D-region IRI profiles in relation to radio observations

The D-region IRI profiles are compared with the direct rocket measurements as well as with ground-based radio observations by a variety of techniques. The characteristics of D-region IRI profiles and the dependence of electron density on solar zenith angle, sunspot number, latitude and season are discussed. The sensitivity of certain reflection coefficients on the height distribution of electron density below 70 km is illustrated with a typical example. For D-region modelling, the results show the importance of simultaneous measurement of reflection and conversion coefficients together with polarization phase over a wide frequency range.     

银河宇宙线在电离层D层中电离的全球分布

本文从带电粒子对D层大气电离出发, 给出了宇宙线相对论粒子、非相对论粒子及低能粒子在地球大气中的电离公式, 从而给出了宇宙线在电离层D层中电子产生率q(h)和电子密度N(h)的全球分布.结果表明, 宇宙线产生的q(h)和N(h)具有明显的纬度效应, 在极区产生的q(h)和N(h)要比低纬高得多, 当截止刚度R_c=10—18GV时, q(h)的变化相差很小.太阳活动11年调制对q(h)的影响是明显的, 但远小于R_c对q(h)的影响.大气密度ρ(h)对q(h)的影响主要是随高度的变化.      

Improvement of the solar-cycle variation of IRI lower ionosphere models by means of radio wave propagation data

Data on day-time and night-time radio wave absorption in the frequency range 50 to 2614 kHz, obtained in long-term observational programmes in Central Europe, are compared with corresponding absorption values calculated from electron density profiles of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-1979) using the full-wave method.Discrepancies between calculated and observed absorption values were found for the diurnal and the solar-cycle variation, the amplitudes of the solar-cycle variation of absorption being considerably larger than the observed variation.A modification of the solar-activity dependence of the D-region electron density parameters is derived, which provides an improvement of the solar-cycle variation as well as the diurnal variation of the IRI electron density profiles.     

Response of the mid-latitude D-region ionosphere to the total solar eclipse of 22 July 2009 studied using VLF signals in South Korean peninsula

In this paper, we analyze VLF signals received at Busan to study the the D-region changes linked with the solar eclipse event of 22 July 2009 for very short (∼390 km) transmitter–receiver great circle path (TRGCP) during local noon time 00:36–03:13 UT (09:36–12:13 KST). The eclipse crossed south of Busan with a maximum obscuration of ∼84%. Observations clearly show a reduction of ∼6.2 dB in the VLF signal strength at the time of maximum solar obscuration (84% at 01:53 UT) as compared to those observed on the control days. Estimated values of change in Wait ionospheric parameters: reflection height (h′) in km and inverse scale height parameter (β) in km⁻¹ from Long Wave Propagation Capability (LWPC) model during the maximum eclipse phase as compared to unperturbed ionosphere are 7 km and 0.055 km⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, the D-region electron density estimated from model computation shows 95% depletion in electron density at the height of ∼71 km. The reflection height is found to increase by ∼7 km in the D-region during the eclipse as compared to those on the control days, implying a depletion in the Lyman-α flux by a factor of ∼7. The present observations are discussed in the light of current understanding on the solar eclipse induced D-region dynamics.     

中纬E层临界频率和低电离层的电子密度剖面计算

本文给出了计算中纬E层临界频率(f_0E)和低电离层的电子密度分布与太阳天顶角、太阳黑子数、地方时之间关系的经验公式.由它对不同年、月、日以及午前、午后情况进行计算的结果与实验探测数据符合得较好;将该公式用于长波传播和吸收计算也得到了与实验一致的结果.此外, 它还能由实测的f_0E值算出D区电子密度分布.      

太阳宇宙线在电离层D层中的电离

本文根据带电粒子对D层大气电离的理论,导出了太阳宇宙线在D层的电子产生率Q(h)的表达式,并计算了不同级别的太阳宇宙线事件、不同能谱参数下,Q(h)在极区随高度的分布。结果表明,不同级别、不同能谱的太阳宇宙线事件在极区产生的电离有显著的差别。同一级别,能谱指数γ越大,在较高的高度上电子产生率越大;能谱指数越小,在较低的高度上电子产生率越大。电子产生率的分布曲线出现明显的双峰,一个峰位于60公里左右,另一个峰位于85公里左右。前一个峰主要由太阳宇宙线中质子产生的,后一个峰主要是z≥2的重粒子成分产生的。本文所得结果明显好于Velinov等人的结果。      

Latitudinal influences on the quiet daytime D-region

Four versions of a steady-state quiet D-region model are presented. They differ from each other as a result of latitudinal differences in total neutral particle concentrations, nitric oxide concentrations and cosmic ray ionization rates. The total ion concentration profiles of all four versions have minima near 70 km which range from about 10⁸ m^?3 at high latitudes to 3.5 × 10⁷ m^?3 at equatorial latitudes for a solar zenith angle of 60°. Neutral density differences among the four cases result in important vertical shifts for the respective D-region profiles relative to one another. A “C-layer” is evident for the high and mild-latitude models at large solar zenith angles. The altitude where the negative ion/electron concentrations ratio is unity varies from about 63 to 67 km. The computed results are compared briefly with the extensive data base in the literature.     

