Summer-autumn Season Research Articles

Determinants of Postpartum Vitamin D Status in the Caucasian Mother-Offspring Pairs at a Latitude of 52°N: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is recorded. Aim: To establish determinants of postpartum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on mothers and offspring. Methods: 25(OH)D level was measured in cord blood and maternal blood collected ≤3 weeks postpartum. Maternal socioeconomic status, vitamin D intake, sun exposure during pregnancy and maternal and neonatal fat mass (FM; dual X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed within 3 weeks postpartum. Results: A total of 174 mother-offspring pairs were enrolled. Maternal 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml was seen in 32 (51%) of summer and 82 (74%) of winter deliveries. Women with 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml had a 2-fold lower percentage of vitamin D intake of ≥800 IU/day than women with 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/ml (p = 0.02). FM (%) was comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed the delivery season, prenatal vitamin D intake ≥800 IU/day and duration of supplementation to be the determinants of maternal 25(OH)D level (R² = 0.26, p < 0.001). Maternal 25(OH)D level, season of birth and duration of maternal supplementation explained 83% of the variance in cord blood 25(OH)D level (R² = 0.83, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The key determinants of higher maternal vitamin D status were the summer-autumn season of delivery and prenatal use of ≥800 IU/day of vitamin D. The cord blood 25(OH)D level was mainly determined by maternal 25(OH)D level and season of birth.

Organic carbon in water, particulate matter, and upper layer of bottom sediments of the central part of the Kara Sea

Based on data obtained in the course of the 59th cruise of RV Akademik Mstislav Keldysh, the content of organic carbon was determined in water (dissolved organic carbon, DOC), particulate matter (particulate organic carbon, POC), and bottom sediments of the Yenisei estuary and of the central part of the Kara Sea during the summer–autumn season of 2011. The decisive impact of the waters of riverine runoff upon the variability of DOC and POC concentrations in the marine aquatic area is shown. POC enrichment in the autochthonous component is revealed for the frontal zones, as well as the increase of DOC concentrations in the area of the northern extremity of the Novaya Zemlya Islands. The distribution map of organic carbon (Corg) in the upper layer of bottom sediments of the central part of the Kara Sea is plotted on the basis of the analysis of the authors' and published data. A pronounced enrichment of the thin upper layer (0–0.5 cm) of bottom sediments in organic carbon (>20%) is registered at most of the stations and depends neither on lithological composition of sediments nor on the location of sampling sites.

Long-term seasonal nutrient limiting patterns at Meiliang Bay in a large, shallow and subtropical Lake Taihu, China

Lake Taihu has undergone severe eutrophication in the past three decades, and harmful cyanobacteria blooms occur nearly every year in Meiliang Bay at the north end of the lake. To elucidate the potential relationship between seasonal nutrient limitation and phytoplankton proliferation, a 20-year (1991-2012) time series of nutrient limitation in Meiliang Bay was analyzed for deviations between trophic state index (TSI) parameters. Results showed that patterns of nutrient limitation in Meiliang Bay were distinctly seasonal, where phytoplankton growth was generally phosphorus (P)-limited in winter and spring, but nitrogen (N)-limited mainly occurred in summer and fall. This general pattern, however, shifted into N limitation across the four seasons during the mid-1990s because a rapid increase in industrialization led to a significant rise in the input of N and P from inflowing tributaries. The initial patterns were restored by environmental regulation in the end of 1990s, including the Zero Actions plan. Using routine monitoring data, a generalised additive model (GAM) with time and deviations between trophic state indexes for nitrogen and phosphorus (TSIN-TSIP) as explanatory variables was used to explore which nutrient was responsible for limitation of phytoplankton chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in different seasons. Surprisingly, the model revealed a weak N limitation (TSIN-TSIP = -10) corresponded to peak values of Chl-a in summer-autumn season, which is probably because the phytoplankton community is co-limited by N &amp; P during the period. The shift of nutrition limitation during winter-spring would partially explain high values of Chl-a throughout 1996. This study suggests that seasonal patterns of nutrient limitation must be considered to develop effective management measures to control cyanobacterial blooms.

