Scattering of radiation by a large particle with a random rough surface

Intensity and polarization of scattered light by an absorbing spherical particle with a random rough surface and with a radius larger than the wavelength of radiation are investigated. Multiple reflections of incident light on the rough surface are treated based on the multiple scattering theory.Within the limits of our approximation the model gives good agreement with typical scattering features by irregular shaped particles derived by microwave analogue experiments and laser measurements, namely a backward enhancement of the intensity, and a reduction of magnitude of polarization.Our treatment will be provide a powerful tool for studying scattering problems of interstellar and/or interplanetary grains as well as those of asteroids and the Moon.     

Spectral analysis of four quiescent prominences observed at the Peruvian eclipse

Two-dimensional distributions of kinetic temperature, density and turbulent velocity are obtained for four quiescent prominences observed at the Peruvian eclipse of 12 November, 1966.

1. The kinetic temperature derived from line widths is around 6000–7000 K in the central part of prominences and rises to 12000K in both edges and possibly in the top of prominences.
2. The turbulent velocity shows a similar tendency, being 7–9 km/sec in the central part and ≈ 20 km/sec in the outer part. The turbulent velocity also increases slowly towards higher heights in the prominence.
3. The electron density derived both from the Stark effect and the intensity ratio of the continuous spectra turns out to be about 10^10.2–10^10.6 cm^?3 in the central portion of two prominences.
4. From the width and the intensity, neutral helium lines are shown to originate in the same region as hydrogen and metallic lines where the kinetic temperature goes down to 6000 K. This indicates that neutral helium is emitted after the ionization due to UV radiation from the corona and the transition region.

     

Exploring the 7:4 mean motion resonance—II: Scattering evolutionary paths and resonance sticking

In our preliminary study, we have investigated basic properties and dynamical evolution of classical TNOs around the 7:4 mean motion resonance with Neptune (a∼43.7 AU), motivated by observational evidences that apparently present irregular features near this resonance (see [Lykawka and Mukai, 2005a. Exploring the 7:4 mean motion resonance—I. Dynamical evolution of classical trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). Space Planet. Sci. 53, 1175-1187]; hereafter “Paper I”). In this paper, we aim to explore the dynamical long-term evolution in the scattered disk (but not its early formation) based on the computer simulations performed in Paper I together with extra computations. Specifically, we integrated the orbital motion of test particles (totalizing a bit more than 10,000) placed around the 7:4 mean motion resonance under the effect of the four giant planets for the age of the Solar System. In order to investigate chaotic diffusion, we also conducted a special simulation with on-line computation of proper elements following tracks in phase space over 4-5 Gyr. We found that: (1) A few percent (1-2%) of the test particles survived in the scattered disk with direct influence of other Neptunian mean motion resonances, indicating that resonance sticking is an extremely common phenomenon and that it helps to enhance scattered objects longevity. (2) In the same region, the so-called extended scattered TNOs are able to form via very long resonance trapping under certain conditions. Namely, if the body spends more than about 80% of its dynamical lifetime trapped in mean motion resonance(s) and there is the action of a k+1 or (k+2)/2 mean motion resonance (e.g., external mean motion resonances with Neptune described as (j+k)/j with j=1 and 2, respectively). According to this hypothetical mechanism, 5-15% of current scattered TNOs would possess thus probably constituting a significant part of the extended scattered disk. (3) Moreover, considering hot orbital initial conditions, it is likely that the trans-Neptunian belt (or Edgeworth-Kuiper belt) has been providing members to the scattered disk, so that scattered TNOs observed today would consist of primordial scattered bodies mixed with TNOs that came from unstable regions of the trans-Neptunian belt in the past.Considering the three points together, our results demonstrated that the scattered disk has been evolving continuously since early times until present.     

Effects of oil spill on seawater infiltration and macrobenthic community in tidal flats

Tidal flat ecosystem simulators are used to clarify the effects of stranded fuel oil on tidal flat ecosystems. Results show that oil spills increase the periphyton on sediment by decreasing the predation stress caused by deposit feeders. About a month after an oil spill, the total population density of the macrobenthos recovered. The oxidation-reduction potential in the surface sediment drops to a negative value after the oil spill, and the anaerobic condition throughout the sediment seems to be responsible for the decrease in the population density of the macrobenthos. The infiltration volume of seawater into the oil-stranded sediment decreases to a third of that without the oil spill. The recovery of infiltration volume after about a month coincides with the recovery of the population density of the macrobenthos. This result suggests that the macrobenthic population is highly dependent on the infiltration of seawater.     

