Numerical simulation of influence of the anomalies of theCentral-eastern Equatorial Pacific SST and Arctic seaice cover in summer on the atmospheric circulation

A series of numerical experiments have been conducted with a perpetual July, nine-level general circulation spectral model to determine the effect of variation of the Arctic sea ice cover extent and the joint effect of anomalies of both the Arctic sea ice cover and the Central-eastern Equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature on the summer general circulation. Results show that the two factors,anomalously large extent of the Arctic sea ice cover and anomalously warm sea surface temperature over the Central-eastern Equatorial Pacific Ocean, play substantially the equal role in the effect on the summer general circulation, and either of them can notably induce the atmospheric anomalies. The main dynamical processes determining the effect of the Arctic sea ice and the equatorial SST anomalies are associated with two leading teleconnection patterns, i. e. the Asia North/American and Eurasian patterns observed in atmosphere. The results presented in this paper again prove that the general circulation is fundamentally motivated by the non-uniform heating between the equator and the pole on the rotating earth.

Numerical simulation of the tropical Pacific response to equatorial wind stress anomalies

The results of the tropical Pacific response to the sudden onset of the equatorial wind stress anomalies are discussed. The ocean model is a barotropic, non-linearized one that includes reduced-gravity and an equation for the temperature of the ocean mixed-layer. The experiments are based on a state of equilibrium reached through a long running under the action of annual mean wind stress. There are two kinds of westward wind intensity regions: the whole tropical Pacific and the western tropical Pacific, which are all between latitude 6. 8癗 and 6. 8癝.In these cases, the results show that the positive sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Eastern Pacific and the negative SST anomalies in the Western Pacific are produced, and the positive SST anomalies propagate eastward, just as those observed during the actual El Nino phenomena. The propagations of the Kelvin waves and Rossby waves in the ocean are discussed.Another experiment is also carried out in simulating the process of the decay of El Nino event after the weakened Equatorial Pacific eastern winds returned to normal. The results are similar to the observations, too.

Analysis of Anomalous Enhancement in TEC and Electron Density in the China Region Prior to the 17 March 2015 Geomagnetic Storm Based on Ground and Space Observations

Total Electron Content(TEC)and electron density enhancement were observed on the day before 17 March 2015 great storm in the China Region.Observations from ground-and space-based instruments are used to investigate the temporal and spatial evolution of the pre-storm enhancement.TEC enhancement was observed from 24°N to 30°N after 10:00 UT at 105°E,110°E and 115°E longitudes on March 16.The maximum magnitude of TEC enhancement was more than 10 TECU and the maximal relative TEC enhancement exceeded 30%.Compared with geomagnetic quiet days,the electron density of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly(EIA)northern peak from Swarm A/C satellites on March 16 was larger and at higher latitudes.NmF2 enhanced during 11:30—21:00 UT at Shaoyang Station and increased by 200%at~16:00 UT.However,TEC and electron density enhancement were not accompanied by a significant change of hmF2.Most research has excluded some potential mechanisms as the main driving factors for storm-time density enhancements by establishing observational constraints.In this paper,we observed pre-storm enhancement in electron density at different altitudes and Equatorial Electrojet(EEJ)strength results derived from ground magnetometers observations suggest an enhanced eastward electric field from the E region probably played a significant role in this event.

Prediction of the thermospheric and ionospheric responses to the 21 June 2020 annular solar eclipse

On 21 June 2020,an annular solar eclipse will traverse the low latitudes from Africa to Southeast Asia.The highest latitude of the maximum eclipse obscuration is approximately 30°.This low-latitude solar eclipse provides a unique and unprecedented opportunity to explore the impact of the eclipse on the low-latitude ionosphere–thermosphere(I–T)system,especially in the equatorial ionization anomaly region.In this study,we describe a quantitative prediction of the impact of this upcoming solar eclipse on the I–T system by using Thermosphere–Ionosphere–Electrodynamics General Circulation Model simulations.A prominent total electron content(TEC)enhancement of around 2 TEC units occurs in the equatorial ionization anomaly region even when this region is still in the shadow of the eclipse.This TEC enhancement lasts for nearly 4.5 hours,long after the solar eclipse has ended.Further model control simulations indicate that the TEC increase is mainly caused by the eclipse-induced transequatorial plasma transport associated with northward neutral wind perturbations,which result from eclipse-induced pressure gradient changes.The results illustrate that the effect of the solar eclipse on the I–T system is not transient and linear but should be considered a dynamically and energetically coupled system.

Spatial and Temporal Response of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly to the 17 March 2015 Storm from Global Ionosphere Map

The responses of Equatorial Ionosphere Anomaly（EIA） to the storm occurred on 17 March 2015 were studied using Global Ionosphere Map（GIM）. The variations of Total Electron Content（TEC）, latitudinal TEC gradients and the rate of latitudinal TEC gradients in EIA regions were investigated in 75？E, 110？E and-60？E longitudinal sectors. The results from the GIM data showed that the distributions of the latitudinal gradient of TEC became monotonous in three longitudes on 18 March（the first day of the recovery phase）, but the variations were different. On 18 March, the magnitudes of latitudinal gradients decreased in spatial and temporal in 75？E and 110？E, which means the EIA was suppressed during the recovery phase of the storm, especially in 110？E. The magnitudes of latitudinal TEC gradients showed an obvious increase in spatial and temporal in-60？E. The SAMI2 reproduced the suppression of EIA with a disturbance dynamo electric field, which indicated that the physical process controlled the behaviors of the plasma during the recovery phase of the storm.

Upper crustal P-wave velocity structure beneath two volcanic areas in northern Iran

Detailed information about the crustal structure is essential for better understanding the occurrence and mechanisms of earthquakes and volcanoes.Here we present a study of the upper crustal P-wave velocity structure of two seismically and volcanically active areas in northern Iran using the two-dimensional Pg travel time tomography method.The imaging results suggest low velocities in the upper crust beneath the Damavand and Sahand-Sabalan volcanic areas in the central and western parts of northern Iran,respectively.The upper crustal low velocities in these two areas roughly coincide with previously imaged low Pn velocity anomalies,suggesting that the Late Cenozoic volcanic activity was probably caused by the upwelling of hot materials from the mantle.The image feature of the Pg velocity structure beneath the Sahand-Sabalan volcanic area further indicates that the hot materials stored in the upper crust beneath Sahand may be larger in size than those stored beneath Sabalan.Comparison of the Pg velocity images with the earthquake distribution in north Iran suggests that earthquakes mainly occur at moderately low velocity or low to high velocity boundary areas instead of significantly low or high velocity regions.The anisotropy results show that the Pg wave fast direction is consistent with the GPS direction at high Pg velocity areas and the fast direction is inconsistent with the GPS direction but consistent with the strike direction of faults at low velocity areas.Our new upper crustal structural images provide the basic observation for better understanding of the regional seismicity and volcanism,and link the surface geological phenomena to deep crustal and mantle processes associated with the active tectonics in northern Iran.