Late quaternary paleoceanographic changes in the northeastern Ulleung Basin, East Sea, inferred from variations in biogenic components

Two piston cores (DD09-ST21, DD09-ST39B) from the northeastern Ulleung Basin in the East Sea were obtained to investigate variations in the biogenic components (calcium carbonate, organic carbon) and biogeochemical processes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N). The two cores had distinctive characteristics in terms of surface production, preservation and dissolution capacity of carbonate, and redox conditions of bottom-water. Core DD09-ST21 was characterized by an oxygen-depleted condition from 15 ka (MIS 2) to 60 ka (MIS 3). Core DD09-ST39B, on the other hand, showed oxic bottom-water conditions, possibly due to shallow water depth. These two cores with different redox condition showed opposite trends in terms of CaCO₃, TOC, and C₃₇ alkenone concentrations. CaCO₃ and C₃₇ concentrations were higher during the LGM in DD09-ST21 while lower contents were observed in DD09-ST39B in the same period. Moreover, consistently low TOC in DD09-ST39B and higher fluctuation of organic matters in DD09-ST21 may suggest difference in primary productivity, preservation capacity, or a potential dissolution effect. During the Holocene, the surface productivity of both cores increased, probably due to renewed ventilation and vertical mixing in the East Sea. Therefore, this study suggests spatial variation in production and preservation of biogenic components in the two cores since last 50 ka for DD09-ST39B and 80 ka for DD09-ST21 due to difference in environmental conditions such as water depth, bottom-water conditions, surface productivity and preservation.     

Astrophysically relevant radiation hydrodynamics experiment at the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) is capable of creating new and novel high-energy-density (HED) systems relevant to astrophysics. Specifically, a system could be created that studies the effects of a radiative shock on a hydrodynamically unstable interface. These dynamics would be relevant to the early evolution after a core-collapse supernova of a red supergiant star. Prior to NIF, no HED facility had enough energy to perform this kind of experiment. The experimental target will include a 340 ??m predominantly plastic ablator followed by a low-density SiO₂ foam. The interface will have a specific, machined pattern that will seed hydrodynamic instabilities. The growth of the instabilities in a radiation-dominated environment will be observed. This experiment requires a ??300?eV hohlraum drive and will be diagnosed using point projection pinhole radiography, which have both been recently demonstrated on NIF.     

Uncertainty analysis using the WRF maximum likelihood ensemble filter system and comparison with dropwindsonde observations in Typhoon Sinlaku (2008)

In this study, the maximum likelihood ensemble filter (MLEF) is applied to a tropical cyclone case to identify the uncertainty areas in the context of targeting observations, using the WRF model. Typhoon Sinlaku (2008), from which dropwindsonde data are collected through THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (TPARC), is selected for the case study. For the uncertainty analysis, a measurement called the deep layer mean (DLM) wind variance is employed. With assimilation of conventional rawinsonde data, the MLEF-WRF system demonstrated stable data assimilation performance over multiple data assimilation cycles and produced high uncertainties mostly in data-void areas, for the given tropical cyclone case. Dropwindsonde deployment through T-PARC turned out to occur inside or near the weak uncertainty areas that are identified through the MLEF-WRF system. The uncertainty analysis using the MLEF method can provide a guide for identifying more effective targeting observation areas.     

Multiple-taper spectral analysis of terrestrial free oscillations: part I

We present a new method for estimating the frequencies of the Earth's free oscillations. This method is an extension of the techniques of Thomson (1982) for finding the harmonic components of a time series. Optimal tapers for reducing the spectral leakage of decaying sinusoids immersed in white noise are derived. Multiplying the data by the best K tapers creates K time series. A decaying sinusoid model is fit to the K time series by a least squares procedure. A statistical F -test is performed to test the fit of the decaying sinusoid model, and thus determine the probability that there are coherent oscillations in the data. The F -test is performed at a number of chosen frequencies, producing a measure of the certainty that there is a decaying sinusoid at each frequency. We compare this method with the conventional technique employing a discrete Fourier transform of a cosine-tapered time-series. The multiple-taper method is found to be a more sensitive detector of decaying sinusoids in a time series contaminated by white noise.     

