Diurnal Cycle of Sound Scatterers and Measurements of Turbidity Using ADCP in Beppu Bay

From September 20 to 22 in 1994, the vertical profiles of echo intensity and three-component velocities were measured with a bottom-mounted 300 kHz broadband acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) in Beppu Bay in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. A very strong thermocline was observed from 50 to 60 m. A pronounced diurnal cycle of backscatter strength (BS) was found above the thermocline. However, it was not found under the thermocline where there was a lack of dissolved oxygen. We suggest that the diurnal cycle of BS is caused by the vertical migration of zooplankton. The downward and upward migration occurred in early morning and late afternoon, respectively. The migration speeds estimated from BS isopleth displacements were about 1 cm s^–1. Further, the contribution of turbidity (Tur) to BS was examined by separating out the effect of migrating zooplankton. There was a significant correlation between BS and turbidity under the thermocline. The maximum contributions of the Tur, migrating zooplankton and non-migrating plankton on BS were estimated at 3, 12, 25 dB, respectively. These data suggest that when using an ADCP to estimate Tur, it is very important to consider carefully the backscatter signal from zooplankton.     

Wind Fields over Funka Bay and Their Effect on Water Circulation in the Bay

Horizontal wind fields over Funka Bay during cold air outbreaks were simulated using a 3-D meso-scale atmospheric model. The simulated wind fields over the bay have a positive curl in the north and a negative curl in the south. These wind fields were used to simulate the current in Funka Bay using a barotropic ocean model. The simulated current pattern was composed of two vortices—one with anti-clockwise vorticity in the north and the other with clockwise vorticity in the south—and was in the opposite direction to that simulated by the uniform wind fields. This is because the wind stress curl effect on the vorticity production in Funka Bay opposes and overwhelms the bathymetry torque effect during cold air outbreaks. These results show that the non-uniformity of the wind fields caused by the land topography around a shallow lake or bay cannot be neglected in simulating its currents.     

Organohalogen contaminants in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Japan: Present contamination status, body distribution and temporal trends (1978-2003)

Organohalogen contaminants including PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, HCHs, HCB, PBDEs and HBCDs were determined in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) found stranded at Gogo-shima (n = 6, 2003) and collected from Taiji (n = 15, 1978-1992) in Japan. All target compounds were significantly detected in all the specimens, indicating ubiquitous contamination of oceanic cetaceans in northwest Pacific Ocean. Examination of body distribution of organohalogens in the six specimens from Gogo-shima showed no significant difference in concentrations among the analyzed tissues, except for brain, which had lower levels possibly due to the existence of blood-brain barrier. For evaluating temporal trends, archived blubber samples of adult male stripped dolphins collected in 1978, 1979, 1986 and 1992 were analyzed. Concentrations of PCBs, DDTs and HCHs did not change significantly during 1978-2003. In contrast, remarkable increasing trends of PBDEs and HBCDs were observed, suggesting growing consumption in Japan and surrounding countries in recent years.     

Biweekly periodic variation of the Kuroshio axis northeast of Taiwan as revealed by ocean high-frequency radar

An analysis of surface current data obtained from 2002 to 2005 using long-range high-frequency radar provides the first evidence for the presence of biweekly (11–14 day) periodic variations of the Kuroshio axis northeast of Taiwan. This analysis clarifies the spatiotemporal characteristics of these variations and reveals that cyclonic/anticyclonic eddies propagating along the shelf slope from the vicinity of the deep channel east of Taiwan induce these variations northeast of Taiwan. The behavior of the cyclonic/anticyclonic eddies on the shelf slope is well explained by 2nd-mode interior shelf waves advected by the Kuroshio's mean flow. Remote effects from the vicinity of the deep channel east of Taiwan, or from outside the East China Sea, are believed to play an important role in the generation of these biweekly periodic variations of the Kuroshio axis northeast of Taiwan. Moreover, on the shelf slope, these variations cause an onshore current across the shelf slope, suggesting topographically controlled upwelling. Therefore, the biweekly periodic variations of the Kuroshio axis northeast of Taiwan might contribute not only to the onshore transport of Kuroshio surface water but also to transport nutrient-rich Kuroshio subsurface water onto the shelf in the East China Sea.     

Microstructurally controlled monazite chronology of ultrahigh-temperature granulites from southern India: Implications for the timing of Gondwana assembly

