Machine Leaning-Based Investigation of the Associations between CMEs and Filaments

In this work we study the association between eruptive filaments/prominences and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) using machine learning-based algorithms that analyse the solar data available between January 1996 and December 2001. The support vector machine (SVM) learning algorithm is used for the purpose of knowledge extraction from the association results. The aim is to identify patterns of associations that can be represented using SVM learning rules for the subsequent use in near real-time and reliable CME prediction systems. Timing and location data in the US National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) filament catalogue and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO) CME catalogue are processed to associate filaments with CMEs. In the previous studies, which classified CMEs into gradual and impulsive CMEs, the associations were refined based on the CME speed and acceleration. Then the associated pairs were refined manually to increase the accuracy of the training dataset. In the current study, a data-mining system is created to process and associate filament and CME data, which are arranged in numerical training vectors. Then the data are fed to SVMs to extract the embedded knowledge and provide the learning rules that can have the potential, in the future, to provide automated predictions of CMEs. The features representing the event time (average of the start and end times), duration, type, and extent of the filaments are extracted from all the associated and not-associated filaments and converted to a numerical format that is suitable for SVM use. Several validation and verification methods are used on the extracted dataset to determine if CMEs can be predicted solely and efficiently based on the associated filaments. More than 14?000 experiments are carried out to optimise the SVM and determine the input features that provide the best performance.     

The “Same Side – Opposite Side Effect” of the Heliospheric Current Sheet in Ionospheric Negative Storms

Using 141 CME-interplanetary shock (CME-IPS) events and foF2 from eight ionosonde stations from January 2000 to September 2005, from the statistical results we find that there is a “same side?–?opposite side effect” in ionospheric negative storms, i.e., a large portion of ionospheric negative disturbances are induced by the same-side events (referring to the CMEs whose source located on the same side of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) as the Earth), while only a small portion is associated with the opposite-side events (the CMEs source located on the opposite side of the HCS as the Earth); the ratio is 128 vs. 46, and it reaches 41 vs. 14 for the intense ionospheric negative storms. In addition, the ionospheric negative storms associated with the same-side events are often more intense. A comparison of the same-side event (4 April 2000) and the opposite-side event (2 April 2001) shows that the intensity of the ionospheric negative storm caused by the same-side event is higher than that by the opposite-side event, although their initial conditions are quite similar. Our preliminary results show that the HCS has an “impeding” effect to CME-IPS, which results in a shortage of energy injection in the auroral zone and restraining the development of ionospheric negative perturbations.     

In-situ Observations of a Co-rotating Interaction Region at Venus Identified by IPS and STEREO

This paper reports on the first combination of results from in-situ plasma measurements at Venus, using data from Venus Express, and remote sensing data from observations of interplanetary scintillation (IPS). In so doing, we demonstrate the value of combining remote sensing and in-situ techniques for the purpose of investigating interaction between solar wind, under several different conditions, and the Venusian magnetosphere. The ion mass analyser instrument (IMA) is used to investigate solar wind interaction with the Venusian magnetosphere in the presence of two different solar wind phenomena; a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) and a coronal mass ejection (CME). The CIR, detected with IPS and sampled in-situ at Venus is found to dramatically affect upstream solar wind conditions. These case studies demonstrate how combining results from these different data sources can be of considerable value when investigating such phenomena.     

Terrestrial and Martian weathering signatures of xenon components in shergottite mineral separates

Abstract– Xenon‐isotopic ratios, step‐heating release patterns, and gas concentrations of mineral separates from Martian shergottites Roberts Massif (RBT) 04262, Dar al Gani (DaG) 489, Shergotty, and Elephant Moraine (EET) 79001 lithology B are reported. Concentrations of Martian atmospheric xenon are similar in mineral separates from all meteorites, but more weathered samples contain more terrestrial atmospheric xenon. The distributions of xenon from the Martian and terrestrial atmospheres among minerals in any one sample are similar, suggesting similarities in the processes by which they were acquired. However, in opaque and maskelynite fractions, Martian atmospheric xenon is released at higher temperatures than terrestrial atmospheric xenon. It is suggested that both Martian and terrestrial atmospheric xenon were initially introduced by weathering (low temperature alteration processes). However, the Martian component was redistributed by shock, accounting for its current residence in more retentive sites. The presence or absence of detectable ¹²⁹Xe from the Martian atmosphere in mafic minerals may correspond to the extent of crustal contamination of the rock’s parent melt. Variable contents of excess ¹²⁹Xe contrast with previously reported consistent concentrations of excess ⁴⁰Ar, suggesting distinct sources contributed these gases to the parent magma.     

Secular perturbations in general planetary theory

Based on a general planetary theory, the secular perturbations in the motion of the eight major planets (excluding Pluto) have been derived in polynomial form. The results are presented in the tables. The linear terms of second order with respect to the planetary masses and the nonlinear terms of first order up to the fifth (and partly seventh) degree with respect to eccentricities and inclinations were taken into account in the right-hand members of the secular system. Calculations were carried out by computer with the use of a system that performed analytic operations on power series with complex coefficients.

