North-South asymmetry of interplanetary plasma and solar parameters

Data of interplanetary plasma (field magnitude, solar wind speed, ion plasma density and temperature) and solar parameters (sunspot number, solar radio flux, and geomagnetic index) over the period 1965-1991, have been used to examine the asymmetry between the solar field north and south of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS). The dependence of N-S asymmetry of field magnitude (B) upon the interplanetary solar polarities is statistically insignificant. There is no clear indication for the presence of N-S asymmetry in the grand-average field magnitude over the solar cycles. During the period 1981-89 (qA < 0; negative solar polarity state), the solar plasma was more dense and cooler south of the HCS than north of it. The solar flux component of toward field vector is larger in magnitude than those of away field vector during the qA 0 epoch. Furthermore, the sign of the N-S asymmetry in the solar activity depends positively upon the solar polarity state. In addition, we have studied the N-S asymmetry of solar parameters near the HCS, throughout the periods of northern and southern hemispheres were more active than the other. Some asymmetries (with respect to the HCS) in plasma parameters existed during the periods of southern hemisphere predominance

Periodicities in geomagnetic-activity indices and solar-wind parameters, and their possible solar origin

We have examined the average behaviors of the solar-wind parameters and the geomagnetic-activity indices. There is a good correlation between the increasing pressure at the magnetopause and the intense magnetospheric disturbances. The ultra-low frequency power spectra for the geomagnetic disturbances have been analyzed and tested. Although the spectrum shows remarkable and stable peaks at the wavelengths 0.5, 0.7, 1.0, 1.3 years, additional significant peaks of 73 d, 1.5 y, 5.1 y and 9.2 y for Ap and 73 d and 1.4 y for the product BSV 2 are also found. However, the 73-d and 5.1-y variations correspond to a non-obvious physical process in the Sun. The Sun may reflect some irregular variations, basically not fundamental, which appear at different times. A comparison of both spectra for periods > 0.5 year suggests different solar origins. Both spectra have different power amplitudes and peaks at different locations. Our study confirmed 1.4–1.5 year oscillations in BSV 2 measurements between 1987 and 2000, and located slightly higher than the Kp peaks (∼ 1.3 y). Although many papers have discussed periodicities in the Ap index, a 9.2-year period has not been reported previously. There is some indication of an association with the coronal-hole variations in the southern hemisphere of the Sun. The conjunction of the Sun observations and SW measurements may be used to estimate the disturbances in the geomagnetic activity in the heliosphere

North-South asymmetry of cosmic-ray density gradients throughout the epoch 1955-1991

We have computed the magnitude and direction of the asymmetry of cosmic-ray particle density gradient in the heliosphere during the period 1955-1991. Data obtained by twenty-one detectors (neutron monitors, surface and underground muon telescopes) in both terrestrial hemispheres between 1955 and 1991 are analyzed as a function of the sense of interplanetary magnetic field. Their median rigidity of response (Rm) covers the following range: 10 GV � Rm � 185 GV. Significant differences are frequently observed between the diurnal variations measured in toward and away polarity days. The cosmic-ray density gradient displayed insignificant changes near solar maxima and reversed in sign after the reversal polarity periods. The resultant cosmic-ray gradients are: a north-south symmetric gradient which occurred during minima and maxima solar activity epochs, and a N-S asymmetrical gradient which is related to the N-S asymmetry in the activity on the Sun. Northward and southward cosmic-ray latitudinal (or perpendicular) gradients were frequently observed. The solar diurnal phases of toward polarity days north of the HCS (or away) during the period 1981-87 (qA < 0) existed a few hours later than those recorded for toward (or away) days south of HCS during the positive IMF period 1971-78, as well as the time shift depends on the rigidity of the particle. In addition, quite a change occurred on phase for the north neutron monitors and muon telescopes than for those located on the southern hemisphere

