Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (60–110 km): A global distribution from radar systems (MF,Meteor, VHF)

During the last decade a large number of radars (～12) have been developed, which have produced substantial quantities of tidally-corrected mean winds data. The distribution of the radars is not global, but many areas are well covered: the Americas with Poker Flat (65°N), Saskatoon (52°N), Durham (43°N), Atlanta (34°N), Puerto Rico (18°N); Europe with Kiruna (68°), Garchy (47°N) and Monpazier (44°N); and Oceania with Christchurch (44°S), Adelaide (35°S), Townsville (20°S), and Kyoto (35°N). Zonal and meridional wind height-time cross-sections from $\text{60}\text{80}$ km (MF/Meteor Radar) to ～110 km have been prepared for the last 5–6 years. They are compared with cross-sections from CIRA-72 for zonal winds, and Groves (1969) for meridional winds.It is shown that while CIRA-72 is still a useful model for many purposes, significant differences exist between it and the new radar data. The latter demonstrate important seasonal, latitudinal, longitudinal and hemispheric variations. The new meridional cross-sections are of great value. The common features with Groves (1969) are the equatorward cells in summer near 85 km; however their strength (～10 ms^?1) and size are less. Systematic and somewhat different variations emerge at higher (?52°N) and middle (35–44°) latitudes.     

Characterization of the low latitude plasma density irregularities observed using C/NOFS and SCINDA data

Complex electrodynamic processes over the low latitude region often result in post sunset plasma density irregularities which degrade satellite communication and navigation. In order to forecast the density irregularities, their occurrence time, duration and location need to be quantified. Data from the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite was used to characterize the low latitude ion density irregularities from 2011 to 2013. This was supported by ground based data from the SCIntillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) receivers at Makerere (Geographic coordinate 32.6°E, 0.3°N, and dip latitude ?9.3°N) and Nairobi (Geographic coordinate 36.8°E, ?1.3°N, and dip latitude ?10.8°N). The results show that irregularities in ion density have a daily pattern with peaks from 20:00 to 24:00 Local Time (LT). Scintillation activity at L band and VHF over East Africa peaked in 2011 and 2012 from 20:00 to 24:00 LT, though in many cases scintillation at VHF persisted longer than that at L band. A longitudinal pattern in ion density irregularity occurrence was observed with peaks over 135–180°E and 270–300°E. The likelihood of ion density irregularity occurrence decreased with increasing altitude. Analysis of C/NOFS zonal ion drift velocities showed that the largest nighttime and daytime drifts were in 270–300°E and 300–330°E longitude regions respectively. Zonal irregularity drift velocities over East Africa were for the first time estimated from L-band scintillation indices. The results show that the velocity of plasma density irregularities in 2011 and 2012 varied daily, and hourly in the range of 50–150 m s^?1. The zonal drift velocity estimates from the L-band scintillation indices had good positive correlation with the zonal drift velocities derived from VHF receivers by the spaced receiver technique.     

武昌哨声的传播特征及其与地磁活动的相关

本文利用武昌(磁纬19.2°N)连续三年的哨声观测资料,研究了武昌地区哨声传播的一般特征。着重对武昌哨声的传播路径进行了分析推断,并讨论了它们与地磁活动的相关特性。发现:武昌哨声的显著特征是色散与电离层f₀F₂有明显的正相关关系;其次常出现一类色散值稳定、出现率也很高的哨声。此外,对典型事件的分析及统计分析都表明武昌哨声出现率在地磁扰动时明显增高;哨声色散在磁暴急始后不久即有一个急剧的上升,上升幅度达18%至37%。      

Longitudinal MLT wind structure at higher mid-latitudes as seen by meteor radars at central and Eastern Europe (13°E/49°E)

The mid-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) wind speeds measured by two SKiYMET meteor radars (MRs) at Collm (51°N, 13°E) and Kazan (56°N, 49°E) during 2016–2017 were analyzed to study longitudinal wind structures. The differences between monthly mean prevailing wind speeds and tidal amplitudes were compared with the corresponding differences obtained from TIMED/TIDI satellite winds and gradient wind speeds from the AURA/MLS instrument. It is shown that the MR wind difference between the two sites is statistically significant. The difference of the horizontal prevailing winds can be explained by a superposition of the background zonal flow, which is different at the two latitudes, with stationary planetary waves of different origin. Non-migrating tides contribute significantly to the difference of the semidiurnal tidal winds between the two sites.     