Impacts of Seasonal Climate Variability on Rice Production in the Central Highlands of Vietnam

Abstract This case study was done to determine the impact of seasonal climate variability on rice production in the Nam Dong District, Central Highland of Vietnam. The Ordinary Least Square method was applied to establish the relationships between climatic factors and rice yields in two different growing seasons. The climatic factors are average maximum temperature (avemaxT), average minimum temperature (aveminT) and average rainfall (averain). The rice growing seasons are known as the Winter-Spring (WS) and Summer-Autumn (SA) season. The data of climate factors and rice yield during these two growing seasons were collected from District Meteorological Station and District Statistical Office over 27 years. The data used was from the years 1986 to 2012. A focus group discussion also was held with local rice farmers. The information gathered during this discussion was processed by using the timeline trend, which is a Participatory Rural Approach (PRA) tool. The farmers were invited to share their thoughts, experiences and opinions related to the impact of climate variability on their individual rice production. Moreover, an in-depth interview was conducted with local extension and agricultural officers to discuss the past losses of rice production caused by climate variability that occurred in Nam Dong district. The results from Ordinary Least Square show that seasonal averain, avemaxT, and aveminT had significant effect on rice yield. While, it was found that the seasonal averain factor had a positive relationship with rice yield and that the seasonal avemaxT affected adversely on rice yield of the two growing seasons. In addition, rice yield in the SA season did not relate to seasonal aveminT. This climate variable had positive impact on WS rice yield at statistical significant level. Moreover, participants in the focus group discussion reported that many climate events were irregular and unpredictable. An example of this is that droughts occurred more frequently, which caused negative impact on rice production. The result of in-depth interview also confirmed that drought, storm, pest and disease were the main cause losses of rice production under climate variability. The research results provide valuable information to assist local governments in rural socioeconomic development plans to minimize the impacts of adverse climate conditions. Moreover, Meteorological Stations, agricultural and extension units will also benefit from this data to help improve their communication methods when disseminating to the farmers current or accurate climate conditions, climate predictions and climate patterns.

Precipitation Regime and Temporal Changes in the Central Danubian Lowland Region

The aim of this paper is to investigate the statistical aspects of multiannual variability of precipitation at the Hurbanovo station, Slovakia, over 140 years (1872–2011). We compare the long-term variability of annual precipitation for Hurbanovo (Slovakia), Brno (Czech Republic), Vienna (Austria), and Mosonmagyarovar (Hungary) stations using autocorrelation and spectral analysis methods. From the long-term point of view, there is no consistent trend in the annual precipitation; only a multiannual variability has been detected. Consequently we identify changes in the distribution of annual maximum daily precipitation for Hurbanovo during different periods for winter-spring and summer-autumn seasons using histograms, empirical exceedance curves, and frequency curves of daily precipitation. Next, we calculate the periods of days without precipitation exceeding 29 days between 1872 and 2011. The longest period of days without precipitation was 83 days in 1947. The statistical analysis does not confirm our initial hypothesis that neither high daily precipitation (over 51.2 mm per day) nor long dry periods (more than 50 days without precipitation) would occur more frequently nowadays. We assume that the decrease in annual precipitation over the period 1942–2011 (compared to 1872–1941) is caused by the less frequent occurrence of daily precipitation between 0.4 and 25.6 mm.

