Spectral-temporal structure of variations in the atmospheric total ozone in central Eurasia

The results of long-term (1980–2003) systematic measurements of the total ozone content at the Issyk Kul station (42.6° N, 77.0° E; 1650 m above sea level) are presented. The statistical characteristics and spectral structure of variations in the total ozone and the main tendencies of its temporal variability are determined. It is found that the total ozone content decreased in 1980–2003 at an average rate of (?1.29±0.08) DU/yr. The results of Fourier and wavelet analyses have shown that only oscillations with periods of 12, 27–29, and 102–105 months are rather stable and can be represented as harmonic oscillations. Oscillations with periods shorter than six months have the character of periodically arising pulsations. Among these, oscillations with periods of 27–29 and 34–37 days can be distinguished. It is noted that the spectral-temporal structure of variations in the total ozone content obtained from ground-based measurements at the Issyk Kul station is in good agreement with the corresponding structure obtained from TOMS satellite measurements.     

Water vapor in the atmosphere over the northern Tien Shan

Refined data of systematic measurements of total water vapor in the atmosphere from May 1980 to April 2005 are presented. The data were obtained at the Issyk Kul atmospheric-monitoring station by the method of solar molecular-absorption spectroscopy. Over 25 years, the annual mean water-vapor content in the atmosphere increased by 4.5% at a mean rate of increase of 0.18% per year. However, the water-vapor content decreased in the last five years. The results of statistical processing of experimental data (general statistical characteristics, correlation coefficients, composite oscillations) are described. A refined model is proposed for forecasts of temporal variations in the monthly mean and annual mean water-vapor contents for the coming years. The model includes a linear trend and the sum of oscillations with periods close to the periods of a number of well-known geophysical phenomena. Regression equations are proposed to relate the water-vapor content in the atmospheric column to the surface temperature and absolute humidity.     

Electric fields and currents in the ionosphere generated by field-aligned currents observed by TRIAD

On the basis of the experimental data on the ionospheric conductivities and field-aligned currents the electric fields and currents in the ionosphere generated by the field-aligned currents were computated for various magnetic activity conditions. The model of the ionospheric conductivities by Vanyan and Osipova (1975) was used taking into account the influence of the universal time seasons and magnetic activity. The field-aligned current patterns and their change with magnetic activity was set on the basis of the TRIAD data. It is shown that the calculated patterns of the ionospheric electric fields and currents are in agreement with the measured electric fields and the equivalent current systems of the magnetic disturbances in high latitudes. The conclusion is made that the magnetospheric field-aligned currents are the main sources of the presently known polar magnetic disturbances.     

The State of Benthic Communities and Water Quality Evaluation in the Cheboksary Reservoir

Present-day quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the Cheboksary Reservoir have been investigated, and data on the biological diversity of benthic organisms have been compared to those of hydrobiological studies carried out in the region prior to the reservoir construction. The reservoir bottom communities include 75 species and forms of benthos. The reservoir water quality has been evaluated using different methods, including the determination of the degree of morphological structure abnormalities in chironomid larvae, regarded as sublethal indicators of bottom sediment pollution with toxic substances.     

Arctic climate changes in the 21st century: Ensemble model estimates accounting for realism in present-day climate simulation

In the course of forecasting future climate changes in the Arctic Region based on calculations and an ensemble of the state-of-the-art global climate models, the results depend on the method of construction the statistics from the models.     

Influence of long-period oscillations on the development of droughts in Northern Eurasia

Doklady Earth Sciences - Estimates of the influence of the Atlantic long-period oscillation (ALO) on the formation of droughts in Northern Eurasia were obtained using the results of numerical...     

Variations of Dissolved Helium and Radon Caused by Earthquakes in Groundwater of the Southern Cis-Baikal Region

This paper reports on variations in the concentrations of dissolved radon, registered in groundwaters of the Southern Cis-Baikal region run-up to earthquakes of different energy classes, located at different distances from the point of geochemical observations. Using the obtained data, an equation of regression was calculated for the relationship between the log(TR) function and the energy class of earthquakes. These data can be used as signs of short-term earthquake precursors.