scholarly journals Atmospheric Angular Momentum Variations and Diurnal Polar Motion

2000 ◽  
Vol 178 ◽  
pp. 555-564
Author(s):  
V.E. Zharov ◽  
S.L. Pasynok

AbstractThe atmospheric effective angular momentum functions were used to study the excitation of the diurnal polar motion and nutation. The main effect on polar motion at the frequency of the S1 tide is up to 10 µas, and on the annual prograde nutation term is up to 0.1 mas. The atmosphere and viscosity of the outer core of the Earth were taken into account in calculating the transfer function.The atmosphere treated as a thin rotating layer gives two new eigen-modes or two new resonance frequencies in the Earth’s transfer function, and one of them is in the diurnal frequency band. Viscosity of the fluid outer core and choice of the Earth’s model change the nearly diurnal frequencies of the normal modes.

Author(s):  
I Nurul Huda ◽  
C Bizouard ◽  
D Allain ◽  
S Lambert

Summary Until now, the polar motion resonance (PMR) complex frequency has been determined in the seasonal and retrograde diurnal band of the polar motion. In this study this resonance is studied in the prograde diurnal band, where polar motion is mainly composed of periodic terms caused by the diurnal oceanic tide. The resonance parameters (period and quality factor) are encompassed in the frequency transfer function between generating tidal potential and polar motion, and can be estimated accordingly. To this aim, we gather three published sets of prograde diurnal terms determined from GNSS and VLBI, to which we append our own estimates based upon a processing of the VLBI delays over the period 1990-2020. Then, by fitting the PMR parameters so that the prograde diurnal terms match the corresponding components of the tide generating potential, we obtained a resonance period of about 401 days and an equivalent quality factor of −22, differing from the ones reigning in the seasonal band (PPMR ≈ 431 days; QPMR ≈ 56 − 255) and in the retrograde diurnal band (PPMR ≈ 380 days; QPMR ≈ −10). Our estimates confirm strikingly the theoretical prediction derived from the tidal ocean angular momentum derived from the FES 2014 ocean tide model.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrico Filippi ◽  
Jozef Brestenský

<p>There are many examples which show how the anisotropic diffusive coefficients crucially influence geophysical and astrophysical flows and in particular flows in the Earth’s outer core. Thus, many models concerning rotating magnetoconvection with anisotropy in the viscosity, thermal and magnetic diffusivities have been developed.  </p><p>Different models correspond to different cases of anisotropic diffusivities. For example, we consider several anisotropic models: one with anisotropy in all diffusivities and other models with various combinations of anisotropic and isotropic diffusivities.  </p><p>Firstly, all kind of anisotropies are reminded and described. Then, a thorough comparison of these anisotropies, especially of the physical differences among them is done. All physical systems with the above mentioned anisotropies are prone to the occurrence of convection and other instabilities. We show how different types of anisotropy cause a different convection and a different balance among the main forces in the Earth’s Outer Core (Magnetic, Archimedean, Coriolis).  </p><p>As usually, to study instabilities in such systems, we use analysis in term of normal modes and search for preferred modes. In all our models, only marginal modes with zero growth rate have so far been studied. Now, we present the bravest modes, i.e. the ones with maximum growth rate. The comparison of the modes dependent on basic input parameters - Prandtl numbers, anisotropic parameter, Ekman and Elsasser numbers - is made mainly for values corresponding to the Earth’s outer core. In all our models the anisotropic diffusive coefficients are represented as diagonal tensors with two equal components different from the third one giving the chance to define simply the anisotropic parameter.  </p><p>We stress how magnetoconvection problems with the anisotropy included, became more and more important among the geodynamo problems in the last years; indeed, the origin of flows necessary for dynamo action, as studied in magnetoconvection with resulting instabilities, is important, as well as the problem of the origin of magnetic fields.  </p>


1975 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 87-92
Author(s):  
P. L. Bender

