Methods for processing the data of wind-profile observations over the ocean

We describe the in-line methods for processing the results of observations of the vertical distribution of wind speed with an aim of evaluation of the parameters characterizing the stable state of the surface layer of the atmosphere and the roughness of the sea surface. It is proposed to use these data for the interpretation of the results of satellite scatterometric measurements of the surface wind speed in order to increase their accuracy.     

Russian studies of atmospheric radiation in 2003–2006

The Russian Radiation Commission, in cooperation with interested departments and institutions, has held two international symposia on atmospheric radiation for the Commonwealth of Independent States in the recent past. The participants of the symposia discussed problems that are currently particularly relevant in atmospheric physics: radiative transfer, atmospheric optics, greenhouse gases, clouds, aerosols, climate changes, remote sensing, and new observational data. Five directions covering the complete spectrum of investigations on atmospheric radiation are presented in this report.     

Determining the total ozone from geostationary earth satellites

A method for determining the total ozone (TO) with high spatial (3×3 km²) and temporal (15 min) resolutions by using measurements of the Earth’s outgoing thermal radiation from Meteosat geostationary satellites is proposed. The method is based on measurements with a SEVIRI instrument (eight IR channels) and involves additional information on the three-dimensional field of the atmospheric temperature and on the surface temperature obtained from polar satellites (AIRS instrument). The inverse problem of TO determination is solved by the method of neural networks. TO measurements with the AIRS instrument are also used for training the neural networks. Ground-based TO measurements at the international ozonometric network are used for controlling the quality of AIRS data and detecting the errors of the proposed method of TO determination from SEVIRI data. The mean and rms differences between TO values obtained with the use of the proposed method and from the results of measurements at the international ozonometric network are shown to be 1.5 and 6.5%, respectively. Examples of TO distributions reconstructed with high spatial and temporal resolutions are presented. These examples show that the elaborated method for solving various scientific and applied problems and, in particular, for investigating stratospheric dynamics is promising.     

Influence of Horizontal Nonuniformity of Stratification on Internal Tides and Their Induced Diapycnal Diffusion in the Ice-Free Kara Sea

Oceanology - Abstract—The 3D finite-element hydrostatic model QUODDY-4 is used to study the influence of horizontally nonuniform stratification on internal tides and their induced diapycnal...     

Russian Investigations in the Field of Atmospheric Radiation in 2015–2018

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - A short survey prepared by the Russian Commission on Atmospheric Radiation contains the most significant results of works in the field of...     

First Satellite Measurements of Carbon Dioxide in the Earth’s Atmosphere (From the SI-1 Spectrometer Aboard the Meteor Satellite in 1979)

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Spectral measurements of the outgoing thermal IR radiation carried out in 1977 and 1979 (SI-1 instrument, Meteor satellite) are used for estimating the...     

Relationship between the radiation budget components of the ocean-atmosphere system

A formula for the relationship between the spectrum-integrated flux of outgoing long-wave radiation,F _cn, and the albedo,A _cn, of an ice-free sea surface-atmosphere system has been derived using historical (1974–1983) NIMBUS (NOAA) satellite observations. Also determined is the sensitivity of the system's radiation budget to albedo variations, fluctuations of the sea surface temperature, cloud amount and optical density, depending on the time of the year and latitude.Translated by V. Puchkin. UDK 372.21.17.17+372.21.17.19.     

NO<Subscript>2</Subscript> content variations near St. Petersburg as inferred from ground-based and satellite measurements of scattered solar radiation

An automatic spectral complex developed at the Institute of Physics, St. Petersburg State University, is described. This complex is used for regular ground-based spectroscopic measurements of the total NO₂ content in the vertical column of the atmosphere during the twilight and daylight hours of the day near St. Petersburg (Petrodvorets). In 2004–2006, a number of ground-based twilight measurements of the total NO₂ content were obtained near St. Petersburg, and variations in the NO₂ content in the troposphere were estimated from the results of daytime ground-based measurements. An example of the spatial annual mean distribution of the NO₂ content (central and northern Europe, northwestern Russia) based on the data of satellite measurements over the period 2003–2005 is presented. This example demonstrates the main sources of anthropogenic pollution. An increase in the mean annual contents of tropospheric NO₂ near Moscow and St. Petersburg is preliminarily estimated for the entire period of satellite observations with the GOME instrument at about 30–40% over ten years.     

Effect of ice cover on the dynamics and energetics of surface and internal tides in the white sea: Model estimates

The effect of ice cover on the dynamics and energetics of surface and internal tides in the White Sea is investigated using the three-dimensional finite-element hudrothermodynamic model QUODDY-4. The sea ice is represented as a continuous and motionless ice cover that can move vertically but not horizontally. It is assumed that the resulting changes in the tidal regime are the maximum possible in reference to those occurring in real conditions when, in the cold season, a continuous and motionless ice cover is ubiquitous only in Kandalaksha, Dvina, and Onega bays, while drift ices prevail in all other areas of the White Sea. It is shown that the effect of sea ice does not lead to a qualitative restructuring of the tidal regime. However, its quantitative changes prove to be significant, which indicates that the ice-induced seasonal variation in tidal characteristics in the White Sea is important.