Statistical analysis of a global photochemical model of the atmosphere

This is a study of the sensitivity of model results (atmospheric content of main gas constituents and radiative characteristics of the atmosphere) to errors in emissions of a number of atmospheric gaseous pollutants. Groups of the model variables most dependent on these errors are selected. Two variants of emissions are considered: one without their evolution and the other with their variation according to the IPCC scenario. The estimates are made on the basis of standard statistical methods for the results obtained with the detailed onedimensional radiative—photochemical model of the Main Geophysical Observatory (MGO). Some approaches to such estimations with models of higher complexity and to the solution of the inverse problem (i.e., the estimation of the necessary accuracy of external model parameters for obtaining the given accuracy of model results) are outlined.     

Variations in the concentration of mesospheric ozone during the total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, from microwave radiometric data

We present the results of microwave observations of the ozone content variability in the upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere during a total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006 at the Kislovodsk high-altitude scientific station. An increase in the concentration of mesospheric ozone was recorded during the eclipse. At a height of 60 km, the ozone concentration increased by 40%, which is close to the value of diurnal ozone variations.     

Coastal observatory for long-term measurement and real time data processing of oceanological parameters

A coastal observatory for long-term continuous measurements of oceanological parameters and real-time data transfer via the Internet to remote users is described. The observatory was designed at the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology (SIO) and tested at its southern branch (SB) in the Black Sea. The architecture, components, and design principles of the observatory are discussed along with its application for solving problems of water dynamics in the coastal zone. Results of field tests are given.     

Optical characteristics of coastal waters and atmosphere near the south coast of the crimea at the end of summer 2008

We present the results of measurements of optical characteristics of waters (the beam attenuation coefficient, volume scattering function, sea water reflectance, and Secchi depth) and optical characteristics of the atmosphere (aerosol optical thickness, content of vapors, and the ?ngstr?m exponent) carried out in September 2008 on the oceanographic platform near Katsiveli. We carried out the comparative analysis of hydrooptical characteristics measured in various years. The optical type of sea waters in the period of observations is determined.     

Artificial Beach as a Structure for Protecting a Seacoast from Storm Surge Impact (Based on the Example of the Eastern Gulf of Finland)

Oceanology - A model of an artificial beach is proposed for protecting a seacoast subjected to erosion under significant storm surge impact. The beach profile properties are based on the Dean...     

Experimental investigations of the effect of cloud-medium modification by salt powders

The results of experimental investigations into the action of polydispersion salt powders on model cloud media are presented. The results of experiments show a considerable positive effect of the modification of convective clouds by salt powders in order to obtain additional precipitation. The introduction of polydispersion salt powder into a forming cloud medium leads to the appearance of large cloud droplets and to the droplet-spectrum broadening. This result is a positive factor for the stimulation of coagulation processes and further precipitation formation. No “overseeding” phenomenon (when, instead of the enlargement of droplets, their sizes decrease and the concentration of cloud droplets increases) is observed at rather high mass concentrations of the introduced powder.     

Small-scale, high-precision and high-accuracy determination of Poisson’s ratios in cohesive marine sediments

Poisson’s ratio (static) appears as a parameter in models of soft-sediment geomechanical processes such as gas bubble formation and bioturbation, and in a number of practical applications, including acoustic imaging, but is rarely measured in soft near-surface (upper 20 cm) marine sediments. A new uniaxial apparatus was developed to assess Poisson’s ratios of cylindrical samples of soft cohesive sediments under finite-strain, unconfined, undrained conditions. No constraining membrane around the sample is necessary in the instrument. By monitoring the fluid level in a capillary, changes in sample volume can be determined to high precision (reproducibility). Measurements on reference materials, i.e., gelatine and polyurethane, also indicate high accuracy (veracity). For natural sediments from Nova Scotia, Canada, Poisson’s ratios range from 0.4951 to 0.5 with no indication of anisotropy; therefore, such sediments act as incompressible solids to short-term/small-magnitude stresses, as occur during bubble formation and infaunal movement.     

Mineral associations of the Lost Village and Lost City hydrothethermal fields in the North Atlantic

During the 50th cruise of R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, on the south slope of the Atlantis massif (30°07′N; the Middle Atlantic Ridge), an inactive hydrothermal field named the Lost Village was discovered. This new field was formed of light carbonate rock and was located near the active Lost City hydrothermal field. The mineralogical associations of these fields were studied. A conclusion about the participation the ocean water in the changing of the carbonate composition of the inactive hydrothermal field was reached.     

Budget of sediments and forecast of long-term coastal changes

A method for predicting the coast evolution based on the calculated estimates of the components of the sediment budget is discussed. The approaches outlined in a series of previous publications of the author [9, 10, 11] are further developed. The prerequisites and concepts used as the basis of the suggested method for forecasting are characterized. The sediment budget parameters under typical conditions are presented. The contributions of natural processes and the anthropogenic impact are compared. Different approaches for calculating the principal sediment budget components, including the cross-shore flux through the lower boundary of the coastal zone, the eolian flux of sand material through the upper limit of the coastal zone, and the alongshore sediment flux gradients, are considered. The examples of forecasting the development of coasts in the Baltic and Kara seas and the Sea of Okhotsk are given for the period from 100 to 500 years. The results obtained show that, in the case of a balanced budget of the sediments, the future behavior of the coast would be mainly governed by the variations in the sea level. This factor is capable of determining the changes in the coastline, whose recession and advancing would depend on the rate of the sea level rise. Under specific conditions, an enhanced sea level rise can trigger destructive processes (for example, the erosion of a coastal bar or the thermal abrasion of a cliff). In the case of a strong imbalance in the sediment budget, sea-level changes play a subordinate role.     

Modeling a Shore Profile Formed by Storm Cycle Impact

Oceanology - A model is developed for predicting the sand shore profile formed by storm event impact. The model takes into account the cumulative effect of elementary processes responsible for...