大耀斑期间向日面电离层总电子含量的响应个例分析

利用2001年4月15日1336UT耀斑爆发期间向日面GPS观测数据提取的总电子含量的时间变化曲线。分析了向日面电离层对这次耀斑的响应特点．结果表明，耀斑期间向日面电离层出现了总电子含量突增事件．最大总电子含量增加量约为2．6TECU，在0600LT和1800LT都观测到了总电子含量突增，世增加幅度仅为0．5-1TECU．在高纬地区，由于电离层闪烁，从TEC时间变化曲线提取不出来总电子含量增加值．从各卫星星下点处的TEC增加量和各星下点处的太阳天顶角的关系可以看到，TEC增加量与太阳天顶角有关，太阳天顶角越大，TEC增幅越小。另外，从总电子含量时间变化率曲线上还观测到了时间同步的小尺度扰动，通过与耀斑期间硬X射线辐射通量的比较，发现两者有明显的相关性，电离层中的这种扰动与耀斑期间的硬X射线或远紫外辐射有关．     

The effect of total solar eclipse of October 3, 2005, on the total electron content over Europe

GPS observations from EUREF permanent GPS network were used to observe the response of TEC (Total Electron Content) to the total solar eclipse on October 3, 2005, under quiet geomagnetic conditions of the daytime ionosphere. The effect of the eclipse was detected in diurnal variations and more distinctly in the variations of TEC along individual satellite passes. The trough-like variations with a gradual decrease and followed by an increase of TEC at the time of the eclipse were observed over a large region. The depression of TEC amounted to 3–4 TECU. The maximum depression was observed over all stations located at the maximum path of the solar eclipse. The delay of a minimum level of TEC with respect to the maximum phase of the eclipse was about 20–30 min.     

Ionospheric effects of the August 11, 1999 total solar eclipse as deduced from European GPS network data

We present the results derived from measuring fundamental parameters of the ionospheric response to the August 11, 1999 total solar eclipse. Our study is based on using the data from about 70 GPS stations located in the neighbourhood of the eclipse totality phase in Europe. The key feature of our data is a higher reliability of determining the main parameters of the response to eclipse which is due to high space-time resolution and to the increased sensitivity of detection of ionospheric disturbances inherent in the GPS-array method which we are using. Our analysis revealed a well-defined effect of a decrease (depression) of the total electron content (TEC) for all GPS stations. The depth and duration of the TEC depression were found to be 0.2–0.3 TECU and 60 min, respectively. The delay τ between minimum TEC values with respect to the totality phase near the eclipse path increased gradually from 4 min in Greenwich longitude (10:40 UT, LT) to 18 min at the longitude 16° (12:09 LT). The local time-dependence of τ that is revealed in this paper is in agreement with theoretical estimates reported in (Stubbe, 1970).     

不同太阳活动条件下电离层形态对估算GPS系统硬件延迟的影响

利用两个中纬度台站GPS观测数据提取的GPS卫星硬件延迟,分析了不同太阳活动情况下估算的硬件延迟稳定性和统计特征,结合同期电离层观测数据,研究了电离层状态对硬件延迟估算结果的影响.研究结果表明,基于太阳活动高年(2001年)GPS观测数据估算的硬件延迟稳定性要低于太阳活动低年GPS观测数据的估算结果,利用2001年GPS数据估算的卫星硬件延迟年标准偏差(RMS)平均值约为1TECU,而2009年GPS数据估算的卫星硬件延迟年标准偏差平均值约为0.8TECU.通过对2001年和2009年北京地区电离层F₂层最大电子密度(N_mF₂)变化性分析,结合GPS硬件延迟估算方法对电离层时空变化条件的要求,认为硬件延迟稳定性与太阳活动强度的联系是由不同太阳活动条件下电离层变化的强度差异引起的.      

2009年7月22日日全食期间电离层总电子含量变化研究

利用中国区域内五个GPS台站(一个台站处于日全食区域、四个台站处于日偏食区域)观测数据, 研究2009年7月22日日全食期间电离层总电子含量(TEC)的变化, 结果表明, 日全食期间, 电离层TEC值经历了下降和恢复的过程, 最小TEC相对于最大食偏的时间延迟约为1～10min; 台站测得最小TEC的星下点(IPP)越靠近日全食带TEC下降量越大, 在日食期间武汉站(114.35°E, 30.53°N) TEC相对于各参考日期的TEC, 其平均下降量最大, 达到4.58TECU.      

