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A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 19006

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Dr. Pavel G. Kovadlo

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Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk 664033, Russia
Interests: solar astronomy; millimeter astronomy; site testing
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Dr. Artem Shikhovtsev

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Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences (ISTP SB RAS), Irkutsk 664033, Russia
Interests: turbulence and wave processes; telescope; methods; data processing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the Special Issue, we invite papers aimed at research on natural phenomena and processes occurring in the upper and lower layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, including their interaction with the underlying surface. Of interest is the impact of global climate change on the troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere of the Earth. In particular, we plan that the Special Issue will consider studies related to methods for the observation and analysis of geophysical parameters, including machine learning methods in the diagnosis and prediction of geophysical processes and phenomena.

It is important to study the influence of global processes in the climate system on local (regional) climate changes as well as processes occurring in the middle and lower atmosphere—including aerosol and gas composition, the dynamic characteristics of air flows, turbulence and wave processes, and optical properties of the atmosphere. The search for the causes of global climate change is a priority area of this Special Issue. We also propose to consider the relations between climate change and solar activity.

Dr. Pavel G. Kovadlo
Dr. Artem Shikhovtsev
Guest Editors

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Keywords

climate
troposphere
stratosphere
mesosphere
turbulence
aerosol
observations

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

7 pages, 191 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy

by Artem Y. Shikhovtsev and Pavel G. Kovadlo

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(13), 5439; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14135439 - 23 Jun 2024

Viewed by 596

Abstract

This Special Issue covers a wide range of scientific tasks carried out in the fields of geophysics, climatology and astronomy [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

23 pages, 19077 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crustal Apparent Density Variations in the Middle Segment of the North Tianshan Mountains and Their Tectonic Significance

by Xiangkui Kong, Daiqin Liu, Ailixiati Yushan, Jie Li, Rongliu Chen, Li Chen and Rui Li

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051694 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1422

Abstract

In this study, we collected mobile gravity observations in the middle segment of the North Tianshan Mountains from August 2016 to July 2022 and carried out classical adjustment calculations under the constraint of the absolute gravity datum to obtain the spatiotemporal variation pattern of the local gravity field. We used equivalent source inversion to obtain the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of crustal apparent density. We also extracted the coseismic deformation field from SAR data, using the 2016 Hutubi earthquake as an example, and constructed a model of the seismogenic fault. The gravity monitoring network in the study area performed well in resolving the earthquake source parameters. Both the time-varying gravity field and equivalent apparent density variation pattern show prominent zoning characteristics with a smoothly evolving spatial distribution over time. The variation trends of the gravity field and equivalent apparent density are in line with the orientation of tectonic structures, and their anomalous signals can be detected before and after an earthquake. The constructed seismogenic structure of the 2016 Hutubi earthquake indicates a typical thrust earthquake, probably occurring on a north-dipping blind fault beneath a region with intense crustal deformation. The subsurface tectonic system reflected by this earthquake can be informatively extended to the entire middle segment of the North Tianshan Mountains by subsurface configuration. Our findings can serve as a reference for analyzing the source characteristics of the time-varying gravity field and interpreting anomalous pre-seismic signals, and aid in understanding earthquake preparation zones and the mode of crustal tectonic movements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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15 pages, 3855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Real-Time Measurement System for Atmospheric Turbulence Intensity and Distribution Based on the GLAO System

by Xian Ran, Lanqiang Zhang, Hua Bao, Xuejun Rao, Jinsheng Yang, Dingkang Tong, Cheng Wang and Changhui Rao

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11885; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111885 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1362

Abstract

Measuring the intensity and distribution of atmospheric optical turbulence at large-aperture astronomical telescope sites is crucial to optimizing turbulence correction for different layers. A real-time measurement of turbulence distribution in large-aperture telescopes would be valuable for the parameter optimization of adaptive optics (AO) systems, especially for large field-of-view AO systems such as multi-conjugate adaptive optics (MCAO) and ground-layer adaptive optics (GLAO). Based on the GLAO system of NVST at FSO, a real-time measurement system was deployed to assess the site’s atmospheric turbulence intensity and distribution. This system is, to our knowledge, the first real-time turbulence parameter measurement system in the world with an AO system. We adopt pseudo-open loop methods to restore the turbulence information from the close-loop data of GLAO and measure the turbulence strength and distribution. Multiple subaperture pairs are used instead of a pair of subapertures for fitting calculation to increase the measurement accuracy. Two conventional measurement algorithms, SLODAR and S-DIMM+, are compared with the data from the open-source simulator SOAPY, to cross-verify the correctness of our calculation based on the data process of pseudo-open loop data and multiple subaperture pairs. The simulation results show that for two layers’ turbulence input, approximately 93% of the turbulence is correctly detected with the SLODAR method and the given parameters of wavefront sensors and correctors, while the S-DIMM+ is 87%. Real-time measurements of atmospheric turbulence at the NVST site were carried out on 28 May 2023. The observation results indicated that approximately 80% of the turbulence was located below an altitude of 2000 m; only a few appear in the upper height. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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18 pages, 1939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Earthquake Prediction for the Düzce Province in the Marmara Region Using Artificial Intelligence