Comparison of GPS-TEC measurements with NeQuick2 and IRI model predictions in the low latitude East African region during varying solar activity period (1998 and 2008–2015)

This paper examines the performances of NeQuick2, the latest available IRI-2016, IRI-2012 and IRI-2007 models in describing the monthly and seasonal mean total electron content (TEC) over the East African region. This is to gain insight into the success of the various model types and versions at characterizing the ionosphere within the equatorial ionization anomaly. TEC derived from five Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers installed at Addis Ababa (ADD, 5.33°N, 111.99°E Geog.), Asab (ASAB, 8.67°N, 116.44°E Geog.), Ambo (ABOO, 5.43°N, 111.05°E Geog.), Nairobi (RCMN, ?4.48°N, 108.46°E Geog.) and Nazret (NAZR, 4.78°N, 112.43°E Geog.), are compared with the corresponding values computed using those models during varying solar activity period (1998 and 2008–2015). We found that different models describe the equatorial and anomaly region ionosphere best depending on solar cycle, season and geomagnetic activity levels. Our results show that IRI-2016 is the best model (compared to others in terms of discrepancy range) in estimating the monthly mean GPS-TEC at NAZR, ADD and RCMN stations except at ADD during 2008 and 2012. It is also found that IRI-2012 is the best model in estimating the monthly mean TEC at ABOO station in 2014. IRI show better agreement with observations during June solstice for all the years studied at ADD except in 2012 where NeQuick2 better performs. At NAZR, NeQuick2 better performs in estimating seasonal mean GPS-TEC during 2011, while IRI models are best during 2008–2009. Both NeQuick2 and IRI models underestimate measured TEC for all the seasons at ADD in 2010 but overestimate at NAZR in 2009 and RCMN in 2008. The periodic variations of experimental and modeled TEC have been compared with solar and geomagnetic indices at ABOO and ASAB in 2014 and results indicate that the F10.7 and sunspot number as indices of solar activity seriously affects the TEC variations with periods of 16–32?days followed by the geomagnetic activity on shorter timescales (roughly periods of less than 16?days). In this case, NeQuick2 derived TEC shows better agreement with a long term period variations of GPS-TEC, while IRI-2016 and IRI-2007 show better agreement with observations during short term periodic variations. This indicates that the dependence of NeQuick2 derived TEC on F10.7 is seasonal. Hence, we suggest that representation of geomagnetic activity indices is required for better performance over the low latitude region.     

Some features of the day-to-day MLT wind variability in winter 2017–2018 as seen with a European/Siberian meteor radar network

We present results of wind measurements near the mesopause carried out with meteor radars (MRs) at Collm (51°N, 13°E), Obninsk (55°N, 37°E), Kazan (56°N, 49°E), Angarsk (52°N, 104°E) and Anadyr (65°N, 178°E) from October 1, 2017 till March 31, 2018. The Collm and Kazan MRs are SKiYMET radars with vertical transmission and radio echo height finding, while the other radars operate with horizontal transmission and without height finding. We paid particular attention to the meridional wind variability with periods of 4–6 days and 9–11 days. The waves with these periods are seen as spots of the wave activity in the wavelet spectra and include oscillations with different periods and different discrete zonal wavenumbers. These wave packets successively propagate as a group of waves from one site to another one in such a way that they are observed at one site and almost disappear at the previous one. The 4–6 wave group includes planetary-scale oscillations (individual spectral components) which have eastward phase velocities and mostly zonal wavenumbers 2 and 3, and the vertical wavelength exceeds 70 km at middle latitudes. The source of the oscillations is the polar jet instability. The wave group itself propagates westward, and the amplitudes of wind oscillations are approximately 5–6 m/s as obtained from the wind data averaged over the meteor zone. The 9–11 day wave set propagates westward as a group and mainly consists of spectral components which have westward phase velocity and zonal wavenumber 1. Amplitudes of these wind perturbations strongly vary from station to station and can reach, approximately, 8 m/s. The vertical wavenumber is 0.014 km⁻¹ as taken from the Kazan and 0.05 km⁻¹ according to the Collm data. We obtained a global view on the waves by using the AURA MLS geopotential data. We found a good correspondence between wave features obtained from the MR wind measurements and the MLS data. To our knowledge, such a wave propagation of planetary wave in the mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region has so far not obtained much attention.     

