Long-range transport by chemical waves

A space experiment is proposed to study a transport mechanism that can become effective in chemically reacting liquids. In certain reaction systems that are kept far from thermodynamic equilibrium chemical waves can be generated spontaneously or triggered artificially. They do not involve transport of matter over long distances, but under appropriate conditions fluid particles encountered by a wave should be moved. The resulting transport depends critically on size and surface properties of the particles. The observation is greatly facilitated by low gravity.     

重力波波包在可压大气中的非线性传播

本文采用二维全隐欧拉(FICE)格式对具有高斯分布的重力波波包在等温、可压大气中的非线性传播过程进行数值模拟和分析.数值分析结果表明:尽管存在非线性效应,在整个传播过程中,波动的等相面向下运动,波包和波相关能量向上传输.波相关扰动速度随高度增加指数增长,并且波与平流会发生非线性相互作用,最后导致平均流场增强.这与线性重力波理论完全一致.重力波波包的传播路径与重力波线性射线理论预言非常接近,但平均水平群速度和平均垂直群速度均明显小于线性射线理论给出的结果,可见波动的非线性过程会改变波相关能量的传输速度.模拟结果首次定量地展示出非线性效应对重力波波包传播的影响,表明建立在线性理论框架中的重力波运动学定义的合理性.      

一种全天空气辉成像仪数据预处理方法和初步结果

大气重力波是大气中的基本波动形式之一,在中高层大气动力和热力学过程中起着十分重要的作用.全天空气辉成像仪是一种以大气气辉辐射为示踪物,能够有效对大气重力波成像的仪器.本文针对中国科学院国家空间科学中心空间天气学国家重点实验室中高层大气组自主研制的全天空气辉成像仪所观测的数据,提出了一种气辉图像预处理方法,进行平场校正、方位校正、星光去除和坐标映射等数据订正.利用该方法处理2015年5月17日21:00BLT至次日05:00BLT西宁台站（36.6°N,101.7°E）的OH气辉数据,发现一次重力波事件,分析并获得了该重力波的水平波长、观测水平相速度和传播方向（分别为17.72km,47m·s-1,339°）.研究结果表明该方法是可行的.      

Microtubule self-organisation depends upon gravity.

The molecular processes by which gravity is transduced into biological systems are poorly, if at all, understood. Under equilibrium conditions, chemical and biochemical structures do not depend upon gravity. It has been proposed that biological systems might show a gravity dependence by way of the bifurcation properties of certain types of non-linear chemical reactions that are far-from-equilibrium. We have found that in-vitro preparations of microtubules, an important element of the cellular cytoskeleton, show this type of behaviour. On earth, the solutions show macroscopic self-ordering, and the morphology of the structures that form depend upon the orientation of the sample with respect to gravity at a critical moment at an early stage in the development of the self-organised state. An experiment carried out in a sounding rocket, showed that as predicted by theories of this type, no self-organisation occurs when the microtubules are assembled under low gravity conditions. This is an experimental demonstration of how a very simple biochemical system, containing only two molecules, can be gravity sensitive. At a molecular level this behaviour results from an interaction of gravity with macroscopic concentration and density fluctuations that arise from the processes of microtubule contraction and elongation.     

对流层雷暴源所产生的柱形重力波

已有充分的证据表明, 大气对流层的雷暴迹象是大气中间层重力波活动的显著代表源.在雷暴迹象的上方, 通过火箭已观测到大气中间层出现的热效应, 也已通过雷 达探测到大气平流层出现的上行重力波, 从地面和卫星平台上观察到夜间气辉有序而 成环状的重力波波形. 所有这些实验结果都与位于观测点下方的雷暴活动有紧密联系. 此类雷暴通常主要集中在中国东部沿海以及地球其他沿海海湾地域. 关于此类雷暴对大 气中间层的影响尚未被充分研究和了解. 为能有效地探究其成因, 利用所开发的一个二维计算机数值模型模拟和研究大气对流层的雷暴源所引发的上行重力波, 进而揭示 此类重力波产生的基本物理机理, 及其在大气中间层的能量耗散. 通过模拟研究发现, 雷暴源可以大面积高强度地聚集和释放积雨云的能量, 当这种周期性的对流变化引发大气对流层的不稳定性后, 就会有圆柱体重力波的产生和传播.      

