Observation of oceanic structure around Tosa-Bae southeast of Shikoku

The hydrographic observations in the vicinity of a seamount, the Tosa-Bae, southeast of Shikoku have been carried out two times in summer of 1991 and 1992. The temperature, salinity fields are observed by CTD and velocity fields are measured by ADCP. Results of these observation are presented in this paper. It is shown that salinity maximum water at a depth of 100 m is confined to a southeastern are of the Tosa-Bae, however, salinity minimum water is found in northern side of the Tosa-Bae. This indicates the westward intrusion of less saline water over northern slope. A positive correlation is detected between the estimated Rossby height (fL/N) and the observed height of Taylor Column estimated from the vertical change in the isotherms and isohalines. Almost both heights give smaller value than representative depth of bottom topography of the Tosa-Bae, it is indicated that the topographic effect of the Tosa-Bae is not fully reached to the surface. From the correlations between the vertical difference of geostrophic flow and that of ADCP velocity, ageostrophic flow component is detected.     

Stratigraphy and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of a Quaternary sequence along the Dong Nai River, southern Vietnam

The pre-Holocene Cenozoic sequence outcrops in the terrestrial part of the eastern margin of the Mekong Basin. However, the stratigraphy of the sequence is still unclear. Its detailed stratigraphy and chronology were therefore studied along the Dong Nai River, southern Vietnam, and the lithofacies and the relations among the formations were investigated from the outcrops. The ages of the deposits were determined by using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating.The Ba Mieu Formation was deposited about 176±52 ka during marine isotope stage (MIS) 7–6. The Thu Duc Formation was deposited about 97±27 ka during MIS 5. Both the Ba Mieu and Thu Duc formations are composed of fluvial and tidally influenced coastal deposits. The newly proposed Nhon Trach Formation was originally an eolian (blanket) deposit, but it has been partly reworked by fluvial processes. The Nhon Trach Formation was deposited about 10.9±4.7 ka, in the last part of the Pleistocene to the beginning of the Holocene. The OSL ages for the Ba Mieu, Thu Duc, and Nhon Trach formations are younger than the ages previously assigned to these formations.     

Hydration and refractive indices of Holocene tephra glass in Hokkaido, Northern Japan

Refractive indices of incompletely hydrated tephra glasses vary widely. Thus, glass refractive index is not a practical indicator for identifying Holocene tephras. Hydration near the surface of tephra glass shards can be removed by either hydrofluoric acid treatment or annealing for 12 h at 400°C. The annealing procedure is a particularly reliable and simple way to dehydrate tephra glasses. Standard deviations (s) of refractive indices for glasses after 12 h annealing are small (s=0.0014–0.0018), in contrast with untreated glasses (s=0.0034–0.0405). The refractive indices of dehydrated tephra glasses are 0.006–0.014 lower than those of the untreated (hydrated) glasses. Using the 400°C 12-h annealing procedure, values for the refractive indices of eight Holocene tephras in Hokkaido were obtained. These refractive indices are useful indicators for identification and correlation of Holocene tephras.     

A diatom‐inferred record of lake variability during the last 900 years in Lützow–Holm Bay,East Antarctica

Decadal–centennial‐scale climate variability in coastal Antarctica remains poorly understood due to the limited number of highly resolved, well‐dated records. We present a 900‐year, decadal‐scale reconstruction based on sedimentary diatoms from Lake Abi in Lützow–Holm Bay, East Antarctica. Hydrological change is inferred from diatom ecological preferences in conjunction with an existing regional training set and implies that lake water specific conductivity, depth and nitrogen availability are the key drivers of diatom assemblage change. Lake Abi underwent a series of subtle environmental changes related to these environmental variables, possibly driven by changes in catchment snow melt and the duration of seasonal ice cover. Ordination is used to trace the major patterns of change in the diatom community, with notable shifts identified between 470 and 400 and at ～350 cal a BP (where present = CE 1950). The frequency of environmental variability at Lake Abi is broadly consistent with a record of the Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation during the last millennium, but contrasts with the apparent climate stability elsewhere in eastern Antarctica. Further research is required to constrain the limnological and ecological responses of lakes in coastal Antarctica to obtain more rigorous palaeoclimate reconstructions from these sites of immense potential.     

