Minimization of Fungicidal Applications Against Potato Late Blight in the North Caucasian Region: Use of the “Agrodozor” System

Late blight is considered to be the most devastating potato disease, which control requires application of fungicides able to significantly contaminate the environment and accumulate in agricultural products. Pesticide load on potato fields can be reduced via optimization of the scheme of protective treatments. Such optimization can be performed using a mathematical simulator describing the dependence of late blight-caused yield losses on the weather data and an “Agrodozor” decision support system (DSS). The performed analysis of a situation in the regions of the North Caucasus allowed us to determine three zones differing in the disease harmfulness and characterized by potential yield losses at the level of <10, 10-20, and >20 % and the probability of disease appearance in field during 30, 77, and 90 % of seasons, respectively. Using the “Agrodozor” DSS, we calculated the optimum dates of fungicidal treatments for these zones and showed that, comparing to the commonly used routine scheme of treatments, the use of this DSS provides a significant reduction of the number of such treatments and, therefore, the corresponding costs for their arrangement, as well as reduction of the total toxicity index of the required protective measures

Kinetic-scale magnetic turbulence and finite Larmor radius effects at Mercury

We use a nonstationary generalization of the higher-order structure function technique to investigate statistical properties of the magnetic field fluctuations recorded by MESSENGER spacecraft during its first flyby (01/14/2008) through the near Mercury's space environment, with the emphasis on key boundary regions participating in the solar wind -- magnetosphere interaction. Our analysis shows, for the first time, that kinetic-scale fluctuations play a significant role in the Mercury's magnetosphere up to the largest resolvable time scale ~20 s imposed by the signal nonstationarity, suggesting that turbulence at this planet is largely controlled by finite Larmor radius effects. In particular, we report the presence of a highly turbulent and extended foreshock system filled with packets of ULF oscillations, broad-band intermittent fluctuations in the magnetosheath, ion-kinetic turbulence in the central plasma sheet of Mercury's magnetotail, and kinetic-scale fluctuations in the inner current sheet encountered at the outbound (dawn-side) magnetopause. Overall, our measurements indicate that the Hermean magnetosphere, as well as the surrounding region, are strongly affected by non-MHD effects introduced by finite sizes of cyclotron orbits of the constituting ion species. Physical mechanisms of these effects and their potentially critical impact on the structure and dynamics of Mercury's magnetic field remain to be understood.Comment: 46 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

Asymmetry of Magnetosheath Flows and Magnetopause Shape During Low Alfvén Mach Number Solar Wind

Previous works have emphasized the significant influence of the solar wind Alfvén Mach number (MA) on magnetospheric dynamics. Here we report statistical, observational results that pertain to changes in the magnetosheath flow distribution and magnetopause shape as a function of solar wind MA and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) clock angle orientation. We use all Cluster 1 data in the magnetosheath during the period 2001–2010, using an appropriate spatial superposition procedure, to produce magnetosheath flow distributions as a function of location in themagnetosheath relative to the IMF and other parameters. The results demonstrate that enhanced flows in the magnetosheath are expected at locations quasi-perpendicular to the IMF direction in the plane perpendicular to the Sun-Earth line; in other words, for the special case of a northward IMF, enhanced flows are observed on the dawn and dusk flanks of the magnetosphere, while much lower flows are observed above the poles. The largest flows are adjacent to themagnetopause. Using appropriate magnetopause crossing lists (for both high and lowMA), we also investigate the changes inmagnetopause shape as a function of solarwindMA and IMF orientation. Comparing observed magnetopause crossings with predicted positions from an axisymmetric semi-empirical model, we statistically show that the magnetopause is generally circular during high MA, while is it elongated (albeit with moderate statistical significance) along the direction of the IMF during low MA. These findings are consistent with enhanced magnetic forces that prevail in the magnetosheath during lowMA. The component of the magnetic forces parallel to the magnetopause produces the enhanced flows along and adjacent to the magnetopause, while the component normal to the magnetopause exerts an asymmetric pressure on the magnetopause that deforms it into an elongated shape

Exploration geophysics methods assist in hydrogeological and ecological survey of oilfield regions

