FERHRI proceedings "Hydrometeorological and ecological conditions in the Far Eastern Seas: marine environmental impact assessment". FERHRI Special Issue ¹3 Publisher: "Dalnauka", DVO RAN Chief editor: Dr. Kochergin I.E. The proceedings can be ordered at: 690600, 24, Fontannaya st., Vladivostok, Russia Kochergin I.E., Department of Engineering Oceanology and Ecological Design (DEO) or by e-mail: deo@ferhri.ru Phone: +7 (4232) 26-73-52

Abstracts of the proceedings are given below:

UDC 551.589.1/6(57+265)+551.553.21(265.54)
Assessments of the XX-century variability of characteristics and influence on the Japan Sea circulation of the Pacific-Asian atmospheric action centers
/ Dashko N. A., Varlamov S. M. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 10-25.

Multiyear variability of the Pacific-Asian atmospheric action center's characteristics registered by Russian and western data archives covering different periods starting from 1891 is analyzed. In winter and summer the recent two decades are revealed to show the tendency of macro-scale baric gradient decrease (AAC partial pressure differences in respect to the distance between the centers) on the background of positive centennial trend. Special attention is paid to the monsoon circulation over the Sea of Japan and its effect on macro-scale baric gradient variations. Monsoon activity gradients are analyzed. Although the monsoon intensity and its variability in a concrete situation depends on the local baric field tension over the Sea of Japan and adjacent areas the correlation coefficients of monsoon activity indexes with AAC characteristics are shown to be significant.
Figures - 8, references - 8.

UDC 551.513.3:551.524.3(571.624)
Position variability and contribution of the Pacific-asian atmospheric action centers into Sakhalin air temperature anomalies
/ Bogdanovskaya T. V., Bogdanovsky A. A. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 26-33.

Position variability of four Pacific-Asian atmospheric action centers is analyzed. The investigation is based on the 1949-1990 average seasonal AAC position records and the average seasonal air temperature anomalies collected by 8 coastal meteorological stations: Tymovsk, Okha, Pogibi, Aleksandrovsk-Sakhalinsky, Poronaisk, Kholmsk, Korsakov, and Uglegorsk.
Typification of AAC position is proposed with all PAAC positions being subdivided into 5 types. Probability of occurrence of AAC type positions is investigated for each season. The influence of AAC position on temperature regime of Sakhalin meteo-stations is studied. AAC positions during the two recent seasons up to extreme temperature are analyzed. Some dependencies of air temperature anomalies upon AAC position are revealed. The most informative was found AAC position in autumn, pre-winter and the second part of winter. The obtained results may add efficiency to the long-term weather forecasts.
Tables - 3, figures - 2, references - 20.

UDC 551.574.42
Conditions of ice-crust formation on the Okhotsk Sea coast
/ Blokhina V. I. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 34-45.

The paper contains the generalized results of aerosynoptic formation conditions of the most dangerous ice crusts on the Okhotsk Sea coast. Synoptic processes are type-designed, and characteristics of the cyclones that cause ice crust to form, namely pressure changes in cyclone centers, cyclone duration, and intensity of ice crust formed at different trajectories, are considered. Inversion, dew point and temperature deficits in the lower atmospheric 1.5 km layer in the days with ice crust and icy wet snow are descried.
Tables - 7, figures - 2, references - 13.

UDC 551.465.43(265.54)+551.513.3
Fluctuations of thermodynamics of the Japan Sea surface waters as the factor characterizing macro-scale climatic changes in the earth atmosphere
/ Savelyev A. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 46-61.

Complex analysis of long-period variability of air and water temperature, level and duration of the Japan Sea ice cover is carried out on the basis of multiyear observations of 20 coastal stations of Russia, Japan, and South Korea.
Three-modal structure of the described characteristics spectra with maximums at 9-12, 3-5, and 2-2.5 year-periods has been revealed. The mentioned fluctuations were found to occur on the background of low-frequency fluctuations which tend to show seasonal differences. In cold seasons multiyear variability of thermodynamic characteristics tends to increase (ice cover duration tends to decrease), that agrees with global climate warming. In warm seasons the curves of multiyear variability look like a long-period climatic wave with minimum in the sixties-seventies, and maximum in the twenties-thirties and the eighties-nineties.
The revealed long-period waves well agree with the centennial cycle of macro-circulation atmospheric processes of the North Hemisphere.
Tables - 3, figures - 6, references - 44.

UDC 551.464
Analysis of multiyear water and air temperature in Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan)
/ Gayko L. A. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 62-76.

The results of the analysis of numerous average water and air temperatures observed by four coastal hydrometeorological stations of the State Hydrometeorological Service Network (Posyet, Gamov, Vladivostok, Nakhodka) in 1882-1982 are described. Statistic characteristics of water and air temperatures are estimated. Inter-annual variability of temperature in the coastal Peter the Great Bay is investigated. Climatic trends of water and air temperature distribution in warm and cold seasons are revealed. The obtained results suggest climatic regime changes in the northwestern Sea of Japan. Climatic increase of the examined parameters was found the most pronounced in the cold season.
Tables - 7, figures - 6, references - 28.

