Nature of the sunrise effect in daily electric field variations at Kamchatka: 2. Electric field frequency variations

The power spectra of time variations in the electric field strength in the near-Earth’s atmosphere and in the geomagnetic field horizontal component, which were simultaneously observed at the Paratunka observatory (φ = 52°58.3′ N; λ = 158°14.9′ E) in September 1999, have been studied. The periods of the day (including sunrise, sunset, and night) have been considered. It has been indicated that oscillations with periods T ～ 2.0–2.5 h are present in the power spectra of these parameters during the day. The intensity of these oscillations increases noticeably and the oscillations in the band of periods T < 1 h increase simultaneously in the field strength power spectra at sunrise. The variations in the argument of the cross-spectrum of these parameters indicated that oscillations in the 2.0–2.5 h period band are caused by sources that are located above the ionospheric dynamo region; at the same time, oscillations in the 0.5–1 h period band are caused by sources in the lower atmosphere. A possible mechanism by which these oscillations are generated, related to the vortex motion of convective cells that originate at sunrise in the boundary atmospheric layer, is proposed.     

Generalized Potential Temperature in a Diagnostic Study of High Impact Weather over an Urban Station of India

The tropospheric atmosphere is neither absolutely dry nor completely saturated. It is, in general, moist. The purpose of the present study is to reveal the role of generalized potential temperature (GPT) in describing the humid state of the real moist atmosphere pertaining to understanding the prevalence of high impact weather systems over an urban station, Kolkata (22°32′N; 88°20′E), of India. A comparative study among GPT, equivalent potential temperature (EPT), potential temperature and relative humidity to reveal the significance of GPT in a precise understanding of the high impact weather of Kolkata is carried out. To attain the objectives, 50 cases of thunderstorms, 15 cases of tropical cyclones and 15 heavy rainfall days are selected during the pre-monsoon season (April–May) over Kolkata (22°32′N; 88°20′E), India. The condition—decision support system of rough set theory is adopted as the methodology. The result of the study reveals that GPT is the most pertinent convective parameter in estimating the prevalence of the high impact weather of Kolkata during the pre-monsoon season and is observed to be better than RH. The results, thus, show that the moist air is capable of describing the distribution of water vapour and thermodynamic properties of the real atmosphere more precisely than an absolutely dry and completely saturated state of the atmosphere.     

Spectral Structure of Temperature Variations in the Midlatitude Mesopause Region

Long-term series of midnight temperature in the mesopause region have been obtained from spectral observations of hydroxyl airglow emission (OH(6-2) λ840 nm band) at the Tory station (52° N, 103° E) in 2008–2016 and Zvenigorod (56° N, 37° E) station in 2000–2016. On their basis, the Lomb-Scargle spectra of the variations in the period range from ~12 days to ~11 years have been determined. Estimates of the amplitudes of statistically significant temperature fluctuations are made. The dominant oscillations are the first and second harmonics of the annual variation, the amplitudes of which are 23–24 K and 4–7 K, respectively. The remaining variations, the number of which was 16 for the Tory and 22 for Zvenigorod stations, have small amplitudes (0.5–3 K). Oscillations with combinational frequencies, which arise from modulation of the annual variation harmonics, are observed in a structure of the variation spectra in addition to interannual oscillations (periods from ~2 to ~11 years) and harmonics of the annual variation (up to its tenth harmonic).     

The regular nocturnal course of temperature in the midlatitude mesopause region according to hydroxyl airglow measurements

Using ground-based spectral measurements in the near-infrared range at the Zvenigorod scientific station of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (56° N, 37° E) for 2000–2013, we obtained average nighttime changes in rotational and vibrational temperatures of hydroxyl with its emission layer localized at mesopause heights. The rotational temperature reflects the kinetic temperature of the emission layer of the atmosphere. The analysis made it possible to determine the characteristics of the first three harmonics of diurnal temperature dynamics in the mesopause region both with and without altitudinal oscillations of the OH emission layer. In both cases, the second and third harmonics are statistically significant: their amplitudes are ～1 K and the phases of their first maxima are near 0300 and 0130 local solar time.     

