Model of the Origin of Planetary Comet Families

The process of the transition of a comet from an initial heliocentric parabolic orbit into a heliocentric elliptical (parabolic with different parameters or hyperbolic) trajectory is analyzed in terms of a pairwise three-dimensional two-body problem: Sun-comet and planet-comet. For the first time, analytical formulas are reported for the orbital parameters of the comet after it escapes the sphere of influence of a planet and is captured by the gravitational field of the Sun. The proposed model can explain the origin of the known families of short-period comets and allows for the prediction of the existence of uncatalogued short- and long-period comets and meteor showers. The model is used to localize the space-time domains to search for new comets and meteor showers in the Solar System.__________Translated from Astronomicheskii Vestnik, Vol. 39, No. 3, 2005, pp. 281–287.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Perov.     

Single-Column Model Intercomparison for a Stably Stratified Atmospheric Boundary Layer

The parameterization of the stably stratified atmospheric boundary layer is a difficult issue, having a significant impact on medium-range weather forecasts and climate integrations. To pursue this further, a moderately stratified Arctic case is simulated by nineteen single-column turbulence schemes. Statistics from a large-eddy simulation intercomparison made for the same case by eleven different models are used as a guiding reference. The single-column parameterizations include research and operational schemes from major forecast and climate research centres. Results from first-order schemes, a large number of turbulence kinetic energy closures, and other models were used. There is a large spread in the results; in general, the operational schemes mix over a deeper layer than the research schemes, and the turbulence kinetic energy and other higher-order closures give results closer to the statistics obtained from the large-eddy simulations. The sensitivities of the schemes to the parameters of their turbulence closures are partially explored.     

Results from the Indo-USSR ozonesonde intercomparison experiment

A total of seventeen vertical profiles of ozone were obtained during an Indo-USSR collaborative experiment on ozonesonde intercomparison conducted at Thumba during March 1983. The vertical distribution of ozone was measured using rocket-borne, balloon-borne as well as ground-based instruments. Four different rocket ozonesondes from India and USSR and the balloon ozonesonde were used to makein situ observations of ozone concentrations in addition to the Dobson spectrophotometric observations of total ozone and Umkehr. The rocket and the balloon launchings were effected in three salvos and measurements were made at different times of the day as well as during night. The results of all these measurements are used to obtain a mean ozone vertical distribution over Thumba foT the spring equinoxial period. The mean profile shows the maximum ozone concentration at 27 km with a value of (3.86±0-52)×10¹² molecules per cc. Comparison of this mean profile with available satellite data for the equatorial regions shows that, in general, the Thumba values are lower by 10–15% at altitudes below 40 km and larger at altitudes above 50 km compared to the satellite results. The data also show evidence for a day-to-day variability and a possible day-to-night variability in the ozone vertical distribution with the night-time values higher than the daytime values at all altitudes above 35 km and the difference is found to increase with the increasing altitude.     

‘Application of a New Spectral Theory of Stably Stratified Turbulence to the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over Sea Ice’

A new spectral closure model of stably stratified turbulence is used to develop a K–ε model suitable for applications to the atmospheric boundary layer. This K–ε model utilizes vertical viscosity and diffusivity obtained from the spectral theory. In the ε equation, the Coriolis parameter-dependent formulation of the coefficient C ₁ suggested by Detering and Etling is generalized to include the dependence on the Brunt-Väisälä frequency, N. The new K–ε model is tested in simulations of the ABL over sea ice and compared with observations from BASE as simulated in large-eddy simulations by Kosovic and Curry, and observations from SHEBA.     

Restricted four-body problem. The case of a central configuration: Libration points and their stability

We consider the problem of the motion of a zero-mass body in the vicinity of a system of three gravitating bodies forming a central configuration.We study the case where two gravitating bodies of equal mass lie on the same straight line and rotate around the central body with the same angular velocity. Equations for calculating the equilibrium positions in this system have been derived. The stability of the equilibrium points for a system of three gravitating bodies is investigated. We show that, as in the case of libration points for two bodies, the collinear points are unstable; for the triangular points, there exists a ratio of the mass of the central body to the masses of the extreme bodies, 11.720349, at which stability is observed.     

Migration of Comets

Based on one of the particular cases of twice averaged model Hill problem with the allowance for the oblateness of the central body a quadrature is derived for the determination of the migration time of cometary nuclei from various cometary reservoirs and a (14-th order) algebraic equation for the determination of the initial conditions that allow the escape of the cometary nucleus (which at the initial instant of time moves in an orbit with arbitrary eccentricity (0 < e < 1) and inclination (0° < i < 180°) deeply inside the sphere o f action of the central body) from the sphere of action of the central body or its impact onto the central body. We analyze the shape of the boundaries of the hypothetical cometary reservoirs and the method of searching for regions of high concentration of interstellar particles in the Solar System.     

Debris flow hazards for mountain regions of Russia: regional features and key events

The total area of debris flow territories of the Russian Federation accounts for about 10% of the area of the country. The highest debris flow activity areas located in Kamchatka-Kuril, North Caucasus and Baikal debris flow provinces. The largest debris flow events connected with volcano eruptions. Maximum volume of debris flow deposits per one event reached 500 × 10⁶ m³ (lahar formed during the eruption of Bezymyanny volcano in Kamchatka in 1956). In the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, the maximum volume of transported debris material reached 3 × 10⁶ m³; the largest debris flows here had glacial reasons. In the Baikal debris flow province, the highest debris flow activity located in the ridges of the Baikal rift zone (the East Sayan Mountains, the Khamar-Daban Ridge and the ridges of the Stanovoye Highland). Spatial features of debris flow processes within the territory of Russia are analyzed, and the map of Debris Flow Hazard in Russia is presented. We classified the debris flow hazard areas into 2 zones, 6 regions and 15 provinces. Warm and cold zones are distinguished. The warm zone covers mountainous areas within the southern part of Russia with temperate climate; rain-induced debris flows are predominant there. The cold zone includes mountainous areas with subarctic and arctic climate; they are characterized by a short warm period, the occurrence of permafrost, as well as the predominance of slush flows. Debris flow events are described for each province. We collected a list of remarkable debris flow events with some parameters of their magnitude and impact. Due to climate change, the characteristics of debris flows will change in the future. Availability of maps and information from previous events will allow to analyze the new cases of debris flows.