Karen L. Aplin

Meteorological effects of the eclipse of 11 August 1999 in cloudy and clear conditions

Integrated atmospheric measurements were made at two sites in the UK during the total solar eclipse of 11 August 1999. Sensitive high–resolution meteorological observations revealed dynamical atmospheric effects despite the presence of cloud. Short–term eclipse–related changes dominated over temperature, wind speed and wind directions associated with the synoptic conditions, and 35 min period gravity waves were detected in surface–pressure observations. Theoretical calculations for solar radiation changes were compared with observations made during the 97% partial eclipse in clear skies at Reading, Berkshire, and used to predict the radiative changes expected at Camborne, Cornwall, during totality. At Camborne, a vertical array of sensitive fine–wire thermometers was operated with a high–resolution sonic anemometer, logged at 5 Hz. Despite cloudy conditions, which reduced the eclipseinduced thermal perturbations, small temperature and wind changes were detected which were consistent with theory. The cold outflow from the umbra was unambiguously detected for the first time in cloudy conditions.

ATMOSPHERIC ELECTRIFICATION IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Atmospheric electrification is not a purely terrestrial phenomenon: all Solar System planetary atmospheres become slightly electrified by cosmic ray ionisation. There is evidence for lightning on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and it is possible on Mars, Venus and Titan. Controversy surrounds the role of atmospheric electricity in physical climate processes on Earth; here, a comparative approach is employed to review the role of electrification in the atmospheres of other planets and their moons. This paper reviews the theory, and, where available, measurements, of planetary atmospheric electricity which is taken to include ion production and ion–aerosol interactions. The conditions necessary for a planetary atmospheric electric circuit similar to Earth’s, and the likelihood of meeting these conditions in other planetary atmospheres, are briefly discussed. Atmospheric electrification could be important throughout the solar system, particularly at the outer planets which receive little solar radiation, increasing the relative significance of electrical forces. Nucleation onto atmospheric ions has been predicted to affect the evolution and lifetime of haze layers on Titan, Neptune and Triton. Atmospheric electrical processes on Titan, before the arrival of the Huygens probe, are summarised. For planets closer to Earth, heating from solar radiation dominates atmospheric circulations. However, Mars may have a global circuit analogous to the terrestrial model, but based on electrical discharges from dust storms. There is an increasing need for direct measurements of planetary atmospheric electrification, in particular on Mars, to assess the risk for future unmanned and manned missions. Theoretical understanding could be increased by cross-disciplinary work to modify and update models and parameterisations initially developed for a specific atmosphere, to make them more broadly applicable to other planetary atmospheres.

Atmospheric condensation nuclei formation and high-energy radiation

Abstract Considerable controversy exists over a proposed link between cosmic radiation and clouds in the apparent absence of a microphysical mechanism between ionisation and particle formation. New atmospheric experimental data which supports previous laboratory evidence of radiolytic particle formation is presented, showing increases in surface condensation nuclei (CN) which correlate positively with increases in surface ionisation. Correlations between physically-displaced Geiger counters are used to attribute some of the ionisation events to cosmic radiation, above a background noise level determined by Monte Carlo simulations of the detector system. When cosmic ionisation events are more frequent, ionisation maxima are followed by increases and then decreases in CN concentration. Some of the variability in atmospheric CN may therefore be attributable to processes initiated by cosmic ionisation.

A computer-controlled Gerdien atmospheric ion counter

Accurate measurements of atmospheric ions are desirable in order to investigate atmospheric aerosol processes. A cylindrical capacitor ion counter is described which has a flexible computerized control system, to allow selection of ion mobility by changing the bias voltage across the capacitor. Ion measurements obtained correlate well with the ionization rate measured with an adjacent Geiger counter in clean air. Measurements of air ions using the device in current and voltage decay modes show consistent results. The collecting electrode is exposed directly in the air stream to be sampled, eliminating diffusive losses in intake tubes. The system can measure ion concentrations from 20 ions cm−3 (including typical atmospheric concentrations) and can sample ions rapidly. These characteristics enable comprehensive air conductivity measurements to be made.

A self-calibrating programable mobility spectrometer for atmospheric ion measurements

Ion measurements in atmospheric air allow atmospheric ion-aerosol charge exchange to be investigated, which is thought to be important in cloud processes. Classical aspiration ion measurement techniques have been significantly improved by the use of electronic switching systems to permit the selection of different mobilities, with adjacent instruments using the combination of Voltage Decay and ion current techniques used for calibration. An integrated programable ion mobility spectrometer using the same collection electrodes in both modes is described here, with which high-resolution measurements (1 s sampling) of ion concentration fluctuations have been made. Mobility spectrum information has also been extracted by varying the bias voltage under full computer control. The integrated system can determine small ion concentrations to ±1%, to a minimum mobility μ∼0.1 cm2 V−1 s−1 (corresponding to a particle radius of ∼2 nm).