The Effects of Solar Eclipse of August 1, 2008 on Earth’s Atmospheric Parameters

Several experiments were undertaken at Kolkata (latitude: 22°34′N, longitude: 88°30′E) on the solar eclipse day of August 1, 2008 to observe the effects of the solar eclipse on Fair Weather Field (FWF) and VLF amplitude and phase. The experimental results presented here show significant deviations of the observed parameters from their normal values, as they are determined by the average of the records obtained on 5 days adjacent to the day of the solar eclipse.     

Land Surface Layer Characteristics During Monsoon at a Tropical Station

—The atmospheric surface layer over land may behave differently in the tropics, particu larly during the monsoon. A preliminary attempt is made to observe the behavior of surface layer characteristics such as fluxes of momentum, sensible heat and latent heat, friction velocity, friction temperature, M-O length scale, Richardson number and Bowen’s ratio over Kharagpur (22°20′N, 87°18′E), a typical moist tropical station. The diurnal and day-to-day variations have been studied. It is observed that during the active phase of the monsoon the sensible heat flux and Bowen’s ratio are low. The diurnal variation is apparent for most parameters. Mostly near neutral conditions are observed.     

Geological and geophysical investigations on Deccan Traps

Volcanic rocks occupy considerable regions in the western portion of India, attaining a maximum thickness of 7000′ near Igatpuri. These rocks are essentially basaltic in nature and are generally referred to as plateau basalts. An attempt has been made in this paper to present some results of geological and geophysical investigations carried out in the Deccan Traps. Three areas (Ajanta - Long. 75″41′ -75° 45′ E, Lat. 20° 32′ - 20° 35′ 15″ N, 18 sq. miles in area; Ellora -Long. 75″ 11′ - 75° 16′ E, Lat. 20° 1′ - 20° 9′ N, 80 sq. miles in area; and Chincholi - Long. 77° 22′ - 77° 30′ E, Lat. 17° 22′ -17° 30′ N, 50 sq. miles in area) have been chosen for this study because of their geological setting. A large number of field specimens have been collected for petrographic study. This is supplemented by examination of microsections and chemical analyses of a few traps. In the Chincholi area where the trap overlies the granites, limestones seem to intervene in between trap and granites. With a view to estimate the possible thickness of the limestone beds, the distribution of intensity of magnetic field in a portion of the area has been studied with a magnetometer. Magnetic susceptibilities in case of few specimens have also been studied. Elastic constants of Deccan Traps have been determined for fifty specimens, employing the Wedge Method. These are further correlated with textural features and porosity values. Such an integrated geological and geophysical investigation on Deccan Traps is bound to reveal some interesting results.     

Variability of total electron content near the crest of the equatorial anomaly during moderate geomagnetic storms

The ionospheric responses to a large number (116) of moderate (?50≥D_st>?100 nT) geomagnetic storms distributed over the period (1980–1990) are investigated using total electron content (TEC) data recorded at Calcutta (88.38°E, 22.58°N geographic, dip: 32°N). TEC perturbations exhibit a prominent dependence on the local times of main phase occurrence (MPO). The storms with MPO during daytime hours are more effective in producing larger deviations and smaller time delays for maximum positive deviations compared to those with nighttime MPO. Though the perturbations in the equinoctial and winter solstitial months more or less follow the reported climatology, remarkable deviations are detected for the summer solstitial storms. Depending on the local times of MPO, the sunrise enhancement in TEC is greatly perturbed. The TEC variability patterns are interpreted in terms of the storm time modifications of equatorial electric field, wind system and neutral composition.     

