Synchronous measurements of the atmospheric radio emission in the two and three millimeter wavelength regions

Apparatus and procedure of measuring the atmospheric radio emission simultaneously in two atmospheric windows are described. The results of measurements of the sky brightness temperature and obtained atmospheric optical depth values are reported. The diurnal and seasonal variations of the sky temperature and zenith absorption as well as their relation to weather parameters of nearsurface atmospheric layer are discussed.     

Rainfalls during great Forbush decreases

Summary The changes of rainfall values during great Forbush decreases recorded by the low-latitudinal neutron monitor of Huancayo (47 events from 1956 through 1992) were examined. The data on precipitations were taken from the State of S?o Paulo and from the Amazonian region, Brazil. As a rule, the data from more than 50 meteorological stations were used for each events. The main result is the following: during strong decreases of cosmic-ray flux in the atmosphere (great Forbush decreases) the precipitation value is decreased. The effect of rainfall changes is seen more distinctly if wet seasons are considered.     

天空光光谱监测大气污染的参考光光谱研究

本文研究了利用天空光光谱反演大气成分的方法中,参考光谱对测量结果的影响。分析了中午的天顶光光谱、实时采集的天顶光光谱对信号的影响,提出了针对空间任意方向的大气污染(尤其局部的突发性污染),实时采集的低污染区天空光光谱是具体研究污染最合适的参考光谱。其结果为将该方法应用于监测大气环境提供了依据。     

基于Mie散射的CO_2激光大气传输特性测量

为了更准确地计算大气透过率,在Mie散射理论基础上,分析了雷达系统设计中需考虑的大气透过率的经验计算公式,指出了该经验公式的不足。考虑大气分析软件MODTRAN自身的优点,采用经验公式和软件计算相结合的方式计算大气透过率,给出了MODTRAN计算结果的修正表达式。在该理论指导下,进行了CO2激光大气传输实验。由于没有考虑大气湍流,理论计算和实验结果存在一定偏差,但不影响本文方法的实用性。实验测量显示,激光器出口处光斑能量抖动比为6.18%,而在50m和1km处能量抖动比分别为8.3%和50.2%,表明随着传输距离增加,能量抖动比增大。除掉激光器本身输出能量抖动外,在50m和1km处由大气传输造成的能量抖动比分别为2.12%和44.02%。实验结果提示,水平传输1km时能量抖动已相当剧烈,所以对更远距离的激光传输,自适应光学补偿显得尤为重要。     

Cryogenic absorption cells operating inside a Bruker IFS-125HR: First results for CH4 at 7 μm

New absorption cells designed specifically to achieve stable temperatures down to 66 K inside the sample compartment of an evacuated Bruker IFS-125HR Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) were developed at Connecticut College and tested at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The temperature stabilized cryogenic cells with path lengths of 24.29 and 20.38 cm were constructed of oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) copper and fitted with wedged ZnSe windows using vacuum tight indium seals. In operation, the temperature-controlled cooling by a closed-cycle helium refrigerator achieved stability of ±0.01 K. The unwanted absorption features arising from cryodeposits on the cell windows at low temperatures were eliminated by building an internal vacuum shroud box around the cell which significantly minimized the growth of cryodeposits. The effects of vibrations from the closed-cycle helium refrigerator on the FTS spectra were characterized. Using this set up, several high-resolution spectra of methane isotopologues broadened with nitrogen were recorded in the 1200-1800 cm⁻¹ spectral region at various sample temperatures between 79.5 and 296 K. Such data are needed to characterize the temperature dependence of spectral line shapes at low temperatures for remote sensing of outer planets and their moons. Initial analysis of a limited number of spectra in the region of the R(2) manifold of the ν₄ fundamental band of ¹³CH₄ indicated that an empirical power law used for the temperature dependence of the N₂-broadened line widths would fail to fit the observed data in the entire temperature range from 80 to 296 K; instead, it follows a temperature-dependence similar to that reported by Mondelain et al. [17] and [18]. The initial test was very successful proving that a high precision Fourier transform spectrometer with a completely evacuated optical path can be configured for spectroscopic studies at low temperatures relevant to the planetary atmospheres.     

Propagation factors of Hermite–Gaussian beams in turbulent atmosphere

Based on the extended Huygens–Fresnel integral and the second-order moments of the Wigner distribution function, an analytical formulae for the propagation factors (M²-factors) of coherent and partially coherent one-dimensional Hermite–Gaussian beams in a turbulent atmosphere are derived. Evolution properties of the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam in a turbulent atmosphere are studied numerically in detail. Our results show that the M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam increases upon propagation in a turbulent atmosphere. The M²-factor of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with larger beam order (or lower coherence) increases slower that of the Hermite–Gaussian beam with smaller beam order (or higher coherence) in a turbulent atmosphere, which means that the Hermite–Gaussian beam with a larger beam order and lower coherence is less affected by a turbulent atmosphere. Our results will be useful in long-distance free-space optical communications.     

