Meridional equatorial electrojet current in the American sector

Huancayo is the only equatorial electrojet station where the daytime increase of horizontal geomagnetic field (H) is associated with a simultaneous increase of eastward geomagnetic field (Y). It is shown that during the counter electrojet period when H is negative, Y also becomes negative. Thus, the diurnal variation of Y at equatorial latitudes is suggested to be a constituent part of the equatorial electrojet current system. Solar flares are known to increase the H field at an equatorial station during normal electrojet conditions (nej). At Huancayo, situated north of the magnetic equator, the solar flare effect, during nej, consists of positive impulses in H and Y and negative impulse in Z field. During counter electrojet periods (cej), a solar flare produces a negative impulse in H and Y and a positive impulse in Z at Huancayo. It is concluded that both the zonal and meridional components of the equatorial electrojet in American longitudes, as in Indian longitudes, flows in the same, E region of the ionosphere.     

A slow mode wave as a possible source of Pi 2 and associated particle precipitation: a case study

An intensification of auroral luminosity referred to as an auroral break-up often accompanies the onset of geomagnetic pulsation (Pi 2) at the dip-equator. One such auroral break-up occurred at 2239 UT on 16 June, 1986, being accompanied by weak substorm activity (AE≈50 nT) which was recorded in all-sky image of Syowa Station, Antarctica (66.2°S, 71.8°E in geomagnetic coordinates). The associated Pi 2 magnetic pulsation was detected by a fluxgate magnetometer in the afternoon sector at the dip-equator (Huancayo, Peru; 1.44°N, 355.9° in geomagnetic coordinates; 12.1°S, 75.2°W in geographic coordinates; L = 1.00). In spite of the large separation of the two stations in longitude and latitude, the auroral break-up and subsequent luminosity modulation were seen to be correlated with the wave form of the ground Pi 2 pulsation. This occurred in such a way that the luminosity maximum was seen to occur at the phase of maximum amplitudes of Pi 2 wave form. We argue that the observed correlation could be interpreted as indicating a Pi 2-modulation of a field-aligned acceleration of the low energy electrons that may occur near the equator of the midnight magnetosphere.     

Equatorial ionospheric response to isolated auroral substorms over a solar cycle (1980-85): evidence of longitudinal anomaly

The equatorial ionospheric response to 228 isolated, rapid-onset auroral substorms (as defined from the auroral electrojet index AE) was found from enhancements of the virtual (minimum) height of the F-region (h′F) in the declining phase of a solar cycle (1980-85). The responses, found for three longitudinal sectors at the equator: Africa (Ouagadougou and Dakar), Asia (Manila) and America (Huancayo), were compared with the response close to the auroral source region at Yakutsk (northern Siberia). The auroral substorm onsets were centered at 17 and 15 UT at sunspot maximum (1980-82) and minimum (1983-85), preceding by 3–5 h the period of post-sunset height rise in the African sector whereas other sectors were in the early afternoon (Huancayo) and morning (Manila). The African response, particularly at Ouagadougou, was distinctly different from other sectors. In the sunspot maximum years (1980-81) the auroral surges were followed after about 3 h by a sharp depression (h′F<0) in the post-sunset height rise, with a period of little or no response (h′F=0) in 1982. A response polarity reversal (h′F>0) was noted in this sector for sunspot minimum (1983-85) when large h′F enhancements were observed at the sunset region. The responses in the Asian and American sector were positive except for a case in Huancayo when response was negative, following an auroral surge before the sunset at this station. It appears that the aurorally generated large-scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs), which first cause positive height enhancements in a sub-auroral location (Yakutsk), subsequently affect the unstable post-sunset ionosphere in the equatorial Africa.     

