Seasonal climatologies of oxygen and phosphates in the Bering Sea reconstructed by variational data assimilation approach

Climatological fields of dissolved oxygen and phosphates in the Bering Sea during the spring, summer, and fall seasons were generated on the basis of an extensive dataset of hydrochemical observations (16,356 stations, beginning in 1928) and a novel 3D variational algorithm for interpolation of a passive ocean tracer. The resulting patterns comply with maps produced earlier using an optimal interpolation method, though they also provide more detail and contain no “missing data” regions. Vertical, spatial, and temporal variability of both parameters follow large-scale patterns of circulation, upper mixed layer depth, and phytoplankton productivity in the Bering Sea.     

区域气候模式REMO对中国气温和降水模拟能力的评估

采用泰勒图和偏差分析等统计方法,评估分析了德国区域气候模式（REMO）对中国1989-2008年气温和降水的模拟能力。结果表明：REMO气温模拟值与观测值空间相关系数为0.94,降水空间相关系数较低（0.42）,气温模拟结果明显优于降水;从空间偏差上看,在中国大部分地区,REMO模拟的气温高于观测值,偏差在±4℃以内,青藏高原整体有明显的-4～-2℃的冷偏差;模拟的降水值则高于观测值,空间偏差分布较均匀,中国大部分地区偏差在±300 mm之内;除青藏高原、华南和西南地区外,REMO能较准确地反映出中国气温和降水的空间分布特征,其中华北和东北地区模拟效果最好;REMO对夏季气温和冬季降水的模拟能力相对较好;REMO在地形起伏较大地区的模拟能力有待提高。     

Storm climate on the Danube delta coast: evidence of recent storminess change and links with large-scale teleconnection patterns

This paper presents an overview of storminess along the Danube delta coast since 1949 by analysing wind and wave data and discusses the influences of teleconnections on climate variability. To this end, a five-category storm classification is proposed based on wind speed intensity and storm duration. On average, this coast experiences 30 storms/year occurring predominantly in winter, three of them considered severe (categories III–IV). The extreme storms (cat. V) endanger most the coastal settlements and the back-beach ecosystems (sand dunes, wetlands, lagoons) and have a mean recurrence rate of 7 years, but occur with a large inter-annual variability more frequent during the late 1960s, the 1970s and the 1990s. The prevalence of northern storms, in particular for the severe ones (>90% frequency for wind speeds >20 m/s) is responsible for the vigorous southward longshore sediment transport, which shaped the Danube delta physiognomy over the last millennia. The application of the newly developed energetic (Storm Severity Index—SSI) and morphologic (Storm Impact Potential—SIP) proxies allowed the better assessment of both the storm strength and the temporal variation in storm energy. It appears that storm climate follows a cyclic pattern with successive periods of 7–9 years of high, moderate and low storminess in accordance with the main teleconnections patterns (North Atlantic Oscillation—NAO, East Atlantic oscillation—EA, East Atlantic/Western Russia—EAWR, Scandinavian oscillation—SCAND). If NAO succeeded to explain best most of the storminess evolution (r = ?0.76 for 1962–2005), it failed during the latest decade (since 2006) when an unprecedented low in storminess occurred. There is also evidence of increased southern circulation during the latter period, associated with a reversal of correlation with NAO (from negative to positive). Significant correlations were also found for the EA, EAWR and SCAND (r = ?0.55, 0.56, 0.55, respectively, significant at p < 0.01) for all the study period suggesting that besides NAO, the north-western Black Sea coast storminess is considerably influenced by several modes of climate variability, most notable the EA and the EAWR, which succeed to address the recent decrease in storminess.     

Precision of the ephemerides of outer planetary satellites

Ephemerides of planetary satellites are needed to address many problems. These ephemerides are used for subsequent observations. A comparison of the available ephemerides with new observations allows the accuracy of the former to be assessed. However, the precision of the ephemerides must be known a priori when solving the tasks. In this paper we formulate and solve the problem of estimating the precision of the ephemerides of outer planetary satellites derived from observations when applied up to the future moments.The methods of assessing the precision of ephemerides involve producing a set of samples of the same ephemeris inferred from observations with different samples of Monte Carlo generated random errors (RO) superimposed onto it. The statistical parameters of simulated observational errors are based on the results of the reduction of real satellite observations. We compute the deviations of the samples of the ephemeris from the standard ephemeris inferred from real observations and adopt the root-mean-square deviation of the apparent coordinates as the precision of the ephemeris. We also use alternative methods: one based on the matrix of covariances of parameter errors (RP), and another one based on bootstrap samples of observations (BS).We use three methods (RO, RP, and BS) to estimate the precision of the ephemerides of all the 107 outer planetary satellites over the 2010-2020 time interval. The precision of the ephemerides of different satellites varies from 0.05 to 4.0 arcsec. For a number of satellites new observations are of vital importance for maintaining the precision of the ephemerides at a level that would allow identification of satellites during the reduction of observations. For some satellites the precision of their ephemerides is of the order of the sizes of their orbits and such satellites can be considered to have been lost. We show that the method of bootstrap samples (BS) can give doubtful results in the cases where there are few observations, which covered a time interval that is shorter than the orbital period of the satellite.Our results suggest obtaining more precise ephemeris making new observations at the times of maximum estimated errors of the ephemeris.All the inferred estimates of the precision of ephemerides are available from the MULTI-SAT ephemeris server: www.imcce.fr/sat (IMCCE), www.sai.msu.ru/neb/nss/index.htm (SAI).     

