Ion flow and momentum transfer in the Venus plasma environment

An analysis of ion data from 390 Venus Express, VEX, orbits demonstrates that the flow of solar wind- and ionospheric ions near Venus is characterized by a marked asymmetry. The flow asymmetry of solar wind H⁺ and ionospheric O⁺ points steadily in the opposite direction to the planet’s orbital motion, and is most pronounced near the Pole and in the tail/nightside region. The flow asymmetry is consistent with aberration forcing, here defined as lateral forcing induced by the planet’s orbital motion. In addition to solar wind forcing by the radial solar wind expansion, Venus is also subject a lateral/aberration forcing induced by the planet’s orbital motion transverse to the solar wind flow.The ionospheric response to lateral solar wind forcing is analyzed from altitude profiles of the ion density, ion velocity and ion mass-flux. The close connection between decreasing solar wind H⁺ mass-flux and increasing ionospheric O⁺ mass-flux, is suggestive of a direct/local solar wind energy and momentum transfer to ionospheric plasma. The bulk O⁺ ion flow is accelerated to velocities less than 10 km/s inside the dayside/flank Ionopause, and up to 6000 km in the tail. Consequently, the bulk O⁺ outflow does not escape, but remains near Venus as a fast (km/s) O⁺ zonal wind in the Venus polar and nightside upper ionosphere. Furthermore, the total O⁺ mass-flux in the Venus induced magnetosphere, increases steadily downward to a maximum of 2 × 10⁻¹⁴ kg/(m² s) at ≈400 km altitude, suggesting a downward transport of energy and momentum. The O⁺, and total mass-flux, decay rapidly below 400 km. With no other plasma mass-flux as replacement, we argue that the reduction of ion mass-flux is caused by ion-neutral drag, a transfer of ion energy and momentum to neutrals, implying that the O⁺ plasma wind is converted to a neutral (thermosphere) wind at Venus. Incidentally, such a neutral wind would go in the same direction as the Venus atmosphere superrotation.     

Atmospheric angular momentum variations of Earth, Mars and Venus at seasonal time scales

Atmospheric angular momentum variations of a planet are associated with the global atmospheric mass redistribution and the wind variability. The exchange of angular momentum between the fluid layers and the solid planet is the main cause for the variations of the planetary rotation at seasonal time scales. In the present study, we investigate the angular momentum variations of the Earth, Mars and Venus, using geodetic observations, output of state-of-the-art global circulation models as well as assimilated data. We discuss the similarities and differences in angular momentum variations, planetary rotation and angular momentum exchange for the three terrestrial planets. We show that the atmospheric angular momentum variations for Mars and Earth are mainly annual and semi-annual whereas they are expected to be “diurnal” on Venus. The wind terms have the largest contributions to the LOD changes of the Earth and Venus whereas the matter term is dominant on Mars due to the CO₂ sublimation/condensation. The corresponding LOD variations (ΔLOD) have similar amplitudes on Mars and Earth but are much larger on Venus, though more difficult to observe.     

大气气溶胶尺度分布分形特征研究

气溶胶作为大气环境中的重要组成部分,具有复杂的尺度分布结构。为研究其尺度分布特征,采用分形理论首先论述了常用的气溶胶谱分布函数具有分形不变性,然后在分形理论的指导下分别建立了气溶胶粒子和体积分形统计模型,而且以AERONET相关数据验证了分形模型的有效性和实用性,并采用分段分形的方法改进了气溶胶体积分形模型。最后分析研究了分维数的实用意义和分布情况,讨论了气溶胶分维数变化和粒度分布的关系。结果表明：气溶胶粒子数和体积分维数之间存在线性关系,上半年的大气溶胶粒子数分维数的变化幅度明显小于下半年的变化幅度;研究区域大气气溶胶中细粒子分布比较密集,大粒子分布比较分散。分形理论为研究大气气溶胶的尺度分布特征提供了新的方法与手段,具有广阔的研究与应用前景。     

东亚夏季风异常大气环流遥相关及其对我国降水的影响

根据夏季东亚季风区内季风环流异常所反映行星尺度扰动的强弱,来定义东亚大气遥相关指数IEA.分析表明,它能较清楚地反映夏季西太平洋副高脊线和西伸脊点位置与东亚季风系统各支季风气流的变化.并揭示当IEA偏强(弱)时,东亚季风系统内的热带季风环流出现异常加强(减弱),副热带季风环流出现异常减弱(加强),而中高纬度季风环流又出现异常加强(减弱),三者之间的关系.分析还表明,IEA异常前期,具有明显ENSO循环位相特征,冬季热带太平洋SST、OLR异常,以及对流层高层风异常,可以作为前期征兆信号.该指数变化与我国夏季降水异常分布密切相关,并清楚地反映出东亚季风系统内热带季风环流与副热带季风环流及其各支季风气流异常对我国夏季降水的影响,为该指数在气候监测与预测中的应用提供一定的物理依据.     

GPS无线电掩星技术反演大气参数方法对比

无线电掩星技术是一种探测地球大气的崭新途径.菲涅耳衍射反演是GPS掩星技术中基于物理光学原理的新的反演方法.文章研究了菲涅耳及几何光学方法的反演原理,利用GPS/MET数据分别反演得到了大气折射率及温度廓线.对比分析了菲涅耳衍射方法在10 Hz、25 Hz和50 Hz三个采样频率下不同的反演结果,通过与几何光学反演结果及相应探空数据的对比分析,表明菲涅耳衍射反演得到的结果在对流层,特别是水汽含量丰富的区域中更为准确可靠.     

地热学向何处去

Based on the State-of-the-Art of Geothermics both at home and abroad,the question of "Where to go, Geothermics" has been answered in this paper. Author suggested that the Geothermicsin the future should go to:1)the deep interior of the Earth,2) the continental area,3 ) the atmosphere,4)the energy problem,5) the mining areas, 6) the oil一gas fields and finally,7) to earthquake prediclion. With the increasing demand for energy and mineral resources and under the pressure of environmental and hazard problems, Geothermics is also being experienced a stage of revolution. There exist opportunity and challenge. We should use the opportunity and face the challenge optimistically for thefurther development of Geothermics in various aspects.     

祁连山云和空中水汽资源的季节分布与演变

祁连山云和空中水汽资源具有明显的季节变化特征：总云量春季最多,夏季次之,低云量夏季最多,春季次之。近45年中的春季和夏季,总云量在减少,低云量在增加,对应降水也在增加;秋季三者都为减少趋势;冬季总云量和降水在增加,但低云却呈减少趋势。相关分析表明,总云和降水在夏季、秋季呈显著正相关,低云和降水在春季、夏季及秋季呈正相关;值得注意的是冬季低云和降水在祁连山的中东段呈负相关,但通不过信度检验。空中水汽主要沿两条路径输送到祁连山,平均状况下祁连山存在较强的水汽辐合,且东段辐合（-0.1～-0.05 kg/(m2·s）)强于中西段（-0.05～0 kg/(m2·s））。地中海、黑海、里海、咸海、阿拉伯海和孟加拉湾是祁连山的水汽输送源地,但各个季节又有所不同。祁连山区域的水汽收支表明,春季净水汽通量在1979年以后一直为正且呈增加趋势,夏季整个区域基本上是个“水汽汇”,秋季和冬季则一直为负。分析认为祁连山春、夏两季空中云水资源具有较好的开发潜力。