Scientific Station Research Articles

International Conference on Gravitation Cosmology and Continuum Mechanics (dedicated to the centenary of Kirill Petrovich Staniukovich)

International Conference on Gravitation Cosmology and Continuum Mechanics (dedicated to the centenary of Kirill Petrovich Staniukovich)

Significance of scientific activities of the Research station of medicinal plants in formation, establishment and development of medicinal plant cultivation

The article describes history of the organization of Ukraine’s first research station of medicinal plant cultivation. The main achievements of the scientific work Lubny research station of medicinal plants will be presented for 1916–2016. The main stages of medicinal plant cultivation as the field of agricultural production are given. An assessment of the role of scientific research stations of medicinal plants in the formation and development of the industry is carried out. During the time of work DSLR conducted introduction study and cultivation and developed agricultural techniques for over 120 species of medicinal plants, created 52 varieties of important crops such as mint, poppy, chamomile, valerian, echinacea, sage, skullcap and many others; designed a number of machines and devices for growing, harvesting and post-harvest handling of raw materials and seeds of many important medicinal plants that are successfully introduced into production. The paper highlights some questions about the prospects for implementing research in medicinal plant cultivation, intensification of the industry, increasing its relevance and effectiveness.

Variations of Total Nitrogen Oxide Content in the Atmosphere over the North Caucasus

The data are presented on total nitrogen dioxide (NO2) content in the atmosphere from 1979 to 2009 at the high-mountain scientific station located in the unpolluted area in the North Caucasus at the height of 2070 m above the sea level (43.7° N, 42.7° E). The total content of NO2 was measured on the basis of attenuation of direct solar radiation over slope pathways after the sunrise and before the sunset. Characteristics features are analyzed of temporal variability of total NO2 content in the atmosphere related to its diurnal and seasonal variations, 11-year solar activity, volcanic eruptions, quasi-biennial oscillations of tropical circulation, and the El Nino effect.

Опустыненные полынно-дерновиннозлаковые степи Центрального Казахстана

The considerable vegetation researches of the Kazakhstan steppes were realized in 1957–1959, 1964–1968. The vast materials with relevés of desert steppes’ communities were collected in according to the generally accepted methods of geobotanical investigations either with assistance of detailed field routes or at the scientific stations (Kratkoe…, 1952; Polevaya… 1964). Some data about foremost northern types of Kazakhstan steppes (Isachenko, Rachkovskaya, 1961) and desert steppes of one region only (i. e. south-west part of the Central Kazakhstan Melkosopochnik) were published earlier (Biokompleksnye …, 1969). This article is an effort to complete the missing information about desert sagebrush–bunchgrass steppe of Central Kazakhstan through its full characteristics and classification. The desert sagebrush-feather grass steppe is the foremost southern type of steppes confined to light chestnut soils; its southern border coincides to the border between steppes and deserts (it’s about 48° N for Kazakhstan). Melkosopochnik (hilly, ridgy, and rocky) with relative elevations from 20–50 to 100–150 m is a dominating type of relief in the Central Kazakhstan. The hills are composed of the different rocks: granites, acidic and basic effusive rocks, sandstones and shales.

Waste Generation and Management in Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest continent on the earth. The Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean surround the continent. Antarctic continent covers 10% of the earth surface and has a surface area of nearly 14 million square kilometer. It also has 70% of the world's fresh water resources in the form of ice sheets. Thick ice sheets cover the whole continent (almost 98%). As a result of the environmental conditions, the remaining (2%) fraction without ice cover is basically the barren soil and rocks.Many countries have set up scientific research stations in Antarctica. There are about 65 scientific research stations in summer and 30 research stations in winter, which are currently operating for scientific investigations. India has two permanent scientific research stations in the Antarctica located in Schirmacher Oasis in Central Dronning Maud Land and in Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica. However, the activities due to operation and maintenance of the research station in Antarctica have impacts on the Antarctic environment. Besides, the scientific stations also generate waste materials and a significant part of it is discharged into the Antarctic environment, which may create impacts on the Antarctica. The assessment of waste materials emanating from various sources was carried out. The present paper attempts to highlight the environmental parameters observed during ISEA austral summer at Maitri and Bharti station, East Antarctica.

