The Early Cretaceous coal‐forming plants of southern part of East Siberia and Russian Far East

For the first time the plants that gave rise to the Early Cretaceous coals of Transbaikalia (Khilok, Chita‐Ingoda, Bukachacha, and Turga‐Kharanor basins), Amur River region (Bureya Basin), and Primorye region (Razdolnaya River and Partizansk River basins) have been obtained. The plants that produced coals mainly belong to the ginkgoaleans (Pseudotorellia, Sphenobaiera, and Baierella), bennettites, and conifers having pinaceous, taxodiaceous, araucariaceous affinity, as well as extinct cheirolepidiaceous and miroviaceous plants. A parallel palynological study has identified a number of the same elements in addition to the cyatheaceous, gleicheniaceous, osmundaceous, and schizaeaceous ferns.     

The relation of seismicity to lithospheric density inhomogeneities in the Russian Far East

A well-defined relationship has been identified between the belts, zones and areas of higher seismicity in the Russian Far East on the one hand and, on the other, maxima in the gradient of surface density of spherical sources that give rise to gravity anomalies (μ _z ) equivalent to quasi-isometric density inhomogeneities in the lower crust and upper mantle. The highest epicenter density is observed in the marginal parts of maxima of the μ _z parameter, these parts being interpreted as boundaries of rigid (sialic metamorphic and oceanic mafic) tectonic blocks and plates. The overwhelming majority of crustal seismicity is spatially related to uplifts of the asthenospheric layer reflected in the minima of the μ _z parameter, and is concentrated in uplifted crustal blocks. In addition to the linear type of seismicity due to deep-seated faults, the crust shows a concentrically zonal type of epicenter location associated with plume-generated central-type features (the Olekma-Stanovoi seismic zone). It is shown that seismic fields can be ranked by the depths of earthquake source zones using 3D models, μ _z (x,y,z).     

Gravity indicator of rheological properties of the tectonosphere of the Russian Far East

Formal indicators of the existence of spatially isolated layers characterized by the absence of sources of intense gravity anomalies in them are revealed in the tectonosphere of the eastern Baikal region, the Amur region, the Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka, and northeastern Russia. A stable correlation of these layers with thermal, high electrical conductivity, and lower seismic velocity anomalies implies that they are related to rheologically weakened zones of the tectonosphere, i.e., layers of lower viscosity or higher plasticity or fluidity. Minimum vertical gradients of the surface density of spherical sources of gravity anomalies, equivalent to density inhomogeneities of the compaction class, are gravitational indicators of these zones.     

Space-time variations of river water chemistry in RF southern Far East

Concentrations and seasonal variations of water chemistry, including dissolved and particulate forms of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni in rivers of Primorskii Krai are determined. It is shown that, unlike the macrocomposition, the effect of hydrological regime on the concentration of dissolved metal forms is controversial and depends on anthropogenic load, watershed landscapes, and pH variations. Elevated concentrations of dissolved metal forms are recorded in the beginning of spring flood and during low-water period. Beyond the limits of local impact of wastewater, the concentrations of dissolved forms of Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd in river waters of the region insignificantly differ from the clearest rivers of the World.     

Concept for developing a seismologic observation system for tsunami warning in the Russian Far East

The initial information and requirements for developing a seismologic observation system and data-processing and transfer tools for a tsunami warning system and its functions and tasks are considered. The structure of the seismologic observation system for the tsunami warning service (TWS) in the Russian Far East is proposed. A study of general technical and methodological problems is carried out to increase the efficiency for urgent tsunami prediction from continuous seismic monitoring data of territories of the Russian Far East and the world. Special attention is paid to the problem of tsunami prediction from seismologic data on strong earthquakes in near zone of a protected territory (up to 200 km).     