基于硬件信号模拟器的电离层TEC监测仪 差分码偏差长期变化

利用硬件信号模拟器可以标定电离层TEC监测仪的差分码偏差.通过对相同接收机时隔近41.5月进行的两次差分码偏差标定实验，以GPS系统为例分析了硬件标定法得到的差分码偏差随时间的长期变化情况.结果表明:接收机差分码偏差均值从第一次实验的16.122ns增加至第二次实验的16.749ns，在约41.5月的时间内增加约0.627ns，月增量为0.0151ns，增加比较缓慢；第二次实验的差分码偏差标准差也有所增加，但增量也不大（均值分别为0.05ns和0.07ns）.此外，两次标定实验的TEC测量精度（均方根误差）均达到约0.3TECU，对应的差分码偏差误差约0.1ns，这说明该接收机差分码偏差变化的一致性较好.若不加以再次标定，第二次实验时TEC测量误差将增加至约1.8TECU，月增量约为0.0434TECU.      

Application of BDS-GEO for studying TEC variability in equatorial ionosphere on different time scales

The Earth's ionosphere and especially its equatorial part is a highly dynamical medium. Geostationary satellites are known to be a powerful tool for ionospheric studies. Recent developments in BDS-GEO satellites allow such studies on the new level due to the best noise pattern in TEC estimations, which corresponds to those of GPS/GLONASS systems. Here we used BDS-GEO satellites to demonstrate their capability for studying equatorial ionosphere variability on different time scales. Analyzing data from the equatorial SIN1 IGS station we present seasonal variations in geostationary slant TEC for the periods of high (October 2013 - October 2014) and low (January 2017 - January 2018) solar activity, which show semi-annual periodicity with amplitudes about 10 TECU during solar maximum and about 5 TECU during the solar minimum. The 27-day variations are also prominent in geostationary slant TEC variations, which correlates quite well with the variations in solar extreme UV radiation. We found semi-annual pattern in small scale ionospheric disturbances evaluated based on geostationary ROTI index: maximal values correspond to spring and fall equinoxes and minimum values correspond to summer and winter solstices. The seasonal asymmetry in ROTI values was observed: spring equinox values were almost twice as higher than fall equinox ones. We also present results on the 2017 May 28–29 G3 geomagnetic storm, when ～30 TECU positive anomaly was recorded, minor and final major sudden stratospheric warmings in February and March 2016, with positive daytime TEC anomalies up to 15–20 TECU, as well as the 2017 September 6 X9.3 solar flare with 2 TECU/min TEC rate. Our results show the large potential of geostationary TEC estimations with BDS-GEO signals for continuous monitoring of space weather effects in low-latitude and equatorial ionosphere.     

Observations of TEC depletions over Indian low latitudes

Results pertaining to the latitudinal extent of the ionospheric irregularities in terms of TEC depletions have been presented for the two nights namely; 28 October 2004 and 7 February 2005. This study has been carried out using the GPS–TEC over the Indian low latitude stations, at Udaipur, Hyderabad and Bengaluru. This is probably the first report of simultaneous GPS observation of TEC depletions over different latitudes from the Indian sector. The results show that the amplitude of TEC depletions due to the equatorial spread F may vary with time and the location of the observation. The maximum amplitude of the TEC depletion has been found to be about 30 TECU over Hyderabad. The depletions in TEC are found to be field aligned.     

Estimation of GPS instrumental biases from small scale network

With 4 GPS receivers located in the equatorial anomaly region in southeast China, this paper proposes a grid-based algorithm to determine the GPS satellites and receivers biases, and at the same time to derive the total electron content (TEC) with time resolution of 15 min and spatial resolution of 1° by 3.5° in latitude and longitude. By assuming that the TEC is identical at any point within a given grid block and the biases do not vary within a day, the algorithm arranges unknown biases and TECs with slant path TEC from the 4 receivers’ observations into a set of equations. Then the instrumental biases and the TECs are determined by using the least squares fitting technique. The performance of the method is examined by applying it to the GPS receiver chain observations selected from 16 geomagnetically quiet days in four seasons of 2006. It is found that the fitting agrees with the data very well, with goodness of fit ranging from 0.452 TECU to 1.914 TECU. Having a mean of 0.9 ns, the standard deviations for most of the GPS satellite biases are less than 1.0 ns for the 16 days. The GPS receiver biases are more stable than that of the GPS satellites. The standard deviation in the 4 receiver bias is from 0.370 ns to 0.855 ns, with a mean of 0.5 ns. Moreover, the instrumental biases are highly correlated with those derived from CODE and JPL with independent methods. The typical precision of the derived TEC is 5 TECU by a conservative estimation. These results indicate that the proposed algorithm is valid and qualified for small scale GPS network.     

