Том 58, № 5 (2018)

The paper presents the results of an analysis of hydrological data obtained on cruise 89 of the R/V Professor Vodyanitskii from September 30 through October 19, 2016, in the central area of the northern Black Sea. Currents were measured using a lowered acoustic Doppler current profiler (LADCP) to a depth of 350 m. Examples of the current velocity profiles and conditional density at individual stations are presented. The averaged characteristics of the vertical current structure in the seasonal and permanent pycnoclines are discussed. The isopycnally averaged kinetic energy (KE) demonstrates an almost linear dependence on the conditional density (σ_θ). In the seasonal pycnocline, EK = 0.2–0.013σ_θ; in the permanent pycnocline, EK = 0.12–0.007σ_θ. An interpretation is given for the variability of the kinetic energy with depth. It is shown that the maxima of the averaged vertical shear profile correspond to the occurrence depth of the seasonal and permanent pycnoclines. The mean Richardson number has a value of ~10 in the upper sea layer and decreases with depth, assuming a value of ~3 at the 300 m horizon. The estimate for the vertical turbulent diffusion coefficient from the simplified model shows its increase with depth.

Schemes of surface flows near northwestern Kamchatka are shown, compiled from in situ observation data, numerical-model-derived data, satellite altimetry measurement data, and results calculated by the dynamic method. The flow characteristics obtained by various methods are compared. No statistically significant linear dependence of the velocities of absolute and geostrophic currents were detected. A linear dependence was observed between the directions of geostrophic flows calculated by the standard dynamic method and from satellite altimetry data, as well as between directions measured by the Argonaut MD and the calculated model. We have estimated the fraction of the ageostrophic component in currents. According to geostrophic current calculations by different methods, it ranged from 86 to 93%. A significant limitation of this data is the difficulty of their interpretation. They may not always give a perfect representation of stable water circulation in the studied area under.

Thermochains for Black Sea hydrophysical studies are described, and the features of their displacement at the moored buoy station with subsurface buoyancy are considered. A technique for calibrating the temperature sensors is described and their stability is estimated by comparing the obtained calibration coefficients with the values established in previous calibrations. The characteristics of the temperature sensors, including the time constant are specified, as well as their reading error with respect to the reference thermometer. The performed metrological studies prove that the temperature sensors used in the thermochains work rather stably and make measurements with an accuracy of ± 0.01 °C for several months of operation in marine conditions. This allows to determine adequately the temperature at various horizons in the water environment of the shelf-slope zone of the Black Sea and to study not only its short-period, but also long-term variability.

This work presents the first results of a comparative study on the composition and distribution of organic matter (OM) (TOC, n-alkanes, pristane, phytane) in ferromanganese nodules and underlying sediments (0–1 cm) from three sites within the Clarion–Clipperton Fracture Zone, Pacific Ocean. Samples were collected during Cruise 120 of the RSS James Cook in 2015. The studied nodules differ in size, shape, and morphology. The TOC content in the nodules is 0.15% on average with insignificant variations which is less than in the sediments. The molecular composition of n-alkanes in the nodules is mainly determined by modern bacterial activity with high preservation of terrigenous n-alkanes in the environment of the ore deposit formation.

The chlorophyll a concentration (Cchl a) in the Sea of Azov is estimated by the two-band NIR-red algorithm [34] from MERIS images for 2002–2012. The sea-truth spectrophotometric measurements and MERIS remote estimates of Cchl a are compared. The monthly average Cchl a values are mapped from MERIS data for its lifetime for the first time. The features of the spatiotemporal distribution of Cchl a are ascertained. Differences between the seasonal dynamics of Cchl a in the Sea of Azov according to the literature data and the dynamics derived from MERIS data are found, namely: the summer–autumn phytoplankton growth period is longer than the spring period and is characterized by higher Cchl a values throughout the water area.

The species compositions of the genus Chironomus in the Curonian and Vistula lagoons are very similar, represented by Ch. plumosus and Ch. balatonicus. In the Curonian Lagoon, in addition to these two species, Ch. muratensis and the first-generation interspecific hybrid Ch. muratensis × Ch. plumosus are also found. In this lagoon, Ch. plumosus occurs most frequently (84%); Ch. balatonicus is considered a subdominant species (24%). In the Vistula Lagoon, on the contrary, the high frequency of occurrence is typical of Ch. balatonicus (89%); for Ch. plumosus, it reaches only 11%. The Ch. plumosus population occupies most of the Curonian Lagoon; Ch. balatonicus is present only in its northern part, from the village of Juodkrante to the city of Klaipeda. In the Vistula Lagoon, Ch. balatonicus is distributed over almost its entire area, while Ch. plumosus is found locally, only near the mouth of the Nogat River. The distribution of the sibling species in the lagoons is determined by the salinity gradient.

The paper presents new information on the chemical composition of the insoluble aerosol fraction in the atmospheric surface boundary layer of different climatic zones of the North Atlantic (temperate humid, arid and semiarid, equatorial humid). The material for this study was collected during 12 expeditions. Nylon meshes were used to catch aerosols along the course of vessels. Aerosols above the North Atlantic consist of lithogenic, biogenic, and anthropogenic particles transported from different regions, which governs the differences in their concentrations and mineral and chemical compositions. Significant (by more than an order of magnitude) enrichment of aerosols in Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Sb, and Se is related to anthropogenic atmospheric pollution.

The task of targeted sampling of sediments in the immediate vicinity of objects presumed to be sources of chemical pollution of the sea has been solved. A cassette sampler with six grabs was built, which is constantly controlled by cable under video surveillance. The device is operated from a light boat, which can be kept in place over the object and moved in a preset direction. Positioning at the moment of sampling is carried out by fixing the coordinates of the boat by GPS/GLONASS. The efficiency of the developed sampling system is proved by successful use of the device in surveying a number of potentially hazardous underwater objects found in chemical weapons disposal areas in the Baltic Sea.

The paper presents the results of marine testing of a digital holographic module for recording and measuring zooplankton. The tests based on the use of measuring-technological platform earlier developed at IO RAS were performed in summer 2016 in the Kara Sea during cruise 66 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh. The upper water layer was sensed down to the 240 m horizon, which resulted in successful recording of about 100 Gb of digital holographic frames with reference to continuous depth profiles of electric conductivity in situ. Tests conducted under summer Arctic sea conditions confirmed the validity of the technical solutions. Based on the results, a list of upgrades to the holographic module was compiled for successful implementation of the latter in ocean research.