Basic concepts in the electrodynamics of the auroral ionosphere

Equations governing the large-scale electrodynamic processes in the auroral ionosphere are systematically discussed and the limits to drawing conclusions from incomplete sets of equations are evaluated. The vectors of electic current density,j, and electric field,E, are expressed as explicit functions of the densities, pressures and velocities of the constituents of the ionosphere.The equation div (·E)=0 is an identity satisfied by any solution of the full set of equations governing the problem and cannot be treated as a differential equation forE in which the components of the conductivity tensor are given parameters. The concept of the height-integrated conductivities and the conclusions based on it are inconsistent with the equations of momentum balance for the ionospheric constituents.The global structure of the auroral ionosphere is determined by the state of equilibrium between the pressure gradients, the inertial forces and thej×B-force associated with the auronal electrojets flowing along the auroral oval. The time-averaged, global, electric field is directed across the auroral oval. Its value is substantially affected by the motions of neutral particles. The velocity vector of the neutrals has a substantial component directed across the oval.     

On the possibility of generating gravitational radiation by the sun

In the present paper the gravitational radiation emitted from large solar energetic flares and from the Sun as a whole in the course of the generation shock waves and quadrupole oscillations of the solar body are studied. The expected densities of the energy fluxes of the gravitational radiation at the distance of the Earth are calculated.     

Planetary wave activity in the lower ionosphere during CRISTA I campaign in autumn 1994 (October-November)

On the basis of MEM spectrum analysis, the main planetary scale fluctuations formed in the lower ionosphere are studied over a period of 3–25 days during the CRISTA campaign (October-November 1994). Three dominant period bands are found: 3–5, 6–8 and 15–23 (mainly 16–18) days. For 7–8 and 16–18 day fluctuations, propagation was eastward with wave numbers K = 3 and K = 1, respectively. The magnitude of planetary wave activity in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere during the CRISTA campaign seems to be fairly consistent with the expected undisturbed normal/climatological state of the atmosphere at altitudes of 80–100 km.     

Spectrum of geomagnetic activity in the period range 5–60 days: possible lunar influences

The series of daily Ap-indices has been subdivided into pentades (1932–1936 etc.) and spectra with fine-frequency resolution have been calculated for the indices in each of these intervals. Daily sunspot numbers have been processed in the same way. The average spectrum from all spectra in the pentades, as well as the spectrum from the whole interval have been calculated, and significant peaks have been determined. There is a significant difference between the spectra in the pentades containing the solar activity minimum (1932–1936, 1942–1946 etc.) and those containing the solar activity maximum (1937–1941, 1947–1951 etc.). Most peaks can be interpreted as a response to solar rotation and to the structure of solar wind speed (two high-speed streams per solar rotation), both modulated by the 11-year, annual and semi-annual waves. No significant peak corresponding to the period of the synodic month, or its half has been found. This result suggests that the influence of lunar cycles on some natural phenomena (if any) is not mediated by geomagnetic activity.     

Modelled sulphur depositions over Croatia

Summary A Lagrangian receptor-oriented long-range transport model has been applied in order to estimate the relative contribution of domestic, Austrian, Hungarian, Italian and Slovenian emissions to the long-term deposition of airborne sulphur in Croatia. During the November 1, 1991 to April 30, 1992 period 163.31 thousands of tonnes of sulphur were deposited over Croatia., where 90.9% originated from transboundary emission sources. Relative contribution of domestic sources was the biggest (9.1%), while Austrian contribution was the smallest (0.4%).With 1 Figure     

The Relationship Between the Sava River Basin Annual Precipitation, its Discharge and the Large-Scale Atmospheric Circulation

Summary The Sava river annual precipitation field and the discharge anomalies in the Sava river catchment are compared to each other and to mean sea-level pressure anomalies over Europe. In addition to a correlation analysis a clustering technique is used for the time series from 1901–1990. Discharge data are available only for the period 1931–1990. As expected, a high correlation exists between the Sava river discharge and precipitation, but also, remarkable correlation is found between air pressure anomalies and Sava river precipitation. Grouping the years into four classes, the correlation is shown to be especially high for extreme events. A possible application of these results might be for the downscaling of long-lead climate anomaly forecasts. Received November 30, 1995 Revised May 21, 1998     

