Bifurcation of Pacific North Equatorial Current at the surface

The grid altimetry data between 1993 and 2006 near the Philippines were analyzed by the method of Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) to study the variation of bifurcation of the North Equatorial Current at the surface of the Pacific. The relatively short-term signals with periods of about 6 months, 4 months, 3 months and 2 months are found besides seasonal and interannual variations mentioned in previous studies. Local wind stress curl plays an important role in controlling variation of bifurcation latitude except in the interannual timescale. The bifurcation latitude is about 13.3°N in annual mean state and it lies at the northernmost position (14.0°N) in January, at the southernmost position (12.5°N) in July. The amplitude of variation of bifurcation latitude in a year is 1.5°, which can mainly be explained as the contributions of the signals with periods of about 1 year (1.2°) and 0.5 year (0.3°). Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2007CB411802), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 40806012, 40876013), Open Fund of the Key Laboratory of Ocean Circulation and Waves, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KLOCAW0803) and Scientific Research Foundation for Talent, Guangdong Ocean University (Grant No. E06118)     

太阳风流速的太阳磁纬变化——一个三维背景太阳风模式

本文在简述当前在太阳坐标系中分析太阳风观测,研究太阳风三维结构的现状和问题的基础上,提出了太阳风参量太阳磁纬变化的概念,即在新的太阳磁坐标系中组织太阳风观测资料,分析太阳风参量相对于行星际电流片（而不是相对于太阳赤道）的空间分布。我们已做的1974年飞船观测资料分析和1976年行星际闪烁观测资料分析表明:存在着一个一致的合理的太阳风流速太阳磁纬变化规律。由此本文进一步提出了一个太阳风参量随太阳磁纬变化的背景太阳风模式。这模式不同于以前的各种无结构背景风模式（低速、平均、高速等）。文章最后讨论了这一背景结构的可能成因。     

Seasonal variations in the occurrence of geomagnetic storms

Seasonal variations in the onset of magnetic storms are investigated. For the purposes of this study storms have been defined as events in which Dst falls below -50 nT for at least four consecutive hours. The storms have been classified as either storm sudden commencements (SSCs; storms initiated by a sudden commencement) or as storm gradual commencements (SGCs; all other storms). It is found that the semi-annual variation of magnetic activity is reflected in the occurrence statistics of SGC events only, indicative that the solar wind origin is different for SSCs and SGCs. It is suggested that the heliospheric latitude model of seasonal magnetic activity is relatively ineffective in modulating the previously observed seasonal variations in the occurrence of magnetic storms.     

Annual and seasonal variations in the low-latitude topside ionosphere

Annual and seasonal variations in the low-latitude topside ionosphere are investigated using observations made by the Hinotori satellite and the Sheffield University Plasmasphere Ionosphere Model (SUPIM). The observed electron densities at 600 km altitude show a strong annual anomaly at all longitudes. The average electron densities of conjugate latitudes within the latitude range ±25° are higher at the December solstice than at the June solstice by about 100% during daytime and 30% during night-time. Model calculations show that the annual variations in the neutral gas densities play important roles. The model values obtained from calculations with inputs for the neutral densities obtained from MSIS86 reproduce the general behaviour of the observed annual anomaly. However, the differences in the modelled electron densities at the two solstices are only about 30% of that seen in the observed values. The model calculations suggest that while the differences between the solstice values of neutral wind, resulting from the coupling of the neutral gas and plasma, may also make a significant contribution to the daytime annual anomaly, the E × B drift velocity may slightly weaken the annual anomaly during daytime and strengthen the anomaly during the post-sunset period. It is suggested that energy sources, other than those arising from the 6% difference in the solar EUV fluxes at the two solstices due to the change in the Sun-Earth distance, may contribute to the annual anomaly. Observations show strong seasonal variations at the solstices, with the electron density at 600 km altitude being higher in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere, contrary to the behaviour in NmF2. Model calculations confirm that the seasonal behaviour results from effects caused by transequatorial component of the neutral wind in the direction summer hemisphere to winter hemisphere.     