Studying of the Solar-Climate Interaction in Canada

Abstract It is well known that the solar radiation output changes periodically and also that it affects the Earth and near-space environment in various ways. The Earth climate system has shown irregular changes during the second half of the 20th century, especially for the last four decades. The scientific and public discussions about the influence of the solar radiation on global warming are still ongoing. It is obvious that the man-made gases (e.g., the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was never as high during the last thousand years as it is today) is an important factor affecting the Earth&apos;s surface temperature, but it may be not the only one. The present work presents a correlative study to investigate the possible effect of some geomagnetic and solar parameters on climate variability of global temperature represented by the temperature of Canada. Two components (monthly averages) that may be closely associated with the climate have been studied, which are the geomagnetic activity, aa and the sunspot number, Rz throughout a long period of 114 years from

Near-earth cosmic ray decreases associated with remote coronal mass ejections

Galactic cosmic ray (GCR) flux is modulated by both particle drift patterns and solar wind structures on a range of timescales. Over solar cycles, GCR flux varies as a function of the total open solar magnetic flux and the latitudinal extent of the heliospheric current sheet. Over hours, drops of a few percent in near-Earth GCR flux (Forbush decreases, FDs) are well known to be associated with the near-Earth passage of solar wind structures resulting from corotating interaction regions (CIRs) and transient coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We report on four FDs seen at ground-based neutron monitors which cannot be immediately associated with significant structures in the local solar wind. Similarly, there are significant near-Earth structures which do not produce any corresponding GCR variation. Three of the FDs are during the STEREO era, enabling in situ and remote observations from three well-separated heliospheric locations. Extremely large CMEs passed the STEREO-A spacecraft, which was behind the West limb of the Sun, approximately 2–3 days before each near- Earth FD. Solar wind simulations suggest that the CMEs combined with pre-existing CIRs, enhancing the pre-existing barriers to GCR propagation. Thus these observations provide strong evidence for the modulation of GCR flux by remote solar wind structures

Solar and Geomagnetic Activity Effects on Global Surface Temperatures

Abstract It is a clear fact that the Earth&apos;s climate has been changing since the pre-industrial era, especially during the last three decades. This change is generally attributed to two main factors: greenhouse gases (GHGs) and solar activ ity changes. However, these factors are not all-independent. Furthermore, contributions of the above-mentioned factors are still d isputed. The aim of th is paper is relation in the longer t ime , between changer of g lobal surface temperature (GST), and solar geomagnetic activ ist represented by sunspot number (Rz) and geomagnetic indices (aa , Kp ), and to what degree they are connected. The geomagnetics aa are more effect ive on global surface temperature than solar activity. Furthermore, the global surface temperature are strongly sensitive to the 21.3-yr, 10.6-yr, and 5.3-yr variations that observed in the considered geomagnetic and sunspot spectra. The present changes in aa geo magnetics may reflect part ially some future changes in the global surface temperatures

