The ionospheric impact of the October 2003 storm event on Wide Area Augmentation System

The United States Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) for civil aircraft navigation is focused primarily on the Conterminous United States (CONUS). Other Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) include the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and the Japanese Multi-transport Satellite-based Augmentation System (MSAS). Navigation using WAAS requires accurate calibration of ionospheric delays. To provide delay corrections for single frequency global positioning system (GPS) users, the wide-area differential GPS systems depend upon accurate determination of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) along radio links. Dual-frequency transmissions from GPS satellites have been used for many years to measure and map ionospheric TEC on regional and global scales. The October 2003 solar-terrestrial events are significant not only for their dramatic scale, but also for their unique phasing of solar irradiance and geomagnetic events. During 28 October, the solar X-ray and EUV irradiances were exceptionally high while the geomagnetic activity was relatively normal. Conversely, 29–31 October was geomagnetically active while solar irradiances were relatively low. These events had the most severe impact in recent history on the CONUS region and therefore had a significant effect on the WAAS performance. To help better understand the event and its impact on WAAS, we examine in detail the WAAS reference site (WRS) data consisting of triple redundant dual-frequency GPS receivers at 25 different locations within the US. To provide ground-truth, we take advantage of the three co-located GPS receivers at each WAAS reference site. To generate ground-truth and calibrate GPS receiver and transmitter inter-frequency biases, we process the GPS data using the Global Ionospheric Mapping (GIM) software developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This software allows us to compute calibrated high resolution observations of TEC. We found ionospheric range delays up to 35 m for the day-time CONUS during quiet conditions and up to 100 m during storm time conditions. For a quiet day, we obtained WAAS planar fit slant residuals less than 2 m (0.4 m root mean square (RMS)) and less than 25 m (3.4 m RMS) for the storm day. We also investigated ionospheric gradients, averaged over distances of a few hundred kilometers. The gradients were no larger than 0.5 m over 100 km for a quiet day. For the storm day, we found gradients at the 4 m level over 100 km. Similar level gradients are typically observed in the low-latitude region for quiet or storm conditions.     

Central Paratethys paleoenvironment during the Badenian (Middle Miocene): evidence from foraminifera and stable isotope (δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C and δ<Superscript>18</Superscript>O) study in the Vienna Basin (Slovakia)

Stable isotope data of the foraminiferal carbonate shells and bulk sediment samples from the Central Paratethys were investigated to contribute to better knowledge of the paleoenvironmental changes in Badenian (Middle Miocene). Five benthic (Uvigerina semiornata, U. aculeata, Ammonia beccarii, Elphidium sp. and Heterolepa dutemplei) and three planktonic taxa (Globigerina bulloides, G. diplostoma and Globigerinoides trilobus), characterising the bottom, intermediate and superficial layers of the water column, were selected from the Vienna Basin (W Slovakia). The foraminiferal fauna and its isotope signal point out to temperature-stratified, nutrient-rich and consequently less-oxygenated marine water during the Middle/Late Badenian. Negative carbon isotope ratios indicate increased input of ¹²C-enriched organic matter to the bottom of the Vienna Basin. Positive benthic δ¹⁸O implies that the global cooling tendency recorded in the Middle Miocene has also affected the intramountain Vienna Basin. In this time, the Central Paratethys has been in the process of isolation. Our stable isotope trend suggests that the communication with Mediterranean Sea has been still more or less active on the south of Vienna Basin (Slovak part) in the Late Badenian, whereas the seawater exchange towards north was apparently reduced already during the Middle Badenian.     

Period analysis at high noise level

Analytical expressions are derived for the variances of some types of the periodograms due to normal-distributed noise present in the data. The equivalence of the Jurkevich and the Warner and Robinson methods is proved. The optimum phase cell number of the Warner and Robinson method is given; this number depends on the data length, signal form and noise level. The results are illustrated by numerical examples.     

How is the sun working?