Uniformity trial size in estimates of plot size in restrict areas

The aim of this study was to determine the uniformity trial size when estimating optimum plot size in order to evaluate fresh phytomass in lettuce plants and fruit weight in sweet peppers. Production data, collected in uniformity trial on lettuce in a plastic greenhouse in both summer and winter, lettuce in plastic tunnels in autumn and winter, and sweet pepper in a plastic greenhouse in the summer-autumn and spring-summer seasons, were used to plan different uniformity trial sizes in crop rows. In all the experiments, each plant was evaluated individually and considered as a basic experimental unit. For each size in a uniformity trial, 3,000 resamples, randomly taken with replacement, were used to estimate optimum plot size. Uniformity trial using 27 basic experimental units to evaluate the fresh phytomass of lettuce plants, and with 29 basic experimental units to assess fruit weight in sweet pepper, are sufficient to estimate optimum plot size, with an amplitude of the 95% confidence interval of less than or equal to two basic experimental units.

On factors for separation of the stock of beluga whale &lt;i&gt;Delphinapterus leucas&lt;/i&gt; in the Anadyr Gulf of the Bering Sea

New eco-ethological data on the Anadyr stock of beluga whales are presented based on 14-year (2000-2013) studies by methods of satellite tracking telemetry, multi-spectral aerial surveys and genetic analysis, as well as traditional and ecosystem-based approaches. Possible factors of the separate stock formation in the Anadyr Gulf are discussed, as geographic isolation, environmental conditions, foraging resources, elimination of the beluga whales, and biological isolation (on the results of genetic analysis). The beluga whales are well-adapted to oceanographic conditions and ice regime of the Arctic waters that is realized in their relationship with edge of the sea ice, ability to live in both salt and fresh waters (they enter rivers), and versatility in feeding. Their ice-associating, high sociality, and white protective coloration provide protection against killer whales and other predators and their eury-halinity allows to expand the feeding grounds both to the sea and rivers and hunt for both freshwater, anadromous and marine prey. The food spectrum of beluga whales in the Anadyr estuary is very wide and includes 12 fish species and 1 crustacean species. In the summer-autumn season, the salmons are the most significant part of the diet, as chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta , pink salmon O. gorbuscha and arctic char Salvelinus malma , whereas arctic smelt Osmerus mordax dentex , saffron cod Eleginus gracilis , sculpins Cottidae sp., anadyr whitefish Coregonus anaulorum , and siberian whitefish Coregonus sardinella are presented in the diet to a lesser extent. There is supposed on the base of episodic net surveys, that the beluga whales feeding in marine areas is more diverse, and the most important their prey in the sea are walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma , pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus , flounders Pleuronectidae sp., sculpins Cottidae sp., capelin Mallotus villosus catervarius , polar cod Boreogadus saida , halibuts Pleuronectidae sp., stingrays Bathyraja , herring Clupeidae sp., and several species of decapod crustaceans Hyppolitidae sp. and Lithodidae sp. Natural enemies of beluga whales are killer whale Orcinus orca , polar bear Ursus maritimus , and predatory form of pacific walrus Odobenus rosmarus . Rather large number of beluga whales are eliminated by the sea ice, up to 80 animals annually, that exceeds in several times the aboriginal landings in Chukotka. Parasitic fauna of the beluga whale is still unclear and requires special investigations; the cases of epizooty are unknown in the Anadyr Gulf. Philopatry is proper to the Anadyr beluga whales, with preference of the Anadyr estuary and the Anadyr Gulf as their habitats, that is explained by optimal for them environments and high food capacity. Unique adaptation of beluga whales to the environments of the Anadyr estuary is their ultrasonic vocalization in the high-turbidity waters. Genetic analysis shows a differentiated distribution of the beluga whales haplotypes in different areas of the North Pacific, so the stock of the Anadyr Gulf is significantly isolated in the post-glacial times. Low anthropogenic pressure on beluga whales in the Anadyr Gulf allows them to maintain their stock there.

