West Pacific Area Research Articles

Characteristics of low-frequency oscillation intensity of air-sea turbulent heat fluxes over the northwest Pacific

Based on the daily turbulent heat fluxes and related meteorological variables datasets (1985–2006) from Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes (OAFlux) Project of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), characteristics of low-frequency oscillation intensity of air-sea turbulent heat fluxes over the northwest Pacific are analyzed by linear perturbation method and correlation analysis. It can be concluded that: 1) the distribution of low-frequency oscillation intensity of latent heat flux (LHF) over the northwest Pacific is mainly affected by that of low-frequency oscillation intensity of anomalous air-sea humidity gradient (Δq′) as well as mean air-sea humidity gradient (\( \overline {\Delta q} \)), while the distribution of low-frequency oscillation intensity of sensible heat flux (SHF) is mainly affected by that of low-frequency oscillation intensity of anomalous air-sea temperature gradient (ΔT′). 2) The low-frequency oscillation of turbulent heat fluxes over the northwest Pacific is the strongest in winter and the weakest in summer. And the seasonal transition of low-frequency oscillation intensity of LHF is jointly influenced by those of low-frequency oscillation intensity of Δq′, low-frequency oscillation intensity of anomalous wind speed (U′), \( \overline {\Delta q} \) and mean wind speed (Ū), while the seasonal transition of low-frequency oscillation intensity of SHF is mainly influenced by those of low-frequency oscillation intensity of ΔT′ and Ū. 3) Over the tropical west Pacific and sea areas north of 20°N, the low-frequency oscillation of LHF (SHF) is mainly influenced by atmospheric variables qa′ (Ta′) and U′, indicating an oceanic response to overlying atmospheric forcing. In contrast, over the tropical eastern and central Pacific south of 20°N, qs′ (Ts′) also greatly influences the low-frequency oscillation of LHF (SHF).

The sources of the Australian tradition in irregular warfare, 1942–1974

This article had its genesis in a background study for the development of a new Australian Army counter-insurgency doctrine. Archival research showed that the Australian counter-insurgency doctrine employed in such post-1945 conflicts as Burma, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam originated in the jungle campaigns of the South West Pacific Area during World War II. The historical record also showed that the Army's counter-insurgency doctrine, as with its World War II-jungle warfare doctrine, was a pragmatic amalgam of Australian experience and British doctrine. The article traces this process through the development of a series of doctrine manuals. It also considers the contribution of key individuals to both counter-insurgency theory and practice. This distinctively Australian approach to the development of doctrine was responsible for producing a highly successful manual, The Division in Battle: Pamphlet No. 11, Counter-Revolutionary Warfare (DIB 11), which the Army used during its involvement in Vietnam.

FIRST RECORD OF THE CO-OCCURRENCE OF WESTERN TETHYAN AND INDO-PACIFIC LARGER FORAMINIFERA IN THE BURDIGALIAN OF THE MEDITERRANEAN PROVINCE

A revision of (early) Burdigalian hyaline larger foraminifera based on the biometric study of miogypsinids, lepidocyclinids, and nummulitids from eastern Turkey provides new insights into their taxonomy and paleo-biogeography in the Tethys region. Data from the Adilcevaz Formation show a strong similarity to occurrences from Southeast Asia in that they include Cycloclypeus , Eulepidina , and “ribbed” Nephrolepidina , an assemblage not previously recorded from age-equivalent deposits in the circum-Mediterranean region. The association and the occurrences of these taxa in Lower Miocene deposits from the Indo–West Pacific areas have been widely reported. The species designation of Nephrolepidina and Eulepidina , in the absence of well-demonstrated comparable biometric and conflicting stratigraphic data from the Indo–West Pacific areas, is usually problematic. The Turkish taxa bear a close resemblance to N. sumatrensis and E. formosa , whilst Cycloclypeus is represented by C. eidae , which is widespread in the Indo-Pacific Early Miocene. These taxa are accompanied by Miolepidocyclina burdigalensis , a well-documented side branch of the main Miogypsina lineage in the circum-Mediterranean region; Miogypsina globulina , a worldwide tropical species common to both provinces; and Operculina complanata . Our data provide the first foraminiferal evidence from Turkey suggesting a main westward migration of several important groups from Southeast Asia to the eastern Mediterranean during the (early) Burdigalian. This faunal incursion is the most significant compared to other Late Oligocene–Early Miocene foraminiferal events in Turkey.

