Interannual variability of soil moisture in the European part of Russia in summer

Interannual and interdecadal variability of soil moisture in the European part of Russia in summer months is investigated using the data for 1948-2012. It is found that the two first empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) describe about 50% of total variability of soil moisture. The spatial pattern of the first EOF is indicative of coherent changes in soil moisture in the whole European part of Russia. The second EOF is represented by the meridional dipole with the opposite signs of soil moisture variations in the northern and southern parts of the region. It is revealed that the spatiotemporal pattern of the principal EOFs of soil moisture variability in the European part of Russia almost does not vary during summer that is indicative of the uniform (for each EOF) mechanism of the formation of interan-nual variability of soil moisture.     

Oxygen Regime of the Channel Flow in the Small Maima River,Upper Ob Basin

Water Resources - The oxygen regime of the channel flow of the small Maima River (Upper Ob basin) has been considered. A study of the spatial and seasonal variations of oxygen regime...     

Parameters of thermochemical plumes responsible for the formation of batholiths: Results of experimental simulation

Based on laboratory and theoretical modeling results, we present the thermal and hydrodynamical structure of the plume conduit during plume ascent and eruption on the Earth’s surface. The modeling results show that a mushroom-shaped plume head forms after melt eruption on the surface for 1.9 < Ka < 10. Such plumes can be responsible for the formation of large intrusive bodies, including batholiths. The results of laboratory modeling of plumes with mushroom-shaped heads are presented for Ka = 8.7 for a constant viscosity and uniform melt composition. Images of flow patterns are obtained, as well as flow velocity profiles in the melt of the conduit and the head of the model plume. Based on the laboratory modeling data, we present a scheme of a thermochemical plume with a mushroom-shaped head responsible for the formation of a large intrusive body (batholith). After plume eruption to the surface, melting occurs along the base of the massif above the plume head, resulting in a mushroom-shaped plume head. A possible mechanism for the formation of localized surface manifestations of batholiths is presented. The parameters of some plumes with mushroom-shaped heads (plumes of the Altay-Sayan and Barguzin-Vitim large-igneous provinces, and Khangai and Khentei plumes) are estimated using geological data, including age intervals and volumes of magma melts.     

Reconstruction of Holocene Environmental Changes in North-Western Pacific in Relation to Paleorecord from Shikotan Island

Doklady Earth Sciences - Results of a paleolimnological investigation of a well-dated lake sediment section from Shikotan Island (Southern Kurils) showed that from ca 8.0 to 5.8 cal ka BP a warm...     

Zirconology of dunite of the Nizhnii Tagil massif (middle Urals)

Doklady Earth Sciences -     

Wind tunnel modeling of small-scale meteorological processes

After introductory remarks on similarity laws to be satisfied in wind tunnel experiments simulating small-scale meteorological processes, mean and turbulence characteristics of wind tunnel boundary layers are presented and compared with the characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer. The results are used to evaluate the possibilities and limitations of physical modeling of pollutant dispersion in general. In the second part of the paper, the potential of wind tunnels to solve micro-meteorological problems of real practical interest will be demonstrated. The example involves the investigation of the effects of building downwash on ground-level concentrations for flue gases discharged from natural draft wet cooling towers.     

Apsidal motion in the eclipsing binary system V 451 Ophiuchi

MulticolourWBVR photoelectric observations of the eclipsing binary V 451 Oph were carried out, and a highly accurate light curve was obtained. The angular velocity of the orbital rotation, =2.1 deg yr^–1, and the apsidal motion constantk ₂=0.0045 are given.     

Long-term variations of annual and growing season rainfalls in Nigeria

Summary Evidence for changes in the annual and growing season rainfall series for the period 1919 to 1985 in Nigeria are examined on a regional basis, using power-spectral and lowpass filter techniques, and the Mann-Kendall rank statistic. Four regions, the Coastal Zone, the Guinea-Savanna Zone, the Midland area and the Sahel, are used in the investigation of rainfall variation from south to north across the country.Quasi-periodic oscillations in the annual and growing season rainfall series are found to be concentrated in four spectral bands: 2.0–2.4, 2.7–2.9, 3.2–3.6 and 5.6–6.3 years. The spatial coherence of the fluctuations in annual and growing season rainfall is found to be limited to Nigeria south of 11 degrees north latitude. Evidence also emerges of a progressive decline in annual and growing season rainfall for northern Nigeria, north of nine degrees north latitude, for the period 1939–1985.With 5 Figures     

CALCULATION OF MINIMUM RUN-OFF OF UNEXPLORED RIVERS IN THE U.S.S.R.

Abstract

Standard hydrological methods have been used to evaluate the water resources of a volcanic area that comprises the Lower Basin of the Rio Grande de San Miguel, El Salvador. The area of investigation included study of approximately 645 square kilometers.

The lower San Miguel Basin consists of a faulted valley situated at the base of a series of old and recent volcanoes bounding the valley on the East, a tuff block to the South, and consolidated volcanics (lahars) on the West and North. The valley fill consists of pyroclastics which diminish in particle size with distance from the volcanoes (Lapilli to ash), in the southern portion; however, the pyroclastics may be interbedded with lake deposits.

A principal objective of the evaluation was to assess the feasibility of irrigating 10,000 hectares of the valley. Results based upon the period of study suggest that almost half of the annual precipitation infiltrates into the ground. Of this quantity, about one third is accounted for by the existing hydrological balance between recharge and depletion. The remainder moves from the valley to the San Miguel River as ground-water runoff and, if retained, is sufficient in quantity to meet the full anticipated irrigation demand.