Magnetic Reconnection, Turbulence, and Collisionless Shock     

Hantao Ji  Russell Kulsrud  Masaaki Yamada 《Astrophysics and Space Science》2005,298(1-2):219-226

A short summary of recent progress in measuring and understanding turbulence during magnetic reconnection in laboratory plasmas is given. Magnetic reconnection is considered as a primary process to dissipate magnetic energy in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. A central question concerns why the observed reconnection rates are much faster than predictions made by classical theories, such as the Sweet–Parker model based on MHD with classical Spitzer resistivity. Often, the local resistivity is conjectured to be enhanced by turbulence to accelerate reconnection rates either in the context of the Sweet–Parker model or by facilitating setup of the Pestchek model. Measurements at a dedicated laboratory experiment, called MRX or Magnetic Reconnection Experiment, have indicated existence of strong electromagnetic turbulence in current sheets undergoing fast reconnection. The origin of the turbulence has been identified as right-hand polarized whistler waves, propagating obliquely to the reconnecting field, with a phase velocity comparable to the relative drift velocity. These waves are consistent with an obliquely propagating electromagnetic lower-hybrid drift instability driven by drift speeds large compared to the Alfven speed in high-beta plasmas. Interestingly, this instability may explain electromagnetic turbulence also observed in collisionless shocks, which are common in energetic astrophysical phenomena.  相似文献   

Real-time difference imaging analysis of MOA Galactic bulge observations during 2000     

I.A. Bond  F. Abe  R.J. Dodd  J.B. Hearnshaw  M. Honda  J. Jugaku  P.M. Kilmartin  A. Marles  K. Masuda  Y. Matsubara  Y. Muraki  T. Nakamura  G. Nankivell  S. Noda  C. Noguchi  K. Ohnishi  N.J. Rattenbury  M. Reid  To. Saito  H. Sato  M. Sekiguchi  J. Skuljan  D.J. Sullivan  T. Sumi  M. Takeuti  Y. Watase  S. Wilkinson  R. Yamada  T. Yanagisawa  P.C.M. Yock 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2001,327(3):868-880

We describe observations carried out by the MOA group of the Galactic bulge during 2000 that were designed to detect efficiently gravitational microlensing of faint stars in which the magnification is high and/or of short duration. These events are particularly useful for studies of extrasolar planets and faint stars. Approximately 17 deg² were monitored at a sampling rate of up to six times per night. The images were analysed in real time using a difference imaging technique. 20 microlensing candidates were detected, of which eight were alerted to the microlensing community whilst in progress. Approximately half of the candidates had high magnifications (≳10), at least one had very high magnification (≳50), and one exhibited a clear parallax effect. The details of these events are reported here, together with details of the on-line difference imaging technique. Some nova-like events were also observed and these are described, together with one asteroid.  相似文献   

In situ strength measurements on natural upper-mantle minerals   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Junji Yamamoto  Jun-ichi Ando  Hiroyuki Kagi  Toru Inoue  Akihiro Yamada  Daisuke Yamazaki  Tetsuo Irifune 《Physics and Chemistry of Minerals》2008,35(5):249-257

Using in situ strength measurements at pressures up to 10 GPa and at room temperature, 400, 600, and 700°C, we examined rheological properties of olivine, orthopyroxene, and chromian-spinel contained in a mantle-derived xenolith. Mineral strengths were estimated using widths of X-ray diffraction peaks as a function of pressure, temperature, and time. Differential stresses of all minerals increase with increasing pressure, but they decrease with increasing temperature because of elastic strain on compression and stress relaxation during heating. During compression at room temperature, all minerals deform plastically at differential stress of 4–6 GPa. During subsequent heating, thermally induced yielding is observed in olivine at 600°C. Neither orthopyroxene nor spinel shows complete stress relaxation, but both retain some stress even at 700°C. The strength of the minerals decreases in the order of chromian-spinel ≈ orthopyroxene > olivine for these conditions. This order of strength is consistent with the residual pressure of fluid inclusions in mantle xenoliths.  相似文献   

Velocity variation of the Kuroshio during formation of the small meander south of Kyûshû     

Yoshihiko Sekine  Yoshiaki Toba 《Journal of Oceanography》1981,37(2):87-93

Historical GEK data provided by JODC is analyzed to investigate the characteristic variation in velocity of the Kuroshio, with special reference to the formation of small meanders south of Kyûshû. It is found that, during or prior to the period of small meander formation, there is a tendency for an abrupt increase in the current velocity west of Yaku-Shima (Yaku-Island), representing an increase in the main current intensity upstream. Also, there are apparent time lags in the variation in current velocity along the path of the Kuroshio between the upstream and the downstream regions of the small meander area. Namely, it is apparent that the increase in Kuroshio velocity in the Satsunan Strait procedes that offshore of Shikoku during the period of the small meander formation, by the order of one month. These results indicate that a nonlinear effect due to the increase in current velocity is a possible cause of the generation of small meanders.  相似文献   

Observation of oceanic structure around Tosa-Bae southeast of Shikoku     

Yoshihiko Sekine  Haruki Ohwaki  Motoya Nakagawa 《Journal of Oceanography》1994,50(5):543-558

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.  相似文献   

Thermal structures in the Kuroshio extension measured with a towed thermistor chain     

Yoshihiko Sekine  Fukuji Yamada  Yoshiaki Toba  Eugene C. Lafond 《Journal of Oceanography》1994,50(4):391-401