Number‐size distributions of free tropospheric aerosol particles at Mt. Norikura, Japan: Effects of precipitation and air mass transportation pathways

Number‐size distributions of free tropospheric aerosol particles of 9–300‐nm diameter were observed at Mt. Norikura (36.1°N, 137.5°E, 2770 m a.s.l.) in central Japan in August and September 2002. We observed two distinct air masses transported from over the Pacific Ocean and continental Asia. Size distributions of aerosol particles were analyzed in terms of their relation to the air mass transportation pathway, cumulative precipitation amount in the air mass for the last 24 h, and local precipitation rate. Particle concentrations of the accumulation mode range (100–300 nm) decreased by an order of magnitude when cumulative precipitation amount increased from 0 to 20 mm. The cumulative precipitation amount is suggested as an important factor to modify the size distribution by decreasing particle concentration. Considering data for air masses without experience of precipitation scavenging before arrival, concentrations of accumulation mode particles were almost identical (approximately 400 cm−3) in air masses transported from over the Pacific Ocean and continental Asia. Concentration of Aitken mode particles was high (890 cm−3 as a median value) in the air mass subsiding from over the subtropical Pacific Ocean (> 4 km a.s.l.). Based on the relationship with the controlling factors described above, this study provides number‐size distribution parameters of free tropospheric aerosol particles in the west Pacific area.

The Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied and Japanese Plans, Preparations, and Execution (review)

Reviewed by: The Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied and Japanese Plans, Preparations, and Execution Michael H. Coles The Battle for Leyte, 1944: Allied and Japanese Plans, Preparations, and Execution. By Milan Vego. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 2006. ISBN 1-55750-885-2. Maps. Tables. Appendixes. Notes. Sources and select bibliography. Index. Pp. xxiii, 479. $55.00. Although Leyte in the Philippine Islands is remembered mostly for the naval battles fought there, Dr. Vego has chosen a broader canvas, directing his attention to evaluating the planning, preparation, and execution of the initial Allied invasion of the islands by examining both sides' strategic and operational performance on land, at sea, and in the air. This ambitious and complex task presented him with considerable organizational difficulties and unfortunately his readers will share them. Although the book is well researched, the narrative is at times hard to follow, a task not made easier by the accompanying graphics. None of the place names in the text are cross-referenced to charts, there is little consistency among them, and some are confusingly complicated. To the Allies (I was glad to note that Dr. Vego recognized the important roles played by Filipinos and Australians in the Leyte campaign), the Philippines were one of several alternative waypoints on the route to Tokyo. The decision to invade the islands rather than Formosa or China's South Coast was, as Dr. Vego points out, largely political. Political too was the failure to unify the two Pacific commands, so that the Pacific Ocean Areas under Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, and South West Pacific Area under General Douglas MacArthur continued to report independently to the Joint Chiefs of Staff with no common superior in the field. The lack of unified command receives appropriate emphasis in the book, and Dr. Vego argues convincingly that this deficiency created serious operational problems and could well have ended in disaster. He notes, too, that, despite the islands' strategic importance, the Japanese command arrangements for the defense of the Philippines were even less unified than those adopted by the Americans. The Leyte invasion force amounted to over 200,000 men, and the initial landings were successful. Complete recapture of the island, however, took much longer than anticipated due to lack of sufficient inshore naval power to interdict Japanese reinforcements, inadequate minesweeping capabilities, [End Page 576] and appalling weather that delayed airfield construction and hindered close air support. However, these factors never really imperiled the invasion. It was the Imperial Japanese Navy's reaction and, more importantly, poor American command decisions, that for a while placed the Leyte beachhead in serious danger. Dr. Vego describes the Japanese reaction, a complex plan involving three task forces approaching Leyte from different directions, and one Japan based force under Vice Admiral Jisaburu Ozawa whose assignment was to tempt the U.S. Third Fleet under the command of Admiral William F. Halsey away from its mission to provide distant cover for the beachhead. Two of the task forces were decimated during their approach to the island but one, commanded by Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita, managed to slip though the San Bernardino Strait to find that Ozawa had done his job well: the beachhead was guarded by only a few ill-protected escort carriers. Had it not been for the extraordinary courage of the escort carriers and their destroyer screens, and the inexplicable decision of Kurita to leave the scene of battle when victory was within his reach, the result might have been an American disaster. Instead, Dr. Vego relates, the naval battles off Leyte effectively eliminated the Japanese Navy as a threat in the Pacific. In desperation the Japanese turned to kamikazes and the book is ominously timely when describing the extraordinary cost effectiveness of tactical suicide. In addition to narrative, Dr. Vego provides his readers with considerable analysis, and this is persuasive and balanced. Although like most historians he blames Halsey for leaving San Bernardino Strait unguarded, he puts considerable blame on Nimitz, not only for giving Halsey imprecise instructions, but also for not taking charge when it was clear that he was neglecting his primary mission. He notes Halsey's lack of experience in commanding a big carrier fleet...

