On Termodynamics of Kolmogorov’s Scaling in Turbulence

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The model balance equation of turbulence is represented in the form of the first law of thermodynamics. The forms for entropy are derived with an...     

Aluminum hydroxide’s solubility and the forms of dissolved aluminum’s occurrence in seawater

The solubility of aluminum hydroxide in seawater of 35‰ salinity at pH = 7.4−8.2 and 25°C was determined experimentally for three samples synthesized in different ways. The solubilities of two phases subjected to ageing and precipitated (a) from a boiling solution of aluminum sulfate and (b) immediately from seawater at room temperature were a little different and showed the minimum within pH = 8.05−8.10. The solubility of aluminum hydroxide precipitated from a solution of sulfate aluminum at room temperature and not subjected to ageing was about twofold at pH∼7.9. The analysis of the pH dependence of the concentration of dissolved aluminum allows one to suppose that an Al(OH)₂⁺ hydroxo complex is the primary form of the aluminum occurrence in seawater at pH < 8.05, whereas the Al(OH)₄⁻ anion is prevailing at pH > 8.10. Electrically neutral Al(OH)₃⁰ hydroxocomplexes may be prevailing within the narrow range of pH = 8.05−8.10 and, in general, are of secondary importance.     

Variations of the Earth’s magnetic field in the Phanerozoic

The global VDM database, which was later supplemented by new determinations published in the world literature (a total of 3194 determinations), is used as the basis for addressing the VDM behavior in the Phanerozoic (0–542 Ma) and up to 580 Ma. The results revealed a positive linear trend to higher VDM values from 3.5 × l0²² Am² to 5.7 × l0²² Am². Against this background, fluctuations of the mean VDMs occur with a periodicity of about 40 Myr. In the Phanerozoic, prominent minima of the intensity are found in the time intervals of 510–520, 420–460, 340–370, 290–300, 240–270, 190–210, 165–140 Ma (chrons M17–M43), 130–120 Ma (chrons M2–M10), 100–110 Ma (chron C34), 75–85 Ma (chrons C33 and the beginning of chron C34), 70–60 Ma (chrons C31–C27), and 40–15 Ma (chrons C18–C5AD). The distribution of the VDMs appears to reflect the paleomagnetic field behavior and may be taken into account in a magnetization model for the reversely magnetized oceanic crust.     

Frequency-selective attenuation of sound propagation and reverberation in shallow water

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Factors structuring temporal and spatial dynamics of macrobenthic communities in a eutrophic coastal lagoon (Óbidos lagoon, Portugal)

The present work aimed to identify the main environmental drivers shaping temporal and spatial dynamics of macrobenthic communities within a eutrophic coastal lagoon. Sediments in the óbidos lagoon showed a gradient of increasing metal contamination from the inlet area to inner branches. The mid-lower lagoon area exhibited an intermediate contaminated condition between the inlet and upstream areas, suggesting that the effects of the organic loadings into the lagoon may be reflected until this area. This transitional feature was corroborated by biological data, with macrobenthic assemblages displaying characteristics of down- and upstream areas. Macrobenthic abundance peaked in winter, which was associated with a higher nutrient availability (mainly ammonium) and the proliferation of green macroalgae in mid-lower and inner lagoon areas. However, massive macroalgae growth resulted in a sharp decrease of macrobenthic diversity and abundance in spring, particularly where the higher amounts of decaying algae were detected. Higher dissimilarities between assemblages were detected during winter (and spring, for trophic composition), while in summer, differences were highly attenuated. The least contaminated area (close to the sea inlet) experienced smaller temporal variations for environmental variables, as well as the lowest temporal biological variability. This area was dominated by carnivores, which were related with increased salinity. Deposit-feeders were numerically dominant in the lagoon, being generally spread within organically enriched sandy and muddy areas. The high concentration of chlorophyll a and suspended particulate matter in water was reflected in the abundance of deposit-feeders/suspension-feeders, taking benefit of the high primary productivity. On the other hand, deposit-feeders/herbivores responded to the decay of macroalgae mats in the sediment. Biological associations varied with the biological data used (taxonomic versus trophic group composition; abundance versus biomass), highlighting the relevance of the combination of different data analysis' approaches. In general, BIOENV analysis indicated total phosphorus, biomass of Ulva, metals and organic carbon and nitrogen as being significantly influencing benthic patterns. On the other hand, discrepancies in ecological behaviours of some taxa were also detected in the present study stressing the need for additional studies on the relationships between macrobenthic communities and environmental variables. Implications of the present results for monitoring studies are discussed.     

Possible Mechanisms of Anomalous Electromagnetic Radiation in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - An analysis is performed of a sharp increase in the intensity of atmospheric radiation recorded at wavelengths of 8.5 mm, 3.3 mm, and 8–12 μm...     

