利用卫星和GPS观测研究低纬局部等离子体浓度增强现象

本文同时利用DMSP、ROCSAT-1卫星数据和地基的GPS观测数据,研究一种与低纬等离子体泡相伴随的局部等离子体浓度增强现象.地基GPS的观测表明电离层总电子含量(TEC)也能反映这种等离子体浓度增强.通过4个观测事例的详细分析表明:这种等离子体浓度增强主要出现在磁纬±10°～±20°的局部区域,有时在近磁赤道区和中纬地区的电离层顶部也能观测到;与等离子体泡的出现规律相似,这种等离子体浓度增强主要出现在地方时21∶00以后,并在午夜后也能观测到.当等离子体浓度增强和等离子体泡发生时,在午夜前一般对应着背景垂直速度明显向上的扰动,在午夜后一般处于等离子体垂直速度下降至反向前的时间段,表明东向电场对于低纬不规则体的产生有非常重要的作用.     

Hydrological modelling,process understanding and uncertainty in a southern African context: lessons from the northern hemisphere

During the four decades of Keith Beven's career there have been many developments in the science of hydrological modelling. Some have focused on the links between hydrological process understanding and the structure and complexity of hydrological models, others on the related issues of modelling uncertainty. The southern Africa region continues to be generally less well endowed with the resources required to contribute to these research developments, but they are critical for successful water resources management decision‐making in data scarce areas, and go beyond academic interest. Consequently, the focus in the region has been on adding a local context to northern hemisphere research as well as trying to put it into practice. The challenge in southern Africa has always been to extrapolate from published research ideas and decide how they can be effectively used in larger scale practical applications in data‐poor areas. The paper examines the issues of model complexity, links with process understanding and the broad topic of model uncertainty estimation in the context of data scarce areas and how the science questions relate to improvements in water resources decision making. The conclusions suggest that the southern African region has benefited a great deal from several decades of northern hemisphere research (including those by Beven) and that some values have been added through the focus on practical implementation. The region should also embrace the opportunities presented by the need to link realistic uncertainty estimates with risk‐based water resources decision‐making, thereby contributing to the international debate on this important topic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

PCBs in fish from the southern Baltic Sea: levels, bioaccumulation features, and temporal trends during the period from 1997 to 2006

Levels of seven marker polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been determined in five species of Baltic fish collected during 1997-2006. Downward time trends in the concentrations of heavier congeners of PCBs in different Baltic fish, with the exception of cod, have been observed between 1997 and 2001. In case of sprat and herring samples, the statistical significance of the time trends of the PCBs: 101, 118, 153, 138 and 180 concentrations has been proved. Species-specific bioaccumulation of PCBs has been indicated, and the lowest and highest levels of PCBs (expressed on the basis of lipid weight) have been observed in sprat and salmon samples, respectively. PCB profiles have been found to be similar in all the fish species tested. Sampling location has not been a crucial factor for the observed levels of various PCBs. In some fish species, PCB concentrations are negatively correlated with the fat content but have no relation with the fish length.     

Organochlorine pesticides in fish from the southern Baltic Sea: levels, bioaccumulation features and temporal trends during the 1995-2006 period

The levels of HCH isomers, HCB and summation DDTs were determined in five species of Baltic fish collected during 1995-2006. Some downward time trends of HCH isomer, pp'-DDE and pp'-DDD concentrations in Baltic fish were observed; in contrast, HCB and DDT concentrations did not exhibit any obvious trend. Concentrations of summation HCHs expressed on a lipid weight basis were very similar in all species studied. In contrast, concentrations of summation DDTs varied in tested species. The most abundant HCH isomer was beta-HCH and among DDT-related compounds, pp'-DDE prevailed. In our investigations the sampling sites were not a crucial factor for organochlorine pesticide concentrations and patterns observed in fish, but the occurrence of several inter-species differences in the bioaccumulation features of OC pesticides were observed. For cod there was a positive correlation between fish size (length) and summation DDT concentration. In herring, sprat and salmon samples, summation DDT concentrations were negatively correlated with fat content.     

