Combined solar and QBO effects on the modes of low-frequency atmospheric variability in the Northern Hemisphere

We examine joint effects of the solar activity and phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) on modes of low-frequency variability of tropospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere in winter. The winter months (December–March) are stratified by the solar activity into two (below/above median) classes, and each of these classes is subdivided by the QBO phase (west or east). The variability modes are determined by rotated principal component analysis of 500 hPa heights separately in each class of solar activity and QBO phase. Detected are all the modes known to exist in the Northern Hemisphere. The solar activity and QBO jointly affect the shapes, spatial extent, and intensity of the modes; the QBO effects are, however, generally weaker than those of solar activity. For both solar maxima and minima, there is a tendency to the east/west phase of QBO to be accompanied by a lower/higher activity of zonally oriented modes and increased meridionality/zonality of circulation. This means that typical characteristics of circulation under solar minima, including a more meridional appearance of the modes and less activity of zonal modes, are strengthened during QBO-E; on the other hand, circulation characteristics typical of solar maxima, such as enhanced zonality of the modes and more active zonal modes, are more pronounced during QBO-W. Furthermore, the zonal modes in the Euro-Atlantic and Asian sectors (North Atlantic Oscillation, East Atlantic pattern, and North Asian pattern) shift southwards in QBO-E, the shift being stronger in solar maxima.     

Quasi-biennial oscillation in foF2 at the south crest of the equatorial anomaly

The aim of this paper is to report some periodicities observed in the ionospheric parameter foF2 measured at Tucuman (26.9°S; 65.4°W), station placed near the southern crest of the equatorial anomaly. For that, monthly medians of foF2 at several hours of LT for the period 1958–1987 are used. The data are run with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Data gaps (4–5 months) are filled by means of linear interpolation. Several periodicities are present. Besides the solar cycle dominant dependence (11 years), semi-annual, annual, five years and quasi-biennial periodicities are also observed. A marked quasi-biennial periodicity is observed at daytime and nighttime hours being their greater amplitude at local noon and midnight. Different mechanisms or combined effects possibly cause them. It is suggested that the solar activity by means of extreme ultraviolet radiation (EUV), which present a quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) and it is responsible for the ionization, could be the dominant mechanism for the diurnal quasi-biennial periodicity of foF2. At night, since the photoionization by extreme ultraviolet radiation is not significant and the F2 layer is lower than during daytime (100 km) other mechanism may be operative for the quasi-biennial periodicity observed. Possibly the stratospheric QBO contributes to the modulation of the observed behaviour in foF2 at night. This result is preliminary because it needs to be extended to other stations so as to extract definite conclusions. Moreover, we cannot dismiss the possibility of a combined effect of both these mechanisms mainly at daytime and/or QBO influence of geomagnetic parameters.     

Dynamic Characteristics of Area Variations of Small and Large Sunspots and Quasi-Biennial Oscillations in Solar Activity

The spatiotemporal and chaotic dynamics of variations in area of sunspot groups related conventionally to small (area <50 Msh) and large (area >50 Msh) populations is analyzed. The Greenwich Observatory–Marshall Space Flight Center data were used. The results show that both sunspot populations have a single initial source, which is a magnetic flux generated by the dynamo process (presumably at the bottom of the convective zone) and is responsible for the 11—22-year periodicity of solar activity. A possible explanation of the revealed different behavior of the considered populations is that the magnetic flux is partially involved in another process responsible for the shaping of primarily very large sunspot groups. This process develops presumably in the upper layer of the convective zone with an unstable amplitude and a period varying within 1–2 years. The analysis of power spectrum of the Wolf number time series has indicated the difference between dynamic characteristics of the two studied processes.     

