DOCSLIB.ORG

Analysis on Car Commuters' Behavior During a Massive Downpour Based on Probe Data and Questionnaire Survey

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Analysis on Car Commuters' Behavior During a Massive Downpour Based on Probe Data and Questionnaire Survey Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Ser. F3 (Civil Engineering Informatics), Vol. 72, No. 2, I_1-I_13, 2016. ANALYSIS ON CAR COMMUTERS’ BEHAVIOR DURING A MASSIVE DOWNPOUR BASED ON PROBE DATA AND QUESTIONNAIRE SURVEY Mohammad Hannan Mahmud KHAN1, Motohiro FUJITA2 and Wisinee WISETJINDAWAT3 1Student member of JSCE, Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya Institute of Technology (Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan) E-mail: [email protected] 2 Member of JSCE, Professor, Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya Institute of Technology (Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan) E-mail: [email protected] 3 Member of JSCE, Assistant Prof., Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya Institute of Technology (Gokiso, Showa, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan) E-mail: [email protected] A massive downpour due to Typhoon Roke attacked the Tokai region on 20th September, 2011. Several roads in the northeastern part of Nagoya city and the adjacent areas were closed to traffic, resulting in a serious commuter chaos. In this research, we attempted to explore the effects of departure hours, early or late departure, the significance of acquiring proper traffic information as well as the impacts of road closures on the level of difficulty of home returning trips. Regression models were developed using both questionnaire survey and taxi probe data. Questionnaire survey can gather drivers’ information; however, it is difficult to gather the actual changes in travel condition. On the other hand, probe data can demonstrate a real time change in travel condition at every couple of minutes. Therefore, this study presents a combined usage of both data for a clearer explanation on the travel condition and the behavior of drivers during the typhoon. The findings revealed that the difficulty to gather reliable and comprehensive information on the traffic regulations enforced temporarily during the typhoon had led drivers facing the closure sections and the consequent very long travel delay. In fact, these delays can be avoided if the drivers had chosen the right detour route from the beginning. Based on the findings, this paper also suggests some proper counter- measures to reduce the severity of commuter chaos for the future disaster. Key Words: downpour, transportation system failure, car user, traffic information, commuter chaos 1. INTRODUCTION which was conducted soon after Typhoon Roke as well as the probe data of taxis operating on the same The damages due to typhoons had caused much day were used to analyze the impacts of the disaster economic losses to Japan, although the severity of an on the returning home commuters. occurrence is much less than that of a large scale Generally, it is difficult for a questionnaire survey earthquake. This is because this type of disaster oc- to gather such detailed information as the changes in curred rather frequently. As an example, the massive travel condition, congestion level, and road closures downpour due to Typhoon Roke which attacked the at every minute along the travel route. However, Tokai region from the afternoon until late evening of questionnaire survey can gather other drivers’ in- 20th September 2011 caused a loss of more than 1 formation such as the differences on departure time, trillion Yen1). During the event, several transporta- travel route, and travel time between on a regular day tion services were closed. The inundations and the and on the day of typhoon. Also, the questionnaire consequent road closures at several locations re- survey can obtain the attribution of drivers, their sulted in a very serious commuter chaos during home habits, as well as their opinions regarding counter- returning trips. measures to the disaster. On the other hand, although In this study, the data from a questionnaire survey taxi probe data cannot provide such information; 1 I_1 Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Ser. F3 (Civil Engineering Informatics), Vol. 72, No. 2, I_1-I_13, 2016. however, the data can demonstrate the real time model was developed to explain the choice that the changes in travel condition at every couple of sec- stranded commuters chose for returning home on the onds or minutes. Also, the