Numerical study of enhanced energy dissipation near a seamount

Using a two-dimensional primitive equation model, we examine nonlinear responses of a semidiurnal tidal flow impinging on a seamount with a background Garrett-Munk-like (GM-like) internal wavefield. It is found that horizontally elongated pancake-like structures of high vertical wavenumber near-inertial current shear are created both in the near-field (the region over the slope of the seamount) and far-field (the region over the flat bottom of the ocean). An important distinction is that the high vertical wavenumber near-inertial current shear is amplified only at mid-latitudes in the far-field (owing to a parametric subharmonic instability (PSI)), whereas it is amplified both at mid-and high-latitudes (above the latitude where PSI can occur) in the near-field. In order to clarify the generating mechanism for the strong shear in the near-field, additional numerical experiments are carried out with the GM-like background internal waves removed. The experiments show that the strong shear is also created, indicating that it is not caused by the interaction between the background GM-like internal waves and the semidiurnal internal tides. One possible explanation is proposed for the amplification of high vertical wavenumber near-inertial current shear in the near-field where tide residual flow resulting from tide-topography interaction plays an important role in transferring energy from high-mode internal tides to near-inertial internal waves.     

Water exchange and material exchange through a strait due to tidal flow

The process of material transport through a strait due to tidal flow is modeled, and then the differences between various concepts of tidal exchange which have been used hitherto are pointed out using this model. In particular, the exchange of water itself and the exchange of material should be distinguished even in the case where the material of interest is carried by the water,i.e., the material and water move as one body. Further, the physical meaning of “tidal trapping” (Fischeret al., 1979) is discussed by using the model in this paper. The relationship between the exchange ratio for the water itself (r) and the phase lag (δ) of material concentration to the tidal stream in a section of the strait, which is an important factor in tidal trapping, is obtained as follows: $$\delta = \tan ^{ - 1} \left( {\tfrac{1}{r} - 1} \right)$$ Observational results at Lake Hamana (Shizuoka Pref) and at Kabira Cove (Okinawa Pref.) support the validity of the above relationship.     

The starburst in the Wolf-Rayet nucleus of the Liner NGC 6764

We present high resolution millimeter, near-infrared, and optical data on the Wolf-Rayet nucleus of the Liner NGC 6764. The millimeter¹²CO(1-0) maps were obtained using the Nobeyama Millimeter Interferometer. Near-infrared images in the K-band continuum and the 2.12µm H₂, 2.06µm He I, 2.17µm Br, and 1.64µm [Fe II] lines were taken with the MPE imaging spectrometer FAST at the William Herschel Telescope on La Palma, Spain. The optical data were obtained at the 3.5m telescope on Calar Alto, Spain. The measurements indicate a strong concentration of molecular gas and a massive starburst at the nucleus of NGC 6764. The interferometric position velocity map of the nucleus shows the presence of distinct molecular cloud complexes with an apparently asymmetric velocity field shifted towards the blue with respect to the systemic velocity of 2420 km s^–1. The distribution of the 2.12µm H₂ line flux exhibits extensions approximately perpendicular to the bar which are in agreement with structural features in VLA radio maps and IRAM 30m maps of the¹²CO(2–1) line emission. This may represent evidence for combination of a nuclear outflow and a central oval distortion of gas predicted by gas dynamical calculations as a response to a bar like potential. A detailed investigation of the Wolf-Rayet-feature at 466 nm indicates that it is spatially extended on a scale of a few arcseconds.     

Natural and anthropogenic aquatic environmental changes reconstructed by paleolimnological analyses in Lake Kitaura,central Japan

In order to assess the recent anthropogenic environmental changes in Lake Kitaura, central Japan, changes during the past few centuries were reconstructed from results of radiometric and tephrochlonological age determination, magnetic susceptibility measurements, total organic carbon analyses, total nitrogen analyses and fossil diatom analyses on a sediment core from the lake. A total of six major and sub-zones are recognized according to the diatom fossil assemblages, and we discuss aquatic environmental change in Lake Kitaura mainly based on these diatom assemblage change. Zone Ia and Zone Ib (older than AD 1707) are marine to brackish. In Zone IIa (AD␣1707–AD 1836), most of the brackish diatoms disappeared, and were replaced by freshwater species indicating a decrease in salinity. We interpret the salinity decrease in Zone I–IIa as a sea-level fall during the Little Ice Age. The salinity of the lake decreased to near freshwater conditions in Zone IIb (AD 1836–AD 1970), which could arise from alteration in River Tone or development of a sandspit in the mouth of River Tone in addition to sea-level change. In Zone IIIa (AD 1970–AD 1987), the diatom assemblage indicates a freshwater environment, and sedimentation rates increase rapidly. These changes reflect sedimentary environment change and an ecosystem transition due to the construction of the tide gate. In Zone IIIb (AD 1987–AD 2002), the diatom flux (valves cm⁻² y⁻¹) increased and species composition changed. The changes in Zone IIIb show a good agreement with limnological monitoring data gathered from the lake. These paleolimnological data suggest that the recent human-induced changes of the aquatic environment of the lake after the 1970s exceed rates during the period concerned in this study.     

