Circulation in the southwestern part of the Kara Sea in September 2007

During cruise 54 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh to the southwestern Kara Sea (September 6 to October 7, 2007), a large amount of hydrophysical data with unique spatial resolution was obtained on the basis of measurements using different instruments. The analysis of the data gave us the possibility to study the dynamics and hydrological structure of the southwestern Kara Sea basin. The main elements of the general circulation are the following: the Yamal Current, the Eastern Novaya Zemlya Current, and the St. Anna Trough Current. All these currents are topographically controlled; they flow over the bottom slopes along the isobaths. The Yamal Current begins at the Kara Gates Strait and turns to the east as part of the cyclonic circulation. Then, it turns to the north and propagates along the Yamal coast over the 100-m isobath. The Eastern Novaya Zemlya Current (its core is located over the eastern slope of the Novaya Zemlya Trough) flows to the northeast. Near the northern edge of Novaya Zemlya, it encounters the St. Anna Trough Current, separates from the coast, and flows practically to the east merging with the continuation of the Yamal Current. A strong frontal zone is formed in the region where the two currents merge above the threshold that separates the St. Anna Trough from the Novaya Zemlya Trough and divides the warm and saline Arctic waters from the cooler and fresher waters of the southwestern part of the Kara Sea. This threshold, whose depth does not exceed 100–150 m, is a barrier that prevents the spreading of the Barents Sea and Arctic waters to the southwestern part of the Kara Sea basin through the St. Anna Trough.     

Greening international shipping through private governance: A case study of the Clean Shipping Project

This article aims to generate insights into both private governance and partnerships within the shipping industry, but also tries to improve understanding of the complex process of institutionalisation.This is achieved through a case study of the Clean Shipping Project, a public/private partnership that aims to promote sustainability in the shipping industry. A set of enabling and constraining factors are examined that shape the institutionalisation process and determine to what extent the Clean Shipping Project can establish and expand authority as an industry norm.Overall, the Clean Shipping Project cannot yet be considered a full-fledged private governance institution, because of an insufficient level of collaborative advantage mainly due to weak system robustness and unfavourable market characteristics and conditions. However, institutionalisation is an ongoing process and the future outlook for the Clean Shipping Project remains promising. The Clean Shipping Project is certainly a relevant supplement to existing regulations and there is a basic level of commitment and cohesion within the partnership, so it is not unlikely that in the future this initiative may help to uncouple growth in shipping activities from environmental harm.     

A review of EU bio-economic models for fisheries: The value of a diversity of models

The lessons learned from a review of thirteen existing European bio-economic models used in the evaluation of EU policies are presented. How these models compare and differ in terms of their biological and economic components, the integration between the components, which indicators are selected and how they are used, are described and analysed. The article concludes that the multitude of construction differences reflects the necessity of adapting the modelling approach to answer different questions. Since real life questions in fisheries are so diverse, answering them requires a diversity of models.     

Adoption of the arctic search and rescue agreement: A shift of the arctic regime toward a hard law basis?

This paper examines the Arctic Search and Rescue Agreement—the first legally-binding instrument negotiated and adopted under the auspices of the Arctic Council—and analyzes its implications for the current Arctic regime. Led by the Arctic Council, the Arctic regime was established in a soft law format. However, the soft law nature and restricted mandates of the Arctic Council have limited its capacity to respond to new issues emerging from climate change, particularly those related to the exploitation of oil and gas reserves, commercial shipping through the region, effects on wildlife, and impacts on indigenous peoples' homelands and culture. The adoption of the Agreement represents a new approach for the Arctic States to respond to these new challenges. At the same time, it does not imply that a legally-binding instrument is necessarily preferable for every issue, and importantly, the new Arctic Agreement does not establish new institutional relationships, suggesting satisfaction among the Arctic States with the existing arrangements. Thus, although the Arctic regime is undoubtedly changing, this change should not be treated today as a shift from soft to hard law. What is more certain is that the Arctic Council will continue to function as a cooperative forum where the Arctic States can address these challenges, and its importance will only increase in coming years.     

