Development Processes of the Tropical Pacific Meridional Mode

Mechanisms for the spatio-temporal development of the Tropical Pacific Meridional Mode(TPMM) are investigated using a coupled ocean-atmosphere model and observations.In both observations and the model,this meridional mode displays decadal variations and is most pronounced in spring and early summer.The model simulation suggests that once SST anomalies in the subtropical northeastern Pacific are initiated,say by northeasterly trade wind variability,perturbations evolve into a merdional dipole in 2-3 months.A...     

20世纪北大西洋温盐环流的年代际变化试评估

根据相对丰富的大气器测资料,综合前人对有限的海洋资料的诊断分析,从北大西洋涛动(NAO)变率、表层海温(SST)变率、格陵兰海和拉布拉多海的深对流活动长期变化等不同角度,对20世纪大洋温盐环流(Thermohaline Circulation,THC)变率进行了试评估.结果表明:(1)19世纪末以来,大西洋温盐环流的变化可分为4个时期:1900年以前的一段时期,THC较强;1904年到1930年,THC较弱;1931年到1972年,THC较强;1973年至1995年,THC较弱,目前则又有所增强.(2)与THC的变化相联系,大西洋主要气候要素的变化,相互间存在着某种协调关系,THC强,NAO弱,北大西洋北部SST升高,格陵兰海的对流活动增强,拉布拉多海的对流活动则减弱.     

Measurements of stable carbon isotopic composition of ethane and propane over the western North Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean: A useful indicator of atmospheric transport process

Stable carbon isotopic composition of ethane and propane over the western North Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean between 31°N and 26°S was investigated from February through March 2004. The isotopic composition of ethane ranged from −28 to −18‰ and showed a gradual increase from north to south. Conversely, that of propane was between −31 and −24‰; it showed no systematic latitudinal variation. Investigation of the ethane/propane ratio indicates that ethane and propane that originated from northern mid-latitude countries in the eastern part of Eurasia were both transported into the western North Pacific region. However, the results of the isotopic analyses indicate the contribution of oceanic emission to the atmospheric propane during transport, although that contribution can not be discerned for ethane. A ship based stationary observation conducted in the western equatorial North Pacific showed that the isotopic composition of ethane varied from −25 to −19‰ and showed clear systematic diurnal variation: propane ranged between −32 to −26‰ and no such isotopic diurnal signal was observed. The diurnal variation for ethane is explained by entrainment of free tropospheric air, whereas the variation for propane was influenced by oceanic emissions as well as the entrainment. The contribution of oceanic emissions to the atmospheric propane inventory was considered from our isotopic observation. Isotopic composition of dissolved propane is estimated to be less than −38‰, and the contribution up to 79% was calculated when the isotopic composition of dissolved propane is assumed to be −40‰. Our study demonstrates that isotopic analysis can be more useful than ratio-based analysis to improve our present understanding of transport processes, especially for impact of the oceanic emissions on the atmospheric distribution of low level C₂–C₅ non-methane hydrocarbons such as propane in the remote marine atmosphere.     

Attenuation differences in layer 2A in intermediate- and slow-spreading oceanic crust

In situ seismic attenuationQ⁻¹logs are derived from borehole velocity profiles and reveal sharp boundaries between morphologies of the extrusive volcanic layers in intermediate- and slow-spreading oceanic crust.Q⁻¹logs are calculated from the scattering attenuation associated with vertical velocity heterogeneity in Ocean Drilling Program Holes 504B and 896A and in Hole 395A, located in 5.9–7.3 Ma crust on the Pacific and Atlantic plates, respectively. Our results strongly tie crustal properties to seismic measurables and observed geological structures: we find that the scattering attenuation can be used to identify the extrusive volcanic sequence because it is closely related to changes in the degree of vertical heterogeneity. We interpret a distinct decrease in the Q⁻¹log at the transition below the extrusive volcanic layer to correspond with the seismic layer 2A/2B boundary. The boundary is located at 465 m depth below the sea floor in both Hole 395A and 504B, although this is likely to be a coincidence of the sediment thickness at these sites. Layer 2A is estimated to be approximately 150 m thick in Hole 504B and > 300 m thick in Hole 395A. Cyclic sequences of high-porosity pillows and low-porosity massive units in the uppermost 100 m of volcanics in Hole 395A result in large velocity heterogeneities which cause > 5 times more attenuation in this layer than in Hole 504B. In Hole 896A, by contrast, fewer pillows, more massive flows, and a greater volume of carbonate veins decrease the velocity heterogeneity and attenuation significantly over only 1 km distance from Hole 504B. We conclude that the attenuation in the extrusive volcanics of the ocean crust is largely controlled by variation in local heterogeneity and morphology as well as by subsequent hydrothermal alteration. The observed differences inQ⁻¹profiles and layer 2A thickness at these sites may be attributed to variations in the volume and duration of volcanic activity at mid-ocean spreading centers for these Pacific and Atlantic ridge segments.     

