Analysis of wind instability using the measurements at the chernobyl meteorological station in 2000–2010

Using the data from the Chernobyl meteorological station for 2000–2010 and the wavelet analysis, the seasonal variations are analyzed of the average daily wind speed, wind gusts, wind speed variability, and instability coefficient (the ratio of the maximum wind speed to the average wind speed for each measurement). It is revealed that all parameters have pronounced seasonal variations, and the positions of seasonal maximum and minimum values of all variables under study are shifted relative to each other. The mean values of the shift between the seasonal variations of maximum and the average wind speed amount to 60–70 days, and those of the shift between the average speed and the instability coefficient, to about 145 days. The mentioned peculiarities of the display of seasonal variations are explained by atmospheric turbulent conditions. Proposed is a model that interprets the variability of the parameters under consideration as the statistics of separate eddies in the atmosphere.     

The physicochemical characteristics and hydrocarbon composition of crude oils of the Timan–Pechora petroliferous basin

The total hydrocarbon composition and average structural-group characteristics of typical Paleozoic crude oils of the Timan–Pechora petroliferous basin are described. The hydrocarbon (HC) types of crudes are compared, which were conventionally determined from the composition of their gasoline fractions, by mass-spectrometric analysis of the HC composition of crudes, and by structural-group analysis of crudes, based on radiospectrometric data. The analyses have shown the presence of 30 structural types of HCs with up to 43 carbon atoms. The whole series of members up to C43 are specific only for HCs with no more than three rings in the molecule. It has been established that the carbonate strata in the basin under investigation, independently of the depth of their occurrence and the age of the host deposits, generate and accumulate heavy high-resin high-sulfur oils rich in alicyclic structures and assigned by HC composition to the naphthene–methane or even naphthene type. Terrigenous reservoirs here abound in crudes of methane–naphthene type. The contents of sulfur and resinous substances and the fraction of carbon atoms in alicyclic HC structures decrease as the depth of occurrence of the host deposits grows, thus reflecting the known gradual process of “methanization” of petroleum composition.     

The analysis of long-term wind speed characteristics in the Chernobyl NPP region and possible prediction of radioactive aerosol release from the Ukrytie object

Three-hour and daily mean measurements of the module of an average speed and wind gusts were analyzed over 2001–2006 in the Chernobyl NPP region using wavelet analysis and the method of the Herst normalized range. Diurnal and seasonal fluctuations are revealed, the periodicity of 8, 16, and 60 days is not well-pronounced. The derived Herst high-value coefficients (∼0.7–0.8) against the background of well-pronounced seasonal and other fluctuations of an average wind speed are indicative of the fact that its temporal variability is far from being random. The analysis is performed to predict the concentration of radioactive aerosols released from the Ukrytie object (the damaged unit 4 of the ChNPP), whose changes correlate with the wind speed.     

A dust storm over the Ukraine and Belarus territory contaminated by radionuclides after the Chernobyl accident

A meteorological situation is under consideration during a dust storm observed on September 5–7, 1992 over the Ukraine and Belarus territory contaminated by radionuclide products after the Chernobyl accident. The highest average wind speed in Chernobyl and Pripyat was 10–12 m/s, wind gusts reached 20 m/s. It was found that the radioactive aerosol concentration in the zone of alienation of the Chernobyl NPP increased by one or two orders of magnitude. The transfer of radioactive dust particles to the Vilnius outskirts is recorded.     

Impact of haze and fog on filter characteristics in the process of monitoring radioactive aerosol

Presented are the results of observations of the impact of fog and haze on the operation of filtering units for the sampling of radioactive aerosols in the process of monitoring radiation conditions in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. It is revealed that the performance of installations decreases in the case of the formation of fog and mist (as a rule, at the relative air humidity of more than 90%). This is associated with the settling of finest water droplets on the fibers and with the clogging of the filter. As the fog disappears, the droplets evaporate from the filtering fibers and the performance of the unit increases. In the case of fog and haze at night in November 2012, the performance of AURA-02.11 installation decreased almost by three times as compared with the initial one. To reduce the negative impact of fog and haze on the operation of units, it is reasonable to use the filters made of hydrophobic fibers.     

Suture zones of the Urals as integral prospective ore-bearing tectonic structures

Rift-related (1.2 Ga) and collision (380–240 Ma) suture zones of the Urals are described. The riftrelated suture zones comprise an ultramafic-gabbro complex with titanomagnetite mineralization, an ultramafic complex with chromite mineralization, and a complex of alkali granitoids with rare-metal (including REE) mineralization accompanied by K-feldspathites, albitites, and calcite metasomatic rocks. The collision suture zones are distinguished by early collision granitoids specialized for tungsten (scheelite) and gold, as well as by raremetal granites and such derivatives of them as pegmatite and greisen with rare-metal and colored-stone mineralization. The suture zones are characterized by long-term (up to 80 Ma or more) continuous-discontinuous periods of ore deposition; heterogeneous sources of ore matter and ore-bearing fluids; a polyelemental composition of lithogeochemical halos and an integral mineral composition of altered wall rocks; and the occurrence of mafic, intermediate, and felsic dikes at large gold deposits, as well as wide variations in PT parameters of the ore-forming process: T = 620?150°C and P = 3.2?0.6 kbar. Collision played a dual role in ore formation. On the one hand, collision led to deformation and metamorphism of precollision massive sulfide deposits and, to a lesser degree, Au-bearing Fe and Cu skarn and porphyry copper deposits, and, on the other hand, to the formation of new gold, rare-metal, quartz, colored-stone, talc, muscovite, and noble serpentine deposits. As a rule, this polygenetic mineralization differs in age and is related to collision volcanic and plutonic complexes. This diversity can be a good basis for metallogenic analysis, forecasting, and prospecting of various metallic deposits and industrial minerals. Polygenetic mineralization of various age known in suture zones is accompanied by integral lithogeochemical and metasomatic halos characterized by a continuous-discontinuous history. The complexity of ore mineralization and often nonlinear metallogeny increase the practical value of suture zones.