Meteorological and synoptic aspects of the formation and evolution of the Novorossiysk Bora

The genetic and synoptic classifications of the Novorossiysk Bora are created using the data of daily observations at the Novorossiysk meteorological station and other available synoptic information. Obtained are the quantitative criteria of these classifications, and on this base worked out are the basic scenarios of the generation and evolution of this dangerous phenomenon on the Black Sea coast of Russia. According to the genetic classification, the Bora was divided into four types: frontal, air-mass, monsoon, and gravity. Quantitative criteria worked out for each type can be used for the more accurate forecast of this destructive phenomenon near Novorossiysk. According to the synoptic classification, four classes were distinguished: Azores, North Atlantic, Siberian, and Arctic.     

Structural characteristics of zooplankton of the Shardarinskoe Reservoir and their use in water quality assessment

Data on the Shardarinskoe Reservoir are used to assess the indicator role of zooplankton community under unstable hydrological regime. The structural characteristics of zooplankton featured significant seasonal variations. The averaged indices characterized reservoir water quality at the level of mesotrophic and eutrophic water bodies. The possible use of cyclopidas to characterize toxic pollution of water is discussed.     

Fault structures and their geoelectric parameters in the epicentral zone of the 27 September 2003 Chuya earthquake (Gorny Altai) from resistivity data

This paper presents an integrated measurement technique based on DC methods (vertical electrical sounding, electrical resistivity tomography) which was used to identify faults and determine their geoelectric parameters in the western part of the Chuya basin. New information on the structure of the Chagan River valley located in the zone of the disastrous 27 September 2003 Chuya earthquake has been obtained from the results of these methods. Geoelectric cross-sections of the sedimentary sequence and the upper part of the basement were obtained from VES data, showing the block structure of the study area. Electrical resistivity tomography sections confirm the presence of a major fault between basement blocks of different heights and indicate the presence of faults bounding the valley on its right side and in the southwestern part.     

The Reference Manure Concept for Transformation Tests of Veterinary Medicines and Biocides in Liquid Manure

Veterinary medicines and biocides are frequently applied in animal houses of livestock husbandry. Due to these application patterns, they reach liquid manure. So far these substances are not transformed during manure storage, they enter soil by the application of manure as organic fertilizer. Therefore, biodegradability of veterinary medicines and biocides in manure is in the focus of regulatory procedures of environmental risk assessment. Since the representative and reproducible sampling of manures from high volume tanks is considered impossible due to high matrix variabilities, the reference manure concept was developed to utilize liquid bovine and pig manures for reproducible laboratory testing. Accordingly, excrement samples of cattle and pigs individually kept at experimental and conventional animal houses were taken. Tap water was added to matrix characterized excrements in order to prepare bovine and pig reference manures of 10 and 5% dry substance contents, respectively. Subsequently, the long‐term transformation of selected ¹⁴C‐labeled test substances was investigated under strictly anaerobic conditions. The application of different batches of bovine or pig reference manures indicated that extrapolation of transformation rates within the same animal species was possible. However, results cannot be transferred from bovine to pig manure because of substance specific interactions with the different manure matrices. The dependency of metabolic dynamics on different dry substance contents (2.5, 5, 10%) was additionally investigated in both manure matrices. These tests clearly showed that the dry substance content of the reference manure is one of the most relevant factors affecting the transformation of veterinary medicines and biocides. In contrast to highly variable tank manures, the reference manure concept allows for the exact adjustment of this parameter to guarantee reproducible laboratory testing.     

Engineering problems associated with expansive clays from Romania

Engineering problems associated with expansive clay formations, which have a large swelling and shrinking potential, exist in different regions of Romania.In the general framework of the study of the behaviour of expansive clays, the present paper describes some particular aspects connected with the swelling and shrinkage processes and their engineering effects in Romania.The differences between swelling potential relationships, obtained by two different methods are presented and discussed. Swelling pressure tests were accomplished using the available standard techniques, as well as a specially developed cell pressure equipment.Attention is drawn to the stages of the shrinkage process as related to soil structure. It was found that, in a general case, there are three distinct?tages: initial, normal and residual shrinkage.Laboratory investigations have shown that in soils with an anisotropic structure, the directional variation of shrinkage strains is elliptical in shape, with the maximum shrinkage normal to particle orientation.The engineering aspects of the results are discussed.