Effect of the magnetic field on measurements of the electron density and temperature by cylindrical probes in the Earth’s ionosphere

In the 1960s and 1970s, quite simply produced cylindrical Langmuir probes were used in the USSR both on satellites (Kosmos-378, Intercosmos-2, -4, -8, -10, -19) and to measure the electron density and temperature on vertical launched rockets (Vertical’-4, -6, -10) within the Intercosmos program. These measurements were first made at middle latitudes. With increasing inclination of the orbits of launched satellites (satellites had no stabilization), falling sections were sometimes observed on probe characteristics in the electron saturation region. The Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite, which was stabilized along three axes and was equipped with a cylindrical probe whose longitudinal axis was always directed downward to the Earth, was launched in 1981. This satellite allowed definite conclusions on the effect of the geomagnetic field on the form of the probe characteristic and, hence, on the determination of the electron density and temperature. Probe characteristics with falling sections are presented. These measurements are compared with those performed in a laboratory plasma. The appearance of negative sections on the probe characteristics is shown to be due to the effect of the geomagnetic field. The degree of this effect depends both on the electron density and temperature and on the probe voltage.     

Electric field variations measured continuously in free air over a conductive thin zone in the tilted Lias-epsilon black shales near Osnabrück,Northwest Germany

Common studies on the static electric field distribution over a conductivity anomaly use the self-potential method. However, this method is time consuming and requires nonpolarizable electrodes to be placed in the ground. Moreover, the information gained by this method is restricted to the horizontal variations of the electric field. To overcome the limitation in the self-potential technique, we conducted a field experiment using a non conventional technique to assess the static electric field over a conductivity anomaly. We use two metallic potential probes arranged on an insulated boom with a separation of 126 cm. When placed into the electric field of the free air, a surface charge will be induced on each probe trying to equalize with the potential of the surrounding atmosphere. The use of a plasma source at both probes facilitated continuous and quicker measurement of the electric field in the air. The present study shows first experimental measurements with a modified potential probe technique (MPP) along a 600-meter-long transect to demonstrate the general feasibility of this method for studying the static electric field distribution over shallow conductivity anomalies.Field measurements were carried out on a test site on top of the Bramsche Massif near Osnabrück (Northwest Germany) to benefit from a variety of available near surface data over an almost vertical conductivity anomaly. High resolution self-potential data served in a numerical analysis to estimate the expected individual components of the electric field vector.During the experiment we found more anomalies in the vertical and horizontal components of the electric field than self-potential anomalies. These contrasting findings are successfully cross-validated with conventional near surface geophysical methods. Among these methods, we used self-potential, radiomagnetotelluric, electric resistivity tomography and induced polarization data to derive 2D conductivity models of the subsurface in order to infer the geometrical properties and the origin of the conductivity anomaly in the survey area. The presented study demonstrates the feasibility of electric field measurements in free air to detect and study near surface conductivity anomalies. Variations in Ez correlate well with the conductivity distribution obtained from resistivity methods. Compared to the self-potential technique, continuously free air measurements of the electric field are more rapid and of better lateral resolution combined with the unique ability to analyze vertical components of the electric field which are of particular importance to detect lateral conductivity contrasts. Mapping Ez in free air is a good tool to precisely map lateral changes of the electric field distribution in areas where SP generation fails. MPP offers interesting application in other geophysical techniques e.g. in time domain electromagnetics, DC and IP.With this method we were able to reveal a ca. 150 m broad zone of enhanced electric field strength.     

Gravity anomaly in and around Antarctica and its tectonic implications

During the nineteen-seventies, the geophysical satellites EOS-3 and SEASAT-1 provided very accurate sea-surface heights, which could be employed as information on the marine geoid. Geoid height can easily be converted to gravity anomalies, and since the tracks of GEOS-3 and SEASAT-1 were extremely dense, the gravity anomaly data thus obtained were the densest and of the widest coverage ever obtained for gravity measurements.The authors completed a self-consistent free-air gravity anomaly map in the Antarctic region, covering from 45°S to the South Pole, using all the gravity data available at present: namely, those obtained by satellites and the ground-truth data obtained by land gravimeters and ship borne gravimeters (Segawa et at., 1984).The bouguer anomaly was also calculated, from which estimates of crustal and lithospheric structures were made. This has resulted in clarifying the relationships among sub-bottom structures between the mid-oceanic ridges surrounding the Antarctic plate and the Ross Sea.     

