Traveling 10-day Waves at Mid-latitudes in the Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere Revealed by Radiosonde Observations and MERRA-2 Data in 2020

Although the characteristics of the traveling 10-day waves (10DWs) above the middle stratosphere have been well explored, little research has been performed on the counterpart in the troposphere and lower stratosphere (TLS). In the present study, we use radiosonde observations and MERRA-2 data in 2020 to characterize traveling 10DWs in mid-latitudes in the TLS. Single-site observations in both hemispheres show that strong 10DW activities are always accompanied by strong eastward jets (10-13 km). MERRA-2 data indicates that in the troposphere the eastward-propagating modes with larger wavenumbers, i.e., E3, E4, E5 and E6 are dominant. While in the lower stratosphere the eastward- and westward-propagating modes with small zonal wavenumbers e.g., 1 and 2, are dominant. Further research on E3, E4, E5 and E6 modes in the troposphere of both hemispheres shows that all the wave activities are positively correlated to the background zonal wind. The refractive index squared reveal that a strong eastward jet is suitable for these four modes to propagate. However, just above the jet, the eastward wind decreases with altitude, and a thick evanescence region emerges above 15 km. E3, E4, E5 and E6 10DWs cannot propagate upward across the tropopause; as such this can explain why these four modes are weak or even indiscernible in the stratosphere and above. In the troposphere, E5 10DW at 32°S is the most dominant mode in 2020. A case study of the anomalously strong E5 10DW activity on May 12, 2020 indicates that the wave amplification resulted from the upward and equatorward transmission of wave energy flows. Moreover, the tropopause and equatorial region can prevent the propagations of wave energy flows of E5 10DW.

Differences in the Sub-seasonal Predictability of Extreme Stratospheric Events

Extreme stratospheric events such as sudden stratospheric warming and strong vortex events associated with an anomalously weak or strong polar vortex can have downward impacts on surface weather that can last for several weeks to months. Hence, successful predictions of these stratospheric events would be beneficial for extended range weather prediction. However, the predictability limit of extreme stratospheric events is most often limited to around 2 weeks or less. The predictability also strongly differs between events, and between event types. The reasons for the observed differences in the predictability, however, are not resolved. To better understand the predictability differences between events, we expand the definitions of extreme stratospheric events to wind deceleration and acceleration events, and conduct a systematic comparison of predictability between event types in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) prediction system for the sub-seasonal predictions. We find that wind deceleration and acceleration events follow the same predictability behaviour, that is, events of stronger magnitude are less predictable in a close to linear relationship, to the same extent for both types of events. There are however deviations from this linear behaviour for very extreme events. The difficulties of the prediction system in predicting extremely strong anomalies can be traced to a poor predictability of extreme wave activity pulses in the lower stratosphere, which impacts the prediction of deceleration events, and interestingly, also acceleration events. Improvements in the understanding of the wave amplification that is associated with extremely strong wave activity pulses and accurately representing these processes in the model is expected to enhance the predictability of stratospheric extreme events and, by extension, their impacts on surface weather and climate.

Numerical simulation of wave interaction with a pair of fixed large tandem cylinders subjected to regular non-breaking waves

This paper presents the application of a two-phase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to carry out a detailed investigation of nonlinear wave field surrounding a pair of columns placed in the tandem arrangement in the direction of wave propagation and corresponding harmonics. The numerical analysis is conducted using the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes/VOF model based on the OpenFOAM framework combined with the olaFlow toolbox for wave generation and absorption. For the simulations, the truncated cylinders are assumed vertical and surface piercing with a circular cross-section subjected to regular, non-breaking fifth-order Stokes waves propagating with moderate steepness in deep water. Primarily, the numerical model is validated with experimental data for a single cylinder. Future, the given simulations are conducted for different centre-to-centre distances between the tandem large cylinders. The results show the evolution of a strong wave diffraction pattern and consequently, high wave amplification harmonics around cylinders are apparent.

Vulnerability Analysis of Earthquake Hazards in Tasikmalaya City Using Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) Method