Global synchroneity of a positive carbon isotope excursion at the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary: Validation by calcareous microfossil biostratigraphy of the Yezo Group, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract Isotopic analyses of organic carbon from the mid-Cretaceous sequence in Hokkaido, Japan, revealed a 2‰ positive excursion of δ¹³C values at the biostratigraphically defined Cenomanian/Turonian (C/T) boundary recognized in the Yezo Group. The planktonic foraminiferal Whiteinella archaeocretacea Zone, which is known to bracket the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary elsewhere in the world, was recognized in the Oyubari area of central Hokkaido based on the distribution of commonly occurring planktonic foraminifera. In the Tappu area of northwestern Hokkaido, where diagnostic planktonic foraminifera are rare but calcareous nannoplankton occur commonly, the interval coeval with the W. archaeocretacea Zone can also be established by recognizing the conjoined last appearance levels of Corollithion kennedyi and Axopodorhabdus albianus, both calcareous nannoplankton species. Carbon isotope profiles exhibit a similar pattern with comparable peaks and troughs occurring in the same stratigraphic position in the sequences. A prominent, positive 2‰ shift of δ¹³C values, here called ‘δ¹³C spike’ occurs in the middle of the W. archaeocretacea Zone in the Oyubari area and just above the conjoined last appearances of the two above-mentioned nannoplankton taxa in the Tappu area. The Cenomanian/Turonian boundary can be drawn just above the peak position of the spike in both sections. The Rock Eval analyses and biomarker analyses of organic carbon indicate that organic carbon subjected to our isotope analyses is of terrestrial origin. Therefore, the observed 2%o shift should reflect changes in the isotopic composition of the atmospheric CO₂. A unique layer composed predominantly of sand-grain sized spumellarian Radiolaria is present immediately above the δ¹³C spike both in the Oyubari and Tappu areas, suggesting an increasing availability of both nutrients and silica in surface waters.     

Use of ERS-1 data for the extraction of flooded areas

The aim of this study, undertaken by Geoimage, was the setting up of a fast and precise location method of flooded areas over two sites in southern France. The use of satellite imagery seemed to be the appropriate tool for this study. Two types of flood had to be distinguished: (i) an oceanic flood, of long duration characteristic, and of low intensity on the Rhône Valley, (ii) a torrential flood, of short duration characteristic, but of high intensity, on the Var Valley. As we distributed of ERS-1 images over both sites, during the floods, we could test our methodology. A multitemporal approach using ERS-1 images in PRI mode, acquired before, during and after the flood, was set up. In the case of oceanic flood, the radar images characteristic answers, enabled us to extract and identify areas under water at each date of acquisition of the images. Therefore, if we distribute images at each step of the flood, its evolution can be precisely reconstituted (in terms of time and surface). In the case of torrential flood, it is more difficult to localize the flood with precision. This can be explained by the change of water surface, which has a large swell in this case. Radars are sensitive to these changes in the turbidity, an interaction occurs and thus the results were ‘turned off’. Nevertheless, simulation studies from other satellite data make possible the location of more or less strong hydrological risk accident areas. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Das Verhalten des Mikroorganismus Metallogenium spec. in einer kontinuierlichen Kultur

A series of 7 growth experiments with Metallogenium sp. was conducted in a flow-through reactor (chemostat). The results demonstrate that Metallogenium sp. grows under simulated lake water conditions in the laboratory. Metallogenium reacted in the chemostat in the same way as a microorganism. The growth rates of the microorganism Metallogenium were determined. It can be concluded therefore that the maximal growth rate at a temperature of 15 °C was 0.7 d⁻¹.     

