Cloud Structure And Composition Of Jupiter's Atmosphere

The understanding of the composition and cloudstructure has advanced greatly in the last few yearsand in particular was greatly improved upon followingthe highly successful Pioneer and Voyager missions tothat planet. Recently the Galileo spacecraft has goneinto orbit about Jupiter and its remote sensinginstruments, including the Near Infrared MappingSpectrometer (NIMS) and the Solid State Imager (SSI),have yielded exciting new details of the spatial andvertical structure of the Jovian clouds and volatiles.At the same time Galileo's entry probe has made thefirst ever in situ measurements of conditions inthe atmosphere. Recent ground-based observations havealso added to the body of evidence from whichconditions in the Jovian atmosphere may be inferred.This paper aims to review the current understanding ofthe composition and cloud structure of Jupiter'satmosphere in the light of the new Galileo results andrecent ground-based, and earth-orbiting telescopeobservations.     

Microwave remote sensing of flood inundation

Flooding is one of the most costly natural disasters and thus mapping, modeling and forecasting flood events at various temporal and spatial scales is important for any flood risk mitigation plan, disaster relief services and the global (re-)insurance markets. Both computer models and observations (ground-based, airborne and Earth-orbiting) of flood processes and variables are of great value but the amount and quality of information available varies greatly with location, spatial scales and time. It is very well known that remote sensing of flooding, especially in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum, can complement ground-based observations and be integrated with flood models to augment the amount of information available to end-users, decision-makers and scientists. This paper aims to provide a concise review of both the science and applications of microwave remote sensing of flood inundation, focusing mainly on synthetic aperture radar (SAR), in a variety of natural and man-made environments. Strengths and limitations are discussed and the paper will conclude with a brief account on perspectives and emerging technologies.     

On the variability of I(7620 Å)/I(5577 Å) in low altitude aurora

An auroral electron excitation model, combined with simple equilibrium neutral and ion chemistry models, is used to investigate the optical emission processes and height profiles of I(5577 Å) and I(7620 Å) in the 90 to 100 km altitude region. It is shown that the apparent discrepancies between ground-based and rocket-borne auroral observations of the I(7620 Å)/I(5577 Å) ratio are due to the extreme height variation of this intensity ratio in the 90 to 100 km region.     

Long-period oscillation processes in sunspot groups (ground-based and exoatmospheric observations)

The SOHO (MDI) exoatmospheric observations have proved the existence of long-period oscillations in active solar regions, which are manifested in a number of spatial and temporal modes; this had been established earlier by ground-based observations.     

Occurrence of polar stratospheric clouds at Kiruna

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) are often observed in the Kiruna region in northern Sweden, east of the Scandinavian mountain range, during wintertime. PSC occurrence can be detected by ground-based optical instruments. Most of these require clear tropospheric weather. By applying the zenith-sky colour index technique, which works under most weather conditions, the data availability can be extended. The observations suggest that PSC events, especially of type II (water PSCs) may indeed more common than predicted by synoptic models, which is expected because of the frequent presence of mountain-induced leewaves. However, it will be of importance to increase the density of independent observations.     

基于Weimer模型的高纬地磁扰动预测

地磁扰动是空间天气中的重要现象,对地基技术系统具有重要的影响.准确预报地磁扰动可以有效避免重大灾害发生.本文基于Weimer电势和磁势模型发展了高纬地区地磁扰动的模拟方法,并与地面台站观测数据进行了比较.地表磁场扰动主要受电离层电流系统的影响,利用Weimer模式计算出电离层等效电流分布后,基于毕奥-萨伐尔定律推导了地磁扰动三分量与电流的关系,最终计算出地磁扰动量.模型的输入参数为太阳风速度、太阳风密度、行星际磁场和磁偶极倾角.模型计算结果与不同纬度和经度的地磁台站观测结果对比表明本文的计算方法能有效地模拟地磁暴期间地磁扰动特征.本文结果对今后发展高纬地区地磁场预报模型奠定了重要基础.     

GPS L-band scintillations and ionospheric irregularity zonal drifts inferred at equatorial and low-latitude regions

The main scientific objective of this research is to study the spatial variability and dynamics of the F-region irregularities. To achieve this, amplitude scintillations at the L-band, total electron content (TEC) and irregularity drifts were measured, as part of the Conjugate Point Equatorial Experiment (COPEX) campaign, by a network of ground-based global positioning system (GPS) receivers. The observations reveal a strong variability in the evolution of the irregularities from the equator to low-latitudes, and their zonal velocities at conjugate sites present a decrease with local time, and also with latitude. Moreover, the scintillations appear to be correlated with strong TEC gradients in the equatorward edge of the enhanced equatorial anomaly peaks. Other relevant aspects of the observations are highlighted and discussed.     

