CAS-DIS数字电离层测高仪系统研制

提出了将射频直接采样数字化的接收方式应用于数字电离层测高仪系统的设计方案, 并详细介绍了该方案在CAS-DIS (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Digital Ionosonde)电离层测高仪系统的应用, 给出了CAS-DIS电离层测高仪在中国武汉电离层探测标校试验场和武汉-北京斜向电离层探测系统中的实验结果. 观测结果表明, 采用本文提出的数字化方案设计的电离层测高仪系统性能优越, 且可以分别工作在垂直和斜向探测模式, 满足了电离层探测的多种应用需求.      

NeQuick模式在亚太地区扇区电离层参数f0F2的预测能力

利用亚洲、澳大利亚地区8个电离层观测台站的F2层临界频率f0F2的历史观测数据,考察了NeQuick模式预报电离层基本参数f0F2在亚太扇区的适应性.对比分析表明,此模式能比较好地预测各地的F2层临界频率,其绝对误差在南半球各站相对北半球各站较大,太阳活动高年相对太阳活动低年较大,春秋季相对夏冬季较大.其误差均方根在太阳活动高年相对太阳活动低年较大.      

高精度多普勒频高图的获取和分析

电离层高频反射回波的多普勒频移是研究电离层扰动的一个重要参数。在数字测高仪探测中，高分辩率的多普勒频移一般在漂移测量中获得，但这种测量方式探测的频点少，不能获得扰动的高度剖面；而在频高图模式下，虽然工作的频点多，能够获得电子浓度的高度剖面的信息，但探测的多普勒频移的分辩率低，无法用来精确检测电离层扰动。实际的电离层高频回波一般为窄带信号，由此本文中提出了一种新的分析方法，利用DGS-256数字测高仪频高图模式下记录的16个多普勒通道的数据，通过反傅里叶变换还原成时域信号，采用最小二乘法估计相邻时间点的相位差，获得高精度多普勒频高图。作为实例，利用该方法分析武汉电离层观象台数字测高仪观测站的观测数据，得到了多频点的多普勒频移曲线。结果表明：在DGS-256数字测高仪频高图模式下能够得到高精度多普勒频高图，这在电离层扰动探测和研究中很在意义。     

中纬度观测的电离层F区经度效应及其模式计算

利用1956—1994年期间分别在长春和乌鲁木齐两观测站上观测的f0F2和f0F1月中值,定量分析了两站上观测的经度效应,讨论了产生两站上经度效应的可能物理机制,并与国际参考电离层模式的结果进行了比较．     

敏捷数字电离层测高仪系统研制及初步观测

在小型天线和低发射功率条件下，保证电离层测高仪观测数据质量和提高观测速度一直是电离层垂测的技术难点.针对这一问题，基于新近发展的高速数字芯片和射频器件，采用窄带跟踪滤波、脉冲压缩、编码复用和天线均衡匹配等技术，设计和研制一种敏捷数字电离层测高仪.该系统采用数米高的小型收发天线和便携式主机系统，配置任意频率扫描方式频高图、高分辨率多普勒频高图和斜向探测等多种工作模式，具有可流动观测布站、系统参数灵活捷变及适合快速电离层扰动探测等能力.敏捷数字电离层测高仪为组网观测获得大范围电离层时空变化和电离层快速扰动及传播提供了一种有效的探测手段.      

利用神经网络预报电离层f0F2

由中国武汉电离层台站和澳大利亚Hobart台站的电离层F2层临界频率(f0F2)的资料,利用三层前向反馈神经网络(BP网络),提出一种提前24h预测f0F2的方法,该方法以前5天观测的f0F2数据拟合的5个系数以及太阳活动参数作为输入,以当天24 h的f0F2作为输出对网络进行训练,训练好的网络可以实现对f0F2提前24 h的预报.预测结果显示,利用神经网络预测的f0F2与实际观测结果变化趋势较一致,并且比IRI的计算结果更加准确.误差分析表明,在南半球Hobart(-42.9°,147.3°)台站比中国武汉站(30.4°,114.3°)的结果要好,在低年比高年要好,在冬夏季节比春秋季节稍好.本文说明利用神经网络对电离层参量进行预报是一种切实可行的方法.     

