Ural Mountains Research Articles

Upstream–Downstream Asymmetry in Multiscale Interaction Underlying the Northern Hemisphere Atmospheric Blockings

Abstract The typical blockings over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Ural Mountain regions are investigated for an understanding of their dynamical interactions in a unified treatment with their respective basic flows and high-frequency processes, respectively. Thanks to the localized nature of the new methodology as used in this study, for the first time we identify a dipolar structure (for each of the three regions) in the map of the interscale energy transfer from the basic flow to the composite blocking, with a positive center upstream and a negative center downstream. This indicates the crucial role of the instability of the basic flow in the maintenance of blockings, which has been overlooked due to the bulk nature of the spatially integrated energetics (by summing the transfer over the whole blocking, the two centers essentially cancel out, leaving an insignificant bulk transfer). For the interaction between the blocking and the high-frequency storms, the well-known critical role of the upscale forcing in blocking development is confirmed. But, unexpectedly, except for that over the Atlantic where the forcing exists throughout, over the other two regions the forcing is found to occur mainly downstream. This is quite different from what the classical theory, e.g., the famous eddy strain mechanism of Shutts, would predict.

Physical and chemical indicators and technological properties of cowʼs milk depending on the linear origin

Relevance. Milk is not only one of the most consumed food sources for Russian citizens, but also a valuable raw material for food production. Its composition is influenced by many factors, including origin. To obtain it, dairy cattle are used, including Holstein, created by absorbing the breeding stock of domestic black-and-white cattle by bulls of the Holstein breed. The study of physicochemical parameters and technological properties of milk of cows of a new genetic formation of dairy cattle in the Middle Urals zone is of both scientific and practical interest.Results. As a result of the research, it was found that the best indicators for the nutritional value of milk were found in the milk of the cows of the Montvik Chieftain line, the calorie content of which was higher than that of the milk of cows of other lines by 1.7 and 1.3%. It had more MJ, MDB, which had a positive effect on the content of dry matter and SOMO in the milk of cows of this line. Significant differences were found in the content of fat (MJ) and protein (MDP) in the milk of cows, as well as casein in favor of milk obtained from cows of the Montvik Chieftain line (р ≤ 0.05–0.01, respectively, in terms of indicators). The increased content of protein in the milk of cows of this group allows us to speak about the effectiveness of its use in cheesemaking, which is confirmed by indicators of cheese suitability and rennet coagulability. In the milk of cows of the Montvik Chieftain line, the duration of rennet clotting of milk (the duration of clot formation) was shorter by 7–8 min. according to Dilanyan and by 7'43''–10'11'' — according to N.V. Barabanshchikov).

Only daughters caring for their aging mothers in Ufa, Russia

Russia is not the only country in the world that relies heavily on informal caregiving, but what makes Russia unique is the number of single-parent one-child families. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the transition from state socialism to market capitalism, little has changed in terms of the social protection of older adults. Unaffordable home care services, low pensions, bifurcation of the formerly free healthcare into state and private sectors, the invisibility of people with disabilities, and the absence of quality nursing homes, have left adult children in Russia no choice but to bear the full burden of caregiving for their aging parents completely alone. Given the scarcity of research that examines informal caregiving in Russia in general and in provincial cities in particular, this study addresses this gap by centering on previously unheard voices of a unique group of women: only children of single mothers from Ufa, a metropolitan city in the Ural Mountains. Twenty middle-aged (M = 40.75, SD = 3.43), college-educated women participated in a two-hour, semi-structured interview. Inductive thematic analysis revealed three themes: incongruence with the microenvironment, aging in the “cement box,” and distrust of outsiders. The findings suggest material and cultural constraints that female caregivers face as they negotiate the mothers’ discordance with the microenvironment of Khrushchev-era apartments.

