Nelson Jorge Schuch

Geometry of an interplanetary CME on October 29, 2003 deduced from cosmic rays

A coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with an X17 solar flare reached Earth on October 29, 2003, causing an ∼11% decrease in the intensity of high-energy Galactic cosmic rays recorded by muon detectors. The CME also produced a strong enhancement of the cosmic ray directional anisotropy. Based upon a simple inclined cylinder model, we use the anisotropy data to derive for the first rime the three-dimensional geometry of the cosmic ray depleted region formed behind the shock in this event. We also compare the geometry derived from cosmic rays with that derived from in situ interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observations using a Magnetic Flux Rope model. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.

Drift Effects and the Cosmic Ray Density Gradient in a Solar Rotation Period: First Observation with the Global Muon Detector Network (GMDN)

We present for the first time hourly variations of the spatial density gradient of 50 GeV cosmic rays within a sample solar rotation period in 2006. By inversely solving the diffusive flux equation, including the drift, we deduce the gradient from the anisotropy that is derived from the observation made by the Global Muon Detector Network (GMDN). The anisotropy obtained by applying a new analysis method to the GMDN data is precise and free from atmospheric temperature effects on the muon count rate recorded by ground-based detectors. We find the derived north-south gradient perpendicular to the ecliptic plane is oriented toward the heliospheric current sheet (HCS; i.e., southward in the toward sector of the interplanetary magnetic field [IMF] and northward in the away sector). The orientation of the gradient component parallel to the ecliptic plane remains similar in both sectors, with an enhancement of its magnitude seen after the Earth crosses the HCS. These temporal features are interpreted in terms of a local maximum of the cosmic ray density at the HCS. This is consistent with the prediction of the drift model for the A<0 epoch. By comparing the observed gradient with the numerical prediction of a simple drift model, we conclude that particle drifts in the large-scale magnetic field play an important role in organizing the density gradient, at least in the present A<0 epoch. We also found that corotating interaction regions did not have such a notable effect. Observations with the GMDN provide us with a new tool for investigating cosmic-ray transport in the IMF.

Interplanetary shock parameters during solar activity maximum (2000) and minimum (1995-1996)

Interplanetary shock parameters are analyzed for solar maximum (year 2000) and solar minimum (years 1995-1996) activity. Fast forward shocks are the most usual type of shock observed in the interplanetary medium near Earths orbit, and they are 88% of the identified shocks in 2000 and 60% in 1995-1996. Average plasma and magnetic field parameters for upstream and downstream sides of the shocks were calculated, and the parameter variations through the shock were determined. Applications of the Rankine-Hugoniot equations were made, obtaining shock speeds and Alfvenic Mach number. Static and dynamic pressures variations through the shocks were also calculated. Every parameter have larger variation through the shock in solar maximum than in solar minimum, with exception of the proton density. The intensity of shocks relative to the interplanetary medium, quantified by the Alfvenic Mach Number, is observed to be similar in solar maximum and minimum. It could be explained because, during solar maximum, in despite of the higher shock speeds, the Alfvenic speed of the interplanetary medium is higher than in solar minimum.

Unusual ionospheric absorption characterizing energetic electron precipitation into the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly

An imaging riometer (IRIS) was installed newly in the southern area of Brazil in order to investigate precipitation of energetic electrons into the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA). An unusual ionospheric absorption event was observed in the nighttime (∼20 h LT) near the maximum depression (Dst ∼ −164 nT) and the following positive excursion during the strong geomagnetic storm on September 22–23, 1999. The unusual absorption that has short time-duration of 30–40 min shows two characteristic features: One feature is a sheet structure of the absorption appearing at the high-latitude part of the IRIS field-of-view, showing an eastward drift from the western to the eastern parts and subsequent retreat to the western part. Another feature is a meridionally elongated structure with a narrow longitudinal width (100–150 km) appearing from the zenith to the low-latitude part of the IRIS field-of-view, enhanced simultaneously with the sheet absorption, and is subsequently changed to a localized structure. These features likely characterize precipitation of energetic electrons into the SAMA ionosphere, associated with substorm occurrences during the strong geomagnetic storm. From the eastward drift (∼250 m/s) of the sheet absorption, precipitating electrons are estimated to be ∼20 keV energies, assuming plasmaspheric electric fields of 1.8 mV/m. However, no ionospheric effect due to the precipitating electrons was definitely detected by the ionosonde measurements at Cachoeira Paulista, separated eastward by about 1000 km from the IRIS station.