Using fluorescein and bromide tracers to investigate the role of baseflow in a small suburban watershed in Iowa,USA

Fluorescein and bromide tracers were used to study baseflow mechanisms of a small suburban watershed in northeast Iowa, USA. The tracers were applied to ten injection holes ranging from 1.3 to 3.0 ft in depth in two phases. Separately, two PVC wells (15 and 16 ft deep) were used to investigate tracer movement in a deeper flow system. Over 30 days of phase 1, none of the tracers was detected in the creek water. In phase 2, fluorescein was irregularly detected in the creek at two sites, whereas bromide was detected at one site only. Meanwhile, soil analysis detected measurable diffusion of bromide and fluorescein at four sites. At each of these sites, the tracer was found to be diffusing toward the creek. None of the tracers applied to the deeper PVC wells showed any movement toward the creek over 1 month of continuous sampling. Isotopic composition of water samples varied spatially as well as temporally going from the deep well (δ¹⁸O = ?8.89‰) to the injection holes (average δ¹⁸O = ?8.42‰), to the creek (average δ¹⁸O = ?7.86‰), and further to the rain samples (average δ¹⁸O = ?4.68‰). The analytical error margin is ±0.09‰. Samples from the injection holes were generally heavier than the deep well sample and lighter than the creek samples, indicating that there was no significant connection between the surface and the subsurface systems. Furthermore, the sporadic appearance of bromide and fluorescein both spatially and temporally points to the fact that baseflow does not constitute a significant part of the area's stream discharge. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A plasma bulk motion in the midnight magnetosphere during auroral breakup inferred from all-sky image and magnetic field observations at geosynchronous altitudes

Auroral events that occurred on January 24, 1986 in central Canada were recorded by an all-sky TV imager. During these events, auroral breakup was confined to a region between two foot points of neighboring geosynchronous satellites, GOES5 and GOES6. We examined field line signatures at satellite locations in unique station distributions and concluded that field line observation indicated plasma motion in the equatorial plane. The plasma motion showed an earthward compression combined with bifurcation (duskward or dawnward displacement in dusk/dawn sectors). In addition, we were able to infer an elliptical circulation of plasmas in the equatorial plane at Pi2 periods. Appearance in opposite rotation beside the auroral region indicated excitation of surface waves. We were able to show that auroral breakups occurred at a meridian of bifurcation. We suggest that a high plasma pressure region occurring tailward of geosynchronous altitudes may drive those plasma motions.     

Fates of dissolved and particulate materials from the Mississippi river immediately after discharge into the northern Gulf of Mexico,USA, during a period of low wind stress

In June 2003, we conducted a two-part field exercise to examine biogeochemical characteristics of water in the lower Mississippi river during the 4 days prior to discharge and in the Mississippi river plume over 2 days after discharge. Here we describe the fates of materials immediately after their discharge through Southwest Pass of the Mississippi delta into the northern Gulf of Mexico. Changes in surface water properties immediately after discharge were much larger and more rapid than changes prior to discharge. Total suspended matter (TSM) declined, probably due to sinking, dissolved macronutrients were rapidly diminished by mixing and biological uptake, and phytoplankton populations increased dramatically, and then declined. This decline appeared to begin at salinities of approximately 10 and was nearly complete by 15. A large increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) occurred over approximately the same salinity range. Weak winds (<2 m s⁻¹) during and preceding this cruise apparently led to the formation of an extensive but thin freshwater lens from the river. This lens spread widely without much mixing, and the bloom of phytoplankton that occurred between discharge and a salinity of 10 was probably a freshwater community seeded from the lower river. Phytoplankton bloomed for a period of about 1–2 days, then declined dramatically, apparently releasing large amounts of DOC. Macronutrients from the river were utilized by the river phytoplankton community in the extensive freshwater lens. This contrasted with the more typical situation in which river nutrients stimulate a marine phytoplankton bloom at salinities in the mid-20s. We concluded that the direct effects of dissolved and particulate bio-reactive materials discharged by the Mississippi river were spatially restricted at this time to low-salinity water, at least as surface phenomena. After being transported through the lower river essentially unaltered, these materials were biogeochemically processed within days and tens of km. More generally, the mixing rate of plume water with receiving oceanic water has profound effects on the food web structure and biogeochemical cycling in the plume.     

