Ionospheric effects near the magnetic equator and the anomaly crest of the Indian longitude zone during a large number of intense geomagnetic storms

Ionospheric effects of a large number (51) of severe geomagnetic storms are studied using total electron content (TEC) and VHF/UHF scintillation data from Calcutta, situated near the northern crest of equatorial ionization anomaly and equatorial spread-F (ESF) data from Kodaikanal. The susceptibility of the equatorial ionosphere to develop storm time plasma density irregularities responsible for ESF and scintillation is found to be largely modulated by the local times of occurrences of main and recovery phases as seen in the D_st index. While inhibition of premidnight scintillation for lower TEC values compared to the quiet day averages is omnipresent, occurrence of scintillation for enhancements of TEC is largely dependent on initiation time and amplitude of the said deviations. An overall reduction in threshold values of h′F for observing storm induced ESF and scintillation compared to reported quiet time values is noted. The results are discussed in terms of storm time variabilities in electric fields, neutral wind system and composition changes.     

Latitudinal dependence of the seasonal variation of particulate extinction in the UTLS over the Indian longitude sector during volcanically quiescent period based on lidar and SAGE-II observations

The altitude profiles of particulate extinction in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) obtained from SAGE-II in the latitude region 0–30°N over the Indian longitude sector (70–90°E) are used to study the latitudinal variation of its annual pattern in this region during the volcanically quiescent period of 1998–2003. The SAGE-II data is compared with the lidar measurements from Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) when the satellite had an overhead occultation pass over a small geographical grid centered at this location. The particulate optical depth (τ_p) in the UT region shows a general decrease with increase in latitude and a pronounced summer–winter contrast with relatively low values during winter and high values during summer. In general, these variations are in accordance with the latitudinal variation of convective available potential energy (CAPE) and thunderstorm activity, which are good representative indices of tropospheric convection. While the particulate extinction (and τ_p) in the 18–21 km (LS₁) region is relatively low in the equatorial region up to 15°N, it shows an increase in the off-equatorial region, beyond 15°N. While the annual variation of τ_p in the LS₁ region is almost insignificant near the equator, it is rather well pronounced in latitude region between 10 and 15°N with relatively high values during winter and low values during summer. Beyond 20°N, this shows a prominent peak during summer. At a higher altitude, the 21–30 km (LS₂) region, the latitude variation of τ_p shows a different pattern with high values near the equator and low values in the off-equatorial region confirming the existence of a stratospheric aerosol reservoir. Low values of τ_p at lower regime (LS₁) near the equator could be due to rapid transport of particulates from the near equatorial region to higher latitudes, while the equatorial high at upper regime (LS₂) could be due to lofting and subsequent accumulation.     

FeO and H2O and the homogeneous accretion of the earth

We present new shock devolatilization recovery data for brucite (Mg(OH)₂) shocked to 13 and 23 GPa. These data combined with previous data for serpentine (Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄) are used to constrain the minimum size terrestrial planet for which planetesimal infall will result in an impact-generated water atmosphere. Assuming a chondritic abundance of minerals including 3–6%, by mass water, in hydrous phyllosilicates, we carried out model calculations simulating the interaction of metallic iron with impact-released free water on the surface of the accreting Earth. We assume that the reaction of water with iron in the presence of enstatite is the prime source of the terrestrial FeO component of silicates and oxides. Lower and upper bounds on the terrestrial FeO budget are based on mantle FeO content and possible incorporation of FeO in the outer core. We demonstrate that the iron-water reaction would result in the absence of atmospheric/hydrospheric water, if homogeneous accretion is assumed. In order to obtain10²⁵g of atmospheric water by the end of accretion, slightly heterogeneous accretion with initially 36% by mass iron planetesimals, as compared to a homogeneous value of 34% is required. Such models yield final FeO budgets, which either require a higher FeO content of the mantle (17 wt.%) or oxygen as a light element in the outer core of the Earth.     

Comparison of the plasma pressure distributions over the equatorial plane and at low altitudes under magnetically quiet conditions

The distribution of plasma pressure over the equatorial plane is compared with the plasma pressure and the position of the electron precipitation boundaries at low altitudes under the conditions of low geomagnetic activity. The pressure at the equatorial plane is determined using data of the THEMIS international five-satellite mission; the pressure at low altitudes, using data of the DMSP satellites. Plasma pressure isotropy and the validity of the condition of the magnetostatic equilibrium at a low level of geomagnetic activity are taken into account. Plasma pressure in such a case is constant along the magnetic field line and can be considered a “natural tracer” of the field line. It is shown that the plasma ring surrounding the Earth at geocentric distances of ～6 to ～10–12R _E is the main source of the precipitations in the auroral oval.     