Electric circuits of the disturbed magnetosphere-ionosphere system and their generators

The simplest theory of electric circuits is applied to analysis of the observed large-scale electric field and currents in a disturbed magnetosphere-ionosphere system. Maps of distribution of field-aligned currents (FACs) obtained from ground-based magnetic measurements using the original magnetogram inversion method (MIT) and measurements by satellites were used. A method for circuit determination according to the data of such maps based on the detection of spatial R.N inhomogeneities in each of three Iijima and Potemra FAC zones is proposed. The results of the new method are used to describe some electric field and current generators not known before, new types of current systems in tail lobes and plasma sheet, and the formation and dynamics of new types of three-dimensional systems with auroral electrojets and meridional ionospheric Pedersen current, which have not been paid due attention in the literature.     

Nonlinear plasma wave processes observed in the polar cusp

We present observations of electric and magnetic field variations from proton (about few Hz) to electron cyclotron frequencies (about few kHz) obtained by STAFF instrument on Cluster satellites during two cusp crossings, at ∼6 R _E altitude, in September 2002. The cusp was identified by the presence of intensive fluxes of counter streaming electrons with low energies and broadband wave activity which is typical for this region. Special attention is given for the interval of measurements when the waveform of the magnetic field fluctuations was taken in this region by CLUSTER satellites. The wave has been processed using the wavelet and bispectral analysis. Results showing the cascade of turbulence and wave-wave interactions are presented in this paper. A three wave process can be responsible for the broadening of the wave spectra in the polar cusp.     

The Earth's gravity field

The Earth's gravity field can be determined from gravity measurements made on the surface of the Earth, and through the analysis of the motion of Earth satellites. Gravity data can be used to solve the boundary value problem of gravimetric geodesy in various ways, from the classical formulation using a geoid to the concept of a reference surface interior to the masses of the Earth to a statistical method. We now have gravity information for 1⁰ data blocks over 46% of the Earth's surface and more than several million point measurements available.Satellite observations such as range, range-rate, and optical data have been analyzed to determine potential coefficients used to describe the Earth's gravitational potential field. Coefficients, in a spherical harmonic expansion to degree 12, can be determined from satellite data alone, and to at least degree 20 when the satellite data is combined with surface gravity material. Recent solutions for potential coefficients agree well to degree 4, but with increasing disagreement at higher degrees.     

卫星介质深层充电的计算机模拟研究

卫星介质深层充电效应是诱发地球同步轨道卫星运行故障和异常的重要因素之一,文中介绍了介质深层充电的物理机制,给出了初步的物理模型和计算机模拟方法,该模型的模拟计算结果与欧空局的深层充电分析软件DICTAT的计算结果吻合得很好. 深层充电导致的最大电场总是出现在介质的接地侧,因此,介质的接地侧是发生放电的危险区域;对于典型的外辐射带高能电子能谱情况,介质的充电时间为小时量级.     

A theoretical verification of intensity of plasmaspheric ELF hiss emissions: theory versus GEOS-1 observations

An attempt is made to confirm the generation mechanism of plasmaspheric ELF hiss emissions observed aboard GEOS-1 satellite in the equatorial region both at small and large wave normal angles by calculating their magnetic field intensities in terms of incoherent Cerenkov radiation mechanism and cyclotron resonance instability mechanism, using appropriate and suitable plasma parameters. The ELF intensities calculated by Cerenkov radiation mechanism, being 4 to 5 orders of magnitude lower than the observed intensities, rule out the possibility of their generation by this mechanism. On the other hand, the intensities calculated under electron cyclotron resonance instability mechanism are found to be large enough to account for both the observed intensity and propagation losses and hence to confirm that plasmaspheric ELF hiss emissions observed aboard GEOS-1 satellite both at small and large wave normal angles were originally generated in the equatorial region by this mechanism just near the inner edge of the plasmapause. The difference in the observed intensities of two types of the emissions has been attributed to the propagation effect rather than the generation efffect.     

