A radiometeorological study of the Chios-Lemnos line of sight radio link

Summary This study deals with the conditions of radio wave propagation in the link between the islands Chios and Lemnos and especially with the influence of weather situations upon this propagation. The field fading forms have been classified into three typesA, B andC which have an annual course of large amplitude. TypesA andB show their maximum frequency during the cold months of the year and their minimum during the warm months, while the typeC shows an annual course inverse to the courses of the typesA andB. This can be explained if it is taken into consideration that in the eastern Mediterranean the weather situations during the warm season are absolutely different from those of the cold season. Finally for the months January, April, July and October a correlation between the prevailing weather situations and the occurence of theA, B, C fading forms has been attempted, the main results of which were that the typeC occurs with weak winds, or with clear and calm weather as well as under the blowing of the Etesian winds, while the typeA is almost certainly due to the anticyclonic extensions during the cold season of the year and generally to the strong winds of the north sector.     

Auroral precipitation fading before and at substorm onset: ionospheric and geostationary signatures

Rapid fading of auroral activity a few minutes before substorm breakup has earlier been analyzed in case-studies. Here we report on a study in which all-sky camera (ASC) and magnetic data over 3 years were examined to find breakups that were accompanied by a preceding fading. To illustrate typical features of the fading effect we analyze three events in detail and discuss seven other events to find the spatial and temporal behavior of the fading and the global conditions favoring this phenomenon, which is not associated with every breakup. In these ten events the precipitation diminished typically for about 2 min and a local breakup followed after 2–3 min. Usually the arc which broke up had faded earlier. Comparison with geostationary electron flux recordings shows that in many cases the global onset had already taken place when the fading was recorded at a different longitude. Thus fading is not just a growth-phase phenomenon as often thought, but can also appear as a precursor of the approaching auroral bulge. The AE index and solar-wind data reveal that the fading has a tendency to take place during magnetically disturbed conditions caused by continuous energy input from the solar wind. Furthermore, while a widely recognized phenomenon, we have found that the fading prior to breakup is not a very common feature in the spatio-temporal scale of auroral ASC recordings. In many cases the deepness of the fading had a longitudinal dependence, which leads to the suggestion that this phenomenon is related to azimuthal gradients in the tail magnetic field and/or plasma pressure. Possible scenarios causing fading both before and after the onset are discussed based on a few previously presented theoretical auroral-arc models.     

A study of transient variations in the Earth’s electromagnetic field at equatorial electrojet latitudes in western Africa (Mali and the Ivory Coast)

In the framework of the French-Ivorian participation to the IEEY, a network of 10 electromagnetic stations were installed at African longitudes. The aim of this experiment was twofold: firstly, to study the magnetic signature of the equatorial electrojet on the one hand, and secondly, to characterize the induced electric field variations on the other hand. The first results of the magnetic field investigations were presented by Doumouya and coworkers. Those of the electric field experiment will be discussed in this study. The electromagnetic experiment will be described. The analysis of the electromagnetic transient variations was conducted in accordance with the classical distinction between quiet and disturbed magnetic situations. A morphological analysis of the recordings is given, taking into consideration successively quiet and disturbed magnetic situations, with the results interpreted in terms of the characterization of external and internal sources. Particular attention was paid to the effects of the source characteristics on the induced field of internal origin, and to the bias they may consequently cause to the results of electromagnetic probing of the Earth; the source effect in electromagnetic induction studies. During quiet magnetic situations, our results demonstrated the existence of two different sources. One of these, the S_R^E source, was responsible for most of the magnetic diurnal variation and corresponded to the well-known magnetic signature of the equatorial electrojet. The other source (the S_R*^E source) was responsible for most of the electric diurnal variation, and was also likely to be an ionospheric source. Electric and magnetic diurnal variations are therefore related to different ionospheric sources, and interpreting the electric diurnal variation as induced by the magnetic field diurnal variation is not relevant. Furthermore, the magnetotelluric probing of the upper mantle at dip equator latitudes with the electromagnetic diurnal variation is consequently impossible to perform. In the case of irregular variations, the source effect related to the equatorial electrojet is also discussed. A Gaussian model of equatorial electrojet was considered, and apparent resistivities were computed for two models of stratified Earth corresponding to the average resistive structure of the two tectonic provinces crossed by the profile: a sedimentary basin and a cratonic shield. The apparent resistivity curves were found to depend significantly on both the model used and the distance to the center of the electrojet. These numerical results confirm the existence of a daytime source effect related to the equatorial electrojet. Furthermore, we show that the results account for the observed differences between daytime and night-time apparent resistivity curves. In particular, it was shown that electromagnetic probing of the Earth using the classical Cagniard-Tikhonov magnetotelluric method is impossible with daytime recordings made at dip latitude stations.     