Intergranular trace elements in mantle xenoliths from Russian Far East: Example for mantle metasomatism by hydrous melt

Based on both major and trace element chemistry, the occurrence of the intergranular component in mantle-derived xenoliths from far eastern Russia has been constrained. Whole-rock trace element measurements of one xenolith show apparent negative anomalies in Ce, Th, and high field strength elements on normalized trace element patterns. The trace element pattern of the whole rock differs from those of constituent minerals, indicating that the anomalies in the whole rock are attributable to the presence of an intergranular component. That assumption was confirmed using in situ analysis of trace elements in the intergranular substance and melt inclusion using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. Both the intergranular component and the melt inclusions have identical trace element patterns, which mean that these materials are a cognate metasomatizing agent. The anomalies are regarded as mantle metasomatism related to an aqueous fluid. Hydrous minerals were observed on the wall of the melt inclusions using micro-Raman spectroscopy, indicating that the melt inclusions contained a large amount of water. Thus, this study reveals a trace element composition of a hydrous metasomatizing agent in the mantle.     

On the cold wave of January 1954 in the Far East

Summary A synoptic study is made based primarily on 10-day and 5-day mean maps on an unusually cold spell which appeared all over the Far East in the end of January, 1954, following an abnormal warmth. It is found that while it is warm in Japan, cold air is accumulated in Siberia to the north of the climatological jet stream and is confined in the northern latitudes by the latter as long as the high index pattern prevails. But once the index drops, with the southward displacement of the jet stream, the permanent trough of the Far East deepens and the cold air so far accumulated is allowed to penetrate into southern latitudes. Some characteristic features of contour pattern and frontal activity preceding and following the cold air outbreak are described. Further, it is shown that the blocking wave directly related to the cold air outbreak in the Far East can be traced from as far east as North America or possibly the eastern Atlantic.     

Kema terrane: A fragment of a back-arc basin of the early Cretaceous Moneron–Samarga island-arc system, East Sikhote–Alin range, Russian Far East

Abstract The Kema terrane is a suite of Barremian(?)–Aptian to Albian volcano-sedimentary rocks of Sikhote–Alin that are interpreted as deposits of the back-arc basin of the Moneron–Samarga island-arc system. Compositional features of the different-type deposits indicate a near-slope depositional environment influenced by volcanic processes. Studies of slump fold orientation testify to the accumulation of material from southeast to northwest by gravitational sliding. Compositional characteristics of terrigenous rocks suggest the major provenance for detrital material was an ensialic volcanic island arc. Petrochemical characteristics of basaltic rocks indicate that the formations studied were confined to the back part of the arc.     

Long-term change in precipitation in southern Italy

Summary Annual average precipitation values obtained at 765 Italian raingauge stations south of the Rome parallel and in the Italian Isles, are analyzed. The analysis is extended over 18 years and marked variations in precipitation with the Zürich annual relative sunspot numbers are found. It is found furthermore that the magnitude of change appears to depend also on the average altitude of the 5 categories of stations considered.

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Riassunto In questo articolo viene fatta un'analisi sulle variazioni delle precipitazioni medie annue in base ai dati forniti da 765 stazioni pluviometriche dell'Italia meridionale, Sicilia e Sardegna, negli anni dal 1926 al 1943 incluso. Tali variazioni sembrano essere legate al numero medio annuo di macchie solari e dipendono anche dall'altezza delle stazioni.

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Contribution of the Centro Nucleazione Aerosoli of the National Research Council of Italy; Via Vettore 4 (Monte Sacro)     

Peculiarities of geomagnetic variations in the central part of the Russian platform

The instrumental observations of geomagnetic variations in the middle latitudes are analyzed. The main periodicities are revealed in the background local variations of the magnetic field of the Earth. Besides the 27–29-day variations, which are associated with the rotation of the Sun around its axis, also the harmonic components with periods of ～1, 6–8, 13–14, 57–60 days, and about a year are identified. It is shown that the periodicities in the background variations are both regular and sporadic. The peculiarities in the time behavior of some spectral components of geomagnetic variations are established.     