A new system for determining which plant species are indigenous in Australia

An examination of Floras and related literature from various countries of the world has revealed a wide range of interpretations and concepts for indigenous plants. Nevertheless, an indigenous plant species has been universally defined as one that was not deliberately or accidentally introduced by man. An important recent addendum to the ‘indigenous’ definition is that it must disperse from an area where it is considered native. Particularly problematic are the so-called ‘pantropical’ or ‘cosmopolitan’ plants. These species are usually invasive and abundant, but most could not have crossed major barriers without the assistance of humans, and hence should be regarded as non-native species throughout much of their range. The accurate assessment of the alien or indigenous status of these and other taxa has been hampered by a lack of knowledge about their geographic origins and dispersal ability. Australian botanists have frequently adhered to a concept of indigenous plants being any that were thought to be present before European settlement in their region of interest – 1788 for the Sydney area, and as late as the 1850s for northern Australia. This definition is unrealistic and unworkable, especially when considering the ‘pantropical’ species. The transport of plants by maritime traders and explorers into the Indonesian and west Pacific areas has occurred for at least the past 3000 years. European colonisation in those areas from the 16th century accelerated plant introductions. Some of those plant species undoubtedly made their way to Australia before European settlement. This paper presents explicit definitions for indigenous (native) or alien (exotic, introduced, non-indigenous) plant species in Australia. A system of assessment using a combination of ecological, phytogeographical and historical criteria (the EPH system) allows the determination of ‘origin status’ for individual species. As a case study, data are presented for 40 plant species of disputed origin status. These species are assessed against the criteria, and a recommended origin status given for Australian occurrences.

Type studies of the polypores described by E.J.H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas. VII. Species described in Trametes (1)

Identifications of 30 species of polypores described by Corner were made by type examinations. The following new combinations are proposed: Antrodiella depauperata, Daedalea dochmia, D. fulvirubida, D. lusor, D. pseudodochmia, Fomitella fumosipora, F. rhodophaea, Microporus internuntius, and Trichaptum brastagii. The following names are accepted in the original genus: Trametes arcana, T. barbulata, T. daedaleoides, and T. jejuna. The following species are taxonomic synonyms of alreadydescribed species: Trametes atriceps, a synonym of Trametes menziesii; T. badiuscula, a synonym of Abundisporus roseoalbus; T. biogilvoides, a synonym of Coriolopsis glabro-rigens; T. elevata, a synonym of Daedalea dochmia; T. flammula, a synonym of C. glabro-rigens; T. fulvidochmia, a synonym of D. dochmia; T. linguiformis, a synonym of Trichaptum suberosum; and T. luridochracea, a synonym of Lenzites acutus. Trametes benetosta is a synonym of Fomitella rhodophaea or its allied species. The following species are dubious because of the poor or sterile conditions of their type specimens: Trametes allantospora, T. cristobalensis, T. farinolens, T. febris, T. fuligineicana, and T. granulifera. No authentic specimens were traced for T. argenteiceps, T. benevestita, T. castaneifumosa, T. decorticans, and T. flavidinigra. Descriptions and line drawings are given for poorly known species.

