Absence Of Snow Cover Research Articles

NDWI as a method for studying natural and technogenic aufeis along the Lena Highway (Southern Yakutia)

The research conducted has yielded, for the first time, a quantitative evaluation of the NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) for the purpose of identifying areas of natural and technogenic aufeis within Southern Yakutia. In contrast to the widely used NDSI (Normalized Difference Snow Index) in aufeis investigations, the NDWI offers the advantage of delineating aufeis contours without being influenced by the presence or absence of snow cover. Calculations pertaining to the aufeis areas in the “Gorbyllakh” and “Durai” sections of the Federal Highway “Lena” during the winters of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 indicate a notable increase in these areas, attributed to heightened precipitation levels anticipated in the subsequent summer period. However, limitations of this approach include the interference of cloud cover in satellite imagery, which can obscure the study area, as well as the potential for ambiguous interpretations of shaded regions within the aufeis meadow, where the NDWI may suggest the presence of surface water.

Study of floods on the rivers of the Kaliningrad region at the beginning of 2020 in the absence of snow cover and ice

To develop measures for engineering protection of territories from flooding, it is necessary to identify spatiotemporal patterns in the formation of floods, since they are the cause of devastating floods in recent years. The paper presents the results of an analysis of flood phenomena on the rivers of the Kaliningrad region at the beginning of 2020. An array of observational data on daily water flows in rivers was processed, and the main components of the water balance of river basins were assessed by month (amount of precipitation, evaporation layer, monthly river flow layer, change in basin moisture reserves). It was found that the greatest amount of runoff was in February, while the highest amount of precipitation was in June; the highest runoff coefficient was in March and February (0.41), and in June it was only 0.03. Presumably, the main reasons for such phenomena are the distribution of the evaporation layer within the year and a decrease in the permeability of the upper soil layer for precipitation at low temperatures.

Simulation of Episodic Winter Warming on Dehardening of Boreal Forest Seedlings in Northern Forest Nurseries

In recent decades, forest nurseries in eastern Canada have been faced with periods of mild winter weather, delayed snowfall, and low seedling protective snow cover combined with winter rains instead of snowfall. These extreme conditions have resulted in the loss of millions of seedlings, in particular those that overwinter outdoors, probably due to their winter dehardening. The main objective of this study is to simulate different periods of warm weather at the beginning and end of winter and evaluate their effects on the dehardening and growth of Picea mariana and Picea glauca seedlings in response to different freezing temperatures. Three warming treatments were simulated (control, 1 day, and 3 days of warming at 10 °C) followed by three freezing temperatures (−4, −12, and −20 °C). In winter, regardless of the warming treatment, the seedlings of the two species tolerated the different freezing temperatures without any apparent damage. However, at the end of winter and in the absence of snow cover, the seedlings did not show frost tolerance at −20 °C. On the other hand, the seedlings showed normal growth after undergoing frosts at −4 °C and −12 °C, similar to that observed for control seedlings. Different cultural practices and protection strategies are proposed to improve frost tolerance and reduce the winter loss of seedlings.

Mountain Ferns: What Determines Their Elevational Ranges and How Will They Respond to Climate Change?

Mountains are the global centers of fern diversity and at the same time strongly affected by climate change, raising the question of how fern species and communities will respond to these changes. In the present review, which also includes our own unpublished data, we first outline the challenges of identifying distributional boundaries in ferns. We suggest that the elevational ranges of many fern species are determined by geographical constraints such as low mountain tops and sea level, as well as habitat availability rather than by climate. We then show that climate-range limits of ferns are driven by numerous physiological processes, not only involving the effects of cold and drought stress at high elevations, but also of drought stress coupled with high temperatures at low elevations, and possibly even of such poorly considered factors as low frost tolerance at low elevations in the absence of snow cover. Finally, there is also some evidence for biotic limitations, such as interspecific competition and the negative influence of leaf litter, especially in species-rich assemblages without extreme climatic factors. Overall, we find that elevational distributions of ferns are determined by a broad suite of factors, many of which do not involve physiological tolerance to climate or only indirectly so, and therefore that reactions of ferns to climate change will likely be species- and context-specific. We also emphasize the paucity of studies focusing both on the physiological limitations for fern growth and reproduction, and on biotic interactions affecting fern distributions. To overcome these knowledge gaps, we advocate a range of further studies, including resampling of old vegetation plots, lab experiments, and transplantation experiments, on both gametophytes and sporophytes.