不同重力条件下水平管内气液两相流流型及空隙率分布的数值模拟

基于VOF方法建立了不同重力条件下水平管内气液两相流动的三维非稳态数学模型并进行了数值求解, 研究了10-4g₀, 0.17g₀, 0.38g₀, 1g₀ (g₀=9.8m·s-2)四种重力条件下水平管内气液两流型及变化规律, 比较了不同重力条件下管内截面空隙率的分布和波动规律. 研究结果表明, 该模型能够正确预测不同重力条件下水平管内气液两相流的流型、截面空隙率和滑速比等重要参数; 同一气液两相表观速度工况下, 随着重力水平的升高, 气相更容易在水平管的上部积聚合并, 致使流型发生变化, 同时, 气液两相滑速比增大, 截面空隙率波动峰值的平均值下降, 波动频率降低; 而随着气液两相表观速度的增大, 两相混合工质内惯性力作用也随之增强, 这将削弱重力变化的影响.      

模拟三维重力波传播过程的并行数值模式

从三维大气运动的基本控制方程出发, 基于MPI消息传递接口和区域分解的思想, 建立了模拟三维可压缩大气中重力波传播过程的并行数值模式. 在对垂直方向进行区域分解的基础上, 针对跳点网格的特点, 以垂直速度主格点线为子区域的下边界, 状态变量主格点线为子区域的上边界进行区域分解. 利用MPI消息传递接口来传递计算各子区域中变量时所要用到的相邻子区域上相应变量, 从而顺利地完成对整个计算域的并行计算. 根据线性重力波理论, 通过模拟小振幅重力波的传播过程对所建模式进行了验证. 结果表明, 模式可以很好地模拟小振幅重力波在三维空间中的传播过程, 模拟的重力波振幅随着传播高度的增加以指数形式增长, 对能量传播路径以及有效扰动位能和扰动动能的模拟结果均与理论预测的结果吻合很好. 另外, 随着进程个数的增加, 完成相同的计算量所用的计算时间也显著减少. 这表明本文建立的并行数值模式不但能够很好的模拟重力波的传播过程, 而且能够有效地节约计算时间.      

Evaluation of using two-phase frictional pressure drop correlations for normal gravity to microgravity and reduced gravity

The calculation of two-phase frictional pressure drop (TPFPD) is required by two-phase systems operating under microgravity and reduced gravity. There are a large number of correlations for the TPFPD in tubes under normal gravity. However, it is hard to find out a TPFPD correlation obtained from microgravity and/or reduced gravity conditions, and thus people have to use TPFPD correlations for normal gravity to calculate TPFPD under microgravity and reduced gravity. It is necessary to evaluate the feasibility of such practice. This paper offers a comprehensive review of the TPFPD correlations for normal gravity and an up-to-data survey of the TPFPD experimental study under microgravity and reduced gravity. There are 23 TPFPD correlations for normal gravity reviewed and 135 experimental data under microgravity obtained from the literature. These experimental data are used to evaluate the reviewed TPFPD correlations. It is found that the smallest mean absolute relative deviation (MARD) of the correlations is greater than 34%. Using TPFPD correlations for normal gravity to reduced gravity and microgravity may be acceptable for the first approximation, but correlations intended for microgravity and reduced gravity are needed and more experiments are desired to obtain more data with high accuracy.     