Comparison of observed TEC values with IRI-2007 TEC and IRI-2007 TEC with optional foF2 measurements predictions at an equatorial region,Chumphon, Thailand

In this research, as part of working towards improving the IRI over equatorial region, the total electron content (TEC) derived from GPS measurements and IRI-2007 TEC predictions at Chumphon station (10.72°N, 99.37°E), Thailand, during 2004–2006 is analyzed. The seasonal variation of the IRI-2007 TEC predictions is compared with the TEC from the IRI-2007 TEC model with the option of the actual F2 plasma frequency (foF2) measurements as well as the TEC from the GPS and International GNSS service (IGS). The Chumphon station is located at the equatorial region and the low latitude of 3.22°N. For a declining phase of the solar cycle (2004–2006), the study shows that the IRI-2007 TEC underestimates the IRI-2007 TEC with the foF2 observation at the nighttime by about 5 TECU. The maximum differences are about 15 TECU during daytime and 5 TECU during nighttime. The overestimation is more evident at daytime than at nighttime. When compared in terms of the root-mean square error (RMSE), we find that the highest RMSE between GPS TEC and IRI 2007 TEC is 14.840 TECU at 1230 LT in 2004 and the lowest average between them is 1.318 TECU at 0630 LT in 2006. The noon bite-out phenomena are clearly seen in the IRI-2007 TEC with and without optional foF2 measurements, but not on the GPS TEC and IGS TEC. The IRI TEC with optional foF2 measurements gives the lowest RMSE values between IRI TEC predicted and TEC measurement. However, the TEC measurements (GPS TEC and IGS TEC) are more correct to use at Chumphon station.     

Dayside ionospheric uplift during strong geomagnetic storms as detected by the CHAMP,SAC-C,TOPEX and Jason-1 satellites

Ionosphere response to severe geomagnetic storms that occurred in 2001–2003 was analyzed using data of global ionosphere maps (GIM), altimeter data from the Jason-1 and TOPEX satellites, and data of GPS receivers on-board CHAMP and SAC-C satellites. This allowed us to study in detail ionosphere redistribution due to geomagnetic storms, dayside ionospheric uplift and overall dayside TEC increase. It is shown that after the interplanetary magnetic field turns southward and intensifies, the crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) travel poleward and the TEC value within the EIA area increases significantly (up to ∼50%). GPS data from the SAC-C satellite show that during the main phase of geomagnetic storms TEC values above the altitude of 715 km are 2–3 times higher than during undisturbed conditions. These effects of dayside ionospheric uplift occur owing to the “super-fountain effect” and last few hours while the enhanced interplanetary electric field impinged on the magnetopause.     

Interplanetary magnetic field control of plasma distribution in the polar ionosphere

We used the TEC (Total electron content) data of 5 min resolution obtained from the Madrigal database during solar-maximum winter (Nov. 6, 2000–Feb. 4, 2001) to study statistically the polar ionospheric plasma distribution response to different intensity and orientation of IMF By/Bz components. The sunlit high-density plasma extension from dayside to nightside is favored in negative IMF By and Bz conditions. With the magnitude of the negative Bz increasing, the time range corresponding to the distinct high-density extension feature expands, and the plasma density along the extension path enhances, which can be attributed to the interaction between dayside solar-produced ionization whose poleward limit is decided by terminator and convection extent mainly modulated by IMF Bz component. As for IMF By component influence on the sunlit plasma extension, the combination effect of convection and corotation electric fields is necessary to be considered.     

