Monitoring of the time and spatial distribution of neutron-flux spectral density outside the Russian segment of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">International Space Station</Emphasis> based on data from the BTN-Neutron space experiment

Results of measurements of neutron-flux spectral density in the vicinity of the International Space Station (ISS) based on BTN-Neutron space experimental data acquired in 2007–2014 have been presented in this paper. It has been shown that, during the flight of the ISS over different regions of the Earth’s surface, neutron flux in the energy range of 0.4 eV–15 MeV varies from 0.1 n/sm²/s in equatorial regions to 50 n/sm²/s in the South Atlantic anomaly region. The measurements were used to estimate the contribution of the neutron component to the overall exposure dose rate. The total contribution of fast neutrons is about 0.1–0.4 μ Zv/h above the equator area and more than 50 μ Zv/h above the South Atlantic anomaly region. A data analysis of BTN-Neutron data also showed that the time profile of neutron flux has long-periodic variations. It was found that, under the influence of Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), modulation during 24th solar cycle neutron flux changed almost twofold (above high latitude regions). Maximum values of neutron flux were observed in January 2010 and minimum values were observed in January 2014.     

Ionospheric response to solar flares of C and M classes in January–February 2010

The ionospheric response to solar flares is analyzed for the case of the beginning of solar activity growth, when the background ionization of the ionosphere is still low enough. It is shown that the algorithms and methods of averaging variations and derivative of the total electron content (TEC) over the entire sunlit ionosphere almost always make it possible to identify the ionospheric response even to close in time weak solar flares of the C class. It is found that the response to a solar flare rather intense in the X-ray range can have almost no manifestations, which is caused by the fact that the flare does not reveal itself in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum. A map of the TEC derivative over the Japan territory with an average resolution of ～18 km is drawn for the M6.4 flare (February 7, 2010). Before the flare maximum, the TEC derivatives are synchronously increasing over the entire Japan, while after the flare maximum the values of the TEC derivative vary not so synchronously, and local differences are seen.     

Structure of planetary disturbances of the mid-latitude ionosphere according to observations of GPS satellites

Using GPS satellites, the existence of ionospheric disturbances in the range of planetary wave periods is established based on global variations of the total electron content in the mid-latitude ionosphere in the summer months of 1990. For quasi-two-day variations, a substantial difference is found of the structure of these variations from variations with the same quasi-period in the atmosphere. In addition, it is demonstrated that the ionospheric response to quasi-seven-day atmospheric variations is a more general phenomenon than was commonly believed before. The observed variations of the total electron content are interpreted as a consequence of the modulation of tidal oscillations by planetary waves.     

Flux and isotopic composition of helium in the ancient solar wind

The isotopic composition and concentrations of helium are investigated in 9 samples taken from different depths of a soil column delivered by the Luna-24 mission. It is demonstrated that, with allowance made for random errors, the isotopic composition of helium remains invariable. The concentrations of helium are subject to considerable variations, the increases and decreases relative to the average value reaching a factor of 1.5–2. Assuming that the full length of the soil column was formed due to long-term accumulation of lunar clastic rocks (regolith), based on measurements of cosmogenic isotopes, a method of determining the rate of regolith accumulation has been developed, as well as a method of determining the age of the column soil samples. It is found that the rate of regolith accumulation is variable, and it changes over the column length within the limits (0.2–0.8 cm)/10⁶ years. The range of the time for formation of the investigated part of the column is 100–600 million years. The observed decreases of concentration (at 250 and 600 million years) can be associated with both solar and lunar processes. In particular, a possibility of diffusion losses of helium due to the mechanism of jump-like diffusion is discussed, and diffusion parameters are found. A comparison of time periods of the observed variations in the solar wind with paleontological epochs and periods is made.     