利用F_(10.7)短期预报电离层F_0F_2

通过对电离层历史数据和太阳射电流量F10.7的回归分析,提出了一种单站电离层f0F2的短期预报方法,以F10.7的流动平均值fc为输入,以未米3天的f0F2为输出,分别利用中国地区8个台站的数据进行检验,分析不同太阳活动水平、季节以及地方时预报误差的分布特征.结果表明,该方法能有效地预测未来1～3天的f0F2.该方法还可应用于其他电离层参量的短期预报.     

风云三号C星GNOS北斗掩星电离层探测初步结果

利用风云三号卫星C星GNOS掩星探测仪电离层数据,分析了2013年10月FY-3C GNOS探测的北斗掩星电离层廓线分布,将2013年10月1日至2015年10月10日期间FY-3C GNOS观测的F₂层峰值电子密度（N_mF₂）与地面电离层测高仪观测结果进行对比,验证了FY-3C GNOS北斗电离层掩星的探测精度.结果表明,FY3-C GNOS北斗电离层掩星与电离层测高仪探测的N_mF₂数据相关系数为0.96,平均偏差为10.21%,标准差为19.61%.在不同情况下其数据精度有如下特征:白天精度高于夜晚;夏季精度高于分季,分季精度高于冬季;中纬地区精度高于低纬地区,低纬地区精度高于高纬地区; BDS倾斜同步轨道（IGSO）卫星精度高于同步轨道（GEO）卫星和中轨道（MEO）卫星.FY-3C GNOS北斗电离层掩星与国际上其他掩星电离层数据精度的一致性对GNSS掩星探测资料的综合利用具有重大意义.      

南极长城站电离层变化的数值模拟

南极长城站夏季电离层日变化具有Weddell海异常现象．本文利用一个一维时变理论模式，对长城站夏季电离层f0F2和hm日变化进行了数值模拟.我们讨论了中性风和顶部输运通量对f0F2和hm的影响，认为模拟计算得到的f0F2值比实测值要大的一个主要原因是国际参考电离层给出的上边界值偏大.文章最后介绍了一个获得实际的f0F2和hm的方法.     

地磁活动对电离层f0F2月中值的影响与国际参考电离层误差

利用我国9个中低纬度的电离层观测站在1977-1986年间观测的f0F2月中值,按每月的平均地磁活动指数Ap分为地磁活动高（Ap≥5）和低（Ap＜15）两种情况,研究了地磁活动对f0F2月中值平均低纬电离层驼峰区演变的影响,并考察了国际参考电离层（IRI）的误差．     

电离层虚高的高精度测量与分析

为了提高电离层虚高测量精度,介绍了利用电离层回波相位实现高精度虚高测量的方法,并以CADI(Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde)电离层数字测高仪为研究平台,进行组合脉冲控制和回波相位测量分析,开展了一系列虚高测量实验,并与传统的利用回波时间延迟的虚高测量方法进行了分析比较.实验结果表明,基于回波相位的测量分析方法与回波时延测量分析方法相比,其虚高测量精度高一个量级以上,这对精确反演电离层峰下电子浓度剖面及研究电离层精细结构具有重要意义.      

电离层TEC日落阶段涨落异常增强现象研究

重点报道了一种TEC信距测量的夜间抖动异常现象，分析了这种现象的观测特征，指出了夜间GPS伪距观测是的异常抖动，特别是日落后时段GPS伪距观测量的散开十分严重的乐是个别的偶然现象，在考察了周围环境之后初步排除了这种现象是由周围地物引起的可能性，而进一步与电离层不均匀体（Spread-F)的特征，特别是它发生率最大的地方时进行比较，认为这是一种电离层效应，由大尺度的电离层不规则结构造成的散射很可能是这种夜间散开的主要原因。本文仅就单站GPS观测资料认证了这种夜间强烈抖动的存在，分析了北京上空电离层中发生的不均匀体或各种扰动对GPS信号的可能影响及其观测特征，指出了夜间GPS伪距观测量的异常抖动，特别是日落后时段GPS伪距观测量的散开十分严重的现象，可以用于电离层不规则结构的研究。由于GPS设备比较简便，数据量大，精度高，适用于各种环境等特点，我们发展的单站数据分析方法可能会对研究电离层TEC夜间涨落异常增加现象，包括地域，时间上的统计特性比较有利。     