UDC 551.465.41(265.54)
Formation of intermediate high saline waters in the Sea of Japan
/ Luchin V. A., Tischenko P. Ya., Talley L. D. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 77-91.

This research is based on the material collected on two international cruises, R\V "R.Revelle" and R\V "Professor Khromov", organized from 24 June to 13 August, 1999 and massive historical records (about 140000 oceanographic stations).
The paper describes one possible mechanism of intermediate high saline water formation. It is based on the processes of vertical and lateral mixing of two water types from the upper Japan Sea horizons, the Tsushima (warm and saline) water and northern, northwestern (cold and desalinated) water. The main zone this water is formed in was found to the west and northwest of the Sangara Strait. Another zone located to the south of Peter the Great Bay is formed under the influence of several processes, advective mixing of waters from the first zone, mixing of the formed intermediate waters with high salinity and cold desalinated near-slope waters, and vertical mixing of waters in vortex formations
Figures - 6, references - 28.

UDC 551.465.4(265.54)
Winter spatial sea-water structure of the northwest Sea of Japan
/ Danchenkov M. A., Aubrey D. G., Lobanov V. B. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 92-105.

Westward spreading of warm and saline water of the Tsushima Current meander has been recorded in the Northwest Japan Sea (between 41°- 43° N and 132° - 137° W) in winters of 1995-1999. From east to west in the flow nucleus salinity and temperature were found to drop, the former from 34.15 % to 34.06 %, and the latter from 2.5 °C to 0.5 °C. Occurrence of this flow in the Northwest Japan Sea explains the lack of cold sub-surface layer in summer and formation of deep water at the northwestern thermal front.
Tables - 1, figures - 11, references - 18.

UDC 551.465.46:551.462.32(5713642)+551.556
Wind-induced upwelling in the area of the northeastern Sakhalin shelf
/ Krasavtsev V. B., Puzankov K. L., Shevchenko G. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 106-120.

Satellite observations of sea surface temperature and instrumental wind and sea current data observed at different horizons, sea-water temperature and salinity obtained at two sites of the north-eastern Sakhalin shelf, as well as the data collected on two oceanographic 1990 July cruises are analyzed.
Both, remote observations and oceanographic surveys, reveal the offshore areas with lower temperatures, characteristic for upwelling. Extension of these areas and seaward direction of currents in the surface layer (with shoreward directed currents in the near-bottom horizons) are explained by predominant southern winds. The increase of eastern or north-eastern winds caused the areas to shrink and the current in the upper horizons to flow shoreward, with surface sea-water temperature at the observed sites fluctuating from 10-12 °C and salinity changing up to 9%.
Figures - 7, references - 12.

UDC 551.465.75(265.53)
Surge fluctuations in Sakhalin Bay
/ Savelyev A. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 121-132.

Surge effects in Sakhalin Bay are analyzed on the basis of sea-level data observed by coastal stations. A new and simple technique to distinguish surge fluctuations using four-period observations is proposed. Conditions of surge formation are revealed and their regime characteristics are estimated.
Tables - 10, figures - 3, references - 8.

UDC 551.467(265.54):551.465.7(265.54)
Ice-productivity of the Tatar Strait and salt-content of its waters in the cold season
/ Petrov A. G. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 133-138.

Ice-productivity of the Tatar Strait is analyzed, with potential salt input due to ice-formation being calculated on the basis of the earlier developed scheme of the Tatar Strait zoning. The areas where salt input may change characteristics of ice-underlying waters are distinguished. The described results may be used to analyze the effect of winter processes on the formation of the Japan Sea hydrology.
Tables - 3, references - 9.

UDC 551.463.8:556.455(265.3)
Effect of hydrometeorological factors on suspended matter distribution in the Okhotsk Sea part of the Amur River estuary
/ Yakunin L. P., Dudarev O. V., Botsul A. I., Anikiev V. V., Utkin I. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 139-149.

Investigations carried out in Sakhalin Bay show that the character and intensity of hydrometeorological factors affect its water structure and suspended matter dynamics. During stormy surges the Amur waters are sometimes blocked in the vicinity of the Amur firth boundary. This blockage of riverine water discharge in the Okhotks Sea part of the estuary conditions threefold drop of its suspended matter content if compared with calm meteorological conditions. Two structural types of spatial suspended mater distribution have been revealed. The presence of the firth mixed waters and their spatial position in the upper bay were found to be another criterion that helps to estimate the effect of synoptic and hydrological factors.
Tables - 2, figures - 4, references - 18.

UDC 550.42(265.5)
Fractional distribution of heavy metals in the Japan sea sediments (illustrated by Vladivostok-Niigata profile)
/ Astakhov A. S., Polyakov D. M., Slinko E. N., Sereda N. A. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 150-165.

