Variability of Sea Surface Circulation in the Japan Sea

Composite sea surface dynamic heights (CSSDH) are calculated from both sea surface dynamic heights that are derived from altimetric data of ERS-2 and mean sea surface that is calculated by a numerical model. The CSSDH are consistent with sea surface temperature obtained by satellite and observed water temperature. Assuming the geostrophic balance, sea surface current velocities are calculated. It is found that temporal and spatial variations of sea surface circulation are considerably strong. In order to examine the characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of current pattern, EOF analysis is carried out with use of the CSSDH for 3.5 years. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 1 indicate the strength or weakness of sea surface circulation over the entire Japan Sea associated with seasonal variation of volume transport through the Tsushima Strait. The spatial and temporal variations of mode 2 mostly indicate the temporal variation of the second branch of the Tsushima Warm Current and the East Korean Warm Current. It is suggested that this variation is possibly associated with the seasonal variation of volume transport through the west channel of the Tsushima Strait. Variations of mode 3 indicate the interannual variability in the Yamato Basin.     

Lateral variation of Rayleigh wave dispersion character Part III: Atlantic Ocean,Africa and Indian Ocean

Summary In continuation of Part II, investigations of the lateral variation of group velocity dispersion character of Rayleigh waves were carried out for the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and for Africa. Maximum group velocity at such short periods as 25 to 30 seconds is observed in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in agreement with earlier observations from the East Pacific Rise, but was not observed for the Indian Rise. Less continental dispersion regions are found in Africa and in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. Eastern half of the Indian Ocean seems to have a typical oceanic crustal structure. The dispersion patterns were checked in every area by earlier data. All results so far obtained by the present author on the lateral variation of dispersion characteristics have been compiled into a world map.     

Seasonal changes in runoff characteristics on a permafrost watershed in the southern mountainous region of eastern Siberia

We attempted to clarify the runoff characteristics of a permafrost watershed in the southern mountainous region of eastern Siberia using hydrological and meteorological data obtained by the State Hydrological Institute in Russia from 1976 to 1985. We analysed seasonal changes in the direct runoff ratio and recession gradient during the permafrost thawing period. Thawing depth began to increase from the beginning of May and continued to increase until the end of September, exceeding 150 cm. Annual precipitation and discharge were in the range 525–649 mm and 205–391 mm respectively. The sum of the annual evapotranspiration and changes in water storage ranged from 235 to 365 mm. The mean daily evapotranspiration in June, July, August and September was 1·5 mm day^?1, 1·7 mm day^?1, 1·5 mm day^?1, and 0·5 mm day^?1 respectively. The direct runoff ratio was highest in June, decreasing from 0·8 in June to 0·2 in September. The recession gradient also decreased from June to September. Since the frozen soil functioned as an impermeable layer, the soil water storage capacity in the thawing part of the soil, the depth of which changed over time, controlled the runoff characteristics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A model for the infrared brightening of a Nova shell

A model for grain formation in an expanding Nova shell is presented. It is shown that individual grains complete the growth within a very short time interval. In consequence the infrared brightening accompanied with visual darkening observed in several Novae is interpreted in terms of extension of dusty region in the ejected gas shell. Developments of infrared luminosity and visual magnitude are computed on the basis of a model, and compared with the observations of Nova Vul 1976, Nova Ser 1970, and Nova Aql 1975. The constancy and uniformity of grain temperatures for a long period after the infrared maximum observed in Nova Vul 1976 are also discussed.     

Star formation associated with high-velocity mass outflows (invited review)

Energetic mass outflows have been detected in molecular line observations towards young stellar objects. In this review we take the Orion-KL as an example to discuss the overall structure of a high-velocity outflow and its environment. The kinematics of the high-velocity molecular emission show clear evidence of a bipolar jet which originates in the vicinity of IRc2, a massive protostar. Towards the ends of the jet, 0.05 pc away from the origin of the flow, the interaction between the high-velocity flow and the ambient molecular gas excites shocks. The protostar is encircled by a disc of dense molecular gas, the inner 0.04 pc of which is expanding while the outer part shows signs of rotation and contraction. A comparison between the dynamical timescales of the disk and the bipolar jet may suggest that the disk itself, or some mechanism of disk formation, is also responsible for the bipolar nature of the high-velocity flow.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.NRO, a branch of the Tokyo Astronomical observatory, is a cosmic-radio observing facility open to outside users.     

