Project of the Ukrainian-Russian scientific-engineering program (1998–2008)

Geoecology of the Sea-land Conjunction

Project of the Ukrainian-Russian scientific-engineering program (1998–2008)     

Studies of the planetary atmospheres in Russia (2007–2010)

An overview of results obtained in the field of planetary atmosphere studies in Russia in 2007?C2010 prepared by the Commission on Planetary Atmospheres of the National Geophysical Committee for the National Report on Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences to the XXV General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (Melbourne, 28 June?C7 July 2011) [1, 2] is presented.     

Petrogeochemistry and Ore Mineralization of Sericite–Quartz Schists of the Southern Slope of the Kashevarov Bank (Sea of Okhotsk)

Oceanology - Data on the structure and chemical and mineral composition of sericite–quartz schists of the southern slope of the Kashevarov Bank of the Sea of Okhotsk are presented. The...     

Results of Russian investigations into the middle atmosphere (2011–2014)

The results of Russian investigations into the Earth’s middle atmosphere that were published in the period of 2011–2014 are presented. The survey is prepared as part of the National Report on Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences for the XXVI General Assembly of the International Union on Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) that was held from June 22 to July 2, 2015, in Prague, Czech Republic.     

Impacts of anthropogenic activities on the Changjiang(Yangtze)estuarine ecosystem(1998–2012)

Estuarine ecosystem has greatly changed in the recent decades due to anthropogenic perturbations in the Changjiang Estuary. Change patterns and impact factors were analyzed based on the continuous data...     

The dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community in the coastal ecosystem of the Southern Bight (North Sea) during the winter–spring period

The seasonal dynamics of the nanophytoplankton community (pelagic algae 2–20 μm) was studied at a location in the Southern Bight (North Sea) from October 1993 through May 1994. During the study period the cell number and biomass of the nanoalgae varied between 10⁵–10⁶ cells dm⁻³ and 16–300 μg wet weight dm⁻³. Several ecological events seem common to the boreal coastal nanophytoplankton communities in the winter–spring period. These are: (1) abrupt fall in abundance at the beginning of winter (late October–early November); (2) winter minimum (December–March); (3) steady increase in cell number and biomass (April–May); followed by (4) the spring maximum occurring usually in May.     

Climate Change in the Hydrometeorological Parameters of the Black and Azov Seas (1980–2020)

Oceanology - To study the nature of climate change in the hydrometeorological parameters of the Black and Azov Seas—surface air temperature (SAT), sea surface temperature (SST), ice cover,...     

Surveys of mussels (Mollusca: Lamellibranchia) in the firth of Thames, 1961–67

Surveys are described which were made to determine distribution and relative density of stocks of mussels, Perna canaliculus Gmelin (Lamellibranchia: Anisomyaria; Mytilidae), in the Firth of Thames, North Island, New Zealand, during the late autumn‐early winter of each year 1961–63 and 1965–67.

Two dredges available for sampling were tested against one another over similar ground. Both gave comparable results, but although the one chosen was never actually calibrated, it gave consistent results which allowed relative changes of abundance to be studied.

In 1961, 206 stations were sampled on a grid of 1 square mile which covered most of the Firth. Early results showed that the densest beds were along the western shore line; there were only small patches of mussels off Coromandel and along the eastern shore. A well‐stocked and readily identifiable area of 2 square miles off Matingarahi Point was selected for more intensive sampling on a 1/16 square‐mile grid. Samples collected there annually showed a rapid decline of the population after commercial dredging in 1961–62; there was no substantial regeneration on the bottom after this, though satisfactory settlement occurred above the bottom on experimental moorings. Declining yields are shown for other areas (Ponui Island and New Brighton) which were also sampled on a 1/16 square‐mile grid.

Commercial landings of mussels decreased rapidly after 1961, and have not recovered. There have been no regular landings since 1966 but a promising private experiment in small‐scale cultivation is described.     

Oceanological Research of the Baltic Sea in the 51st Cruise of the PV Akademik Sergey Vavilov (June–July 2021)

Oceanology - The 51st cruise of the PV Akademik Sergey Vavilov (June 30–July 14, 2021) included the study of redox conditions in the Baltic Sea deeps. Water temperature in the upper...     

Sedimentary Waves of the Southeastern Barents Sea Shelf (Kanin Peninsula–Cheshskaya Bay)

Oceanology - Sedimentary waves are represented by a series of wavelike accumulative features with various degrees of morphological expression. These morphological forms are superimposed on the...     