我国上空平流层中微量气体的垂直分布和变化趋势

利用1992～2005年卤素掩星试验（HALOE）的观测资料分析了中国上空平流层的几种微量气体（NO, NO2, HF, HCl, CH4, H2O 和O3）混合比的垂直分布和变化趋势,以期为研究平流层的辐射和化学过程提供一些有用的数据. 文中除给出我国上空平流层各高度上平均的各种微量气体的含量外,还给出青藏高原上空这些微量气体的含量. 分析结果表明,平流层各种微量气体混合比的垂直分布有其不同的特征,在对流层上层到平流层底部各种微量气体的混合比分布和季节变化与平流层相比有明显的差异;分析结果还表明,这些微量气体的季节变化、准两年周期振荡和长期变化趋势都很明显,并且在平流层的不同高度上它们的变化趋势是不相同的. 在平流层中层,NO, NO2, HCl 和H2O 混合比在1998年以前都是增加而后则是明显下降的,但O3相反,在1998年以前明显减少,1998年后其减少的趋势不明显. 这表明,近年来平流层中层这些微量气体的减少使得它们对臭氧的破坏有所缓解. 但在平流层下层,臭氧的耗损仍然很明显.     

高空大气涛动现象与太阳活动的联系

本文根据全球高空10 hPa位势高度距平场EOF分析得知,存在于地面层大气中的南北向涛动现象~北极高空大气涛动和南极涛动,在高空大气中更为清楚,而且这种高空南北向涛动现象是波及全球的;存在于地面层大气中著名的纬向涛动现象~南方涛动(Southern Oscillation,SO)和北方涛动(North Oscillation,NO),在高空大气中则变得不甚清楚.表征北极高空大气涛动的第一模态与表征南极涛动的第二模态的方差贡献率分别为41.47%和27.04%,二者累积方差贡献率达到68.51%,构成了平流层高空大气年代际振荡的主要形式;另外还存在两半球对称性中高纬度南极涛动模态和两半球不对称性中高纬度南极涛动模态,是高空大气中出现概率比较小的振荡形式.谱分析表明,无论北极高空大气涛动模态、南极涛动模态还是中高纬度纬向涛动模态,都存在与太阳磁场磁性指数相一致的22年准周期变化以及与太阳黑子相对数相一致的11年准周期变化;采用逐次滤波法的滤波分析和对比分析表明,高空大气涛动现象的重要影响因子乃太阳活动,其中太阳磁场的大幅度涨落及其磁性变化是主要因素,太阳黑子相对数的变化为次要因素.     

由中国CDSN台网检测到的汶川地震所激发的地球球型自由振荡

2008年5月12日汶川发生M8.0特大地震, 这次特大地震使得地球自身产生了整体的连续振动。 本文采用地震发生之后中国数字地震台网(CDSN)所记录到的5天地震波形, 对VHZ频段进行了功率谱密度分析。 由于CDSN台网的地震仪对低频信号具有压制特点, 所以没有对资料进行固体潮处理, 从而获得了大地震激发的73个(₀S₄～₀S₇₆)基频球型自由振荡和6个谐频球型自由振荡(₁S₂, ₃S₂, ₁S₄, ₁S₀, ₁S₇, ₄S₂), 并与PREM模型的理论自由振荡周期进行了对比, 结果表明观测振荡周期与PREM预测的振荡周期吻合很好。 所得结果可以进一步用来研究地震震源机制和地球内部结构, 并对大地震的震源破裂分布给出一定的约束。     

27.3-day and 13.6-day atmospheric tide

An analysis of time variations in the earth's length of day (LOD) for 25 years (1973-1998) versus at- mospheric circulation changes and lunar phase is presented. It is found that, on the average, there is a 27.3-day and 13.6-day period oscillation in global zonal wind speed, atmospheric geopotential height, and LOD following alternating changes in lunar phase. Every 5-9 days (6.8 days on average), the fields of global atmospheric zonal wind and geopotential height and LOD undergo a sudden change in rela- tion to a change in lunar declination. The observed atmospheric oscillation with this time period may be viewed as a type of atmospheric tide. Ten atmospheric tidal cases have been analyzed by comparing changes in LOD, global zonal wind speed and atmospheric geopotential height versus change in lunar declination. Taken together these cases reveal prominent 27.3-day and 13.6-day tides. The lunar forcing on the earth's atmosphere is great and obvious changes occur in global fields of zonal wind speed and atmospheric geopotential height over the equatorial and low latitude areas. The driving force for the 27.3-day and 13.6-day atmospheric tides is the periodic change in lunar forcing during the moon's revolution around the earth. When the moon is located on the celestial equator the lunar declination equals zero and the lunar tidal forcing on the atmosphere reaches its maximum, at this time the global zonal wind speed increases and the earth's rotation rate decreases and LOD increases. Conversely, when the moon reaches its most northern or southern positions the lunar declination is maximized, lunar tidal forcing decreases, global zonal wind speed decreases, earth's rotation rate increases and LOD decreases. 27.3-day and 13.6-day period atmospheric tides deserve deeper study. Lunar tidal forcing should be considered in models of atmospheric circulation and in short and medium range weather forecasting.     

