scholarly journals On the nonlinear and Solar-forced nature of the Chandler wobble in the Earth's pole motion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry M. Sonechkin

Abstract. About 250 years ago L. Euler has derived a system of three quadratic-nonlinear differential equations to depict the rotation of the Earth as a rigid body. Neglecting a small distinction between the equatorial inertia moments, he reduced this system to much simpler linear one, and concluded that the Earth's pole must experience a harmonic oscillation of the 304-day period. Astronomers could not find this oscillation, but instead, S.C Chandler has found two powerful wobbles with the 12- and ~ 14-month periods in reality. Adhering to the Euler's linearization, astronomers can not explain the nature of the later wobble up to now. I indicate that the neglect by the above small distinction (“a small parameter” of the Euler's primary nonlinear equations) is not admissible because the effect of this parameter is singular. Analysing the primary equations by an asymptotic technique, I demonstrate that the Chandler wobble tones are formed from combinational harmonics of the Euler's 304-day oscillation, long-term Luni-Solar tides as well as the 22-year cycle of the heliomagnetic activity. Correlating simultaneous variations of the wobble and a solar activity index, I corroborate that the Chandler wobble is really affected by the Sun.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 961-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Maes ◽  
Romain Maggiolo ◽  
Johan De Keyser

Abstract. The cold ions (energy less than several tens of electronvolts) flowing out from the polar ionosphere, called the polar wind, are an important source of plasma for the magnetosphere. The main source of energy driving the polar wind is solar illumination, which therefore has a large influence on the outflow. Observations have shown that solar illumination creates roughly two distinct regimes where the outflow from a sunlit ionosphere is higher than that from a dark one. The transition between both regimes is at a solar zenith angle larger than 90°. The rotation of the Earth and its orbit around the Sun causes the magnetic polar cap to move into and out of the sunlight. In this paper we use a simple set-up to study qualitatively the effects of these variations in solar illumination of the polar cap on the ion flux from the whole polar cap. We find that this flux exhibits diurnal and seasonal variations even when combining the flux from both hemispheres. In addition there are asymmetries between the outflows from the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.


2020 ◽  
Vol 240 ◽  
pp. 07011
Author(s):  
Kushagra Shrivastava ◽  
Keith Wen Kai Chia ◽  
Kang Jun Wong ◽  
Alfred Yong Liang Tan ◽  
Hwee Tiang Ning

Solar activity research provides insight into the Sun’s past, future (Science Daily, 2018). The solar activity includes observations of large numbers of intense sunspots, flares, and other phenomena; and demands a wide range of techniques and measurements on the observations. This research needs long term data collection before critical analyses can occur, to generate meaningful learning and knowledge. In this project, we will use solar imaging to make observations of solar activity, and take our baby steps to make contributions in citizen science. Observations will be made in 3 wavelengths to gain a more thorough analysis by looking at different perspectives of the Sun, namely H-Alpha, Calcium-K, and white light.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Shevchenko

Abstract The variations of solar activity and distribution of solar energy due to the rotation of the Earth around its axis and around the Sun exert a strong influence on the self-organization of water molecules. As a result, the rate of hydrolytic processes with the participation of water clusters displays diurnal, very large annual variations, and is also modulated by the 11-year cycles of solar activity. It also depends on the geographic latitude and can be different at the same time in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This phenomenon is well accounted for by the influence of muons on the self-organization of water molecules. Muons are constantly generated in the upper atmosphere by the solar wind. They reach the surface of the Earth and can penetrate to some depth underground. Buildings also absorb muons. For this reason, the rate of hydrolysis outside and inside buildings, as well as underground, can differ significantly from each other.


Author(s):  
Irfan Danial Hashim ◽  
Ammar Asyraf Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Arief Azizi

Solar Tracker The generation of power from the reduction of fossil fuels is the biggest challenge for the next half century. The idea of converting solar energy into electrical energy using photovoltaic panels holds its place in the front row compared to other renewable sources. But the continuous change in the relative angle of the sun with reference to the earth reduces the watts delivered by solar panel. Conventional solar panel, fixed with a certain angle, limits their area of exposure from the sun due to rotation of the earth. Output of the solar cells depends on the intensity of the sun and the angle of incidence. To solve this problem, an automatic solar cell is needed, where the Solar Tracker will track the motion of the sun across the sky to ensure that the maximum amount of sunlight strikes the panels throughout the day. By using Light Dependent Resistors, it will navigate the solar panel to get the best angle of exposure of light from the sun.


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.


Author(s):  
Arnon Dar

Changes in the solar neighbourhood due to the motion of the sun in the Galaxy, solar evolution, and Galactic stellar evolution influence the terrestrial environment and expose life on the Earth to cosmic hazards. Such cosmic hazards include impact of near-Earth objects (NEOs), global climatic changes due to variations in solar activity and exposure of the Earth to very large fluxes of radiations and cosmic rays from Galactic supernova (SN) explosions and gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Such cosmic hazards are of low probability, but their influence on the terrestrial environment and their catastrophic consequences, as evident from geological records, justify their detailed study, and the development of rational strategies, which may minimize their threat to life and to the survival of the human race on this planet. In this chapter I shall concentrate on threats to life from increased levels of radiation and cosmic ray (CR) flux that reach the atmosphere as a result of (1) changes in solar luminosity, (2) changes in the solar environment owing to the motion of the sun around the Galactic centre and in particular, owing to its passage through the spiral arms of the Galaxy, (3) the oscillatory displacement of the solar system perpendicular to the Galactic plane, (4) solar activity, (5) Galactic SN explosions, (6) GRBs, and (7) cosmic ray bursts (CRBs). The credibility of various cosmic threats will be tested by examining whether such events could have caused some of the major mass extinctions that took place on planet Earth and were documented relatively well in the geological records of the past 500 million years (Myr). A credible claim of a global threat to life from a change in global irradiation must first demonstrate that the anticipated change is larger than the periodical changes in irradiation caused by the motions of the Earth, to which terrestrial life has adjusted itself. Most of the energy of the sun is radiated in the visible range. The atmosphere is highly transparent to this visible light but is very opaque to almost all other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum except radio waves, whose production by the sun is rather small.


Author(s):  
William Lowrie

Two important physical laws determine the behaviour of the Earth as a planet and the relationship between the Sun and its planets: the law of conservation of energy and the law of conservation of angular momentum. ‘Planet Earth’ explains these laws along with the ‘Big Bang’ theory that describes the formation of the solar system: the Sun; the eight planets divided into the inner, terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, the Earth, and Mars) and the outer, giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune); and the Trans-Neptunian objects that lie beyond Neptune. Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, the Chandler wobble, the effects of the Moon and Jupiter on the Earth’s rotation, and the Milankovitch cycles of climatic variation are also discussed.


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