Enigmatic sedimentary–volcanic successions in the central European Variscides: a Cambrian/Early Ordovician age for the Wojcieszów Limestone (Kaczawa Mountains,SW Poland) indicated by SHRIMP dating of volcanic zircons

Metamorphosed volcanic and sedimentary successions in the central European Variscides are, in many areas, poorly biostratigraphically constrained, making palaeotectonic interpretations uncertain. In such instances, geochronological data are crucial. Sensitive high resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) dating of volcanic zircons from a quartz–white mica schist (interpreted as deformed metavolcaniclastic/epiclastic rock) within the stratigraphically controversial Wojcieszów Limestone of the Kaczawa Mountains (Sudetes, SW Poland), near to the eastern termination of the European Variscides, has yielded an age of 498 ± 5 Ma (2σ error), corresponding to late Cambrian to early Ordovician magmatism in that area and constraining the depositional age of the limestones. The new SHRIMP data are not consistent with the recent revision of the age of the Wojcieszów Limestone based on Foraminifera findings that ascribed them to a Late Ordovician—Silurian or even younger interval. They are though, consistent with sparse macrofossil data and strongly support earlier interpretations of the lower part of the Kaczawa Mountains succession as a Cambrian–Early Ordovician extensional basin‐fill with associated initial rift volcanic rocks, likely emplaced during the breakup of Gondwana. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thirty-Element Active Antenna Array as a Prototype of a Huge Low-Frequency Radio Telescope

An effective wide-band (10 to 60 MHz) active antenna element has been developed. The cost of one short (3 m), thin dipole with built-in amplifier and metal construction is less than 45 euro. It was shown both theoretically and experimentally that the upper limiting frequency is at least 60 MHz, the dynamic range is 90 dB/V and the share of the amplifier noise to the background antenna temperature is about 10%. The developed active dipole was tested by building a 30-element antenna array and comparing its parameters with one of the subpart of the UTR-2 radio telescope having passive dipoles of 8.6 m in length and 1.8 m in diameter. The 3C461 ionospheric scintillation spectra observed in the experiments show that the sensitivities and noise-immunities of both antennas are close. This proves the availability using of a short cheap active dipole in new generation giant radio telescopes.     

Thermodynamic description of aqueous nonelectrolytes at infinite dilution over a wide range of state parameters

A new, virial-like equation of state (EoS) for describing the thermodynamic properties of aqueous nonelectrolytes at infinite dilution is proposed. It is based on the accurate EoS for a solvent (H₂O) given by Hill (1990) and requires only three empirical parameters to be fitted to experimental data, and these are independent of temperature and pressure. Knowledge of the thermodynamic properties of a pure gas, together with these three parameters, enables prediction of the whole set thermodynamic properties of the solute at infinite dilution (chemical potential, entropy, molar volume, and apparent molar heat capacity) over a wide range of temperatures (0 to 500°C) and pressures (1 to 2000 bars), including the near-critical region. In the cases in which experimental thermodynamic data are lacking, the empirical parameters can be estimated solely from the known standard-state properties of the solute. The new EoS is compatible with the Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers model for aqueous electrolytes, and thus it can be applied to reactions involving minerals, gases, and aqueous ions, in addition to uncharged species.     

