Space-Weather-Driven Geomagnetic- and Telluric-Field Variability in Northwestern Russia in Correlation with Geoelectrical Structure and Currents Induced in Electric-Power Grids

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The study results of the temporal and spatial variability of geomagnetic and telluric fields driven by anomalous space weather are presented for the...     

Crucial Boundaries in the Development of the Late Cretaceous Biota of Planktonic Foraminifera in the Southern Indian Ocean

Oceanology - The article analyzes the author’s own data on the species composition of planktonic foraminifera tests from Upper Cretaceous sediments in the Indian Ocean, as well as from...     

Ring-Shaped Seismicity Structures Forming before Large Earthquakes and the Great Earthquakes in the Western and Eastern Pacific

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - We consider the characteristics of seismicity before large earthquakes and the great earthquakes in the periphery of the Pacific Ocean. It is found that...     

Deep array electromagnetic sounding on the Baltic Shield: External excitation model and implications for upper mantle conductivity studies

The BEAR array of simultaneous electromagnetic (EM) observations probes the deep crustal and upper mantle conductivity structure of the Baltic Shield searching for the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary beneath. The adequate interpretation of the results of this unique high latitude natural field EM sounding requires proper understanding of the actual external excitation conditions because conventionally used plane wave model assumptions may be substantially violated in the vicinity of inhomogeneous polar sources. The paper presents an overview of the morphology and statistics of source distortions in the BEAR EM field transfer functions (TF) and the ways of their suppression. The stability of the final TF estimates obtained with the exclusion of intensive non-stationary auroral effects is further justified. The external excitation model effective for the whole BEAR observation period is inferred from the array distribution of the inter-station geomagnetic transfer functions. The model is supported by the results of polar ionosphere–magnetosphere current system studies, based on the simultaneous ground and satellite geomagnetic observations, and sets bounds for the “plane wave” approach in the BEAR data interpretation to avoid unfounded inferences on the upper mantle electrical properties. The signatures of the lithosphere–asthenospere boundary under Fennoscandia derived from the BEAR data are summarized and its resolution within the traditional plane wave interpretational paradigm is analysed assuming the presented external source pattern and estimated TF uncertainties caused by the source inhomogeneity.     

Heterogeneities of the field of short-period shear wave attenuation in the lithosphere of Central Asia and their relationship with seismicity

The characteristics of the short-period shear wave attenuation field in the lithosphere of the Turanian Plate, West Tien Shan, Pamir, and Hindu Kush have been studied. The method based on analysis of the logarithm of the ratio between maximal amplitudes of Sn and Pn waves (Sn/Pn parameter) has been applied. More than 400 records of earthquakes, obtained at distances of ∼400–1000 km from the AAK digital station, have been processed. It has been found that relatively weak attenuation is observed in the regions of the West Tien Shan and Pamir. The largest area of strong attenuation is located in the region of the Afghan-Tadjik Depression adjacent to Hindu Kush. A wide band of low Sn/Pn parameter values, stretched northeastwards, has been distinguished. Along with the analogous band of strong attenuation, distinguished before in the regions of Central Tien Shan and Dzungaria, it is the continuation of the largest Chaman Fault, which stretches 850 km along the boundary of the Indian Plate. Source zones of strong earthquakes with M ≥ 7.0 that occurred in the first half of 20th century correspond to relatively weak attenuation. Areas of high attenuation, where strong seismic events have not occurred for the last 110 years, are outlined. Analogously to other seismoactive regions, it is supposed that these areas are related to preparation of strong earthquakes.     

Pulkovo combined catalogue of radio source positions PUL 2013

According to the decision of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), since 1998 the International Celestial Reference System has been realized by the ICRF catalogue of extragalactic radio source positions obtained from VLBI observations. Over the past years, the accuracy of the ICRF catalogue data has been increased only through an increase in the number and quality of observations and an improvement in the methods of their processing. Both the first ICRF version and the new ICRF2 version adopted by the IAU in 2009 are based on the catalogues obtained at the same VLBI data processing center. However, the experience of classical astrometry shows that a significant increase in the accuracy of the International Celestial Reference Frame can be achieved by creating combined catalogues, such as the fundamental catalogues of star positions. The same approach was applied to improve the ICRF catalogue. Even the first experience of such a combined solution has shown its high efficiency. Here, a new combined catalogue of radio source positions PUL(2013)C02 is presented. Mainly classical methods based on the expansion of the systematic differences between the input catalogues into series of orthogonal functions with additional improvements have been applied for its creation. Comparison of the combined catalogue obtained with the ICRF2 catalogue has shown that the latter is most likely not devoid of systematic errors at a level of 15–20 μas.     

Comparison of the structures of meteor streams of cometary and possible asteroidal origin

The structures of the meteor streams of cometary origin—Draconids, Ursids, Perseids, and Lyrids—and the streams presumably connected with asteroids—Taurids and α-Capricornids—are compared. The comparative analysis was performed by the mass distribution of meteoroids in the stream and the activity profile for the meteors with the maximum recorded stellar magnitude +3 ^m and brighter. Visual observations of 1987–2008 from the database of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) and earlier sources were considered. It has been shown that the structures of the meteor streams of cometary and, presumably, asteroidal origin differ somewhat by the activity profile and the mass distribution of meteoroids in the cross-section of a stream along the Earth’s orbit.     

Mantle-Crust Interaction in Petrogenesis of the Gabbro-Granite Association in the Preobrazhenka Intrusion,Eastern Kazakhstan

The paper reports results of petrological-geochemical, isotope, and geochronological studies of the Preobrazhenka gabbro–granitoid massif located in the Altai collisional system of Hercynides, Eastern Kazakhstan. The massif shows evidence for the interaction of compositionally contrasting magmas during its emplacement. Mineralogical–petrological and geochemical studies indicate that the gabbroid rocks of the massif were formed through differentiation of primary trachybasaltic magma and its interaction with crustal anatectic melts. Origin of the granitoid rocks is related to melting of crustal protoliths under the thermal effect of mafic melts. The mantle–crust interaction occurred in several stages and at different depths. A model proposed here to explain the intrusion formation suggests subsequent emplacement of basite magmas in lithosphere and their cooling, melting of crustal protolith, emplacement at the upper crustal levels and cooling of the granitoid and basite magmas. It was concluded that the formation of gabbro-granitoid intrusive massifs serves as an indicator of active mantle–crust interaction at the late evolutionary stages of accretionary–collisional belts, when strike-slip pull-apart deformations causes the high permeability of lithosphere.