data can be visualized on a day of earthquake. Later, this model was used to GIS map. estimate the number of populations who walked Utilizing both information can complete each home on the day. Similarly, Fujiu et al.5) used a other drawbacks. However, there is only a few web-based survey to clarify the walking routes that studies considering this approach. Therefore, this the stranded commuters used in the aftermath of the paper aims at providing an analysis using both same earthquake. They also investigated fire danger questionnaire and probe data in order to obtain a and available support facilities at different walking better representation of the road situation and driv- routes. Ito et al.6) used a similar survey method and ers’ circumstances, and improve the quality of the investigated further the availability of facilities and analysis on the difficulty of returning home. We services for the people who walked home in the af- focus on the problem on stranded commuters during termath of the same earthquake. These studies pro- the 2011 Typhoon Roke in Tokai region. Based on vided an insight into the problems faced by the both data sources, several regression models repre- stranded commuters and their travel conditions in the senting the difficulty to return home are developed. aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Furthermore, the effects of the acquisition of the The impacts of the same disaster may be different information and countermeasures related to road in other regions considering the different geographic closures on the returning home of stranded com- and transport facilities. Some works investigated the muters during the heavy downpour are investigated. impacts of the earthquake to Tokai region. Koyama and Okada7) conducted a questionnaire survey to companies in Nagoya regarding their workers’ home 2. LITERATURE REVIEW returning behaviors by assuming public transport services were shut down after a large scale earth- In recent years, there are an increasing number of quake. The questionnaire asked the workers’ be- researches on commute changes due to disasters. haviors both when receiving an earthquake warning Depending on the characteristics of disaster, the and after the actual occurrence of the earthquake. changes in commute patterns are rather different. The data was used to estimate the number of stranded Some disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes commuters. They concluded that the current shelters can cause heavy damages to infrastructures. Often and evacuation facilities are inadequate for the up- the damages are so severe and required a long period coming large scale earthquake in the region. of time until the infrastructures can be operable Different disaster causes different consequences. again, and hence this situation results in a long pe- The damages by a downpour disaster also have riod disruption on commuters’ travel pattern. In the unique characteristics. The damages can be tempo- US, several works related to commute pattern rary until the heavy rain stops and the floods are changes after a hurricane or earthquake can be found. drained. Some works regarding the commuter chaos To name a few, Guiliano and Golob2) studied the during a massive downpour can be found. Mitamura impacts on commuting behaviors after two major et al.8) examined the problems public transport users transport corridors were heavily damaged by the experienced when returning home during the Tokai Northridge Earthquake. They found that automobile torrential rain. They also developed a binary choice users preferred to shift route, travel schedules, and model whether or not to return home on the date, destination rather than to shift to public transport based on a Stated Preference data assuming the tor- mode or share riding. rential rain happened again. One of the interesting Commuter chaos occurred often even after a small findings was that the worse experience the commuter scale incident. Especially after a major disaster, the has, the less likely they will return home. Regarding adverse impacts due to the chaos can be enormous. the consequences of the torrential rain to automobile After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, in To- users, Sakamoto et al.9) analyzed the impacts of kyo alone, the disaster had caused more than 3 mil- traffic information on drivers’ decision whether to lion commuters having trouble to return home3). return home or to stay at workplace based on a data Hence, this problem drew much attention from many collected from a questionnaire survey. They