Mid-latitude ionospheric scintillation anomaly in the Far East

International audienceA long-term (over 3 years) study has been undertaken to obtain a comprehensive evaluation of VHF ionospheric scintillation morphology in East Asia (at Kokobunji in Japan), using amplitude records from Transit satellites. It is now evident that summer day and night scintillation enhancement in this mid-latitude region is a long-term evidence of a well-known Asian ionospheric disturbance anomaly. The scintillation activity is particularly strong during summer nights (21:00?24:00 LT) and on occasion, all satellite passes recorded on consecutive days are associated with pronounced scintillation activity. A second sub-maximum is observed in the summer pre-noon period (09:00?12:00 LT). The scintillation regions extend latitudinally for a distance of 400?600 km in the F-region and 100?200 km in the E-region, mostly equatorwards of Kokobunji. For comparison similar scintillation data obtained for one year at the same longitudinal sector but in southern mid-latitudes (Brisbane in Australia) were compared with the simultaneous northern scintillation data. The scintillation activity at Brisbane was much less pronounced in the southern summer but was of the same low level during other seasons as that for Kokobunji. This consistent scintillation anomaly, as yet, has not been included in the global scintillation models, which are essential for radio-satellite communications

Quantitative estimates of relationships between geomagnetic activity and equatorial spread-F as determined by TID occurrence levels

Using a world-wide set of stations for 15 years, quantitative estimates of changes to equatorial spread-F (ESF) occurrence rates obtained from ionogram scalings, have been determined for a range of geomagnetic activity (GA) levels, as well as for four different levels of solar activity. Average occurrence rates were used as a reference. The percentage changes vary significantly depending on these subdivisions. For example for very high GA the inverse association is recorded by a change of -33% for R-z greater than or equal to 150, and -10% for R-z < 50. Using data for 9 years for the equatorial station, Huancayo, these measurements of ESF which indicate the presence of TIDs, have also been investigated by somewhat similar analyses. Additional parameters were used which involved the local times of GA, with the ESF being examined separately for occurrence pre-midnight (PM) and after-midnight (AM). Again the negative changes were most pronounced for high GA in R-z-max years (-21%). This result is for PM ESF for GA at a local time of 1700. There were increased ESF levels (+31%) for AM ESF in R-z-min years for high GA around 2300 LT. This additional knowledge of the influence of GA on ESF occurrence involving not only percentage changes, but these values for a range of parameter levels, may be useful if ever short-term forecasts are needed. There is some discussion on comparisons which can be made between ESF results obtained by coherent scatter from incoherent-scatter equipment and those obtained by ionosondes

Avoiding Costly Conservation Mistakes: The Importance of Defining Actions and Costs in Spatial Priority Setting

Background: The typical mandate in conservation planning is to identify areas that represent biodiversity targets within the smallest possible area of land or sea, despite the fact that area may be a poor surrogate for the cost of many conservation actions. It is also common for priorities for conservation investment to be identified without regard to the particular conservation action that will be implemented. This demonstrates inadequate problem specification and may lead to inefficiency: the cost of alternative conservation actions can differ throughout a landscape, and may result in dissimilar conservation priorities

Australasia

Observed changes and impacts Ongoing climate trends have exacerbated many extreme events (very high confidence). The Australian trends include further warming and sea level rise sea level rise (SLR), with more hot days and heatwaves, less snow, more rainfall in the north, less April–October rainfall in the southwest and southeast and more extreme fire weather days in the south and east. The New Zealand trends include further warming and sea level rise (SLR), more hot days and heatwaves, less snow, more rainfall in the south, less rainfall in the north and more extreme fire weather in the east. There have been fewer tropical cyclones and cold days in the region. Extreme events include Australia’s hottest and driest year in 2019 with a record-breaking number of days over 39°C, New Zealand’s hottest year in 2016, three widespread marine heatwaves during 2016–2020, Category 4 Cyclone Debbie in 2017, seven major hailstorms over eastern Australia and two over New Zealand from 2014–2020, three major floods in eastern Australia and three over New Zealand during 2019–2021 and major fires in southern and eastern Australia during 2019–2020