Triboelectric charging of volcanic ash from the 2011 Grímsvötn eruption.

The plume from the 2011 eruption of Grímsvötn was highly electrically charged, as shown by the considerable lightning activity measured by the United Kingdom Met Offices low-frequency lightning detection network. Previous measurements of volcanic plumes have shown that ash particles are electrically charged up to hundreds of kilometers away from the vent, which indicates that the ash continues to charge in the plume [R. G. Harrison, K. A. Nicoll, Z. Ulanowski, and T. A. Mather, Environ. Res. Lett. 5, 024004 (2010); H. Hatakeyama J. Meteorol. Soc. Jpn. 27, 372 (1949)]. In this Letter, we study triboelectric charging of different size fractions of a sample of volcanic ash experimentally. Consistently with previous work, we find that the particle size distribution is a determining factor in the charging. Specifically, our laboratory experiments demonstrate that the normalized span of the particle size distribution plays an important role in the magnitude of charging generated. The influence of the normalized span on plume charging suggests that all ash plumes are likely to be charged, with implications for remote sensing and plume lifetime through scavenging effects.

Femtoampere current reference stable over atmospheric temperatures

Calibration of ultralow current ammeters deployed in atmospheric ion counters requires stable current references operating at high source impedance. Using standard precision components, this current reference generates equal bipolar currents of nominally ±500 fA, cyclically for 32 s each. The currents were found to be stable to 2 fA over the temperature range −20 to 20 °C, typical of atmospheric conditions. The output current is delivered via a capacitor, and by arranging for the capacitor to be guarded at ground potential when the system is not generating a current, the reference can be permanently connected to an electrometer with minimal leakage.

Atmospheric changes from solar eclipses

This article reviews atmospheric changes associated with 44 solar eclipses, beginning with the first quantitative results available, from 1834 (earlier qualitative accounts also exist). Eclipse meteorology attracted relatively few publications until the total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980, with the 11 August 1999 eclipse producing the most papers. Eclipses passing over populated areas such as Europe, China and India now regularly attract scientific attention, whereas atmospheric measurements of eclipses at remote locations remain rare. Many measurements and models have been used to exploit the uniquely predictable solar forcing provided by an eclipse. In this paper, we compile the available publications and review a subset of them chosen on the basis of importance and novelty. Beyond the obvious reduction in incoming solar radiation, atmospheric cooling from eclipses can induce dynamical changes. Observations and meteorological modelling provide evidence for the generation of a local eclipse circulation that may be the origin of the ‘eclipse wind’. Gravity waves set up by the eclipse can, in principle, be detected as atmospheric pressure fluctuations, though theoretical predictions are limited, and many of the data are inconclusive. Eclipse events providing important early insights into the ionization of the upper atmosphere are also briefly reviewed. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Atmospheric effects of solar eclipses stimulated by the 2015 UK eclipse’.

Cosmic ray modulation of infra-red radiation in the atmosphere

Cosmic rays produce molecular cluster ions as they pass through the lower atmosphere. Neutral molecular clusters such as dimers and complexes are expected to make a small contribution to the radiative balance, but atmospheric absorption by charged clusters has not hitherto been observed. In an atmospheric experiment, a thermopile filter radiometer tuned to a 9.15{\mu}m absorption band, associated with infra-red absorption of molecular cluster ions, was used to monitor changes following events identified by a cosmic ray telescope sensitive to high energy (>400MeV) particles, principally muons. The change in longwave radiation in this absorption band due to molecular cluster ions is 7 mWm^-2. The integrated atmospheric energy change for each event is 2Jm^-2, representing an amplification factor of 10^12 compared to the estimated energy density of a typical air shower. This absorption is expected to occur continuously and globally, but calculations suggest that it has only a small effect on climate.

Multimode electrometer for atmospheric ion measurements

A computer-controlled electrometer capable of either high impedance voltage measurements or femtoampere current measurements has been developed. It is intended for use with a Gerdien ion counter in atmospheric temperatures. Temperature variations can cause significant thermal errors arising from offset voltage and bias current changes that compromise the measurements. Use of high impedance switching permits the offset voltage and input bias currents of the electrometer to be measured, and allows regular software compensations to be applied in both modes.