Polarimetry of the Asteroid (599) Luisa: a New Barbarian

Solar System Research - The results of polarimetric observations of the asteroid (599) Luisa carried out on the same type of aperture photoelectric polarimeters of the 2.6-m reflector of the...     

Eclipse effects in the atmospheric boundary layer

The influence of a solar eclipse on solar-radiation fluxes, meteorological parameters, turbulence characteristics, and vertical temperature profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer is analyzed. Air-temperature variations caused by an eclipse and time delays of these variations with respect to the onset of the total-eclipse phase in the atmospheric surface and boundary layers are determined. The influence of a solar eclipse on the turbulent kinetic energy, turbulent heat flux, and variance and spectral density of the power of air-temperature pulsations are estimated. Variations in aerosol parameters and concentrations of light ions during a total solar eclipse are discussed.     

The Saltating Particle Aleurite Mode in Wind–Sand Flux over a Desertified Area

Doklady Earth Sciences - The saltating particle aleurite mode has been discovered in the wind–sand flux over a desertified area. The approximation of the measured saltating particle...     

Rapid Polarized Emission Variability of Blazar S5 0716+714 in Optical Range

Astronomy Reports - The results of polarimetric observations of blazar S5 0716+714, carried out with the 6-meter BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of...     

Ionospheric irregularities in periods of meteorological disturbances

The results of observations of the total electron content (TEC) in periods of storm disturbances of meteorological situation are presented in the paper. The observational results have shown that a passage of a meteorological storm is accompanied by a substantial decrease in values of TEC and critical frequencies of the ionospheric F2 region. The decreases in values of these ionospheric parameters reach 50% and up to 30% in TEC and critical frequency of the F2 layer, respectively, as compared to meteorologically quiet days. Based on qualitative analysis, it is found that the processes related to formation of local regions of thermospheric heating due to a dissipation of AGW coming into the upper atmosphere from the region of the meteorological disturbance in the lower atmosphere are a possible cause of these ionospheric disturbances.     

Turbulent Fluxes of the Dust Aerosol on the Desertified Area

Doklady Earth Sciences - Vertical turbulent dust aerosol fluxes are determined on the basis of measurements of fluctuations of the content of aerosol particles and the vertical component of the...     

Search for fast optical activity of SGR 1806-20 at the SAO RAS 6-m telescope

The region of SGR 1806-20 localization was observed during its gamma-ray activity in 2001. The observations have been performed on the 6-meter telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory, using the Panoramic Photometer-Polarimeter (PPP). The search for variability was performed on the 10⁻⁶–10 s time scale, and its results were compared to the properties of corresponding X-ray flares. This work has been supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No 04-02-17555), Russian Academy of Sciences (program “Evolution of Stars and Galaxies”), and by the Russian Science Support Foundation. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous referee for his/her valuable comments.     

Hydrocarbons in an urban atmosphere

Statistical characteristics of variations in surface-layer concentrations of methane, non-methane and aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and formaldehyde are compared with the characteristics of variations in the concentration of carbon monoxide in the air basin of Moscow. Differences in the annual cycle of concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide are determined. It is found that the maximum concentration of carbon monoxide at most sites with an elevated surface-air pollution level and over the city as a whole tends to occur in the summer season. The seasonal variability of the diurnal mean cycle of methane, carbon dioxide, and non-methane and aromatic hydrocarbons is analyzed.