Vol 58, No 4 (2018)

In this paper, the correlation coefficient between the ion fluxes in the solar wind and the magnetosheath is analyzed with the use of data of two satellites of the THEMIS mission and the THEMIS/Spektr-R satellites obtained in 2008 and 2011−2014, respectively. We have distinguished the conditions in which a high level of correlation between the measurements in the solar wind and the magnetosheath is observed, i.e., the correlation coefficient exceeds 0.7. As key factors, we consider both direct parameters of the solar wind, such as the density, the magnetic field magnitude, the magnetosonic Mach number, and the ratio β of the thermal pressure to the magnetic, and a more general factor—the type of large-scale structure of the solar wind. In addition, the effect of the satellite location in the magnetosheath relative to its boundaries—the bow shock and the magnetopause—on the correlation level is considered. It has been shown that, in roughly one third of cases, the plasma structures of the solar wind undergo a strong modification at the bow shock and in the magnetosheath, which results in a low correlation level corresponding to a correlation coefficient of less than 0.5; a high correlation level is observed in half of cases, i.e., the plasma structures are weakly disturbed. It has been determined that (1) the low correlation level in the magnetosheath behind quasi-perpendicular bow shock is more often observed near the magnetopause than in region just behind the bow shock, (2) the probability of observations of a high correlation level is independent of the profile shape of the quasi-perpendicular bow shock, and (3) the high correlation is more probable for the events corresponding to the solar wind of the Corotating Interaction Region (CIR) type than for those with the other solar wind types observed in the considered period.

This paper presents the results of processing the data on the partial solar eclipse that occurred on March 20, 2015, and was observed with the RT-3 (λ = 4.9 cm) and RT-2 (λ = 3.2 cm) radio telescopes of the Kislovodsk Mountain Astronomical Station, Central Astronomical Observatory, Russian Academy of Sciences (MAS CAO RAS). They were compared with observations in the optical and X-ray ranges. The local radio sources at the limb and on the disc of the Sun were identified: an eruptive and a quiet prominence; filaments; a coronal hole; facular plages; and a sunspot group. The curves of the center-to-limb variations in the radio brightness of the undisturbed regions of the Sun were plotted for λ = 4.9 and λ = 3.2 cm. The solar radio maps were presented. The altitude of the radiating layer in the chromosphere above the sunspot and the facular sources for λ = 4.9 cm λ = 3.2 cm was compared.

The problem of the rapid depletion and saturation of the Earth’s outer radiation belt with energetic electrons is one of the central problems in the physics of the magnetosphere. The precipitation into the atmosphere and the escape of electrons from the magnetosphere are competing reasons for the depletion of the radiation belt. Long-term measurements of energetic electron precipitation (EEP) in the atmosphere in the experiment of the Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI) can be used to study the relative role of these phenomena. High fluence values of relativistic electrons in the outer belt is a necessary condition for EEP observation; however, the relation of the EEP rate to the condition of the belt is ambiguous, which is shown by the example of observations in 1994.

Equations of regression are derived for the intense magnetic storms of 1957−2016. They reflect the nonlinear relation between Dst_min and the effective index of geomagnetic activity Ap(τ) with a timeweighted factor τ. Based on this and on known estimations of the upper limit of the magnetic storm intensity (Dst_min =–2500 nT), the maximal possible value Ap(τ)_max ~ 1000 nT is obtained. This makes it possible to obtain initial estimates of the upper limit of variations in some parameters of the thermosphere and ionosphere that are due to geomagnetic activity. It is found, in particular, that the upper limit of an increase in the thermospheric density is seven to eight times larger than for the storm in March 1989, which was the most intense for the entire space era. The maximum possible amplitude of the negative phase of the ionospheric storm in the number density of the F₂-layer maximum at midlatitudes is nearly six times higher than for the March 1989 storm. The upper limit of the F₂-layer rise in this phase of the ionospheric storm is also considerable. Based on qualitative analysis, it is found that the F₂-layer maximum in daytime hours at midlatitudes for these limiting conditions is not pronounced and even may be unresolved in the experiment, i.e., above the F₁-layer maximum, the electron number density may smoothly decrease with height up to the upper boundary of the plasmasphere.

Geomagnetic pulsations of the serpentine-emission (SE) type are considered. A method for estimating the frequency and amplitude parameters in the form of a time function for pulsations—SE and the accompanying spectral components—is suggested. An estimation algorithm is developed on the basis of local approximating polyharmonic models and weighted moving average filtration. Examples of the estimation of the frequency and amplitude parameters of SE pulsations are given. It is proposed that the procedure be used to calculate the estimation errors in SE pulsation frequency parameters and to choose the tuning parameters.

The temperature variations of the near-surface atmosphere in Kamchatka at Paratunka observatory and fluxes of outgoing infrared radiation prior to strong Kuril earthquakes (November 15, 2006, M = 8.3; January 13, 2007, M = 8.1) have been analyzed. It is shown that the radiation fluxes at ground level, as measured on satellites above the epicenter of earthquakes and above a remote observatory, coincide with each other, both in magnitude and in the feature of their time variations. The temperature measured directly at the observatory and the temperature at surface level estimated from satellite observations differ in magnitude, but they coincide in the feature of their time variations. The detected temperature increase (despite the negative regular trend at this time of year) is caused by the appearance of an additional heat source entering in the nearsurface atmosphere. This result, together with the studies of variations of various geophysical data before strong earthquakes performed earlier in Kamchatka, led to the conclusion that the additional heat source is in the Earth’s crust.

This paper summarizes the years of studies devoted to the self-similarity of anomalies originating in the ionosphere above the regions of the preparation of strong earthquakes. Using statistical processing of data on electron density variations obtained by methods of vertical sounding and measurements of the total electronic content, we have formed a pattern of similar variations observed at midlatitudes before strong earthquakes; we call it a precursor mask for earthquakes. It was found that the positive anomaly in the ionosphere formed at nighttime after sunset and ended at sunrise. In the case of strong earthquakes, the anomaly can last 12 h and emerge within a few days at the same local time. We propose a physical mechanism of anomaly formation in the ionosphere bound with the diurnal dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer, which regulates the height distribution of cluster ions.