Fluctuations in some climate parameters

There is argument as to the extent to which there has been an increase over the past few decades in the frequency of the extremes of climatic parameters, such as temperature, storminess, precipitation, etc, an obvious point being that Global Warming might be responsible. Here we report results on those parameters of which we have had experience during the last few years: Global surface temperature, Cloud Cover and the MODIS Liquid Cloud Fraction. In no case we have found indications that fluctuations of these parameters have increased with time.     

Oscillations with planetary wave periods in variations in the ionospheric parameters over Eastern Siberia

The results of a periodogramanalysis of the variations in the ionospheric parameters, measured using the vertical radio sounding method at midlatitude Irkutsk observatory (Eastern Siberia), are presented. The 1984–1986 period of observations was used. It has been indicated that the statistically significant oscillations with periods typical of planetary waves are present in the variations in f ₀E_s, f _bE_s, h′E_s, f _min, f ₀F2, and h′F.

     

Correlation of atmospheric occurences over the United States with some physical and chemical parameters. Part II: Percentage of skycover

Summary A multiple regression analysis has been carried out on average-quarterly and average-annual values of sky-coverage over 28 stations of the United States Weather Bureau Network. Computations were made to gain an indication of the nature and influence of some parameters which can be monitored on the ground and which might influence the formation of clouds. It is found that the average seasonal coverage of sky appears to be associated with local values of temperature, altitude and precipitable water vapour functions.Contribution of the «Centro Nucleazione Aerosoli» of the National Research Council of Italy, Via Vettore 4 (Monte Sacro)Roma.     

Correlation of atmospheric occurences over the United States with some physical and chemical parameters. Part I: Frequences of thunderstorms

Summary A multiple regression analysis has been carried out to obtain some approximate insight into conditions which might favour the occurence of thunderstorms, in terms of certain parameters measured on the ground. It is thought that annual thunderstorm frequencies may largely depend on local temperature parameters and deviations of precipitable water vapour from equilibrium values.Contribution of the «Centro Nucleazione Aerosoli» of the National Research Council of Italy, Via Vettore 4 (Monte Sacro),Roma.     

Correlation of atmospheric occurences over the United States with some physical and chemical parameters. Part III: Frequencies of precipitation

Summary Correlation between some physical and chemical variables, measured at 28 stations of the United States Weather Bureau Network, and seasonal and annual frequencies of precipitation, has been attempted with the aim of gaining insight into the bearing of such variables, on occurrence of precipitation. — Concurrent trends of frequencies with local temperature functions, altitude parameters, precipitable water vapour increments, and some chemical species have been found.Contribution of the «Centro Nucleazione Aerosoli» of the National Research Council of Italy, Via Vettore 4 (Monte Sacro),Roma.     