Mean vertical wind in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere region (80–120 km) deduced from the WINDII observations on board UARS

The WINDII interferometer placed on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite measures temperature and wind from the O(¹S) green-line emission in the Earths mesosphere and lower thermosphere. It is a remote-sensing instrument providing the horizontal wind components. In this study, the vertical winds are derived using the continuity equation. Mean wind annually averaged at equinoxes and solstices is shown. Ascendance and subsidence to the order of 1–2 cm s^–1 present a seasonal occurrence at the equator and tropics. Zonal Coriolis acceleration and adiabatic heating and cooling rate associated to the mean meridional and vertical circulations are evaluated. The line emission rate measured together with the horizontal wind shows structures in altitude and latitude correlated with the meridional and vertical wind patterns. The effect of wind advection is discussed.     

Noctilucent clouds seen at 60°N: origin and development

A noctilucent cloud is seen at a particular time from a specified place. The journey of the cloud particles from nucleation to observation can be calculated by using a simple model of growth and taking account of the fall speed of the cloud particles. Cloud particles can be backtracked by bringing together growth and fall speed equations and a model of mesospheric winds to find where the particles of a cloud seen at a particular time and place have originated. The wind model that is used here suggests that there is a distinct outer edge to the summertime polar circulation pattern in which water vapour is being carried up from the lower mesosphere to the mesopause. The change in latitude of this outer edge during the summer season may well account for the observed seasonal change in occurrence of mesospheric clouds. Polar mesospheric clouds cause a drying of the upper mesosphere. It is suggested here that diffusion of water vapour dumped at the level of polar mesospheric clouds will take an appreciable time to carry water vapour back up to the mesopause. In consequence, there will be a significant separation between the observed location of a noctilucent cloud and its precursor polar mesospheric cloud.     

Seasonal evolution of meltwater generation,storage and discharge at a non‐temperate glacier in Svalbard

In glacierized catchments, meteorological inputs driving surface melting are translated into runoff outputs mediated by the glacier hydrological system: analysis of the relationship between meteorology and diurnal and seasonal patterns of runoff should reflect the functioning of that system, with the role of meltwater storage likely to be of particular importance. Daily meltwater storage is determined for a glacier at 78 °N in the Svalbard archipelago, by comparing inputs calculated from a surface energy balance model with measured outputs (proglacial discharge). Solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed and proglacial discharge are then analysed by regression and time‐series methods, in order to assess the meteorology–discharge relationship and its variation at diurnal and seasonal time‐scales. The recorded discharge time‐series can be divided into two contrasting intervals: up to early August, proglacial discharge was high and variable, mean hydrographs showed little indication of diurnal cycling, ARIMA models of discharge indicated a non‐seasonal, moving‐average generating process, and there was a net loss of meltwater from storage; from early August, proglacial discharge was low and relatively invariable, but with clearer diurnal cycles, regression models of discharge showed substantially improved correlations with air temperature and solar radiation, ARIMA models indicated a non‐seasonal, autoregressive generating process, and eventually a seasonal component, and there was a net gain in meltwater storage. The transition between the two periods is brief compared with the duration of the melt season. The runoff response to meteorology therefore lacks the strongly progressive element previously identified in mid‐latitude glacierized catchments. In particular, the glacier hydrological system only appears responsive to diurnal forcing following the depletion of the seasonal snowpack meltwater store. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of the Nimbus-4 BUV ozone data with the Ames two-dimensional model

A comparison is made of the first two years of Nimbus-4 backscattered ultraviolet (BUV) ozone measurements with the predictions of the Ames two-dimensional model. The ozone observations used in this study consist of the mixing ratio on the 1-, 2-, 5-, and 10-mb pressure surfaces. These data are zone and time averaged to obtain seasonal means for 1970 and 1971 and are found to show strong and repeatable meridional and seasonal dependencies. The model used for comparison with the observations extends from 80°N to 80°S latitude and from altitudes of 0 to 60 km with 5° horizontal grid spacing and 2.5-km vertical grid spacing. The chemical reaction and photolysis rate constants used in the model are those recommended in the report of the NASA Panel for Data Evaluation (1979) Chemical reaction and photolysis rates are diurnally averaged, and the photodissociation rates are corrected for the effects of scattering.It is found that the large altitude, latitude, and seasonal changes in the ozone data agree well with the model predictions. Also shown are model predictions of the sensitivity of the comparisons to changes in the assumed mixing ratios of water vapor, odd nitrogen, and odd chlorine, as well as to changes in the ambient temperature and transport parameters.     

