Aerosols and clouds in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere region detected by GOMOS and ACE: Intercomparison and analysis of the years 2004 and 2005

Satellite-based limb occultation measurements are well suited for the detection and mapping of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) and cirrus clouds. PSCs are of fundamental importance for the formation of the Antarctic ozone hole that occurs every year since the early 1980s in Southern Hemisphere spring. Despite progress in the observation, modeling and understanding of PSCs in recent years, there are still important questions which remain to be resolved, e.g. PSC microphysics, composition, formation mechanisms and long-term changes in occurrence. In addition, it has recently become clear that cirrus clouds significantly affect the global energy balance and climate, due to their influence on atmospheric thermal structure.     

Advances in the Researches of the Middle and Upper Atmosphere in China

In this paper we summarize the research results by Chinese scientists in 2016-2018. The focuses are placed on the researches of the middle and upper atmosphere, specifically the researches associated with groundbased observation capability development, dynamical processes, and properties of circulation and chemistryclimate coupling of the middle atmospheric layers.      

Introduction to the Payloads and the Initial Observation Results of Chang＇E-1

Chang'E-1,the orbiter circling the moon 200km above the moon surface,is the first Chinese Lunar exploration satellite.The satellite was successfully launched on 24th October 2007.There are 8 kinds of scientific payloads onboard,including the stereo camera,the laser altimeter,the Sagnac-based interferometer image spectrometer,the Gamma ray spectrometer,the X-ray spectrom-eter,the microwave radiometer,the high energy particle detector,the solar wind plasma detector and a supporting payload data management system.Chang'E-1 opened her eyes to look at the moon and took the first batch of lunar pictures after her stereo camera was switched on in 20th November 2007.Henceforth all the instruments are successfully switched on one by one.After a period of parameter adjustment and initial check out,all scientific instruments are now in their normal operating phase.In this paper,the payloads and the initial observation results are introduced.     

What are the physical mechanisms of eruptions and CMEs?

CMEs are due to physical phenomena that drive both, eruptions and flares in active regions. Eruptions/CMEs must be driven from initially force-free current-carrying magnetic field. Twisted flux ropes, sigmoids, current lanes and pattern in photospheric current maps show a clear evidence of currents parallel to the magnetic field. Eruptions occur starting from equilibria which have reached some instability threshold. Revisiting several data sets of CME observations we identified different mechanisms leading to this unstable state from a force free field. Boundary motions related to magnetic flux emergence and shearing favor the increase of coronal currents leading to the large flares of November 2003. On the other hand, we demonstrated by numerical simulations that magnetic flux emergence is not a sufficient condition for eruptions. Filament eruptions are interpreted either by a torus instability for an event occurring during the minimum of solar activity either by the diffusion of the magnetic flux reducing the tension of the restraining arcade. We concluded that CME models (tether cutting, break out, loss of equilibrium models) are based on these basic mechanisms for the onset of CMEs.     

Advances in the Researches of the Middle and Upper Atmosphere in China in 2014—2016

In this report the research results by Chinese scientists in 2014-2016 are summarized. The focuses are placed on the researches of the middle and upper atmosphere, specifically the researches associated with ground-based observation capability development, dynamical processes, and properties of circulation and chemistry-climate coupling of the middle atmospheric layers.      

Advances in the Researches of the Middle and Upper Atmosphere in China in 2012–2014

In this report we summarize the research results by Chinese scientists in 2012–2014. The focuses are placed on the researches of the middle and upper atmosphere, specifically the researches related to ground-based observation capability development, dynamical processes, the property of circulation and chemistry-climate coupling of the middle atmospheric layers.     

Radiative cooling in the NLTE region of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere—Global energy balance

Radiative cooling in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere is predominantly from 15-μm emissions of CO₂. Above t 120 km, complete NLTE cooling from NO becomes more important. Above 100 km, both the CO₂ and the NO cooling are proportional to concentrations of atomic oxygen which are dynamically controlled and poorly characterized by observations. Furthermore, the rate for energy exchange between O and CO₂(ν₂ = 1) is very poorly known. CO₂ is close to LTE throughout the mesosphere, but small departures from LTE between 65 and 80 km may be important for questions of remote sensing. Remote sensing for trace gases, e.g., O₃ and H₂O, must consider NLTE effects in the mesosphere. A global mean column model for aeronomy processes above 65 km gives a reasonable agreement with observed temperatures, suggesting that radiative balance may be possible without the need for including eddy cooling or gravity wave heating.     