北京地区大气温度及重力波活动的季节变化

利用瑞利激光雷达观测数据,分析了北京地区35~70km高度范围内大气温度和重力波活动的季节变化.发现北京地区30~70km高度范围内的大气温度有明显的年周期变化:平流层顶最高温度出现在6,7月份,大约为270K;中间层70km高度最低温度也出现在6,7月份,大约为200K.以2014年10月14日晚数据为例,分析重力波势能密度,发现50km以下重力波势能存在耗散,而在50km以上重力波近乎无耗散地向上传播.通过对比35~50km高度范围内的平均势能密度,对北京地区重力波活动强弱的季节变化进行了研究.研究结果表明,北京上空重力波活动强度具有明显的年周期变化,冬季平均势能密度为18J·kg-1,夏季为8J·kg-1,且冬季重力波活动强度约为夏季的两倍.此外,还分析了春夏秋冬四个季节重力波势能密度随高度的变化.结果表明,不同季节和不同高度的重力波势能密度不同.      

Gravity wave propagation studies using the Indian MST radar observations

The Indian MST radar facility at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E) has been utilised to study the propagation of gravity waves from the troposphere/lower stratosphere to the mesosphere and their interaction with the radar backscattered signal variations. The main objective is to correlate vertically propagating gravity waves derived from the tropospheric velocity fields with the dynamics of mesospheric scattering centres. The tropospheric wind velocities and signal strengths over the entire height range have been subjected to power spectral and wavelet analysis to determine the predominant wave periods/amplitudes and the coupling between the lower atmosphere and mesosphere. Results show that (a) the gravity waves are clearly detectable near tropopause heights, (b) while relatively higher period gravity waves (20–50 min) interact with mesospheric scattering centres, the lower period waves (<20 min) are absorbed in the troposphere itself, (c) the mesospheric scattering layers are affected by gravity waves of complementary periods.     

中频雷达风场的双谱分析

对中纬度中频雷达１９９７年６月８２ｋｍ高度的小时平均风场数据进行了动态谱分析和双谱分析,得到了中层顶区域谱行为具有多样性和各向异性的特点,以及行星波,潮汐波和重力波之间相位相干的现象,讨论了中层顶行星波,潮汐波和重力波之间存在非线性相互作用的可能性。     

重力波波包在三维非等温大气和水平风场中非线性传播的数值研究

采用全隐欧拉格式（FICE）对重力波波包在三维非等温大气、均匀和剪切风场中的非线性传播进行了数值模拟，给出了重力波波包三维非线性传播的全过程，分析了重力波的传播特性及背景温度场、风场对重力波传播的影响。结果表明：波包扰动速度振幅的增长比在WKB条件下振幅的增长要慢；波包非线性传播的路径、能量传输速度不同于WKB近似下的结果，非线性效应导致了重力波的传播特性的改变；温度场的非均匀性会改变重力波传播的路径和速度；剪切风场使扰动速度振幅的增加变得缓慢，使垂直波长减小。     

Studies of the interaction of gravity with biological membranes using alamethicin doped planar lipid bilayers as a model system.

Gravity interacts with biological systems on different levels of complexity. For the understanding of the action of gravity on such systems at higher degrees of organisation, the investigation of interactions on the membrane and even on the molecular level is crucial. To do such studies, planar lipid bilayers with incorporated transport mediating molecules, i.e. membranes of defined biochemical composition, are close to perfect model systems. In our experiments we have used painted planar lipid bilayers doped with alamethicin. Alamethicin is especially suitable for such studies because of its high sensitivity to applied external forces, which is a result of its special pore forming mechanism. Additional, different to most other transport mediating molecules, a big amount of data from the literature is available about the dependency of alamethicin pores on physical and chemical membrane parameters. We found that the conductance of alamethicin doped bilayers is dependent on the angle of the bilayer with the gravitational vector and that it furthermore can be reduced significantly under hyper gravity conditions in a centrifuge. The effect of gravity here is not an effect on the pore conductance or the membrane-aqueous solution interface, but it is due to an interaction of gravity with the pore forming mechanism, as can be shown by investigating the dependency of the alamethicin pore kinetics on the applied forces.     

