Deep Impact, Stardust-NExT and the behavior of Comet 9P/Tempel 1 from 1997 to 2010

We present observational data for Comet 9P/Tempel 1 taken from 1997 through 2010 in an international collaboration in support of the Deep Impact and Stardust-NExT missions. The data were obtained to characterize the nucleus prior to the Deep Impact 2005 encounter, and to enable us to understand the rotation state in order to make a time of arrival adjustment in February 2010 that would allow us to image at least 25% of the nucleus seen by the Deep Impact spacecraft to better than 80 m/pixel, and to image the crater made during the encounter, if possible. In total, ∼500 whole or partial nights were allocated to this project at 14 observatories worldwide, utilizing 25 telescopes. Seventy percent of these nights yielded useful data. The data were used to determine the linear phase coefficient for the comet in the R-band to be 0.045 ± 0.001 mag deg⁻¹ from 1° to 16°. Cometary activity was observed to begin inbound near r ∼ 4.0 AU and the activity ended near r ∼ 4.6 AU as seen from the heliocentric secular light curves, water-sublimation models and from dust dynamical modeling. The light curve exhibits a significant pre- and post-perihelion brightness and activity asymmetry. There was a secular decrease in activity between the 2000 and 2005 perihelion passages of ∼20%. The post-perihelion light curve cannot be easily explained by a simple decrease in solar insolation or observing geometry. CN emission was detected in the comet at 2.43 AU pre-perihelion, and by r = 2.24 AU emission from C₂ and C₃ were evident. In December 2004 the production rate of CN increased from 1.8 × 10²³ mol s⁻¹ to Q_CN = 2.75 × 10²³ mol s⁻¹ in early January 2005 and 9.3 × 10²⁴ mol s⁻¹ on June 6, 2005 at r = 1.53 AU.     

类星体的中红外光谱分析(英文)

分析了42个类星体的SPITZER IRS中红外光谱,并测量了连续谱和各发射特征强度,其中包括5.5μm连续谱强度、10μm silicate发射,和窄发射线[S IV]10.5μm,[Ne V]14.3μm,[NeIII]15.6μm,和[O IV]25.9μm的流量。5.5μm连续谱强度和窄发射线强度之间存在很强的相关关系,说明5.5μm连续谱也由活动星系核中心光子直接激发,并可以作为活动星系核强度的示踪。发现10μm silicate发射与Eigenvector I没有相关关系,说明类星体中大多数的尘埃不可能与窄线区共存。     

Dust sources in arid and semiarid China and southern Mongolia: Impacts of geomorphological setting and surface materials

Analysis of the geomorphological settings and surface materials in arid and semiarid China and southern Mongolia revealed that the dominant dust sources are ‘Gobi’ deserts and alluvial fans adjacent to Gobi deserts in the piedmonts of the Kunlun, Qilian, Helan, and Gobi Altai mountains. These areas have persistent supplies of dust-sized particles, deposited by intermittent floods from the mountains, and fine materials are also generated by weathering and aeolian processes acting on the coarse fractions of Gobi surfaces. Clear spatial differences in mineral types and contents and in the salt contents of surface materials also strongly affected the intensity of dust emissions. Inconsistencies in monitoring, simulation, and calculation of dust emissions in previous studies of Northern China and Mongolia may have been caused by insufficiently detailed considerations of variations in the geomorphological setting. Where the geomorphological settings in these areas are not considered in sufficient detail, deviations arise in the estimation and prediction of dust using current models. Although the present study did not quantify the persistence and replenishment of dust sources in the study area, our conclusions about the importance of geomorphology can improve future studies of dust sources and controlling factors, improve assessments of the effects of climate change on dust emissions, and facilitate the interpretation of paleoclimate records.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地沙尘气溶胶对低层大气的加热效应

