Far fields of internal gravity waves in a stratified liquid of varying depth

Asymptotic representations of solutions describing the far fields of internal gravity waves in a stratified medium of varying depth are constructed. The effect of space-frequency cutoff of the wave field for a real oceanic shelf is revealed. Depending on frequency characteristics of the wave field and bottom topography, far fields of internal waves either are located in a certain confined space domain (trapped waves) or propagate in the absence of turning points over sufficiently large distances when compared with the sea depth (progressive waves). The space domain where the progressive waves penetrate is fully determined by the presence of turning points whose locations depend on the medium stratification and inhomogeneities of bottom topography.     

Experimental investigations of the effect of cloud-medium modification by salt powders

The results of experimental investigations into the action of polydispersion salt powders on model cloud media are presented. The results of experiments show a considerable positive effect of the modification of convective clouds by salt powders in order to obtain additional precipitation. The introduction of polydispersion salt powder into a forming cloud medium leads to the appearance of large cloud droplets and to the droplet-spectrum broadening. This result is a positive factor for the stimulation of coagulation processes and further precipitation formation. No “overseeding” phenomenon (when, instead of the enlargement of droplets, their sizes decrease and the concentration of cloud droplets increases) is observed at rather high mass concentrations of the introduced powder.     

Comprehensive studies in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in the Summer of 2012

The shelf zones of the Black Sea, Taman Bay, and the Sea of Azov are currently subjected to gross load related to the impact of invasive species, large-scale construction activities near the coast, intensive recreation activity, water pollution in large cities and ports, active navigation, unreasonable coastal arrangement, and dam construction. Another factor substantially affecting the composition of bottom sediments and, thus, the benthos environment is the terrigenous material carried by rivers in the course of catastrophic overflows. An example is the Kubansk flood in 2012, which significantly affected the sea coast near Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, and Divnomorsk. The intensive onshore dumping results in the delivery of abundant allochthonous material, bottom silting causing changes in the dominants in the benthos associations, a decrease in the photic layer and the death of the phytobenthos, and also debris formation at the bottom. Debris can play the role of artificial reefs contributory for the formation of periphytic biocoenoses.     

Investigation into wave properties of the atlantic surface temperature spatial variability on interannual scales

The results of investigations into the spatial variability of the Atlantic Ocean surface temperature field on interannual scales are presented. The analysis is based on monthly mean satellite data of the AVHRR Pathfinder Data JPL NOAA/NASA over 1985–2001. Specific features of the structure of the sea surface temperature (SST) fields averaged over 17 years, as well as fields of the gradient and variance of the SST time series, are described for each node of the data grid. It is shown with the use of the rhythmodynamic approach that spatial heat waves exist in the interannual variability of the SST field in two directions: zonal and meridional.     

The relationship between the behavioral activity and the underwater vocalization of the beluga whale (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinapterus leucas</Emphasis>)

The underwater vocalizations of the beluga whale summering in Onega Bay (64°24′N, 35°49′E) were recorded in June–July of 2008. The vocalizations were classified into five major whistle types, four types of pulsed tones, click series, and noise vocalizations. To determine the relationship between the behavioral activity and the underwater vocalizations, a total of fifty-one 2 minute-long samples of the audio records were analyzed in the next six behavioral contexts: directional movements, quiet swimming, resting, social interactions, individual hunting behavior, and the exploration of hydrophones by beluga whales. The overall vocalization rate and the percentage of the main types of signals depend on the behavior of the belugas. We suggest that one of the whistle types (the “stereotype whistle”) is used by belugas for long-distance communications, while other whistle types (with the exception of “squeaks”) and three types of pulsed tones (with the exception of “vowels”) are used for short distance communication. The percentage of “squeaks” and “vowels” was equally high in all the behavioral situations. Thus, we assume that “squeaks” are contact signals. “Vowels” have a specific physical structure and probably play a role in identification signals. A high rate of the click series was observed in the process of social interactions.     

Effect of upward internal flow on dynamics of riser model subject to shear current

Numerical study about vortex-induced vibration(VIV) related to a flexible riser model in consideration of internal flow progressing inside has been performed.The main objective of this work is to investigate the coupled fluid-structure interaction(FSI) taking place between tensioned riser model,external shear current and upward-progressing internal flow(from ocean bottom to surface).A CAE technology behind the current research which combines structural software with the CFD technology has been proposed.According to the result from dynamic analysis,it has been found that the existence of upward-progressing internal flow does play an important role in determining the vibration mode(/dominant frequency),vibration intensity and the magnitude of instantaneous vibration amplitude,when the velocity ratio of internal flow against external current is relatively high.As a rule,the larger the velocity of internal flow is,the more it contributes to the dynamic vibration response of the flexible riser model.In addition,multi-modal vibration phenomenon has been widely observed,for asymmetric curvature along the riser span emerges in the case of external shear current being imposed.     

Delivery of chemical elements with atmospheric precipitations to the coastal regions of the Crimea in 2004–2008

We study the space-and-time variations of the delivery of fluxes of 26 elements (Na, K, Rb, Cs, Cu, Ag, Au, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Hg, Hf, Ta, As, Sb, Cr, Se, Mo, W, Mn, Br, Fe, Co and Ni) with atmospheric precipitations to the sea surface in the regions of Sevastopol and the South Coast of Crimea. It is established A series of general regularities of the delivery of the sum of these elements and their soluble and insoluble forms. We also give the characteristics of their space-time variability.     

Objective analysis of the structure of three-dimensional atmospheric fronts

A computational method for diagnosing three-dimensional atmospheric fronts from temperature, wind, and geopotential fields on a three-dimensional regular grid is proposed. The criterion, which serves for the diagnosis of atmospheric fronts, is discussed. The weights of the input information about the mentioned fields are optimized based on the maximal difference between the correlation functions for (a) pairs of particles separated by the front and (b) pairs from one synoptic mass. These weights were different for different baric levels. The correlation functions and the optimization of weights were estimated on the basis of the archive of fields of the NCEP objective analysis on the half-degree latitude-longitude grid and data from aerological observations. The results of numerical experiments on the construction of atmospheric fronts are presented. Applying the described method to fields predicted for a term of up to 36 h showed that errors in the prognostic models introduce a relatively weak distortion into the geometry of atmospheric fronts.     

Two types of alkaline volcanics in the southwestern Iberian margin: The causes of their diversity

The diverse geodynamic conditions of the parental magma??s melting are responsible for the compositional diversity of the alkaline volcanics near the southwestern margin of Iberia. The petrological-geochemical data show that the volcanics of the Gorringe Bank originated within the continental plate. The parental melilitite melts depleted in silica and anomalously enriched with trace elements could have been generated only in deep settings with a low degree of metasomatically enriched mantle matter melting. The volcanic melilitite-nephelinite-phonolite series is widespread in alkaline provinces of the Eurasian, African, and other continental plates. The Ampere, Josephine, and other seamounts and islands of the region are largely composed of volcanic rocks belonging to the picrobasalt-hawaiite-mugearite association. Their parental magmas were generated within the oceanic plate at shallower depths under a higher degree of moderately enriched oceanic lithospheric mantle melting. Both series of volcanics were formed under the influence of mantle plumes.     

Change in biochemical and morphological characteristics of Lonicera caerulea in tectonically active zone of the Dzhazator River Valley (Altai Mountains)

Local geophysical and geochemical anomalies affect the polymorphism of taste variations, berry shape, and content of some biologically active substances in Lonicera caerulea leaves in the tectonically active Altai Mountains (Dzhazator River basin).