The multiple chronological techniques applied to the Lake Suigetsu SG06 sediment core,central Japan

The varved sediment of Lake Suigetsu (central Japan) provides a valuable opportunity to obtain high‐resolution, multi‐proxy palaeoenvironmental data across the last glacial/interglacial cycle. In order to maximize the potential of this archive, a well‐constrained chronology is required. This paper outlines the multiple geochronological techniques being applied – namely varve counting, radiocarbon dating, tephrochronology (including argon–argon dating) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) – and the approaches by which these techniques are being integrated to form a single, coherent, robust chronology. Importantly, we also describe here the linkage of the floating Lake Suigetsu (SG06) varve chronology and the absolute (IntCal09 tree‐ring) time scale, as derived using radiocarbon data from the uppermost (non‐varved) portion of the core. This tie‐point, defined as a distinct (flood) marker horizon in SG06 (event layer B‐07–08 at 1397.4 cm composite depth), is thus derived to be 11 255 to 11 222 IntCal09 cal. years BP (68.2% probability range).     

Characteristics of canopy interception loss in Moso bamboo forests of Japan

In recent years, Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forests have rapidly expanded in Japan by replacing surrounding coniferous and/or broadleaved forests. To evaluate the change in water yield from forested areas because of this replacement, it is necessary to examine evapotranspiration for Moso bamboo forests. However, canopy interception loss, one of the major components of evapotranspiration in forested areas, has been observed in only two Moso bamboo forests in Japan with relatively high stem density (~7000 stems/ha). There are, in fact, many Moso bamboo forests with much lower stem density. Thus, we made precipitation (Pr), throughfall (Tf) and stemflow (Sf) observations for 1 year in a Moso bamboo forest with stem density of 3611 stems/ha and quantified canopy interception loss (Ic). Pr and Ic for the experimental period were 1636 and 166 mm, respectively, and Ic/Pr was 10%. The value was approximately the same as values for the other two Moso bamboo forests and lower than values for coniferous and broadleaved forests. On the other hand, Tf/Pr and Sf/Pr for our forest (86% and 4%, respectively) were approximately 10% of Pr larger and smaller than values for the other two Moso bamboo forests. These results suggest that the difference in stem density greatly affects precipitation partitioning (i.e. Tf/Pr and Sf/Pr) but does not greatly change Ic/Pr. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Observational Study of the Three-Dimensional Magnetic Field Structure and Mass Motion in Active Regions

Spectro-polarimetric observations of active regions were carried out in the spectral lines of Sii 10827.1 Å and Hei 10830 Å to study the three-dimensional magnetic field structure and associated plasma flow properties. Comparison of Sii and Hei magnetograms with the potential field model shows that a large fraction of the magnetic field is consistent with the potential field structure, by assuming that the height difference between the origin of the two lines is about 1200 km. The slope of the scatter plot between Sii and Hei magnetograms is 0.5, 0.76 in an emerging flux and a larger active region, respectively. These values are lower than the scatter plot slopes obtained from Kitt Peak photospheric and chromospheric magnetograms, in which case the corresponding values are 0.83 and 0.9, respectively. Considering the height difference between these two sets of chromospheric magnetograms, this implies that the magnetic field spreads out faster near the transition region heights. Dopplergrams obtained by determining the centroid of the asymmetric line profiles show that, in case of emerging flux region, the chromospheric upflow regions are located in the magnetic neutral line areas.     

Material flows of an evolving magnetic field

The possibility of material flows to trace out the magnetic field configuration is examined through numerical simulations. In particular, the evolution of a magnetic arcade due to differential motions of its footpoints is considered. With the use of numerical scheme based on the method of projected characteristics and newly derived proper boundary conditions, it is shown that material flows develop to outline the configuration of evolving magnetic field. Physical implications of the results are discussed.     

Dissolution of silica accompanied by oxygen consumption in the bottom layer of Japan’s central Seto Inland Sea in summer

Distribution of silicic acid (Si(OH)₄) in bottom water was investigated in the central Seto Inland Sea under stratified conditions in summer. Water samples were collected at 10 stations on April 24 and 25 and July 7 and 8, 2012. In July, stratification progressed, and a cold water mass (dome) of <20 °C appeared. In response to the cold dome, low oxygen content was observed in the bottom layer of the eastern part of Hiuchi-Nada. In this water mass site, apparent oxygen utilization values calculated from dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations increased, coinciding with increase of Si(OH)₄ concentrations from April to July. This suggests that increase of Si(OH)₄ [dissolution of biogenic silica (diatom frustules)] was accompanied by DO consumption due to degradation of organic matter such as plankton soft tissue. These findings suggest that a bacterial degradation of the organic matrix that covers diatom frustules could accelerate the dissolution of biogenic silica in bottom water under stratified conditions.