The production of ions by splashing in an electric field

Summary Measurements of the concentration of small ions near the ground showed that large numbers of «ions» of sign opposite to that of the potential gradient were produced in rain. A series of laboratory experiments designed to examine the processes involved, showed that the ions were produced by the disintegration of films of water when drops splash, and a determination was made of the dependence of the charge released by individual drops on the parameters involved.The paper will be published elsewhere.     

How does the U-shaped potential close above the acceleration region? A study using Polar data

We present a statistical study of Polar electric field observations using auroral oval passes over Scandinavia above the acceleration region. We are especially interested in seeing whether we can find large perpendicular electric fields associated with an upward extended classical U-shaped potential drop for these passes, during which Polar is in the northern hemisphere usually at about 4 R_E altitude. We also use Polar magnetic field data to infer the existence of a field-aligned current (FAC) and conjugate ground-based magnetometers (the IMAGE magnetometer network) to check whether the event is substorm-related or not. We find several events with a FAC but only weak perpendicular electric fields at Polar. In those rare cases where the Polar electric field was large, its direction was mostly found to be incompatible with the U-shaped potential model, or it was associated with disturbed conditions (substorms), where one cannot easily distinguish between inductive and static perpendicular electric fields. We found only two cases which are compatible with the upward extended U-shaped potential picture, and even in those cases the potential value is quite small (1–kV). To check the validity of the analysis method we also estimate the perpendicular electric field on the southern hemisphere, where Polar flies within or below the acceleration region, and we found a large number of inverted-V-type signatures as expected from previous studies. To explain the lack of perpendicular electric fields at high altitudes we suggest an O-shaped potential model instead of the U-shaped one.     

Electric potential gradient changes during explosive activity at Sakurajima volcano,Japan

We report electric potential gradient measurements carried out at Sakurajima volcano in Japan during: (1) explosions which generated ash plumes, (2) steam explosions which produced plumes of condensing gases, and (3) periods of ashfall and plume-induced acid rainfall. Sequential positive and negative deviations occurred during explosions which generated ash plumes. However, no deflections from background were found during steam explosions. During periods of ashfall negative electric potential gradients were observed, while positive potential gradients occurred during fallout of plume-induced acid rain from the same eruption. These results suggest that a dipole arrangement of charge develops within plumes such that positive charges dominate in the volcanic gas-rich top and negative charges in the following ash-rich part of the plume. The charge polarity may be reversed for other volcanoes (Hatakeyama and Uchikawa 1952). We suggest that charge is generated by fracto-emission (Donaldson et al. 1988) processes probably during magma fragmentation within the vent, rather than by frictional effects within the plume.     

Variations in the natural X-ray background in the polar atmosphere

X-ray intensity variations in the surface layer of the atmosphere during precipitation in Apatity and Spitsbergen were analyzed. Based on a comprehensive system of monitoring over the radiation background, X-ray radiation variations were detected. These variations were found to be associated with meteorological processes in the lower atmosphere. X-ray energy spectra were obtained under good weather and precipitation conditions. These spectra have no characteristic lines inherent to radionuclides. Additional studies make it possible to suggest that the growth in X-ray radiation during precipitation is mainly caused by braking radiation of energetic electrons additionally accelerated by electric fields in rain clouds.     

鲜水河断裂带多断层相互作用的流变断裂力学分析

本文研究了流变介质内多断层的相互影响,通过对鲜水河断裂带的分析,对该断裂带提出一个不共线三断层的断裂力学模型.把介质考虑成流变的,用有限元法结合解析方法求解了流变断裂力学问题的应力、应变及能量场的时空变化.结果表明,多断层的力学场与单一断层的力学场相差甚远,在断层间形成了影响区.在影响区内应力集中,梯度大,分布复杂,应变能在影响区内形成较大范围集中.应变能等值线在孕震期间从影响区向外扩张,能量从外围流向断层区,流动在时空上都是不均匀的,孕育初期增加速率大,后期渐渐平缓.流向影响区的能量比其周围区域大,形成很大梯度.并讨论了地震前兆的某些特征.根据本文的结果,认为在道孚-乾宁-带发生地震的可能性较大.     

Variability of the Earth's Atmospheric Electric Field and Ion-Aerosols Kinetics in the Troposphere

The paper deals with the mechanism of generating a ground potential gradient electric field in regions of seismic activity and its penetration into the ionosphere. The mechanism is based on the electrode effect of charge separation under the action of the natural atmospheric electric field, A large, non-compensated, space charge is formed following a chain of ion-molecular reactions as a result of the anomalous increase of radon and aerosol emanation from the crust. This space charge leads to anomalous variations of the electric field ground level, which is supported by the experimental observations made in the seismo-active regions. In turn the variations of the strong electric field over the large earthquake areas lead to the modification of ionospheric parameters due to penetration of the anomalous electric field into the ionosphere. A theoretical model of these phenomena is proposed in this paper.     

