Seasonal variations of water system distribution and flow patterns in the southern sea area of Hokkaido,Japan

Hydrographic data and composite current velocity data (ADCP and GEK) were used to examine the seasonal variations of upper-ocean flow in the southern sea area of Hokkaido, which includes the “off-Doto” and “Hidaka Bay” areas separated by Cape Erimo. During the heating season (April–September), the outflow of the Tsugaru Warm Current (TWC) from the Tsugaru Strait first extends north-eastward, and then one branch of TWC turns to the west along the shelf slope after it approaches the Hidaka Shelf. The main flow of TWC evolves continuously, extending eastward as far as the area off Cape Erimo. In the late cooling season (January–March), part of the Oyashio enters Hidaka Bay along the shallower part of the shelf slope through the area off Cape Erimo, replacing almost all of the TWC water, and hence the TWC devolves. It is suggested that the bottom-controlled barotropic flow of the Oyashio, which may be caused by the small density difference between the Oyashio and the TWC waters and the southward migration of main front of TWC, permits the Oyashio water to intrude along the Hidaka shelf slope.     

The dissociation constants of carbonic acid in seawater at salinities 5 to 45 and temperatures 0 to 45°C

The pK₁^* and pK₂^* for the dissociation of carbonic acid in seawater have been determined from 0 to 45°C and S = 5 to 45. The values of pK₁^* have been determined from emf measurements for the cell:

Pt](1 − X)H2 + XCO2|NaHCO3, CO2 in synthetic seawater|AgC1; Ag

where X is the mole fraction of CO₂ in the gas. The values of pK₂^* have been determined from emf measurements on the cell:

Pt, H2(g, 1 atm)|Na2CO3, NaHCO3 in synthethic seawater|AgC1; Ag

The results have been fitted to the equations:

lnK^*₁ = 2.83655 − 2307.1266/T − 1.5529413 lnT + (−0.20760841 − 4.0484/T)S^0.5 + 0.08468345S − 0.00654208S¹

InK^*₂ = −9.226508 − 3351.6106/T− 0.2005743 lnT + (−0.106901773 − 23.9722/T)S^0.5 + 0.1130822S − 0.00846934S^1.5

where T is the temperature in K, S is the salinity, and the standard deviations of the fits are σ = 0.0048 in lnK₁^* and σ = 0.0070 in lnK₂^*.Our new results are in good agreement at S = 35 (±0.002 in pK₁^*and ±0.005 in pK₂^*) from 0 to 45°C with the earlier results of Goyet and Poisson (1989). Since our measurements are more precise than the earlier measurements due to the use of the Pt, H₂|AgCl, Ag electrode system, we feel that our equations should be used to calculate the components of the carbonate system in seawater.     

The impact of mesoscale eddies on plankton dynamics in the upper ocean

A coupled QuasiGeostrophic mixed-layer ECOsystem model (QGECO) is used to investigate the impact of the underlying mesoscale eddy field on the spatial and temporal scales of biological production and on overall rates of primary productivity. The model exhibits temporal trends in the biological and physical fields similar to those observed in the North Atlantic; i.e. the mixed layer shallows in spring causing a rapid increase in phytoplankton concentrations and a corresponding decline in nutrient levels. Heterogeneity is produced in the mixed layer through Ekman pumping velocities resulting from the interaction of windstress and surface currents. This variability impacts on biological production in two ways. Firstly, spatial variations in the depth of the mixed layer affect the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) availability and hence production rates, and secondly, eddy enhanced exchange between the surface water and those at depth bring additional nutrients into the euphotic zone. These processes result in significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the ecosystem distributions.Investigation of the spatial heterogeneity of the biological system finds variability to be significantly greater than that of the mixed layer. The relationship between the eddy field and the ecosystem is investigated. The structure and correlation of the biogeochernical fields change with time. The biological fields are found to have a shorter horizontal scale, but whiter spectrum than the underlying eddy field.Overwinter conditions are found to have a profound effect on the variability, size and timing of the following spring bloom event. Variations in the nitrate levels are primarily responsible for the variability in the biological system in the first year. In subsequent years the variation in the overwintering population is found to be dominant.     

Submarine slope mudstone facies,cozy dell formation (Middle Eocene), California

A 120 m thick section of the Cozy Dell Formation (middle Eocene), southem California, consists of a graylaminated mudstone and a tanungraded mudstone; sandstone beds are associated with the laminated mudstone. Sedimentary structures, stratification sequences, foraminiferal distributions, and composition indicate that the ungraded mudstone is an upper slope hemipelagic deposit, while the laminated mudstone is an overbank deposit associated with shallow channels or gullies in which the sandstone beds were deposited. This depositional setting may be analogous to that of the modern Mississippi River delta front.     

Mapping sediment acoustic impedance using remote sensing acoustic techniques in a shallow-water carbonate environment

 Real-time trackline plots of surficial sediment acoustic impedance delineate several sedimentary facies off Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas. The sea floor within a 6×6 km surveyed area consists of carbonate muds (silts), sands and shell, rock, and live corals. The 4-kHz acoustic data supports this finding by providing a pictographic representation of the distribution and structure of several sediment facies types. Plotting the gridded acoustic data with commercial mapping software (Surfer) provides a three-dimensional (3D) perspective of the bottom topography with a color contour map of surficial sediment impedance (upper 0.4 m) draped over the 3D surface.     

Ageostrophic dynamics of the upper ocean layer: Measurements over the transatlantic section along 53° N

Some aspects of the upper ocean layer dynamics are considered, including the Ekman transport, the relation of the thickness of the quasi-homogeneous layer to the thickness of the layer of rotation of the drift current vector, and the correlation between the level of the turbulent energy dissipation and the thickness of the quasi-homogeneous layer.