Three-dimensional finite-element modelling of magnetotelluric data with a divergence correction

A finite-element method for computing the electric field in a 3-D conductivity model of the Earth for plane wave sources, thus enabling magnetotelluric responses to be calculated, is presented. The method incorporates in the iterative solution of the electric-field system of equations the divergence correction technique introduced for finite-difference solutions by Smith (1996). The correction technique accelerates the development of the discontinuity of the normal component of the approximate electric field across conductivity discontinuities. The convergence rate of the iterative solution is improved significantly, especially for low frequencies. The correction technique involves computing the divergence of the current density for the approximate electric field, computing the static potential whose source is this divergence of the current density, and ‘correcting’ the approximate electric field by subtracting from it the gradient of the potential. This is repeated at regular intervals during the iterative solution of the electric-field system of equations. For the method presented here, the Earth model is discretised using a rectilinear mesh comprising uniform cells. Edge-element basis functions are used to approximate the electric field and nodal basis functions are used to approximate the correction potential. The Galerkin method is used to derive the systems of equations for the approximate electric field and correction potential from the respective differential equations. A bi-conjugate gradient solver was found to be adequate for the system of equations for the correction potential; a generalised minimum residual solver was found to be better for the electric-field system of equations. The method is illustrated using the COMMEMI 3D-1A and 3D-2A models.     

层状介质井中电测数值计算及其应用研究

采用Gauss Laguerre求积公式对层状介质井中电测地-井方式的ΔV1（电位梯度）、ρa参数进行了理论计算.大量的正演数据揭示在层状介质情况下,井中电测地-井方式观测可以获得台阶异常,与相应的地电层相对应;低阻覆盖层和中间低阻层对井中电测影响很大,厚层覆盖区对地-井方式观测不利;水槽模拟和应用实例表明,分析实测资料时,要考虑层状介质ΔV1、ρa的正常场特征,对实测数据进行正常场改正,分析正常场改正后的ΔV″1异常效果较好.     

Plasma gradient effects on double-probe measurements in the magnetosphere

The effects on double-probe electric field measurements induced by electron density and temperature gradients are investigated. We show that on some occasions such gradients may lead to marked spurious electric fields if the probes are assumed to lie at the same probe potential with respect to the plasma. The use of a proper bias current will decrease the magnitude of such an error. When the probes are near the plasma potential, the magnitude of these error signals, E, can vary as E\simT_e(n_e/n_e)+0.5T_e, where T_e is the electron temperature, n_e/n_e the relative electron density variation between the two sensors, and T_e the electron temperature difference between the two sensors. This not only implies that the error signals will increase linearly with the density variations but also that such signatures grow with T_e, i.e., such effects are 10 times larger in a 10-eV plasma than in a 1-eV plasma. This type of error is independent of the probe separation distance provided the gradient scale length is much larger than this distance. The largest errors occur when the probes are near to the plasma potential. At larger positive probe potentials with respect to the plasma potential, the error becomes smaller if the probes are biased, as is usually the case with spherical double-probe experiments in the tenuous magnetospheric plasmas. The crossing of a plasma boundary (like the plasmapause or magnetopause) yields an error signal of a single peak. During the crossing of a small structure (e.g., a double layer) the error signal appears as a bipolar signature. Our analysis shows that errors in double-probe measurements caused by plasma gradients are not significant at large scale (≫1 km) plasma boundaries, and may only be important in cases where small-scale (<1 km), internal gradient structures exist. Bias currents tailored for each plasma parameter regime (i.e., variable bias current) would o1q1improve the double-probe response to gradient effects considerably.     

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.     

Calculation of atmospheric electric fields penetrating from the ionosphere

The spatial distributions of electric fields and currents in the Earth’s atmosphere are calculated. Electric potential distributions typical of substorms and quiet geomagnetic conditions are specified in the ionosphere. The Earth is treated as a perfect conductor. The atmosphere is considered as a spherical layer with a given height dependence of electrical conductivity. With the chosen conductivity model and an ionospheric potential of 300 kV with respect to the Earth, the electric field near the ground is vertical and reaches 110 Vm⁻¹. With the 60-kV potential difference in the polar cap of the ionosphere, the electric field disturbances with a vertical component of up to 13 V m⁻¹ can occur in the atmosphere. These disturbances are maximal near the ground. If the horizontal scales of field nonuniformity are over 100 km, the vertical component of the electric field near the ground can be calculated with the one-dimensional model. The field and current distributions in the upper atmosphere can be obtained only from the three-dimensional model. The numerical method for solving electrical conductivity problems makes it possible to take into account conductivity inhomogeneities and the ground relief.     