Trace element contamination and availability in the Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica.

The Ardley Cove area (located on the Maxwell Bay shoreline, Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica) is characterized not only by its high biodiversity, but also by a high density of scientific stations, making it potentially one of the most impacted areas of Antarctica. In order to assess the source, contamination levels, distribution and availability of several trace elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb, Cd and Hg) in and around Maxwell Bay, soil and seawater samples were collected. Soil samples were also collected in the study reference site near the Bellingshausen Dome area, as it lies far from centers of human activity and associated infrastructure. Enrichment factors (EFs) and sequential extractions were also used to assess the degree of contamination and availability of the trace elements under investigation. The results obtained in this study pointed to the existence of several contamination hotspots, mainly related to high levels of Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni. Comparison of the contaminant distribution patterns with data from earlier studies allowed the identification of anthropogenic sources. Use of the EF approach and sequential extractions confirmed these findings. In particular, higher extraction proportions were obtained for Zn and Pb (68 and 71%, respectively), which were also the same elements where the highest EFs were determined. The results obtained in this study clearly point to human impact on the natural environment in this region of Antarctica and we recommend the implementation of appropriate contamination control and remediation methods.

On the nature of long-period variations in mass concentration of near-ground aerosol

Variations in the aerosol concentration with periods more than one month are analyzed using measurements of mass concentration of the near-ground aerosol at Zvenigorod Scientific Station of the A.M. Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences. It is shown that the variations can be associated with the periodic recurrences of atmospheric transport trajectories from certain directions. We considered the cases when long-period variations in aerosol concentration were due to episodes of increased or decreased concentrations caused by aerosol advection from the corresponding directions. In particular, the 1.5-month variations in the aerosol mass concentration in 1995 were found to be due to the 1.5-month recurrences of the concentration maxima caused by southeasterly transport. The three-month periodicity of the transport episodes from directions of Baltic and North Atlantic in 2004 manifested themselves in 3-month recurrence of the aerosol concentration minima. A statistical relation is revealed between the near-ground aerosol concentration and the Arctic upper troposphere dynamics.

Ethnobotanical Research at the Kutukú Scientific Station, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador.

This work features the results of an ethnobotanical study on the uses of medicinal plants by the inhabitants of the region near to the Kutukú Scientific Station of Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, located in the Morona-Santiago province, southeast of Ecuador. In the surroundings of the station, one ethnic group, the Shuar, has been identified. The survey hereafter reports a total of 131 plant species, with 73 different therapeutic uses.

Quantifying the impact of cloud cover on ground radiation flux measurements using hemispherical images

Linking observed or estimated ground incoming solar radiation with cloud coverage is difficult since the latter is usually poorly described in standard meteorological observation protocols. To investigate the benefits of detailed observation and characterization of cloud coverage and distribution, a fieldwork campaign has been set up in order to collect data about cloud cover conditions and daily evolution to directly analyse their impacts on solar radiation fluxes. To do so, daytime hemispherical images have been collected at a very high frequency, simultaneously to ground measurements of solar radiation fluxes in a scientific station close to Lake NamCo, China. After calibration, one of the main tasks was the classification of those hemispherical images and the extraction of meaningful indices to describe the cloud cover, such as cloud fraction or cloud cover distribution. The classification is based on automatic detection of threshold on the red channel histogram. The results show that several cloud indices could be successfully derived from the hemispherical images, even if very thin clouds can be difficult to detect. The indices are then correlated to the measured solar radiation values and the impact of cloud cover on surface radiation fluxes were analysed. This analysis highlights that, more than the cloud fraction, the cloud distribution in the hemisphere is of importance when modelling radiation fluxes in the solar domain.

