Deep convection in a lake triggered by wind: Two-dimensional numerical experiments with a nonhydrostatic model

We have investigated the fundamental processes of deep convection in a lake at high latitudes triggered by wind during spring or autumn and the associated deep water formation, executing vertically two-dimensional numerical experiments with a nonhydrostatic model. The water column in which a relatively cold mixed layer overlies a relatively warm layer becomes unstable, when the Ekman convergence on the shore due to along-shore wind deepens the mixed layer below the compensation depth, where water densities in both layers becomes equal to each other because of the thermobaric effect. At the onset of deep convection, the critical Rayleigh number agrees with that predicted by the linear theory. The onset time of deep convection is inversely proportional to the magnitude of wind stress. On the other hand, the onset time is minimal when water temperature in the mixed layer _m is 3.1°C because a change of _m has two effects oppositely acting on the stability of the water column. After the first onset, deep convection occurs intermittently for a few days. The sinking of the mixed layer water occurs in a thermal-like shape, and its amount is 4184% of the time-integrated Ekman transport when _m 3°C while it decreases to less than 10% for _m lower than 1.5°C. The present process can explain 30% of the amount of deep water renewal which is expected from the observation in Lake Baikal.     

239, 240Pu,137Cs and90Sr in the central North Pacific

^{239, 240}Pu,¹³⁷Cs and⁹⁰Sr concentrations were determined in sea waters from the central and western North Pacific in 1980 and 1982. The results are consistent with those reported earlier for North Pacific waters. The profiles of⁹⁰Sr and¹³⁷Cs show a monotonic decrease with depth, whilst^{239, 240}Pu shows a distinct subsurface maximum at a depth between 400 and 1,000 m. The calculated inventories of these nuclides significantly exceed the global mean fallout inputs for these latitudes. This may be due to local fallout input to the ocean at times of large-scale nuclear weapon tests in the equatorial North Pacific. The existence of measurable amounts of¹³⁷Cs and^{239, 240}Pu in deep waters suggests that these nuclides are transported by sinking particulate matter from the surface to the deep ocean.     

Heat capacity anomalies at incommensurate-normal transition of åkermanite solid solution (Ca,Sr)2(Mg,Co, Zn,Fe)Si2O7

The heat capacity of åkermanite solid solutions was measured by a small scale adiabatic calorimeter near the incommensurate-normal (I-N) transition. The heat capacity anomalies caused by the I-N transition show the type characteristic behavior implying the presence of dynamical fluctuations. The heat capacity anomalies were observed over the whole range of the åkermanite solid solutions Ca₂Mg_1-xCo_xSi₂O₇ and Ca₂Mg_1-x-Zn_xSi₂O₂. With increase of Co or Zn atoms, the transition temperature, T_i, rises linearly from ca. 83° C to 220° C and to 130° C, respectively. In the system Ca₂CoSi₂O₇-Ca₂FeSi₂O₇ and Ca₂MgSi₂O₇-Ca₂-FeSi₂O₇ electronic microscopy revealed that the temperature of the heat capacity anomaly decreases with increasing Fe content, whereas the T_i rises. This unusual behavior is ascribed to the microdomains observed in high resolution lattice images.     

Prediction of subsurface water level change from satellite data

This study explores the potential for predicting the spatial variation in subsurface water level change with crop growth stage from satellite data in Thabua Irrigation Project, situated in the northern central region of Thailand. The relationship between subsurface water level change from pumping water to irrigate rice in the dry season and the age of the rice was analysed. The spatial model of subsurface water level change was developed from the classification using greenness or (normalized difference vegetation index NDVI) derived from Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper data. The NDVI of 52 rice fields was employed to assess its relationship to the age of the rice. It was found that NDVI and rice age have a good correlation (R² = 0·73). The low NDVI values (−0·059 to 0·082) in these fields were related to the young rice stage (0–30 days). NDVI and subsurface water level change were also correlated in this study and found to have a high correlation (Water level change (m day⁻¹) = 0·3442 × NDVI − 0·0372; R² = 0·96). From this model, the water level change caused by rice at different growth stages was derived. This was used to show the spatial variation of water level change in the project during the 1998–99 dry‐season cropping. This simple method of using NDVI relationships with water level change and crop growth stages proves to be useful in determining the areas prone to excessive lowering of the subsurface water level during the dry season. This could assist in the appropriate planning of the use of subsurface water resources in dry‐season cropping. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Present environment of Dam Lake Sambe,southwestern Japan: a geochemical study of bottom sediments

