Precursory groundwater level changes in the period of activation of the weak intraplate seismic activity on the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif (central Europe) in 2005

tWe analyse continuous measurements of groundwater level in two deep wells VS-3 and V-28 at the experimental hydro-meteorological station situated on the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif, central Europe, characterized by the weak intraplate seismic activity. The aim of our study is to examine the relationships between changes in the groundwater level and earthquake occurrence. Based on the tidal and barometric response of the water level, we estimated selected elastic parameters of the observed aquifers: the shear modulus G, the Skempton ratio B, the drained matrix compressibility β and the undrained compressibility β_u. Using these parameters and assuming the homogeneous poroelastic material, we derived the sensitivity of the wells to the crustal volume strain. During the observation period from November 1998 to December 2005 we detected in the VS-3 well two pre-seismic steps, related to August 10, 2005 (M = 2.4) and October 25, 2005 (M = 3.3) earthquakes. Amplitudes of the recorded precursory changes (+6 cm and +15 cm) are several times higher than the values predicted from the theoretical precursory crustal strain and the strain sensitivity of the well. Therefore, we presume that the observed pre-seismic water level steps can be attributed to heterogeneity of poroelastic material. We consequently propose the hypothesis of the origin of precursory events based on the presumption of a sensitive site, at which the well is situated.     

Correlations between fatty acid composition of seston and zooplankton and effects of environmental parameters in a eutrophic Siberian reservoir

During two sampling seasons we analyzed on weekly basis fatty acid (FA) composition of seston fraction <130 μm and zooplankton fraction >130 μm, and compared them using a multivariate canonical correlation analysis (CCA). Besides, we evaluated a possible impact of water temperature and inorganic nutrients on FA composition of the seston and the zooplankton.In spite of significant differences in percentages of several individual FAs, we found very strong canonical correlation (cross-correlation, 1-week lag) between FA composition of the seston and the zooplankton. The most important factor, providing the overall canonical cross-correlation between FA profiles of the seston and the zooplankton fractions was eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5ω3, EPA). FA composition of the zooplankton fraction had comparatively poor correlations with taxonomic composition of the zooplankton. Thus, seasonal variations of FA composition of the zooplankton were determined primarily by seasonal changes in FA composition of the seston, rather than by taxonomic differences of FA profiles between rotifers, cyclopoids and cladocerans. FA composition of the seston was strongly affected by its taxonomic composition, namely by that of phytoplankton. According to CCA, the highest factor loadings pertained to diatoms interacting with their marker acids, including EPA, and cyanobacteria and greens, interacting with their marker acids. Ciliates and small rotifers composed considerable and sometimes major part of the seston biomass, but according to CCA their contributions to seasonal variations of the total FA profile of the seston were insignificant. This finding indirectly support the conclusion of the other authors, that the main source of FAs presented in ciliates and rotifers must be sought in algae and that they do not modify FA composition of food consumed, apart from repackaging it.Water temperature was the principal environmental parameter which drove the overall variations of FA composition. Factor loadings for the inorganic nutrients were comparatively negligible. The main contribution in the seasonal variation of FA composition of the seston was given by negative interaction between water temperature and percentage of EPA in the seston.     

Diatom record from Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia, during the last 1 Ma: The results from the HDP-04 drill core

Quantitative diatom abundance and species composition was studied in the longest 81-m Lake Hovsgol drill core, HDP-04. Lake Hovsgol diatom biostratigraphy of the past 1 Ma includes 14 local diatom assemblage zones (LDAZ). Planktonic diatom flora of Lake Hovsgol is dominated by members of Stephanodiscus and Cyclotella. A large-scale shift from Stephanodiscus-dominated to Cyclotella-dominated flora occurred in the mid-Brunhes chron. Significant morphological variability of Cyclotella ocellata complex and Cyclotella cf. minuta, as well as the presence of new extinct endemic taxa of genus Stephanodiscus, suggest long speciation and/or adaptation history of diatom flora. The recognition of taxa morphologically similar to the extinct endemic species of Lake Baikal suggests potential correlation ties between Lake Hovsgol and Lake Baikal diatom biostratigraphies around the MIS 17, MIS 25, and, possibly, MIS 15 interglacial intervals. Narrow peaks of diatom abundance in the Lake Hovsgol sedimentary record are episodic and short-lived. These peaks may represent humid optima of past interglacials and/or interstadials, characterized by elevated surface runoff in the Hovsgol basin and relative highstands of the lake.     