Accuracy and consistency of different global ionospheric maps released by IGS ionosphere associate analysis centers

Due to the differences of ionospheric modeling methods and selected tracking stations, the accuracy and consistency of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) released by Ionosphere Associate Analysis Centers (IAACs) are different. In this study, we evaluate and analyze in detail the accuracy and consistency of GIMs final products provided by six IAACs from three different aspects. Firstly, the comparison of these GIMs shows that the mean bias (MEAN) is related to the modeling methods of various IAACs. The variation trend of the standard deviation (STD) is consistent with the solar activities, and accompanied by certain seasonal and annual periodic variations. The MEAN between IGS and each center is about −1.3 to 1.0 TECU, and the STD is about 1.4–2.5 TECU. Secondly, the validation with GPS TEC shows that the STD of CODE is the smallest at various latitudes, and the STD is about 0.7–4.5 TECU. Thirdly, The validation with the Jason2 VTEC shows that the STD between Jason2 and IAACs is about 4.4–5.2 TECU. In addition, the STD between Jason2 and six GIMs in the areas with more tracking stations is better than that of the regions with fewer tracking stations in different latitude regions. Regardless of whether the tracking stations are more or less, the MEAN and STD in high solar activity are larger than in low solar activity.     

GPS derived TEC and foF2 variability at an equatorial station and the performance of IRI-model

The ionosphere induces a time delay in transionospheric radio signals such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. The Total Electron Content (TEC) is a key parameter in the mitigation of ionospheric effects on transionospheric signals. The delay in GPS signal induced by the ionosphere is proportional to TEC along the path from the GPS satellite to a receiver. The diurnal monthly and seasonal variations of ionospheric electron content were studied during the year 2010, a year of extreme solar minimum (F10.7 = 81 solar flux unit), with data from the GPS receiver and the Digisonde Portable Sounder (DPS) collocated at Ilorin (Geog. Lat. 8.50°N, Long. 4.50°E, dip −7.9°). The diurnal monthly variation shows steady increases in TEC and F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) from pre-dawn minimum to afternoon maximum and then decreases after sunset. TEC show significant seasonal variation during the daytime between 0900 and 1900 UT (LT = UT + 1 h) with a maximum during the March equinox (about 35 TECU) and minimum during the June solstice (about 24 TECU). The GPS-TEC and foF2 values reveal a weak seasonal anomaly and equinoctial asymmetry during the daytime. The variations observed find their explanations in the amount of solar radiation and neutral gas composition. The measured TEC and foF2 values were compared with last two versions of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2007 and IRI-2012) model predictions using the NeQuick and CCIR (International Radio Consultative Committee) options respectively in the model. In general, the two models give foF2 close to the experimental values, whereas significant discrepancies are found in the predictions of TEC from the models especially during the daytime. The error in height dependent thickness parameter, daytime underestimation of equatorial drift and contributions of electrons from altitudes above 2000 km have been suggested as the possible causes.     

Global characteristics of ionospheric electric fields and disturbances during the first hours of magnetic storms

The ionospheric plasma density can be significantly disturbed during magnetic storms. In the conventional scenario of ionospheric storms, the negative storm phases with plasma density decreases are caused by neutral composition changes, and the positive storm phases with plasma density increases are often related to atmospheric gravity waves. However, recent studies show that the global redistribution of the ionospheric plasma is dominated primarily by electric fields during the first hours of magnetic storms. In this paper, we present the measurements of ionospheric disturbances by the DMSP satellites and GPS network during the magnetic storm on 6 April 2000. The DMSP measurements include the F region ion velocity and density at the altitude of ∼840 km, and the GPS receiver network provides total electron content (TEC) measurements. The storm-time ionospheric disturbances show the following characteristics. The plasma density is deeply depleted in a latitudinal range of ∼20° over the equatorial region in the evening sector, and the depletions represent plasma bubbles. The ionospheric plasma density at middle latitudes (20°–40° magnetic latitudes) is significantly increased. The dayside TEC is increased simultaneously over a large latitudinal range. An enhanced TEC band forms in the afternoon sector, goes through the cusp region, and enters the polar cap. All the observed ionospheric disturbances occur within 1–5 h from the storm sudden commencement. The observations suggest that penetration electric fields play a major role in the rapid generation of equatorial plasma bubbles and the simultaneous increases of the dayside TEC within the first 2 h during the storm main phase. The ionospheric disturbances at later times may be caused by the combination of penetration electric fields and neutral wind dynamo process.     

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.      

