Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: The Influence of the Meridional Thermospheric Winds

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - There is still no consensus regarding the role of the meridional thermospheric winds in the processes of the generation and evolution of the equatorial plasma bubbles....     

Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: Occurrence Probability versus Local Time

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The character of the variability of the LT distributions of the equatorial plasma bubble occurrence probability with an increase of the recording altitude is under...     

Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: Variability of the Latitudinal Distribution with Altitude

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Ionosphere plasma irregularities known as equatorial plasma bubbles are the subject of this research. The variability of the latitudinal distributions of the occurrence...     

Equatorial Plasma Bubbles: Variation of the Longitudinal Distribution with Altitude

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The equatorial plasma “bubbles” that form at the bottom-side of the F-layer are affected by zonal plasma drift when they rise to greater altitudes. Under the...     

The Seasonal Characteristics of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles in Conjugate Hemispheres During 2015

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - In this paper, using the Total Electron Content (TEC) data obtained from GUAM (13.58° N, 144.86° E) and PNGM (2.04° S, 147.36° E) Global Positioning...     

Characteristics of the Growth Increment of Drift-Dissipative Instability at the Fronts of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Data from ground-based and satellite measurements, as well as the results of numerical modeling of the spatial structure of equatorial ionospheric bubbles, show that the...     

Study of Water Relative Permeability in Fractures Using Well Tests and Radon: Gas Bubbles Effect

Few published data are available for two-phase flow in fractures from field studies. All measurements of relative permeability reported in the literature were done in laboratory-scale. The in situ water saturations are normally not known for multiphase flow in natural fractures; therefore, the direct measurements of relative permeability are difficult in field-scale. With the help of a case study before and after the 2008 M_w 5.4 Antung earthquake, groundwater radon was used as a tracer to determine the gas and water saturations in a small naturally fractured aquifer. Well tests were also conducted to estimate aquifer transmissivity before and after the 2008 Antung earthquake. Anomalous declines in both groundwater radon concentration and transmissivity were observed precursory to the 2008 Antung earthquake. Both declines are two precursory phenomena having a common effect of gas bubbles. Using the data from well tests and radon tracer, one data point of water relative permeability can be obtained for in situ fractures. This data point reveals strong phase interference between water and gas bubbles for multiphase flow in natural fractures. Both the data of well tests and radon tracer are essential to gain an improved understanding of mass transfer behavior of groundwater-dissolved gases between water and gas phases.     

Numerical Simulation of Fault Zone Guided Waves: Accuracy and 3-D Effects

-- Fault zones are thought to consist of regions with reduced seismic velocity. When sources are located in or close to these low-velocity zones, guided seismic head and trapped waves are generated which may be indicative of the structure of fault zones at depth. Observations above several fault zones suggest that they are common features of near fault radiation, yet their interpretation may be highly ambiguous. Analytical methods have been developed to calculate synthetic seismograms for sources in fault zones as well as at the material discontinuities. These solutions can be used for accurate modeling of wave propagation in plane-parallel layered fault zone structures. However, at present it is not clear how modest deviations from such simplified geometries affect the generation efficiency and observations of trapped wave motion. As more complicated models cannot be solved by analytical means, numerical methods must be employed. In this paper we discuss 3-D finite-difference calculations of waves in modestly irregular fault zone structures. We investigate the accuracy of the numerical solutions for sources at material interfaces and discuss some dominant effects of 3-D structures. We also show that simple mathematical operations on 2-D solutions generated with line sources allow accurate modeling of 3-D wave propagation produced by point sources. The discussed simulations indicate that structural discontinuities of the fault zone (e.g., fault offsets) larger than the fault zone width affect significantly the trapping efficiency, while vertical properly gradients, fault zone narrowing with depth, small-scale structures, and moderate geometrical variations do not. The results also show that sources located with appropriate orientations outside and below a shallow fault zone layer can produce considerable guided wave energy in the overlying fault zone layer.     