Distribution and some features of biology of thorny sculpin Icelus cataphractus (Cottidae) in the Sea of Japan

In the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan, thorny sculpin Icelus cataphractus reaches a length of 32 cm and occurs at depths 22–650 m. As a numerous species, it can be characterized for Peter the Great Bay and adjacent areas of Primorye. The range of dwelling of I. cataphractus is widest in the period of spring migrations from the sites of wintering and in the period of summer feeding. During the year, I. cataphractus prefers depths of the upper section of the continental slope and the lower part of the shelf with moderate positive temperature. Highest concentrations are observed in the summer season. Females of I. cataphractus reach greater sizes than males; their proportion in catches, on the whole, is higher, but males dominate in medium size groups. Mature individuals are recorded beginning from a length of approximately 15 cm; spawning period is confined to the summer-autumn season. Along the continental coast of the Sea of Japan, I. cataphractus is distributed between 36° and 51° N. The bulk of feeding of I. cataphratus is formed by bottom and near-bottom crustaceans.

Remote sensing of phytoplankton distribution in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

Analysis of high-resolution 4 km sea surface temperature, Chlorophyll a (Chl a), and wind datasets provides a detailed description of the spatio-temporal seasonal succession of phytoplankton biomass in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on-board aqua platform (MODIS Aqua) data andsynoptic observations in the Red Sea, Chl a varies from north to south, with the northern part appearing to be oligotrophic. This is likely due to the absence of strong mixing and low nutrient intrusion in comparison to the southern part during winter. In the Gulf of Aden, the emergence of upwelling cell is clearly evident along the coast of Yemen, and is only distinct from the summer-autumn seasons. Most notable is the pulsating nature of the upwelling, with warm and cold events clearly distinguished with phytoplankton response to this physical forcing also evident. The phytoplankton biomass distribution varies considerably between the two regions of study. In both study areas, water temperature and prevailing winds control nutrient concentrations.

The role of summer monsoon-typhoons in the formation of nearshore coarse-grained ripples, depression, and sand-ridge systems along the Shimizu coast, Suruga Bay facing the Pacific Ocean, Japan

Coarse-grained ripples (CGRs) develop within the seafloor depression–sand ridge systems along the Shimizu coast, in the northwestern part of Suruga Bay facing the Pacific Ocean, central Japan. In this paper, we analyze data from high-resolution bathymetry, seafloor observation by an underwater video camera, and high-resolution seismic surveys and seafloor trenching of shallow strata, obtained between 2005 and 2007, to describe their geomorphological and sedimentological characteristics in detail, and to examine the formative processes and maintenance of the systems. In water depths of 5–30 m, CGRs occur in seafloor depressions that are approximately 40–70 cm deeper than the surrounding sandy seafloor. In many cases, the ripples develop in depressions between shore-normal sand ridges composed mainly of fine sand (< 70 cm high, 100–400 m long) on a relatively narrow shelf. The alongshore width of the sand ridges is 10–100 m, and that of the depressions is 10–150 m. The CGRs (wavelength < 3.5 m, height < 30 cm) have almost shore-parallel crests with a symmetrical or slightly asymmetrical shape, suggesting wave-generated oscillating flows. The crests of the lager ripples are composed of gravel (maximum long axis: 5–8 cm) and the troughs consist of fine to very fine sand. The CGR–depression–sand ridge systems develop widely during the passage of typhoons in the summer–autumn seasons. At the narrower shelf, the surface fine-grained sediments and the surface and subsurface coarse-grained sediments, which form the sand ridges and the CGRs respectively, are repeatedly eroded and redeposited during typhoon-related storms. In contrast, active sediments are currently limited to the surface fine deposits on the wider shelf areas. The sediments that make up the CGRs appear to be derived from both modern beach sediments and relict sediments. We postulate that the CGR–depression–sand ridge system appears to be controlled mainly by both seafloor erosion and offshore-directed sediment transport during storms, and these processes may depend on the shelf width. In fact, the sand ridges (covering the CGRs) that imply significant offshore-directed transport only develop on the narrower shelf. The distribution and seabed expression of the CGRs is constrained by the thickness and distribution of surface-covering sandy sediments, such as the sand ridges. This represents a new interpretation of the distribution of CGRs within seafloor depressions on the shelf of an active margin that receives a large supply of sandy and gravelly fluvial sediments, and differs from the processes seen on the sediment-starved shelves of passive margins. • We present seasonal morphological variations in nearshore coarse-grained ripples. • Ripples within the depression–sand ridge system only occur on the narrower shelf. • The system is significantly reorganized by typhoon-related storms. • Morphology of sand ridges covering the ripples reveals offshore transport to canyon. • Ripple distribution is constrained by the thickness of surface sandy deposits.

