Ionospheric Currents in the Equatorial and Low Latitudes of Africa

The magnetometer data obtained for 2008 from geomagnetic stations installed across Africa by magnetic data acquisition set (MAGDAS) have been used to study the ionospheric Sq current system in the equatorial and low-latitudes of Africa. The aim of this work is to separate the quiet-day field variations obtained in the equatorial and low latitude regions of Africa into their external and internal field contributions and then to use the paired external and internal coefficients of the SHA to determine the source current and induced currents. The method used involved a spherical harmonic analysis (SHA). This was applied in the separation of the internal and external field/current contribution to the Sq variations. The result shows that the variation in the currents is seen to be a dawn-to-dusk phenomenon with the variation in the external currents different from that of the internal currents both in amplitude and in phase. Furthermore, the seasonal variation in the external current maximizes during the March equinox and minimizes during the December solstice. The maximum current observed in AAB and ILR is due to the Equatorial Electrojet Current present in the AAB and ILR stations. Seasonal variation was observed in the geomagnetic component variations as well as in the currents. This is attributed to the position of the sun with respect to the earth at different months of the year. The equinoctial maximum is observed in external current intensity which occurred mostly during the March Equinox.

EFFECT OF PLANETARY AND SYNOPTIC SCALE WAVES IN MAINTAINING MERIDIONAL CIRCULATIONS AT MID AND LOW LATITUDES

Following Wu and Chen(1989), in terms of the elliptical differential equation with mean meridional stream function, an equation similar in form to that developed by Kuo (1956) and by use of time average statistics of atmospheric circulation in wavenumber domains at the same intervals of time, a study is made of the con- tribution of the internal forcing of the atmosphere in two space scales to mean meridional circulation. Re- sults show that planetary waves have considerable influence on the intensity of the upper center of the bi- Hadley cell, and, in contrast, synoptic-scale waves exert vital effect on the Ferrel cell, and that in the Northern Hamisphere(NH)such internal forcings by planetary- and synoptic-scale waves are comparable on mean merid- ional circulations whereas the latter contribute far more than the former in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). Further, in the northern winter (summer)the contribution of heat (angular momentum) transport of planetary waves allows the descending (ascending) branch to occur as far as around 40°N, some kind of effect that makes quite important contribution to the winter (summer) monsoon circulation in eastern Asia.

Sea surface temperature evolution in the Yellow Sea Warm Current pathway and its teleconnection with high and low latitude forcing during the mid-late Holocene

Sea surface temperature(SST)in the Yellow Sea Warm Current(YSWC)pathway is sensitive to the East Asian Winter Monsoon(EAWM)and YSWC.However,the role of the YSWC in the evolution of regional SST remains unclear.Here,we present new U 37 k′based SST and grain size sequences spanning the last 6092 years in the sediment core Z1,which was retrieved from the central Yellow Sea muddy area.Overall,U 37 k′-SST gradually increased since 6.1 ka BP,with a series of centennial-scale fl uctuations.Its variation was mainly caused by EAWM when YSWC was weak between 6.1 and~3.9 ka BP,as shown by the end-member content of grain size.However,after YSWC was fully developed,i.e.,since~3.9 ka BP,it exerted critical eff ects on SST evolution in its pathway.The 1010-and 538-year cycles of the SST sequence indicated a basic control of solar activity on the oceanic conditions in the Yellow Sea.It is suggested that the variation of total solar irradiance was amplifi ed by thermohaline circulation and then transmitted to the Yellow Sea through the EAWM.Meanwhile,the tropical Pacifi c signal of El Niño was transmitted to the YSWC through the Kuroshio Current.The dual properties of warm water transported by YSWC to compensate the EAWM and driving by Kuroshio Current closely linked the variation of SST in the YSWC pathway to the Northern Hemisphere high latitude climate and the tropical Pacifi c.These fi ndings highlight the signifi cance of YSWC on regional SST evolution and its teleconnection to high and low latitude forcing,which grains a better understanding of the long-term evolution of SST in the middle latitude Yellow Sea.