Influence of Weather Conditions on the Spread of Fires in the Forest Fund of Zhytomyr Polesia

Fires are one of the critical factors in the weakening of forests. Given the high share of pine forests in the Zhytomyr Oblast, the conditions for fires are very favourable. Especially intense fires occurred in 2020, when rapid warming occurred in the spring, which in the absence of snow cover and the presence of intense winds in the February-March 2020 increased the fire danger in forests. The purpose of this study is to identify the features of the dynamics of the spread of fires in the forest stands of the Zhytomyr Oblast Department of Forestry and Hunting and assess the meteorological indicators that may affect their spread. Research methods: statistical – when analysing data on meteorological indicators and materials for accounting for forest fires. The study identified the specific features of the dynamics of fire spread in forest stands of Zhytomyr Oblast in 2014-2021. According to the analysis, there was a considerable increase in the number and area of fires in 2020 compared to the average figures for 2014-2019 and 2021 combined. During 2014-2021, 951 fires occurred on a forested area of 43,807.65 hectares. It was revealed that only 448 fires occurred in 2014-2019 and 2021, and 503 fires were recorded in 2020 on an area of 43,229 hectares. Among others, crown fires were recorded on an area of 6,389 hectares in the same 2020 year and on an area of 35.7 hectares in 2019 alone. The largest areas of crown fires were recorded on the territory of the State Enterprise “Ovrutske SF”, State Enterprise “Luhynske forestry”, State Enterprise “Ovrutske forestry” and State Enterprise “Slovechanske forestry”. The indicators of temperature, precipitation, and hydrothermal coefficient for 2014-2021 are analysed. The values of air temperature and precipitation were determined during the growing season, and the hydrothermal coefficient was calculated according to G.T. Selyaninov. The study established that the sum of air temperatures during the growing season was 3,127.6°C on average for 2014-2021. The highest temperature values were recorded during the growing season of 2018. According to the analysis of the amount of precipitation for the growing season 2014-2021, the indicators were set at 323.8 mm. The lowest precipitation rates were recorded in 2015. According to the ratio of temperature and precipitation indicators, the value of G.T. Selyaninov’s hydrothermal coefficient for the growing seasons of 2014-2021 was obtained, the average value of which was 1.04 units

Snow-Covered Tires Generate Microhabitats That Enhance Overwintering Survival of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Midwest, USA.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse), is a public health threat because it can potentially transmit multiple pathogenic arboviruses, exhibits aggressive diurnal biting, and is highly invasive. As Ae. albopictus moved northward into the United States, the limits of expansion were predicted as locations with a mean January temperature warmer than -2.5°C. We postulated that the range of Ae. albopictus could exceed these temperature limits if eggs in diapause overwinter in tires that provide an insulating effect from extreme temperatures. Fifteen tires with Ae. albopictus and Aedes triseriatus (Say) eggs, a native cold hardy species, were placed outside at five locations along a latitudinal gradient in Wisconsin and Illinois during the winter of 2018-2019; notably, in January 2019, a regional arctic air event brought the lowest temperatures recorded in over 20 yr. External and internal tire temperatures were recorded at 3 hr intervals, and egg survival was recorded after six months. Aedes albopictus eggs survived only from tires at northernmost locations. The mean internal January temperature of tires that supported survival was -1.8°C, while externally the mean temperature was -5.3°C, indicating that tires provided an average of +3.5°C of insulation. Tires that supported egg survival also had over 100 mm of snow cover during January. In the absence of snow cover, tires across the study area provided an average +0.79°C [95% CI 0.34-1.11] insulation. This work provides strong argument for the inclusion of microhabitats in models of dispersal and establishment of Ae. albopictus and other vector species.