FY-3气象卫星紫外臭氧总量探测仪辐亮度在轨定标与反演结果分析

FY-3气象卫星上搭载的紫外臭氧总量探测仪TOU是我国自主开发研制的首台用于全球臭氧总量定量测量的探测仪,自发射以来已成功在轨运行近两年.由于TOU发射前辐亮度定标存在偏差,为了得到高精度的产品,TOU必须进行在轨定标.本文介绍了基于辐射传输模式计算对TOU辐亮度进行在轨道定标的方法,定标过程中用于模拟辐亮度计算的臭氧总量由与TOU观测时刻相近的国外臭氧总量探测仪器MetOp/GOME-2提供.文章将在轨定标后TOU的反演结果与AURA/OMI以及地基的产品进行比较,结果表明,用辐射传输模式对TOU辐亮度进行在轨定标的方法是可行的,反演结果能够真实地反映臭氧的时空分布特性,在全球部分地基观测站所处的位置上对TOU, OMI以及地基的臭氧总量进行比较的结果表明,TOU与OMI的相对偏差均方根约为2.52%,TOU与地基以及OMI与地基观测结果之间的相对偏差均方根分别为4.45%和3.89%.     

Neutral gas composition changes and E×B vertical plasma drift contribution to the daytime equatorial F2-region storm effects

Theoretical model calculations along with ground-based observations from Huancayo ionosonde station and ESRO-4 gas analyzer data, were used to estimate the contribution of neutral gas composition changes and E×B vertical plasma drift to the observed F2-layer storm effects at the geomagnetic equator. Atomic oxygen concentration increase may give the main contribution to the positive NmF2 effect when drift velocity changes are small, but negative storm effects, on the other hand, are related mostly to vertical drift variations.     

Detailed PSC formation in a two-dimensional chemical transport model of the stratosphere

A new two-dimensional zonal model of the stratosphere, based on a formulation in an isentropic framework, with complete chemistry has been coupled with a high resolution detailed microphysical model for polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). The 2D model chemistry includes all presently known heterogeneous processes on sulfate aerosols and PSCs. The coupling of these two models, with inherently different time scales, is discussed. It is demonstrated that in order to obtain a realistic interrelationship between NO_y and N₂O an accurate simulation of the sedimentation by PSC particles is necessary. A good agreement of model PSC presence and observations is found for the Antarctic polar winter without the need to impose additional artificial temperature variations in the model. The calculated occurrence of polar stratospheric clouds and resulting heterogeneous chemistry during the Antarctic winter are discussed. Sensitivity of the polar stratospheric chemical composition and cloud formation for different perturbations is investigated by studying the effects of transport across the polar vortex boundary and heterogeneous processing by an enhanced sulfate aerosol load. The importance of including sedimentation for all cases is also discussed.     

Upscaling of field-scale soil moisture measurements using distributed land surface modeling

Accurate coarse-scale soil moisture information is required for robust validation of current- and next-generation soil moisture products derived from spaceborne radiometers. Due to large amounts of land surface and rainfall heterogeneity, such information is difficult to obtain from existing ground-based networks of soil moisture sensors. Using ground-based field data collected during the Soil Moisture Experiment in 2002 (SMEX02), the potential for using distributed modeling predictions of the land surface as an upscaling tool for field-scale soil moisture observations is examined. Results demonstrate that distributed models are capable of accurately capturing a significant level of field-scale soil moisture heterogeneity observed during SMEX02. A simple soil moisture upscaling strategy based on the merger of ground-based observations with modeling predictions is developed and shown to be more robust during SMEX02 than upscaling approaches that utilize either field-scale ground observations or model predictions in isolation.     

GPS地面台网和掩星观测结合的时变三维电离层层析

本文给出GPS地面台网和掩星观测结合的时变三维电离层层析的原理、算法和基于实测数据的反演结果.反演结果的比较表明,联合地基GPS与掩星观测数据进行重建,电子密度整体图像的重建质量特别是其垂直结构的重建质量得到了明显改善.在平静日和磁暴期间两种条件下利用实测数据的重建结果表明,GPS地面台网和掩星观测结合的电离层层析可以获得电离层电子密度在高度-纬度-经度-时间四维空间中的变化.重建结果清晰地显示了磁暴期间电离层负相暴效应,表明结合GPS地面台网和掩星观测的时变三维电离层层析可以有效地监测扰动条件下的大尺度电离层结构.     

Emerging Technologies and Synergies for Airborne and Space-Based Measurements of Water Vapor Profiles

A deeper understanding of how clouds will respond to a warming climate is one of the outstanding challenges in climate science. Uncertainties in the response of clouds, and particularly shallow clouds, have been identified as the dominant source of the discrepancy in model estimates of equilibrium climate sensitivity. As the community gains a deeper understanding of the many processes involved, there is a growing appreciation of the critical role played by fluctuations in water vapor and the coupling of water vapor and atmospheric circulations. Reduction of uncertainties in cloud-climate feedbacks and convection initiation as well as improved understanding of processes governing these effects will result from profiling of water vapor in the lower troposphere with improved accuracy and vertical resolution compared to existing airborne and space-based measurements. This paper highlights new technologies and improved measurement approaches for measuring lower tropospheric water vapor and their expected added value to current observations. Those include differential absorption lidar and radar, microwave occultation between low-Earth orbiters, and hyperspectral microwave remote sensing. Each methodology is briefly explained, and measurement capabilities as well as the current technological readiness for aircraft and satellite implementation are specified. Potential synergies between the technologies are discussed, actual examples hereof are given, and future perspectives are explored. Based on technical maturity and the foreseen near-mid-term development path of the various discussed measurement approaches, we find that improved measurements of water vapor throughout the troposphere would greatly benefit from the combination of differential absorption lidar focusing on the lower troposphere with passive remote sensors constraining the upper-tropospheric humidity.     