Tidal dynamics of the Terminos Lagoon,Mexico: observations and 3D numerical modelling

The tidal circulation patterns in the Terminos Lagoon were studied based on the analysis of 1 year of measurements and numerical simulations using a baroclinic 3D hydrodynamic model, the MARS3D. A gauging network was installed consisting of six self-recording pressure–temperature sensors, a tide gauge station and two current profilers, with pressure and temperature sensors moored in the main lagoon inlets. Model simulations were validated against current and sea level observations and were used to analyse the circulation patterns caused by the tidal forcing. The numerical model was forced with eight harmonic components, four diurnal (K ₁, O ₁, P ₁, Q ₁) and four semi-diurnal (M ₂, S ₂, N ₂, K ₂), extracted from the TPX0.7 database. The tidal patterns in the study area vary from mixed, mainly diurnal in the two main inlets of the lagoon, to diurnal in its interior. The tidal residual circulation inside the lagoon is dominated by a cyclonic gyre. The results indicate a net flux from the southwest Ciudad del Carmen inlet (CdC) towards the northeast Puerto Real inlet (PtR) along the southern side of the lagoon and the opposite in the northern side. The results indicate two areas of strong currents in the vicinity of the inlets and weak currents inside the lagoon. The area of strong currents in the vicinity of the CdC inlet is larger than that observed in the PtR inlet. Nevertheless, the current analysis indicates that the highest current speeds, which can reach a magnitude of 1.9 m s^?1, occurred in PtR. A further analysis of the tide distortion in the inlets revealed that both passages are ebb dominated.     

Variations of the Ionospheric Plasma Parameters Observed by the Ionosonde and Magnetic Station in the Range of Periods of Planetary Waves

Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth - Abstract—Variations of the geomagnetic field and F2-layer critical frequency in the range of periods of planetary waves in winter season are analyzed....     

大震地震波对云南地震活动的远场动态应力触发作用

基于云南数字地震台网记录,计算了印尼大震、昆仑山口西大震和古吉拉特邦大震的地震波在云南地区产生的远场动态库仑破裂应力变化,研究了大震产生的动态库仑破裂应力变化对云南地震活动的远场动态应力触发作用及其特征。结果显示,印尼大震产生的库仑破裂应力对云南地震活动有明显的触发作用,昆仑山口西大震产生的库仑破裂应力对云南地震活动有触发作用,但不显著,古吉拉特邦大震在云南地区产生的库仑破裂应力没有触发作用。最后分析和探讨了这3次大震触发作用差异的原因。     

考虑介质对地震波吸收衰减作用的场地放大效应估计

当参考场地震源距小于研究场地震源距时,传统谱比法低估了场地放大效应,且参考场地与研究场地震源距相差越大,低估程度越大;当参考场地震源距大于研究场地震源距时,传统谱比法高估了场地放大效应,且参考场地与研究场地震源距相差越大,高估程度越大,计算结果依赖参考场地的选择。上述问题存在的原因是传统谱比法估计场地放大效应时未考虑地震波传播过程中介质的吸收衰减作用,故传统谱比法适用于参考场地与研究场地地质构造类似且震源距相差较小的情况,为此本文通过考虑介质对地震波的吸收衰减作用,提出改进谱比法,可适用于地质构造类似、任意震源距的情况。本文分别采用未改进方法和改进方法估计汶川地震中渭河盆地多个台站场地反应,证实了传统谱比法存在的上述问题。采用改进谱比法估计的场地放大倍数均在2 Hz以下出现1个峰值,且这些峰值多为最大值;采用未改进谱比法估计的场地放大倍数峰值出现的频率多大于2 Hz;改进谱比法可信度较高。     

Scattering of Plane P Waves by Circular-arc Canyon Topography:High-frequency Solution

Through the Fourier-Bessel series expansion of wave functions,the analytical solution to the two-dimensional scattering problem of incidental plane P waves by circular-arc canyon topography with different depth-to-width ratio is deduced.Unlike other existing analytical solutions,in order to ensure that the analytical solution is valid for higher frequency incident waves,the asymptotic properties of cylindrical functions are in this paper introduced to directly determine the unknown coefficients of scattering waves,avoiding the solution of linear equation systems and corresponding numerical issues,which in turn expand the frequency band in which the analytical solution is valid.Comparison with other existing analytical solutions demonstrates that the proposed analytical solution is correct.Furthermore,the scattering effects of a circular-arc canyon on the incident plane P wave are analyzed in a comparatively broad frequency band.     

