Fine vertical structure of currents and hydrological elements in the Black Sea

Data on the fine vertical structure of currents and hydrological elements in the Black Sea, obtained through the use of a hydrophysical OLT profiler, are examined. Vertical exchange coefficients are evaluated, whose distribution is characterized by the occurrence of minima in the seasonal pycnocline and main halocline, a maximum in the core of the cold intermediate layer (CIL), and relatively steady values within the 300–500 m layer. The vertical exchange coefficient values, are consistent with the data acquired through other techniques, and the profiles of this parameter vertically are more detailed.Translated by Vladimir A. Puchkin.     

The near field of internal waves after the moving area of atmospheric pressures

The near wave field generated by the travelling atmospheric pressure zone over a stratified fluid is studied within the framework of the linear theory of long waves allowing for the Coriolis force. The exact solution of the problem as a set of single integrals is deduced for the model distribution of pressures. The characteristics of the near wave field have been computed for the Väisälä-Brunt frequency profile takeu from observations. Their dependences on the geographical latitude and the wave generator travelling rate are analysed.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Submersible observations of an iceberg pit and scour on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland

An elongated sea bed depression (pit), 80 by 125 m and 10 m deep located on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland was identified on high resolution surficial geophysical survey lines and investigated using a manned submersible. The pit occurs at the termination of a long (greater than 3 km) iceberg scour, 1.5 m deep, and 80 m wide in 91 m of water. It is similar to other depressions in the region that indent the sea bed up to seven times deeper than the surrounding deepest iceberg furrows. The pit is interpreted to be the sea bed response to impact and loading by a rolling and grounding iceberg. The iceberg scour and pit appear to be of recent origin.     

Dynamic response of dolos armor units to drop test impact loads

Dolos concrete units have been used extensively throughout the world for the protection of shorelines and rubble structures. A three-dimensional finite element model is used to determine the states of dynamic stress in dolosse with varying dimensions and concrete properties. An analytical procedure is developed which accurately predicts the tensile stress in the shank and horizontal fluke of dolosse subject to drop test loading conditions Numerical examples are presented which illustrate the application of prediction and iso-stress equations.     

Joint Soviet-Turkish expedition in the Black Sea

The hydrological and hydrochemical structures of the upper 300 m water column of the Black Sea in autumn 1988 have been studied. Regularities in the distribution of the physico-chemical characteristics in the zone of interaction between aerobic and anaerobic waters as well as the topography of the H₂S zone boundary and its connection with a certain density gradient have been found.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Regional tectonic trends on the inner continental shelf off Konkan and Central West Coast of India

Satellite imagery and offshore magnetic data were analysed to correlate regional tectonic elements on the inner continental shelf off Konkan and the adjacent Deccan plateau. Three statistically important lineament trends—N-S, WNW-ESE and ENE-WSW—that prevail on land are correlatable well with the offshore trends. This positive correlation suggests simultaneous deformation. The major magnetic lineament observed off Jaigad Bay, west coast of India, may be the extension of onshore lineaments. The correlation of both the offshore and onshore trends indicates that the fracture pattern of the crystalline basement has also controlled the offshore structural pattern.     

Facies recognition of some Tertiary coals applied to prediction of oil source rock occurrence

Coals are oil source rocks in many of the Tertiary basins of Southeast Asia. The precursors of these hydrogen rich and oxygen poor coals are coastal plain peats which have mainly developed in an everwet and tropical climate. In these environments water flow and reworking can concentrate liptinitic kerogen in preference to vitrinitic kerogen. The distribution, petrography and chemistry of the coaly Miocene source rocks present in the Kutai Basin are described. The recognition of environmental controls on the accumulation of potentially oil-prone coals and coaly shales in deltaic environments is an aid to predictive source bed recognition in petroleum exploration. Comments on the environment of deposition of coaly sediments in the basins of the Norwegian Sea are discussed with reference to their possible oil and/or gas sourcing potential. The Triassic - Jurassic coals of the Haltenbanken area may become more oil-prone towards the delta margins, and facies mapping could aid oil exploration in this area.     

Implementation of High Resolution Tidal Current Fields in Electronic Navigational Chart Systems

A system for displaying tidal currents in an electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS) has been developed and implemented in compliance with the standards of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO). The tidal current fields can be displayed in real time on the electronic navigational chart and several options and functions for updating and zooming have been designed. The current fields are calculated from a data base with the harmonic constants for the four major tidal constituents. The harmonic constants are obtained from a high resolution numerical model with horizontal grid resolution of 100 m. The model is validated by comparing with sea level and current measurements. The depth matrix for the central part of the model domain was calculated from data from multibeam bathymetric surveys. An application example of the implementation is given for Trondheimsleia, a part of the main sailing route along the western coast of Norway.     

Model estimates for the interaction of wind waves and tides in the Pechora Basin-White Sea subsystem

The “weak-interaction” approximation is used to investigate the role of wind waves in tidal dynamics. The resulting expression for the drag coefficient in the wave-affected tidal flow is incorporated into the QUODDY-4 three-dimensional finite-element hydrothermodynamic model, and the thus modified model is used to calculate the K ₁ diurnal tide in the Pechora Basin-White Sea subsystem. It is shown that, depending on a combination of local and nonlocal factors, wind waves can cause opposite variations in the amplitudes and phases of tidal oscillations of the level. Local factors control variations in the tidal regime nearly in the entire water area of the subsystem under consideration, apart from the eastern part of the Pechora Basin, the outlet from the White Sea Throat, and Dvina Bay. In the aforementioned areas, the tidal regime changes are due either to the displacement of the nearest amphidromy or to other nonlocal factors resulting from the reorganization of the fields of tidal characteristics. It is also shown that the variations in tidal characteristics induced by wind waves vary within a fairly wide range and that allowance for the interaction of wind waves and tides improves the agreement between calculated and observed values of the amplitudes and phases of tidal oscillations of the level.