Economic and biological assessment of Vaccinium angustifolium ait. in Udmurtia

The work is devoted to the comprehensive study of a new plant for the territory of the Udmurt Republic - Vaccinium angustifolium. Narrow-leaved blueberry is a promising berry shrub for cultivation in Central Russia. The plant is characterized by high winter hardiness and the ability to withstand temperature drops down to –40 °С, it can grow on poor, acidic, waterlogged soils. The aim of the work was to identify the biological characteristics and productivity parameters of V. angustifolium when introduced under the conditions of the Udmurt Republic. The studies were carried out using widely accepted methods. Phenological features, plant growth and development, productivity, frost resistance and winter hardiness were studied, an integral assessment of the viability and prospects of introduction was given. Morphometric characteristics of plants in 2020: plant height – 40.6±3.2 cm, crown diameter – 59.4±3.3 cm, average productivity – 854.7±60.1 g, average berry weight – 0,97±0.10 g. In the conditions of Udmurtia, blueberries showed stable growth with minimal damage to annual shoots and fruit buds in winter. With prolonged low negative temperatures in December in the absence of snow cover, the highest degree of freezing in individual plants was 2 points (weak freezing). According to the long-term assessment of winter hardiness in the field of Udmurtia, narrow-leaved blueberry can be attributed to the group of winter hardy. The use of the integral scale has shown that the introduction of V. angustifolium is promising (prospect group II – promising).

Statistical understanding for snow cover effects on near-surface ground temperature at the margin of maritime Antarctica, King George Island

Snow cover plays an important role in water supply through melting of snow/ice in polar ecosystem and environments, in particular, Antarctica. Although a site access to Antarctica is high-priced, measurements of ground surface temperature (GST) using small self-recording temperature sensors (iButtons) can provide a powerful and relatively inexpensive approach to trace the spatial and temporal distributions of soil temperature and in addition, absence/presence of snow cover. In this study, principal component analysis (PCA) was utilized to explain major patterns of GST from 128 sites at King George Island in maritime Antarctica. Variations of GST were monitored between December 2011 and January 2013. The iButtons were initially installed in snow free areas in the austral summer of 2011. Principal components 1 and 2 were associated with air temperature and snow cover, respectively. Both PCs showed good correlations with the mean GST of JJA (June to August), not with that of DJF (December to January). Based on the results excluding an outlier, PCA divided the 127 GST observations into three groups effectively: absence of snow cover (Group 1), intermittent snow cover (Group 2), and presence of snow cover (Group 3). Snow cover can supply water to the ecosystem and the GST pattern of Group 2 may imply an abundance and high productivity of mosses in the study area. Using approaches suggested by previous studies, snow cover showed up nine days (days 317–326), and the melt-out date was day 326 (KG125 in Group 2). The GST data and statistical approaches used in this study can be useful in other GST studies, particularly, for both polar regions.

Long-Term Evolution and Monitoring at High Temporal Resolution of a Rapidly Retreating Cliff in a Cold Temperate Climate Affected by Cryogenic Processes, North Shore of the St. Lawrence Gulf, Quebec (Canada)

This article focuses on the quantification of retreat rates, geomorphological processes, and hydroclimatic and environmental drivers responsible for the erosion of an unconsolidated fine-sediment cliff along the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Quebec, Canada). Annual monitoring using field markers over a period of twenty years, coupled with photo interpretation and historical archive analysis, indicates an average annual erosion rate of 2.2 m per year between 1948 and 2017. An acceleration in retreat occurred during the last 70 years, leading to a maximum between 1997 and 2017 (3.4 m per year) and 2000–2020 (3.3 m per year). Daily observations based on six monitoring cameras installed along the cliff between 2008 and 2012 allowed the identification of mechanisms and geomorphological processes responsible for cliff retreat. Data analysis reveals seasonal activity peaks during winter and spring, which account for 75% of total erosional events. On an annual basis, cryogenic processes represent 68% of the erosion events observed and subaerial and hydrogeological processes account for 73%. Small-scale processes, such as gelifraction, solifluction, suffosion, debris collapse, and thermoabrasion, as well as mass movement events, such as slides and mudflows, induced rapid cliff retreat. Lithostratigraphy and cliff height exert an important control on erosion rates and retreat modes, which are described by three main drivers (hydrogeologic, cryogenic, and hydrodynamic processes). Critical conditions promoting high erosion rates include the absence of an ice-foot in winter, the absence of snow cover on the cliff face allowing unrestricted solar radiation, the repetition of winter warm spells, snow melting and sediment thawing, and high rainfall conditions (>30 mm or SPI > 2). The relationships between hydroclimatic forcing and retreat rates are difficult to establish without taking into account the quantification of the geomorphological processes involved. The absence of quantitative data on the relative contribution of geomorphological processes can constitute a major obstacle in modeling the retreat of cliffs with regard to climate change.

МЕТЕОРОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ УCЛОВИЯ ВОЗНИКНОВEНИЯ ШТОРМОВОГО ВEТРA И ПЫЛЬНОЙ БУРИ В AТЫРAУCКОЙ ОБЛACТИ В ЯНВAРE 2021 Г.

The article discusses the atmospheric processes that caused the occurrence of storm wind and a dust storm in the Atyrau region on January 14, 2021. We provide synoptic maps and satellite images, actual and forecast data, analyze in detail the synoptic situation that led to the occurrence of the dangerous phenomena, as well as the general characteristics of the formation of dust storms in the western part of Kazakhstan. In the winter period, the north-eastern part of the Caspian Sea and the entire Atyrau region are under the influence of the western ridge of the Asian (Siberian) high pressure area. The center of high pressure in the winter is located over the central part of Mongolia, in the summer - over the European territory of Russia, therefore winds with a northerly component are a frequent phenomenon in the Atyrau region. We have established that the occurrence and development of dust storms were conditioned by a complex of meteorological factors, including a strong gale wind (more than 15 m/s), shallow freezing of the soil, desiccation and dispersion of the upper layer of the soil, absence of snow cover and ice crusts, weak vegetation cover, and presence of vast open spaces. The total material damage from the observed complex of dangerous phenomena in the territory of the Atyrau region amounted to 14.5 million tenge (34 thousand dollars).

АДАПТИВНІ ВЛАСТИВОСТІ СОРТУ ЯК ФАКТОР ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ВАЛОВОГО ЗБОРУ ЗЕРНА ПШЕНИЦІ ОЗИМОЇ

It is proved that one of the main reasons for the winter wheat yield decrease is damage of plants in the autumn-winter season by low temperatures in the absence of snow cover and the harmful effects of ground ice crust, which is formed due an alternation between long-term thaws and frosts. It was found that according to adaptability indicators the best for cultivation in the Steppe zone are Smuglianka, Lymarivna, Oriika, Mudrist odeska, Askaniiska varieties of winter wheat. All of them are char-acterized by the sufficient winter hardiness, frost and drought resistance. Over the years of research, the av-erage yield of these varieties was: Smuglianka – 5.31 t/ha, Lymarivna – 6.04 t/ha, Oriika – 6.08 t/ha, Mudrist odeska – 5.84 t/ha, Askaniiska – 6.90 t/ha. Studies was established that for cultivation in arid conditions of the Steppe zone considering the adap-tive and plastic properties of winter wheat, the best varieties were such as: Bohynia, Oleksiivka, Donetska 48, Smuglianka, Epokha Odeska, Kiriia, Zolotokolosa, Blahodarka Odeska, Boghdana, List 25, Rozkishna. It is determined that an important element of agricultural technology improvement for winter wheat cultivation in the eastern part of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine is the genetic potential consideration of modern varieties, namely adaptive properties to increasing of yield by 11–50 % and raise of gross grain har-vest. In particular, plastic varieties of winter wheat are characterized by the formation of consistently high yields in different weather conditions. It is established that the winter wheat varieties of Ukrainian selection and including of different groups of maturity are advisably to grow in a Steppe zone. The share of cultivation areas under early and medium-late varieties should be 10–15 %, and medium-early and medium-ripe – 30–45 %. Key words: variety, yield, weather conditions, productivity, winter hardiness, varietal characteristic.