地形产生的山地波及其传播过程模拟研究

气流经过地形产生的山地波是大气重力波研究的重要类别之一.从大气运动的控制方程组出发,建立模拟地形产生的山地波及其传播过程的二维数值模式.利用水平背景风场、地形和垂直速度之间的关系,在模式中引入垂直速度扰动作为地形产生山地波的激发源.通过模拟该激发源引起的扰动即山地波在大气中的传播过程,再现了山地波的产生、传播及充分发展过程.通过分析水平波长、垂直波长、位温扰动、流线,在空间尺度上描述了山地波的产生、传播及充分发展的过程.在气流经过地形产生的山地波的传播过程中,其水平波长λ_x的范围为2.5~5km,垂直波长λ_z约为2.5km.这些结果与利用山地波线性理论计算的垂直波长一致,从而验证了本模式能够模拟地形产生的山地波及其传播过程,为深入了解山地波的产生过程及其在中高层大气中的传播机制和效应奠定了基础.      

Swimming behavior of Paramecium--first results with the low-speed centrifuge microscope (NIZEMI).

The low-speed centrifuge microscope NIZEMI (= Nieder-Geschwindigkeits-Zentrifugen-Mikroskop) is an excellent tool with which to investigate the effects of slightly increased gravity in the fields of biology and material sciences. We investigated the swimming behavior of Paramecium in the NIZEMI, by aid of a computer-controlled image analysis system. In the range of acceleration (1 g to 5 g), cells retained their swimming capability, did not sediment, and even increased the precision of their negative gravitaxis but reduced their mean swimming velocity.     

Gravity related research with fishes--perspectives in regard to the upcoming International Space Station, ISS.

During the entire evolution of life on Earth, the development of all organisms took place under constant gravity conditions, against which they achieved specific countermeasures for compensation and adaptation. On this background, it is still an open question to which extent altered gravity such as hypergravity (centrifuge) or microgravity (spaceflight) affects the normal individual development, either on the systemic level of the whole organism or on the level of individual organs or even single cells. The present review provides information on these questions, comprising gravistimulated effects on invertebrates and vertebrates (with the exception of mammals, since respective biomedically oriented reviews abound), focusing on developing fish as model systems, with special emphasis on the effect of altered gravity on the developing brain and vestibular system, comprising investigations on behaviour and plastic reactivities of the brain and inner ear. Clues and insights into the possible basic causes of space motion sickness-phenomena (SMS; a kinetosis) are provided as well as perspectives in regard to future work to be done including studies on the ISS concerning the analysis of gravistimulated effects on developmental issues (imprinting phase for graviperception?).     

VHF radar observation of wave instability and turbulence in the mesosphere

At mesospheric heights, VHF radar measurements reveal strong signal power bursts which have the same period as simultaneously observed short-period velocity oscillations. Both the power bursts and the velocity oscillations occur in layers of maximum vertical wind shear generated by tidal or long-period gravity waves with apparent vertical wavelengths of the order of 10 km. A comparison with similar power bursts measured in the troposphere during a jet stream passage leads to the conclusion that the short-period velocity oscillations are due to a Kelvin-Helmholtz instability. This instability in turn generates superadiabatic lapse rates so that strong turbulence can occur which produces the observed signal power bursts.     

80-100km高度范围高分辨率大气水平速度扰动谱

使用1989/1990年冬季在DYANA试验中从5枚Chaff火箭测量获得的高分辨率水平速度数据,讨论80-100km高度范围内水平速度垂直波数谱与饱和重力波谱的一致性,并决定特征垂直尺度.      

耀斑后环珥系速度场的定量研究

本文研究了在太阳重力、偶极磁压强梯度和气体压力梯度联合作用下环珥系内物质的下落运动,并在等温、定常假设下用数值方法计算了该环系的二维视向速度场。通过将速度场的理论计算跟文[1]中给出的观测速度场拟合,导出了该环系的有关参数及分布。计算表明环系内物质密度和磁场强度对物质下落运动影响较显著。     

下行重力波波包在可压大气中的传播

应用ADI格式模拟下行重力波在二维可压大气中非线性传播。结果显示，重力波能量向下传输，波振幅明显衰减，与线性方程的数值模拟结果的比较表明，在非线性情况下，重力波仍可保持线性传播的某些特征，蜚 线性效应随波振幅的衰减对波包传播速度的修正作用很快变弱。