Sporadic structures in equatorial ionosphere as revealed from GPS occultation data

A method for monitoring of sporadic formations in the lower ionosphere by use of the amplitude and phase variations of decimeter radio waves in the occultation trans-ionospheric link GPS satellite — LEO CHAMP satellite is described. Typical variations of the amplitude and phase of the occultation signal, caused by layered formations in the lower ionosphere, are considered. Parameters of sporadic structures measured during period of especially strong solar flashes from October 25 till November 9, 2003, are described. Results of statistical analysis of the occurrence frequency of sporadic layers, their altitude distribution, and thickness are presented. The electron density distribution in the lower ionosphere in the equatorial zone is estimated.     

Variations in the Parameters of Radio Waves in the Earth’s High-Latitude Ionosphere on the Satellite–Satellite Paths during the Geomagnetic Storm of June 22–23, 2015

Cosmic Research - This paper analyzes the results of about 100 radio occultation sessions of sounding of the high-latitude (>65 °N) lower ionosphere of the Earth’s Northern...     

Radar sounding of Mars from the orbit of the Mars-Express automatic interplanetary station

On the base of the laser altimetry results obtained using the orbital altimeter MOLA (the MGS mission) and the data of radio occultation experiments of transionospheric sounding of the Mars ionosphere, a method for interpretation of the planet radar sounding data is developed. The proposed method includes a program package for numerical simulation of the process of radiowave propagation through the media under study.     

Investigation of the Venus atmosphere and surface by the method of radiosounding using Venera-9 and 10 satellites

Using the Venera-9 and 10 satellites radio occultation measurements of the atmosphere and bistatic radar measurements of the surface of the planet Venus were realized from October 1975 to March 1976. The altitude dependence of the molecular number density, pressure and temperature on the night and day sides were derived.An analysis is made of the stratified structure and turbulence in the atmosphere of Venus. The results of pressure measurements on the surface by the method of bistatic radar are presented. The diagrams and the tables of the parameters of the atmosphere are given.     

Sporadic structures and small-scale irregularity in the nighttime polar ionosphere in the period of high solar activity according to the data of radio occultation measurements on satellite-to-satellite paths

Results of the analysis of 327 sessions of radio occultation on satellite-to-satellite paths are presented. The data are taken in the nighttime polar ionosphere in the regions with latitudes of 67°–88°, and in the period of high solar activity from October 26, 2003 to November 9, 2003. Typical ionospheric changes in the amplitude and phase of decimeter radio waves on paths GPS satellites-CHAMP satellite are presented. It is demonstrated that these data make it possible to determine characteristics of the sporadic E _s structures in the lower ionosphere at heights of 75–120 km. Histograms of distribution of the lower and upper boundaries, thickness, and intensity of the E _s structures are presented. Dispersion and spectra of amplitude fluctuations of decimeter radio waves caused by small-scale irregularity of the ionospheric plasma are analyzed. The relation of the polar E _s structures and intensity of small-scale plasma irregularity to various manifestations of solar activity is discussed. The efficiency of monitoring the ionospheric disturbances caused by shock waves of the solar wind by the radio occultation method on satellite-to-satellite paths is demonstrated.     

LEO-LEO微波掩星探测温度和水汽廓线研究进展

低地球轨道卫星间(LEO-LEO)微波掩星探测技术利用水汽吸收线附近信号,通过测量信号的折射和吸收作用,能够在没有辅助背景信息的情况下独立反演温度和水汽廓线,从而克服GNSS-LEO无线电掩星技术在大气中低对流层存在的"温度–水汽模糊"问题.目前,国内外还没有实现在轨的LEO-LEO掩星探测.为了促进我国LEO-LEO...     

