Validate the IRI2007 model by the COSMIC slant TEC data during the extremely solar minimum of 2008

During 2008, the solar activity is extremely low. The satellite observations show that the ionospheric height and electron density is much lower than the predictions by the international reference ionosphere (IRI) model. In this paper, we compared the slant total electron content (TEC) observed by the COSMIC satellites during 2008 with the IRI model results. It is found that the IRI model with IRI2001 and IRI2001 Cor. topside options will always overestimate the electron density in both lower and higher altitudes. But the rest two topside options (NeQuick, and TTS) tend to overestimate the electron density in the F layer and underestimate it in the topside altitudes. The switch altitude between overestimation and underestimation and the latitude-local time distribution of the model deviation depend on the topside option. The current investigation might be useful for the model improvement as well as data assimilation work based on the IRI model and the LEO TEC data.     

Improved interpretation of solar wind ion measurements via high-resolution magnetic field data

The Wind   spacecraft’s Faraday cups (FC) continue to produce high-quality, in situ observations of thermal protons (i.e., ionized hydrogen) and α$\alpha$-particles (i.e., fully ionized helium) in the solar wind. By fitting a Wind/FC ion spectrum with a model velocity distribution function (VDF) for each particle species, values for density, bulk velocity, and temperature can be inferred. Incorporating measurements of the background magnetic field from the Wind Magnetic Field Investigation (MFI) allows perpendicular and parallel temperature components to be separated. Prior implementations of this analysis averaged the higher-cadence Wind/MFI measurements to match that of the Wind/FC ion spectra. However, this article summarizes recent and extensive revisions to the analysis software that, among other things, eliminate such averaging and thereby account for variations in the direction of the magnetic field over the time taken to measure the ions. A statistical comparison reveals that the old version consistently underestimates the temperature anisotropy of ion VDF’s: averaging over fluctuations in the magnetic field essentially blurs the perpendicular and parallel temperature components, which makes the plasma seem artificially more isotropic. The new version not only provides a more accurate dataset of ion parameters (which is well suited to the study of microkinetic phenomena), it also demonstrates a novel technique for jointly processing particle and field data. Such methods are crucial to heliophysics as wave-particle interactions are increasingly seen as playing an important role in the dynamics of the solar wind and similar space plasmas.     

Heliotropic dust rings for Earth climate engineering

This paper examines the concept of a Sun-pointing elliptical Earth ring comprised of dust grains to offset global warming. A new family of non-Keplerian periodic orbits, under the effects of solar radiation pressure and the Earth’s J₂ oblateness perturbation, is used to increase the lifetime of the passive cloud of particles and, thus, increase the efficiency of this geoengineering strategy. An analytical model is used to predict the orbit evolution of the dust ring due to solar-radiation pressure and the J₂ effect. The attenuation of the solar radiation can then be calculated from the ring model. In comparison to circular orbits, eccentric orbits yield a more stable environment for small grain sizes and therefore achieve higher efficiencies when the orbit decay of the material is considered. Moreover, the novel orbital dynamics experienced by high area-to-mass ratio objects, influenced by solar radiation pressure and the J₂ effect, ensure the ring will maintain a permanent heliotropic shape, with dust spending the largest portion of time on the Sun facing side of the orbit. It is envisaged that small dust grains can be released from a circular generator orbit with an initial impulse to enter an eccentric orbit with Sun-facing apogee. Finally, a lowest estimate of 1 × 10¹² kg of material is computed as the total mass required to offset the effects of global warming.     

VHF radio response of the near Earth space during solar activity growth in October, 2003

The analysis of observations of very high frequency radio noise intensity at the middle latitude on a frequency f = 500 MHz from 14th till 26th of October, 2003 is presented. These data are compared with the solar radio bursts in the range of frequencies 1–14 MHz registered by RAD2 receiver of the WAVES device installed on board the WIND spacecraft.     

