Global shearing modes of galactic disks

A new scheme has been devised to calculate discrete unstable global shearing spiral modes of gaseous disk models of galaxies. The scheme makes use of the Legendre expansion of eigen functions and the problem of stability analysis is reduced to an eigenvalue problem of an infinite matrix. The spiral patterns of these shearing wave solutions of linearized equations change their form in the course of time due to the differential rotation of the equilibrium disk. These shearing wave solutions are presumed to have intermediate characteristics between so-called density-waves and material arms. Comparison between these shearing modes and the non-shearing normal modes for a series of disk models is presented.     

A new, automatic hydrothermal fluid sampler using a shape-memory alloy

A new hydrothermal fluid sampler has been developed to provide more maneuverability in underwater operation. The sampler characteristically employs a shape-memory alloy, which senses high temperature and actuates the suction mechanism. A shape-memory alloy is also used to switch the intake valve of the sampler, the intention being to avoid missampling when the inlet is in low temperature water. Prototype samplers were designed to collect the fluids hotter than 80°C. Test sampling was performed at hydrothermal vents (1372–1374 m deep) in the submarine volcano, Suiyo Seamount, Izu-Bonin Arc, northwestern Pacific. Observed fluid temperature was between 138 and 298°C, while the ambient seawater temperature was 3.1°C. Each prototype collected about 100 ml fluid as designed. The magnesium concentration in the samples indicated a seawater content of 47.5–90.8%, which indicates the entrainment of ambient seawater. Microscopic observatinn revealed the occurrence of microorganisms in the sample fluids at a population density of 10⁵ to 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, which is 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those in seawater at that depth. The use of the newly developed fluid sampler will greatly facilitate the collection of vent-associated microorganisms, which are of potential biological and biotechnological interest.     

The Tokyo PMC catalog 85

The catalog of positions of 1007 stars (792 FK4 and FK4S stars, 57 OB stars, 49 NPZT stars, and 109 SAO stars) is presented. They were observed during the period from December 1984 to September 1985 with the Tokyo Photoelectric Meridian Circle (Tokyo PMC). The positions in the catalog are referred to the equinox and equator of J2000, and are based on the FK4 system. The internal errors of a single observation were estimated to be ( cos, )=(0.16, 0.19), whereas the mean internal errors of the catalog positions were (0.08, 0.08) for FK4 stars and (0.09, 0.11) for FK4S stars. A comparison of the positions of the FK4 stars in the present catalog with those of the FK4 catalog shows significant differences cos and in some declination zones. Some of those differences are commonly found in other recent catalogs. Thus they may be considered to be real systematic errors in the FK4 system. Neither significant magnitude nor color equations exist in the Tokyo PMC 85 catalog.     

Neural dynamic modelling on earthquake magnitude series

Earthquake magnitude prediction is of vital importance for human safety. The earthquake is a very complicated and non-linear dynamic process. It cannot be described adequately by any deterministic models. In this paper a neural dynamic modelling for earthquake magnitude prediction is reported. Historical records of earthquake magnitude series are used to construct the optimal non-linear dynamic model, and the consequent outcome of the earthquake behaviour is then predicted by this model. In turn, the latest recorded data set can be fed back to improve the accuracy of the neural dynamic model. The modelling of experiments of three earthquake magnitude series in China and Japan and their extrapolated predictions are included in this paper. The values predicted by extrapolation are in good agreement with the historical data.     

Diffuse Emission of CO2 from Showa-Shinzan, Hokkaido, Japan: A Sign of Volcanic Dome Degassing

Two soil CO₂ efflux surveys were carried out in September 1999 and June 2002 to study the spatial distribution of diffuse CO₂ degassing and estimate the total CO₂ output from Showa-Shinzan volcanic dome, Japan. Seventy-six and 81 measurements of CO₂ efflux were performed in 1999 and 2002, respectively, covering most of Showa-Shinzan volcano. Soil CO₂ efflux data showed a wide range of values up to 552 g m^-2 d^-1. Carbon isotope signatures of the soil CO₂ ranged from -0.9‰ to -30.9‰, suggesting a mixing between different carbon reservoirs. Most of the study area showed CO₂ efflux background values during the 1999 and 2002 surveys (B = 8.2 and 4.4 g m^-2 d^-1, respectively). The spatial distribution of CO₂ efflux anomalies for both surveys showed a good correlation with the soil temperature, indicating a similar origin for the extensive soil degassing generated by condensation processes and fluids discharged by the fumarolic system of Showa-Shinzan. The total diffuse CO₂ output of Showa-Shinzan was estimated to be about 14.0–15.6 t d^-1 of CO₂ for an area of 0.53 km².     

Recent developments in seismically isolated buildings in Japan

The Building Standard Law of Japan and related Enforcement Order and Notifications have been substantially revised since the year 2000 to introduce a performance-based regulatory and deregulation system for building control systems. Up to then, time-history analyses were mandatory for isolated buildings and had to be specially approved by the Minster of the Ministry of Construction (MOC). Simplified design procedures based on the equivalent linear method for seismically isolated buildings have been issued as “Notification 2009 — Structural calculation procedure for buildings with seismic isolation” from MOC, and are now integrated into the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MLIT). Along with Notification 2009, “Notification 1446 of year 2000 — Standard for specifications and test methods for seismic isolation devices” was also issued. Buildings with heights equal to or less than 60m and that are designed according to these Notifications, including base isolated buildings, only need approval from local building officials, and no longer require the special approval of the Minister of MLIT. This paper summarizes: 1) some statistics related to buildings with seismic isolation completed up to the end of 2001; 2) simplified design procedures required by Notification 2009 of year 2000; and 3) performance of seismic isolation devices required by Notification 1446 of year 2000.     

