A spectrum of the acoustic-gravity waves associated with Auroral electro-jet

This model concerns the analysis of Aurora initiated travelling pressure waves in an isothermal atmosphere. Electro-dynamic Lorentz Force associated with auroral electric current density during the periods of geomagnetic activity is invoked as a possible exciting source.The dispersion phenomena in auroral induced acoustic gravity modes in the earth's atmosphere are examined and various cut-off frequencies analysed.Finally, an attempt is made to obtain a far field representation of the forced oscillations by means of Green's Function technique. Therefrom, the spectral amplitudes of the ground-level oscillations are computed. Incorporating various scaling factors, it is deduced that these amplitude components are in reasonable agreement with the results of recent measurements.     

The role of gravity waves in tropospheric processes

Summary The nature and the role of gravity waves in the troposphere is briefly discussed and reviewed. After describing some basic properties of gravity waves and their generation mechanisms, we analyze their ability to influence phase changes, trigger and organize convective cells, to produce and interact with turbulence, and to affect diffusive processes in the atmosphere. Throughout, the emphasis is placed on the physical processes involved in the interaction of gravity waves with mesoscale and planetary boundary layer phenomena. Also discussed and reviewed are those remote sensing devices which are particularly useful in revealing and measuring such waves. Finally, an attempt is made to outline possible lines of future work for the purpose of fully understanding the role of gravity waves in mesoscale and microscale dynamics.     

南京地区低电离层加热效应的初步模拟

从电子能量方程和连续性方程出发,利用国际参考电离层(IRI-2007)和中性大气模型(NRLMSISE-00)得出背景参数,数值计算了大功率无线电波加热南京地区低电离层的电子温度和电子密度扰动幅度,并对比了不同加热条件下的电离层扰动效应.结果表明,大功率无线电波入射到电离层后,与等离子体相互作用,能够有效造成电子温度的升高而产生电子温度扰动;由于电子温度升高,等离子体碰撞频率增加且电子的复合系数减小,导致电子密度扰动;电子温度和电子密度的扰动幅度随着加热时间的推移而减小,即扰动逐渐趋于饱和;电子温度扰动的弛豫时间尺度为微秒量级,电子密度扰动的弛豫时间尺度为毫秒量级;在欠密加热条件下,X波模比O波模更容易吸收.     

The generation of non aspect sensitive plasma density irregularities by field aligned drifts in the lower ionosphere

A theory of the generation of plasma density irregularities with virtually no aspect sensitivity, in the lower ionosphere at high latitudes, by electron drifts aligned with the geomagnetic field, is presented. The theory is developed through fluid equations in which the destabilising mechanism involves positive feedback from electron collisional heating. When field aligned electron drift speeds exceed a few km s^–1, this effect destabilises waves with wavelengths in excess of a few tens of metres in the lower E-region, where collisional effects are sufficiently large. Furthermore, the threshold conditions are almost independent of the wave propagation direction and the unstable waves propagate at speeds well below the ion acoustic speed. The role that this new instability may play in recent radar backscatter observations of short scale irregularities propagating in directions close to that of the geomagnetic field, in the lower E-region is also considered.     

On the transformation of planetary waves of tropospheric origin into waves in radio wave absorption in the lower ionosphere

Summary Calculations are carried out of upward propagation of a tropospherically forced 10-day planetary wave into the upper middle atmosphere with the use of the COMMA-R model of the University of Cologne, of its transformation into a wave in electron density by means of the model of the Comenius University, and of its final transformation into a wave in radio wave absorption in the lower ionosphere applying the computer code of the Geophysical Institute. The calculations show that the absorption may be used for investigating the planetary wave activity, particularly of its long-term trends. The possibility of propagation of planetary waves from the winter hemisphere to the summer hemisphere is illustrated, which could contribute to explanation of the occurrence of travelling planetary waves in the mesosphere in summer.Dedicated to the Memory of Professor Karel P     

