Abstract The structure and thermal state of the Moon’s deep interior remain incompletely understood. Here, we apply geomagnetic depth sounding (GDS) to Apollo 12, 15, and 16 surface magnetometer data—yielding the first comparative, multi-site resistivity models of the lunar mantle. Using transfer function analysis during magnetotail quiet periods, we invert apparent resistivity profiles via one-dimensional Occam methods. All three sites reveal a resistive upper mantle (> 103 Ω·m) extending to ~ 300 km. However, Apollo 15 and 16 exhibit sharp resistivity reductions between 300 and 500 km, likely associated with thermochemical heterogeneity caused by ilmenite-bearing cumulate (IBC) descent. More strikingly, a deep conductive zone spanning 900–1100 km depth is consistently detected, coinciding with the location of deep moonquakes (DMQs). This zone’s enhanced conductivity, unexplained by seismic velocity models, supports the presence of low-degree partial melt insufficient to eliminate brittle failure. These findings redefine our understanding of the Moon’s thermal evolution and provide a new explanation for DMQ generation, demonstrating that surface-based GDS techniques offer critical insight into planetary interiors. Graphical abstract
Measurements of singly ionized oxygen () ions in the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms are important because the ions affect various magnetospheric processes. We apply a magnetoseismic technique to Van Allen Probes data to statistically determine the spatial and temporal development of the region of elevated number density , referred to as the oxygen torus, during geomagnetic storms. This study is motivated by previous studies that reported magnetic local time (MLT) localization of the torus to the morning side. In our study, we first determine the frequencies of the fundamental through third harmonics of toroidal standing Alfvén waves to estimate the mass density and then use the electron density derived from plasma wave spectra to define the average ion mass (=). We obtain from by making an assumption about the number density relative to the number density. All quantities are evaluated in a 15 min moving data window that moves in 5 min steps. By generating ‐MLT maps of for different phases of 102 storms with SYMH minimum lower than nT, we find that a region of high appears on the morning side during the storm main phase and lasts for a few days. is also high on the morning side during the main phase, but this MLT skewing disappears during the recovery phase. Therefore, the MLT asymmetry of the oxygen torus depends on what parameter is considered.
Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) Fluxgate Magnetometer returned data from the Martian surface throughout the course of the InSight mission, between November 2018 and May 2022. Ultra‐low frequency (ULF) electromagnetic waves are commonly observed by InSight during nighttime hours. We present a collection of 444 nighttime ULF wave events with characteristic frequencies ranging from 1 to 16 mHz (periods from about 1 to 17 min), with a median frequency of about 7 mHz (period of about 140 s). Ultra‐low frequency wave activity is found across all nighttime hours, but the activity is more commonly observed after midnight local time. A subset of 104 InSight ULF wave events occur while Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) is located in the solar wind. During these events, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) deviates from its nominally expected orientation. We suggest that ULF waves are likely produced in the Martian magnetosphere by at least two different mechanisms and that the occurrence of the ULF waves on the surface is sensitive to the solar wind interaction with the Martian crustal fields. Further measurements by lander or orbiter missions will provide more information about the origin of ULF waves, how they reach the surface during the nighttime, and whether or not ULF waves can be used to perform magnetic sounding to study the subsurface of Mars.
On Earth, electric discharges in thunderstorms produce ELF waves in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide that circles the globe. These waves give rise to Schumann resonances in the waveguide resonant cavity. These waves are also expected to occur at Venus, produced by strong lightning in the Venus atmosphere and at Mars produced by active dust devils or dust storms, during southern hemisphere summer, when the planet is near periapsis. Within dust storms, dust particles undergo triboelectric charging. The charge transfer leads to charge separation. A lightning discharge is expected to occur when the charge exceeds the breakdown strength of the media present. The transient electric discharge emits electromagnetic waves in the VLF/ELF range of frequency, leading to Schumann Resonance in the surface-ionospheric cavity. In a heterogeneous cavity, Schumann resonance modes are observable using an in-situ instrument. Recently has it been possible to search for these electromagnetic waves from the Mars surface using the UCLA-provided InSight fluxgate magnetometer. The weakness of the vertical component of ULF waves at Mars suggests that the subsurface is electrically conducting, allowing trapping of electromagnetic energy between the sub-surface and the ionosphere. The fundamental mode of Schumann resonance carries higher energy compared to there are more chances of observing the fundamental mode. Various values of the first mode are predicted in the literature for Mars like 13-14 Hz or between 9-14 Hz and 17.5 Hz. Even if the fundamental mode is above 10 Hz, the 20 Hz sampling rate will allow detection of an aliased signal. We examine the data obtained during Martian sandstorms for the possible existence of such waves. A large dust storm was detected on Mars beginning on InSight sols 40 to 50, and ending during sols 50 to 90. Examining the 20 Hz InSight magnetometer data during this period reveals no clearly identifiable Schumann Resonance signals within the bandwidth of the magnetometer.
