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At least 109 records · Page 6

Interaction of acoustic waves generated by coupled plate

When two substructures are coupled, the acoustic field generated by the motion of each of the substructures will interact with the motion of the other substructure. This would be the case of a structure enclosing an acoustic cavity. A technique to model the interaction of the generated sound fields from the two components of a coupled structure, and the influence of this interaction on the vibration of the structural components is presented. Using a mobility power flow approach, each element of the substructure is treated independently both when developing the structural response and when determining the acoustic field generated by this component. The presence of the other substructural components is introduced by assuming these components to be rigid baffles. The excitation of one of the substructures is assumed to be by an incident acoustic wave which is dependent of the motion of the substructure. The sound field generated by the motion of the substructure is included in the solution of the response.

Cuschieri, J. M.↗

Magnetic reconnection and kinetic waves generated in the Earth's quasi-parallel bow shock

Magnetic reconnection in quasi-parallel shocks, relevant to the Earth's bow shock, is studied by means of two-dimensional full particle-in-cell simulations. As the Alfvénic Mach number increases, the propagation direction of the waves excited in the transition region changes, and the shock becomes more turbulent with more reconnection sites. In the higher Mach number shock, abundant electron-only reconnection sites are generated with scales on the order of the ion skin depth or less. Non-reconnecting current sheets can also generate electron jets and energy dissipation can occur there as well. However, non-reconnecting current sheets with the magnetic field reversal typically show a smaller energy dissipation rate than reconnecting current sheets. In the shock transition region, two types of waves are responsible for driving reconnection: one has a wavelength around three ion skin depths (di), and the other has a wavelength less than 1 di. Electron and ion distribution functions show that in regions where the former type of waves is excited, there are two ion beams and a single-peaked electron distribution. In contrast, in regions where the latter type of waves is excited, there are multiple electron and ion beams. The waves propagating obliquely to the magnetic field bend the magnetic field lines, and magnetic reconnection occurs where oppositely directed field lines come into contact.

N. Bessho↗

Observational Evidence Against Mountain-Wave Generation of Ice Nuclei as a Prerequisite for the Formation of Three Solid Nitric Acid Polar Stratospheric Clouds Observed in the Arctic in Early December 1999

A number of recently published papers suggest that mountain-wave activity in the stratosphere, producing ice particles when temperatures drop below the ice frost point, may be the primary source of large NAT particles. In this paper we use measurements from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instruments on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar-orbiting satellites to map out regions of ice clouds produced by stratospheric mountain-wave activity inside the Arctic vortex. Lidar observations from three DC-8 flights in early December 1999 show the presence of solid nitric acid (Type Ia or NAT) polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs). By using back trajectories and superimposing the position maps on the AVHRR cloud imagery products, we show that these observed NAT clouds could not have originated at locations of high-amplitude mountain-wave activity. We also show that mountain-wave PSC climatology data and Mountain Wave Forecast Model 2.0 (MWFM-2) raw hemispheric ray and grid box averaged hemispheric wave temperature amplitude hindcast data from the same time period are in agreement with the AVHRR data. Our results show that ice cloud formation in mountain waves cannot explain how at least three large scale NAT clouds were formed in the stratosphere in early December 1999.

MOUNTAIN WAVES↗

Plasma observations of the Alfven wave generated by Io

The positive ion measurements obtained near Io by the plasma instrument on board Voyager 1 are described. The measurements, which are found to be consistent with the predicted flow field, are seen as lending further support to the Alfven wave interpretation of the Io-associated perturbations.

Belcher, J. W.↗

Whistler Waves Generated by Nongyrotropic and Gyrotropic Electron Beams During Asymmetric Guide Field Reconnection

Using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of asymmetric reconnection with a guide field whose strength is 0.3 times the reconnecting magnetic field, we study electron distribution functions and wave intensities in the diffusion region, focusing on the electron diffusion region (EDR). Wave activities with frequencies below the electron cyclotron frequency are observed, and these are whistler waves propagating almost anti-parallel to the magnetic field. The waves are concentrated near the magnetospheric separatrix away from the X line, but the wave activity also spreads through the EDR near the X line. The reconnection outflows are asymmetric in the outflow direction in the magnetospheric side, and the wave intensity is stronger in the side of the faster electron outflow. We study the whistler waves using the fast Fourier transform, analyses of electron velocity distribution functions, and the dispersion solver calculation. Along the magnetospheric separatrix in the stronger outflow side, highly anisotropic electron beams exist with super-Alfvénic drift speeds. The dispersion analysis shows that there are two modes: a temperature anisotropy mode and a beam mode. Outside the EDR, the whistler wave intensity is highest near the separatrix, but the wave intensity decreases if we move away from the separatrix toward the magnetic neutral line because of the increase in the electron population near zero parallel velocity. In the EDR, in the velocity plane perpendicular to the magnetic field, ring/crescent electron distribution functions are observed. Near the X-line, the wave power is enhanced where nongyrotropic electrons contribute to increase the perpendicular temperature anisotropy.

magnetic reconnection↗

Gravity waves generated by a tropical cyclone during the STEP tropical field program - A case study

Overflights of a tropical cyclone during the Australian winter monsoon field experiment of the Stratosphere-Troposphere Exchange Project (STEP) show the presence of two mesoscale phenomena: a vertically propagating gravity wave with a horizontal wavelength of about 110 km and a feature with a horizontal scale comparable to that of the cyclone's entire cloud shield. The larger feature is fairly steady, though its physical interpretation is ambiguous. The 110-km gravity wave is transient, having maximum amplitude early in the flight and decreasing in amplitude thereafter. Its scale is comparable to that of 100-to 150-km-diameter cells of low satellite brightness temperatures within the overall cyclone cloud shield; these cells have lifetimes of 4.5 to 6 hrs. These cells correspond to regions of enhanced convection, higher cloud altitude, and upwardly displaced potential temperature surfaces. The temporal and spatial distribution of meteorological variables associated with the 110-km gravity wave can be simulated by a slowly moving transient forcing at the anvil top having an amplitude of 400-600 m, a lifetime of 4.5-6 hrs, and a size comparable to the cells of low brightness temperature.

