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.     

Multi-resolution analysis of global surface air temperature and solar activity relationship

In this work the surface temperature anomaly (dTG) and sunspot number (R_z) time series in the period 1880–2000 are studied with wavelet multi-resolution analysis. We found a very low correlation of 0.11 between dTG and R_z in the 11-yr-solar cycle band. A higher correlation of 0.66 is found in the ～22-yr-band with zero lag correlation coefficient between dTG and R_z. Furthermore, the long-term trend is markedly different between dTG and R_z. This might occurs because of the long-term warming on the last century, which is attributed mainly to anthropogenic effects.     

Effect of magnetic storms in variations in the atmospheric electric field at midlatitudes

The observations of the variations in the vertical component of the atmospheric electric field (E _z ) at Swider midlatitude Poland observatory (geomagnetic latitude 47.8°) under the conditions of fair weather during 14 magnetic storms have been analyzed. The effect of the magnetic storm main phase in the daytime midlatitude variations in E _z in the absence of local geomagnetic disturbances has been detected for the first time. Considerable (～100–300 V m^?1) decreases in the electric field strength (E _z ) at Swider observatory were observed in daytime simultaneously with the substorm onset in the nighttime sector of auroral latitudes (College observatory). The detected effects indicate that an intensification of the interplanetary electric field during the magnetic storm main phase, the development of magnetospheric substorms, and precipitation of energetic electrons into the nighttime auroral ionosphere can result in considerable disturbances in the midlatitude atmospheric electric field.     

Long-term variations in sunspot characteristics

Relative variations in the number of sunspots and sunspot groups in activity cycles have been analyzed based on data from the Kislovodsk Mountain Astronomical Station and international indices. The following regularities have been established: (1) The relative fraction of small sunspots decreases linearly and that of large sunspots increase with increasing activity cycle amplitude. (2) The variation in the average number of sunspots in one group has a trend, and this number decreased from ～12 in cycle 19 to ～7.5 in cycle 24. (3) The ratio of the sunspot index (Ri) to the sunspot group number index (G _gr) varies with a period of about 100 years. (4) An analysis of the sunspot group number index (G _gr) from 1610 indicates that the Gnevyshev-Ohl rule reverses at the minimums of secular activity cycles. (5) Ratio of the total area to area of Ssp/Sum nuclei has long-term variation with a period approximately 8 cycles. Minimum ratio falls on 16–17 cycles of activity. (6) It has been indicated that the magnetic field intensity and sunspot area in the current cycle are related to the amplitude of the next activity cycle.     

Dependence of time derivative of horizontal geomagnetic field on sunspot number and aa index

This work investigated an interrelationship between the monthly means of time derivatives of horizontal geomagnetic field, dH/dt, sunspot number, R _z , and aa index for the period of substorms (from ?90 to ?1800 nT) during the years 1990–2009. A total of 232 substorms were identified during the period of study. The time derivative of horizontal geomagnetic field, dH/dt, used as a proxy for geomagnetically induced current (GIC) exhibited high positive correlation with sunspot number (0.86) and aa index (0.8998). The obtained geomagnetic activity is in 92.665% explicable by the combined effect of sunspot number and aa index. The distribution of substorms as a function of years gives a strong support for the existence of geomagnetic activity increases, which implies that as the sunspot number increases the base level of geomagnetic activity increases too.     

On the periodic variations of geomagnetic activity indices Ap and ap

Yearly averages of geomagnetic activity indices Ap for the years 1967–1984 are compared to the respective averages of v² · B_s, where v is the solar wind velocity and B_s is the southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) component. The correlation of both quantities is known to be rather good. Comparing the averages of Ap with v² and B_s separately we find that, during the declining phase of the solar cycle, v² and during the ascending phase B_s have more influence on Ap. According to this observation (using Fourier spectral analysis) the semiannual and 27 days, Ap variations for the years 1932–1993 were analysed separately for years before and after sunspot minima. Only those time-intervals before sunspot minima with a significant 27-day recurrent period of the IMF sector structure and those intervals after sunspot minima with a significant 28–28.5-day recurrent period of the sector structure were used. The averaged spectra of the two Ap data sets clearly show a period of 27 days before and a period of 28–29 days after sunspot minimum. Moreover, the phase of the average semiannual wave of Ap is significantly different for the two groups of data: the Ap variation maximizes near the equinoxes during the declining phase of the sunspot cycle and near the beginning of April and October during the ascending phase of the sunspot cycle, as predicted by the Russell-McPherron (R-M) mechanism. Analysing the daily variation of ap in an analogue manner, the same equinoctial and R-M mechanisms are seen, suggesting that during phases of the solar cycle, when ap depends more on the IMF-B_s component, the R-M mechanism is predominant, whereas during phases when ap increases as v increases the equinoctial mechanism is more likely to be effective.     