利用塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地塔中气象站2006年8月1日-2007年7月31日近地层80 m铁塔逐时温度、辐射和5 minPM10浓度、黑碳(BC)质量浓度、散射系数等数据,结合地面常规气象数据筛选出四季沙尘过程,剔除云的影响,以每次沙尘过程的晴空为大气背景值,分析沙尘气溶胶对低层大气的加热效应.结果表明,沙漠腹地沙尘过程对低层大气日平均温度有显著的增温效应,扬沙在冬、春季最剧烈,日平均温度分别高出晴空3.4和3.8℃,沙尘暴其次,浮尘最小.沙尘过程显著地增大了大气逆辐射量,沙尘暴日平均为晴空的1.24倍,扬沙为晴空的1.21倍.沙尘影响低层大气温度梯度分布,显著缩短了大气的逆温时间,减弱了逆温强度.沙尘过程对低层大气增温的原因,春季是大粒子浓度的显著增大,冬季是吸收性粒子的增多,而夏、秋季则为小粒子浓度的增大和散射系数的增大.低层大气温度梯度在扬沙天气随PM10的增加而减小,主要由低层10m以下大气温度变化引起;浮尘天气主要与小粒子浓度关系密切,其影响高度最大,春、夏季可以达全层80 m,秋、冬季也可超过32 m;沙尘暴一致性较差,除秋季外,均由2 m以内温度变化所致.     

Water-ice clouds and dust in the north polar region of Mars using MGS TES data

Water-ice and dust optical depths in Mars’ north polar region are mapped as function of season, latitude and longitude, and their characteristics and variability on a geographic, seasonal, and interannual basis are discussed. We use water-ice and dust optical depth data provided by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES), covering nearly three northern spring and summer periods. We find that interannual variability exists in both the water ice and dust behavior, although there are trends that repeat year to year as well. The optical thickness of the north polar hood (NPH) exhibits interannually varying longitudinal structure, both during springtime recession and late-summer onset. We define the characteristics associated with the transition to and from the NPH and find that the disappearance occurs near L_s=75° and the reappearance near L_s=160-165°. We find that the late spring to early summer time frame is characterized by very low water-ice optical depths and enhanced dust activity, with a preference for lower water-ice and higher dust optical depths in the 0-90°W quadrant. We see possible evidence for stationary wavenumber 2 systems in a few of the maps examined.     

2020年春季中国北方一次扬沙天气过程微气象学与沙尘输送特征

利用内蒙古科尔沁沙地和沈阳地区同步气象要素梯度观测和地面大气颗粒物(PM_2.5和PM₁₀)质量浓度观测资料,分析了中国北方地区2020年5月10日一次大范围扬沙天气过程微气象学和沙尘输送特征。结果表明：受大尺度天气系统影响,此次沙尘天气过程中科尔沁沙地不同高度(<20 m)风速均明显增加,各层相对湿度和浅层地表含水量有所降低,较强湍流动力作用配合干燥的土壤和大气环境有利于沙源地区地表大量的沙尘粒子释放到大气中。此后这些沙尘粒子随较强的西北气流集中在2—3 km以下高度向下游地区输送。受沙尘输送的影响,沈阳地区10日小时平均PM₁₀浓度最高达817μg·m^-3,能见度减小至3.7 km。此外,科尔沁沙地起沙过程中能见度与摩擦速度存在明显的反相关关系(相关系数R²=0.93),与湍流动力学热通量相关性相对较小,表明湍流动力作用在此次起沙过程占主导作用。     

民勤一次沙尘暴的观测分析

给出了2004年5月23~24日民勤站爆发沙尘暴前后以及沙尘暴内部的温度、比湿和风速垂直廓线,分析了沙尘暴发生前后及沙尘暴期间高空气象要素的演变特征,同时对大气的热力、动力稳定度参数进行了计算和分析。结果表明:沙尘暴来临前边界层内具有深厚的混合层,大气层结处于不稳定状态,温、湿结构及风的垂直分布有利于沙尘暴的发生、发展;沙尘暴发生期,出现了稳定与不稳定层相间的情形,对流减弱,抑制了沙尘暴的发展;沙尘暴天气结束后中低层大气湿度增加显著;沙尘暴的强度与相对风暴螺旋度具有良好的对应关系。     

