Alfvén wave coupling in the auroral current circuit

Auroral phenomena are controlled by the geomagnetic field.Since the terrestrial field lines connect the auroral oval to the equatorial region at large distances, the collisionless plasma in this remote space environment can act as a power supply for the high-latitude upper atmosphere where auroral emissions take place. The coupling process is intimately linked to currents which flow across the local magnetic field direction both in the equatorial part and at the atmospheric end of the auroral field lines. These two auroral key regions are connected through currents flowing along the terrestrial field lines, thereby completing the auroral current circuit. Such field-aligned currents are carried by Alfvén waves, that is, magnetohydrodynamic shear waves, which are thus a means to exchange momentum and energybetween rather remote parts of the geomagnetically controlledspace environment. Auroral dynamics is further affected by a third key region in the auroral current circuit, namely the auroral acceleration region, where parallel electric fields accelerate particle to keV energies. This review focuses on key region coupling through Alfvén waves. Continuity requirements for currents and electric fields provide a convenient means to describe the interaction of Alfvén waves with different plasma regimes. Basic coupling aspects can be demonstrated with the help of a simplified model. Inhomogeneities and nonlinear feedback can lead to resonance effects and instabilities.     

煤系岩石物理力学参数与声波速度之间的关系

通过超声-时间动态测试方法系统地分析了煤系沉积岩石纵波和横波速度,计算了煤系岩石动弹性力学参数,同步测试了煤系岩石的静态力学参数,建立了煤系沉积岩石动弹性力学参数与静弹性力学参数之间和煤系岩石物理力学参数与其声波速度之间的定性定量关系.研究结果表明,煤系岩石的动弹性模量与岩石的纵波或横波速度具有很好的正相关关系,而与泊松比不具有这种正相关关系.煤系岩石的动弹性模量要大于其静弹性模量,而动泊松比要小于其静泊松比,它们之间呈线性相关关系.煤系岩石密度、单轴抗压和抗拉强度与其纵波或横波速度之间也呈正相关关系,它们分别服从二次函数、指数函数和线性函数分布.     

Sedimente und Mikrofaunen im Bereich der Grenzschwelle Zweier Ozeanischer Räume,Dargestellt an Einem Schnitt Über den Island-Färöer-Rücken (Nordatlantischer Ozean Rosengarten — Europäisches Nordmeer)

Zusammenfassung Der Begriff der Grenzschwellen ozeanischer Räume wird definiert und zunächst ihre Bedeutung für die Ausbildung der Beckenfazies dargelegt. Anschließend wird an Hand eines Schnittes über die Färöer-Island-Schwelle gezeigt, daß unter bestimmten hydrographischen Bedingungen auch die Faziesverhältnisse in Schwellenbereichen durch den durch die Dichteunterschiede bedingten Wasseraustausch zwischen zwei ozeanischen Räumen nachhaltig beeinflußt werden können. Es ergibt sich, daß sogar in Wassertiefen von 2000 m und mehr — lediglich als Folge von Überströmungsvorgängen — die Möglichkeit zur Bildung von sandigen Ablagerungen gegeben ist. Nicht jeder Sand des tiefen Wassers braucht demnach durch turbidity currents zu seinem Absatzort verfrachtet zu sein.Der mikrofaunistische Inhalt der Sedimente wird angegeben und in Verbindung mit den hydrographischen Verhältnissen — insbesondere den Temperatur-schwankungen im Grenzbereich zwischen dem kalten subarktischen und dem warmen nordatlantischen Wasser — betrachtet.     

Neuere Veröffentlichungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Consistency of seven different GNSS global ionospheric mapping techniques during one solar cycle

In the context of the International GNSS Service (IGS), several IGS Ionosphere Associated Analysis Centers have developed different techniques to provide global ionospheric maps (GIMs) of vertical total electron content (VTEC) since 1998. In this paper we present a comparison of the performances of all the GIMs created in the frame of IGS. Indeed we compare the classical ones (for the ionospheric analysis centers CODE, ESA/ESOC, JPL and UPC) with the new ones (NRCAN, CAS, WHU). To assess the quality of them in fair and completely independent ways, two assessment methods are used: a direct comparison to altimeter data (VTEC-altimeter) and to the difference of slant total electron content (STEC) observed in independent ground reference stations (dSTEC-GPS). The main conclusion of this study, performed during one solar cycle, is the consistency of the results between so many different GIM techniques and implementations.     

Regional geoid of the Weddell Sea,Antarctica, from heterogeneous ground-based gravity data

We present a geoid solution for the Weddell Sea and adjacent continental Antarctic regions. There, a refined geoid is of interest, especially for oceanographic and glaciological applications. For example, to investigate the Weddell Gyre as a part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and, thus, of the global ocean circulation, the mean dynamic topography (MDT) is needed. These days, the marine gravity field can be inferred with high and homogeneous resolution from altimetric height profiles of the mean sea surface. However, in areas permanently covered by sea ice as well as in coastal regions, satellite altimetry features deficiencies. Focussing on the Weddell Sea, these aspects are investigated in detail. In these areas, ground-based data that have not been used for geoid computation so far provide additional information in comparison with the existing high-resolution global gravity field models such as EGM2008. The geoid computation is based on the remove–compute–restore approach making use of least-squares collocation. The residual geoid with respect to a release 4 GOCE model adds up to two meters and more in the near-coastal and continental areas of the Weddell Sea region, also in comparison with EGM2008. Consequently, the thus refined geoid serves to compute new estimates of the regional MDT and geostrophic currents.     

Big Data Analytics for Earth Sciences: the EarthServer approach

Big Data Analytics is an emerging field since massive storage and computing capabilities have been made available by advanced e-infrastructures. Earth and Environmental sciences are likely to benefit from Big Data Analytics techniques supporting the processing of the large number of Earth Observation datasets currently acquired and generated through observations and simulations. However, Earth Science data and applications present specificities in terms of relevance of the geospatial information, wide heterogeneity of data models and formats, and complexity of processing. Therefore, Big Earth Data Analytics requires specifically tailored techniques and tools. The EarthServer Big Earth Data Analytics engine offers a solution for coverage-type datasets, built around a high performance array database technology, and the adoption and enhancement of standards for service interaction (OGC WCS and WCPS). The EarthServer solution, led by the collection of requirements from scientific communities and international initiatives, provides a holistic approach that ranges from query languages and scalability up to mobile access and visualization. The result is demonstrated and validated through the development of lighthouse applications in the Marine, Geology, Atmospheric, Planetary and Cryospheric science domains.     

The activities of the Ionosphere Working Group of the International GPS Service (IGS)

This article is based on a position paper presented at the IGS Network, Data and Analysis Center Workshop 2002 in Ottawa, Canada, 8–11 April 2002, and introduces the IGS Ionosphere Working Group (Iono_WG). Detailed information about the IGS in general can be found on the IGS Central Bureau Web page: http://igscb.jpl.nasa.gov. The Iono_WG commenced working in June 1998. The working group's main activity currently is the routine production of ionosphere Total Electron Content (TEC) maps with a 2-h time resolution and daily sets of GPS satellite and receiver hardware differential code bias (DCB) values. The TEC maps and DCB sets are derived from GPS dual-frequency tracking data recorded with the global IGS tracking network. In the medium- and long-term, the working group intends to refine algorithms for the mapping of ionospheric parameters from GPS measurements and to realize near–real–time availability of IGS ionosphere products. The paper will give an overview of the Iono_WG activities that include a summary of activities since its establishment, achievements and future plans. Electronic Publication