Synoptic variations in the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation

Summary A study of the chemical composition of monthly precipitation samples from a number of stations in Sweden brings out the existence of significant variations in the relative proportions of chlorides and sodium depending upon the general character of the prevailing circulation. In maritime westerly flows the weight ratio of chloride to sodium decreases eastward to values which lie far below that value characteristic of sea water. In precipitation falling from arctic or polar continental air masses the chloride component is almost completely absent. The highest amounts of chlorides relative to sodium are observed in precipitation from warm and most air masses reaching Sweden from the south or southeast.Significant variations are observed also in the yearly means of the chloride to sodium ratio depending upon the dominance of maritime or continental air currents.A sketch map of the «average» chloride concentration in European precipitation prepared from miscellaneous older data lends support to the results of the analysis of the monthly data. The separation of the chemical components indicated by this study would seem to be of considerable geochemical interest since it would permit different maritime salts to be deposited in widely separated parts of the continents.The full paper will be published in «Tellus», VII (1955), 1.

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Zusammenfassung Ein Studium der chemischen Zusammensetzung von Proben des monatlichen Niederschlages einer Anzahl von Beobachtungsstationen in Schweden deckt die Existenz von deutlichen Schwankungen im relativen Verhältnis von Chlor und Natrium auf, welche vom allgemeinen Charakter der vorherrschenden Zirkulation abhängen. In maritimen westlichen Strömungen nimmt das Gewichtsverhältnis von Chlor zu Natrium gegen Osten zu auf Werte, welche weit unterhalb des charakteristischen Betrages für Meerwasser liegen, ab. Im Niederschlag, welcher aus arktischen oder polar-kontinentalen Luftmassen stammt, fehlt die Chlor-Komponente beinahe vollständig. Der höchste Betrag von Chlor relativ zu Natrium wurde im Niederschlag aus warmen und den meisten Luftmassen, welche Schweden vom Süden und Südosten erreichen, gefunden.Deutliche Schwankungen wurden auch in den Jahresmitteln des Verhältnisses Chlor zu Natrium beobachtet, welche von der Vorherrschaft der maritimen oder kontinentalen Luftströmungen abhängen.Eine schematische Karte der «mittleren» Chlor-Konzentration im Europäischen Niederschlag, welche mit Hilfe von verschiedenen älteren Daten entworfen wurde, unterstützt die Resultate der Analyse der Monatswerte. Die Trennung der chemischen Komponenten, welche durch diese Untersuchung angedeutet wird, scheint von beträchtlichem Interesse für die Erdchemie zu sein, da auf diese Weise verschiedene maritime Salze in weit auseinander liegenden Teilen der Kontinente abgelagert würden.Die ausführliche Arbeit wird in der Zeitschrift «Tellus», VII (1955), 1 veröffentlicht werden.

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Presented by Mr. ClaesRooth, Institute of Meteorology, University of Stockholm, Lindhagensgatan 124v,Stockholm (Sweden).     

Lake water resources of the European part of the Russian Federation

The article gives the results of estimating lake water resources for federal districts in European Russia and constituent entities of the Federation, carried out in the Institute of Limnology, RAS, with the use of up-to-date satellite images and the program Google Earth. European Russia contains ~610000 natural water bodies >0.1 ha in area, including ~200000 lakes >1 ha in area, and 90000 water bodies of artificial origin. Lake water resources of European Russia amount to 1370 km³ of water, of which 99% are in Northwestern Federal District. Artificial water bodies contain ~250 km³ of water resources.     

Intrinsic absorption and scattering attenuation in the southern part of the Netherlands

We present the first systematic study of attenuation derived from the S-wave coda in the frequency range 1-32 Hz for the southern part of the Netherlands and its surroundings. For this we used two methods, the codaQ (Q _c) method and the Multiple Lapse Time Window (MLTW) method. In the interpretation of the results both single and multiple scattering in a half space are considered. Our aim is to validate these interpretations in our region and to try to identify theeffects of attenuation due to intrinsic absoprtion (Q _i)and scattering attenuation (Q _s). For this we analyzedmore than 100 3-component high-quality digital seismograms from 43 crustalevents and 23 different stations in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.Coda Q results show smaller Q _c (=Q ₀fⁿ) values for epicentral distances shorter than 25 km (Q ₀=90) compared to larger epicentral distances (Q ₀=190), but similar frequency dependence (f^-0.9). Interpretation of MLTW results provided a seismic albedo smaller then 0.5, suggesting that the intrinsic absorption dominates over scattering in this region. Both Q _i and Q _s show similar frequency dependences as Q _c. These results are comparable to those obtained in other areas, but we also show that more sophisticated models are required to remove ambiguities in the interpretation. For short lapse times and shortevent-station distances we find for the simple half space model a correspondinginterpretation of both methodologies, where Q _c correspondsto Q _t, suggesting that a model with single scattering in ahalf space is appropriate. For long lapse times and long event station distances, however, we find that the S-wave coda is, most probably, too much influenced by crust-mantel heterogenities and more sophisticated Qinversion models using larger data sets are required for more reliable attenuation estimates.     