Magnetic field variations in the umbra of single sunspots during their passage across the solar disk

Temporal variations of the maximum (B _max) and average (〈B〉) magnetic inductions, minimum (α _min) and average (〈α〉) inclination angles of the field lines to the radial direction from the center of the Sun, and areas of the sunspot umbra S in the umbra of single sunspots during their passage across the solar disk are investigated. The variation of the properties of single sunspots has been considered at different stages of their existence, i.e., during formation, the “quiet” period, and the disappearance stage. It has been found that, for the majority of the selected single sunspots, there is a positive correlation between B _max and S and between 〈B〉 and S defined at different times during the passage of sunspots across the solar disk. It is shown in this case that the nature of the dependence between the parameters α _min and B _max, α _min and S, as well as between 〈α〉 and 〈B〉, 〈α〉 and S, can vary from sunspot to sunspot, but for many sunspots the inclination angle of the field lines decreases on average with the growth of the sunspot umbra area and the field strength.     

Lunar and solar daily variations of the geomagnetic field at Toolangi

Summary Mean hourly values of magnetic declination, horizontal intensity and vertical intensity observed at Toolangi during two ten year periods (1924–1933 and 1949–1958) have been analysed to determine their solar and luni-solar diurnal components. The results, showing the variations of the first four harmonic components with season, degree of magnetic activity and annual sunspot number, are tabulated and discussed. It is shown that there are marked differences in the dependence ofS andL on the various parameters and a tentative explanation of this phenomenon is given.     

Disturbed vertical E×B plasma drifts in the equatorial F2 region at solar minimum deduced from observed NmF2 and hmF2 variations

Ground-based ionosonde and magnetic-field observations on the equatorial station Huancayo, ESRO4 neutral-composition measurements, and theoretical model calculations were used to analyze disturbed E×B vertical plasma drift during the phase of solar minimum in 1973. Vertical drifts calculated for disturbed days do not show the systematic decrease often mentioned in publications, and demonstrate strong dependence on IMF-B_z changes. It is confirmed with the help of our drift calculations that B_z turnings to a northward direction result in a decrease (up to reversal) of normal Sq (eastward during daytime and westward at nighttime) in the zonal component of electric field. Southward B_z excursions enhance normal E_y both in daytime and nighttime hours. Model predictions of E_y’s reaction to IMF-B_z changes are discussed.     

Quasibiennial variations in fractal dimension of solar total irradiance

Based on the Nimbus-7 (1978–1992) data and the parameters of solar activity (Wolf numbers W, solar radioemission F _10.7) and the ionosphere (f ₂ index of the critical frequency of the ionospheric F ₂ layer normalized to noon), the fractal dimension (FD) of the variations in the solar total irradiance (L) has been determined on the moving annual interval using the Higuchi technique. It has been established that FD estimates substantially vary in time. Quasibiennial variations (QBVs), which similarly manifest themselves in all considered processes, are detected in these variations. It is interesting that all fractal QBVs are in phase with QBVs of solar irradiance (L) and are almost in antiphase with QBVs of initial (filtered) W, F _10.7, and f ₂ indices. The presence of QBVs in the solar processes and in their FD and noncoincidence of the former with the latter in phase indicate that QBVs have a two-component structure. The obtained results also indicate that an analysis of the annual FD estimates of the solar and ionospheric processes in studying variations in these processes is reliable.     

Morning polar substorms and variations in the atmospheric electric field

The effects of morning magnetospheric substorms in the variations in near-Earth atmospheric electricity according to the observations of the electric field vertical component (E _z ), at Hornsund polar observatory (Spitsbergen). The E _z, data, obtained under the conditions of fair weather (i.e., in the absence of a strong wind, precipitation, and fog), are analyzed. An analysis of the observations indicated that the development of a magnetospheric substorm in the Earth’s morning sector is as a rule accompanied by positive deviations in E _z, independently of the Hornsund location: in the polar cap or at its boundary. In all considered events, Hornsund was located near the center of the morning convection vortex. In the evening sector, when Hornsund fell in the region of evening convection vortex, the development of a geomagnetic substorm was accompanied by negative deviations in E _z., It has been concluded that the variations in the atmospheric electric field E _z), at polar latitudes, observed during the development of magnetospheric substorms, result from the penetration of electric fields of polar ionospheric convection (which are intensified during a substorm) to the Earth’s surface.     