Distribution of some chemical compositions in atmospheric precipitations over Czechoslovakia

Summary Since the beginning of the I.G.Y. collections of precipitation for chemical analysis have been made at 22 sample stations distributed all over the territory of Czechoslovakia at different heights above sea level. Analyses are carried out in the laboratories of the Geophysical Institute, Department of Physics of the Air, Hradec Králové. This preliminary report deals with the results of analyses during which the content of chloride ions was determined independently by the polarographic and the microtitration technique, while the content of nitrate ions was established polarographically. Distribution of concentrations of chlorides over the territory of Czechoslovakia represents a roughly homogeneous distribution of concentrations varying in a half year average from 0.6 mg/l to 6.6 mg/l. Generally higher concentrations can befound in mountain stations in the neighbourhood of industrial centres. In the winter months the values are higher than in the summer months in most of the stations. This is commonly due to a higher content of chlorides in solid precipitation as can be seen from the enclosed chart. A correlation between the concentration of chlorides and the intensity of the precipitation is not always clearly visible. Distribution of nitrates does not correspond with the character of the iso-lines of chlorides. Average concentrations range from 0.2 mg/l to 1.5 mg/l. The highest values were not found in the precipitations collected in the mountain stations. This would suggest a different distribution of chemical components of chlorides and nitrates in the lower levels of the troposphere which is clearly illustrated by the established concentrations in the region of High Tatra where the precipitations are collected in two neighbouring stations the height difference of which reaches nearly 2,000 m.     

Studies of surface aerosols and their effects on atmospheric electric parameters

Summary Regular measurements of the dust and nuclei content of the air near the ground at Poona were made during 1967–69 to study the characteristic elements of natural pollution near the ground, its origin and its variation with time, seasons and altitude. The electrical field strength, the positive and negative polar conductivities of the air and the number of positively and negatively charged small ions in the atmosphere near the ground were also measured at the same time. These measurements were repeated at two mountain stations during February, March, and June 1969. The dust content and the electric field show seasonal and diurnal variations opposite to those of the small ion density and electrical conductivity. Thus while the electric field is a maximum in winter, the conductivity and small ion content is a maximum during the monsoon months and the dust content a maximum in the premonsoon summer months. A marked increase in the electric field and the dust and condensation nuclei content is observed since similar measurements were last made in 1935–37 at Poona, with a corresponding decrease in small ion count and conductivity. These large variations are associated with the increased industrialization and urbanization of the regions round Poona during the last thirty years.

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Zusammenfassung In den Jahren 1967 bis 1969 wurden in Poona regelmässige Messungen der Staub-und Kernzahlen in der bodennahen Atmosphäre ausgeführt, um die charakteristischen Elemente der bodennahen Pollution, ihrer Herkunft und ihren Änderungen im Lauf der Zeit, der Jahreszeiten, und der Höhe zu studieren. Gleichzeitig wurden auch die luftelektrische Feldstärke, die positiven und negativen polaren Leitfähigkeiten, und die Konzentration der positiven und negativen schnellen Ionen in der bodennahen Luft gemessen. Im Februar, März, und Juni 1969 wurden diese Messungen an zwei Bergstationen wiederholt. Staubgehalt und luftelektrisches Feld zeigen Jahresgänge und Tagesgänge welche zu denen der Leitfähigkeiten und der Ionenzahlen entgegengesetzt verlaufen. Demnach sind, während das luftelektrische Feld seinen Höchstwert im Winter erreicht, luftelektrische Leitfähigkeit und Ionenzahlen während der Monsunmonate am grössten; der Staubgehalt hat seinen Höchstwert in den Sommermonaten vor der Monsunzeit. Seit ähnliche Messungen zum letzten Male in Poona ausgeführt wurden, 1935 bis 1937, ist die Konzentration der Kerne und der Wert des luftelektrischen Feldes merklich angestiegen, während Kleinionenzahlen und Leifähigkeit entsprechend zurückgegangen sind. Diese starken Veränderungen werden mit der in den letzten dreissig Jahren angewachsenen Industrialisierung und Verstädterung der Gegend um Poona in Zusammenhang gebracht.