by Turgut Pura, Peri Güneş, Ali Güneş and Ali Alaa Hameed

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8642; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158642 - 27 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1736

Abstract

By definition, an earthquake is a naturally occurring event. This natural event may be a disaster that causes significant damage, loss of life, and other economic effects. The possibility of predicting a natural event such as an earthquake will minimize the negative effects mentioned above. In this study, data collection, processing, and data evaluation regarding earthquakes were carried out. Earthquake forecasting was performed using the RNN (recurrent neural network) method. This study was carried out using seismic data with a magnitude of 3.0 and above of the Düzce Province between 1990 and 2022. In order to increase the learning potential of the method, the b and d values of earthquakes were calculated. The detection of earthquakes within a specific time interval in the Marmara region of Turkey, the classification of earthquake-related seismic data using artificial neural networks, and the generation of predictions for the future highlight the importance of this study. Our results demonstrated that the prediction performance could be significantly improved by incorporating the b and d coefficients of earthquakes, as well as the data regarding the distance between the Moon and the Earth, along with the use of recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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17 pages, 7681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ecological Zoning of the Baikal Basin Based on the Results of Chemical Analysis of the Composition of Atmospheric Precipitation Accumulated in the Snow Cover

by Yelena V. Molozhnikova, Maxim Yu. Shikhovtsev, Olga G. Netsvetaeva and Tamara V. Khodzher

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8171; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148171 - 13 Jul 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1335

Abstract

This research used the geostatistical analysis of snow cover samples taken in 2017–2022 in the Baikal basin. Groups of snow cover pollution sources were identified by the method of empirical Bayesian kriging (ArcMap software) and mathematical data processing. The studied area was divided into fourteen districts. Geovisualization of marker substances accumulated in the snow cover allowed for the zoning of the studied area according to the degree of anthropogenic load. It was revealed that the atmospheric pollution of the territory from local sources extended for tens of kilometers along the prevailing wind direction. The maximum concentrations of anthropogenic aerosols in the snow cover were determined in towns that were sources of pollution and near settlements located on the coast of Lake Baikal and at the Selenga River mouth. The industrial centers of the region and the southern basin of Baikal, being affected by the air emissions from the Irkutsk agglomeration, were determined to be the most susceptible to anthropogenic pollution. The middle and northern basins could be attributed to the background regions being affected only by local heating sources and the natural background. The main atmospheric pollutants and the areas of their distribution were established. The main sources of snow cover pollution in the region, in addition to the natural background, were emissions from thermal power plants and motor vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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19 pages, 39778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simulating Atmospheric Characteristics and Daytime Astronomical Seeing Using Weather Research and Forecasting Model

by A. Y. Shikhovtsev, P. G. Kovadlo, A. A. Lezhenin, V. S. Gradov, P. O. Zaiko, M. A. Khitrykau, K. E. Kirichenko, M. B. Driga, A. V. Kiselev, I. V. Russkikh, V. A. Obolkin and M. Yu. Shikhovtsev

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6354; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106354 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2104