With both the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission and the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission concurrently operating at Mars, we are able to make two point comparisons of the vector magnetic field at Mars for the first time. During MAVEN overflights of the InSight landing site, we compared deviations in the ionospheric magnetic field to variations in the surface level magnetic field. We find significant orbit to orbit variability in the magnitude and direction of the ionospheric magnetic field as well as significant day to day variability of the surface level magnetic field. We attribute this variability to time varying ionospheric currents. However, when analyzing the ensemble of 16 individual MAVEN overflights of the InSight landing location, we see no clear correlation between the magnitudes or directions of the ionospheric magnetic field and the surface magnetic field as might be expected. If the presumed ionospheric currents have a small scale size, then the ionospheric magnetic field will display increased variability as MAVEN flies through the current structure. Whereas the present analysis is restricted to mostly nightside MAVEN overflights where current are expected to be weak, future analyses should incorporate dayside overflights where current are expected to be stronger and current signatures more clear.
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Models for space weather forecasting will never be complete/valid without accounting for interhemispheric asymmetries in Earth's magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere.This whitepaper is a strategic vision for understanding these asymmetries from a global perspective of geospace research and space weather monitoring.It includes both observation and modeling studies related to the topic.The importance of investigating inter-hemispheric asymmetries space physics research needs to be shown in the decadal survey.It is crucial to understand how each source of asymmetry interacts with each other and how asymmetric structures incorporate this information into real-time monitoring and predictive models of space weather impacts globally.Future challenges of inter-hemispheric asymmetries for Heliophysics investigations are discussed and so are potential solutions.Recently, interhemispheric asymmetry has gained significant interest with the community, both major funding agencies officially supporting relevant programs: the NSF Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) is currently hosting a focus group "Interhemispheric Approaches to Understanding M-I Coupling (IHMIC)" for the years 2018-2023.A similar topic is also a focused science topic in NASA's Living With a Star (LWS) program, "Causes and Consequences of Hemispherical Asymmetries in the Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System".The NASA's Drive Center program once hosted a center called "Center for Unified Studies for Interhemispheric Asymmetries (CUSIA)".The European agency, International Space Science Institute (ISSI), funded two international teams carrying out research focusing on the asymmetries (2014 and current).The community consensus, however, is that there are still extensive data gaps in the southern hemisphere and the current models do not sufficiently address the asymmetric features of the geospace environments.
The Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) onboard the Emirates Mars Mission spacecraft, which observes ultraviolet emission between approximately 100 and 170 nm, has observed multiple instances of nightside aurora at Mars. Variations in the auroral brightness and morphology have been observed to change on timescales of tens of minutes. The brightest aurorae are typically seen following space weather events, i.e., coronal mass ejection and stream interaction region impacts. The InSight Fluxgate Magnetometer (IFG) on the Interior Explorations using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) lander measured the magnetic field at the surface of Mars. IFG has measured variations in the nightside surface magnetic field, presumably due to variations in ionospheric and magnetospheric currents. Periodic and aperiodic variations in the surface field have been observed, including with timescales of a few minutes to tens of minutes. The magnitude of the fluctuations is often larger following space weather events. We examine the connection between the presence of aurora as observed by EMUS and surface magnetic field fluctuations as measured by IFG. Coincident EMUS and IFG observations show enhanced surface magnetic field fluctuations during times when aurorae were present. Additionally, the timescale of fluctuations in the auroral brightness are similar to the timescale of surface magnetic field fluctuations for non-coincident observations. These results suggest that IFG measured the surface magnetic field effect of time varying ionospheric auroral currents.
Magnetometers are a key component of heliophysics research providing valuable insight into the dynamics of electromagnetic field regimes and their coupling throughout the solar system. On satellites, magnetometers provide detailed observations of the extension of the solar magnetic field into interplanetary space and of planetary environments. At Earth, magnetometers are deployed on the ground in extensive arrays spanning the polar cap, auroral and sub-auroral zone, mid- and low-latitudes and equatorial electrojet with nearly global coverage in azimuth (longitude or magnetic local time—MLT). These multipoint observations are used to diagnose both ionospheric and magnetospheric processes as well as the coupling between the solar wind and these two regimes at a fraction of the cost of in-situ instruments. Despite their utility in research, ground-based magnetometer data can be difficult to use due to a variety of file formats, multiple points of access for the data, and limited software. In this short article we review the Open-Source Python library GMAG which provides rapid access to ground-based magnetometer data from a number of arrays in a Pandas DataFrame, a common data format used throughout scientific research.