A laboratory investigation of the leaching of solute from snowpack by rainfall

Under controlled laboratory conditions, artificial rain leaches solute from snow columns, and gives rise to leachate with a composition similar to snowmelt, in addition to the solute initially present in the artificial rain. the initial concentration of ions in the leachate, normalized to the concentration of ions found in the original snow and corrected for the solute present in the artificial rain, is similar to those reported in other laboratory and field studies of snowmelt composition, but there is some evidence that the concentration of leached ions declines more rapidly than during snowmelt. Similarly, as in snowmelt studies, not all ions are leached with the same efficiency. Bearing in mind the confounding influences of snow crystal morphology and snow column hydrology, it seems likely that rain will leach solute from snowpack during rain-on-snow events, in a manner similar to leaching by snowmelt, and that the precise composition of the leachate will depend on the hydrological routing of rain-meltwater mixtures through the snowpack.     

Urease-Hemmtest für wirkungsbezogene Untersuchungen der Bindungsformen von Kupfer in Wässern und Bodeneluaten

Urease Inhibition Test for Effect-related Investigations of Copper Speciation in Water and Soil Extracts In 80 different water samples, the inhibition effect of cupric ions was measured by application of a simple urease inhibition test. In relation to the total copper concentration, the inhibition permits an effect-related classification of drinking water, rain water, spring water, surface water, leakage water, wastewater, and soil extracts. Drinking water contains high parts of cupric ions in the free hydrated form. Their copper content results in high urease inhibition and is caused by using copper pipes in house plumbing. In leakage water, wastewater, and soil extracts, cupric ions are mainly complexed by organic compounds in the sample matrix. Hence, the inhibition effects are low. In soil extracts, the urease inhibition increased after an UV-decomposition procedure, but a decreasing effect was observed for a surface and a drinking water sample, respectively. The chemical oxygen demand and UV-absorbance at 255 nm measured before and after the procedure were correlated to the content of organic compounds, i.e., humic acid. In most samples, the organic matrix was not decomposed completely. The oxidizing decomposition apparently forms further complexing agents, which suppress the inhibition effect of cupric ions. In the rain water samples investigated, the content of organic compounds depended on rain intensity. The chemical oxygen demand and UV-absorbance, respectively, were low for rain water collected during strong rain periods and increased with decreasing rain intensity. The rain water trickled over sheet-lead roof showed an increase of urease inhibition compared with the simultaneously collected rain. Consequently, a decomposition of organic matrix could be demonstrated in rain water by use of the urease inhibition test.     

Seasonal climatic effects on the hydrology of a rain garden

This paper evaluates the performance and winter hydrology of two small‐scale rain gardens in a cold climate coastal area in Trondheim, Norway. One rain garden received runoff from a small residential watershed over a 20 month study period while the second rain garden with a shorter study period of 7 months was used as a control. The objective of the study was to investigate the extent to which cold climatic conditions would influence the hydrology and performance of the rain gardens. The hydraulic detention, storm lag time and peak flow reduction were measured and compared seasonally. No significant difference between seasonal lag time could be found, but there was a clear decreasing trend in lag time between rain, rain‐on‐snow and snowmelt. The average peak flow reduction for 44 storms in the study period was 42% compared to 27% for the winter seasons, indicating that the performance of the rain garden is reduced in the cold season (below 0 °C). The average hydraulic detention time for the rain garden was 0·84 ( ± 0·73) with runoff inflow and 1·91 ( ± 3·1) with only precipitation. A strong positive correlation was found between the time since the last wetting event and lag time, and between air temperature and hydraulic detention. This indicates that the time between events and seasonal air temperatures are key parameters in the hydraulic performance of cold climate rain gardens. The rain gardens were not used for snow storage areas, and a volume requirement for this was not evaluated in the study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Asymmetric distribution of the ionospheric electric potential in the opposite hemispheres as inferred from the SuperDARN observations and FAC-based convection model

We compare the SuperDARN convection patterns with the predictions of a new numerical model of the global distribution of ionospheric electric potentials. The model utilizes high-precision statistical maps of field-aligned currents (FAC) derived from measurements made by polar-orbiting low-altitude satellites. Both the solar and auroral precipitation contributions are included in order to derive the ionospheric conductance. Taking into account the electrodynamic coupling of the opposite hemispheres, the model allows one to obtain the convection patterns developed simultaneously in both hemispheres for given input parameters. SuperDARN, with its database containing global northern and southern convection maps, provides the unique opportunity to compare the model predictions of electric fields with observations. In the present study we focus on the effect of significant interhemispheric asymmetry governed by the IMF clock angle and solar zenith angle. We calculate the convection patterns for specific cases caused by the sign of B_Y and season and demonstrate the capability of the FAC-based model reproduce the radar observations. The simulation confirms that the solar zenith angle should be linked to the IMF clock angle to fully characterize the convection patterns. The model predicts that the cross-polar cap potential drop is regularly larger in the winter hemisphere than in the summer hemisphere.     