On the transition between axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric flow in a rotating liquid annulus subject to a horizontal temperature gradient: Hysteresis effects at moderate Taylor number and baroclinic waves beyond the eady cut-off at high Taylor number

Abstract

The transition between axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric régimes of flow in a rotating annulus of liquid subject to horizontal temperature gradient is known from previous experimental studies to depend largely on two dimensionless parameters. These are Θ, which is proportional to the impressed density contrast Δρ and inversely proportional to the square of the angular speed of rotation ω, and  (Taylor number), which is proportional to ω² /v² where v is the coefficient of kinematic viscosity. At moderate values of , around 10⁷, the critical value of Θ above which axisymmetric flow is found to OCCUT and below which non-axisymmetric fully-developed baroclinic waves (sloping convection) occur, is fairly insensitive to . Though sharp, the transition exhibits marked hysteresis when the upper surface of the liquid is free (but not when the upper surface is in contact with a rigid lid), and it is argued on the basis of the experimental evidence supported by various results of baroclinic instability theory that both the sharpness of the transition and the hysteresis phenomenon are consequences of the combined effects of potential vorticity gradients and viscosity on the process of sloping convection.

We also present some new experiments on fully-developed baroclinic waves, conducted in a large rotating annulus using liquids of very low viscosity (di-ethyl ether), thus attaining values of  as high as 10⁹ to 10¹⁰. The transition from axisymmetric to non-axisymmetric flow is found to lose its sharpness at such high values of , and it is argued that this occurs because viscosity is no longer able to inhibit instabilities at wavelengths less than the so-called ‘Eady short-wave cut-off’, which owe their existence to potential vorticity gradients in the main body of the fluid.     

A data sequence acquired at Mt. Etna during the 2002–2003 eruption highlights the potential of continuous gravity observations as a tool to monitor and study active volcanoes

A 2.5-month long gravity sequence, encompassing the starting period of the 2002–2003 Etna eruption and coming from a summit station only 1 km away from the new fractures, is presented and discussed. The sequence comprises four hours-long anomalies that have a great chance to reflect mass redistributions linked to the ensuing activity. In particular, the start of the eruptive activity on the northeastern flank was marked by a gravity decrease as strong as about 400 μGal, which reverted soon afterwards. This strong decrease/increase anomaly is interpreted as the opening, by tectonic forces, of a fracture system along the Northeastern Rift of Mt. Etna, followed by an intrusion of magma from the central conduit to the new fractures. They were used by the intruding magma as a path to the eruptive vents at lower elevations.Afterwards, on three occasions, in November and December 2002, 6–12 h-lasting gravity decreases, with amplitude ranging between 10 and 30 μGal, were observed simultaneously with increases in the amplitude of the volcanic tremor from four seismic stations. A correlation analysis, between the gravity signal and the overall spectral amplitude of each tremor sequence is performed over the 7 November–9 December period. A marked anti-correlation is found over each contemporaneous gravity decrease/tremor increase, while, over the rest of the investigated period, the correlation is negligible. Accordingly, a joint source is inferred to have acted during the occurrence of the three common anomalies. On the grounds of some volcanological observations spanning the period covered by our analysis, we propose the temporary accumulation of a gas cloud at some level within the plumbing system of the volcano to have acted as a joint source.The present work is a further evidence of the potential of continuous gravity observations as a tool to monitor and study active volcanoes and encourages their employment in spite of the difficulty of running spring gravimeters in a continuous fashion under the adverse conditions normally encountered on the summit zone of an active volcano.     

A 14-year monthly climatology and trend in the 35–65 km altitude range from Rayleigh Lidar temperature measurements at a low latitude station

A sodium resonance lidar at 589 nm has been operated in São José dos Campos, Brazil (23°S, 46°W) since 1972 mainly for studies related to the origin, chemistry and dynamics of the mesospheric sodium layer. Beginning in 1993, the improved laser capability has also enabled the processing of the Rayleigh signal from which the temperatures from 35 to 65 km are retrieved on a nightly mean basis. We used these nightly profiles to determine the monthly temperature profiles from 1993 to 2006. The mean temperature characteristics for each year and for the whole period are obtained. Seasonal thermal amplitude is small (6 K peak to peak at 40 and 60 km). Compared with the MSISE-90 model, a large difference is noted, with temperature lower than the model below the stratopause and higher above. Also the seasonal variation has a large difference with better agreement occurring around local winter, but with temperatures higher by 8–10 K at the equinoxes. The semiannual component is dominant over the annual at all altitudes. Linear trends with decreasing temperature of 1.09, 2.29 and 1.42 K/decade are observed at 40, 50 and 60 km, respectively.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics during runoff events over a transition from grassland to shrubland in the south‐western United States