In the present study we examine three substorm events, Events 1-3, focusing on the spatio-temporal development of auroral electrojets (AEJs) before auroral breakup. In Events 1 and 2, auroral breakup was preceded by the equatorward motion of an auroral form, and the ground magnetic field changed northward and southward in the west and east of the expected equatorward flow, respectively. Provided that these magnetic disturbances were caused by local ionospheric Hall currents, this feature suggests that the equatorward flow turned both eastward and westward as it reached the equatorward part of the auroral oval. The auroral breakup took place at the eastward-turning and westward-turning branches in Events 1 and 2, respectively, and after the auroral breakup, the westward AEJ enhanced only on the same side of the flow demarcation meridian. The zonal flow divergence is considered as an ionospheric manifestation of the braking of an earthward flow burst in the near-Earth plasma sheet and subsequent dawnward and duskward turning. Therefore, in Events 1 and 2, the auroral breakup presumably mapped to the dawnward and duskward flow branches, respectively. Moreover, for Event 3, we do not find any pre-onset auroral or magnetic features that can be associated with an equatorward flow. These findings suggest that the braking of a pre-onset earthward flow burst itself is not the direct cause of substorm onset, and therefore, the wedge current system that forms at substorm onset is distinct from the one that is considered to form as a consequence of the flow braking.
The Moon and Mars have strong regional crustal magnetic fields as shown by the observations of orbiting spacecraft. These crustal magnetic fields indicate that a core dynamo was present in the past, and it is believed that rocks formed from cooling lava retain a memory of the strength and orientation of the magnetic field that existed during their solidification. However, a major hurdle in understanding the crustal magnetic field structure is the low spatial resolution limited by the altitude of the orbiting spacecraft. Rovers are well suited for exploring the detailed structure of the crustal magnetic fields, but they also present a technical challenge due to the necessity that sources of magnetic interference from the rover be removed from the measurements. We designed a compact rover dedicated to measuring the detailed spatial distribution of the surface magnetic field. The rover is equipped with an array of magnetic sensors mounted in a rectangular grid that aims to differentiate the rover components’ own magnetic fields from the ambient magnetic field. Another magnetic sensor is placed on top of an extendable arm to provide additional measurements for verifying the ambient magnetic field inferred from grid-point measurements. The rover consists of four wheels, a Raspberry Pi single-board computer, control circuitry, and a chassis that holds the magnetometers in a rectangular array. In the prototype of the rover, commercial small-scale microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) magnetometers are used for magnetic field measurements. The test results from these design features can provide a useful reference for future lunar or Martian surface missions with rover-based experiments that measure crustal magnetic fields.
The large-scale time-varying portion of Earth’s internal magnetic field originates from a dynamo process inside the outer core. This geodynamo drives changes in Earth’s magnetic field on timescales ranging from less than 1 year to hundreds of millions of years. Monitoring the large-scale internal geomagnetic field and its temporal variations is fundamental to improving our understand-ing of our planet’s interior dynamics, as well as maintaining and developing technology designed to utilize magnetic field observations for the benefit of society. The International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) is a mathematical representation of the large-scale, time-varying, internal part of Earth’s magnetic field. The IGRF consists of a set of model coefficients which can be input into a mathematical equation to produce the three vector components of the geomagnetic field from the surface of the core mantle boundary (about 2900 km below the Earth’s Abstract Each International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) model released under the auspices of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy comprises a secular variation component that describes the evolution of the main magnetic field anticipated for the 5 years to come. Every Gauss coefficient, up to spherical harmonic degree and order 8, is assumed to undergo its own independent linear evolution. With a mathematical model of the core magnetic field and its time rate of change constructed from geomagnetic observations at hand, a standard prediction of the secular variation (SV) consists of taking the time rate of change of each Gauss coefficient at the final time of analysis as the predicted rate of change. The last three generations of the IGRF have additionally witnessed a growing number of candidate SV models relying upon physics-based forecasts. This surge is motivated by satellite data that now span more than two decades and by the concurrent progress in the numerical modelling of Earth’s core dynamics. Satellite data reveal rapid (interannual) geomagnetic features whose imprint can be detrimental to the quality of the IGRF prediction. This calls for forecasting frameworks able to incorporate at least part of the processes responsible for short-term geomagnetic variations. In this letter, we perform a retrospective analysis of the performance of past IGRF SV models and candidates over the past 35 years; we emphasize that over the satellite era, the quality of the 5-year forecasts worsens at times of rapid geomagnetic changes. After the definition of the time scales that are relevant for the IGRF prediction exercise, we cover the strategies followed by past physics-based candidates, which we categorize into a “‘core–surface