In situ studies of electron density during equatorial spread-F

A Langmuir probe operated in fixed bias mode was launched onboard a RH-560 rocket from the Sriharikota Range (SHAR, Lat.13° 42'N, Geog. Long.80° 14'E, dip 10°) India on October 1, 1980 at 21h03 IST, to study the electron density profile and the electron density irregularities in the equatorial spread-F. The payload was designed to study medium and large scale irregularities. A highly variable and structured electron density profile was obtained. This was the first rocket launch in the Indian zone during spread-F condition.     

Seismogenic ionospheric anomalies associated with the strong Indonesian earthquake occurred on 11 April 2012 (M = 8.5)

Ionospheric perturbations in possible association with a major earthquake (EQ) (M?=?8.5) which occurred in India-Oceania region are investigated by monitoring subionospheric propagation of VLF signals transmitted from the NWC transmitter (F?=?19.8?kHz), Australia to a receiving station at Varanasi (geographic lat. 25.3°N, long 82.99°E), India. The EQ occurred on 11 April 2012 at 08:38:35?h UT (magnitude?≈?8.5, depth?=?10?km, and lat.?=?2.3°N, long.?=?93.0°E). A significant increase of few days before the EQ has been observed by using the VLF nighttime amplitude fluctuation method (fixed frequency transmitter signal). The analysis of total electron contents (TEC) derived from the global positioning system (GPS) at three different stations namely, Hyderabad (latitude 17.38°N, longitude 78.48°E), Singapore (latitude 1.37°N, longitude 103.84°E) and Port Blair (latitude 11.62°N, longitude 92.72°E) due to this EQ has also been presented. Significant perturbation in TEC data (enhancements and depletion) is noted before and after the main shock of the EQ. The possible mechanisms behind these perturbations due to EQ have also been discussed.     

Intercomparisons of temperature,density and wind measurements from in situ and satellite techniques

Intercomparisons between satellite retrieved temperatures (TIROS N series) and those derived from radiosonde and rocketsonde profiles have been made covering the years 1980–1984. Differences in the measurement parameters between 100 and 0.4 mbar (～16–55 km) are described; generally radiosonde/satellite differences are less than 1°K, while rocketsonde/satellite differences reach 7–8°K in the upper stratosphere. Comparisons between the various $\text{in situ}$ devices indicate that radiosonde/rocketsonde differrences are less than 1°K while precision studies of the rocketsonde instrument find that the rocketsonde measurements are internally consistent to less than 1°K up to 50 km and to less than 3°K to 60 km. Density data obtained with the small rocketsondes ($\text{in situ}$ thermistors and inflatable spheres) and with the large sounding rocket systems show that density measurements usually agree to within 15 percent up to 85 km. Comparisons of the various atmospheric parameters obtained from different instruments are important, however the usefulness of intermixing the measurements is obvious and increased emphasis should be placed on procedures for intermingling such data. Suggestions are made on how this might be accomplished.     

Responses of the upper middle atmosphere (60–110 km) to the stratwarms of the four pre-map winters (1978/9–1981/2)

The global developments of the four stratospheric events (～20–50 km) are described, using balloon, satellite and rocket data. Winds data for heights of 60–95 km, derived from L.F. drift (52°N, 15°E; Europe) and M.F. radar (52°N, 107°W; Canada), are then compared with the stratospheric data. There is clear evidence that the preliminary planetary waves often penetrate strongly to ～90 km, and that mean wind reversals also occur. However, there are dramatic differences between European and Canadian mesospheric responses.     