The features and a possible mechanism of semiannual variation in the peak electron density of the low latitude F2 layer

Ionospheric data observed in 30 stations located in 3 longitude sectors (East Asia/Australia Sector, Europe/Africa Sector and America/East Pacific Ocean Sector) during 1974–1986 are used to analyse the characteristics of semiannual variation in the peak electron density of F2 layer (NmF2). The results indicate that the semiannual variation of NmF2 mainly presents in daytime. In nighttime, except in the region of geomagnetic equator between the two crests of ionospheric equatorial anomaly, NmF2 has no obvious semiannual variation. In the high latitude region, only in solar maxima years and in daytime, there are obvious semiannual variations of NmF2. The amplitude distribution of the semiannual variation of daytime NmF2 with latitude has a “double-humped structure”, which is very similar to the ionospheric equatorial anomaly. There is asymmetry between the Southern and the Northern Hemispheres of the profile of the amplitude of semiannual variation of NmF2 and longitudinal difference. A new possible mechanism of semiannual variation of NmF2 is put forward in this paper. The semiannual variation of the diurnal tide in the lower thermosphere induces the semiannual variation of the amplitude of the equatorial electrojet. This causes the semiannual variation of the amplitude of ionospheric equatorial anomaly through fountain effect. This process induces the semiannual variation of the low latitude NmF2.     

Equatorial ionization anomaly and thermospheric meridional winds during two major storms over Brazilian low latitudes

The equatorial ionosphere responses over Brazil to two intense magnetic storms that occurred during 2001 are investigated. The equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and variations in the zonal electric field and meridional winds at different storms phases are studied using data collected by digisondes and GPS receivers. The difference between the F layer peak density (foF2) at an equatorial and a low latitude sites was used to quantify the EIA; while the difference between the true heights (h_F) at the equatorial and an off-equatorial site was used to calculate the magnetic meridional winds. The vertical drift was calculated as dh_F/dt. The results show prompt penetration electric fields causing unusual early morning development of the EIA, and disturbed dynamo electric field producing significant modification in the F region parameters. Variations to different degrees in the vertical drift, the thermospheric meridional winds and the EIA developments were observed depending on the storm phases.     

Waveguide radio-wave propagation in the equatorial ionosphere according to the Interkosmos-19 data

Additional strongly remote (up to 2000 km) radio-signal reflection traces on Intercosmos-19 ionograms obtained in the equatorial ionosphere have been considered. These traces, as a rule, begin at frequencies slightly lower than the main trace cutoff frequencies, which indicates that an irregularity with a decreased plasma density exists here. The waveguide stretched along the magnetic-field line is such an inhomogeneity in the equatorial ionosphere. The ray tracing confirm that radio waves propagate in a waveguide and make it possible to determine the typical waveguide parameters: ?δN _e ≥ 10%, with a diameter of 15–20 km. Since the waveguide walls are smooth, an additional trace is always recorded distinctly even in the case in which main traces were completely eroded by strong diffusivity. Only one additional trace (of the radio signal X mode) is usually observed one more multiple trace is rarely recorded. Waveguides can be observed at all altitudes of the equatorial ionosphere at geomagnetic latitudes of ±40°. The formation of waveguides is usually related to the formation of different-scale irregularities in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere, which result in the appearance of other additional traces and spread F.     

Position of projections of the nightside auroral oval equatorward and poleward edges in the magnetosphere equatorial plane

The position of the auroral oval poleward and equatorward boundary projections on the equatorial plane in the nightside MLT sector during magnetically quiet periods (|AL| < 200 nT, |Dst| < 10 nT) has been determined. The oval boundary positions were determined according to the precipitation model developed at Polar Geophysical Institute (http://apm.pgia.ru/). The isotropy of the averaged plasma pressure and the experimentally confirmed balance of pressures during the nighttime have been taken into account. The morphological mapping method has been used to map the oval poleward and equatorward edges without the use of any magnetic field model on the assumption that the condition of magnetostatic equilibrium is valid. Ion pressures at ionospheric altitudes and in the equatorial plane have been compared. It has been shown that the auroral oval equatorward boundary in the midnight sector is localized at geocentric distances of ~7 R_E, which is in good agreement with the position of the energetic particle injection boundary in the equatorial plane. The oval poleward edge is localized at the ~10 R_E geocentric distance, which is in good agreement with the position of the equatorward boundary of the region with a high turbulence level in the Earth’s magnetosphere plasma sheet.     