flow” family and a “dynamo” family, noting that both strategies resort to “input” models of the main field and its secular variation constructed from observations. We next review practical lessons learned from our previous attempts. Finally, we discuss possible improvements on the current state of affairs in two directions: the feasibility of incorporating rapid physical processes into the analysis on the one hand, and the accuracy and quantification of the uncertainty impacting input models on the other hand. Abstract From the launch of the Ørsted satellite in 1999, through the CHAMP mission from 2000 to 2010, and now with the Swarm constellation mission starting in 2013, satellite magnetometry has provided excellent monitoring of the near-Earth magnetic field regime. The advanced Comprehensive Inversion scheme has been applied to data before Swarm and to the Swarm data itself, but now for the first time to all the satellite data in this new era, culminating in the CM6 model. The highlights of this model include not only a continuous core magnetic field description over the entire time period 1999 to 2019.5 in good agreement with the CHAOS model series, but the addition of two new oceanic tidal magnetic sources: the larger lunar elliptic semi-diurnal constituent N 2 and the lunar diurnal constituent O 1 . CM6 is also the parent model of the NASA/GSFC candidates for the DGRF2015 and IGRF2020 in response to the IGRF-13 call. This paper provides a full report on the development of CM6. Abstract We have submitted a secular variation (SV) candidate model for the thirteenth generation of International Geomagnetic Reference Field model (IGRF-13) using a data assimilation scheme and a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) dynamo simulation code. This is the first contribution to the IGRF community from research groups in Japan. A geomagnetic field model derived from magnetic observatory hourly means, and CHAMP and Swarm-A satellite data, has been used as input data to the assimilation scheme. We adopt an ensemble-based assimilation scheme, called four-dimensional ensemble-based variational method (4DEnVar), which linearizes outputs of MHD dynamo simulation with respect to the deviation from a dynamo state vector at an initial condition. The data vector for the assimilation consists of the poloidal scalar potential of the geomagnetic field at the core surface and flow velocity field slightly below the core surface. Dimensionless time of numerical geodynamo is adjusted to the actual time by comparison of secular variation time scales. For SV prediction, we first generate an ensemble of dynamo simulation results from a free dynamo run. We then assimilate the ensemble to the data with a 10-year assimilation window through iterations, and finally forecast future SV by the weighted sum of the future extension parts of the ensemble members. Hindcast of the method for the assimilation window from 2004.50 to 2014.25 confirms that the linear approximation holds for 10-year assimilation window with our iterative ensemble renewal method. We demonstrate that the forecast performance of our data assimilation and forecast scheme is comparable with that of IGRF-12 by comparing data misfits 4.5 years after the release epoch. For estimation of our IGRF-13SV candidate model, we set assimilation window from 2009.50 to 2019.50. We generate our final SV candidate model by linear fitting for the weighted sum of the ensemble MHD dynamo simulation members from 2019.50 to 2025.00. We derive errors of our SV candidate model by one standard deviation of SV histograms based on all the ensemble members. Abstract Earth’s internal magnetic field is generated through motion of the electrically conductive iron-alloy fluid comprising its outer core. Temporal variability of this magnetic field, termed secular variation (SV), results from two processes: one is the interaction between core fluid motion and the magnetic field, the other is magnetic diffusion. As diffusion is widely thought to take place over relatively long, millennial time scales, it is common to disregard it when considering yearly to decadal field changes; in this frozen-flux approximation, core fluid motion may be inferred on the core–mantle boundary (CMB) using observations of SV at Earth’s surface. Such flow models have been used to forecast variation in the magnetic field. However, recent work suggests that diffusion may also contribute significantly to SV on short time scales provided that the radial length scale of the magnetic field structure within the core is sufficiently short. In this work, we introduce a hybrid method to forecast field evolution that considers a model based on both a steady flow and diffusion, in which we adopt a two-step process: first fitting the SV to a steady flow, and then fitting the residual by magnetic diffusion. We assess this approach by hindcasting the evolution for 2010–2015, based on fitting the models to CHAOS-6 using time windows prior to 2010. We find that including diffusion yields a reduction of up to 25% in the global hindcast error at Earth’s surface; at the CMB this error reduction can be in excess of 77%. We show that fitting the model over the shortest window that we consider, 2009–2010, yields the lowest hindcast error. Based on our hindcast tests, we present a candidate model for the SV over 2020–2025 for IGRF-13, fit over the time window 2018.3–2019.3. Our forecasts indicate that over the next decade the axial dipole will continue to decay, reversed-flux patches will increase in both area and intensity, and the north magnetic (dip) pole will continue to migrate towards Siberia. Abstract As posted by the Working Group V of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA), the 13th generation of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) has been released at the end of 2019. Following IAGA recommendations, in this work we present a candidate model for the IGRF-13, for which we have used the available Swarm satellite and geomagnetic observatory ground data for the last year. In order to provide