Agrotechnological evaluation of spring barley cultivation in the conditions of the Middle Urals

The studies were carried out in 2016–2020 on dark grey forest soil in the conditions of the Sverdlovsk region in a long-term stationary experiment. The object of observation was the spring barley Sonnet. The agrotechnological methods of spring barley cultivation were assessed in a two-factor experiment: factor A - crop rotations (precursor); factor B - food background. It was established that in the 0–50 cm layer during the sowing period, soil moisture availability on average for the predecessors varied in the range of 64.4–80.3 mm. The introduction of mineral fertilisers and their combinations with organic fertilisers in field crop rotations increased the reserves of productive moisture by 7–10 mm. The highest total nitrate and ammonium nitrogen content was noted during barley germination. The systematic use of fertilisers increased mineral nitrogen in the arable layer by 6.3–14.3 m/kg compared with the control (11.5–12.8 mg). A close positive relationship was found between the moisture content and mineral nitrogen in the 0–20 cm layer in the phase of barley seedlings. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.67. During the crop rotation, there was no noticeable difference between the predecessors regarding the effect on the barley yield. In control, it varied at 2.63–2.77 t/ha. On fertilised nutrition backgrounds, an excess of grain harvest by 0.2–0.47 t/ha was revealed hectares when placing it as the second crop after the pure fallow to the occupied. On average, for predecessors, fertilisers provided an additional grain harvest at 1.53–1.54 t/ha compared to the control (2.71 t/ha). The organometal background of nutrition was not inferior to mineral fertilisers in terms of its impact on the productivity of grain forage crops—payback 1 kg a.i. Depending on the predecessor on the mineral background of nutrition, Fertilizers varied from 13.2 to 19.1 kg of grain. The maximum was noted in the grain-grass crop rotation. With a combination of organic and mineral fertilisers, the return decreased to 8.4–12.0 kg. A strong correlation was revealed between barley yield and mineral nitrogen content in the arable layer. On average, for the growing season, it was r = 0.97.

Trace metals in surface water of the Pechora River and its tributaries: Content, water quality and risks assessment (Arctic Ocean basin)

The article is devoted to the study of trace metals content in the Pechora River and its tributaries, which is the largest river in the Arctic Ocean basin. The study of physico-chemical properties of water showed aerobic conditions of low-mineralised water with pH values suitable for drinking water. Analysis of the content of trace metals has revealed that the main flow of Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, V, As, Mg and Fe into the Pechora River comes from its tributaries. The average content of Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, V, As, Mg and Fe in the water of the Pechora River delta was higher than for the main river channel, which indicates the transfer of a large mass of trace metals to the Barents Sea and the Arctic water ecosystem. For the studied river and tributaries, chronic pollution of the Pechora River with Al, Mn, Ba, Fe, Cu, U and Pb metals has adverse effects on waterborne organisms. The degree of contamination of natural waters by metals has been assessed using water quality indices (TMPI, TMEI, TMTI) and public health risks (HI and CR). Low contamination and weak toxicity of the Pechora River water has been determined, but serious contamination, toxicity and high non-carcinogenic risk of some of its tributaries have been observed. A high carcinogenic risk has been established for the consumption of all water sampled. Al, Ni, As, Fe, Mn, Cr, Cd, and Ba were found to be the highest priority contaminating trace metals. At present, contamination of the Pechora River and its tributaries with trace metals is formed under the influence of dissolution processes of rocks of the Ural Mountains, the Taminsky Ridge, underlying mineral deposits, permafrost degradation processes and glacier melting. Anthropogenic factors include oil and gas production and transportation.

Первая U-Pb (SHRIMP-II) датировка гранитоидов Рефтинского массива (восточная зона Среднего Урала)

The article presents the results of U-Pb dating (SHRIMP-II, the Center for Isotope Research of the A.P. Karpinsky Russian Geological Research Institute) of zircon grains from leucogranite dating back to the final formation stage of the Reftinsky gabbro-granitoid massif, which is one of the largest magmatism areas of this type in the Urals. The intrusive formations of the dated magmatism episode form a sub-meridionally elongated chain of small (up to 5 km in diameter) bodies, which intrude the Silurian plagioclase granitoids building up the main part of the massif. These bodies are dominated by granodiorites, granites, and leucogranites with some gabbro, gabbronorites, diorites, and quartz diorites. By the chemical composition, the study rocks belong mainly to the moderate-potassium calc-alkaline series. The silica-rich petrographic rock varieties have a high-potassium composition. The concordant age of zircons from leucogranites is 396 ± 3 Ma. So, the formation of zircons falls in the same time interval with a significant episode of endogenous activity, i.e. the existence of the Devonian island arc within the Middle Urals (from the second half of the Emsian through the beginning of the Frasnian).