The paper describes heavy metal (HM) content, chemical and mineral composition of surface sedimentary layer, and granulometric fractions distinguished in sediments along the sub-latitudinal profile in the Central Sea of Japan. Distribution of heavy metals in sediments is found to be conditioned by terrigene material input of island-arc and continental provinces, fractionation over size and mineral composition due to transport and precipitation, and mixing with nutrients, volcanic and authigenic material. Multi-component statistic analysis has shown that variability of HM content depends mainly on iron and partially on manganese distribution. On this background the analysis of pelitic fractions of sediments and content normalization in respect to iron helped to reveal anthropogenic pollution at its initial stage. It also showed, that the influence of size fractionation of terrigene material, nutrients, and volcanoclastic sedimentation, and partially authigenic mineral-formation was eliminated.
Tables - 2, figures - 6, references - 29.

UDC 551.46:574
Faunal composition, distribution, and present state of benthos at the Piltun-Astokh Oil and gas field
/ Belan T. A., Oleynik E. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 166-177.

Benthos macrofaunal data obtained at the Piltun-Astokh oil and gas field in 1998-1999 are described. Average biomass is shown to change from 940 to 1339 g/m3. Maximal biomass (over 9000 g/m2 ) and density (over 200 000 ind/m2) is recorded in fine sands with predominant sea urchin Echiarachnius parma and cumacean Diastylis bidentata. Bottom communities are shown to include predominantly echinoderms, sea anemones, polychaetes, and bivalves. Analyses of the results of three hydrobiological surveys around Molikpaq Rig shows no negative changes in benthic composition.
Tables - 6, figures - 4, references - 9.

UDC 504.05+504.42.054+504.064
Characteristics of the impact produced by sewage water discharged into marine environment in course of Sakhalin shelf oil and gas operation
/ Kochergin I. E., Bogdanovsky A. A., Gavrilevsky A. V., Gavrilova T. A., Sergusheva O. O., Royle D. J. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 178-189.

The paper investigates the impact characteristics of sewage water discharges on marine environment. Brief description of drilling waste utilization is presented.
Volumes and composition of the pollutants discharged with sewage and their specifications and impact intensity are described. Basic drilling mud components are subdivided into groups in accordance with the types of their impact on marine environment. For some pollutants LK50 criterion levels of toxicity is presented.
The paper illustrates toxicity scale and intensity assessments based on computer modeling of pollutants discharged into sea-water. Visual interpretation of some scale and intensity impact parameters in sea-water and bottom sediments are illustrated as well.
The paper also includes the description of alternative method of impact assessment based on ecological monitoring results collected before and after drilling, that revealed local short-term impact confirmed by computer modeling as well.
Tables - 1, figures - 5, references - 12.

UDC 504.42.054(265.5)
Normalization of sewage water discharges into the seas of the Russian Far East
/ Gavrilevsky A. V. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 190-204.

The paper investigates practical approaches to the problem of sewage water discharge normalization to meet the required standards of environmental impact. It also briefly analyzes the environmental Russian laws and international agreements regulating sewage water discharge.
Some problems of initial data preparation are considered as well. Applied techniques are analyzed and illustrated by the examples of their practical application. Analysis of discharge normalization is used to formulate the tasks that may help to cope with the arisen problems.
Tables - 3, figures - 1, references - 10.

UDC 551.543+571.6
Some physiological comfort indexes applied to Primorye and Sakhalin
/ Tunegolovets V. P. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 205-222.

Extreme values of different physiological comfort indexes the most often used in biometeorology applied to over 100 sites of Primorye and Sakhalin are considered. Analysis of the results obtained suggests the necessity to use complex meteorological indicators simultaneously describing comfort conditions over several biometeorological indexes for the whole year.
A new index of physiological comfort defined as meteorological risk of dangerous for health and life activity weather conditions, in other words the index of atmospheric environment aggressiveness (IAEA), is proposed. Quantitatively IAEA is equal to summed up risks of each dangerous meteo-phenomenon occurrence. Health dangerous weather conditions are atmospheric pressure fluctuating by over 10 hPa/3 h., high air temperature combined with high humidity (effective temperature ET2 =27 °C, that causes the residents of mid latitude areas to feel bad and to be unable to function well), and low temperatures combined with strong wind (effective temperature ET2 is lower - 55 °C resulting in causes frost-bite).
Tables - 3, figures - 3, references - 23.

UDC 551.5+589.1:551.465.5(265.53)
Construction of hydrometeorological scenarios for environmental impact assessments
/ Kochergin I. E., Bogdanovsky A. A., Budaeva V. D., Varlamov S. M., Dashko N. A., Makarov V. G., Putov V. F., Rybalko S. I. // FERHRI Special Issue ¹ 3. Vladivostok: Dalnauka, 2000. P. 223-240.

The technique of hydrometeorological scenario construction is proposed. These are the scenarios used in computer modeling of the fate of there-day and longer oil spills that may occur on Sakhalin shelf. The scenarios are constructed on the basis of representative and reliable hydrometeorological data used to develop typical meteosituations and current schemes. The described technique preserves the statistics of probability occurrence, duration, and from-one-to-another-situation transit coefficients.
The paper illustrates how the set of scenarios of oil spill fate in the area of northeastern Sakhalin shelf is constructed. The described approach tests revealed good agreement of statistic characteristics of the constructed current field scenarios with field observations, thus proving the described technique and computer models to be correct and reliable.
Tables - 9, figures - 6, references - 12.