Vol 41, No 1 (2016)

The trend significance and the residual variability of integral atmospheric characteristics in the atmospheric action centers in the Asian-Pacific region in summer in 1950-1979 and 1980-2012 are computed. Basic differences are revealed between trends in circulation and residual variability in the atmo spheric action centers in the surface pressure field and in the field of geopotential H₅₀₀ for these time periods. Increase in significant trends for the whole period and decrease in residual variability were found in the area of the Asian low in 1980-2012. A significant trend was observed in June and September in the area of the Hawaiian high. The summer Far Eastern low has intensified in recent years. The Okhotsk high strengthened in May and weakened in June, August, and September in the 2000s.

Based on the AIRS satellite spectrometer data (the Aqua platform), the peculiarities are studied of the field of total ozone (TO) under prolonged blocking conditions over the European part of Russia in summer 2010. It is revealed that the spatial distribution of TO values during the period of blocking was characterized by negative TO anomalies (up to -37 DU on the first ten days of August) over the western and northern peripheries of the blocking anticyclone and by positive TO anomalies (up to 60 DU) over the troughs adj oinmg the anticyclone. Possible mechanisms of the formation of TO anomalies are discussed. The results are presented of the validation of TO measurements with the AIRS spectrometer in May-September 2010 obtained from the data of TO measurements with Brewer spectrophotometers at Kislovodsk and Obninsk stations of the global ozone network.

The paper presents the analysis of hydrophysical observations executed along the Transcaspian section in 2004-2014 during the expeditions by Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of Russian Academy of Sciences. The results used in the paper are the generalization of data obtained in the last decade. Investigations of the current system of the Central Caspian Sea demonstrated that at the northeastern part of the cyclonic circulation there are considerable deviations. The deposits that energy of current disturbances of various spatiotemporal scales makes to the general energy of currents, are calculated. Preliminary results are received of the assessment of water transfer through the Apsheron threshold from the Central to the Southern Caspian Sea and vice versa. It is shown that annual recurrence of concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the benthonic hollows of the Caspian Sea is directly connected with seasonal and synoptic variability of currents at the bottom.

The development of GIS technologies and the availability of a wide range of geodatasets provide great potential for modeling physiographic objects, in particular, river systems. The adequate automatic method of river network digitizing was developed and tested using the digital elevation model based on applying the Complex Energy Index (CEI); the results are presented. The index form includes the independent parameterization of main geomorphologic and climatic factors of the first-order stream generation. The method testing proved that it is efficient and the results of its use can be reliably interpreted. The software was developed on the basis of ArcGIS tools. It implements the full algorithm of the automatic digitizing of river network using the digital elevation model. It also allows advancing studies on this issue, and could be used for solving applied problems.