多GNSS掩星大气探测卫星星座设计

为减少无线电掩星(RO)大气探测星座的卫星数量并增加探测数据量,将北斗（BD）和GPS、Galileo、GLONASS共同作为探测信源,提出一种多全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）掩星大气探测星座概念和优化设计方法。融合先验大气模型和二维射线追踪算法,建立兼容多GNSS信源的掩星事件前向模拟算法,实现掩星事件快速精确仿真;给出多GNSS掩星大气探测星座参数对探测性能的影响特性,降低了星座模型的复杂度;并利用改进的蚁群算法实现星座参数寻优。设计结果与COSMICII星座相比,卫星数量减少2颗,探测数据量增加了40%,探测均匀性提高了67%。     

Radio Occultation Measurements of the Radio Wave Absorption and the Sulfuric Acid Vapor Content in the Atmosphere of Venus

The results of the determination of centimeter ( = 5 cm) radio waves absorption in the radio occultation experiments, carried out using the Venera-15and Venera-16spacecraft, are presented. The altitude distribution of the absorber substance is analyzed. The absorbing layer is shown to exist at altitudes of 64 to 58 km in the near-polar regions of the planet. At middle latitudes such an absorbing layer was not found. In the altitude range from 56 to 46 km the radio wave absorption by the sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) vapor is observed. The content of the sulfuric acid vapor is shown to increase with decreasing altitude: in the mid-latitude region at altitudes of 56.7 and 53 km it equals 5 and 20 ppm, respectively, and at polar latitudes the same content of H₂SO₄vapor is observed at altitudes of 51.2 and 47 km, respectively. A comparison of these results with the data of radio wave absorption in the = 13 cm band, obtained in the Pioneer Venus Orbiterradio occultation experiments, leads to the conclusion that the obtained values of the sulfuric acid vapor content well agree in the regions of overlap of the data.     

Disturbance in the lower ionosphere that accompanied the reentry of the Chelyabinsk cosmic body

The paper describes quasi-periodic and aperiodic variations in the phase and amplitude of radio waves of LF and VLF ranges, which accompanied the flight and explosion of the Chelyabinsk meteoroid. Quasi-periodic variations in the phase have been explained by the generation of acoustic-gravity waves in the atmosphere, which modulate the electron density in the ionosphere and the phase of radio waves. Aperiodic variations in the phase and amplitude of radio waves are associated with an increase in the electron density in the lower ionosphere (at altitudes of 65–70 km). This increase was most likely caused by the interactions of subsystems in the Earth–atmosphere–ionosphere–magnetosphere system or, more correctly, by the precipitation of high-energy electrons from the magnetosphere into the lower ionosphere, which was stimulated by the flight and explosion of a cosmic body. According to the estimates, the density of the flux of electrons with energies of 100 KeV should be on the order of 106 m^–2 s^–1.     

空间环境对无线电波传播的影响综述

文章研究了空间环境对无线电通信的影响,主要体现在多种因素制约下的等离子体环境对电波传播的影响。首先介绍了几种典型的电离层模型,接着详细讲述了工程实用电离层模型;随后给出了电磁波在等离子体环境中的传播路径和等离子体介质在磁场环境下对电磁波影响的定量分析,并建议将空间等离子体环境（包括星际等离子体环境和电离层等离子体环境等）作为一个整体进行研究,来考虑地磁场对等离子体电磁特性的影响;最后基于目前理论的不足与实际需求的矛盾,探讨未来的研究方向。     

Characteristics of Near-Polar Atmosphere/Thermosphere of Mars at Altitudes of 125–145 km: The Data of a Radio Occultation Experiment onboard the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mars Global Surveyor</Emphasis> Spacecraft

Using data from a radio occultation experiment onboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, altitude variations of the scale height of the neutral atmosphere in the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars are analyzed. The averaged altitude gradient of temperature for neutrals in the thermosphere is estimated. The revealed variations of the scale height of the neutral atmosphere at zenith angles of less than 82° indicate that the near polar atmosphere is not isothermal at altitudes of 125–145 km, which experimentally confirms predictions of models of the Martian atmosphere. It is shown that when one approaches the terminator the near polar atmosphere is cooled and the effects of variation of the solar zenith angle modulate the local time effects in both hemispheres.     