I assume that at the solar core finite amplitude flows are generated by some process for which a candidate can be the planetary tides. I assume also that there are some local magnetic flux bundles at the solar core with a strength larger than 10³ G. The aim of this paper is to show that these assumptions involve an electric field generation which then produces local thermonuclear runaways which shoot up convective cells to the outer layers. Within certain conditions these primal convective cells erupt in the subphotospheric layers which phenomenon can produce high-energy particle beams which when injected into magnetic flux tubes appear as flares. I suggest these processes for solving the neutrino problem, and also to interpret the spiky character of the solar neutrino flux and the correlation of the energy production of the Sun with its atmospheric activity.     

The effects and characteristics of atmospheric dust during martian global dust storm 2001A

We present retrieved trends in dust optical depth, dust effective radius and surface temperature from our analysis of Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer daytime data from global dust storm 2001A, and describe their significance for the martian dust cycle. The dust optical depth becomes correlated with surface pressure during southern spring and summer in years both with and without a global dust storm, indicating that global dust mixing processes are important at those seasons. The correlation is low at other times of the year. We found that the observed decay of optical depths at the later stages of the dust storm match, to first-order, theoretical values of clearing from Stokes–Cunningham fallout of the dust. Zonally averaged effective radius is constant within standard deviation of results (between 1.2 and 2.0 μm, with a global mean for all seasons of 1.7 μm), at all latitudes and seasons except at southern latitudes of 35° and higher around equinoxes in both martian years, where it is larger than average (2–3 μm). The emergence and disappearance of these larger particles correlates with observations of polar cap edge storms at those latitudes. Northern latitude observations under similar conditions did not yield a similar trend of larger average effective radii during the equinoxes. We also report on a linear correlation between daytime surface temperature drop and rise in optical depth during the global dust storm. Global dust storm 2001A produced a significant optical depth and surface temperature change.     

Retrieval algorithm for atmospheric dust properties from Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer data during global dust storm 2001A

We present a new parameter retrieval algorithm for Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer data. The algorithm uses Newtonian first-order sensitivity functions of the infrared spectrum in response to variations in physical parameters to fit a model spectrum to the data at 499, 1099, and 1301 cm⁻¹. The algorithm iteratively fits the model spectrum to data to simultaneously retrieve dust extinction optical depth, effective radius, and surface temperature. There are several sources of uncertainty in the results. The assumed dust vertical distribution can introduce errors in retrieved optical depth of a few tens of percent. The assumed dust optical constants can introduce errors in both optical depth and effective radius, although the systematic nature of these errors will not affect retrieval of trends in these parameters. The algorithm does not include the spectral signature of water ice, and hence data needs to be filtered against this parameter before the algorithm is applied. The algorithm also needs sufficient dust spectral signature, and hence surface-to-atmosphere temperature contrast, to successfully retrieve the parameters. After the application of data filters the algorithm is both relatively accurate and very fast, successfully retrieving parameters, as well as meaningful parameter variability and trends from tens of thousands of individual spectra on a global scale (Elteto, A., Toon, O.B. [2010]. Icarus, this issue). Our results for optical depth compare well with TES archive values when corrected by the single scattering albedo. Our results are on average 1–4 K higher in surface temperatures from the TES archive values, with greater differences at higher optical depths. Our retrieval of dust effective radii compare well with the retrievals of Wolff and Clancy (Wolff, M.J., Clancy, R.T. [2003]. J. Geophys. Res. 108 (E9), 5097) for the corresponding data selections from the same orbits.     

Problems of the „Pannonian Median Massif“ and the plate tectonic concept. Contributions based on the distribution of Late Paleozoic — Early Mesozoic isopic zones

After a short historical review of conceptions about the Pannonian Median Massif or Tisia, the distribution of Middle-Upper Carboniferous and Lower Triassic-Liassic facies is briefly examined on the two sides of the Zagreb-Zemplin line dividing into two main segments the basement of the Carpathian basin. It shows on the one hand, that the Igal-Bükk zone (Igal-Bükk eugeosyncline ofWein, 1969), thought to establish a connection between the NW-Dinarides and the Dinaric-type Bükkium, is only a tectonic zone and could never have been a paleogeographical unit. On the other hand, the northern, marginal part of Tisia (Mecsek-Bihor crystalline belt and its sedimentary cover;Dank &Bodzay, 1971) exhibits a development and facies characteristic of the northern (northeastern) marginal complex of the Tethys. Also, facies-transitions from the foreland toward the open sea are always of N S direction. All autochthonous explanations must face the striking differences along the Zagreb-Zemplin line, which seem to exclude the possibility that the northern part of Tisia was a central, partly emerged crystalline ridge (no facies-transitions toward N!); it was rather part of the northern (northeastern) marginal complex of Tethys. Therefore allochthonous models suggesting largerscale horizontal movements give a much more plausible explanation. The style of Late Hercynian development and the distribution of Lower Triassic-Liassic facies zones suggest, that Tisia was part of the northern (northeastern) shelf of the Tethys until the end of the Liassic (in accordance with the opinion ofBleahu), then split off and was wedged in by horizontal movements between the NW-Dinarides and the Dinaric-type Bükkium by the end of the Jurassic — beginning of the Cretaceous.