Ionospheric disturbances at low and mid-low latitudes of the South American sector during the March 2015 great storm

This paper analyzes the response of the near equatorial and low latitude ionosphere of the South American sector to the geomagnetic storm occurred on 17 March 2015. Ionosonde data from Ramey (18.5° N, 292.9° E), Jicamarca (12.0° S, 283.2° E), Boa Vista (2.8° N, 299.3° E), Sao Luis (2.6° S, 315.8° E), Fortaleza (3.9° S, 321.6° E) and Cachoeira Paulista (22.7° S, 315.0° E) are used for the study. The results show negative disturbances in foF2 at low latitudes during the main phase of the storm, which were attributed to prompt penetration electric fields. Thus, the Equatorial Anomaly (EA) started to reduce their structure in this sector since on 17 March. During the recovery phase (on 18 March), positive disturbances were observed at low, mid-low latitudes (in the post-midnight – predawn hours), which can be mainly attributed to enhanced storm-time neutral winds and composition changes (i.e., increase in the O/N2 ratio). Disturbance dynamo electric fields would also contribute in modulating the electron density of the EA during this storm period.     

A comparative study of ionospheric spread-F and scintillation at low- and mid-latitudes in China during the 24th solar cycle

The spread-F echo of ionograms and scintillation of satellite signal propagation along the Earth-space path are two typical phenomena induced by ionospheric irregularities. In this study, we obtained spread-F data from HF (high frequency) digital ionosonde and scintillation index (S4) data from L-band and UHF receivers at low- and mid-latitudes in China during the 24th solar cycle. These four sites were located at Haikou (HK) (20°N, 110.34°E), Kunming (KM) (25.64°N, 103.72°E), Qingdao (QD) (36.24°N, 120.42°E), and Manzhouli (MZL) (49.56°N, 117.52°E). We used these data to investigate spread-F and scintillation occurrence percentages and variations with local time, season, latitude and solar activity. A comparative study of spread-F and scintillation occurrence rates has been made. The main conclusions are as follows: (a) FSF occurred mostly during post-midnight, while RSF and scintillation appeared mainly during pre-midnight at HK and KM; (b) FSF occurrence rates were larger at QD and MZL than expected; (c) the FSF occurrence percentages were anti-correlated with solar activity at HK and KM; meanwhile RSF and scintillation occurrence rates increased with the increase of solar activity at this two sites; (d) the highest FSF occurrence rates mostly appeared during the summer months, while RSF and scintillation occurred mostly in the equinoctial months at HK and KM; (e) the scintillation occurrence was usually associated with the appearance of RSF, probably due to a different physical mechanism comparing with FSF. Some of these results verified the conclusions of previous papers, whereas some show slight difference. These results are important in understanding ionospheric irregularities variations characteristic at low- and mid-latitudes in China.     

同步卫星讯号显示的电离层闪烁特性

本文利用1983年5—8月,1984年5—12月在武昌(114.4°E,30.6°N)对日本ETS-Ⅱ卫星(130.0°E)发出的136.1124MHz讯号的观测资料进行了统计分析。结果表明:(1)武昌电离层闪烁不但有日变化,而且有季变化。每年5—7月为闪烁最大活动期,在这些月份的夜间常出现法拉弟旋转角类波扰动伴随有强闪烁现象。武昌电离层闪烁是属于中纬闪烁型;(2)闪烁指数与法拉弟旋转角起伏密切相关,它们出现率之间的相关系数为0.8以上;夜间闪烁与扩展F层,白天闪烁与突发E层出现率之间的相关系数分别为0.6和0.55。      

Temporal evolution of the EIA along 95°E as obtained from GNSS TEC measurements and SAMI3 model

The total electron content (TEC) derived from GNSS measurements at a trans-hemispheric meridional chain of ground stations around 95°E longitude are used to study the quiet time inter-hemispheric structure and dynamics of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) during the period March 2015 to February 2016. The stations are Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E, 43° dip), Kohima (25.6°N, 94.1°E, 39° dip), Aizawl (23.7°N, 92.8°E, 36° dip), Port Blair (11.63°N, 92.71°E, 9° dip) and Cocos Islands (12.2°S, 96.8°E, 43° dip). The observation shows that the northern crest of the EIA lies in the south of 23°N (Aizawl) in all seasons but recedes further south towards the equator during December solstice. The largest poleward expansion of the northern (southern) EIA is observed in the March equinox (December solstice). The equinoctial and hemispherical asymmetry of TEC is noted. The winter anomaly is observed in the northern hemisphere but not in the southern hemisphere. The highest midday TEC over any station is observed in the March equinox. The TEC in southern summer (December solstice) is significantly higher than that in the northern summer (June solstice). The observed northern EIA contracts equatorward in the postsunset period of solstice but the southern EIA persists late into the midnight in the December solstice. The asymmetry may be attributed to the different geographic location of the magnetically conjugate stations. The SAMI3 simulations broadly capture the EIA structure and the inter-hemispheric asymmetry during solstices. The difference between observations and the SAMI3 is higher in March equinox and December solstice. The higher E?×?B vertical drift in the 90–100°E sector and the large geographic-geomagnetic offset in observing stations may have contributed to the observed differences.     

