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Prof. Zvi Ben-Avraham
Prof. Dan Kosloff
Dr. Shmulik Marco
Prof. Moshe Reshef
Dr. Hillel Wust Bloch
Dr. Lev Eppelbaum
Prof. Z. Ben-Avraham
Submersible “Delta”
in the Dead Sea
November 1999
Prof. Z. Ben-Avraham
Prof. D. Kosllof
•
•
•
•
Exploration seismology
Seismic wave propagation
Seismic inversion
Signal processing
Analysis of earthquake damage in archaeological structures
1759 Kala’at Nemord
749 Jerash
Dr. S. Marco
Ateret
1202
Temporal distribution of earthquakes:
Example from the Dead Sea basin based on deformation of rocks
Dr. S. Marco
Earthquakes/5 kyr
0 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8
20
25
30
Cluster II
Age, 35
kyr
40
45
50
Cluster I
55
60
65
70
75
Seismite
Prof. Moshe Reshef
Seismic data analysis for oil exploration
Seismic imaging and velocity model building
Large-scale seismic data processing
Geophysical computer-algorithm development
Dr. Hille Wust-Bloch
Nanoseismic Monitoring Platforms
Dr. H. Wust-Bloch
Nanoseismic Monitoring
Types and Magnitudes of Source Processes
Dr. H. Wust-Bloch
2006: -2.3 < ML < 8
[CTBTO: Illegal blast monitoring]
2005: -1.7 < ML < 3.3
[Weak seismicity monitoring]
2004: ML 5.0
[Aftershock monitoring]
2002: ML -3.6
[Sinkhole and cavitation monitoring]
2005: ML -0.7
[Blast monitoring]
2005: ML 2.9
[MERC: regional seismic calibration]
2004: ML 2.1
[CTBTO: blast activity monitoring]
Dr. L. Eppelbaum
Integrated magnetic-paleomagnetic-radiometrical scheme of Lake Kinneret area
1 & 2 - respectively normally and reversely magnetized basalts, 3 - Neogene basalts, 4 sediments, 5 - boundaries of paleomagneic zones in the Lake Kinneret, 6 - faults, 7 radiometric age of basalts, 8 - data of surface paleo-magnetic measurements: a - reverse
magnetization, b - normal magnetization, 9 - data of magnetic field analysis in the lake: a reverse magnetization, b - normal magnetization; 10 - boreholes, 11 - generalized direction
of the buried basaltic plate dipping, 12 - location of paleomagnetic profile. 1n, 2n, 3n, 1Ar,
2Ar and 3Ar are the indexes of paleomagnetic zones.
Dr. L. Eppelbaum
Interpretation magnetic data at the Roman archaeological site Banias (northern Israel):
A – Polynomial smoothed map of the total magnetic field (observation level is 1 m over the earth’s surface),
B – Results of inverse problem solution along profile I - I, C – Results of 3-D modeling of magnetic field
along profile I – I
Prof. Pinhas Alpert
Dr. Nili Harnik
Dr. Eyal Heifetz
Prof. Zev Levin
Prof. Colin Price
Dr. Pavel Kishcha
Dr. Shimon Krichak
Prof. P.Alpert
Dynamics of weather,
Numerical weather prediction,
Climate changes,
Effects of land-use changes on climate,
Global warming and the E. Mediterranean,
Rainfall variability,
Mesoscale modeling & observations,
Cyclogenesis,
Synoptic analysis,
Aerosols effects on climate and weather,
Modeling dust transport,
Sea-Breezes- observations & modelling
Dr. N. Harnik
Former Research interests
• Storm track dynamics and variability: Observations of the interannual
and decadal variations of the Northern Hemisphere storm tracks. The
relationship between the interannual variations of the jet and storm
track strength in the Pacific.
• Stratospheric dynamics: Planetary wave structure and variability. The
effects of downward reflection on wave structure.
• TMME- Tropical Modulation of Midlatitude Eddies - the effect
of ENSO on midlatitude circulation.
