Interferometric observations of HCN and CN towards carbon stars

Using the IRAM interferometer we have observed four carbon stars (U Cam, CIT6, Y CVn, IRC+40540) in the HCN(J=1 0) and CN(N=1 0) lines. Here we present some results for CIT6 and U Cam.     

A digital elevation analysis: a spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm

An integrated flow determination algorithm is proposed to calculate the spatial distribution of the topographic index to the channel network. The advantages of a single flow direction algorithm and other multiple flow direction schemes are selectively considered in order to address the drawbacks of existing algorithms. A spatially varying flow apportioning factor is introduced to distribute the contributing area from upslope cells to downslope cells. The channel initiation threshold concept is expanded and integrated into a spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm to delineate a realistic channel network. The functional relationships between the flow apportioning factors and the expanded channel initiation threshold (ECIT) are developed to address the spatially varied flow distribution patterns considering the permanent channel locations. A genetic algorithm (GA) is integrated into the spatially distributed flow apportioning algorithm (SDFAA) with the objective function of river cell evaluation. An application of a field example suggests that the spatially distributed flow apportioning scheme provides several advantages over the existing approaches; the advantages include the relaxation of overdissipation problems near channel cells, the connectivity feature of river cells and the robustness of the parameter determination procedure over existing algorithms. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Monitoring the three-dimensional ionospheric electron density distribution using GPS observations over China

In this paper, an IRI model assisted GPS-based Computerized Ionospheric Tomography (CIT) technique is developed to inverse the ionospheric electron density (IED) distribution over China. Essentially, an improved algebraic reconstruction technique (IART) is first proposed to reconstruct the ionospheric images with high resolution and high efficiency. A numerical experiment is used to validate the reliability of the method and its advantages to the classical algebraic reconstruction technique (ART). This is then used to reconstruct the IED images using the GPS data in China. The variations of the IED during magnetically quiet and disturbed days are reported and analyzed here. Reconstructed results during magnetically quiet days show some prominent ionospheric features such as the development of equatorial anomaly and the tilt of ionization crest. Meanwhile, ionospheric storm phase effects and disturbed features can also be revealed from the reconstructed IED image under storm conditions. Research shows that the positive storm phase effects usually happen in southern China, and the negative storm phase effects mainly occur in northern China. The equatorial anomaly crest moved to the north in the main phase of the storm. Ionosonde data recorded at Wuhan station provides the verification for the reliability of GPS-based CIT technique.     

2015年尼泊尔地震的震前电离层异常探测

提出了一种基于奇异谱分析的电离层异常探测的方法。通过对尼泊尔地震震中周围GIM格网点TEC时间序列的探测,发现在2015年4月23日震中东部区域出现电离层正异常。进一步利用二维电离层地图分析异常空间分布,发现出现电离层正异常的区域为25°N-37.5°N,90°E-110°E,时间为2015年4月23日UT9:00-15:00。利用中国陆态网数据计算异常区域卫星穿刺点轨迹STEC变化情况,发现2015年4月23日穿刺点轨迹进入异常区域后STEC值比前后几天明显增大,而离开异常区域后又恢复正常。采用CIT(computerized ionosphere tomography)方法详细地呈现了电离层异常的三维形态,发现4月23日UT9:00-15:00在震中东部区域出现电离层正异常,峰值位于约30°N,115°E,高度范围为100~500 km,且异常峰值随高度变化与电离层本身垂直密度分布规律相一致。     

Three-dimensional ionospheric tomography by an improved algebraic reconstruction technique

An improved algebraic reconstruction technique (IART) is presented for the tomographic reconstruction of ionospheric electron density (IED). This method applies the total electron content (TEC) measurements to invert the spatial distribution of the IED from a set of apriori IED distributions. In this new method, a data-driven adjustment of the relaxation parameter is performed to improve the computation efficiency and image quality of the classical algebraic reconstruction technique (ART). In addition, the new algorithm is also combined with ionospheric space discretization technique to simplify the inversion of IED, and it applies CHAMP occultation data to improve the vertical resolution. A numerical simulation experiment is carried out to validate the reliability of the new method. It is then applied to the inversion of IED from real GPS data. Inverted results show that the IART algorithm has better accuracy and efficiency than the conventional ART algorithm. The reliability of the IART algorithm is also validated by ionosonde data recorded at Wuhan station.