Variability of the mesospheric wind field at middle and Arctic latitudes in winter and its relation to stratospheric circulation disturbances

Continuous wind observations allow detailed investigations of the upper mesosphere circulation in winter and its coupling with the lower atmosphere. During winter the mesospheric/lower thermospheric wind field is characterized by a strong variability. Causes of this behaviour are planetary wave activity and related stratospheric warming events. Reversals of the dominating eastward directed mean zonal winds in winter to summerly westward directed winds are often observed in connection with stratospheric warmings. In particular, the amplitude and duration of these wind reversals are closely related to disturbances of the dynamical regime of the upper stratosphere.The occurrence of long-period wind oscillations and wind reversals in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere in relation to planetary wave activity and circulation disturbances in the stratosphere has been studied for 12 winters covering the years 1989–2000 on the basis of MF radar wind observations at Juliusruh (55°N, since 1989) and Andenes (69°N, since 1998). Mesospheric wind oscillations with long-periods between 10 and 18 days are observed during the presence of enhanced planetary wave activity in the stratosphere and are combined with a reversal of the meridional temperature gradient of the stratosphere or with upper stratospheric warmings.     

Effect of resonance phenomena on the wave structure of the middle atmosphere

Based on data of the optical measurements performed at Orbita observatory, Almaty (76°55′ E, 43°15′ N), it has been established that the region of LF oscillations in the range of periods from 0.5 to 2.5 h includes the components composed of the heterodyne frequencies of two oscillations. It has been indicated that the origination of these harmonics can be interpreted when solving the linear problem of a resonance behavior of acoustic gravity waves under the action of diurnal variations in the solar radiation intensity, and the heterodyne frequencies appear due to the effect of acoustic gravity wave enhancement in an acoustically active medium.     

Latitude and Altitude Dependence of the Interannual Variability and Trends of Atmospheric Temperatures

—The 4-season (12-month) running means of temperatures at five atmospheric levels (surface, 850–300 mb, 300–100 mb, 100–50 mb, 100–30 mb) and seven climatic zones (60°N–90°N, 30°N–60°N, 10°N–30°N, 10°N–10°S, 10°S–30°S, 30°S–60°S, 60°S–90°S) showed QBO (Quasi-biennial Oscillation), QTO (Quasi-triennial Oscillation) and larger periodicities. For stratosphere and tropopause, the temperature variations near the equator and North Pole somewhat resembled the 50mb low latitude zonal winds, mainly due to prominent QBO. For troposphere and surface, the temperature variations, especially those near the equator, resemble those of eastern equatorial Pacific sea-surface temperatures, mainly due to prominent QTO. In general, the temperature trends in the last 35 years show stratospheric cooling and tropospheric warming. But the trends are not monotonic. For example, the surface trends were downward during 1960–70, upward during 1970–82, downward during 1982–85 and upward thereafter. Models of green-house warming should take these non-uniformities into account.     

A cold pool formation in the Lakshadweep Sea during Indian summer monsoon

In Lakshadweep Sea, the distribution of observed sea surface temperature (SST) during summer monsoon season (June–September) shows the presence of a distinct cold pool (SST?<?27°C). Available satellite measurements and assimilated datasets are utilized to investigate the characteristics and mechanisms that govern the genesis and evolution of this cold pool. It is located in the grid 8° N–10° N/74° E–76° E, with a diameter of about 200?km, centered approximately at 9° N/75° E off the southwest coast of India. This cold pool, which we call as the Lakshadweep cold pool (LCP), forms invariably during the fifth pentad of June as a small cooling within the cold surface waters advected northward along the southwest coast of India from the Arabian Sea Mini Cold Pool. With the progress of the season, LCP intensifies, spread radially outwards and shows a westward spread during late July. Maximum intensity and radial spread are attained during July. By the end of August, LCP extends northward along the coast up to 13° N, and by September, it gets completely dissipated. Within the LCP, the thermocline exhibits pronounced shoaling compared to the adjacent regions. The intensity, duration, and spread of LCP showed annual variations in each summer monsoon during 1998–2005 and owes its origin to upwelling produced by uplift of poleward undercurrent induced by an elevated bathymetry in the presence of a seamount. The mechanism for the intensification is thought to be due to the combined action of Ekman pumping due to positive wind stress curl, eddy-induced upwelling due to the Lakshadweep low, and the intensification of the poleward undercurrent during the season. West- and northward spreads of LCP are attributed to the westward movement of Lakshadweep Low and the northerly spreading and intensification of positive wind stress curl, respectively. The mechanisms that govern this phenomenon are thoroughly examined.     