Ground Motion Zoning of Santiago de Cuba: An Approach by SH Waves Modelling

— The expected ground motion in Santiago de Cuba basin from earthquakes which occurred in the Oriente fault zone is studied. Synthetic SH-waves seismograms have been calculated along four profiles in the basin by the hybrid approach (modal summation for the path source-profile and finite differences for the profile) for a maximum frequency of 1 Hz. The response spectra ratio (RSR) has been determined in 49 sites, distributed along all considered profiles with a spacing of 900 m. The corresponding RSR versus frequency curves have been classified using a logical-combinatorial algorithm. The results of the classification, in combination with the uppermost geological setting (geotechnical information and geological geometry of the subsoil) are used for the seismic zoning of the city. Three different main zones are identified, and a small sector characterized by major resonance effects, due to the particular structural conditions. Each zone is characterized in terms of its expected ground motion parameters for the most probable strong earthquake (M_S=7), and for the maximum possible (M_S=8).     

Low-Frequency Plasma Waves in the Outer Polar CUSP: A Review of Observations from Prognoz 8, Interball 1, Magion 4, and Cluster

This paper presents a review of the most interesting observations of low-frequency plasma waves together with plasma particles which were made by the Interball 1, Magion 4 and Prognoz 8 satellites in the outer polar cusp. Accelerated plasma particles, hot electron populations and very strong wave activity, particularly at low frequencies, are observed. A detailed study of the wave spectra together with the distribution function for electrons indicate the correlation between the presence of lower-hybrid waves and the population of the particles with higher energy than in the surrounding space. These experimental facts suggest that strong coupling between waves and particles is responsible for plasma heating. During polar cusp crossings by Interball 1 and Prognoz 8, FFT analysis of the wave form indicates many bursts of ULF emissions in both electric and magnetic components. These waves have highly non-stationary characteristics. To study the dynamics of changes in the spectral characteristics of the waves wavelet analysis has been used. Nonlinear interactions are studied using bispectral methods of analysis. This presentation gives the results of such an analysis for selected cusp crossings at different altitudes. An example of wave activity registered by the STAFF instrument onboard the CLUSTER spacecraft in the polar cusp is also presented.     

Spontaneous Emission of Gravity Waves by Interacting Vortex Dipoles in a Stratified Fluid: Laboratory Experiments

Results from a new series of experiments on the geophysically important issue of spontaneous emission of internal gravity waves during unsteady interactions of vortical structures are presented. Vortex dipoles are a common element of a quasi-two-dimensional turbulent flow. Vortex dipoles perform translational motion and can collide with other vortices. During collision events the flow is unsteady and unbalanced and a further adjustment process associated with these events can therefore result in the spontaneous emission of gravity waves. Our laboratory experiments demonstrate that gravity waves are emitted when two translating vortex dipoles interact (collide) in a layered fluid, in accord with the current theoretical results. The emission was evident both in a two-layer system and in a fluid with a linear distribution of density with depth. The waves were generated during the period of deceleration of the secondary dipoles which constitute a vortex quadrupole emerging immediately after the collision of the primary dipoles.     

Transient Scattering of Elastic Waves by Dipping Layers of Arbitrary Shape Part 1: Antiplane Strain Model

Scattering of elastic waves by two dimensional multilayered dipping sediments of arbitrary shape embedded in an elastic half-sapce is investigated by using a bondary method. The displancement field is evaluated throughout the elastic media for both steady state and transient incident SH waves. The unknown scattered field is expressed in terms of wave functions which satisfy the equation of motion, traction-free boundary condition and appropariate radiation conditions. The transient response is constructed from the steady state solution by using the fast Fourier transform technique. The numerical results presented demonstrate that scattering of waves by subsurface irregularities may cause locally very large amplification of surface ground motion. The motion can be affected greatly by the scattered surface waves in the sediments. The results clearly indicate that the surface ground motion depends upon a number of parameters present in the problem, such as frequency and the angle of incidence of the incoming wave, impedance contrast between the layers and location of the observation point.     