Natural background of hydrocarbon gases (C1–C5) in the waters of the Kara Sea

The distributions of methane and hydrocarbons (HC) C2+ throughout the vertical section of the water mass and sediments of the Kara Sea and the estuaries of the Ob and Yenisei rivers were examine during expeditions aboard the R/V “Akademik Boris Petrov” in 1997–2002. Data obtained during the expeditions and extensive information provided by the complex study of the carbon cycle in the aquatic area were used to analyze the genesis of hydrocarbon gases in marine water. The example of particulate matter was used to demonstrate that hydrocarbon gases of the composition C2–C5 contained in seawater are genetically related to aquatic organic matter (OM), regardless of seawater salinity. The hydrocarbon complex is dominated (80%) by higher C4–C5 homologues. The concentration of C4–C5 hydrocarbons in the estuarine fresh waters is comparable with the high methane concentration (2–3 μl/l), drastically decreases in the zone of water mixing, and then rapidly increases to values several times higher than the methane concentration in seawater outside the outer boundary of the sedimentation depocenter of riverine particulate matter. A direct correlation was established for the concentration of the C4 + C5 homologues with the OM of the water mass, and the leading role was demonstrated to be played by labile OM of the autochthonous biomass (marine phytoplankton) in the genesis of higher hydrocarbon gases (alkenes, alkanes, and isoalkanes) during the early diagenetic stage of OM transformations in water. Along with the biomass of phytoplankton, a significant role in the genesis of C2–C3 hydrocarbons is played by destruction products of terrigenous OM. The destruction of OM and generation of gaseous hydrocarbons, including methane, are restricted to the pycnocline and the water-sediment interface. The absolute predominance of the sum of the C4 + C5 homologues in the hydrocarbon C2+ gases and the presence of unsaturated C2–C4 hydrocarbons are typical of the natural background of hydrocarbons of the Kara Sea water mass.     

Finite-difference algorithm with local time-space grid refinement for simulation of waves

This paper presents a new approach to a local time-space grid refinement for a staggered-grid finite-difference simulation of waves. The approach is based on approximation of a wave equation at the interface where two grids are coupled. As no interpolation or projection techniques are used, the finite-difference scheme preserves second order of convergence. We have proved that this approach is low-reflecting, the artificial reflections are about 10^− 4 of an incident wave. We have also shown that if a successive refinement is applied, i.e. temporal and spatial steps are refined at different interfaces, this approach is stable.     

Non-Integrability and Structure of the Resonance Zones in a Class of Galactic Potentials

The structure of the resonance zone in nearly integrable Hamiltonian systems is studied by a more general method than the pendulum approximation. This method applies to the case of a non-degenerate integrable part in the Hamiltonian. This problem may be overcome in a class of galactic-type polynomial potentials, in the case where the higher-order term is by itself integrable. An illustrative example is worked out.     

Permo-Triassic hypabyssal mafic intrusions and associated tholeiitic basalts of the Kolyuchinskaya Bay,Chukotka (NE Russia): Links to the Siberian LIP

In order to test tectonic hypotheses regarding the evolution of the Arctic Alaska–Chukotka microplate prior to the opening of the Amerasian basin, we investigated rocks exposed near Kolyuchinskaya Bay, eastern Chukotka. Hypabyssal mafic rocks and associated basaltic flows enclose terrigenous sediments, minor cherts and limestones in pillow interstices. The hypabyssal mafic rock yields a U–Pb zircon age of 252 ± 4 Ma and indicates intrusion of basic magma at the Permo-Triassic boundary, contemporaneous with voluminous magmatism of the Siberian large igneous province (LIP). The lava flows and hypabyssal mafic rocks of the Kolyuchinskaya Bay region have trace elements, Sm–Nd and Rb–Sr isotope compositions identical to the tholeiitic flood basalts of the main plateau stage of the Siberian LIP, but differ from the latter in the major-element variations. We conclude that compositional variations in the hypabyssal rocks studied reflect their generation in an extensional environment that might be related to the Siberian super-plume activity at the time. Although the genetic and temporal links between intrusive mafic rocks and lavas are not well proved, compositional variations of the eruptive rocks still indicate their generation in an extensional environment.     