Enhanced turbulent mixing induced by strong wind on the South China Sea shelf

Integrated observations were made on the South China Sea shelf at 19°37’ N, 112°04’ E, under strong wind and heavy raining weather conditions in August 2005. Current data were obtained using a moored 150-kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate were measured with TurboMapII, and temperature was recorded by thermistor chains. Both the mixed layer thickness and the corresponding mean dissipation rate increased after the strong wind bursts. Average surface mixed layer thickness was 13.4 m pre-wind and 22.4 m post-wind, and the average turbulent dissipation rate in the mixed layer pre-wind and post-wind were 4.26 × 10^?7 and 1.09 × 10^?6 Wkg^?1, respectively. The post-wind dissipation rate was 2.5 times larger than the pre-wind dissipation rate in the interior layer and four times larger in the intermediate water column. Spectra and vertical mode analysis revealed that near-inertial motion post-wind, especially with high modes, was strengthened and propagated downward toward the intermediate layer. The downward group velocity of near-inertial current was about 8.1 × 10^?5 ms^?1 during the strong wind bursts. The mean percentage of wind work transmitted into the intermediate layer is about 4.2 %. The ratio of post-wind high-mode energy to total horizontal kinetic energy increased below the surface mixed layer, which would have caused instabilities and result in turbulent mixing. Based on these data, we discuss a previous parameterization that relates dissipation rate, stratification, and shear variance calculated from baroclinic currents with high modes (higher than mode 1) which concentrate a large fraction of energy.     

Dynamical response of low-latitude middle atmosphere to major sudden stratospheric warming events

The zonally averaged UK Meteorological Office (UKMO) zonal mean temperature and zonal winds for the latitudes 8.75°N and 60°N are used to investigate the low-latitude dynamical response to the high latitude sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events that occurred during winter of the years 1998–1999, 2003–2004 and 2005–2006. The UKMO zonal mean zonal winds at 60°N show a short-term reversal to westward winds in the entire upper stratosphere and lower mesosphere and the low-latitude winds (8.75°N) show enhanced eastward flow in the upper stratosphere and strong westward flow in the lower mesosphere during the major SSW events at high latitudes. The mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) zonal winds acquired by medium frequency (MF) radar at Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E) show a change of wind direction from eastward to westward several days before the onset of SSW events and these winds decelerate and weak positive (eastward) winds prevail during the SSW events. The time variation of zonal winds over Tirunelveli is nearly similar to the one reported from high latitudes, except that the latter shows intense eastward winds during the SSW events. Besides, the comparison of daily mean meridional winds over Tirunelveli with those over Collm (52°N, 15°E) show that large equatorial winds are observed over Tirunelveli during the 2005–2006 event and over Collm during the 1998–1999 events. The variable response of MLT dynamics to different SSW events may be explained by the variability of gravity waves.     

Vertical structure of the midlatitude winter <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis> region of the ionosphere during postmidnight enhancements in <Emphasis Type="Italic">NmF</Emphasis>2

The behavior of the vertical structure of the ionospheric F2 layer, including the variations in the heights of the maximum and bottom of the layer, its half-thickness, and electron content at some fixed heights during postmidnight enhancements in the electron density at the F2 layer maximum (NmF2), has been studied based on the data of the ionospheric vertical sounding, conducted in Alma-Ata (76°55′ E, 43°15′ N) in 2005–2006. The analysis of the amplitude and phase relationships between the measured parameters of the layer made it possible to qualitatively complete the existing concepts of the mechanisms by which the discussed effect is maintained. It is shown that the accelerated decrease in the electron density of the layer within a short time interval preceding the beginning of the postmidnight increase in NmF2 is governed not only by recombination processes but also by the plasma redistribution over the increasing thickness of the layer. The regularly observed effect of the delay in the moment of reversal in the motion direction of the layer bottom relative to the corresponding moment for the layer maximum made it possible to conclude that the meridional wind asynchronously reverses its direction from the poleward daytime to the equatorward nighttime in the entire layer: the direction changes later with decreasing height.     