The normality of geomagnetic disturbance at Huancayo

Summary Evidence is adduced indicating that geomagnetic disturbance at Huancayo isnormal, that is, comparable with that shown elsewhere in similar latitudes —as contrasted with the remarkable Huancayoabnormality, in the horizontal magnetic force, of the quiet-day solar and lunar daily variations, and in theS _q augmentation (solar flare effect). the normality of magnetic disturbance at Huancayo is manifested by the disturbance daily variationS _D, and by the storm-effectD _st and its associated changes of daily mean (D _m) and the non-cyclic variation; it is not stated whether or not the irregular part,D _i, is normal. The normality ofD _st seems natural according to theChapman-Ferraro theory of magnetic storms, but the normality ofS _D is less easy to explain.Prof.Sydney Chapman, Research Associate, California Institute of Technology, under Signal Corps Project No. 24-172 B; on leave (from April 1950 to March 1951) from Oxford University, Queen's College,Oxford, England.     

The summertime 12-h wind oscillation with zonal wavenumber s = 1 in the lower thermosphere over the South Pole

Meteor radar measurements of winds near 95 km in four azimuth directions from the geographic South Pole are analyzed to reveal characteristics of the 12-h oscillation with zonal wavenumber one (s = 1). The wind measurements are confined to the periods from 19 January 1995 through 26 January 1996 and from 21 November 1996 through 27 January 1997. The 12-h s = 1 oscillation is found to be a predominantly summertime phenomenon, and is replaced in winter by a spectrum of oscillations with periods between 6 and 11.5 h. Both summers are characterized by minimum amplitudes (5–10 ms^–1) during early January and maxima (15–20 ms^–1) in November and late January. For 10-day means of the 12-h oscillation, smooth evolutions of phase of order 4–6 h occur during the course of the summer. In addition, there is considerable day-to-day variability (±5–10 ms^–1 in amplitude) with distinct periods (i.e., 5 days and 8 days) which suggests modulation by planetary-scale disturbances. A comparison of climatological data from Scott Base, Molodezhnaya, and Mawson stations suggests that the 12-h oscillation near 78°S is s = 1, but that at 68°S there is probably a mixture between s = 1 and other zonal wavenumber oscillations (most probably s = 2). The mechanism responsible for the existence of the 12-h s = 1 oscillation has not yet been identified. Possible origins discussed herein include in situ excitation, nonlinear interaction between the migrating semidiurnal tide and a stationary s = 1 feature, and thermal excitation in the troposphere.     

Pseudo relative velocity spectra of earthquake ground motion at high frequencies

The currently available empirical scaling laws for estimation of spectral amplitudes are limited to periods longer than 0–04 s. However, for design of equipment and stiff structures on multiple and distant supports, exposed to strong shaking near faults where peak accelerations can exceed 1g, specification of design ground motions at higher frequencies is required. This paper presents a method for extrapolation of pseudo-relative velocity spectral amplitudes of strong earthquake shaking to short periods (0–01 < T < 0–04 sec). The extrapolated spectra can be used as a physical basis for defining design spectral amplitudes in this higher-frequency range. The analysis in this paper implies that for typical strong motion accelerations, particularly on sedimentary sites in California, the peak ground accelerations are projected to be unaffected by frequencies higher than those recorded. Consequently, in California, the high-frequency pseudo-acceleration spectra can be approximated from the recorded absolute peak accelerations.     

Fourier amplitude spectra of strong motion acceleration: Extension to high and low frequencies

It is shown how the empirical equations for scaling the Fourier amplitude spectra in the frequency band from ～0.1 to 25 Hz can be extended to describe the strong motion amplitudes in a much broader frequency range. At long periods, the proposed equations are in excellent agreement with (1) the seismological and field estimates of permanent ground displacement (near field) and (2) the independent estimates of seismic moment (far field). At high frequencies, f ≥ 25 Hz, the spectral amplitudes can be described by exp (? πkf), where k ranges from 0·02 (near source) to about 0·06 at an epicentral distance of about 200 km. It is also shown how amplification by local soil and geological site conditions can be defined to apply in the same broad frequency range.     