Atmospheric circulation and storm events in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea

Extreme sea storms are dangerous and a potential source of damage. In this study, we examine storm events in the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, the atmosphere circulation patterns associated with the sea storm events, and their changes in the present (1961–2000) and future (2046–2065) climates. A calendar of storms for the present climate is derived from results of wave model SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) experiments. On the basis of this calendar, a catalog of atmospheric sea level pressure (SLP) fields was prepared from the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset for 1961–2000. The SLP fields were subjected to a pattern recognition algorithm which employed empirical orthogonal decomposition followed by cluster analysis. The NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data is used to evaluate the occurring circulation types (CTs) within the ECHAM5-MPI/OM Atmosphere and Ocean Global Circulation Model (AOGCM) for the period 1961–2000. Our analysis shows that the ECHAM5-MPI/OM model is capable of reproducing circulation patterns for the storm events. The occurrence of present and future ECHAM5-MPI/OM CTs is investigated. It is shown that storm CTs are expected to occur noticeably less frequently in the middle of the 21^st century.     

Determination of grid size for digital terrain modelling in landscape investigations—exemplified by soil moisture distribution at a micro-scale

The central problem of a combined analysis of digital terrain models (DTMs) and other landscape data is determination of a DTM grid size (w) providing a correct study of relationships between topographic variables and landscape properties. Generally, an adequate w is determined by an expert estimate, and solutions are largely subjective. We developed an experimental statistical method to determine an adequate w for DTMs applied to landscape studies. The method includes the following steps: (a) derivation of a DTM set using a series of w_i , (b) performance of a correlation analysis of data on a landscape property and a topographic variable estimated with various w_i , (c) plotting of correlation coefficients obtained versus w, and (d) determination of smoothed plot portions indicating intervals of an adequate w. We applied the method developed to study the ifluence of topography on the spatial distribution of soil moisture (M) at a micro-scale. We investigated the dependence of M on gradient (G), horizontal (k_h ), vertical (k_v ), and mean (H) landsurface curvatures. For DTM derivation, we used 13 values of w_i from 1 to 7m. An interval of adequate w_i for M falls between 2.25 and 3.25m in the given terrain conditions. In absolute magnitudes, correlation coefficients are largest within this interval; correlation coefficients of M with G, k_h , k_v and H are 0.28, 0.52, 0.50 and 0.60, respectively, for w = 3m. The results obtained demonstrate that the method actually works to identify an adequate w at a micro-scale. The method developed allows estimation of an adequate area of landform which realise a topographic control of landscape properties.     

Modeling crustal structure of the south-eastern Fennoscandia

We present new seismic velocity models of the crust and uppermost mantle along two refraction and wide-angle reflection profiles in the southern Fennoscandia: the Pribalt and 1-EB profiles. Some new results obtained along the Coast and the Baltic Sea profiles are also presented. The intercept time method and ray tracing are used for the modeling. The study shows that the lateral variations are small in the velocity structure of?? the crust up to the depth of 20?C25 km. The most significant lateral variations are observed in the Moho discontinuity topography and in the seismic velocities in the lower crust. In Paleoproterosoic Svekofennian domain, besides the well-known Moho depression in southern Finland, another Moho depression is revealed in the region from the Gotland Island to the Gulf of Riga. We suggest that this depression can correspond to the unknown crustal unit (we call it the Gotland-Riga belt). The Moho depth increases from the average of 40?C45 km to 55 km in this belt. The Moho depression is filled by the matter with velocities of 6.8?C7.1 km/s. Deep faults inclined to the north and strong variations of the mantle velocities are typical for the uppermost mantle of the Gotland-Riga belt.