Analysis of Cassini/CIRS limb spectra of Titan acquired during the nominal mission: I. Hydrocarbons, nitriles and CO2 vertical mixing ratio profiles

Observations of the Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS) during the entire nominal Cassini mission (2004-2008) provide us with an accurate global view of composition and temperature in the middle atmosphere of Titan (between 100 and 500 km). We investigated limb spectra acquired at resolution at nine different latitudes between 56°S and 80°N, with a better sampling in the northern hemisphere where molecular abundances and temperature present strong latitudinal variations. From this limb data acquired between February 2005 and May 2008, we retrieved the vertical mixing ratio profiles of C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, CH₃C₂H, C₄H₂, C₆H₆, HCN, HC₃N and CO₂. We present here for the first time, the latitudinal variations of the C₂H₆, C₃H₈, CO₂, C₂H₄ and C₆H₆ vertical mixing ratios profiles. Some molecules, such as C₂H₆ or C₃H₈ present little variations above their condensation level. The other molecules (except CO₂) show a significant enhancement of their mixing ratios poleward of 50°N. C₂H₄ is the only molecule whose mixing ratio decreases with height at latitudes below 46°N. Regions depleted in C₂H₂, HCN and C₄H₂ are observed around 400 km (0.01 mbar) and 55°N. We also inferred a region enriched in CO₂ located between 30 and 40°N in the 2-0.7 mbar pressure range. At 80°N, almost all molecules studied here present a local minimum of their mixing ratio profiles near 300 km (∼0.07 mbar), which is in contradiction with Global Circulation Models that predict constant-with-height vertical profiles due to subsidence at the north pole.     

Sounding of Titan’s atmosphere at submillimeter wavelengths from an orbiting spacecraft

An investigation of the capabilities and science goals of a submillimeter-wave heterodyne sounder onboard a Titan orbiter is presented. Based on a model of Titan’s submillimeter spectrum, and including realistic instrumental performances, we show that passive limb observations of Titan’s submillimeter radiation would bring novel and unique information on the dynamical and chemical state of Titan’s atmosphere, particularly in the so far poorly probed 500-900 km region. The 300-360, 540-660 and 1080-1280 GHz spectral ranges appear especially promising, and could be explored with an instrument equipped with a tunable local oscillator system. Vertical temperature profiles can be determined up to ∼1200 km using rotational lines of CH₄, CO, and HCN. Winds can be measured over the 200-1200 km altitude range with an accuracy of 3-5 m/s from Doppler shift measurements of any strong optically thin line. Numerous molecular species are accessible, including H₂O, NH₃, CH₃C₂H, CH₂NH, and several nitriles (HC₃N, HC₅N, CH₃CN, and C₂H₃CN). Many of them are expected to be detectable in a large fraction of the atmosphere and in some cases at all levels, providing an observational link between stratospheric and thermospheric chemistry. Isotopic variants of some of these species can also be measured, providing new measurements of H, C, N, and O isotopic ratios. Mapping of the thermal, wind, and composition fields, best achieved from a polar orbit and with an articulated antenna, would provide a new view of the couplings between chemistry and dynamics over an extended altitude range of Titan’s atmosphere. Additional science goals at Saturn and Enceladus are briefly discussed.     

The effect of the internal structure of Mars on its seasonal loading deformations

Mars is continuously subjected to surface loading induced by seasonal mass changes in the atmosphere and ice caps due to the CO₂ sublimation and condensation process. It results in surface deformations and in time variations of gravity. Large wavelength annual and semi-annual variations of gravity (particularly zonal coefficients ΔJn) have been determined using present day geodetic satellite measurements. However loading deformations have been poorly studied for a planet like Mars. In this paper, we compute these deformations and their effect on spacecraft orbiting around Mars. Loading deformations of terrestrial planet are typically investigated assuming a spherical planet, radially symmetric. The mean radial structure of Mars is not well known. In particular the radius of the liquid or solid core remains not precisely determined. One may then wonder what is the effect of these uncertainties on loading deformations. Moreover, Mars presents a strong topography and probably large lateral variations of crustal thickness (relative to the Earth). The paper answer the questions of what is the effect of such lateral heterogeneities on surface deformations, and is the classical way to calculate loading deformation well adapted for a planet like Mars. In order to answer these questions we have investigated theoretically loading deformations of Mars-like planets. We first investigated classical load Love numbers. We show that for degrees inferior to 10, the load Love numbers mainly depend on the radius of the core and on its state, and that for degree greater than 10, they depend on the mean radius of mantle-crust interface. Using a General Circulation Model (GCM) of atmosphere and ice caps dynamics we show that loading vertical displacements have a 4-5 cm magnitude and present a North-South pattern with periodic transitions. Finally we investigated the effect of lateral variations of the crustal thickness on these loading deformations. We show that thickness heterogeneities perturb the deformations and the time variation of gravity at about 0.5%. However this perturbation on ΔJn is only about 1‰ due to main direct attraction of surface fluid layers. We conclude that lateral variations of crustal thickness are today negligible. However, observation of load Love numbers would bring information on the radial internal structure of the planet, particularly on the core radius. ΔJn study would permit to infer the load Love number , particularly for degree 2 and 3, knowing surface fluid layer dynamics. However load Love numbers are quite small (about 0.05), and despite the present good agreement between GCM and ΔJn observations, will only be estimated in the near future when a slightly better precision in observation and modeling will make it possible to infer these numbers. The investigation of load Love number , which are larger than numbers, would be particularly interesting. It would permit to study degree 1 contribution of atmosphere and ice caps dynamics, which is the most important component of surface fluid dynamics on Mars. Surface displacement measurements would be necessary on a few places near the pole regions, which may be possible in the future, with a project involving precise positioning of a lander on the surface of Mars.     