• Mid latitude eddy life cycle dynamics. The effects of basic state wave
geometry on the life cycles (LC1 vs LC2), and possible
consequences for larger scale circulation- strom track structure and
variability, the response of midlatitudes to El Nino.
• The North Atlantic Oscillation - Arctic Oscillation: the interaction with
the stratosphere
Dr. Nili Harnik
figure 1: a schematic illustration of the two approaches to shear instability. the
figures show at a glance that the approaches are very different from each other.
figure 2: Time lag-heigt correlations of the Northern Annular Mode (NAM).
Figures show that the downward migration of the NAM signal from the
stratosphere to the troposphere is absent during years with strong downward
reflection of planetary waves. Since NAM is primarily a zonal mean signal driven
by absorption of planetary waves, it suggets two dynamical regimes in the
stratosphere- reflective or absorptive
figure 3: Seager et al 2003 (I am second author on these papers) studied the
zonal mean response to ENSO. They defined an index based on the seasonally
varying 300mb zona mean wind which essentially reflects ENSO. plotted are the
regressions of DJF zonal mean temperature (colors in both plots), winds (top
contours) and vertical velocity w (bottom contours). all based on ncep reanalysis
after 79. the plots show the signal during El Nino: anomalous cooling in
midlatitudes, which is located in a region of anomalous ascent. This anomalous
ascent is driven by anomalous eddy momntum fluxes. the theory: el nino
strengthens the subtropical jet (stronger Hadley cell), which alters the midlatitude
eddies to yield the observed response.
This is a main motivation to the ongoing research (topics mentioned above in the
slide) how are midlatitude eddies affected by the anomalies in the basic state?
Dr. Nili Harnik – research interests
Shear instability- relating the two existing and very different theories, based
on wave propagation in the shear direction or cross-shear direction:
Overreflection
Counter propagating Rossby Waves
(Harnik and Heifetz, 2006, to be submitted to QJRMS)
Stratospheric dynamics and downward coupling to the troposphere - effects
of downward reflection
of planetary
waves:
All years
years with years with no
reflection
height
The coupling is very different during years
with downward reflection – two dynamical
regimes?
Figure:
Time-height correlations of NAM index,
reference height - 10mb
(Perlwitz and Harnik 2004)
time lag - days
reflection
Dr. Nili Harnik – research interests (cont)
Effects of barotropic shear on baroclinic waves – linear growth and
nonlinear eddy life cycles.
The role of wave-mean flow interaction and eddy life cycles for mid-lattitude
atmospheric variability
TMME- Tropical Modulation of Midlatitude Eddies: why are midlatitudes
colder during El Nino?
Seager et al, J Clim 2003, QJRMS 2005
ENSO has a zonal mean extratropical signal which
is driven by anomalous eddy momentum fluxes.
Figure:
Zonal mean ENSO related anomalies for DJF:
Color in both - temperature.
Top contours - wind,
Bottom contours - vertical velocity.
Work with M. Whittman, Columbia University; Climate group, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, O. Pasternak, TAU
Dr. E. Heifetz
• Dynamic meteorology
• Cyclones formation and their interaction
with the jet stream
• Non-linear and non-modal hydrodynamic
unstable systems
Prof. Z. Levin
(4 slides)
1) The first is an image of a dust storm during MEIDEX. The image shows the
interaction of the dust and the clouds to the north. We see some invigoration of
the clouds as seen in the middle and the more eastern clouds.
2) The second is an electron microscope image of dust particles with sea salt
on them. This is important because the dust is a good ice nuclei (forms ice
crystals in clouds at warmer temperature than most natural particles) and sea
salt is a good condensation nuclei. Thus such particles form giant CCN which
form large drops leading to early and rapid growth by collection.
3) The third is a result from our model simulation showing the increased
pollution decreases the rain. In Israel we normally have about 400 CCN/cm3
leading to about 300-400 drops near cloud base. Increase pollution will lead to
much higher drop concentrations and reduced precipitation.