the IGRF-13 candidate, we have extrapolated the Gauss coefficients of the main field and its secular variation to January 1st, 2020. In addition, we have generated a Definitive Geomagnetic Reference Field model for 2015.0 using the same modelling approach, but focussed on a 1-year time window of data centred on 2015.0. To jointly model both satellite and ground data, we have followed the classical protocols and data filters applied in geomagnetic field modelling. Novelty arrives from the application of bootstrap analysis to solve issues related to the inhomogeneity of the spatial and temporal data distributions. This new approach allows the estimation of not only the Gauss coefficients, but also their uncertainties. Abstract We describe a new, original approach to the modelling of the Earth’s magnetic field. The overall objective of this study is to reliably render fast variations of the core field and its secular variation. This method combines a sequential modelling approach, a Kalman filter, and a correlation-based modelling step. Sources that most significantly contribute to the field measured at the surface of the Earth are modelled. Their separat
We report an observational study of magnetospheric field‐line resonances (FLRs) using multi‐point data from the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission. We examine well‐defined FLR events in the frequency range ∼2–10 mHz observed under disturbed solar wind conditions, such as high‐speed solar wind streams and solar wind pressure pulses. We focus on their azimuthal wave numbers (m‐numbers) and spatial variations of the wave frequencies, and compare their occurrence characteristics and wave properties for insights into their energy sources. Under disturbed solar wind conditions, we have found supporting observations for both external and internal energy sources for the generation of FLRs. The FLRs associated with different energy sources appear to have different wave characteristics. Although mode coupling is very common (i.e., waves generally have both toroidal and poloidal components with variable relative amplitudes), our observations show that solar wind disturbances directly drive low‐m, toroidal mode dominated FLRs, but internal energy sources are inferred for high‐m, poloidal mode dominated FLRs. The frequencies of the toroidal and poloidal waves have different spatial variations as a function of the L‐value. The frequency of the toroidal mode waves can change continuously with L while the frequency of poloidal waves exhibits discrete spatial structure along L.
Results from the first VHF profiler research radar in Costa Rica, operating at a central radar frequency of 46.6 MHz, are presented. Emphasis has been on studies of scattering layers detected in the altitude range 1–6 km, with the main goal being to identify regions with radar echoes and observe the temporal evolution of the echoes. Data were obtained over the course of a full year using a vertical resolution of better than 100 m. Layers of strong scatter were observed regularly, often with simultaneous broad spectra, which may indicate enhanced turbulence. Similar layers have been observed over equatorial Indonesia, and these have been associated with the planetary boundary layer. The presence of echo layers was more common during the dry-season months (December–April); in fact during March, two layers were observed in the lower troposphere for more than 35% of the time. Stable pattern structures often occurred for extended periods, but at times the layers could also vary drastically in behavior from 1 day to the next. After sunset, strong echo layers could persist for several hours. Some examples of regularly observed layer behavior are given. Abstract High-latitude, small-scale plasma density irregularities are observed by the Advanced Land Observation Satellite 2, Phase Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar-2 and the European Incoherent Scatter radar in Tromsø, Norway. Under high levels of ionization of up to approximately 300 km in height triggered by nighttime particle precipitation, high-resolution SAR images detect horizontal distributions of azimuth shifts resulting from the spatial gradients of electron density. The irregular electron density is characterized by tens of kilometers of band-like structures aligned in the east–west direction with small patch-like structures. We present a method for estimating the local change of TEC gradient and the height of ionospheric irregularities by using single-image SAR sub-band data. The results suggest that these observed structures are likely to be associated with density irregularities caused by precipitating electrons that may have been cascaded into smaller scales by plasma instability processes at F region altitudes. This study presents the first coordinated observations of high-latitude ionosphere features by using SAR satellites and incoherent scatter radar. Abstract The Qujing incoherent scatter radar (QJISR), the first one in China with the geographic location (25.6°N, 103.8°E), was brought into operation since the spring of 2014. The QJISR was a mono-static pulsed radar working in the operating frequency 500 MHz, the peak power 2 Megawatt, and a 29-m steerable parabolic dish. This paper mainly presents the basic configuration and implementation of QJISR, including the antenna, transmitter, receiver, signal processing, and data analysis. Some preliminary observation results are also reported including the raw echo, power spectra, and its ionospheric parameters: electron density, electron temperature, ion temperature, drift velocity. Abstract We compare hourly averaged neutral winds derived from two meteor radars operating at 33.2 and 55 MHz to estimate the errors in these measurements. We then compare the meteor radar winds with those from a medium-frequency partial reflection radar operating at 1.94 MHz. These three radars are located at Davis Station, Antarctica. We then consider a middle-latitude 55 MHz meteor radar wind comparison with a 1.98 MHz medium-frequency partial reflection radar