Mixing layer height and meteorological measurements in Hefei China during the total solar eclipse of 22 July, 2009

Mixing layer height measurements with an elastic-backscattered lidar were carried out in Hefei, China, during the total solar eclipse of 22 July, 2009. The mixing layer height evolution is studied with the observation of changes in near-ground temperature, relative humidity and wind speed. The lidar emits the laser at the wavelengths of 532 and 355 nm, respectively, and obtains the backscattered signal with the resolution of 10 m. The whole eclipse witnessed the mixing layer change similar to that occurring during sunset. The results also show the mixing layer height decreased to 287 m rapidly during the total eclipse within only more than 1 min from the initial 354 m. The entrainment thickness reached the minimum of 43 m in the eclipse, indicating the weakening of the penetrative convection. Thereafter the thickness kept a constant value of 180 m. The temperature in the whole eclipse is uptrend, increasing only by 0.5 °C as a whole. The wind speed decreased and simultaneously the wind direction changed. The wind speed reached its minimum of 2 m/s at the end of the eclipse.     

Solar eclipse effects of 22 July, 2009 on the propagation of radio signals

The results of investigation of the variation of radio signal strengths during the solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 are reported in this paper. Observations of the radio signals transmitted from different radio stations at different frequencies and received at a particular observing site indicate a distinct change in signal strength around the time the eclipse umbra passes the propagation paths. The three types of variations in the eclipse day and particularly during its peak period are different from propagation under normal condition. The phenomena of signal variations, the noted “Inverted U-shape“ at one of the frequencies before the occurrence of the eclipse and 13 to 15 minutes time difference between the enhancement of the signal strength and the onset of eclipse are some interesting characteristics. The results are interpreted by ionospheric D-layer behavior at such times.     

日全食下城市热环境的变化特征分析

2009年7月22日,我国长江流域能很好地观测到一次千载难逢的日全食现象,且重庆是一个非常好的日全食观测点.作者观测了重庆地区7月21日及22日两天的室外气象数据(太阳辐射,空气温度,相对湿度等),基于实验观测数据,分析和探讨了日全食对室外热环境的影响.日全食当天,室外气温和地表温度随太阳辐射强度的减小而减小,空气温度...     

Atomosphere boundary layer height determination and observation from ceilometer measurements over Hefei during the total solar on July 22,2009 eclipse

<正>Using an improved inflexion point method(IIPM),we investigate atmosphere boundary layer(ABL) height evolution over Hefei during the total solar eclipse on July 22,2009.A lidar ceilometer is used in ground-based observations.Estimations of ABL heights before,during,and after the solar eclipse are analyzed using the IIPM.Results indicate that the IIPM,which is less sensitive to background noise,is more suitable in detecting ABL height and temporal evolution.Data demonstrate that the total solar eclipse resultes in a decrease in ABL height,indicating a suppression of turbulence activity,similar to that observed during the sunset hours.Changes in ABL height are associated with a slow change in temperature,indicating a significant weakening of penetrative convection and a time lag between ABL response and the reduction in solar radiation.     

1987年9月23日日环食所产生的大气内重力波

在日食期间,月影以超声速移过地球大气而使局部大气冷却。Chimonas和Hines认为大气冷却的结果产生激波,诱发大气重力波。这时在电离层中可检测到TID而在地面上可检测到大气压力变化。虽然在电离层中这种重力波信号很弱,但仍可检测到。地面压力变化发生在日食附近地区,甚至离主食带相当远的地方也可以测到。本文报告了在中国首次直接观测日环食引起地面压力波的检测结果。1987年9月23日日环食期间,位于环食带的乌鲁木齐,太原,徐州,苏州及位于偏食带的北京和贵阳共六个次声观测站用电容式微气压计在我国首次探测到日环食产生的声重力波,其周期为10—60min,振幅为7—20Pa(峰-峰值)。动态谱分析的结果表明,各地的重力波周期都有连续的谱分布,其主周期为40min。此外,各地记录到出现时间不同而周期更长的波,对这些结果本文作了初步计论。     

The search for vulcanoids in the 2008 total solar eclipse

Interior to Mercury’s orbit is a dynamically stable region where a population of small, asteroid-like bodies called Vulcanoids has been hypothesized to reside. The Vulcanoid Zone (VZ) extends inward from about 0.18 au to about 0.08 au. During the Total Solar Eclipse (TSE) in 2008, a search for Vulcanoids was completed. Although no Vulcanoids was detected to a moving object detection limit of V=12.8, the search was far more comprehensive than previous searches.     

