Relativistic electron losses related to EMIC waves during CIR and CME storms

The losses of radiation belt electrons to the atmosphere due to wave–particle interactions with electromagnetic ion-cyclotron (EMIC) waves during corotating interaction region (CIR) storms compared to coronal mass ejections (CME) storms is investigated. Geomagnetic storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases due to large-amplitude Alfvén waves in the solar wind are associated with relativistic electron flux enhancements in the outer radiation belt. The corotating solar wind streams following a CIR in the solar wind contain large-amplitude Alfvén waves, but also some CME storms with high-speed solar wind can have large-amplitude Alfvén waves and extended ‘recovery’ phases. During both CIR and CME storms the ring current protons are enhanced. In the anisotropic proton zone the protons are unstable for EMIC wave growth. Atmospheric losses of relativistic electrons due to weak to moderate pitch angle scattering by EMIC waves is observed inside the whole anisotropic proton zone. During storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases we observe higher atmospheric loss of relativistic electrons than in storms with fast recovery phases. As the EMIC waves exist in storms with both extended and short recovery phases, the increased loss of relativistic electrons reflects the enhanced source of relativistic electrons in the radiation belt during extended recovery phase storms. The region with the most unstable protons and intense EMIC wave generation, seen as a narrow spike in the proton precipitation, is spatially coincident with the largest loss of relativistic electrons. This region can be observed at all MLTs and is closely connected with the spatial shape of the plasmapause as revealed by simultaneous observations by the IMAGE and the NOAA spacecraft. The observations in and near the atmospheric loss cone show that the CIR and CME storms with extended ‘recovery’ phases produce high atmospheric losses of relativistic electrons, as these storms accelerate electrons to relativistic energies. The CME storm with short recovery phase gives low losses of relativistic electrons due to a reduced level of relativistic electrons in the radiation belt.     

Limited fluid-rock interaction at marble-gneiss contacts during Cretaceous granulite-facies metamorphism,Seward Peninsula,Alaska

Stable-isotope profiles show that flat-lying marble units acted as impermeable barriers to upward fluid flow in transitional amphibolite-granulite grade rocks of the Kigluaik Mountains, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The degree of permeability is related to the composition of the marble. The margin of a thick pure dolomite marble chemically reacted with underlying metasyenite (aH₂O=0.2) to form a 2 cm boundary layer of calcite + forsterite by introduction of SiO₂. No fluid penetrated past this reaction front, although the high temperature of metamorphism (800°C) allowed transport of carbon and oxygen isotopes for an additional 2 cm by diffusion through the solid dolomite. A second marble with a higher silica content underwent more decarbonation, which enhanced porosity and lead to a greater extent of isotope transport (2–3 m) in contact with quartzo-feld-spathic gneiss below. An estimate of total fluid flux across the bottom of this marble layer based on the shape of the isotope profile is 1 cm³/cm² directed down, out of the marble. At two other marble-gneiss contacts steep isotopic gradients coincide with lithologic contacts, indicating very little cross-lithology fluid flow. The extent of diffusional transport of isotopes in the marbles is limited and interpreted as indicating the transient presence of a pore fluid, generated by thermally driven devolatilization reactions. No wholesale pervasive advection of C-O-H fluid occurred across the thick, continuous, marble units near the exposed base of the Kigluaik Group section during the entire regional metamorphic cycle. Activities of pore-fluid species were controlled by internal processes. Movement of volatiles and stable-isotopes between contrasting rock-types was dominantly diffusive. Channelized fluid pathways through the marble units developed during uplift and cooling but were not present during peak metamorphism. Heating of the section occurred by conduction, probably from an underlying magma source, and not by advection of a C-O-H fluid.     

Securing the climate benefits of stable forests

Stable forests – those not already significantly disturbed nor facing predictable near-future risks of anthropogenic disturbance – may play a large role in the climate solution, due to their carbon sequestration and storage capabilities. Their importance is recognized by the Paris Agreement, but stable forests have received comparatively little attention through existing forest protection mechanisms and finance. Instead, emphasis has been placed on targeting locations where deforestation and forest degradation are happening actively. Yet stopping deforestation and forest degradation does not guarantee durable success, especially outside the geographic scope of targeted efforts. As a result, today’s stable forests may be at risk without additional efforts to secure their long-term conservation.