On the great and abrupt falls of air temperature in Athens

Summary This note deals with the great and abrupt falls of air temperature in Athens which occur especially during the cold season of the year. The frequency of these falls, the greatest falls noted per month and the weather situations associated with these falls are examined separately. It was found that the weather situations which cause the great falls of air temperature in Greece can be classified in four categories:A, B, C andD. In theA belong the anticyclones of N and NW Europe both moving and not. TheB comprises the extensions of the anticyclone of the Azorez over Europe. In theC belong the extension of the Russian anticyclones and theD comprises the cold fronts of depressions moving from W to E.     

THE DETERMINATION OF THE SEISMIC QUALITY FACTOR Q FROM VSP DATA: A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT COMPUTATIONAL METHODS1

Ten methods for the computation of attenuation have been investigated, namely: amplitude decay, analytical signal, wavelet modelling, phase modelling, frequency modelling, rise-time, pulse amplitude, matching technique, spectral modelling and spectral ratio. In particular, we have studied the reliability of each of these methods in estimating correct values of Q using three synthetic VSP seismograms for plane P-waves with different noise contents. The investigations proved that no single method is generally superior. Rather, some methods are more suitable than others in specific situations depending on recording, noise or geology. The analytical signal method has been demonstrated to be superior if true amplitude recordings are available. Otherwise spectral modelling or, in the ‘ noise-free’ case the spectral ratio method, is optimal. Finally, two field VSPs in sediments are investigated. Only in the case of the highest quality VSP can significant information be deduced from the computed attenuation.     

地热井的天然源超低频电磁探测影响因素分析

本文使用天然源超低频电磁探测仪对北京大学校园内两口地热井进行了超低频电磁探测试验,获得了1号地热井（京热119号井）连续五天、每天四个时刻的天然源超低频电磁探测数据以及2号地热井（京热168号井）单天的天然源超低频探测的数据.基于所获得的数据,开展了地热井的天然源超低频探测影响因素的研究,这些因素主要包括：天然源超低频电磁场和观测时间的关系、探头摆放方向与接收工频谐波干扰关系以及天气状况对观测数据质量的影响等.研究表明：(1)天然源超低频电磁探测信号存在明显的日夜交替变化,其中相对振幅-频率曲线在不同日期、同一邻近时刻总体的包络线具有较好的重复性和一定的稳定性;(2)工频谐波干扰场方向是影响因素之一,当仪器探头长轴方向与工频谐波干扰场的等效主轴方向平行时噪声影响最小;(3)雨天环境会对天然场源超低频信号中的高频部分造成较大影响.     

Relation between the near-Earth electric field at high latitudes and intense cloud-to-ground lightning strokes initiating VLF emission bursts

Since 1998, the gradient of the near-Earth atmospheric electric field potential (|Ez|) has been continuously registered at Vostok Antarctic station within the scope of the joint Russian-Australian project. The data of the continuous 10-day period of fine weather in April 1998 have been selected for the following analysis. The field |Ez| behavior at Vostok station was compared with a number of lightning strokes obtained from data of the ground-based network of electromagnetic measurements. It has been found out that the average hourly values of |Ez| evidently negatively correlate with the number of intense lightning strokes. The causes of these relations are discussed. The obtained results are interpreted based on a theory of global electric circuit.     