The delayed occurrence of equatorial ionospheric F2 layer post-sunset height decreases following auroral-zone substorm onsets

Nighttime F₂ layer height decreases have been examined for post-sunset intervals at the equatorial station, Huancayo. The analyses involved mainly R_z max years, (1957–1960), although R_z min years (1974–1977) were also used. The data were obtained from tabulations of the ionogram parameters h'F, f_○F₂ and f_○E_s. The height reductions are delayed by more than 7 h following geomagnetic substorm onsets for locations at longitudes to the east. The reduced occurrence of spread-F and f_○E_s enhancements is found to be associated. These enhancements are also recorded at the European station, Dourbes about 4.5 h before the Huancayo enhancements. It is proposed that an LS-TID which propagates in the 80 km sound channel may be involved. Also, the experimental evidence suggests that the westward propagation of the LS-TIDs allows equatorial disturbances to occur at local times (before midnight) which are similar to the times when the LS-TIDs are generated.     

Elimination of fine suspensoids in the oceanic water column

Fine suspended materials in the particle-size range1 < r < 6 μm (r, equivalent sphere radius) from the equatorial North Atlantic, between the ocean surface and greater depths (30–5100 m), can be consistently described by a size-distribution relationshipdN/dr = Ar^?b, where the parametersA andb are independent ofr. The shape of the particle-size distribution is essentially constant and independent of depth, as reflected in the values of the logarithmic slope of the size distributionb = 4.0 ± 0.3. The particle-number and mass concentration, however, decrease strongly with depth, most of the decrease taking place in the surface layer 200 m deep. In the surface layer, mass concentration decreases exponentially with the half-concentration depthz_1/2 ? 60m; in the deep layer (200–5000 m),z_1/2 ? 1000m. The computed removal half-lives of the particulate material are0.8 ± 0.6yr in the surface layer, and60 ± 20yr in the deep layer, both half-lives being considerably shorter than Stokes settling residence times. The fast turnover or removal rate in the surface layer is compatible with the rates of zooplankton growth and carbon assimilation.     

Research on the diffusion of pore fluid andin-situ hydraulic diffusivity in the epicentral region of Xinfengjiang reservoir earthquakes

According to the fact that the Xinfengjiang reservoir earthquakes are caused mainly by water seepage, this paper using the data ofM _s?2. 0 earthquakes, studies the hydraulic diffusivity of the mainshock zone by the expansion of the distribution area of epicenters. It is indicated thatin-situ hydraulic diffusivity during the preshock activity of the Xinfengjiang reservoir region was about 6. 2 m²/s. However, after the main shock, thein-situ hydraulic diffusivity in the main shock region increased by fifty percent, that is to say, to 9. 7 m²/s. During the long period after main shock occurrence thein-situ hydraulic diffusivity was affected by significant anisotropy of the medium and fluctuation of water level. No regularity can be found. In addition, we compare the diffusivity found by experiment with rock samples collected with thein-situ hydraulic diffusivity estimated. It is shown that the diffusivity of rock samples with fractures is about the same as the diffusivity estimatedin-situ. However, the diffusivity of whole rock samples is 3 orders of magnitudes smaller than that estimatedin-situ. Finally, we discuss the limits on the method by the expansion of distribution area of epicenters in the study of reservoir induced seismicity.     

Long term trends in the frequency of occurrence of the F3 layer over Fortaleza,Brazil

Recent studies using model calculation and ionospheric observations have revealed the existence of an additional layer in the topside equatorial ionosphere, the F₃ layer. The observations using bottomside ionograms from locations close to the magnetic equator in Brazilian region have shown that the occurrence of the layer is very high from December to February (local summer) and from June to August (local winter). In fact, for the year 1995 the occurrence of the F₃ layer is >75% during the months of January, February and December, and it is >65% for the period of June, July and August (Geofisica Int. 39 (2000) 57). In this work, we use 25 years of data for the months of January and August to investigate how the layer occurrence varies with the magnetic dip angle and solar activity.     

