Evaluation of the improvement of IRI-2016 over IRI-2012 at the India low-latitude region during the ascending phase of cycle 24

This paper investigated the performance of the latest International Reference Ionosphere model (IRI-2016) over that of IRI-2012 in predicting total electron content (TEC) at three different stations in the Indian region. The data used were Global Positioning System (GPS) data collected during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24 over three low-latitude stations in India namely; Bangalore (13.02°N Geographic latitude, 77.57°E Geographic longitude), Hyderabad (17.25°N Geographic latitude, 78.30°E Geographic longitude) and Surat (21.16°N Geographic latitude, 72.78°E Geographic longitude). Monthly, the seasonal and annual variability of GPS-TEC have been compared with those derived from International Reference Ionosphere IRI-2016 and IRI-2012 with two different options of topside electron density: NeQuick and IRI01-corr. It is observed that both versions of IRI (i.e., IRI-2012 and IRI-2016) predict the GPS-TEC with some deviations, the latest version of IRI (IRI-2016) predicted the TEC similar to those predicted by IRI-2012 for all the seasons at all stations except for morning hours (0500 LT to 1000?LT). This shows that the effect of the updated version is seen only during morning hours and also that there is no change in TEC values by IRI-2016 from those predicted by IRI-2012 for the rest of the time of the day in the Indian low latitude region. The semiannual variations in the daytime maximum values of TEC are clearly observed from both GPS and model-derived TEC values with two peaks around March-April and September-October months of each year. Further, the Correlation of TEC derived by IRI-2016 and IRI-2012 with EUV and F10.7 shows similar results. This shows that the solar input to the IRI-2016 is similar to IRI 2012. There is no significant difference observed in TEC, bottom-side thickness (B0) and shape (B1) parameter predictions by both the versions of the IRI model. However, a clear improvement is visible in hmF2 and NmF2 predictions by IRI-2016 to that by IRI-2012. The SHU-2015 option of the IRI-2016 gives a better prediction of NmF2 for all the months at low latitude station Ahmedabad compare to AMTB 2013.     

不同氧含量气氛下AlH_3激光点火燃烧特性研究

三氢化铝(AlH_3)作为一种新型含能材料,可显著提升固体推进剂的比冲,具有广阔的发展前景。为了填补国内对AlH_3基础研究的空白,利用激光点火实验台对不同氧含量气氛下的AlH_3进行点火燃烧实验,采用光纤光谱仪、高速相机、双色高温计监测样品点火燃烧过程中的火焰形貌、温度变化、光谱数据等,并对燃烧残留物进行理化特性分析。结果显示,AlH_3在燃烧过程中存在火焰脱离样品的现象。且随着气氛中氧含量的提高,燃烧强度增大,最高温度呈现增大的趋势,由1025.5℃增加到1350.0℃,点火延迟时间缩短,由22ms下降至4ms,燃烧时间呈现先延长后缩短的趋势。高氧含量气氛下与低氧含量气氛下的燃烧残留物形态和成分有很大不同。反应气氛中氧含量的提高可以有效促进AlH_3的点火燃烧性能。     

基于车载微波辐射计的地面观测试验方法

微波遥感具有全天时全天候的优点,并对云雾、雨雪和植被等有一定的穿透能力。地基微波辐射计以机动灵活的方式接收地表在微波波段的电磁辐射特性,被广泛用于土壤水分、冻融过程等微波遥感定量试验中。以车载多通道双极化微波辐射计(RPG-6CH-DP)为例,针对不同植被覆盖地表,在内蒙古多伦地区开展了为期3个月的野外观测试验,获得了L(1.4GHz)、C(6.925GHz)、X(10.65GHz)三个频率下的极化亮温观测数据。结果发现,L波段对植被的穿透能力最强,对土壤水分变化最敏感。微波辐射计观测地物的方位角、入射角均对观测亮温有直接影响。这为解译地物微波辐射传输过程及其相互作用机理、各种理论模型的发展和验证、地表参数反演算法的改进,以及相关地球观测卫星计划的载荷方案论证奠定了基础。     

Formation of polymer micro-agglomerations in ultralow-binder-content composite based on lunar soil simulant

We report results from an experiment on high-pressure compaction of lunar soil simulant (LSS) mixed with 2–5?wt% polymer binder. The LSS grains can be strongly held together, forming an inorganic-organic monolith (IOM) with the flexural strength around 30–40?MPa. The compaction pressure, the number of loadings, the binder content, and the compaction duration are important factors. The LSS-based IOM remains strong from ?200?°C to 130?°C, and is quite gas permeable.     

Analysis of electron content variations over Japan during solar minimum: Observations and modeling

Comparative analysis of GPS TEC data and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultation measurements was carried out for Japan region during period of the extremely prolonged solar minimum of cycle 23/24. COSMIC data for different seasons corresponded to equinox and solstices of the years 2007–2009 were analyzed. All selected electron density profiles were integrated up to the height of 700 km (altitude of COSMIC satellites), the monthly median estimates of Ionospheric Electron Content (IEC) were retrieved with use of spherical harmonics expansion. Monthly medians of TEC values were calculated from diurnal variations of GPS TEC estimates during considered month. Joint analysis of GPS TEC and COSMIC data allows us to extract and estimate electron content corresponded to the ionosphere (its bottom and topside parts) and the plasmasphere (h > 700 km) for different seasons of 2007–2009. Percentage contribution of ECpl to GPS TEC indicates the clear dependence from the time and varies from a minimum of about 25–50% during day-time to the value of 50–75% at night-time. Contribution of both bottom-side and topside IEC has minimal values during winter season in compare with summer season (for both day- and night-time). On average bottom-side IEC contributes about 5–10% of GPS TEC during night and about 20–27% during day-time. Topside IEC contributes about 15–20% of GPS TEC during night and about 35–40% during day-time. The obtained results were compared with TEC, IEC and ECpl estimates retrieved by Standard Plasmasphere–Ionosphere Model that has the plasmasphere extension up to 20,000 km (GPS orbit).     

