Variability of monsoon circulation under different scenarios of carbon-cycle variations in the model atmosphere

The results of numerical experiments with the model of the Institute of Numerical Mathematics, RAN, aimed to reveal variability of the atmospheric global circulation under changing content of carbon dioxide, are analyzed. Variability of monsoon circulation is considered for different scenarios of carbon dioxide content in the model atmosphere. The monsoon circulation indices calculated from the zonal-wind speeds simulated in the upper and lower troposphere and model precipitation rates are studied.     

Anthropogenic load on the estuarine area of the Northern Dvina River

The results of calculation and analysis of the inflow of dissolved chemical substances to the estuarine area of the Northern Dvina River are considered. Based on the long-term regime hydrochemical information of the State Service of Observation and Monitoring of the Natural Environmental State, the anthropogenic load of dissolved chemical substances on the estuarine area and on the estuarine coastal water is estimated per inflow volumes. The extent of the water environment pollution of the near-delta part of the Northern Dvina River and its delta is estimated. The distribution of pollutant inflow among arms and channels in delta is under consideration.     

Mytilus californianus as an indicator of heavy metals on the northwest coast of Baja California, Mexico.

Samples of Mytilus californianus were analyzed to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of Ag, Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn concentrations on the northwest coast of Baja California and to compare the results with levels reported for California, USA. The samples were collected at eight sites from the US-Mexican border to San Quintín, BC (300 km south of the border) in February and July 1982 and 1994. During both years, north-south gradients in the concentration of Ag and Pb were observed, with the highest values close to the US-Mexican border (Ag = 0.60-1.54 and Pb = 0.21-2.89 micrograms g-1) and the lowest in the southern part of the study area (Ag = 0.05-0.10 and Pb = not detectable-0.03 microgram g-1). The Ag and Pb gradients suggest that their distributions are affected by anthropogenic activities close to the US-Mexican border. South-north gradients in the concentration of Cd (minimum = 0.59-2.16 and maximum = 2.61-12.93 micrograms g-1), for both 1982 and 1994, were observed. The geographic annual means of Pb for California (average of six stations along the entire state) were significantly higher than those of this study (average of the eight sampling sites) in 1982 and 1994. Cu in California was significantly greater than that of this study only in 1994. Cluster analyses on all metals indicate three similar geographic zones in 1982 and 1994, suggesting a relative consistency in the processes that determine the spatial variability of the concentration of some metals in M. californianus on the northwest coast of Baja California.     

Water wave interaction with an array of bottom-mounted surface-piercing porous cylinders

The interaction of water waves with arrays of bottom-mounted, surface-piercing circular cylinders is investigated theoretically. The sidewall of each cylinder is porous and thin. Under the assumptions of potential flow and linear wave theory, a semi-analytical solution is obtained by an eigenfunction expansion approach first proposed for impermeable cylinders by Spring and Monkmeyer (1974), and later simplified by Linton and Evans (1990). Analytical expressions are developed for the wave motion in the exterior and all interior fluid regions. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the effects of various wave and structural parameters on the hydrodynamic loads and the diffracted wave field. It is found that the porosity of the structures may result in a significant reduction in both the hydrodynamic loads experienced by the cylinders and the associated wave runup.     

Marine biodiversity in the Caribbean UK overseas territories: Perceived threats and constraints to environmental management

Islands are often considered to be a priority for conservation, because of their relatively high levels of biodiversity and their vulnerability to a range of natural and anthropogenic threats. However, the capacity of islands to conserve and manage biodiversity may depend upon their governance structures. Many island states are affiliated to other countries through an ‘overseas territory’ status, which may provide them with access to resources and support mechanisms, but which may also influence the capacity for local-scale management of environmental issues. The United Kingdom has 12 island Overseas Territories (UKOTs), most of which support biodiversity of high conservation concern. This study investigates perceptions of current and future threats to marine ecosystems and constraints to environmental protection on the six Caribbean UKOTs, through semi-structured interviews with officials from UK and UKOT government departments and non-governmental organisations. Coastal development, pollution and over-fishing were perceived as threats of most concern for the next decade, but climate change was perceived as by far the greatest future threat to the islands' marine ecosystems. However, a series of common institutional limitations that currently constrain mitigation and conservation efforts were also identified, including insufficient personnel and financial support, a lack of long-term, sustainable projects for persistent environmental problems and inadequate environmental legislation. These findings highlight the need for regional cooperation and capacity-building throughout the Caribbean and a more concerted approach to an UKOT environmental management by the UK and UKOTs' governments.     

