On the occurrence and characteristics of intense low-altitude electric fields observed by Freja

High-resolution measurements by the double probe electric field instrument on the Freja satellite are presented. The observations show that extremely intense (up to 1 V m⁻¹) and fine-structured (<1 km) electric fields exist at auroral latitudes within the altitude regime explored by Freja (up to 1700 km). The intense field events typically occur within the early morning sector of the auroral oval (01-07 MLT) during times of geomagnetic activity. In contrast to the observations within the auroral acceleration region characterized by intense converging electric fields associated with electron precipitation, upward ion beams and upward field-aligned currents, the intense electric fields observed by Freja are often found to be diverging and located within regions of downward field-aligned currents outside the electron aurora. Moreover, the intense fields are observed in conjunction with precipitating and transversely energized ions of energies 0.5-1 keV and may play an important role in the ion heating. The observations suggest that the intense electric field events are associated with small-scale low-conductivity ionospheric regions void of auroral emissions such as east-west aligned dark filaments or vortex streets of black auroral curls located between or adjacent to auroral arcs within the morningside diffuse auroral region. We suggest that these intense fields also exist at ionospheric altitudes although no such observations have yet been made. This is possible since the height-integrated conductivity associated with the dark filaments may be as low as 0.1 S or less. In addition, Freja electric field data collected outside the auroral region are discussed with particular emphasis on subauroral electric fields which are observed within the 19–01 MLT sector between the equatorward edge of the auroral oval and the inner edge of the ring current.     

Rocket measurements of electric fields,electron density and temperature during different phases of auroral substorms

On 27 January 1979, three rocket payloads were launched from Kiruna, Sweden into different phases of two successive auroral substorrns. Among other experiments, the payloads carried the RIT double probe electric field experiments providing electric field, electron density and temperature data which are presented here. These data supported by rocket particle observations are discussed mainly in association with ground-based observations (magnetometer, TV) and very briefly with GEOS electric field data. The motions of the auroral forms as obtained from auroral pictures are compared with $\text{E × B}\text{/B}{}^2$ drifts and the currents calculated from the rocket electric field and density measurements with the equivalent current system deduced from ground-based magnetometer data (Scandinavian Magnetometer Array).     

In situ measurements of heating parameters in the auroral ionosphere

Four sounding rocket payloads were launched in early 1977 to measure heating parameters in the auroral oval. Geophysical conditions were different for the four flights: auroral arc substorm main phase diffuse aurora, and auroral arc with negative bay. The conductivity tensor and the heating rates of particle and Joule heating are determined. The heating rates range in the order of a few tens of mWm^?2. These magnitudes accord with those determined with the aid of backscatter facilities and other sounding rocket observations.     

准噶尔盆地新生代构造应力对石炭纪火山岩构造裂缝发育的控制

构造裂缝的发育对改善储层的储渗条件有着重要的作用,特别是火山岩这种非传统储层,构造裂缝的发育是其成为有效储层的必要条件。本文主要借助构造应力场有限元数值模拟这一成熟的方法对准噶尔盆地石炭纪火山岩构造裂缝的发育状况进行预测。其两个主要的步骤是首先对区域构造应力场进行模拟计算,然后结合岩石的强度指标判断构造裂缝的发育状况。通过对准噶尔盆地地质背景和构造演化的分析,明确了新生代构造应力场的的决定性作用和石炭纪火山岩的分布区域(划分出六个区域),建立了数值模拟的计算模型、确定了边界条件与载荷。通过二维有限元数值模拟(应用Ansys软件)得到了新生代盆地应力场的分布特征和应力值。结合岩石强度指标,对火山岩构造裂缝(张裂缝和剪裂缝)的发育进行了预测并圈出相应的区域,主要为盆地西北缘、中央坳陷中部、滴西1东部,彩参2周缘、大井-将军庙等地区,对石炭纪火山岩的油气勘探战略选区, 优化勘探部署具有重要指导意义。     

Impact of repository depth on residence times for leaking radionuclides in land-based surface water

The multiple scales of landscape topography produce a wide distribution of groundwater circulation cells that control the hydro-geological environments surrounding geological repositories for nuclear waste. The largest circulation cells tend to discharge water into major river reaches, large freshwater systems or the nearby Baltic Sea. We investigated numerically the release of radionuclides from repositories placed in bedrock with depths between 100 to 2000 meters in a Swedish coastal area and found that leakage from the deeper positions emerges primarily in the major aquatic systems. In effect, radionuclides from the deeper repositories are more rapidly transported towards the Sea by the stream system compared to leakage from more shallow repositories. The release from the shallower repositories is significantly retained in the initial stage of the transport in the (superficial) landscape because the discharge occurs in or near low-order streams with high retention characteristics. This retention and residence time for radioactivity in the landscape control radiological doses to biota and can, thus, be expected to constitute an essential part of an associated risk evaluation.     

Auroral arc classification scheme based on the observed arc-associated electric field pattern

Radar and rocket electric field observations of auroral arcs have earlier been used to identify essentially four different arc types, namely anticorrelation and correlation arcs (with, respectively, decreased and increased arc-associated field) and asymmetric and reversal arcs. In this paper, rocket double probe and supplementary observations from the literature, obtained under various geophysical conditions, are used to organize the different arc types on a physical rather than morphological basis. This classification is based on the relative influence on the electric field pattern from the two current continuity mechanisms, polarization electric fields and Birkeland currents. In this context the tangential electric field plays an essential role and it is thus important that it can be obtained with both high accuracy and resolution. In situ observations by sounding rockets are shown to be better suited for this specific task than monostatic radar observations. Depending on the dominating mechanism, estimated quantitatively for a number of arc-crossings, the different arc types have been grouped into the following main categories: Polarization arcs, Birkeland current arcs and Combination arcs. Finally the high altitude potential distributions corresponding to some of the different arc types are presented.