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Zusammenfassung Nach einem kurzgefaßten historischen Überblick zur Deutung des Pannonischen Massivs oder Tisia wird die Verteilung der Fazies von Mittel- und Oberkarbon sowie Untertrias bis Lias auf den beiden Seiten der Zagreb-Zemplin-Linie — welche den Untergrund des Karpatenbeckens in zwei Abschnitte zerteilt — kurz untersucht. Sie zeigt einerseits, daß die Igal-Bükk-Zone (die Igal-Bükk Eugeosynklinal vonWein, 1969)-welche eine Verbindung zwischen den NW Dinariden und dem dinarisch-typischen Bükkium darstellen soll — nur eine tektonische Zone ist, hingegen nie eine paleogeographische Einheit gewesen sein kann.Der nördliche, äußerste Teil des Tisia (Mecsek-Bihor kristalliner Gürtel und seine sedimentäre Decke;Dank u.Bodzay, 1971) weist eine Ausbildung und Fazies auf, welche für den nördlichen (nordöstlichen) marginalen Komplex der Tethys typisch ist. Auch Faziesübergänge vom Vorland in der Richtung der offenen See sind immer N S gerichtet. Alle Erklärungen, die eine autochthone Lage der Zonen entlang der Zagreb-Zemplin-Linie mit einbeziehen, müssen mit der Tatsache fertig werden, daß der nördliche Teil der Tisia einen zentralen Teil eines teilweise emporgehobenen Kristallinrückens darstellt (kein Faziesübergang nach Norden). Sie war eher Teil der nördlichen (nordöstlichen) marginalen Serie der Tethys. Daher erscheinen allochthone Modelle, welche horizontale Bewegungen in größerem Maßstabe andeuten, eher glaubwürdig zu sein. Der Stil der spätherzynischen Entwicklung und die Verteilung der Fazieszonen von Untertrias bis Lias deuten an, daß der Tisia Teil der nördlichen (nordöstliche) Shelf der Tethys bis Ende Lias war (übereinstimmend mit der Meinung vonBleahu 1976); dann spaltete er sich ab und keilte sich mit horizontalen Bewegungen zwischen den NW Dinariden und dem Bükkium dinarischen Types ein; dies könnte Ende Jura-Anfang Kreide stattgefunden haben.

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Résumé Après une brève revue historique des conceptions sur la »Masse médiane pannonienne« ou la »Tisia«, on examine brièvement la distribution des facies du Carbonifère moyen-supérieur et du Trias-Lias aux deux cotés de la ligne de Zagreb-Zemplin divisant le soubassement du Bassin Carpathique en deux ségments principaux.Ce qui est démontré, c'est d'une part que la zone Igal-Bükk (le »géosynclinal Igal-Bükk«, Wein, 1969), considérée comme l'établissement d'une communication entre les Dinarides du NW et le Bükkium de type dinarique, ne représente qu'une zone tectonique, mais qu'elle ne peut jamais être une unité paléogéographique. D'autre part la partie septentrionale, marginale de la »Tisia« (la ceinture crystalline de» Mecsek-Bihor« et sa couverture sédimentaire; Dank-Bodzay, 1971) présente un développement et un faciès caractéristique du complexe marginal septentrional (nordoriental) de la Téthys. Les transitions de faciès de l'avant-pays vers la mer ouverte sont également de direction N-S. Toutes les explications autochtonistes doivent faire face aux différences accentuées le long de la ligne Zagreb-Zemplin, ce qui semble exclure la possibilité que le Nord de la »Tisia« ait été une dorsale cristalline centrale, émergée (aucune transition de faciès vers le N!); elle a fait plutôt partie du complexe marginal du N (NE) de la Téthys. C'est pourquoi les modèles allochtonistes suggérant des mouvements horizontaux plus vastes donnent une explication plus plausible. Le style du développement éohercynien et la distribution des zones faciales du Trias inférieur-Lias suggèrent que la »Tisia« a fait partie du shelf septentrional (nordoriental) de la Téthys jusqu'à la fin du Lias (en accord complet avec l'opinion de Bleahu, 1976) et qu'ensuite elle s'était décollée et coinné par des mouvements horizontaux entre les Dinarides du NW et le Bükkium de type dinarique vers la fin du Jurassique et le début du Crétacé.