to determine how representative the Davis results are. At both sites, the medium-frequency radar winds are clearly underestimated, and the underestimation increases from 80 km to the maximum height of 98 km. Correction factors are suggested for these results. Abstract Polar mesosphere winter echoes (PMWE) were observed at 70 km over Tromsø, Norway, on 8 January 2014 using the tristatic configuration of the European incoherent scatter VHF radar. For the interval 11:00–13:00 UT where the strongest patch of PMWE of about 6-min duration was detected, the spectra of the received signal were analysed for the Tromsø site and altitude profiles of spectral parameters were derived. For the remote sites Kiruna and Sodankylä, the Doppler velocities and their vertical shear were determined by using the measured autocorrelation functions. Ducted gravity waves with periods of 5–10 min were found in the vertical wind velocity between 66 and 81 km altitudes. The duct might be formed around 70 and 77 km altitude where horizontal wind maxima were observed with the Kiruna receiver. However, we did not find any close relation between wind shear at 70 km altitude and PMWE at the same height: the wind shear was present for 2 h, but PMWE for only 6 min. Enhanced spectral width in the vertical Tromsø beam was observed for the PMWE patch. We discussed these experimental findings in relation to the winter echo generation mechanism. Our conclusion is that the presence of patchy negatively charged small-sized dust might explain the observations although a gravity wave breaking mechanism cannot be completely rejected. Abstract Based on experimental observations with EISCAT VHF radar during the summer period, July 8–12, 2013, the observations of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) in the absence of particle precipitation indicate that particle precipitation is not a necessary condition for PMSE to exist. But, particle precipitation still affects PMSE when they both occur simultaneously. So in this paper, the relationship between PMSE and particle precipitation both represented by average electron density, occurring simultaneously for time interval of various lengths ( t ≥ 2.56 min), is statistically analyzed using the Spearman rank and Pearson linear correlation coefficients. The new method by comparing the average electron density at altitude of 90 km (proxy of particle precipitation) and PMSE region at altitude of 80–90 km (proxy of PMSE) may compare the two phenomena directly and give some relationship between them. The percentage of events having positive values is dominant, which shows that the electron density variations due to the ionization produced by energetic particle precipitations might have some relationship with PMSE intensity. Moreover, the small percentage of negative correlation coefficient observed might be caused by the very strong precipitation at that time. Abstract The Saura radar is designed and used to measure winds and electron densities at polar latitudes (69 ° N) within the D region, namely between 50 and 100 km altitude. A relatively narrow radar beam can be generated and steered into distinct pointing directions as a rather large antenna array is used. From the observed radial velocities of the individual pointing directions, the horizontal and vertical wind fields can be obtained using the Doppler beam swinging (DBS) method. With recent upgrades to the radar, the interferometric capabilities are largely improved allowing simultaneous application of different wind estimation techniques now, and also echo localization. In recent studies, Saura DBS winds assuming isotropic scattering were found to be underestimated in comparison with highly reliable winds observed with the MAARSY MST radar in the presence of polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE). This underestimation has been investigated by analyzing the scattering positions as well as applying the imaging Doppler interferometry technique. Besides this, Saura winds derived with the classical DBS method seem to be error prone at altitudes above 90 km and even below this altitude for periods of enhanced ionization, e.g., particle precipitations. Various methods taking into account the scattering positions have been used to correct the wind underestimation. These winds are compared to MST radar winds during PMSE, and an optimal combination of these methods for the Saura radar is presented. This combined wind data appears to be reliable; it shows reasonable amplitudes as well as tidal structures for the entire altitude region. abstract Abstract We revisit previously unpublished analysis of observations of the dynamics of the mesopause region over the Norwegian Island of Andøya (69°N, 16°E) made during a 1-week period in summer 1987 during the Middle Atmosphere Cooperation-Summer in Northern Europe (MAC-SINE) campaign using the mobile SOUSY VHF (53.5 MHz) Doppler radar operating in a six-beam mode. We do this in the light of: (1) more recent developments in the measurement of the components of the density-normalized Reynolds stress tensor using meteor radars, and with medium-frequency partial reflection radars using the hybrid Doppler interferometric technique, and (2) satellite measurements of the absolute upward flux of horizontal momentum. We consider of the density-normalized total upward flux of horizontal momentum ( u’w’ + v’w’ ) for the 83–90 km height interval. Values of the component of the density-normalized flux for the 6 min to 12.8 h period range, after the tidal components have been removed, and the effects of the aspect sensitivity on the radar beam look directions have been accounted for vary between 5 m 2 s −2 below 86 km and 13 m 2 s −2 above 86 km. The major contribution is from the 6 to 12.8 h period range. The results of the analysis have implications for meteor radar estimates of momentum flux and also for Doppler radar measurements of the same term in the presence of aspect-sensitive scattering. Abstract The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology completed the installation of a network of 9 new wind profiling radars across mainland Australia in 2017, which complement an existing network of 5 profilers and 5 research systems. This results in a network of 14 operational, and 19 total, profilers across Australia and Davis Station in Antarctica. Four of the new profilers are higher power stratospheric tropospheric systems, designed to measure winds from near ground level to the tropopause