Phylogenetic analysis of Archaea in the deep-sea sediments of west Pacific Warm Pool

Archaea are known to play important roles in carbon cycling in marine sediments. The main compositions of archaeal community in five deep-sea sediment samples collected from west Pacific Warm Pool area (WP-0, WP-1, WP-2, WP-3, WP-4), and in five sediment layers (1 cm-, 3 cm-, 6 cm-, 10 cm-, 12 cm- layer) of the 12 cm sediment core of WP-0 were checked and compared by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. It was revealed that all the deep-sea sediment samples checked contained members of non-thermophilic marine group I crenarchaeota as the predominant archaeal group. To further detect groups of archaea possibly relating with C1 metabolism, PCR amplification was carried out using primers targeting methane-oxidizing archaea. Although no methane-oxidizing archaea was detected, a group of novel archaea (named as WPA) was instead identified from all these five WP samples by clone analysis. They could be placed in the euryarchaeota kingdom, separated into two distinct groups, the main group was peripherally related with methanogens, the other group related with Thermoplasma. The vertical distributions of WPA, archaea and bacteria along the WP-0 sediment column were determined by quantitative-PCR. It was found that bacteria dominated at all depths, the numbers of bacteria were 10-10(4) times more than those of archaea. The proportion of archaea versus bacteria had a depth related increasing tendency, it was lowest at the first layer (0.01%), reached highest at the 12 cm- layer (10%). WPA only constituted a small proportion of the archaeal community (0.05% to 5%) of west Pacific Warm Pool sediment.

Type studies of the polypores described by E.J.H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas. VI. Species described in Tyromyces (3), Cristelloporia, Grifola, Hapalopilus, Heterobasidion, Ischnoderma, Loweporus, and Stecchericium

Identifications were made by type examinations for 27 species of polypores described by Corner. Roseofavolus gen. nov. is proposed, typified by Grifola eos. The following new combinations are proposed: Amylocystis unicolor, Antrodiella xanthochroa, Cristelloporia pahangensis, C. rutilantiformis, Roseofavolus eos, Tyromyces armeniacus, T. olivascens, and Wrightoporia solomonensis. Hapalopilus rubescens is accepted in the original genus. The following species were already combined with the proper genus: Stecchericium gyroporum and S. trametoides. The following species are synonyms: Tyromyces sublamellatus, a synonym of Abortiporus roseus; T. subradiatus, a synonym of Daedaleopsis conchiformis; T. subroseiporus, a synonym of Fomitopsis scorteus; T. subtrimiticus, a synonym of Fomitopsis spraguei; T. sulphureiceps, a synonym of Antrodiella flava; and Loweporus corticicola, a synonym of C. rutilantiformis. The following species are dubious because of their poor or sterile conditions: Cristelloporia trimitica, Loweporus castaneus, Tyromyces subrubescens, and T. tristaniae. No authentic specimens were traced for Ischnoderma brunneipurpureum, I. friabile, I. solomonense, Loweporus ochraceicinctus, L. pileoliferus, Stecchericium trimiticum, and Tyromyces xanthophaes. Descriptions and line drawings are given for little-known species.