Inertial gravity wave parameters for the lower stratosphere from radiosonde data over China

Characterization of gravity wave(GW)parameters for the stratosphere is critical for global atmospheric circulation models.These parameters are mainly determined from measurements.Here,we investigate variation in inertial GW activity with season and latitude in the lower stratosphere(18-25 km)over China,using radiosonde data with a high vertical resolution over a 2-year period.Eight radiosonde stations were selected across China,with a latitudinal range of 22°-49°N.Analyses show that the GW energy in the lower stratosphere over China has obvious seasonal variation and a meridional distribution,similar to other regions of the globe.The GW energy is highest in winter,and lowest in summer;it decreases with increasing latitude.Velocity perturbations with longitude and latitude are almost the same,indicating that GW energy is horizontally isotropic.Typically,85%of the vertical wavelength distribution is concentrated between elevations of 1 and 3 km,with a mean value of 2 km;it is almost constant with latitude.Over 80%of all the horizontal wavelengths occur in the range 100-800 km,with a mean value of 450km;they show a weak decrease with increasing latitude,yielding a difference of about 40 km over the 22°-49°N range.The ratio of horizontal wavelength over vertical wavelength is about 200:1,which implies that inertial GWs in the lower stratosphere propagate along nearly horizontal planes.Ratios of their intrinsic frequency to the Coriolis parameter decrease with increasing latitude;most values are between 1 and 2,with a mean value of 1.5.Study of the propagation directions of GW energy shows that upward fractions account for over 60%at all stations.In contrast,the horizontal propagation direction is significantly anisotropic,and is mainly along prevailing wind directions;this anisotropy weakens with increasing latitude.     

Characterization of regional variability of seasonal water balance within Omo-Ghibe River Basin,Ethiopia

In this study we quantify the spatial variability of seasonal water balances within the Omo-Ghibe River Basin in Ethiopia using methods proposed within the Prediction in Ungauged Basins initiative. Our analysis consists of: (1) application of the rainfall–runoff model HBV-Light to several sub-catchments for which runoff data are available, and (2) estimation of water balances in the remaining ungauged catchments through application of the model with regionalized parameters. The analyses of the resulting water balance outcomes reveal that the seasonal water balance across the Omo-Ghibe Basin is driven by precipitation regimes that change with latitude, from being strongly “seasonal” in the north to “precipitation spread throughout the year, but with a definite wetter season” in the south. The basin is divided into two distinct regions based on patterns of seasonal water balance and, in particular, seasonal patterns of soil moisture storage.

EDITOR D. Koutsoyiannis

ASSOCIATE EDITOR A. Efstratiadis     

The ionospheric footprint of antiparallel merging regions on the dayside magnetopause

The antiparallel merging hypothesis states that reconnection takes place on the dayside magnetopause where the solar and geomagnetic fields are oppositely directed. With this criterion, we have mapped the predicted merging regions to the ionosphere using the Tsyganenko 96 magnetic field model, distinguishing between regions of sub-Alfvénic and super-Alfvénic magnetosheath flow, and identifying the day-night terminator. We present the resulting shape, width and latitude of the ionospheric dayside merging regions in both hemispheres, showing their dependence on the Earths dipole tilt. The resulting seasonal variation of the longitudinal width is consistent with the conjugate electric fields in the northern and southern cusps, as measured by the SuperDARN HF radars, for example. We also find a seasonal shift in latitude similar to that observed in satellite cusp data.     