Variations of ionospheric fluctuations of phase delay depending on solar activity: Data of the COSMIC experiment

We present the results of processing and analysis of more than 4500 events of radio occultation sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere observed in the course of the COSMIC experiment on the limb path ‘satellite-ionosphere-satellite’. Events observed in December 2011 (when a number of solar flares occurred) and in January 2012 (when a strong solar proton event took place) were analyzed. It is shown that small-scale variations of electron density increase in polar latitudes, equatorial region, and midlatitudes of the southern hemisphere in January 2012. In the same period, an increase of large-scale variations of electron density is observed during daylight hours in the equatorial region and in the southern hemisphere. No noticeable distinctions in comparison with days of quiet Sun were observed in December 2011.     

Variations of radiation environment onboard the ISS in the year 2008

Using the data of high-sensitivity dosimetric units DB-8, variations of the radiation environment onboard the International Space Station (ISS) during the year 2008 are analyzed. Very low level of solar activity was observed throughout this time, and no proton events occurred. It is shown that the variations of the mean daily dose rate during this period were caused by variations in the height of the ISS flight.     

Plasma irregularities in unstable outer ionosphere according to the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite data

The results of the satellite low-latitude and mid-latitude measurements of the disturbed plasma concentration, electron temperature, and quasi-stable electric field at heights of ～900 km after sunset are discussed. It is shown that the sharp fronts of changes in the electron temperature and plasma density observed in the experiment onboard the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite in the low-latitude (and equatorial) outer ionosphere can be related to damping of the oscillations of plasma electrons at local decreases of the plasma density (plasma “pits”) and formation of the vortex plasma structures at density and temperature gradients, which promotes conservation of ionosphere irregularities and makes the fronts of concentration variations steeper. Nonmonotonic variations in the plasma conductivity for the ionosphere currents in unstable plasma can be a cause of observed nonmonotonic disturbances of the vertical component of the “constant” electric field.     

Plasma Cavern Structure in the Ionosphere F Layer at the Geomagnetic Equator according to the Kosmos 900 Satellite Data

The observational data on the plasma density and electron component temperature in the region of the geomagnetic equator in the ionosphere F layer are presented. The measurements have been conducted by scientific equipment onboard the Kosmos 900 satellite (on August 7, 1979). A plasma cavern was observed in this region. It is shown that the formation of the cavern may be related to the attenuation of the electrostatic plasma instability and plasma vortices in the upper ionosphere at the geomagnetic equator.     

Effect of magnetic storms and substorms on GPS slips at high latitudes

The dynamics of slips in navigation signal parameters of GPS from 2010 to 2014 is considered for the stations of the IGS and CHAIN networks located in the Arctic region. On the basis of almost continuous (more than 8 million hours) observations at around 200 receiving stations, we investigate the probability of “instrumental” loss of phase and pseudo-range as well as short-term variations in the high rate of change of the total electron content (TEC) in different geomagnetic conditions. Quantitative estimates for the impact of geomagnetic disturbances on the slips of these parameters are given. The slip probabilities for TEC are significantly (100–200 times) higher than those of purely instrumental slips and grow during geomagnetic storms and substorms. The growth of instrumental slips may be caused by the increased absorption that occurs during geomagnetic storms, among other reasons, and is an indicator of auroral intrusions of highenergy particles.     

Variations in rigidity spectrum and anisotropy of cosmic rays during sporadic phenomena in the heliosphere in October–November 2003

The variations in the cosmic ray (CR) anisotropy have been studied by the method of spectrographic global survey in the period from October 1 to November 30, 2003. The data of ground-based observations of CR intensity measured by the world network of stations were used. It is shown that at some instants of the period under investigation a bidirectional anisotropy of large amplitude (tens of percent) is observed in the angular distribution of particles. This indicates, first, a carryover of looplike structures of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) by coronal mass ejections and, second, a high degree of regularity of the IMF in these structures. The maximum amplitude of the bidirectional anisotropy (for particles with a rigidity of 4 GV) was observed on October 29 and 31 (50% and 30%, respectively) and on November 21–24 (15%). Using the data of ground-based and satellite measurements of the CR intensity in the period under study, we have investigated variations of the rigidity spectrum of protons in the energy range from 15 MeV to tens of GeV. The analysis was carried out in the context of the model of CR modulation by regular electromagnetic fields of the heliosphere. Parameters of the model rigidity spectrum of CRs are determined for every hour of observation. Using their values we have estimated the characteristics of electromagnetic fields of the solar corona and heliosphere that were responsible for powerful sporadic phenomena from the end of October to the beginning of November and after November 20, 2003.Translated from Kosmicheskie Issledovaniya, Vol. 42, No. 6, 2004, pp. 645–652.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Dvornikov, Sdobnov, Yudina.     

