Distribution of chaetognaths in the central part of the Drake Passage

The mesoscale distribution of two chaetognath species, Eukrohnia hamata and Sagitta gazellae, found in the Drake Passage in October and November of 2008 was studied using a stationary grid in the area of the Antarctic Polar Front. The distance between the stations was around ten miles. The most abundant chaetognath species was Eukrohnia hamata, which accounted for 86.7% of all the individuals collected. In the upper 200 m, the average abundance of chaetognaths decreased from 2.1 to 0.8 ind./m³, and their average biomass decreased from 1.25 to 0.25 mg/m³ over the transition through the front from the north to the south. The high heterogeneity of the spatial chaetognath distribution in the area was demonstrated: the abundance of the chaetognaths could increase or decrease over 20 miles by a factor of 45 (6.8 and 0.15 ind./m³). In addition, two peaks were revealed in the size structure of the E. hamata population, probably indicating two periods of reproduction in this species in the Drake Passage.     

A narrow-band tunable solar filter for the near-infrared spectral region

A narrow-band tunable solar filter was constructed for the near-infrared spectral region. It is a pre-monochromator consisting of a double monochromator with dispersion subtraction, while the final passband is formed by a scanning Fabry–Pérot interferometer. Such a filter can be realized in practice for any optical spectral region. The tuning range of the filter for the near-infrared is 9000–11000 Å, FWHM of the passband equals 0.24 Å at the Hei 10830 Å line. The angular field of view on the sky is 3.6 for a diameter of the telescope of 100 mm. Filtergrams of the active region NOAA 8076 in the Hei 10830 Å line were obtained on 28 August 1997, the profiles of this line in the selected points of the image, and radial velocity field are presented.     

Rings of debris in near-Earth space

The formation of space debris as an accumulation of small heavenly bodies in near-Earth space is considered. How debris can arise in near-Earth space is described. The accumulation of debris is shown to have a ring structure. The formation and spatial distribution of debris are statistically analyzed. A hypothesis for the formation of debris rings in near-Earth space is proposed.     

Analysis of the “Ulitka” noise background as an anti-coincidence filter for the OGRAN gravitational-wave antenna

An analysis of experimental data from the ??Ulitka?? high-frequency gravitational-gradient meter installed in the underground Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences is presented, focusing on the planned use of this instrument as an ??anti-coincidence filter?? for the OGRAN gravitational-wave antenna. The statistics of the Ulitka noise background over a year??s observing are analyzed, and compared with the background measured earlier when Ulitka was located on the territory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute in Moscow. A reduction in the rate of occurrence of large nonthermal spikes is noted. We have found associations between earthquakes and excitations of the seismically isolated high-frequency mode of the longitudinal oscillations of Ulitka.     

Interannual variability of the zooplankton on the shelf of the northeastern Black Sea in the autumn period

The variability of the mesozooplankton stock in the shelf pelagic communities was studied in the late summer and autumn of 2006–2008. The plankton community’s structure and distribution were described for the shoreward transect (Gelendzhik city vicinity). The indirect and direct effect of the ctenophores Mnemiopsis leidyi and Beroe ovata on the mesozooplankton community was studied. The long-term changes in the meso- and macroplankton communities of the Black Sea were analyzed for the period of 2001–2008. The effects of the climatic factors, the water mass circulation, and the factors’ interplay on the mesozooplankton dynamics were assessed. Despite the wide range of the environmental conditions, the stock biomass of Mnemiopsis leidyi appeared to be quite stable within the studied period.     

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphism (CO1) of three dominant copepod species in the South Atlantic

The Southern Ocean is characterized by the complex system of oceanic fronts that maintain the latitudinal zonality of biotopes. These fronts are boundaries of water masses with different hydrophysical characteristics. We explore the genetic differentiation of the dominant zooplankton species in regards to the complex hydrophysical zonality of the Southern Ocean. The barcoding region of mitochondrial CO1 gene was sequenced for three copepod species, Calanus simillimus, Rhincalanus gigas, and Metridia lucens. These species are the most abundant in the Southern Ocean and form the basis of the zooplankton community. Genetic differentiation was found neither for Calanus simillimus nor for Rhincalanus gigas. The mitochondrial haplotypes of Metridia lucens cluster in two genetically distant groups (Subantarctic and Antarctic) found together only in the Polar Front Zone.     

Near-Earth space as an object of global monitoring

Near-Earth space is analyzed as a specific object for global monitoring. The structure and specific features of near-Earth space are considered. It is shown that this zone includes almost all the terrestrial fields and the regions where space is actively explored by man.     

Large-scale Structure of the Chromospheric Doppler Velocities on the Solar Disk from 2D-spectroscopy within the He I 10830 Å Line

A distribution map of the large-scale chromospheric Doppler velocities on the solar disk for 5 June 2002 is presented. The map was obtained using a 2D-spectroscopy technique within the He?i 10830 Å line. The spatial resolution of the map is about 30 arc sec. The map demonstrates a downflow in the chromosphere over active regions, especially significant around the spots and inside the plages. Positive Doppler velocities correspond to strong magnetic field areas, regardless of the field sign. Three major chromospheric outflow zones are observed: an equatorial and two polar ones. Each area of substantial negative Doppler velocities matches a zone of weak intensity of inner corona observed within the Fe?ix-x 171 Å line by the SOHO spacecraft. A Doppler velocity histogram and the dependence of the Doppler velocities on the cosine of the heliocentric angle for the solar disk are calculated. The total mass outflow from the upper chromosphere is estimated as 2×10¹³ g s^?1. Four percent of this amount is sufficient to produce the fast solar wind.

     

Gravitational redshift test with the space radio telescope “RadioAstron”

The space radio telescope “RadioAstron” is equipped with a high performance hydrogen maser frequency standard and thus provides a unique opportunity for a gravitational redshift test. We consider various modes of operation of the on-board scientific equipment and their impact on accuracy of the anticipated experiment. We find that the accuracy of the test is limited by ～10^?2 for the hardware configuration routinely used in radio astronomical observations, which is a consequence of using ballistic data to remove the nonrelativistic Doppler frequency shift from the analyzed signal. On the other hand, the so-called “Semi-coherent” mode of the on-board hardware provides for combining the space and ground maser signals in such a way that the resulting signal carries information about the useful effect but is free from the nonrelativistic Doppler and tropospheric frequency shifts. The proposed compensation scheme, which is different from the one used in the Gravity Probe A experiment, allows for testing the gravitational redshift effect with ～10^?6 accuracy.