The work continues the study focused on the analysis of the severe ice conditions’ formation in the Pechora Sea during navigation in 2003 and 2018 (published in vol.12, no.4, 2022). Using a numerical model, the authors reproduce the dynamics and some elements of the morphometry of the ice cover during the indicated ice seasons. Thus, they reveal that the significant ice pressure (100—150 kPa and more) is caused by the strong on-shore wind, while the ice pressure related to the tidal phenomena have the predominant value at the weak winds. The tidal ice pressure occurs permanently and regularly, and varies mainly within the range of 10—50 kPa. The contribution of ice hummocks to the total ice volume becomes significant when strong ice pressure happens at the background of high ice thickness (close to the seasonal maximum, i.e. more than 60—70 cm). With small ice thicknesses, even strong ice pressure, as a rule, does not lead to a significant increase in the equivalent thickness of hummocks.

The Pechora Sea is an essential region of the Russian Arctic shelf in terms of hydrocarbon production and cargo transit along the NSR (mainly from the Ob’ Bay area). Occasionally, heavy ice conditions form in this area, manifested in the compression of the ice cover, which lead to a serious complication of navigation and operation of vessels supporting the Prirazlomnaya ice resisting platform. Based on the analysis of various sources, the authors consider the processes of formation of severe ice conditions in 2003 and 2018, as well as their impact on the operation of ships. They demonstrate that the only vessel able to operate steadily in such conditions is a nuclear icebreaker. The authors suggest that ice compressions of varying intensity are quite typical for the area and can repeat occasionally

This is particularly obvious in the opening part: although titled “Theological Introduction,” it mostly goes through the typical motions of a critical commentary, introducing Judges as a whole, its canonical and historical context, literary structure (under the strange heading “The Immediate Context of Judges”), and history of its interpretation and reception. Moreover, much of it is secondary (the section on “Hearing Judges as Hebrew Narrative” comes entirely from Meir Sternberg’s oeuvre) or standard in recent scholarship (the division of Judges into two-part introduction, six cycles, and two-part conclusion). Other sections are desultory, such as “Hearing Others Hearing Judges,” where Beldman devotes less than two pages to diachronic approaches and never mentions Camille Saint-Saëns’s famous (and in some recent productions, controversial) opera Samson and Delilah under “Judges in Art, Music, and Theater.”

The Arctic Sea ice area, calculated by the VASIA2 algorithm using the SSMIS data during the most intensive melting of the ice cover in 2019, is compared with ice charts of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI). The results of estimating the total area of the ocean surface covered by sea ice of any concentration from 0.1 to 10 tenths have revealed a difference by –1.1% with the ice chart dated August 25–27 and by +3.4% with the ice chart dated September 1–3. An analysis of ice area distribution by the ranges of ice concentration has shown that the VASIA2 algorithm determines the area of very close pack and compact ice in the ice massif with high accuracy, overestimates the area of very open and open ice, and underestimates the area of close ice. The results have indicated the potential application of the VASIA2 algorithm in the different scientific problems concerned with changes in the ice cover area and ice concentration, as well as the necessity of a more in-depth and large-scale comparison of the algorithm results with the ice charts.

Changes in Arctic sea ice thickness are the result of complex interactions of the dynamic and variable ice cover with atmosphere and ocean. Most of the sea ice exiting the Arctic Ocean does so through Fram Strait, which is why long-term measurements of ice thickness at the end of the Transpolar Drift provide insight into the integrated signals of thermodynamic and dynamic influences along the pathways of Arctic sea ice. We present an updated summer (July–August) time series of extensive ice thickness surveys carried out at the end of the Transpolar Drift between 2001 and 2020. Overall, we see a more than 20 % thinning of modal ice thickness since 2001. A comparison of this time series with first preliminary results from the international Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) shows that the modal summer thickness of the MOSAiC floe and its wider vicinity are consistent with measurements from previous years at the end of the Transpolar Drift. By combining this unique time series with the Lagrangian sea ice tracking tool, ICETrack, and a simple thermodynamic sea ice growth model, we link the observed interannual ice thickness variability north of Fram Strait to increased drift speeds along the Transpolar Drift and the consequential variations in sea ice age. We also show that the increased influence of upward-directed ocean heat flux in the eastern marginal ice zones, termed Atlantification, is not only responsible for sea ice thinning in and around the Laptev Sea but also that the induced thickness anomalies persist beyond the Russian shelves and are potentially still measurable at the end of the Transpolar Drift after more than a year. With a tendency towards an even faster Transpolar Drift, winter sea ice growth will have less time to compensate for the impact processes, such as Atlantification, have on sea ice thickness in the eastern marginal ice zone, which will increasingly be felt in other parts of the sea-ice-covered Arctic.

