Temporal dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) produced in a microcosm with red tide forming algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella marina</Emphasis> and its associated bacteria

Acute and severe hypoxia associated with harmful algal bloom has become one of the major causes for the environmental deterioration of coastal areas. Although it is generally thought that a large part of the dissolved oxygen consumption at a bloom site is initiated by heterotrophic bacteria that attack organic matter derived from dead or dying algal cells, precise microbial processes leading to the hypoxia are yet to be examined. Here we show temporal dynamics of extracellular dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the red tide forming raphidophyte Chattonella marina and bacterial populations associating with the algae under laboratory conditions. During the growth of non-axenic strains of C. marina, we monitored abundance of algae, associated bacteria, and DOC in the culture media. Bacterial cell abundance increased in response to the increase in DOC both at the beginning and the late log phase of the algal growth. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that transient increase in the percentage of respiratory-active bacterial cells also coincided with the timing of the increase in bacterial abundance and DOC. These results strongly suggest that DOC released from growing C. marina fuels respiration and growth of planktonic bacteria surrounding the algae. This has implications for the role of DOC released from C. marina bloom before the collapse in mediating interactions between neighboring algae and bacterial assemblage which may eventually lead to algal bloom-associated hypoxia.     

Nuclear energy response in the EMF27 study

The nuclear energy response for mitigating global climate change across 18 participating models of the EMF27 study is investigated. Diverse perspectives on the future role of nuclear power in the global energy system are evident in the broad range of nuclear power contributions from participating models of the study. In the Baseline scenario without climate policy, nuclear electricity generation and shares span 0–66 EJ/year and 0–25 % in 2100 for all models, with a median nuclear electricity generation of 39 EJ/year (1,389 GWe at 90 % capacity factor) and median share of 9 %. The role of nuclear energy increased under the climate policy scenarios. The median of nuclear energy use across all models doubled in the 450 ppm CO₂e scenario with a nuclear electricity generation of 67 EJ/year (2,352 GWe at 90 % capacity factor) and share of 17 % in 2100. The broad range of nuclear electricity generation (11–214 EJ/year) and shares (2–38 %) in 2100 of the 450 ppm CO₂e scenario reflect differences in the technology choice behavior, technology assumptions and competitiveness of low carbon technologies. Greater clarification of nuclear fuel cycle issues and risk factors associated with nuclear energy use are necessary for understanding the nuclear deployment constraints imposed in models and for improving the assessment of the nuclear energy potential in addressing climate change.     

Organic model of interstellar grains

Extinction efficiency of grains is calculated from the Mie formula on the premise that the grains are of organic composition. The optical constants adopted for the calculations are those ofE. coli, polystyrene and bovine albumin. The grain radiusa is assumed to obey a distribution of the formN(a) a ^– and the value of is chosen so as to make the calculated extinction curve match the observed interstellar extinction curve. Although the calculated curve gives a reasonably good fit to the observed extinction curve for wavelength less than 2100 Å, at longer wavelength region agreement is poor. It is concluded that another component is required for the organic model to be viable.     

A 100 m laser strainmeter system installed in a 1 km deep tunnel at Kamioka, Gifu, Japan