Photochemical response of neutral and ionized middle atmosphere composition to the strong solar proton event of October 1989

One of the strongest solar proton events (SPE) occurred in October 1989. Its forcing of the middle atmosphere chemistry including ionized components in the D-region is examined. The ionization rate, and ozone, NO and OH density temporal and spatial (vertical) deviations induced by the SPE, calculated by a 1-D time-dependent photochemical model separately for daytime and nighttime (not shown here), are used in a 1-D model of the lower ionosphere to calculate the response of ionized components to combined forcing by ionization rate and neutral chemical composition disturbances. The radio wave absorption caused by electron density disturbances after the SPE is calculated and compared with observations. The computed ozone values are compared with observations, as well.     

1984年4月24日大太阳耀斑爆发对电离层电子总含量的影响

本文给出1984年4月24日2356UT太阳耀斑爆发期间在新乡和重庆两地利用法拉第技术接收日本同步卫星ETS-Ⅱ的甚高频信号所得到的电离层电子总含量的异常变化。两站在耀斑爆发期间的三分半钟内同时观测到电离层电子总含量的突然急剧增加。它们的增量分别为9.4×1016和14.3×1016ele/m2.本文还将偏振仪所观测到的现象与电离层垂测记录及甚低频锁相接收机所观测到的记录作了比较。分析的结果表明,大太阳耀斑期间不仅D层的电子浓度大大增加,而且F层的电子浓度也显着增加,后者是这次总含量剧增的主要部分。      

Satellite launch vehicle effect on the Earth’s lower ionosphere: A case study

The effect of the rocket exhaust products on the D-region of the ionosphere is investigated with the help of Very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic wave propagation characteristics within the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The changes in the electron density profile are computed from the observed VLF signal amplitude perturbations about 3 dB during the rocket launch. We find a localized electron depletion in the lower ionosphere at an altitude of around 58 km, that is thought to be originated by the attachment of ionospheric ion and molecular hydrogen along with water molecule in the exhaust product of first stage burn of Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket at the time of GSLV launched from Sriharikota, India, on 27 August 2015 at 11:22 UT (16:52 IST). The ionospheric depletion perturbed the navigational VLF signal (VTX = 17 kHz) 134 s after the launch of the GSLV rocket.     

Response of low latitude D-region ionosphere to the total solar eclipse of 22 July 2009 deduced from ELF/VLF analysis

Response of the D-region of the ionosphere to the total solar eclipse of 22 July 2009 at low latitude, Varanasi (Geog. lat., 25.27° N; Geog. long., 82.98° E; Geomag. lat. = 14° 55’ N) was investigated using ELF/VLF radio signal. Tweeks, a naturally occurring VLF signal and radio signals from various VLF navigational transmitters are first time used simultaneously to study the effect of total solar eclipse (TSE). Tweeks occurrence is a nighttime phenomena but the obscuration of solar disc during TSE in early morning leads to tweek occurrence. The changes in D-region ionospheric VLF reflection heights (h) and electron density (n_e: 22.6–24.6 cm⁻³) during eclipse have been estimated from tweek analysis. The reflection height increased from ∼89 km from the first occurrence of tweek to about ∼93 km at the totality and then decreased to ∼88 km at the end of the eclipse, suggesting significant increase in tweek reflection height of about 5.5 km during the eclipse. The reflection heights at the time of totality during TSE are found to be less by 2–3 km as compared to the usual nighttime tweek reflection heights. This is due to partial nighttime condition created by TSE. A significant increase of 3 dB in the strength of the amplitude of VLF signal of 22.2 kHz transmitted from JJI-Japan is observed around the time of the total solar eclipse (TSE) as compared to a normal day. The modeled electron density height profile of the lower ionosphere depicts linear variation in the electron density with respect to solar radiation as observed by tweek analysis also. These low latitude ionospheric perturbations on the eclipse day are discussed and compared with other normal days.     