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Cosmic neutrinos of ultra-high energies and detection possibility

The fluxes and spectra of galactic and extragalactic neutrinos at energy 10¹¹–10¹⁹ eV are calculated. In particular, the neutrino flux from the normal galaxies is calculated taking into account the spectral index distribution. The only assumption that seriously affects the calculated neutrino flux atE _v 10¹⁷ eV is the power-like generation spectrum of protons in the entire considered energy region.The normal galaxies with the accepted parameters generate the metagalactic equivalent electron component (electrons+their radiation) with energy density _e8.5×10^–7 eV cm^–3, while the density of the observed diffuse X-ray radiation alone is 100 times higher. This requires the existence of other neutrino sources and we found the minimized neutrino flux under two limitations: (1) the power-law generation spectrum of protons and (2) production of the observed energy density of the diffuse X-an -radiation. These requirements are met in the evolutionary model of origin of the metagalactic cosmic rays with modern energy density _M83.6×10^–7 eV cm^–3.The possibility of experiments with cosmic neutrinos of energyE _v 3×10¹⁷ eV is discussed. The upper bound on neutrino-nucleon cross-section <2.2×10^–29 cm² is obtained in evolutionary model from the observed zenith angular distribution of extensive air showers.In Appendix 2 the diffuse X-and -ray flux arising together with neutrino flux is calculated. It agrees with observed flux in the entire energy range from 1 keV up to 100 MeV.     

Analysis of the intensities and profiles of the spectral line Mg xii 8.42 Å in the solar X-ray spectrum

High resolution profiles of the Mg xii 8.42 Å line in the solar X-ray spectrum were recorded from the Intercosmos 7 satellite. The Mg xii line intensity provides a sensitive indicator of the hot plasma content (T ? 3 × 10⁶ K) in coronal condensations and X-ray flare volumes. The ratio of the line intensity to the intensity of the adjacent continuum has been used to compute approximate thermal models of the emitting regions. For all the investigated coronal condensations the temperature distribution of plasma has been found to be a function monotonically decreasing with temperature. But for some X-ray bursts there occurred a distinct excess of the hot plasma of temperature between 6–10 × 10⁶K. FWHM values of the Mg xii line profiles have been used to estimate ion temperature in the emitting regions.     

The five-minute oscillations in the solar atmosphere

The acoustic overstability in a polytropic plane-parallel atmosphere with superadiabatic temperature gradient and radiative dissipation is demonstrated for optically thick disturbances. The periods of oscillation are found to be in the range 250–480 s and the associated wavelength of the order of 4000 km. The five-minute oscillations in the solar surface are attributed to self-excited sound waves in a layer in the subphotospheric convection zone of about 1000 km thickness.     

Diffuse cosmic gamma-ray background in the 28 ke V-4.1 MeV range from Kosmos 461 observations

Diffuse cosmic background and atmospheric gamma-radiation in the range 28 keV-4.1 MeV were studied with a scintillation spectrometer on board of the Kosmos 461 satellite. Separation of the cosmic and atmospheric components was made possible through a reliable determination of the geomagnetic dependences of albedo gamma-radiation: The spectrum of diffuse background in the energy range covered cannot be fitted with a common law. At energies below 400 keV the spectrum follows a power-law $$I = (5.6 \pm 0.5) \times 10^{ - 3} E^{ - (2.80 \pm 0.05)} cm^{ - 2} s^{ - 1} sr^{ - 1} MeV^{ - 1} .$$ Starting from 400 keV, this power-law breaks down; the spectrum revealing a clearly pronounced shoulder. Extrapolation of the power-law spectrum to higher energies shows that the gamma-ray component responsible for the change in the shape of the spectrum is quite strong, becoming predominant in the diffuse background in the range 1–100 MeV. The intensity of excess radiation is maximum in the region of 700–800 keV reaching ～1.8×10^?2 cm^?2s^?1sr^?1 MeV^?1. The shape of the high energy component spectrum of the diffuse background constructed using the data of Kosmos 461 and SAS-2 is in agreement with the hypotheses of the cosmological origin of the radiation.     

The absorption of soft X-rays from the Crab nebula

The X-ray spectrum of the Crab nebula has been determined in the energy range 0.5 10 keV using thin window proportional counters carried aboard a Centaur IIA rocket launched from TERLS, India. The spectrum can be well represented by a power law with an exponent?2.1 beyond 2 keV. The absorption of the soft X-ray component below 2 keV is clearly seen in the experiment. Attempts to understand quantitatively the spectral features in terms of interstellar absorption lead to a column density of hydrogen in the iirection of the Crab nebula of 3.5×10²¹ H atoms cm^?2, if we adopt a revised version of the interstellar absorption coefficients of Brown and Gould to include the contributions of heavier elements, especially of iron. This value of density is a factor of 2 higher than the density obtained from 21 cm radio observations, but falls well within the range of values for atomic and total hydrogen deducible from UV measurements with satellites and the measured visual extinction coefficients for the Crab nebula. It is concluded that it is not necessary to consider anomalous abundance of elements like carbon or neon either in the source or in the interstellar medium as suggested by some authors. The absorption of X-rays in the interstellar dust in the light of current dust models is presented.