The development of the system of integrated instrumental monitoring of volcanoes in the Far East Region

This work presents the project of the first stage of implementation of the integrated instrumental system of volcanic activity monitoring in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. The system of monitoring was designed for the purpose of ensuring public safety, aviation safety, and reducing economic losses caused by volcanic eruptions. The most active and dangerous volcanoes in Kamchatka (North and Avacha groups of volcanoes) and the Kuril Islands (volcanoes on the islands of Kunashir and Paramushir) are of first priority for monitoring. For this purpose, special observation points are planned to be installed on the volcanoes. The system of monitoring will include a complex of observations (broadband seismic station with a large dynamic range, tiltmeter, devices for gas, acoustic, and electromagnetic observations, and video camera). All the data will be passed to information processing centers in real time. New methods and algorithms of automatic and automated identification of the volcanic activity level and the probabilistic volcano hazard assessment have been developed.     

Seismicity of the northern part of Russian plate and its glaciostatic nature

The comparison of seismological materials with the front boundary of the latest continental glaciation has shown that all revealed really tectonic earthquakes occur exclusively in the occurrence area of a thick cover of this glaciation. The thickness of the glacier at a distance of about 50–100 km from its front could have reached 1 km, and the amplitude of glacioisostatic lowering and subsequent uplifts could have reached 0.3 km. The total amplitude of these movements, which were taking place during 20 thousand years, is comparable with the amplitudes of vertical neotectonic movements, which were taking place during 35–37 million years and on the average were three orders of magnitude more intense than neotectonic movements. With such amplitudes and speeds of vertical glacioisostatic movements, it looks quite plausible that the buried rupture zones could be revived recently (including in Holocene) with block movements of crystalline basement with an amplitude of a few tens of meters. This explains the localization of modern seismicity, which is a hazard to construction, within the occurrence domain of the latest glacial shield.     

Structure and composition of the continental crust in East China

Crustal structures of nine broad tectonic units in China, except the Tarim craton, are derived from 18 seismic refraction profiles including 12 geoscience transects. Abundances of 63 major, trace and rare earth elements in the upper crust in East China are estimated. The estimates are based on sampling of 11 451 individual rock samples over an area of 950 000 km², from which 905 large composite samples are prepared and analyzed by 13 methods. The middle, lower and total crust compositions of East China are also estimated from studies of exposed crustal cross sections and granulite xenoliths and by correlation of seismic data with lithologies. All the tectonic units except the Tarim craton and the Qinling orogen show a four-layered crustal structure, consisting of the upper, middle, upper lower, and lowermost crusts. P-wave velocities of the bulk lower crust and total crust are 6.8–7.0 and 6_:4–6.5 km/s, respectively. They are slower by 0.2–0.4 km/s than the global averages. The bulk lower crust is suggested to be intermediate with 58% SiO₂ in East China. The results contrast with generally accepted global models of mafic lower crusi. The proposed total crust composition in East China is also more evolved than previous estimates and characterized by SiO₂=64%, a significant negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.80), deficits in Sr and transition metals, a near-arc magma La/Nd ratio (3.0), and a calculatedμ(²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb) value of 5. In addition, it has the following ratios of element pairs exhibiting similar compatibility, which are identical or close to the primitive mantle values: Zr/Hf=37, Nb/Ta=17.5, Ba/Th=87, K/Pb=0.12x10⁴, Rb/Cs=25, Ba/Rb=8.94, Sn/Sm=0.31, Se/Cd=1.64, La/ As=10.3, Ce/Sb=271, Pb/Bi=57, Rb/TI=177, Er/Ag=52, Cu/Au=3.2×10⁴, Sm/Mo=7.5, Nd/W=40, CI/Li=10.8, F/Nd=21.9, and La/B=1.8. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49625305, 49573183, 49673184, 49794043), the State Comission of Education, the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources of China (Grant No. 850514), the Open Laboratory of Constitution, Interaction and Dynamics of the Crust-Mantle System, and the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation of Germany.     