Identification of influential events concerning the Antarctic ozone hole over southern Brazil and the biological effects induced by UVB and UVA radiation in an endemic treefrog species

The increased incidence of solar ultraviolet radiation (UV) due to ozone depletion has been affecting both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and it may help to explain the enigmatic decline of amphibian populations in specific localities. In this work, influential events concerning the Antarctic ozone hole were identified in a dataset containing 35 years of ozone measurements over southern Brazil. The effects of environmental doses of UVB and UVA radiation were addressed on the morphology and development of Hypsiboas pulchellus tadpole (Anura: Hylidae), as well as on the induction of malformation after the conclusion of metamorphosis. These analyzes were complemented by the detection of micronucleus formation in blood cells. 72 ozone depletion events were identified from 1979 to 2013. Surprisingly, their yearly frequency increased three-fold during the last 17 years. The results clearly show that H. pulchellus tadpole are much more sensitive to UVB than UVA light, which reduces their survival and developmental rates. Additionally, the rates of micronucleus formation by UVB were considerably higher compared to UVA even after the activation of photolyases enzymes by a further photoreactivation treatment. Consequently, a higher occurrence of malformation was observed in UVB-irradiated individuals. These results demonstrate the severe genotoxic impact of UVB radiation on this treefrog species and its importance for further studies aimed to assess the impact of the increased levels of solar UVB radiation on declining species of the Hylidae family.

DNA damage profiles induced by sunlight at different latitudes

Despite growing knowledge on the biological effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human health and ecosystems, it is still difficult to predict the negative impacts of the increasing incidence of solar UV radiation in a scenario of global warming and climate changes. Hence, the development and application of DNA‐based biological sensors to monitor the solar UV radiation under different environmental conditions is of increasing importance. With a mind to rendering a molecular view‐point of the genotoxic impact of sunlight, field experiments were undertaken with a DNA‐dosimeter system in parallel with physical photometry of solar UVB/UVA radiation, at various latitudes in South America. Onapplying biochemical and immunological approaches based on specific DNA‐repair enzymes and antibodies, for evaluating sunlight‐induced DNA damage profiles, it became clear that the genotoxic potential of sunlight does indeed vary according to latitude. Notwithstanding, while induction of oxidized DNA bases is directly dependent on an increase in latitude, the generation of 6‐4PPs is inversely so, whereby the latter can be regarded as a biomolecular marker of UVB incidence. This molecular DNA lesion‐pattern largely reflects the relative incidence of UVA and UVB energy at any specific latitude. Hereby is demonstrated the applicability of this DNA‐based biosensor for additional, continuous field experiments, as a means of registering variations in the genotoxic impact of solar UV radiation. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012.

Cosmic Ray Muon Observation at Southern Space Observatory—SSO (29°S, 53°W)

Under an agreement on scientific cooperation between Brazil and Japan, a prototype detector of cosmic ray muons has been operating since March 2001 at Southern Space Observatory (SSO) located at São Martinho da Serra (29°S, 53°W), Brazil, in order to observe cosmic ray precursors of geomagnetic storms. This detector plays a key roll in the prototype network of muon observations together with two larger detectors operating in Japan and Australia. The planned extension of the detector in its size will complete the global coverage of our muon detector network. The prototype network has already discovered cosmic ray precursors of several magnetic storms, as reported by Munakata et al. (Munakata, K. et al.: 2000, J Geophys Res. 105, A12, pp. 27, 457–27, 468; Munakata K. et al.: 2001, Proceedings of ICRC.) We have also observed the Forbush Decreases (FDs), as well as the precursory enhancements of cosmic ray anisotropy preceding the onsets of geomagnetic storms. This report presents the description of the network and some results obtained since the prototype detector implementation.