Adaptability and productivity of new varieties of strawberry breeding of All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in the conditions of the Orenburg Urals

The article presents the results of the collection study of new varieties of strawberry breeding in All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in the conditions of the Ural region (on the example of the Orenburg region). Unfavorable climate features for strawberries in the Orenburg Urals are low negative temperatures at the beginning of winter in the absence of snow cover and dry conditions during the growing season. According to the results of the study, Bereginya, Tsaritsa, Kokinskaya, Rosinka, Studencheskaya varieties were distinguished by good adaptation, high productivity (more than 0.2-0.3 kg/bush), and large — fruiting (average weight-more than 9.0 g). According to the indicated parameters, these varieties surpassed the zoned variety Orlets.

Detailed detection of active layer freeze–thaw dynamics using quasi-continuous electrical resistivity tomography (Deception Island, Antarctica)

Abstract. Climate-induced warming of permafrost soils is a global phenomenon, with regional and site-specific variations which are not fully understood. In this context, a 2-D automated electrical resistivity tomography (A-ERT) system was installed for the first time in Antarctica at Deception Island, associated to the existing Crater Lake site of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring – South Program (CALM-S) – site. This setup aims to (i) monitor subsurface freezing and thawing processes on a daily and seasonal basis and map the spatial and temporal variability in thaw depth and to (ii) study the impact of short-lived extreme meteorological events on active layer dynamics. In addition, the feasibility of installing and running autonomous ERT monitoring stations in remote and extreme environments such as Antarctica was evaluated for the first time. Measurements were repeated at 4 h intervals during a full year, enabling the detection of seasonal trends and short-lived resistivity changes reflecting individual meteorological events. The latter is important for distinguishing between (1) long-term climatic trends and (2) the impact of anomalous seasons on the ground thermal regime. Our full-year dataset shows large and fast temporal resistivity changes during the seasonal active layer freezing and thawing and indicates that our system setup can resolve spatiotemporal thaw depth variability along the experimental transect at very high temporal resolution. The largest resistivity changes took place during the freezing season in April, when low temperatures induce an abrupt phase change in the active layer in the absence of snow cover. The seasonal thawing of the active layer is associated with a slower resistivity decrease during October due to the presence of snow cover and the corresponding zero-curtain effect. Detailed investigation of the daily resistivity variations reveals several periods with rapid and sharp resistivity changes of the near-surface layers due to the brief surficial refreezing of the active layer in summer or brief thawing of the active layer during winter as a consequence of short-lived meteorological extreme events. These results emphasize the significance of the continuous A-ERT monitoring setup which enables detecting fast changes in the active layer during short-lived extreme meteorological events. Based on this first complete year-round A-ERT monitoring dataset on Deception Island, we believe that this system shows high potential for autonomous applications in remote and harsh polar environments such as Antarctica. The monitoring system can be used with larger electrode spacing to investigate greater depths, providing adequate monitoring at sites and depths where boreholes are very costly and the ecosystem is very sensitive to invasive techniques. Further applications may be the estimation of ice and water contents through petrophysical models or the calibration and validation of heat transfer models between the active layer and permafrost.

ОЦЕНКА БАЛАНСА МАССЫ ЛЕДНИКА АЛЬДЕГОНДА (ЗАПАДНЫЙ ШПИЦБЕРГЕН) В 2015-2018 ГГ. НА ОСНОВЕ МОДЕЛИ ARCTICDEM, ГЕОДЕЗИЧЕСКИХ И ГЛЯЦИОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ДАННЫХ

