Tomowo Watanabe

Direct Observations of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Response to SST Variations Associated with Tropical Instability Waves over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific

Tropical instability waves (TIWs), with a typical wavelength of 1000 km and period of 30 days, cause the equatorial front to meander and result in SST variations on the order of 18‐28C. Vertical soundings of temperature, humidity, and wind velocity were obtained on board a Japanese research vessel, which sailed through three fully developed SST waves from 1408 to 1108W along 28N during 21‐28 September 1999. A strong temperature inversion is observed throughout the cruise along 28N, capping the planetary boundary layer (PBL) that is 1‐ 1.5 km deep. Temperature response to TIW-induced SST changes penetrates the whole depth of the PBL. In response to an SST increase, air temperature rises in the lowest kilometer and shows a strong cooling at the mean inversion height. As a result, this temperature dipole is associated with little TIW signal in the observed sea level pressure (SLP). The cruise mean vertical profiles show a speed maximum at 400‐500 m for both zonal and meridional velocities. SST-based composite profiles of zonal wind velocity show weakened (intensified) vertical shear within the PBL that is consistent with enhanced (reduced) vertical mixing, causing surface wind to accelerate (decelerate) over warm (cold) SSTs. Taken together, the temperature and wind soundings indicate the dominance of the vertical mixing over the SLP-driving mechanism. Based on the authors’ measurements, a physical interpretation of the widely used PBL model proposed by Lindzen and Nigam is presented.

Southwest intrusion of 134Cs and 137Cs derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident in the Western North Pacific.

Enormous quantities of radionuclides were released into the ocean via both atmospheric deposition and direct release as a result of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident. This study discusses the southward dispersion of FNPP-derived radioactive cesium (Cs) in subsurface waters. The southernmost point where we found the FNPP-derived (134)Cs (1.5-6.8 Bq m(-3)) was 18 °N, 135 °E, in September 2012. The potential density at the subsurface peaks of (134)Cs (100-500 m) and the increased water column inventories of (137)Cs between 0 and 500 m after the winter of 2011-2012 suggested that the main water mass containing FNPP-derived radioactive Cs was the North Pacific Subtropical Mode Water (NPSTMW), formed as a result of winter convection. We estimated the amount of (134)Cs in core waters of the western part of the NPSTMW to be 0.99 PBq (decay-corrected on 11 March 2011). This accounts for 9.0% of the (134)Cs released from the FNPP, with our estimation revealing that a considerable amount of FNPP-derived radioactive Cs has been transported to the subtropical region by the formation and circulation of the mode water.

Preliminary results of in-situ XCTD/CTD comparison test

The current status of XCTD manufactured by the Tsurumi Seiki Co. is described based on XCTD/CTD comparison tests conducted in the Pacific and Indian Ocean in November 1996 and January 1997 respectively. The falling rates of used probes are generally consistent and differences between individual probes stay within a small range of +/−5 m through the full depth range (0–1000 m), although the rate is slightly different from the depth-time equation provided by the manufacturer. Temperature and salinity accuracy is estimated to be better than 0.05°C and 0.05 psu respectively. Comparison of vertical temperature/salinity sections of XCTD/CTD constructed separately along a line on which XCTD stations locate midway of CTD stations. The hydrographic structures obtained are generally consistent, and the difference of surface dynamic height (referred to 1000 db) is 0.03 dyn m in RMS.

Distribution of local 137Cs anomalies on the seafloor near the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

An estimated 3.5±0.7×10(15) Bq of (137)Cs is thought to have been discharged into the ocean following the melt down at Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP). While efforts have been made to monitor seafloor radiation levels, the sampling techniques used cannot capture the continuous distribution of radionuclides. In this work, we apply in situ measurement techniques using a towed gamma ray spectrometer to map the continuous distribution of (137)Cs on the seafloor within 20 km of the F1NPP. The results reveal the existence of local (137)Cs anomalies, with levels of (137)Cs an order of magnitude higher than the surrounding seafloors. The sizes of the anomalies mapped in this work range from a few meters to a few hundreds of meters in length, and it is demonstrated that the distribution of these anomalies is strongly influenced by meter scale features of the terrain.

Radiocesium contamination of greenlings ( Hexagrammos otakii ) off the coast of Fukushima

We measured the radiocesium (134Cs and 137Cs) contamination of 236 greenlings (Hexagrammos otakii) off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011. The radiocesium concentrations of greenlings caught approximately 40 km south of the power plant were significantly higher than those of greenlings caught approximately 50 km north of the power plant. The radiocesium concentrations of greenlings caught in southern waters were significantly higher in shallow than in deep waters. Meanwhile, two outlier specimens of greenlings with higher 137Cs concentrations, 16,000 Bq/kg-wet on 1 August 2012 and 1,150 Bq/kg-wet on 8 May 2013, were caught approximately 20 km from the power plant. Our calculations suggest that the probability of two such outlier specimens being found off the coast of Fukushima is exceedingly low. By contrast, extremely contaminated greenlings were frequently caught in the power plant port (geometric mean of 137Cs = 17,364 Bq/kg-wet). Our results suggest that the two outlier greenlings with higher 137Cs concentrations migrated from the power plant port. Continued close monitoring of radiocesium concentrations in the area should be done to ensure the safety of food supplies.