Variations in the thermosphere and ionosphere response to the 17–20 April 2002 geomagnetic storms

The responses of the thermospheric density and ionospheric foF2 to the intense magnetic storms event on 17–20 April were analyzed by using data from CHAMP/STAR and ionosonde stations respectively, and NRLMSISE-00 and IRI-2007 models were used to simulate. The models can capture the tendency of changes, especially under quiet or moderate geomagnetic conditions, but are less accurate under geomagnetic storms. The thermospheric density is sensitive to the EUV emission and geomagnetic activity, and double-peak structure appeared in the dayside. On 19 April dayside, TADs traveled toward the equator with phase speeds of the order of 300–750 m/s, interfered near the equator to produce a total density perturbation of 25%, and then passed through each other and into the opposite hemisphere. For ionospheric foF2, there are non-symmetric hemispheres’ features during the intense geomagnetic activities. In details, middle latitudes in the north and high latitudes in both hemispheres are negative ionospheric storms, and the maximum amplitudes of δfoF2$\delta \mathit{foF}2$ is about 60%, but the amplitudes decrease from the higher to lower latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere. Meanwhile, the equatorial station shows positive phase, and the maximum value is about 100%. Finally, the mechanisms for these features will be discussed in this study.     

An analysis of the empirical models and the measurement results of the polar atmospheric composition at 120–150 km height

δ = (O/N₂)_exp/(O/N₂)_mod ratios are analysed for the polar thermosphere depending on the season and the heliogeophysical activity where (O/N₂)_exp values are measured at high latitudes with radiofrequency mass spectrometers at MP-12 rocket launchings and (O/N₂)_mod values are calculated for the corresponding conditions of every experiment from 4 models (DTM, MSIS-77, MSIS-83 and Köhnlein model (KL)).The analysis reveals certain regularities in variations for different models. In summer δ_DTM does not depend on the heliogeophysical activity and is within a factor of 2–3 for the polar cap and the daytime cusp at 150 km; during the polar night δ_DTM depends on the geomagnetic disturbance and varies with the solar activity cycle.The δ_MSIS-77 and δ_KL values have little dependence on the heliogeophysical conditions and have approximately the same seasonal variations. During the polar night δ_MSIS-83 corresponds to 1 ± 0.25 at high and low solar activity. The increase in δ dispersion for every model considered is noted at low solar activity in the morning and evening sectors of the auroral oval.     

Closed Environment Module – Modularization and extension of the Virtual Habitat

The Virtual Habitat (V-HAB), is a Life Support System (LSS) simulation, created to perform dynamic simulation of LSS’s for future human spaceflight missions. It allows the testing of LSS robustness by means of computer simulations, e.g. of worst case scenarios.     

Comparative anatomy of the day- and night-time radar echoes from the 130–170 km region of the low latitude ionosphere

Recent observations of daytime 150 km echoes made from Gadanki have revealed ‘descending layer type’ echoing pattern, which are remarkably different from their well known ‘necklace’ pattern. These descending layer type echoing pattern have close resemblance to those of the nighttime valley region echoes that are presumably linked with the intermediate layer formed by the meridional wind shear associated with the semidiurnal/terdiurnal tidal winds. The observed close resemblance between the two echoing patterns reminds the plausible role of the semidiurnal/terdiurnal tidal wind and metallic ions in the governing physical processes. We present a comparative anatomy of these two echoing phenomena by making a close examination of the radar observations from Gadanki. Importantly, we bring out the similarities and dissimilarities in their characteristics and discuss the results in the light of currently available theoretical frameworks in an effort to further our understanding on the origin of these echoing phenomena, which have been addressed so far in isolation.     

Effects of space weather on the ionosphere and LEO satellites’ orbital trajectory in equatorial,low and middle latitude