Ultrahigh‐temperature (UHT) granulite facies rocks from the Achankovil Shear Zone area and the southern domain of the Madurai Granulite Block in South India contain monazite useful for in situ microprobe U–Pb dating. The UHT rocks examined consist of garnet + cordierite (retrograde) + quartz + mesoperthite + biotite + plagioclase + Fe‐Ti oxides ± orthopyroxene ± sillimanite and accessory zircon and monazite. Sillimanite occurs only as inclusions in garnet. Microstructural observations suggest garnet, orthopyroxene, spinel and mesoperthite are products of peak metamorphism. Post‐peak formation of cordierite ± orthopyroxene ± quartz and cordierite + spinel + Fe‐Ti oxides assemblages is also observed. Geothermobarometry on orthopyroxene and garnet‐orthopyroxene bearing assemblages suggest peak UHT conditions of T = 940–1040°C and P = 8.5–9.5 kbar. This was followed by a retrograde stage of 3.5–4.5 kbar and 720 ± 60°C, estimated from garnet‐cordierite assemblages. A small population of rounded, probably detrital, monazites in these rocks yield ages from Meso‐ to Neoproterozoic indicating a heterogeneous source. The youngest associated spot ages are 660–600 Ma suggesting protolith deposition up to ca 600 Ma. In contrast, the vast majority of monazites that crystallized during the latest metamorphic event show late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian ages. Probability‐density plots of monazite age data show a ‘peak’ between 533 and 565 Ma, but this peak need not reflect a particular thermal event. Collating ages from homogenous metamorphic monazites associated with minerals stable at peak P‐T conditions suggests peak metamorphism in these rocks occurred at 580–600 Ma. Together with a re‐evaluation of available data from adjacent granulite blocks in southern India, these data suggest the main metamorphic event coinciding with the suturing of India with the Gondwana amalgam probably occurred 580–600 Ma. The 500–550 Ma ages commonly reported in previous studies might represent post‐peak thermal events.     

达拉布特蛇绿岩带镁铁质岩的地球化学

达拉布特蛇绿岩带的镁铁质岩属亚碱性和碱性系列,可能是弧后盆地火册活动的产物。根据镁铁质岩的层位关系、岩浆来源和微量元素特征,可将该盆地的地质演化概括为扩张阶段和封闭阶段。盆地扩张阶段早、中期喷发的镁铁质岩具有低的稀土和不相容元素丰度,而在盆地封闭阶段晚期喷发的碱性玄武岩,其特点是稀土和大多数不相容元素丰度极大增高,其稀土元素分布模式为轻稀土元素强烈富集型。     

The Monsoon in the Arabian Sea: Implications From Radiolarian Fluxes to the Deep Sea

THE MONSOON IN THE ARABIAN SEA:IMPLICATIONS FROM RADIOLARIAN FLUXES TO THE DEEP SEA     

Persistence and metallic composition of paint particles in sediments from a tidal inlet

Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn have been determined in sediment (<500 μm) and macroscopic paint particles (>500 μm) retrieved from sections of two cores collected from a tidal inlet of the Plym estuary, southwest England. Paint particles contributed up to about 0.2% of the total mass retrieved from each section and were most abundant towards the base of the cores where, according to (210)Pb dating, deposition took place about a decade prior to sampling. Metal concentrations in the paint particles pooled from the sections were highly variable, typically spanning two orders of magnitude in each core, and were greatest for Cu and Zn (up to 460,000 and 170,000 μg g(-1), respectively) due to their use in contemporary antifouling formulations applied to boat hulls. Concentrations of metals in the sediment were, however, relatively invariant, an effect attributed to the abundance and dispersion of microscopic paint particles throughout the cores.     

Forces acting on bridge abutments over liquefied ground

Large earthquake-induced displacements of a bridge abutment can occur, when the bridge is built on a floodplain or reclaimed area, i.e., liquefiable ground, and crosses a water channel. Seismic responses of a bridge abutment on liquefiable ground are the consequence of complex interactions between the abutment and surrounding soils. Therefore identification of the factors dominating the abutment response is important for the development of simplified seismic design methods. This paper presents the results of dynamic three-dimensional finite element analyses of bridge abutments adjacent to a river dike, including the effect of liquefaction of the underlying ground using earthquake motions widely used in Japan. The analysis shows that conventional design methods may underestimate the permanent abutment displacements unless the following two items are considered: (1) softening of the soil beneath the liquefiable layer, due to cyclic shearing of the soil surrounding the piles, and (2) the forces acting on the side faces of the abutment.     

Response of a summertime anticyclonic eddy to wind forcing in Funka Bay,Hokkaido, Japan

Flow fluctuations inside an anticyclonic eddy in summertime Funka Bay were examined using three moorings and hydrographic data. The flow pattern above a sharp pycnocline with a concave isopycnal structure during the mooring period was characterized by high mean kinetic energy and relatively low eddy kinetic energy. The ratios of eddy to mean kinetic energy were equal to or less than one, and the mean flow field and isopycnal structure indicated the existence of a stable anticyclonic eddy above the sharp pycnocline under approximate geostrophic balance. Larger flow fluctuations with periods longer than 7 days were dominant inside the eddy. The low-frequency flow fluctuations are accompanied by north to northeastward movement of the eddy with deepening of the pycnocline and spin-up of the anticyclonic circulation. The wind field over Funka Bay is characterized by bay-scale wind fluctuations. The bay-scale winds are greatly influenced by the land topography around Funka Bay, resulting in non-uniform structure with significant wind stress curl. The bay-scale wind fluctuations are termed “locally modified wind” in the present study. The locally modified wind has a negative (positive) wind stress curl in the central–northeastern (southwestern) region of Funka Bay. The north to northeastward movement of the eddy is caused by horizontal non-uniform supply of vorticity from the locally modified wind forcing by the Ekman pumping process. Through this process, the anticyclonic circulation is enhanced (weakened) in the central–northeastern (southwestern) part of the eddy, resulting in the eddy moving north to northeastward with the pycnocline deepening and spin-up of the anticyclonic circulation. The locally modified wind forcing induces low-frequency flow fluctuations through the movement of the eddy in summertime Funka Bay.