Ab initio study on carbon Kinetic Isotope Effect (KIE) in the reaction of CH4+Cl•

Recent studies suggest that the destruction of methane by Cl in the marine boundary layer could be accounted for as another major sink besides the methane destruction by OH. High level ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been carried out to study the CH₄+Cl reaction, the carbon Kinetic Isotope Effect (KIE) is calculated using Conventional Transition-State Theory (CTST) plus Wigner and Eckart semiclassical tunneling corrections. The calculated KIE is around 1.026 at 300 K and has a small temperature variation. This is by far the largest KIE among different processes involving atmospheric methane destruction (e.g., OH, soil). A calculated mass balance of atmospheric methane including the KIE for the CH₄+Cl reaction is found to favor those methane budgets with enhanced biological methane sources, which have relatively lighter carbon isotope composition.     

Distribution of Planetesimals around a Protoplanet in the Nebula Gas

We have developed a semi-analytic method of calculating the changes in heliocentric Keplerian orbital elements due to gravitational scattering by a protoplanet as a three-body problem. In encounters with high incident velocities, either the gravity of the protoplanet or the solar gravity can be regarded as perturbation force. In close encounters, by taking into account the solar gravity as a perturbation, we modified the two-body gravitational scattering. On the other hand, in slightly distant encounters, we apply the perturbing force of the protoplanet to the heliocentric Keplerian orbit of planetesimals. As a result, as for high-velocity encounters, the three-body problem is semi-analytically solvable. Our semi-analytic method can reproduce the numerical result of the orbital changes of individual planetesimals for the broad range of high-energy encounters with surprising high accuracy. We found that our method is valid under the conditions (i)b₀? 2 and (ii) (e²₀+i²₀− b²₀)^1/2? 4, wheree₀andi₀are eccentricity and inclination of relative motion normalized by the reduced Hill radius andb₀is the difference between semimajor axes normalized by the Hill radius. Though our method needs some numerical procedure, its cpu time is negligibly short compared with that of the direct orbital integration. In simulation of orbital evolution of planetesimals around a protoplanet in the gas, which we will perform in the subsequent paper, most encounters can be calculated by the semi-analytic method. This makes it possible to perform the long term (∼10⁵years) orbital calculation of ∼10^3–4planetesimals.     

Gaseous formic and acetic acids in the atmosphere of Yokohama,Japan

Gaseous formic acid (HCOOH_g) and acetic acid (CH₃COOH_g) were measured every 30 minutes during a 10 hour daylight period in August, and a 24 hour period in October, 1990 in the urban atmosphere of Yokohama, Japan. An aqueous nebulizer sampler and ion-chromatography exclusion (ICE) were used for the measurements. In the August experiment (0800–1800 local time) the mean HCOOH_g concentration was found to be 7.3±2.5 ppbv. The mean CH₃COOH_g concentration was 3.8±1.2 ppbv. In the 24 hour experiment in October, concentrations of both acids were lower between 0800–1800 than during the same time-period in August (mean HCOOH_g=4.4±2.7 ppbv, mean CH₃COOH_g=1.4±0.5 ppbv). In October, concentrations of both acids were higher in daylight hours than at night; sporadic high HCOOH_g concentrations were observed. In both experiments the ratio HCOOH_g/CH₃COOH_g of individual samples was usually 2.0 (mean ratio of 2.0 in August, 3.1 in October).     

ANS observations of Cygnus X-1

Cygnus X-1 was observed from 3 November until 9 November, 1974, using the hard X-ray (1–28 keV) and soft X-ray (1–8 keV) experiment on board the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite. On three occasions, on 4 and 5 November, the X-ray spectrum was observed to be harder, while the flux intensity in the 1–7 keV ranges decreased by 50% from its quiescent value. These events occurred near and following the time of superior conjunction of the likely optical counterpart HDE 226 868. These events appear to be the same as previously reported absorption dips and reveal this phenomenon to be more complex than had been believed. A systematic study of the X-ray spectral variations in these energy bands, on a time scale of 64 seconds over the period of the spectroscopic binary, is presented.Paper presented at the COSPAR Symposium on Fast Transients in X-and Gamma-Rays, held at Varna, Bulgaria, 29–31 May, 1975.On leave from Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science, University of Tokyo.     

Measurement and analysis of magnetic field variation during a class 2b flare

We report a digital analysis of high-time-resolution videomagnetograms taken during a class 2b flare that occurred at 60° east. The data were obtained at the Big Bear Observatory and calibrated by a Mt. Wilson magnetogram. Changes of weak magnetic fields (less than 100 G) with an amplitude from 30 to 100% have been detected over 55% of the optical flare region, apparently taking place at the initial phase of the flare. Statistical considerations suggest a real flare association with most of these changes.H observations show that large changes took place over the footpoints of heavily inclined structures like penumbral fibrils, while smaller changes took place over the plage region. An apparent polarity reversal was found at the feet of erupted fibrils.Based on force-free field calculations these changes can be reasonably explained as a transformation of the current-carrying fields to potential fields which produced large changes in the field line inclination and rotation.Visiting Associate, Summer 1977.     

Seed supply for coastal brackishwater shrimp farming: environmental impacts and sustainability

Globally, shrimp farming has been a significant agro-based economic activity since the early 1970s. Because it offered a huge immediate economic return, shrimp farming showed a booming expansion and soon became a multimillion dollar industry. However, it has been under extreme criticism because of its devastating ecological and socio-economic impacts. Because seed is the primary input, the impact from farming has started from the source of seed supply, so that not only are natural stocks of shrimp seeds now overexploited worldwide but seed collection activities also significantly reduce stocks of other living resources. Although hatcheries were developed as potential alternative and have replaced the natural seed source to a great extent, large-scale hatchery productions provide a potential source of coastal pollution. However, this area is still poorly studied. The present paper provides a review of the environmental impacts of the wild shrimp seed fishery as well as the possibility of environmental degradation from artificial shrimp seed production in hatcheries.     

Outflow of water from Funka Bay,Hokkaido, during early spring

Observations were made to study the oceanographic structure of the dense water formation and its outflow from Funka Bay, Hokkaido, during early spring. The winter Funka Bay water, which was transformed from the warm water of the Tsugaru Current, due to cooling and deep convection during the winter, flowed from the bay, while forming a frontal structure. The width and inclination of the density front were about 3 n. miles and 1.4×10^?2, respectively, during the early spring of 1982. These values roughly coincided with calculated values of 2.6 n. miles and 1.7×10^?2 using the sill flow model proposed by Whiteheadet al. (1974). Observed current speeds and directions were also similar to those predicted by the model. The renewal time of bay water with this flow was estimated to be about 51 days, which is consistent with the results of previous studies.