Type studies of the polypores described by E.J.H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas. V. Species described in Tyromyces (2)

Identification of 33 species of polypores described by Corner in 1989 and 1992 were made by type examinations. The following new combinations are proposed: Antrodia multipapillata, Antrodiella negligenda, Elmerina substuppea, Fomitopsis ostreiformis, F. scorteus, F. singularis, Hyphodontia ovispora, Oligoporus subfragilis, Oxyporus rufipusillus, Perenniporia permacilenta, Polyporus oncospermatis, Rigidoporus malayanus, and Trichaptum perpusillum. The following names are accepted in the original genus: Tyromyces levis, T. mediocris, T. mollicaseus, T. nemorosus, and T. stenomitis. The following species are synonyms: Tyromyces miser, a synonym of Dichomitus eucalypti; T. montanus, a synonym of T. mollicaseus; T. perskeletalis, a synonym of Fomitopsis ostreiformis; T. polycystes, a synonym of Hyphodontia arguta; T. roseipileus, a synonym of T. incarnatus; and T. subfibrillosus, a synonym of T. mollicaseus. Final determination was not made for T. rubrifuscescens, which may be conspecific or allied with Elmerina substuppea. Tyromyces sinapicolor belongs to Corticiaceae sensu lato with a nonporoid hymenophore. Tyromyces ochraceicarneus may be also a member of Corticiaceae sensu lato, but final determination was not made. The following species are dubious because of the poor or sterile conditions of their type specimens: Tyromyces ochraceivinosus, T. pinguidus, T. pusillicaesius, T. rhodomelon, T. rubricarneus, and T. descendens. No authentic specimens were traced for T. pulviniformis and T. rufipileatus. Descriptions and line drawings are given for little-known species.

Type studies of the polypores described by E.J.H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas. IV. Species described in Tyromyces (1)

Identifications of 30 species of polypores described by Corner were made by type examinations. The following new combinations are proposed: Antrodiella brunneimontana, A. diffluens, A. flavitubus, Ceriporiopsis aurantitingens, C. cremeicarnea, Dichomitus affixus, Oligoporus bambusicola, O. cretaceitextus, and Skeletocutis falsipileata. The following names are accepted in the original genus: Tyromyces corniculatus, T. corticola, T. hispidulinanus, T. inodermatus, T. interponens, and T. languidus. Tyromyces aurantilaetus was already combined with the proper genus. The following species are treated as synonyms: Tyromyces amyloideus, a synonym of Oligoporus caesius; T. citrinicarneus, a synonym of Rigidoporus dextrinoideus; T. coeruleivirens, a synonym of O. caesius; T. fagraeae, a synonym of T. corticola; T. flavidicera, a synonym of R. dextrinoideus; and T. inconsideratus, a synonym of Tinctoporellus epimiltinus. Tyromyces dianthicolor and T. favulus belong to difficult complexes, and allied species are cited for each species. The following species are dubious because of their poor or sterile condition: Tyromyces albovinaceus, T. carbonicola, T. dacrydii, and T. descendens. No authentic specimens were traced for T. cinnamomeiporus and T. citriniporus. Descriptions and line drawings are given for the accepted species.

Bibliography of the History of Australian Science, No. 22, 2001

Main sources for this bibliography were the 2001 editions of various databases such as the Australian Public Affairs Information Service (APAIS), Chemical Abstracts and Medline Express. In addition, issues of a number of Australian journals published in 2001 were scanned, and readers of the bibliography sent information about relevant items to the compiler. Most items included were published in 2001, but a number of earlier publications were also found which it was thought should be included. The scope of the bibliography is limited to material on the history of the natural sciences (mathematics, physical sciences, earth sciences and biological sciences), some of the applied sciences (including medical and health sciences, agriculture, manufacturing and engineering), and human sciences (psychology, anthropology and sociology). Biographical material on practitioners in these sciences is also of interest. The compiler would like to thank those people who sent items or information about items published during 2001 for inclusion in the bibliography. It would again be appreciated if he could be notified about other items dealing with the history of science in Australasia, the South West Pacific area and Antarctica published during 2001, but have been omitted. Readers are invited to alert the compiler to the publication of books, journal articles, conference papers, reports, Masters and PhD theses and reviews on the subject published during 2002 for inclusion in future bibliographies. Pertinent information should be sent to the compiler, C/- Deakin University Library, Geelong, Victoria 3217, Australia or by e-mail to laurie.carlson@austehc.unimelb.edu.au.