An initial response of magnetic fields at geosynchronous orbit to Pi 2 onset as observed from the dip-equator

Fluxgate magnetometer data recorded at the dip-equator (Huancayo, Peru; 1.44°N, 355.9° in geomagnetic coordinates; 12.1°S, 75.2°W in geographic coordinates; L = 1.00) with higher accuracy of timing (0.1 s) and amplitude resolution (0.01 nT) were utilized to survey an onset of Pi 2 pulsations in the midnight sector (2100–0100 LT) during PROMIS (Polar Region and Outer Magnetosphere International Study) periods (1 March–20 June, 1986). It is found that changing field line magnitude and vector as observed by magnetometer on board the synchronous satellites in the midnight sector often takes place simultaneously with the onset of Pi 2 pulsations at the dip-equator. The field disturbances that follow thereafter tend to last for some time both at the geosynchronous altitudes and the dip-equator. In this report, we examine the initial response of the field lines in space, and attempt to classify how the field line vector changed in the meridional plane.     

Studie über Höhenschwankungen der F2-Schicht: II

Zusammenfassung Die scheinbaren Minimalhöhen der F2-Schicht (h F2) zeigen eine charakteristische Abhängigkeit von der jeweiligen Sonnentätigkeit mit einer Doppelperiode innerhalb eines Sonnenfleckenzyklus. Nur für die peruanische Station Huancayo ergeben die statistischen Berechnungen eine einfache Periode mit grossen Höhen für die untere Grenze der F2-Schicht zur Zeit geringer Sonnentätigkeit und mit einer tiefliegenden unteren Begrenzung zum Sonnenfleckenmaximum.

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The virtual heights of the ionospheric F2-layer depends on the solar activity characteristically with a double-period for one sunspots-cycle. Only at the Peruvian station Huancayo appears a single period with great heights at small solar activity and with deep-seated boundary of F2-layer at strong solar activity. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A2919023 00002

     

The 16-day planetary wave in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

A meteor radar located at Sheffield in the UK has been used to measure wind oscillations with periods in the range 10–28 days in the mesosphere/lower-thermosphere region at 53.5°N, 3.9°W from January 1990 to August 1994. The data reveal a motion field in which wave activity occurs over a range of frequencies and in episodes generally lasting for less than two months. A seasonal cycle is apparent in which the largest observed amplitudes are as high as 14 ms⁻¹ and are observed from January to mid-April. A minimum in activity occurs in late June to early July. A second, smaller, maximum follows in late summer/autumn where amplitudes reach up to 7–10 ms⁻¹. Considerable interannual variability is apparent but wave activity is observed in the summers of all the years examined, albeit at very small amplitudes near mid summer. This behaviour suggests that the equatorial winds in the mesopause region do not completely prevent inter-hemispheric ducting of the wave from the winter hemisphere, or that it is generated in situ.     

The use of 137Cs as a tracer in an erosion study in south limburg (the Netherlands) and the influence of chernobyl fallout

The ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity of soils was used as a tracer of soil erosion in a catchment in the Netherlands: 143 samples were analysed to map the ¹³⁷Cs redistribution using geostatistical interpolation methods. Caesium-137 activities on grassland are significantly higher than on arable land. Also, ¹³⁷Cs activities on waning slopes are higher and activities on steep slopes are lower. The soil erosion estimates, derived from the ¹³⁷Cs data, are used to validate the USLE erosion model. The recent Chernobyl nuclear accident also contributed to the ¹³⁷Cs activity. However, the Chernobyl input of ¹³⁷Cs, with a constant ratio of 1.765:1 to ¹³⁴Cs, cannot be used as a tracer of soil erosion. Because of the rapid decay of ¹³⁴Cs, we will not be possible to separate the sources of ¹³⁷Cs in the near future in areas significantly influenced by Chernobyl fallout and in these areas ¹³⁷Cs can no longer be used as a soil erosion tracer.     