Methane emission from mires of the West Siberian taiga

In the summer-autumn seasons of 2007–2011, the methane emission from typical mire landscapes of Western Siberia was studied using the static chamber method. The lowest methane flux turned out to be characteristic of the ryams (pine-dwarf shrub-sphagnum associations) and the ridges of the ridge-hollow complexes, as well as of the wetland lakes in the northern and middle taiga (the medians are within the range of 0.1–0.5 mg C-CH4/m2 h). Values that are 10 times higher are typical for the oligotrophic hollows, fens, peat mats, and poor fens in different subzones (the medians are 2 to 7 mg C-CH4/m2 h). The maximal values of the methane flux from the wetland lakes of the southern taiga are 17.98 mg C-CH4/m2 h. Based on the data obtained by the authors, along with the previously published ones, the regional methane fluxes from the taiga mires were calculated: 2.22 Mt C-CH4/m2 per year, or about 80% of the total methane flux from the West Siberian mires. The estimates of the CH4 regional flux obtained by other researchers are discussed; the main source of the estimation uncertainty is analyzed.

Dynamics of suspended sediment load in the upper part of the Rasina River Basin in 2010

The paper treats the issue of the suspended sediment load transport in the upper part of the Rasina River Basin, upstream from the "Celije" reservoir during the year of 2010. Measurements of the suspended sediment concentrations were being done at two hydrological profiles Brus and Ravni. Total quantity of the suspended sediment load that was transported at the profile of Brus in 2010 amounted to 3,437.3 t, which gave the specific transport of 16.4 t/km2/year. At the downstream profile of Ravni, 43,165 t of the suspended sediment load was transported, that is, 95.7 t/km2/year. The basin on the whole is characterized by the existence of two seasons, which by their characteristics in the load transport represent the extreme variants. During the winter-spring season, 74-85.8 % of the total annual load was transported, ?nd during the summer-autumn season between 14.2 and 26 %.

Effect of Environmental High Temperature on the Reproductive activity of Awassi Ram Lambs

The aim of this study was to detect the influence of high temperature during summer and early autumn seasons on the reproductive activity of Awassi ram lambs. Study conducted in Baghdad from June 1st 2011 to Nov. 30th 2011, using thirty Awassi ram lambs aged 11.5±1.5 months. Testis, Seminal vesicle gland and bulbourethral gland dimensions and weights were taken once monthly, cortisol and testosterone hormones were estimated, percentages of dead and abnormal sperms were calculated and histopathological examination was applied on the testes. The results revealed a significant (P&lt;0.05) effects of hot season on the genital organ dimensions and weight, and on testicular histological texture leading to sloughing and degenerative changes in seminiferous tubules which causes elevating significantly (P&lt;0.05) in percents of abnormal and dead sperms during mid-summer in comparison with fall season. There was decline in testosterone hormone level, while the cortisol hormone levels remains without significant differences. In conclusion: Awassi ram has a great ability to heat stress adaptation to decline the effect of external hyperthermia on reproductive ability as soon as possible, and can resume almost a perfect sexual activity with high fertility rate immediately at the regression of climatic high temperature.

Academic achievements among adolescent school children. Effects of gender and season of birth

We have investigated gender differences in academic achievements in two age cohorts of students from the Lower Secondary School in Norway (2000, 2005; 15-16 year olds). In the 2000 and 2005 cohorts the female students outperformed male students in twelve out of thirteen academic disciplines, including mathematics and nature-science. Physical education was the only discipline where the male students had higher grade points than the female students. In both cohorts the results showed a significant effect of season of birth: Students who were born in the Nordic winter-spring season had slightly higher grade points than students born in the summer-autumn season. There was no significant interaction between gender and season of birth.