Gas Forming Processes within Lignite Mining Dumps

Abstract

Gas analyses of the soil atmosphere of lignite mining dumps yielded increased contents of carbon dioxide. To get information about the potential sources and the carbon dioxide releasing capacity of the dumps, samples of dump material were investigated for their contents and isotopic compositions of organic and inorganic carbon as well as the carbon dioxide in the soil atmosphere. The contents of organic and inorganic carbon were found to vary depending on type of dump material. The isotopic composition of the organic carbon ranges between ?24.5 and ?26.5‰, which is typical for humous materials. The carbonates are found to be of marine origin (δ¹³C: +0.5 to ?1.1‰). By means of the isotope investigations it could be shown that the carbon dioxide in the lignite mining dump arises from these two different sources. Mixing ratios can be calculated using the isotope balance equation. Both reaction paths are associated with oxygen consumption and do not result in an increased gas pressure within the dump.     

Partitioning of atmospheric carbon dioxide over Central Europe: insights from combined measurements of CO 2 mixing ratios and their carbon isotope composition

Regular measurements of atmospheric CO ₂ mixing ratios and their carbon isotope composition (¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁴C/¹²C ratios) performed between 2005 and 2009 at two sites of contrasting characteristics (Krakow and the remote mountain site Kasprowy Wierch) located in southern Poland were used to derive fossil fuel-related and biogenic contributions to the total CO ₂ load measured at both sites. Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere, not coming from fossil fuel and biogenic sources, was considered ‘background’ CO ₂. In Krakow, the average contribution of fossil fuel CO ₂ was approximately 3.4%. The biogenic component was of the same magnitude. Both components revealed a distinct seasonality, with the fossil fuel component reaching maximum values during winter months and the biogenic component shifted in phase by approximately 6 months. The partitioning of the local CO ₂ budget for the Kasprowy Wierch site revealed large differences in the derived components: the fossil fuel component was approximately five times lower than that derived for Krakow, whereas the biogenic component was negative in summer, pointing to the importance of photosynthetic sink associated with extensive forests in the neighbourhood of the station. While the presented study has demonstrated the strength of combined measurements of CO ₂ mixing ratios and their carbon isotope signature as efficient tools for elucidating the partitioning of local atmospheric CO ₂ loads, it also showed the important role of the land cover and the presence of the soil in the footprint of the measurement location, which control the net biogenic surface CO ₂ fluxes.     

High pressure-induced structural effects in plastic packaging

Today, flexible vacuum packages are predominantly used for products to be subjected to high pressure treatment. However, tray packages with a modified atmosphere are in demand, which provide a high failure rate with respect to gas and water vapour permeability and packaging integrity. Methods to follow permeation processes under high pressure were developed and used together with optical microscopy, confocal scanning laser microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy to identify the mechanisms for changes in permeability and damage to the packaging materials. Single film samples and pouch packages filled with model products were studied. Results indicate a reversible decrease in the coefficients of diffusion and permeation under the impact of high pressure, due to the compression of the polymeric bulk. Irreversible changes in the polymeric materials are associated with gases in the packaging head space, which cause high local temperatures and create damage due to rapid deliberation upon the pressure drop at the end of the high pressure cycle.     

Large Amplitude Motions of Pyruvic Acid (CH3-CO-COOH)

Torsional and rotational spectroscopic properties of pyruvic acid are determined using highly correlated ab initio methods and combining two different theoretical approaches: Second order perturbation theory and a variational procedure in three-dimensions. Four equilibrium geometries of pyruvic acid, Tc, Tt, Ct, and CC, outcome from a search with CCSD(T)-F12. All of them can be classified in the C_s point group. The variational calculations are performed considering the three internal rotation modes responsible for the non-rigidity as independent coordinates. More than 50 torsional energy levels (including torsional subcomponents) are localized in the 406–986 cm⁻¹ region and represent excitations of the ν₂₄ (skeletal torsion) and the ν₂₃ (methyl torsion) modes. The third independent variable, the OH torsion, interacts strongly with ν₂₃. The A₁/E splitting of the ground vibrational state has been evaluated to be 0.024 cm⁻¹ as it was expected given the high of the methyl torsional barrier (338 cm⁻¹). A very good agreement with respect to previous experimental data concerning fundamental frequencies (ν^CAL − ν^EXP ~ 1 cm⁻¹), and rotational parameters (B₀^CAL − B₀^EXP < 5 MHz), is obtained.