4) The forth slide shows the lifetime of clouds as they become affected by
pollution. The large clouds that contain ice in them tend to increase the lifetime
with increase pollution. On the other hand, small clouds such as those in the
tropics and over the ocean, tend to reduce their lifetime with increased pollution
Prof. Z. Levin
Dust storm during MEIDEX – 28 January, 2003
1 – possible clouds without dust
2,3 – possible regions of
interactions of dust and clouds
2
3
1
MODIS
2
3
1
A dust storm during MEIDEX. The image shows the interaction of the dust and the
clouds to the north. We see some invigoration of the clouds as seen in the middle
and the more eastern clouds.
Prof. Z. Levin
Sea salt on dust particles in a dust storm over the
Mediterranean Sea
Zev Levin et al 2005, Submitted to JGR
An electron microscope image of dust particles with sea salt on them. This is important because the
dust is a good ice nuclei (forms ice crystals in clouds at warmer temperature than most natural
particles) and sea salt is a good condensation nuclei. Thus such particles form giant CCN which
form large drops leading to early and rapid growth by collection.
Prof. Z. Levin
The combined effect of GCCN and IN on total precipitation
A result from our model simulation showing the increased pollution decreases the rain.
In Israel we normally have about 400 CCN/cm3 leading to about 300-400 drops near
cloud base. Increase pollution will lead to much higher drop concentrations and reduced
precipitation.
Prof. Z. Levin
CCN effect on cloud lifetime
(Hongli et al., in press GRL, 2006)
The lifetime of clouds as they become affected by pollution. The large clouds that
contain ice in them tend to increase the lifetime with increase pollution. On the other
hand, small clouds such as those in the tropics and over the ocean, tend to reduce their
lifetime with increased pollution.
Prof. Colin Price
Tropical Thunderstorms Influence Water Vapor in the Upper Troposphere (UTWV)
Radio Waves from Lightning in Africa (detected at our Negev station)
can be used to track changes in UTWV
Lightning
Water Vapor
First observations of Sprites above
Thunderstorms in Israel
January 14th 2006,
from Mitzpe-Ramon
Prof. Colin Price
Dr. Pavel Kishcha
Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences,
Tel-Aviv University
Research topics:
1. Modeling and forecasting of desert dust aerosols and
their effects on the Eastern Mediterranean weather and
climate;
2. Modeling and forecasting of sea-salt aerosols;
3. Global distributions of aerosol-cloud radiative
properties and their trends based on satellite data and
ground-based pyranometer measurements.
3D-distributions of Saharan Dust: Daily Forecasting
Dr. Pavel Kishcha
Saharan dust over the
Mediterranean on May 5,
2007.
05/05/2007 SeaWIFS satellite data
Sea-salt aerosols over the Mediterranean region
on February 07, 2007
Dr. Pavel Kishcha
Latitudinal variations
of cloud and aerosol optical thickness and their trends based
on MODIS data (2000 – 2006)
(Reference: Kishcha, P., B. Starobinets, and P. Alpert, GRL, 2007)
Aerosol optical depth (AOD)
Cloud
optical
thickness
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40(COT)
60
25
Collection 4
Collection 5
Cloud optical thickness
0,25
Aerosol optical depth
25
Collection 4
Collection 5
0,20
0,15
20
20
15
15
10
10
0,10
-60
-40
-20
0
20
Latitude, degrees
40
60
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
Latitude, degrees
In contrast to AOD, COT is quite symmetrical in both hemispheres.
Effect of Urbanization on Solar Dimming
obtained for all 317 worlwide sites (1964-1989)
Dr. Pavel Kishcha
<
Population
density
Surface solar
radiation trend
Number of
pyranometer
sites
< 10
-0.05 W/m2/yr
44
10 < & < 100
-0.26 W/m2/yr
109
100 < & < 200 -0.32 W/m2/yr
200 < & < 400 -0.22 W/m2/yr
> 400
-0.24 W/m2/yr
56
53
55
Significance
level
Not signific.
0.002
0.001
0.007
0.013
Dimming is essentially dominated by anthropogenic emissions: a decline in surface solar radiation
became sharper at sites with population density increasing up to 200 persom/km2;
Some saturation was observed at highly-populated sites: the trend at sites with population
density > 200 persom/km2 was less pronounced than that at sites with a lower population density.
