Congruence between euphausiid community and water region in the northwestern Pacific: particularly in the Oyashio–Kuroshio Mixed Water Region

The relationship between euphausiid community structure and water region was studied during a 2-year seasonal survey in the northwestern (NW) Pacific Ocean. The euphausiid community structure and its associated species were analyzed from 38 micronekton samples collected during eight cruises. The euphausiid community structure and its distribution patterns clearly corresponded to physical oceanographic features in the Oyashio region, Oyashio–Kuroshio Mixed Water Region (OKMWR), and Kuroshio region. In contrast, community structure was unrelated to seasonality. The 19 species out of 40 identified in this area were grouped and named after their habitats. The six cold-water species were grouped into three regional types: two coastal Oyashio species, three Oyashio–OKMWR species, and one Oyashio–Kuroshio species. The four species dominating in the OKMWR were categorized into each specific types: Nematoscelis difficilis as OKMWR–Oyashio species, Euphausia gibboides as OKMWR species, Euphausia similis as OKMWR–Oyashio & OKMWR–Kuroshio species, and Euphausia recurva as OKMWR–Kuroshio species. The seven warm-water species were categorized as Kuroshio–OKMWR species or Kuroshio species. The other two species were categorized as cosmopolitan species. In particular, regarding the result in the OKMWR, our study suggest that (1) the OKMWR has high species diversity, and (2) the dominant species, such as Euphausia pacifica, N. difficilis, E. similis, and E. gibboides, are considered to be key species in the food webs in this region.     

Cyclic magma storages and transfers at Piton de La Fournaise volcano (La Réunion hotspot) inferred from deformation and geochemical data

Piton de La Fournaise is in a period of intense volcanic activity since 1998. To constrain the magma dynamics responsible for this activity, we combined GPS ground deformation monitoring interpreted through numerical modelling and geochemistry. Two cycles of continuous volcano inflation are evidenced for the May 2004–December 2005 period, with a rest from March to October 2005. These inflations are consistent with two cycles of compatible major element enrichment in the emitted lavas. Numerical models indicate that the pressurization of a single magma reservoir may be responsible for the observed pre-eruptive inflations of the volcano. The reservoir, located at 2300 m depth, has a radius of  500 m. At the beginning of each cycle, dykes propagate from the roof of the reservoir and yield eruptions of differentiated basalt near the summit. At the end of the cycle, dykes propagate from the eastern sidewall of the reservoir and yield distal eruptions of primitive magmas away from the summit. The volumes of magma emitted during the primitive eruptions seem too large to explain the surface deformations and therefore suggest some refill of the reservoir by deeper magmas. Our results may be used to predict the location and lava volume of future eruptions at Piton de La Fournaise volcano, depending on the timing of these eruptions within a cycle of volcanic activity.     

Fast transform from geocentric to geodetic coordinates

 A new iterative procedure to transform geocentric rectangular coordinates to geodetic coordinates is derived. The procedure solves a modification of Borkowski's quartic equation by the Newton method from a set of stable starters. The new method runs a little faster than the single application of Bowring's formula, which has been known as the most efficient procedure. The new method is sufficiently precise because the resulting relative error is less than 10⁻¹⁵, and this method is stable in the sense that the iteration converges for all coordinates including the near-geocenter region where Bowring's iterative method diverges and the near-polar axis region where Borkowski's non-iterative method suffers a loss of precision. Received: 13 November 1998 / Accepted: 27 August 1999     

A model of river flow forecasting for a small forested mountain catchment

A model for quantitatively expressing the hydrological cycle in a forested mountain catchment is proposed as a HYCYMODEL. HYCYMODEL is able to predict both short- and long-term hydrographs because the model parameters remain independent of time. It shows a good applicability for ten years of continuous data at both hourly and daily intervals for the Kiryu catchment—a forested mountain basin. Since HYCYMODEL does not need hydrograph separation between storm flow and base flow, it is a particularly attractive model.     

The Fermi coordinate system in the post-Newtonian framework

The Fermi coordinate system (or the non-rotating proper reference frame) is studied within the framework of the post-Newtonian approximation of general relativity. First its general functional form is found to consist of three parts; (1) the motion of the space origin of the Fermi coordinate system relative to the background one, (2) the Fermi-Walker tetrad transported along the world line of the space origin, and (3) the spacelike geodesic starting from the space origin. Next, the post-Newtonian expressions of the latter two are obtained under the condition that the first is given. Then the full coordinate transformation formula connecting the Fermi coordinate system to the background one is derived explicitly. The effectiveness of the Fermi coordinate system is discussed and the effective region is found to be a cylinder with the radius of about 0.5 kpc for the Fermi coordinate system comoving with the Earth. The mathematical way to derive the generalized Fermi coordinate system which Ashby and Bertotti defined is also shown.     

