Changes in the macrobenthic communities of the Gudauta Oyster Bank

Twenty-nine benthic invertebrate species were registered for the Gudauta Bank in the depth range of 8–32 m in 1990. The shallow-water biocenose was defined for the depths of less than 10 m, the biocenoses of Anadara inaequivalvis and A. inaequivalvis-Upogebia pusilla occupied the depths of 10–30 m; and the biocenosis of Pitar rudis was found for the depths of more than 30 m. The highest biodiversity and abundance of benthos was registered for the Anadara biocenoses, while the lowest, for the shallow-water ones. It was found that significant changes in the benthic communities took place in the forty years after the predator gastropod Rapana venosa was introduced into the Black Sea. The oysters became extinct on Gudauta Bank, and the species composition of the benthic community has been significantly depleted. Alien species of Anadara and Rapana became the most abundant by biomass, comprising more than 80% of the total biomass of the benthos. The population density of Rapana constituted 12 ind./m² and was the highest ever registered for the studied areas of the Black Sea. Insufficient nutrition preconditioned the small size of the mollusks.     

The geochemistry of deepwater particulate matter over the hydrothermal field at 9°d50′ N (the East Pacific Rise)

The results of geochemical studies of particulate matter in the water mass over the hydrothermal field at 9°50′ N on the East Pacific Rise are presented. The particulate matter was tested in background waters, in the buoyant plume, and in the near-bottom waters. The contents of Si, Al, P, C_org, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, As, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ag, and Hg were determined. No definite correlations were found between the ele-ments in the background waters. Many of the chemical elements correlated with Fe and associated with its oxyhydroxides in the buoyant plume. In the near-bottom waters, microelements are associated with Fe, Zn, and Cu (probably, to their sulfides formed under fluid mixing with seawater). The matter precipitated in a sed-imentation trap was similar to the near-bottom particulate matter in the elemental composition.     

Spatial variability of the chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and the specific structure of the phytoplankton in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan during the winter period

To evaluate the structure and photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton of the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan, the results of the surveys conducted from February 26 to March 9, 2003, during the 30th cruise of the R/V Akademik Lavrentyev were used. The species composition was considered taking into account the influences of the hydrological conditions. In particular, the studied water area was divided into four zones with various sizes of the mixed layer depth (MLD). An inverse relationship between the MLD and the content of chlorophyll a (Chl a) in various zones was established. The diatom algae were the basic dominants of the composite structure of the phytoplankton everywhere. It is revealed that, at a MLD increase, smaller forms of microalgae receive development. The intrapopulation relations are caused by the adaptation of various species of phytoplankton to the influence of external factors, among which the size of MLD is fundamental.     

Seasonal variations in temperature,salinity and density in the southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea

Variability in water temperature, salinity and density was investigated based on field measurements near Anzali Port, in the Southern Caspian Sea in 2008. Seasonal changes of seawater properties were mainly observed through the upper 100 m layer, while below this layer seasonal variations of the parameters were minor. Vertical structure of the temperature in the southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea is characterized by a significant seasonal thermocline between 20–50 m depths with vertical variation in temperature about 16°C in midsummer (August). Decrease of the thermocline occurs with the general cooling of the air and sea surface water, and deepening of the mixed layer during late of autumn and winter. Seasonal averages of the salinity were estimated in a range of 12.27–12.37 PSU. The structure of thermocline and pycnocline indicated agreement between changes of temperature and density of seawater. Seasonal pycnocline was observed in position of the thermocline layer.     

Interference of the mechanisms of influence that weak extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields have on the human body and animals

This review is devoted to the problem of interference between the mechanisms of biological action of natural and artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for different levels of the organization of life. We discuss the problem of specific and nonspecific responses of the human body and animals to the action of EMFs on cellular and organismal levels.     

基于船载ADCP观测对罗源湾湾口断面潮流及余流的分析

基于对罗源湾可门水道的25 h连续走航ADCP观测,成功构建了沿走航断面共12个站位的连续海流时间序列,并对这些站位的潮流、余流以及潮通量等进行了分析。结果表明可门水道内的潮流为正规半日潮流,驻波性质明显,涨潮首先出现在水道中下层而退潮则首先发生在水道上层。水道内的潮流为往复流,水道南部M₂分潮流流速较大,并且其倾角自北向南逐渐增加。此外,水道两端的浅水区域内浅水分潮M₄振幅较显著。可门水道内余流呈现出两层结构,20 m以浅余流沿东北向流出海湾,并且出流的核心位置偏南,而20 m以深的余流沿西南向流入湾内,入流的流核位于偏北的近底层区域。对潮通量的积分计算表明通过可门水道进入罗源湾的潮通量约为4.81×108 m3。     

Acoustic Monitoring of Gas Emission Processes in the Arctic Shelf Seas

Oceanology - The emission of natural gas from the seafloor to the surface in shelf areas of the Arctic seas is of increasing interest among researchers. Recently, various types of acoustic...     

Earthquake of February 3, 2016 in the Middle Baikal Region: Source Parameters and Macroseismic Effects

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - We study in detail the source parameters, seismotectonic position, and macroseismic effects of the February 3, 2016, earthquake that occurred in the...     

Electronic atlas of the Russian Arctic coastal zone

A set of digital maps including geology, Quaternary sediments, landscapes, engineering-geological, vegetation, geocryological and the series of regional sources have been selected to characterize the Russian Arctic coast. Based on this data, new maps of engineering geocryological zoning and zoning of the coast with respect to the intensity of exogenous geological processes and risk of technogenic impacts have been generated at the scales of 1:4,000,000–1:8,000,000. These maps are a tool to assess the impact of industry on the Arctic coast of the country.