Height-latitude structure of the vertical component of the migrating semidiurnal tide in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere region (80–100 km)

The height-latitude distributions of parameters of the vertical wind component of the semidiurnal tide were calculated for the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region (80–100 km) on the basis of empirical height-latitude distributions of the monthly mean parameters of variations in the horizontal wind component of the migrating semidiurnal tide. The constructed distributions are compared with the results of a numerical modeling of the migrating semidiurnal tide with the aid of a model of global circulation in the middle and upper atmosphere, as well as with the parameters of semidiurnal temperature variations obtained from the data of satellite measurements. It is shown that different models yield the distributions of parameters of semidiurnal variations, which agree within the errors of their values. The presence of high-latitude regions of local maximal amplitudes is a specific feature of the distributions of parameters of semidiurnal variations in the vertical wind constructed in the course of this work. On the whole, at heights of about 90 km and higher, semidiurnal variations in the vertical wind exceed the prevailing vertical wind in amplitude.     

Ecosystems of the Siberian Arctic Seas–2021: Ecosystem of the Kara Sea in the Period of Seasonal Ice Melting (Cruise 83 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh)

Oceanology - Cruise 83 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh was organized by the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology in the framework of the Program “Marine Ecosystems of the Siberian...     

Evaluation of the “fishing down marine food web” process in the north-west of Persian Gulf(Khuzestan Province) during the period of 2002–2011

The worldwide increase in commercial fisheries and its impact on ecosystems as well as inefficient fishery management have led to overfishing and frequent breakdown of traditional fish stocks.In this context,an analysis of Khuzestan inshore fisheries data covering the years 2002–2011,was conducted in reliance on testing for occurrence of the fishing down marine food webs(FDMFW) phenomenon in the North of Persian Gulf Large Marine Ecosystem(LME).In this study,the mean trophic level(m TL) and the fishing-in-balance(FIB)-index of Khuzestan landings during this period of time were estimated using the trophic level of 47 fishery resources.Increase in total landings(Y) was observed,which explained the high fishing yield in major fishery resources(especially demersal).Moreover,the moderates decreasing trend in m TL per decade,and the increasing trend in FIB-index were observed.The status of fishery resources in Khuzestan inshore waters(under exploited but not overexploited),the rise in Y,FIB and slightly drop in m TL can be considered as indirect indicators of the fishing impacts on the trophic structure of marine communities.Based on this result,probability occurrence of FDMFW process in Khuzestan inshore waters is low to some extent.However,we suggest that the goal of management programs in Khuzestan inshore waters should prevent the continuance of this trend in the long-term using an ecosystem-based approach.     

Atmospheric effects of the gas–dust plume of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid of 2013

We have performed a simulation of the convectively induced ascent of the gas–dust cloud formed during the atmospheric passage and explosion of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid. The acceleration, velocity, and rise of the gas–dust cloud have been described as functions of time and altitude. The time of dust settling in the atmosphere has been estimated. The results of calculations are in a close agreement with the observational data.     

Feeding ecology of the deep-water blue–red shrimp Aristeus antennatus (Decapoda: Aristeidae) in the Greek Ionian Sea (E. Mediterranean)

The feeding habits of the deep-sea blue–red shrimp Aristeus antennatus were determined based on the analysis of 1047 stomach contents, sampled in the Greek Ionian Sea (E. Mediterranean). The diet of this economically and biologically important decapod was studied in relation to the season, size class and sex. The diet of A. antennatus consisted of 54 different prey categories, and belonged mainly to smaller crustaceans (e.g. natantian decapods, euphausiids, tanaidaceans), molluscs, polychaetes, chaetognaths and, to a lesser extent, fishes. The above prey categories consisted of 71–82% of the relative abundance and total occurrence for males and 61–81% for females. Females seemed to be better fed than males (stomach fullness, food quality). A. antennatus displayed a highly diversified diet and the different feeding patterns were discussed. Diet composition showed slight seasonal fluctuations. The observed slight differences on A. antennatus diet among the western, central and eastern Mediterranean could be attributed to the more oligotrophic character of the eastern part of the basin. The principal factors driving the changes in the feeding strategy of this decapod among the seasons are the increased energy demands related to sexual requirements and the food availability in the marine environment. The ontogenetic changes in the shrimp's diet were relatively clear. Larger individuals exhibited selecting prey with a good swimming capacity (e.g. fishes), while the smaller individuals consumed prey with low mobility (e.g. copepods, ostracods).     

