GETEMME—a mission to explore the Martian satellites and the fundamentals of solar system physics

GETEMME (Gravity, Einstein??s Theory, and Exploration of the Martian Moons?? Environment), a mission which is being proposed in ESA??s Cosmic Vision program, shall be launched for Mars on a Soyuz Fregat in 2020. The spacecraft will initially rendezvous with Phobos and Deimos in order to carry out a comprehensive mapping and characterization of the two satellites and to deploy passive Laser retro-reflectors on their surfaces. In the second stage of the mission, the spacecraft will be transferred into a lower 1500-km Mars orbit, to carry out routine Laser range measurements to the reflectors on Phobos and Deimos. Also, asynchronous two-way Laser ranging measurements between the spacecraft and stations of the ILRS (International Laser Ranging Service) on Earth are foreseen. An onboard accelerometer will ensure a high accuracy for the spacecraft orbit determination. The inversion of all range and accelerometer data will allow us to determine or improve dramatically on a host of dynamic parameters of the Martian satellite system. From the complex motion and rotation of Phobos and Deimos we will obtain clues on internal structures and the origins of the satellites. Also, crucial data on the time-varying gravity field of Mars related to climate variation and internal structure will be obtained. Ranging measurements will also be essential to improve on several parameters in fundamental physics, such as the Post-Newtonian parameter ?? as well as time-rate changes of the gravitational constant and the Lense-Thirring effect. Measurements by GETEMME will firmly embed Mars and its satellites into the Solar System reference frame.     

Evolution of the Landscape of the Western Part of the Turan–Uyuk Basin (Tuva Highland) in the Late Pleistocene

Doklady Earth Sciences - A complex of works including geomorphological deciphering, field survey, drilling, electric prospecting, and dating of deposits using the radiocarbon method and optically...     

Regional features of atmospheric manifestations of tropical cyclones according to ground-based GPS network data

Using statistically significant data, we show that the GPS observation method is efficient for revealing the response of the upper atmosphere to global synoptic processes with the help of correlation techniques.     

High‐temperature gold‐copper extraction with chloride flux in lava tubes of Tolbachik volcano (Kamchatka)

Subvolcanic environments in supra‐subduction zones are renowned for hosting epithermal deposits that often contain electrum and native gold, including bonanza examples. This study examined mineral assemblages and processes occurring in shallow‐crust volcanic settings using recent eruption (2012–2013) of the basaltic Tolbachik volcano in the Kamchatka arc. The Tolbachik eruptive system is characterized by an extensive system of lava tubes. After cessation of magma input, the tubes maintained the flow of hot oxidized gases that episodically interacted with the lava surfaces and sulphate‐chloride precipitates from volcanic gases on these surfaces. The gas‐rock interaction had strong pyrometamorphic effects that resulted in the formation of molten salt, oxidized (tenorite, hematite, Cu‐rich magnesioferrite) and skarn‐like silicate mineral assemblages. By analogy with experimental studies, we propose that a combination of these processes was responsible for extraction of metals from the basaltic wall rocks and deposition of Cu‐, Fe‐ and Cu‐Fe‐oxides and native gold.     

The dynamic characteristics of GPS time series and their relation to the seismotectonic specific features of a region

The noise component in the time series of Earth surface displacements that were obtained with the Global Positioning System (GPS) is analyzed for 19 points. The methods of dynamic system and fractal set theory are applied. The analyzed parameters include the correlation dimension, spectral scaling parameter, fractal dimension, and the Hurst exponent. We detect that GPS time series demonstrate fractal properties in a range of over one order of magnitude of frequency (flicker noise). The fractal characteristics of the studied series and seismotectonic features of the studied regions are characterized by a relationship that can be explained by the dynamic characteristics of the block models and seismicity.     

Supernovae as a Powerful Source of Gravitational Radiation

We consider gravitational radiation in the nonspherical symmetrical evolution of supernovae. Unlike the gravitational radiation analysis of Imshennik & Popov performed using the formalism of Peters & Mathews, our analysis uses the (PN)5/2 approximation by Damour & Deruelle and Lincoln & Will. We show that the eccentricity is larger than 0.1 at the time when the Roche lobe is filled by the low-mass component, demonstrating that the conclusion of Imshennik and Popov that the final eccentricity is less than 0.1 is incorrect. If the supernova lies in the Large Magellanic Cloud (R = 50 kpc), we estimate the amplitude of gravitational waves to be h 8 × 10-20. The frequency of the emitted gravitational waves is about 1 kHz.     