Feasibility of using impedance‐based damage assessment for pipeline structures

This paper presents the feasibility of using an impedance‐based health monitoring technique in monitoring a critical civil facility. The objective of this research is to utilize the capability of the impedance method in identifying structural damage in those areas where a very quick condition monitoring is urgently needed, such as in a post‐earthquake analysis of a pipeline system. The basic principle behind this technique is to utilize high‐frequency structural excitation (typically greater than 30 kHz) through surface‐bonded piezoelectric sensors/actuators to detect changes in structural point impedance due to the presence of damage. Real‐time damage detection in pipes connected by bolted joints was investigated, and the capability of the impedance method in tracking and monitoring the integrity of the typical civil facility has been demonstrated. Data collected from the tests illustrates the capability of this technology to detect imminent damage under normal operating conditions and immediately after a natural disaster. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Distribution and Acoustic Characteristics of Shallow Gas in the Korea Strait Shelf Mud off SE Korea

Shallow gas in the Korea Strait shelf mud (KSSM) off SE Korea, revealed by high-resolution subbottom profiles, is associated with acoustic blanking, acoustic turbidity, seepages with plumes in the water column, and seafloor depressions. The acoustic blanking, characterized by strong, consistent top reflection and wipeout below, is most dominant. The seaward edge of the acoustic blanking zone generally coincides with the 100-m water-depth contour, suggesting that the water depth (the pressure) may control the distribution of shallow gas. The acoustic turbidity, characterized by diffuse top reflection, is a dark smear, partially blanking the data below. The seepages with plumes, characterized by vertical smearing and disturbed seafloor, are seen only along the shallowest, landward edge of the acoustic blanking zone. This may suggest that the decreased gas solubility at shallow water depths, caused by the lowered pressure, increases the volume of free gas in the sediments, facilitating the gas escape. The seafloor depressions, interpreted as pockmarks, are accompanied by cone-shaped acoustic masking, which is probably the reflection from a narrow vent of gas. The gas-related acoustic anomalies appear to occur mostly in the upper, recent mud of the KSSM. Neither permeable beds nor faults, which can act as vertical migration pathways for deep thermogenic gas, are evident in the recent mud. We interpret that the bacterial degradation of organic matter in situ is the main source for the gas in the KSSM. The upwelling off SE Korea may be an important source for the increased organic matter in the area.     

Thermal and haline fronts in the Yellow/East China Seas: Surface and subsurface seasonality comparison

Seasonal variability of surface and subsurface thermal/haline fronts in the Yellow/East China Seas (YES) has been investigated using three-dimensional monthly-mean temperature and salinity data from U.S. Navy’s Generalized Digital Environmental Model (Version 3.0). The density-compensated Cheju-Yangtze Thermal/Haline Front has (northern and southern) double-tongues. The northern tongue is most evident throughout the depth from December to April. The southern tongue is persistent at the subsurface with conspicuous haline fronts. The thermal (haline) frontal intensity of the northern tongue is controlled mainly by the temperature (salinity) variation on the shoreward (seaward) side of the front. The cold water over the Yangtze Bank is influential in generating the southern tongue and intensifying the Tsushima Thermal Front. The year-round Cheju-Tsushima Thermal Front is evident throughout the depth and intensifies from July to December. The northern arc of the Yangtze Ring Haline Front is manifest in spring and is sustained until summer, whereas the southern one is fully developed in summer because of eastward migration of the Yangtze Diluted Water. The area showing strong frontal intensity in the Chinese Coastal Haline Front shifts seasonally north and south along the Zhejiang-Fujian coast. The Generation and evolution of YES fronts are closely associated with YES circulation (inferred from the linkage of the water masses). Moreover, the subsurface temperature/salinity evolution on the fronts in the Yellow Sea differs from that in the East China Sea owing to local factors such as wintertime vertical mixing and a summertime strong thermocline above the Yellow Sea Bottom Cold Water.