Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Air Quality in Moscow

Doklady Earth Sciences - The results of an analysis of changes in the atmospheric air quality in Moscow during the lockdown period and the decline in business activity caused by the COVID-19...     

Holocene Faunal Trends in West Siberia and Their Causes

Based on an analysis of the transformation of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of West Siberia in the Holocene, the classification and periodization of the main faunal trends are presented. Against the background of changing environmental conditions, the key regularities of the faunal dynamics, and the ways some species penetrate into the territory of the region and others disappear from the beginning of the Holocene to the present time have been indicated. Three global and four fluctuating trends are identified. The anthropogenic trend is ascertained separately. A conclusion is made about the prevailing causes of these changes, associated primarily with periodic climatic processes of different levels, determined by planetary geological and cosmic cycles. It is emphasized that, in the historical period, anthropogenic factors play a significant role in the regional faunal dynamics.     

Comparative assessment of the metal load in the bays and inlets of Murmansk coast by the metal pollution index

Comparative assessment of pollution by metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Fe, and As) was performed for the first time for the bays and inlets of the Murmansk coast of the Barents Sea; the international Metal Pollution Index (MPI) was applied for the fucoids. The background pollution was assessed for each studied element by MPI in the fucoids taking into account the seawater salinity. It was found that the MPI index calculated for fucoids might be recommended for the qualitative assessment of the metal pollution level with regard to the water salinity for both the studied sampling sites and the natural environment. The comparative monitoring of Pb, Cu, Cd, Fe, and As concentrations in the bays and inlets of the Murmansk coast of the Barents Sea using MPI evidenced that Pechenga Inlet was the most polluted area; Korabel’naya Inlet was the least polluted, which reflected the existing level of the anthropogenic load.     

Using SRTM Elevation Matrices in Preliminary Calculations and Mapping of the Depths of the Potential Flood Inundation of Fluvial Plains

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - This article shows the possibility of using the SRTM model to search for the best options for detailed ground-based engineering surveys in flat treeless...     

Temperature and Humidity Regime Changes on the Black Sea Coast in 1982-2014

Specific features of climate change in the Black Sea and on its northeastern coast for the period of 1982-2014 are investigated based on weather station data, ERA-Interim reanalysis, and satellite data on sea surface temperature. The main trends in air temperature and precipitation are revealed from weather station data and are compared with reanalysis data. The spatial peculiarities of variations in air temperature, integrated water vapor, moisture flux divergence, CAPE, and vertical velocity are analyzed. It is shown that air temperature variations on the coast highly correlate with sea surface temperature. In general, surface air temperature in the region has risen, especially in summer. Despite the increase in integrated water vapor and CAPE, no statistically significant increase was revealed for the mean amount of precipitation, for its intensity and maximum values. This fact might be associated with the moisture flux divergence increase in the region due to the intensification of large-scale downdrafts.     

Scenario-Based Forecasts of Changes in the Temperature and Hydrological Regime of Crimea in the XXI Century by Data of CMIP6 Climate Models

Water Resources - Scenario projections of climate changes in the XXI century in Crimea are presented based on the data of an ensemble of models of the recent generation CMIP6 for aggressive SSP585...     

The evolution of the southern margin of the East European Craton based on seismic and potential field data

This paper presents an integrated geophysical study of the southern margin of the East European Craton (EEC) in the Karpinksy Swell-North Caucasus area. It presents new interpretations of deep refraction and wide-angle reflection “deep seismic sounding” (DSS) data as well as conventional seismic and CDP profiling and new analyses of potential field data, including three-dimensional gravity and magnetic modelling. An integrated model of the physical properties and structure of the Earth's crust and, partially, upper mantle displays distinct features that are related to tectonic history of the study area. The Voronezh Massif (VM), the Ukrainian Shield and Rostov Dome (RD) of the EEC as well as the Donbas Foldbelt (DF), Karpinsky Swell (KS), Scythian Plate (SP) and Precaspian Basin (PCB) constitute the geodynamic ensemble that developed on the southern margin of the continent Baltica. There proposed evolutionary model comprises a stage of rifting during the middle to late Devonian, post-rift extension and subsidence during Carboniferous–early Permian times (synchronous with and related to the southward displacement of the Rostov Dome and extension in a palaeo-Scythian back-arc basin), and subsequent Mesozoic and younger evolution. A pre-Ordovician, possibly Riphean (?), mafic magmatic complex is inferred on a near vertical reflection seismic cross-section through the western portion of the Astrakhan Dome in the southwest part of the Precaspian Basin. This complex combined with evidence of a subducting slab in the upper mantle imply the presence of pre-Ordovician (Riphean?) island arc, with synchronous extension in a Precaspian back-arc basin is suggested. A middle Palaeozoic back-arc basin ensemble in what is now the western Karpinsky Swell was more than 100 km to the south from its present location. The Stavropol High migrated northwards, dislocating and moving fragments of this back-arc basin sometime thereafter. Linear positive magnetic anomalies reflect the position of associated faults, which define the location of the eastern segment of the Karpinsky Swell. These faults, which dip northward, are recognised on crustal DSS profiles crossing the Donbas Foldbelt and Scythian Plate. They are interpreted in terms of compressional tectonics younger than the Hercynian stage of evolution (i.e., post-Palaeozoic).     

Estimates of Direct Radiative Forcing Impact on Surface Air Temperature Changes in the Modern Period

Doklady Earth Sciences - Estimates of the contribution of direct radiative forcing (DRF) to the surface air temperature trends over the Northern Hemisphere (NH) continents for the period...