Relationship between extensive and persistent extreme cold events in China and stratospheric circulation anomalies

This study examines the relationship between the extensive and persistent extreme cold events (EPECEs) in China and geopotential height anomalies in the stratosphere using daily mean fields of outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) produced by the NCAR and daily atmospheric circulations produced by the NCEP/NCAR. The OLR composite analysis for the EPECE in China demonstrates that the negative OLR height anomalies (cold air) originated from Siberia influence China progressively from north to south. The largest negative OLR height anomaly (cooling event) occurs in the region to the north of the Nanling Mountains. This suggests that the OLR height anomalies can be used to represent the temporal and spatial characteristics of extreme low temperatures and cold air activities in winter in China. The composite analysis of large-scale atmospheric circulations during the EPECE reveals characteristic evolutions of stratospheric and tropospheric circulations during the extreme cold event. We demonstrate the important role of atmospheric circulation anomalies in the outbreak and dissipation of the EPECE in China. We also demonstrate that significant perturbations in the stratospheric circulation occur more than 10 days prior to the outbreak of the EPECE, with positive height anomalies in the Arctic stratosphere. These positive anomalies propagate downward from the stratosphere and affect the formation and development of the high pressure ridge in the middle troposphere over the Ural Mountains. Significant changes also occur in the atmospheric circulation in the mid-latitude stratosphere. These changes propagate downward from the stratosphere and strengthen the low pressure trough in the troposphere in the region to the east of Lake Balkhash and Lake Baikal. Therefore, the changes in the stratospheric circulation during the EPECE in China occur prior to changes in the tropospheric circulation and are very useful for predicting extreme wintertime cold temperatures in China.

Gabbroids of the Bazhenov gabbro-hyperbasite massif (Middle Urals): Material composition and age

Research subject. Saussurite-amphibole rocks (metagabbroids) of the Bazhenov gabbro-hyperbasite massif (eastern sector of the Middle Urals).Materials and methods. The material composition of metagabbroids and their mineralogy were studied in the analytical laboratories of the Institute of Geological Geology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Ekaterinburg), Urals State Mining University (Ekaterinburg), Institute of Mineralogy, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Miass), Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), and Moscow State University (Moscow). Isotope analyzes of zircon were performed on a SHRIMP-II ion microanalyzer at the Center for Isotope Research of VSEGEI (St.Petersburg).Results. The metagabbroids under study feature the following mineral composition: clinozoisite (zoisite, epidote), magnesian hornblende (pargasite, tremolite), albite, clinochlore, and dolomite. According to petro-geochemistry data, saussurite-amphibole rocks were formed after gabbronorites and olivine gabbro-norites, belonging to the alpine-type formation of gabbro-hyperbasite complexes. U-Pb dating showed the ancient age of zircons from metagabbroids, most of the analyzes are grouped below the concordia line, forming a discordia line, the upper intersection of which with the concordia corresponds to the age of 1992 Ma. Two points on the diagram located below the concordia line, although not falling on the continuation of the discordia line, apparently reflect the influence of intermediate stages of metamorphism, and two points with concordant ages of 256 and 251 Ma record the time of the last tectono-thermal episode.Conclusions. The formation of saussurite-amphibole rocks took place under the conditions of greenschist facies. In local areas of the massif, metamorphism reached the zeolite facies with signs of hydrothermal reworking. The primary gabbroids of the Bazhenov massif were most likely formed under the conditions of a suprasubduction basin. The age of zircons of about 2 Ga obtained by the U-Pb method indicates that the crystallization of the studied zircons occurred in the mantle rocks. It is not yet possible to unambiguously explain the presence of grains of these zircons in the metagabbroids of the Bazhenov massif; several possible explanations have been proposed. Zircons with the youngest age (256 and 251 Ma) were most likely formed as a result of metamorphic transformations under thermal influence from the nearby Aduy granite-leucogranite complex.