Biaxial anisotropy in geoelectric prospecting

In applied studies on electromagnetic well-logging and electric prospecting, a medium is supposed to be either isotropic or with conventional anisotropy of conductivity. However, in the meantime, there is a clear hint that a medium may exhibit even biaxial anisotropy; i.e., the resistances along all three directions X, and Y, Z are different. Based on the analytical solution by the method of separation of variables, the paper considers an algorithm for the calculation of the electromagnetic field in a layered medium with biaxial conductivity anisotropy involving an arbitrary direction of horizontal conductivities in each layer. In this case, the theoretical solution and the algorithm display substantial peculiarities, and the numerical implementation involves many complexities. These problems were examined and solved mainly due to the constant comparison with the calculations carried by the finite element method and their analysis. Programs for the calculation of electromagnetic fields in the frequency and time domains were developed, and results of geoelectric interest were obtained. For example, the excitement of a horizontally-layered section by a magnetic dipole produces a vertical electric component of the field.     

Electric and electromagnetic processes in the near-Earth atmosphere before earthquakes on Kamchatka

Simultaneous records of the diurnal variations in the quasistatic electric field in the near-Earth atmosphere, fluxes of discrete electromagnetic pulses in the VLF band, source azimuths, narrowband filter output emission intensity at frequencies of 4.65 and 5.3 kHz, and time forms and spectra of VLF pulses have been analyzed. The anomalous behavior of these parameters in October 2002 and August 2004 with different time delay was accompanied by earthquakes near the southeastern coast of Kamchatka at distances of 250–400 km from the registration points. Based on the results of a fine frequency-time analysis of the broadband records of VLF signals, it has been indicated for the first time that discrete electromagnetic pulses observed in anomalous fluxes before earthquakes were signals of local thunderstorm processes.     

小波极大值方法及其在电磁异常信号提取中的应用

小波极大值法作为一种数据挖掘技术已经受到关注,并在地震科学研究领域开始进行应用研究。它能在长时间的观测数据中快速提取出不同时间、不同频率的有关异常信息。文中介绍了如何应用小波极大值法提取电磁场异常信息,即利用连续小波变换计算小波系数,计算各尺度小波系数的极大值,结合表征信号奇异性的Lipschitz指数分析异常的真实性,进而研究极大值在时间分布上的特点或规律,捕捉有关的电磁异常现象。利用该方法对2013年4月20日四川芦山7.0级地震后35d的连续观测的电磁场数据进行了分析,发现存在3次电磁场异常,探讨了这些异常可能与地震活动性之间存在的关系。尽管用这种方法尚不能确定发现的电磁场异常现象与地震有某种特定的关系,但是证明了小波极大值方法在连续观测数据中提取电磁异常现象的有效性。     

Patterns in the daily periodicity of low magnitude seismicity in Kamchatka

A daily periodicity in small (K ≤ 8. 0) Kamchatka earthquakes has been detected, with the maximum occurring during the nighttime. The effect was not observed throughout the area of study, but only in several zones. We show that the results are not affected by human and weather factors. A hypothesis is put forward to explain the physical causes of the effect, viz., that the daily periodicity of small earthquakes could be due to natural VLF electromagnetic radiation acting on the geologic medium. It is pointed out that the effect is related to the previously identified effect of natural electromagnetic radiation modulating the intensity of geoacoustic emission from rocks.     

Growth of large-scale bed forms due to storm-driven and tidal currents: a model approach

An idealized morphodynamic model is used to gain further understanding about the formation and characteristics of shoreface-connected sand ridges and tidal sand banks on the continental shelf. The model consists of the 2D shallow water equations, supplemented with a sediment transport formulation and describes the initial feedback between currents and small amplitude bed forms. The behaviour of bed forms during both storm and fair weather conditions is analyzed. This is relevant in case of coastal seas characterized by tidal motion, where the latter causes continuous transport of sediment as bed load.The new aspects of this work are the incorporation of both steady and tidal currents (represented by an M₂ and M₄ component) in the external forcing, in combination with dominant suspended sediment transport during storms. The results indicate that the dynamics during storms and fair weather strongly differ, causing different types of bed forms to develop. Shoreface-connected sand ridges mainly form during storm conditions, whereas if fair weather conditions prevail the more offshore located tidal sand banks develop. Including the M₄ tide changes the properties of the bed forms, such as growth rates and migration speeds, due to tidal asymmetry. Finally a probabilistic formulation of the storm and fair weather realization of the model is used to find conditions for which both types of large-scale bed forms occur simultaneously. These conditions turn out to be a low storm fraction and the presence strong tidal currents in combination with strong steady currents during storms.     