found researchers to investigate further the problems re- that if the travel time is 4-5 times of the usual travel garding the commuter chaos after the earthquake. time, 80% of the drivers’ prefer to stay at office. For example, Hiroi et al.4) used a web-based survey Most researches in this topic were conducted to collect the information on home returning trips of based on a questionnaire survey either telephone, people in Tokyo during the earthquake. A choice internet, or paper based. With today technology, it is 2 I_2 Journal of Japan Society of Civil Engineers, Ser. F3 (Civil Engineering Informatics), Vol. 72, No. 2, I_1-I_13, 2016. possible to analyze the impacts of disaster on travel behavior using GPS data from car navigation system. Chuno The precision of the GPS data is excellent, proven by the work by Liang et al.10) which successfully used Tono Gifu the GPS data from taxis to model the arterial speed. R19 However, only very few studies used GPS data for Ichinomiya Tajimi studying traffic condition during a disaster. Khan et Kasugai al.11) was the first to demonstrate the potential of TOMEI Central using a taxi probe data to study the traffic condition Moriyama Expway Nagoya during home returning in a disaster situation.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter 7. Building a Safe and Comfortable Society
    Section 1 Realizing a Universal Society Building a Safe and Comfortable Chapter 7 Society Section 1 Realizing a Universal Society 1 Realizing Accessibility through a Universal Design Concept The “Act on Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. of Elderly Persons, Disabled Persons, etc.” embodies the universal design concept of “freedom and convenience for anywhere and anyone”, making it mandatory to comply with “Accessibility Standards” when newly establishing various facilities (passenger facilities, various vehicles, roads, off- street parking facilities, city parks, buildings, etc.), mandatory best effort for existing facilities as well as defining a development target for the end of FY2020 under the “Basic Policy on Accessibility” to promote accessibility. Also, in accordance with the local accessibility plan created by municipalities, focused and integrated promotion of accessibility is carried out in priority development district; to increase “caring for accessibility”, by deepening the national public’s understanding and seek cooperation for the promotion of accessibility, “accessibility workshops” are hosted in which you learn to assist as well as virtually experience being elderly, disabled, etc.; these efforts serve to accelerate II accessibility measures (sustained development in stages). Chapter 7 (1) Accessibility of Public Transportation In accordance with the “Act on Figure II-7-1-1 Current Accessibility of Public Transportation Promotion of Smooth Transportation, etc. (as of March 31, 2014) of Elderly Persons, Disabled
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents 1. Atmospheric data assimilation schemes, analysis and initialization, data impact studies, observing system experiments Author Paper Title Country Pages L. Duc, T. Koruda, K. Saito and Data assimilation experiments of Myanmar cyclone Japan 01-03 T. Fujita Nargis based on NHM-LETKF Radar reflectivity assimilation in JMA’s operational Y. Ikuta Japan 01-05 meso-analysis system Simplified basic state update in the JMA global 4D- T. Ishibashi Japan 01-07 Var A new inner model with a higher horizontal T. Kadowaki and K. Yoshimoto resolution (TL319) in JMA’s Global 4D-Var data Japan 01-09 assimilation system Assimilation experiments involving surface-sensitive M. Kazumori microwave radiances in JMA’s global data Japan 01-11 assimilation system Initial assessment of FY-3A microwave temperature M. Kazumori and H. Murata sounder radiance data in JMA’s global data Japan 01-13 assimilation system T. Kuroda, T. Fujita, H. Seko Construction of Mesoscale LETKF Data Assimilation Japan 01-15 and K. Saito Experiment System N. Saint-Ramond, A. Forecast sensitivity to observations at Météo-France Doerenbecher, F. Rabier, Application to GPS radio-occultation data France 01-17 V. Guidard, N. Fourrié GPS TPW Assimilation with the JMA Nonhydrostatic K. Saito, Y. Shoji, S. Origuchi, 4DVAR and Cloud Resolving Ensemble Forecast for Japan 01-19 L. Duc and H. Seko the 2008 August Tokyo Metropolitan Area Local Heavy Rainfalls H. Seko, S. Kogure and T. Observation System Simulation Experiments of Japan 01-21 Tsuda Quasi-Zenith Satellite H. Seko, K. Saito, O. Suzuki and Impacts of the low-level convergence data on the A.