高原地区路基地震液化数值模拟研究

在青海玉树地震之后,有大量路基出现由于液化而导致的病害问题。以青海S308线结古—曲麻莱段公路路基变形为例,通过FLAC3D数值模拟软件还原该路基在地震中的变形破坏过程,得出如下结论:(1)无地下水情况下,边坡出现明显塑性屈服的振动强度是0.6g,塑性屈服首先发生在填土厚度较薄的路基两端。(2)若砂土完全饱水,随振幅的增加,饱和砂土层液化趋势逐渐增强。振幅小于0.3g时砂土层没有液化。振幅为0.4g时5s以后砂土层出现液化;振幅大于0.5g以后,从振动的开始就出现了液化。(3)下伏饱和砂土的路基动力破坏机理为:饱和砂土层近地表处屈服屈服区在饱和砂土层中向中部扩展饱和砂土层屈服贯通饱和砂土层完全屈服填土后部首先破坏填土破坏区在填土-砂土界面向下扩展填土后部地表屈服开裂破坏区在填土内扩展。至最终破坏时,填土中后部大范围开裂屈服,但填土前部依然保持完整。     

Radiocesium reaction with illite and organic matter in marine sediment

The mineralogical effect on the (137)Cs reaction with marine sediment has not been systematically studied yet, even though illite has been known to adsorb Cs preferentially on its frayed edge sites in a low Cs concentration. Ninety-three marine sediment samples were collected near Yangnam, Korea for quantitative X-ray-diffraction (XRD), gamma-ray, and total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. Illite content was in the range of 0-23 wt.% and those of (137)Cs and TOC were minimum detectable activity (MDA) approximately 7.19 Bq/kg-dry and approximately 3.32%, respectively. The illite content in the marine sediment showed a good relationship with the (137)Cs content (R(2)=0.69), but with an increase in the illite content, the relationship became less linear. This trend can be clearly shown in two groups of samples with different size fractions (< and >5Mdvarphi). For the samples of larger particle sizes (low contents of illite), the relationship is linear, but for the samples of the smaller particle sizes (high illite content) it is less linear with a decreased slope, indicating that increase in illite content does not significantly contribute to the fixation of (137)Cs in marine sediment. Rather, the TOC has a more linear relationship with (137)Cs content with no slope change in all particle size ranges. This may indicate that humic materials in marine sediment block the access of (137)Cs to the frayed edge site and reduces the adsorption of (137)Cs on illite and that the organic materials in marine sediment play more important roles in adsorbing Cs than illite.     

Borehole-guided AVO analysis of P-P and P-S reflections: Quantifying uncertainty on density estimates

Seismic properties of isotropic elastic formations are characterized by the three parameters: acoustic impedance, Poisson's ratio and density. Whilst the first two are usually well estimated by analysing the amplitude variation with angle (AVA) of reflected P‐P waves, density is known to be poorly resolved. However, density estimates would be useful in many situations encountered in oil and gas exploration, in particular, for minimizing risks in looking ahead while drilling. We design a borehole seismic experiment to investigate the reliability of AVA extracted density. Receivers are located downhole near the targeted reflectors and record reflected P‐P and converted P‐S waves. A non‐linear, wide‐angle‐based Bayesian inversion is then used to access the a posteriori probability distributions associated with the estimation of the three isotropic elastic parameters. The analysis of these distributions suggests that the angular variation of reflected P‐S amplitudes provides additional substantial information for estimating density, thus reducing the estimate uncertainty variance by more than one order of magnitude, compared to using only reflected P‐waves.     

Extension of Antarctic ozone hole to lower latitudes in the South-American region

A comparison of monthly mean values of total ozone at South Pole, Buenos Aires (Argentina), Cachoeira Paulista and Natal (Brazil), and Huancayo (Peru) revealed that whereas South Pole showed an ozone depletion of 45% in October 1987 (as compared to October, 1977), Buenos Aires showed a small decrease (10%) while the other locations showed very small decreases (1–2%). When daily values are considered, the Antarctic ozone hole of October 1987 seems to have caused 10% depletion at Buenos Aires and 5% at Natal and Huancayo in December 1987. However, a large part of this is normal seasonal variation, except at Huancayo, where a residual effect of 5% depletion in December 1987 remains. The QBO effects (5–8% changes in the ozone level in 2–3 years) could cause 10–15% fluctuations in solar UVB on the ground on clear-sky days and could be a possible health hazard unless factors like cloudiness reduce the UVB intensities.     