Spectroscopic studies of the classical Cepheid ζ Gem: Analysis of the velocity field in the atmosphere and manifestation of the presence of a circumstellar envelope

Based on five high-resolution spectra in the range 5625–7525 ?A taken in 1995 and covering the ascending branch of the light curve from minimum to maximum, we have performed spectroscopic studies of the classical Cepheid ζ Gem. The atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of the Cepheid have been refined. The abundances of the key elements of the evolution of yellow supergiants are typical for an object that has passed the first dredge-up: a C underabundance, N, Na, and Al overabundances, and nearly solar O and Mg abundances. We have estimated [Fe/H] = +0.01 dex; the abundances of the remaining elements are also nearly solar. The metal absorption lines in all spectra show a clear asymmetry and the formation of secondary blue (B1 and B2) and red (R1 and R2) components, just as for the Cepheid X Sgr. The Hα absorption line is also split into blue (B) and red (R) components with different depths changing with pulsation phase. To analyze the velocity field in the atmosphere of ζ Gem, we have estimated the radial velocities from specially selected (with clear signatures of the B1, B2, R1, and R2 components) absorption lines (neutral atoms and ions) of metals (38 lines) and the B and R components of the Hα line. Analysis of these estimates has shown that their scatter is from ?22 to 36 km s^?1 for all pulsation phases but does not exceed 35–40 km s^?1 for each individual phase, while it does not exceed 22 km s^?1 for the Hα line components. The radial velocity estimates for the metal lines and their B1 and B2 components have been found to depend on the depths, suggesting the presence of a velocity gradient in the atmosphere. No significant difference in velocities between the atoms and ions of the metal lines is observed, i.e., there is no significant inhomogeneity in the upper atmospheric layers of the Cepheid. Since the averaged radial velocity estimates for the cores of the metal lines and their B1 and B2 components change with pulsation phase and coincide with those for the B component of the Hα line, they are all formed in the Cepheid’s atmosphere. The formation and passage of a shock wave due to the κ-mechanism at work can be responsible for the stronger scatter of the B1 and B2 components in their velocities at phases after the Cepheid’s minimum radius. The averaged velocities of the R1 components also change with pulsation phase and differ only slightly from the remaining ones. On the other hand, the mean velocity estimate for the R component of the Hα line at all phases is +32.72 ± 2.50 km s^?1 and differs significantly from the bulk of the velocities, suggesting the formation of this component in the envelope around the Cepheid. The unusual behavior of the mean velocities for the R2 components of the metal absorption lines can also point to their formation in the envelope and can be yet another indicator of its presence around ζ Gem.     

Dynamics of the 3/1 planetary mean-motion resonance: an application to the HD60532 b-c planetary system

In this paper, we use a semi-analytical approach to analyze the global structure of the phase space of the planar planetary 3/1 mean-motion resonance. The case where the outer planet is more massive than its inner companion is considered. We show that the resonant dynamics can be described using two fundamental parameters, the total angular momentum and the spacing parameter. The topology of the Hamiltonian function describing the resonant behaviour is investigated on a large domain of the phase space without time-expensive numerical integrations of the equations of motion, and without any restriction on the magnitude of the planetary eccentricities. The families of the Apsidal Corotation Resonances (ACR) parameterized by the planetary mass ratio are obtained and their stability is analyzed. The main dynamical features in the domains around the ACR are also investigated in detail by means of spectral analysis techniques, which allow us to detect the regions of different regimes of motion of resonant systems. The construction of dynamical maps for various values of the total angular momentum shows the evolution of domains of stable motion with the eccentricities, identifying possible configurations suitable for exoplanetary systems.