Potential merits for substorm research from imaging of charge-exchange neutral atoms

The in situ observations of the Earth magnetosphere performed over the past decades of space research have provided a rather good understanding of many partial localized processes of the magnetospheric substorm. The continuing lack of global observations inhibits the construction of a coherent picture of the substorm as a whole, which is actually determined by the coupling of the partial processes. In this context the importance of global observations for the advancement of magnetospheric substorm studies is critical. This paper presents briefly a promising technique of global observations, namely the imaging of charge exchange neutral atoms, or neutral atom imaging (NAI) of the magnetosphere. Model and theoretical estimates of charge-exchange neutral atom fluxes, as well as appropriate spacecraft orbit and instrumentation requirements are presented and discussed for specific regions of interest and vantage points. The potential merits of NAI for substorm research are presented along with possible combinations with other types of observational methods. Substorm issues that would benefit from NAI should include among others the assessment of the ionospheric contribution to the hot magnetospheric plasma, the relative importance of various ionospheric ion source regions, the resolution of spatial and temporal characteristics of substorm ion injections. NAI observations can be precious complements to local observations and lead to the understanding of how local processes, many of which are resolved quite well today, combine to form the global process of the magnetospheric substorm.     

Optical Phenomena Observed upon Some Launches of Russian Rockets

In this paper, unusual optical phenomena observed in our country and abroad upon launches of Russian rockets are discussed and interpreted: they are regarded as the aftereffects of sunlight scattering by gas-dust clouds created by rocket fuel combustion products in different modes of engine operation. The results of instrumental observations of the clouds can be used to study physical processes in the upper atmosphere.     

Ground-based lidar and atmospheric studies

This review considers the requirements and possibilities for the development of a ground-based network for long-term observations of the atmosphere. This network would be specifically designed to provide early detection of changes in the composition and structure of the stratosphere. The species and parameters identified as being important and amenable to ground-based measurements are summarized, as are the currently available techniques capable of making the required measurements. Ultraviolet laser remote sensing is identified as the most promising technique for the measurement of ozone and temperature profiles which are considered to have the highest priority for network measurements. The laser techniques, and the research at JPL Table Mountain Observatory, to implement ozone and temperature measurements are discussed in greater detail.     

Variations in the Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes during the Appearance of Irregularities of Noctilucent Clouds

Variations in the amplitude of the ordinary wave from a received signal on a partial reflection radar at a short-wave range on the Kola Peninsula during the appearance of noctilucent clouds on August 12, 2016, are examined. Noctilucent clouds are registered by the all-sky camera located 100 km southward of the partial reflection radar. They extended over the entire celestial hemisphere observed by the all-sky camera; all of them moved in the southern direction, and the clouds had a tenuous structure and showed gravity waves with spatial periods of 15–100 km. During the presence of noctilucent clouds over the partial reflection radar, polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) were recorded at heights of 83–86 km. It was found that the presence of only noctilucent clouds in diagram of the antenna pattern of partial frequency radar is not sufficient for the appearance of PMSEs; noctilucent clouds must also have irregularities of several kilometers. The PMSE heights decreased with a velocity of 0.5 and 1.3 m/s. The issue of aerosols that cause the appearance of PMSEs and noctilucent clouds is discussed.     

Comparison of Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) and ground-based total ozone fields for December 1970

For the period December 1970, comparison is made between the monthly average analyses (mapped fields) of the Backscatter Ultraviolet (BUV) total ozone data and the ground-based observations. In particular, significant differences of over 50 Dobson units are noted over the region of the North Atlantic Ocean with the BUV of greater magnitude than the ground-based data. As part of the overall verification program, both analyses are compared against the 100 mb height fields. The results indicate that the BUV analysis in the region of question is the more consistent of the two.     

Features of optical phenomena connected with launches of solid-propellant ballistic rockets

Specific optical phenomena observed in the upper atmosphere layers and connected with launches of powerful solid-propellant rockets are considered: the development of spherically symmetric gas-dust formations having the shape of an extending torus in the image plane and the formation of regions with intense blue-green (turquoise) glow observed under twilight conditions along a rocket’s flight path. The development of clouds can be represented by the model of a strong explosion occurring at the stage separation of solid-propellant rockets in the upper atmosphere. A turquoise glow arises as a result of resonance scattering of solar radiation on AlO molecules that are formed when metallic aluminum in the composition of fuel interacts with atmosphere components and combustion products.