CUTLASS HF radar observations of high-latitude azimuthally propagating vortical currents in the nightside ionosphere during magnetospheric substorms

High-time resolution CUTLASS observations and ground-based magnetometers have been employed to study the occurrence of vortical flow structures propagating through the high-latitude ionosphere during magnetospheric substorms. Fast-moving flow vortices (800 m s^–1) associated with Hall currents flowing around upward directed field-aligned currents are frequently observed propagating at high speed (1 km s^–1) azimuthally away from the region of the ionosphere associated with the location of the substorm expansion phase onset. Furthermore, a statistical analysis drawn from over 1000 h of high-time resolution, nightside radar data has enabled the characterisation of the bulk properties of these vortical flow systems. Their occurrence with respect to substorm phase has been investigated and a possible generation mechanism has been suggested.     

电离层人工调制激发的VLF波在磁层的传播特性及应用研究

电离层人工调制可以激发甚低频（VLF）波,其中向上传播进入磁层的VLF波,不但能够用来研究磁层中的各种物理现象,且具有人工沉降高能粒子,消除辐射带等实际用途.本文使用射线追踪方法,模拟电离层调制激发的VLF波在磁层的传播路径,分析激发纬度和调制频率对传播路径和传播特性的影响;并基于低频波的色散方程和波粒共振条件,分析VLF波传播路径上与磁层高能粒子的最低共振能及其分布.研究表明,VLF波通过在磁层来回反射向更高的L-shell传播,最终稳定在某一L-shell附近.以较低的调制频率或者从较高的纬度激发的VLF波能够传播到更高的L-shell,但是,当激发纬度过高时,低频波也可能不发生磁层反射而直接进入电离层和大气层.低频波在磁层的传播过程中,在较高的纬度或者较低的L-shell能够与较高能量的电子发生共振相互作用,在较高的L-shell并且低纬地区,能够与较低能量的电子发生共振相互作用.共振谐数越高,能发生波粒共振的电子能量越高.     

Hydromagnetic waves in rapidly rotating spherical shells generated by poloidal decay modes

Abstract

This paper presents the first attempt to examine the stability of a poloidal magnetic field in a rapidly rotating spherical shell of electrically conducting fluid. We find that a steady axisymmetric poloidal magnetic field loses its stability to a non-axisymmetric perturbation when the Elsasser number A based on the maximum strength of the field exceeds a value about 20. Comparing this with observed fields, we find that, for any reasonable estimates of the appropriate parameters in planetary interiors, our theory predicts that all planetary poloidal fields are stable, with the possible exception of Jupiter. The present study therefore provides strong support for the physical relevance of magnetic stability analysis to planetary dynamos. We find that the fluid motions driven by magnetic instabilities are characterized by a nearly two-dimensional columnar structure attempting to satisfy the Proudman-Taylor theorm. This suggests that the most rapidly growing perturbation arranges itself in such a way that the geostrophic condition is satisfied to leading order. A particularly interesting feature is that, for the most unstable mode, contours of the non-axisymmetric azimuthal flow are closely aligned with the basic axisymmetric poloidal magnetic field lines. As a result, the amplitude of the azimuthal component of the instability is smaller than or comparable with that of the poloidal component, in contrast with the instabilities generated by toroidal decay modes (Zhang and Fearn, 1994). It is shown, by examining the same system with and without fluid inertia, that fluid inertia plays a secondary role when the magnetic Taylor number T_m ? 10⁵. We find that the direction of propagation of hydromagnetic waves driven by the instability is influenced strongly by the size of the inner core.     