华南地区电离层闪烁与TEC耗空的时间和空间分布统计分析

利用位于赤道异常区的深圳站（22.59°N，113.97°E）2011年1月至2012年12月及2015年1月至2015年12月监测到的GPS-TEC数据，统计分析华南地区电离层闪烁与TEC耗空同时出现、电离层闪烁单独出现和TEC耗空单独出现3种现象的时间和空间分布特性.结果表明:这3种现象均主要发生在春秋季节；闪烁与TEC耗空同时出现、闪烁单独出现和TEC耗空单独出现分别主要发生在纬度为19°-23°N，21°-24°N和24°-26°N的空间区域.探测到闪烁和TEC耗空同时出现、闪烁单独出现和TEC耗空单独出现的时间分别主要分布在20:00LT-22:00LT，21:00LT-23:00LT和22:30LT-23:30LT.闪烁与TEC耗空同时出现、闪烁单独出现和TEC耗空单独出现3种现象的时间和空间分布特性对应了华南地区不规则体和赤道等离子体泡（EPBs）从产生到消失的演变过程.      

Assessment of improvement of the IRI model over Ethiopia for the modeling of the variability of TEC during the period 2013–2016

This paper discusses the monthly and seasonal variation of the total electron content (TEC) and the improvement of performance of the IRI model in estimating TEC over Ethiopia during the solar maximum (2013–2016) phase employing as reference the GPS derived TEC data inferred from four GPS receivers installed in different regions of Ethiopia; Assosa (geog 10.05°N, 34.55°E, Geom. 7.01°N), Ambo (8.97°N, 37.86°E, Geom. 5.42°N), Nazret (8.57°N, 39.29°E, Geom. 4.81°N) and Arba Minch (6.06°N, 37.56°E, Geom. 2.62°N). The results reveal that, in the years 2013–2016, the highest peak GPS-derived diurnal VTEC is observed in the March equinox in 2015 over Arba Minch station. Moreover, both the arithmetic mean GPS-derived and modelled VTEC values, generally, show maximum and minimum values in the equinoctial and June solstice months, respectively in 2014–2015. However, in 2013, the minimum and maximum arithmetic mean GPS-derived values are observed in the March equinox and December solstice, respectively. The results also show that, even though overestimation of the modelled VTEC has been observed on most of the hours, all versions of the model are generally good to estimate both the monthly and seasonal diurnal hourly VTEC values, especially in the early morning hours (00:00–03:00?UT or 03:00–06:00?LT). However, it has also been shown that the IRI 2007 and IRI 2012 versions generally perform best in matching the diurnal GPS derived TEC values as compared to that of the IRI 2016 version. In addition, the IRI 2012 version with IRI2001 option for the topside electron density shows the highest overestimation of the VTEC as compared to the other options. None of the versions of the IRI model are proved to be able to capture the effects of geomagnetic storms.     