    [Show full text]
  • Tracking the Origin and Dispersion of Contaminated Sediments Transported by Rivers Draining the Fukushima Radioactive Contaminant Plume
    Sediment Dynamics from the Summit to the Sea 237 (Proceedings of a symposium held in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 11–14 December 2014) (IAHS Publ. 367, 2014). Tracking the origin and dispersion of contaminated sediments transported by rivers draining the Fukushima radioactive contaminant plume HUGO LEPAGE1, OLIVIER EVRARD1, YUICHI ONDA2, CAROLINE CHARTIN1, IRENE LEFEVRE1, AYRAULT SOPHIE1 & PHILIPPE BONTE1 1 Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (CEA, CNRS,UVSQ), F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette France [email protected] 2 Center for Research in Isotopes and Environmental Dynamics (CRIED), Tsukuba University, Tsukuba, Japan Abstract This study was conducted in several catchments draining the main Fukushima Dai-ichi Power Plant contaminant plume in Fukushima prefecture, Japan. We collected soils and sediment drape deposits (n = 128) and investigated the variation in 137Cs enrichment during five sampling campaigns, conducted every six months, which typically occurred after intense erosive events such as typhoons and snowmelt. We show that upstream contaminated soils are eroded during summer typhoons (June–October) before being exported during the spring snowmelt (March–April). However, this seasonal cycle of sediment dispersion is further complicated by the occurrence of dam releases that may discharge large amounts of contaminants to the coastal plains during the coming years. Key words erosion; sediment; soil; Fukushima; radio-caesium; enrichment factor INTRODUCTION The Tohoku earthquake and the subsequent tsunami that occurred on 11 March 2011 impacted the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) and led to a significant atmospheric release of 137 radionuclides such as Cs (T1/2 = 30 years). About 80% of the release was transported out and over the Pacific Ocean, with the rest primarily deposited on the soils of Fukushima Prefecture as a result of wet atmospheric fallout.
    [Show full text]
  • Sensitivity of Horizontal Resolution and Sea Spray to the Simulations
    Sensitivity of horizontal resolution and sea spray to the simulations of Typhoon Roke in 2011 Akiyoshi Wada* *Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0052, JAPAN [email protected] 1. Introduction A previous report of Wada (2012) indicated that the horizontal resolution of 2 km was not enough to simulate the maximum intensity and structural change of Typhoon Roke in 2011 although the nonhydrostatic atmosphere model without ocean coupling well reproduced a rapid decrease in central pressure, 30 hPa in a day. In reality, a rapid intensification of Roke occurred when sea surface cooling was induced by the typhoon. This study addresses the sensitivity of horizontal resolution to the simulations of the typhoon. In addition, the sensitivity of an increase in turbulent heat fluxes due to the effect of sea spray induced by strong winds to the simulations was investigated in order to investigate the impact on the maximum intensity and intensification of simulated Roke. 2. Experimental design Summary of numerical simulations performed by Table 1 Summary of ocean coupling/noncoupling, horizontal resolution the atmosphere-wave-ocean coupled model (Wada et al., and sea spray parameterization Experiment Ocean Horizontal Sea spray 2010) is listed in Table1. The coupled model covered coupling resolution nearly a 1600 km x 1600 km computational domain with A2km NO 2 km - a horizontal grid spacing of 2 km in experiments A2km C2km YES 2 km - and C2km, and that of 1.5km in experiments C1.5km and CSP1.5km. The coupled model had 40 vertical levels C1.5km YES 1.5km - with variable intervals from 40 m for the near-surface CSP1.5km YES 1.5km Bao et al.(2000) layer to 1180 m for the uppermost layer.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of and Studies with Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere Models
    Section 9 Development of and studies with coupled ocean-atmosphere models Numerical simulations of the intensity change of Typhoon Choiwan (2009) and the oceanic response Akiyoshi Wada *Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0052, JAPAN [email protected] 1. Introduction Interactions between typhoons and the ocean are known to be important for predicting their intensity changes. In addition, a strong wind curl accompanied by typhoons induces sea surface cooling by passage of a TC, and causes variations in pCO2 in the upper ocean. The concentration of pCO2 is a function of the concentration of hydrogen ions, which is calculated by given water temperature, salinity, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (ALK). Wada et al. (2011a, b) reported that a simple chemical scheme coupled with an ocean general circulation model (Wada et al., 2011a) or coupled with a nonhydrostatic atmosphere model coupled with a multilayer ocean model and the third generation ocean wave model enabled us to simulate variations in pCO2 and air-sea CO2 flux caused by Typhoons Tina and Winnie (1997) and Typhoon Hai-Tang (2005). However, the variations in pCO2 could not be validated for numerical simulations of Typhoon Hai-Tang (2005) due to lack of observation. Bond et al. (2011) reported that pCO2, the water minus air value, increased dramatically giving a maximum value of 55 atm and then it slowly decreases at the surface mooring buoy named the Kuroshio Extension Observatory (KEO) buoy by passage of Typhoon Choiwan in 2009. In order to clarify the mechanism of the variations in pCO2 in the upper ocean by passage of Choiwan, numerical simulations were performed using a nonhydrostatic atmosphere model coupled with the multilayer ocean model and the third generation ocean wave model.
