Changes in the shoreline caused by coastal structures

A model is described that was designed to predict the shoreline changes due to the most widely distributed types of coastal structures such as groins, jetties, breakwaters, and access channels, which disturb the alongshore sediment fluxes. The key assumptions based on empirical data are related to the extension of the areas with the sediment excess and deficit. It is shown that the most important factors are, on the one hand, the size of the structure and the depth of its location and, on the other hand, the width of the alongshore sediment flux and the depth at its outer edge. The relations between these parameters determine the spatial scales of the morphology perturbations at a given coast. The temporal scale of the shoreline changes considered is restricted to the period a few years after the structure was built. The input data and the typical output results are illustrated by an example of calculations.     

Generation of normal atmospheric modes by stratospheric vacillations

A number of numerical experiments were performed with the use of the middle and upper atmosphere model (MUAM). In these experiments, the atmospheric response to an external excitation in the troposphere was calculated and internal stratospheric vacillations caused by the interaction of stationary planetary waves (SPWs) with the zonal mean flow were modeled. The MUAM is shown to well reproduce the known high-frequency global resonance responses of the atmosphere to an external excitation. The results of modeling show that the stratospheric vacillations caused by the interaction of SPWs and the mean flow are responsible for the generation of low-frequency normal modes in the lower and middle atmosphere. The activity of normal atmospheric modes in the troposphere and stratosphere is noted to increase simultaneously with the development of sudden stratospheric warmings. However, in order to understand which process is primary, an additional analysis of the results of numerical experiments and stratospheric data is necessary. It is inferred that, for an adequate modeling of stratospheric vacillation cycles, atmospheric general circulation models must be capable of reproducing global resonance properties of the atmosphere.     

Analysis of the magnetic anomaly field of the volcanic district of the Bay of Naples, Italy

We here present and discuss the results of the analysis and qualitative interpretation of two magnetic surveys performed in the Bay of Naples in 1998 and 2000. A map of the Bay of Naples based on the data acquired during these surveys has already been published by the Italian CNR-IAMC Research Institute. We re-processed the same data to produce maps of the pole reduced, analytic signal and horizontal derivative data and correlated them with the bathymetry and the gravimetric data of the area. The analysis shows strong anomalies in the NW and NE volcanic areas of the Bay of Naples, while the central area seems magnetically quiet. In the Phlegrean area the maps clearly show the southern rim of the Phlegrean caldera and demonstrate that while the Magnaghi Canyon is correlated to gravimetric highs and magnetic structures, and can therefore be interpreted as an active lineament, most of Dohrn Canyon is not characterized by volcanic activity and does not correlate to any gravimetric or magnetic structures. An important round-shaped magnetic anomaly is for the first time identified in the central slope of the gulf between the two canyons, probably correlated to a large buried volcanic edifice. In the Vesuvian area some intense circular anomalies, aligned in the NNW–SSE direction, are localized in the Torre del Greco and Torre Annunziata offshore, related to the submerged part of Vesuvius and possibly connected to buried vents.     

On the behavior of stratospheric ozone in the western Arctic during the 2003–2004 winter and spring

We present the results of simultaneous measurements of variations in the ozone layer in the north-western Arctic conducted with the help of different instruments. It is shown that, in the winter of 2003–2004, when the stratosphere was relatively warm and the wave activity was high, spatial inhomogeneities in the field of ozone distribution were observed. For April 2004, we detect a decrease in the ozone content in the range of heights between 25 and 40 km. This decrease was recorded simultaneously by the HALOE, SAGE, and POAM satellite instruments.     

Statistical relations of the run-up height of Tsunami waves to the distance and energy of the source

A statistical analysis of the relation between the run-up height of historical tsunami events and the distance and magnitude of the source was performed on the basis of the known Historical Tsunami Data Base [5]. The sample from the database used for the analysis comprises 5638 run-ups caused by 628 seismic events. This analysis, together with the dimensionality theory, shows that the statistical average of the run-up height is inversely proportional to the distance from the source to a power close to 1/2 (that is characteristic of the cylindrically symmetrical case) and directly proportional to the 3/8 power of the earthquake energy.     

Wind-induced motion of water in shallow-water closed basins

The motion of water induced by tangential wind stresses in a circular basin of finite depth is studied by the finite-element method. The dependences of vertical displacements of the surface of the basin and the field of horizontal wave currents on the topography of the bottom and the direction of the wind are analyzed. The transformations of wind-induced disturbances observed after termination of the wind action are investigated.Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 5, pp. 35–44, September–October, 2004.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to cover date.     

On the possible mechanism of the intensification of the vertical exchange in the ocean during earthquakes

In recent years, some papers reported events of the lowering of the temperature of the sea surface subsequent to earthquakes. This paper is devoted to a discussion of the possible mechanism of the intensification of the mixing of seawater under earthquakes. The possible role of the intensive turbidity flows that are sometimes generated in the near-bottom layer over a sloping bottom subsequent to earthquakes is discussed. The estimates made on the basis of a semiempirical theory of turbulence show that the shear currents caused by these flows can lead to a fast turbulization and mixing of rather thick water layers.     

Field measurements of the vertical shears for a drift current

We describe the procedure of field experiments aimed at measuring the vertical profiles of the vectors of a drift current with the help of quasi-Lagrangian drifters. We present the data on the vertical shears of the current at depths of 0.5–5 m obtained under the conditions of neutral stratification in the upper 5-m layer of the sea in the presence of weak and moderate winds. The correspondence of the obtained data to the concept according to which the subsurface layer of the sea is regarded as a near-wall turbulent layer with Ekman current located below is analyzed. A conclusion is made that the results of measurements correspond, on the average, to the classical concepts demonstrating both the region of logarithmic sublayer and its transition into the Ekman spiral. __________ Translated from Morskoi Gidrofizicheskii Zhurnal, No. 1, pp. 32–44, January–February, 2007.     

Climatic trends in temperature,zonal flow,and stationary planetary waves from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data

A detailed analysis of climatic trends in the longitudinally averaged temperature, zonal wind velocity, and activity of a stationary planetary wave with the zonal wave number 1 (SPW1) is made for January. The results of analysis indicate that marked climatic temperature variations having opposite signs in the low and high latitudes are observed. These variations cause the relevant variations in the intensity and arrangement of maxima of tropospheric jet flows and, thereby, are responsible for changes in SPW1 propagation conditions. SPW1 propagation from the troposphere into the upper atmosphere is calculated with a linearized model by using the distributions of zonal mean flow that are characteristic of the 1960s and the early 21st century. These calculations indicate that, over the past 40 years, the propagation conditions have improved “on average” and the calculated SPW1 amplitude in the stratosphere and mesosphere of the winter hemisphere has increased substantially. Analysis of the amplitudes of the zonal wind velocity for SPW1 that were obtained from the NCEP/NCAR data is consistent with the results of simulation and shows that some enhancement of SPW1 activity in the lower stratosphere has been actually observed in recent years. These variations in the amplitudes are also accompanied by the enhancement of SPW1 interannual variability.     

Currents and intensity of turbulent processes in the Gavan’ Gaidamak Inlet (Vostok Bay, Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan)

Presented are the data of observations carried out in the fall of 2000 in the Gavan?? Gaidamak Inlet (Vostok Bay, Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan). It is revealed that the main transport of water takes place in the surface horizons from 0 to 1?C2 m predominantly in the meridional direction (north-south). It is demonstrated that in spite of not being under wind influence, the inlet area has a high degree of water flow turbulization. It was also registered that the wind-induced phenomena promote the development of turbulent processes and serve as the main self-cleaning mechanism of the inlet.