Relativistic SCRs during the events of solar cycle 19

Two major ground-level SCR events in solar cycle 19 are analyzed: the events of May 4 and November 12, 1960. The characteristics of relativistic solar protons (RSPs) have been obtained using the up-to-date method based on the data from the ground based network of neutron monitors. The event of May 4, 1960, occurred against a quiet background, and during the event of 12.11.1960 two shocks, caused by previous flares in the same active region, approached the Earth. The RSP dynamics, related to disturbances in the interplanetary medium, is studied. The solar proton spectra, obtained from the ground-based measurements, are compared to the direct balloon measurements performed at that time.     

Comparison of the SPE model with proton and heavy ion data.

Proton data from the GOES 6 and 7 satellites and heavy ion data from the IMP-8 satellite have been compared to the expected results of Nymmik's new model for solar particle event fluences. This model calculates the energy spectra of ions for protons through nickel for solar particle events, based upon the observed proton integral fluence above 30 MeV. Based upon 27 observed proton events of solar cycle 22, and three large historical events, with integral fluences above 30 MeV of greater than 10(6) particles/cm2, a reasonable agreement with model predictions is seen for more than half of the events. However, several events show a marked departure from the model predictions, leading to the conclusion that there may exist more than a single class of event, or that it may be necessary to include additional parameters within the model, such as solar disk position of the source flare, or height of disturbance in the solar corona. Data for heavy ions, (oxygen and iron), were limited to a total of six solar particle events, of which only two occurred in solar cycle 22. The agreement between data and the model predictions appeared to be quite good, however this agreement was sensitively dependent upon the value taken for the proton fluence above 30 MeV.     

Structural studies on the yttrium-doped cobalt ferrite powders synthesized by sol–gel combustion method

Y_0.2CoFe_1.8O₄ nanopowders were prepared using a sol–gel combustion method. Metal nitrates, such as yttrium nitrate, cobalt nitrate and ferric nitrate, were used as the source materials. Citric acid and polyvinyl alcohol were used as the burning agent and agglomeration reducing agent, respectively. The pH of the precursor was maintained at 7. The mean crystallite size of the prepared ferrite was in the range of ∼20–70 nm. The inverse spinel structure, cubic morphology, and the identification of functional groups of the yttrium-doped cobalt ferrite were analyzed systematically using several analytical tools.     

On-line systems for continuous water and gas isotope ratio measurements

New continuous on-line techniques for water and air extracted from ice cores are developed. Water isotope ratio determination on any of the water phases (water vapour, water, ice) is of great relevance in different research fields, such as climate and paleoclimate studies, geological surveys, and hydrological studies. The conventional techniques for water isotopes are available in different layouts but all of them are rather time-consuming. Here we report new fast on-line techniques that process water as well as ice samples. The analysis time is only approximately 5 min per sample which includes equilibration and processing. Measurement precision and accuracy are better than 0.1 per thousand and 1 per thousand for delta18O and deltaD, respectively, comparable to conventional techniques. The new on-line techniques are able to analyze a wide range of aqueous samples. This allows, for the first time, to make continuous isotope measurements on ice cores. Similarly, continuous and fast analysis of aqueous samples can be of great value for hydrological, geological and perhaps medical applications.Furthermore, a new technique for the on-line analysis of air isotopes extracted from ice cores is developed. This technique allows rapid analyses with high resolution of the main air components nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Measurement precision is comparable to precisions obtained by conventional techniques. It is now possible to measure delta15N and delta18O(atm) over entire ice cores helping to synchronize chronologies, to assess gas age-ice age differences, and to calibrate the paleothermometry for rapid temperature changes. This new on-line air extraction and analyzing technique complements the water methods in an ideal way as it separates the air from the melt-water of an ice sample. The remaining water waste flux can directly be analyzed by the water methods.     

Acoustically derived ice-fracture velocity in central Arctic pack ice

Sounds radiated by fractures in Arctic ice (called acoustic events) are used to estimate fracture velocity. Both speed and orientation are obtained by measuring Doppler shifts induced by source motion. Data from the SIMI experiment of 1994 in the central Arctic are used in the frequency window 10 to 350 Hz. The estimation procedure assumes that each fracture propagates unilaterally, i.e., unidirectionally. Results for a population of 186 events show fracture propagation speed to be mostly subsonic, in the range 100 to 1100 m/s, significantly lower than the Rayleigh wave speed (1700 m/s for sea ice) assumed in previous studies. The wide range of speeds observed indicates either the presence of distinct multiple fractures in each event, or of a single mechanism at different stages in its propagation.     