Late Jurassic (Tithonian) radiolarians from a clastic unit of the Khabarovsk complex (Russian Far East): Significance for subduction accretion timing and terrane correlation

A well-preserved radiolarian fauna from a clastic unit of the Khabarovsk accretionary complex (southern part of the Badzhal accretionary wedge terrane in the Russian Far East) is assigned to the basal part of the Pseudodictyomitra carpatica zone. The age of the fauna is most likely late Tithonian. This is the first reliable dating of the clastic unit and makes it possible to constrain the timing of subduction accretion in the Badzhal terrane. The Khabarovsk complex is correlated chronologically with the Bikin and Samarka terranes (Russian Far East), Mino, Southern Chichibu and North Kitakami terranes (Japan), and Nadanhada terrane (northeast China).     

Decoupled warming and monsoon precipitation in East Asia over the last deglaciation

Our understanding of the continental climate development in East Asia is mainly based on loess–paleosol sequences and summer monsoon precipitation reconstructions based on oxygen isotopes (δ¹⁸O) of stalagmites from several Chinese caves. Based on these records, it is thought that East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) precipitation generally follows Northern Hemisphere (NH) summer insolation. However, not much is known about the magnitude and timing of deglacial warming on the East Asian continent. In this study we reconstruct continental air temperatures for central China covering the last 34,000 yr, based on the distribution of fossil branched tetraether membrane lipids of soil bacteria in a loess–paleosol sequence from the Mangshan loess plateau. The results indicate that air temperature varied in phase with NH summer insolation, and that the onset of deglacial warming at ~ 19 kyr BP is parallel in timing with other continental records from e.g. Antarctica, southern Africa and South-America. The air temperature increased from ~ 15 °C at the onset of the warming to a maximum of ~ 27 °C in the early Holocene (~ 12 kyr BP), in agreement with the temperature increase inferred from e.g. pollen and phytolith data, and permafrost limits in central China.Comparison of the tetraether membrane lipid-derived temperature record with loess–paleosol proxy records and stalagmite δ¹⁸O records shows that the strengthening of EASM precipitation lagged that of deglacial warming by ca. 3 kyr. Moreover, intense soil formation in the loess deposits, caused by substantial increases in summer monsoon precipitation, only started around 12 kyr BP (ca. 7 kyr lag). Our results thus show that the intensification of EASM precipitation unambiguously lagged deglacial warming and NH summer insolation, and may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling ice age terminations.     

Seasonal variation of polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in the southern part of the Baltic Sea

The impact of seasonal fluctuations in forcing factors such as atmospheric concentration, temperature, and biological productivity on the concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the surface water of the southern part of the Baltic Sea was investigated. Water samples were collected on eight cruises over 2 years. A clear seasonal variability in dissolved PCB concentrations was observed with higher levels in summer than in winter and spring. This was attributed to changes in atmospheric concentrations and water temperature, based on measurements showing the PCB levels in the atmosphere and surface water to be close to a partitioning equilibrium. Concentrations in the suspended particulate material (SPM) fraction were also variable, and when the quotient of the organic carbon normalised concentration in SPM and the dissolved concentration was calculated (i.e., the bioaccumulation factor (BAF)), a seasonal pattern was observed which was consistent with kinetic limitations on partitioning into particles caused by plankton growth. However, seasonal variability in the partitioning properties of the SPM may also contribute to this variability.     

远东地区近期强震系列及其相关性研究

远东地区的强震系列可以分为板间强震系列与板内强震系列。研究了它们的分类、特征及其适用的公式，得出远东地区板间强震系列与板内强震系列的相关性十分明显、板内强震系列常发生在板间强震系列之后的结论。