We synthesize the gaps in existing policy efforts that could address the climate-related benefits derived from stable forests, noting several barriers to action, such as uncertainty around the level of climate services that stable forests provide and difficulties describing the real level of threat posed. We argue that resource and finance allocation for stable forests should be incorporated into countries’ and donors’ comprehensive portfolios aimed at tackling deforestation and forest degradation as well as resulting emissions. A holistic and forward-looking approach will be particularly important, given that success in tackling deforestation and forest degradation where it is currently happening will need to be sustained in the long term.

Key policy insights

• Climate policies, finance, and implementation have tended to focus on areas of recent forest loss and near-term threats of anthropogenic disturbance, resulting in an imbalance of effort that fails to adequately address stable forests.

• In some contexts, policy measuresintended to secure the climate-related benefits of stable forests have competed poorly against more urgent threats. Policymakers and finance mechanisms should view stable forests as a complementary element within a holistic, long-term approach to resource management.

• International mechanisms and national frameworks should be adjusted and resourced to promote the long-term sustainability and permanence of stable forests.

• Beyond additional resources, the climate benefits of stable forests may be best secured by pro-actively designing implementing policies that recognize the rights and interests of stakeholders who are affected by land management decisions.

     

16–40 Å coronal X-ray emission during the 12 November 1966 eclipse

The solar eclipse of 12 November 1966 was used to study the coronal emission near the limbs in selected emission lines between 16 and 40 Å. Eight fixed-wavelength, curved crystal spectrometers were carried in each of 3 rocket launches to an altitude of 290 km and monitored the flux in each of eight narrow-wavelength intervals encompassing the principal emission lines from the hydrogen-like and helium-like ions of C, N, and O. At totality the emissions dropped to background levels of 1% or less of the full sun values, showing that on the solar limbs on that day there was very little emission above 17000 km in these lines.Work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

Simultaneous optical and incoherent scatter observations of two low-latitude auroras

During the last sunspot maximum, major auroras occurred over Boston, MA (L = 3.1) on 23/24 March 1969 and 8/9 March 1970, during which optical and incoherent scatter radar measurements were made simultaneously from the Blue Hill Observatory and Millstone Field Station, respectively. The paper presents the results of these measurements and attempts a self-consistent interpretation of them. It is found that a major increase (5–10 times) in the abundance of molecular species (O₂ and N₂) at F-region heights must have occurred; this was not accompanied by any appreciable increase in the major neutral species, atomic oxygen. From the radar data, the energy input to the F-region can be separated into direct heating by secondary electrons, downward heat flow from the magnetosphere and a low-energy non-ionizing electron flux. The total observed intensity of the predominant optical emission from atomic oxygen at 6300 Å can then be predicted satisfactorily by summing the contributions to this emission from impact excitation by ambient electrons, from the low-energy precipitating electrons and from dissociative recombination.     

Effects of random phase changes on the formation of synthetic aperture radar imagery

The effects of Gaussian random and linear phase change on the response of the matched azimuth processor of a synthetic aperture imaging radar is analyzed numerically.     

The relationship between sedimentary diatom assemblages and lakewater pH in 35 Quebec lakes,Canada

Surface sediment diatoms from 35 soft-water lakes in southern Quebec were studied to examine the relationship with lakewater pH. The lakes ranged in pH from 5.25 to 7.66. The species composition and the relative abundance of diatoms in the study lakes was found to be closely related to pH and/or factors closely associated with pH. Predictive models were developed to infer lakewater pH using simple linear regression equations of index alpha, index B, and multiple regressions using pH preference categories. Among the predictive models examined here, the multiple regression technique provided the highest correlation coefficient (r²=0.88) and the lowest standard error (±0.26 of a pH unit) in computing diatom-inferred pH. This model appears to be the most appropriate to reconstruct lake pH histories in Quebec region.