Global plasmaspheric TEC and its relative contribution to GPS TEC

The plasmaspheric electron content is directly estimated from the global positioning system (GPS) data onboard JASON-1 Satellite for the first time. Similarly, the ground-based GPS total electron content (TEC) is estimated using about 1000 GPS receivers distributed around the globe. The relative contribution of the plasmaspheric electron content to the ground-based GPS TEC is then estimated globally using these two independent simultaneous measurements; namely ground-based GPS TEC and JASON-1 GPS TEC. Results presented here include data from 3 months of different solar cycle conditions (October 2003, May 2005, and December 2006). The global comparison between the two independent measurements was performed by dividing the data into three different regions; equatorial, mid- and high-latitude regions. This division is essential as the GPS raypaths traverse different distances through the plasmasphere at different latitudes. The raypath length through the plasmasphere decreases as latitude increases. The relative contribution of the plasmaspheric electron content exhibits a diurnal variation that depends on latitude with minimum contribution (10%) during daytime and maximum (up to 60%) at night. The contribution is also maximum at the equatorial region where the GPS raypath traverses a long distance through the plasmasphere compared to its length in mid- and high-latitude regions. Finally, the solar cycle variation of plasmaspheric contribution is also reported globally.     

Mechanism and tectonic implications of the great Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963

The Banda Sea earthquake of November 4, 1963 (h = 100 km, m_B = 7.8) is probably one of the largest intermediate-depth shocks to have occurred worldwide this century. The mechanism of this earthquake is studied in detail on the basis of P-wave first motion, surface wave and aftershock data. From the analysis of long-period multiple surface waves, a seismic moment of 3.1 × 10²⁸ dyn-cm is obtained, which is the largest reported so far for any intermediate or deep focus shock. This value, together with the estimated fault area of 90 × 70 km², gives an average dislocation of 7.0 m and a stress drop of 120 bar. This event represents an oblique thrust movement on a plane with dip direction N170°E, dip 48° and rake 52°. A geometrical consideration for the fault plane and the configuration of the inclined seismic zone beneath the Banda arc suggests, almost definitely, that the large-scale faulting took place within the subducted plate and offset it. Further repetition of such large-scale faulting might eventually break the subducted plate. The 1963 Banda Sea earthquake thus represents a seismological manifestation of the large-scale deformation of the subducted plate in the mantle.     

Deep-circulation current through the Main Gap of the Emperor Seamounts Chain in the North Pacific

The deep-circulation current in the North Pacific carries lower circumpolar deep water (LCDW), which is characterized by high dissolved oxygen and low echo intensity of reflected sound pulses. Using the characteristics of LCDW, we examined a branch current of the deep circulation passing through the Main Gap of the Emperor Seamounts Chain (ESC) by analyzing conductivity temperature depth profiler (CTD) data and data of velocity and echo intensity from a lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler (LADCP), which were obtained along 170°E immediately west of the ESC, along 180°W and 175°W over the northern slope of the Hess Rise, and along 165°W. The velocity and water characteristics showed that the eastern branch current of the deep circulation, which has penetrated into the Northwest Pacific Basin (NWPB) through Wake Island Passage, bifurcates around 30°N, 170°E in the NWPB into the westward main stream and a northward branch current, and that the latter current proceeds along the western side of the ESC and passes through the Main Gap of the ESC, flowing eastward. The current in the Main Gap at 170°E flows southeastward with eastward velocity cores around 4000 dbar and at depths greater than 4800 dbar centered at 5400 dbar. The current in the deeper core is stronger and reaches a maximum velocity of approximately 10 cm s^?1. The eastward current in the Main Gap enters the Northeast Pacific Basin (NEPB) and flows eastward along the northern slope of the Hess Rise. As the current flows downstream, the characteristics of LCDW carried by the current are diluted gradually. To the east of the Hess Rise, the branch current joins another branch current of the deep circulation from the south carrying less-modified LCDW. As a result, LCDW carried from the Main Gap is renewed by mixing with the less-modified LCDW coming from the south. Carrying the mixed LCDW, the confluence flows eastward south of 37°N at 165°W toward the northeastern region of the NEPB, where the LCDW overturns and changes to North Pacific Deep Water (NPDW). NPDW is probably carried by the westward current in the upper deep layer north of 37°N at 165°W.     