    [Show full text]
  • Capital Adequacy (E) Task Force RBC Proposal Form
    Capital Adequacy (E) Task Force RBC Proposal Form [ ] Capital Adequacy (E) Task Force [ x ] Health RBC (E) Working Group [ ] Life RBC (E) Working Group [ ] Catastrophe Risk (E) Subgroup [ ] Investment RBC (E) Working Group [ ] SMI RBC (E) Subgroup [ ] C3 Phase II/ AG43 (E/A) Subgroup [ ] P/C RBC (E) Working Group [ ] Stress Testing (E) Subgroup DATE: 08/31/2020 FOR NAIC USE ONLY CONTACT PERSON: Crystal Brown Agenda Item # 2020-07-H TELEPHONE: 816-783-8146 Year 2021 EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] DISPOSITION [ x ] ADOPTED WG 10/29/20 & TF 11/19/20 ON BEHALF OF: Health RBC (E) Working Group [ ] REJECTED NAME: Steve Drutz [ ] DEFERRED TO TITLE: Chief Financial Analyst/Chair [ ] REFERRED TO OTHER NAIC GROUP AFFILIATION: WA Office of Insurance Commissioner [ ] EXPOSED ________________ ADDRESS: 5000 Capitol Blvd SE [ ] OTHER (SPECIFY) Tumwater, WA 98501 IDENTIFICATION OF SOURCE AND FORM(S)/INSTRUCTIONS TO BE CHANGED [ x ] Health RBC Blanks [ x ] Health RBC Instructions [ ] Other ___________________ [ ] Life and Fraternal RBC Blanks [ ] Life and Fraternal RBC Instructions [ ] Property/Casualty RBC Blanks [ ] Property/Casualty RBC Instructions DESCRIPTION OF CHANGE(S) Split the Bonds and Misc. Fixed Income Assets into separate pages (Page XR007 and XR008). REASON OR JUSTIFICATION FOR CHANGE ** Currently the Bonds and Misc. Fixed Income Assets are included on page XR007 of the Health RBC formula. With the implementation of the 20 bond designations and the electronic only tables, the Bonds and Misc. Fixed Income Assets were split between two tabs in the excel file for use of the electronic only tables and ease of printing. However, for increased transparency and system requirements, it is suggested that these pages be split into separate page numbers beginning with year-2021.
    [Show full text]
  • NASA's TRMM Satellite Sees Typhoon Roke Intensify Rapidly Before Landfall in Japan 21 September 2011
    NASA's TRMM Satellite sees Typhoon Roke intensify rapidly before landfall in Japan 21 September 2011 rainfall accumulation along the track of the storm. The image also showed significant rainfall accumulation (over 200 mm or ~8 inches) over the Japanese Island of Kyushu to the north of Typhoon Roke. This rain system continued to interact with Typhoon Roke in the subsequent 24 hours as Typhoon Roke continued moving north toward Japan's largest Island, Honshu. The second image Kelley created zooms into the inner core of Typhoon Roke during a period of rapid intensification, seen by the TRMM satellite at 1351 UTC (9:51 a.m. EDT) on September 19, 2011. This large-scale image provides context for the 3D radar data (in gray) by showing the three-day surface rainfall accumulation (rainbow colors) along the track of the storm (gray line). Also shown is the significant rainfall accumulation (over 200 mm or ~8 inches) over the Japanese Island of Kyushu to the north of Typhoon Roke. Credit: Credit: NASA/TRMM/Owen Kelley This image zooms into the inner core of Typhoon Roke The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) during a period of rapid intensification, seen by the satellite captured rainfall and cloud data from TRMM satellite at 1351 UTC (9:51 a.m. EDT) on Sept. Typhoon Roke as it rapidly intensified before 19, 2011. The background is the cloud-top temperatures making landfall in Japan earlier today. (seen by TRMM infrared instrument). Dark gray indicates regions where This image shows shallow clouds (dark gray), clouds above freezing level (blue) and clouds that Typhoon Roke followed a looping path for five approach the tropopause (light-gray) indicating vigorous days while maintaining tropical-storm strength prior convection.
