South Crimea Research Articles

Characteristics of topographic submesoscale eddies off the Crimea coast from high-resolution satellite optical measurements

Long-term arrays of satellite optical measurements of Landsat-5,7,8 and Sentinel-2 were used to describe the characteristics of submesoscale eddy (SE) dynamics in different parts of the Crimean coast: their geometric and kinematic characteristics, the main sites and mechanisms of formation, and impact on the redistribution of suspended matter. The dynamic characteristics of SE were computed on the base of the 4D variational assimilation method from the pair of consecutive Landsat-8/Sentinel-2 images. The orbital velocity of submesoscale cyclonic eddies (SCE) with a diameter of 1 km reaches 0.15 m/s, indicating the cyclostrophic balance with a high Rossby number (RO) exceeding 2. Submesoscale cyclones were detected much more frequently than the usually larger submesoscale anticyclones. High-resolution satellite imagery gives a possibility to observe complex submesoscale dynamic processes, such as the generation of chains of SCE, large cyclones behind the capes consisting of densely packed arrays of SCEs, topographic submesoscale anticyclones with a number of attached SCEs, mushroom-like current structures, and frontal SE. Despite the diversity of the processes considered, several basic mechanisms of formation of submesoscale eddies can be identified on the basis of satellite data: (1) Separation of the boundary current, often wind-driven, behind the capes; (2) barotropic instability due to the horizontal shear on the coastal periphery of mesoscale anticyclones or alongshore currents; (3) formation of the mushroom-like structure due to the interaction of offshore currents with deep waters near the capes or due to offshore winds; and (4) frontal instabilities on the coastal upwelling. The results of the analysis were used to create a scheme of the spatial variability of submesoscale processes near the Crimean coast and compare it to the results of the high-resolution modeling. The model was able to describe the main areas of SE formation, which was located near the major capes. It provides additional data about SE generation near the rocky capes of the South Crimea, where satellite data was limited by the absence of optical tracers.

Indicators of Pedogenic Processes in Red Clayey Soils of the Cape Martyan Reserve, South Crimea

Specific red clayey soils on the eluvium of limestone, which are traditionally associated with Mediterranean terra rossa, have been described in the Cape Martyan Reserve in south Crimea. Though such soils are well studied, there are several open questions related to the genesis of the red-colored soils of Cape Martyan. Many researchers consider them as surface paleosols combining features formed in the previous epochs and those of current processes. Based on the analyses of the physical and chemical properties, composition of the clay fraction, and micromorphological features of red soils, we have shown that almost all soil-forming processes, except for the long-term dissolution of calcareous rocks and rubification of residual silicate clay, are slightly pronounced, because the compact clay parent material is low sensitive to pedogenesis. Evidences of the fact that past pedogenesis differed from the modern one are almost absent in the soil profiles, which corresponds to the data on the climate stability in this area since the Pliocene. The studied soils may be assigned to Vetusols—ancient soils formed under relatively constant bioclimatic conditions.

Isotopic analyses suggest mammoth and plant in the diet of the oldest anatomically modern humans from far southeast Europe

Relatively high 15N abundances in bone collagen of early anatomically modern humans in Europe have often been interpreted as a specific consumption of freshwater resources, even if mammoth is an alternative high 15N prey. At Buran-Kaya III, access to associated fauna in a secured archaeological context and application of recently developed isotopic analyses of individuals amino acids offer the opportunity to further examine this hypothesis. The site of Buran-Kaya III is located in south Crimea and has provided a rich archaeological sequence including two Upper Palaeolithic layers, from which human fossils were retrieved and directly dated as from 37.8 to 33.1 ka cal BP. Results from bulk collagen of three human remains suggests the consumption of a high 15N prey besides the contribution of saiga, red deer, horse and hare, whose butchered remains were present at the site. In contrast to bulk collagen, phenylalanine and glutamic acid 15N abundances reflect not only animal but also plant protein contributions to omnivorous diet, and allow disentangling aquatic from terrestrial resource consumption. The inferred human trophic position values point to terrestrial-based diet, meaning a significant contribution of mammoth meat, in addition to a clear intake of plant protein.