Seasonal dependences of geomagnetic variations in the polar region in connection with large-amplitude annual Z-variation at the geomagnetic pole

A noticeable depression of the vertical component Z of the geomagnetic field is observed in the polar cap in summer. From the statistical analysis of the equivalent overhead current patterns for daily geomagnetic variations in the summer and winter polar regions for three different conditions of IMF (interplanetary magnetic field), it was concluded that the annual variation of geomagnetic Z in the vicinity of the geomagnetic pole is attributed to the relative spatial shift of the twin-vortex current patterns over the polar cap from summer to winter. In winterthe clockwise current vortex in the dawn sector extends almost over the entire polar cap (except for the periods when the B_z component of IMF has a large positive value), and this will result in the positive variation of the Z-value at the geomagnetic pole. In summer the counter-clockwise current vortex in the dusk sector always extends over the whole polar cap even when B_z of IMF is positiveso that the variation of Z becomes negative. The persistent existence of current vortex in the dawn sector is important for the further study of magnetospheric convection when B_z is positive.     

Nitrate pollution from agriculture in different hydrogeological zones of the regional groundwater flow system in the North China Plain

A survey of the quality of groundwater across a broad area of the North China Plain, undertaken in 1998 to 2000, indicates that nitrate pollution is a serious problem affecting the drinking water for a vast population. The use of nitrogen (N)-fertilizer in agriculture has greatly increased over the past 20 years to meet the food needs of the rapidly expanding population. During the study, 295 water samples were collected from wells and springs to determine the water chemistry and the extent of nitrate pollution. High concentrations of nitrate, especially in a recharge area along the western side, but also in the vicinity of Beijing and locally in other parts of the plain, pose a serious problem for the drinking water supply. In places, the nitrate concentration exceeds the maximum for safe drinking water of 45 mg/L. The intense use of N-fertilizer and the widespread use of untreated groundwater for crop irrigation contribute greatly to the problem, but no doubt the disposal of industrial and municipal waste into streams and infiltrating the aquifer also contribute to the problem; however, the lack of data prevents evaluation of those sources. In the recharge area, nitrate is found at depths of as much as 50 m. Near Beijing, relatively high concentrations of nitrate occur at depths of as much as 80 m. In the discharge area, in the vicinity of the Yellow River, high concentrations of nitrate occur at depths of <8 m.

---

Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary Material is available in the online version of this article at

---

Resumen Contaminacíon de nitratos a causa de prácticas agrícolas en diferentes zonas hidrogeológicas del sistema de flujo regional de aguas subterráneas en la planice del norte de China. Un estudio de la calidad del agua subterránea en una zona amplia de la planice del norte de China se llevó a cabo entre 1998 y el año 2000. Este estudio indica que la contaminación de nitratos es un problema grave que afecta el agua potable de una vasta población. El uso de fertilizantes a base de nitratos en la agricultura ha aumentado considerablemente durante los últimos 20 años para satisfacer las necesidades alimentices de la creciente población. Durante el estudio, se tomaron 295 muestras de pozos de agua y manantiales para determinar la química de las aguas y el grado de contaminación por nitratos. Altas concentraciones de nitratos, especialmente en una zona de recarga a lo largo del lado oeste, asì como en la cercanía a Pekín y en zonas locales en otras partes de la planicie, presentan un problema serio al sumunistro de agua potable. En ciertos lugares, la concentracióon de nitratos excede el nivel máximo de seguridad para el agua potable 45 mg NO₃/L. El intenso uso de fertilizantes de nitratos y el abundante uso de agua subterránea sin tratamiento para la irrigación de cultivos contribuyen sustancialmente al problema. Sin embargo, sin lugar a dudas, la descarga de deshechos industriales y municipales en arroyos y en el acuífero también contribuyen al problema. La falta de datos impide la evalución de dichas fuentes. En la zona de recarga se encuentran nitratos hasta los 50 m de profundidad. Cerca a Pekín, concentraciones relativamente altas de nitrato ocurren hasta los 80 m de profunidad. En las zonas de descarga afectadas por el Río Amarillo las concentraciones altas de nitrato se encuentran solamente a menos de 8m de profundidad.