    [Show full text]
  • Investigation on Effects of Initial Schemes for Binary Typhoons Roke and Sonca in 2011
    Vol.22 S1 JOURNAL OF TROPICAL METEOROLOGY July 2016 Article ID: 1006-8775(2016) S1-0001-14 INVESTIGATION ON EFFECTS OF INITIAL SCHEMES FOR BINARY TYPHOONS ROKE AND SONCA IN 2011 1, 2 1 1 1 HUANG Yan-yan (黄燕燕) , CHEN Zi-tong (陈子通) , DAI Guang-feng (戴光丰) , ZHANG Cheng-zhong (张诚忠) , CHEN 2 Xun-lai (陈训来) (1. Guangzhou Institute of Tropical and Marine Meteorology/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Numerical Weather Prediction, CMA, Guangzhou 510080 China; 2. Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Severe Weather in South China, Shenzhen 518040 China) Abstract: Based on the Tropical Region Atmospheric Modeling System for South China Sea (TRAMS), Typhoon Roke (1115) and Sonca (1116) in 2011 which have large forecast errors in numerical operation prediction, have been selected for research focusing on the initial scheme and its influence on forecast. The purpose is to find a clue for model improvement and enhance the performance of the typhoon model. Several initialization schemes have been designed and the corresponding experiments have been done for Typhoon Roke and Sonca. The results show that the forecast error of both typhoons’ track and intensity are less using the initial scheme of relocation and bogus just for the weak Typhoon Sonca, compared with using the scheme for both typhoons. By analysis the influence of the scheme on weak typhoon vortex circulation may be the reason that leads to the improvement. All weak typhoons in 2011 to 2012 are selected for tests. It comes to the conclusion that the initial scheme of relocation and bogus can reduce the error of track and intensity forecast.
    [Show full text]
  • Kitō Jiin in Contemporary Japanese Sōtō Zen Buddhism
    Brands of Zen: Kitō jiin in Contemporary Japanese Sōtō Zen Buddhism Inauguraldissertation zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität Heidelberg, vorgelegt von: Tim Graf, M.A. Erstgutachterin: Prof. Dr. Inken Prohl Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Harald Fuess Datum: 07.07.2017 Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Research Questions and Goals for This Study ................................................................................ 7 A Theory of Religious Practice ......................................................................................................... 9 Towards a Working Definition of kitō ....................................................................................... 13 Material Religion ......................................................................................................................... 16 Religion and Marketing .............................................................................................................. 17 Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Chapter Outlines ............................................................................................................................. 23 Chapter One: Historical Perspectives on ‘Zen’ and kitō ................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Export of 134 Cs and 137 Cs in the Fukushima River Systems at Heavy Rains by Typhoon Roke in September 2011
    Biogeosciences, 10, 6215–6223, 2013 Open Access www.biogeosciences.net/10/6215/2013/ doi:10.5194/bg-10-6215-2013 Biogeosciences © Author(s) 2013. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Export of 134 Cs and 137 Cs in the Fukushima river systems at heavy rains by Typhoon Roke in September 2011 S. Nagao1, M. Kanamori2, S. Ochiai1, S. Tomihara3, K. Fukushi4, and M. Yamamoto1 1Low Level Radioactivity Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1224, Japan 2Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan 3Aquamarine Fukushima, Obama, Iwaki, Fukushima 971-8101, Japan 4Division of Earth Dynamics, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan Correspondence to: S. Nagao ([email protected]) Received: 31 December 2012 – Published in Biogeosciences Discuss.: 15 February 2013 Revised: 19 July 2013 – Accepted: 27 July 2013 – Published: 2 October 2013 Abstract. At stations on the Natsui River and the Same River gen explosions (Japanese Government, 2011; Chino et al., in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, effects of a heavy rain event 2011). Surface deposition of 134Cs and 137Cs shows consid- on radiocesium export were studied after Typhoon Roke dur- erable external radioactivity in a zone extending northwest ing 21–22 September 2011, six months after the Fukushima from the NPP, about 20 km wide and 50–70 km long inside Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Radioactivity of the 80 km zone of the NPP (MEXT, 2011; Yoshida and Taka- 134Cs and 137Cs in river waters was 0.009–0.098 Bq L−1 in hashi, 2012).