Power variation analysis of echo signals from ionospheric reflectors

A series of Power Virtual Height measurements (PVH) of radio echoes reflected from the ionosphere were acquired at a given frequency during the period 3–22 January 2008 with the purpose of studying the slow fading variations through time of the ionospheric channel. To obtain PVH data, an ionospheric vertical sounding system was suitably adapted to work at a single fixed frequency. PVH measurements were recorded between two routine ionospheric vertical soundings, providing a data type that enables evaluation of fading fluctuation through time. The time stability of the ionospheric layers is determined by analyzing the level of the received signal power within a chosen threshold. In this paper the fading behaviour and its characteristics are described, considering only temporal periodicity above 0.5 s. In a further analysis a relation is demonstrated between the recorded fading and the time stability of the signal within a fixed interval of values.     

Ionospheric storm of September 2017 observed at ionospheric station Pruhonice,the Czech Republic

The ionospheric effects induced by the September 2017 storm have been exceptional compared to other events in the solar cycle 24. This paper gathers results of the ionospheric observations at the European middle latitude station Pruhonice. It consists of evaluation of ionospheric vertical and oblique sounding, Digisonde drift measurement, and data obtained from the Continuous Doppler Sounding System. We observed strong ionospheric response with an unusual stratification of ionospheric layers, Large Scale Traveling ionospheric disturbances, changes in electron density, and increase and oscillations in plasma drift velocity.     

Mitigation of receiver biases in ionospheric observables from PPP with ambiguity resolution

PPP (Precise Point Positioning) is a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) positioning method that requires SSR (State Space Representation) corrections in order to provide solutions with an accuracy of centimetric level. The so-called RT-PPP (Real-time PPP) is possible thanks to real-time precise SSR products, for orbits and clocks, provided by IGS (International GNSS Service) and its associate analysis centers such as CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales). CNES SSR products also enable RT-PPP with integer ambiguity resolution. In GNSS related literature, PPP with ambiguity resolution (PPP-AR) in real-time is often referred as PPP-RTK (PPP – Real Time Kinematic). PPP-WIZARD (PPP - With Integer and Zero-difference Ambiguity Resolution Demonstrator) is a software that is made available by CNES. This software is capable of performing PPP-RTK. It estimates slant ionospheric delays and other GNSS positioning parameters. Since ionospheric effects are spatially correlated by GNSS data from active networks, it is possible to model and provide ionospheric delays for any position in the network coverage area. The prior knowledge ionospheric delays can reduce positioning convergence for PPP-RTK users. Real-time ionospheric models could benefit from highly precise ionospheric delays estimated in PPP-AR. In this study, we demonstrate that ionospheric delays obtained throughout PPP-AR estimation are actu ally ionospheric observables. Ionospheric observables are biased by an order of few meters caused by the receiver hardware biases. These biases prohibit the use of PPP-WIZARD ionospheric delays to produce ionospheric models. Receiver biases correction is essential to provide ionospheric delays while using PPP-AR based ionospheric observables. In this contribution, a method was implemented to estimate and mitigate receiver hardware biases influence on slant ionospheric observables from PPP-AR. In order to assess the proposed approach, PPP-AR data from 12 GNSS stations were processed over a two-month period (March and April 2018). A comparison between IGS ionospheric products and PPP-AR based ionospheric observables corrected for receiver biases, resulted in a mean of differences of −39 cm and 51 cm standard deviation. The results are consistent with the accuracy of the IGS ionospheric products, 2–8 TECU, considering that 1 TECU is ~16 cm in L1. In another analysis, a comparison of ionospheric delays from 5 pairs of short baselines GNSS stations found an agreement of 0.001 m in mean differences with 22 cm standard deviation after receiver biases were corrected. Therefore, the proposed solution is promising and could produce high quality (1–2 TECU) slant ionospheric delays. This product can be used in a large variety of modeling approaches, since ionospheric delays after correction are unbiased. These results indicate that the proposed strategy is promising, and could benefit applications that require accuracy of 1–2 TECU (~16–32 cm in L1).     

