Influence of Source/Sink Distributions on Flux–Gradient Relationships in the Roughness Sublayer Over an Open Forest Canopy Under Unstable Conditions

The flux–gradient relationships in the unstable roughness sublayer (RSL) over an open canopy of black spruce forest were examined using long-term observations from an instrumented tower. The observed gradients normalised with the surface fluxes and height above the zero-plane displacement showed differences from a universal function established in the surface layer. The magnitude of differences was not constant throughout the year even at the same observation height. Also the magnitude of the differences was different for each scalar, and scalar similarity in the context of the flux–gradient relationship did not always hold. The variation of the differences was explained by the relative contribution of overstorey vegetation to the total flux from the entire ecosystem. This suggests that a mismatch of the vertical source/sink distributions between scalars leads to a different strength of the near-field dispersion effect for each scalar, and this resulted in inequality of eddy diffusivity among scalars in the RSL. An empirical method that predicts the magnitude of differences is proposed. With this method, it is possible to estimate the eddy diffusivity of scalars provided that the relative contribution of overstorey vegetation to the total flux from the ecosystem is known. Also this method can be used to estimate the eddy diffusivity for scalars whose primary sources are at ground level, such as methane and nitrous oxide.     

Oceanic crust and Moho of the Pacific Plate in the eastern Ogasawara Plateau region

Abstract   To show the structure of oceanic crust and Moho around the eastern Ogasawara Plateau, we have analyzed industry-standard two-dimensional multichannel seismic reflection data. To obtain improved velocity models, phase information of seismic signals was used for velocity analysis and velocity models for oceanic crust above Moho were determined. We apply this velocity analysis technique to seismic reflection data around the eastern Ogasawara Plateau, with the result of clear images of structures within oceanic crust and Moho. South of the Ogasawara Plateau, Moho deepens proximal to the Plateau. Moho distal to the Plateau is ca 7 km below sea floor (bsf), whereas it is ca 10 km bsf near the Plateau. The characters of oceanic crust and Moho differ significantly north and south of the Plateau. To the north, the structure of oceanic crust is ambiguous, the sea floor is shallower and less smooth, and Moho is discontinuous. To the south, structures within oceanic crust and Moho are imaged clearly, and the sea floor is deeper. A strong Moho reflection south of the Plateau might represent a sharp boundary between layered gabbro and peridotite. However, discontinuous Moho reflections north of the Plateau might represent rough topography because of intensive magmatism or a gradual downward increase in velocity within a thick Moho transition zone. A fracture zone north of the Plateau also appears to separate oceanic crust and Moho of different characters, suggesting vigorous magmatism between the Plateau and the fracture zone, and that the Ogasawara Plateau and the fracture zone influenced the genesis of oceanic crust and upper mantle. Differences in acoustic characteristics to the north and south of the Plateau are apparent in profiles illuminated by seismic attributes.     

Overview of the MITI Nankai Trough Wells: A Milestone in the Evaluation of Methane Hydrate Resources

Abstract. Bottom-simulating reflectors suggestive of the presence of methane hydrates are widely distributed below the ocean floor around Japan. In late 1999, drilling of the MITI Nankai Trough wells was conducted to explore this potential methane hydrate resource and a Tertiary conventional structure. The wells are located in the Northwest Pacific Ocean off Central Japan at a water depth of 945 m. A total of six wells were drilled, including the main well, two pilot wells, and three post survey wells at intervals of 10–100 m. All wells except the first confirmed the occurrence of hydrates based on logging-while-drilling, wire-line logging and/or coring using a pressure and temperature coring system in addition to conventional methods. Based on the various well profiles, four methane hydrate-bearing sand-rich intervals in turbidite fan deposits were recognized. Methane hydrates fill the pore spaces in these deposits, reaching saturation of up to 80 % in some layers. The methane hydrate-bearing turbiditic sand layers are less than 1 m thick, with a total thickness of 12–14 m. The bottom depth of high hydrate concentration correlates well with the depth of the bottom-simulating reflector. Based on these exploration results, the Japanese government inaugurated a 16-year methane hydrate exploitation program in 2001.     

Observation of edge waves trapped on the continental shelf in the vicinity of Makurazaki Harbor, Kyushu, Japan

Sea-bottom pressure gauges were used to measure sea levels at two points on the shelf off the southern coast of Satsuma Peninsula, Kyushu, Japan. Spectral analysis of the observed records and the tide-gauge record of Makurazaki Harbor revealed several predominant common peaks. At the same time, the eigenmodes for the trapped waves on the shelf and inside Makurazaki Bay were obtained numerically using a two-dimensional model, and the periods and the spatial distribution of amplitudes of the proper modes were obtained. A comparison of the calculated modes with the periods and phase patterns of the observed peaks clarified that peaks with periods of 19.5, 16, 13.3, and 12.2 minutes in the shelf region were the modes of standing-edge waves, and the peak with the period of 16 minutes in Makurazaki Harbor was the fundamental mode of the harbor. Among the modes of standing-edge waves, the mode of the period 16 minutes on the shelf had nearly the same period as that of the fundamental mode of Makurazaki Harbor. An analysis of changes of spectral densities of these two modes confirmed that the fundamental mode of the Makurazaki Harbor was induced by this standing-wave mode.     

