Automated estimation of local wind enhancement in Novorossisk

A new concept of automated evaluation of local wind maximum speed in mountain regions is considered. The approach is based on taking into account the empirical dependence between the maximum registered wind enhancement in a particular district and prognostic evaluations of background meteorological parameters less detailed in space. Empirical dependencies are established for the Novorossisk region from the data of spring and fall of 2008. It is shown that the new approach complements the technology of maximum wind speed evaluation at the ground currently in use. In most cases, it allows rather accurate evaluation of expected local wind enhancement up to 20–30 m/s in Novorossisk in warm period.     

An unusual anomaly of ice conditions in the eastern seas of the Russian Arctic and in the arctic basin in summer 2007

It is demonstrated that during the whole annual cycle of ice cover evolution in 2006–2007 in the eastern seas of the Russian Arctic and in the Arctic basin, the factors whose effect led to the formation of an extremely large anomaly of ice conditions in summer 2007 were revealed. By the end of summer, the ice melted on the huge water area of 3500000 km². In September, the ice edge between the meridians of 150° E-170° W reached the parallel of 85° N. The estimates of the open water area being formed due to the ice melting and its drifting edge shift are given.