Importance of Charles Lyell’s works for the formation of scientific geological ideology

Ch. Lyell’s works, the main work among which entitled Principles of Geology was published 180 years ago in 1830, created a new concept and laid the groundwork for modern geological science, methods for the study of geological processes and geological history based on the investigation of recent environments and processes. These propositions with natural corrections are also used in geological works at present. They have demonstrated persistence of the geological history and absence of global geological catastrophes. This fact was of great importance in science and ideology, because it changed basically the perception of the Earth’s nature and history based on the biblical world pattern.     

Interpretation of the light curves of “quiescent” X-ray novae in a model with a noncollisional interaction between the flow and disk. The XTE J1118+480 system

We have analyzed the orbital light curve of the X-ray nova XTE J1118+480 in a “disk + hot line” model based on three-dimensional gas-dynamical computations of gas flows in interacting binary systems. As a result, we have been able to derive reliable parameters for the system: i = 80 _?4 ⁺⁴ degrees, _MBH = 7.1 _?0.1 ^+0.5 M_⊙, M _opt = 0.39 _?0.07 ^+0.15 M_⊙.     

Sr isotopic composition of Paleoproterozoic C-rich carbonate rocks: The Tulomozero Formation,SE Fennoscandian Shield

Rb–Sr systematics has been studied in ¹³C-rich carbonate rocks of the Paleoproterozoic (2.09 ± 0.07 Ga) Tulomozero Formation in the northern Onega Lake area, the SE Fennoscandian Shield. The formation is divided into eight members (A–F) consisting of greenschist-facies-grade, variegated sandstones, siltstones, mudstones, stromatolitic dolostones and subordinate crystalline limestones. Samples of carbonate rocks were obtained from two overlapping drillholes intersecting the entire thickness of the Tulomozero Formation. Prior to isotope analysis, the rocks powders were treated with 1N ammonium acetate for partial removal of the late epigenetic carbonate phases. Major resetting of the Rb–Sr systems in the Tulomozero carbonate rocks appears to take place during the Svecofennian regional metamorphic event, and it was screened by using Mn/Sr, Fe/Sr, Mg/Ca, and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O ratios. High Sr content (up to 2080 μg/g in limestones, and 530 μg/g in dolostones) coupled with low Fe/Mn (<0.40) ratios in the Tulomozero carbonate rocks of Members A, B (the lower part), D, F, and E are consistent with accumulation of original carbonate sediments in evaporitic lacustrine, playa, and sabkha environments. A decrease in the Sr content with concurrent increase in the Fe/Mn ratio (>0.40) in dolostones of the upper part of Member B, and of Members G and H is indicative of seawater influxes (sea transgression) into the Tulomozero basin. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values in the least altered (Mn/Sr < 2.0) marine dolostones are 0.70418–0.70442 and 0.70343–0.70409 for the earlier and late phases of the marine transgression, respectively. The decrease in the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in ca. 2.1 Ga seawater is attributable to an increase in hydrothermal flux Sr into the Palaeoproterozoic ocean.     

Statistical and probability analysis of frosts in Belarus

Methods of studying May frosts, their time dynamics, and spatial structure in Belarus are considered. The territory of Belarus was divided into western and eastern parts with the help of methods of multivariate statistical analysis, proceeding from the dynamics of a number of frost days in May. Before 1985, the number of frost days prevailed in the western part, while after 1985, in eastern Belarus. A quasi-twelve-year cyclicity is established in the dynamics of a difference between a number of frost days in May in the east and west of the country     

Oil components in the mouth area of the Don R. and in the Sea of Azov: Results of many-year studies

The data given are the results of many-year studying the distribution of the concentrations of main oil components (hydrocarbons, surfactants, and asphaltene-tarry substances) in the water mass, vertically settling particulate matter, and bottom sediment cores taken from the section Lower Don-The Gulf of Taganrog-Russian sector of the Sea of Azov in summer and autumn periods in 2006–2011. Spatial and seasonal regularities in the distributions of the total concentration of oil components and the values of their ratios in water, as well as the spatial and annual features of their accumulation in bottom sediments have been established. Radiological methods have been used for layer-by-layer dating of bottom sediment cores and determine the thickness of the layer that had formed under the maximal anthropogenic impact on ecosystems. The presence of considerable amounts of hydrocarbons of modern biological origin has been revealed in all components of examined aquatic complexes.     