Preface: Biology of the Ross Sea and surrounding areas in Antarctica

Research activities in Antarctica are rather unique for several reasons, all linked to the remoteness and hostility of the place: the history of research there is short, given that the first explorers started collecting data just over a century ago; any activity needs to be planned well in advance, months if not years; nothing can be done in a short time once there but at least weeks or months are needed to collect samples; continuous adverse weather conditions may completely change the plans; research stations follow researchers every step of the way; internationality is the norm and everybody provides help to everybody else; an international body of rules is followed, but there is no police to control that the rules are followed, people just trust each other under those harsh conditions. Notwithstanding, or maybe exactly because of all of these oddities, Antarctic research is a flourishing field, with its own meetings, conferences and journals: unexpected surprises await at every corner, the process of biological adaptation is pushed to the extreme, and our ignorance and littleness are still incommensurably vast over there. The area of the Ross Sea is among the best-known ones in Antarctica: the very first overwintering occurred there, at Cape Adare, the Ross Sea NW corner, where Carsten E. Borchgrevink established the base of the Southern Cross Expedition (1898–1900), setting new limits of human endurance and opening the way to several subsequent expeditions in this area, including all those that tried, and finally succeeded, to reach the South Pole in 1911 (Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen) and in 1912 (British expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott). Today, several permanent and temporary scientific stations are located on the shores of the Ross Sea, favouring the scientific connections between researchers from different countries and catalysing the increase in our biological knowledge of this remote place. Among these research stations, the oldest is that of This volume is dedicated to the memory of Luigi Michaud (Messina, Italy, 5 October 1974–Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, 17 January 2014).

New climatic classification of Nepal

Although it is evident that Nepal has an extremely wide range of climates within a short latitudinal distance, there is a lack of comprehensive research in this field. The climatic zoning in a topographically complex country like Nepal has important implications for the selection of scientific station network design and climate model verification, as well as for studies examining the effects of climate change in terms of shifting climatic boundaries and vegetation in highly sensitive environments. This study presents a new high-resolution climate map of Nepal on the basis of long-term (1981–2010) monthly precipitation data for 240 stations and mean air temperature data for 74 stations, using original and modified Koppen–Geiger climate classification systems. Climatic variables used in Koppen–Geiger system were calculated (i) at each station and (ii) interpolated to 1-km spatial resolution using kriging which accounted for latitude, longitude, and elevation. The original Koppen–Geiger scheme could not identify all five types of climate (including tropical) observed in Nepal. Hence, the original scheme was slightly modified by changing the boundary of coldest month mean air temperature value from 18 °C to 14.5 °C in order to delineate the realistic climatic condition of Nepal. With this modification, all five types of climate (including tropical) were identified. The most common dominant type of climate for Nepal is temperate with dry winter and hot summer (Cwa).

Winter–spring anomalies in the stratospheric content of NO2 from ground-based measurement results

According to the results of ground-based spectrometric measurements, significant negative anomalies in the stratospheric content of NO2 were observed at a number of stations in the Northern Hemisphere during winter and spring 2011. These anomalies were accompanied by those in total ozone content (TOC) and stratospheric temperature and were caused by the transport of air masses from the region of the arctic ozone hole. The results of analysis of vertical NO2 profiles obtained at the Zvenigorod Scientific Station showed that a certain contribution to the 2011 negative anomalies of NO2 was made due to a denitrification of the polar stratosphere in the ozone-hole region. The relation between variations in the total content of NO2 and those in the TOC and temperature was analyzed for both the Northern and Southern hemispheres during winter–spring periods. It was found that this relation depends on the phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation in the stratospheric equatorial wind. Such a correlation usually intensifies if only the episodes of negative anomalies caused by the transport of stratospheric air masses from the ozone-hole region are taken into consideration.

