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The purpose of the paper is a research of a 2nd order finite difference scheme based on the Z-scheme. This research is the numerical solution of several two-dimensional differential equations simulated the incompressible medium convection.

One of real tasks for similar equations solution is the numerical simulating of strongly non-stationary midscale processes in the Earth ionosphere. Because convection processes in ionospheric plasma are controlled by magnetic field, the plasma incompressibility condition is supposed across the magnetic field. For the same reason, there can be rather high velocities of heat and mass convection along the magnetic field.

Ionospheric simulation relevant task is the research of plasma instability of various scales which started in polar and equatorial regions first of all. At the same time the mid-scale irregularities having characteristic sizes 1–50 km create conditions for development of the small-scale instabilities. The last lead to the F-spread phenomenon which significantly influences the accuracy of positioning satellite systems work and also other space and ground-based radio-electronic systems.

The difference schemes used for simultaneous simulating of such multi-scale processes must to have high resolution. Besides, these difference schemes must to be high resolution on the one hand and monotonic on the other hand. The fact that instabilities strengthen errors of difference schemes, especially they strengthen errors of dispersion type is the reason of such contradictory requirements. The similar swing of errors usually results to nonphysical results at the numerical solution.

At the numerical solution of three-dimensional mathematical models of ionospheric plasma are used the following scheme of splitting on physical processes: the first step of splitting carries out convection along, the second step of splitting carries out convection across. The 2nd order finite difference scheme investigated in the paper solves approximately convection across equations. This scheme is constructed by a monotonized nonlinear procedure on base of the Z-scheme which is one of 2nd order schemes. At this monotonized procedure a nonlinear correction with so-called “oblique differences” is used. “Oblique differences” contain the grid nodes relating to different layers of time.

The researches were conducted for two cases. In the simulating field components of the convection vector had: 1) the constant sign; 2) the variable sign. Dissipative and dispersive characteristics of the scheme for different types of the limiting functions are in number received.

The results of the numerical experiments allow to draw the following conclusions.

1. For the discontinuous initial profile the best properties were shown by the SuperBee limiter.

2. For the continuous initial profile with the big spatial steps the SuperBee limiter is better, and at the small steps the Koren limiter is better.

3. For the smooth initial profile the best results were shown by the Koren limiter.

4. The smooth F limiter showed the results similar to Koren limiter.

5. Limiters of different type leave dispersive errors, at the same time dependences of dispersive errors on the scheme parameters have big variability and depend on the scheme parameters difficulty.

6. The monotony of the considered differential scheme is in number confirmed in all calculations. The property of variation non-increase for all specified functions limiters is in number confirmed for the onedimensional equation.

7. The constructed differential scheme at the steps on time which are not exceeding the Courant's step is monotonous and shows good exactness characteristics for different types solutions. At excess of the Courant's step the scheme remains steady, but becomes unsuitable for instability problems as monotony conditions not satisfied in this case.

Experimental, theoretical and numerical investigations of equatorial spread F, equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), plasma depletion shells, and plasma clouds are continued at new variety articles. Nonlinear growth, bifurcation, pinching, atomic and molecular ion dynamics are considered at there articles. But the authors of this article believe that not all parameters of EPB development are correct. For example, EPB bifurcation is highly questionable.

A maximum speed inside EPBs and a development time of EPB are defined and studied. EPBs starting from one, two or three zones of the increased density (initial plasma clouds). The development mechanism of EPB is the Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI). Time of the initial stage of EPB development went into EPB favorable time interval (in this case the increase linear increment is more than zero) and is 3000–7000 c for the Earth equatorial ionosphere.

Numerous computing experiments were conducted with use of the original two-dimensional mathematical and numerical model MI2, similar USA standard model SAMI2. This model MI2 is described in detail. The received results can be used both in other theoretical works and for planning and carrying out natural experiments for generation of F-spread in Earth ionosphere.

Numerical simulating was carried out for the geophysical conditions favorable for EPBs development. Numerical researches confirmed that development time of EPBs from initial irregularities with the increased density is significantly more than development time from zones of the lowered density. It is shown that developed irregularities interact among themselves strongly and not linearly even then when initial plasma clouds are strongly removed from each other. In addition, this interaction is stronger than interaction of EPBs starting from initial irregularities with the decreased density. The numerical experiments results showed the good consent of developed EPB parameters with experimental data and with theoretical researches of other authors.

The paper presents a physical and numerical analysis of the dynamics and radiation of explosion products formed during the Russian-American experiment in the ionosphere using an explosive generator based on hexogen (RDX) and trinitrotoluene (TNT). The main attention is paid to the radiation of the perturbed region and the dynamics of the products of explosion (PE). The detailed chemical composition of the explosion products is analyzed and the initial concentrations of the most important molecules capable of emitting in the infrared range of the spectrum are determined, and their radiative constants are given. The initial temperature of the explosion products and the adiabatic exponent are determined. The nature of the interpenetration of atoms and molecules of a highly rarefied ionosphere into a spherically expanding cloud of products is analyzed. An approximate mathematical model of the dynamics of explosion products under conditions of mixing rarefied ionospheric air with them has been developed and the main thermodynamic characteristics of the system have been calculated. It is shown that for a time of 0,3–3 sec there is a significant increase in the temperature of the scattering mixture as a result of its deceleration. In the problem under consideration the explosion products and the background gas are separated by a contact boundary. To solve this two-region gas dynamic problem a numerical algorithm based on the Lagrangian approach was developed. It was necessary to fulfill special conditions at the contact boundary during its movement in a stationary gas. In this case there are certain difficulties in describing the parameters of the explosion products near the contact boundary which is associated with a large difference in the size of the mass cells of the explosion products and the background due to a density difference of 13 orders of magnitude. To reduce the calculation time of this problem an irregular calculation grid was used in the area of explosion products. Calculations were performed with different adiabatic exponents. The most important result is temperature. It is in good agreement with the results obtained by the method that approximately takes into account interpenetration. The time behavior of the IR emission coefficients of active molecules in a wide range of the spectrum is obtained. This behavior is qualitatively consistent with experiments for the IR glow of flying explosion products.