Equatorial temperature and wind anomaly (ETWA)—a review

We review the observational evidence for describing the characteristics of the equatorial temperature and zonal wind anomaly (ETWA) in the low-latitude thermosphere in solar maximum and minimum periods. In spite of some new results on ETWA in the last decade, including its discovery, there is no satisfactory explanation in our understanding of the phenomenon. The two suggested mechanisms for heating at the crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) to form the equatorial temperature anomaly (ETA) are due to (1) the ion-drag on the zonal winds resulting in the transfer of kinetic energy into heat energy and (2) the exothermic chemical reactions involved in the dominant O⁺ion re-combinations. To verify which of the two suggested mechanisms is the most effective in causing ETA, it is necessary to measure simultaneously a few parameters in situ by the satellite-borne instruments. They are (1) the electron density (N_e) and temperature (T_e), (2) the molecular and atomic ion densities (N_ij) and ion temperatures (T_i), (3) the gas temperatures (T) and densities of the gas constituents, (4) the vector winds or at least the zonal (Z) and vertical (V) wind components and (5) the drift velocities of the ionization. These together with the simultaneous ground-based measurements, will resolve identifying not only the dominant mechanism(s) for ETWA, but also the processes responsible for the enigmatic phenomena, such as the equatorial spread-F (ESF), the midnight temperature maximum (MTM) and the possible role of the EIA in their occurrences.     

Physical mechanism and mathematical modeling of earthquake ionospheric precursors registered in total electron content

The physical mechanism by which the regions with increased or decreased total electron content, registered by measuring delays of GPS satellite signals before strong earthquakes, originate in the ionosphere has been proposed. Vertical plasma transfer in the ionospheric F ₂ region under the action of the zonal electric field is the main disturbance formation factor. This field should be eastward, generating the upward component of plasma electromagnetic drift, in the cases of increased total electron content at midlatitudes and deepened minimum of the F ₂ layer equatorial anomaly. Upward plasma drift increases electron density due to a decrease in the O⁺ ion loss rate at midlatitudes and decreases this density above the equator due to an enhancement of the fountain effect (plasma discharge into the equatorial anomaly crests). The pattern of the spatial distribution of the seismogenic electric field potential has been proposed. The eastward electric field can exist in the epicentral region only if positive and negative electric charges are located at the western and eastern boundaries of this region, respectively. The effectiveness of the proposed mechanism was studied by modeling the ionospheric response to the action of the electric field generated by such a charge configuration. The results of the numerical computations indicated that the total electron content before strong earthquakes at middle and low latitudes is in good agreement with the observations.     

Variability of foF2 for an equatorial station and comparison with the foF2 maps in IRI model

In this study, foF2 data obtained from an equatorial station in West Africa were subjected to an occurrence probability distribution test. This was done on an hourly basis, for all the 24 h of the day. The results show that the probability (N_p) of predicting foF2 within the range±of a standard deviation (σ) centered on the mean (μ) is ⩾0.68 is at least about 70% of the hourly set of data considered in this study irrespective of time of the day, season or solar cycle period. The distribution is not, however, perfectly symmetrically distributed around the mean. The seasonal hourly averages of foF2 were compared with those of IRI predictions. The IRI representation was found to be very good at low and moderate solar activity for both day and nighttime when the ITU-R coefficients are used. This is also true of the daytime at high solar activity. The night time prediction is only fairly good when the URSI coefficients are used for the prediction.     

Elasticity of polycrystalline stishovite

Ultrasonic data for the velocities of SiO₂-stishovite have been determined as a function of pressure to 10 kbar at room temperature for polycrystalline specimens hot-pressed at pressures P = 120kbar and temperatures T = 900°C. These cylindrical specimens are 2 mm in diameter and 0.9–1.4 mm long and have a grain size less than 10 μm. Compressional and shear wave velocities were measured both parallel and perpendicular to the axis of pressing and were found to be isotropic at 10 kbar with ν_p = 11.0 ± 0.2km/sec andν_s = 6.9 ± 0.3km/sec; this shear velocit is substantially higher than that of Mizutani et al. (1972) perhaps due to the presence of crack orientations in their specimen which affected ν_s but not ν_p. The Murnaghan P-V trajectories calculated from the ultrasonic data [bulk modulus K_s = 2.5 ± 0.3Mbar and assuming (?K_s/?P)_T = 6 ± 2] are consistent with recent hydrostatic compression data and with the shock wave compression data above 600 kbar. The combined evidence from the data of the ultrasonic and hydrostatic compression techniques suggests that the most probable value of the bulk modulus of stishovite at zero pressure is close to the upper limit of the uncertainty of our ultrasonically determined value, K₀ = 2.7?2.8Mbar. Elasticity data for rutile-type oxides are not compatible with normal K_s-V₀ systematics perhaps due to the neglect of non-central forces in the lattice model. These new stishovite data would make it impossible to satisfy the elasticity-density data of the lower mantle using an oxide mixture with either olivine or pyroxene stoichiometry.     