We have installed a laser strainmeter system in a deep tunnel about 1,000 m below the ground surface at Kamioka, Gifu, Japan. The system consists of three types of independent interferometers: (1) an EW linear strainmeter of the Michelson type with unequal arms, (2) an NS-EW differential strainmeter of the Michelson type with equal arms and (3) a NS absolute strainmeter of the Fabry–Perot type. These are configured in L-shaped vacuum pipes, each of which has a length of 100 m. (1) and (2) are highly sensitive (order of 10⁻¹³ strain) and have wide dynamical range (10⁻¹³–10⁻⁶). Observations with strainmeters (1) and (2) started on June 11, 2003. (3) is a new device for absolute-length measurements of the order of 10⁻⁹ of a long-baseline (100 m) Fabry–Perot cavity by the use of phase-modulated light. This third strainmeter will be ready for operation before the end of 2004. The laser source of strainmeters (1) and (2) is a frequency-doubled YAG laser with a wavelength of 532 nm. The laser frequency is locked onto an iodine absorption line and a stability of 2 × 10⁻¹³ is attained. The light paths of the laser strainmeter system are enclosed in SUS304 stainless steel pipes. The inside pressure is kept to be 10⁻⁴ Pa. Consequently, quantitative measurement of crustal strains of the order of 10⁻¹³ can be attained by employing the laser strainmeter system of (1) and (2) at Kamioka. This resolving power corresponds to that of a superconducting gravimeter. Using the laser strainmeter system, we expect to determine parameters related to fluid core resonance, core modes and core undertone as well as other geodynamic signals such as slow strain changes caused by silent earthquakes or slow earthquakes.     

Measurement of IO radical concentrations in the marine boundary layer using a cavity ring-down spectrometer

An open-path cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) instrument for measurement of atmospheric iodine monoxide (IO) radicals has been tested in the laboratory and subsequently deployed in Roscoff on the north-west coast of France as part of the Reactive Halogens in the Marine Boundary Layer (RHaMBLe) project in September 2006. In situ measurements are reported of local IO mixing ratios in the marine boundary layer. To obtain these mixing ratios, accurate absorption cross sections of IO are required at the selected wavelengths used for spectroscopic measurements. Absorption cross sections at the bandheads of the IO A²Π_3/2–X²Π_3/2 (3,0) and (2,0) vibronic bands were thus verified by a combination of spectral simulation methods, inter-comparison of prior determinations of cross-sections at high and low spectral resolution, and by measurement of rates of loss of IO by its self-reaction. The performance of the open-path CRDS instrument was tested by measuring concentrations of NO₂ in ambient air, both within and outside the laboratory, with results that were in excellent agreement with a previously validated continuous wave CRDS apparatus for NO₂ detection. During the RHaMBLe campaign, the open-path CRDS instrument was located within a few metres of the shoreline and operated at wavelengths close to 435 nm to detect the absorption of light by trace levels of IO. The IO mixing ratios were obtained on two days, peaked close to low tide, and were approximately 5–10 times higher than values calculated from column densities previously reported by long-path, differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) in coastal regions. The typical detection limit of the instrument was estimated to be 10 pptv of IO, with some fluctuation around this value depending on the conditions of wind and atmospheric aerosol particles, and the total accumulation time was 30 s for each data point. The observations of relatively high concentration of IO, compared to the values previously reported by DOAS, are consistent with the concurrent observations using a LIF (Laser induced Fluorescence) instrument (Whalley et al. in press). The first such measurements of localized IO by CRDS and LIF should contribute to an improved understanding of the chemistry of halogen compounds and the formation of iodine oxide aerosol particles in the marine boundary layer.     

Carbon isotopic study on graphite and carbonate in the Kamioka mining district,Gifu Prefecture,central Japan,in relation to the role of graphite in the pyrometasomatic ore deposition

Pyrometasomatic lead-zinc ore deposits of the Kamioka mine occur in the Hida metamorphic complex of central Japan. The pyrometasomatic ore deposition was followed by small scale hydrothermal ore deposition. Flaky graphite characteristically occurs in skarn, ores and in the surrounding crystalline limestone. ¹³C values of graphite in the skarn and the ores are close to those of graphites in the crystalline limestone. Graphite in the skarn and ores is considered to be remains of graphite in the crystalline limestone which was replaced by the skarn and the ores. At the pyrometasomatic stage, the oxygen fugacity of fluid would control the carbon isotopic composition of calcite precipitated. On the assumption that graphite played a role of oxygen buffer, the oxygen fugacity of the fluid was estimated to be from 10^–31,4 to 10^–301 bars at 350 °C and total pressure of 1,000 bars. The predominant carbon species in the fluid would be carbon dioxide. The ¹³C value of total carbon in fluid was estimated to be –3.6±1.7 (PDB) for the Tochibora and Maruyama deposits of the Kamioka mine, and the oxygen fugacity in the fluid was probably constant during the pyrometasomatic stage. It is likely that an important source of carbon was the carbon remained after the decarbonation of crystalline limestone. Oxygen isotopic studies on calcite of pyrometasomatic and hydrothermal stages revealed that meteoric water was an important source for most of the oxygen in fluid of both stages.     