Type studies of the polypores described by E. J. H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas III. Species described in Trichaptum, Albatrellus, Boletopsis, Diacanthodes, Elmerina, Fomitopsis and Gloeoporus

Twenty-seven species of polypores described by Corner were identified by type examinations. Corneroporus gen. nov. is proposed, typified by Boletopsis subcitrina. The following new combinations are proposed: Coriolopsis lacunosa, Corneroporus subcitrinus, Heterobasidion arbitrarium, Rigidoporus dimiticus, Skeletocutis basifusca, Tyromyces dolosus, T. friabilis, T. hispidus, T. subochraceus. The following names are accepted in the original genera: Trichaptum agglutinatum, T. suberosum, and Gloeoporus sulphureus. Gloeoporus carri was already combined with the proper genus. The following species are synonyms: Trichaptum ceraceicutis, T. favoloides, Diacanthodes griseus, Elmerina unguliformis, Gloeoporus nigrescens, G. papuanus, G. pendens, G. umbrinus, and G. vitellinus. Gloeoporus cremeoalbus belongs to a difficult complex and an allied species is cited. The following species are dubious because of their poor or sterile conditions: Trichaptum jackiae and Fomitopsis euosma. No authentic specimens were traced for Albatrellus borneensis and Gloeoporus similis. Descriptions and line drawings are given for the accepted species.

Darwin's Naturalization Hypothesis Revisited

In The Origin of Species, Darwin (1859) drew attention to observations by Alphonse de Candolle (1855) that floras gain by naturalization far more species belonging to new genera than species belonging to native genera. Darwin (1859, p. 86) goes on to give a specific example: “In the last edition of Dr. Asa Gray’s ‘Manual of the Flora of the United States’ ... out of the 162 naturalised genera, no less than 100 genera are not there indigenous.” Darwin used these data to support his theory of intense competition between congeners, described only a few pages earlier: “As the species of the same genus usually have, though by no means invariably, much similarity in habits and constitution, and always in structure, the struggle will generally be more severe between them” (1859, p. 60). Darwin’s intriguing observations have recently attracted renewed interest, as comprehensive lists of naturalized plants have become available for various regions of the world. Two studies (Mack 1996; Rejmanek 1996, 1998) have concluded that naturalized floras provide some support for Darwin’s hypothesis, but only one of these studies used statistical tests. Analyses of additional floras are needed to test the generality of Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis. Mack (1996) tabulated data from six regional floras within the United States and noted that naturalized species more often belong to alien genera than native genera, with the curious exception of one region (New York). In addition to the possibility of strong competition between native and introduced congeners, Mack (1996) proposed that specialist native herbivores, or pathogens, may be

Type studies of the polypores described by E. J. H. Corner from Asia and West Pacific Areas II. Species described in Gloeophyllum, Heteroporus, Microporellus, Oxyporus, Paratrichaptum, and Rigidoporus

Identifications of 29 species of polypores described by Corner were made by type examinations.Laetifomes gen. nov. is proposed, typified byRigidoporus flammans. The following new combinations are proposed:Abortiporus zonatus, Antrodiella flava, Laetifomes flammans, Oligoporus perplexus, Trichaptum vinaceibrunneum andTyromyces sublacunosus. The following names are accepted in the original genera:Microporellus fuliginosus, M. pahangensis, M. subumbonatus, Rigidoporus adnatus, R. erectus andR. incarnatus. The following names are considered synonyms:Heteroporus kinabaluensis, Microporellus brunneus, M. nigripes, Rigidoporus albiporus, R. ochraceicinctus, R. parvulus, R. patellarius, R. sulphureus, R. suppileatus, R. trametoides andR. vinaceus. The following species are dubious because of their poor or sterile conditions:Heteroporus odoratus, Microporellus labyrinthiformis, Oxyporus lilaceus andRigidoporus hypobrunneides. No authentic specimens were traced forMicroporellus grandiporus andParatrichaptum accuratum. Descriptions and line drawings are given for most of the accepted species.