The publication is considered methodology and preliminary results of computer processing of vector ice charts and simulation of ice navigation by empirical statistical model, which was designed in the AARI. The model is result of generalization of multi-year special ship ice observations, produced by the AARI scientists. The Institute has unique archive of ice charts, which were made by recognition of satellite images, their composition and vectorization. The archive covers the period since 1997. Average navigation velocity and total time expenditure for sailing along a route can be used as the objective indexes of the ice navigation conditions. In the article is presented detailed description of the technique for preparing data for numerical experiments with the empirical statistical model by applying the ice charts from the archive. The data preparing is processed in ArcGIS by means of specially designed computer programs. The numerical experiments simulate ice navigation of “Arctica” nuclear icebreaker. The comparison between the average navigation velocity and time expenditure for sailing along the route “Sabetta Port – Kara Gate Strait” at simulation of ice conditions in the first ten-day interval of May 1998 and the same temporal interval of 2019 indicates significant improve of the ice navigation conditions.

Responding to JoAnna Hoyt's article in the 2020 volume of Hebrew Studies, as well as to her earlier publication, we discuss her insistence that Israel's repentance plays no role in the book of Judges as an example of theologically driven eisegesis, sustainable only by cherry-picking of evidence and faulty philology and leading to absurdity and self-contradiction on multiple counts.

AARI has unique archive of ice charts, which were made by recognition of satellite images, their composition and vectorization. The paper is considered methodology and preliminary results of computer processing of vector ice charts from the archive. The archive covers the period since 1997. The charts handling is processed in ArcGIS. The article presents some results of ice navigation conditions analysis within the standard route “Sabetta Port – the Bering Strait” for April and May, that is temporal interval of the heaviest conditions of ice navigation. There have been calculated conditional length of various ice age/age and form gradations for the route as a whole. For a homogeneous ice zone of the route the conditional length of an ice age gradation means result of multiplication of the gradation partial ice concentration at the zone length. The values were calculated for various ice forms (floe dimensions) of the ice age categories. The research revealed essential enhancement of the ice navigation conditions for the period 1998-2020. Nevertheless even complete disappearance of the old ice from the route does not mean absence of nip danger.

Review of main methods of sea ice thickness measurements and results of published researches about climate and interannual variability of this parameter in the Arctic Basin and in the Arctic Seas are presented. Following methods of thickness measurements are developed and widely used: ice drilling, acoustic (echo sounder), electromagnetic method, visual and TV ship observations. Maximum area of the Arctic sea ice can be covered by acoustic measurements from submarines, visual and TV ship observations from ice class vessels and icebreakers. Results of thickness measurements in the Arctic reviewed in present research were obtained in various regions of the Arctic, in various seasons, by various methods and various periods, and, consequently, do not allow to estimate unambiguously a climate and interannual variability of sea ice thickness in the Arctic. However, authors concluded that changes of average sea ice thickness in the Arctic Basin are influenced in first turn by dynamic processes caused by changes in the atmosphere circulation. TV-complex developed in the AARI is a perspective method to automate process of sea ice thickness measurements from the shipboards.