Diffusivity anisotropy in a rhyolite and its relation to pore structure

The diffusivity anisotropy of ions through rock pore water was evaluated quantitatively by through-diffusion experiments on a rhyolite rock having anisotropic pore structure. The rhyolite has planar flow structure with elongated pore shapes to the flow direction (X–Y plane). Diffusion coefficients of K⁺ ions for the direction perpendicular to this flow structure (Z-direction) were about 5–9 times smaller than those for the orthogonal parallel directions (X- and Y-direction). Pore geometrical analyses on backscattered electron microscopic images indicated that the pore length ratios among the X-, Y-, and Z-direction were roughly 2 : 2 : 1. This shorter pore length for the Z-direction appears to reduce pore connectivity, causing larger tortuosity and smaller diffusivity for this direction. This diffusivity anisotropy needs to be taken into account for precise modeling of diffusion-limited geological processes such as contaminant transport and rock deformation.     

Secular change of permeability in the fracture zone near the Nojima fault estimated using strain changes due to water injection experiments

Water injection experiments were performed in 1997, 2000 and 2003 at the 1800 m borehole near the fracture zone of the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake. During these experiments, a contraction of about 10^− 8–10^− 7 was observed with three-component strainmeters at a bottom of the 800 m borehole, 70 m southwest of the 1800 m borehole. We estimated hydraulic properties of the fracture zone near the Nojima fault by using the strain data to investigate a healing of the fault during the postseismic stage. We calculated pore pressure changes due to the water injection using Darcy's equation and obtained strain changes due to the pore pressure changes as elastic deformations of the crust. The calculated strain changes have a nearly agreement with the observed strain changes. Hydraulic conductivity in 1997, 2000 and 2003 was determined to be 0.9 ± 0.2 × 10^− 6, 0.8 ± 0.2 × 10^− 6 and 0.4 ± 0.1 × 10^− 6 m/s, respectively. The reduced hydraulic conductivities in 2000 and 2003 suggest that the fractures had been healing.     

Paleoseismological evidence for non-characteristic behavior of surface rupture associated with the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake, central Japan

The 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake sequence (mainshock magnitude, M_JMA 6.8), which occurred in an active fold-and-thrust belt in northern central Japan, generated a small thrust surface rupture (< 20 cm of vertical displacement) along a previously unmapped northern extension of the active Muikamachi–Bonchi–Seien fault zone, on the eastern margin of the epicentral region. To better understand past seismic behavior of the rupture, we conducted a paleoseismic trenching study across the 10-cm-high west-side-up surface rupture at the foot of a pre-existing 1.8-m-high east-facing scarp, which probably resulted from past earthquake(s). A well-defined west-dipping thrust fault zone accompanied by drag folding and displacing the upper Pliocene to lower Pleistocene strata and the unconformably overlying upper Pleistocene (?) to Holocene strata was exposed. The principal fault zone is connected directly to the 2004 surface rupture. From the deformational characteristics of the strata and radiocarbon dating, we inferred that two large paleoseismic events occurred during the past 9000 years prior to the 2004 event. These two pre-2004 events have a nearly identical fault slip (at minimum, 1.5 m), which is ≥ 15 times that of the 2004 event (∼ 10 cm). These paleoseismic data, coupled with the geological and geomorphological features, suggest that the 2004 event represented non-characteristic behavior of the fault, which can potentially generate a more destructive earthquake accompanied by meter-scale surface displacement. This study provides insight into the interpretation of past faulting events and increases our understanding of rupture behavior.     

A new algorithm to retrieve aerosol over the gulf of cambay in India

Ocean color analysis and aerosol retrieval in coastal regions are made difficult by water turbidity. An algorithm has been proposed which uses the data at a blue wavelength instead of those in near-infrared wavelengths for the aerosol retrieval. The quasi-homogeneous effects are assumed for the correction of water leaving radiance with soil particles at 0.412 μm. The proposed algorithm is examined using SeaWiFS data on December 24, 2000 around India. Over the coastal waters, extremely large values of optical thickness are extracted from the operational SeaWiFS algorithm, whereas our proposed algorithm produces a smooth transition in values of optical thickness from the turbid waters to the surrounding regions.