JET Formation in Solar Atmosphere Due to Magnetic Reconnection

Using numerical simulations, we show that jets with features of type II spicules and cool coronal jets corresponding to temperatures of 104 K can be formed as a result of magnetic reconnection in a scenario with magnetic resistivity. For this, we model the low chromosphere–corona region using the C7 equilibrium solar atmosphere model, assuming that resistive MHD rules the dynamics of the plasma. The magnetic field configurations we analyze correspond to two neighboring loops with opposite polarity. The formation of a highspeed and sharp structure depends on the separation of the loops’ feet. We analyze the cases where the magnetic field strength of the two loops is equal and different. In the first case, with a symmetric configuration the jets rise vertically, whereas in an asymmetric configuration the structure shows an inclination. With a number of simulations carried out under a 2.5D approach, we explore various properties of the excited jets, namely, inclination, lifetime, and velocity. The parameter space involves a magnetic field strength between 20 and 40 G, and the resistivity is assumed to be uniform with a constant value of the order 10-2W · m

Spicule jets in the solar atmosphere modeled with resistive MHD and thermal conduction

Using numerical simulations, we study the effects of magnetic resistivity and thermal conductivity in the dynamics and properties of solar jets with characteristics of Type II spicules and cool coronal jets. The dynamic evolution of the jets is governed by the resistive MHD equations with thermal conduction along the magnetic field lines on a 2.5D slice. The magnetic field configuration consists of two symmetric neighboring loops with opposite polarity, used to support reconnection and followed by the plasma jet formation. In total, 10 simulations were carried out with different values of resistivity and thermal conductivity that produce jets with different morphological and thermal properties we quantify. We find that an increase in magnetic resistivity does not produce significant effects on the morphology, velocity, and temperature of the jets. However, thermal conductivity affects both temperature and morphology of the jets. In particular, thermal conductivity causes jets to reach greater heights and increases the temperature of the jet-apex. Also, heat flux maps indicate the jet-apex and corona interchange energy more efficiently than the body of the jet. These results could potentially open a new avenue for plasma diagnostics in the Sun's atmosphere

I. Jet Formation and Evolution due to 3D Magnetic Reconnection

Using simulated data-driven three-dimensional resistive MHD simulations of the solar atmosphere, we show that magnetic reconnection can be responsible of the formation of jets with characteristic of Type II spicules. For this, we numerically model the photosphere-corona region using the C7 equilibrium atmosphere model. The initial magnetic configuration is a 3D potential magnetic field, extrapolated up to the solar corona region from a dynamic realistic simulation of solar photospheric magnetoconvection model which is mimicking quiet-Sun. In this case we consider a uniform and constant value of the magnetic resistivity of 12.56 Ω m. We have found that formation of the jets depends on the Lorentz force, which helps to accelerate the plasma upwards. Analyzing various properties of the jet dynamics, we found that the jet structure shows Doppler shift near to regions with high vorticity. The morphology, upward velocity, covering a range up to 100 km s−1, and life-time of the estructure, bigger than 100 s, are similar to those expected for Type II spicules

Flows and magnetic field structures in reconnection regions of simulations of the solar atmosphere: Do flux pile-up models work?

Aims. We study the process of magnetic field annihilation and reconnection in simulations of magnetised solar photosphere and chromosphere with magnetic fields of opposite polarities and constant numerical resistivity. Methods. Exact analytical solutions for reconnective annihilations were used to interpret the features of magnetic reconnection in simulations of flux cancellation in the solar atmosphere. We used MURaM high-resolution photospheric radiative magneto-convection simulations to demonstrate the presence of magnetic field reconnection consistent with the magnetic flux pile-up models. Also, a simulated data-driven chromospheric magneto-hydrodynamic simulation is used to demonstrate magnetic field and flow structures, which are similar to the theoretically predicted ones. Results. Both simulations demonstrate flow and magnetic field structures roughly consistent with accelerated reconnection with magnetic flux pile-up. The presence of standard Sweet–Parker type reconnection is also demonstrated in stronger photospheric magnetic fields

II. Analysis of 3D plasma motions in a chromospheric jet formed due to magnetic reconnection

Within the framework of resistive MHD, implementing the C7 equilibrium atmosphere model and a 3D potential magnetic field realistic configuration, we simulate the formation of a plasma jet with the morphology, upward velocity up to 130 km/s and timescale formation between 60 and 90 s after beginning of simulation, similar to those expected for Type II spicules. Initial results of this simulation were published in Paper I e.g. \cite{Gonzalez-Aviles_et_al_2018} and present paper is devoted to the analysis of transverse displacements and rotational type motion of the jet. Our results suggest that 3D magnetic reconnection may be responsible for the formation of the jet in Paper I. In this paper, by calculating times series of the velocity components vx and vy in different points near to the jet for various heights we find transverse oscillations in agreement with spicule observations. We also obtain a time-distance plot of the temperature in a cross-cut at the plane x=0.1 Mm and find significant transverse displacements of the jet. By analyzing temperature isosurfaces of 104 K with the distribution of vx, we find that if the line-of-sight (LOS) is approximately perpendicular to the jet axis then there is both motion towards and away from the observer across the width of the jet. This red-blue shift pattern of the jet is caused by rotational motion, initially clockwise and anti-clockwise afterwards, which could be interpreted as torsional motion. From a nearly vertical perspective of the jet the LOS velocity component shows a central blue-shift region surrounded by red-shifted plasma

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries1,2. However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world3 and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health4,5. However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol—which is a marker of cardiovascular risk—changed from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million–4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.</p

Small-scale solar jet formation and their associated waves and instabilities

Studies on small-scale jets’ formation, propagation, evolution, and role, such as type I and II spicules, mottles, and fibrils in the lower solar atmosphere’s energetic balance, have progressed tremendously thanks to the combination of detailed observations and sophisticated mathematical modelling. This review provides a survey of the current understanding of jets, their formation in the solar lower atmosphere, and their evolution from observational, numerical, and theoretical perspectives. First, we review some results to describe the jet properties, acquired numerically, analytically and through high-spatial and temporal resolution observations. Further on, we discuss the role of hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic instabilities, namely Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities, in jet evolution and their role in the energy transport through the solar atmosphere in fully and partially ionised plasmas. Finally, we discuss several mechanisms of magnetohydrodynamic wave generation, propagation, and energy transport in the context of small-scale solar jets in detail. This review identifies several gaps in the understanding of small-scale solar jets and some misalignments between the observational studies and knowledge acquired through theoretical studies and numerical modelling. It is to be expected that these gaps will be closed with the advent of high-resolution observational instruments, such as Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope, Solar Orbiter, Parker Solar Probe, and Solar CubeSats for Linked Imaging Spectropolarimetry, combined with further theoretical and computational developments

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was &amp;lt;1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified. © 2023, The Author(s)

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions. © Copyright