Two-dimensional temperature data observed by use of a 275 meter towed thermistor chain deployed from an oceanographic research vessel USS MARYSVILLE, which cruised with a speed of 6.2 knots in July 1966 across the Kuroshio Extension in the North Pacific, are investigated. Two-dimensional variations of the distribution of the isotherms along the ship's track are analyzed with special reference to their slope, wavelength and wave height. The results show that the slope and wave height of isotherms have a tendency to increase as the temperature decreases. Even if the contribution of wave heights smaller than 1.5 m is neglected, i.e., contribution of large scale slope with a horizontal scale of 5–30 km is subtracted, this tendency is still detected. In contrast to this, the wavelength evaluated by the crest to crest method has no dependency on the temperature. Power spectrum of the isotherm depth is proportional tok ^–1.87 for 13°C andk ^–2.13 for 27°C, wherek is the wave number. It is shown that the spectra of warmer isotherms are relatively well approximated by –2 power law (Garrett and Munk spectrum) for internal waves rather than the –5/3 power law (Kolmogorov spectrum) for three dimensional isotropic turbulence.  相似文献   

Wind-driven circulation in the Japan Sea and its influence on the branching of the Tsushima Current     

Yoshihiko Sekine 《Progress in Oceanography》1986,17(3-4)

Seasonal variation in the wind-driven circulation in the Japan Sea is studied with reference to the branching of the Tsushima Current using a two-layer model with simplified bottom and coastal topography. The system is driven by wind stress, an inflow corresponding to the Tsushima Current and by the two outflows corresponding to the Tsugaru and Soya Currents.In the first phase, an annual mean wind stress is imposed and a quasi-stationary state is obtained. In the next phase, a seasonally varying wind stress is imposed. Seasonal variation in the wind stress plays an important role in the branching system of the Tsushima Current. In winter, an intensified western boundary current with a prominent inner circulation is formed as a result of a strong wind stress of winter monsoon with negative wind stress curl. In spring to summer, the western boundary current is weak, but the topographic branch along the Japanese coast is intensified. The weak western boundary current is caused by weak wind stress with positive wind stress curl, which induces cyclonic Sverdrup flow in the Japan Sea and causes its western boundary current to flow in the opposite direction to the prescribed northward boundary inflow current. The topographic branch is strongest in late spring and moves offshore in summer, in agreement with the central branch denoted by Kawabe (1982b). Some of the observational features of the Tsushima Current are successfully simulated.  相似文献   

Photo-inhibition of phytoplankton photosynthesis as a function of exposure time     

Masayuki Takahashi  Sooji Shimura  Yukuya Yamaguchi  Yoshihiko Fujita 《Journal of Oceanography》1971,27(2):43-50

The photo-inhibition of phytoplankton photosynthesis at higher intensities was examined with a cultured marine diatom,Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and natural samples. The question was to determine whether photo-inhibition results from excretion of photosynthetic products from cell or from an actual decrease in photosynthetic rate. P. tricornutum cultured at 15 klux showed very little photo-inhibition up to 70 klux, and, in the sample cultured at 1 klux, most marked photo-inhibition was observed in 3 hours experiment. Extracellular release was less than 30% of particulate fixation, and did not show any extreme increase to supplement photosynthesis depression at higher light intensities. When the photosynthesis was measured during 10 minutes, both samples showed no photo-inhibition. The photosynthesis by low light sample lost the linearity of time-course with prolonged exposure at high light intensity. Observed photo-inhibition, therefore, we explained with the actual decrease in photosynthetic rate. Similar photo-inhibition could be seen in marine phytoplankton samples concentrated by filtration.  相似文献   

Outflow of the Intermediate Oyashio Water from Sagami Bay to the Shikoku Basin     

Yoshihiko Sekine  Keita Uchiyama 《Journal of Oceanography》2002,58(4):531-537

Since the Intermediate Oyashio Water (IOW) gradually accumulates in Sagami Bay, it can reasonably be supposed that the IOW also flows out from Sagami Bay, even though it may be altered by mixing with other waters. We have occasionally observed a water less than 34.2 psu with a potential density of 26.8 at the southeastern area off Izu Peninsula in July 1993 by the training vessel Seisui-maru of Mie University. Observational data supplied by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Kanagawa Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station show that the IOW of less than 34.1 psu was observed at northern stations of the line PT (KJ) off the Boso Peninsula and to the east of Oshima in the late spring 1993. Based upon these observations, it is concluded that the IOW flows out from Sagami Bay into the Shikoku Basin along southeastern area off the Izu Peninsula. The less saline water (<34.2 psu) was also observed to the west of Miyake-jima during the same cruise, and the westward intrusion of IOW from south of the Boso Peninsula to the Shikoku Basin through the gate area of the Kuroshio path over the Izu Ridge was detected. This event indicated that the IOW branched south of the Boso Peninsula and flowed into Sagami Bay and/or into the gate area over the Izu Ridge. The southward intrusion of IOW into the south of the Boso Peninsula is discussed in relation to the latitudinal location of the main axes of the Kuroshio and the Oyashio. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

Upwelling plumes in sagami bay and adjacent water around the Izu Islands,Japan     

Masayuki Takahashi  Isao Koike  Takashi Ishimaru  Toshiro Saino  Ken Furuya  Yoshihiko Fujita  Akihiko Hattori  Shun-ei Ichimura 《Journal of Oceanography》1980,36(4):209-216

Water plumes, 20 km long or less, identified by low temperature, high salinity and high nutrient concentrations, were observed on the eastern side of Izu Islands where the Kuroshio Current or its branch flowed eastward. The T-S diagrams and the vertical profiles of oceanographic variables indicated that the water plumes resulted from the upwelling of subsurface water. A newly formed plume, characterized by a sharp temperature front and high nutrient concentrations, contained less chlorophyll than did old plumes. It is suggested that the upwelling plumes are maintained for a period long enough to allow luxuriant growth of phytoplankton.  相似文献