Abstract

The present study is aimed at the development of a novel empirical base for application to ground-based astronomical telescopes. A Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model is used for description of atmospheric flow structure with a high spatial resolution within the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory (BAO) region. Mesoscale vortex structures are found within the atmospheric boundary layer, which affect the quality of astronomical images. The results of simulations show that upward air motions in the lower atmosphere are suppressed both above the cold surface of Lake Baikal and inside mesoscale eddy structures. A model of the outer scale of turbulence for BAO is developed. In this work, we consider the seeing parameter that represents the full width at half-maximum of the point spread function. Optical turbulence profiles are obtained and daytime variations of seeing are estimated. Vertical profiles of optical turbulence are optimized taking into account data from direct optical observations of solar images. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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15 pages, 2572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parametric, Semiparametric, and Semi-Nonparametric Estimates of the Kinetic Energy of Ordered Air Motion and Wind Outliers in the Atmospheric Boundary Layer from Minisodar Measurements

by Valerii Anan’evich Simakhin, Alexander Ivanovich Potekaev, Oleg Sergeevich Cherepanov and Liudmila Grigor’evna Shamanaeva

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 6116; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13106116 - 16 May 2023

Viewed by 1150

Abstract

In the present work, we analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of the kinetic wind energy with and without allowance for the kinetic energy of outliers. We first separated the contributions of the mean kinetic energy and the kinetic energy of the outliers and estimated the latter using robust parametric, semiparametric, and semi-nonparametric algorithms developed by the authors. The kinetic wind energy was estimated by the postprocessing of minisodar measurements of three wind velocity components and their variances in the lower 200 m layer of the atmosphere. By the outliers, we mean wind velocities, including wind gusts, the distribution of which deviates from the prior distribution of the majority of observations. A nonmonotonic increase in the kinetic energy of the outliers with sounding altitude was established. Physically, this can be explained by a nonmonotonic increase in the turbulent kinetic energy of local air vortices in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). The vertical extension of the outlier layers was of the order of 10–20 m. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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13 pages, 3738 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climatology of 557.7 nm Emission Layer Parameters over South-East Siberia, Observations and Model Data

by Roman Vasilyev, Andrei Saunkin, Olga Zorkaltseva, Maksim Artamonov and Alexander Mikhalev

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(8), 5157; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13085157 - 20 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1332

Abstract

The paper deals with long-term means of 557.7 nm atomic oxygen airglow intensity (OI) and air temperature within the mesopause over the southern regions of East Siberia. Data on temperature and emission parameters were obtained with a SABER radiometer, KEO Scientific “Arinae” Fabry–Pérot interferometer, SATI spectrometer and NRLMSIS model over the Tory Geophysical Observatory (52° N, 103° E). Annual variations of 557.7 nm emission intensity and temperature obtained in observations differ from model approximations. Potential reasons for the discrepancies revealed are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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13 pages, 3684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atmospheric Electricity Measurements in the Pacific Northwest, Russia

by Sergey Smirnov

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(4), 2571; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13042571 - 16 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1630

Abstract

A complex for measuring the electrical parameters of the surface layer of the atmosphere, which has been successfully operating in Kamchatka since 1997, is described. The basic principles of organization of such measurements and methods for their implementation under specific conditions are given. The main reactions of the electric field to meteorological phenomena, as well as to seismic and space events, are shown. A feature of the observatory is that it is located at mid-latitudes with a temperate maritime climate with a very small number of thunderstorms and in a region with high seismic activity. The paper presents the main results of studies of geophysical processes obtained at an observatory with such features. The measurement results of this complex are broadcast on the Internet and are available through a shared use center. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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18 pages, 4306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Atmospheric Flow Structure on Optical Turbulence Characteristics

by Artem Y. Shikhovtsev, Pavel G. Kovadlo, Anatoly A. Lezhenin, Oleg A. Korobov, Alexander V. Kiselev, Ivan V. Russkikh, Dmitrii Y. Kolobov and Maxim Y. Shikhovtsev

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(3), 1282; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031282 - 18 Jan 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

This article discusses the quality of astronomical images under conditions of moderate small-scale turbulence and varying meso-scale airflows above the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory (BAO). We applied a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, as well as statistical estimations of the Fried parameter from the differential motion of the solar images. The simulations were performed with a fairly high horizontal resolution within a large area of 1600 × 1600 km. A high horizontal resolution provides representative estimations of atmospheric characteristics and correct accounting of large-scale air advection. We considered the influence of atmospheric motions over the cold water area of Lake Baikal, as well as meso-scale vortex structures over rough terrain on solar image quality. A better understanding of structured turbulent small-scale motions and optical turbulence over rough terrain may help to develop advanced methods for diagnostics and prediction of image quality. For the first time, we have shown that the BAO is located at the periphery of a meso-scale atmospheric vortex structure with an anticyclonic direction of airflows in the daytime. An increase in image quality was associated with weakening airflows over Lake Baikal and a decrease in the intensity of wind speed fluctuations. Calculated spectra of atmospheric turbulence in the daytime were close to the classical form. At night and in the morning, the spectra had a steeper slope on small scales. Deformations of the spectra were due to the suppression of turbulence under stable stratification of the atmosphere. The characteristic horizontal scales of the transition from “−5/3” to ∼“−3” spectral slope were 2–2.5 km. The results obtained using the WRF model and analysis of optical turbulence strength (namely, the Fried parameter) indicated that the parameterization schemes used in the WRF model were accurate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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17 pages, 2081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subsea Methane Hydrates: Origin and Monitoring the Impacts of Global Warming