Use of Otolith for Detecting Strontium-90 in Fish from the Harbor of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant

To clarify the level of contamination with radioactive cesium (radiocesium) discharged from Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), three fish species caught in the main harbor of FDNPP were subjected to γ-ray analysis. The concentration of radiocesium in muscle differed among individual fish, even those of similar size of the same species, and showed little relation to the standard length of fish. The maximum concentration of radiocesium (202 kBq/kg wet) was detected from fat greenling samples. A comparison to data from outside the port indicated that the level of radiocesium contamination inside the port was higher than that outside. We found that β-rays were emitted from otoliths of fishes caught in the port of FDNPP. β-ray intensities were correlated with the concentrations of radiocesium in muscles of the three fish species. In Japanese rockfish, the β-ray count rates from otoliths were significantly correlated with the concentration of radiocesium and (90)Sr in the whole body without internal organs of Japanese rockfish. However, no β-rays were detected from brown hakeling samples collected around FDNPP, suggesting that the detection of β-rays from otoliths may indicate living in the main harbor of FDNPP.

Absolute Volume Transports of the Oyashio Referred to Moored Current Meter Data Crossing the OICE

During November 2000–June 2002, both direct current measurements from deployment of a line of five moorings and repeated CTD observations were conducted along the Oyashio Intensive observation line off Cape Erimo (OICE). All the moorings were installed above the inshore-side slope of the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench. Before calculating the absolute volume transports, we compared vertical velocity differences of relative geostrophic velocities with those of the measured velocities. Since both the vertical velocity differences concerned with the middle three moorings were in good agreement, the flows above the continental slope are considered to be in thermal wind balance. We therefore used the current meter data of these three moorings, selected among all five moorings, to estimate the absolute volume transports of the Oyashio referred to the current meter data. As a result, we estimated that the southwestward absolute volume transports in 0–1000 db are 0.5–12.8 × 106 m3/sec and the largest transport is obtained in winter, January 2001. The Oyashio absolute transports in January 2001, crossing the OICE between 42°N and 41°15′ N from the surface to near the bottom above the continental slope, is estimated to be at least 31 × 106 m3/sec.

Radioactive cesium dynamics derived from hydrographic observations in the Abukuma River Estuary, Japan.

Large quantities of radioactive materials were released into the air and the ocean as a result of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and the subsequent major tsunami off the Pacific coast. There is much concern about radioactive contamination in both the watershed of the Abukuma River, which flows through Fukushima Prefecture, and its estuary, where it discharges into the sea in Miyagi Prefecture. We investigated radioactive cesium dynamics using mixing diagrams obtained from hydrographic observations of the Abukuma River Estuary. Particulate radioactive cesium dominates the cesium load in the river, whereas the dissolved form dominates in the sea. As the salinity increased from <0.1 to 0.1-2.3, the mixing diagram showed that dissolved radioactive cesium concentrations increased, because of desorption. Desorption from suspended particles explained 36% of dissolved radioactive cesium in estuarine water. However, the dissolved and particulate radioactive cesium concentrations in the sea decreased sharply because of dilution. It is thought that more than 80% of the discharged particulate radioactive cesium was deposited off the river mouth, where the radioactive cesium concentrations in sediment were relatively high (217-2440 Bq kg(-1)). Radioactive cesium that was discharged to the sea was transported southward by currents driven by the density distribution.

Analysis of year-to-year variation of water temperature along the coast of the Japan sea

Abstract Mean monthly records of coastal sea surface temperature data (CSST) obtained from stations along the Japanese coasts of the Japan Sea and from those in the related seas for the period 1941–1984 were analyzed by using various methods of time series analysis, for the purpose of clarifying the nature of the year-to-year variations of the state of the Japan Sea. The year-to-year variations in the Japan Sea were found to be closely related to those in the East China Sea and in the western North Pacific. Specific results are as follows. (1) A sudden cooling in the early 1960s occurred in the southern stations of the Japan Sea and continued to the end of the analyzed data. (2) Variations, with about a 6-year periodicity, were observed at most stations, and were especially dominant in the southern stations of the Japan Sea (3) These variations could be traced back to the Kuroshio region of the East China Sea. (4) Variations, with about a 10-year periodicity, were also observed in the northern stations of the Japan Sea.

Radiocesium concentration of small epipelagic fishes (sardine and Japanese anchovy) off Kashima-Boso area

After the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident, which occurred in March of 2011, the National Research Institute of Fisheries Science (NRIFS) undertook emergent radioactivity monitoring of 63 samples of small epipelagic fishes (such as sardine and Japanese anchovy) collected by commercial fishery boats off the Kashima-Boso area (located to the south of the Fukushima coast) from 24 March 2011 to 21 March 2013. Fluctuations in the radiocesium concentration in fish muscles synchronized with the decreasing concentration from seawater near the fishing ground; the radiocesium concentration in fish muscles reached a maximum of 31 Bq/kg-wet in July 2011, after which it declined gradually. From 2012 to 2013, the radiocesium concentrations in fish muscles were low (0.58–0.63 Bq/kg-wet). Compared to the 137Cs concentration before the FNPP accident, 137Cs concentration in fish muscles in 2013 was still about 10 times higher, whereas it was about 4.5 times higher in seawater near the fishing ground in 2012.