Dr. Shimon Krichak
Hydrodynamic modeling of the Earth atmosphere for weather/mineral
dust prediction, atmospheric circulation studies and climate simulation
Weather Research Center (WeRC) at TAU
Israeli floods of December 3 – 5 2001
The system developed performs
- Twice-daily weather prediction for the
eastern Mediterranean region with the MM5
model: 60 and 20 km resolution 36 vertical
layers
- Once-daily mineral dust prediction with the
Eta (DREAM) mineral dust prediction.
50 km resolution, 32 vertical layers
Signatures of the NAO in the atmospheric circulation
during wet winter months over the Mediterranean region
NAO low
NAO high
Dynamic Tropopause Effects of a Dec. 2001AtlanticMediterranean Teleconnection Episode Initiated by
Extratropical Transition of Hurricane Olga
Simon O. Krichak, P. Alpert & M. Dayan
(e-mail: [email protected])
Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of
Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
WMO/TMRP THIRD INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON
EXTRATROPICAL TRANSITION
(IWET-III) Perth, Australia, 5-9 December 2005
Dr. Shimon Krichak
Hydrodynamic modeling of the Earth atmosphere for weather/mineral
dust prediction, atmospheric circulation studies and climate simulation
Regional Climate Modeling for the Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region
Results of RegCM3
downscaling of current
(1961-1990) and future
climate 2071-2100 (A2
and B2 emission
scenarios) are produced
50 km coarse resolution run
Example: downscaling regional winter
precipitation with RegCM3 model. Driving
data: NNRP 1982-1983 (DS=250 km)
17 km nesting of the coarse resolution results
Prof Akiva Bar-Nun
Dr. Leonid Alperovich
Prof. Morris Podolak
Dr. Peter Israelevich
Prof. Dina Prialnik Kovetz
Dr. Shay Zucker
Prof. A. Bar-Nun
Comet Simulation Systems
Prof. M. Podolak
Prof. M. Podolak
250
Temp. (K)
200
150
100
50
0
0
2
4
6
8
Dist. (AU)
Grain temperature – for 10 mm grains of pure ice, dirty ice, 1mm silicate core, 5
mm silicate core, all in the photosphere. The green squares show the location of
the snowline. In all cases it is around 145 K. The grain temperatures for pure
ice and 1 mm silicate core at midplane are also shown. Here the snowline is at
around 170 K. This research is being done in collaboration with Prof. D.
Sasselov of Harvard University
Prof. M. Podolak
Prof. M. Podolak
Speeds of ice grains ejected from a comet for the Rosetta Mission to
comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. I am associated with the SESAME
experiment run by the DLR Istitute of Space Simulation, Koeln,
Germany.
1.00E+01
Grain Speed (m/s)
1.00E+00
1.00E-01
1.00E-02
1.00E-07
1.00E-06
1.00E-05
1.00E-04
1.00E-03
Grain Size (m)
1.00E-02
1.00E-01
1.00E+00
Cometary Research
Properties
Composition,
Structure, Orbit
Energy
sources
Processes
m
o
d
e
li
m
n
o
g
Activity
Prof. Dina Prialnik, Prof. Morris Podolak + 10 Ph.D. and M.Sc. students
Numerical
modeling of
comet nuclei
Prof. D. Prialnik
Dr. Shay Zucker – research interests
• Search for extrasolar planets:
– Ground-based spectroscopic observations (Doppler method)
– Ground-based photometry (looking for transits/eclipses)
– Space-based observations (the satellite Hipparcos, the planned
space missions CoRoT, Gaia)
• Formation and evolution of planetary systems
– Statistical properties of current extrasolar planet sample
– Conditions in the protoplanetary disk (gas and dust properties,
planetary migration)
Dr. Shay Zucker – research interests
• The Black Hole in the Galactic Center as a
‘planetary’ system
– Celestial mechanics of the stars around the Black Hole
– Role of interstellar comets in the Galactic Center
• Celestial Mechanics
– Detectable orbital effects of Special and General Relativity
– Orbital resonances
– Tidal evolution
• Minor Bodies in the Solar System
– Photometric analysis of binary and rotating asteroids
– Occultations by Kuiper betl objects and asteroids
Dr. Leonid Alperovich
Ultra Low Frequency geomagnetic pulsations
I.