Interannual variability of the Kuroshio transport passing through the 137°E meridian in an OGCM related to the North Pacific windstress

The interannual variability of the Kuroshio volume transport passing through the 137°E meridian south of Japan was simulated with an ocean general circulation model (OGCM). The time series of the Kuroshio volume transport over the 1000 m depth in the OGCM is well reproduced by the one-dimensional quasi-geostrophic (QG) vorticity equation with a windstress forcing. In our analysis of the OGCM and QG results, we found that peaks and troughs of the time series of the Kuroshio volume transport with 2–3 yr time-scale were induced by windstress curl, both local and immediately eastward, whereas longer time-scale variability was also induced by windstress curl near the dateline.     

Seasonal variability of the sea surface height in the East China Sea along the China coast: A model study

The phase of the sea surface height annual variation in the East China Sea along China’s continental coast is delayed from that in the open ocean area, most probably because of seasonal strong monsoon winds. To elucidate this mechanism, we conducted an idealized model experiment using a rectangular shallow ocean with a sloped seafloor forced by southward blowing winds. We obtain a locally confined high SSH near the western boundary found in the East China Sea. The delay of the phase of the sea surface height (SSH) along the China coast can be interpreted as follows. The SSH of the East China Sea is high over large areas in September and low in March due to the expansion/contraction of seawater, which is attributable to the sea surface heat flux. However, near the continental boundary SSH becomes high in January and low in July under the influence of a monsoon winds. The phase delay along the continental boundary should appear by superposing these two time series with a phase difference near the boundary.     

Variations in fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation and comparisons with MODIS data in burned black spruce forests of interior Alaska

Absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by vegetation was observed in two burned black spruce forests, one and seven years after wildfire, in interior Alaska along with several vegetation properties. This study considered PAR absorption by mosses by examining the relationship between PAR transmittance and fractional coverage of green vegetation. Our results suggest that mosses absorbed a considerable fraction of incoming PAR in the burned forests, which cannot be neglected in evaluating the fraction of absorbed PAR (FPAR). The relationships between FPAR and vegetation indices revealed that enhanced vegetation index (EVI) may be suitable for expressing the spatial and temporal variation of FPAR, regardless of stand age after wildfire. The comparison between the observed in situ FPAR and FPAR derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS FPAR) clearly showed that MODIS FPAR was highly overestimated. The most likely reason for the overestimation was identified as misclassification of land cover type. The current regional estimation of photosynthesis in boreal region based on the light-use efficiency approach and MODIS FPAR is probably overestimated, and an accurate distribution of FPAR is desired for clarifying the regional carbon exchange in boreal forests.     

Na i D brightening phenomena in quiescent prominences

The Na i D emission lines are found to brighten temporarily in restricted regions of quiescent prominences and we call the phenomena the Na i D brightenings. The comparison of observed intensities of Na i D lines with model calculations shows that the phenomena is attributed to a kind of local activation of quiescent prominences accompanied by mass motions. The Na i D lines are emitted from extraordinarily high pressure regions in which the pressure rises up to 0.37 2.7 dyn cm^–2 and the temperature seems to be in the range between 5800 7000 K. The line-of-sight velocity of the mass motions amounted to several tens of km s^–1 in some Na i D emitting prominences investigated. The life time of the phenomena is estimated to be about several tens of minutes.     

全球重要农业文化遗产静冈传统茶草综合系统:价值、保护与行动（英文）

日本静冈的传统茶草综合系统是当地政府申请的日本第一个全球重要农业遗产系统(GIAHS)。本文介绍了当初发现该系统的背景、为申报GIAHS所采取的措施以及被列入全球重要农业文化遗产名录后,静冈茶草系统当前的作用和面临的新情况。自2013年入选全球重要农业遗产系统,目前日本的半天然草原大幅减少,但在静冈的茶草系统里发现了独特的半天然草原,茶园里生物多样性非常丰富。这些茶草系统和采用的传统耕作方法被称为"Chagusaba"。然而,GIAHS的申请过程并不容易,因为许多当地农民不了解他们传统耕作方法和GIAHS品牌的价值。在Chagusaba入选GIAHS名单之后,我们的主要工作是相关的品牌推广,努力使传统农业生产出高品质的茶叶。随着日本农业节省劳动力技术的进步,劳动力成本降低,优质茶叶的价格也有所下降,因此,执行低效传统耕作方式的农民数量越来越少。有必要正确地重新认识传统农业方法种植的茶叶的价值,并在价格上得以体现。静冈县当地政府目前正致力于实施认证体系,包括利用GPS进行科学评估,以及引入生物多样性指标等等。     

Phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in the pelagic system of hiroshima bay: Results of numerical model simulation

A numerical ecosystem model expressing both phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in the pelagic system of Hiroshima Bay, Japan, was developed in order to investigate the seasonal variations of these elements and their annual budgets. Based on the geophysical and chemical structures of the bay, Hiroshima Bay was divided into northern and southern boxes, themselves divided into two layers of an upper 5 m and a lower layer according to the stratification of the water column. The model consists of equations representing all relevant physical and biological processes. The results revealed that the internal regeneration of materials was an important source of bioavailable nutrients for phytoplankton growth in the water column. The incorporation of phytoplankton aggregation improved the accuracy of the outputs in comparison to the observed data, especially during the stratified summer season. The results also indicated that phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth occurs in the upper layer during summer while light limitation occurs in the lower layer. In addition, physical processes such as diffusion and advection were also important as they ensured that most of regenerated nutrients in the lower layer were transported to the upper layer. Thus, these processes might support the high primary production and the production of oysters that are extensively cultured in this bay. Considering the informative results obtained, the model used in this study provides a sound basis and tool to describe the dynamics of phosphorus and nitrogen cyclings in Hiroshima Bay.