Dynamics of Quasi-Biennal Variations of Cosmic Rays and Solar Activity

The quasi-biennial variations in the flux of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) have been studied based on the data of stratospheric sensing and measurements by neutron monitors, as well as in various manifestations of solar activity and interplanetary medium parameters. It has been shown that quasi-biennial GCR variations are caused by variations with the same period in the mean magnetic field of the Sun that coincide with them over time and have been identified in the anti-phase, which respond to the sign of this field. The variations in the quasi-biennial cosmic ray are caused by quasi-biennial variations in the mean magnetic field of the Sun via the quasi-biennial variations in the interplanetary magnetic field.     

variations of the atmospheric chemical composition in the earths’s polar regions after solar proton flare on July 14, 2000 (photochemical simulation)

Altitude—temporal cross-sections q(z, t) of atmospheric ionization rates by solar protons above the polar regions were calculated using the GOES-10 satellite data on solar proton fluxes for the period of solar proton flare (SPF) on July 14, 2000. The values of q(z, t) were used further in calculations of variations of the atmospheric chemical composition during the flare in the northern and southern polar regions (70°N and 70°S) by two different 1D photochemical models of the atmosphere (neutral and charged components). The calculation results have shown considerable variation of the ozone content after SPF: a decrease of [O3] was about 80% at altitudes of 65–75 km above northern and 25% in the layer of 55–65 km above the southern polar region. Such decrease of the ozone content is a result of reactions with [NO] and [OH] whose concentrations have grown substantially during SPF. According to calculations, the increase of electron concentration during SPF has reached 3–4 orders of magnitude at altitudes of 50–80 km. A comparison of the calculation results with the observational data on [NO], [NO2], and [O3] from the UARS and HALOE satellites for 70°N have shown a good qualitative correspondence, however, for variations of nitric oxides there are quantitative discrepancies.     

Landsat-5遥感卫星波段组合与比值分析在汶川地震前后的应用

文章在遥感图像处理软件ENVI的支持下,以汶川地震的极重灾区汶川县为研究区,选取2007年、2008年和2010年这3个时期的Landsat-5 TM数据为数据源,提取分析了地震前后TM数据的相关信息。利用相关系数矩阵、特征向量和特征值,按照最佳波段组合原则,对地震前后的TM影像进行了多种波段组合试验和比值分析。经分析得出以TM3、TM4、TM5波段组合为基础,参考其他组合（如TM1、TM4、TM5,TM4、TM2、TM7和 NDVI、TM5/TM3、TM4/TM3的组合）容易解译和判读 TM遥感影像的相关地物数据类型,为地震解译和灾害评估提供了理论依据和支撑。     

Planetary waves according to simultaneous observations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">GPS</Emphasis> satellites and ground-based magnetic stations

On the basis of measurements made at Japanese magnetic stations and using GPS satellites for the 12 months of 2003, a comparison of simultaneous variations of three components of the magnetic field and total electron content (TEC) was carried out in the range of the planetary waves period. The correlation analysis has shown that almost synchronous variations exist within this range of periods at the ground-based magnetometer stations and in the TEC measurements both during strong magnetic disturbances and in quiet periods. The strong magnetic disturbances could be considered as a possible independent source of ionospheric variations within the planetary waves range, while the accompanying ionospheric storms could be a possible factor changing the conductivity of the lower ionosphere plasma. In quiet periods, the correlation of magnetic variations and disturbances in TEC is caused by the direct impact of atmospheric planetary waves on the lower ionosphere and can be related to variations of ionospheric currents due to the dynamo mechanism.     

