On the Tomographic Reconstruction of the 3D Electron Density for the Solar Corona from STEREO COR1 Data

We present for the first time a three-dimensional reconstruction of the electron density in the corona at distances from 1.5R _⊙ to 4R _⊙ using COR1 STEREO observations. The reconstruction is performed using a regularized tomography inversion method for two biweekly periods corresponding to Carrington Rotations 2058 and 2066. Images from the two STEREO spacecraft are used to compare the reconstructed density structures with coronal features located by triangulation. We find that the location of a bright tip of a helmet streamer obtained from the tomographic reconstruction is in good agreement with the location obtained by triangulation. The reconstructed density structure of the equatorial streamer belt is largely consistent with the variation of the current sheet derived from a potential magnetic field extrapolation for most of the equatorial region and for an MHD model of the corona. A zero-value density region in the reconstruction is identified with a low-density region seen in an EUVI image below the reconstruction domain.     

On 3D Reconstruction of Coronal Mass Ejections: I. Method Description and Application to SECCHI-COR Data

The data from SECCHI-COR1 and SECCHI-COR2 coronagraphs onboard the STEREO mission, which was launched in October 2006, provide us with the first-ever stereoscopic images of the Sun’s corona. These observations were found to be useful in inferring the three-dimensional structure of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their propagation direction in space. We apply four methods for reconstructing CMEs: i) Forward modeling technique; ii) Local correlation tracking (to identify the same feature in COR Ahead and COR Behind images) plus tie-point reconstruction technique; iii) Center of mass of the structures in a given epipolar plane plus tie-point reconstruction technique; iv) Polarization ratio technique. The four techniques are applied to three structured CMEs observed by COR1 and COR2 instruments, respectively, on 15 May 2007, 31 August 2007, and 25 March 2008. A comparison of the results obtained from the application of the four reconstruction algorithms is presented and discussed.     

Stability of massive ground ice bodies in University Valley,McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica: Using stable O–H isotope as tracers of sublimation in hyper-arid regions

To date, studies of the stability of subsurface ice in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica have been mainly based on climate-based vapor diffusion models. In University Valley (1800 m), a small glacier is found at the base of the head of the valley, and adjacent to the glacier, a buried body of massive ice was uncovered beneath 20–40 cm of loose cryotic sediments and sandstone boulders. This study assesses the origin and stability of the buried body of massive ice by measuring the geochemistry and stable O–H isotope composition of the ice and applies a sublimation and molecular diffusion model that accounts for the observed trends. The results indicate that the buried massive ice body represents an extension of the adjacent glacier that was buried by a rock avalanche during a cold climate period. The contrasting δ¹⁸O profiles and regression slope values between the uppermost 6 cm of the buried massive ice (upward convex δ¹⁸O profile and S_D-18O = 5.1) and that below it (progressive increase in δ¹⁸O and S_D-18O = 6.4) suggest independent post-depositional processes affected the isotope composition of the ice. The upward convex δ¹⁸O profile in the uppermost 6 cm is consistent with the ice undergoing sublimation. Using a sublimation and molecular diffusion model, and assuming that diffusion occurred through solid ice, the sublimation rate needed to fit the measured δ¹⁸O profile is 0.2 ? 10^? 3 mm yr^? 1, a value that is more similar to net ice removal rates derived from ³He data from cobbles in Beacon Valley till (7.0 ? 10^? 3 mm yr^? 1) than sublimation rates computed based on current climate (0.1–0.2 mm yr^?1). We suggest that the climate-based sublimation rates are offset due to potential ice recharge mechanisms or to missing parameters, particularly the nature and thermo-physical properties of the overlying sediments (i.e., temperature, humidity, pore structure and ice content, grain size).     

Si IX Emission Lines in Spectra Obtained with the Solar euv Research Telescope and Spectrograph (Serts)

Theoretical electron-density-sensitive emission line ratios involving 2s ²2p ²–2s2p ³ transitions in Si?ix between 223 and 350 Å are presented. A comparison of these with an extensive dataset of solar-active-region, quiet-Sun, subflare and off-limb observations, obtained during rocket flights by the Solar EUV Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS), reveals generally very good agreement between theory and experiment. This provides support for the accuracy of the line-ratio diagnostics, and hence the atomic data on which they are based. In particular, the density-sensitive intensity ratio I(258.10 Å)/I(349.87 Å) offers an especially promising diagnostic for studies of coronal plasmas, as it involves two reasonably strong emission lines and varies by more than an order of magnitude over the useful density range of 10⁹–10¹¹ cm^?3. The 2s ²2p ^2 1 S ₀–2s2p ^3 1 P ₁ transition at 259.77 Å is very marginally identified for the first time in the SERTS database, although it has previously been detected in solar flare observations.

