Polarization, temporal, and spectral parameters of solar flare hard X-rays as measured by the SPR-N instrument onboard the CORONAS-F satellite

The SPR-N polarimeter onboard the CORONAS-F satellite allows the X-ray polarization degree to be measured in energy ranges of 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 keV. To measure the polarization, the method based on the Thompson scattering of solar X-ray photons in beryllium plates was used; the scattered photons were detected with a system of six CsI(Na) scintillation sensors. During the observation period from August 2001 to January 2005, the SPR-N instrument detected the hard X-rays of more than 90 solar flares. The October 29, 2003, event showed a significant polarization degree exceeding 70% in channels of E = 40–60 and 60–100 keV and about 50% in the 20-to 40-keV channel. The time profile of the polarization degree and the projection of the polarization plane onto the solar disk were determined. For 25 events, the upper limits of the part of polarized X-rays were estimated at 8 to 40%. For all the flares detected, time profiles (with a resolution of up to 4 s), hard X-ray radiation fluxes, and spectral index estimates were obtained.     

Direct measurement of effective electro conductivity of turbulent liquid metal

Direct measurement of effective electro conductivity are performed in a nonstationary turbulent flow of liquid gallium, generated in a closed toroidal channel. The peak level of the Reynolds number reached Re ≈ 10⁶, what corresponds to the magnetic Reynolds number Rm ≈ 1. The conductivity of the liquid metal was determined measuring the phase shift between sinusoidal voltage and current in the RLC‐circuit, the inductance of which was made by the toroidal coil embracing the channel. The maximal deviation of electrical conductivity from its ohmic value reaches about 1%. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Contribution of Natural and Anthropogenic Emissions of CO2 and CH4 to the Atmosphere from the Territory of Russia to Global Climate Changes in the Twenty-first Century

Doklady Earth Sciences - Estimates of the contribution of anthropogenic and natural greenhouse gases to the atmosphere from the territory of Russia to global climate change under different...     

Changes in the hydrochemical composition and diatomic flora of bottom sediments in the zone of influence of metal mining production (Kola Peninsula)

Paleoecological studies of small water bodies were carried out in a model subarctic lake-river system. The degree of transformations of aquatic ecosystems under a set of anthropogenic factors is shown to vary depending on the load and individual features of water bodies. Data on the state of aquatic ecosystems before the industrial development of the region are collected. The species composition of diatom algae and their ecological characteristics are examined.     

Experiment on the measurement of charged particle flows with ELECTRON-M-PESCA onboard the CORONAS-PHOTON solar research satellite

This paper describes the design and principles of operation of the Electron-M-PESCA instrument, provides a specification of the information system to store and access the measurement results registered with Electron-M-PESCA, and evaluates the prospects of applying this system to assess the radiation conditions in the near-Earth space. It presents an analysis of the increase in relativistic electron flows with energies of 1–4 MeV registered in Earth’s outer radiation belt in the middle of March 2009 after weak magnetic disturbances caused by the approach of a high-speed solar wind flow as an example of on-line analysis of research information obtained with Electron-M-PESCA.     

Recent climatic tendencies in the Barents Sea

Based on the results of multiannual oceanographic research at the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute in the “Kola Meridian” secular section, the recent tendencies of cyclic climate changes in the Barents Sea are discussed on the basis of the data on ice coverage and coastal meteorological conditions. It has been shown that a return from the extremely warm and warm state to the normal one was observed in the period of winter 2005/06–winter 2010/11. Further, this may be changed both to cooling and warming, which verifies the hypothesis about predominance of cyclic natural variability in the thermal and ice characteristics of the Arctic Region.     

Dynamics of the boundary of the penetration of solar energetic particles to Earth’s magnetosphere according to <Emphasis Type="Italic">CORONAS-F</Emphasis> data

The dynamics of the boundary of the penetration of solar energetic particles (electrons and protons) to Earth’s magnetosphere during solar flares and related geomagnetic disturbances in November 2001 and October–November 2003 is analyzed using CORONAS-F data. The relationship between the penetration boundary, the geomagnetic activity indices, and the local magnetic time is investigated. The correlation coefficient between the invariant latitude of the penetration boundary and the K _p and D _st indices for electrons with energies ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 MeV in the dayside sector is demonstrated to be higher than that in the nightside sector. The correlation coefficient for protons with energies from 1 to 5 MeV is higher in the nightside sector as compared to the dayside sector. For protons with energies from 50 to 90 MeV, the correlation is high at all MLT.     

Solar hard X-ray and γ-ray bursts observed by the sigma anti-coincidence shield aboard granat

The anti-coincidence shield of the SIGMA telescope aboard GRANAT provides observations of solar X-ray and -ray bursts in the energy range 200 keV–15 MeV. The characteristics of the experiment are presented here as well as the observations of the solar bursts detected during the first year of operation. Among these events, two of these bursts associated respectively with a limb and a disk flare were observed with significant flux above 10 MeV. Advantage is taken of the experiment large detector area to examine fine time structures even at high energies ( 10 MeV).