The Effect of Atmospheric Organic Compounds on the Fe-Catalyzed S(IV) Autoxidation in Aqueous Solution

Laboratory experiments were conducted with real atmospheric aerosol particles as well as with synthetic solutions under dark conditions, to simulate some of the chemical features of aerosols. In solutions obtained by the leaching of aerosols (size range >D _ae: 0.4–1.6 m) that contained sufficient amounts of transition metal ions (e.g. Fe) and organic species (e.g. oxalate), S(IV) oxidation rates were significantly lower than those expected from the Fe-catalyzed S(IV) autoxidation in Milli-Q water. The results suggest that oxalate is responsible for much of the observed inhibition. Acetate and formate also inhibit the reaction, but to a much lesser extent. Oxalate has a strong inhibiting effect on the Fe-catalyzed S(IV) autoxidation at all investigated pH values (2.8, 3.7 and 4.5). It was established that Fe(III)-oxalato complexes affect the redox cycling of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and that the observed decrease of the reaction rate is caused by the reduced amount of catalytically active Fe(III) due to the complexation with oxalate. For the system Fe-S(IV)-O₂-oxalate at initial pH 3.7 the reaction rate was calculated using exponential simplification to account for oxalate influence on the amount of free Fe(III) by the following equation:–r_S(IV) = k · [S(IV)] · [Fe(III))] · e ^-b·[Ox]     

On Seasonal Variation of the 162 kHz Radio Wave Reflection Height: Model Calculations and Their Comparison with Experiments

The seasonal variation of the 162 kHz radio wave reflection height was measured indirectly at Panská Ves using the IPHA method described in Fier and Matys (1992). The fact that these waves are reflected at the height where the electron concentration is about 3.5 × 10 ⁸ m ^–3 was used to model this height using a 1-D model of the lower ionosphere electron concentration described by Ondráková (1993). The comparison of the measurements and model results indicates that: 1. The annual mean of the reflection height derived from measurements is several km higher than that derived from the model; 2. the character of the modelled seasonal variation is different from the real variation shown in Fier and Latovika (1992). The differences are discussed.     

On the Spectral Decomposition of Geopotential and Temperature Fields in the Stratosphere

The spectral structure of stratospheric fields (temperature and geopotential) is analyzed in terms of spherical harmonics in an effort to study the long-term behaviour of large-scale circulation patterns, as well as their connections to some extra-terrestrial effects. The daily meteorological data from the Free University Berlin (FUB) cover more or less the period 1976–1996 and are available for stratospheric levels of 50, 30 and 10 hPa. The analysis of the annual cycle of spherical harmonics is introduced, and changes of the principal wave components are compared with the changes in different sets of solar, geomagnetic and global circulation indices. This paper also deals with interannual variability with special emphasis on quasibiennial oscillations (QBO) and El Nino and Southern Oscillations (ENSO). Although this is a rather preliminary study, the decomposition of the stratospheric field into complex spherical harmonics seems to be a powerful technique in investigating and qualifying the response of the global atmospheric system to the changes in solar and geomagnetic activity, and in qualifying the relationships between large-scale circulation patterns and various oscillations such as QBO or ENSO, Using this technique, reasonable strong connections were found between wave numbers and interannual factors, and these connections were tentatively interpreted in terms of statistics. A very high degree of correlation was found for the four-trough shape of the polar vortex.     

Rural diversification and socio-economic transformation in Croatia

Rural diversification in Croatia is well advanced because many rural families have been able to find work in secondary and tertiary activities without the need to migrate to the towns. Many rural settlements have now attained an urban character although there are regional variations, including a contrast between the continental zone with a relatively high level of commitment to agriculture and the coastal areas, with pronounced ‘deagrarisation’ where the ports and tourist resorts are well developed and the natural resource conditions for agriculture are poor. These variations are examined at the municipality level with reference to two key indicators: the share of nonagricultural population and the share of workers in the total active population. Four categories of socio-economic transformation are recognised: more urbanised, urbanised, less urbanised and rural. The main regional differences between the continental and coastal areas are confirmed with the latter showing a relatively high level of socio-economic transformation through the prominence of more highly urbanised municipalities. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.