Monitoring Mutagenic Pollution of Small Rivers

The importance of sampling frequency in the course of monitoring of mutagenic pollution of small rivers is shown, the Kotorosl River (a tributary of the Volga River) being taken as an example. In working out a sampling program, due consideration should be given for seasonal variations of the river hydrological regime and input of pollutants. Incorrect choice of sampling frequency may lead to one of the principal reasons for improper assessment of toxicogenetic situation. A water sampling program has been proposed for the Kotorosl River studies based on monitoring.__________Translated from Vodnye Resursy, Vol. 32, No. 3, 2005, pp. 347–351.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fomicheva, Prokhorova.     

Comparison of Atmospheric Circulation in the Area of Spitsbergen in 1920–1950 and in the Modern Warming Period

The results of studying the temporal variability of atmospheric circulation in the Western Arctic (the Norwegian and Barents seas) are presented. The daily dataset of Girs-Vangengeim E, W, and C circulation forms for the period of 1891–2016 is used to describe atmospheric circulation. Special attention is given to the estimation of differences in weather conditions during the modern period of warming (1985–2015) and in the period of the first Arctic warming (1920–1950). For the cold (November-March) and warm (April-October) seasons, the trends in the frequency of occurrence of the circulation forms are determined. The occurrence of the number of consecutive days with the same atmospheric circulation form which can be considered as a characteristic of weather stability during the analyzed period of warming, is computed for both seasons. The prevalence of the E circulation form during the warm season is typical of both periods. The modern period of warming in the study area, as compared to the period of the first warming, is characterized by an increase in the occurrence of the C circulation form with a short duration. It is found that the current climate regime is characterized by an increase in surface air temperature against a background of less stable weather conditions.     

Geodynamics and seismicity of the eastern part of Central Asia

Study of the geodynamics of the eastern part of Central Asia shows that the present-day tectonic activity of this territory is connected with its division into blocks limited by active faults and with the interaction among these blocks and with the neighboring lithospheric plates. The North China and South China platforms occupy most of this territory. The western boundary of the South China platform with Tibetan blocks is the most active. The energy volume increases up to 10¹⁰–10¹² J, and the earthquake magnitudes go up to 8–9 within this boundary. The interaction of Tibetan blocks with the Southeast China Block causes detachment and a clockwise turn of the upper layers of the Earth’s crust under the influence of the Hindustan indenter pressure.

     

On the Problem of Distinction between Recent Geodynamics of Central and East Asia

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—The Central Asian and East Asian transitional zones are distinguished in Central and East Asia south of the Late Precambrian–Paleozoic...     

Field Tests of the Procedure for a Photogrammetric Estimation of Snow-Glacial Surface Albedo

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The results of using an original procedure for estimating albedo from the photogrammetric data and exposure parameters by an unmanned aerial vehicle...     

Numerical modeling of the tectonic and thermal history of the Kyndal Graben of the Bureya Basin (Far East of Russia)

One-dimensional basin modeling of the Kyndal Graben, Bureya Basin, is conducted in three deep wells. The basin modeling technique and its basic algorithms are described. The geological and geophysical characteristics of the studied object are reported in brief, emphasizing the modeling parameters. The general and tectonic history of the subsidence, sedimentation velocities, geodynamic parameters of the extension, and thermal history of the formation and evolution of the Kyndal Graben, Bureya Basin, are calculated.     

Composition and Distribution of Marine Anthropogenic Litter in the Barents Sea

Oceanology - Large-scale monitoring of anthropogenic marine litter in the Barents Sea was carried out in 2012–2018. The marine litter composition was estimated by recording by-catch from...     

Zones of the origin of seismic centers in the Pamir–Tien Shan sector of High Asia

The zones of the origin of seismic centers within highly seismic areas of the Pamirs and Tien Shan are established. The majority of catastrophic earthquakes coincide with them in this part of High Asia. Their establishment is based on the distribution of the most intensive epicenters and the maximal volumes of the seismic energy together with its calculation and forecasting of the possible manifestations of high seismicity. The investigation of the deep structure of these zones allows us to determine the connection of the seismicity with geophysical field anomalies and some factors of the deep and near surface lithosphere and crust structure, which influence the present-day geodynamics. The results of our research enable us to appreciate the level of the seismic danger in different parts of the region investigated.     

Seafloor Structure in the North Atlantic Region between the Kolbeinsey Ridge and the Jan Mayen Microcontinent

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Deep seismic sounding, continuous seismic profiling, and bathymetric data are used to discuss the structure of the Iceland Plateau and adjacent areas of...