During the last 150 years, land degradation across the semi‐arid grasslands of the south‐western United States has been associated with an increase in runoff and erosion. Concurrent with this increase in runoff and erosion is a loss of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which are plant‐essential nutrients. This study investigates the runoff‐driven redistribution and loss of dissolved and particulate‐bound N and P that occurs during natural runoff events over a trajectory of degradation, from grassland to degraded shrubland, in central New Mexico. Runoff‐driven nutrient dynamics were monitored at four stages over a transition from grassland to shrubland, for naturally occurring rainfall events over 10 × 30 m bounded runoff plots. Results show that particulate‐bound forms of N and P are responsible for most of N and P lost from the plots due to erosion occurring during runoff events. Results suggest that for high‐magnitude rainfall events, the output of N and P from the plots may greatly exceed the amount input into the plots, particularly over shrub‐dominated plots where erosion rates are higher. As these results only become apparent when monitoring these processes over larger hillslope plots, it is important to recognize that processes of nutrient cycling related to the islands of fertility hypothesis may have previously been overstated when observed only at smaller spatial scales. Thus, the progressive degradation of semi‐arid grassland ecosystems across the south‐western United States and other semi‐arid ecosystems worldwide has the potential to affect N and P cycling significantly through an increase in nutrient redistribution and loss in runoff. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using beryllium‐7 to monitor the relative proportions of interrill and rill erosion from loessal soil slopes in a single rainfall event

Quantifying the relative proportions of soil losses due to interrill and rill erosion processes during erosion events is an important factor in predicting total soil losses and sediment transport and deposition. Beryllium‐7 (⁷Be) can provide a convenient way to trace sediment movement over short timescales providing information that can potentially be applied to longer‐term, larger‐scale erosion processes. We used simulated rainstorms to generate soil erosion from two experimental plots (5 m × 4 m; 25° slope) containing a bare, hand‐cultivated loessal soil, and measured ⁷Be activities to identify the erosion processes contributing to eroded material movement and/or deposition in a flat area at the foot of the slope. Based on the mass balance of ⁷Be detected in the eroded soil source and in the sediments, the proportions of material from interrill and rill erosion processes were estimated in the total soil losses, the deposited sediments in the flat area, and in the suspended sediments discharged from the plots. The proportion of interrill eroded material in the discharged sediment decreased over time as that of rill eroded material increased. The amount of deposited material was greatly affected by overland flow rates. The estimated amounts of rill eroded material calculated using ⁷Be activities were in good agreement with those based on physical measurements of total plot rill volumes. Although time lags of 45 and 11 minutes existed between detection of sediment being removed by rill erosion, based on ⁷Be activities, and observed rill initiation times, our results suggest that the use of ⁷Be tracer has the potential to accurately quantify the processes of erosion from bare, loessal cultivated slopes and of deposition in flatter, downslope areas that occur in single rainfall events. Such measurements could be applied to estimate longer‐term erosion occurring over larger areas possessing similar landforms. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anomalous variations in the ionospheric <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript>-layer structure at geomagnetic midlatitudes of the Southern and Northern hemispheres at the transition from summer to winter conditions under low solar activity

The structure and dynamics of the ionosphere and plasmasphere at low solar activity under quiet geomagnetic conditions on January 15–17, 1985, and July 10–13, 1986, over Millstone Hill station and Argentine Islands ionosonde, the locations of which are approximately magnetically conjugate, have been theoretically calculated. The detected correction of the model input parameters makes it possible to coordinate the measured and calculated anomalous variations in the electron density NmF2 at the height hmF2 of the ionospheric F2 layer over Argentine Islands ionosonde as well as the calculated and measured values of NmF2 and electron temperature at the hmF2 height over Millstone Hill station. It has been shown that vibrationally excited N₂ and O₂ molecules almost do not influence the formation of the winter anomaly under the conditions of low solar activity. A difference between the influence of electronically excited O⁺ on N _e ions under winter and summer conditions forms not more than 11% of the N _e winter anomaly event in the F ₂ layer and topside ionosphere. The model without electronically excited O⁺ ions reduces the duration of the N _e winter anomaly event. It has been shown that the seasonal variations in the composition of the neutral atmosphere form mainly the NmF2 winter anomaly event over the Millstone Hill radar at low solar activity.