Anomalous Variation in GPS TEC,Land and Ocean Parameters Prior to 3 Earthquakes

The present study reports the analysis of GPS TEC prior to 3 earthquakes (M > 6.0). The earthquakes are: (1) Loyalty Island (22°36′S, 170°54′E) on 19 January 2009 (M = 6.6), (2) Samoa Island (15°29′S, 172°5′W) on 30 August 2009 (M = 6.6), and (3) Tohoku (38°19′N, 142°22′E) on 11 March 2011 (M = 9.0). In an effort to search for a precursory signature we analysed the land and ocean parameters prior to the earthquakes, namely SLHF (Land) and SST (Ocean). The GPS TEC data indicate an anomalous behaviour from 1–13 days prior to earthquakes. The main purpose of this study was to explore and demonstrate the possibility of any changes in TEC, SST, and SLHF before, during and after the earthquakes which occurred near or beneath an ocean. This study may lead to better understanding of response of land, ocean, and ionosphere parameters prior to seismic activities.     

Secondary planetary waves in the middle atmosphere: numerical simulation and analysis of the neutral wind data

A numerical simulation of secondary waves generated by nonlinear interaction has been used to interpret the behaviour of planetary waves observed by a meteor radar in the UK (53°27′N, 1°35′W) during the summer of 1992. A new explanation is proposed for the long-period variability of the (3,0) mode quasi-two-day wave in the mesosphere and lower-thermosphere, involving the (2,0) Rossby-gravity mode and pseudo-two-day secondary waves with the same zonal wavenumbers as those of the primary (2,0) and (3,0) modes. These pseudo-two-day secondary waves arise from the nonlinear interaction of the Rossby-gravity modes with long-period oscillations of the zonally averaged flow in the equatorial stratosphere, which can be generated by the interaction between the 10 and 16 day planetary waves. Other maxima existing in the neutral wind power spectra can be identified with various secondary waves originating from nonlinear interaction between the quasi-two-day and long-period planetary waves.     

MF radar observations of mean winds over Yamagawa (31.2°N, 130.6°E) and Wakkanai (45.4°N, 141.7°E)

Continuous MF radar measurements of mesospheric mean winds are in progress at the observatories in Yamagawa (31.2°N, 130.6°E) and Wakkanai (45.4°N, 141.7°E). The observations at Yamagawa and Wakkanai were started in August 1994 and September 1996, respectively. The real-time wind data are used for the study of major large scale dynamic features of the middle atmosphere such as mean winds, tides, planetary waves, and gravity waves, etc. In the present study of mean winds, we have utilized the data collected until June 1999, which include the simultaneous observation period of little more than two and a half years, for the two sites. The database permits us to draw conclusions on the characteristics of mean winds and to compare the mean wind structure over these sites. The mean prevailing zonal winds at both sites are dominated by westward/eastward motions in summer/winter seasons below 90 km. Meridional circulation at meteor heights is generally southward during most times of the year and it extends to lower mesospheric heights during summer also. The summer westward jet at Wakkanai is consistently stronger than those at Yamagawa. However, the winter eastward winds have identical strength at both locations. Meridional winds also show larger values at Wakkanai. The mean wind climatology has been examined and compared with the MU radar observations over Shigaraki (34.9°N, 136.1°E). The paper also presents the results of the comparison between the MF radar winds and the latest empirical model values (HWM93 model) proposed by Hedin et al. (1996. Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics 58, 1421–1447). Hodograph analyses of mean winds conducted for the summer and winter seasons show interesting similarities and discrepancies.