Formation of the hydrothermal system in Geysers Valley (Kronotsky Nature Reserve,Kamchatka) and triggers of the Giant Landslide

The Geysers Valley hydrothermal system is hosted within a system of two permeable faults (revealed by mapping thermal features), located above a suggested partially melted magmatic body and recharged by meteoric water along the outcrops of rhyolite–dacite extrusions. Fast erosion is stimulating the significant discharge rate, the geyser’s cycling mode and landslide events. Natural state thermal hydrodynamic modeling shows that 20–30 ka of high temperature upflow of 250 kg/s and an enthalpy of 900 kJ/kg could build up the hydrothermal system in the Geysers Valley basin with output discharge parameters comparable to those at the current level. Modeling also shows that steam accumulation below an inclined caprock may have hydrothermal eruption potential. The Giant Landslide took place on June 3, 2007, when 20 × 10⁶ m³ of rocks were shifted 2 km downstream, more than 23 geysers were buried or submerged, and Podprudnoe Lake was dammed, injecting cold water into submerged geysers. Possible triggers of the Giant Landslide include the inclination of the sliding plane towards the Geysernaya river basin, a pressure increase in the fluid-magma system, hanging block saturation by water during spring flooding, hydrothermal alteration weakening of the sliding plane, and steam explosions. Recent geysers cycling activity monitoring data (2007–2010), hydrogeochemical sampling, and thermal area infra red (IR) survey data are also discussed.     

First Historical Eruption of Kambalny Volcano

The first historical eruption of Kambalny volcano began on March 24, 2017 with the powerful ash emission from the summit crater reaching as high as 6 km above sea level. The explosive activity continued without interruption from March 24 to March 30. The most powerful ash emission was registered on March 25–26, when the ash plume drifted several thousand kilometers SW, S, and SE from the volcano. On April 2 and April 9, after several calm days, powerful ash explosions occurred generating ash plumes up to 7 km high. The area of the land and sea over which the ash plume drifted during the day of March 25, was 650000 km²; the area of the ash accumulation on the land that was formed from March 24 to April 9, exceeded 1500 km². These parameters were measured using the satellite-based data in the VolSatView information system. Domination of the silty fraction and the presence of secondary minerals (pyrite, gypsum, sulfur, and others) in the ash point to the phreatic character of the volcanic eruption.     

Investigation of statistical structure of temperature short-range forecast errors in the atmospheric boundary layer for the purpose of objective analysis

The procedure is described of the estimation of statistical structure of short-range forecast errors of temperature field in the atmospheric boundary layer for the purpose of objective analysis. The numerical experiments on the estimation of forecast error covariances were carried out for the WRF (Weather Research and Forecast, NCEP, USA) model. The comparative experiments were implemented on the estimation of the influence of stability type in the atmospheric boundary layer on the variability of vertical and three-dimensional covariances. It is demonstrated that the variance and radius of correlation of temperature field forecast errors along the vertical as well as the variability of three-dimensional covariance functions in the atmospheric boundary layer differ considerably at different stability types. The results are cited of the numerical experiments on the estimation of the WRF model temperature field forecast error covariances in the atmospheric boundary layer for summer and winter periods.     

Steppe landscapes of the Ural–Volga region in response to oil and gas production: Evaluation and minimization of direct geoecological aftereffects

This paper reports on the geoecological state of landscapes of oil and gas fields in the Ural–Volga steppe zone. Large-scale direct disturbances and impacts with dramatic aftereffects have been revealed on the basis of field research using the geographic information system (GIS) and data from remote sensing of the Earth. It has been shown that the current land-use pattern in oil and gas production areas is in need of professional control to protect and recover the landscapes in the steppe zone.

     

The Impact of Oil Production on Development of the Erosion Network in the Volga–Ural Steppe Region

Doklady Earth Sciences - The purpose of this work is to consider the features of the development of the erosion network in the steppe zone with mixed agricultural and oil production land use. This...