Estimating of gas transfer velocity using triple isotopes of dissolved oxygen

The atmosphere-ocean exchange of climatically important gases is determined by the transfer velocity (k) and concentration gradient across the interface. Based on observations in the northwestern subarctic Pacific and Sagami Bay, we report here the results of the first ever application of the natural abundance of triple isotopes of dissolved oxygen (¹⁶O, ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O) for direct estimation of k and propose a new relationship with wind speed. The k values estimated from nighttime variations in oxygen isotopes are found to be higher than the direct estimations at low wind speed (<5 m s⁻¹) and lower at high wind speeds (>13 m s⁻¹) and showed significant spatial variability. The method presented here can be used to derive seasonal and spatial variations in k and the influence of surface conditions on the value, leading to improved estimates of biogenic/anthropogenic gas exchange at the air-sea interface.     

DISTRIBUTION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS AND URANIUM IN VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF ORDINARY CHONDRITES

Rare earth elements (REE) and uranium were studied for their distributions in various component phases of four ordinary chondrites, Kesen (H4), Richardton (H5), Bruderheim (L6), and Saint Séverin (LL6). A selective dissolution method was applied for the phase fractionation. The REE were analysed by neutron activation analysis, and U was determined by neutron-induced fission tracks. The present study revealed that both REE and U are highly enriched in the Ca-phosphate minerals with different enrichment factors, implying chemical fractionation between them. The phosphates seem to be responsible for more than 80% of the light REE in all chondrites. On the other hand, only 20–40% of the total U resides in the Ca-phosphates. This difference in enrichments might have been caused through the levels of metamorphic activity on the meteoritic parent bodies.     

1-G model tests and hollow cylindrical torsional shear experiments on seismic residual displacements of fill dams from the viewpoint of seismic performance-based design

This paper concerns technological efforts for the general acceptance of performance-based seismic design principle of geotechnical structures. Among many problems to be solved, a particular emphasis was placed on the prediction of residual displacement that remains after a strong earthquake. Because of the complicated behavior of soils undergoing cyclic loading, the prediction is often either complicated/costly or not very accurate. The aim of this study is to examine the capability of existing prediction measures and propose some future scopes. To achieve these goals, shaking table model tests and laboratory shear tests were conducted by taking fill dams as an example target structure. It is concluded that performance-based design is possible if the necessary time and cost are spent and if the required accuracy of prediction is reasonable.     

Experimental studies of He and Ar degassing during rock fracturing

We studied degassing of He and Ar from granite, basalt and volcanic tuff samples which were subjected to uniaxial compression. From the samples which were fractured in the dilatant region He was always degassed, while degassing of Ar dependent not only on the dilatancy, but also on the type of rock and the compressional conditions such as wet, room dry or vacuum conditions. It is concluded that degassing of rare gases from the compressed samples depends primarily on the generation of new surface area by dilatancy.     

Relationship between sinking organic matter and minerals in the shallow zone of the western Subarctic Pacific

We used time-series sediment trap data for four major components, organic matter and ballast minerals (CaCO₃, opal, and lithogenic matter) from 150, 540, and 1000 m in the western subarctic Pacific (WSAP), where opal is the predominant mineral in sinking particles, to develop four simple models for settling particles, including the “ballast model”. The ballast model is based on the concept that most of the organic matter “rain” in the deep sea is carried by the minerals. These four models are designed to simultaneously reproduce the flux of each major component of settling particles at 540 and 1000 m by using the data for each component at 150 m as initial values. Among the four models, the ballast model, which considers the sinking velocity increase with depth, was identified as the best using the Akaike information criterion as a measure of the model fit to data. This model successfully reproduced the flux of organic matter at 540 and 1000 m, indicating that the ballast model concept works well in the shallow zone of the WSAP on a seasonal timescale. This also suggests that ballast minerals not only physically protect the organic matter from degradation during the settling process but also enhance the sinking velocity and reduce the degree of decomposition.     

The statistical distributions for the elevation,velocity and acceleration of the surface of wind waves

Water surface elevations(t), vertical surface velocities and vertical surface acceleration of wind-generated waves have been measured in a laboratory wind wave channel by using resistance-type wave gauges combined with an electronic differentiation circuits. Probability distributions of the values of(t), , and have been determined from the wave records.In an initial stage of wave generation,i.e., when wind waves are generated at short fetches and low wind speeds, the observed distributions for(t), and are appreciately good fit to the distributions given by successive sum of a Gram-Charlier series, which has been derived following the formulation ofLonguet-Higgins (1963), by taking the weakly nonlinear effect into account.However, when wind waves develop with increasing wind speeds and fetches, the observed distributions deviate gradually from the Gram-Charlier series. Particularly, the deviations are remarkable for the distribution of .When the wind speed increases, the observed distributions of(t), and show the following characteristics: (i) the skewnesses of the distributions of(t) and decrease slightly, (ii) the skewness of changes, at some wind speed, from positive small values to relatively large negative values, (iii) the kurtosis of the distribution of(t) decreases slightly but that of increases slightly and these characteristics seem to depend not so much on fetches, (iv) the kurtosis of the distribution of increases rapidly.     

Cosmic-ray-produced40K and50V in the metal phase of chondrites

Cosmic-ray-produced⁴⁰K in the metal phase of six chondrites and⁵⁰V in that of one chondrite were determined using a surface ionization mass spectrometer. The²²Ne_total/⁴⁰K_metal ratios of the chondrites are explained in part by shielding effects during cosmic-ray irradiation. The wide variation of this ratio in some groups of meteorites is explained in terms of partial loss of rare-gas nuclides. Radiation ages for the chondrites were determined using⁴⁰K measurements and production-rate estimates from thick target calculations.     

Rare earth abundances in chondritic phosphates and their implications for early stage chronologies

The abundances of nine rare earth elements (REE) in phosphate separates from three ordinary chondrites, Saint Séverin (LL6), Bruderheim (L6) and Richardton (H5), were measured by instrumental neutron activation analysis. All REE except europium are enriched in the phosphate minerals (merrillite and chlorapatite) by factor of 200–300 relative to the chondritic average, whereas Eu is enriched by a factor of 40–50. Electron microprobe analysis showed no significant differences in phosphate mineral composition among the three chondrites studied, though the relative proportions of two minerals varied.According to our data, REE are enriched by almost the same factor in merrillite and chlorapatite in the Bruderheim and, with less certainty, in the other two chondrites. This behavior of REE contrast with that of the actinoid elements, Th, U and Pu, which are also enriched in phosphate but are fractionated between merrillite and chlorapatite. Since Pu and REE show different fractionation behavior in chondritic phosphates, it may be difficult to use REE as stand-ins for Pu in²⁴⁴Pu chronology.