Since 2006, a new generation of reinforced ice class Arc7 vessels has been operating on the Northern Sea Route. Safe and efficient sailing of this type of vessels in sea ice demands a detailed study of ice conditions. Accumulation and analysis of data on ice and hydrometeorological conditions for the entire Arctic in comparison with ice conditions along the route of vessels is an essential part of the development of optimal variants and optimal routes for ice navigation.The main aim of the study was to generalize the conditions of ice navigation of Norilskiy Nickel vessels along the optimal navigational routes in the south-western part of the Kara Sea. Based on the reports on sailing obtained from vessels of the “Norilskiy Nickel” type for the 2006–2014 period, we calculated the probability of choosing the optimal route along the Murmansk – Dudinka passage: through the Kara Gate Strait (seaward, central or coastal route) or the north of Cape Zhelaniya. During the year, vessels move predominantly through the Kara Gate. However, for three month per year, from April to June, the most appropriate route lies to the north of the Zhelaniya Cape. In April – May it is, on average, every second navigation, and in June – more than 80 % of all navigation. The features of the ice regime determining the choice of the specific navigation route, are described. The speeds of vessels of the “Norilskiy Nickel” type along various navigation routes in drifting sea ice of the Kara Sea are calculated. The fastest speed in drifting ice was recorded in the winter navigations of 2007–2008 and 2011–2012, in the January-May of these years the average speed was 10.2 and 11.2, correspondingly. The minimum speed in these years, even during the months of maximum ice cover growth, was not less than 4.8 knots. In other years, the average speeds were in the range of 9.2–9.8 knots. During the whole period of study, ice conditions that were extremely difficult for navigation formed three times: at the end of May 2009, at the end of March 2010 and in the middle of March 2011, these are considered in more detail in the present article.

Optimization of the ship route in ice-covered waters improves the efficiency and safety of navigation in the Arctic. This article describes a new wave-based approach for ice routing of a ship. Unlike grid-based approaches, which use a predefined grid to describe possible ship movements, the proposed algorithm is cell-free and extends the method of isochrones. All calculations of isochrone propagation are done using geo-algorithms and operations with geo-polygons. This allows us to use a standard vector ice data in its initial form, as well as to consider such special features as the discontinuities in ice cover, ice leads, and fractures.

This article introduces synchronic, text-oriented approaches to Joshua-Kings and demonstrates how these approaches work. After defining the synchronic-diachronic dichotomy in biblical studies, it argues, using examples from these books, that diachronic analysis is epistemologically questionable and exegetically unprofitable. The chapter then proceeds to address Joshua-Kings synchronically by positioning it vis-à-vis the literary entity of which it is a part—Genesis-Kings, or the Enneateuch—and determining the internal structure of this entity. Based on this examination, a closer analysis of a smaller self-contained unit—1 Samuel 8–12—is offered. It shows that synchronic reading not only resolves age-old vexing problems posed by the piece, especially that of its allegedly inconsistent stance on the monarchy, but also produces meanings that diachronic studies are likely to miss.

Abstract. Changes in Arctic sea ice thickness are the result of complex interactions of the dynamic and variable ice cover with atmosphere and ocean. Most of the sea ice exits the Arctic Ocean through Fram Strait, which is why long-term measurements of ice thickness at the end of the Transpolar Drift provide insight into the integrated signals of thermodynamic and dynamic influences along the pathways of Arctic sea ice. We present an updated time series of extensive ice thickness surveys carried out at the end of the Transpolar Drift between 2001 and 2020. Overall, we see a more than 20 % thinning of modal ice thickness since 2001. A comparison with first preliminary results from the international Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) shows that the modal summer thickness of the MOSAiC floe and its wider vicinity are consistent with measurements from previous years. By combining this unique time series with the Lagrangian sea ice tracking tool, ICETrack, and a simple thermodynamic sea ice growth model, we link the observed interannual ice thickness variability north of Fram Strait to increased drift speeds along the Transpolar Drift and the consequential variations in sea ice age and number of freezing degree days. We also show that the increased influence of upward-directed ocean heat flux in the eastern marginal ice zones, termed Atlantification, is not only responsible for sea ice thinning in and around the Laptev Sea, but also that the induced thickness anomalies persist beyond the Russian shelves and are potentially still measurable at the end of the Transpolar Drift after more than a year. With a tendency towards an even faster Transpolar Drift, winter sea ice growth will have less time to compensate the impact of Atlantification on sea ice growth in the eastern marginal ice zone, which will increasingly be felt in other parts of the sea ice covered Arctic.

