Geomagnetic Effects of Corotating Interaction Regions

We present an analysis of the geoeffectiveness of corotating interaction regions (CIRs), employing the data recorded from 25 January to 5 May 2005 and throughout 2008. These two intervals in the declining phase of Solar Cycle 23 are characterised by a particularly low number of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). We study in detail how four geomagnetic-activity parameters (the Dst, Ap, and AE indices, as well as the Dst time derivative, \(\mathrm{dDst}/\mathrm{d}t\)) are related to three CIR-related solar wind parameters (flow speed, \(V\), magnetic field, \(B\), and the convective electric field based on the southward Geocentric solar magnetospheric (GSM) magnetic field component, \(\mathit{VB}_{s}\)) on a three-hour time resolution. In addition, we quantify statistical relationships between the mentioned geomagnetic indices. It is found that Dst is correlated best to \(V\), with a correlation coefficient of \(\mathrm{cc}\approx0.6\), whereas there is no correlation between \(\mathrm{dDst}/\mathrm{d}t\) and \(V\). The Ap and AE indices attain peaks about half a day before the maximum of \(V\), with correlation coefficients ranging from \(\mathrm{cc}\approx0.6\) to \(\mathrm{cc}\approx0.7\), depending on the sample used. The best correlations of Ap and AE are found with \(\mathit{VB}_{s}\) with a delay of 3 h, being characterised by \(\mathrm{cc}\gtrsim 0.6\). The Dst derivative \(\mathrm{dDst}/\mathrm{d}t\) is also correlated with \(\mathit{VB}_{s}\), but the correlation is significantly weaker \(\mathrm{cc}\approx 0.4\)?–?0.5, with a delay of 0?–?3 h, depending on the employed sample. Such low values of correlation coefficients indicate that there are other significant effects that influence the relationship between the considered parameters. The correlation of all studied geomagnetic parameters with \(B\) are characterised by considerably lower correlation coefficients, ranging from \(\mathrm{cc}=0.3\) in the case of \(\mathrm{dDst}/\mathrm{d}t\) up to \(\mathrm{cc}=0.56\) in the case of Ap. It is also shown that peak values of geomagnetic indices depend on the duration of the CIR-related structures. The Dst is closely correlated with Ap and AE (\(\mathrm{cc}=0.7\)), Dst being delayed for about 3 h. On the other hand, \(\mathrm{dDst}/\mathrm{d}t\) peaks simultaneously with Ap and AE, with correlation coefficients of 0.48 and 0.56, respectively. The highest correlation (\(\mathrm{cc}=0.81\)) is found for the relationship between Ap and AE.     

High-pressure phase transitions — examples of classical predictability

We present 19 examples of materials whose high pressure phase transition points can be determined within a particular classical theory of dense matter. Theoretical predictions are compared with experimental results, and some possible causes of discrepancies are discussed.     

Declination variations for zenith stars

The variations of the declinations of 36 Belgrade zenith stars from BZS1₇₀ Catalogue published in Astronomy and Astrophysics,177, 313–316 (1987) are examined by spectral analysis. The prospect is to evaluate multiples of the Chandler period of which the most prominent for all stars is the double one.     

Assessment of the pseudo total metal content in alluvial sediments from Danube River,Serbia

We used elemental carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and sulfur as well as ratios of hydrogen and nitrogen with total organic carbon for investigation of source and conditions of organic matter in alluvial Danube sediments. We also determined the pseudo total concentrations of metals presented as a sum of extracted concentration after five sequential extraction steps. The pseudo total metal concentrations were found to be (mg kg⁻¹) for Mn, 666; Fe, 25,852; Mg, 16,193; K, 2,063; Ni, 32.4; Zn, 72.2; Pb, 15.0; Cu, 26.0 and for Cr, 15.9. Correlation analysis and two multivariate analysis methods (principal component and cluster analysis) were helpful in determining the associations between the pseudo total extracted fractions of metals and with elemental carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, total inorganic and organic carbon. These correlations will help us to identify substrates of trace metals in different oxic/anoxic conditions. The correlation results of the trace metals and Fe, K, Mg and Mn suggest their adsorption, mainly onto Fe and Mn (hydro)oxides and K alumosilicates, whereas correlations of metals with sulfur indicate that they were precipitated as Fe-sulfides.     

