Eddy energy sources and mesoscale eddies in the Sea of Okhotsk

Based on eddy-permitting ocean circulation model outputs, the mesoscale variability is studied in the Sea of Okhotsk. We confirmed that the simulated circulation reproduces the main features of the general circulation in the Sea of Okhotsk. In particular, it reproduced a complex structure of the East-Sakhalin current and the pronounced seasonal variability of this current. We established that the maximum of mean kinetic energy was associated with the East-Sakhalin Current. In order to uncover causes and mechanisms of the mesoscale variability, we studied the budget of eddy kinetic energy (EKE) in the Sea of Okhotsk. Spatial distribution of the EKE showed that intensive mesoscale variability occurs along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk, where the East-Sakhalin Current extends. We revealed a pronounced seasonal variability of EKE with its maximum intensity in winter and its minimum intensity in summer. Analysis of EKE sources and rates of energy conversion revealed a leading role of time-varying (turbulent) wind stress in the generation of mesoscale variability along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk in winter and spring. We established that a contribution of baroclinic instability predominates over that of barotropic instability in the generation of mesoscale variability along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk. To demonstrate the mechanism of baroclinic instability, the simulated circulation was considered along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk from January to April 2005. In April, the mesoscale anticyclonic eddies are observed along the western boundary of the Sea of Okhotsk. The role of the sea ice cover in the intensification of the mesoscale variability in the Sea of Okhotsk was discussed.     

基于GPS观测研究中国东北地区现今地壳形变特征

基于中国东北和俄罗斯远东东南部2012—2017年的GPS观测数据, 利用包含年周期、 半年周期、 线性项和阶跃项的函数模型拟合GPS站坐标时间序列, 得到ITRF2014下的速度场, 并进一步转换到欧亚参考框架下得到相对欧亚板块的速度场。 基于多尺度球面小波方法解算应变率场, 并分析了其空间分布特征, 同时研究了各GPS站对2011年日本东北M_W9.0大地震的震后松弛响应特征和背景形变场特征。 结果表明: ① 若不扣除日本东北大地震的松弛效应, 相对欧亚板块中国东北主体上表现为东南方向运动, 在依兰—伊通断裂和嫩江断裂带之间, 地壳表现为逆时针旋转, 其他区域向东南方向运动, 方向一致性较好, 在敦化—密山断裂东侧速度大小明显增加。 敦化—密山断裂和依兰—伊通断裂两侧拉张量分别为3.96±0.04 mm/a和0.71±0.05 mm/a, 两条断裂的剪切运动不明显。 总体上, 面应变率显示出NW—SE向的拉张和NE—SW向的挤压, 面应变率显示出依兰—伊通断裂南端、 嫩江断裂带北端和俄罗斯远东东南部呈挤压状态。 在依兰—伊通断裂、 敦化—密山断裂南侧以及俄罗斯远东东南部最大剪应变率相对较大。 ② 各GPS测站对2011年日本东北M_W9.0大地震震后松弛的响应整体上表现为东南向运动, 松弛形变量随震中距增加而减小。 松弛效应的面应变率总体上表现为NW—SE向的拉张和NE—SW向的挤压, 面应变率显示出依兰—伊通、 敦化—密山断裂南端、 嫩江断裂带北端以及俄罗斯远东地区具有挤压特征, 其他地区表现为拉张特征。 中国与俄罗斯远东边界南端存在一个明显的最大剪应变率高值区。 ③ 扣除日本东北M_W9.0大地震引起的松弛变形后, 总体上面应变率仍然表现为NW—SE向的拉张和NE—SW向的挤压, 面应变率最大值仍然位于依兰—伊通断裂和敦化—密山断裂南端、 第二松花江断裂带以及俄罗斯远东和中国边界最南段。 在依兰—伊通断裂、 敦化—密山断裂南端, 中国与俄罗斯远东边界南端的最大剪应变率高值区仍然存在, 表明这些地区应变积累较快, 并且一直在持续。     

Study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254–S258 OB complex

We present results of a high resolution study of the filamentary infrared dark cloud G192.76+00.10 in the S254-S258 OB complex in several molecular species tracing different physical conditions. These include three isotopologues of carbon monoxide(CO), ammonia(NH3) and carbon monosulfide(CS). The aim of this work is to study the general structure and kinematics of the filamentary cloud, and its fragmentation and physical parameters. The gas temperature is derived from the NH3(J, K) =(1,1),(2, 2) and ~(12)CO(2-1) lines, and the ~(13)CO(1-0), ~(13)CO(2-1) emission is used to investigate the overall gas distribution and kinematics. Several dense clumps are identified from the CS(2-1)data. Values of the gas temperature lie in the range 10-35 K, and column density N(H2) reaches the value 5.1 x 10~(22) cm~(-2). The width of the filament is of order 1 pc. The masses of the dense clumps range from ～ 30 M_☉ to ～ 160 M_☉. They appear to be gravitationally unstable. The molecular emission shows a gas dynamical coherence along the filament. The velocity pattern may indicate longitudinal collapse.     