Quasi-biennial oscillation in ozone and temperature over tropics

Spatiotemporal variations of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) in temperature and ozone over the tropical–subtropical belts (40°N–40°S) have been studied using Microwave Limb Sounder data for the period 1992–1999. Wavelet analysis has been performed to study inter-annual variations in amplitude and phases of the QBO. Latitude-height cross-sections of the amplitudes of temperature and ozone QBO exhibit a double-peak structure near the equator. Phase structure reveals that the temperature QBO descended faster than the ozone QBO. Cross-wavelet analysis shows an anti-phase relation between the amplitudes of the temperature and ozone QBO in the upper stratospheric region, whereas in-phase relation exists in the middle stratospheric region.     

Erosion processes and landform evolution on agricultural land — new perspectives from caesium-137 measurements and topographic-based erosion modelling

Despite growing interest in soil erosion on agricultural land, relatively little attention has been paid to the influence of erosion processes on the pattern of contemporary landform evolution. This in part reflects the problems associated with up-scaling the results of short-term process studies to temporal and spatial scales relevant to the study of landform evolution. This paper presents a new approach to examining the influence of erosion processes on landform evolution on agricultural land which employs: caesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) measurements to provide medium-term (c. 40 years) estimates of rates of landform change; experimental data and a topographic-based model to simulate soil redistribution by tillage; a mass-balance model of ¹³⁷Cs redistribution to separate the water erosion and tillage components of the ¹³⁷Cs ‘signatures’; and field observations of water erosion for validation. This approach is used to examine the relative importance of water erosion and tillage processes for contemporary landform evolution at contrasting sites near Leuven, in Belgium, and near Yanan, in Shaanxi Province, China. This application of the approach provides good agreement between the derived water erosion rates and field observations, and hitherto unobtainable insights into medium-term patterns and rates of contemporary landform evolution. At Huldenberg in Belgium, despite rill incision of slope concavities and ephemeral gully incision of the valley floor, contemporary landform evolution is dominated by infilling of slope and valley concavities (rates >0.5 mm a⁻¹) and gradual lowering of slope angles as a result of tillage. In contrast, at Ansai (near Yanan) the slope is characterized by increase in slope angle over most of the length, recession of the steepest section at a rate >5 mm a⁻¹ and by increasing planform curvature. At this site, contemporary landform evolution is dominated by water erosion. The constraints on the approach are examined, with particular attention being given to limitations on extrapolation of the results and to the sensitivity of the models to parameter variation. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Disturbed vertical E×B plasma drifts in the equatorial F2 region at solar minimum deduced from observed NmF2 and hmF2 variations

Ground-based ionosonde and magnetic-field observations on the equatorial station Huancayo, ESRO4 neutral-composition measurements, and theoretical model calculations were used to analyze disturbed E×B vertical plasma drift during the phase of solar minimum in 1973. Vertical drifts calculated for disturbed days do not show the systematic decrease often mentioned in publications, and demonstrate strong dependence on IMF-B_z changes. It is confirmed with the help of our drift calculations that B_z turnings to a northward direction result in a decrease (up to reversal) of normal Sq (eastward during daytime and westward at nighttime) in the zonal component of electric field. Southward B_z excursions enhance normal E_y both in daytime and nighttime hours. Model predictions of E_y’s reaction to IMF-B_z changes are discussed.     

Time-space evolution characteristics of abrupt variation of wave velocity ratio in the seismogenic process of recent strong earthquakes in Yunnan area

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重庆武隆M5.0地震前地磁异常特征分析

选取恩施台、涪陵江东台、石柱黄水台以及武隆仙女山台2012年1月至2017年11月地磁数据进行异常分析,得到各个台站的地磁谐波振幅比和加卸载响应比计算结果,并结合2017年11月23日重庆武隆M5.0地震震中附近地质构造背景分析地震前后地磁异常现象。分析结果认为大部分地磁谐波振幅比变化特征类似于地电阻率的变化特征,表现为"下降-转折-上升"过程。本次地震大致发生在转折上升的初期阶段,其中震中距较小的台站地磁谐波振幅比变化趋势不同步,但变化幅度大致相同,而震中距较大的台站地磁谐波振幅比变化趋势较为同步,变化幅度较大。此外,研究还表明震前地磁加卸载响应比异常高值在时空分布上与震中位置具有很好的对应关系。