    [Show full text]
  • Schedule of Presentations and Abstracts: Updated May 21, 2012
    Fourth International Workshop on Extratropical Transition (IWET4) Mont Gabriel Lodge St.-Adèle, Québec Canada May 20-25, 2012 Schedule of presentations and abstracts: Updated May 21, 2012 Monday, May 21: 0815: Welcome and Introduction 0830 Session 1 (ET Climatology) Chair: Shawn Milrad Kimberly M. Wood and Elizabeth A. Ritchie The University of Arizona Title: A 40-year climatology of extratropical transition in the eastern North Pacific. Part I: General characteristics. Extratropical transition has been frequently observed in many tropical basins around the world, including the western North Pacific, the northern Atlantic, and the southwestern Pacific. Conversely, only rare cases have been documented in the eastern North Pacific. This presentation will showcase a climatology of extratropical transition in this basin from 1970 to 2010, including cases which complete ET over open ocean and cases which begin ET but then make landfall before completing the process. This study utilizes 6-hourly reanalysis data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts at a nominal resolution of 0.703 degrees from 1979 onward (ERA-Interim) and a nominal resolution of 1.125 degrees before 1979 (ERA-40) to produce cyclone phase space plots as well as examine the large-scale features present during extratropical transition in the eastern North Pacific. This presentation will also discuss the structure of ET in the eastern North Pacific. It will cover the average structural changes that occur during ET in this basin as well as explore how these changes differ from those seen elsewhere in the tropics. 0900 Elizabeth A. Ritchie and Kimberly M. Wood The University of Arizona Title: A 40-year climatology of extratropical transition in the eastern North Pacific.
    [Show full text]
  • NASA Sees Heavy Rainfall in Typhoon Roke 20 September 2011
    NASA sees heavy rainfall in Typhoon Roke 20 September 2011 satellite passed over Typhoon Roke on September 18 at 1840 UTC (2:40 p.m. EDT). TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) data showed that Roke contained several areas of heavy rainfall on the eastern side near the center of the storm. Some powerful storms near Roke's center were dropping rainfall at a rate greater than 50mm/hr (~2 inches). TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) also revealed that there was a large rain band between Roke and the main islands of Japan. TRMM shows that this large area of rainfall contained smaller lines of intense convective storms. Tropical storm Roke already had a well defined circulation on September 18 at 1940 UTC (3:40 p.m. EDT) and when the TRMM satellite passed over Roke again on Sept. 19 at 1351 UTC (9:51 This 3-D image created from the TRMM satellite's data a.m. EDT) it had strengthened into a typhoon. shows convective storm towers near Typhoon Roke's TRMM captured the rainfall rates within Roke at center of circulation reached to heights of almost 15 km that time. The infrared image was created at (~9.3 miles). Red indicates heavy rainfall (2 inches/50 NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, mm per hour). Credit: Credit: SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce Md. It was created using TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument overlaid with rainfall derived from TRMM PR and TMI data and showed that Roke had a well defined eye, circled NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission by intense bands of rainfall.
    [Show full text]