Lidar monitoring of an aerosol precursor of seismic activity during the total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

A decrease in the tectonic aerosol flux during a total solar eclipse was detected for the first time using a backscattering lidar. The experiment was performed in the tunnel of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences, on March 29, 2006 (11:17:30 UT). It was found that the decrease in the aerosol release is 2 h ahead of the decrease in the amplitude of seismic vibrations. The decrease in seismic activity is interpreted as a result of lithosphere bulging at the ridge of the eclipse-induced tidal wave, which arrives at the point of observation with a delay. The increased sensitivity of aerosol release to lithosphere deformation in comparison with a seismograph and the detected advance give grounds to consider the change in the lidar signal as a precursor of the change in seismic activity.     

Near infrared spectral and polarization imaging observation of coronal emission lines during the 2008 total solar eclipse

During the 2008 total solar eclipse, the coronal emission lines were observed by using optical fibre spectrometric and polarization imaging system in near infrared waveband. The profiles of the coronal emission lines including Fe XIII 10747 ?, 10798 ? and He I 10830 ? were obtained with dispersion of 0.5 ? /pix. The intensity of Fe XIII 10747 ? remained unchanged in the two different coronal regions while the intensity of He I 10830 ? varied considerably in the two coronal locations no matter whether the prominence appeared or not. The coronal polarization images were observed at Fe XI 7892 ? with a bandpass of 30 ? in a series of exposure times.     

A study on excitation of atmospheric gravity waves from annular solar eclipse

Utilizing the data of microbarometric waves on ground level,radiosonde reports and solar radiations obtained from various observation sta-tions in China during the annular solar eclipse on September 23,1987,themechanism of AGWs excited by the eclipse,the spectral characteristics and thelocal differences have been studied,and the results have been compared withthose from the ionospheric sounding at the same time.It turns out that therewere AGWs excited certainly during this annular solar eclipse,their periods areobviously in accordance with the duration of the fluctuation in the direct solarradiation.     

New measurements with a torsion pendulum during the solar eclipse

During the solar eclipse of 11 July 1991 in Mexico the period of a torsion pendulum was measured in order to reexamine possible anomalies observed in previous experiments of this kind. In our experiment no significant change was found as the relative change in the period associated with the eclipse was less than 2.0×10^–6 (90% confidence). Results were similar to our previous ones made during the eclipse in 1990 in Finland when the Sun was much lower in the horizon. However, two small but distinct shifts were observed in the horizontal position of the pendulum wire which were well correlated with the beginning and the end of the eclipse.     

Feature of the multifractal structure of small-scale ionospheric turbulence during the solar eclipse of August 1, 2008

Using the method of radio sounding of the mid-latitude ionosphere by the satellite signals, we study the multifractal structure of small-scale ionospheric turbulence during a solar eclipse. The measured multipower and generalized multifractal spectra of small-scale ionospheric turbulence at the initial and closing stages of the eclipse turn out to be almost identical on the space radio paths with different orientations. This is indicative of a sufficiently high stability of the nonuniform spatio-temporal distribution of small-scale fluctuations of the ionospheric electron number density under conditions of geophysical disturbances due to global physical processes in the ionospheric plasma during a solar eclipse. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 52, No. 4, pp. 302–306, April 2009.     

Measurements of saturated basic and acidic rock electrical conductivities at lower crustal temperatures and high pressures

Abstract

Laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of brine saturated acidic and metabasic rocks were done at confining pressures up to 0.2 GPa, high pore pressures and temperatures of 900°C. Acidic rocks showed conductivities insufficient to explain the lower crustal high conductivity layer. Basic rocks, however, showed conductivities consistent with the high conductivity layer at those temperatures that the layer is thought to possess.     

Ionospheric response to the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006

In the present work, results of vertical sensing of the ionosphere at the Klyuchi (Novosibirsk) and Arti (Ekaterinburg) Geophysical Observatories during the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 are given. The maximum eclipse was observed in Novosibirsk at 11:43 UT; the obscuring phase was 92%. A maximum obscuring phase of 80% was observed at the Arti Georhysical Observatory at 11:32 UT. The results obtained are compared with the analogous data obtained in the preceding and next days as well as with the data of many-year observations on March 28, 29, and 30. The results obtained demonstrate that the eclipse affects most strongly the characteristics of the F layer. The maximum variations of the critical frequency f₀F2 were delayed by about 10 min from the maximum eclipse phase, relaxation started half an hour after the maximum eclipse phase, and the frequency decreased at most by 1.5 MHz. A decrease in the critical frequency of the F1 layer has a greater delay and smaller amplitude. The results obtained are in good agreement with previous measurements. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 68–72, September, 2006.     