We investigate the timing and relative influence of VLF in the chorus frequency range observed by the DEMETER spacecraft and ULF wave activity from ground stations on daily changes in electron flux (0.23 to over 2.9 MeV) observed by the HEO‐3 spacecraft. At each L‐shell, we use multiple regression to investigate the effects of each wave type and each daily lag independent of the others. We find that reduction and enhancement of electrons occur at different timescales. Chorus power spectral density and ULF wave power are associated with immediate electron decreases on the same day but with flux enhancement 1–2 days later. ULF is nearly always more influential than chorus on both increases and decreases of flux, although chorus is often a significant factor. There was virtually no difference in correlations of ULF Pc3, Pc4, or Pc5 with electron flux. A synergistic interaction between chorus and ULF waves means that enhancement is most effective when both waves are present, pointing to a two‐step process where local acceleration by chorus waves first energizes electrons which are then brought to even higher energies by inward radial diffusion due to ULF waves. However, decreases in flux due to these waves act additively. Chorus and ULF waves combined are most effective at describing changes in electron flux at >1.5 MeV. At lower L (2–3), correlations between ULF and VLF (likely hiss) with electron flux were low. The most successful models, over L = 4–6, explained up to 47.1% of the variation in the data.
Whitepaper #098 submitted to the Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032. Topics: interior evolution and volcanism; Mercury and/or the Moon; solar system formation, dynamics processes, and chronology
EM Abstract Real magnetotelluric (MT) data errors are commonly correlated, but MT inversions routinely neglect such correlations without an investigation on the impact of this simplification. This paper applies a hierarchical trans-dimensional (trans-D) Bayesian inversion to examine the effect of correlated MT data errors on the inversion for subsurface geoelectrical structures, and the model parameterization (the number of conductivity interfaces) is treated as an unknown. In the inversion considering error correlations, the data errors are parameterized by the first-order autoregressive (AR(1)) process, which is included as an unknown in the inversion. The data information itself determines the AR(1) parameter. The trans-D inversion applies the reversible-jump Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm to sample the trans-D posterior probability density (PPD) for the model parameters, model parameterization and AR(1) parameters, accounting for the uncertainties of the model dimension and data error correlation in the uncertainty estimates of the conductivity profile. In the inversion ignoring the correlation, we neglect the correlation effect by turning off the AR(1) parameter. Then the correlation effect on the MT inversion can be examined upon comparing the posterior marginal conductivity profiles from the two inversions. Further investigation is then carried out for a synthetic case and a real MT data example. The results indicate that for strong correlation cases, neglecting error correlations can significantly affect the inversion results. Abstract 3D inversions of magnetotelluric data are now almost standard, with computational power now allowing an inversion to be performed in a matter of days (or hours) rather than weeks. However, when compared to 2D inversions, these are still very computationally demanding. As a result, 3D inversions are generally not subjected to as rigorous testing as a 1D or 2D inversion would be, which has implications when these models are used for geological interpretation. In this study, we explore the parameter space for inversion of continent-scale datasets. The generalisations made regarding the effects of each parameter should also be scalable to smaller surveys and will enable MT practitioners to optimise their results. We have performed testing on a subset of the South Australian component of the eventual Australia-wide AusLAMP (Australian Lithospheric Architecture Magnetotelluric Project). The subset was inverted with different parameters, model setup and data subsets. Specifically, results from testing of the model covariance, the resistivity of the prior model, the inclusion of 'known' information into the prior model, the model cell size, the data components inverted for and the damping parameter l were all investigated. In our testing of the 3D inversion software, ModEM3DMT, we found that the resistivity of the starting/prior model had significant effect on the final model. Careful selection of initial l value can aid in reducing computational time whilst having a negligible effect on the resultant model, whilst large covariance values and model cell sizes enhanced conductive features at depth. Abstract Seawater motion-induced electromagnetic (EM) noise along the seafloor has a large impact on marine magnetotelluric (MT) data quality. Although the mechanical stability of ocean bottom electromagnetic receivers (OBEMs) has improved due to buoyancy optimization, completely eliminating EM noise generated by seafloor currents as a result of instrument rocking or induction from the Earth’s magnetic field is still not possible. The velocity of the current represents the quantification of seafloor conditions. To mitigate this problem, we installed a current meter on an OBEM to measure the synchronous current velocity along with the OBEM data logger. For the marine EM surveys, we conducted two surveys composed of 42 marine EM data