II.
III.
A.
B.
C.
Magnetospheric propagation of the
MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) waves;
Ionospheric transformation of MHD waves;
Separation of the ground variations into two
classes:
Space produced oscillations;
Tectonogenic variations.
Signal processing
Dr. L. Alperovich
Magnetospheric plasma can be considered as a
high conductive fluid embedded into theN strong
magnetic field
Two conjugate
points, N and S
N
MHD wave
Continuous
pulsations
Name Period (s)
Irregular pulsations
Name
Period (s)
0.5 - 5
Pi1
1 - 40
Pc2
5 - 10
Pc3
10 - 45
Pc4 45 - 150
Pc5 150 - 600
Pi2
40 - 150
Pc1
Magnetospheric
source, frequency W
S
Resonance field line
w=W
Magnetospheric Diagnostics
N
 =
S
dl
VA  l 
VA  l  
200
period [s]
Resonance period:
length of a field line
=
phase velocity
.
T=35s
Magnetic field  l 
cold plasma density  l 
Dr. L. Alperovich
0
Israel
60
latitude [deg]
ULF Magnetospheric Diagnostics and Deep
Electromagnetic Sounding of the Earth
I.
II.
A.
Magnetospheric plasma
can be considered as a
high conductive fluid in
the strong magnetic
field
Ground observations of
the ULF geomagnetic
pulsations yield
information
on distribution of the
cold plasma in the
magnetosphere
Dr. L. Alperovich
B.
C.
Geoelectrical structure of
the Earth
Geomagnetic
perturbations associated
with an earthquake
Dr. Peter Israelevich
•
•
•
•
•
Solar-terrestrial relations
Magnetospheric physics
Physics of comets
Laboratory simulations
Space technology
Dr. P. Israelevich
Crossing of the bifurcated Jovian magnetotail
current sheet
We have studied the problem of
bifurcation of the current sheet in the
magnetospheric tail. We succeded to
find the first example of current sheet
bifurcation
in
the
Jovian
magnetosphere. Figure shows the
profile of the electric current density
during one of the Voyager 2 current
sheet crossings. Distribution of the
current density exhibits two distinct
maxima and the minimum at Bx = 0,
i.e. at z = 0. In contrast to the Earth’s
magnetosphere, double peak current
sheet is a rather rare feature of
Jovian magnetosphere
Dr. P. Israelevich
Perpendicular temperature anisotropy
We have proposed a model of the
magnetic
tail
current
sheet
bifurcation due to the ion pressure
anisotropy
in
the
plane
perpendicular to the magnetic field.
The figure shows the model profile
of electric current density (red line)
and the averaged dependence of
electric current density on the Bxcomponent of the magnetic field in
the geomagnetic tail, measured by
CLUSTER in August-October 2001
ISA-MEIDA = Israel Space Agency - Mid-East Interactive Data Archive
Head: Prof. Pinhas Alpert
Scientific Manager: Dr. Amnon Stupp
In Israel 90% of the data collected for Earth System research is lost. The Israeli
NASA Node is the only organization in Israel committed to saving and preserving
Earth System Data.
ISA-MEIDA is part of a network including NASA, DLR, JAXA (previously NASDA),
and more.
ISA-MEIDA Access Statistics for the year 2007
Head: Prof. Pinhas Alpert
Scientific Manager: Dr. Amnon Stupp
ISA-MEIDA Access Statistics 2007
Visits
9,000
8,000
7,000
5,000
4,000
3,000
ISA-MEIDA Access year 2007
2,000
Hits
1,000
0
January
400,000
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December 350,000
Month
300,000
250,000
Monthly Total Hits
Monthly Total Visits
6,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
0
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
Month
August
September
October
November December