Global geomagnetic and auroral response to variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure on April 1, 1997

The geomagnetic and auroral response to the variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure (Pd) are investigated in the periods of positive values of the IMF B _z component. It is shown that the growth of Pd results in the intensification of luminosity along the auroral oval and in the poleward expansion of the poleward boundary of luminosity (PBL) in the nightside part of the oval by ～7° in latitude at a velocity of ～0.5 km/s and is accompanied by an enhancement of the DP2-type current system. A decrease in Pd, accompanied by an abrupt reversal of the IMF B _y polarity from positive to negative, results in an enhancement of the westward electrojet and in a poleward shift of PBL and electrojet center. The conclusion has been made that the available three types of auroral response to Pd variations differ in the azimuthal velocity of the luminosity region or particle precipitation along the auroral oval: V ₁ ～ 30–40 km/s, V ₂ ～ 10, and V ₃ ～ 1 km/s.     

The normality of geomagnetic disturbance at Huancayo

Summary Evidence is adduced indicating that geomagnetic disturbance at Huancayo isnormal, that is, comparable with that shown elsewhere in similar latitudes —as contrasted with the remarkable Huancayoabnormality, in the horizontal magnetic force, of the quiet-day solar and lunar daily variations, and in theS _q augmentation (solar flare effect). the normality of magnetic disturbance at Huancayo is manifested by the disturbance daily variationS _D, and by the storm-effectD _st and its associated changes of daily mean (D _m) and the non-cyclic variation; it is not stated whether or not the irregular part,D _i, is normal. The normality ofD _st seems natural according to theChapman-Ferraro theory of magnetic storms, but the normality ofS _D is less easy to explain.Prof.Sydney Chapman, Research Associate, California Institute of Technology, under Signal Corps Project No. 24-172 B; on leave (from April 1950 to March 1951) from Oxford University, Queen's College,Oxford, England.     

Variations in the IMF vertical component in isolated solar wind streams

The regularities of the variations in the IMF B _z component have been studied based on the data on the solar wind streams and their solar sources. Isolated solar wind streams such as magnetic clouds and shock layers before them, undisturbed heliospheric current sheets (HCSs), leading edges and bodies of high-speed streams from coronal holes (HSSs from CHs) have been considered. It has been revealed that each type of isolated streams in the interplanetary medium has it own features in the variations in the value and direction of the B _z component related to the stream immanent properties and conditions of propagation in the interplanetary plasma. The appearance of the southward B _z component is obligatory for all these streams which are, therefore, geoeffective.     

A Tikhonov regularization method to estimate Earth's oblateness variations from global GPS observations

Earth's oblateness is varying due to the redistribution of Earth's fluid mass and the interaction of various components in the Earth system. Nowadays, continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) observations can estimate Earth's oblateness (J₂) variations with the least squares method, but are subject to ill-conditioned equations with limited GPS observations and aliasing errors from truncated degrees. In this paper, a Tikhonov regularization method is used to estimate J₂ variations from global continuous GPS observations. Results show that the J₂ has been better estimated from GPS observations based on a Tikhonov regularization method than the usual least squares method when compared to SLR solutions. Furthermore, the amplitudes and phases of the annual and semi-annual J₂ variations are closer to the SLR results with truncated degrees from 2 to 5. Higher truncated degrees will degrade the J₂ estimate. Annual J₂ variations are best estimated from GPS observations with truncated degree 4 and semi-annual J₂ variations are best estimated with truncated degree 2.     

Studying local sources in the radio range based on the partial solar eclipse of January 4, 2011, at the Mountain Astronomical Station, Central Astronomical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences

Data are presented on a partial solar eclipse, which occurred on January 4, 2011, and was observed with RT-3 (?? = 4.9 cm) and RT-2 (?? = 3.2 cm) radio telescopes at the Mountain Astronomical Station, Central Astronomical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences (MAS CAO RAS). The radioemission flux in two channels was registered using digital methods with a time resolution of 0.5 s. Comparisons were performed with observations in the optical, UV, and X-ray ranges. The following local sources of increased radioemission on the solar disk have been identified: sunspot groups 1 (NOAA 1142) and 126 (NOAA 1141), unipolar sunspot 127 (NOAA 1140), facula areas, and polar and midlatitude coronal holes. It has been indicated that the brightness of a unipolar sunspot (for ?? = 4.9 cm, I _rel = 29.5; for ?? = 3.2 cm, I _rel = 10.1) and two sunspot groups (for ?? = 4.9 cm, I _rel = 10.1 and 14.2; for ?? = 3.2 cm, I _rel = 5.1 and 6.2) is maximal. The radioemission flux of all found coronal holes is decreased, and the decrease is more contrasting in the 4.9-cm range as compared to such a decrease in the 3.2-cm range. Radio maps of the Sun and changes in the radioemission flux of undisturbed solar regions from the center to the limb for ?? = 4.9 and 3.2 cm have been constructed based on the eclipse data.     