The dynamic cusp at low altitudes: a case study utilizing Viking,DMSP-F7, and Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar observations

Coincident multi-instrument magnetospheric and ionospheric observations have made it possible to determine the position of the ionospheric footprint of the magnetospheric cusp and to monitor its evolution over time. The data used include charged particle and magnetic field measurements from the Earth-orbiting Viking and DMSP-F7 satellites, electric field measurements from Viking, interplanetary magnetic field and plasma data from IMP-8, and Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar observations of the ionospheric plasma density, temperature, and convection. Viking detected cusp precipitation poleward of 75.5○ invariant latitude. The ionospheric response to the observed electron precipitation was simulated using an auroral model. It predicts enhanced plasma density and elevated electron temperature in the upper E- and F-regions. Sondrestrom radar observations are in agreement with the predictions. The radar detected a cusp signature on each of five consecutive antenna elevation scans covering 1.2 h local time. The cusp appeared to be about 2○ invariant latitude wide, and its ionospheric footprint shifted equatorward by nearly 2○ during this time, possibly influenced by an overall decrease in the IMF B_z component. The radar plasma drift data and the Viking magnetic and electric field data suggest that the cusp was associated with a continuous, rather than a patchy, merging between the IMF and the geomagnetic field.     

基于星载GPS的HY-2卫星高精度精密定轨模拟研究(英文)

HY-2卫星是我国第一颗测高卫星,其径向定轨精度要求厘米量级,搭载了星载GPS接收机。目前HY-2还处于测试阶段,没有公布观测数据。为了确定基于星载GPS的HY-2精密定轨流程及其定轨精度,本文模拟了HY-2卫星星载GPS观测数据,结果表明HY-2星载GPS天线每个历元至少观测7颗GPS卫星。给出了基于星载GPS的精密定轨流程,分别采用简化动力学方法和动态几何法进行了精密定轨实验。对于相位1mm和3mm随机误差的相位观测数据,简化动力学法和动态几何法定轨都能够实现厘米量级的径向精密定轨,几何法定轨精度略低于简化动力定轨。地球重力场模型是影响HY-2卫星精密定轨的重要因素,本文对不同阶次的重力场模型EIGEN2、EGM96、TEG4和GEMT3进行了简化动力学定轨实验,高于50阶次的重力场模型都能够实现厘米级径向精密定轨,主要原因在于大量的高精度星载GPS观测数据和重力场模型精度的提高。     

Use of Sonication for Enhanced Sampling of Attached Microbes from Groundwater Systems

The vast majority of microorganisms in aquifers live as biofilms on sediment surfaces, which presents significant challenges for sampling as only the suspended microbes will be sampled through normal pumping. The use of a down-well low frequency sonicator has been suggested as a method of detaching microbes from the biofilm and allowing rapid sampling of this community. We developed a portable, easy to use, low-frequency electric sonicator and evaluated its performance for a range of well depths (tested up to 42 m below ground level) and casing types. Three sonicators were characterized in laboratory experiments using a 1 m long tank filled with pea gravel. These included a commercially available pneumatic sonicator, a rotating flexible shaft sonicator, and the prototype electric sonicator. The electric sonicator detached between 56 and 74% of microbes grown on gravel-containing biobags at distances ranging between 2 and 50 cm from the sonicator. The field testing comprises of a total of 55 sampling events from 48 wells located in 4 regions throughout New Zealand. Pre- and post-sonication samples showed an average 33 times increase in bacterial counts. Microbial sequence data showed that the same classes are present in pre- and post-sonicated samples and only slight differences were seen in the proportions present. The sampling process was rapid and the significant increases in bacterial counts mean that microbial samples can be quickly obtained from wells, which permits more detailed analysis than previously possible.     