Disturbances of the ionosphere of blast and acoustic waves generated at ionospheric heights by rockets

In this paper we present a model, which describes the propagation of acoustic impulses produced by flight of rockets through a model terrestrial atmosphere, and effect of these impulses onto the ionosphere above a rocket. We show, that experimentally observed ionospheric disturbances with duration about 300 s cannot be explained by effect of acoustic impulses onto the ionosphere. We have calculated parameters of a blast wave produced by launch vehicle on the ionospheric heights. It was shown that the blast wave is intense and this wave can generate great disturbance of electron density. The disturbance of electron density can exceed the ambient electron density in 2.6 times. We supposed that the observed ionospheric disturbances might be produced by propagation of delayed magnetoacoustic wave, which, in turn, was produced by the blast wave.     

Parametrization of momentum and energy depositions from gravity waves generated by tropospheric hydrodynamic sources

The mechanism of generation of internal gravity waves (IGW) by mesoscale turbulence in the troposphere is considered. The equations that describe the generation of waves by hydrodynamic sources of momentum, heat and mass are derived. Calculations of amplitudes, wave energy fluxes, turbulent viscosities, and accelerations of the mean flow caused by IGWs generated in the troposphere are made. A comparison of different mechanisms of turbulence production in the atmosphere by IGWs shows that the nonlinear destruction of a primary IGW into a spectrum of secondary waves may provide additional dissipation of nonsatu-rated stable waves. The mean wind increases both the effectiveness of generation and dissipation of IGWs propagating in the direction of the wind. Competition of both effects may lead to the dominance of IGWs propagating upstream at long distances from tropospheric wave sources, and to the formation of eastward wave accelerations in summer and westward accelerations in winter near the mesopause.     

The role played by thermal feedback in heated Farley-Buneman waves at high latitudes

It is becoming increasingly clear that electron thermal effects have to be taken into account when dealing with the theory of ionospheric instabilities in the high-latitude ionosphere. Unfortunately, the mathematical complexity often hides the physical processes at work. We follow the limiting cases of a complex but systematic generalized fluid approach to get to the heart of the thermal processes that affect the stability of E region waves during electron heating events. We try to show as simply as possible under what conditions thermal effects contribute to the destabilization of strongly field-aligned (zero aspect angle) Farley-Buneman modes. We show that destabilization can arise from a combination of (1) a reduction in pressure gradients associated with temperature fluctuations that are out of phase with density fluctuations, and (2) thermal diffusion, which takes the electrons from regions of enhanced temperatures to regions of negative temperature fluctuations, and therefore enhanced densities. However, we also show that, contrary to what has been suggested in the past, for modes excited along the E₀ × B direction thermal feedback decreases the growth rate and raises the threshold speed of the Farley-Buneman instability. The increase in threshold speed appears to be important enough to explain the generation of Type IV waves in the high-latitude ionosphere.     

电离层人工调制在水平分层电离层中所激发的ELF波辐射

通过大功率ELF/VLF调幅高频波能有效地扰动低电离层,形成等效的ELF/VLF电离层虚拟天线,用来辐射ELF/VLF波,所辐射出的低频信号可以进入中性大气层形成地球-电离层波导.本文基于调制加热模型,采用全波有限元算法计算由人工调制电离层所形成的电偶极矩所辐射出的ELF波在水平分层电离层中的波场,计算结果将与地面观测结果进行比较.模拟结果表明,所辐射出的ELF波在电离层中形成一个窄的准直波束,海面所能接收到的ELF信号强度为pT量级,并且频率越低,海面所接收到的场强就越小,与HAARP实验数据一致.结果还表明,低纬电离层对低频信号的传播衰减较大,并且所能透射出电离层的角度小,因此高纬地区更适合地球-电离层波导的激发.     