by Vladimir Cheverda, Denis Bratchikov, Kirill Gadylshin, Elena Golubeva, Valentina Malakhova and Galina Reshetova

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(23), 11929; https://doi.org/10.3390/app122311929 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1762

Abstract

The East Siberian Arctic shelf is the area where the largest natural gas reserves are concentrated. The formation of permafrost of the Arctic shelf during the Ice Age contributed to the emergence of a zone of stable existence of gas hydrates in the sedimentary layer, and subsequent flooding of the shelf led to its gradual degradation, the thawing of gas hydrates and the subsequent emissions of methane into the atmosphere. In the first part of the paper, we use mathematical modeling to study the processes of the formation of subsea permafrost on the Arctic shelf considering changes in the sea levels over the past 200 thousand years. Numerical simulations show the influence of climate warming up to 2200 on the degradation of subsea permafrost and the violation of the conditions for the stable existence of methane hydrates in bottom sediments using the example of the East Siberian shelf. The second part of the paper proposes a method for seismic monitoring of the state of gas hydrates based on a solution of multi-parameter inverse seismic problems. In particular, the degree of attenuation of seismic energy is one of the objective parameters for assessing the consolidation of gas hydrates: the closer they are to the beginning of decomposition, the higher the attenuation and, hence, the lower the quality factor. In this publication, we do not solve a multi-parameter inverse seismic problem for a real geological object. This would be impossible due to the lack of necessary data. Instead, we focus on substantiating the possibility of correct solutions for the problem of the reconstruction of the absorption and velocities for a viscoelastic medium in relation to the problem of monitoring the state of gas hydrate deposits. As noted in a range of publications, the thawing of gas hydrates leads to an increase in the fluid saturation of the geological medium followed by an increase in the absorption of seismic energy—that is, a decrease in the quality factor. Thus, the methods of seismic monitoring of the state of gas hydrates to predict the possibility of developing dangerous scenarios should be based on solving a multi-parameter inverse seismic problem. This publication is devoted to the presentation of this approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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Review

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15 pages, 606 KiB

Open AccessReview

Measurements and Evaluations of the Atmospheric Transparency at Short Millimeter Wavelengths at Candidate Sites for Millimeter- and Sub-Millimeter-Wave Telescopes

by Igor I. Zinchenko, Alexander V. Lapinov, Vyacheslav F. Vdovin, Peter M. Zemlyanukha and Tatiana A. Khabarova

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(21), 11706; https://doi.org/10.3390/app132111706 - 26 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1426

Abstract

Radio astronomical observations at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths are a very important tool for astrophysical research. However, there is a huge area in northeastern Eurasia, including the whole Russian territory, which lacks sufficiently large radio telescopes effectively operating at these wavelengths. In this review, we describe our long-term efforts to find suitable sites for such radio telescopes in this area, that is, sites with good atmospheric transparency at millimeter and submillimeter waves. We describe methods and instruments used for measurements and evaluations of the atmospheric opacity. They include special radiometric systems, which are used for estimations of the atmospheric opacity in the transparency windows from the sky brightness measurements. Evaluation of the precipitable water vapor from such measurements by the artificial neural network is discussed. Other approaches use water vapor radiometers, global atmospheric models and signals of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems. To date, long-term radiometric monitoring has been performed at several candidate sites, and atmospheric conditions for many sites have been evaluated using global atmospheric models. Several sites with the best atmospheric transparency at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths have been selected. They can be effectively used for astronomical observations, at least in the major atmospheric transparency windows at 1.3 mm and 0.85 mm. In general, the results show that northeastern Eurasia is a promising area for submillimeter astronomy. These results can also be used for space communications and radar systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Observation for Geophysics, Climatology and Astronomy)

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