265 research outputs found
Evolution and Flare Activity of Delta-Sunspots in Cycle 23
The emergence and magnetic evolution of solar active regions (ARs) of
beta-gamma-delta type, which are known to be highly flare-productive, were
studied with the SOHO/MDI data in Cycle 23. We selected 31 ARs that can be
observed from their birth phase, as unbiased samples for our study. From the
analysis of the magnetic topology (twist and writhe), we obtained the following
results. i) Emerging beta-gamma-delta ARs can be classified into three
topological types as "quasi-beta", "writhed" and "top-to-top". ii) Among them,
the "writhed" and "top-to-top" types tend to show high flare activity. iii) As
the signs of twist and writhe agree with each other in most cases of the
"writhed" type (12 cases out of 13), we propose a magnetic model in which the
emerging flux regions in a beta-gamma-delta AR are not separated but united as
a single structure below the solar surface. iv) Almost all the "writhed"-type
ARs have downward knotted structures in the mid portion of the magnetic flux
tube. This, we believe, is the essential property of beta-gamma-delta ARs. v)
The flare activity of beta-gamma-delta ARs is highly correlated not only with
the sunspot area but also with the magnetic complexity. vi) We suggest that
there is a possible scaling-law between the flare index and the maximum umbral
area
Effects of combined exposures of fluoranthene and polyethylene or polyhydroxybutyrate microplastics on oxidative stress biomarkers in the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis)
3D MHD Flux Emergence Experiments: Idealized models and coronal interactions
This paper reviews some of the many 3D numerical experiments of the emergence
of magnetic fields from the solar interior and the subsequent interaction with
the pre-existing coronal magnetic field. The models described here are
idealized, in the sense that the internal energy equation only involves the
adiabatic, Ohmic and viscous shock heating terms. However, provided the main
aim is to investigate the dynamical evolution, this is adequate. Many
interesting observational phenomena are explained by these models in a
self-consistent manner.Comment: Review article, accepted for publication in Solar Physic
What is the relationship between photospheric flow fields and solar flares?
We estimated photospheric velocities by separately applying the Fourier Local
Correlation Tracking (FLCT) and Differential Affine Velocity Estimator (DAVE)
methods to 2708 co-registered pairs of SOHO/MDI magnetograms, with nominal
96-minute cadence and ~2" pixels, from 46 active regions (ARs) from 1996-1998
over the time interval t45 when each AR was within 45^o of disk center. For
each magnetogram pair, we computed the average estimated radial magnetic field,
B; and each tracking method produced an independently estimated flow field, u.
We then quantitatively characterized these magnetic and flow fields by
computing several extensive and intensive properties of each; extensive
properties scale with AR size, while intensive properties do not depend
directly on AR size. Intensive flow properties included moments of speeds,
horizontal divergences, and radial curls; extensive flow properties included
sums of these properties over each AR, and a crude proxy for the ideal Poynting
flux, the total |u| B^2. Several magnetic quantities were also computed,
including: total unsigned flux; a measure of the amount of unsigned flux near
strong-field polarity inversion lines, R; and the total B^2. Next, using
correlation and discriminant analysis, we investigated the associations between
these properties and flares from the GOES flare catalog, when averaged over
both t45 and shorter time windows, of 6 and 24 hours. We found R and total |u|
B^2 to be most strongly associated with flares; no intensive flow properties
were strongly associated with flares.Comment: 57 pages, 13 figures; revised content; added URL to manuscript with
higher-quality image
Detailed Analysis of Fan-Shaped jets in Three Dimensional Numerical Simulation
We performed three dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations to
study the magnetic reconnection using an initially shearing magnetic field
configuration (force free field with a current sheet in the middle of the
computational box). It is shown that there are two types of reconnection jets:
the ordinary reconnection jets and fan-shaped jets, which are formed along the
guide magnetic field. The fan-shaped jets are much different from the ordinary
reconnection jets which are ejected by magnetic tension force. There are two
driving forces for accelerating the fan-shaped jets. The one is the Lorentz
force which dominates the motion of fluid elements at first and then the gas
pressure gradient force accelerates the fluid elements in the later stage. The
dependence on magnetic reconnection angle and resistivity value has also been
studied. The formation and evolution of these jets provide a new understanding
of dynamic magnetohydrodynamic jets.Comment: 26 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in Research in
Astronomy and Astrophysics (RAA
On Signatures of Twisted Magnetic Flux Tube Emergence
Recent studies of NOAA active region 10953, by Okamoto {\it et al.} ({\it
Astrophys. J. Lett.} {\bf 673}, 215, 2008; {\it Astrophys. J.} {\bf 697}, 913,
2009), have interpreted photospheric observations of changing widths of the
polarities and reversal of the horizontal magnetic field component as
signatures of the emergence of a twisted flux tube within the active region and
along its internal polarity inversion line (PIL). A filament is observed along
the PIL and the active region is assumed to have an arcade structure. To
investigate this scenario, MacTaggart and Hood ({\it Astrophys. J. Lett.} {\bf
716}, 219, 2010) constructed a dynamic flux emergence model of a twisted
cylinder emerging into an overlying arcade. The photospheric signatures
observed by Okamoto {\it et al.} (2008, 2009) are present in the model although
their underlying physical mechanisms differ. The model also produces two
additional signatures that can be verified by the observations. The first is an
increase in the unsigned magnetic flux in the photosphere at either side of the
PIL. The second is the behaviour of characteristic photospheric flow profiles
associated with twisted flux tube emergence. We look for these two signatures
in AR 10953 and find negative results for the emergence of a twisted flux tube