The Russian peasant family in the twentieth century: a structural-typological and dynamic analysis

ABSTRACT The study discusses the transformation of the peasant family in Russia in the twentieth century and focuses on the materials of the budget surveys of peasant households in the Middle Urals in 1928/1929 and in 1963. The population censuses of 1926, 1939, and 1959 allow us to compare the family structure in rural areas of the Urals diachronically and to chart the evolution of the Russian peasant family. While the Ural budget surveys reflect the national dynamics, they also bear the signs of specific regional characteristics: milder demographic effects because WOII, higher rates of urbanization in rural areas as a result of the accompanying migration processes. Our study has shown that the demographic transition in Russia was characterised by the following : a very fast, albeit belated, change in the family structure from 1920 to the 1960s; the family was affected by demographic disasters such as wars and political campaigns. As a result, the peasant family could not maintain the fertility rates at the replacement level. The structural-typological analysis and micro-level modelling of the family life cycle have demonstrated that peasant families had peculiar mechanisms of adaptation to internal and external pressures. While the life cycle of the traditional family household was largely determined by the peasant economy, in an urbanized society there were two main family types and, correspondingly, two types of the family life cycle. The reduced life cycle of the single parent family became secondary to the ‘model’ life cycle of the two parent family. Soviet modernization contributed to the transformation of ‘fragmented’ family forms into a typical version of the family landscape, not only in cities but also in rural areas.

Over 50 Years of Overgrowth of the Ash Dump, The Content of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Changed in Young Soils but it Did Not Change in Plants

Changes in the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in the ash substrate and plant leaves during the primary succession of overgrowing ash dumps of different ages were studied. The work was carried out on the young (overgrowth duration 5–8 years) and old (overgrowth duration 53–56 years; two sites – with meadow and forest vegetation) ash dumps of a thermal power plant in the Middle Urals. In the emerging soil and leaves of model plants, the content of N and P was determined on each dump. In young soils, a predictable and explainable successional dynamics of N and P was established: over 53–56 years, the N content increased 2.4–7.1 times, while the P content decreased 1.1–2.1 times. In plant leaves, the content of N and P at different stages of overgrowth was actually constant: 1.6–2.1% of N and 2.2–2.9 mg/g of P. In general, it has been found that in successionally young habitats, and in more advanced ones with developing forest vegetation, against the background of a multiple increase in the N content in the soil, the N content in plants remains low. With a high probability, on both dumps, the availability of nitrogen is a factor limiting the development of plants. This is evidenced by the results of the analysis of N/P ratio values in leaves and comparison of our array of N values in leaves with global averages of N content in the same species. Thus, the results with respect to the successional dynamics of the content of nitrogen and phosphorus in soils and plants of dumps of different ages turned out to be surprisingly little consistent with each other.

Invasion Levels of Alien Plants in Various Habitat Types in the Middle Urals

The purpose of the study was to estimate invasion levels of alien plants in various natural and anthropogenic habitats of the Middle Urals in two urbanization manifestation variants: (1) within the boundaries of a large city; and (2) in suburban areas. In total, 965 geobotanical releves produced in natural (bogs, floodplains, petrophytic areas, meadows, and forests) and anthropogenic (wastelands, public gardens, and residential areas) habitats were analyzed. Natural habitats were surveyed within the boundaries of a large city and in its suburban zone (at distances of 30–40 km from the city). Invasion levels were determined based on the number and proportion of alien (adventitious) species in the description. Both in suburban and urban conditions, the lowest numbers of alien species were recorded in bog habitats (on average, 0–0.6 species per description); while the largest numbers, in anthropogenic habitats (on average, 9.8–17.6 species per description). Outside the city, average numbers of alien species in natural habitats (except for bogs) varied in the range of 1.0–2.8 species per description; within the city, 3.8–6.2 species per description. In natural habitats (except for bogs), average shares of alien species varied in the range of 1.8–5.6% outside the city and in the range of 8.1–16.2% within the city; in anthropogenic habitats, they varied in the range of 22.8–32.8%. Suburban and urban wastelands did not differ in numbers and proportions of alien species (10.3 and 12.9 species per description and 25.3 and 30.2%, respectively). Invasion levels identified in suburban areas are consistent with those recorded in Europe.