Absorbed dose from galactic cosmic rays and solar protons as derived from stratospheric measurements

Regular measurements of charged-particle fluxes in the Earth’s atmosphere, performed at the Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences since 1957 up to date, are used to determine the absorbed dose rate in the atmosphere from galactic cosmic rays in the period of minimum solar activity and from solar protons during solar proton events. The values of the absorbed dose rate estimated from the measurement data for some intense solar proton events are reported.     

Measurements of solar heavy ions inside the earth''s magnetosphere

Stacks of cellulose nitrate and cellulose triacetate plastic nuclear track detectors were exposed on a russian satellite in a low earth orbit during the solar particle events in October 1989. Extremely high fluences of solar particles with nuclear charges equal to or greater than 6 were registered. In CTA a charge identification for Z= 8–14 with a resolution of 0.5 charge units was achieved. Energy spectra and arrival directions of the detected particles were measured in both detector materials. The distribution of the arrival directions for ions in CTA shows a significant contribution of particles impinging from below the horizon.     

Scattering of ice coupled waves by a sea-ice sheet with random thickness

Arctic sea-ice contains imperfections such as cracks, leads and pressure ridges that scatter flexural-gravity waves. Models for predicting scattering have been described in the literature, concentrating mainly on singular isolated features with simplified shapes or on arrays of such features. In reality ridges are seldom simple and leads are rarely entirely free of ice. Here we describe a model in which the scattering by a sheet of arbitrary thickness can be simulated. Linear wave theory and Green's functions are used to derive the governing equations for a numerical model of a two-dimensional (in the vertical) system. We examine wave scattering by random ice sheets, identifying trends in behavior as the wave period and the length, median thickness and variance of the sheet are changed. It has been suggested that wave scattering could be used to identify sea-ice thickness, a task which is difficult or expensive by other methods, and here we examine a technique by which this could potentially be achieved. However, a large data base is necessary for this to work and this may limit the practicality of the approach.     

Scattering of ice coupled waves by a sea-ice sheet with random thickness

Arctic sea-ice contains imperfections such as cracks, leads and pressure ridges that scatter flexural-gravity waves. Models for predicting scattering have been described in the literature, concentrating mainly on singular isolated features with simplified shapes or on arrays of such features. In reality ridges are seldom simple and leads are rarely entirely free of ice. Here we describe a model in which the scattering by a sheet of arbitrary thickness can be simulated. Linear wave theory and Green's functions are used to derive the governing equations for a numerical model of a two-dimensional (in the vertical) system. We examine wave scattering by random ice sheets, identifying trends in behavior as the wave period and the length, median thickness and variance of the sheet are changed. It has been suggested that wave scattering could be used to identify sea-ice thickness, a task which is difficult or expensive by other methods, and here we examine a technique by which this could potentially be achieved. However, a large data base is necessary for this to work and this may limit the practicality of the approach.     

Progresses and advances in Arctic underwater acoustics study

As a part of underwater acoustics, the study and development of Arctic Acoustics is later than underwater acoustics about several hundred years. After World War II, the study of Arctic Acoustics attracts many interests by some developed countries, especially U.S. and pre-Soviet Union. The research works obviously have some kinds of cold war brand. After the Cold War, with the gradual warming trend of Arctic area, the ocean acoustic environment in Arctic and its adjacent area have been considerably concerned. The 8 countries of Arctic rim organized exclusive "Arctic Council" in 1996. The white paper of "China Arctic Policy"was published in January 26, 2018, the Chinese government declared that China is a close Arctic country, and is the responsible stakeholder of Arctic interests. The new advances in Arctic research works axe introduced in this paper, including the results of scientific survey and studies about Arctic underwater acoustics of Chinese researchers. It is showed that the Arctic underwater acoustical research area is not only parallely copy the topics what traditional underwater acoustics covered, e.g. environment noise,reverberation,and propagation, but also the topics which is specifically based on the Arctic environment. Some of these research fields cannot be included in the traditional shallow water, deep water acoustics, e.g. the ice-water interface feature, ice covered semi-acoustic channel effect, the communication and navigation of UUV in the condition of under ice, and the adaptation of sonar technique, equipment in the ice-covered environment, etc.     

