Numerical modeling of quasi-two-dimensional vortices in the atmosphere over the Black Sea

We consider quasi-two-dimensional rapidly dissipating mesoscale atmospheric vortices generated over the Black Sea near the Crimean and Caucasian coasts. Based on the results of numerical modeling for a characteristic example of the Crimean eddy, we determine its structure and parameters and estimate the rate of decay of kinetic energy and enstrophy. In addition to the large-scale secondary circulation in the vortex, we also consider a small-scale secondary circulation induced by Raleigh-Bénard convection.     

Determination of stratospheric aerosol parameters from two-wavelength lidar sensing data

We calculate the microphysical characteristics of stratospheric aerosol from lidar-sensing data at wavelengths of 355 and 532 nm using a priori information about the aerosol spectra obtained from balloon and aircraft measurement data. We analyze the mode structure of the spectra and its coupling with the integral microphysical characteristics of aerosol. For most implementations, it was shown that two aerosol modes (of background and volcanic natures) make commensurate contributions to integral aerosol characteristics, which makes it difficult to use the traditional method of model estimates. It is more efficient to use an optical model of a statistical character that is based on approximation dependences between the required integral aerosol characteristics and lidar-measured optical characteristics. We found that the area, volume, and effective size of particles and the lidar ratio at a wavelength of 355 nm correlated with the absolute values of backscattering coefficients at wavelengths of 355 or 532 nm and the lidar ratio at the wavelength of 532 nm correlated with the ratio of backscattering coefficients at these wavelengths. We estimate the error in the determination of integral characteristics of aerosol using the model developed. The model efficiency is demonstrated on real data of stratospheric aerosol lidar sensing.     

Heterotrophic microbial communities on the water-sediment boundary in the Kara Sea

The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the heterotrophic microbial communities (bacteria, flagellates, and ciliates) in the thin water-sediment layer in the Kara Sea are analyzed. The bacterial abundance correlated with the concentration of organic matter, whereas their size depended on the abundance of heterotrophic flagellates. The number of species of heterotrophic flagellates increased with the increase in the bacterial number. A positive relationship between the bacterial abundance and the ration of heterotrophic flagellates was observed at the offshore stations, probably due to the grazing pressure. The density of the ciliates on the soft silty and sandy-silty sediments was extremely low. The share of upstream filter feeding ciliate species increased with the increase in the abundance of the flagellates, probably due to the shift to less selective feeding strategies at higher values of the food concentrations. The classification of the heterotrophic microbial communities in the surface sediment layer has revealed two distinct types of the communities. The river communities are rich in species and are characterized by the high abundance of microorganisms. They are gradually replaced by marine communities at the salinity of 9%.     

Scenarios of nonlinear wave transformation in the coastal zone

On the basis of field experiments and numerical modeling, we show that coastal zones are classifiable according to manifestations of wind wave nonlinearity, which herein is recognized as periodic energy exchange between the first and second nonlinear wave harmonics depending on the average bottom slope and the Iribarren and Ursell numbers. The results offer a basis for developing vulnerability criteria for the coastal zone taking into account its nonlinear dynamics.     

Space-time variability of the field of mechanical energy transfer from the atmosphere to the Indian Ocean

An analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of the field of mechanical energy transfer (MET) from the atmosphere into the ocean is based on a separate numerical simulation of evolution for the terms of source function for a wind-wave model conducted in the Indian Ocean area for the period 1998 to 2009. The MET field is described by two integral values calculated per unit area: the total rate of energy flux from the wind to waves, I _E (x, t), and the rate of energy-loss flux for the wind waves, D _E (x, t). To solve this problem, the wind field W(x, t) is used, downloaded from the NCEP/NOAA archive [1], and the fields I _E (x, t) and D _E (x, t) were calculated using the numerical model WAM [2] with the modified source function proposed in [3]. Maps for the fields I _E (x, t) and D _E (x, t) were obtained by calculations with different scales of the space-time averaging, extreme and average values of the MET were found, seasonal and interannual variability was estimated, and the 12-year trend for several mean quantities was obtained.     