Observation of wave structures in the upper atmosphere by means of radio holographic analysis of the radio occultation data

A radio holographic approach, developed by Pavelyev (1998), Hocke (1999), Igarashi (2000), is applied to observation of wave phenomena in the upper atmosphere using Global Positioning System — “Microlab-1” satellite (GPS/MET) radio occultation data. In the current state the radio holography approach uses the radar focused synthetic aperture principle to obtain high spatial resolution, and to remove the interference part corresponding to scattering from the upper ionosphere. High spatial resolution and accuracy of the radio halographic method is validated by means of revealing the weak signal reflected from the sea in the GPS/MET radio occultation data. The radio holographic method gives a new possibility to measure directly the vertical gradient of the electron density altitude profile in the D-layer using the radio occultation signal. The results of the application of radio holographic analysis to two GPS/MET occultation events (07 February 1997, No. 0447, 0158), in the D-region of the ionosphere, are discussed. Wave structures in the electron density concentration with a vertical spatial period of 1.4–6 km, and variations in the electron density gradient from ±5·10⁹ to ±8·10⁹ [1/(m³km)], have been retrieved from the D-layer data. The features observed in the vertical electron density profiles may be connected with breaking of gravity waves in the D-layer of the ionosphere.     

利用太阳耀斑的电离层效应确定低纬度D层顶一氧化氮浓度

通过氧鎓离子化学计算了一次强太阳耀斑扰动期间低纬度(28°38′N)D层顶NO浓度。该方法适用于O+₂离子化学生存时间较短且负离子浓度与正离子相比可以忽略的80至87.5公里高度。计算结果表明,它相当好地符合Meira的实验观测剖面,只是85公里处的最小值特别弱。      

电离层D区域电子浓度和电子有效损耗率随时间的变化

本文根据D电离层的电离复合理论,讨论了利用单站、单一频率的LF天波资料连续监测和研究D区域固定高度上电子浓度N(h₀,t)和电子有效损耗率ψ(h₀,t)随时间变化的方法。应用这一方法对武昌站的部分实验资料作了分析,得到了N(h₀,t)的日变化、月变化曲线;并发现ψ(h₀,t)也有明显的日照效应,上、下午呈现显著的不对称性;两者的逐日变化都较小。      

Hybrid quadri-ionic model of the lower ionosphere

An ion model of the lower ionosphere is proposed. It consists of four positive ions: O₂⁺, NO⁺ and two cluster ions - a simpler CI₁ and a more complex CI₂. This model well explains the normal component of the winter anomaly (WA) in the D-region, which is recorded by absorption measurements on short radiowaves and rocket experiments at middle (40°N) and high (70°) latitudes. The higher values of the electron density during the winter appear as a result of the lower recombination because of smaller rates of cluster ion formation, i.e. the normal WA can be explained and modelled by the regular seasonal variations of composition, temperature and density.     

Sensing the Earth’s low ionosphere during solar flares using VLF signals and goes solar X-ray data

An analysis of D-region electron density height profile variations, induced by four isolated solar X-ray flares during period from September 2005 to December 2006, based on the amplitude and the phase delay perturbation of 22.1 kHz signal trace from Skelton (54.72 N, 2.88 W) to Belgrade (44.85 N, 20.38 E), coded GQD, was carried out. Solar flare data were taken from NOAA GOES12 satellite one-minute listings. For VLF data acquisition and recordings at the Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia, the AbsPAL system was used. Starting from LWPCv21 code (Ferguson, 1998), the variations of the Earth-ionosphere waveguide characteristic parameters, sharpness and reflection height, were estimated during the flare conditions. It was found that solar flare events affected the VLF wave propagation in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide by changing the lower ionosphere electron density height profile, in a different way, for different solar flare events.     

Comparison of the polar D-region behavior in the Arctic and Antarctic

The behavior of the polar D-region in the Arctic and Antarctic is studied on the basis of the database of the electron concentration measurements onboard the M-100B meteorological rockets launched at the Heiss Island and Molodezhnaya sites. All the measurements have been conducted by the same method, so their intercomparison is valid independently on the well known absolute calibration problem. It is found that there is a pronounced difference in the diurnal behavior of [e] in the upper D region at both sites. The [e] values demonstrate a correlation with the ΣKp magnetic index, the dependence being better pronounced in the dark period The [e] values demonstrate also a dependence on the neutral gas temperature T, the fact being a manifestation of the meteorological control of the D region even at high latitudes.     

Evaluating the IRI topside model for the South African region: An overview of the modelling techniques

The representation of the topside ionosphere (the region above the F2 peak) is critical because of the limited experimental data available. Over the years, a wide range of models have been developed in an effort to represent the behaviour and the shape of the electron density (Ne) profile of the topside ionosphere. Various studies have been centred around calculating the vertical scale height (VSH) and have included (a) obtaining VSH from Global Positioning System (GPS) derived total electron content (TEC), (b) calculating the VSH from ground-based ionosonde measurements, (c) using topside sounder vertical Ne profiles to obtain the VSH. One or a combination of the topside profilers (Chapman function, exponential function, sech-squared (Epstein) function, and/or parabolic function) is then used to reconstruct the topside Ne profile. The different approaches and the modelling techniques are discussed with a view to identifying the most adequate approach to apply to the South African region’s topside modelling efforts. The IRI-2001 topside model is evaluated based on how well it reproduces measured topside profiles over the South African region. This study is a first step in the process of developing a South African topside ionosphere model.