Tasikmalaya City is one of the regions in West Java Province that is often hit by earthquakes due to its location near the Indo-Australian Plate subduction zone towards the Eurasian Plate. The surface deposits in this city are alluvium and weakly consolidated step deposits which can cause wave amplification during an earthquake. As a mitigation effort, seismic zoning needs to be carried out to map the areas that will experience heavy damage when an earthquake occurs. This study uses the Horizontal to Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) method which is applied to the microtremor recording data to obtain spatial variations in the predominant frequency and amplification values that can explain the characteristics of the geological layer beneath the surface. Based on the obtained results, the predominant frequency ranging from 0.7 to 9.5 Hz with the lowest frequency distribution in the eastern and northwestern parts, which indicates a thicker sediment layer. Amplification ranging from 1.2 to 12.6 with the distribution of higher values in the eastern, southeastern, and northwestern parts. The inversion of the HVSR curves was carried out to determine the value of shear wave velocity (V s ) in order to obtain a more detailed subsurface geological structure that can be used to determine the level of vulnerability of earthquake hazards. The Neighborhood Algorithm is used to find an optimum model. Based on the results of the inversion process, the V s ranging from 150 - 3054 m/s with lower V s values in the eastern, southeastern, and northwestern parts at depth of about 25 meters. The average value of shear wave velocity at a depth of 30 meters (V s 30) can also be used to determine the type of soil for geotechnical study. From the obtained V s 30data, the types of soil in the research area are classified into moderate soil, hard soil, and rocks.

Theoretical model and dynamic wave-amplification effect of the high intensity Helmholtz sound source

Helmholtz sound source consists of Helmholtz resonator and speaker and belongs to a new type of high-intensity sound source. It has potential industrial advantage in the aerodynamic acoustic application for the large amplitude wave. Based on the lumped parameter principle of acoustic impedance, an acoustic theoretical model is suggested. The model reveals the amplification regulation of the sound source on the acoustic wave. Through the acoustic theoretical computation, a dynamic amplification and an amplification limitation are analyzed. The wave-amplification effect attributes to the parameter regulation of the macro, micro, and dynamic-varied sizes of the sound source. The repetitive motion of the vibrating membrane of speaker causes three working states of balance, squeeze, and stretch. The three states act as specific boundary conditions and demonstrate as three different theoretical curves. The theoretical boundary curves codetermine an experimental curve, which essentially limits the practical amplification effect. Nevertheless, the amplification gain of sound pressure amplitude reaches up to 1.8 times, and the potential maximum amplitude reaches up to 3600 Pa (164 dB). The two quantitative characteristics indicate the maximum capability of the sound source on wave-amplification effect. The control sensitivity of the complicated impedance parameters on wave amplification is 0.26 Pa/Hz. The acoustic theoretical model is valuable in the series aspects of the industrial design, manufacture, and application of the sound source. Especially, the theoretical innovation lays the foundation of solid to these aspects.

Measuring Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission With a Single Loudspeaker in the Ear: Stimulus Design and Signal Processing Techniques

The distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) is a backward propagating wave generated inside the cochlea during the wave amplification process. The DPOAE signal can be detected rapidly under relatively noisy conditions. In recent years, the earphone industry demonstrated interest in adopting DPOAE as an add-on feature to make their product “intelligent” of inner-ear status. However, a technical challenge remains to be tackled—the loudspeaker in an earphone generates its own cubic distortion at the same frequency as DPOAE. Unfortunately, the intensity of loudspeaker distortion is typically comparable to that of the DPOAE, if not higher. In this research, we propose two strategies, namely compensation and cancellation, to enable DPOAE measurement with a single loudspeaker. The compensation strategy exploits the part of the growth function of the loudspeaker distortion which is almost linear, and thus suppresses the distortion it generates while retaining a larger portion of DPOAE in the residual signal. The cancellation strategy utilizes a one-dimensional Volterra filter to remove the cubic distortion from the loudspeaker. Testing on normal-hearing ears shows that the compensation strategy improved the DPOAE-to-interference ratio by approximately 7 dB, resulting in a cross-correlation of 0.62 between the residual DPOAE level and the true DPOAE level. Meanwhile, the cancellation strategy directly recovered both the magnitude and the phase of DPOAE, reducing the magnitude estimation error from 15.5 dB to 3.9 dB in the mean-square sense. These pilot results suggest that the cancellation strategy may be suitable for further testing with more subjects.

The Peregrine Breather on the Zero-Background Limit as the Two-Soliton Degenerate Solution: An Experimental Study

Solitons are coherent structures that describe the nonlinear evolution of wave localizations in hydrodynamics, optics, plasma and Bose-Einstein condensates. While the Peregrine breather is known to amplify a single localized perturbation of a carrier wave of finite amplitude by a factor of three, there is a counterpart solution on zero background known as the degenerate two-soliton which also leads to high amplitude maxima. In this study, we report several observations of such multi-soliton with doubly-localized peaks in a water wave flume. The data collected in this experiment confirm the distinctive attainment of wave amplification by a factor of two in good agreement with the dynamics of the nonlinear Schrödinger equation solution. Advanced numerical simulations solving the problem of nonlinear free water surface boundary conditions of an ideal fluid quantify the physical limitations of the degenerate two-soliton in hydrodynamics.