大气硝酸盐中氮氧稳定同位素研究进展

受人类活动和工农业快速发展的影响,大气硝酸盐(NO_3^-)污染越来越严重且已成为世界范围内的环境问题之一。探究大气NO_3^-的稳定同位素组成(δ15N,δ18O和Δ17O),可以为深入理解大气氮循环、有效控制大气NO_3^-污染提供有力依据。综述了目前大气NO_3^-不同来源NOx的δ15N值、NO_3^-的δ15N季节变化特征及主要影响因素,总结了大气中不同氧化剂的δ18O值和Δ17O值,归纳了全球范围内部分大气NO_3^-中δ18O值和Δ17O值的时空分布特征及可能影响因素,回顾了NO_3^-同位素分析测试技术的主要进展,在前期工作基础上提出未来大气NO_3^-稳定同位素研究应更多关注NO_3^-的氧化生成机制(不同类型氧化剂同位素组成时空差异)、不同NOx来源的δ15N组成、借助化学模型开展大气NO_3^-循环过程等方面的研究。     

Review of the Study on the Stable Isotopes of Nitrogen and Oxygen in Atmospheric Nitrate

Due to the emissions from intensive human activities and rapid development of industry and agriculture, atmospheric nitrate (NO {}_3^{-} ) contamination is becoming more serious and now is a worldwide environmental problem. The isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) can deliver more information than the concentration alone, i.e., the nitrogen and oxygen isotopes can suggest the sources of NO {}_3^{-} and oxidation capability of the atmosphere, providing a powerful tool for investigating atmospheric nitrogen cycling and atmospheric NO {}_3^{-} pollution control. The δ¹⁵N of different sourced NO {}_3^{-} in the atmosphere, as well as the seasonal variation of δ¹⁵N (NO {}_3^{-} ) and the associated mechanisms were reviewed. In addition, the oxygen isotopes of various oxidants and NO {}_3^{-} (δ¹⁸O and Δ¹⁷O) in the atmosphere were summarized, and the global distribution patterns of the oxygen isotopes of NO {}_3^{-} were discussed. Lastly, the available analysis techniques of isotopic compositions of NO {}_3^{-} were reviewed. Based on the research progress of NO {}_3^{-} isotopes in the atmosphere, it was suggested that further investigations should focus on measuring the isotopic compositions of oxidants and NOx from different sources, characterizing the production mechanisms of NO {}_3^{-} , as well as investigating chemical recycling between NOx and NO {}_3^{-} with the aid of atmospheric chemical models.     

大气边界层相似性理论及其应用

系统总结了大气边界层似性理论及其在湍流通量湍应用方面的研究进展，提出了该领域目前所遇到的一系列难题及未来发展方向。介绍了最近在这方面所取得的一些新的研究成果，客观评价了这些新成果的理论价值和应用现状。     

土壤—植物—大气系统水分运行的界面过程研究

本文从水文循环的微观角度出发，针对大田土壤－大气系统中的水分运行与转化，研究了ＳＰＡＣ各界面上水分与能量的交换过程，旨在通过各界面上水分运行与生态环境因子相互作用关系，探索各界面水分、能量通量的计算与人工调控的可能途径，为农业节水提供理论依据。     

利用太阳直射光谱遥感大气柱水汽总量的研究

太阳光谱仪测得的直接辐射光谱含有大气水汽含量的信息。本文提出一种用太阳直射光谱反演大气柱水汽总量的方法。采用分子吸收的随机模式，而不是通常的Ｂｏｕｇｕｅｒ定理，处理水汽吸收，故更为合理。选取水汽的α，β和ρστ吸收带逐次扣除，联合订正，给出水汽含量。并与探空资料结果做了对比，有较好的一致性。     

基于非线性理论的大气环境质量预测与评价

大气环境质量的预测和评价是一个典型的多变量和非线性问题。根据大气环境系统的性质，运用灰色系统理论和模糊数学理论建立大气环境质量预测和评价 的数学模型，通过对江西省抚州市环保局提供的实测数据进行科学计算，得到令人满意的结果，有较好的实用价值。     

Evidence and cause of climate cycles in polar motion

 The long-term variation of polar motion contains a number of periods similar to climate cycles. Two possible causes for these long-term variations are mass redistributions produced by variations of atmospheric and oceanic circulation, and mass exchanges between the cryosphere and hydrosphere. Inner-core wobble, which can be inferred from the observed motion of the geomagnetic pole, is another phenomenon with periods similar to climate cycles. Only observations relating to mass redistributions caused by atmosphere dynamics and inner-core wobble are available for sufficiently long periods of time to investigate their influence on climate cycles in polar motion. Both processes contribute to climate cycles in polar motion, but they cannot completely explain these cycles. Possible sources of climate cycles are discussed. Received: 20 December 1999 / Accepted: 28 August 2000