Assessing the impact of future climate change on groundwater recharge in Galicia-Costa, Spain

Climate change can impact the hydrological processes of a watershed and may result in problems with future water supply for large sections of the population. Results from the FP5 PRUDENCE project suggest significant changes in temperature and precipitation over Europe. In this study, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to assess the potential impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge in the hydrological district of Galicia-Costa, Spain. Climate projections from two general circulation models and eight different regional climate models were used for the assessment and two climate-change scenarios were evaluated. Calibration and validation of the model were performed using a daily time-step in four representative catchments in the district. The effects on modeled mean annual groundwater recharge are small, partly due to the greater stomatal efficiency of plants in response to increased CO2 concentration. However, climate change strongly influences the temporal variability of modeled groundwater recharge. Recharge may concentrate in the winter season and dramatically decrease in the summer–autumn season. As a result, the dry-season duration may be increased on average by almost 30 % for the A2 emission scenario, exacerbating the current problems in water supply.

Departure behaviour of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) from southern Western Australia temperate waters in relation to the Leeuwin Current

The arrival of the warm tropical Leeuwin Current (LC) into southern Western Australia (SWA) may influence the movement timing and foraging habitat of juvenile southern bluefin tuna (SBT). Seasonal and interannual changes in the strength of the LC lead to thermal differences and potential changes in food availability between tropical and temperate waters in SWA. This phenomenon could influence the habitat utilization of SBT in these summer grounds. Movement characteristics determined from SBT tagged with acoustic transmitters (N = 244) using cross-shelf lines of automated receivers for three summer-autumn seasons (2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007) in SWA revealed interannual variability. Each year, the eastward movements of tagged fish increased as temperatures increased, and fish left the region when temperatures exceeded 20.0°C, a temperature indicative of the leading edge of the LC in SWA waters. Interannual fluctuations in the timing of movements were detected. When the LC was narrow and restricted to the shelf edge in 2004/2005, the distribution of SBT in shelf waters did not change before or after LC intrusion. In contrast, long distance eastward movements frequently occurred when the LC intrusion was spread wide over the continental shelf in 2005/2006 and 2006/2007. This suggests that, off SWA, juvenile SBT move quickly out of local foraging habitats defined by cool sub-tropical temperate waters ahead of the tropical LC intrusion, despite these waters not being physiologically limiting. These results suggest that the behavioural response of SBT may be related to changes in prey availability as a result of changes in oceanographic conditions.

Purifying eutrophic river waters with integrated floating island systems

Concerns over the impacts of water pollution and a need for sustainable development have led to the exploration of various approaches to mitigating the nutrient enrichment in surface waters. An integrated floating island system consisted of aquatic vegetation near riversides and mosaic floating island with adsorptive biofilms was constructed to purify eutrophic river water in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province. This study indicated that average removal rates for total nitrogen (TN), NH4+-N, NO3−-N NO2−-N, total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll a in summer–autumn season were 36.9%, 44.8%, 25.6%, 53.2%, 43.3% and 64.5%, respectively, which were 16.2%, 18.4%, 12.8%, 25.8%, 26.3% and 58.7% higher than those respective values in winter–spring season. In addition, it also effectively reduced the concentrations of total suspended substance (TSS), Escherichia coli and heavy metals. Due to greater biomass, alligator flag (Thalia dealbata) showed the greatest element uptake, with 60.9gNm−2, 8.2gPm−2, 856.6gCm−2 and 6.2gSm−2 respectively. The tested hydrophytes contained abundant crude protein ranging from 128gkg−1 to 255gkg−1 and Ca, Mg, Fe and Mn. Feasibility of the plant biomass used as animal feed to meet nutritional and safety requirements is discussed.