The three-layer model of the thermohaline structure in the shallow seas

——A three-layer model of the thermohaline structure is developed on the basis of the two -layer model of thermocline. The model is able to simulate the depth,thickness and intensity of both thermocline and halocline, and the temperature and salinity of both upper layer and lower layer in the shallow seas.Camparison of simulation with data is favorable.Detailed analysis is made on a variety of factors affecting the intensity of the thermocline.     

Evolution of the Virtual Dipole Moment in Earth’s Geological History

Oceanology - Data of the International Bank of Digital Information on the time distribution of the virtual dipole moment (VDM), supplemented by data of more recent studies (a total of 5645 values),...     

A Novel Model of Quasi-Stationary Vortices in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In the great variety of vortex motions in the atmosphere, concentrated vortices, attracting increased interest from the point of view of both...     

Spatial distribution of sedimentary P pools in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon ‘Albufera d’es Grau’ (Minorca Island,Spain)

The method for the sequential extraction of P proposed by Jensen et al. [Mcglathery, K.J., Marino, R., Howarth, R.W. (1998) Limnol. Oceanogr. 43, 799–810] was used to study the spatial distribution of sedimentary P in superficial sediments of a mesohaline coastal lagoon located in a watershed formed by carboniferous sandstone in the Western Mediterranean (Minorca Island, Spain). Dissolved inorganic phosphate (IP), dissolved organic phosphate (OP), Fe, Ca, Al, and F were analyzed in the extractions to assess adequacy of this method to clay sediments. The elemental composition of the solid phase (Al, Fe, K, Ti, Si, Mg and Ca) was also analyzed to relate concentrations of P pools to the mineral composition. Samples from marine carbonated sediments, rock and some materials of biological origin (tubes of polychaete Ficopomatus enigmaticus, bivalve shell debris) were analyzed for comparative purposes. The sequential procedure allowed to extract almost all sedimentary P from carbonate sediments and biogenic debris, but only 70% of total phosphorus (TP) from clay sediments and rock. Main IP pools in the lagoon were Fe-bound P (16.6% of TP), CaCO₃-bound P mainly from Ficopomatus tubes (12.0% of TP), and detrital carbonate fluorapatite (7.8% of TP). The most abundant P pool was refractory P (20.3% of TP), which appeared associated to the (Fe,K)Al-silicate fraction and to humic P. This indicated that clay–humic–organic P complexes were the main P reservoir in the lagoon. Spatial distribution of P pools reflected differential sedimentation of allochthonous materials, authigenic precipitation of Fe-oxides, and Fe-bound P as well as the differential distribution of organisms such as Ficopomatus.     

The Mechanism of Formation of Mesoscale Pulsating Jet Streams in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The formation mechanism of local pulsatile jet streams is considered. It may in general be reduced to the following sequence: (i) a breaking gravity...     

Experimental prediction of the noncontact jet Trencher’s excavation depth in clay

Trenching depth calculation of traveling jet is a very important field in both pipeline burying and dredging engineering. The trenching ability of a noncontact control flow jet trencher was predicted by experimental method according to the geometry similarity. In the test, the jet pressure, the shear strength of clay, and the translational speed of nozzle were the same with the design parameters, while the nozzle was a reduced scale model. The trenching depth was found about seven to nine times of the nozzle’s diameter. The width of the trench was about four times of the nozzle’s diameter. Based on the test results the noncontact jet trencher was produced and succeeded in practical usage.     

Three-dimensional Motion of Multichain-Buoy Mooring System in shallow Water and Survival Conditions

An engineering numerical model for three-dimensional motion of multichain-buoy mooringsystem in shallow water and survival condition is given in this paper.Shooting-aim method is employedfor solving the dynamic equations of chain system in order to match the computation of buoy motion.Theresponses of buoy and chain have been computed for different wind-wave-current directions and differentrigidity of chain.The results show that the present numerical model is reasonable.     

Intercalibration of Bruevich’s method to determine the total alkalinity in seawater

In 2000, the Carbon Dioxide in the Ocean working group of the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES) performed an international experiment on the intercalibration of the measurements of the total alkalinity in seawater using certified reference materials (CRM). Taking part in this experiment, Russian specialists presented the method by Bruevich. The results of the intercalibration showed that the alkalinity values obtained by Bruevich’s method using modern burettes, an Na₂CO₃ reactant of high purity as a standard to ascertain the acid titre, and corrections for the acid density and for the weights of the acid and seawater samples in vacuum are in agreement with the standard within ±1 μ M/kg.     