Modulation of Twin Tropical Cyclogenesis by the MJO Westerly Wind Burst during the Onset Period of 1997／98 ENSO

The modulation of twin tropical cyclogenesis in the Indian-western Pacific Oceans by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) during the onset period of 1997/98 ENSO is explored for the period of September 1996 to June 1997 based on daily OLR, NCEP/NCAR wind vector, and JTWC best track datasets. The MJO westerly wind burst associated with its eastward propagation can result in a series of tropical cyclogeneses in a multi-day interval. Only in the transition seasons are pairs of tropical cyclones observed in both the tropical sectors of the Indian-western Pacific Oceans. Two remarkable twin tropical cyclogeneses probably modulated by the MJO westerly wind burst are found: one is observed in the Indian Ocean in the middle of October 1996, and the other is observed in the Western Pacific Ocean in late May 1997. The twin tropical cyclogenesis in mid-October 1996 is observed when the super cloud cluster separates into two isolated clusters by the enhanced westerly wind, which is accompanied by two independent vortices in the equatorial tropical sectors. The other one, in late-May 1997, however, is characterized by one cyclonic flow that later results in another cyclonic cell in its opposite equatorial sector. Thus, there are two very important conditions for twin cyclogenesis: one is the MJO westerly wind straddling the equator, and the other is the integral super cloud cluster, which later splits into two cloud convective clusters with independent vortices.     

Seasonal variation in the energy and water exchanges above and below a larch forest in eastern Siberia

The water and energy exchanges in forests form one of the most important hydro‐meteorological systems. There have been far fewer investigations of the water and heat exchange in high latitude forests than of those in warm, humid regions. There have been few observations of this system in Siberia for an entire growing season, including the snowmelt and leaf‐fall seasons. In this study, the characteristics of the energy and water budgets in an eastern Siberian larch forest were investigated from the snowmelt season to the leaf‐fall season. The latent heat flux was strongly affected by the transpiration activity of the larch trees and increased quickly as the larch stand began to foliate. The sensible heat dropped at that time, although the net all‐wave radiation increased. Consequently, the seasonal variation in the Bowen ratio was clearly ‘U’‐shaped, and the minimum value (1·0) occurred in June and July. The Bowen ratio was very high (10–25) in early spring, just before leaf opening. The canopy resistance for a big leaf model far exceeded the aerodynamic resistance and fluctuated over a much wider range. The canopy resistance was strongly restricted by the saturation deficit, and its minimum value was 100 s m^?1 (10 mm s^?1 in conductance). This minimum canopy resistance is higher than values obtained for forests in warm, humid regions, but is similar to those measured in other boreal conifer forests. It has been suggested that the senescence of leaves also affects the canopy resistance, which was higher in the leaf‐fall season than in the foliated season. The mean evapotranspiration rate from 21 April 1998 to 7 September 1998 was 1·16 mm day^?1, and the maximum rate, 2·9 mm day^?1, occurred at the beginning of July. For the growing season from 1 June to 31 August, this rate was 1·5 mm day^?1. The total evapotranspiration from the forest (151 mm) exceeded the amount of precipitation (106 mm) and was equal to 73% of the total water input (211 mm), including the snow water equivalent. The understory evapotranspiration reached 35% of the total evapotranspiration, and the interception evaporation was 15% of the gross precipitation. The understory evapotranspiration was high and the interception evaporation was low because the canopy was sparse and the leaf area index was low. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Lateral variation of Rayleigh wave dispersion character

Summary Group velocities of Rayleigh waves were measured along various paths, nearly 200 in all, covering the continents of Eurasia and Africa and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, using long period seismograms of the World-Wide Standardized Seismograph Network. Dispersion characters thus obtained were compared with standard disperision curves. Several maps showing the paths along which Rayleigh waves have similar dispersion character are presented. The results are compared with dispersion data obtained by other authors.On leave from the International Institute of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, Tokyo, Japan     

Effect of the fluid core on changes in the length of day due to long period tides

Summary. The long period luni-solar tidal potential is known to cause periodic changes in the Earth's rotation rate. We find that the effect of a dissipationless fluid outer core is to reduce the amplitudes of these tidal perturbations by ∼ 11 per cent. When the fluid core effect is added to Agnew & Farrell's estimate of the effect of an equilibrium ocean, the result is in accord with observation.
The effects of dissipative processes within the fluid core are also examined. We find out-of-phase perturbations which could be as large as ∼ 10ms at 18.6 yr. We conclude, however, that the poorly understood decade fluctuations in the Earth's rotation rate will prohibit observation of this effect.     

Transport mechanism of suspended matter above the shelf slope at the mouth of Tokyo Bay

Transport mechanism of suspended matter above the shelf slope is investigated with the use of the moorings of time-series sediment trap, current meter and nephelometer at three stations at the mouth of Tokyo Bay, Japan during 21 to 25 August 1993. Tidal pump mechanism is effective for the transport of suspended matter at the shelf edge, but the boring-like flood tidal current resuspends the settled suspended matter, on the bottom of shelf slope and the resuspended matter is resulted to be moved upslope in one tidal cycle at 10 m above the bottom of shelf slope.