A nonlinear parametric model based on a power law relationship for predicting the coastal tsunami height

When a subduction-zone earthquake occurs, the tsunami height must be predicted to cope with the damage generated by the tsunami. Therefore, tsunami height prediction methods have been studied using simulation data acquired by large-scale calculations. In this research, we consider the existence of a nonlinear power law relationship between the water pressure gauge data observed by the Dense Oceanfloor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET) and the coastal tsunami height. Using this relationship, we propose a nonlinear parametric model and conduct a prediction experiment to compare the accuracy of the proposed method with those of previous methods and implement particular improvements to the extrapolation accuracy.

     

Assessment of drought frequency, duration, and severity and its impact on pasture production in Mongolia

Drought frequency, duration, and severity and its impact on pasture productivity in the four main vegetation zones of Mongolia were analyzed using meteorological, soil moisture, and vegetation data during the growing season (April–August) of 1965–2010. Meteorological and pasture drought characteristics were explored using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the soil moisture anomalies percentile index (W _p), and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) on 1-month timescale. Generally, 35–37 (15–16 %) by SPI for meteorological drought while 27–29 (12–13 %) by W _p, and 16–21 (7–9 %) by PDSI for pasture drought with different durations were identified over the four vegetation zones during the study period. Most of these droughts (80 % by SPI and 50–60 % by both W _p and PDSI) observed during the entire events occurred on a 1-month duration with moderate intensity. Drought frequencies were not significantly (p > 0.05) different within the four zones. The frequency of the short-term meteorological droughts was observed relatively greater than pasture droughts; however, pasture droughts were more persistent and severe than meteorological droughts. The three indices show that the frequency and severity of droughts have slightly increased over the 46 years with significant (p < 0.05) dry conditions during the last decade of 2001–2010 in the four zones (except in the high mountain). The results showed the W _p was more highly significantly correlated with the precipitation anomalies (r = 0.68) and pasture production (r = 0.55) than PDSI (r = 0.51, p < 0.05 and r = 0.38, p < 0.10, respectively). A statistical model, based on pasture production and the W _p, suggested that the consecutive drought months contribution during the growing season was 30 % (p < 0.05) and that pasture production was more sensitive to the occurrence of droughts during June–August (R ² = 0.32, p < 0.05) as seen in 2000–2002 and 2007. We concluded that a greater severity and frequency of growing-season droughts, during the last decade of 2001–2010, have driven a reduction in pasture production in Mongolia.     

Alkalinization and acidification of stream water with changes in atmospheric deposition in a tropical dry evergreen forest of northeastern Thailand

Field surveys on atmospheric deposition and stream water chemistry were conducted in an evergreen forest in northeastern Thailand characterized by a tropical savanna climate with distinct dry and wet seasons. Atmospheric deposition of ion constituents by throughfall and stemflow was shown to increase in the beginning and end of the wet season, reflecting the precipitation pattern. The pH and electrical conductivity of stream water increased with alkalinity and base cation concentrations due to mineralization of organic matter by the first rain and retention of anions in soil during the start of the wet season. After initial alkalinization, the pH and alkalinity declined rapidly with the highest SO₄^2? concentration displayed in the middle towards the end of the wet season. The magnitude of peaks in SO₄^2? concentration (13.5–60.6 μmol_c/L) reflects deposition during the first 2 months of the wet season (March and April) in respective years (60.8–170 mol_c/ha). Release of SO₄^2? with H⁺, which is retained in soil during the early wet season, may cause acidification later in the season. The deposition and concentration of SO₄^2? declined over 6 years. However, the pH of stream water declined with increasing concentrations of SO₄^2? and other major ions. The release of materials accumulated in the ecosystem was facilitated by the decrease in SO₄^2? concentration/deposition and increased precipitation in the middle–late wet season. The retention‐release cycle of SO₄^2? largely contributed to both seasonal and interannual variations in stream water chemistry in the tropical savanna climate studied.     

Tributyltin in blood of marine fish collected from a coastal area of northern Kyushu, Japan

We investigated levels of the pollutant tributyltin (TBT) in blood of pufferfishes (six species), Japanese sea perch, red sea bream, Japanese common goby, Japanese flounder, rockfish, conger eel, and sea mullet collected off the coast of northern Kyushu, Japan. We found considerable levels of TBT (1.4-190 ng/mL) accumulated in the blood of these fish. Blood TBT concentrations were 1.3-22.5 times liver concentrations and 4.9-78 times muscle concentrations, except in conger eel and mullet. We detected TBT (16-111 ng/mL-blood) in the plasma of the fine-patterned puffer (Takifugupoecilonotus) year-round, without any apparent seasonal trend. These results suggest that fish inhabiting coastal areas of Kyushu, Japan, continue to be contaminated with TBT.     

