Fine structure of the turbulent atmospheric boundary layer over the water surface

In this paper, the results of a laboratory experiment on investigating the wind-velocity field over a water surface using the PIV method are described. The use of a rapid CCD-camera made it possible to perform a detailed study of the eddy structure of airflow. We have measured the velocity fields over a flat plate by wind waves and waves induced by a wave generator. The model of a turbulent boundary layer over a rough surface was directly verified. It has been shown that the wind-velocity profiles over waves obtained by averaging the instantaneous fields over the ensemble of samples and horizontal coordinate are satisfactorily consistent with the profiles calculated within the frameworks of the model of wind flow over rough water surface.     

Three-dimensional semi-empirical climate model of water vapor distribution and its implementation to the radiation module of the middle and upper atmosphere model

To provide the more accurate simulation of stationary planetary waves and atmospheric tides using the middle and upper atmosphere model (MUAM), the three-dimensional (longitude-latitude-height) semi-empirical climate model of water vapor distribution in the troposphere was developed which takes into account seasonal variations. The modules of radiation heating and cooling in the MUAM model were modified taking into account the dependence of water vapor concentration on longitude. The simulations performed using the modified version of MUAM revealed that the consideration of water vapor concentration variability along the circle of latitude leads to the substantial dependence of solar heating on longitude that affects the amplitudes of stationary planetary waves in the stratosphere.     

Hydrological Regime of the Lower Volga River under Modern Conditions

The regularities of changes in the parameters of the hydrological regime of the Lower Volga are considered using data of routine observations at gaging stations and data of field studies carried out by the specialists of Zubov State Oceanographic Institute in 2006–2017. The main modern trends are revealed for runoff and water level, water temperature, and ice phenomena as well as for the duration of flooding of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain during the spring flood. The parameters are compared for natural and regulated Volga River runoff conditions. It is shown that considerable variation in the duration of flooding of floodplains, in water temperature, and heat flow during the spring flood under modern conditions is caused both by runoff operation and by increase in the anthropogenic load on the area of the Volga-Akhtuba floodplain in the recent decades.     

A Study of the Distribution of Electric Currents and Current Helicity in the Photosphere at the Growth Stage of a Bipolar Active Region

The process of active region formation was researched by analyzing the densities of electric current and electric current helicity in the photosphere. The observational data were obtained with the vector magnetograph of the Sayan observatory. The appearance (as the sunspot developed) of the part of current helicity which is determined by the vertical components of the magnetic field and electric current density was studied. It is concluded that the loop-like magnetic flux tube which is responsible for the active region emergence contains thinner tubes with the same structure. The electric current system in a sunspot is simplified as the sunspot forms perhaps because the thinner flux tubes are merged together.     

Emergence of magnetic flux at the solar surface and the origin of active regions

The evolution of photospheric velocities from the first minutes after the emergence of fresh magnetic flux and the formation of the first pores in active region NOAA 10488 is studied with a time resolution of 1 min and spatial resolution of 4″. The emerging magnetic flux of a major active region is initially a bundle of magnetic-flux loops. Some of these loops erupt through the system of supergranular cells with speeds of up to 1 km/s within 15–25 min and form pores and small spots. It is suggested that the development of a pore represents the emergence of a horizontal magnetic field, which is converted into elements with a strong vertical magnetic field. The region of ascending plasma initially coincides with the zero line of a bipolar magnetic pair. Downflow and upflow regions are related to and appear with the development of pores. During the first hours of their evolution, the trailing-polarity pores exhibit downflows with mean speeds of ∼500 m/s, while upflows with speeds of ∼250 m/s dominate near the leading-polarity pores. It is concluded that a matter flow from the leading to the trailing end is present in the rising loop of a magnetic flux tube, in agreement with well-known numerical-simulation results. The flow that develops in the magnetic-flux tube erupting through the convection zone persists when pores and small spots emerge in the photosphere, at least during the first hours of their evolution.     

Non-monotonous dependence of the ocean surface drag coefficient on the hurricane wind speed due to the fragmentation of the ocean-atmosphere interface

Doklady Earth Sciences - Influence of the spray generation due to the fragmentation of the “bag-breakup” type on momentum exchange in the atmospheric boundary layer above the sea...     

Medium-scale splitting of outflowing field-aligned currents and kappa distribution of magnetospheric ions

The medium-scale (50–200 km in the projection onto ionospheric altitudes) splitting of the field-aligned currents flowing out of the ionosphere has been considered in the case when the approximation of the distribution function of hot magnetospheric ions by the kappa distribution is taken into account. It was assumed that the condition of magnetostatic equilibrium and isotropy of hot magnetospheric plasma pressure is satisfied in the magnetosphere. The theoretical parameter of magnetospheric plasma hot stratification has been obtained for the case of ion kappa distribution. The parameter characterizes the number of structures into which the band of the field-aligned current flowing out of the ionosphere is split. The theoretical predictions have been compared with the observations on the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 and Aureol-3 satellites. It has been indicated that the number of measured structures is in better agreement with that of the theoretically predicted structures in 70% of cases if the non-Maxwellian tails of ion distribution functions are taken into account.     

Dispersive properties of a magnetized plasma with strong short-scale irregularities

The dispersive properties of a magnetized plasma with strong short-scale field-aligned irregularities are investigated, and the dielectric permittivity tensor is derived. The components of this tensor are analyzed, and the limits of applicability of the approach used are discussed. The results obtained will be useful with regard to radio wave propagation and electromagnetic wave generation by superthermal electrons in magnetized plasmas containing such irregularities.     

The coalescence of two rotating sunspots during the emergence of an active region

The rare phenomenon of the coalescence of two rotating sunspots of the same magnetic polarity during the emergence of the active region NOAA 11117 is investigated using data from the SDO space observatory. The coalescing spots rotated in opposite directions. The leading spot which formed from this process rotated counterclockwise with an angular velocity of 4°/h. A possible explanation is presented, based on a model of the emerging, twisted magnetic Ω flux tube that interacts with convective flows as it crosses the convective zone.