New data on the stratigraphy and depositional environment for Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous deposits of the Stolbovoi Island (New Siberian Islands)

The section of Mesozoic terrigenous deposits over 1200 m thick has been described, and a new geological map of the Stolbovoi Island southern half has been compiled. The inference has been made that the sedimentary sequence represents a single uniform turbidite complex, which is indivisible into lithological units and which does not show transition to shallow-marine facies either in the visible foot section or visible roof section. The complex accumulated in the foreland basin emerged on the margin of the Novosibirsk-Chukchi continental block during the Anyuian orogeny. The presence of upper Volgian deposits (Upper Jurassic) with a visible thickness of 640 m, Berriasian (Ryazanian) deposits about 100-m thick, and lower Valanginian deposits with a visible thickness of ～200 m has been established on the basis of identification of fossils represented by remains of bivalve mollusks (the genus Buchia). Finds of upper Volgian buchias in the southeastern part of the island are inconsistent with field geological observations of the sequence of deposits. Paleontological data acquired for the island southern part suggest the presence of a transverse thrust fault, along which upper Volgian rocks were thrust over lower Neocomian rocks. The possibility of another interpretation of the data has also been considered. The correlation of the Buchia Beds of the Stolbovoi Island, Nordvik Peninsula, the basin of the Anyui River, and northern California has been carried out. The inference about a close relationship between the biota of the Stolbovoi Island and the North Pacific paleobiogeographic realm has been drawn.     

The LYRA-B space experiment: Goals and principles for its realization

We describe goals and principles for the realization the Lyra-B space experiment onboard the International Space Station, which is currently being prepared at the Sternberg Astronomical Institute. The main goal of the experiment is to carry out a high-accuracy, multicolor all-sky survey of stars down to 16 ^m –17 ^m . The detailed structure of the expected observational data, their possible scientific use, and a number of technical problems are discussed.     

Method for determination of the celestial coordinates of the center of the Earth

A method for determining the celestial coordinates of the center of the disk of the Earth from satellite observations with an accuracy of 1–5 arcseconds is suggested. The choice of the most suitable wavelength range is substantiated.     

Ammonite- and bivalve-based biostratigraphy and Panboreal correlation of the Volgian Stage

The current ammonite- and buchiid-based biostratigraphical successions of the Volgian Stage are outlined, with an analysis of the most important data that support correlation throughout the Panboreal Superrealm. Updated ammonite zonal schemes were proposed for the Volgian of the type region (the Russian Platform) and Svalbard. The lower Volgian successions in all areas except the Russian Platform, with its eudemic virgatitid lineage and Submediterranean faunal elements, were dominated by Pectinatites and Eosphinctoceras-Subdichotomoceras. The last two genera were especially common eastwards from the Ural Mountains. During the middle Volgian, provincialism developed quickly within the ammonites, and unified assemblages with early Palvovia and Dorsoplanites at the base of the substage were replaced by numerous local eudemic faunas. Despite this, migrations of species of Crendonites, Laugeites, Epivirgatites Epipallasiceras, Epilaugeites, and Taimyrosphinctes occurred at regular intervals and these enable precise correlations between the faunal sub-provinces. The zonation of the upper Volgian is mainly based upon the succession of Craspedites (on Subcraspedites in England and North Sea), and can be traced throughout the Arctic. Zonation based on the bivalve Buchia enables correlations to be made between the successions over much of the Northern Hemisphere, including Northern California, British Columbia, Arctic areas, and the Russian Platform. Each substage of the Volgian is characterized by buchiids with different types of the ontogenetic development. Research on the infrazonal subdivision of the Volgian Stage based on buchiids is currently in progress. Our analyses of the ammonite and buchiid successions of the Panboreal Superrealm lead us to conclude that there are no major faunal gaps in Volgian successions of the Russian Platform and Northern Siberia.