Energetic particle precipitation in the Brazilian geomagnetic anomaly during the “Bastille Day storm” of July 2000

Ionospheric absorption associated with a great geomagnetic storm on July 15–16, 2000 (the “Bastille Day storm”) was observed in the Brazilian geomagnetic anomaly using a two-dimensional 4 × 4 imaging riometer (IRIS). In the afternoon of July 15, weak absorption (≈0.2 dB) was observed during the initial phase of the storm; large spatial-scale absorption exceeded the IRIS field of view (330×330 km). During the sharp magnetic decrease in the main phase of the storm, absorption was intensified (<0.5 dB) in the evening, showing a sheet structure with ≈150 km latitudinal width and >330 km longitudinal elongation. Subsequently, absorption was intensified (≈1 dB), having a small spatial-scale (≈150 km) in the background sheet structure and a pronounced westward drift (≈570 m s-1). In association with large magnetic fluctuations in the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the ground magnetic variation in the night sector showed large positive swings during the initial to main phases of the storm. With the subsequent southward turning of the IMF Bz, the ground magnetic variation in the evening sector showed rapid storm development. Particle fluxes measured by a geosynchronous satellite (L =≈6.6) demonstrated large enhancements of low-energy protons (50–400 keV) and probably electrons (50–225 keV) during the storm’s initial phase. Particle fluxes from the low-altitude NOAA satellite (≈870 km) indicated the invasion of low-energy particles into the region of L < 2 during the main phase of the storm. These results indicate that low-energy particles injected into the outer radiation belt in association with frequent and strong substorm occurrences, were transported into the inner radiation belt through direct convective access by the storm-induced electric fields during the storm’s development. These particles then precipitated into the ionosphere over the Brazilian geomagnetic anomaly. Notably, the most intense absorption could be dominantly caused by proton precipitation with energies of ≈40 keV. Key words: Bastille Day storm, Brazilian geomagnetic anomaly, energetic particle precipitation, imaging riometer.

The spatial density gradient of galactic cosmic rays and its solar cycle variation observed with the Global Muon Detector Network

We derive the long-term variation of the three-dimensional (3D) anisotropy of approximately 60 GV galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) from the data observed with the Global Muon Detector Network (GMDN) on an hourly basis and compare it with the variation deduced from a conventional analysis of the data recorded by a single muon detector at Nagoya in Japan. The conventional analysis uses a north-south (NS) component responsive to slightly higher rigidity (approximately 80 GV) GCRs and an ecliptic component responsive to the same rigidity as the GMDN. In contrast, the GMDN provides all components at the same rigidity simultaneously. It is confirmed that the temporal variations of the 3D anisotropy vectors including the NS component derived from two analyses are fairly consistent with each other as far as the yearly mean value is concerned. We particularly compare the NS anisotropies deduced from two analyses statistically by analyzing the distributions of the NS anisotropy on hourly and daily bases. It is found that the hourly mean NS anisotropy observed by Nagoya shows a larger spread than the daily mean due to the local time-dependent contribution from the ecliptic anisotropy. The NS anisotropy derived from the GMDN, on the other hand, shows similar distribution on both the daily and hourly bases, indicating that the NS anisotropy is successfully observed by the GMDN, free from the contribution of the ecliptic anisotropy. By analyzing the NS anisotropy deduced from neutron monitor (NM) data responding to lower rigidity (approximately 17 GV) GCRs, we qualitatively confirm the rigidity dependence of the NS anisotropy in which the GMDN has an intermediate rigidity response between NMs and Nagoya. From the 3D anisotropy vector (corrected for the solar wind convection and the Compton-Getting effect arising from the Earth’s orbital motion around the Sun), we deduce the variation of each modulation parameter, i.e., the radial and latitudinal density gradients and the parallel mean free path for the pitch angle scattering of GCRs in the turbulent interplanetary magnetic field. We show the derived density gradient and mean free path varying with the solar activity and magnetic cycles.

GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONS OF SOLAR UV RADIATION IN JAPAN, BRAZIL AND CHILE

Ground-based observations of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiations have been carried out in Tokyo, Japan, SMartinho da Serra, Brazil, and Punta Arenas, Chile. The initial results showed that the observations were concerned with the total amount of ozone. Variations in the flux ratio between UV-B and UV-A radiation in both hemispheres show a clear anti-correlation with the amount of ozone along line-of-sight. As a result of least-square fitting, exponential functions between the UV-ratio (UV-B/UV-A) and effective ozone are obtained. Radiometer data at Punta Arenas also show sudden enhancement of UV-B radiation in the beginning of spring, indicating that the arrival of the ozone hole can be detected from the ground.