Simulation of the stratospheric gravity waves generated by the Typhoon Matsa in 2005

The generation of stratospheric gravity waves(GWs) due to typhoon is simulated by using a meso-scale model(WRF) with a typhoon case,the Matsa in 2005.An 8-day model run that covers the major stages of the Matsa’s development reproduces the key features of the typhoon.For example,good agreements in the typhoon’s track,the intensity,and the spiral clouds,as well as mean state of stratosphere,are seen between the simulation results and the observation.Simulation results clearly show that with typhoon propagates northwestward,pronounced stratospheric GWs are generated continuously in the vicinity of Matsa.The GWs exhibit the typical curve-like wave fronts away from the Typhoon Matsa,and propagate preferentially in the upstream of the background winds.These characteristics reflect that the stratospheric GWs are closely associated with the typhoon,and thus the GWs are referred to as Tropical Cyclone related Gravity Waves(TC-GWs).The results also show that these waves should have a rather large horizontal scale so that the outmost wave fronts can be seen at the distance of ～1000 km to the typhoon center in the horizontal plane of 20 km.This is consistent with the phenomenon of stratospheric TC-GWs with ～1000 km horizontal scale disclosed by the previous observational analysis results.     

电离层人工调制在水平分层电离层中所激发的ELF波辐射

通过大功率ELF/VLF调幅高频波能有效地扰动低电离层,形成等效的ELF/VLF电离层虚拟天线,用来辐射ELF/VLF波,所辐射出的低频信号可以进入中性大气层形成地球-电离层波导.本文基于调制加热模型,采用全波有限元算法计算由人工调制电离层所形成的电偶极矩所辐射出的ELF波在水平分层电离层中的波场,计算结果将与地面观测结果进行比较.模拟结果表明,所辐射出的ELF波在电离层中形成一个窄的准直波束,海面所能接收到的ELF信号强度为pT量级,并且频率越低,海面所接收到的场强就越小,与HAARP实验数据一致.结果还表明,低纬电离层对低频信号的传播衰减较大,并且所能透射出电离层的角度小,因此高纬地区更适合地球-电离层波导的激发.     

Single-station estimates of the seismic moment of the 1960 Chilean and 1964 Alaskan earthquakes,using the mantle magnitudeM m

Measurements are taken of the mantle magnitudeM _m , developed and introduced in previous papers, in the case of the 1960 Chilean and 1964 Alaskan earthquakes, by far the largest events ever recorded instrumentally. We show that theM _m algorithm recovers the seismic moment of these gigantic earthquakes with an accuracy (typically 0.2 to 0.3 units of magnitude, or a factor of 1.5 to 2 on the seismic moment) comparable to that achieved on modern, digital, datasets. In particular, this study proves that the mantle magnitudeM _m does not saturate for large events, as do standard magnitude scales, but rather keeps growing with seismic moment, even for the very largest earthquakes. We further prove that the algorithm can be applied in unfavorable experimental conditions, such as instruments with poor response at mantle periods, seismograms clipped due to limited recording dynamics, or even on microbarograph records of air coupled Rayleigh waves.In addition, we show that it is feasible to use acoustic-gravity air waves generated by those very largest earthquakes, to obtain an estimate of the seismic moment of the event along the general philosophy of the magnitude concept: a single-station measurement ignoring the details of the earthquake's focal mechanism and exact depth.     

Yearly variations in the low-latitude topside ionosphere

Observations made by the Hinotori satellite have been analysed to determine the yearly variations of the electron density and electron temperature in the low-latitude topside ionosphere. The observations reveal the existence of an equinoctial asymmetry in the topside electron density at low latitudes, i.e. the density is higher at one equinox than at the other. The asymmetry is hemisphere-dependent with the higher electron density occurring at the March equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and at the September equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The asymmetry becomes stronger with increasing latitude in both hemispheres. The behaviour of the asymmetry has no significant longitudinal and magnetic activity variations. A mechanism for the equinoctial asymmetry has been investigated using CTIP (coupled thermosphere ionosphere plasmasphere model). The model results reproduce the observed equinoctial asymmetry and suggest that the asymmetry is caused by the north-south imbalance of the thermosphere and ionosphere at the equinoxes due to the slow response of the thermosphere arising from the effects of the global thermospheric circulation. The observations also show that the relationship between the electron density and electron temperature is different for daytime and nighttime. During daytime the yearly variation of the electron temperature has negative correlation with the electron density, except at magnetic latitudes lower than 10°. At night, the correlation is positive.     