磁暴期间中国中低纬电离层不规则体与扰动分析

2017年9月8日发生了一次强磁暴，Kp指数最大值达到8.利用区域电离层格网模型（Regional Ionosphere Map，RIM）和区域ROTI（Rate of TEC Index）地图，分析了磁暴期间中国及其周边地区电离层TEC扰动特征和低纬地区电离层不规则体的产生与发展情况，同时利用不同纬度IGS（International GNSS Service）测站BJFS（39.6°N，115.9°E），JFNG（30.5°N，114.5°E）和HKWS（22.4°N，114.3°E）的GPS双频观测值，获取各测站的ROTI和DROT（Standard Deviation of Differential ROT）指数变化趋势.结果表明:此次磁暴发生期间电离层扰动先以正相扰动为主，主要发生在中低纬区域，dTEC（differential TEC）最大值达到14.9TECU，随后电离层正相扰动逐渐衰减，在低纬区域发生电离层负相扰动，dTEC最小值达到-7.2TECU；在12:30UT-13:30UT时段，中国南部低纬地区发生明显的电离层不规则体事件；相比BJFS和JFNG两个测站，位于低纬的HKWS测站的ROTI和DROT指数变化更为剧烈，这表明电离层不规则体结构存在纬度差异.      

Recent Advances in Observation and Research of the Chinese Meridian Project

The Chinese Meridian Space Weather Monitoring Project (Meridian Project) is a ground-based geospace monitoring chain in China. It consists of 15 ground-based observation stations located roughly along 120°E longitude and 30°N latitude. In recent two years, using data from the Meridian Project, significant progress has been made in space weather and space physics research. These advances are mainly in four aspects:regional characteristics of space environment above China or along 120°E meridian line, coupling between space spheres at different heights and different physical processes, space weather disturbance and its propagation along the meridian chain, and space weather effects on ground technical facilities.      

Radio and optical investigations of storm time evolution of post-midnight equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) and their drifts over Indian sector

We investigated the spatio-temporal evolution of disturbed time post mid-night Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) using Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) located at dip equatorial station, Tirunelveli (8.73°N, 77.7°E, 0.23°N Dip. Lat.), an all-sky imager (ASI) observations at low latitude station Panhala (16.48°N, 74.6°E, 11.1°N Dip. Lat.) and Gadanki Ionospheric Radar Interferometer (GIRI) at Gadanki (13.5°N, 79.2°E; 6.5°N Dip. Lat.) which is situated at few degrees towards east and south of Panhala on 02–03 February 2017 night. During this night, IMF Bz showed its periodic variation starting from 16:00 UT to 23:00 UT accompanied by decrease in SYM-H to as low as ?35 nT indicating the onset of weak magnetic storm. The analyzed results suggested that cause of post-midnight EPBs could be due to manifestation of fluctuating eastward/westward electric field due to combined under-shielding/over-shielding Electric Fields and disturbance dynamo electric fields that led to rise and fall of the F-layer over dip equator. Interestingly, the EPBs over Panhala showed eastward motion initially that quickly reversed to westward later. Along with westward motion they also started growing until 21:30 UT. However, most of these EPBs disappeared with time except the one that started descending/shrinking towards southern side (i.e. towards equator). The rising and shrinking of EPBs is found to be fairly correlated with the equatorial vertical drifts. The westward drift of EPBs at Panhala and its anti-correlation with vertical drifts has been confirmed from CADI zonal/vertical drifts. Accordingly, the study also investigated the role of storm induced vertical Hall electric field as a possible cause for westward drifts and its anti-correlation with vertical drifts. However, GIRI observations do not show any significant westward drift on this night at Gadanki suggesting that there is a longitudinal gradient in the zonal drift of these EPBs. In addition to longitudinal drift reversal, the latitudinal gradient in zonal drifts also has been noticed. The present work highlights the role of storm induced disturbances in the generation and evolution of post-midnight EPBs which is believed to be triggered by weak magnetic disturbances in the deep low solar minimum.     

Daily variation characteristics at polar geomagnetic observatories

This paper is based on the statistical analysis of the diurnal variation as observed at six polar geomagnetic observatories, three in the Northern and three in the Southern hemisphere. Data are for 2006, a year of low geomagnetic activity. We compared the Italian observatory Mario Zucchelli Station (TNB; corrected geomagnetic latitude: 80.0°S), the French–Italian observatory Dome C (DMC; 88.9°S), the French observatory Dumont D’Urville (DRV; 80.4°S) and the three Canadian observatories, Resolute Bay (RES; 83.0°N), Cambridge Bay (CBB; 77.0°N) and Alert (ALE, 87.2°N). The aim of this work was to highlight analogies and differences in daily variation as observed at the different observatories during low geomagnetic activity year, also considering Interplanetary Magnetic Field conditions and geomagnetic indices.