A three‐component end‐member analysis of streamwater hydrochemistry in a small Japanese forested headwater catchment

Intensive water sampling in conjunction with hydrological observations was conducted during three different rainstorms in order to understand the effects of rainfall events on the temporal variation of streamwater chemistry in a small headwater forest catchment. Concentrations of Na⁺ and SO₄^2? decreased as the discharge rate increased. Hydrograph separation of the components was made using the three‐component model based on the end‐members mixing analysis (EMMA). The three end‐members were:

• 1 the groundwater in the saturated zone that prescribes the chemistry of the baseflow;
• 2 the throughfall that dilutes the streamwater;
• 3 the groundwater in the transient saturated zone prescribed, which was dependent on the groundwater level.

When the groundwater level was lower, only the two components, groundwater in the saturated zone and throughfall, affected the streamwater chemistry. When the groundwater level rose and the saturated zone spread, the groundwater in the transient saturated zone became the third component. When the groundwater in the transient saturated zone contributed to the discharge, this component became the dominant source and the streamwater chemistry was affected by the groundwater chemistry in the transient saturated zone. When this component was discharged as the saturation overland flow, the streamwater chemistry was greatly affected by this component. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Volume transports proceeding to the Kuroshio Extension region and recirculating in the Shikoku Basin

The volume transport of the Kuroshio, the western boundary current of the North Pacific subtropical gyre, varies vigorously due to merging of disturbances propagating from the entire North Pacific. Taking into account the recirculation in the Shikoku Basin by the zonal observation line at 30°N to the west of the Izu–Ogasawara Ridge, we estimated the volume transport in the top 1,000 m layer toward the Kuroshio Extension region. The volume transport of the local recirculation gyre in the Shikoku Basin increases associated with the westward extension of the gyre, particularly in the period of the large meandering path of the Kuroshio south of Japan. Meanwhile, most of the transport variations toward the Kuroshio Extension region correspond to those of the Kuroshio transport on the continental slope south of Japan, which vary independently of those of the recirculation gyre.     

Trace Element Analysis of NIST SRM 614 and 616 Glass Reference Materials by Laser Ablation Microprobe-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

Fifty elements in NIST SRM 614 and 616 glass reference materials were determined by laser ablation microprobe-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS). The values determined for NIST SRM 614 agreed well with the NIST-certified and information values (mean relative difference ± 3.6%), except for B, Sc and Sb. The values determined for NIST SRM 616 agreed with the NIST-certified and information values within a mean relative difference of ± 1.5%, except for B, Sc and Ga. In addition, at an 80 μm sampling scale, NIST SRM 614 and 616 glass discs were homogeneous for trace elements within the observed precisions of 5 and 15% (mean), respectively. Detection limits were in the range 0.01 - 0.3 μg g⁻¹ for elements of lower mass numbers (amu < 80) and 1 - 10 ng g⁻¹ for heavy elements (amu > 80). Detection at the sub ng g⁻¹ level is possible for most of the heavy elements by using an ablation pit size larger than 10 0 μm.     

Biogeochemistry of nitrous oxide in groundwater in a forested ecosystem elucidated by nitrous oxide isotopomer measurements

The biological and physical controls on microbial processes that produce and consume N₂O in soils are highly complex. Isotopomer ratios of N₂O, with abundance of ¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O, ¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O, and ¹⁴N¹⁴N¹⁸O relative to ¹⁴N¹⁴N¹⁶O, are promising for elucidation of N₂O biogeochemistry in an intact ecosystem. Site preference, the nitrogen isotope ratio of the central nitrogen atom minus that of the terminal nitrogen atom, is useful to distinguish between N₂O via hydroxylamine oxidation and N₂O via nitrite reduction.We applied this isotopomer analysis to a groundwater system in a temperate coniferous-forested ecosystem. Results of a previous study at this location showed that the N₂O concentration in groundwater varied greatly according to groundwater chemistry, i.e. NO₃⁻, DOC, and DO, although apportionment of N₂O production to nitrification or denitrification was ambiguous. Our isotopic analysis (δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O) of NO₃⁻ and N₂O implies that denitrification is the dominant production process of N₂O, but definitive information is not derived from δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O analysis because of large variations in isotopic fractionations during production and consumption of N₂O. However, the N₂O site preference and the difference in δ¹⁵N between NO₃⁻ and N₂O indicate that nitrification contributes to total N₂O production and that most measured N₂O has been subjected to further N₂O reduction to N₂. The implications of N₂O biogeochemistry derived from isotope and isotopomer data differ entirely from those derived from conventional concentration data of DO, NO₃⁻, and N₂O. That difference underscores the need to reconsider our understanding of the N cycle in the oxic-anoxic interface.