The Aldegonda (Aldegondabreen) Glacier, located on the Nordenskjold Land, West Spitsbergen, covers the area of about 6 km2 (in 2018) and does constantly retreat since the very first observations of 1936. In August 2018, a topographic survey of the glacier was carried out. By comparing the results with the ArcticDEM model, built from space images of 2015, the difference in heights of the surface over three years had been calculated. Comparison of this difference with in situ data of glaciological measurements by the ablation stakes, made during the same period 2015–2018, demonstrated a high correlation between them. Considering the almost complete absence of snow cover on the glacier at the end of the summer season, the difference was recalculated into the spatial distribution of the specific mass balance by multiplying the ice density (0.88 g cm−3). Using the empirical dependence of the specific mass balance on the altitude above sea level, the obtained values were extrapolated to that part of the glacier which was not surveyed in 2018. The total loss of the Aldegonda Clacier mass for 2015–2018, calculated on the basis of topographic survey and the ArcticDEM, was estimated as 30.3 million tons (about 10.1 million tons per year). This magnitude gives the value of mean annual specific balance of approximately −1.76 m w.e, which is almost 2.5 times larger modulo than the previously published mean for the period 1936–1990, but close to the values of the early 2000s. Despite the small difference in the values obtained by geodetic and glaciological methods, the measurements does not show a systematic shift relative to each other and demonstrate approximately the same intervals of specific balance from the glacier tongue to its upper reaches (−1.08 ÷ −3.01 m w.e). This makes possible to conclude that the ArcticDEM model has the satisfactory vertical accuracy (both relative and absolute) to study on its basis changes in the surface height of an individual glacier.

Characterizing atmospheric controls on winter urban pollution in a topographic basin setting using Radon-222

Abstract Using hourly meteorological, air quality and radon observations over two winters (2016–2017 and 2017–2018), we combine diurnal and synoptic timescale radon-based mixing classification techniques, for the first time, to better understand air quality variability in the sub-Alpine city of Ljubljana. Of the two winters, only the second experienced significant snow cover (>1 month). A total of six mixing classes were defined for each winter: 5 diurnal and 1 synoptic (“persistent temperature inversion”, PTI); the latter being internally categorised as “strong” or “weak”. Diurnal and synoptic changes in mixing state played an important role in air quality variability in both winters. Little diurnal accumulation of local pollutants (CO, NO2, PM10 and BC) was observed for wind speeds ≥1.5 m s−1 (mixing classes #1 to #3). Under these windy conditions significant remote contributions to SO2 and O3 concentrations in Ljubljana were observed, primarily from the Po Valley region. The most stable conditions (class #5 and PTI days), characterized by nocturnal wind speeds ≤0.5 m s−1 or rates of 2 m air temperature change ≥1.5 °C h−1, were associated with the worst air quality conditions. Only under class #5 and PTI conditions did daily-mean PM10 concentrations exceed both EU and WHO guideline values. The absence of snow cover in the first winter resulted in stronger thermodynamic stability and higher pollution concentrations. Other contributing factors included a 28% larger traffic source near the monitoring site and a 17% greater consumption of heating fuel that winter in Ljubljana.