Daytime efficiency and characteristic time scale of interplanetary electric fields penetration to equatorial latitude ionosphere

We analyze the daytime efficiency of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) penetration to the equatorial ionosphere based on a correlation analysis carried out between different levels of decomposition applied to IEF intensity measured at the ACE spacecraft and ionospheric electric field intensity inferred from ground based magnetometers located in the equatorial region in Brazil. We compare the time variations of those two electric field intensities by means of a scale-by-scale decomposed time series through wavelet multi-resolution analysis. Efficiency is here defined as the fraction of the variation of the IEF intensity that has penetrated into the equatorial region, and it increases with increasing fraction. Two cases of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEF) are analyzed: one occurring on March 31, 2001, and other on April 17, 2002. Our results show that the penetration effect with time scale ranging around 1 h is maximized in relation to other scales.     

An empirical earthquake prediction model

We have monitored seismic activity induced by impoundment of Lake Jocassee in northwest South Carolina for about two years. Low-level shallow activity was recorded. The larger felt events (2.0 ? M_L ? 2.6) were found to be associated with precursory changes in one or more of the following; number of events, t_S/t_p ratio values and radon concentrations in groundwater.The microearthquakes in the precursory period were accurately located in time and space, and their location pattern was used to develop an empirical earthquake prediction model.The precursory period consists of two phases; α-phase or a period of slow (or no) increase in seismicity, and β-phase, a period when the activity increase is more rapid. The main shock was found to be located within a cluster, a “target” area defined by the location of events in the β-phase. There is a general absence of seismic activity in the “target” area in the α-phase. The main shock occurred soon after a period of quiescence in the seismic activity in the β-phase. The magnitude of the shock, M_L is given by: M_L = 2 log D ? 0.07, where D is the duration of the precursory period in days.The model was successfully tested with data for a magnitude 2.3 event on February 23, 1977 which was also accompanied by radon and t_s/t_p anomalies.     

Predicted and measured electron density at 600 km altitude in the South American peak of the equatorial anomaly

Measurements of the electron density at 600 km altitude (N₆₀₀) were obtained with the Hinotori satellite launched by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science of Japan. These measurements were used to check the validity of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model in predicting the electron density at that altitude in the South American peak of the equatorial anomaly. The measurements correspond to the longitude zone from 285 to 369° and −15° geomagnetic latitude. To model the electron density at 600 km altitude, two cases were considered, namely (i) N₆₀₀ was calculated with the IRI model at 10° intervals within the corresponding longitudinal zone and mean values were obtained, and (ii) N₆₀₀ was calculated with the IRI using ionosonde data as input coefficients in the model. The data used for this study were measured almost simultaneously with the total electron content data used in a previous work. The results show good predictions at hours of minimum ionisation for the equinox and the December solstice. For the June solstice, the best agreement was obtained around noon. However, strong disagreements were observed in some cases such as the equinox at 15:00 LT, suggesting that there is a need to improve the modeled topside profile.     

The 2008 Kultuk earthquake with M w = 6.3 in the south of Baikal: Spatial-temporal analysis of seismic activation

The results of investigating the data of stationary and field observations in the epicentral zone of the Kultuk earthquake of August 27, 2008 with M _w = 6.3 localized south of Baikal are presented. The seismic activation amounting to 1790 aftershocks with K _p ?? 4 (M _w ?? 0.9) affected a part of the general fault bounding the southwestern coast of the lake and shallower intrabasin structures. It was established through the cluster analysis that the main shock was located at the periphery of the cloud of the concentrated seismicity component, and three main clusters reflecting a complex character of rupture in the earthquake source were identified in the zone of aftershocks. Owing to a high accuracy of aftershock hypocenters determinations (ERZ ?? 1.2 km), the local character of the seismisity-generating zones was revealed. Based on the method of mapping seismic regime parameters, it was established that zones of reduced fractionality are recognizable in the central part of the source area; in this case, the entire periphery, except for the southeastern direction (where the main shock epicenter is located), is characterized by a high fractionality, which also points to the complex character of the rupture in the source. On the whole, the aftershock sequence under consideration showed the activation of the southwestern flank of the Southern Baikal region, which remained passive for more than one century, and demonstrated destructive features of the Earth??s crust.