A new ionospheric tomography model combining pixel-based and function-based models

Considering the limitations of current single pixel-based and function-based computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) models, this paper proposes a new tomography model – COMBI, which combines these two models. COMBI model is able to reconstruct the three dimensional distribution of electron density with fewer parameters, and easy to compute, as well as very convenient to use. Through experiments with simulated data and measured data, it is verified that the new COMBI model not only can better describe refine structure of ionospheric electron density, but also is superior to these two pixel-based and function-based CIT models in application.     

Accuracy and consistency of different global ionospheric maps released by IGS ionosphere associate analysis centers

Due to the differences of ionospheric modeling methods and selected tracking stations, the accuracy and consistency of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) released by Ionosphere Associate Analysis Centers (IAACs) are different. In this study, we evaluate and analyze in detail the accuracy and consistency of GIMs final products provided by six IAACs from three different aspects. Firstly, the comparison of these GIMs shows that the mean bias (MEAN) is related to the modeling methods of various IAACs. The variation trend of the standard deviation (STD) is consistent with the solar activities, and accompanied by certain seasonal and annual periodic variations. The MEAN between IGS and each center is about −1.3 to 1.0 TECU, and the STD is about 1.4–2.5 TECU. Secondly, the validation with GPS TEC shows that the STD of CODE is the smallest at various latitudes, and the STD is about 0.7–4.5 TECU. Thirdly, The validation with the Jason2 VTEC shows that the STD between Jason2 and IAACs is about 4.4–5.2 TECU. In addition, the STD between Jason2 and six GIMs in the areas with more tracking stations is better than that of the regions with fewer tracking stations in different latitude regions. Regardless of whether the tracking stations are more or less, the MEAN and STD in high solar activity are larger than in low solar activity.     

Integrating aeromagnetic data and Landsat-8 imagery for detection of post-accretionary shear zones controlling hydrothermal alterations: The Allaqi-Heiani Suture zone,South Eastern Desert,Egypt

The Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS) underwent a regional carbonation event with CO₂ fluxes derived from the mantle and circulated along post-accretionary shear zones, thus affecting the redistribution of gold mineralization. Formerly, the analyses of remotely-sensed data have suggested regions of gold mineralization linked to the post-accretionary structured framework, but the results were insufficient for detailed prospecting in the ANS. In this research, aeromagnetic data and Landsat-8 imagery were integrated for delineating new high potential zones of gold mineralization in the Allaqi-Heiani Suture (AHS) zone, the ANS, South Eastern Desert (SED) of Egypt. Aeromagnetic data were enhanced using the Center for exploration targeting (CET) grid enhancement technique to detect the main structures that control hydrothermal alterations in the study area. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique and ratios of spectral bands were applied to Landsat-8 data for mapping zones of hydrothermal alteration associated with gold mineralization. The traced structural elements from RTP, CET and Landsat-8 maps were statistically plotted and interpreted using rose diagrams. These diagrams indicated that the NW and NE trends are the most dominant in the RTP map and that the intersection zones obtained from the CET analysis are aligned along the NW-oriented trend. While the NNW, WNW and NE trends were the most dominant ones in Landsat maps. The integration of the results indicates several new high potential zones of gold and Cu/Ni mineralization types, which are mostly concentrated at the western part of the AHS zone. The hydrothermal alteration zones and associated gold mineralization are strongly linked to NW, NE, E-W and WNW trending lineaments. The approach used in this study can be applied to other parts of the ANS and other regions with similar geological conditions around the world.     

图像压缩系统设计

对基于FPGA+DSP架构的图像压缩系统进行了介绍，描述了其系统结构、原理及实现。根据实际需求,采用FPGA+DSP的系统架构设计了一种高性能的图像实时压缩装置，并对系统硬件电路、软件、结构等方面进行了优化设计，实现了飞行试验环境条件下多路视频的采集、压缩、传输、按时序切换等功能，具有处理延时小、功耗低、环境适应性好等特点，并通过了高低温、振动冲击、电磁兼容等多项环境试验考核，具有较高的应用价值。     

Ionospheric disturbance associated with radiation accidents of Fukushima I nuclear power plant damaged by the M9.0 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

Transient ionospheric disturbances in the total electron content (TEC) are examined before and after the M9.0 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake to find ionospheric responses to the radiation caused by Fukushima I nuclear power plant accident, which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunamis. The TEC is derived from records of a ground-based receiving network of GPS Earth Observation Network (GEONET) in Japan. Both small enhancement and disturbance of TEC were detected over the nuclear power plant after the radiation was suddenly enhanced on March 14 of 2011, while similar signatures were not detected in the other sudden radiation enhancements. Further, no continuous enhancement and disturbance lasting for more than an hour were observed over the nuclear power plant. Therefore, the results indicate that radioactive materials may not cause the ionospheric disturbance or disturb the ionosphere in highly specific circumstance even if such effects exist.