Study of the ionosphere during a magnetospheric storm using data on the ground and in space

For the magnetospheric storm of May 14–16, 1997 geophysical data of satellites DMSP and IMP-8 are compared with data of radio propagation on the high-latitude HF radio path of Heiss Island – St. Petersburg and data from European ionosondes. Peculiarities of variations of the operational frequencies range MOF–LOF (maximum and lowest observed frequencies) on the path were considered. The range has been determined by the method of oblique ionospheric sounding (OIS). The latter is more informative for observations during a magnetic storm compared to the vertical sounding method. Nevertheless, an analysis of variations of the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer from the chain of European ionosondes was carried out. For interpretation of results, data of magnetospheric parameters, AE-indexes and riometer data were used. The variations of both frequency range on the path and critical frequencies of the F2 layer through the ionosondes chain during the disturbed period had certain regularities of behaviour. These regularities are being explained from the physical point of view. The analysis of the satellite DMSP data has showed that a magnetospheric disturbance causes displacement equatorward of precipitation and some growth of its width and energy.     

Impact of heliogeophysical disturbances on ionospheric HF channels

The article presents the results of the observation of a strong magnetic storm and two X-ray flares during the summer solstice in 2015, and their impact on the HF signals characteristics in ionospheric oblique sounding. It was found that the negative phase of the magnetic storm led to a strong degradation of the ionospheric channel, ultimately causing a long blackout on paths adjacent to subauroral latitudes. On mid-latitude paths, the decrease in 1FMOF reached ～50% relative to the average values for the quiet ionosphere. It is shown that the propagation conditions via the sporadic Es layer during the magnetic storm on a subauroral path are substantially better than those for F-mode propagation via the upper ionosphere. The delay of the sharp decrease in 1FMOF during the main phase of the magnetic storm allowed us to determine the propagation velocity of the negative phase disturbances (～100 m/s) from subauroral to mid-latitude ionosphere along two paths: Lovozero – Yoshkar-Ola and Cyprus – Nizhny Novgorod. It is shown that both the LOF and the signal/noise ratio averaged over the frequency band corresponding to the propagation mode via the sporadic Es layer correlate well with the auroral AE index. Using an over-the-horizon chirp radar with a bistatic configuration on the Cyprus – Rostov-on-Don path, we located small-scale scattering irregularities responsible for abnormal signals in the region of the equatorial boundary of the auroral oval.     

Fading in the HF ionospheric channel and the role of irregularities

It is well known that the ionosphere affects radio wave propagation especially in the high frequency (HF) range. HF radio waves reflected by the ionosphere can reach considerable distances, often with changes in amplitude, phase, and frequency. The ionosphere is a dispersive in frequency and time, bi-refractive, absorbing medium, in which multipath propagation due to traveling irregularities is very frequent. The traveling irregularities undulate the reflecting ionospheric layer, introducing variations in signal amplitude (fading). In this multipath time variant channel fading is mainly considered, even though it is not the sole effect. Echo signals from a single reflection, as in ionospheric vertical sounding (VIS) techniques, are affected by a certain degree of variability even in quiet ionospheric conditions. In this work the behavior of the ionospheric channel is studied and characterized by observing the power variation of received echoes using the VIS technique. Multipath fading was analyzed quantifying the power variation of the signal echo due to irregularities on a temporal scale from 0.5 to 256 s. An experimental set-up derived from an ionosonde was implemented and the analysis was performed employing a special numerical algorithm operating off-line on the acquired time sequence of the signal. The gain-loss of the irregularity shapes are determined in some special cases.     

利用C频段卫星电视信号研究电离层闪烁

本文介绍卫星电视信号特性和电高层闪烁的观测结果。结果说明在民用卫星TV接收机上配接口电路接收卫星电视信号能作c频段电离层闪烁研究。