Preliminary research on dissolved oxygen maximum of seawater in low latitude of China

-During the multi-disciplinary investigations on the waters of Nansa Islands for three cruises respectively in 1985. 1986. 1987. it is found that the dissolved oxygen maximum (DOmax) in its vertical distribution usually exists between 20m and 75m deep. The deep position of O2 maximum is near the thermocline below and above the deep chlorophyll maximum, as well as above the light-beam attenuation coefficient maximum. In the parts of O2 maximum occurring, the minimum of CO2 partial pressure and the maximum of pH value are also found at the same depth. It is still difficult to explain the features exactly by using the published research results about the oxygen maximum in its vertical distribution on the waters of middle and high latitude.In the present paper, the dissolved oxygen maximum in its vertical distribution on the waters of low latitude is described. It is made by an internal wave which holds eddy mixture. The feature appears to arise from the biological photosynthesis with stratification, from the action of the thermocline preventing oxygen from escaping to the atmosphere, when the environment is suitable for organisms to grow.

A Hierarchical Cluster Analysis of Low-Latitude Pc3-4 MHD Waves

A hierarchical cluster analysis has been made on the geomagnetic and geoelectric data of Nagoya ( Φ =21.1°), Japan (1978 1981, 1985, 1987) and geomagnetic data of Wuchang ( Φ =19.1°), China (1985 1995). From the cluster diagram it is seen that the monthly mean occurrence of Pc3 4 observed at these two sites can be best grouped into 3 clusters.

Relationships between ionospheric parameters derived from ionosonde observations and characteristics of post-sunset GHz scintillation during high solar activities(2012−2013)at Sanya(18.3°N,109.6°E),China

In this study,we present characteristics of post-sunset GHz scintillation occurrence and their correlations with ionospheric parameters derived from ionosonde observations in high solar activity years(2012−2013)of solar cycle 24 at Sanya(18.3°N,109.6°E;dip lat.:12.8°N),China.The analyzed data include the F_(2)-layer’s critical frequency(foF_(2)),peak height(h_(m)F_(2)),and minimum virtual height(h’F),as well as the scale height around the F_(2)-layer peak(H_(m)),and virtual height(h’F_(5))and true height(hF_(5))measured at 5 MHz.We have investigated relationships between the equinoctial asymmetry of these scintillations and these ionospheric parameters.In addition,we calculate the growth rates of Rayleigh−Taylor instability on the basis of the ionosonde measurements and theoretical models,respectively.We find that the equinoctial asymmetry of scintillation onset time is associated with the scale length of the vertical electron density gradient(L),which has been shown to affect the growth of Rayleigh−Taylor instability at the bottom of the F-layer.The seasonal variations of foF_(2),H_(m)and scale length of vertical electron density gradient appear to cause the seasonal variations of scintillation occurrence;the equinoctial asymmetry of scintillation occurrence rate over low latitudes appears to be related to background electron density and vertical drifts in the F-layer around time of sunset.Further study is required to explain the observed correlational weakness in low latitudes between scintillation strength,represented by the daily maximum S4,and daily maximum values of foF_(2),h_(m)F_(2),h’F,H_(m),and also the drifts.

Enrichment of Mississippi Valley-type(MVT) deposits in the Tethyan domain linked to organic matter-rich sediments

The Tethyan domain hosts the world's most abundant hydrocarbon and Mississippi Valley-type(MVT) Pb-Zn resources. The relations among organic matter-rich sediments, MVT Pb-Zn mineralization, and the Tethyan tectonic evolution history are an important scientific issue. The data of paleogeographic reconstruction indicate that the Proto-, Paleo-, and NeoTethys oceans mainly lay in low latitude areas between 30°N and 45°S. The high temperature and precipitation and the lack of sea water overturning in stagnant basins resulted in high marine biological productivity and good preservation conditions for organic matter-rich sediments. Consequently, abundant organic matter-rich sediments were developed and preserved in the Tethyan domain and thus created abundant hydrocarbon resources. Mineralization age data demonstrate that MVT deposits mainly formed during the continent-continent convergence in the late stage of the Tethyan tectonic evolution. Deposits are located in the fold-and-thrust belts and forelands of the continent-continent convergence orogen, and spatially associated with hydrocarbon basins. Organic matter-rich sediments are well developed in MVT ore districts, where hydrocarbon activity appeared earlier than or nearly simultaneous with the Pb-Zn mineralization event. Hydrocarbon activity generally began earlier than the Pb-Zn mineralization in individual deposits. Organic matter-rich sediments and hydrocarbons mainly play the role of reducing agents in the MVT Pb-Zn mineralization process. Through bacterial or thermal reduction, dissolved sulfates from sedimentary strata were reduced to generate reduced sulfur for Pb-Zn sulfide mineralization. In summary, the Tethyan oceans have long been in low latitude areas near the equator, making the Tethyan domain develop abundant organic matterrich sediments and associated hydrocarbon resources which reduce sulfates to provide sufficient reduced sulfur for MVT PbZn mineralization in the region.