---

Resumé Une campagne dévaluation de la qualité de leau souterraine entreprise entre 1998 et 2000 à travers une vaste étendue de la plaine du nord en Chine indique que la pollution par les nitrates est un problème sérieux qui affecte la qualité de leau souterraine pour une abondante population. Lutilisation de fertilisants azotés pour lagriculture a augmenté considérablement durant les 20 dernières années afin de rencontrer les besoins alimentaires dune population à forte croissance. Lors de cette étude, 295 échantillons deau ont été prélevés dans des puits et sources naturelles afin de déterminer la composition chimique de leau souterraine ainsi que létendue de la pollution par les nitrates. Des concentrations élevées de nitrates, en particulier dans une zone de recharge le long de la limite ouest de la plaine, mais aussi dans la région de Beijing et sporadiquement dans la plaine, posent de sérieux problèmes à la consommation de leau souterraine. A certains endroits, la concentration en nitrates excède la valeur maximale acceptée pour la consommation qui est de 45 mg NO₃/L. Lutilisation intensive de fertilisants azotés ainsi que lutilisation répandue deau souterraine non traitée pour lirrigation contribuent pour beaucoup au problème, mais il ne fait pas de doute que le rejet des déchets municipaux et industriels dans les rivières et aquifères y est aussi pour quelque chose. Par contre, le manque de donnés ne permet pas dévaluer la contribution de chacune de ces sources. Dans la zone de recharge, les nitrates se retrouvent à des profondeurs allant jusquà 50 m. Près de Beijing, des concentrations relativement élevées de nitrate ont été mesurées à des profondeurs allant jusquà 80 m. Enfin, dans la zone démergence affectée par la rivière Jaune, les fortes concentrations se retrouvent à une profondeur maximale de 8 m.

     

A system of astronomical constants in the relativistic framework

The relation between the units and readings of time and space coordinates of terrestrial and barycentric reference frames is discussed from the viewpoint of general relativity. Attention is paid to the unit of space coordinates since the International Astronomical Union (IAU) regulates only the unit of time in the above two frames. Two definitions of unit of length are examined and their effects on the numerical expression of coordinate transformation, equations of planetary motions, and those for light propagation time are discussed. A clear conflict is found between the IAU (1976) recommendation on the definition of the time-scales in different frames of reference and the statement that all constants in the IAU (1976) new system of astronomical constants are defined in terms of the Internationsl System of units (SI units). One of the above two definitions is proposed to resolve this conflict by the least alteration to current procedures for analysing the recent astrometric observations such as the radar/laser rangings, the range and range-rate, and the very long baseline interferometric observations. Also, an interpretation of numerical values in the IAU (1976) new system of astronomical constants is presented. It is stressed that the definition proposed in this paper requires that a formula slightly different from that in current use be employed in the numerical transformation of readings of coordinates between the terrestrial and barycentric reference frames.     

Phytoplankton pigment distributions in regional upwelling around the Izu Peninsula detected by Coastal Zone Color Scanner on May 1982

Phytoplankton pigment (chlorophylla+pheopigments) distributions in a regional upwelling around the Izu Peninsula obtained by the Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) on May 23, 1982, were compared with ship-observed pigment and satellite sea-surface-temperature distributions. Pigment concentrations detected by the CZCS were positively correlated with the ship-observed pigment concentrations. However, they were about factor of 5 smaller when atmospheric correction parameters known for typical oceanic and land aerosol were used and when the parameters were estimated with the clear water algorithm. When the atmospheric correction parameters were adjusted so that a pigment concentration derived by CZCS was equivalent to a concentration obtained by the ship at a coincide location, the pattern and magnitudes of the CZCS-derived pigment distributions showed remarkable agreement with ship-observed pigment distributions. Thus, the normal atmospheric correction algorithm may not be suitable for waters around Japan, and the development of better atmospheric correction methods combined with more verification programs is required. The pigment distributions showed patterns that were similar to those observed in sea-surface-temperature distributions. Cold water showed higher pigment concentrations, and warm water showed lower pigment concentrations. The Kuroshio, which can be identified by generally warm, low pigment water, showed a large meander which flowed offshore at Shiono-misaki, looped back onshore from Hachijo Island to Omaezaki and then flowed northeast along the Izu and Boso Peninsulas. Locally upwelled water along the Izu Peninsula was seen clearly in the sea-surface-temperature and CZCS pigment distributions as a region of cold water and high pigment concentrations. Cold upwelled waters were also found at the eastern side of the Izu Islands, but pigment concentrations in these waters was not always high. This difference in the two upwelling regions may be caused by different physical and biological interactions.