Ocean general circulation model developed by GFDL on the basis of MOM4 of FMS are examined and evaluated in order to elucidate the global ocean status. The model employs a tripolar grid system to resolve the Arctic Ocean without polar filtering. The meridional resolution gradually increases from 1/3˚ at the equator to 1˚ at 30˚N(S). Other horizontal grids have the constant 1˚ and vertical grids with 50 levels. The ocean is also coupled to the GFDL sea ice model. It considers tidal effects along with fresh water and chlorophyll concentration. This model is integrated for a 100 year duration with 96 cpu forced by German OMIP and CORE dataset. Levitus, WOA01 climatology, serial CTD observations, WOCE and Argo data are all used for model validation. General features of the world ocean circulation are well simulated except for the western boundary and coastal region where strong advection or fresh water flux are dominant. However, we can find that information concerning chlorophyll and sea ice, newly applied to MOM4 as surface boundary condition, can be used to reduce a model bias near the equatorial and North Pacific ocean.
The interdecadal variation of wintertime blocking frequency over the Siberia (60˚E-140˚E) is examined using the ECMWF/NCEP-NCAR re-analysis data for the period 1958-2006. The wintertime blocking frequency over the Siberia significantly decreased for the period 1986-2006, compared to the period 1958-1985, which is mainly due to the anomalous circulation of 500-hPa geopotential height field. During the period 1986-2006, there was enhancement in both the anomalous cyclonic flow over the western Siberia and the anomalous anticyclonic flow over the east Asia. These anomalous circulation patterns, which might be associated with changes in surface temperatures over the Asian continent, are suspected to playa possibly important role as an obstacle to the formation of blocking flow over the Siberia.
Adelograptus brevibrachiatus sp. novo is erected for materials previously referred to as Adelograptus cf. tenellus from the circum-Pacific area. The species shares many morphological characteristics with Adelograptus tenellus from Europe but differs from it by possessing typically short stipe lengths throughout rhabdosome due to less thecal density along the stipes. Taxonomic characteristics of A. cf. tenellus reported from circum-Pacific area are compared with each other. The paleogeographic distribution of A. tenellus seems to be restricted within Europe, while that of A. brevibrachiatus within circum-Pacific area.
The quantification of ammonia concentrations has received a lot of scientific attention. Numerous devices for the quantification of NH3 in the ambient air have been developed to provide more technical possibilities for research in abating NH3 emission from various source processes. For the proper quantification of NH3, a number of sampling methods have been discussed by grouping them into different categories based on the principle of functioning. In general, active samplers employ pumps to draw air in, while passive samplers are exposed to air over a certain period of time to obtain integrated signature of NH3. In case of the former, impingers and absorption flasks can be employed simultaneously with suitable absorbents to capture NH3 passing through them. The methods of analysis include both in-situ and laboratory determination. In the laboratory, colorimetric or ion chromatographic methods are generally used for its quantification. In the field, a number of real time analyzers have been proven to be useful. These real time analyzers can be grouped according to their principle of operation. These analyzers may use the principle of spectroscopy (e.g. DOAS), photoacousticics (e.g. photoacoustic monitor) or Chemiluminescence (NOx analyzer). The automated annular denuder sampling system with on-line analyzer is also suitable for continuous monitoring of ammonia in air.
The characteristics of the rainfall events on the Korean peninsula have been investigated by means of regional and global observational data collected from 1954 to 2004 with an emphasis on extreme cases 80 mm day-1. According to our analysis, long-term annual rainfall anomalies show an increasing trend. This trend is pronounced in the month of August, when both the amount of monthly rainfall and the frequency of extreme events increase significantly. Composite maps on August during the 8 wet years reveal warm SST anomalies over the eastern Philippine Sea which are associated with enhanced convection and vertical motion and intensified positive SLP over central Eurasia during August. The rainfall pattern suggests that the most significant increase in moisture supply over the southern parts of China and Korea in August is associated with positive SLP changes over Eurasia and negative SLP changes over the subtropical western Pacific off the east coast of south China. The frequent generation of typhoons over the warm eastern Philippine Sea and their tracks appear to influence the extreme rainfall events in Korea during the month of August. The typhoons in August mainly passed the western coast of Korea, resulting in the frequent occurrence of extreme rainfall events in this region. Furthermore, anomalous cyclonic circulations over the eastern Philippine Sea also promoted the generation of tropical cyclones. The position of pressure systems - positive SLP over Eurasia and negative SLP over the subtropical Pacific - in turn provided a pathway for typhoons. The moisture is then effectively transported further north toward Korea and east toward the southern parts of China during the extreme rainfall period.