Regionality of deep low-frequency earthquakes associated with subduction of the Philippine Sea plate along the Nankai Trough, southwest Japan

The Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatory recently logged three possible deep low-frequency earthquakes (LFEs) beneath eastern Kyushu, Japan, a region in which LFEs and low-frequency tremors have never before been identified. To assess these data, we analyzed band-pass filtered velocity seismograms and relocated LFEs and regular earthquakes using the double-difference method. The results strongly suggest that the three events were authentic LFEs, each at a depth of about 50 km. We also performed relocation analysis on LFEs recorded beneath the Kii Peninsula and found that these LFEs occurred near the northwest-dipping plate interface at depths of approximately 29–38 km. These results indicate that LFEs in southwest Japan occur near the upper surface of the subducting Philippine Sea (PHS) plate. To investigate the origin of regional differences in the occurrence frequency of LFEs in western Shikoku, the Kii Peninsula, and eastern Kyushu, we calculated temperature distributions associated with PHS plate subduction. Then, using the calculated thermal structures and a phase diagram of water dehydration for oceanic basalt, the water dehydration rate (wt.%/km), which was newly defined in this study, was determined to be 0.19, 0.12, and 0.08 in western Shikoku, the Kii Peninsula, and eastern Kyushu, respectively; that is, the region beneath eastern Kyushu has the lowest water dehydration rate value. Considering that the Kyushu–Palau Ridge that is subducting beneath eastern Kyushu is composed of tonalite, which is low in hydrous minerals, this finding suggests that the regionality may be related to the amount of water dehydration associated with subduction of the PHS plate and/or differences in LFE depths. Notable dehydration reactions take place beneath western Shikoku and the Kii Peninsula, where the depth ranges for dehydration estimated by thermal modeling agree well with those for the relocated LFEs. The temperature range in which LFEs occur in these regions is estimated to be 400–500 °C.     

The earliest stage of Izu rear‐arc volcanism revealed by drilling at Site U1437, International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 350

The International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 350 drilled between two Izu rear‐arc seamount chains at Site U1437 and recovered the first complete succession of rear‐arc rocks. The drilling reached 1806.5 m below seafloor. In situ hyaloclastites, which had erupted before the rear‐arc seamounts came into existence at this site, were recovered in the deepest part of the hole (～15–16 Ma). Here it is found that the composition of the oldest rocks recovered does not have rear‐arc seamount chain geochemical signatures, but instead shows affinities with volcanic front or some of the extensional zone basalts between the present volcanic front and the rear‐arc seamount chains. It is suggested that following the opening of the Shikoku back‐arc Basin, Site U1437 was a volcanic front or a rifting zone just behind the volcanic front, and was followed at ~ 9 Ma by the start of rear‐arc seamount chains volcanism. This geochemical change records variations in the subduction components with time, which might have followed eastward moving of hot fingers in the mantle wedge and deepening of the subducting slab below Site U1437 after the cessation of Shikoku back‐arc Basin opening.     

肺亚实性结节CT图像定量变化对浸润的判断

目的：定量评估肺亚实性结节（SSN）内非实性成分从基线到随访CT扫描之间的变化,以鉴别诊断有浸润表现的SSN,即微浸润性腺癌（MIA）和浸润性腺癌（IAC）。材料与方法：回顾性纳入有基线和复查CT,并有组织学结果的SSN。测量指标为SSN整体最大直径,非实性成分CT值均值、最大CT值、最小CT值和CT值标准差。以时间为因变量,用线性回归评估SSN测量值从基线到复查扫描的进展。采用受检者工作特征曲线（ROC）和曲线下面积（AUC）评价测量值年化改变对有浸润表现SSN的诊断能力。结果：71名患者（男32,女39）中纳入78个SSN,其中良性19个,原位腺癌10个,微浸润腺癌36个,浸润腺癌13个。所有SSN分类的直径均与时间呈显著正相关（P<0.05）。有浸润表现SSN的非实性成分CT值标准差与时间显著正相关（P=0.037）。良性和原位腺癌中,所有4个CT值指标与时间无相关性（P>0.05）。ROC分析提示CT值标准差年化改变可以明显诊断有浸润表现的SSN（P=0.014）,诊断敏感性、特异性和AUC分别为68.7％,77.8％和0.747。结论：在SSN的复查过程中,良性、原位腺癌、MIA和IAC的直径都有增加,评估CT值标准差的变化能够鉴别诊断有浸润表现的SSN（MIA和IAC）。