Statistical Tests of Load-Unload Response Ratio Signals by Lattice Solid Model: Implication to Tidal Triggering and Earthquake Prediction

— Statistical tests of Load-Unload Response Ratio (LURR) signals are carried in order to verify statistical robustness of the previous studies using the Lattice Solid Model (Mora et al., 2002b). In each case 24 groups of samples with the same macroscopic parameters (tidal perturbation amplitude A, period T and tectonic loading rate k) but different particle arrangements are employed. Results of uni-axial compression experiments show that before the normalized time of catastrophic failure, the ensemble average LURR value rises significantly, in agreement with the observations of high LURR prior to the large earthquakes. In shearing tests, two parameters are found to control the correlation between earthquake occurrence and tidal stress. One is, A/(k T) controlling the phase shift between the peak seismicity rate and the peak amplitude of the perturbation stress. With an increase of this parameter, the phase shift is found to decrease. Another parameter, A T/k, controls the height of the probability density function (Pdf) of modeled seismicity. As this parameter increases, the Pdf becomes sharper and narrower, indicating a strong triggering. Statistical studies of LURR signals in shearing tests also suggest that except in strong triggering cases, where LURR cannot be calculated due to poor data in unloading cycles, the larger events are more likely to occur in higher LURR periods than the smaller ones, supporting the LURR hypothesis.     

From 3-Hz P Waves to 0 S 2: No Evidence of A Slow Component to the Source of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

In the hours following the 2011 Honshu event, and as part of tsunami warning procedures at the Laboratoire de Géophysique in Papeete, Tahiti, the seismic source of the event was analyzed using a number of real-time procedures. The ultra-long period mantle magnitude algorithm suggests a static moment of 4.1 × 10²⁹ dyn cm, not significantly different from the National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC) value obtained by W-phase inversion. The slowness parameter, $\Uptheta = -5.65, $ is slightly deficient, but characteristic of other large subduction events such as Nias (2005) or Peru (2001); it remains significantly larger than for slow earthquakes such as Sumatra (2004) or Mentawai (2010). Similarly, the duration of high-frequency (2–4 Hz) P waves in relation to seismic moment or estimated energy, fails to document any slowness in the seismic source. These results were confirmed in the ensuing weeks by the analysis of the lowest-frequency spheroidal modes of the Earth. A dataset of 117 fits for eight modes (including the gravest one, ₀ S ₂, and the breathing mode, ₀ S ₀) yields a remarkably flat spectrum, with an average moment of 3.5 × 10²⁹ dyn cm (*/1.07). This behavior of the Tohoku earthquake explains the generally successful real-time modeling of its teleseismic tsunami, based on available seismic source scaling laws. On the other hand, it confirms the dichotomy, among mega-quakes (M ₀ > 10²⁹ dyn cm) between regular events (Nias, 2005; Chile, 2010; Sendai, 2011) and slow ones (Chile, 1960; Alaska, 1964; Sumatra, 2004; and probably Rat Island, 1965), whose origin remains unexplained.     

Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR): an overview of a future radar facility

SPEAR is a new polar cap HF radar facility which is to be deployed on Svalbard. The principal capabilities of SPEAR will include the generation of artificial plasma irregularities, operation as an all-sky HF radar, the excitation of ULF waves, and remote sounding of the magnetosphere. Operation of SPEAR in conjunction with the multitude of other instruments on Svalbard, including the EISCAT Svalbard radar, and the overlap of its extensive field-of-view with that of several of the HF radars in the SuperDARN network, will enable in-depth diagnosis of many geophysical and plasma phenomena associated with the cusp region and the substorm expansion phase. Moreover, its ability to produce artificial radar aurora will provide a means for the other instruments to undertake polar cap plasma physics experiments in a controlled manner. Another potential use of the facility is in field-line tagging experiments, for coordinated ground-satellite experiments. Here the scientific objectives of SPEAR are detailed, along with the proposed technical specifications of the system.