Overview of Studies and the Modern Knowledge of Tonsteins (on the Occasion of the 150th Anniversary since the Beginning of Their Investigation)

This work reviews the history of tonstein investigation and development of relevant lithogenetic ideas. Actual problems of further studies are formulated.     

Determining the accuracy of estimation of the two-dimensional stratospheric temperature field based on satellite measurements of limb radiation in the CO2 15-μm absorption band with high spectral resolution

The problem of reconstructing the temperature distribution along optical paths from satellite measurements of the Earth’s limb radiation in the CO₂ 15-μm absorption band with a high spectral resolution is formulated and analyzed on the basis of numerical experiments performed in accordance with the MIPAS experiment. It is shown that the two-dimensional temperature field can be obtained through the processing of radiation measurements on paths with different target heights provided that spectral channels with essentially different optical thicknesses are used. The error in the stratospheric temperature determination varies from 1.8 to 5.6 K and depends on the target height of the optical path and the distance from the target point. The best horizontal resolution is 73–100 km, and it is achieved for optical paths with a target height of about 18–20 km.     

Experimental study of the angular method for the determination of the sea surface temperature from space in the 8–12 μm window

The structure of the field of outgoing into space radiation for the 8–12 m spectral interval is studied using the data of satellite observations of the oceans. The regularity found is employed to substantiate the angular method for the sea surface temperature (SST) reconstruction. The band of the angles of view is determined in which the error of the SST reconstructon does not exceed 0.3°C with the assigned error of the satellite measurements of radiation temperatures of 0.05°C.UDK 551.507.362.2Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Kuranakh complex diabases in the western part of the Aldan-Stanovoi Shield: Age and tectonic setting

The age of Kuranakh Complex diabases in the western part of the Aldan-Stanovoi Shield determined by the zircon U-Pb method is virtually identical to that of basic rocks in the Chinei stratified pluton and granites in the Kodar Complex. Thus, it is possible to suggest that they form a unified bimodal magmatic association and belong to the South Siberian postcollision magmatic belt, which extends along the southwestern framing of the Siberian Craton for more than 2500 km from the Yenisei mountain range to the Aldan-Stanovoi Shield. The occurrence of the diabase dike swarms in magmatic associations of this belt testifies to formation under lithospheric extension conditions.     

GPS measurements (2003–2006) in the Sikhote Alin network,the Far East

This paper considers results of geodynamic studies using the GPS method in the territory of the Far East. GPS measurements using TRIMBLE-4700 geophones were launched along the Sikhote Alin profile in 2003. The technology of the GPS measurements and the problems of selecting the measurement sites and network configuration with reference to the region’s structure are discussed. The results of GPS measurements in 2003–2006 were used to study the fault system of the Far East continental margin. Different models of the Eurasia rotation (from the known NNR-NUVEL-1A to the recent ones) were analyzed. The solid-body rotation of Eurasia was predicted in the framework of the AR-IR-2006 model with a pole located at 51.045°N latitude, 255.842° longitude and rotating at a rate of 0.2423°/Ma. The parameters of the Amur plate rotation were preliminarily estimated (57.6° ± 0.5°N, 117.1 ± 0.5°E, and 0.083° ± 0.004°/m.y) using results on the Sikhote Alin and Transbaikalian network.     

Gravity and Displacement Variations in the Areas of Strong Earthquakes in the East of Russia

The modern gravimetry methods are capable of measuring gravity with an accuracy of up to 10^–10 of the normal value, which is commensurate with the accuracy of the up-to-date methods of displacement measurements by satellite geodesy. Significant changes, e.g., in the coseismic displacements of the Earth’s surface are recorded in the zones of large earthquakes. These changes should manifest themselves in the variations of gravity. Absolute measurements have been conducted by various modifications of absolute ballistic gravimeters GABL since the mid-1970s at the Klyuchi point (Novosibirsk) in the south of the West Siberian plate. Monitoring observations have been taking place in the seismically active regions since the 1990s. In this paper we consider the results of the long-term measurements of the variations in gravity and recent crustal displacements for different types of earthquakes (the zones of shear, extension, and compression). In the seismically active areas in the east of Russia, the longest annual series of absolute measurements starting from 1992 was recorded in the southeastern segment of Baikal region. In this area, the Kultuk earthquake with magnitude 6.5 occurred on August 27, 2008, at a distance of 25 km from the observation point of the Talaya seismic station. The measurements in Gornyi (Mountainous) Altai have been conducted since 2000. A strikeslip earthquake with magnitude 7.5 took place in the southern segment of the region on September 27, 2003. The effects of the catastrophic M = 9.0 Tohoku, Japan, earthquake of March 11, 2011 were identified in Primor’e in the far zone of the event. The empirical data are consistent with the results of modeling based on the seismological data. The coseismic variations in gravity are caused by the combined effect of the changes in the elevation of the observation point and crustal deformation.     

The Tidal Effect on Climatic Characteristics of the Kara Sea in the Ice-Free Period

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Using a high-resolution version of the QUODDY-4 three-dimensional finite-element hydrostatic model, we have carried out two series of numerical...     

Diffusive propagation of fast particles in the presence of a moving shock wave

Based on an analytical model, we determined the temporal dynamics of the spectral shape and spatial distribution of the particles that were impulsively (in time) injected with a specified spectrum in the vicinity of a moving plane shock front. We obtained a condition to determine the influence of the shock front on the particle propagation, where the spatial diffusion coefficient of the particles plays a major role. Diffusive shock acceleration is shown to strongly affect low-energy particles (the intensity maximum coincides spatially with the shock front; hard and soft spectral regions are formed in the spectrum) and weakly affect high-energy particles (the time at which the intensity reaches its maximum is well ahead of the shock arrival time; the spectral shape does not change). In events accompanied by a significant increase in the turbulence level, the influence of the shock front on high-energy particles can change from weak to strong. This change shows up in the spatial distribution and spectral shape of the particles. The dynamics of the particle intensity, calculated with the diffusion coefficients that were determined in accordance with the quasi-linear theory for measured turbulence levels, qualitatively corresponds to the observed solar energetic-particle intensity.     

Ground-based spectroscopic measurements of the total nitric acid content in the atmosphere

The results of the first ground-based spectroscopic measurements in Russia of the total content (TC) of nitric acid in the atmosphere near St. Petersburg over the period April 2009–October 2011 are presented. These measurements show a substantial seasonal trend of the HNO₃ TC with maximal values in the winter period and early in the spring and minimal values in the summer time. The seasonal trends and variations in the daily mean values of HNO₃ TC near St. Petersburg in the winter and spring periods agree well with observations at the Kiruna station of the international NDACC network.