Modeling Energy Fluxes in Lake Ecosystems as a Means of Hydrobiological Studies

A mass-balance model was developed for the prediction of the biomass and annual production of phytoplankton, macrophytes, epiphytes, and phytobenthos (primary producers), bacterioplankton and bacteriobenthos (reducers), herbivorous and predator zooplankton, zoobenthos, planktivorous fish, benthivorous fish, and predatory fish (consumers). The model is controlled by a small number of parameters.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 361–370.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Boulion.     

Regularities in the Formation of Groundwater Level Regime in Moscow Region

The need to study and take into account regularities in the formation of groundwater regime and runoff, especially in the context of current climate changes, is demonstrated. Typical plots of groundwater level regime, the dependence of the amplitudes of their variations and the major statistical parameters on the depth to groundwater, and histograms of the occurrence time of extreme positions of its level are shown. Long-term trends in precipitation and groundwater levels are established and their statistical significance is estimated. The presence of cyclicity in groundwater level regime is analyzed.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 4, 2005, pp. 399–405.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Yakimova.     

Hydrochemical and microbiological characteristics of the Gusino-Ubukunskaya group of water bodies

Results of hydrochemical and microbiological studies of five largest water bodies belonging to the Gusino-Ubukunskaya group are presented. Present-day environmental state of the ecosystem subject to anthropogenic load is described. The possibility of using water quality parameters of the investigated lakes as indicators of the degree of contamination of waters flowing into the Baikal Lake is shown.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2005, pp. 79–84.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Khakhinov, Namsaraev, Ulzetueva, Barkhutova, Abidueva, Banzaraktsaeva.     

A comprehensive analysis of Kamchatka seismicity for the period 2005–2007 using the regional catalog

We characterize the Kamchatka seismicity for the period 2005–2007. Regional catalogs of Kamchatka earthquakes were used to develop 2D distributions of parameters of background seismicity. The characteristics we consider include the activity A ₁₀, the slope of the recurrence curve γ, the parameters involved in the methods RTL, ΔS, and the “Z-function”, as well as the control of earthquake clustering. We have detected the space-time agreement between the anomalies exhibited by several parameters.     

Precursory groundwater level changes in the period of activation of the weak intraplate seismic activity on the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif (central Europe) in 2005

tWe analyse continuous measurements of groundwater level in two deep wells VS-3 and V-28 at the experimental hydro-meteorological station situated on the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif, central Europe, characterized by the weak intraplate seismic activity. The aim of our study is to examine the relationships between changes in the groundwater level and earthquake occurrence. Based on the tidal and barometric response of the water level, we estimated selected elastic parameters of the observed aquifers: the shear modulus G, the Skempton ratio B, the drained matrix compressibility β and the undrained compressibility β_u. Using these parameters and assuming the homogeneous poroelastic material, we derived the sensitivity of the wells to the crustal volume strain. During the observation period from November 1998 to December 2005 we detected in the VS-3 well two pre-seismic steps, related to August 10, 2005 (M = 2.4) and October 25, 2005 (M = 3.3) earthquakes. Amplitudes of the recorded precursory changes (+6 cm and +15 cm) are several times higher than the values predicted from the theoretical precursory crustal strain and the strain sensitivity of the well. Therefore, we presume that the observed pre-seismic water level steps can be attributed to heterogeneity of poroelastic material. We consequently propose the hypothesis of the origin of precursory events based on the presumption of a sensitive site, at which the well is situated.     

Variations in the Hydroecological Characteristics of Water Masses in the Central Pool of the Mozhaisk Reservoir

Results of a special experiment conducted in the summer of 2002 in the Central pool of the Mozhaisk Reservoir are discussed. The experiment was aimed at studying short-period and small-scale variations in water temperature, electric conductivity, transparency, dissolved oxygen content, total and mineral phosphorus, phyto-, microzoo- and zooplankton. Statistical characteristics of the above-mentioned environmental parameters are presented.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 352–360.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Datsenko, Edelshtein, Goncharov, Puklakov, Chernega.     