Los peces litorales del archipiélago de Juan Fernández (Chile): endemismo y relaciones ictiogeográficas

According to current knowledge on ichthyofaunistic composition of Juan Fernandez archipelago, those species typically littoral (inter and subtidal) were selected to analize which of them are endemic and which ones are represented in other regions. Endemic species correspond to 25.5%; those represented westward are 19.6% and the eastward ones are 15.6%. Transpacific species represent 9.8% of the total, whereas 29.4% of the species are in common with Desventuradas islands. A slightly higher link with Polynesian and West Pacific areas is recognised, if compared with the proper Southamerican coastlines. This supports to give background to the idea that the Indo-West Pacific zoogeographic region, at least in relation to fishes, can be extended to this oceanic islands.

Death from Asthma in Japan : Incidence, Risk Factors, and its Prevention ( "Prevention death from asthma in the west Pacific area")

Death from Asthma in Japan : Incidence, Risk Factors, and its Prevention ( "Prevention death from asthma in the west Pacific area")

ASTHMA MORTALITY IN TAIWAN (<Round Table Discussion>"Prevention death from asthma in the west Pacific area")

ASTHMA MORTALITY IN TAIWAN (<Round Table Discussion>"Prevention death from asthma in the west Pacific area")

Observation research of the turbulent fluxes of momentum, sensible heat and latent heat over the West Pacific Tropical Ocean Area

This paper describes results of the fluxes of momentum , sensible heat and latent heat for the West Pacific Tropical Ocean Area (127°E−150°E, 5°N−3°S). The data were collected by the small tethered balloon sounding system over this ocean area including 6 continuous stations (140° E, 0 ° ; 145 E, 0° ; 150 ° E, 0 ° ; 140 ° E, 5 ° N; 145 ° E, 5 ° N and 150 ° E, 5 ° N) from 11 October to 15 December, 1986 . These fluxes were calculated by the semiempirical flux-profile relationships of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory using these observed data. The results show that for this tropical ocean area the drag coefficientCD is equal to (1.53 ± 0.25) × 10−3 and the daily mean latent fluxHL is greater than its daily mean sensible fluxHs by a factor of about 9.

The Macrobenthos of Moreton Bay

The macrobenthos of Moreton Bay is diverse, with 355 species collected from 400 dredged stations. Many of these species are distributed throughout the Indo—West—Pacific area, others have an Australian distribution (possibly some may also occur in the northern hemisphere), and others are known as yet only from Moreton Bay. The occurrence of the richest sites near the edges of the bay can be attributed to either favorable hydrographic—sedimentary conditions or to the location of these sites on the periphery of areas worked by prawn trawlers. Infrequently occurring species dominate the epifauna, and frequently occurring species dominate the infauna. Neither the infrequent species nor the four most frequent species show seasonal changes, but some seasonal change is evident in other species. Species occurring in more than eight sites usually showed a distribution pattern, but species patterns could not, by inspection, be classified into group patterns. By limiting consideration to the 32 commonest species six somewhat uncertain groups could be recognized related to substratum. Computer analyses were attempted involving successively: (1) reduction of data (species occurring infrequently were eliminated; correlation coefficients and non—metric coefficients between pairs of the remainder were computed, and species never appearing above an arbitrary limit were excluded); (2) clumping of sites (eight meaningful site patterns were derived by using clumps of contiguous sites, which is equivalent to increasing the "quadrat size" and thus increasing the frequency of coincidences); (3) defining species—groups (the above site pattern was used, and additional species were included); and (4) establishing site—group species—group coincidences (this involved a double standardization and choice of the level of classification of species—group (six) which appeared to give optimal clarity). Site—groups are not uniquely defined by the presence of a species—group which occurs nowhere else; instead, differences between site—groups are quantitative. The site—groups conform to a topographical pattern related to a complex including hydrographic and sedimentary factors and possible human activity. The species—groups are generally large and ill—defined. Results are compared with more classical studies of benthic communities, and a distinction is here made between constant and faithful species.