Paraconic pendulum: Proposal to detect the gravity screening effect during the full solar eclipse

Summary The possibility to detect Allais effect by the paraconic pendulum with the needle and ball suspension is considered. Foucalt force and friction force are estimated with the conclusion to use the ball suspension system for pendulum.     

Observation of signals of VLF radio stations and VLF noise during the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006

Effects of the solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 on signals of VLF radio stations, regular radio-noise intensity in the VLF range 0.3–10 kHz, and the number of atmospherics registered in Yakutsk mainly from the western direction are considered. The full lunar shadow zone consistently shaded the daytime section of the radio-signal propagation path from the western coast of Africa to Altai. A multichannel parallel analyzer-recorder (operating in the frequency range 0.47–8.7 kHz), one-point thunderstorm direction-and-range finder (0.3–100 kHz), narrow-sector radio-noise direction finder (0.3–10 kHz), recorder of VLF radio-station signals, and broadband radio-noise recorder (0.3–100 kHz) were used for observations. Time synchronization of the recorder of VLF radio-station signals was carried out with the help of GPS-clocks. The effect was observed in radio-station signals, radio-noise, and number of atmospherics from a direction of (270 ± 20)°, counted from the north clockwise, in the last stage of the eclipse (∼11–12 UT), when the lunar shadow approached the night terminator and crossed the signal propagation path. The effect was manifested through a ∼20% gain of the received signals, ∼40% increase in the number of atmospherics, and radio-station phase changes. The registered effects are similar to those we observed during the eclipse on March 9, 1997. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 6, pp. 84–87, June, 2007.     

Measurements of long-term changes in atmospheric OCS (carbonyl sulfide) from infrared solar observations

Multi-decade atmospheric OCS (carbonyl sulfide) infrared measurements have been analyzed with the goal of quantifying long-term changes and evaluating the consistency of the infrared atmospheric OCS remote-sensing measurement record. Solar-viewing grating spectrometer measurements recorded in April 1951 at the Jungfraujoch station (46.5°N latitude, 8.0°E longitude, 3.58 km altitude) show evidence for absorption by lines of the strong ν₃ band of OCS at 2062 cm⁻¹. The observation predates the earliest previously reported OCS atmosphere remote-sensing measurement by two decades. More recent infrared ground-based measurements of OCS have been obtained primarily with high-resolution solar-viewing Fourier transform spectrometers (FTSs). Long-term trends derived from this record span more than two decades and show OCS columns that have remained constant or have decreased slightly with time since the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, though retrievals assuming different versions of public spectroscopic databases have been impacted by OCS ν₃ band line intensity differences of ∼10%. The lower stratospheric OCS trend has been inferred assuming spectroscopic parameters from the high-resolution transmission (HITRAN) 2004 database. Volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles measured near 30°N latitude with high-resolution solar-viewing FTSs operating in the solar occultation mode over a 22 years time span were combined. Atmospheric Trace MOlecucle Spectroscopy (ATMOS) version 3 FTS measurements in 1985 and 1994 were used with Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment (ACE) measurements during 2004-2007. Trends were calculated by referencing the measured OCS VMRs to those of the long-lived constituent N₂O to account for variations in the dynamic history of the sampled airmasses. Means and 1-sigma standard deviations of VMRs (in ppbv, or 10⁻⁹ per unit air volume) averaged over 30-100 hPa from measurements at 25-35°N latitude are 0.334±0.089 ppbv from 1985 (ATMOS Spacelab 3 measurements), 0.297±0.094 ppbv from 1994 ATLAS 3 measurements, 0.326±0.074 ppbv from ACE 2004 measurements, 0.305±0.096 ppbv from ACE 2005 measurements, 0.328±0.074 from ACE 2006 measurements, and 0.305±0.090 ppbv from ACE measurements through August 2007. Assuming these parameters, we conclude that there has been no statistically significant trend in lower stratospheric OCS over the measurement time span. We discuss past measurement sets, quantify the impact of changes in infrared spectroscopic parameters on atmospheric retrievals and trend measurements, and discuss OCS spectroscopic uncertainties of the current ν₃ band parameters in public atmospheric databases.