Mesozoic to recent geological history of southern Crimea and the Eastern Black Sea region

Abstract We provide a synthesis of stratigraphic data to unravel the history of the geological evolution of South Crimea in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The South Crimea Orogen consists of three major mega-sequences: (1) the Triassic–Early Jurassic; (2) the Aalenian–Bathonian; and (3) the Callovian–Eocene. The Late Triassic–Early Jurassic deposits formed in the environment of a forearc basin and a remnant basin. The Aalenian–Bathonian deposits formed above subduction extension and a volcanic belt. Three main Callovian–Eocene tectonic units can be identified in South Crimea: (1) the South Crimean Shelf Basin; (2) the Sudak Deepwater Trough; and (3) the Alchak–Kaya Shelf Basin at the northern margin of the Shatsky Ridge. The Oligocene–Quaternary deposits are considered to be syn-orogenic. A description of the anticipated stratigraphic units on the Shatsky Ridge is suggested for the Middle Jurassic, Callovian–Late Jurassic, Neocomian, Aptian–Albian, Late Cretaceous–Paleocene, Eocene and Maykopian. We propose a model for the geological history of the Eastern Black Sea Basin. Graben formed during the Late Barremian–Albian at the location of the future Eastern Black Sea Basin and a phase of volcanism occurred in the Albian. The main phase of rifting and spreading of oceanic crust took place during Cenomanian–Santonian time. Supplementary material: A Google Earth kmz file of the location of the outcrops and sections is available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18850

Comparison of soil-to-root transfer and translocation coefficients of trace elements in vines of Chardonnay and Muscat white grown in the same vineyard

The soil-to-root transfer and translocation coefficients of essential and non-essential elements in different parts of Vitis vinifera L. depend on environmental and anthropogenic factors and can be variety-specific. Knowledge about uptake and translocation of trace elements by different varieties is necessary for prediction contamination of grapes and wine products and understanding tolerance of cultivars to the environment. The study focused on determination of transfer and translocation patterns of so-called essential (Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn) and non-essential (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb) elements by vines of Chardonnay and Muscat white of the same age and grown at the similar environmental conditions in Inkerman vineyard, South Crimea in 2013. Samples of irrigation water, soil, fine and coarse roots, leaves and canes were taken in May and berries were harvested in August. The soil enrichment factor, soil-to-root transfer and translocation (roots, leaves and canes) coefficients were calculated based on the trace elements concentration gradients. The principle component analysis and the variables correlation were used for the data treatment. Results showed the contamination of vineyard soil by Pb, which was due to contaminated irrigation water. There was a little variation between Chardonnay and Muscat white in terms of essential trace elements transfer from soil to roots. Translocation patterns were significantly different for non-essential elements, cultivars and plant parts. Pb had the highest variability in transfer and translocation patterns between varieties. Bio-concentration factors varied between cultivars and the highest value was detected for Zn and Fe.

Sedimentary processes on the Crimean continental margin in the Black Sea

Structural specific features of the sedimentary succession on the continental margin of the South Crimea in the Black Sea have been examined in the Yalta Area using geomorphologic, acoustic, and lithologic methods. Alternation of regressive and transgressive sequences has been ascertained in sediment sections formed on the shelf and in the Yalta deep-sea fan due to Quaternary oscillations of the basin level. The analysis of sediment sections resulted in revealing a leading role of sedimentary material transference from upper hypsometric levels to lower ones in the sediment accumulation.

Особенности зимовки реликтового эндемика горного Крыма Silene jailensis N.I. Rubtzov (Caryophyllaceae) в природных условиях и ex situ на Южном берегу Крыма

Особенности зимовки реликтового эндемика горного Крыма Silene jailensis N.I. Rubtzov (Caryophyllaceae) в природных условиях и ex situ на Южном берегу Крыма

The ichthyofauna of coastal waters southwest of Crimea in 2003–2004

The ichthyofauna of the narrow coastal zone of southwest Crimea in 2003–2004 was represented by 79 fish species belonging to 36 families. The structure of the species composition of eggs, larvae, and adult fish in these years indicated to its restoration in comparison with the late 1980s to early 1990s. The abundance of commercial fish increased: Engraulis encrasicolus ponticus, Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus, and Mullus barbatus ponticus. The quantity of migratory fish increased: Pomatomus saltatrix and Sarda sarda. The presence in winter catches of Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus and Pomatomus saltatrix indicated favorable conditions for their wintering off South Crimea. Appearance in catches of the fish of elder age groups is evidence of the restoration of their age structure. The competitor for food Mnemiopsis leydyi still influences the food resources of the fish and, thus, their survival. If they appear in plankton simultaneously, the abundance of larvae drastically decreases. The obtained data indicate to the vulnerability of coastal biocenoses to anthropogenous impact and to the necessity of monitoring of fish resources and of their protection.

