Use of principal component analysis in the identification of the spatial pattern of an ionospheric total electron content anomalies after China’s May 12, 2008, M = 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake

This paper uses principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the spatial pattern of total electron content (TEC) anomalies in the ionosphere post the China’s Wenchuan Earthquake of 12 May, 2008 (UTC) (M_w = 7.9). PCA and image processing are applied to the global ionospheric map (GIM) with transforms conducted for the time period 08:00–10:00 UT on 12 May 2008. Results show that at a height of approximately 200 km the anomaly is widespread and less intense; however, it becomes more localized with height reaching maximum intensity and localization at an altitude of 300 km. The spatial distribution is remarkably similar to that reported for a TEC anomaly previously identified as a precursor anomaly on May 9, 2008 for the same time period. Potential causes of the results are discussed with emphasis given to vertical acoustic gravity waves based on the spatial pattern identified.     

Analysis of a topside ionospheric model using GPS and ionosonde observables

Ground-based vertical incidence soundings are well suited to model the bottom-side ionosphere but are not so good for dependably modelling the topside ionosphere. This study aims to combine vertical incidence sounding and dual-frequency GPS measurements to reconstruct the topside profile. The reconstruction technique relays on the use of the so-called vary-Chap approach that use an α-Chapman function with a continuously varying scale height.     

Total electron content measurements in ionospheric physics

With the advent of modern global networks of dual-frequency Global Positioning System (GPS), total electron content (TEC) measurements along slant paths connecting GPS receivers and satellites at 22,000 km have become the largest data set available to ionospheric scientists. The TEC can be calculated from the time and phase delay in the GPS signal using the GPS Toolkit, but an unknown bias will remain. In addition, UHF/VHF radio beacons on board low-Earth-orbiting satellites can also be used to measure the electron content. However, the TEC measurements are obtained by integrating TEC differences between slant paths, but also contain biases. It is often necessary to use data assimilative algorithms like the Ionospheric Data Assimilation Three-Dimensional (IDA3D), and to treat both GPS- and LEO-beacon TEC measurements as relative data in order to conduct ionospheric studies.     

接收模式下加罩天线系统特性的快速电磁仿真

针对接收模式下电大尺寸的天线-天线罩系统电磁特性分析问题,提出了一种全波法和高频法结合的混合算法:积分方程/修正型表面积分+多层快速多极子(IE/MSI+MLFMA)方法.该方法将由高频方法MSI得到的天线罩内场分布作为天线阵列的激励场,再利用基于体-面混合积分方程(VSIE)和MLFMA的快速全波分析方法精确计算天线阵;同时应用球谐函数展开、预处理技术、混合并行等技术进一步改进算法的计算效率.同传统的全波数值法相比,该方法在保证计算精度、满足工程需要的前提下,解决了求解计算时间长、计算效率低的问题,实现了对电大尺寸天线-天线罩系统的快速、高效仿真.      

可调弯度进口导叶在对转压气机中的应用

利用NUMECA软件对对转压气机进口导叶不同弯度时进行流场模拟,得到了进口导叶不同弯度时的流场结构和性能参数.进口导叶正弯时,总增压比明显下降,稳定工作范围明显变小;进口导叶负弯时,随着弯度的增大,总增压比逐渐上升,堵塞点右移;进口导叶弯度为-15°时,稳定工作范围明显较大.结果表明: 采用可调弯度进口导叶能够调节和改善对转压气机性能和流场结构,可调弯度进口导叶能够调节转子进气攻角,使其更接近设计攻角,从而改善压气机的性能.      

并网逆变器闭环控制带宽对死区效应的抑制

阐述了死区效应的产生机理及其在开环控制下对逆变器输出基波电压的影响和死区谐波频谱分布情况。在此基础上,通过闭环传递函数带宽分析,定量地分析了闭环系统对死区效应的抑制作用以及控制带宽大小对抑制死区效应效果的关系。以单电流闭环控制的LCL滤波并网逆变器系统为例,进行闭环控制带宽对死区效应抑制的仿真验证。最后,在一台250kW三相并网逆变器上进行实验验证。仿真和实验结果证明了理论分析的正确性。     

Response of photosynthetic systems to salinity stress in the desert cyanobacterium Scytonema javanicum

The present study investigated the physiological and biochemical characteristics of Scytonema javanicum, a pioneer species isolated from desert biological crusts, under salinity stress. Pigment analysis showed that salinity decreased chlorophyll a and phycocyanin content, while low salinity increased carotenoid concentration and high salinity decreased carotenoid concentration. Salinity also inhibited CO₂ assimilation rate and photosynthetic oxygen evolution in this cyanobacterium. Chlorophyll a fluorescence transient parameters (φPo, φEo, ψO, RC/ABS, RC/CS, PI_ABS, and PI_CS) were decreased under salt stress, while dVo/dto(Mo), Vj and φDo were increased. The decrease of ETRmax and Yield and the change of chlorophyll a fluorescence transients showed that salt stress had an important influence on photosynthesis. These results indicated that the effects of salinity stress on photosynthesis in S. javanicum may depend on the inhibition of electron transport and the inactivation of the reaction centers, but this inhibition may occur in the electron transport pathway at the PSII donor and acceptor sites.     