中国区域电离层扩展F发生率特征研究

本文利用2011年富克、厦门、南宁、克州、格尔木、西安、北京和漠河等电离层垂测站的电离层扩展F数据,统计了中国区域电离层扩展F发生率的日变化、季节变化和区域变化特征.除了漠河外,中国区域电离层扩展F发生率的日变化、季节变化特征比较一致,扩展F出现在夜间(18~08 LT),且午夜后多于午夜前,以6月为中心的夏季月份扩展F发生率高.电离层扩展F发生率的最大值随着纬度的增加而减少,发生率最大值出现的时间也随着纬度增加而延迟,具有明显的“纬度效应”.漠河电离层扩展F与中国区域中其他地方相比较,在发生时间段、发生率数值和季节变化特征方面都具有明显的不同特征,这些情况表明漠河电离层扩展F的产生机制和影响因素可能是不同的.     

基于CM4模型的中国大陆地区地磁场时空分布特征分析

本文利用第四代地磁场综合模型（Comprehensive Model 4,CM4）,计算了1982-2001年中国大陆地区同一经度链和同一纬度链上地磁台站的磁层源磁场及其感应场、电离层源磁场及其感应场的地磁北向分量X、东向分量Y、垂直分量Z的模型值,分析了各场源磁场随时间和空间的变化特征。结果表明:在时间上,经度链和纬度链台站的磁层源磁场及其感应场均呈现出11年和27天周期性变化。电离层源磁场及其感应场具有明显的季节变化,不同年份相同季节变化形态一致但幅度不同。在空间分布上,经度链和纬度链台站磁层源磁场及其感应场的年变化幅度呈现出不同变化特征,电离层源磁场及其感应场在经度链上变化特征不同,而纬度链台站的数值基本一致。日变化分析显示,磁静日和磁扰日期间,模型数据与台站实测数据变化一致性较好,相关性较高。     

The quadrupole as a source of energetic particles: III. Outer radiation belt and MeV electrons

The observation that high speed solar wind streams are correlated with outer radiation belt electrons requires a transducer to convert this mechanical energy to hot electrons. We hypothesize that the high latitude cusp is the ideal location for this acceleration region. We support this hypothesis with two arguments: a forward model to show that the cusp can theoretically accelerate electrons to MeV energies which then are transported to the radiation belts; and, a backward model that deduces a cusp source based on empirical properties of the radiation belt MeV electrons. Accordingly, in the first half we apply the trapping properties of the static equinoctal cusp to deduce the dynamical response of interplanetary transients; in the second half we analyze several peculiar statistics of MeV electron correlations with solar wind as the response of a non-linear, multi-parameter dependence on the solar wind driver. Our model would permit the formulation of more physically accurate MeV electron predictors, which we demonstrate by connecting physical explanations to several empirical predictors recently published.     

A study on three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents induced by the neutral winds simulated by the Kyushu-GCM

Three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents are examined using the neutral winds in a general circulation model of the middle atmosphere at Kyushu University. A quasi-three-dimensional ionospheric dynamo model is constructed assuming an infinite parallel conductivity in the ionosphere. This model is able to simulate both the equatorial electrojet and the global Sq current system successfully. The simulated results reveal that the equatorial electrojet is confined in quite narrow latitudes around the equator accompanied with meridional current circulations and satisfies a non-divergent structure mainly within the E region. A vertically stratified double layered structure is seen in the east–west current density near the focus latitude of the global Sq current system. It is shown that the stratified structure mainly consists of the east–west Hall current associated with the eastward wind of zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2 in the lower altitudes and the westward wind of zonal wavenumber 2 in the upper altitudes. The day-to-day variation of the neutral winds can significantly vary the induced ionospheric dynamo current system, which is recognized as changes of the focus latitude and/or the maximum value of the equatorial electrojet.     