Ionospheric response to the entry and explosion of the South Ural superbolide

The South Ural meteoroid (February 15, 2013; near the city of Chelyabinsk) is undoubtedly the best documented meteoroid in history. Its passage through the atmosphere has been recorded on videos and photographs, visually by observers, with ground-based infrasound microphones and seismographs, and by satellites in orbit. In this work, the results are presented of an analysis of the transionospheric GPS sounding data collected in the vicinity of the South Ural meteoroid site, which show a weak ionospheric effect. The ionospheric disturbances are found to be asymmetric about the explosion epicenter. The received signals are compared, both in shape and amplitude, with the reported ionospheric effects of ground level explosions with radio diagnostics. It is shown that the confident registration of ionospheric effects as acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) by means of vertical sounding and GPS technologies for ground explosions in the range of 0.26–0.6 kt casts doubt on the existing TNT equivalent estimates (up to 500 kt) for the Chelyabinsk event. The absence of effects in the magnetic field and in the ionosphere far zone at distances of 1500–2000 km from the superbolide explosion epicenter also raises a question about the possibility of an overestimated TNT equivalent. An alternative explanation is to consider the superposition of a cylindrical ballistic wave (due to the hypersonic motion of the meteoroid) with spherical shock waves caused by the multiple time points of fragmentation (multiple explosions) of the superbolide as a resulting source of the AGW impact on ionospheric layers.     

General characterization of the seismoelectric effects of the first and second kinds in the Saratov Zavolzh’e region,the Dnieper-Donets basin,and Western Siberia

The seismoelectric effects of the first and second kinds of oil and gas reservoir rocks are studied in three geological regions. Rock samples were taken from deep borehole cores of terrigenous and carbonate composition. Measurements were made in the ultrasound range (100–200 kHz) and at a frequency of 300 Hz. It is shown that the relationship between the porosity coefficient and the intensity of the second-kind seismoelectric effect is the same for terrigenous reservoir rocks in the Saratov Zavolzh’e region, an area of Western Siberia, and the Dnieper-Donets basin. An anomalously strong seismoelectric effect of the first kind (a vibration-induced change in the electrical resistance) is discovered for carbonate reservoir rocks of the Zavolzh’e region.     

Statistical modeling of relative variations in the critical frequencies of the ionospheric F region

Relative variations in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F, region are considered as one of the main sources of information about the characteristics of plasma inhomogeneities in the region of the main ionization maximum and as a substantial factor responsible for the statistics of the decameter signal parameters on radio paths with different lengths. The functions defined on finite intervals are also used in statistical modeling in addition to the available methods. Such a consideration made it possible to remove a restriction, peculiar to previous models, in the form of the requirement that the fourth statistical invariant—excess— should be positive. This makes the generalized statistical model more universal, which is of special importance for high4atitude radio paths. The specified mo del more adequately corresponds to the experimental data, which are characterized by finite intervals where the quantities are measured.     

Planetary statistics of the critical frequency of the ionospheric F 2 region during catastrophic earthquakes

The statistics of the relative variations (δfoF2) in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F ₂ region during catastrophic earthquakes with magnitude M ≥ 6 at 70 vertical sounding (VS) automatic ionospheric stations (AISs) of the global network is considered. Five-day periods including 70 such situations have been selected for 1981 and 1983–1985. Five sets of 24 foF2 measurements from 3 days before to a day after the earthquake instant are formed for each AIS. The number of AISs, for which the fourth statistical invariant is above the significance level (E ≥ 1), has been analyzed. It has been indicated that the histogram deformation at the set of AISs is substantial a day before earthquakes.