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.     

Diagnostics of a cause-effect relation between solar activity and the Earth’s global surface temperature

The influence of solar activity on the Earth’s global surface temperature (GST) was quantified. The method for estimation of the Granger causality was used, with analysis of the improvement of the prediction of one process by using data from another process as compared to autoprediction. Two versions of reconstructions of the solar flux variations associated with solar activity were used, according to Hoyt et al. [1997] for 1680–1992 (data H) and according to Lean et al. [2005] for 1610–2005 (data L). In general, the estimation results for the two reconstructions are reasonably well consistent. A significant influence of solar activity on GST with a positive sign was found for two periods, from the late 19th century to the late 1930s and from the latter half of the 1940s to the early 1990s, with no inertia or time delay. In these periods, up to 8 and 25% of the variance of the GST change, respectively, can be attributed to solar activity variations. The solar influence increased in the 1980s to the early 1990s according to data H and began to decrease in the latter half of the 1980s according to data L.     

Effects of geomagnetic disturbances in the near Earth’s atmosphere and possible biophysical mechanism of their influence on the human cardiovascular system

We analyze the effect of geomagnetic activity on variations in quasi-static electric field strength and the horizontal geomagnetic field component in the band of periods of tidal and planetary waves. Variations in oscillation intensities and periods in the power spectra of these parameters synchronously with the K _p index are shown. Taking into account the relationship of these parameters with the air pressure, we suggest a possible biophysical mechanism of the relation between the state of the human cardiovascular system and geomagnetic activity by means of resonant interaction with the environment. In periods of high geomagnetic activity, the air pressure and temperature vary due to an increase in atmospheric transparency as a result of the Forbush decrease in the cosmic ray flux rate. It is these variations that directly affect humans.     

Comparative Analysis of Errors in Monitoring the Earth’s Global Energy Budget by the Lunar Observatory and Orbiters

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The errors in measurements of the energy of the reflected solar radiation and the thermal radiation emitted from Earth entering space in all directions...     

Structure and thickness of the Earth’s crust in the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean

A digital database on the seismostratigraphy of the oceanic crust of the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean is compiled. In the first layer of the crust, the interval seismic wave velocities are 3.02 ± 0.16 km/s; in the second layer, they equal to 5.31 ± 0.27 km/s; and, in the third layer, the values are 6.46 ± 0.30 km/s. The bottom of the third seismic layer is represented by mantle rocks with an average velocity of 8.10 ± 0.16 km/s. Schemes of the distribution of the thicknesses of the second and third layers of the oceanic crust, of the total thickness of the crust, of the surface of the basement, and of the Mohorovicic discontinuity for the area considered are presented. The schemes compiled allow one to update and complement the ideas about the configuration of the major tectonic structures of the area.     

Determination of the variance of rough water surface slopes by the distortion of Snell’s circle boundary

We studied the opportunities of diagnostic of the wind roughness by distortions of Snell’s circle boundary images, i.e., images of the sky observed from underwater through a rough water surface. Models of random realization and statistically average image of Snell’s circle which takes into account various condition of illumination (overcast sky, clear sky and isotropic distribution of sky radiance) have been developed. Formulas for definition of slope variance of the sea surface by distortion of Snell’s circle boundary for one-dimensional roughness have been received. Dependence of accuracy of definition of slope variance on time of image averaging, depth of receiver diving, wind speed, range of waves forming the roughness, have been analyzed by the method of computer modeling. It has been shown on the basis of numerical calculation and experimental data that waves with length from millimeters to meters can be shown in the image of Snell’s circle depending from depth of receiver diving, receiver resolution and water turbidity.     

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.     

Biooptical characteristics of the surface layer of the Baltic,Norwegian, and Barents seas in summer 2014–2016 from shipboard and satellite data

The article presents the results of shipboard and satellite measurements in the surface layer of the Baltic, Norwegian, and Barents seas during legs from the Baltic to the White Sea in June–August 2014–2016. Special attention is paid to marine phytoplankton blooms of cyanobacteria in the Baltic Sea and coccolithophores in the Barents Sea. No blooms were found in the Norwegian Sea. The efficiency of combined application of in situ and satellite optical methods for studying the parameters of phytoplankton blooms is shown.     

Earth’s Free Oscillations Excited by the 2013 Okhotsk Sea Earthquake

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Based on the deformation data measured by the Baksan laser interferometer-strainmeter, Earth’s free oscillations (EFO) excited by the Okhotsk Sea...     

Cosmos-243 as the Starting Point for the Development of Microwave Radiometry Methods of the Earth’s Atmosphere and Surface

On September 23, 1968, the Cosmos-243 satellite was launched into orbit with four radio telescopes directed to the nadir on board. They were designed to measure the microwave radiation of the Earth’s surface and its atmosphere at wavelengths of 0.8, 1.35, 3.4, and 8.5 cm. The onboard infrared radiometer measured radiation in the band of 10–11 µm in the same solid angle as the radio telescopes. This experiment, which was initiated by scientists from the Institute of Radioengineering and Electronics (IRE) and Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) and, in particular, academicians V.A. Kotel’nikov and A.M. Obukhov, broke new ground in the remote sensing of the Earth from space, which is being actively developed.     

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...     

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...     

Calculation of the Natural Illumination of the Earth’s Surface at Different States of Cloud Cover

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - An analytical expression which approximates experimental data on the natural daily illumination of the Earth’s surface in a wide...     

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.     

The wind-induced drift velocity of the freshwater layer on the sea’s surface

The effect of an unsteady river plume on the wind drift was studied. Initially, the plume occurs as a horizontal homogeneous near-surface layer with a low density and different thicknesses being washed around by the wind in the course of time due to the vertical mixing with the underlying waters. This process is described using the one-dimensional Princeton Ocean Model (POM) with the integrated turbulence submodel. A series of numerical experiments yielded the empirical dependence of the normalized surface drift velocity modulus on the nondimensional parameters: the Ekman numbers and the relations between the buoyancy and Coriolis forces.     

Non-Plate-Tectonic (Autonomous) Folding and Thrusting in the Earth’s Crust

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The formation of fold–thrust dislocations of stratified rocks in the Earth’s crust has been considered as a consequence of the lateral...     

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.     

The Moon is the Source of Unstable Nonstationary Disturbances in the Earth’s Atmosphere

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - By using a nonstationary numerical thermohydrodynamic model of atmospheric tides genesis and evolution in the Earth’s atmosphere, it is shown that...     

Optimal Control of Aerosol Emissions into the Stratosphere to Stabilize the Earth’s Climate

The problem of the optimal control of aerosol emissions into the stratosphere to stabilize the Earth’s climate is considered based on the zero-dimensional energy balance model. The global surface-temperature deviation from the undisturbed value is the state variable, and the albedo of the artificial aerosol layer, whose time variations are functionally related to the change in the total mass of aerosol particles and, consequently, the rate of their emissions, is the control variable. The problem is solved with and without consideration for the system phase path and control variable constraints for the given performance measure (objective function). Unlike previous studies, the aerosol emission scenarios are not set a priori, but represent a rigorous solution of the optimal control problem, ensuring the minimization of the objective function. The method is illustrated using the RCP8.5 scenario of growing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The approach considered in this paper can be easily extended to the cases of applying other known methods of climate engineering to manipulate the climate.