Agronomic Management of Indigenous Mycorrhizas

Many of the advantages conferred to plants by arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) are associated to the ability of AM plants to explore a greater volume of soil through the extraradical mycelium. Sieverding (1991) estimates that for each centimetre of colonized root there is an increase of 15 cm3 on the volume of soil explored, this value can increase to 200 cm3 depending on the circumstances. Due to the enhancement of the volume of soil explored and the ability of the extraradical mycelium to absorb and translocate nutrients to the plant, one of the most obvious and important advantages resulting from mycorrhization is the uptake of nutrients. Among of which the ones that have immobilized forms in soil, such as P, assume particular significance. Besides this, many other benefits are recognized for AM plants (Gupta et al, 2000): water stress alleviation (Augé, 2004; Cho et al, 2006), protection from root pathogens (Graham, 2001), tolerance to toxic heavy metals and phytoremediation (Audet and Charest, 2006; Göhre and Paszkowski, 2006), tolerance to adverse conditions such as very high or low temperature, high salinity (Sannazzaro et al, 2006), high or low pH (Yano and Takaki, 2005) or better performance during transplantation shock (Subhan et al, 1998). The extraradical hyphae also stabilize soil aggregates by both enmeshing soil particles (Miller e Jastrow, 1992) and producing a glycoprotein, golmalin, which may act as a glue-like substance to adhere soil particles together (Wright and Upadhyaya, 1998). Despite the ubiquous distribution of mycorrhizal fungi (Smith and Read, 2000) and only a relative specificity between host plants and fungal isolates (McGonigle and Fitter, 1990), the obligate nature of the symbiosis implies the establishment of a plant propagation system, either under greenhouse conditions or in vitro laboratory propagation. These techniques result in high inoculum production costs, which still remains a serious problem since they are not competitive with production costs of phosphorus fertilizer. Even if farmers understand the significance of sustainable agricultural systems, the reduction of phosphorus inputs by using AM fungal inocula alone cannot be justified except, perhaps, in the case of high value crops (Saioto and Marumoto, 2002). Nurseries, high income horticulture farmers and no-agricultural application such as rehabilitation of degraded or devegetated landscapes are examples of areas where the use of commercial inoculum is current. Another serious problem is quality of commercial available products concerning guarantee of phatogene free content, storage conditions, most effective application methods and what types to use. Besides the information provided by suppliers about its inoculum can be deceiving, as from the usually referred total counts, only a fraction may be effective for a particular plant or in specific soil conditions. Gianinazzi and Vosátka (2004) assume that progress should be made towards registration procedures that stimulate the development of the mycorrhizal industry. Some on-farm inoculum production and application methods have been studied, allowing farmers to produce locally adapted isolates and generate a taxonomically diverse inoculum (Mohandas et al, 2004; Douds et al, 2005). However the inocula produced this way are not readily processed for mechanical application to the fields, being an obstacle to the utilization in large scale agriculture, especially row crops, moreover it would represent an additional mechanical operation with the corresponding economic and soil compaction costs. It is well recognized that inoculation of AM fungi has a potential significance in not only sustainable crop production, but also environmental conservation. However, the status quo of inoculation is far from practical technology that can be widely used in the field. Together a further basic understanding of the biology and diversity of AM fungi is needed (Abbott at al, 1995; Saito and Marumoto, 2002). Advances in ecology during the past decade have led to a much more detailed understanding of the potential negative consequences of species introductions and the potential for negative ecological consequences of invasions by mycorrhizal fungi is poorly understood. Schwartz et al, (2006) recommend that a careful assessment documenting the need for inoculation, and the likelihood of success, should be conducted prior to inoculation because inoculations are not universally beneficial. Agricultural practices such as crop rotation, tillage, weed control and fertilizer apllication all produce changes in the chemical, physical and biological soil variables and affect the ecological niches available for occupancy by the soil biota, influencing in different ways the symbiosis performance and consequently the inoculum development, shaping changes and upset balance of native populations. The molecular biology tools developed in the latest years have been very important for our perception of these changes, ensuing awareness of management choice implications in AM development. In this context, for extensive farming systems and regarding environmental and economic costs, the identification of agronomic management practices that allow controlled manipulation of the fungal community and capitalization of AM mutualistic effect making use of local inoculum, seem to be a wise option for mycorrhiza promotion and development of sustainable crop production

Physiological and Pathological Role of Alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease Through Iron Mediated Oxidative Stress; The Role of a Putative Iron-responsive Element

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and represents a large health burden to society. Genetic and oxidative risk factors have been proposed as possible causes, but their relative contribution remains unclear. Dysfunction of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has been associated with PD due to its increased presence, together with iron, in Lewy bodies. Brain oxidative damage caused by iron may be partly mediated by α-syn oligomerization during PD pathology. Also, α-syn gene dosage can cause familial PD and inhibition of its gene expression by blocking translation via a newly identified Iron Responsive Element-like RNA sequence in its 5’-untranslated region may provide a new PD drug target