LATE CENOZOIC GOLD VEINS AND VOLCANIC COLLAPSE TECTONICS IN THE ISLAND ARC JUNCTIONS OF THE JAPANESE ISLANDS

0 Introduction The Japanese Islands consist of five volcanic arcs (Fig.1).The North-East and SouthWest Japan arcs together form the Honshu arc,to which the Kurile arc joins at Hokkaido,whereas the Izu-Mariana arc joins at Izu-Fossa Magna,and the Ryukyu arc joins at Kyushu.These regions where volcanic arcs converge,are termed "island arc junctions".     

Three-dimensional image of the anisotropic bodies beneath central Honshu, Japan

Shear-wave splitting from local deep earthquakes is investigated to clarify the volume and the location of two anisotropic bodies in the mantle wedge beneath central Honshu, Japan. We observe a spatial variation in splitting parameters depending on the combination of sources and receivers, nearly N–S fast in the northern region, nearly E–W fast in the southern region and small time delays in the eastern region. Using forward modelling, two models with 30 and 10 per cent anisotropy are tested by means of a global search for the locations of anisotropic bodies with various volumes. The optimum model is obtained for 30 per cent anisotropy, which means a 5 per cent velocity difference between fast and slow polarized waves. The northern anisotropic body has a volume of 1.00° (longitude) × 0.5° (latitude) × 75 km (depth), with the orientation of the symmetry axis being N20°E. The southern anisotropic body has a volume of 1.25° × 1.25° × 100 km with the symmetry axis along N95°E. Our results show that the anisotropic bodies are located in low-velocity and low- Q regions of the mantle. This, together with petrological data and the location of volcanoes in the arc, suggests that the possible cause of the anisotropy is the preferred alignment of cracks filled with melt.     

Evolution processes of Ordovician–Devonian arc system in the South‐Kitakami Massif and its relevance to the Ordovician ophiolite pulse

The South Kitakami Massif is one of the oldest geological domains in Japan having Silurian strata with acidic pyroclastic rocks and Ordovician–Silurian granodiorite–tonalite basement, suggesting that it was matured enough to develop acidic volcanisms in the Silurian period. On the northern and western margin of the South Kitakami Massif, an Ordovician arc ophiolite (Hayachine–Miyamori Ophiolite) and high‐pressure and low‐temperature metamorphic rocks (Motai metamorphic rocks) exhumed sometime in the Ordovician–Devonian periods are distributed. Chronological, geological, and petrochemical studies on the Hayachine–Miyamori Ophiolite, Motai metamorphic rocks, and other early Paleozoic geological units of the South Kitakami Massif are reviewed for reconstruction of the South Kitakami arc system during Ordovician to Devonian times with supplementary new data. The reconstruction suggests a change in the convergence polarity from eastward‐ to westward‐dipping subduction sometime before the Late Devonian period. The Hayachine–Miyamori Ophiolite was developed above the eastward‐dipping subduction through three distinctive stages. Two separate stages of overriding plate extension inducing decompressional melting with minor involvement of slab‐derived fluid occurred before and after a stage of melting under strong influence of slab‐derived fluids. The first overriding plate extension took place in the back‐arc side forming a back‐arc basin. The second one took place immediately before the ophiolite exhumation and near the fore‐arc region. We postulate that the second decompressional melting was triggered by slab breakoff, which was preceded by slab rollback inducing trench‐parallel wedge mantle flow and non‐steady fluid and heat transport leaving exceptionally hydrous residual mantle. The formation history of the Hayachine–Miyamori Ophiolite implies that weaker plate coupling may provide preferential conditions for exhumation of very hydrous mantle. Very hydrous peridotites involved in arc magmatism have not yet been discovered except for in the Cambrian–Ordovician periods, suggesting its implications for global geodynamics, such as the thermal state and water circulation in the mantle.     

Life habit of vesicomyid clam,Calyptogena soyoae,and hydrogen sulfide concentration in interstitial waters in Sagami Bay,Japan

In and around the beds of vesicomyid clam (Calytogena soyoae) located off Hatsushima Island in Sagami Bay, central Japan, hydrogen sulfide concentration in bottom water and interstitial water was measured every 10 cm from just above seafloor to 40 cm deep usingin situ separative dialysis bags. While hydrogen sulfide over 0.01 mmol/kg was not measured from the seawater just above the dense clam beds, the concentration of hydrogen sulfide increased rapidly below 10 cm deep. The results indicate that the habit of the clam is correlated with high concentration of hydrogen sulfide contained in pore waters of sediments between depths of 10 and 20 cm from the bottom surface. Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide ranging from approximately 0.05 mmol/kg to 0.6 mmol/kg might be suitable requirement for the habitat ofC. soyoae.