DEBRIS FLOW RELIEF OF THE MALAYA PAIPUDYNA BASIN (THE POLAR URAL MOUNTAINS)<a href="#FN1"><sup>1</sup></a>

We studied the debris flow relief of the Malaya Paipudyna basin, the Polar Ural Mountains. Based on the analysis of remote sensing data and field surveys, we established that 14 debris flow basins are located on the territory. We found traces of five slushflow occurrence in the streams in the spring of 2021. Typical landforms for different morphodynamic zones of debris flow basins were identified. The initiation zones of debris flows are mainly represented by catchment funnels on the slopes of the Bolshoi and Maliy PaIpudynskii ranges. The transit zones V-shaped bottom incisions alternate with box- and trough-shaped transverse profile. Within the debris flow fans, two generations of accumulative debris flow relief are clearly distinguished. Young accumulation zones are represented by pebble-boulder ridges up to 0.5 m high, localized directly in the near-channel areas of debris flow fans. Usually, they are either devoid of soil and vegetation cover, or are overgrown only by herbs. Ancient debris flow fans are triangular in shaped with convex transverse profile, consisting of a system of ridges and hollows, and overgrown with shrubs. The area of young accumulation zones for each debris flow basin is no more than 0.03 km2, the area of ancient accumulation zones is 0.4 km2. Debris flow fans are superimposed on the bottom of the trough valley of Malaya Paipudyna, which is mainly the surface of glacial accumulation. Probably, the formation of these fans began after the degradation of the last extensive glaciation of the territory. We calculated the morphometric features of the debris flow basins.

Modern forest climatopes and forest typological zoning of the northern part of European Russia

The article considers the current problem of modern scheme of Russia forest zoning designing and methods of forest typological assessment of forest climatopes and forest typological zoning. For the northern part of European Russia at the beginning of the XXI century, the climates of forest thermotopes, contrastotopes and hygrotopes, their spatial distribution, geographical stretching and zoning has been determined by classical forest typological methods. It has been ascertained four zones of forest climatopes, four zones of continentality (zones of forest contrastotopes), one of that has separate semienclave from the White and Barents Seas, and five zones of forest hygrotopes (one of that is disjunctive). A new, previously undescribed climate of the contrastotop of the mild (seaside) forest climate has been identified, requiring an assessment of the forest-growing effect. It has been established that the modern zones of forest thermo-, contrast- and hygrotopes have a different nature of geographical extent, and modern boundaries of zones have characterized by dynamical mobility and indefinite form in most cases, especially boundaries of forest hygrotopes climate zones. The modern forest typological zoning of the northern part of European Russia is proposed according to three equivalent climatic regimes and it has established forest typological regions with maximal area. In connection with complicate of boundaries of zones character it is established that the greatest diversity of forest typological areas are between boundaries of thermotopes and hygrotopes climate zones and from White and Barents Seas and Ural Mountains. The question is raised about the assessment of the actual existence of some selected local forest typological areas as geographical ecotones.

