Peculiarities of the outer radiation belt dynamics during the strong magnetic storm of May 15, 2005

The dynamics of energetic electrons (E _e =0.17–8 MeV) and protons (E _p =1 MeV) of the outer radiation belt during the magnetic storm of May 15, 2005, at high (GOES-10 and LANL-84 geosynchronous satellites) and low (Meteor-3M polar satellite) altitudes is analyzed. The data have been compared to the density, plasma velocity, solar wind, and magnetic field measurements on the ACE satellite and geomagnetic disturbances. During the magnetic storm main phase, the nighttime boundary of the region of trapped radiation and the center of westward electrojet shifted to L ～ 3. Enhancements of only low-energy electrons were observed on May 15, 2005. The belt of relativistic electrons with a maximum at L ～ 4 was formed during the substorm, the amplitude of which reached its maximum at ～0630 UT on May 16. The results are in good agreement with the regularity relating the position of a maximum of the new relativistic electron belt, boundaries of the trapped radiation region, and extreme low-latitude position of westward electrojet center to the Dst variation amplitude.     

Dynamics of radiation belt relativistic electrons in November 2004–January 2005

The radiation belt dynamics during the extreme solar events in November 2004 and January 2005 is studied based on the measurements of relativistic electrons (with energies of 0.8–8 MeV) on the Express-A2 geostationary satellite and Meteor-3M polar satellite. New radiation belts of relativistic electrons in the space (L ～ 3) between the stationary outer and inner belts were formed as a result of either superstorm (|Dst|_max = 373 and 289 nT). The position of the maximums of these belts (L _max = 2.9 and 3.1) coincides with the known dependence of L _max on the magnetic storm Dst variation amplitude: |Dst|_max = 2.75 × 10⁴/L _max ⁴ . In November–December the new belt very slowly (ΔL ～ 0.1 per month) shifted toward the Earth. During the series of moderate (～100 nT) magnetic storms that developed as a result of the extreme solar events in January 2005, the belt in the space shifted toward deeper L shells (L ～ 2.5). The moderate January storms produced new belts with L _max ≥ 4.     

Analysis and interpretation of anomalous conductivity and magnetic permeability effects in time domain electromagnetic data: Part II: Sμ-inversion

In the paper by Pavlov and Zhdanov [J. Appl. Geophys. (2001)], we demonstrated that anomalous magnetic permeability of an ore body could result in measurable anomalous effects in TDEM data, which can be used in geophysical exploration. In the current paper, we develop a new method of TDEM data interpretation, which allows simultaneous reconstruction of both electrical and magnetic properties of the rocks. The method is based on a generalization of the S-inversion technique [66th Ann. Int. Mtg., Soc. Expl. Geophys., Expanded Abstr. (1996) 1306; 68th Ann. Int. Mtg., Soc. Expl. Geophys., Expanded Abstr. (1998) 473; J. Appl. Geophys. (1999)] for models containing thin sheets with anomalous conductivity and anomalous magnetic permeability. We call this method Sμ-inversion. Numerical 3-D modeling results demonstrate that Sμ-inversion provides useful information about both subsurface conductivity and magnetic permeability distributions. It can be used as a new tool for imaging TDEM data in mineral exploration.     

Analysis and interpretation of anomalous conductivity and magnetic permeability effects in time domain electromagnetic data: Part I: Numerical modeling

Time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) response is usually associated with eddy currents in conductive bodies, since this is the dominant effect. However, other effects, such as displacement currents from dielectric processes and magnetic fields associated with rock magnetization, can contribute to TDEM response. In this paper we analyze the effect of magnetization on TDEM data. We use a 3-D code based on finite-difference method, developed by Wang and Hohmann [Geophysics 58 (1993) 797], to study transient electromagnetic field propagation through a medium containing bodies with both anomalous conductivity and anomalous magnetic permeability. The remarkable result is that the combination of anomalous conductivity and permeability within the same body could increase significantly the anomalous TDEM response in comparison with purely conductive or purely magnetic anomalies. This effect has to be taken into account in interpretation of TDEM data over electrical inhomogeneous structures with potentially anomalous magnetic permeability.     

The role of vibrationally excited oxygen and nitrogen in the D and E regions of the ionosphere

In this paper we present the results of a study of the effect of vibrationally excited oxygen, O^* ₂, and nitrogen, N^* ₂, on the electron density, N _e, and the electron temperature, T _e, in the D and E regions. The sources of O^* ₂ are O-atom recombination, the photodissociation of O₃, and the reaction of O₃ with O at D region altitudes. The first calculations of O^* ₂(j) number densities, N _j , are obtained by solving continuity equations for the models of harmonic and anharmonic oscillator energy levels, j=1-22. It is found that day time values of N _j are less than nighttime values. We also show that the photoionization of O^* ₂ (j\geq11) by L_<alpha>-radiation has no influence on the D region N _e . In the nighttime D region the photoionization O^* ₂ (j\geq11) by scattered L _<alpha>-radiation can be a new source of O⁺ ₂. We show that the N^* ₂ and O^* ₂ de-excitation effect on the electron temperature is small in the E region of the ionosphere and cannot explain experimentally observed higher electron temperatures.     

Air Pollution Studies in Central Russia (Tver and Yaroslavl Regions) Using the Moss Biomonitoring Technique and Neutron Activation Analysis

Data of 34 elements, including heavy metals, halogens, rare earth elements, U, and Th in 139 moss samples, collected in Central Russia in 2000–2002 in the Tver and Yaroslavl regions and in the northern part of the Moscow region, are presented. Factor analysis with VARIMAX rotation was applied to identify possible sources of the elements determined in the mosses. The seven resulting factors represent crust, vegetation and anthropogenic components. Some of the factors were interpreted as being associated with ferrous smelters (Fe, Zn, Sb, Ta); combination of non-ferrous smelters and other industries (Mn, Co, Mo, Cr, Ni, W); an oil-refining plant, and oil combustion at the thermal power plant (V, Ni). The geographical distribution patterns of the factor scores are also presented. Dependency equations of elemental content in mosses versus distance from the source were derived.     

Structural features of the planetary boundary layer in the continent-ocean transition zone as inferred from data of lidar and meteorological soundings

The results of an analysis of the annual variation of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) height in the continent-ocean transition zone determined from lidar and meteorological data are presented. Means of the height and its variances are calculated in a month-long window. The PBL heights reconstructed from these measurements are found to differ substantially in the spring and summer seasons. These results are explained by the influence of dust storms and cyclones, which are the most intense in these seasons, on the structure of aerosol in the atmosphere.