Variations of ionospheric fluctuations of phase delay depending on solar activity: Data of the COSMIC experiment

We present the results of processing and analysis of more than 4500 events of radio occultation sounding of the Earth’s atmosphere observed in the course of the COSMIC experiment on the limb path ‘satellite-ionosphere-satellite’. Events observed in December 2011 (when a number of solar flares occurred) and in January 2012 (when a strong solar proton event took place) were analyzed. It is shown that small-scale variations of electron density increase in polar latitudes, equatorial region, and midlatitudes of the southern hemisphere in January 2012. In the same period, an increase of large-scale variations of electron density is observed during daylight hours in the equatorial region and in the southern hemisphere. No noticeable distinctions in comparison with days of quiet Sun were observed in December 2011.     

一种基于人工扰动电离层的通信对抗技术研究

研究了扰动后的电离层对不同波段的电磁波传播的影响,并探讨了该项技术在通信对抗上的具体应用。结果表明:受扰电离层可以引导VLF波进行"哨声模式"传播,进而实现对潜通信;可以使得HF波传播轨迹发生偏转、逃逸、聚焦和散焦,进而实现短波干扰;可以降低卫星通信频率,进而利用新波段实现卫星保密通信,同时还能产生透镜效应,对实现卫星通信的VHF电波产生额外增益,增强通信效果。     

机载GNSS掩星观测反演大气折射率廓线研究

作为星载掩星技术的推广,基于飞机平台的无线电掩星技术备受关注。为了将机栽掩星技术更好地应用到工程实践中,文章通过介绍机载掩星探测的基本原理和主要特点、模拟仿真,对机载掩星的反演算法进行了探讨,并给出模拟结果：包括利用STK仿真软件生成仿真场景;采用3维射线追踪技术模拟机载无线电掩星,预报掩星事件出现的时间、仰角,模拟信号传播特征;详细研究大气层内折射率反演技术并给出反演结果。研究结果表明,模拟仿真对机载掩星工程化实现是有益的。最后展望了机载掩星探测的发展趋势,提出了弱掩星信号的捕获跟踪、飞机平台的精度定位测速以及反射信号的抗干扰三项技术及工程化中需解决的技术难点。     

Distortions of rectangular pulse with linear frequency modulation during trans-ionospheric sounding of the Martian surface

Specific features of propagation of a wideband rectangular pulse along the route spacecraft-Martian surface-spacecraft caused by the influence of the planetary ionosphere are considered as applied to the problem of radio pulse sounding of the subsurface Martian soil from the Mars-Express satellite. The night Martian ionosphere considerably reduces the energy of the pulse, but does not lead to degradation of its envelope or uncertainty function. When sounding a two-layer surface, the influence of the ionosphere is also manifested in limitation from below of the thickness of the upper layer accessible for measurement, which is more essential than when sounding with the use of a wideband Gaussian pulse. It is demonstrated that the surface sounding is possible through the dayside planet ionosphere at the parameters of operating pulse of the MARSIS radar.     

Quasiperiodic oscillations of the sub-mHz band in near-sun plasma according to the coherent radio occultation data

In 2013 and 2015, investigations of the internal solar wind were carried out using the method of two-frequency radio sounding by signals from the Mars Express European spacecraft. The values of the S- and X-bands’ frequency and the differential frequency were registered with a sampling rate of 1s at the American and European networks of ground-based tracking stations. The spatial distribution of the frequency fluctuation’s level has been studied. It has been shown that the intensity of frequency fluctuation considerably decreases at high heliolatitudes. In some radio sounding sessions, quasiperiodic oscillations of sub-mHz band have been observed in the temporal spectra of frequency fluctuations; they are supposed to be associated with the density inhomogeneities, the sizes of which are close to the turbulence outer scale.     

