Fine structure of the temperature field and the transfrontal exchange in the East Kamchatka current

CTD data are used to study the relationship between the temperature field fine structure and the location of the frontal zones and synoptic eddies in the region adjacent to the eastern coast of the Kamchatka peninsula. High levels of fine structure activity were observed in the frontal zone of the East Kamchatka current and in the peripheries of anticyclonic eddies. Estimates of the coefficient of the horizontal turbulent exchange and the transfrontal (lateral) heat flux are derived.Translated by Mikhail M. Trufanov.     

Seasonal and Inter-Annual Variability of Wind-Driven Upwelling near the East Coast of Sakhalin Island Based on QuikSCAT/SeaWinds Scatterometer Data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - In this paper, seasonal and interannual upwelling variability in the Sea of Okhotsk off the eastern coast of Sakhalin Island based on wind data obtained...     

Wind effects on the upwelling variability in the coastal zone of Primorye (the northwest of the Sea of Japan)

The variability of upwelling events in the coastal zone of Primorye in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan is studied using the SeaWinds/QuikSCAT scatterometer wind data for the period of 1999-2009. The intensity of upwelling is defined by the wind-induced offshore Ekman transport (the upwelling index). It was found that along the southern coast of Primorye upwelling events occur from September to March (April). The winter monsoon period is the most favorable for the upwelling development. In the eastern part of the coastal zone of Primorye upwelling is observed in transitional seasons between winter and summer monsoon (February-April and September-October). On the northeastern coast of Primorye, the upwelling season is from August to October (November). The common feature of the coastal zone of Primorye is a wind-driven upwelling in autumn (September-October). The interannual variability of winter upwelling along the southern coast of Primorye is related to the East Asia high pressure center (the Siberian High). The upwelling intensifies in the years with positive air pressure anomalies in the Siberian High and weakens in the years with negative anomalies.     

Stratification background conditions for development of double-diffusion processes in the North Pacific

Based on mean multiyear temperature and salinity data structural zones and layers are isolated. Within their limits there are favourable conditions for the development of processes such as layer convection and salt fingers. It is shown that distribution of their parameters is conditioned by location of intermediate water mass boundaries and front interfaces. Stability of the density ratio valueR for various areas is revealed. The obtained results are in good agreement with STD=sounding data. Compared are profiles ofR and local estimates of heat and salt fluxes for various structural zones.UDK 551.465.15     

The influence of the Amur river runoff on the biogeochemical cycle of iron in the Sea of Okhotsk

The report considers the distribution of the salinity, the particulate matter, and the dissolved and particulate forms of iron in the Amur Liman and Sakhalin Gulf under different volumes of the riverine runoff during the summer periods. It was shown that the influence of the runoff variations is pronounced in the composition of the surface layer of the estuarine and coastal waters but smoothed within the bounds of the Sakhalin Gulf. The dissolved iron is additionally exposed to the smoothing effect of the coagulation processes under the mixing of the riverine and marine waters. The calculation of the iron utilization by the plankton points to the key role of the production processes in the Sakhalin Gulf for the further migration of iron over the Sea of Okhotsk.     

Mesoscale Eddies in the Bering Sea from Satellite Altimetry Data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The dynamics of mesoscale eddies in the Bering Sea is studied by the method for automated eddy identification on the basis of altimetry-derived...     

Hydrological processes in the Amur Liman

Data collected in 2005–2009 are analyzed to study the main features of hydrological processes in the main part of the Amur estuary—the Amur Liman. Data on the morphological structure of the liman and the surge and tidal phenomena are analyzed. The variability of salinity field in different phases of river hydrological cycle is studied. Wind currents are shown to have an appreciable effect on the water exchange and river runoff distribution between the seas of Japan and Okhotsk in the ice-free season. In summer, the Amur runoff enters the Sea of Okhotsk. The main features of the structure of liman water in summer are identified. The northern part of the estuary is freshened by river runoff and partially mixed; it has a two-layer structure. A salt wedge forms at the northern exit from the liman into the Sea of Okhotsk, and strong water stratification is observed there.     

Origin of ferruginous quartzites of the Kursk magnetic anomaly

Based on electron microscopic studies of minerals from iron-ore formations, a conclusion on different geneses of the composing rocks is made. Quartz of ferruginous quartzites originated through metasomatic transformation of primary biogenic limestones, while iron minerals were formed due to cyclic iron supply from deep-seated sources. Schists’ interlayers correspond to breaks in carbonate precipitation in periods of supply of terrigenous material from land or pyroclastics from volcanoes.     

Sub-Mesoscale Vortex Streets in the Region of the Shantar Islands (Sea of Okhotsk), According to Satellite Remote Sensing Data

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Images in the visible range of the MODIS Terra/Aqua and ETM+ Landsat 7/OLI Landsat 8 satellites are used to study vortex streets (VSes) in the region of...