Genetic diversity of the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus (Insecta, Coleoptera) in Romania based on ND1 mitochondrial sequences

Lucanus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the largest Coleoptera species in Europe and one of the most recognizable. It is a saproxylic species living in woodlands and wooded urban habitats and spending its larval stages inside tree trunks below or near soil level, feeding on decaying wood. The stag beetle has a wide distribution covering the entire Europe up to the Ural Mountains. In this paper, we attempted to describe the diversity and genetic structure of L. cervus populations in Romania using the NADH mitochondrial molecular marker. We identified 36 haplotypes arranged in a star-shaped structure with a central haplotype shared by many samples and linked by one or two mutational steps with other 35, represented by 1–3 samples. This pattern is frequently attributed to populations that have undergone recent range expansion, a phenomenon which is also sustained by the mismatch analysis. The analyzed populations revealed various degrees of genetic diversity. Many populations with relatively high levels of genetic diversity were found outside the Natura 2000 Network Special Areas of Conservation, while some populations included in protected areas proved to have low values of genetic variability. This underlines the need to review the designated protection sites for this species in Romania.

The effect of increasing rates of mineral fertilizers on the yield and quality parameters of potato tubers

The yield and quality parameters of potato tubers of Gala variety were determined in the conditions of the Middle Urals in 2020 and 2022 in long-term stationary experiment after prolonged application of NPK increasing rates (30-60-90-120-150 kg a.i.). The application of NPK by 60 kg a.i./ha and more promoted the potato yield raise by 1.1-1.3 times in 2020 and by 1.3-1.5 times in 2022 compared with the control variant without fertilizers (21.4 and 14.4 t/ha by years, respectively). The lowest dry matter content over the years of research was noted at the maximum dose of N150P150K150 mineral fertilizer in the experiment– 15.6 % in favorable weather conditions of 2020 and 19.4 % in the dry 2022. The starch content in potato tubers did not depend on the dose of applied mineral fertilizers and varied in 2020 in the range from 11.1 to 13.8 %, in 2022 – from 14.4 to 16.3 %. In potato tubers the content of crude protein in the wet mass increased from 1.32 to 1.90 % in 2020 and from 1.80 to 2.65 % in 2022 to the weight of wet mass with an increase in the dose of NPK from 30 to 150 kg/ ha active substance. The sugar content in 2020 was 0.58-0.83 % for natural humidity, in 2022 – 0.23-0.47 %. The fiber content in potato tubers did not depend on the doses of applied mineral fertilizers. The application of increasing doses of NPK did not lead to exceeding the permissible value of the nitrate content in fresh potato. According to a comprehensive assessment of the quality of tubers, potato yield, obtained under given conditions, was suitable for the production of low carbohydrate potato products and for fodder purposes.

Promising varieties of oilseed flax in the phytosanitary technology of the Southern Trans-Urals

Oilseed fl ax is a multi-use crop (oil, fi ber, feed presscakes and meals), which has been used by humans since ancient times. Flax presscake has a high energy value. For example, 1 kg of cake contains 1,27 feed units, 13,73 MJ and 287 g of digestible protein, as well as a rich composition of trace elements and vitamins. Protein of fl axseed presscake is highly digestible and has a good amino acid composition. The fats remaining in the linseed presscake after distilling the oil have all the usefuproperties as linseed oil. The purpose of the research was to characterize promising varieties of oilseed fl ax in the phytosanitary technology of the Southern Trans–Urals. In the experiment, the maximum yield was obtained for the Ural variety – 2,35 t/ha, which signifi cantly exceeded the standard Northern variety. A good level of yield was shown by varieties Itil – 2,23 t/ha, VNIIMK 620 – 2,17 t/ha. The yield of the foreign variety Lirina was lower – 2,15 t/ ha. The yield of straw varied by varieties it reflecting their reaction to the arid conditions of vegetation. The lowest straw yield was shown by Raciol variety – 1,50 t/ha, the highest straw yield was formed by the varieties Lirina – 2,27 t/ha, Itil – 2,29 t/ha, Northern – 2,32 t/ha and Ural – 2,50 t/ha. Unfavorable weather conditions during the years of research contributed to the increase in the incidence of fl ax varieties with Fusarium. Statistical analysis showed a reliable correlation of plant density with the development of Fusarium r = –0,7512 and straw yield r = –0,7795. A signifi cant infl uence of meteorological conditions and Fusarium disease on the formation of the main economically valuable traits of promising varieties of oilseed fl ax under the conditions of the Southern Trans-Urals has been established.