Information is presented regarding the output of byproducts at coke plants in Russia and around the world. Traditional approaches to coal-tar processing are discussed. The variation in coal-pitch parameters with change in temperature and isothermal-holding time in coal-tar distillation at PAO Koks is described. Coal tar may be regarded as a potential source of innovative products characterized by high added value and global market demand.

The paper presents a comparison of sea ice concentration (SIC) derived from satellite microwave radiometry data and dedicated ship observations. For the purpose, the NASA Team (NT), Arctic Radiation and Turbulence Interaction Study (ARTIST) Sea Ice (ASI), and Variation Arctic/Antarctic Sea Ice Algorithm 2 (VASIA2) algorithms were used as well as the database of visual ice observations accumulated in the course of 15 Arctic expeditions. The comparison was performed in line with the SIC gradation (in tenths) into very open (1–3), open (4–6), close (7–8), very close and compact (9–10,10) ice, separately for summer and winter seasons. On average, in summer NT underestimates SIC by 0.4 tenth as compared to ship observations, while ASI and VASIA2 by 0.3 tenth. All three algorithms overestimate total SIC in regions of very open ice and underestimate it in regions of close, very close, and compact ice. The maximum average errors are typical of open ice regions that are most common in marginal ice zones. In winter, NT and ASI also underestimate SIC on average by 0.4 and 0.8 tenths, respectively, while VASIA2, on the contrary, overestimates by 0.2 tenth against the ship data, however, for open and close ice the average errors are significantly higher than in summer. In the paper, we also estimate the impact of ice melt stage and presence of new ice and nilas on SIC derived from NT, ASI, and VASIA2.

Over against the tendency of many recent studies and commentaries to maintain that Israel's deliverance in Judges is exclusively a function of divine grace, the present article argues that the terminology used by the biblical text and especially its literary structure single out the people's repentance—expressed in renunciation of foreign worship—as a major soteriological factor.

Приводятся методика и результаты обработки векторных ледовых карт из архива ААНИИ за период 1998- 2018 гг. Получены ряды многолетней изменчивости суммарных протяженностей участков маршрута порт Сабетта - Берингов пролив в припае, в сплоченных льдах, в сплоченных льдах при наличии определенных возрастных категорий льдов и их частных концентраций, суммарной приведенной протяженности маршрута в старых и толстых однолетних льдах для десятидневных интервалов (декад) апреля и мая. Под термином «сплоченные льды» в статье понимаются дрейфующие льды общей сплоченностью 9, 9-10, 10 баллов за исключением случаев, когда они представлены исключительно начальными льдами толщиной до 10 см. Выполнена проверка рядов на наличие трендов методом интегральных кривых и проверка однородности рядов с помощью ранговых непараметрических критериев Уилкоксона-Манна-Уитни и Зигеля-Тьюки. Проанализировано более 4 тыс. значений протяженностей. Выявлено уменьшение суммарной протяженности участков маршрута в припае и в сплоченных льдах с наличием старых льдов, увеличилась протяженность пути в сплоченных льдах, в сплоченных льдах при наличии однолетних льдов средней толщины, в сплоченных льдах при наличии толстых однолетних льдов, в сплоченных льдах с частной концентрацией толстых однолетних льдов 5 и более баллов, в сплоченных льдах с суммой частных концентраций толстых однолетних льдов и однолетних льдов средней толщины 5 и более баллов. Уменьшение приведенной протяженности пути плавания в старых льдах частично компенсируется увеличением практически на эту же величину приведенной протяженности пути плавания в однолетних толстых льдах.