Features of the ionosphere behavior before the Kythira 2006 earthquake

In this paper we present specific features of TEC (total electron content of the ionosphere) behavior as possible precursors of Kythira (Southern Greece) earthquake of January 8, 2006 (M6.8). For this purpose, we used both the TEC data of GPS-IGS stations nearest to the epicenter, and TEC maps over Europe. The favorable circumstance for this analysis was the quiet geomagnetic situation during the period prior to the earthquake. One day before the earthquake, a characteristic anomaly was found out as the day-time significant increase of TEC at the nearest stations, up to the value of 50% relative to the background condition. To estimate the spatial dimensions of seismo-ionospheric anomaly, the differential mapping method was used. The ionosphere modification as a cloud-like increase of electron concentration situated in the immediate vicinity of the forthcoming earthquake epicenter has been revealed. The amplitude of modification reached the value of 50% relative to the non-disturbed condition and was in existence from 10:00 till 22:00 UT. The area of significant TEC enhancement had a size of about 4000 km in longitude and 1500 km in latitude.     

The use of GPS arrays in detecting shock-acoustic waves generated during rocket launchings

This paper is concerned with the parameters of shock-acoustic waves (SAW) generated during rocket launchings. We have developed the interferometric method for determining SAW parameters (including angular characteristics of the wave vector, and the SAW phase velocity, as well as the direction towards the source) using GPS-arrays. Contrary to the conventional radio-probing techniques, the proposed method provides an estimate of SAW parameters without a priori information about the site and time of a rocket launching. The application of the method is illustrated by a case study of ionospheric effects from launchings of rockets PROTON, SOYUZ and SPACE SHUTTLE from Baikonur and Kennedy Space Center cosmodromes in 1998–2000. In spite of a difference of rocket characteristics, the ionospheric response for all launchings had the character of an N-wave corresponding to the form of a shock wave. The SAW period T is 270–360 s, and the amplitude exceeds the standard deviation of total electron content background fluctuations in this range of periods under quiet and moderate geomagnetic conditions by factors of 2–5 as a minimum. The angle of elevation of the SAW wave vector varies from 30° to 60°, and the SAW phase velocity (900–1200 m/s) approaches the sound velocity at heights of the ionospheric F-region maximum. The position of the SAW source, inferred by neglecting refraction corrections, corresponds to the segment of the rockets path at a distance no less than 200–900 km from the launch pad, and to the rocket flying altitude no less than 100 km. Our data are consistent with the existing view that SAW are generated during a nearly horizontal flight of the rocket with its engine in operation in the acceleration segment of the path at 100–130 km altitudes in the lower atmosphere.     

Solar Activity Effects on Gravity Wave Activity Inferred from Radio Wave Absorption in the Lower Ionosphere

The low frequency (LF) nighttime radio-wave absorption in the lower ionosphere has been measured at Prhonice (50°N, 15°E) in central Europe for over 35 years. Digital measurements, performed since summer 1988, allow absorption oscillations in the period range 10 – 180 mins, which are believed to reflect gravity wave activity, to be derived. Unfortunately, problems with the transmitter in recent years terminated the evaluation of gravity wave activity. The analysis of the available information (6 years of data) allows two conclusions to be drawn as to the effects of the solar activity on gravity wave activity: (1) there is no detectable effect of the solar 27-day variation on gravity wave activity; (2) there is an indication that the positive effect of the 11-year solar cycle on gravity wave activity in the winter half of the year is remarkable (lack of data in summer). The result concerning the solar cycle effect is, to a certain extent, preliminary, because the available data do not cover a complete solar cycle. A comparison with results from other stations and an interpretation of results are presented.