Role of Brazil’s Continental Slopes in Being Provided with Hydrocarbon Resources

Oceanology - Abstract—Analysis more of 80 hydrocarbon fields, mainly oil-producing, in the deepwater part of the Santos, Campos and Espirito Santo basins reveal the tendency of these large...     

Changes in the Virtual Dipole Moment of the Earth’s Magnetic Field in the Phanerozoic

Data on the virtual dipole moment (VDP) is distributed nonuniformly with time, which significantly complicates qualitative and quantitative analysis of its evolution. In addition to the moving average method and median values, for the first time, a technique is presented for a quasi-uniform presentation of data (interpolation method), as well as results of calculating the evolution of the VDM by this method for the Phanerozoic.     

Intra-seasonal variability of the abyssal currents in COMRA’s contract area in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

In this paper, the intra-seasonal variability of the abyssal currents in the China Ocean Mineral Resources Association (COMRA) polymetallic nodule contact area, located in the western part of the Clarion and Clipperton Fraction Zone in the tropical East Pacific, is investigated using direct observations from subsurface mooring instruments as well as sea-surface height data and reanalysis products. Mooring observations were conducted from September 13, 2017 to August 15, 2018 in the COMRA contact area (10°N, 154°W). The results were as follows: (1) At depths below 200 m, the kinetic energy of intra-seasonal variability (20?100 d) accounts for more than 40% of the overall low-frequency variability, while the ratio reaches more than 50% below 2 000 m. (2) At depths below 200 m, currents show a synchronous oscillation with a characteristic time scale of 30 d, lasting from October to the following January; the energy of the 30-d oscillation increases with depth until the layer of approximately 4 616 m, and the maximum velocity is approximately 10 cm/s. (3) The 30-d oscillation of deep currents is correlated with the tropical instability waves in the upper ocean.     

Peculiarities of the Earth’s crust sedimentary layer structure in the Falkland Basin

An electronic databank including the results of seismic investigations and schemes of the sediment thickness’s distribution patterns was built up for two seismostratigraphic complexes in the Falkland Basin. The interface’s border was dated, and the sedimentation rates were estimated for each complex. An integrated map of the cumulative thickness of the deposits and sedimentation rates was developed. The lowest limits of the parameters of the sedimentation process were characterized for the sedimentary layers affected by compaction and erosion.     

Characteristic scales and horizontal asymmetry of jet streams in the Earth’s atmosphere

Wind-speed distributions in atmospheric upper air jet streams have a horizontal asymmetry: the wind shear on the northern (cyclonic) side of the jet is larger than that on the southern (anticyclonic) side. The paper suggests an explanation of this feature on the basis of the theory of nonlinear geostrophic adjustment. Simple theoretical estimates are obtained for the asymmetry coefficient of the speed profile. It is shown that the asymmetry increases with the Rossby number (with a jet-stream velocity). Results of the statistical analysis of the horizontal asymmetry of jet streams from Earth’s satellite measurements are described.     

Structure of the zooplankton communities in the region of the Ob River’s estuarine frontal zone

The studies were carried out on September 27–30, 2007, in the area of the Ob estuarine frontal zone and over the adjacent inner Kara Sea shelf. Based upon the latitudinal changes in the salinity, the 100 nautical mile wide estuarine frontal zone was marked out. The frontal zone was inhabited by a specific zooplankton community dominated by species that occurred outside the frontal zone in only minor amounts. The biomass of the mesozooplankton averaging 984 mg/m³ in the frontal zone exceeded by 1.5 and 6 times the corresponding values in the inner desalinated area of the estuary and the adjacent areas of the Kara Sea shelf. At the inner southern periphery of the frontal zone, at maximal latitudinal salinity gradients (>2 psu per mile), the maximal development of the mesoplankton with the mean biomass for the water column of 3.1 g/m³ (37 g/m²) and up to 5.8 g/m³ in the subpycnocline layer was observed. The latitudinal extension of the biomass in the maximum zone did not exceed 10 miles. More than 90% of the maximum was composed of herbivorous zooplankton with the strong domination of the copepod Limnocalanus macrurus. The daily consumption within the zooplankton maximum area was estimated at 820 mgC/m² per day. This value exceeds by two orders of magnitude the local primary production. At that level of consumption, the available phytoplankton biomass was consumed by grazers in less than 8 hours (!). A zooplankton aggregation at the southern periphery of the estuarine front exists due to the advection of phytoplankton from the adjacent river zone. The aggregation forms a natural pelagic biofilter where new allochthonous organic matter delivered by the river flow is accumulated and high secondary production is formed on its basis. An anomalously high concentration of planktic predatory Parasagitta elegans with biomass of over 1 g/m³ (46% of the total zooplankton biomass) was associated with the outer northern periphery of the estuarine frontal zone.