基于陆态网的区域电离层TEC空间变化特性分析

为研究中国陆态网区域电离层TEC在空间小尺度、高分辨率情况下的变化特性及适用精度范围，利用陆态网260个GNSS连续运行观测站数据，解算并生成2016-2017年731天陆态网区域电离层RIM格网，并进行精度验证.在同一RIM格网中，分别在经度和纬度方向上对间隔不同经纬度的TEC格网点作差分析.结果表明:陆态网区域内经度方向上TEC最大变化率和平均变化率分别为0.30TECU·（°）-1和0.11TECU·（°）-1；经度间隔1°时，TEC差值小于2TECU，且随着经度间隔的增大，其TEC差值也随之增大，并表现出一定的半年和周年变化规律；纬度方向上TEC最大变化率和平均变化率分别为1.7TECU·（°）-1和0.46TECU·（°）-1；陆态网区域内电离层TEC随纬度减小而增大，纬度间隔1°时，99.4%的TEC差值小于4TECU，且随着纬度间隔的增大，其TEC差值也随之增大，并表现出一定的半年和周年变化规律；间隔相同情况下，纬度方向上TEC的变化比经度方向上大.      

全球电离层地图TEC数据的插值算法

由IGS工作组提供的全球电离层地图（GIM）是电离层重要的应用数据.卫星高度计能够提供全球实时的电离层延迟误差校正.利用GIM数据，以Jason-3时空分辨率进行电离层总电子含量（TEC）的时间维度插值和空间维度插值，其中空间维度插值采用了Kriging插值和双线性插值两种方法.针对两种插值方法得到的总电子含量，与平滑处理的Jason-3高度计cycle80双频延迟校正值转化的总电子含量进行对比分析.结果显示:其与Kriging插值的平均偏差为0.94TECU，均方根误差为2.73TECU，相关系数为0.91；与双线性插值的平均偏差为1.43TECU，均方根误差为6.85TECU，相关系数为0.61.这说明Kriging插值方法的精度明显高于双线性插值方法.      

Spatio-temporal analysis of ionospheric disturbances for ground based augmentation systems over a midlatitude region

Forcings from above and below the ionosphere can cause disturbances that need to be detected and corrected for navigation systems. Ground Based Augmentation Systems (GBAS) are used to give corrections to aircraft navigation systems while landing. These systems use regional ionosphere monitoring algorithms to detect the anomalies in the ionosphere. The aim of this study is to understand occurrence of ionosphere anomalies and their trends over Turkey. A comprehensive analysis of spatio-temporal variability of ionosphere is carried out for a midlatitude GPS network using Slant Total Electron Content (STEC). Differential Rate Of TEC (DROT), which is a measure of the amount of deviation of temporal derivative of TEC from its trend, is used to detect and classify the level of such disturbances. The GPS satellite tracks are grouped into north, east, west and over directions. The 24 h is divided into six time intervals. The percentage occurrence of each DROT category and the deviation from STEC trend in magnitude are calculated and grouped into satellite track directions and time intervals for 2010 (low solar activity), 2011 and 2012 (medium solar activity). The highest level of disturbances is observed in north and west directions, and during sunrise and sunset hours. The dominant periods of percentage occurrences are diurnal (22–25 h), semidiurnal (12–13 h) and terdiurnal (8–9 h) followed by quasi two-day and quasi 16-day periods. Disturbances corresponding to 50% < DROT < 70% are mostly visible during low solar activity years with magnitudes from 1 to 2 TECU. Geomagnetic storms can cause aperiodic larger scale disturbances that are mostly correlated with DROT > 70%. In 2012, the magnitude of such disturbances can reach 5 TECU. The anisotropic and dynamic nature of midlatitude ionosphere is reflected in the spatio-temporal and spectral distributions of DROT, and their percentage occurrences. This study serves a basis for future studies about development of a regional ionosphere monitoring for Turkey.     

Ionospheric effects of the solar flares as deduced from global GPS network data

Results derived from analysing the ionospheric response to faint and bright solar flares are presented. The analysis used novel technology of a global detection of ionospheric effects from solar flares as developed by the authors (Afraimovich, 2000a; Afraimovich, 2000b), on the basis of phase measurements of the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere using an international GPS network. The essence of the method is that use is made of appropriate filtering and a coherent processing of variations in the TEC which is determined from GPS data, simultaneously for the entire set of visible GPS satellites at all stations used in the analysis. This technique is useful for identifying the ionospheric response to faint solar flares (of X-ray class C) when the variation amplitude of the TEC response to separate line-on-sight (LOS) is comparable to the level of background fluctuations. The dependence of the TEC variation response amplitude on the flare location on the Sun is investigated.