Pfister, L.↗

Hybrid simulations of whistler waves generation and current closure by a pulsed tether in the ionosphere

The dynamic response of a magnetized collisionless plasma to an externally driven, finite size, sudden switch-on current source across the magnetic field has been studied using a two dimensional hybrid code. It was found that the predominant plasma response was the excitation of whistler waves and the formation of current closure by induced currents in the plasma. The results show that the current closure path consists of: (a) two antiparallel field-aligned current channels at the end of the imposed current sheet; and (b) a cross-field current region connecting these channels. The formation of the current closure path occured in the whistler timescale much shorter than that of MHD and the closure region expanded continuously in time. The current closure process was accompanied by significant energy loss due to whistler radiation.

Chang, C. L.↗

Solar Wind Induced Waves in the Skies of Mars: Ionospheric Compression, Energization, and Escape Resulting from the Impact of Ultralow Frequency Magnetosonic Waves Generated Upstream of the Martian Bow Shock

Using data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Mars Atmosphere and Voltatile EvolutioN and the European Space Agency Mars Express spacecraft, we show that transient phenomena in the foreshock and solar wind can directly inject energy into the ionosphere of Mars. We demonstrate that the impact of compressive ultralow frequency waves in the solar wind on the induced magnetospheres drive compressional, linearly polarized, magnetosonic ultralow frequency waves in the ionosphere, and a localized electromagnetic "ringing" at the local proton gyro frequency. The pulsations heat and energize Ionospheric plasmas. A preliminary survey of events shows that no special upstream conditions are required in the interplanetary magnetic field or solar wind. Elevated ion densities and temperatures in the solar wind near to Mars are consistent with the presence of an additional population of Martian ions, leading to ion-ion instabilities, associated wave-particle interactions, and heating of the solar wind. The phenomenon was found to be seasonal, occurring when Mars is near perihelion. Finally, we present simultaneous multipoint observations of the phenomenon, with the Mars Express observing the waves upstream, and Mars Atmosphere and Voltatile EvolutioN observing the response in the ionosphere. When these new observations are combined with decades of previous studies, they collectively provide strong evidence for a previously undemonstrated atmospheric loss process at unmagnetized planets: ionospheric escape driven by the direct impact of transient phenomena from the foreshock and solar wind.

Collinson, Glyn↗

Effects of energetic heavy ions on electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave generation in the plasmapause region

An expression for electromagnetic ion cyclotron convective growth rates is derived. The derivation of the dispersion relation and convective growth rates in the presence of a multicomponent energetic and cold plasma is presented. The effects that multiple heavy ions in the ring current and cold plasma produce in the growth and propagation characteristics of ion cyclotron waves are explored. Results of growth rate calculations using parameters consistent with conditions in the plasmapause region during the early recovery phase of geomagnetic storms are presented and compared with ground-based and satellite observations of waves in this region. The geophysical implications of the results are discussed.

Kozyra, J. U.↗

A simulation study of multiple ion wave generation downstream of low Mach number quasiperpendicular shocks

The behavior of minor ions just downstream of a low Mach number quasi-perpendicular shock is investigated both theoretically and by computer simulations. Because all ions see the same cross shock electric field their deceleration depends on their charge to mass ratio, yielding different downstream velocities. It is shown that these differences in velocity can lead to coherent wave structures in the downstream region of quasi-perpendicular shocks with a narrow transition layer. These waves are shown to be multi ion hybrid waves in contrast to mirror waves and ion cyclotron waves. Under favorable conditions these waves should be observable both at interplanetary shocks and at planetary bowshocks.

Motschmann, Uwe↗

The role of gravity wave generated advection and diffusion in transport of tracers in the mesosphere

The roles of advection and turbulent diffusion in controlling tracer transport in the meridional plane of the mesosphere are compared using a version of the global primitive equation model for the middle atmosphere developed by Holton and Wehrbein (1980). The results of model sensitivity tests demonstrated that transport in the mesosphere for long-lived species with large-scale heights, such as H2O, CO, and NO(x), is primarily an advective process; on a global scale, small-scale turbulent diffusion produced by gravity wave breaking plays a secondary role. It is concluded that, for such tracers, the eddy diffusion coefficient used in one-dimensional chemical models of the mesosphere should be regarded as a parameterization of the transport by the meridional circulation, not as a parameterization of mixing by small-scale diffusion.

Holton, James R.↗

Measurements on a shock wave generated by a solar flare

It is shown that path-integrated radio-scattering measurements of the solar wind velocity yield higher estimates than those of point measurements. The post-shock speed is determined from radio scattering measurements by selection of the maximum of the radio-scattering deduced from the velocity-time curve, whereas velocity points on the rising edge of the shock underestimate the post-shock gas velocity, and therefore the shock speed. However, it is suggested that large uncertainties reside in using radio techniques for measurements of parameters of the shock wave, and the uncertainties may be large enough to encompass the lower velocity values calculated by a point method of measurement.

Woo, R.↗