Solar wind-magnetosphere interaction as simulated by a 3-D em particle code

We have studied the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction using a 3-D electromagnetic particle code. The results for an unmagnetized solar wind plasma streaming past a dipole magnetic field show the formation of a magnetopause and a magnetotail, the penetration of energetic particles into cusps and radiation belt and dawn-dusk asymmetries. The effects of interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) have been investigated in a similar way as done by MHD simulations. The simulation results with a southward IMF show the shrunk magnetosphere with great particle entry into the cusps and nightside magnetosphere. This is a signature of a magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause. After a quasi-stable state is established with an unmagnetized solar wind we switched on a solar wind with an northward IMF. In this case the significant changes take place in the magnetotail. The waving motion was seen in the magnetotail and its length was shortened. This phenomena are consistent with the reconnections which occur at the high latitude magnetopause. In our simulations kinetic effects will determine the self-consistent anomalous resistivity in the magnetopause that causes reconnections.Deceased January 24, 1993; R. Bunemanet al. 1993.     

Recent Results from Studies of Electric Discharges in the Mesosphere

The paper reviews recent advances in studies of electric discharges in the stratosphere and mesosphere above thunderstorms, and their effects on the atmosphere. The primary focus is on the sprite discharge occurring in the mesosphere, which is the most commonly observed high altitude discharge by imaging cameras from the ground, but effects on the upper atmosphere by electromagnetic radiation from lightning are also considered. During the past few years, co-ordinated observations over Southern Europe have been made of a wide range of parameters related to sprites and their causative thunderstorms. Observations have been complemented by the modelling of processes ranging from the electric discharge to perturbations of trace gas concentrations in the upper atmosphere. Observations point to significant energy deposition by sprites in the neutral atmosphere as observed by infrasound waves detected at up to 1000 km distance, whereas elves and lightning have been shown significantly to affect ionization and heating of the lower ionosphere/mesosphere. Studies of the thunderstorm systems powering high altitude discharges show the important role of intracloud (IC) lightning in sprite generation as seen by the first simultaneous observations of IC activity, sprite activity and broadband, electromagnetic radiation in the VLF range. Simulations of sprite ignition suggest that, under certain conditions, energetic electrons in the runaway regime are generated in streamer discharges. Such electrons may be the source of X- and Gamma-rays observed in lightning, thunderstorms and the so-called Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) observed from space over thunderstorm regions. Model estimates of sprite perturbations to the global atmospheric electric circuit, trace gas concentrations and atmospheric dynamics suggest significant local perturbations, and possibly significant meso-scale effects, but negligible global effects.     

Beam models for predicting dynamic elastic response

Further investigation of the three-parameter lumped mass model for the prediction of natural frequencies and transient response of Bernoulli-Euler clamped-clamped beams has resulted in a revised model, which is slightly superior to the original model, as it is applicable over a wider frequency range.     

The CZT X-ray Imager on AXO

DSRI has initiated a development program of CZT X-ray and gamma raydetectors employing strip readout techniques. A dramatic improvement ofthe energy response was found operating the detectors as so-called driftdetectors. For the electronic readout, modern ASIC chips wereinvestigated. Modular design and the low power electronics will make largearea detectors using the drift strip method feasible. The performance of aprototype CZT system will be presented and discussed. One such detector system has been proposed for future space missions: TheX-Ray Imager (XRI) on the Atmospheric X-ray Observatory (AXO), whichis a mission proposed to the Danish Small Satellite Program and is dedicatedto observations of X-ray generating processes in the Earth's atmosphere. Ofspecial interest will be simultaneous optical and X-ray observations of spritesthat are flashes appearing directly above an active thunderstorm system.Additional objective is a detailed mapping of the auroral X-ray and opticalemission. XRI comprises a coded mask and a 20 cm × 40 cm CZTdetector array covering an energy range from 5 to 200 keV.     

ELF/VLF signatures of sprite-producing lightning discharges observed during the 2005 EuroSprite campaign

