains and their effects on streamflow discharge and representative elementary area (REA) have remained largely unclear. We surveyed the discharge and chemical composition of spring and stream water in two catchments: the Hontani river (NR) catchment (6.6 km²) and the Hosotani river (SR) catchment (4.0 km²) at the southern part of Daisen volcano, Japan. Daisen volcano is a young volcano (17 × 10³ years) at an early stage of erosion. Our study indicated that deep groundwater that moved through thick lava and pyroclastic flows and that could not be explained by shallow movements controlled by surface topography contributed dominantly to streamflow at larger catchment areas. At the NR catchment, the deep groundwater contribution clearly increased at a catchment boundary defined by an area of 3.0 km² and an elevation of 800 m. At the SR catchment, the contribution deep groundwater to the stream also increased suddenly at a boundary threshold of 2.0 and 700 m. Beyond these thresholds, the contributions of deep bedrock groundwater remained constant, indicating that the REA is between 2 and 3 km² at the observed area. These results indicate that the hydrological conditions of base flow were controlled mainly by the deep bedrock groundwater that moved through thick lava and pyroclastic flows in the undissected volcanic body of the upper part of the catchment. Our study demonstrates that deep and long groundwater movements via a deep bedrock layer including thick deposits of volcanic materials at the two catchments on Daisen volcano strongly determined streamflow discharge instead of the mixing of small‐scale hydrological conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimating snow distribution over a large area and its application for water resources

The spatial and temporal distribution of the snow water equivalent (SWE), snow density and snow depth were estimated by a method combining remote sensing technology and degree‐day techniques over a study area of 370 000 km². The advantages of this simulation model are its simplicity and the availability of degree‐day parameters, which can be successively evaluated by referring to snow area maps created from satellite images. This simulation worked very well for estimating SWE and helped to separate the areas of thin snow cover from heavier snowfall. However, shallow snow in warm regions led to some misjudgments in the snow area maps because of the time lag between when the satellite image was acquired and the simulation itself. Vulnerable areas, where a large variation in the amount of snow affects people's life, could be identified from the differences between heavy and light snow years. This vulnerability stems from a predicted lack of irrigation water for rice production caused by future climate change. The model developed in this study has the potential to contribute to water management activities and decision‐making processes when considering necessary adaptations to future climate change. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of the introduction of rice on evapotranspiration in seasonal wetlands

Land use changes in wetland areas can alter evapotranspiration, a major component of the water balance, which eventually affects the water cycle and ecosystem. This study assessed the effect of introduced rice‐cropping on evapotranspiration in seasonal wetlands of northern Namibia. By using the Bowen ratio–energy balance method, measurements of evapotranspiration were performed over a period of 2.5 years at two wetland sites—a rice field (RF) and a natural vegetation field (NVF)—and at one upland field (UF) devoid of surface water. The mean evapotranspiration rates of RF (1.9 mm daytime^?1) and NVF (1.8 mm daytime^?1) were greater than that in UF (1.0 mm daytime^?1). RF and NVF showed a slight difference in seasonal variations in evapotranspiration rates. During the dry season, RF evapotranspiration was less than the NVF evapotranspiration. The net radiation in RF was less in this period because of the higher albedo of the non‐vegetated surface after rice harvesting. In the early growth period of rice during the wet season, evapotranspiration in RF was higher than that in NVF, which was attributed to a difference in the evaporation efficiency and the transfer coefficient for latent heat that were both affected by leaf area index (LAI). Evapotranspiration sharply negatively responded to an increase in LAI when surface water is present according to sensitivity analysis, probably because a higher LAI over a surface suppresses evaporation. The control of LAI is therefore a key for reducing evaporation and conserving water. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Volatilization properties of gasoline components in soils

Understanding the volatilization properties of gasoline components in soils is of fundamental importance in the field of geoenvironments. A series of experiments were performed to investigate the effects of temperature, soil water content, soil organic matter content, as well as mean particle size on volatilization rate of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and the paraffin (n-paraffin and isoparaffin), olefin, naphthene, and aromatic (PONA) components in four typical Japanese soils. The results of this study can be summarized as follows. (1) Volatilization rate of gasoline in a soil is concentration-dependent; extensive volatilization occurs above a certain threshold, while volatilization becomes very slow below this threshold. (2) Compared to other factors, temperature and soil organic matter content have greater effects on volatilization rate of gasoline in soils. The volatilization rate is proportional to temperature, but inversely related to soil organic matter content. (3) The characteristics of time-dependent decreases of TPH and PONA components in soils are similar. The volatilization rate of olefin is higher than those of other components. In addition, volatilization of olefin is also more sensitive to temperature as well as organic matter content.     

Using ISS telescopes for electromagnetic follow-up of gravitational wave detections of NS-NS and NS-BH mergers

The International Space Station offers a unique platform for rapid and inexpensive deployment of space telescopes. A scientific opportunity of great potential later this decade is the use of telescopes for the electromagnetic follow-up of ground-based gravitational wave detections of neutron star and black hole mergers. We describe this possibility for OpTIIX, an ISS technology demonstration of a 1.5 m diffraction limited optical telescope assembled in space, and ISS-Lobster, a wide-field imaging X-ray telescope now under study as a potential NASA mission. Both telescopes will be mounted on pointing platforms, allowing rapid positioning to the source of a gravitational wave event. Electromagnetic follow-up rates of several per year appear likely, offering a wealth of complementary science on the mergers of black holes and neutron stars.