     

Thermal parameters of some precambrian rocks in Sweden

Pure and Applied Geophysics -     

Variations in Schumann resonances and their relation to atmospheric electric parameters at Nagycenk station

The present study is based on simultaneous measurements of the atmospheric electric potential gradient (PG) and Schumann resonances at Nagycenk station (Hungary) from 1993 to 1996. Annual and semiannual variations detected previously in the relative amplitudes of Schumann resonances (SR) in the first three modes are confirmed by the extended data series applied here. The regular annual variation found in the PG (with winter maximum and summer minimum) is in the opposite phase, compared to that of the SR amplitudes. Nevertheless, even the PG (being a parameter of the DC global circuit) occasionally shows a distinct secondary peak in summer as indicated by the results of the present analysis (and corresponding to a recent study on further parameters of the DC global circuit). In spite of the presumed dominance of local influence over the global one, a suitable PG parameter correlates well with SR (representing the AC global circuit) on the annual time scale. It also became evident that a semiannual variation (with spring and autumn maxima and winter and summer minima) is generally present in SR. Certain signatures of a semiannual variation have also been revealed in the PG, however, the phase of this semiannual variation does not fit the pattern shown by SR (and tropical surface air temperature, respectively). The representativeness of the PG data has also been checked by means of a single day’s diurnal variations displaying a phase corresponding to that of the ‘Carnegie Curve’. Additionally, the coincidence of short-term changes (lasting some hours) both in the SR and the PG parameter is also demonstrated on a day disturbed by local factors. The results are discussed in the context of correlations between surface air temperature and parameters of the atmospheric electric global circuit shown by previous studies.     

Considerations regarding solar and lunar modulation of geophysical parameters,atmospheric electricity and thunderstorms

Summary The basic thesis of this paper is that the proper scope of meteorology should include, besides the earth's atmosphere, the sun's atmosphere (the solar corona), the associated interplanetary magnetic field, and lunar modulation of this environment. Recent advances in space science have enabled us to make direct measurements in this region for the first time. The shape and characteristics of the magnetosphere have been completely redefined during the last ten years from a simple magnetic dipole to the present model with an elongated tail stretched out by the solar wind. The interplanetary magnetic field has been defined with its spiral structure and sectors tied into the solar surface. This provides a magnetic link between the sun and earth. It is probable that extra-terrestrial factors do play a role in regulating weather, although the extent of this influence remains to be determined. Possibly such effects are most significant or easily detectable in the realm of atmospheric electricity. In view of the limitations in our present knowledge of all the variables responsible for regulating weather, it would seem appropriate to pursue the study of extra-terrestrial influences. Such research could lead to a better understanding of atmospheric circulation, precipitation mechanisms and thunderstorms. The field of meteorology which might particularly benefit from such research is long range weather forecasting.     

钠多普勒激光雷达回波光子数仿真及大气参数反演

钠多普勒激光雷达利用中层顶区域的钠原子作为示踪物,探测中层顶区域大气风场和温度剖面.本文主要分析钠多普勒激光雷达的探测原理和大气参数反演算法.利用MSISE和HWM93等大气模型给出背景大气温度、密度及风场,并给定钠原子数密度剖面,从激光雷达方程出发,模拟计算了激光雷达的瑞利散射和钠共振荧光散射回波光子数.利用模拟的回波光子数剖面数据,反演得到大气温度、视线风速和钠原子数密度剖面,反演结果与模拟计算用的背景参数符合很好,验证了这一反演方法的正确性.分析了激光频率偏移和激光线宽变化对反演精度的影响.     

Source parameters of some presumed Semipalatinsk underground nuclear explosions

Summary Short-period vertical-componentP-wave spectra of seven presumed Semipalatinsk underground nuclear explosions, recorded by the Swedish seismic station network, are investigated. The events considered have closely spaced foci and cover the magnitude range fromm _b=5.5 tom _b=6.6. Spectra of six of these explosions show pronounced minima, varying from about 1.5 to 1.8 cps, which could be explained as principle minima due toP-pP interference. Supposing a nearsurfaceP-wave velocity at the test area of 4 km/sec, the shot depths are estimated to vary roughly from 750 to 1350 m. In order to obtain an estimate of the yield, the observed spectra are compared withHaskell's theoretical source spectra. For four events, relative yield estimates fit well the predicted values for explosions fired in a granitic medium. The behaviour of the remaining three explosions is discussed in detail.