Saturn kilometric radiation as a monitor for the solar wind?

Since the Voyager mission it is known that Saturn Kilometric Radiation (SKR) is strongly influenced by external forces, i.e., the solar wind and in particular the solar wind ram pressure. Recent studies using Cassini data essentially confirmed these findings for particular periods during the first Cassini orbit of Saturn. The data coverage of SKR by the Cassini/RPWS experiment for the period of six months prior to Saturn Orbit Insertion (July 1, 2004) is rather continuous, whereas there are gaps in the solar wind plasma data. The strong correlation of SKR with the solar wind may provide an indication on the variations of the solar wind plasma, specifically during the gap periods. These periods lacking solar wind data are substituted by Ulysses solar wind data which have been propagated over ∼4 AU, applying magnetohydrodynamic propagation models. Cross correlation studies showed that Ulysses solar wind data can be taken as a substitute for missing Cassini data. The use of SKR as monitor for solar wind variations is discussed. With the present set of observations the SKR proxy lacks significant reliability.     

Study of the seasonal ozone variations at European high latitudes

The geographic area at high latitudes beyond the polar circle is characterized with long darkness during the winter (polar night) and with a long summertime insolation (polar day). Consequentially, the polar vortex is formed and the surrounding strong polar jet is characterized by a strong potential vorticity gradient representing a horizontal transport barrier. The ozone dynamics of the lower and middle stratosphere is controlled both by chemical destruction processes and transport processes.     

Comparison between HF propagation and DEMETER satellite measurements within the mid-latitude trough

The morphology of the auroral, sub-auroral and mid-latitude trough region of the ionosphere is strongly dependent on the interplanetary magnetic field and the level of geomagnetic activity. Changes in the morphology impact on the characteristics of HF signals propagating through these regions of the ionosphere. In order to develop a better understanding of these effects, a number of experiments have recently been undertaken in which the time of flight and direction of arrival of HF signals have been measured over several paths aligned along the mid-latitude trough. In addition, observations made by the DEMETER satellite of the mid-latitude trough electron density structure, dynamics and wave activity were used in order to investigate the effect of the fine structure of the ionosphere on HF signals. For two types of relatively common night time HF time of flight and azimuth of arrival behaviour (referred to here and elsewhere as ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’ propagation), the signal behaviour is consistent with scatter from irregularities in the auroral region in the one case, and from irregularities present on the floor of the trough in the other.     

GPS sensing of precipitable water vapour during the March 2010 Melbourne storm

The March 2010 Melbourne storm is used as a case study to examine the potential of using Global Positioning System (GPS) observations for studying the precipitable water vapour (PWV) field. The Victorian statewide GPS infrastructure network, i.e. GPSnet, was used in this study. GPSnet is currently the only statewide and densest GPS infrastructure network in Australia, which provides an excellent opportunity to examine the distribution of water vapour as the severe weather system passed over the state. Data from 15 GPSnet stations were processed over a one-week period, i.e. a few days prior to and after the storm passage, during which the course of the storm extended from the west to the southeast corner of the state. In addition, data from two radiosonde sites of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Upper Air Network were used to compare and validate the GPS derived PWV measurements. The findings demonstrate that there is strong spatial and temporal correlation between variations of the ground-based GPS-PWV estimates and the passage of the storm over the state. This is encouraging as the ground-based GPS water vapour sensing technique can be considered as a supplemental meteorological sensor in studying severe weather events. The advantage of using ground-based GPS-PWV technique is that it is capable of providing continuous observation of the storm passage with high temporal resolution. The spatial resolution of the distribution of water vapour is dependent on the geographical location and density of the GPS stations.     

Cosmic ray H/H ratio measured from BESS in 2000 during solar maximum

The Balloon-borne Experiment with a Superconducting Spectrometer (BESS) was flown from Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada in August, 2000, during the maximum solar modulation period, with an average residual atmospheric overburden of 4.3 g/cm². Precise spectral measurements of cosmic ray hydrogen isotopes from 0.178 GeV/n to 1.334 GeV/n were made during the 28.7 h of flight. This paper presents the measured energy spectra and their ratio, ²H/¹H. The results are also compared with previous measurements and theoretical predictions.     

Statistical study of electrostatic solitary waves associated with reconnection: Geotail observations

The role of waves in the dynamics of the magnetotail has long been a topic of interest in magnetospheric physics. The characteristics of Electrostatic Solitary Waves (ESWs) associated with reconnection have been studied statistically in the magnetotail by surveying the large amounts data obtained from Waveform Capture (WFC) which is an important component of Plasma Wave Instrument (PWI) on the Geotail spacecraft. About 150 reconnection events with WFC data available are selected, and approximately 10 thousands of ESW waveforms are picked up by hands for statistical study. The ESWs are observed near diffusion region and near the plasma sheet boundary layer (PSBL). Two kinds of waveforms of ESWs are observed: bi-polar and tri-polar pulses. It is found that the pulse width of the ESWs is in the order of 1–5 ms and the peak-to-peak amplitude is in the order of 0.1–5 mV/m. The amplitudes of ESWs are larger in the near-earth tail region than that in deep tail region. ESWs have been observed with or without guide magnetic field 〈By〉. The characteristics of ESWs in different reconnection region and under different strength of guild magnetic field, their possible generation mechanism will be discussed.     

A noise attenuation method for medium-energy electron measurements in the radiation belt

From the viewpoint of plasma particle measurements in the radiation belt, background noise is a serious problem. High-energy particles penetrating the sensor shielding generate spurious signals, and their count rate often can be comparable to the true signals. In order to attenuate such background noise during medium-energy (5–83 keV) electron measurements, we propose the double energy analyses (DEA) method. DEA is conducted by a combination of an electrostatic analyser (ESA) and avalanche photo-diodes (APDs); ESA and APD independently determine the energy of each incoming particle. By using the DEA method, therefore, the penetrating particles can be rejected when the two energy determinations are inconsistent; spurious noise are caused only when the deposited energy at an APD is by chance consistent with the measured energy by ESA. We formulate the noise count rate and show the advantage of DEA method quantitatively.     

The Solar Wind interactions with Lunar Magnetic Anomalies: A case study of the Chang’E-2 plasma data near the Serenitatis antipode

In this paper, we present the first and preliminary results on the near-Moon plasma environment, based on the spectrogram data obtained with the Solar Wind Ion Detector (SWID) onboard Chang’E-2 from four lunar orbits on 10–11 Oct 2010. These orbits, at a constant altitude of ∼100 km, approach gradually the Lunar Magnetic Anomaly (LMA) at the Serenitatis antipode. The data reveal tentatively a region with decrement in proton density and enhancement in temperature. The near coincidence of this region with the Serenitatis antipode probably suggests the presence of a minimagnetosphere associated with the LMA, which effectively shields and heats the incident Solar Wind (SW) protons.     

Space environmental factors affecting responses to radiation at the cellular level.

Previous space experiments suggest a high value for the RBE of cosmic radiation. A possible explanation could be a change in cell radiosensitivity due to a combined effect of radiation and other factors related to the space environment and to the space flight. Results of the EXOBLOC II experiment support this assumption. On earth, vibrations or accelerations applied before or after irradiation can change the responses to radiation. Microgravity could be the main factor affecting the radiosensitivity and DNA repair but this hypothesis must be confirmed by additional experiments.