Rock-slides on road cuttings in the Dinaric karst of Croatia: processes and factors

The northern Adriatic coast, which forms part of the Dinaric karst system, is bordered by high mountains. Here, the occurrence of rock-slides and rock-falls in road sections with high cuttings excavated in recent times and more than one century ago has been documented. Some of these old slopes were stable for a long time before rock-slides started to occur. We propose that these mass movements are favoured by karstification processes acting along joints in the exposed rock mass. The stress changes induced by overburden removal (excavation) cause dilation in the mass joint systems reducing the rock mass strength and facilitating the circulation of aggressive water. Changes in water pressure and temperature, wetting and drying cycles, and corrosion processes along discontinuity planes entail a reduction through time of the shear strength of potential failure surfaces.     

Possibility for hydroenergetic utilization of relatively researched water streams

Small mountain water streams are lately more interesting from the aspect of hydroenergetic exploitation. Catchments area of smaller rivers and creeks are mostly not enough researched from hydroenergetic aspect, so the most difficult task for small hydropower plant designers is to determine hydroenergetic potential of discussed water streams, from short period of hydrological observations. Very often happens that existing measurement stations on discussed water streams are placed few kilometers from potentially place of water intake and the value of flow is drastically different on these two locations. In this work, two methods for determination of hydrological picture for the chosen location of water intake on discussed river are shown, correlation method and analogy method. Using these methods it is possible to use data that describes measured values of discharge from the old measurement stations, that is exists on the same or adjacent river, to determine flow duration curve on the place of interests. Results given from these two methods are compared with measured values of discharge and precipitation from last period that are collected from location of planed intake. Based on the good agreement of theoretical and measured values, it was concluded that these two methods can be also applied to the adjacent basins. Suggestion of hydroenergetic utilization of discussed water stream and its economic justification is also presented in this work.     

On Data Interpolation at Three Croatian Repeat Stations by Using the Spherical Elementary Currents Systems Method

A general mathematical tool for expanding vector systems on a sphere into basis functions, spherical elementary current system (SECS) method, was applied for separation of the geomagnetic field variations into external and internal parts, over a limited region of central and southeastern Europe. The registered variations at three Croatian repeat stations were compared to the variations estimated by the SECS method using the variations from the different sets of observatories. The results of the SECS method were also compared to a simple assumption that the variations at repeat station are equal to those at particular observatory. The relevance of this comparison was to get an insight about the possibility of using the SECS method for estimating the geomagnetic field variations over Croatia. The guidelines for the application of the SECS method for the purpose of reducing repeat station data were also given.     

2D geological–geophysical model of the Timok Complex (Serbia,SE Europe): a new perspective from aeromagnetic and gravity data

The study reports new aeromagnetic and gravity data for the northern part of the Timok Magmatic Complex (TMC), East Serbia. The TMC is part of the Tethyan Eurasian metallogenic zone well known for hosting large copper and gold deposits. The complex formed by continuous volcanic activity 90–78 Ma ago, that developed in roughly three phases: Turonian andesites, Santonian–Campanian andesites/basaltic andesites (both mostly volcanic) and Campanian latites/monzonites (mostly shallow intrusive). The aeromagnetic measurements included acquiring total magnetic intensity data that were corrected for diurnal variations, leveling, microleveling, calculated normal field values, calculated anomaly values of total magnetic field intensity and reduction to the pole. The gravity measurements were carried out in an irregular grid with relative gravity values obtained using a Worden gravity meter. 2D modeling reveals that the subsurface extension of the Campanian Valja Str? pluton is ten times larger than it is indicated by its surface outcrops. This implies that the area south and southeast from the pluton can be interesting in terms of finding new porphyry systems. The model indicates that this intrusive body should not be considered as a deeply dissected pluton. This sheds new light onto its potential with respect to epithermal gold mineralization, as well. The model also suggests that there are larger non-exposed bodies of Santonian–Campanian volcanics and near-surface hydrothermally altered rocks than it is inferred from geological maps. The results of our study suggest that further interdisciplinary investigations in the TMC, in particular those integrating geophysics and geology, may have potential of advancing the existing exploration models.     

Vulnerability to natural disasters in Serbia: spatial and temporal comparison

The frequency of natural disasters and the extent of their consequences at a global level are constantly increasing. This trend is partially caused by increased population vulnerability, which implies the degree of population vulnerability due to high-magnitude natural processes. This paper presents an analysis of vulnerability to natural disaster in Serbia in the second half of the twentieth and the early twenty-first century. Vulnerability changes were traced on the basis of demographic–economic indicators derived from statistical data for local government units (municipalities) provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Calculations were performed in the geographical information system environment. The results of the study show that spatial and temporal vulnerability variations are causally correlated with changes in the selected components. Significant rise of vulnerability is related to urban areas, while lower values are characteristic for other areas of Serbia; this is primarily a consequence of different population density.