Thrips are dangerous pests of vegetable crops

Goal. To provide information about dangerous pests of vegetable crops — thrips. To describe the morphology and biology of the pest, the methods of spreading and harmfulness, provide information on the necessary phytosanitary measures to restrict its development and reduce the harmfulness, and to justify the need to use alternative biological methods to control the population of thrips in the conditions of the Southern steppe of Ukraine on an example of the most common of them — tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci Lind.).
 Methods. Informational and analytical. The collection of information was carried out in accessible specialized literature and the Internet.
 Results. The information about sucking pests of vegetable crops - thrips is given. Thrips are known for a long time, they belong to wide polyphages, that is they harm a wide range of cultural and wild plants (from 100 to 400 spesies). On an example of the most common of them — tobacco thrips (Thrips tabaci Lind.) there is given information about the morphology and biology of the pest, the methods of its spreading and harmfulness, as well as the information on the necessary phytosanitary measures for restriction its development and reduction of the harm. This most widespread and dangerous polyphage, due to its close connection with plants, where its entire life cycle develops - from eggs to imago, has inhabited almost all greenhouses. In the natural conditions of the southern region of Ukraine, the tobacco thrips were found on large areas of vegetable crops with the seedling method of their cultivation, mainly cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, watermelons, and the like. It harms bulbs in vegetable stores, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of garden plants and gardening material. The reaction of the plant to the damage by the trips is desensitization, which is manifested in growth retardation, distortion and loss of turgor of damaged leaves, which later become yellow and dries. Imago winter, mostly females, in greenhouses - in different slits, and in open ground - in the upper layer of soil at a depth of 7-10 cm, under plant remains or in the rootstock of perennials or weeds. At temperatures below 0 ° С and in the absence of snow cover, insects die. The pest spreads at all stages of development - eggs, larvae, imago - with planting material of vegetable crops (with plants or in soil), transport, containers, workers' tools, their clothes or footwear. This also occurs when collecting, packing and selling contaminated products. This is especially true for cabbage, with which the thrips can get to the greenhouse or indoor plants. In the conditions of the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine, the tobacco thrips can develop in open soil at temperatures over 10 ° C during the growing season from the second decade of May to the end of September, causing significant damage to vegetable crops. If this is the case, the pest can give 3-4 to 5-6 generations, depending on the weather conditions. In the population control of tobacco thrips, satisfactory results are received by systematic cultivation of plants with the following insecticides: Akketlik, Aktar, Phyitoverm, Karate Zeon, Confidor Maxi (with irrigation water) and others. It is obligatory to change preparations during the growing season. On the onion fields thrips is successfully reduced with insecticide of natural origin Spintor when using periodic spraying of plants. Because thrips are very resistant pests, therefore, in addition to insecticides, the use of predatory mites Amblyseius cucumeris, A. barken, A. derenerans, as well as predators of Orius laevigatus, O. magusaculus can be used to destroy them. Taking into account that nowadays the protection of vegetable crops takes the direction for the use of biological agents against pests - polyphages, special attention should be paid to the use of natural enemies of the tobacco thrips.
 Conclusions. In the natural conditions of the southern region of Ukraine, tobacco thrips were found on large areas of vegetable crops, therefore, there are all reasons for phytosanitary surveys of open-air vegetable crops to detect and eliminate this dangerous pest. Taking into account that nowadays the protection of vegetable crops takes the direction for the use of biological agents against pests - polyphages, special attention should be paid to the use of natural enemies of the tobacco thrips.

УДК 634.75:631.52 DOI: Оценка сортов земляники по устойчивости к неблагоприятным абиотическим факторам в условиях юго-западной части Нечерноземья России

The results of the study of strawberry varieties on resistance to adverse abiotic environmental factors have been presented. The researches were carried out in 2013-2017 inthe Kokino Base Station of All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery. The objects of research were 101 strawberry varieties of various genetic and ecological and geographical origins. It is shown that the signi fi cant damage to plants of strawberries have caused by low negative temperatures (from -20 0C) at the beginning of winter in the absence of snow cover. As a result of researches winter hardy varieties Vityaz’, Solovushka, Kupchikha, Kokinskayazarya, Slavutich, Nashe Podmoskov’e, Bereginya, Al’pha, Rusich, Bryanich have been revealed. In the group of mediumwinter hardiness (the degree of freezing is 2.0-2.5 points) 35 varieties, including Rosinka, Festival’naya Romashka, Amulet, Studencheskaya, Tsaritsa, Bogota, Divnaya, Surpriz Olympiade, Feyyerverk, Nadezhda, Naydena Dobraya, Venta, Onega and others have been classi fi ed. The strongest subfreezing (3,0-4,5 points) have been marked in 48 varieties, including Rozana kiyevskaya, Kokinskaya rannyaya, Mars, Kholidey, Dachnitsa, Irma, Vima Tarda, Nezabudka, Polka, Maryshka and others. The most unfavorable conditions for plants of strawberry have formed during fl owering in spring of 2017. More than 30% of the generative organs were damaged in the varieties Kokinskaya rannyaya and Irma. At the earliest neutral daily variety Lyubava the degree of subfreezing fl owers was low and made 13%. From the early varieties the increased resistance to spring frosts showed the varieties of breeding Kokino Base Station Rosinka and Kokinskaya Zarya, which is connected with the arrangement of buds and fl owers inside the bush. A low level of drought resistance and heat resistance showed the varieties Tenira, Mitse Shindler, Gloskap, Kokinskaya rannyaya, Onega, Yulduz, Akvarel’, Osennyaya zabava, Favorit, Khoney, Rozana kiyevskaya, Zenga Zengana. The extreme temperature conditions and moisture de fi ciency in the period of vegetation were best survived in the fi rst year of the fruiting varieties Kokinskaya zarya, Bereginya, Tsaritsa, Rusich, Kupchikha, Festival’naya, Nashe Podmoskov’e, Mars, Amulet, Maryshka, Bryanich and Venta.