along the PIL. Instead, we interpret the photospheric behaviour along the PIL
to be indicative of photospheric magnetic cancellation driven by flows from the
dominant sunspot. Although we argue against flux emergence within this
particular region, the work demonstrates the important relationship between
theory and observations for the successful discovery and interpretation of
signatures of flux emergence.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Plasmoid-Induced-Reconnection and Fractal Reconnection
As a key to undertanding the basic mechanism for fast reconnection in solar
flares, plasmoid-induced-reconnection and fractal reconnection are proposed and
examined. We first briefly summarize recent solar observations that give us
hints on the role of plasmoid (flux rope) ejections in flare energy release. We
then discuss the plasmoid-induced-reconnection model, which is an extention of
the classical two-ribbon-flare model which we refer to as the CSHKP model. An
essential ingredient of the new model is the formation and ejection of a
plasmoid which play an essential role in the storage of magnetic energy (by
inhibiting reconnection) and the induction of a strong inflow into reconnection
region. Using a simple analytical model, we show that the plasmoid ejection and
acceleration are closely coupled with the reconnection process, leading to a
nonlinear instability for the whole dynamics that determines the macroscopic
reconnection rate uniquely. Next we show that the current sheet tends to have a
fractal structure via the following process path: tearing, sheet thinning,
Sweet- Parker sheet, secondary tearing, further sheet thinning... These
processes occur repeatedly at smaller scales until a microscopic plasma scale
(either the ion Larmor radius or the ion inertial length) is reached where
anomalous resistivity or collisionless reconnection can occur. The current
sheet eventually has a fractal structure with many plasmoids (magnetic islands)
of different sizes. When these plasmoids are ejected out of the current sheets,
fast reconnection occurs at various different scales in a highly time dependent
manner. Finally, a scenario is presented for fast reconnection in the solar
corona on the basis of above plasmoid-induced-reconnection in a fractal current
sheet.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, with using eps.sty; Earth, Planets and Space in
press; ps-file is also available at
http://stesun8.stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~tanuma/study/shibata2001
Integrating temperature-dependent life table data into insect life cycle model for predicting the potential distribution of Scapsipedus icipe Hugel & Tanga
A new edible cricket species from Kenya of the genus Scapsipedus (Scapsipedus icipe Hugel & Tanga) is described through this study. Temperature-dependent development, survival, reproductive and life table parameters of S. icipe was generated and integrated into advanced Insect Life Cycle Modeling software to describe relative S. icipe population increase and spatial spread based on nine constant temperature conditions. Findings provide first-time important information on the impact of temperature on the biology, establishment and spread of S. icipe across the Africa continent. The prospect of edible S. icipe production to become a new sector in food and feed industry is discussed.GREENiNSECT of DanidaNetherlands Organization for Scientific ResearchWOTRO Science for Global Development (NWO-WOTRO)Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentAustralian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)BioInnovate Africa Programm
Integrating temperature-dependent life table data into Insect Life Cycle Model for predicting the potential distribution of <em>Scapsipedus icipe</em> Hugel & Tanga
Scapsipedus icipe Hugel and Tanga (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) is a newly described edible cricket species. Although, there is substantial interest in mass production of S. icipe for human food and animal feed, no information exists on the impact of temperature on their bionomics. Temperature-dependent development, survival, reproductive and life table parameters of S. icipe was generated and integrated into advanced Insect Life Cycle Modeling software to describe relative S. icipe population increase and spatial spread based on nine constant temperature conditions. We examined model predictions and implications for S. icipe potential distribution in Africa under current and future climate. These regions where entomophagy is widely practiced have distinctly different climates. Our results showed that S. icipe eggs were unable to hatch at 10 and 40°C, while emerged nymphs failed to complete development at 15°C. The developmental time of S. icipe was observed to decrease with increased in temperature. The lowest developmental threshold temperatures estimated using linear regressions was 14.3, 12.67 and 19.12°C and the thermal constants for development were 185.2, 1111.1- and 40.7-degree days (DD) for egg, nymph and pre-adult stages, respectively. The highest total fecundity (3416 individuals/female/generation), intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.075 days), net reproductive rate (1330.8 female/female/generation) and shortest doubling time (9.2 days) was recorded at 30°C. The regions predicted to be suitable by the model suggest that S. icipe is tolerant to a wider range of climatic conditions. Our findings provide for the first-time important information on the impact of temperature on the biology, establishment and spread of S. icipe across the Africa continent. The prospect of edible S. icipe production to become a new sector in food and feed industry is discussed
Small-scale solar magnetic fields
As we resolve ever smaller structures in the solar atmosphere, it has become
clear that magnetism is an important component of those small structures.
Small-scale magnetism holds the key to many poorly understood facets of solar
magnetism on all scales, such as the existence of a local dynamo, chromospheric
heating, and flux emergence, to name a few. Here, we review our knowledge of
small-scale photospheric fields, with particular emphasis on quiet-sun field,
and discuss the implications of several results obtained recently using new
instruments, as well as future prospects in this field of research.Comment: 43 pages, 18 figure
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