The paper describes the procedure of hydrogeological and ecological survey In the regions adjacent to oilfield facilities. Results of Integrated geophysical survey, including high-precision gravity measurement, electrical prospecting methods. In that number, symmetrical electrical profiling, vertical electric sounding, and spontaneous potentials, were used to decide on the site and type of specialized hydrogeological and ecological works. The first priorities are the zones with Intense tectonic fracturing determined first by space geological Investigations and confirmed later by gravity measurement

An improved empirical model of electron and ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit based on upstream solar wind conditions

A new empirical model of the electron fluxes and ion fluxes at geosynchronous orbit (GEO) is introduced, based on observations by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) satellites. The model provides flux predictions in the energy range ~1 eV to ~40 keV, as a function of local time, energy, and the strength of the solar wind electric field (the negative product of the solar wind speed and the z component of the magnetic field). Given appropriate upstream solar wind measurements, the model provides a forecast of the fluxes at GEO with a ~1 h lead time. Model predictions are tested against in‐sample observations from LANL satellites and also against out‐of‐sample observations from the Compact Environmental Anomaly Sensor II detector on the AMC‐12 satellite. The model does not reproduce all structure seen in the observations. However, for the intervals studied here (quiet and storm times) the normalized root‐mean‐square deviation < ~0.3. It is intended that the model will improve forecasting of the spacecraft environment at GEO and also provide improved boundary/input conditions for physical models of the magnetosphere.Key PointsNew model of electron and ion fluxes at GEO (driven by ‐vBz) provides a ~1 h forecast of fluxes in the energy range ~1 eV to ~40 keVThe main benefit from the new model is the ability to predict the fluxes at GEO in advanceForecasts are a good match to observations during quiet times and storm timesPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134149/1/swe20339_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/134149/2/swe20339.pd

REGIONAL EXPERIENCE OF ORGANIZING OF ANTIEPIDEMIC MEASURES DIRECTED TO THE PREVENTING OF DELIVERY AND SPREADING OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME IN OMSK REGION

Characteristics of factors, defining the possibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome delivery into the territory of Omsk region are given. The data of complex approach for organization and anti-epidemic measures at the region level for preventing of SARS delivery and spreading are presented. Problems of scientific and practical character, that need to be solved for effective counteraction with epidemic spreading of «atypical pneumonia» are discussed

Multistep Dst development and ring current composition changes during the 4–6 June 1991 magnetic storm

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95117/1/jgra16069.pd

Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of Drilling Cuttings in Tomsk Oblast Sites

The research is focused on determining mineralogical composition of drilling cuttings by scanning electron microscope as well as imaging the sample surface of high resolution that allows studying the structural characteristics of the site. In addition, a number of other techniques permit obtaining information on chemical composition of sample in near-surface layers. The study in drilling cuttings by means of scanning microscopy has revealed the presence of titanium, iron, zirconium oxides, iron sulphide, barium sulphate. The former is a mineral that concentrates rare-earth elements, presumably monocyte, as well as uranium silicate, etc. The results obtained confirm the data of previous X-ray structural analysis, i.e. the study samples consist of alumosilicate matrix. Apart from silicon and aluminium oxides, the matrix includes such elements as Na, K, Mg. Such a composition corresponds to rock-forming minerals: quartz, albite, microcline, clinochlore, muscovite, anorthoclase

Solar Wind Turbulence and the Role of Ion Instabilities

International audienc

THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL EVOLUTION OF ION-SCALE CURRENT SHEETS: TEARING AND DRIFT-KINK INSTABILITIES IN THE PRESENCE OF PROTON TEMPERATURE ANISOTROPY

We present the first three-dimensional hybrid simulations of the evolution of ion-scale current sheets, with an investigation of the role of temperature anisotropy and associated kinetic instabilities on the growth of the tearing instability and particle heating. We confirm the ability of the ion cyclotron and firehose instabilities to enhance or suppress reconnection, respectively. The simulations demonstrate the emergence of persistent three-dimensional structures, including patchy reconnection sites and the fast growth of a narrow-band drift-kink instability, which suppresses reconnection for thin current sheets with weak guide fields. Potential observational signatures of the three-dimensional evolution of solar wind current sheets are also discussed. We conclude that kinetic instabilities, arising from non-Maxwellian ion populations, are significant to the evolution of three-dimensional current sheets, and two-dimensional studies of heating rates by reconnection may therefore over-estimate the ability of thin, ion-scale current sheets to heat the solar wind by reconnection