Impact of the surface temperature and vertical shear of zonal wind on the dynamics of a simple two-layer model of the atmosphere

The paper presents and analyzes, from the point of view of smooth dynamic systems theory, a two-layer baroclinic model of the troposphere in geostrophic approximation. The model describes airflow in β-channel within the tropospheric part of the main Hadley circulation cell. It enables to obtain, after application of the Galerkin method, a fairly simple low-parametric dynamic system describing the phenomena of non-linear interactions, bifurcations and blocking in the atmosphere. This enables to take into consideration such basic factors influencing the atmospheric dynamics like the heat exchange within the surface, orography, vertical variability of zonal wind and hydrostatic stability. Impact of zonal thermal variability of the surface and vertical shear of zonal wind in the troposphere on the orographic bifurcation was investigated and the oscillation character in the dynamic system after Hopf bifurcation of the second kind was analyzed. Additionally, the model dynamics was investigated in conditions including momentum forcing in the upper and lower parts of the troposphere and excluding orographic interaction, as well as in the conditions of thermal interaction between the troposphere and the surface for the vertical shear of zonal wind in both tropospheric layers. Impact of the mean zonal wind in the troposphere on the properties of model dynamics was assessed. It was proved that zonally varied surface temperature and layered mean zonal wind in the atmosphere are the parameters that have basic influence on the model dynamics. They cause numerous bifurcations and strongly influence the periods of oscillations of the model variables. They are often Hopf bifurcations of the second kind during which tropospheric states fairly distant from the ones before the bifurcations are generated. This significantly influences the model predictability.     

南极涛动异常及其对冬春季北半球大气环流影响的数值模拟试验

利用IAP9L-AGCM模式考察了模式中与南极涛动异常相关的海温敏感区,发现南半球高纬海温异常能够强迫出南极涛动异常,而赤道东太平洋海温异常与太平洋南美型密切相关.研究了南极涛动异常对冬春季北半球大气环流及亚洲北部气温的影响,结果表明,南极涛动加强,能够引起北半球高纬环流异常和欧亚西风加强,以及亚洲北部地表气温和850 hPa气温显著增温.数值模拟支持了已有的诊断结果,也证实了冬春季节南极涛动异常下两半球高纬间的经向遥相关存在.     

Seasonal variations of the Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent induced by the meridional migration of the trade winds

Seasonal variations of the Hawaiian Lee Countercurrent (HLCC) are investigated using satellite observations of sea surface height and wind stress as well as eddy-resolving ocean model simulations. The HLCC is strong from summer to winter and weak in spring between the dateline and the Hawaiian Islands. In response to the seasonal migration of the northeast trade winds in the meridional direction, the wind curl dipole lee of Hawaii varies in strength, exciting westward-propagating Rossby waves. The analyses of both observations and simulations show that the propagation of Rossby waves south of the HLCC, driven by the southern pole of the wind curl dipole in the lee of the islands, contributes the most to the seasonal variations of the HLCC. Unlike the wind-driven seasonal variations, our analysis suggests that other mechanisms such as mode water intrusion or air–sea interaction may cause the interannual variations of the HLCC.     

Solar and latitude dependence of TEC and SLAB thickness

Several years of the vertical total electron content (TEC) and of the equivalent slab thickness data measured at different European locations are analysed by using the linear regression technique to demonstrate the annual response of these two ionospheric parameters to changes in solar activity and to their dependence on latitude. It is shown that TEC is highly correlated with the latitude and solar activity, whereas the slab thickness is independent of both solar activity and latitude. Their intercepts relative to solar activity show clearly a seasonal dependence.     

Polar and high latitude substorms and solar wind conditions

All substorm disturbances observed in polar latitudes can be divided into two types: polar, which are observable at geomagnetic latitudes higher than 70° in the absence of substorms below 70°, and high latitude substorms, which travel from auroral (<70°) to polar (>70°) geomagnetic latitudes. The aim of this study is to compare conditions in the IMF and solar wind, under which these two types of substorms are observable on the basis of data from meridional chain of magnetometers IMAGE and OMNI database for 1995, 2000, and 2006–2011. In total, 105 polar and 55 high latitude substorms were studied. It is shown that polar substorms are observable at a low velocity of solar wind after propagation of a high-speed recurrent stream during the late recovery phase of a magnetic storm. High latitude substorms, in contrast, are observable with a high velocity of solar wind, increased values of the Bz component of the IMF, the Ey component of the electric field, and solar wind temperature and pressure, when a high-speed recurrent stream passes by the Earth.