What do Cosmogenic Isotopes Tell us About Past Solar Forcing of Climate?

In paleoclimate studies, cosmogenic isotopes are frequently used as proxy indicators of past variations in solar irradiance on centennial and millennial timescales. These isotopes are spallation products of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) impacting Earth's atmosphere, which are deposited and stored in terrestrial reservoirs such as ice sheets, ocean sediments and tree trunks. On timescales shorter than the variations in the geomagnetic field, they are modulated by the heliosphere and thus they are, strictly speaking, an index of heliospheric variability rather than one of solar variability. Strong evidence of climate variations associated with the production (as opposed to the deposition) of these isotopes is emerging. This raises a vital question: do cosmic rays have a direct influence on climate or are they a good proxy indicator for another factor that does (such as the total or spectral solar irradiance)? The former possibility raises further questions about the possible growth of air ions generated by cosmic rays into cloud condensation nuclei and/or the modulation of the global thunderstorm electric circuit. The latter possibility requires new understanding about the required relationship between the heliospheric magnetic fields that scatter cosmic rays and the photospheric magnetic fields which modulate solar irradiance.     

High-Frequency Radio Signatures of Solar Eruptive Flares

Several examples of the radio emission of eruptive solar flares with high-frequency slowly drifting structures and type II bursts are presented. Relationships of these radio bursts with eruptive phenomena such as soft X-ray plasmoid ejection and shock formation are shown. Possible underlying physical processes are discussed in the framework of the plasmoid ejection model of eruptive solar flares. On the other hand, it is shown that these radio bursts can be considered as radio signatures of eruptive solar flares and thus used for the prediction of heliospheric effects. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

低纬地磁Z分量的半年变化

利用武汉、广州、泉州和琼中等4个低纬地磁站连续多年的地磁资料，计算了各月5个磁静日Z分量日均值与中午1100---1300时段平均值之差(Dz)，对每年12个Dz采用多元回归分析方法，得到各年的半年变化幅度和相位．结果表明：4个站的Dz每年都有半年变化现象；半年变化幅度与太阳活动有关，一般来说，太阳活动高年Dz半年变化幅度明显大于太阳活动低年；太阳活动本身的半年变化，对Dz半年变化幅度有显著的调制作用；Dz半年变化的相位在3—4月(或9—10月)，即极大值出现在分季；低纬地区地磁Z分量存在显著的半年变化，能够反映赤道电急流也有明显的半年变化，这再一次证明，赤道电急流幅度的半年变化，通过“喷泉效应”使得电离层，f0F2产生半年变化，其是产生，f0F2半年变化的一个主要因素．     

神舟2号大气密度探测器的探测结果(Ⅰ)日照和阴影区域热层大气密度变化

选用了神舟2号（SZ-2）大气密度探测器在2001年2—4月间的探测数据,进行日照和阴影区域热层大气密度变化的探讨.结果表明:在高度410km附近,日照和阴影区域大气密度变幅为2—3倍,变幅的大小与地磁活动程度呈负相关关系.日照面大气密度峰区位于星下点地方时1400—1500LT的纬度处,峰值大小与太阳活动程度呈正相关关系.阴影面大气密度谷区位于星下点地方时0400-0500的纬度处,同时在±10°纬度区域中还出现了阴影面峰区.     

绳索断裂对二维二次太阳翼展开过程影响分析

为识别二维二次太阳翼关键环节和预示其在轨展开故障模式，开展不同位置绳索断裂失效对太阳翼展开的影响程度分析。采用考虑绳索断裂的绳索联动轮力学模型，建立了适应于不同联动轮半径的联动轮受力模型，提出角度触发约束消除方法，解决了太阳翼第2次展开过程连续仿真问题，建立了太阳翼第2次展开动力学方程，分析了不同位置绳索断裂失效对太阳翼各板展开角度、展开构型和其他绳索张力的影响。分析表明，越靠近星体的绳索联动机构失效对太阳翼展开过程的影响越大，其中连接架上绳索联动机构失效可直接导致二维二次太阳翼在轨展开失败。     

Results of solar observations by the CORONAS-F payload

The CORONAS-F mission experiments and results have been reviewed. The observations with the DIFOS multi-channel photometer in a broad spectral range from 350 to 1500 nm have revealed the dependence of the relative amplitudes of p-modes of the global solar oscillations on the wavelength that agrees perfectly well with the earlier data obtained in a narrower spectral ranges. The SPIRIT EUV observations have enabled the study of various manifestations of solar activity and high-temperature events on the Sun. The data from the X-ray spectrometer RESIK, gamma spectrometer HELICON, flare spectrometer IRIS, amplitude–temporal spectrometer AVS-F, and X-ray spectrometer RPS-1 have been used to analyze the X- and gamma-ray emission from solar flares and for diagnostics of the flaring plasma. The absolute and relative content of various elements (such as potassium, argon, and sulfur) of solar plasma in flares has been determined for the first time with the X-ray spectrometer RESIK. The Solar Cosmic Ray Complex monitored the solar flare effects in the Earth’s environment. The UV emission variations recorded during solar flares in the vicinity of the 120-nm wavelength have been analyzed and the amplitude of relative variations has been determined.     

Spectroscopy peculiarities of thermal plasma of electric arc discharge between electrodes with Zn admixtures

Plasma of the free burning electric arc between Ag–SnO₂–ZnO composite electrodes as well as brass electrodes were investigated. The plasma temperature distributions were obtained by Boltzmann plot method involving Cu I, Ag I or Zn I spectral line emissions. The electron density distributions were obtained from the width and from absolute intensity of spectral lines. The laser absorption spectroscopy was used for measurement of copper atom concentration in plasma. Plasma equilibrium composition was calculated using two independent groups of experimental values (temperature and copper atom concentration, temperature and electron density). It was found that plasma of the free burning electric arc between brass electrodes is in local thermodynamical equilibrium. The experimental verification of the spectroscopic data of Zn I spectral lines was carried out.     

Sunspot cycle 23 descent to an unusual minimum and forecasts for cycle 24 activity

The decay phase of the sunspot cycle 23 exhibited two unusual features. First, it lasted too long. Second, the interplanetary magnetic field intensity at earth orbit reached the lowest value since in situ measurements in space began in October 1963. These physical anomalies significantly altered the early forecasts for the sunspot activity parameters for cycle 24, made by several colleagues. We note that there was a significant change in the solar behavior during cycle 22. We discuss the observed trends and their effect on our empirical solar activity forecast technique, leading to our prediction for cycle 24 parameters; cycle 24 will be only half as active as cycle 23, reaching its peak in May 2013. We speculate on the possible implications of this outcome on future earth climate change and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.     

军航活动下扇区动态容量评估研究

民航业迅速发展,空域资源的稀缺性日益凸显。科学合理地评估空域容量是解决空中交通流量瓶颈的关键,同时也为制定流量管理策略提供科学的依据。由于我国体制的特殊性,军航活动一直是我国空域资源限制的重要因素。研究并详细分析军航活动对扇区容量损失作用的机理,定量地评估军航活动对扇区容量的影响,建立军航活动影响下的扇区动态容量评估模型,结论表明模型有一定的参考意义。