A long-term in situ observation was carried out in the Ice-valley at Milyang in order to explain the factors and processes associated with the summertime ice formation. The variation of temperature inside Ice-valley in relation with ice formation in summer time was found to depend on precipitation rate in spring and cold air sinking in autumn and winter. The rate of temperature rising tends to correspond to sensible heat release depending on the precipitation amount at the freezing location. The reason of the cold air accumulation in a talus in the Ice-valley is the cold air sinking over the surface of talus due to the occurrence of outside clod air mass and the accumulated cold air from autumn to spring flow outside at the bottom of talus. The out-flowing cold air can result in the ice formation in the hot summer.
Lower Ordovician (Upper Tremadoc) graptolites were found for the first time at the two sections of the Mungok Formation in Danyang area: the Seokgyori and Daejeonri sections. The graptolites from these sections comprise two species of two genera: Adelograptus brevibrachiatus and Psigraptus jacksoni. The graptolite faunas of the sections in the area show simple composition relative to Yeongwol area; they appear to be correlated to: (1) the Adelograptus cf tenellus Zone of Yeongwol area, (2) the Adelograptus cf. tenellus Zone of Yukon, Canada, (3) the Psigraptus Zone of Tasmania, Australia, and (4) the Psigraptus jacksoni Zone of Jilin, China. The age of graptolite beds of the Mungok Formation at Danyang appears to be early Upper Tremadoc of the Lower Ordovician.
Mesoscale low is often observed over the downstream region of the East Sea (or, northwest coast off the Japan Islands) during East-Asia winter monsoon. The low system causes a heavy snowfall at the region. A series of numerical experiments were conducted with the aid of a regional model (MM5 ver. 3.5) to examine the formation mechanism of the mesoscale low. The following results were obtained: 1) A well-developed mesoscale low was simulated by the regional model under real topography, NCEP reanalysis, and OISST; 2) The mesoscale low was simulated under a zonally averaged SST without topography. This implies that the meridional gradient of SST is the main factor in the formation of a mesoscale low; 3) A thermal contrast (>10˚C) of land-sea and topography-induced disturbance served as the second important factor for the formation; 4) Paektu Mountain caused the surface wind to decelerate downstream, which created a more favorable environment for thermodynamic modification than that was found in a flat topography; and 5) The types of cumulus parameterizations did not affect the development of the mesoscale low.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of EarthComm implementation in the U.S. high schools in terms of demographic background including school size, urban/rural area, and teachers' teaching experiences. In addition, this study examined impact of students' higher-order thinking skills by using the visions of National Science Education Standards. Two modular of the EarthComm curriculum were used for this purpose with thirty one teachers and around thousand students involved across four states. Findings were that EarthComm did not significantly impact student achievement differentially in schools of varying sizes and school location, i.e., urban and rural areas. The years of teaching experiences did not impact student achievement scores for Module I but did significantly impact for Module II. It is noted that the two results seemingly conflict with each other similar to other research findings (Ferguson, 1998; Yager et al., 1988). Student higher-order thinking skills, on the other hand, were significantly improved as a result of studying with EarthComm. Implications were discussed at the end of the paper.
Using data from 132 telephone interviewees, we examined the role of affective-cognitive ambivalence in forming overall attitude and behavior toward toxic chemical and radioactive waste issues in Marion, Ohio in the U.S. In order to compare attitudinal preference, participants were divided into four A-C groups: action-group (Affective+/Cognitive+), detached-group (A-/C+), concerned-group (A+/C-), and inaction-group (A-/C-). Affective and cognitive components interacted, producing redundant influences on overall attitudes and judgments as frequently observed and postulated in previous attitude studies. The results showed that the action-group who were feeling unsafe and believed that environmental accidents had happened or are happening in Marion were less willing to move to the area than other three groups who were feeling safe and/or doubted reports of contamination and its relation with leukemia. Affective and cognitive components were found to have redundant influences on overall attitude. It was also observed that affective-cognitive ambivalence theory has a great potential for explaining the mechanism by which people form attitudes, especially when people have moderate or positive feelings (e.g. sympathy or eagerness for resources) toward the objects and/or when uncertainty is a major feature of environmental issue under consideration (e.g. global climate change).