Rotation of the Earth as a Triaxial Rigid Body

The Earth is taken as a triaxial rigid body, which rotates freely in the Euclidian space. The starting equations are the Euler dynamic equations, with A smaller than B and B smaller than C. The Euler equations are solved, and the numerical results are provided. In the calculations, the following parameters are used: (C-B)/A=0.003 273 53; (B-A)/C=0.000 021 96; (C-A)/B=0.003 295 49, and the mean angular velocity of the Earth's rotation, ω =0.000 072 921 15 rad/s. Calculations show that, besides the self-rotation of the Earth and the free Euler procession of its rotation, there exists the free nutation: the nutation angle, or the angle between the Earth's momentary rotation axis and the mean axis that periodically change with time. The free nutation is investigated.

Accuracy Analysis of Gravity Model Based on Fictitious Compress Recovery Approach

The potential field determined based on the fictitious compress recovery approach is influenced by the errors contained in the boundary （the Earth＇s surface or the surface corresponding to the satellite altitude） values. Given the boundary value with definite accuracy, the accuracy of the field determined based on the fictitious compress recovery approach is estimated, and it is theoretically shown that the determined field has the same accuracy level as the given boundary value.

Morphology of polar ionospheric O^+ ion upflow: FAST observations during quiet time

With energetic ion measurements on FAST satellite, the morphologic features of quiet-time ionospheric O+ ion upflowing at altitudes of 2000 to 4000 km are drawn out for the first time. The pre-noon cusp/cleft is the predominant region of upflowing occurrence for O+ with lower energy. Meanwhile the pre-dawn sector near the equatorward edge of the plasma convection dominates the occurrence for the higher energy O+ ions. No matter whether the energy is lower or higher, the upflows occur often over a wide MLT range of lower latitudes outside the auroral oval. The upflowing within the pre-midnight (21:00― 22:00 MLT) auroral oval carrys larger energy fluxes, with extremely large fluxes for higher energy O+ appearing near the polar cap boundary. For altitudes of 2000―4200 km under observation, the ion conics occur much more frequently than ion beams. Ion beams are rarely found below 3000 km, while the conics occur uniformly over the observed altitudes.

Cluster observations of high-altitude cusp during multiple fast-turning IMF

Using coordinated observations from the Cluster,DMSP and ESR radar,high-altitude cusp was investigated for a time period characterized by four fast reversals of the IMF BZ.On February 12,2003,Cluster was flying sunward at duskside over the Northern Hemisphere,across the high-altitude northern cusp twice.Both the two crossings are during steady northward IMF interval,whereas ion fluxes detected during the time period are quite different.The cusp in the first crossing is a "typical" northward-IMF one,with short-lived ion injections of evident "reversed" dispersion signatures.In the second crossing,however,the cusp appears to be a region reminiscent of the Stagnant Exterior Cusp (SEC).In addition,evident upward-flowing O+ ion bursts,possibly original from polar ionosphere,are also detected during the second cusp crossing,together with enhancement of trapped magnetospheric-like electron fluxes.We suggest that the SEC-like cusp is likely on newly closed field lines,which were first reconnected (being opened) at low latitudes and later reconnected again (being closed) poleward of the northern cusp.