     

Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph Polarimetric Calibration

We present a polarimetric characterization and correction for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO) C2 and C3 white light coronagraphs. By measuring the uncorrected polarization angles in solar minimum C2 coronal images, we have determined that the coronagraph acts as an optical phase retarder which converts a small fraction of the incoming radiation polarization from linear to circular. In addition, from the measurements of polarization angle in C3 coronal images we have determined that a component of the instrumentally scattered light in that instrument is polarized. We infer the retardation angle for C2 and compute the corresponding Mueller matrix, and determine the polarized stray light spatial profile in C3. The C2 Mueller matrix and C3 polarized stray light profiles are used to correct for instrumental effects in solar minimum coronal observations to obtain polarized brightness between two and thirty-two solar radii, which show deep polar coronal holes extending to the limit of the field of view.     

Records of organochlorine pesticides in soils and sediments on the southwest of Buenos Aires Province,Argentina

The present study fills a gap in the knowledge in regards to the occurrence of banned pesticides at both coastal and inland locations at the Southwest Buenos Aires region, Argentina. Superficial sediment and soil samples were collected from different sites along the Bahia Blanca Estuary and surrounding sites to assess the concentration levels and spatial distribution of 12 selected organochlorine pesticides (OCs); 13 spatial locations including inland and shore-coast were sampled to evaluate occurrence and concentration levels of hexachlorocyclohexanes α-HCH, β-HCH, δ-HCH, γ-HCH, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its degradation products (DDXs: p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDD) and the polychlorobenzenes PeCB (pentachlorobenzene) and HCB (hexachlorobenzene). After cleaning and extractions steps, samples were analyzed by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. ∑OCs (sum of all studied compounds) ranged between 0.206 and 1040 ng g^?1 dw (mean?=?82.4 and SD?=?277 ng g^?1 dw). Total HCHs (sum of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH and δ-HCH) ranged from 0.0858 to 0.876 ng g^?1 dw (mean?=?0.43 and SD?=?0.23 ng g^?1 dw), DDXs (sum of p,p′and o,p′ isomers) from 0.080 to 1040 ng g^?1 dw (mean?=?81.3 and SD?=?277 ng g^?1 dw). Lower concentrations were found for PeCB (mean?=?0.095 and SD 0.17 ng g^?1 dw) and HCB (mean?=?0.56 and SD 1.7 ng g^?1 dw). Principal component analysis (PCA) permitted the extraction of underlying information about common factors, providing an overview of the distribution of pesticides and allowing the characterization of sites in regards to the major pesticide signature.     

Surface evolution of salt‐encrusted playas under extreme and continued dryness

Miocene continental saltpans are scattered in the Central Valley of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on Earth. These evaporitic deposits are hydrologically inactive, and are detached from groundwater brines or aquifers. The surface of the saltpans, also known as salars, comprises desiccation polygons, commonly with nodular salt structures along their sides. The morphology and bulk mineralogy of salt polygons differs between and within salars, and the shape and internal structure of salt nodules varies between different polygon types. Based on field observation, and mineralogy and crystallography data, we generated a conceptual model for the genesis and evolution of these surface features, whereby rare rainfall events are responsible for the transformation of desiccation salt polygons and the initial formation of salt nodules along polygon borders. In addition, frequent, but less intense, deliquescence events further drive the evolution of salt nodules, resulting in a characteristic internal structure that includes laminations, and changes in porosity and crystal morphologies. As a result, and despite the extreme dryness, the surfaces of fossil salars are dynamic on timescales of several years to decades, in response to daily cycles in atmospheric moisture, and also to rare and meager rainfall events. We propose that fossil salars in the Atacama Desert represent an end stage in the evolution of evaporitic deposits under extreme and prolonged dryness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effects of Streamers on the Shape of the K-Coronal Spectrum

We conducted an experiment in conjunction with the total solar eclipse of 21 June 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia, to obtain the K-coronal spectrum simultaneously from multiple locations on the solar corona. Then we matched the observed K-coronal spectra with the modeled K-coronal spectra to determine the coronal electron temperature and its bulk flow speed. Here the models assumed a symmetric and isothermal corona with the coronal electron flowing away from the Sun at a constant flow speed. We were able to make remarkable matches between the observations and the models. In this paper we will try to explain how the anomalies in the matches could be accounted for with the introduction of streamers in the K-coronal spectral models.     

GPR prospecting in a prehispanic village,NW Argentina

Palo Blanco is an approximately 1600 year old archaeological site located in Fiambalá Valley, in the Andean region of Argentina. Pioneer archaeological studies published in the 70s reported the existence of five residential units in this site. Also a small cemetery which included three circular tombs was discovered near to these buildings. Since that time, a profuse sedimentation covered the zone, so nowadays there are no evidences of most of these buildings on surface. Because of an imprecise location of the structures, most of the buildings became in fact missed. Then, in this work we aimed to re-localize two of the missed buildings, a residential unit and a tomb, by applying ground penetrating radar (GPR) methodology. We used fast fixed offset GPR configurations to investigate two areas in which these buildings could be expected. We used experimental and synthetic patterns to aid the identification of the characteristic signals due to the archaeological targets. We applied migration to the data to better define and resolve unclear anomalous signals. The employed methodology revealed the location of both buildings. Also a number of new non-reported structures were predicted and confirmed.