Age and growth of the elephant fish. callorhinchus milii (Elasmobranchii: Callorhynchidae)

A method of aging the elephant fish Callorhinchus milii Bory de St Vincent 1823, is described. Alternating light and dark layers, seen in cross‐sections of the dorsal spine, are assumed to be laid down annually as in other fish. Ages obtained from spine sections are identical with ages obtained from interpretation of modal peaks in the length‐frequency graphs. Males mature at 3 y old, at approximately 50 cm fork length; females at 4.5 y old and 70 cm. The significance of this in relation to the New Zealand fishery for elephant fish is discussed.     

Effects of protandric sex change on radula,pedal morphology,and mobility in Crepidula fecunda (Gastropoda: Calyptraeidae)

Protandrism was confirmed in Crepidula fecunda Gallardo 1979 by histological analysis of the gonad. Individuals were classified as immature (12 mm or less in shell length), male (13–26 mm), intersex (25–28 mm), and female (over 26 mm). There was an evident loss of mobility with growth— large females became completely sessile. The presence of epithelial glands in mobile individuals was associated with the need for lubrication during crawling, whereas the proliferation of subepithelial glands in sessile females was associated with adhesion. Mobility of immature and male individuals was related to grazing activities on biofilms, and in males was also associated with copulation. Grazing activity of motile individuals was carried out so that the radula teeth did not come into direct contact with the substratum, but rather harvested the biofilm surface. Sessile females used the radula to rasp the area under their shells, thus cleaning the substratum in preparation for oviposition. Since this process required that the radula enter into direct contact with the substratum, it suffered abrasion of radular teeth and loss of radular denticles, producing important alterations in its appearance in mature females. A complex interaction was observed between size, mobility, histological changes in the foot, activity, and tooth‐wear of the radula, which have been related to the sessile habit, sex change, and the oviposition process in this species.     

Macrobenthic polychaete assemblages of the continental shelf and upper slope off the west coast of the South Island,New Zealand

Polychaete assemblages are described from replicate box‐core samples collected in summer 1983 at 18 stations on the continental shelf and upper slope (28–943 m) off the west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, south‐eastern Tasman Sea (c. 41–43°S, 169–172°E). Three main station groupings were identified by multivariate analysis: (1) inner shelf sandy stations characterised by Prionospio australiensis, Aricidea (Acesta) sp., Magelona cf. dakini, Paraprionospio aff. pinnata, Aglaophamus sp., Heteromastus filiformis, and Magelona sp.; (2) middle to outer shelf muddy stations characterised by Levinsenia cf. gracilis, Prionospio australiensis, Paraprionospio coora, Aglaophamus verrilli, and Auchenoplax mesos; and (3) upper slope sandy mud or mud stations characterised by Prionospio ehlersi. A combination of water depth and sediment clay content provided the best correlation with the biotic pattern. Spionidae was the most abundant family (49% of polychaete individuals), which may reflect the scope for opportunistic species in a shelf environment characterised by a high input of terrigenous sediment and episodic upwelling.     

Lethal concentrations of suspended solids for common native fish species that are rare in New Zealand rivers with high suspended solids loads

Abstract

Common native fish species that are rare in New Zealand rivers with high suspended solids (SS) concentrations were identified to determine which species were likely to be most affected by high SS concentrations. Mortality rates for the three most sensitive species (banded kokopu Galaxias fasciatus, redfin bully Gobiomorphus huttoni, common smelt Retropinna retropinnd) were measured over a range of SS concentrations to identify lethal concentrations. The survival of banded kokopu and redfin bully was not reduced by SS concentrations up to 43 000 g m^?3; however, the 24‐h survival of common smelt was reduced by SS concentrations over 1000 g m^?3, and its median lethal concentration (LC50) was close to 3000 g m^?3. SS concentrations over 3000 g m^?3 for more than 24 h will therefore reduce smelt but not affect the mortality of most other common native fish species. Although mortality from high concentrations of SS can account for the scarcity of smelt in rivers with high SS concentrations, mortality from high SS does not explain the scarcity of banded kokopu or redfin bully in such rivers. High turbidity (>20 nephelometric turbidity units) is known to limit the upstream migration and recruitment of juvenile banded kokopu in rivers with increased SS concentrations. Banded kokopu is therefore affected by increased turbidity from SS rather than lethal SS concentrations. As redfin bully were not affected by either high turbidity levels or high SS concentrations, the low abundance of this species in rivers with high SS concentrations is likely to be related to the siltation of benthic habitats.