The socio-economic role of vegetation in the cartographic substantiation of rational management of nature in the geobotanical forecasting system

Presented are the results from the final forecasting-recommendatory stage of conjugate cartographic investigations of vegetation on the Angara-Lena interfluve. The economic value of vegetation is determined according to its resource potential and ecological-protective potential. Recommendations are made with respect to an optimization of nature management on a forecasting-geobotanical basis.     

The results of gravity surveys at geophysical grounds in the Kaluga region

The scientific educational practice on gravimetry for the second-year students of the geophysical specialty in 2012–2013 was executed in Central Russia (Kaluga region, the Village of Aleksandrovka). It allowed us to provide an educational process with modern high-precision gravimeters and to fully preserve the curricula and to add elements of topography and geodesic practice. Over these 2 years reliable facts and data were received, which illustrated the possibilities of high-precision gravity measurements in studying the sedimentary cover features of a geological structure.     

Self-consistent pressure scales based on the equations of state for ruby,diamond, MgO,B2–NaCl,as well as Au,Pt, and other metals to 4 Mbar and 3000 K

Based on the modified formalism of Dorogokupets and Oganov (2007), we calculated the equation of state for diamond, MgO, Ag, Al, Au, Cu, Mo, Nb, Pt, Ta, and W by simultaneous optimization of the data of shock-wave experiments and ultrasonic, X-ray diffraction, dilatometric, and thermochemical measurements in the temperature range from ~ 100 K to the melting points and pressures of up to several Mbar, depending on the material. The obtained room-temperature isotherms were adjusted with a shift of the R1 luminescence line of ruby, which was measured simultaneously with the unit cell parameters of metals in the helium and argon pressure media. The new ruby scale is expressed as P(GPa) = 1870?Δλ / λ0(1 + 6?Δλ / λ0). It can be used for correction of room-pressure isotherms of metals, diamond, and periclase. New simultaneous measurements of the volumes of Au, Pt, MgO, and B2-NaCl were used for interrelated test of obtained equations of state and calculation of the room-pressure isotherm for B2-NaCl. Therefore, the constructed equations of state for nine metals, diamond, periclase, and B2-NaCl can be considered self-consistent and consistent with the ruby scale and are close to a thermodynamic equilibrium. The calculated PVT relations can be used as self-consistent pressure scales in the study of the PVT properties of minerals using diamond anvil cell in a wide range of temperatures and pressures.     

Heterogeneities in the field of short period seismic wave attenuation in the lithosphere of central Tien Shan

Records of deep-focus Hindu Kush earthquakes in the depth ranges 70–110 and 190–230 km made by 45 digital and analogue seismic stations were analyzed to study the attenuation field of short period seismic waves in the lithosphere of central Tien Shan. The dynamic characteristics studied include the ratio of peak amplitudes in S and P waves (S/P) and the ratio of the S-wave maximum to the coda level in the range t = 400 ± 5 s, where t is the lapse time (S/c400) for 1.25 Hz. Comparatively high values of S/P are shown to prevail in most of the area, corresponding to lower S-wave attenuation. Upon this background is a band of high and intermediate attenuation in the west of the area extending along the Talas-Fergana fault in the south and afterwards turning north-northeast. The rupture areas of the two largest (M ≥ 7.0) earthquakes which have occurred in Tien Shan during the last 25 years are confined to this band. Abnormally high values of S/c400 were obtained for stations situated in the rupture zone of the August 19, 1992, magnitude 7.3 Suusamyr earthquake and around it. For two of the stations we found considerable time variations in the coda envelope before the earthquake. The effective Q was derived from compressional and shear wave data for the entire area, as well as for the band of high attenuation. Comparison with previous data shows that the attenuation field in the area has changed appreciably during 20–25 years, which can only be due to a rearrangement of the fluid field in the crust and uppermost mantle. It is hypothesized that a large earthquake is very likely to occur in the northern part of the attenuating band.     

The ecological potential of vegetation as a factor of nature management in Baikalian Siberia

We examine the theoretical and applied aspects related to the concept of the ecological potential of vegetation as an important factor for pursuing of the public environmental policy. Taking into consideration the ecological potential in the nature management system is essential. A map fragment illustrating the ecological potential of the Baikal region is provided.     

Historical and Modern Seismicity of the Semipalatinsk Test Site

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - According to the current maps of general seismic zoning of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2006), the territory of the Semipalatinsk Test Site (STS) is...     

Ring structures of seismicity in central Tien Shan and Dzungaria: Possible precursory processes of large earthquakes

It is shown that episodes of comparative seismic quiescence that lasted about 20–25 years in the areas of study alternated with intervals of sharply increased seismicity as series of large (M ≥ 6.9) earthquakes occurred during two to three decades. Since no M ≥ 6.6 earthquake has occurred in the area for as long as 21 years after the 1992 Susamyr event, middle-term prediction would require identification of zones of imminent large earthquakes. More reliable identification of such zones rests on data relating to inhomogeneities in the field of S-wave attenuation in the lithosphere, as well as on the characteristics of ring structures of seismicity. Such structures are formed as zones of seismic quiescence that are bounded by M ? Mth earthquake epicenters, where Mth is the threshold magnitude value. Correlative relationships were previously derived, lgL(Mw) and Mth(Mw), for events with different focal mechanisms (L is the length of the longer axis of a seismicity ring and Mw is the magnitude of the associated large earthquake). These relationships were used to estimate the Mw of large events that can occur in these ring structures. The greatest earthquake with Mw ? 7.5 is probably about to occur in southern Tien Shan, east of the 1949 Khait earthquake rupture. A smaller event (Mw ～ 7.0) can occur in the Kyrgyz Range area. Still smaller earthquakes probably have their precursory areas north and east of Lake Issyk-Kul, as well as in Dzungaria.