Geochronology and petrology of recent volcanics in the eastern Aegean Sea (West Anatolia and Lesvos Island)

During the lower and middle Miocene the western Anatolia and the eastern Aegean Sea were dominated by a calcalkaline volcanism associated with minor acid and basic volcanics. The basic subcrustal volcanics consist mainly of alkali basalts and hawaiites (9.7–11.9 m.y.), nepheline hawaiites and nepheline trachyandesites (Kula area from 1.1 m.y. to the recent times). The rhyolitic volcanics (12.5 m.y.) derived by a partial melting process in the upper crust (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7121). The calcalkaline suite (16.2–21.5 m.y., mean value⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.708) shows a trend from latite-andesites to dacites and rhyodacites; a latite andesite system related to a sinking slab of lithosphere and constituted by a mixing of oceanic crust (tholeiite), oceanic sediments and/or tectonic fragments of sialic crust is envisaged.     

Deterministic approach to the problem of reliability in interpretation results of gravimetric data

A method for comparative estimation of reliability in detection of gravity anomaly sources in indicated fragments of studied geological space is given. The possibility of creation of this estimation is connected with disparate ideas on different peculiarities of the structure of studied geological space and noise characteristics in observed fields. The model example and results of practical problem solution are viewed.     

Chain of galaxies in centaurus

Further photometric and spectroscopic observations of a chain of galaxies in Centaurus are presented and discussed.     

Variability of the Blazar 4C 38.41 in 2006–2017

The results of multicolor photometric and polarization observations of the blazar 4C 38.41 (Q 1633+382) performed at St. Petersburg State University, the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Boston University, and Steward Observatory in 2006–2017 are analyzed. Separate variable sources responsible for the observed activity are distinguished, whose power-lawspectra and high degree of polarization confirm their synchrotron nature. The observed color variability of the object (redder when brighter) can be explained by an increase in the contribution to the total emission of a red component with variable flux and a constant relative spectral energy distribution. A close correlation between the optical and gamma-ray light curves is identified, suggesting the same location of the variable sources responsible for the radiation in these bands.

     

The Role of Quasi-Transverse Propagation in Observed Polarization of Flare Loop Microwave Radiation

The ordinary mode of gyrosynchrotron radiation was identified to be predominant in some segments of flare loops in solar flares of July 19, 2012, and October 22, 2014. These events were studied by investigation of the quasi-transverse propagation effect on the observed polarization. The analysis involved reconstruction of the magnetic field topology at the linear force-free approximation based on the data of the SDO HMI space telescope and the subsequent simulation of radio emission of flare loops with the GX Simulator software package. The quasi-transverse propagation effect was established to be characteristic for both events, but its influence on the radio emission polarization at a frequency of 17 GHz was observed only in the October 22, 2014 flare.     

Power spectrum of brightness temperature fluctuations derived from solar eclipse observations at 2.8 GHz

In this paper we report on the MEM power spectrum analysis of brightness temperature fluctuations observed at 2.8 GHz during the total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980. The observed periodicities range from 3.5 min to 64 min. These periodicities may arise due to spatial and/or temporal variations in the solar radio emission. The observed periodicities imply presence of scale sizes ranging from 70,000 to 600,000 km assuming that the brightness fluctuations arise because of spatial variation only. On the other hand, if these fluctuations are due to temporal variation, the observed periodicities correspond well to predicted modes of solar global oscillations.     

Change in the circulation regime in the stratified saline Lake Shira (Siberia,Republic of Khakassia)

The in-situ data on the vertical structure and stability of the vertical stratification of saline Lake Shira over the past decade (2007–2015) are analyzed. Simplified mathematical models have shown that strong wind in the autumn of 2014 together with rather thick ice in the winter of 2015 caused a change in the circulation regime of this water reservoir from meromictic (incomplete mixing) to holomictic (compete mixing). Based on the results obtained, a circulation regime for deep saline lakes located in the continental climate zone, in particular, in the arid zones of Southern Siberia (Khakassia, Transbaikal, and Altai) can be predicted under various climate scenarios of the future.     

Colorful Planets,Cometary Tail,and Nuclear Winter

After the 1967 flight of the Venera-4 automatic interplanetary station (AIS), the study of planetary atmospheres became one of the key areas of scientific research at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAPh), USSR Academy of Sciences. The goal of the Venera-4 mission was to deliver a descent vehicle into the atmosphere of Venus and study the physical parameters and chemical composition of the atmosphere. IAPh scientists published several articles on the analysis of these measurements, with A.M. Obukhov himself directly involved in writing some of these articles. An analysis of the properties of the Martian surface and atmosphere from the data of the Mars-2, Mars-3, and Mariner-9 missions in November–December 1971 set the stage for a series of studies on the atmospheric effects of Martian dust storms. Based on the study of the atmospheres of terrestrial planets, IAPh scientists developed a simple model for the nuclear winter phenomenon, i.e., a long-term cooling due to massive fires caused by nuclear explosions. Obukhov took a keen interest in this subject and participated in the publication of review articles on the possible atmospheric and climatic effects of a nuclear war. In another publication, Obukhov and his coauthors provided a theoretical analysis of the possible causes for the tail from Halley’s comet ripping off, as was observed in January 1986. The present article gives a brief overview of the IAPh works on Solar System research and on the possible consequences of a nuclear conflict, which were published in the 1960s–1980s while Obukhov was alive.