Variations of the Kuroshio Axis South of Kyushu in Relation to the Large Meander of the Kuroshio

The characteristics of the Kuroshio axis south of Kyushu, which meanders almost sinusoidally, are clarified in relation to the large meander of the Kuroshio by analyzing water temperature data during 1961–95 and sea level during 1984–95. The shape of the Kuroshio axis south of Kyushu is classified into three categories of small, medium, and large amplitude of meander. The small amplitude category occupies more than a half of the large-meander (LM) period, while the medium amplitude category takes up more than a half of the non-large-meander (NLM) period. Therefore, the amplitude and, in turn, the curvature of the Kuroshio axis is smaller on average during the LM period than the NLM period. The mean Kuroshio axis during the LM period is located farther north at every longitude south of Kyushu than during the NLM period, with a slight difference west of the Tokara Islands and a large difference to the east. A northward shift of the Kuroshio axis in particular east of the Tokara Islands induces small amplitude and curvature of the meandering shape during the LM period. During the NLM period, the meandering shape and position south of Kyushu change little with Kuroshio volume transport. In the LM formation stage, the variation of the Kuroshio axis is small west of the Tokara Islands but large to the east due to a small meander of the Kuroshio. In the LM decay stage, the Kuroshio meanders greatly south of Kyushu and is located stably near the coast southeast of Kyushu. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Trans-Equatorial Loop System Arising from Coronal Hole Boundaries through Interactions between Active Regions and Coronal Holes

It is not clear how trans-equatorial loop systems (TLSs) are formed, although they have been observed often with Yohkoh/SXT. We focus here on a TLS that appeared on 27 May 1998. Yokoyama and Masuda (Solar Phys. 254, 285, 2009) proposed a new scenario for the formation mechanism of the TLS. In this scenario, they pointed out the importance of magnetic interaction between an active region and a coronal hole to make “strong-seed magnetic fields” before a transient (bright and short-lived) trans-equatorial loop was created. The main aims of this study are to verify the scenario and to make the TLS formation mechanism clear, based on observational data. Yohkoh/SXT images, SOHO/MDI magnetograph data, and Kitt Peak coronal-hole maps were mainly used for our analyses. We investigated the TLS in detail from the time that there were no signatures of the TLS to its clear appearance. The following results are obtained: i) an active region emerged in the vicinity of a coronal-hole boundary, ii) the coronal-hole boundary retreated during the period when the active region was developing, iii) temporal variations of soft X-ray intensities were roughly synchronized between the coronal-hole boundary and a trans-equatorial region, and iv) new closed loops were observed in soft X-rays clearly at the coronal-hole boundary. Since i), ii), iii), and iv) are just what we expect in the scenario of YM2009, the scenario found support. We conclude that the TLS was originating with large-scale magnetic fields of the coronal-hole boundary through magnetic reconnection between the active region and a coronal hole.     

A search for millimeter wave spectral lines from comet Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa (1983e)

The search for radio spectral lines from Comet Sugano-Saigusa-Fujikawa (1983e) was conducted using the 45-m telescope of Nobeyama Radio Observatory. The frequency ranges of 44.0–46.0 and 47.5–49.5 GHz were surveyed down to $\text{ΔT}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>A</mtext>}}{}^1\text{(}\text{rms}\text{) = 20–30}\text{mK}$, with a beam size of ～35 arc sec. Upper limits have been established for spectral lines of atomic hydrogen, CS, OCS, SO₂, H₂CO, CH₃OH, HCCCCCN, HCOOCH₃, CH₃OCH₃, and CH₃CH₂CN. The J = 5?4 line from HCCCN in the vibrational ground state possibly has been detected but not confirmed. The suggested total amount of HCCCN in the coma is consistent with the possible picture that HCCCN is the main parent molecule of CN.     

Future frost risks in the Tohoku region of Japan under a warming climate—interpretation of regional diversity in terms of seasonal warming

Theoretical and Applied Climatology - We investigated future frost risks in the Tohoku Region of Japan under climate change. We focused on the processes governing regional variations in the future...     

Direct Measurements of Deep Currents in the Northern Japan Sea

Long-term current measurements by means of subsurface moorings were made for the first time at seven sites in the Japan Basin, the northern part of the Japan Sea. The objective was to directly explore the velocity field in the highly homogeneous deep water mass (the Japan Sea Proper Water) that occupies depths below 500 m. On each mooring three current meters were equipped at an approximately equal distance below about 1000 m depth. Duration of the measurements was 1 to 3 years depending on specific site. This paper describes the basic data set from the moored measurements. It is found that the deep water of the Japan Basin is very energetic with eddies and vertically coherent currents of the order of 0.1 m/s. Surprisingly, the currents and eddies exhibit strong seasonal dependence even in the deepest layers of the Basin. The observed new current features are discussed in comparison with conventional deep circulation pictures derived from hydrographic data. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optical and X-Ray Observations of the Symbiotic System Ag Draconis During Quiescence and Outburst

We review the main characteristics of the symbiotic system AG Draconis, with special emphasis on its optical and X-ray variations. We also discuss the X-ray to visual energy distribution during quiescence and outburst and describe our spectroscopic and X-ray observations during the 2003 outburst. Based on X-ray observations collected with the XMM–Newton Observatory, on INES data from the IUE satellite, and on optical spectra collected with the Asiago–Cima Ekar, Bologna–Loiano and La Palma–Galileo Italian telescopes.