AbstractFive important geodynamical quantities which are closely linked are: 1) motions of points on the Earth’s surface; 2)polar motion; 3) changes in UT1-UTC; 4) nutation; and 5) motion of the geocenter. For each of these we expect to achieve measurements in the near future which have an accuracy of 1 to 3 cm or 0.3 to 1 milliarcsec.From a metrological point of view, one can say simply: “Measure each quantity against whichever coordinate system you can make the most accurate measurements with respect to”. I believe that this statement should serve as a guiding principle for the recommendations of the colloquium. However, it also is important that the coordinate systems help to provide a clear separation between the different phenomena of interest, and correspond closely to the conceptual definitions in terms of which geophysicists think about the phenomena.In any discussion of angular motion in space, both a “body-fixed” system and a “space-fixed” system are used. Some relevant types of coordinate systems, reference directions, or reference points which have been considered are: 1) celestial systems based on optical star catalogs, distant galaxies, radio source catalogs, or the Moon and inner planets; 2) the Earth’s axis of rotation, which defines a line through the Earth as well as a celestial reference direction; 3) the geocenter; and 4) “quasi-Earth-fixed” coordinate systems.When a geophysicists discusses UT1 and polar motion, he usually is thinking of the angular motion of the main part of the mantle with respect to an inertial frame and to the direction of the spin axis. Since the velocities of relative motion in most of the mantle are expectd to be extremely small, even if “substantial” deep convection is occurring, the conceptual “quasi-Earth-fixed” reference frame seems well defined. Methods for realizing a close approximation to this frame fortunately exist. Hopefully, this colloquium will recommend procedures for establishing and maintaining such a system for use in geodynamics. Motion of points on the Earth’s surface and of the geocenter can be measured against such a system with the full accuracy of the new techniques.The situation with respect to celestial reference frames is different. The various measurement techniques give changes in the orientation of the Earth, relative to different systems, so that we would like to know the relative motions of the systems in order to compare the results. However, there does not appear to be a need for defining any new system. Subjective figures of merit for the various system dependon both the accuracy with which measurements can be made against them and the degree to which they can be related to inertial systems.The main coordinate system requirement related to the 5 geodynamic quantities discussed in this talk is thus for the establishment and maintenance of a “quasi-Earth-fixed” coordinate system which closely approximates the motion of the main part of the mantle. Changes in the orientation of this system with respect to the various celestial systems can be determined by both the new and the conventional techniques, provided that some knowledge of changes in the local vertical is available. Changes in the axis of rotation and in the geocenter with respect to this system also can be obtained, as well as measurements of nutation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Śliwińska ◽  
Jolanta Nastula ◽  
Małgorzata Wińska

AbstractIn geodesy, a key application of data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO), and Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) is an interpretation of changes in polar motion excitation due to variations in the Earth’s surficial fluids, especially in the continental water, snow, and ice. Such impacts are usually examined by computing hydrological and cryospheric polar motion excitation (hydrological and cryospheric angular momentum, HAM/CAM). Three types of GRACE and GRACE-FO data can be used to determine HAM/CAM, namely degree-2 order-1 spherical harmonic coefficients of geopotential, gridded terrestrial water storage anomalies computed from spherical harmonic coefficients, and terrestrial water storage anomalies obtained from mascon solutions. This study compares HAM/CAM computed from these three kinds of gravimetric data. A comparison of GRACE-based excitation series with HAM/CAM obtained from SLR is also provided. A validation of different HAM/CAM estimates is conducted here using the so-called geodetic residual time series (GAO), which describes the hydrological and cryospheric signal in the observed polar motion excitation. Our analysis of GRACE mission data indicates that the use of mascon solutions provides higher consistency between HAM/CAM and GAO than the use of other datasets, especially in the seasonal spectral band. These conclusions are confirmed by the results obtained for data from first 2 years of GRACE-FO. Overall, after 2 years from the start of GRACE-FO, the high consistency between HAM/CAM and GAO that was achieved during the best GRACE period has not yet been repeated. However, it should be remembered that with the systematic appearance of subsequent GRACE-FO observations, this quality can be expected to increase. SLR data can be used for determination of HAM/CAM to fill the one-year-long data gap between the end of GRACE and the start of the GRACE-FO mission. In addition, SLR series could be particularly useful in determination of HAM/CAM in the non-seasonal spectral band. Despite its low seasonal amplitudes, SLR-based HAM/CAM provides high phase consistency with GAO for annual and semiannual oscillation.


1994 ◽  
Vol 274 ◽  
pp. 219-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Kerswell

We examine the possibility that the Earth's outer core, as a tidally distorted fluid-filled rotating spheroid, may be the seat of an elliptical instability. The instability mechanism is described within the framework of a simple Earth-like model. The preferred forms of wave disturbance are explored and a likely growth rate supremum deduced. Estimates are made of the Ohmic and viscous decay rates of such hydromagnetic waves in the outer core. Rather than a conclusive disparity of scales, we find that typical elliptical growth rates, Ohmic decay rates and viscous decay rates all have the same order for plausible core fields and core-to-mantle conductivities. This study is all the more timely considering the recent realization that the Earth's precession may also drive similar instabilities at comparable strengths in the outer core.


Author(s):  
L. V. Morrison ◽  
F. R. Stephenson ◽  
C. Y. Hohenkerk ◽  
M. Zawilski

Historical reports of solar eclipses are added to our previous dataset (Stephenson et al. 2016 Proc. R. Soc. A 472 , 20160404 ( doi:10.1098/rspa.2016.0404 )) in order to refine our determination of centennial and longer-term changes since 720 BC in the rate of rotation of the Earth. The revised observed deceleration is −4.59 ± 0.08 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . By comparison the predicted tidal deceleration based on the conservation of angular momentum in the Sun–Earth–Moon system is −6.39 ± 0.03 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . These signify a mean accelerative component of +1.8 ± 0.1 × 10 −22  rad s −2 . There is also evidence of an oscillatory variation in the rate with a period of about 14 centuries.


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