Seasonal variations of equatorial spread-F

The occurrence of spread-F at Trivandrum (8.5^N, 77^E, dip 0.5^N) has been investigated on a seasonal basis in sunspot maximum and minimum years in terms of the growth rate of irregularities by the generalized collisional Rayleigh-Taylor (GRT) instability mechanism which includes the gravitational and cross-field instability terms. The occurrence statistics of spread-F at Trivandrum have been obtained using quarter hourly ionograms. The nocturnal variations of the growth rate of irregularities by the GRT mechanism have been estimated for different seasons in sunspot maximum and minimum years at Trivandrum using h’F values and vertical drift velocities obtained from ionograms. It is found that the seasonal variation of spread-F occurrence at Trivandrum can, in general, be accounted for on the basis of the GRT mechanism.     

Statistical relations between the probability of occurrence of Pc3-4 pulsations at high latitudes in the antarctic regions and the solar wind and IMF parameters

Geomagnetic pulsation in the Pc3-4 bands have been studied at high Antarctic latitudes during the local summer. The statistical relation between the occurrence probability of Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations and the solar wind (SW) and IMF parameters has been revealed by verifying the hypothesis that an indication is identical in two distributions. Different dependences of the occurrence probability of high-latitude Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations on the IMF value and orientation and SW density and velocity have been found out. It has been indicated that these dependences remain unchanged in the range of geomagnetic latitudes from 66° to 87°. It has been established that the Pc3 observation probability at small (20°–50°) IMF cone angles (θ = cos^?1(B _x/|B|)) is a factor of 1.5 higher than the average statistical probability and depends on the IMF value, which confirms the hypothesis that the Pc3 source is the turbulent region upstream of the magnetospheric quasiparallel low shock. On the contrary, the probability of occurrence of Pc4 weakly depends on the IMF cone angle and is maximal at θ ～ 0° and ～90°. With increasing negative B _z values, the generation probability increases in the Pc4 band and tends to decrease in the Pc3 band. It has been found out for the first time that the dependence of the Pc4 occurrence probability on the IMF clock angle (? = tan^?2 (B/B _z) is identical in the regions of projections of closed and open field lines, whereas this dependence is different for Pc3. In the region of projections of closed field lines, the Pc3 occurrence probability increases at B _z < 0 and B _y > 0 (the condition under which the cusp shifts on the dawn side) and at B _y < 0 and B _z > 0 (which is typical of the formation of the low-latitude boundary plasma sheet). In the region of projections of open field lines such a probability increases at B _y < 0 and B _z < 0 (which results in the formation of the high-latitude boundary plasma sheet). Based on the discovered regularities, the conclusion has been made that the sources of generation of high-latitude Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations are different.     

Variation of lunar and solar geomagnetic tides with sunspot and geomagnetic activity

Summary Solar and lunar geomagnetic tides inH at Alibag have been determined by spectral analysis of discrete Fourier transforms following the method of Black and the well-known Chapman-Miller method. The seasonal variation inL ₂(H) is opposite to that inL ₂(D) with maximum in thed season and minimum in thej season. In bothH andD the enhancement due to sunspot activity is larger in lunar tide than in solar tide. Surprisingly, the enhancement due to magnetic activity is greater inL ₂(H) than inS ₁(H), while the contrary is true for declination. It is inferred that there is a local time component of the storm time variation contrary to the view expressed by Green and Malin. The enhancements in amplitudesL ₂ andS ₁ inH andD, due to sunspot activity and due to magnetic activity, have been separated. The results show that the amplitude at zero sunspot number increases with magnetic activity in all the four parameters, while the enhancement due to sunspot activity at different levels of magnetic activity decreases with increase ofK _p. But if bothK _p andR are increasing, whenK _p increases enhancement due toR decreases and whenR increases enhancement due toK _p decreases.     

Temperature variations at Lake Qinghai on decadal scales and the possible relation to solar activities

Temperature variations at Lake Qinghai, northeastern Qinghai–Tibet plateau, were reconstructed based on four high-resolution temperature indicators of the δ¹⁸O and the δ¹³C of the bulk carbonate, total carbonate content, and the detrended δ¹⁵N of the organic matter. There are four obvious cold intervals during the past 600 years at Lake Qinghai, namely 1430–1470, 1650–1715, 1770–1820, and 1920–1940, synchronous with those recorded in tree rings at the northeast Qinghai–Tibet plateau. The intervals of 1430–1470, 1650–1715, and 1770–1820 are consistent with the three coldest intervals of the Little Ice Age. These obvious cold intervals are also synchronous with the minimums of the sunspot numbers during the past 600 years, suggesting that solar activities may dominate temperature variations on decadal scales at the northeastern Qinghai–Tibet plateau.