We study the effects of space weather on the ionosphere and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites’ orbital trajectory in equatorial, low- and mid-latitude (EQL, LLT and MLT) regions during (and around) the notable storms of October/November, 2003. We briefly review space weather effects on the thermosphere and ionosphere to demonstrate that such effects are also latitude-dependent and well established. Following the review we simulate the trend in variation of satellite’s orbital radius (r), mean height (h) and orbit decay rate (ODR) during 15 October–14 November 2003 in EQL, LLT and MLT. Nominal atmospheric drag on LEO satellite is usually enhanced by space weather or solar-induced variations in thermospheric temperature and density profile. To separate nominal orbit decay from solar-induced accelerated orbit decay, we compute $r\text{,}h$ and ODR in three regimes viz. (i) excluding solar indices (or effect), where $r=r_0\text{,}h=h_0$ and $\mathit{ODR}={\mathit{ODR}}_0$ (ii) with mean value of solar indices for the interval, where $r=r_m\text{,}h=h_m$ and $\mathit{ODR}={\mathit{ODR}}_m$ and (iii) with actual daily values of solar indices for the interval ($r\text{,}h$ and ODR). For a typical LEO satellite at h?=?450?km, we show that the total decay in r during the period is about 4.20?km, 3.90?km and 3.20?km in EQL, LLT and MLT respectively; the respective nominal decay ($r_0$) is 0.40?km, 0.34?km and 0.22?km, while solar-induced orbital decay ($r_m$) is about 3.80?km, 3.55?km and 2.95?km. h also varied in like manner. The respective nominal ${\mathit{ODR}}_0$ is about 13.5?m/day, 11.2?m/day and 7.2?m/day, while solar-induced ${\mathit{ODR}}_m$ is about 124.3?m/day, 116.9?m/day and 97.3?m/day. We also show that severe geomagnetic storms can increase ODR by up to 117% (from daily mean value). However, the extent of space weather effects on LEO Satellite’s trajectory significantly depends on the ballistic co-efficient and orbit of the satellite, and phase of solar cycles, intensity and duration of driving (or influencing) solar event.     

Meteoroid and Space Debris Risk Assessment for Satellites Orbiting the Earth/Moon

Interplanetary meteoroids and space debris can impact satellites orbiting the Earth or spacecraft traveling to the Moon. Targeting China Space Station(CSS), 7 satellites selected from the constellation of Beidou Navigation Satellite System Phase Ⅲ(BDS-3), and 3 spacecraft orbiting the Moon, we have adopted in the paper the Meteoroid Engineering Model 3, Divine-Staubach meteoroid environment model, and Jenniskens-Mc Bride meteoroid steam model to analyze the meteoroid environment with the mass ra...     

Magnetic cloud and magnetosphere — Ionosphere response to the 6 November 1997 CME

In the present work we analyse the magnetic cloud (MC) at 1 AU on 9 November 1997. The appearance of a hotter and dense part (dense filament), with radial extent 10⁶ km, immediately behind the frontal part of the MC, is a distinctive feature of the event. The INTERBALL - Aurora] Probe had a chance to observe field-aligned currents in the mid - altitude magnetosphere during the substorm expansion phase intensification related to the dense filament. We emphasise the appearance of unusual “N”- shape magnetic structure, duration 3 min, amplitude 50 nT between field-aligned current region 1 and the magnetosphere lobe in the late evening hours. To explain some of the MC features we refer to a model scenario of the 6 November 1997 coronal mass ejection.     

Two-manoeuvres transfers between LEOs and Lissajous orbits in the Earth–Moon system

The purpose of this work is to compute transfer trajectories from a given Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to a nominal Lissajous quasi-periodic orbit either around the point L₁ or the point L₂ in the Earth–Moon system. This is achieved by adopting the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem (CR3BP) as force model and applying the tools of Dynamical Systems Theory.     

Advances in the Researches in Middle and Upper Atmosphere in 2006—2008

This paper summarizes the research results obtained by Chinese scientists and/or through international collaborations in 2006—2008.Specifically,this paper focus on the research fields in the middle and upper atmosphere,including developments in facilities and instruments,and the advancements in scientific issues.     

Probing the origin of the iron Kα line around stellar and supermassive black holes using X-ray polarimetry

Asymmetric, broad iron lines are a common feature in the X-ray spectra of both X-ray binaries (XRBs) and type-1 Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). It was suggested that the distortion of the Fe Kα emission results from Doppler and relativistic effects affecting the radiative transfer close to the strong gravitational well of the central compact object: a stellar mass black hole (BH) or neutron star (NS) in the case of XRBs, or a super massive black hole (SMBH) in the case of AGN. However, alternative approaches based on reprocessing and transmission of radiation through surrounding media also attempt to explain the line broadening. So far, spectroscopic and timing analyzes have not yet convinced the whole community to discriminate between the two scenarios. Here we study to which extent X-ray polarimetric measurements of black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs) and type-1 AGN could help to identify the possible origin of the line distortion. To do so, we report on recent simulations obtained for the two BH flavors and show that the proposed scenarios are found to behave differently in polarization degree and polarization angle. A relativistic origin for the distortion is found to be more probable in the context of BHXRBs, supporting the idea that the same mechanism should lead the way also for AGN. We show that the discriminating polarization signal could have been detectable by several X-ray polarimetry missions proposed in the past.