Study of the 2013 Lushan M7.0 earthquake coseismic ionospheric disturbances

On April 20, 2013, an earthquake of M7.0 occurred in Lushan, Sichuan province, China. This paper investigates the coseismic ionospheric anomalies using GPS (Global Positioning System) data from 23 reference stations in Sichuan province that are a part of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC). The recorded results show that a clear ionospheric anomaly occurred within 15 min after the earthquake near the epicenter, and the occurrence time of the anomalies recorded by various stations is related to the distance from the epicenter. The maximum anomaly is 0.25 TECu, with a 2 min duration and the distance of the recording station to the epicenter is 83 km. Acoustic waves generated by the crustal vertical movement during the earthquake propagate up to the height of the ionosphere lead to the ionospheric anomaly, and the propagation speed of the acoustic wave is calculated as 0.72 ± 0.04 km/s based on the propagation time and propagation distance, consistent with the average speed of sound waves within a 0–450 km atmospheric height.     

Harmonic analysis of the ionospheric electron densities retrieved from FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultation measurements

In order to investigate the regular variations of the ionosphere, the least-squares harmonic estimation is applied to the time series of ionospheric electron densities derived from about five years of Global Positioning System radio occultation observations by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites. The analysis is done for different latitudes and altitudes in the region of Iran. The least-squares harmonic estimation is found to be a powerful tool for the frequency analysis of the completely unevenly spaced time series of radio occultation measurements. Although the obtained results are slightly different from the exact expected cycles (i.e. annual and diurnal components with their Fourier decompositions, and the 27-day period) due to the low horizontal resolution of radio occultation measurements, high vertical resolution of the observations enables us to detect not only the total electron content variations but also periodic patterns of electron densities at different altitudes of the ionosphere. The dominant diurnal and annual signals together with their Fourier series decompositions are obtained, which are consistent with the previous analyses on the total electron content. In the equatorial anomaly band, the annual component is weaker than its Fourier decomposition periods. In particular, the semiannual period dominates the annual component, indicating the relationship between the semiannual variation of the electron densities and the ionospheric equatorial anomaly. From detection of the phases of the components, it is revealed that the annual signal generally has its maximum value in summers at high altitudes, and in the winters at low altitudes. This is probably due to the higher [O/N₂] ratios in winter than in the summer in the lower ionosphere. Furthermore, the semiannual component mostly peaks around solstices or about a month before/after them.     

Variability study of the crest-to-trough TEC ratio of the equatorial ionization anomaly around 120°E longitude

In this paper, latitudinal profiles of the vertical total electron content (TEC) deduced from the dual-frequency GPS measurements obtained at ground stations around 120°E longitude were used to study the variability of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). The present study mainly focuses on the analysis of the crest-to-trough TEC ratio (TEC-CTR) which is an important parameter representing the strength of EIA. Data used for the present study covered the time period from 01 January, 1998 to 31 December, 2004. An empirical orthogonal function analysis method is used to obtain the main features of the TEC-CTR’s diurnal and seasonal variations as well as its solar activity level dependency. Our results showed that: (1) The diurnal variation pattern of the TEC-CTR at 120°E longitude is characterized by two remarkable peaks, one occurring in the post-noon hours around 13–14 LT, and the other occurring in the post-sunset hours around 20–21 LT, and the post-sunset peak has a much higher value than the post-noon one. (2) Both for the north and south crests, the TEC-CTR at 120°E longitude showed a semi-annual variation with maximum peak values occurring in the equinoctial months. (3) TEC-CTR for the north crest has lower values in summer than in winter, whereas TEC-CTR for the south crest does not show this ‘winter anomaly’ effect. In other words, TEC-CTR for both the north and south crests has higher values in the northern hemispheric winter than in the northern hemispheric summer. (4) TEC-CTR in the daytime post-noon hours (12–14 LT) does not vary much with the solar activity, however, TEC-CTR in the post-sunset hours (19–21 LT) shows a clear dependence on the solar activity, its values increasing with solar activity.