On linking coefficient of two Keplerian orbits

We define a function of the set of pairs of Keplerian ellipses so that the sign of the function will be a topological invariant of their configuration. The sign is negative if and only if the related ellipses are linked. Two modifications of the coefficient which are more reliable in the case of closed to coplanar orbits are proposed. Explicit formulae representing the linking coefficients as functions of orbital elements are deduced. Extension in the case of unbounded orbits is obtained. We suggest different ways to use these coefficients for determining intersections of pairs of osculating Keplerian orbits. If we study dynamical behaviour of geometric configuration of pairs of Keplerian orbits, we can fix the moments of their intersections. These moments correspond exactly to the vanishing of linking coefficients. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Terrane analysis and accretion in North-East Asia

Abstract A terrane map of North-East Asia at 1:5 000 000 scale has been compiled. The map shows terranes of different types and ages accreted to the North-Asian craton in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic, sub-and superterranes, together with post-amalgamation and post-accretion assemblages. The great Kolyma-Omolon superterrane adjoins the north-east craton margin. It is composed of large angular terranes of continental affinity: craton fragments and fragments of the passive continental margin of Siberia, and island arc, oceanic and turbidite terranes that are unconformably overlain by shallow marine Middle-Upper Jurassic deposits. The superterrane resulted from a long subduction of the Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust beneath the Alazeya arc. Its south-west boundary is defined by the Late Jurassic Uyandina-Yasachnaya marginal volcanic arc which was brought about by subduction of the oceanic crust that separated the superterrane from Siberia. According to paleomagnetic evidence the width of the basin is estimated to be 1500–2000 km. Accretion of the superterrane to Siberia is dated to the late Late Jurassic-Neocomian. The north-east superterrane boundary is defined by the Lyakhov-South Anyui suture which extends across southern Chukotka up to Alaska. Collision of the superterrane with the Chukotka shelf terrane is dated to the middle of the Cretaceous. The Okhotsk-Chukotka belt, composed of Albian-Late Cretaceous undeformed continental volcan-ites, defines the Cretaceous margin of North Asia. Terranes eastward of the belt are mainly of oceanic affinity: island arc upon oceanic crust, accretion wedge and turbidite terranes, as well as cratonic terranes and fragments of magmatic arcs on the continental crust and metamorphic terranes of unclear origin and age. The time of their accretion is constrained by post-accretionary volcanic belts that extend parallel to the Okhotsk-Chukotka belt but are displaced to the east: the Maastrichtian-Miocene Kamchatka-Koryak belt and the Eocene-Quaternary Central Kamchatka belt which mark active margins of the continent of corresponding ages.     

Collision of the Kronotskiy arc at the NE Eurasia margin and structural evolution of the Kamchatka–Aleutian junction

Structural evolution of the Kamchatka–Aleutian junction area in late Mesozoic and Tertiary was generally controlled by (1) the processes of subduction in Kronotskiy and Proto-Kamchatka subduction zones and (2) collision of the Kronotskiy arc against NE Eurasia margin. Two structural zones of the pre-Pliocene age and six structural assemblages are recognized in studied region. 1: Eastern ranges zone comprises SE-vergent thrust folded belt, which evolved in accretionary and collisional setting. Two structural assemblages (ER1 and ER2), developed there, document shortening in the NW–SE direction and in the N–S direction, respectively. 2: Eastern Peninsulas zone generally corresponds to Kronotskiy arc terrane. Four structural assemblages are recognized in this zone. They characterize (1) precollisional deformations in the accretionary wedge (EP1) and in the fore-arc basin and volcanic belt (EP2), and (2) syn-collisional deformation of the entire Kronotskiy terrane in plunging folds (EP3) and deformations in the foreland basin (EP4). Analysis of paleomagnetic declinations versus present day structural strike in the Kronotskiy arc terrane shows that originally the arc was trending from west to east. Relative position of the accretionary wedge, fore-arc basin and volcanic belt, as well as northward dipping thrusts in accretionary wedge indicate, that a northward dipping subduction zone was located south of the arc. The accretionary wedge developed from the Late Cretaceous through the Eocene, and it implies that the subduction zone maintained its direction and position during this time. It implies that Kronotskiy arc was neither a part of the Pacific nor Kula plates and was located on an individual smaller plate, which included the arc and Vetlovka back-arc basin. Motion of the Kronotskiy arc towards Eurasia was connected only with NW-directed subduction at Kamchatka margin since Middle Eocene (42–44 Ma). Emplacement of the Kronotskiy arc at the Kamchatka margin occurred between Late Eocene and Early Miocene. This is based on the age of syn-collisional plunging folds in Kronotskiy terrane, and provenance data for the Upper Eocene to Middle Miocene Tyushevka basin, which indicate in situ evolution of the basin with respect to Kamchatka. Collision was controlled by the common motion of the Kronotskiy arc with Pacific plate towards the northwest, and by the motion of the Eurasian margin towards the south. The latter motion was responsible for the southward deflection of the western part of the Kronotskiy arc (EP3 structures), and for oblique transpressional structures in the collisional belt (ER2 structures).