AXIOM: advanced X-ray imaging of the magnetosphere   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Graziella Branduardi-Raymont  Steve F. Sembay  Jonathan P. Eastwood  David G. Sibeck  Tony A. Abbey  Patrick Brown  Jenny A. Carter  Chris M. Carr  Colin Forsyth  Dhiren Kataria  Steve Kemble  Steve E. Milan  Chris J. Owen  Lisa Peacocke  Andy M. Read  Andrew J. Coates  Michael R. Collier  Stan W. H. Cowley  Andrew N. Fazakerley  George W. Fraser  Geraint H. Jones  Rosine Lallement  Mark Lester  F. Scott Porter  Tim K. Yeoman 《Experimental Astronomy》2012,33(2-3):403-443

Planetary plasma and magnetic field environments can be studied in two complementary ways—by in situ measurements, or by remote sensing. While the former provide precise information about plasma behaviour, instabilities and dynamics on local scales, the latter offers the global view necessary to understand the overall interaction of the magnetospheric plasma with the solar wind. Some parts of the Earth’s magnetosphere have been remotely sensed, but the majority remains unexplored by this type of measurements. Here we propose a novel and more elegant approach employing remote X-ray imaging techniques, which are now possible thanks to the relatively recent discovery of solar wind charge exchange X-ray emissions in the vicinity of the Earth’s magnetosphere. In this article we describe how an appropriately designed and located X-ray telescope, supported by simultaneous in situ measurements of the solar wind, can be used to image the dayside magnetosphere, magnetosheath and bow shock, with a temporal and spatial resolution sufficient to address several key outstanding questions concerning how the solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetosphere on a global level. Global images of the dayside magnetospheric boundaries require vantage points well outside the magnetosphere. Our studies have led us to propose ‘AXIOM: Advanced X-ray Imaging of the Magnetosphere’, a concept mission using a Vega launcher with a LISA Pathfinder-type Propulsion Module to place the spacecraft in a Lissajous orbit around the Earth–Moon L1 point. The model payload consists of an X-ray Wide Field Imager, capable of both imaging and spectroscopy, and an in situ plasma and magnetic field measurement package. This package comprises a Proton-Alpha Sensor, designed to measure the bulk properties of the solar wind, an Ion Composition Analyser, to characterise the minor ion populations in the solar wind that cause charge exchange emission, and a Magnetometer, designed to measure the strength and direction of the solar wind magnetic field. We also show simulations that demonstrate how the proposed X-ray telescope design is capable of imaging the predicted emission from the dayside magnetosphere with the sensitivity and cadence required to achieve the science goals of the mission.  相似文献   

Kilofarms in The Agricultural Heartland     

John Fraser Hart  Mark B. Lindberg 《Geographical review》2014,104(2):139-152

Kilofarms are farms of 1,000 acres or more. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Census of Agriculture has few tabulations of data by farm size, but geographical analysis suggests some of the characteristics of kilofarms. Their operators are part‐owner farmers. Their land and buildings are worth several millions of dollars, and their gross annual income is well over the $250,000 necessary to provide an acceptable level of living for a contemporary farm family. Kilofarmers concentrate on growing crops of corn and soybeans for cash sale, and they rely on computers and Internet access to help them make marketing decisions.  相似文献   

What El Niño can tell us about human health and global climate change     

Simon Hales  Sari Kovats  Alistair Woodward 《Global Change & Human Health》2000,1(1):66-77

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On large-scale flow structures in a gravel-bed river     

Thomas Buffin-Blanger  Andr G. Roy  Alistair D. Kirkbride 《Geomorphology》2000,32(3-4)

Previous studies have suggested the presence of large-scale flow structures in gravel-bed rivers. These structures are pictured as intermittent high-speed wedges separated by regions of lower velocity. However, the characteristics of these structures have not been examined in detail through either visualisation techniques or detailed field measurements. This paper confirms the presence of large-scale flow structures in gravel bed rivers, pictures their sequence and patterns and characterises their mean and individual properties. The analysis relies on a new technique for displaying velocity fluctuations in a space–time matrix that allows one to see the structures as they pass an array of current meters. Streamwise and vertical velocities were measured simultaneously with an array of three electromagnetic current meters. The sampling frequency was 20 Hz. Five velocity profiles of up to 13 1-min series of measurements and one profile of three 20-min measurements were sampled. These data suggest the presence of large wedges of faster fluid joined by regions of slower fluid. Space–time correlation analysis confirmed the presence of vertical coherence of the flow. The average angle of the front of the wedges is 36°. Although individual structures are variable in size and shape, a new detection technique using all three velocity signals simultaneously showed that their average frequency is nine events per minute and their duration is more than 2 s. The high-speed wedges display a complex organisation and do not show a preferred sequence of events as was postulated by previous studies. Because of their duration and size, these high-speed wedges are likely to play a major role in bedload sediment transport.  相似文献   

Alternate erosion and deposition in the Yangtze Estuary and the future change     

Zhu  Boyuan  Li  Yitian  Yue  Yao  Yang  Yunping  Liang  Enhang  Zhang  Chuncai  Borthwick  Alistair G. L. 《地理学报(英文版)》2020,30(1):145-163

Journal of Geographical Sciences - The morphological changing trend of the Yangtze Estuary, the largest estuary of Asia, has become a focus of research in recent years. Based on a long series of...  相似文献   

Cycling amongst Māori: Patterns,influences and opportunities     

Rhys Jones  Bruce Kidd  Kirsty Wild  Alistair Woodward 《New Zealand geographer》2020,76(3):182-193

This paper outlines the results of mixed-methods research on Māori and cycling. Our findings suggest that Māori cycle at similar rates to Pākehā (NZ European); however conditions may differ, possibly indicating higher levels of “necessity cycling” amongst Māori. Māori experience similar barriers to cycling, including a lack of suitable cycling infrastructure, but these occur against a backdrop of stark social, economic and transport-related inequities. Particular barriers for Māori may include inflexible work conditions, concerns about neighbourhood safety, inadequate provision for social cycling, and lack of access to places of importance to Māori. We identify potential solutions, including more whānau-friendly and culturally safe cycling infrastructure, and cycling programmes designed around Māori commitments to whanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga.  相似文献   

Scheduling for Robonet‐1 homogenous telescope network     

S. N. Fraser 《Astronomische Nachrichten》2006,327(8):779-782

The Robonet‐1 homogenous telescope network consists of 3 fully robotic 2 m class telescopes. I describe how the observation requests submitted by external users and automated user agents are selected for observation by the individual telescope schedulers. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)  相似文献