Induction studies with satellite data

The natural variations of the Earth's magnetic field of periods spanning from milliseconds to decades can be used to infer the conductivity-depth profile of the Earth's interior. Satellites provide a good spatial coverage of magnetic measurements, and forthcoming missions will probably allow for observations lasting several years, which helps to reduce the statistical error of the estimated response functions.Two methods are used to study the electrical conductivity of the Earth's mantle in the period range from hours to months. In the first, known as the potential method, a spherical harmonic analysis of the geomagnetic field is performed, and the Q-response, which is the transfer function between the internal (induced) and the external (inducing) expansion coefficients is determined for a specific frequency. In the second approach, known as the geomagnetic depth sounding method, the C-response, which is the transfer function between the magnetic vertical component and the horizontal derivative of the horizontal components, is determined. If one of these transfer functions is known for several frequencies, models of the electrical conductivity in the Earth's interior can be constructed.This paper reviews and discusses the possibilities for induction studies using high-precision magnetic measurements from low-altitude satellites. The different methods and various transfer functions are presented, with special emphasis on the differences in analysing data from ground stations and from satellites. The results of several induction studies with scalar satellite data (from the POGO satellites) and with vector data (from the Magsat mission) demonstrate the ability to probe the Earth's conductivity from space. However, compared to the results obtained with ground data the satellite results are much noisier, which presumably is due to the shorter time series of the satellite studies.The results of a new analysis of data from the Magsat satellite indicate higher resistivity in oceanic areas than in continental areas. However, since this holds for the whole range of periods between 2 and 20 days, this difference probably is not caused purely by differences in mantle conductivity (for which one would expect less difference for the longer periods). Further studies with data from recently launched and future satellites are needed.     

利用地磁脉动预报地球同步轨道相对论电子通量的方法研究

本文利用低纬地磁台站的Pi1、Pi2地磁脉动（Pi1-2）资料和地球同步轨道的Pc5地磁脉动资料,对2004年1月到2006年12月38个磁暴事件的地磁脉动参数进行了统计分析.在此基础上,考虑相对论电子的局部加速机制,并加入损失机制,建立了一个初步的磁暴期间地球同步轨道相对论电子通量对数值的预报模型.利用该模型,我们对上述38个磁暴事件进行预报试验,最优化结果是：相对论电子通量对数值的预测值和观测值之间的线性相关系数为0.82,预报效率为0.67.这说明该模式具有较好的预报效果,也表明利用地磁脉动参数进行相对论电子通量预报是可行的.     

Generation of long-period regular pulsations in the magnetosphere during SC

Pulsations in the electron fluxes and magnetic field on two geosynchronous satellites and at several ground-based observatories have been studied. Relativistic electron flux pulsations with a period of 6 min originated after the shock arrival from the solar wind at 0258 UT on February 11, 2000, had a regular character, and propagated from the dayside to the nightside at a velocity of about 60 deg min^?1. Magnetic field oscillations on the satellites and on the Earth had a more complicated structure. Field oscillations morphologically similar to electron oscillations are observed only on one satellite in one component and at one-two ground-based stations, where a periodicity of 10–12 min was mainly observed. It is assumed that magnetic pulsations are Alfvén resonances generated by a fast magnetosonic wave.     

电导率各向异性的海洋电磁三维有限单元法正演

本文提出了一种基于非结构化网格的海洋电磁有限单元正演算法.为了回避场源奇异性,文中选用二次场算法,将背景电阻率设置为水平层状且各向异性,场源在水平层状各向异性介质中所激发的一次场通过汉克尔积分得到.基于Coulomb规范得到二次矢量位和标量位所满足的Maxwell方程组,通过Galerkin加权余量法形成大型稀疏有限元方程,采用不完全LU分解(ILU)预条件因子的quasi-minimum residual(QMR)迭代解法对有限元方程进行求解得到二次矢量位和标量位;进而,利用滑动平均方法得到二次矢量位和标量位在空间的导数,由此得到二次电磁场;通过一维模型对算法的可靠性进行验证,与此同时,针对实际复杂海洋电磁模型,比较有限元模拟结果与积分方程模拟结果,进一步验证算法精度.若干计算结果均表明,文中算法具有良好的通用性,适用于井中电磁、航空电磁,环境地球物理等非均匀且各向异性介质中的电磁感应基础研究.