Organic matter–apatite–pyrite relationships in the Botneheia Formation (Middle Triassic) of eastern Svalbard: Relevance to the formation of petroleum source rocks in the NW Barents Sea shelf

The Middle Triassic Botneheia Formation of eastern Svalbard (Edgeøya and Barentsøya) comprises an organic carbon-rich, fine-grained clastic succession (∼100 m thick) that makes the best petroleum source rock horizon in the NW Barents Sea shelf. The succession records a transgressive–regressive interplay between the prodelta depositional system sourced in the southern Barents Sea shelf (black shale facies of the lower and middle parts of the Muen Member) and the open shelf phosphogenic system related to upwelling and nutrient supply from the Panthalassic Ocean (phosphogenic black shale facies of the upper part of the Muen Member and the Blanknuten Member). The relationships between organic matter, authigenic apatite, and pyrite in these facies allow to characterize the relative roles of redox conditions and oceanic productivity in the organic carbon preservation. The accumulation of terrestrial and autochthonous marine organic matter in the black shale facies occurred under dominating oxic conditions and increasing-upward productivity related to early transgressive phase and retrogradation of the prodelta system. The phosphogenic black shale facies deposited in an oxygen-minimum zone (OMZ) of the open shelf environment during the late transgressive to regressive phases under conditions of high biological productivity, suppressed sedimentation rates, and changing bottom redox. The phosphatic black shales occurring in the lower and upper parts of the phosphogenic succession reveal depositional conditions indicative of the shallower part of OMZ, including high input of autochthonous organic matter into sediment, oxic-to-dysoxic (episodically suboxic and/or anoxic) conditions, intense phosphogenesis, and recurrent reworking of the seabed. The massive phosphatic mudstone occurring in the middle of the phosphogenic succession reflects the development of euxinia in the deeper part of OMZ during high-stand of the sea. High input of autochthonous organic matter in this environment was coupled with mineral starvation and intermittent phosphogenesis. In mature sections in eastern Svalbard, the petroleum potential of the Botneheia Formation rises from moderate to good in the black shale facies, and from good to very good in the phosphogenic black shale facies, attaining maximum in the massive phosphatic mudstone.     

Development of the POLCOMS–WAM current–wave model

The continuous research and improvement of ocean modelling helps to provide a more sustainable development of coastal and offshore regions. This paper focuses on ocean modelling at the NW Mediterranean using the POLCOMS–WAM model with new developments. The Stokes’ drift effect on currents has been included and the distribution of surface stress between waves and currents has also been considered. The system is evaluated in the NW Mediterranean and an evaluation of different forcing terms is performed. The temperature and salinity distributions control the main patterns of the Mediterranean circulation. Currents are typically small and therefore the modification of waves due to the effect of currents is minimal. However, the wave induced currents, mainly caused by a modified wind drag due to waves, produce changes that become an important source of mass transport. POLCOMS was able to reproduce the main Mediterranean features, its coupling with WAM can be a very useful tool for ocean and wave modelling in the Mediterranean and other shelf seas.     

Numerical analysis of the sea (lake) breeze dynamics and initialization of the model

In this paper, analysed are the effects of synoptic wind, earth-rotation inertia and land surface roughness on sea (lake) breeze process, on the basis of the calculated results of a 2-D primitive equation model with turbulent energy closure. The results show that a moderate background wind field acts as a trigger for sea (lake) breeze onset, and presents prominent effect on the breeze intensity, inland advance rate and structure feature. The effects of Coriolis force not only make the breeze veering round, but also damp the development of the breeze component normal to shore.The paper also discussed the dynamic method of wind field initialization based on one-site radiosonde. Three approaches of initialization have been tested. In comparison, it was found that the approach of one-dimensional dynamic initialization with nudging term was preferable to the others.     

Marine Geodesy (1975–1979)— to the International Association of Geodesy,Section 1

Abstract

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been developed during the last decade. Their land‐based applications range from land information management, urban planning, and environmental research to engineering design and management in the utility and oil industries, geological subsurface analysis, and others. However, applications of GIS in the marine environment are still in the initial stages. This may be due to, among other things, the large marine data sets, the demands of 3D data processing, and the difficulty of ocean data acquisition.

This article presents the result of the development of an integrated Marine Geographic Information System (MGIS) for the exploration and development of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the U.S. Pacific Islands region by the Pacific Mapping Center, University of Hawaii. Features such as spatial marine data processing, integration of GIS and mapping systems, 3D data structures, and simulation and animation of marine operations are developed and applied in this system. Since MGIS applications in EEZ are related to many disciplines in marine sciences and engineering, an operational MGIS should be an integrated system in which both basic GIS and marine application systems are combined into a single geo‐referenced system, In addition to other applications, this MGIS has been used: (1) to select a potential deep‐water research site off the island of Hawaii for the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, and Development (DBED); (2) to generate a three‐dimensional database and use it for the navigation and simulation of underwater operations of an underwater research vehicle; and (3) to produce two 2° × 2° mosaic sheets of sonar images, which meet the USGS standard for a sonar image atlas.