南海夏季风爆发的气候特征

利用ＴＯＧＡ－ＣＯＡＲＥ强化期“实验３”号科学考究船所取得的表面气象的探空资料,对考察期间的热通量进行详尽的分析和计算,特别是对发生在ＩＯＰ期间的两次西风爆发过程中西太平洋热带海域热通量的特征进行了重点分析,并讨论了它们与大尺度环流及其中高纬度环流的关系。     

A conceptual hydrologic model for a forested Carolina bay depressional wetland on the Coastal Plain of South Carolina,USA

This paper describes how climate influences the hydrology of an ephemeral depressional wetland. Surface water and groundwater elevation data were collected for 7 years in a Coastal Plain watershed in South Carolina USA containing depressional wetlands, known as Carolina bays. Rainfall and temperature data were compared with water‐table well and piezometer data in and around one wetland. Using these data a conceptual model was created that describes the hydrology of the system under wet, dry, and drought conditions. The data suggest this wetland operates as a focal point for groundwater recharge under most climate conditions. During years of below‐normal to normal rainfall the hydraulic gradient indicated the potential for groundwater recharge from the depression, whereas during years of above‐normal rainfall, the hydraulic gradient between the adjacent upland, the wetland margin, and the wetland centre showed the potential for groundwater discharge into the wetland. Using high‐resolution water‐level measurements, this groundwater discharge condition was found to hold true even during individual rainfall events, especially under wet antecedent soil conditions. The dynamic nature of the hydrology in this Carolina bay clearly indicates it is not an isolated system as previously believed, and our groundwater data expand upon previous hydrologic investigations at similar sites which do not account for the role of groundwater in estimating the water budget of such systems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal change of characteristics of shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes associated with increase in volcanic activity at Kuchinoerabujima volcano, Japan

Shallow volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes recorded at the Kuchinoerabujima island volcano in southwest Japan are analyzed in order to clarify the role of hydrothermal activity in the development of volcanic seismicity. From analysis of shallow VT earthquakes in 2006, two specific episodes of elevated seismicity are observed in April and November 2006. The VT earthquakes have hypocenters at depths of 0–0.4 km beneath the summit crater, and normal fault focal mechanisms with WNW–ESE extension consistent with the tensional stress field indicated by the alignment of craters and fissures. Although the hypocenters and focal mechanisms are found to be largely invariant during these episodes, the corner frequencies of the VT earthquakes underwent a pronounced increase and decrease accompanying the changes in seismicity rates. The corner frequencies increased to 20–25 Hz approximately one month prior to the onset of elevated seismicity, and then decreased to 10–15 Hz in the period of peak seismicity. The rupture length also decreased at the onset of seismicity, thereafter increasing as the seismicity continued. The peak seismicity in terms of the daily number of VT events was accompanied by inflation around the crater, suggestive of a pressure increase in the volcanic system. It is inferred that the increase in shallow VT seismicity and rupture length is related to the development of a fractured zone. The pressure increase in the volcanic system is attributed to the intrusion of hydrothermal fluids, which is supported by an observed increase in fumarolic temperature and activity. The preceding monochromatic events are thus considered to be generated by the effect of fluid-filled cracks. The shortening of rupture length is then inferred to be related to the closing of non-fluid-filled cracks in the fracture zone under the increasing pressure field, leading to a transition from monochromatic events to low-frequency and shallow VT seismicity.     

HPLC determination of phytoplankton pigments using N,N-dimethylformamide

The suitability of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as an extractant for the standard reverse-phase HPLC method was examined using algal cultures. Good pigment separations and recovery were achieved with 20% (volume %) addition of an ion-pairing solution in an injection. While slight amounts of degradation products of chlorophylla, i.e., chlorophyllidea, allomeric and epimeric forms, were produced, adequate attention to filtration and extraction prevents the formation of degradation products, confining them to an acceptable level. Because of its strong extractability, which expedites the extraction process, DMF is an efficient solvent for HPLC analysis of phytoplankton pigments.     

Characteristic features in Venus’ nightside cloud-top temperature obtained by Akatsuki/LIR

Mid-infrared images of almost the entire Venus nightside hemisphere obtained by the Longwave Infrared Camera (LIR) onboard Akatsuki on December 9 and 10, 2010 reveal that the brightness temperature of the cloud-top ranges from 237 K in the cold polar collars to 243 K in the equatorial region, significantly higher than the values obtained by Venera 15. Other characteristic features of the temperature distributions observed are zonal belt structures seen in the middle and low latitudes and patchy temperature structures or quasi-periodic streaks extending in a north–south direction in the northern middle latitudes and southern low latitudes.