TransientEM screening in two concentric spherical shell model

Summary Different results have been obtained by Negi and Wait in connection with the effect of overburden in electromagnetic exploration by assuming different definitions of screening factor. Both definitions are based on frequency domain considerations. We shall describe the screening characteristics for a transient field with a two-concentric shell model with screening factor=(magnetic field of target and screen-magnetic field of screen alone)/(field of target alone). It is found that the screening factor does become more than one in some situations which means that the EM response of target is more in some cases when the screen is present than when it is absent.Presented at the fifty-second Annual Meeting of AGU during April 12–16, 1971, Washington, D.C.     

Recordings and occurrence of geomagnetically induced currents in the Finnish natural gas pipeline network

A project implemented to study the effects of space weather on the Finnish natural gas pipeline was started in August 1998. The aims of the project were (1) to derive a model for calculating geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) and pipe-to-soil (P/S) voltages in the Finnish natural gas pipeline, (2) to perform measurements of GIC and P/S voltages in the pipeline and (3) to derive statistical predictions for the occurrences of GIC and P/S voltages at different locations in the pipeline network.GIC and P/S voltage were recorded at a compressor station. The GIC measurement was made with two magnetometers, one right above the pipe, and another at the Nurmijärvi Geophysical Observatory about 30 km southwest. The largest GIC since November 1998 has been 30 A. The P/S voltage recording was stopped in May 1999, but GIC is still measured.GIC statistics were derived based on the recordings of the geomagnetic field at Nurmijärvi. The geoelectric field was calculated by using the plane wave model. This field was input to the general pipeline model resulting in the distribution of currents and P/S voltages at selected points in the pipeline. As could be expected, the largest P/S voltage variations occur at the ends of the pipeline network, while the largest GIC flow in the middle parts.     

Changes in transfer functions with time

The paper contains data on the transfer functions of the electromagnetic field of the Earth and their changes with time.The results show that these changes are caused by the instability of parameters of the external sources of the geomagnetic field variations in high latitudes and by the changes in the physical properties of rocks and deep matter in the region of recordings of electromagnetic field components.A statement is made that under certain conditions the observations of changes in transfer functions of the electromagnetic field of the Earth can be used as long-term forerunners of earthquakes.     

Electromagnetic and plasma effects during a carrier rocket flight

The disturbance generation model for the total electron content of the ionosphere and formation of the narrowband spectrum of electromagnetic disturbance on the Earth during a rocket flight along the horizontal leg of the trajectory has been considered. It has been indicated that a change in the total electron content is caused by the propagation of an acoustic gravity wave pulse, generated during a rocket flight along the horizontal trajectory leg, in the ionosphere. This pulse forms horizontal inhomogeneities of ionospheric conductivity in the bottomside ionosphere. Electric currents, induced by the background electromagnetic field in these inhomogeneities, are emitters of discrete modes of coherent gyrotropic waves propagating horizontally in a conductive layer of a finite thickness in the bottomside ionosphere. The line spectrum of electromagnetic disturbances has been calculated. The calculation results agree with the observational data.     

Processing of magnetotelluric data

The processing of magnetotelluric data involves concepts from electromagnetic theory, time series analysis and linear systems theory for reducing natural electric and magnetic field variations recorded at the earth's surface to forms suitable for studying the electrical properties of the earth's interior.The electromagnetic field relations lead to either a scalar transfer impedance which couples an electric component to an orthogonal magnetic component at the surface of a plane-layered earth, or a tensor transfer impedance which couples each electric component to both magnetic components in the vicinity of a lateral inhomogeneity.A number of time series spectral analysis methods can be used for estimating the complex spectral coefficients of the various field quantities. These in turn are used for estimating the nature of the transfer function or tensor impedance. For two dimensional situations, the tensor impedance can be rotated to determine the principal directions of the electrical structure.In general for real data, estimates of the apparent resistivity are more stable when calculated from the tensor elements rather than from simple orthogonal field ratios (Cagniard estimates), even when the fields are measured in the principal coordinates.     

