Electric and electromagnetic processes in the near-Earth atmosphere before earthquakes on Kamchatka

Simultaneous records of the diurnal variations in the quasistatic electric field in the near-Earth atmosphere, fluxes of discrete electromagnetic pulses in the VLF band, source azimuths, narrowband filter output emission intensity at frequencies of 4.65 and 5.3 kHz, and time forms and spectra of VLF pulses have been analyzed. The anomalous behavior of these parameters in October 2002 and August 2004 with different time delay was accompanied by earthquakes near the southeastern coast of Kamchatka at distances of 250–400 km from the registration points. Based on the results of a fine frequency-time analysis of the broadband records of VLF signals, it has been indicated for the first time that discrete electromagnetic pulses observed in anomalous fluxes before earthquakes were signals of local thunderstorm processes.     

River and sea water interaction and delta formation in tidal mouth area of the Fraser River (Canada)

The history of studies and development of water resources of the Fraser River (Canada) and its mouth area is presented. The history of the Fraser River delta development and the hydrologomorphological processes that occur at this delta are discussed. Close attention is given to the analysis of processes of dynamic interaction and mixing of river and sea water under the joint impact of river flow and tidal fluctuations.     

Long-Term Water Level Variations in the Kiliya Branch of the Danube Delta

Water level variations in the Kiliya Branch of the Danube Delta over the period of 40 years (1958–1997) were analyzed. These level variations were subdivided into three components related to long-term variations of the share of the branch runoff and its redistribution within a year resulting from the Danube flow regulation; subsidence of deltaic deposits; and backup caused by the rising Black Sea level. It was revealed that, during the low-flow period, this backup had propagated to the river mouth at a distance of 160 km.     

Neutral gas composition changes and E×B vertical plasma drift contribution to the daytime equatorial F2-region storm effects

Theoretical model calculations along with ground-based observations from Huancayo ionosonde station and ESRO-4 gas analyzer data, were used to estimate the contribution of neutral gas composition changes and E×B vertical plasma drift to the observed F2-layer storm effects at the geomagnetic equator. Atomic oxygen concentration increase may give the main contribution to the positive NmF2 effect when drift velocity changes are small, but negative storm effects, on the other hand, are related mostly to vertical drift variations.     

The effect of the pore space microstructure on hydrophobization of oil and gas reservoirs

The results of theoretical and experimental studies of the effect of the microstructure of the pore space on the hydrophobization of oil and gas reservoirs are presented. A possible mechanism of formation of the microstructured wettability is described, which demonstrates that hydrophobization of the inner pore space in mixed wettability can be associated either with large or small pore sizes. It was proven experimentally that the process of hydrocarbon adsorption depended on the shape, size, and distribution of pores, the mineralogical composition (particle composition and size, presence of clay), as well as on the time of contact of hydrocarbons with the inner pore surface. The concept of the hydrophilic nature of rock prior to the migration of oil into it can be considered as accurate. However, as was shown in the experiments, oil could be present in the small pores (up to 10 μm), which was especially significant for the carbonate reservoirs.     

The Impact of Deltas on the Mean Long-Term Water River Runoff

Specific features of the water balance of river deltas located in different geographic zones are discussed. Variations in the mean long-term water runoff in river deltas are estimated. As revealed, the river water runoff increases in the deltas located in subarctic, subequatorial, and equatorial regions, where precipitation exceeds evaporation, while the river water runoff decreases in deltas located in the temperate zone, subtropics, and tropics, where evaporation exceeds precipitation. It is noted that increase in water runoff is typical of the river deltas of the world as a whole.     

Analytical Models of the Physical Fields of the Earth in Regional Version with Ellipticity

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—The regional version of the method of linear integral representations is used to interpret the data on the anomalous physical fields of the...     

Initiation of Rock Fracture by Fluids of Different Viscosities

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—The acoustic emission (AE) patterns observed in laboratory conditions at the initiation of fracture in rock samples by fluids of different...     

Seasonal Variations in the b-Value of the Reservoir-Triggered Seismicity in the Koyna–Warna Region,Western India

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—The analysis of the local earthquake catalog revealed fine features in the behavior of seasonal components of induced seismicity in the...     

Influence of the Component Composition of Adsorbed Oil on the Microstructural Wettability of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs

Doklady Earth Sciences - The physicochemical mechanism of the development of microstructural wettability in oil and gas reservoirs is experimentally justified. It is shown that this mechanism is...