Probabilistic Regularities in Unfavorable Hydrochemical Phenomena

The balance equation for a substance washed out in a river basin is analyzed under the assumption that the runoff of this substance and its reserves in the watershed are directly proportional. The proportionality factor is perturbed by a random component, which accounts for the effect of atmospheric precipitation. The balance equation is transformed into a stochastic differential equation with a multiplicative white noise, which is used to construct a Fokker-Plank equation for the probability density of chemical flow. A stationary solution containing a power function is found for this equation. Because of the proportionality of the concentration and chemical flow, the concentration distribution also obeys the power law. Statistical treatment of empirical data on some water quality characteristics and water flow showed that the power law adequately describes the probability of unfavorable hydrochemical events. The parameters of this law for turbidity, color index, permanganate oxidability, and ammonia concentration are evaluated.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 4, 2005, pp. 452–458.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Dolgonosov, Korchagin.     

Hydrography and plankton temporal variabilities at different time scales in the southwest lagoon of New Caledonia: A review

The New Caledonia SW lagoon is wide (5–20 nautical miles) and semi-closed. It is influenced by both the open ocean and the high island within a meteorological context subject to seasonal, inter-annual and longer term variations. The short-term variability (>1 day) of meteorological, hydrographical and planktonic parameters is illustrated by a 5-month long time series and is linked to local or remote wind, and precipitation. Seasonal and inter-annual variabilities, inferred from a 10-year long station by spectral analysis, appear clearly for all parameters. Seasonality is the main scale of variability as the island lies near the tropic of Capricorn. Inter-annual variability of a 3–4 year periodicity is poorly related to the Southern oscillation index (an equatorial climatic index), stressing the need for a separate tropical index. Long term trends appear on several parameters but their reliability depends on the length of the records. Considering only the longest records (1958–2005), surface temperature appears to have increased since the end of the 1960s in Noumea area. Finally, as a result of greater terrestrial influence, shallower depths, and longer water turnover times close to shore, the temporal variability amplitude decreases from the shore to the barrier reef.     

Seismic response of single-column bent on pile: evidence of beneficial role of pile and soil inelasticity

While seismic codes do not allow plastic deformation of piles, the Kobe earthquake has shown that limited structural yielding and cracking of piles may not be always detrimental. As a first attempt to investigate the consequences of pile yielding in the response of a pile-column supported bridge structure, this paper explores the soil–pile-bridge pier interaction to seismic loading, with emphasis on structural nonlinearity. The pile–soil interaction is modeled through distributed nonlinear Winkler-type springs and dashpots. Numerical analysis is performed with a constitutive model (Gerolymos and Gazetas 2005a, Soils Found 45(3):147–159, Gerolymos and Gazetas 2005b, Soils Found 45(4):119–132, Gerolymos and Gazetas 2006a, Soil Dyn Earthq Eng 26(5):363–376) materialized in the OpenSees finite element code (Mazzoni et al. 2005, OpenSees command language manual, p 375) which can simulate: the nonlinear behaviour of both pile and soil; the possible separation and gapping between pile and soil; radiation damping; loss of stiffness and strength in pile and soil. The model is applied to the analysis of pile-column supported bridge structures, focusing on the influence of soil compliance, intensity of seismic excitation, pile diameter, above-ground height of the pile, and above or below ground development of plastic hinge, on key performance measures of the pier as is: the displacement (global) and curvature (local) ductility demands and the maximum drift ratio. It is shown that kinematic expressions for performance measure parameters may lead to erroneous results when soil-structure interaction is considered.     

A case study of the impact of cyclonic trajectories on sea-level extremes in the Gulf of Finland

Modelling of water levels in the Baltic Sea, aimed at evaluating the influence of the trajectories and propagation speeds of a deep idealized cyclone on sea-level extremes in the Gulf of Finland, is done using the hydrodynamic model BSM6. An analytical expression for determination of the atmospheric pressure in this cyclone takes into account the existence of the cold front and the time evolution of the cyclone intensity. The empirical parameters in this relation are based on those of the deep cyclone ‘Erwin’ which passed over the Baltic Sea region in 2005.     

Biomonitoring of the coastal waters of the Black Sea

Morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters were determined in Scorpion fish Scorpaena porcus L. from two bays in the area of Sevastopol, which experience a high anthropogenic load. The effect of natural and anthropogenic factors on the size, weight, and age composition, as well as on the sex ratio of the fish from both populations, was studied. The relationships between the concentrations of chlororganic substances in the water of the bays, their accumulation in the liver and gonads of the fish, the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood, and the fractional composition of serum proteins were determined. A possibility for the use of the Scorpion fish as a indicator species for the biomonitoring and assessment of the environmental conditions in the coastal waters of the Black Sea was considered.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2005, pp. 238–246.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Rudneva, Shevchenko, Zalevskaya, Zherko.     