Changes in the macrobenthic communities of the Gudauta Oyster Bank

Twenty-nine benthic invertebrate species were registered for the Gudauta Bank in the depth range of 8–32 m in 1990. The shallow-water biocenose was defined for the depths of less than 10 m, the biocenoses of Anadara inaequivalvis and A. inaequivalvis-Upogebia pusilla occupied the depths of 10–30 m; and the biocenosis of Pitar rudis was found for the depths of more than 30 m. The highest biodiversity and abundance of benthos was registered for the Anadara biocenoses, while the lowest, for the shallow-water ones. It was found that significant changes in the benthic communities took place in the forty years after the predator gastropod Rapana venosa was introduced into the Black Sea. The oysters became extinct on Gudauta Bank, and the species composition of the benthic community has been significantly depleted. Alien species of Anadara and Rapana became the most abundant by biomass, comprising more than 80% of the total biomass of the benthos. The population density of Rapana constituted 12 ind./m² and was the highest ever registered for the studied areas of the Black Sea. Insufficient nutrition preconditioned the small size of the mollusks.     

Spatial variability of the chlorophyll <Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis> and the specific structure of the phytoplankton in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan during the winter period

To evaluate the structure and photosynthetic activity of the phytoplankton of the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan, the results of the surveys conducted from February 26 to March 9, 2003, during the 30th cruise of the R/V Akademik Lavrentyev were used. The species composition was considered taking into account the influences of the hydrological conditions. In particular, the studied water area was divided into four zones with various sizes of the mixed layer depth (MLD). An inverse relationship between the MLD and the content of chlorophyll a (Chl a) in various zones was established. The diatom algae were the basic dominants of the composite structure of the phytoplankton everywhere. It is revealed that, at a MLD increase, smaller forms of microalgae receive development. The intrapopulation relations are caused by the adaptation of various species of phytoplankton to the influence of external factors, among which the size of MLD is fundamental.     

Seasonal variations in temperature,salinity and density in the southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea

Variability in water temperature, salinity and density was investigated based on field measurements near Anzali Port, in the Southern Caspian Sea in 2008. Seasonal changes of seawater properties were mainly observed through the upper 100 m layer, while below this layer seasonal variations of the parameters were minor. Vertical structure of the temperature in the southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea is characterized by a significant seasonal thermocline between 20–50 m depths with vertical variation in temperature about 16°C in midsummer (August). Decrease of the thermocline occurs with the general cooling of the air and sea surface water, and deepening of the mixed layer during late of autumn and winter. Seasonal averages of the salinity were estimated in a range of 12.27–12.37 PSU. The structure of thermocline and pycnocline indicated agreement between changes of temperature and density of seawater. Seasonal pycnocline was observed in position of the thermocline layer.     

Interference of the mechanisms of influence that weak extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields have on the human body and animals

This review is devoted to the problem of interference between the mechanisms of biological action of natural and artificial electromagnetic fields (EMFs) for different levels of the organization of life. We discuss the problem of specific and nonspecific responses of the human body and animals to the action of EMFs on cellular and organismal levels.     

Terrigenous pyroclastic matter as a source of dissolved calcium in the ocean

It has been found experimentally that the intensity of the leaching under the interaction of volcanic ash and seawater decreases as Ca > Mg > Si, and the mobilization of calcium and magnesium is more intense compared to silicon by factors of 30?C70 and 20?C50, respectively. Calcium and magnesium supplied to seawater owing to the halmyrolysis of the terrigenous pyroclastic matter may then interact with the products of organic matter oxidation to fix the free carbon dioxide in the form of autochthonous carbonates. It was shown that the halmyrolysis of terrigenous pyroclastic matter could not provide the complete immobilization of the autochthonous CO₂ produced in the ocean by the oxidation of organic matter. Thus, some other sources exist for the reactive silicates of calcium and magnesium, and these might probably be the silicates of the continental runoff of solid substances.     

Comparison of Field and Satellite Data on the Total Cloudiness for the Atlantic Ocean in the Period 2004–2014

Oceanology - The aim of this study is to compare satellite measurements of the total cloudiness with visual observations of clouds. This makes it possible to compare “different...