Dynamics of magnetic flux tubes and IR-variability of young stellar objects

We simulate the dynamics of slender magnetic flux tubes(MFTs) in the accretion disks of T Tauri stars. The dynamical equations of our model take into account aerodynamic and turbulent drag forces, and the radiative heat exchange between the MFT and ambient gas. The structure of the disk is calculated with the help of our MHD model of the accretion disks. We consider the MFTs formed at distances of 0.027-0.8 au from the star with various initial radii and plasma betas β_0. The simulations show that MFTs with a weak magnetic field(β_0= 10) rise slowly with speeds less than the speed of sound. MFTs with β_0= 1 form an outflowing magnetized corona above the disk. Strongly magnetized MFTs(β_0= 0.1) can cause outflows with velocities 20-50 km s~(-1). The tubes rise periodically over times from several days to several months according to our simulations. We propose that periodically rising MFTs can absorb stellar radiation and contribute to the IR-variability of young stellar objects.     

Variability of emission lines in the optical spectra of the Herbig Be binary system HD 200775

In our previous papers we have improved the value of the orbital period of the binary Herbig Be star HD 200775 and showed that the [O I] and Si II 6347 and 6371 ?A emission lines displayed variations which correlate with the orbital period. In this paper we provide evidences that other broad emission lines of metals in the spectra of HD 200775 also exhibit variability, which is probably related to the orbital cycle of the binary. Analysis was performed based on the high-resolution spectral data collected over a time span of 6 years at the Kourovka Astronomical Observatory of the Ural Federal University(Russia) and the Three College Observatory of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro(USA) as well as archival spectral data compiled since 1994. We report new data points in the radial velocity curve of the He I 5876 ?A line near the extremal values of the radial velocity.     

Multicolor Photometry of Small Bodies of the Solar System: Performance Potential at the Robophot Telescope

Solar System Research - We consider prospects for investigating asteroids with the multicolor photometric method at the Robophot telescope—a robotic telescope of the Dall–Kirkham system...     

Gas seeps in Lake Baikal—detection, distribution, and implications for water column mixing

Echo sounders served to locate a large number of shallow- and deepwater gas seeps at the bottom of all three basins of Lake Baikal during the years 2005 to 2008. A substantial proportion of the shallow gas seeps was located near the delta of the Selenga River, and at the Posolskii uplift. Deepwater gas seeps were recorded at the lake bed both inside and outside of areas where a bottom-simulating reflector was identified in seismic profiles. By monitoring the activity of gas emissions at the gas seeps, times of episodic gas ebullition could be distinguished from times of persistent gas bubble streams. A maximum gas flare height of more than 950 m above the bottom was recorded at the St. Petersburg mud volcano located in the central basin of Lake Baikal. Based on calculations from echo sounder data, the ascent velocity of gas bubbles reached 40 cm/s. In the area of gas seepage, there was a thick near-bottom layer, in which the gradient of water temperature was equal to the adiabatic gradient. This implies complete mixing of the water close to the lake bed, resulting from ascending gas bubbles released at seep sites. Analyses of vertical temperature profiles indicate possibly localized upwelling up to the lake surface when gas emissions are intensive.     

Microbially mediated methane and sulfur cycling in pockmark sediments of the Gdansk Basin, Baltic Sea

In the Russian sector of the Gdansk Basin (Baltic Sea), high organic matter influx fuels microbial processes resulting in the formation of reduced sediments with elevated methane concentrations. Investigated areas of geoacoustic anomalies (～245 km²) were found to contain three distinct geomorphologic structures (pockmarks), with a total area of ～1 km². Methane anomalies recorded in the water above one of these pockmarks were traced as high as 10 m above the bottom. In pockmark sediments, sulfate reduction and anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) occurred at high rates of 33 and 50 µmol dm^?3 day^?1, respectively. Integrated over 0–180 cm sediment depths, AOM exceeded methanogenesis almost tenfold. High AOM rates resulted from methane influx from deeper sediment layers. The δ¹³C signature of methane carbon (?78.1 to ?71.1‰) indicates the biogenic origin of pockmark methane. In pockmark sediments, up to 70% of reduced sulfur compounds was possibly produced via AOM.     

Tracking stormwater discharge plumes and water quality of the Tijuana River with multispectral aerial imagery

Spatial–temporal characteristics and environmental factors regulating the behavior of stormwater runoff from the Tijuana River in southern California were analyzed utilizing very high resolution aerial imagery, and time-coincident environmental and bacterial sampling data. Thirty nine multispectral aerial images with 2.1-m spatial resolution were collected after major rainstorms during 2003–2008. Utilizing differences in color reflectance characteristics, the ocean surface was classified into non-plume waters and three components of the runoff plume reflecting differences in age and suspended sediment concentrations. Tijuana River discharge rate was the primary factor regulating the size of the freshest plume component and its shorelong extensions to the north and south. Wave direction was found to affect the shorelong distribution of the shoreline-connected fresh plume components much more strongly than wind direction. Wave-driven sediment resuspension also significantly contributed to the size of the oldest plume component. Surf zone bacterial samples collected near the time of each image acquisition were used to evaluate the contamination characteristics of each plume component. The bacterial contamination of the freshest plume waters was very high (100% of surf zone samples exceeded California standards), but the oldest plume areas were heterogeneous, including both polluted and clean waters. The aerial imagery archive allowed study of river runoff characteristics on a plume component level, not previously done with coarser satellite images. Our findings suggest that high resolution imaging can quickly identify the spatial extents of the most polluted runoff but cannot be relied upon to always identify the entire polluted area. Our results also indicate that wave-driven transport is important in distributing the most contaminated plume areas along the shoreline.