The space environment monitor aboard FY-2 satellite

The space environment monitor (SEM) aboard FY-2 satellite consists of the high energy particle detector (HEPD) and the solar X-ray flux detector (SXFD). The SEM can provide real-time monitoring of flare and solar proton event for its operation at geostationary orbit and is also the first Chinese space system for monitoring and alerting solar proton event. During the 23rd solar maximum cycle, almost all the solar proton events that took place in this period are monitored and some of them are predicted successfully by analyzing the characteristics of X-ray flare monitored by the SEM. Some basic variation characteristics of particle at geostationary orbit are found such as day-night periodic variation of particle flux, the electron flux with energy >1.4 MeV in the scope from 10 to 200/cm2 s sr and the proton flux with energy >1.1 MeV in the scope from 600 to 8000/cm·s·sr during the time with no magnetic storm and solar eruption.     

Passive longitudes of solar cosmic ray sources

Solar proton events during the period from 1956 to 2012 are considered. Fluences of protons of various energies in these events are computed. On the basis of these data, the inhomogeneity observed in our earlier studies of the distribution of their sources on the Sun along the Carrington longitude is confirmed. Special attention is given to the extensive interval of passive longitudes discovered between ≈90°–170° over the period of observations. The summed proton fluence of the events whose sources lie in this interval of Carrington longitudes is considerably lower than the summed proton fluences of events in other heliolongitude intervals. Of the 60 most powerful solar proton events observed during the period of observations, no more than 1 event originated from this interval of passive longitudes.     

Absorption spectra and aqueous photochemistry of β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates of atmospheric interest

Molar absorption coefficients were measured for select alkyl nitrates and β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates in methanol. The presence of the β-hydroxyl group has a relatively minor effect on the absorption spectrum in the vicinity of the weak n → π* transition, which is responsible for photolysis of organic nitrates in the atmosphere. For both alkyl nitrates and β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates, there is an enhancement in the absorption coefficients in solution compared to the gas-phase values. The effect of the β-hydroxyl group on the spectra was modelled with molecular dynamics simulations using an OM2/GUGA-CI Hamiltonian for ethyl nitrate and β-hydroxyethyl nitrate. The simulation provided a qualitatively correct shape of the low energy tail of the absorption spectrum, which is important for atmospheric photochemistry. The role of direct aqueous photolysis in removal of β-hydroxyalkyl nitrates in cloud and fog water was modelled using a relative rate approach, and shown to be insignificant relative to gas-phase photochemical processes and aqueous OH oxidation under typical atmospheric conditions.     

Evaluation of the energy spectrum of solar protons according to the balloon measurement data and Monte Carlo simulation

The method for evaluating the energy spectra of solar protons at the boundary of the Earth’s atmosphere according to the data of balloon measurements carried out at the Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, and the results of Monte Carlo simulation of the processes of proton interaction in the Earth’s atmosphere has been developed. The balloon measurements during solar proton events make it possible to determine the absorption spectra of solar cosmic rays in the atmosphere. Comparison of the experimental data with the results of the simulation of propagation of solar protons (E _p = 10 MeV-10 GeV) in the atmosphere, based on GEANT-4, allows determination of the energy spectra of solar protons at the atmospheric boundary. The results of the determination of the energy spectra of solar protons in a number of solar proton events in the current (23th) solar activity cycle are reported.     

The first proton NMR imaging of ice: stray-field imaging and relaxation studies

A proton magnetic resonance image of ice was observed with the stray-field (STRAFI) technique. A preliminary study of proton relaxation times was performed in water and ice, at different temperatures. For example, a value of 3.5 micros for the spin-spin relaxation time, T(2), was found in ice at 258 K. Such a short T(2) value leads to significant signal loss, as compared to liquid water, and to a shortening of the STRAFI echo-trains. In particular, a STRAFI signal for protons in ice could be observed only at echo times as short as 15 and 25 micros, for RF pulse durations corresponding to 90 degrees and 50 degrees magnetisation tip angles, respectively. This behaviour is in contrast with that of deuteriated water. Imaging ice, as shown here, opens new prospects in studies involving environmental and materials science, for example.     