Long-term phytoplankton dynamics in a Mediterranean eutrophic lagoon (Cabras Lagoon, Italy)

The temporal variations in phytoplankton abundance and diversity were analysed from 1999 to 2009 in Cabras Lagoon, a shallow eutrophic Mediterranean lagoon (west coast of Sardinia). It is one of the aquatic ecosystems listed in the “Marine Ecosystems of Sardinia” by the Italian Network of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER Italy). The objectives of this work were to assess the general features of phytoplankton succession and its dynamics in relation to environmental factors along the decade 1999–2009, and to identify the main forces driving phytoplankton variability in terms of the general trends in Mediterranean transitional waters. Our results highlight several important aspects: a shift in the annual peak density from the summer–autumn season, observed in 1999–2002, to the winter–spring season in subsequent years; simultaneous reductions in chlorophyll a concentrations and cell size from 1999 to 2008; and the modification of the structure of the phytoplankton assemblages, from a more differentiated class composition in 1999–2002 to the subsequent dominance of the Cyanophyceae. Moreover, analysis of similarity on both abiotic and phytoplanktonic data shows significant differences among the hydrological years considered. Pearson's correlations indicate temperature, salinity and nutrients as the environmental parameters that most influenced the phytoplankton composition and dynamics.

Comprehensive study of the Caspian Sea in voyage 32 of R/V Rift

704 Systematic investigation of the Caspian Sea in 2009 was conducted in accordance with the Programs of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences no. 17.1. "System Explorations of the Seas of the European part of Russia" (head, Academician of the Russian Acad� emy of Sciences A.P. Lisitsyn) and no. 17.2 "Inte� grated Studies in the Caspian Sea" (head, Corre� sponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sci� ences L.I. Lobkovskii). Voyage 32 was conducted from September 7 to 16, 2009. The main task of the voyage was to obtain infor� mation on the Transcaspian section for a comprehen� sive study of processes in the system of the Caspian Sea. We measured hydrophysical (CTDand ADCP� sounding, measurements of currents and temperature on submerged buoy stations) and hydrooptical (mea� suring the attenuation of light, the brightness of the rising light, and other subsatellite measurements) characteristics. We sampled aerosols with the help of network method, seawater for hydrochemical studies, and filtering suspensions, as well as samples of depos� ited material from sediment traps. Onboard the vessel, we determined the hydrochemical parameters O 2 , Si, and PO4 pigments of chlorophyll "a" and pheophytin using a Trilogy Fluorometer (mod. 7200�000) and studied the size range of suspension using a Coulter Multisizer 3 counter. One of the highpriority tasks of the expedition was setting up submerged buoy stations (SBSs) with sediment traps and PotokM current meters (3). During the voyage, we conducted constant profile shooting of the bottom using Sparker and SES� 2000 seismoacoustic narrowradial parametric profil� ers and selected bottom sediments. The route of the expedition and the scheme of recovery and staging sta� tions are shown in Fig. 1. The results of CTDsounding (Indronaut Ocean 316) showed that the hydrological structure of the water column of the Caspian Sea during that period was typ� ical for the transition of the summer-autumn season.

Influence of Meteorological Factors NO2, SO2, CO and PM10 on the Concentration of O3 in the Urban Atmosphere of Eastern Croatia

Ozone, NO2, SO2, CO, PM10 and meteorological parameters were measured simultaneously during the summer–autumn season 2007 in Osijek—the eastern, flat, agricultural part of Croatia. Fourier analysis confirms the existence of variation in ozone volume fractions with periods ranging from the usual semi-daily and daily to 7 and 28 daily cycles. The relationships between O3 and other variables were modelled in three ways: principal component analysis, multiple linear regression and principal component regression. The results of the principal component analysis detected underlying relationships among ozone concentrations and meteorological variables. An extremely simple meteorological model is suitable for the prediction of ozone levels. The meteorological factors, temperature and cloudiness played a main role in the MLR model (R 2 = 0.83). The application of the principal component regression approach confirmed that the original variables associated with the valid principal components were meteorological variables (R 2 = 0.82).