Geochemical analyses of lakebed and core sediments from Lake Sambe on the outskirts of Oda City in Shimane prefecture in southwestern Japan were carried out in order to assess the water quality and the concentration and distribution patterns of sixteen elements. The lake water showed a stratified condition with respect to dissolved O₂, and As, Fe, and Mn concentrations in the bottom layers which increased in the summer. The chemical composition of the sediments, as measured by X-ray fluorescence, included major and trace elements (P, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Zr, Pb, and Th), and total sulfur (TS). Elevated values of As, Zn, V, Fe, P, and TS were present in several layers of the upper cores (from 0 to 5 cm) and other surface sediments. Increases in the abundances of these metals in lake sediments are probably related to the reducing condition of the sediments, fine-grained organic rich sediments, and post-depositional diagenetic remobilization. Moreover, correlations between the concentrations of trace metals and iron in the sediments suggest their adsorption onto Fe (oxy)hydroxides, whereas correlations with sulfur indicate that they were precipitated as Fe-sulfides. The average abundances of As, Pb, Zn, and Cu exceeded the lowest effect level and Interim Sediment Quality Guideline values that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment determined to have moderate impact on aquatic organisms. In addition, concentrations of As and Zn exceeded the Coastal Ocean Sediment Database threshold value, indicating potentially toxic levels. Therefore, the presence of trace metals in the lake sediments may result in adverse effects on biota health.     

Identification of soil–structure interaction effect in base-isolated bridges from earthquake records

Identification of system parameters with the help of records made on base-isolated bridge during earthquakes provides an excellent opportunity to study the performance of the various components of such bridge systems. Using a two-stage system identification methodology for non-classically damped systems, modal and structural parameters of four base-isolated bridges are reliably identified using acceleration data recorded during 18 earthquakes. Physical stiffness of reinforced concrete columns, dynamic properties of soil and foundation impedance are found by available theoretical models in conjunction with pertinent information from the recorded accelerographs. Soil–structure interaction (SSI) effect in these bridges is examined by comparing the identified and physical stiffness of the sub-structure components. It is found that SSI is relatively pronounced in bridges founded in weaker soils and is more strongly related to the ratio of pier flexural stiffness and horizontal foundation stiffness than soil shear modulus, G_s, alone. However, substantial reduction in G_s is observed for moderate seismic excitation and this effect should be taken into account while computing foundation impedance.     

The properties of tuned liquid dampers using a TMD analogy

Liquid motions in shallow Tuned Liquid Dampers (TLDs) with rectangular, circular, and annular tanks, subject to harmonic base excitation, are measured experimentally. Using a Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDOF) Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) analogy, equivalent mass, stiffness and damping of the TLD are calibrated from the experimental results. These parameters are functions of the TLD base amplitude. Some important properties of the TLD are discussed on the basis of these results.     

Design formulas for tuned mass dampers based on A perturbation technique

Modal properties of tuned mass damper (TMD)-structure two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) linear systems are studied employing a perturbation technique. Using the perturbation solutions, formulas relevant to designing the TMD for various types of loading are obtained; they are expressed as a function of mass ratio, tuning ratio, damping ratio of the TMD and damping ratio of the structure. Equivalent additional dampings of the structure due to the TMD are derived for random and harmonic forces. Matched expressions of equivalent damping, which are valid for detuned, i.e. non-optimal, conditions are also presented. The stability boundary of TMD-structure systems subject to linear self-excited forces is derived in a closed form. Using the perturbation solutions, procedures for optimizing the TMD parameters for various types of loading are explained and the optimal values are derived. The formulas obtained in this study can be used with good accuracy for mass ratios less than 0.02.     

Ridge collision and in situ greenstones in accretionary complexes: An example from the Late Cretaceous Ryukyu Islands and southwest Japan margin

Abstract Mélange units containing greenstones are common throughout the Cretaceous-Miocene Shimanto Supergroup in the Ryukyu Is and southwest Japan. Most greenstones in the accretionary complex originated in oceanic spreading ridges and seamounts, and they formed far from the convergent margin. Some mélange-like units in the supergroup, however, contain greenstones that were extruded upon and intruded into unconsolidated fine-grained terrigenous clastic sediments. It is inferred that eruption of the in situ greenstones resulted from igneous activity in the trench area. Geochemical signatures indicate that the greenstone protoliths were similar to mafic lavas generated at spreading ridges. Fossil ages of the strata containing in situ greenstones become younger over a distance of 1300 km eastward from Amami-Oshima (Cenomanian-Turonian) in the Ryukyu Is to central Japan (Late Maestrichtian-earliest Paleocene), implying that a site of igneous activity in the trench area migrated eastward along the Ryukyu Is and southwest Japan margin. Plate reconstructions of the northwest Pacific Ocean suggest the presence of the Kula-Pacific ridge near Late Cretaceous to early Paleogene Japan. In this context, it is suggested that the greenstones formed in response to Kula-Pacific ridge-forearc collision.
Ancient ridge-forearc collisions are best recognized by the presence of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) extruded on sediments inferred to have accumulated in the trench area. Diachronous occurrences of the strata associated with these MORB in an orogenic belt are useful for documenting the ridge collision through time.