New evidence of solar variation in temperature proxies from Northern Fennoscandia

A new summer temperature proxy was built for northern Fennoscandia in AD 1000–2004 using parameters of tree growth from a large region, extending from the Swedish Scandes to the Kola Peninsula. It was found that century-scale (55–140 year) cyclicity is present in this series during the entire time interval. This periodicity is highly significant and has a bi-modal structure, i.e. it consists of two oscillation modes, 55–100 year and 100–140 year variations. A comparison of the century-long variation in the northern Fennoscandian temperature proxy with the corresponding variations in Wolf numbers and concentration of cosmogenic ¹⁰Be in glacial ice shows that a probable cause of this periodicity is the modulation of regional climate by the secular solar cycle of Gleissberg. This is in line with the results obtained previously for a more limited part of the region (Finnish Lapland: 68–70° N, 20–30° E). Thus the reality of a link between long-term changes in solar activity and climate in Fennoscandia has been confirmed. Possible mechanisms of solar influence on the lower troposphere are discussed.     

静止轨道卫星在轨温度参数变化规律研究

分析了静止轨道在轨三轴稳定卫星各面上温度参数的变化规律,并通过理论计算得到卫星各面上光强的变化曲线,研究了温度参数变化与对应面上光强的关系,建立了温度参数与光线的线性模型,结果表明模型与实际数据能较好地吻合,对温度参数的预测以及故障的判断具有一定的参考价值.     

纹影技术中光源的选择与设计方法

在纹影技术应用过程中,纹影光源的性能一定程度上决定了拍摄结果的优劣。不同种类的光源,得到的拍摄效果不同,对于某种特定拍摄需求,光源的选择和设计也不同。如何选择和设计合适的纹影光源,对于最终拍摄结果的好坏至关重要。结合纹影技术在工程实际中的应用,分析了不同被测对象对光源的需求,总结了几种常见光源的应用情况及其特点,提供了一种光源参数设计的方法。在实验室典型超声速自由射流流场测量中,对卤钨灯、氙灯和激光3种纹影光源的应用进行了对比分析。所提出的纹影光源的选择与设计方法,具有一定的工程实验参考价值。     

燃料电池轻型飞机起飞质量估算方法

为应对全球能源危机和环境污染问题,航空界将电动飞机作为研究的热点之一。燃料电池飞机在飞行过程中飞机质量基本保持不变,使得燃料电池飞机在起飞质量估算方法上和传统动力飞机相比,具有不同特点。本文通过引入推进系统系数等参数,建立了燃料电池飞机各部分质量系数的确定及飞机起飞质量的估算过程,并为后续机型的研制提供参考。     

航空摄影的再创作

航空摄影的表现手法,无处不体现在形象画面的章法和相互关联上。用视觉语言形象地传递作者对摄影作品的思想认识,是内容与艺术形式的完美统一。航空摄影的再创作,必须遵循科学的逻辑法则和它的客观规律性来实现,拍摄出来的作品就会具有一定的思想深度和艺术形式美。把握好这些经典要素,它会让你的摄影作品锦上添花。     

Ionization effect of solar protons in the Earth atmosphere – Case study of the 20 January 2005 SEP event

The cosmic ray ground level enhancement on January 20, 2005 is among the largest recorded events in the history of cosmic ray measurements. The solar protons of MeV energies cause an excess of ionization in the atmosphere, specifically over polar caps following major solar disturbances. The ionization effect in the Earth atmosphere is obtained for various latitudes on the basis of solar proton energy spectra, reconstructed from GOES 11 measurements and subsequent full Monte Carlo simulation of cosmic ray induced atmospheric cascade. The estimation of ionization rates is based on a numerical model for cosmic ray induced ionization. The evolution of atmospheric cascade is performed with the CORSIKA 6.52 code using FLUKA 2006b and QGSJET II hadron interaction models. The atmospheric ion rate ionization is explicitly obtained for 40°N, 60°N and 80°N latitudes. The time evolution of obtained ion rates is presented. It is demonstrated that ionization effect is negative for 40°N and small for 60°N, because of accompanying Forbush decrease. The ionization effect is significant only in sub-polar and polar atmosphere during the major ground level enhancement of 20 January 2005.