On the Problem of Differential Payment for the Use of Different-Quality Surface Waters in Ukraine

The evolution of views and practical decisions regarding the problem of collecting payment for the use of surface waters with regard to their quality in the former USSR and present-day Ukraine is discussed. A simple and feasible method is proposed for differentitation of regional (basin) rates of payment for the use of surface water in Ukraine with allowance made for its quality assessed based on a system of environmental classifications.     

Features of mineral and chemical composition of the Khamambettu Carbonatites, Tamil Nadu

The paper presents mineralogical features and EPMA results of the Khamambettu carbonatites. The mineralogical data suggest that these rocks have been generated in magmatic and hydrothermal stages. Mineral geothermometer for carbonatite give temperatures of 790°–980°C. Fluid inclusion measurements in monazite (hydrothermal stage) give temperatures of 220°–290°C. One of the features of the carbonatites is high content of magnesia that is defined by the presence of dolomite, olivine, spinel, phlogopite, Mg-rich ilmenite. Chloritization, serpentinization, amphibolization, silicification processes and occurrence of barite, monazite-(Ce), strontianite, celestine are related to hydrothermal stage. Hydrothermal minerals at the Khamambettu were formed by recrystallization of primary carbonatite minerals in the presence of Ba, (SO₄)^2?, REE and Si carried in solution by the hydrothermal fluid.     

Latest Results Found with Ring-Diagram Analysis

Ring-diagram analysis is a helioseismic tool useful for studying the near-surface layers of the Sun. It has been employed to study near-surface shear, meridional circulation, flows around sunspots, and thermal structure beneath active regions. We review recent results obtained using ring-diagram analysis, state some of the more important outstanding difficulties in the technique, and point out several extensions to the technique that are just now beginning to bear fruit.     

On the variations in the parameters of high-degree acoustic modes with solar cycle

We analyze the pattern of behavior of p-mode wave packets with solar cycle using TON one-day helioseismic data with a high spatial resolution. The time—distance method is used to perform this task. We make an attempt to determine the variations in the travel time of acoustic waves at maximum and minimum solar activity; at maximum activity, this time decreases by 2 s compared to that at minimum activity to a depth of 0.8R_⊙. In addition, the correlation amplitudes of acoustic wave packets from minimum to maximum solar activity were found to decrease by 10–20% for all angular distances.     

Effects of Dispersion of Wave Packets in the Determination of Lifetimes of High-Degree Solar p Modes from Time – Distance Analysis: TON Data

We use the method of time – distance analysis to measure lifetimes of solar p modes in the range ℓ=100 − 600 and ν=3.0 − 4.5 mHz with data taken with the Taiwan Oscillation Network (TON). The lifetimes of p modes are determined by the changes in the amplitude and width of the cross-correlation function of a wave packet with the number of skips. The amplitude of the cross-correlation function decreases exponentially with the number of skips as in previous work. This decrease has been interpreted as the effect of the finite p-mode lifetime. In this study, we find that the width of the cross-correlation function increases with the number of skips. We interpret this phenomenon as the effect of the dispersion of the wave packet. We include this effect in the determination of the lifetime of the wave packet. The lifetime increases after the dispersion is taken into account. We also study the change in lifetime between solar minimum and maximum.     

Magnetic Flux Changes and Cancellation Associated with X-Class and M-Class Flares

We perform a statistical study of permanent changes in longitudinal fields associated with solar flares by tracking magnetic features. The YAFTA feature tracking algorithm is applied to GONG++ 1-minute magnetograms for 77 X-class and M-class flares to analyze the evolution and interaction of the magnetic features and to estimate the amount of canceled magnetic flux. We find that significantly more magnetic flux decreases than increases occurred during the flares, consistent with a model of collapsing loop structure for flares. Correlations between both total (unsigned) and net (signed) flux changes and the GOES peak X-ray flux are dominated by X-class flares at limb locations. The flux changes were accompanied in most cases by significant cancellation, most of which occurred during the flares. We find that the field strength and complexity near the polarity inversion line are approximately equally important in the flux cancellation processes that accompany the flares. We do not find a correlation between the flux cancellation events and the stepwise changes in the magnetic flux in the region.     

The results of measurements of heavy metals in atmospheric aerosols in the open areas of the Arctic Seas in 2009–2010

By experimental data on the concentration of toxic microelements (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, and Cr) in atmospheric aerosols over the White and Norwegian Seas in winter-spring period of 2009–2010, the contamination of air environment over two sea basins, significantly different by geographical conditions but being heavily impacted by North-European industrial centres, including the impact of the largest in the European Arctic Kola industrial centre, has been analyzed. It has been indicated and described that the air basin over the White Sea water area, when compared to the Norwegian Sea, is under a significantly greater impact of the emission sources of heavy metals, located on the Kola Peninsula.     

Lifetimes of High-Degree <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> Modes in the Quiet and Active Sun

We study variations of the lifetimes of high-ℓ solar p modes in the quiet and active Sun with the solar activity cycle. The lifetimes in the degree range ℓ=300 – 600 and ν=2.5 – 4.5 mHz were computed from SOHO/MDI data in an area including active regions and quiet Sun using the time – distance technique. We applied our analysis to the data in four different phases of solar activity: 1996 (at minimum), 1998 (rising phase), 2000 (at maximum), and 2003 (declining phase). The results from the area with active regions show that the lifetime decreases as activity increases. The maximal lifetime variations are between solar minimum in 1996 and maximum in 2000; the relative variation averaged over all ℓ values and frequencies is a decrease of about 13%. The lifetime reductions relative to 1996 are about 7% in 1998 and about 10% in 2003. The lifetime computed in the quiet region still decreases with solar activity, although the decrease is smaller. On average, relative to 1996, the lifetime decrease is about 4% in 1998, 10% in 2000, and 8% in 2003. Thus, measured lifetime increases when regions of high magnetic activity are avoided. Moreover, the lifetime computed in quiet regions also shows variations with the activity cycle.     

Heavy metals in the atmospheric precipitation on the Barents Sea coast

The results of heavy metal measurements in monthly precipitation samples are analyzed at biological station Dal’nie Zelentsy to define the role of the atmospheric precipitation in the marine environment pollution in the Barents Sea coastal region. Peculiarities of the atmospheric processes and the genesis of air masses bringing the precipitation and the extent of their effect on the precipitation pollution with heavy metals are considered based on the data obtained in 2001–2002. Of the air masses brining the precipitation to the Kola Peninsula coast the air masses of a marine origin have significant advantage. It is shown that weight average heavy metal (except copper) concentrations in the precipitation from the marine air masses on the Kola coast are higher than in the precipitation from the continental air masses. The emissions from local metallurgic enterprises influence the extent of the precipitation pollution with copper.     

Heavy Metals in Atmospheric Air in the Kara Sea Water Area in September–October 2011

Oceanology - The article presents the results of measurements of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co Cr, As, and Fe concentrations in atmospheric aerosols in the surface layer over the Kara Sea. The data were...