Numerical analysis of the transformation of tsunami waves in the south crimea shelf area

The paper analyses the transformation of tsunami-type solitary waves, propagating from the abyssal part of the Black Sea towards its shelf zone. The study is performed by solving numerically unidimensional non-linear equations for non-dispersive long waves, using the finite-difference slope and shelf, with the full wave reflection prescribed at a 10 m depth contour. The non-linearity of the process is shown to throughly impact the reflection of waves by the shore and the shape of the reflected wave. Tsunami wave heights have been seen to increase by several times in the Black sea shelf area.

The generation of intensive short-period internal waves in the frontal zone of a coastal upwelling

The measurements data provided by an antenna of distributed temperature sensors, mounted on an oceanographic tower in the South Crimea continental shelf area, were applied to study the mechanism for the generation of short-period internal waves with anomalous amplitudes in the Black Sea. For analysis, information was incorporated concerning the background hydrological and meteorological conditions that were observed during the experiment. A mathematical model for the phenomenon under study has been constructed, and calculations of the anomalous internal wave generation have been presented. The paper contains a comparative analysis of thein situ data and simulation results, and demonstrates a good qualitative/quantitative agreement between the parameters of internal waves.

Temporal variability of the vertical thermal structure in the vicinity of South Crimea

On the basis of the experimental investigations conducted from an oceanographic tower, the variability of the structure of temperature profiles has been analysed. The paper provides a classification of the basis types of temperature profiles and determines their frequencies and duration in the annual cycle. Dynamics of the transition from one type of a temperature profile to another has been found to have synoptic scales. The variability of parameters during an occurrence of some typical profile have been assessed; it has been deduced that variations in profile shape are linked with fine structure effects of internal waves.

Upwelling in the Black Sea by the results of numerical experiments and satellite data

The paper analyses results of the numerical simulation of upwelling events in the north-western part of the Black Sea, mostly near the South Crimea. The calculations were performed using a numerical model based on primitive hydrodynamics equations. Emphasis is laid on the case when a salinity front simulating the Black Sea rim current is prescribed in the initial conditions. The interaction of the Black Sea rim current's stream with the coastline and bottom topography leads to the development of an upwelling near the Crimea's coast, even in the absence of wind forcing. The paper discusses the structure of the three-dimensional circulation of waters in the shelf area of the NW Black Sea. Numerical modelling results are matched up with the satellite data obtained by the HRPT receiving station.

Seasonal variability of the hydrologic-and-acoustic parameters on the Black Sea shelf off the South Crimea coast

Usingin situ temperature and salinity observations from the Marine Hydrophysical Institute's oceanographic data set, regularities of the formation of structure and seasonal variability of the calculated sound speed field, as well as elements of the latter's vertical stratification in the South Crimea shelf area, have been studied. The ray approximation is applied to consider the influence of seasonal variations of the vertical hydrologic-and-acoustic structure on the propagation of sound in the sea.

Peculiarities of the Black Sea rim current near the Crimean coast

This paper discusses the quasi-stationary Black Sea rim current velocity field observed at seven points of the shelf area and continental slope in the vicinity of South Crimea from 6 June to 15 July, 1991. Current velocity fluctuations conditioned by the difference in atmospheric pressures over the eastern part of the sea and the western one, with the wind speed being 5 cm s−1, have been studied. Inertial and seiche flows are described numerically. The peculiarities of the kinematics of the Black Sea rim current’s regular component have been scrutinized.

Statistical estimates of the parameters of non-linear long internal waves off the South Crimea in the Black Sea

Hydrological data covering the South Crimea test area are used to calculate the mean profile of the variable Brunt-Väisälä frequency and the coefficients of the Korteweg-de Vries equation for internal waves at each station. Charts showing internal wave velocity isolines, non-linearity and dispersion parameters, and sea depth have been constructed. The average Brunt-Väisälä frequency profile has been used to calculate the Urcel parameter for internal waves, and non-linear properties of the internal waves observed have been assessed.

Survival, behaviour and spatial distribution of shell morphs in a population of the snail Brephulopsis bidens (Pulmonata).

Microspatial variation of banded and unbanded shell morphs frequencies as well as number of individuals per m2, mortality, migration and burrowing into the ground were examined in a population of snail Brephulopsis bidens found in South Crimea mountains (USSR). Differential values of relative survival of morphs were determined by their thermotolerance. The relative survival of the banded morph was lower at the west sites of population area (W=0.273), and increased gradually up to 1 at the east sites. Survival of the banded morph was dependent on its burrowing activity. Differences in relative survival of morphs decreased parallel with increasing general mortality of snails.Burrowing activity and intensity of migration of the banded morph were significantly higher than that in unbanded. In experiments with artificial shaded sections, the banded morph preferred shaded sections, whereas unbanded chose illuminated sites. All these differences in behaviour probably form the main factors for microspatial variation of morph frequencies.