Graphitization of carbonaceous matter during metamorphism with references to carbonate and pelitic rocks of contact and regional metamorphisms,Japan

This study is an attempt to correlate the graphitization process of carbonaceous matter during metamorphism with metamorphic grade. Graphitization can be parameterized using crystal structure and chemical and isotopic compositions. The extent of graphitization could be characterized mainly by temperature, duration of metamorphism and rock composition. We compared the graphitization trends for two metamorphic terrains, a contact aureole of the Kasuga area and a regional metamorphic terrain of high-temperature/low pressure type of the Ryoke metamorphic terrain in Northern Kiso area, Central Japan, and for two different lithologies (carbonate and pelite), using X-ray diffractogram, DTA-TG analysis, and chemical and stable isotope analyses. During contact metamorphism, graphitization and carbon isotopic exchange reactions proceeded simultaneously in pelitic and carbonate rocks. The decreases in basal spacing d(002) of the carbonaceous matter in carbonate rocks is greatly accelerated at temperatures higher than about 400° C. Furthermore, carbon isotopic ratios of graphite in carbonate rocks also change to ¹³C-enriched values implying exchange with carbonates. The beginning of this enrichment of ¹³C in the carbonaceous matter coincides with an abrupt increase of the graphitization processes. Carbon isotopic shifting up to 5 in pelites could be observed as metamorphic temperature increased probably by about 400° C. Carbonaceous matter in pelitic rocks is sometimes a mixture of poorly crystallized organic matter and well-crystallized graphite detritus. DTA-TG analysis is an effective tool for the distinction of detrital graphitic material. Two sources for the original carbon isotopic composition of carbonaceous matter in pelites in the Kasuga contact aureole can be distinguished, about-28 and-24 regardless of the presence of detrital graphite, and were mainly controlled by depositional environment of the sediments. Graphitization in limestones and pelitic rocks in regional metamorphism proceeds further than in a contact aureole. In the low-temperature range, the differences in extent of graphitization between the two metamorphic regions is large. However, at temperatures higher than 600° C, the extent of graphitization in both regions is indistinguishable. The degree of graphitization is different in limestones and pelitic rocks from the Ryoke metamorphic terrain. We demonstrate that the graphitization involves a progressive re-construction process of the crystal structure. The sequence of the first appearance of crystal inter planar spacing correlates with the metamorphic grade and indicates the crystal growth of three-dimensional structured graphite.     

Microbial community respiration and structure of dead zone sediments of Omura Bay, Japan

Monitoring sediment microbial community metabolism and structure is instrumental to understanding biogeochemical processes in and ecological impacts on bottom environments. The aim of this study was to determine potential community respiration and to reveal community dynamics of the microorganisms in the dead zone sediments of Omura Bay, Japan. The bay is highly enclosed and develops severe hypoxia in the central regions every summer. We collected sediment core samples from the center of the bay during hypoxia, estimated sediment oxygen consumption by using an adapted in vivo electron transport system activity (in vivo ETSA) assay, enumerated abundance of bacteria, and analyzed bacterial community structure by automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis. Higher ETSA and bacterial diversity were found in upper sediments (within 3?cm depth) from the center than the fringe of the bay. Sediment bacterial community structure of the bay center was distinct from that of the fringe. From these results, upper sediment in the dead zone of Omura Bay was characterized by (1) greater community respiration and (2) greater diversity of bacterial components compared with the non-hypoxic sediment of the bay fringe. These characteristics have important implications for understanding the interaction between microbial communities and the development of hypoxia in Omura Bay.