Statistical methods for river runoff prediction

Methods used to analyze one type of nonstationary stochastic processes—the periodically correlated process—are considered. Two methods of one-step-forward prediction of periodically correlated time series are examined. One-step-forward predictions made in accordance with an autoregression model and a model of an artificial neural network with one latent neuron layer and with an adaptation mechanism of network parameters in a moving time window were compared in terms of efficiency. The comparison showed that, in the case of prediction for one time step for time series of mean monthly water discharge, the simpler autoregression model is more efficient.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2005, pp. 133–145.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pisarenko, Lyubushin, Bolgov, Rukavishnikova, Kanyu, Kanevskii, Saveleva, Demyanov, Zalyapin.     

Statistical significance of modal parameters of bridge systems identified from strong motion data

Modal parameters of structural systems have commonly been determined using system identification (SI) methods for damage detection and health monitoring. For determining the deterioration of the integrity of structural systems correctly, modal parameters of a healthy structure have to be obtained with adequate certainty so that these parameters can be used as reliable references for the healthy system to compare with those of the damaged system. In this study, the statistical significance of modal parameters identified using strong motion time histories recorded on two bridge structures is assessed. The confidence intervals of identified modal frequencies and damping ratios are obtained using Monte Carlo simulations and sensitivity analyses in conjunction with eigenrealization algorithm. The dependence of the statistical bounds on model parameters is examined. The effect of using different number of sensors on the statistical significance is evaluated using simulated time history data from a validated finite element model of a bridge. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of formation factors of groundwater natural resources in platform territories

The formation of the fresh groundwater natural resources of the platform territories is analyzed. It is shown that within the artesian areas of platforms, the formation of the fresh groundwater natural resources is governed by the following main factors: the climatic conditions of the territory; the geological-structural features of the basin, substantially different in its peripheral and central parts; the structure of the zone of intense water exchange; the type of the water-bearing rocks and the character of the spatial variability of their hydraulic parameters; the aeration zone composition; the specific features of interaction between the groundwater and the hydrographic network and micro-relief of the territory. It is emphasized that the formation of the fresh groundwater natural resources within the hydrogeological massifs is governed not only by the physical-geographical conditions, but by the geological-structural factors as well. The formation and distribution of groundwater resources are governed by numerous natural and anthropogenic factors [11]. The combination of these factors and the significance of each factor are not constant but considerably vary in space, depending on the physical-geographical, geological, and hydrogeological conditions.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2005, pp. 146–153.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vsevolozhskii, Kochetkova.     

The Earth's gravity field and constraints to its density distribution

Summary Constraints to the density distribution within the Earth providing the measured Stokes' parameters of the external gravity field are derived. Formulas describing the internal gravity field of this density distribution are established. Expansions of all used quantities (gravity field, density, topography of the Earth's surface) by means of spherical harmonic series have been applied and the results are given in the form of series, in which the magnitude of the term corresponds to a certain power of the Earth's flattening.

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Резюме Выве?rt;ены связu ?rt;ля рaсnре?rt;еленuя nлоmносmu в Земле, коmорое у?rt;овлеmворяеm зa?rt;aнным nосmоянным Сmоксa внешне о рaвumaцuонно о nоля. Нaŭ?rt;ены формулы, оnuсывaющuе внуmреннее рaвumaцuонное nоле эmо о рaсnре?rt;еленuя. Исnользовaно рaзложенuе рaвumaцuонно о nоля, nлоmносmu u mоnо рaфuu в ря?rt; nо сферuческuм функцuям. Резульmamы nре?rt;сmaвлены в вu?rt;е ря?rt;a, оm?rt;ельные члены коmоро о nроnорцuонaльны сmеnеням сжamuя Землu.

     

Thermohaline analysis of the La Perouse Strait water

Sakhalinskii Shelf information and analytical GIS based on observational data is used to simulate hydrological parameter values at standard horizons of stationary stations in the La Perouse Strait. The spatial and temporal distribution pattern for oceanographic parameters has been obtained. Water masses and water structures have been identified using classic T, S-analysis. Volumetric T, S-analysis of waters is used to evaluate the volumes, heat content, and salinity of the water masses chosen. For the first time, information for the winter season, which is the least investigated season and for which no generalizations whatsoever have been made until the present, has been obtained.Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 1, 2005, pp. 18–27.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pishchalnik, Arkhipkin, Leonov.     