NWC通信台在电离层中激发电磁响应的时变特征

本文利用DEMETER卫星VLF频段电场和磁场频谱数据对DEMETER卫星运行期间2005年至2009年澳大利亚甚低频(Very Low Frequency)通信台NWC发射的通信信号造成的电离层电磁响应的日变化、季节变化及年变化特征进行了统计分析,统计结果表明电磁响应日变化显著,夜间电场强度明显增强可达40dB,磁场变化略小也可为15dB左右,而季节变化不显著,年变化主要受太阳活动的影响,太阳活动越强,电磁响应越小.为解释数据分析结果,对地-电离层电磁波传播过程采用传递矩阵方法进行了模拟计算,模拟结果与数据分析的结果一致.我们认为这种随时间变化的特点可能由250km以下电离层电子密度分布特征导致,因此研究250km以下的电离层电子密度变化可能对寻找地震电离层电磁异常有重要意义.     

Review of Chinese atmospheric science research over the past 70 years: Synoptic meteorology

Synoptic meteorology is a branch of meteorology that uses synoptic weather observations and charts for the diagnosis,study,and forecasting of weather.Weather refers to the specific state of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface during a short period of time.The spatial distribution of meteorological elements in the atmosphere can be represented by a variety of transient weather phenomena,which are caused by weather systems of different spatial and temporal scales.Weather is closely related to people's life,and its development and evolution have always been the focus of atmospheric scientific research and operation.The development of synoptic meteorology is closely related to the development of observation systems,dynamical theories and numerical models.In China,observation networks have been built since the early 1950 s.Up to now,a comprehensive meteorological observation systembased on ground,air and space has been established.In particular,the development of a new generation of dense radar networks,the development of the Fengyun satellite series and the implementation of a series of large field experiments have brought our understanding of weather from large-scale environment to thermal dynamics,cloud microphysical structure and evolution characteristics of meso and micro-scale weather systems.The development of observation has also promoted the development of theory,numerical model and simulation.In the early days,China mainly used foreign numerical models.Lately,China has developed numerical model systems with independent intellectual property rights.Based on the results of high-resolution numerical simulations,in-depth understanding of the initiation and evolution mechanism and predictability of weather at different scales has been obtained.Synoptic meteorology has gradually changed from an initially independent development to a multidisciplinary approach,and the interaction between weather and the change of climate and environment has become a hot and frontier topic in atmospheric science.This paper reviews the important scientific and technological achievements made in China over the past 70 years in the fields of synoptic meteorology based on the literatures in China and abroad,from six aspects respectively including atmospheric dynamics,synoptic-scale weather,typhoon and tropical weather,severe convective weather,numerical weather prediction and data assimilation,weather and climate,atmospheric physics and atmospheric environment.     

Comparison of the time-domain electromagnetic field from an infinitesimal point charge and dipole source

An electromagnetic field is generated through the accelerating movement of two equal but opposite charges of a single dipole. An electromagnetic field can also be generated by a time-varying infinitesimal point charge. In this study, a comparison between the electromagnetic fields of an infinitesimal point charge and a dipole has been presented. First, the time-domain potential function of a point source in a 3D conductive medium is derived. Then the electric and magnetic fields in a 3D homogeneous lossless space are derived via the relation between the potential and field. The field differences between the infinitesimal point charge and the dipole in the step-off time, far-source, and near-source zones are analyzed, and the accuracy of the solutions from these sources is investigated. It is also shown that the field of the infinitesimal point charge in the near-source zone is different from that of the dipole, whereas the far-source zone fields of these two sources are identical. The comparison of real and simulated data shows that the infinitesimal point charge represents the real source better than the dipole source.