Spectral analysis of ionospheric disturbances in the phase delay and radio signal amplitude at limb paths according to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">COSMIC</Emphasis> data in periods of solar activity

Based on more than 4500 sessions of radio transillumination of Earth’s atmosphere along the satellite–atmosphere–satellite path obtained in the COSMIC experiment, the distribution along latitude and over local time of the spatial spectra of variations in the ionospheric phase delay and signal amplitude has been analyzed. The spatial spectra have been calculated for two height ranges, i.e., 60–80 and 80–100 km. In the phase signal spectrum within the height range 80–100 km, the second maximum in the vicinity of a frequency of 7–8 rad/km is clearly seen. Its diurnal and latitudinal behavior and its decrease towards high latitudes in both hemispheres can also be seen. In the height range of 60–80 km, this maximum is hardly observed. Although solar flares can lead to substantial local changes in the electron concentration, no substantial difference in the behavior of the spectral densities of the amplitude and phase delay at long limb paths was observed within these two height ranges on days of active and quiet sun. The latter fact makes it possible to develop a united algorithm of optimal ionospheric correction of the radio occultation data independent of solar activity.     

Radio Wave Fluctuations and Layered Structure of the Upper Region of Venusian Clouds from Radio Occultation Data

The results of the cross-correlation analysis of the amplitude fluctuations of radio waves of the = 32 cm band in seven sessions of radio occultation measurements of the northern polar atmosphere of the planet are presented. The existence of the cross-correlation of fluctuations (b 0.6) is established in the altitude realizations in the interval 61.5–65.0 km for two different sessions of radio occultation. Inner layering is revealed in the upper layer of the clouds of the planet at altitudes of 61.5–65.0 km, which is specified by an enhanced turbulence of the atmosphere. It is found that the lifetime of the small-scale layered irregularities is no less than 2 days and that their horizontal extension in the meridional direction can exceed 130 km. A possible cause of the emergence of the layered structures inside the upper layer of the polar clouds of Venus is discussed.     

Plasma irregularities in unstable outer ionosphere according to the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite data

The results of the satellite low-latitude and mid-latitude measurements of the disturbed plasma concentration, electron temperature, and quasi-stable electric field at heights of ～900 km after sunset are discussed. It is shown that the sharp fronts of changes in the electron temperature and plasma density observed in the experiment onboard the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite in the low-latitude (and equatorial) outer ionosphere can be related to damping of the oscillations of plasma electrons at local decreases of the plasma density (plasma “pits”) and formation of the vortex plasma structures at density and temperature gradients, which promotes conservation of ionosphere irregularities and makes the fronts of concentration variations steeper. Nonmonotonic variations in the plasma conductivity for the ionosphere currents in unstable plasma can be a cause of observed nonmonotonic disturbances of the vertical component of the “constant” electric field.     

Comparison of the effects induced by the ordinary (O-mode) and extraordinary (X-mode) polarized powerful HF radio waves in the high-latitude ionospheric <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis> region

Using the results of coordinated experiments on the modification of the high-latitude ionosphere by powerful HF radio emission of the EISCAT/Heating facility, effects of the impact of powerful HF radio waves of the ordinary (O-mode) and extraordinary (Х-mode) polarization on the high-latitude ionospheric F region have been compared. During the experiments, a powerful HF radio wave was emitted in the magnetic zenith direction at frequencies within the 4.5–7.9 MHz range. The effective power of the emission was 150–650 MW. The behavior and characteristics of small-scale artificial ionospheric irregularities (SAIIs) during O- and X-heating at low and high frequencies are considered in detail. A principal difference has been found in the development of the Langmuir and ion–acoustic turbulence (intensified by the heating of the plasma and ion–acoustic lines in the spectrum of the EISCAT radar of incoherent scatter of radio waves) in the О- and Х-heating cycles after switching on the heating facility. It has been shown that, under the influence on the ionospheric plasma of a powerful HF radio wave of the Х-polarization, intense spectral components in the spectrum of the narrow-band artificial ionospheric radio emission (ARI) were registered at distances on the order of 1200 km from the heating facility.