中国冬季区域性极端低温事件分类及其与气候指数极端性的联系

基于区域性极端低温事件客观识别技术, 对1951–2010年中国冬季的区域性极端低温事件进行客观识别. 根据事件的空间分布特征, 将综合指数前60位的事件划分为全国型、东部型、东北-华北型、华北-华南型、北方型和西北-华南型六类; 通过分析不同区域类型低温事件形成的环流背景场验证了分类的有效性. 在此基础上, 以1971年1月21日开始的典型事件为例, 分析了事件对应的海温场、高度场和风场的异常, 确定与区域性极端低温事件联系较密切的可能气候因子, 进而分析不同类型事件与各气候指数异常的对应关系. 总体而言, 赤道中东太平洋海温指数异常偏小、北太平洋涛动指数异常偏小、北极涛动指数异常偏小和冬季风异常偏强时, 发生区域性极端低温事件的概率较高; 且这四种指数的历年冬季平均值达到15%(或85%)极端阈值的年份中, 发生区域性极端低温事件的百分率分别达到80.0%, 77.8%, 60.0%和62.5%, 从而为区域性极端低温事件的诊断和预测研究等提供了一定的参考. 关键词： 区域性极端低温事件 空间分类 气候指数 极端     

Decay phase of energetic electrons and protons in solar cosmic ray events

The decay phase of solar energetic particle (proton and electron) events is considered. The propagation mechanisms for particles of different kind may differ in the same events, which should manifest itself in the pecularities of their decay phases. To compare the propagation parameters of protons and electrons, we used the data of simultaneous measurements of few-MeV proton and few-hundred-keV electron fluxes from IMP-8 CPME and SOHO COSTEP. Nearly half of clear-shaped simultaneously measured electron and proton decays have similar character (exponential or power-law), suggesting that at least in a part of events electrons can be subjected to the same propagation mechanisms as protons.     

Were Dansgaard-Oeschger events forced by the Sun?

Large-amplitude (10–15 Kelvin), millennial-duration warm events, the Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events, repeatedly occurred during ice ages. Several hypotheses were proposed to explain the recurrence pattern of these events. For example, it was suggested that DO events occurred in response to a combination of a random forcing (noise) and century-scale solar forcing. In the first part of this paper, this hypothesis is reviewed in the framework of a minimum-complexity model of DO events, which assumes that the events occurred each time a given forcing exceeds a certain threshold function. In the second part of the paper, measures of multi-modality are used to investigate the recurrence pattern of DO events in the latest part (up to 42.000 years before present) of the NGRIP (North Greenland Ice Core Project) and GISP2 (Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2) stable isotope (δ¹⁸O) records from Greenland. It is reported that the onset of DO events in both ice core records shows a maximum degree of multi-modality at a recurrence time of about 1480 years. This pattern, whose statistical significance still needs to be tested in the future, could point to a combination of solar forcing and random variability in triggering DO events.     

Characteristics of solar proton events near the minimum of the 23rd cycle of solar activity

Analysis and systematization of proton activity in the declining phase near the minimum of the 23rd cycle of solar activity in the period 2004–2005 have been performed. Flux, spectral, energy, and some temporal characteristics of the solar proton events observed in the near-Earth space during the noted period are investigated and reported.     

N2O and O3 arctic column amounts from PARIS-IR observations: Retrievals, characterization and error analysis

Ground-based solar absorption infrared spectra were recorded in the Canadian Arctic during the early spring of 2004 using a moderate-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer, the Portable Atmospheric Research Interferometric Spectrometer for the Infrared (PARIS-IR). As part of the Canadian Arctic Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) validation campaign, the PARIS-IR instrument recorded solar absorption spectra of the atmosphere from February to March 2004 as the Sun returned to the Arctic Stratospheric Ozone Observatory (AStrO) near Eureka, Nunavut, Canada (80.05°N, 86.42°W). In this paper, we briefly outline the PARIS-IR instrument configuration and data acquisition in the high Arctic. We discuss the retrieval methodology, characterization and error analysis associated with total and partial column retrievals. We compare the PARIS-IR measurements of N₂O and O₃ column amounts with those from the Fourier transform spectrometer (ACE-FTS) onboard the Canadian SCISAT-1 satellite and the ozonesonde data obtained at Eureka during the validation campaign.