During the summer of 2005, transient luminous events were optically imaged from the French Pyrénées as part of the EuroSprite campaign. Simultaneously, extremely low frequency (ELF: 3–3000 Hz) and broadband very low frequency (VLF: 3–30 kHz) data were recorded continuously at two separate receivers in Israel, located about 3300 km from the area of the parent lightning discharges responsible for the generation of sprites. Additionally, narrowband VLF data were collected in Crete, at about 2300 km away from the region of sprites.The motivation for the present study was to identify the signature of the sprite-producing lightning discharges in the ELF and VLF electromagnetic frequency bands, to qualify and compare their parameters, and to study the influence of the thunderstorm-activated region on its overlaying ionosphere. For the 15 sprites analyzed, their causative positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) discharges had peak current intensities between +8 and +130 kA whereas their charge moment changes (CMC) ranged from 500 to 3500 C km. Furthermore, the peak current reported by the Météorage lightning network are well correlated with the amplitudes of the VLF bursts, while showing poor correlation with the CMCs which were estimated using ELF methods.Additionally, more than one +CG was associated with six of the sprites, implying that lightning discharges that produce sprites can sometimes have multiple ground connections separated in time and space. Finally, for a significant number of events (33%) an ELF transient was not associated with sprite occurrence, suggesting that long continuing current of tens of ms may not always be a necessary condition for sprite production, a finding which influences the estimation of the global sprite rate based on Schumann resonance (SR) measurements.     

Mixing Ratios and Photostationary State of NO and NO2 Observed During the POPCORN Field Campaign at a Rural Site in Germany

Ambient mixing ratios of NO, NO2, and O3 were determined together with the photolysis frequency of NO2, JNO2, at a rural, agricultural site in Germany. The data were collected during the POPCORN-campaign from August 1 to August 24, 1994, in a maize field 6 m above ground. The medians of the NO, NO2, and O3 mixing ratios between 10:00 and 14:00 UT were 0.25, 1.09, and 45 ppbv, respectively. The corresponding median of JNO2 was 6.0 · 10–3 s–1. NOx = NO + NO2 showed a strong diurnal variation with maximum mixing ratios at night, suggestive of a strong local surface source of NO, probably by microbial activity in the soil. The estimated average emission rate was 40 ng(N) m–2 s–1 of NOx, the major part of it probably in the form of NO. The available measurements allowed the estimation of the local NOx budget. At night the budget is almost closed and the measured NOx mixing ratios can be explained by the local source, local dry deposition of NO2, formation of NO3 and N2O5, and vertical exchange of air across the nocturnal inversion. During day-time, the local surface source of NO is not sufficient to explain the measured mixing ratios, and horizontal advection of NOx to the site must be included. The NO2/NO ratio during the morning und late afternoon is lower than predicted from the photostationary state owing to the local NO surface source, but is regulary higher during the hours around noon. For noon, August 10, 1994, the NO2/NO ratio was used to derive the momentary lower limit for the concentration of the peroxy-radicals of 2.2 · 109 cm–3 (86 pptv).     

Total Earth Pressure Cells for Measuring Loads in a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Commercially available hydraulic total overburden pressure cells were installed in the sand drainage layer of a municipal solid waste landfill and monitored for a period of 3,110 days. Both overburden pressure and temperature were measured in the landfill as it was filled with compacted waste. Topographic surveys of the landfill were periodically conducted to measure the height of waste above the pressure cells and to determine the landfill volume for indirect unit weight estimation. The average ratio of measured to theoretically-predicted overburden pressure was 0.6, indicating that on average the pressure cells underestimated the load. The overburden pressure measured near the toe of the landfill was greater than that predicted by the unit weight of landfilled material, while most of the overburden pressure measurements further inside the landfill were less than predicted. Several possible causes for this phenomenon are discussed, including the uneven distribution of forces resulting from the heterogeneous nature of the waste and cover soil. The earth pressure cells were capable of detecting the placement of individual waste lifts.     

New model simulations of the global atmospheric electric circuit driven by thunderstorms and electrified shower clouds: The roles of lightning and sprites

Several processes acting below, in and above thunderstorms and in electrified shower clouds drive upward currents which close through the global atmospheric electric circuit. These are all simulated in a novel way using the software package PSpice. A moderate negative cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the base of a thunderstorm increases the ionospheric potential above the thundercloud by 0.0013%. Assuming the ionosphere to be an equipotential surface, this discharge increases the current flowing in the global circuit and the fair-weather electric field also by 0.0013%. A moderate positive cloud-to-ground lightning discharge from the bottom of a thunderstorm decreases the ionospheric potential by 0.014%. Such a discharge may trigger a sprite, causing the ionospheric potential to decrease by . The time scales for the recovery of the ionospheric potential are shown to be , which is of the same order as the CR time constant for the global circuit. Knowing the global average rate of lightning discharges, it is found that negative cloud-to-ground discharges increase the ionospheric potential by only 4%, and that positive cloud-to-ground discharges reduce it by 3%. Thus, overall, lightning contributes only 1%—an almost insignificant proportion—to maintaining the high potential of the ionosphere. It is concluded that the net upward current to the ionosphere due to lightning is only . Further, it is concluded that conduction and convection currents associated with “batteries” within thunderclouds and electrified shower clouds contribute essentially equally ( each) to maintaining the ionospheric potential.