Металлургический «завод» раннего железного века в Уральских горах

The authors describe the westernmost metallurgical center of the 5th—2nd centuries BC left by the aboriginal Itkul’ culture of the forest Trans-Urals in 8th/7th—3rd/2 nd centuries BC. It was founded in the upper reaches of the Ufa river, in Serny Klyuch tract, on top of a high (20—25 m) limestone rock with three steep edges, on the ruins of sites and settlements of the Eneolithic and Bronze Age. After the construction of the first copper-smelting complexes, the site of the settlement from the floor side was fenced with a log defensive wall with an external moat 40—42 m long. The ancient settlement is miniature, with an area of about 1,000 sq. m. Two excavations (502 sq. m) explored half of the site and 26 m of the fortification line. The remains of 19 adobe blast furnaces, three adobe platforms for metal processing, several pits and fireplaces for melting metal, three industrial and residential buildings of a frame-and-pillar structure were uncovered. In addition to the clan of metallurgists of the aboriginal Itkul’ culture, the population of the settlement included small groups of newcomers: initially, the descendants of the taiga communities of the Gamayun culture, who migrated from the north, from the upper reaches of the Iset’ river, later — the bearers of the Gorokhovo culture, who fled from the Tobol region and the lower reaches of the Iset’ river under the pressure of the warlike Sargat tribes, the ancient ancestors of the Hungarians who came from the east, from the Ishim-Irtysh forest-steppe. Traces of full cycle metallurgical production were revealed on the site — from copper smelting to casting and forging of finished products. The main part of non-ferrous metal produced by metallurgists of the mountain-forestry Trans-Urals was intended for export to neighboring and more distant territories. A blank of an iron knife-dagger found in one of the furnaces, and a series of Itkul’ iron products found in other places, confirm the hypothesis of the emergence of its own ferrous metallurgy in the forests of the Middle Urals around the 5 th—4 th centuries BC.

Group variability of the morphological features of the leaf of <i>Betula pendula</i> Roth (Betulaceae, Magnoliópsida) in the gradient of weather conditions and technogenic soil transformation

The group variability of morphological features of the leaves of Betula pendula Roth was studied in the gradients of adverse weather conditions and technogenic soil transformation. The studies were carried out on the territory of the Tagil zone of the Middle Urals in 2016–2019. It has been revealed that most of the studied leaf traits have an average level of variation, while a high one is characteristic of the shape index, and a low one is characteristic of the leaf blade index and the angles between the main and lateral vein of the first order, located in the middle and upper parts of the leaf. In the gradient of deterioration of weather conditions, the variability of the features increases, whilst it decreases in the gradient of technogenic soil transformation. The morphological features making the greatest contribution to the variability of the size and shape of the leaf were identified by the method of principal component analysis. Leaf variability is mainly determined by dimensional features. Allometric features are more stable. To assess the resistance of an organism to adverse factors, it is proposed to use the stability coefficient, which reflects the number of trait transitions from one level of variability to another one. This indicator increases both in the gradient of technogenic soil transformation and in the gradient of unfavorable weather.

Monazite from lithium-bearing pegmatites of the Lipovskoye vein field, Middle Urals (composition and chemical dating)