Estimate of the NO concentration in the auroral region based on emission intensities of 391.4, 557.7, and 630.0 nm

Using numerical modeling, the influence of the NO concentration on the intensity of 557.7 nm emission in aurora caused by electron precipitation has been studied. It has been shown that the O₂ ⁺ NO reaction, which reduces the contribution of the dissociative recombination of the O₂ ⁺ ion into the formation of the ¹S state of atomic oxygen, is the main channel of suppression of the intensity of the emission at 557.7 nm. A method of estimating the NO concentration in the aurora based on the data of photometric measurements of emissions at 391.4, 557.7, and 630.0 nm has been proposed. The method has been tested using the data of simultaneous rocket measurements of emissions at 391.4, 557.7, and 630.0 nm and the NO content in aurora. A good agreement of estimates of the NO concentrations performed by the method to the results of direct measurements has been obtained.     

炭黑对低燃温双基平台推进剂燃烧性能的影响

研究了炭黑对低燃温双基平台推进剂燃烧性能的影响。指出随着炭黑含量的增加，推进剂燃速也增加，平台或麦撒燃烧区向高压移动；但当炭黑达到某一含量后，炭黑含量再增加，燃速反而下降，平台燃烧区消失。对此现象作了理论解释，并用二次多项式拟合出炭黑含理与燃速的关系。     

基于碳纳米管透明导电膜的航天器表面充电防护试验研究

ITO膜常用于卫星表面电位控制,但其易碎、折叠后电阻增大,导致卫星表面存在充电隐患。为解决此问题,试验研究碳纳米管透明导电膜的电阻经过折叠后的变化,并采用低能电子辐照的手段获得碳纳米管膜的充电特性。试验结果显示:碳纳米管膜的体电阻率、充电电位与ITO膜接近,但在相同折叠次数下,碳纳米管膜电阻的变化远小于ITO膜,因此碳纳米管膜在航天器表面充电防护工程应用方面比ITO膜更有优势。     

Dynamics of Planetary Waves in the Ionosphere as Observed from GPS Satellites

The GPS satellite data are used to study the dynamics of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) over Central Europe in the summer season from June 23 to September 30, 1996. The TEC variations within the range of periods typical of the planetary waves were found to be nearly synchronous with the neutral wind variations in the mesosphere and with the variations in the occurrence of ionospheric sporadic layers. The observed TEC variations were interpreted as the result of penetration of energy carried by nonstationary Rossby waves to the upper atmospheric altitudes.     

Dynamics of electron fluxes in the slot between radiation belts in November–December 2014 according to data of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vernov</Emphasis> satellite

The variations in the spatial structure and time in electron fluxes with E = 235–300 keV in the slot region (2 < L < 3) between the radiation belts in the period of November 1, 2014 through December 8, 2014 during weak and moderate geomagnetic disturbances (Kp < 4, Dst >–60 nT) are analyzed based on the data of the RELEC complex on board the Vernov satellite (the height and inclination of the orbit are from 640 to 830 km and 98.4°, respectively). Irregular increases in the fluxes of such electrons and formation of a local maximum at L ~ 2.2–3.0 were observed. It has been shown that the intensity of this maximum is inversely proportional to the L value and grows with an increase in the geomagnetic activity level. New features discovered for the first time in the dynamics of radiation belt electrons manifest in the variations in the local structure and dynamics of fluxes of subrelativistic electrons in the slot region.     

Quasiperiodic oscillations of the sub-mHz band in near-sun plasma according to the coherent radio occultation data

In 2013 and 2015, investigations of the internal solar wind were carried out using the method of two-frequency radio sounding by signals from the Mars Express European spacecraft. The values of the S- and X-bands’ frequency and the differential frequency were registered with a sampling rate of 1s at the American and European networks of ground-based tracking stations. The spatial distribution of the frequency fluctuation’s level has been studied. It has been shown that the intensity of frequency fluctuation considerably decreases at high heliolatitudes. In some radio sounding sessions, quasiperiodic oscillations of sub-mHz band have been observed in the temporal spectra of frequency fluctuations; they are supposed to be associated with the density inhomogeneities, the sizes of which are close to the turbulence outer scale.