Assessing trace element contamination in Fildes Peninsula (King George Island) and Ardley Island, Antarctic

King George Island, situated in the South Shetland Islands archipelago, is one of the most visited sites in Antarctica. This has contributed to a high density of scientific stations and shelters in the region, especially in Fildes Peninsula. In order to evaluate the natural and anthropogenic sources of trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Hg) soil and moss samples were collected from different sites in January 2013. In general, the results revealed homogeneous concentrations (μgg−1) for each element in the majority of collected samples (As: 3.8±1.4; Cd: 0.4±0.9; Cu: 34±4; Zn: 115±13; Pb: 20±5; Hg; 0.011±0.009). However, some samples in specific areas of Fildes Bay showed the existence of local anthropogenic activities that have contributed to the enrichment of contaminants in soils and moss samples that correlated to one another (e.g. Pb: 1101μgg−1).Human presence is linked to examples of contamination and environmental perturbation, making essential the implementation of this type of study in order to understand and protect unique places in Antarctica.

Run, a quake's on its way!

At the US Geological Survey, Benjamin Brooks is looking at smartphones, which come equipped with GPS sensors that can tell where one is standing, give or take a few meters. Their sensors can also detect a sudden lurch in one direction--the kind of movement that might be a sign of a seismic shift when lagged by many people at once. Brooks and his colleagues have now tested what crowdsourced GPS data might look like in a real earthquake. One simulation explored a model magnitude 7.0 earthquake along the Hayward fault on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, and another used location data recorded at scientific stations during Japan's devastating megaquake in 2011. Both scenarios suggested that data from around 5,000 people would be enough to spot the beginnings of a major earthquake, leaving about 5 seconds to warn major population centers that hadn't yet felt its effects

Geochemical markers of soil anthropogenic contaminants in polar scientific stations nearby (Antarctica, King George Island)

The organic contamination of Antarctic soils and terrestrial sediments from nearby of five polar scientific stations on King George Island (Antarctica) was investigated. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was applied to find composition of dichloromethane extracts of soil and terrestrial sediments. The presence of geochemical markers, such as n-alkanes, steranes, pentacyclic triterpenoids, and alkyl PAHs, their distribution types, and values of their ratios indicates the predominating source of organic fossil fuels and products of their refining rather than from the natural Antarctic environment. Fossil fuel-originated compounds well survived in conditions of Antarctic climate over long times thus enabling to characterize geochemical features of source fossil fuel identified as petroleum expelled from kerogen II of algal/bacterial origins deposited in sub-oxic conditions and being in the middle of catagenesis. Both microbial activity and water leaching play an important role in degradation of terrestrial oil spills in the Antarctica climate, and petroleum alteration occurs lowly over long periods of time. Synthetic anthropogenic compounds found in terrestrial Antarctica sediments included diisopropylnaphthalenes, products of their sulfonates degradation in paper combustion, and organophosporus compounds used as retardants and plasticizers.

Prostaglandin E2 inhibits the proinflammatory phenotype induced by TGF-β on monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Prostaglandin E2 inhibits the proinflammatory phenotype induced by TGF-β on monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Internal gravity-shear waves in the atmospheric boundary layer from acoustic remote sensing data

The year-round continuous remote sounding of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) by means of the Doppler acoustic radar (sodar) LATAN-3 has been performed at the Zvenigorod Scientific Station of the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, since 2008. A visual analysis of sodar echograms for four years revealed a large number of wavelike patterns in the intensity field of a scattered sound signal. Similar patterns were occasionally identified before in sodar, radar, and lidar sounding data. These patterns in the form of quasi-periodic inclined stripes, or cat’s eyes, arise under stable stratification and significant vertical wind shears and result from the loss of the dynamic stability of the flow. In the foreign literature, these patterns, which we call internal gravity-shear waves, are often associated with Kelvin-Helmholtz waves. In the present paper, sodar echograms are classified according to the presence or absence of wavelike patterns, and a statistical analysis of the frequency of their occurrence by the year and season was performed. A relationship between the occurrence of the patterns and wind shear and between the wave length and amplitude was investigated. The criteria for the identification of gravity-shear waves, meteorological conditions of their excitation, and issues related to their observations were discussed.