acquisition sites in the South China Sea. We observed a strong correlation between induced EM noise and current velocity when the speed was greater than 2 cm/s. Furthermore, we developed an adaptive correlation noise-canceling filter to reduce the induced EM noise, using the current meter data as a reference signal. The filter refined the coefficients using a least-mean-squares algorithm. We were able to reduce the induced EM noise by pre-filtering the raw time series data with an adaptive correlation noise-canceling filter and using current meter data from nearby sites. Since seafloor currents are clearly an issue that limits MT data quality, special efforts are necessary to reduce seawater motion-induced EM noise in marine MT surveys. Abstract Southern Mongolia is part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the origin and evolution of which is not fully known and is often debated. It is composed of several east–west trending lithostratigraphic domains that are attributed to an assemblage of accreted terranes or tectonic zones. This is in contrast to Central Mongolia, which is dominated by a cratonic block in the Hangai region. Terranes are typically bounded by suture zones that are expected to be deep-reaching, but may be difficult to identify based on observable surface fault traces alone. Thus, attempts to match lithostratigraphic domains to surface faulting have revealed some disagreements in the positions of suspected terranes. Furthermore, the subsurface structure of this region remains relatively unknown. Therefore, high-resolution geophysical data are required to determine the locations of terrane boundaries. Magnetotelluric data and telluric-only data were acquired across Southern Mongolia on a profile along a longitude of approximately 100.5° E. The profile extends ~ 350 km from the Hangai Mountains, across the Gobi–Altai Mountains, to the China–Mongolia border. The data were used to generate an electrical resistivity model of the crust and upper mantle, presented here, that can contribute to the understanding of the structure of this region, and of the evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. The resistivity model shows a generally resistive upper crust (0–20 km) with several anomalously conductive features that are believed to indicate suture zones and the boundaries of tectonic zones. Moreover, their spatial distribution is coincident with known surface fault segments and active seismicity. The lower crust (30–45 km) becomes generally less resistive, but contains an anomalously conductive feature below the Gobi–Altai zone. This potentially agrees with studies that have argued for an allochthonous lower crust below this region that has been relaminated and metamorphosed. Furthermore, there is a large contrast in the electrical properties between identified tectonic zones, due to their unique tectonic histories. Although penetration to greater depths is limited, the magnetotelluric data indicate a thick lithosphere below Southern Mongolia, in contrast to the previously reported thin lithosphere below Central Mongolia. Abstract The Lorca earthquake (May 11th, 2011, Mw 5.2) stands as the most destructive one in Spain over the last 50 years, interpreted as having occurred in an intersegment zone of the strike– slip Alhama de Murcia Fault (AMF) (Eastern Betics, Spain). Magnetotelluric data were acquired along a profile to the SW of Lorca (La Torrecilla profile), to characterize its signature at depth, as part of the multidisciplinary project “INTERGEOSIMA”. Given the short distance between stations, some station pairs were recorded simultaneously, with magnetic sensors in only one of them. In order to properly understand the resulting impedances (called interstation impedances), and the effects of inverting them, we used synthetic models to compare the impedances and the interstation impedances and to analyze the corresponding inversion results, together with the inversion of the quasi-impedance (inversion of the interstation impedances, considering them as impedances). The results are sensitive to the location of the magnetic sensors and the resistivity underneath, but in general the use of the quasi-impedances in the inversion can be considered a valid procedure. Both the 2D and the 3D resistivity models obtained through the inversion allowed us to complement the previous ERT models and represent the continuation of the main fault gouge in depth showing its extension towards the SE. Abstract Magnetotelluric (MT) method is widely used for revealing deep electrical structure. However, natural MT signals are susceptible to cultural noises. In particular, the existing data-processing methods usually fail to work when MT data are contaminated by persistent or coherent noises. To improve the quality of MT data collected with strong ambient noises, we propose a novel time-series editing method based on the improved shift-invariant sparse coding (ISISC), a data-driven machine learning algorithm. First, a redundant dictionary is learned autonomously from the raw MT data. Second, cultural noises are reconstructed using the learned dictionary and the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) algorithm. Finally, the de-noised MT data are obtained by subtracting the reconstructed cultural noises from the raw MT data. The synthetic data, field experimental data and measured data are tested to verify the effectiveness of the newly proposed method. The results show that our new scheme can effectively remove strong cultural noises and has better adaptability and efficiency than the predefined dictionary-based methods. The method can be used as an alternative when a remote reference station is not available. Abstract The Ramså Basin is situated on the strandflat on the northeastern side of Andøya between Ramså and Skarstein. It is the only known Mesozoic sedimentary basin onshore Norway and therefore represents an easily accessible analogue to study the setting and development of the offshore Mesozoic basins along the Norwegian continental shelf. Basement rocks (100–