Unprecedented heat wave in December 2015 and potential for winter glacier ablation in the eastern Alps

We document the occurrence in December 2015 of unprecedented high monthly mean temperatures in the observational record of mountain sites in the eastern Alps. For the first time in the last 150 years mean December temperature exceeded 0 °C at elevations between 2100 and 2500 m, with December mean anomalies exceeding 6.5 °C with respect to the 1971–2000 mean. Along with the absence of snow cover, such temperatures might have lead to unprecedented winter ablation of glaciers in this elevation range. Smaller temperature anomalies occurred in surrounding low elevation sites, highlighting the key role of topography in this event. Specifically, strong inversions associated with the very stable synoptic conditions during the month amplified the anomalies at the high elevations of the mountain glacier sites. We analyze the processes underlying this exceptional event and place this anomaly within the context of future warming scenarios over the region.

Surface and subsurface phosphorus export from agricultural fields during peak flow events over the nongrowing season in regions with cool, temperate climates

In cool temperate regions with significant winter periods, midwinter thaws and the spring freshet are critical periods for annual phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields. The efficacy of best management practices during the winter period is not clear. This paper reports hydrologic and biogeochemical P losses in surface runoff and tile drainage from two fields in Ontario, Canada, during peak flow events (~5 per site) occurring throughout the nongrowing season (October to April). We relate inter-event variability in the quantity and speciation (dissolved or particulate) of P to event climatic drivers (e.g., rainfall, rain-on-snow, and snowmelt) and pre-event soil conditions (e.g., presence or absence of snow cover or presence of frozen ground). Runoff and P (dissolved and particulate) were lost via both surface and subsurface (tile) pathways; however, P concentrations were greater and more variable in surface runoff than in tile drain effluent. The total P load leaving the sites with both overland runoff and tile drainage during the October through April period observed ranged from 0.23 to 0.34 kg ha⁻¹ (0.21 to 0.30 lb ac⁻¹). Particulate P concentrations, particularly in surface runoff, increased as the proportion of precipitation that fell as rainfall increased, and flow-weighted mean concentrations of particulate P were greatest when rain fell on thawed, bare soils. Particulate P represented between 70% and 90% of the total P loss in the observation period. In contrast, while dissolved reactive P loads were only 10% to 30% of the total P loss, dissolved reactive P concentrations were greatest in January and declined over the remainder of the season. This work provides insight for the design and implementation of suitable best management practices for the mitigation of P losses throughout the nongrowing season.

Supracondylar humerus fractures in children: the effect of weather conditions on their risk.

Supracondylar humerus fractures are the most common fractures of the elbow in children. Many environmental factors such as weather conditions may affect the risk of these fractures. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effect of weather conditions (temperature, rainfall, wind) on fracture risk in children <16 years of age during the extended summer time period with the absence of snow cover. All children <16 years of age with an outdoor supracondylar humerus fracture between May 1 and September 30 in a defined geographical area during the decade of 2000-2009 were included. Daily meteorological recordings for altogether 1526 study days were reviewed from the national weather service and the association of weather conditions and fractures were analyzed. A majority (79.7%, N=181) of the fractures occurred on dry days versus rainy days (20.3%) (P=0.011), and risk of a fracture was 3.5-fold higher on dry days as compared with rainy days (crude OR 3.5, 3.41-3.59, P<0.001). The weather was warm, instead of cool or hot, when the majority of the fractures (N=147, 64.8%) occurred (P=0.008): Warm temperatures (15-24.9°C) increased the fracture risk 2.6-fold (crude OR 2.64, 2.59-2.70, P<0.001), compared with cool (<15°C) days. The fracture incidence did not change according to the wind speed (P=0.171). The findings were similar through the school term and summer vacation. Dry and warm weather conditions increase the risk of outdoor supracondylar humerus fractures in children during the time period with the absence of snow cover.