西藏湖泊水体中主要离子分布特征及其对区域气候变化的响应

于2009 2010年对西藏34个湖泊表层水体进行采样和水质参数测量,测试不同湖泊水体主要离子浓度,分析其分布特征和对区域气候变化的响应.研究表明,不同湖泊水体的主要离子浓度及其水质参数存在差异,西藏大部分湖泊离子浓度高于全国甚至全球湖泊平均水平.湖泊的水化学类型主要为氯化物型,少部分是硫酸盐型.西藏湖泊受强烈蒸发作用的影响,水化学类型从东南到西北依次为碳酸盐型-硫酸钠型-硫酸钾型-氯化物型.对比1990s前的研究发现,大部分湖泊水体的主要离子浓度较上世纪有所降低,且部分湖泊水化学类型也发生了变化,该变化反映了过去几十年来西藏湖泊水化学对区域气候变化的响应.     

Climate variability,snow, and physiographic controls on storm hydrographs in small forested basins,western Cascades,Oregon

Large floods are often attributed to the melting of snow during a rain event. This study tested how climate variability, snowpack presence, and basin physiography were related to storm hydrograph shape in three small (<1 km²) basins with old‐growth forest in western Oregon. Relationships between hydrograph characteristics and precipitation were tested for approximately 800 storms over a nearly 30‐year period. Analyses controlled for (1) snowpack presence/absence, (2) antecedent soil moisture, and (3) hillslope length and gradient. For small storms (<150 mm precipitation), controlling for precipitation, the presence of a snowpack on near‐saturated soil increased the threshold of precipitation before hydrograph rise, extended the start lag, centroid lag, and duration of storm hydrographs, and increased the peak discharge. The presence of a snowpack on near‐saturated soil sped up and steepened storm hydrographs in a basin with short steep slopes, but delayed storm hydrographs in basins with longer or more gentle slopes. Hydrographs of the largest events, which were extreme regional rain and rain‐on‐snow floods, were not sensitive to landform characteristics or snowpack presence/absence. Although the presence of a snowpack did not increase peak discharge in small, forested basins during large storms, it had contrasting effects on storm timing in small basins, potentially synchronizing small basin contributions to the larger basin hydrograph during large rain‐on‐snow events. By altering the relative timing of hydrographs, snowpack melting could produce extreme floods from precipitation events whose size is not extreme. Further work is needed to examine effects of canopy openings, snowpack, and climate warming on extreme rain‐on‐snow floods at the large basin scale. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An analogue model study of electromagnetic induction in the eastern coastal region of North America

The behavior of electric and magnetic field variations over the eastern coastal region of North America is studied using a scaled laboratory electromagnetic analogue model. The model source frequency used simulates a period of 1 h in the geophysical scale. The results indicate that deflection and conductive channelling of induced electric current is important for both the E-polarization (northeast-southwest direction of the electric field of the source) and the H-polarization (northwest-southeast) of the source field. In the model, conductive channelling occurs through the Strait of Belle Isle, Cabot Strait, and in the St. Lawrence River. Current deflection is particularly prevalent around the southeast coast of Newfoundland for both E- and H-polarization, and around the northeast coastline of Nova Scotia for E-polarization. The model results also show current deflection by cape and bay coastal features, as well as by ocean depth contours.A comparison of model measurements for the cases of a uniform source field and a line current source indicate that the nature of the source field has a measurable but surprisingly small effect on the vertical to horizontal magnetic field ratio for both E- and H-polarizations, and negligible effect on the magnetotelluric ratio for coastal regions.The model fields in coastal regions were found to be strongly influenced by induced currents, deflected and channelled by the coastline and ocean bathymetry, and were dependent on the nature and particularly the polarization of the source field. Thus, along the complex coastline of eastern North America, a wide range of electric and magnetic field values should be expected. In some regions the coast effect, measured by the vertical to horizontal magnetic field ratio at the coast, could be expected to be extremely small or absent, while in other regions the ratio could approach a value as large as unity for variations of 1 h period.     

On the stationary electric field in the air surface layer

Summary The solution of the ionization balance equation is found in the surface air layer at horizontal homogeneity assuming an exponential law for the turbulent diffusion coefficient. Expressions describing the vertical distribution of the small ion concentration are found estimating on their basis the layer height by an electrode effect. A relation is found among the small ion concentration, the electric conductivity and the electric field in the surface layer.     

GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING BY STATIONARY ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELD COMPONENTS: A COMBINATION OF POTENTIAL GRADIENT MAPPING AND MAGNETOMETRIC RESISTIVITY (MMR) METHODS*

A combined application of two independent direct current geoelectric methods, potential gradient mapping (PM) and magnetometric resistivity (MMR), is proposed for the investigation of high-resistivity basement structures. From a one-dimensional relation between horizontal electric and magnetic fields (due to currents originating from point electrodes placed on the surface of a two-layered half-space having a high-resistivity basement) several advantages of the combined PM-MMR method are shown for two-dimensional and three-dimensional basement structures. Three-dimensional models have been studied by analogue modeling experiments. This new mapping method embraces two parameters: the horizontal electric conductance map, derived from the ratio of the related electric and magnetic components, and the gradient map of their product. A close relation between structural forms and anomaly maps is obtained by using two orthogonal source-electrode layouts. Based on model results a two-channel measuring instrument was developed. The method and the instrument were tested near Sopron where a gradual deepening of, and faults in, the Paleozoic basement were found.     

A numerical determination of the effect of electric fields and charges on the efficiency with which cloud drops and small raindrops collide with aerosol particles

Summary Numerical calculations were carried out to determine the effect of a vertical electric field on the efficiency with which electrically charged or uncharged cloud drops and small raindrops of diameters ranging from 84 m to 1.248 mm collide with electrically charged or uncharged particles of density 2 gm/cm³ and diameters between 1 and 20 m. For this purpose, numerical flow fields about spheres of Reynolds numbers ranging from 1 to 400 were used to integrate the trajectory of the particle relative to the drop, and the force between two conducting spheres was used to represent the electrostatic force on the particle. The effect of thunderstorm strength electric charges and field on the collision efficiency was found to be highly significant for the smaller collector drops, and declined to insignificance for the largest collector drop.     

Anomalous electron density events in the quiet summer ionosphere at solar minimum over Millstone Hill

This study compares the observed behavior of the F region ionosphere over Millstone Hill with calculations from the IZMIRAN model for solar minimum for the geomagnetically quiet period 23–25 June 1986, when anomalously low values of hmF2(<200 km) were observed. We found that these low values of hmF2 (seen as a G condition on ionograms) exist in the ionosphere due to a decrease of production rates of oxygen ions resulting from low values of atomic oxygen density. Results show that determination of a G condition using incoherent scatter radar data is sensitive both to the true concentration of O⁺ relative to the molecular ions, and to the ion composition model assumed in the data reduction process. The increase in the O⁺ + N₂ loss rate due to vibrationally excited N₂ produces a reduction in NmF2 of typically 5–10%, but as large as 15%, bringing the model and data into better agreement. The effect of vibrationally excited NO⁺ ions on electron densities is negligible.     

Impact of wind on the spatial distribution of rain over micro‐scale topography: numerical modelling and experimental verification

The wind‐driven‐rain effect refers to the redistribution of rainfall over micro‐scale topography due to the existence of local perturbed wind‐flow patterns. Rainfall measurements reported in the literature point to the fact that the wind‐driven‐rain distribution can show large variations over micro‐scale topography. These variations should be taken into account in hillslope hydrology, in runoff and erosion studies and in the design of rainfall monitoring networks. In practice, measurements are often not suitable for determining the wind‐driven‐rain distribution. Therefore, a few researchers have employed numerical modelling. In order to provide confidence in using numerical models, experimental verification for a range of different topographic features is imperative. The objective of this study is to investigate the adequacy of a two‐dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to predict the wind‐driven‐rain distribution over small‐scale topography. The numerical model is applied to a number of topographic features, including a succession of cliffs, a small isolated hill, a small valley and a field with ridges and furrows. The numerical results are compared with the corresponding measurement results reported in the literature. It is shown that two‐dimensional numerical modelling can provide a good indication of the wind‐driven‐rain distribution over each type of micro‐scale topography that is considered in this study. It is concluded that more detailed verification procedures are currently inhibited due to the lack of available and detailed spatial and temporal rainfall data from field measurements. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanisms for magnetic field generation in precessing cubes

ABSTRACT

It is shown that flows in precessing cubes develop at certain parameters large axisymmetric components in the velocity field which are large enough to either generate magnetic fields by themselves, or to contribute to the dynamo effect if inertial modes are already excited and acting as a dynamo. This effect disappears at small Ekman numbers. The critical magnetic Reynolds number also increases at low Ekman numbers because of turbulence and small-scale structures.