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The relationships between circulation characteristics in the lower atmosphere of the Northern Hemisphere and the sunspot cycle are analyzed with the use of the superposed epoch method and elements of correlation analysis on the basis of data on the length of elementary circulation processes of different types (according to Dzerdzeevsky classification) and the time series of Wolf numbers for 1899–2016. It is ascertained that a general intensification of solar activity promotes an increase in the length of meridional forms of circulation, but its effect on different subtypes of elementary circulation mechanisms is different. Seasonal differences in the solar effect on the lower atmosphere are also revealed.

Nitrogen oxides, produced as a result of ionizing proton impacts, have long lifetimes and substantially affect the ozone balance. Photochemical models give an increased production level of nitrogen oxides during solar proton flares. The usage of an increased NO production effectiveness value (molecule number per each ion pair) during increased ionization of the atmosphere in models can be among the causes. This value has been estimated based on satellite observational data. Data on the solar proton fluxes and the composition of the atmosphere have been used. The period of the proton event of July 14, 2000, has been considered. The NO production effectiveness, obtained when the observational data were analyzed, was much smaller than the value obtained previously theoretically. The causes of these differences should be studied additionally.

The results of application of a high sensitivity methane laser detector to investigations of the methane concentration in the atmosphere over Baikal lake are presented as well as methane flows from the water into the atmosphere. The measurements were conducted at a stationary station and aboard the research vessel "Vereschagin" during two summer expeditions in 2003 and 2004. Mean background concentration was equal to (2.00+/-0.16) ppm in August 2003 and (1.90+/-0.07) ppm in June 2004. The areas of methane emission through the water's surface are found to be distinctly localized and to have a characteristic size of about 150-300 m in diameter. The methane concentration in the centers of these areas can reach approximately 27 ppm. Methane flows into the atmosphere in some Baikal regions were measured as well.