稀疏植被下垫面与大气相互作用研究进展

介绍了国家自然科学基金委员会“十五”重点项目“稀疏植被下垫面与大气相互作用研究”的成果。通过资料分析、数值试验和理论分析。研究干旱地区稀疏植被复杂下垫面上水、热及CO2输运过程的机理;非均匀下垫面的复杂非线性线效应：干旱地区更合理的陆面过程参数化方案以及绿洲的稳定性;强沙尘暴的发展机制和干旱地区生态环境建设对策,主要结果表明：（1）揭示了植物生态生理过程、净第一生产力和生物量对气候的敏感性,为稀疏植被下垫面与大气相互作用研究提供了较好的接口。（2）发展了适用于干旱、半干旱地区土壤中水热输送交叉耦合的物理模型;以能量和物质守恒定律为基础的雪盖物理模型,它显著地改善了陆面过程的模拟效果,是国际上最早开发的同类模型之一。（3）发展了大气非平衡态热力学,证明了非线性区普遍成立的最小熵产生原理,为研究气候和环境复杂系统提供了新思路和新方法;提示了大气辐散和辐合运动对垂直湍流输送的影响,非均匀下垫面地气相互作用,为非均匀下垫面陆面过程参数化提供了物理基础;研究了绿洲稳定性并估算了绿洲临界尺度约3～6km,为绿洲保护和建设提供了理论依据;提出了干旱地区有限水资源条件下增强其稳定性抗干扰能力的生态环境建设对策。（4）发展了强沙尘暴发展的动力学模式,揭示了强沙尘暴发展辐射冷却的正反馈机制。展示了强沙尘暴预报的良好前景。     

内蒙古科尔沁沙地临界起沙阈值的范围确定

临界起沙阈值可表征地表土壤的可蚀性,是风蚀起沙研究中非常重要的物理量之一。基于微气象学方法,将沙尘浓度和垂直沙尘通量均开始增加且至少持续0.5 h所对应的摩擦速度(或风速)确定为临界起沙摩擦速度u_*t(或临界起沙风速U_t)。利用内蒙古科尔沁沙地地区2010-2013年春季大气环境综合观测资料,分析了不同沙尘天气过程(扬沙、沙尘暴和强沙尘暴)起沙阶段沙尘浓度和垂直沙尘通量随摩擦速度的演变特征,精细确定了该地区临界起沙摩擦速度(u_*t)和临界起沙风速(U_t)的范围分别为0.45±0.20和6.5±3.0 m/s,同时讨论了不同起沙判据对确定临界起沙阈值产生的影响。相比而言,采用的起沙判据尽可能地排除了沙尘输送和沉降过程的影响,适用于不同的沙尘天气类型,使沙尘粒子进入大气的起沙结果更趋于合理,其结果可为建立统一、合理的起沙判据提供参考。     

Detection of Sahara dust intrusions during mixed advection patterns over south-east Italy: A case study

Measurements from July 4 to July 8, 2005 by a high resolution visible radiometer, a Raman lidar, a ground particulate matter sampler, and ground meteorological sensors have been combined in synergy to infer the intrusion over south-east Italy, of air masses from north-west Sahara, the Atlantic Ocean, and the continental Europe. It is shown that backscatter coefficient, depolarization-ratio, and lidar ratio vertical profiles represent the best tools to detect the intrusion of long range transported air masses and to monitor their effects on the vertical distribution of aerosol optical and microphysical properties. High resolution radiometers are instead important tools to monitor changes on columnar aerosol properties and size distributions.Backscatter coefficient, depolarization-ratio, and lidar ratio vertical profiles have revealed that aerosol optical and microphysical properties significantly changed with time and space during African dust outbreaks: the intrusion of dust particles that at first occurred above 2 km of altitude extending up to 6 km, affected the all aerosol load down to ground within few hours. Aerosol size distributions showed during dust events a clear bimodality with an accumulation mode maximum at 0.24 µm and a coarse mode maximum at 0.94 μm. Conversely, we have found that during the advection of air masses from the Atlantic and continental Europe, aerosol particles were mainly located below 2 km, their optical and microphysical properties were affected by smaller changes in time and space, and were characterized by depolarization ratios rather close to those due to a pure molecular atmosphere. In this case bimodal size distributions with an accumulation mode showing two sub-modes at 0.16 μm and 0.24 μm, respectively and a coarse mode centred at 0.94 μm have also been observed.