The relevance of the research is due to the need to improve the method of chemical dating as applied to high-thorium accessory minerals, which are difficult to study by isotope research methods. Purpose of the research is to study the chemical composition of monazite from lithium-bearing granite pegmatites of the Lipovskoye vein field and to determine their age. Research methodology. The quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of monazite was performed on a CAMECA SX 100 electron probe microanalyzer (IGG UB RAS, Ekaterinburg). Measurement conditions: accelerating voltage 15 kV, current strength 250 nA, electron beam diameter 2 μm. The pressure in the sample chamber is 2 ⋅ 10–4 Pa. The spectra were obtained on tilted wave spectrometers, the intensity was measured using analytical lines: Th Ma, U Mb, Pb Ma, Y La, Si Ka, Ca Ka, P Ka, Ce La, La La, Pr Lb, Nd La, Sm Lb, Dy La, Gd Lb. Standard samples: ThO2 , UO2 , Pb2 P2 O7 , diopside, synthetic rare-earth phosphates. The intensity measurement time at the peak for Th is 180 s, U is 100 s, and Pb is 500 s (240 s on one and simultaneously 260 s on another spectrometer), for Y and Si 20 s each, for the other elements 10 s; on the background – two times less. The detection limits for Th, U, and Pb in monazite are 290, 350, and 64 ppm, respectively. The oxygen content was determined under the assumption of the stoichiometry of the composition. Results. It has been established that monazite belongs to the cerium variety and is characterized by high contents of thorium (ThO2 up to 23.6 wt. %) and uranium (UO2 up to 2.5 wt. %). At the same time, cheralite-type isomorphism is realized in phosphate. In a closed Th–U–Pb-system (β = 0.92–0.97), according to the results of chemical dating (according to 20 analyses), monazite-(Ce) shows a weighted average age of 243 ± 7 Ma. When plotting the dependence (ThO2 + UO2 eq) – PbO, the points fall on one isochrone. Calculation of the age from the slope of the isochron gave a dating of 242 ± 17 Ma, MSWD = 0.21, probability = 1.00. Conclusion. It has been established that accessory monazite from lithium-bearing granitic pegmatites of the Lipovskoye vein field (Middle Urals) is of Triassic age. Apparently, this dating shows the time of the secondary transformation of lithium-bearing granitic pegmatites, which are often tectonized, and in some places even boudinaged.

Boreal Summer Extratropical Intraseasonal Waves over the Eurasian Continent and Real-Time Monitoring Metrics

Abstract Boreal summer extratropical intraseasonal oscillation (EISO) is crucial in modulating regional subseasonal variation and particularly causing extreme meteorological events, but it has yet to be well clarified and operationally monitored. This study first objectively sorts out three dominant EISOs trapped along two extratropical westerly jet streams over Eurasia, and then proposes the corresponding real-time metrics. The three dominant EISOs are (i) an 8–25-day eastward-propagating wave along the subtropical westerly jet (EISO-SJE) initiating at the exit of the North America–North Atlantic jet and strengthening over the Black Sea–Caspian Sea–arid central Asia region; (ii) a 10–30-day eastward-traveling wave along the polar front jet (EISO-PJE), starting near Scandinavia and enhancing from the East European Plain to the West Siberian Plain and then decaying over the Okhotsk region; (iii) a 10–40-day westward-migrating wave along the polar front jet (EISO-PJW), which enhances near the Ural Mountains and weakens over Scandinavia. The real-time metrics then, following the three EISOs, have been constructed, and they are able to capture the spatiotemporal features of three EISOs in application. Moreover, the close linkages between these EISOs and the regional extremes/the blocking occurrence have been clearly demonstrated, confirming the importance of real-time EISO metrics. Together with tropical intraseasonal oscillation, this study provides the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) community with a well-portrayed unified picture of extratropical intraseasonal waves and the real-time metrics for monitoring boreal summer intraseasonal signals over Eurasia and facilitate subseasonal predictions. Significance Statement Boreal summer extratropical intraseasonal oscillation (EISO) has drawn increasing attention owing to its importance in triggering extreme weather events and affecting regional subseasonal prediction. However, despite the urgent need of the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) community, a comprehensive delineation of EISO diversity and real-time EISO monitoring remain the gap of knowledge. This study objectively sorts out and comprehensively clarifies three dominant EISOs trapped along two extratropical westerly jet streams over Eurasia. More importantly, the well-portrayed real-time EISO metrics are constructed based on three EISOs, which are applicable for operational real-time monitoring, subseasonal prediction, and model evaluation. This study stimulates an extratropical focus in the S2S community as a complementary component in addition to monitoring the MJO’s teleconnection to the mid- to high latitudes.