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, , , , . , - ( - ', 1969), , , ., ( Mecsek-Bihor ; Dank u. Bodzay, 1971) , , . - . , -, , ( ). () . , , . , ( Bleahu, 1976) (-) ; ; , , — .

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Because of shortage of place, only some of the most important non-Hungarian literature and the latest Hungarian works concerned with this region are listed up here: for a more detailed list of reference the reader is referred to the papers ofBalogh (1972) andKovács (1980).     

Partial melting of crustal rocks

Shales and graywackes were first metamorphosed at 650°C and then partially melted at 700 and 750°C at 2, 4, 6, and 8 kilobars in the presence of 0.75m NaCl−0.45m KCl and 0.225m CaCl₂−0.750m NaCl solutions. In experiments with shales,KK+Na ratio in the decreases with increasing pressure at 650 and 700°C; however, at 750°C this ratio is equal to 0.5 at all pressures investigated. This suggests that melts at 700°C and at 2 to 8 kilobars pressure may be affected metasomatically whereas melts at 700°C and in the same pressure range will not. Melt composition produced in the shale-KClNaCl experiments is granite at 2, 4 and 6 kilobars pressure, whereas the melt compositions in the shale-CaCl₂NaCl experiments range from quartz monzonite (2–5 kilobars) to granodiorite (above 5 kilobars). Experiments with graywacke-KClNaCl produced melts of trondhjemite composition at 2, 2.5, 4, 6, and 7.5 kilobars.

These results indicate that partial melting of crustal rocks such as metamorphosed shales and graywackes in the deeper parts of the crust can produce large volumes of granitic magmas ranging in composition from true granite to trondhjemite to quartz monzonite and granodiorite.     

The Distribution of Redox Sensitive Elements (U, As, Sb, V and Mo) along a River-Wetland-Lake System (Balaton Region, Hungary)

The distribution of redox sensitive elements (U, As,Sb, Mo and V) has been investigated in Lake Balatonand two man-made reservoirs (Lake Kis-Balaton-1 andKis-Balaton-2) built along the River Zala, the mainriver discharging into it. These elements underwentremoval in Lake Kis Balaton-2 (KB-2) during anoxicconditions (May and September).Similarities were found between the distributions ofdissolved As and Sb. Both elements had elevateddissolved concentrations in Lake Kis-Balaton-1 (KB-1)and in Lake Balaton in September. This increasedmobility could be due to a change of speciation (viareduction and the formation of methylated species).Such changes in speciation are well documented in theliterature and are generally enhanced during periodsof warmth and high primary productivity.Dissolved V and Mo distributions also showedsimilarities with higher concentrations in LakeBalaton than in other parts of the system.Although removal is not clearly detected from thedissolved concentrations, U, As, Sb and Mo aresignificantly enriched in the organic-rich sedimentsof Lake KB-1, while V is mainly associated with thealumino-silicate fraction. In Lake KB-1, theconcentrations of all elements in SPM (suspendedparticulate matter) are lower than in the depositedsediments (except for As) suggesting that enrichmentprocesses are occuring in the deposited sediments.Additionnally the cycling of As and Mo can be alsopartly controlled by uptake and scavenging processesin the water column, as suggested by the elevated Asand Mo concentrations observed in SPM seasonnally forAs in Lake KB-1 and at Z.mouth-1 station and for Mo atZ.mouth-1 station and Lake Balaton.