ANTARTICA S NEW BUILDINGS: SEARCHING FOR MORE EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTIVE SYSTEMS

Taking into account the need for rebuilding the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station due to the destruction of its main building in February 2012, this research is aimed at identifying and analyzing the constructive techniques employed in reference to scientific stations, addressing potential replicability for new Brazilian buildings. The methodology adopted, in addition to the required literature review, established as timeframe for choosing referential buildings the maximum period of 10 years of construction. Six buildings were previously selected and analyzed according to the aspects of architecture and constructive systems. The information has been selected and systematized in the form of a summary table. The results pointed to recurring use of constructive systems based on metallic structures, designed in a modular way and protected by coatings isolating them from the direct action of the weather, with techniques developed in accordance with the logistical support available. Furthermore, the aerodynamic design of the buildings and the ground elevation were observed, as well as a marked concern for the use of proven efficient technologies without restricting aspects of innovation.

Heavy metal contamination and hepatic toxicological responses in brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Kerguelen Islands

The Kerguelen Islands include various species of freshwater fish such as brown trout (Salmo trutta). These trout are among the most isolated from direct anthropogenic impact worldwide. This study was designed to analyse cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) concentrations in the liver of Kerguelen brown trout, and to assess the possible impacts of these metals on hepatic histopathology and oxidative stress parameters (superoxide dismutase and catalase activity and glutathione levels). Trout were caught in the Château River, the Studer Lakes and the Ferme Pond, close to the scientific station of the Kerguelen Islands, corresponding to three morphotypes (river, lake and station). Kerguelen trouts’ hepatic concentrations of Cd and Cur were similar to those reported in previous studies in salmonids populations from areas under anthropological impacts. Clear hepatic disturbances (fibrosis, nuclear alteration, increased immune response, melanomacrophage centres [MMCs]) were observed in all tested trout. A similar histo-pathological trend was observed among the trout from the three morphotypes but anti-oxidative responses were higher in the trout from the “station” morphotype. Hepatic alterations and the presence of MMCs in the livers of Kerguelen brown trout may be related to the high levels of Cd and Cu measured in this fish at all sampling sites.Keywords: Brown trout; freshwater; fish; sub-Antarctic; liver; biomarkers(Published: 22 September 2015)Citation: Polar Research 2015, 34, 22784, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v34.22784

Severe Wildfires Near Moscow, Russia in 2010: Modeling of Carbon Monoxide Pollution and Comparisons with Observations

The spatial and temporal distributions of the carbon monoxide (CO) concentration were calculated with the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System and Hybrid Particle and Concentration Transport model (RAMS/HYPACT) in the provinces near Moscow during the abnormally hot summer of 2010. The forest, steppe and meadow hot spots were defined by the satellite data MCD14ML (MODIS Terra and Aqua satellite data). The calculations indicated that the surface CO concentrations from the model were two times less than the experimental data obtained from the Moscow State University (MSU) station and Zvenigorod Scientific Station (ZSS). Conversely, the total column CO concentrations obtained from the model were two to three times larger than the experimental values obtained from the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics (OIAP) and ZSS stations. The vertical transfer of pollutants was overestimated. Tentatively, it could be assumed that an aerosol influence in the model calculations is a reason for the overestimation. The comparisons between the wind speed, temperature and humidity profiles calculated in the model with the data from the standard balloon sounding exhibited good agreement. The CO total column data of the Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere (MOPITTv5 NIR and TIR/NIR) obtained from the OIAP and ZSS stations appear more realistic than do the MOPITTv4 data. However, the surface MOPITT values of CO concentration for Moscow have the large distinction from the ground measurements. A careful proposal regarding satellite orbit optimization was made, which could improve future spectrometric measurements, such as the MOPITT, Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) measurements.