Geochemical and biochemical evidence of lake overturn and fish kill at Lake Averno,Italy

Lake Averno is situated in the homonymous crater in the northwestern sector of the Campi Flegrei active volcanic system in Campania region, Italy. In February 2005 a fish kill event was observed in the lake, prompting a geochemical survey to ascertain the possible cause. In February 2005 a geochemical survey revealed that the lake water was unstratified chemically and isotopically, presumably, as a result of lake overturn. This fish kill phenomenon was recorded at least two other times in the past. In contrast to the February 2005 results, data collected in October 2005, shows the Lake Averno to be stratified, with an oxic epilimnion (surface to 6 m) and an anoxic hypolimnion (6 m to lake bottom at about 33 m).     

Geological constraints on the 2003–2005 ash emissions from the Nakadake crater lake,Aso Volcano,Japan

The active crater of Nakadake at Aso Volcano, southwestern Japan, has been occupied by a lake during its dormant periods. Multiple ash emissions were observed from the crater lake between July 2003 and August 2005. The largest events occurred on 10 July 2003 and 14 January 2004. On 10 July 2003, ash (41 tons) was dispersed throughout an area extending 14 km east-northeast of the vent, and on 14 January 2004 ash (32 tons) extended 8 km to the east-southeast. Thereafter, small ash emissions were frequent at the crater lake, in which the water level fell considerably from April to August 2005. During this period major ash emitting events, producing mostly white aggregated ash, occurred on June 10–12, June 21 (4.2 tons) and July 25 (1.2 tons). Ash emissions at the Nakadake crater in 2003–2005 were classified into three types: gentle release of white aggregated ash from fumaroles inside the crater lake (e.g. daytime of 14 April, 10–12 June and 25 July 2005); emission of black ash from an almost dried-up vent (21 June 2005); and short-time (ca. 20 s) small-explosion-triggered gas-and-ash emission through the crater lake (10 July 2003, 14 January 2004 and 14 April 20h41m 2005). All products from these ash emissions consisted of fine-grained (< 1 mm) glass shards, crystals and lithic fragments, and contained neither lapilli nor blocks. Although the glass shards show varying degrees of crystallization and alteration, clear glass shards, which appear fresh, are probably juvenile materials. These observations suggest that the 2003–2005 ash emissions from the crater lake of Nakadake Volcano are related to newly ascending magma.     

Overview of the Italian strong motion database ITACA 1.0

The Italian Strong Motion Database, ITACA, was developed within projects S6 and S4, funded in the framework of the agreements between the Italian Department of Civil Protection (Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, DPC) and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), starting from 2005. The alpha version of the database was released in 2007 and subsequently upgraded to version 1.0 after: (i) including the most recent strong motion data (from 2005 to 2007) recorded in Italy, in addition to the 2008 Parma earthquake, M 5.4, and the M ≥  4.0, 2009 Abruzzo seismic events; (ii) processing the raw strong motion data using an updated procedure; (iii) increasing the number of stations with a measured shear wave velocity profile; (iv) improving the utilities to retrieve time series and ground motion parameters; (v) implementing a tool for selecting time series in agreement with design-response spectra; (vi) compiling detailed station reports containing miscellaneous information such as photo, maps and site parameters; (vii) developing procedures for the automatic generation of station reports and for the updating of the header files. After such improvements, ITACA 1.0 was published at the web site , in 2010. It presently contains 3,955 three-component waveforms, comprising the most complete catalogue of the Italian accelerometric records in the period 1972–2007 (3,562 records) and the strongest events in the period 2008–2009. Records were mainly acquired by DPC through its Accelerometric National Network (RAN) and, in few cases, by local networks and temporary stations or networks. This paper introduces the published version of the Italian Strong Motion database (ITACA version 1.0) together with main improvements and new functionalities.     

“Pandora box” — Matrix in the calculus of observations

Summary If the condition R(A)=k(n), whereA is the design matrix of the type n × k and k the number of parameters to be determined, is not satisfied, or if the covariance matrixH is singular, it is possible to determine the adjusted value of the unbiased estimable function of the parameters f(), its dispersion D( (x)) and ² as the unbiased estimate of the value of ² by means of an arbitrary g-inversion of the matrix . The matrix , because of its remarkable properties, is called the Pandora Box matrix. The paper gives the proofs of these properties and the manner in which they can be employed in the calculus of observations.