The relationship between TEC and Earth’s magnetic field during quiet and disturbed days over Istanbul,Turkey

In this study, the impact of Earth’s magnetic field on total electron content (TEC) was studied by using statistical multiple linear regression model and co-integration method. TEC values were measured over the Turkey-Istanbul (ista) station using date of global positioning system (GPS), and the magnetic field components of the Earth were measured from Boğaziçi University, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Geomagnetic observatory Istanbul (ISK) station. This examination has been carried out during the dates of March 14–19, 2015 covering the dates of March 17–18, 2015 known in the literature as St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm. The three days before the storm (March 14–16) were named as quiet days, whereas the other days (March 17–19) were named as disturbed days after which the two periods were examined separately. It was observed as a result of the examination that the x-component (south-north direction) of the magnetic field had a negative impact on TEC on quiet days, whereas the impact was positive on disturbed days. However, the y-component (east–west direction) of the magnetic field had an inverse relationship of the x-component on the quiet and disturbed days. In addition, it was deduced that the impact coefficient of the x and y-component of the magnetic field was higher on disturbed days in comparison with those on quiet days. The correlation coefficient between the TEC and the components of the Earth’s magnetic field was 0.11 on quiet days and 0.95 on disturbed days. Therefore, it can be stated that the relationship of the TEC values with the geomagnetic field are higher on disturbed days.     

Analysis of global TEC prediction performance of IRI-PLAS model

The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) empirical model provides valuable data for many fields including space and navigation applications. Since the IRI model gives the ionospheric parameters in the altitude range from 50?km to 2000?km, researchers focused on the IRI-PLAS model which is the plasmasphere extension of the IRI model. In this study, Total Electron Content (TEC) prediction performance of the IRI-PLAS model was examined at a global scale using the location of globally distributed 9 IGS stations. Besides the long term (01.01.2015–31.12.2015) behavior of the model, TEC predictions during the equinox and solstice days of 2014–2017 were also tested. IRI-PLAS-TEC values were examined in comparison with GPS-TEC data. Hourly interval of yearly profile exhibits that when the geomagnetic and solar active days are ignored, differences between IRI-PLAS-TEC and GPS-TEC are rather small (～2–3 TECU) at stations in the northern hemisphere, generally ～4–5 TECU level at the southern hemisphere stations and reaching above 10 TECU for few hours. While the IRI-PLAS-TEC generally overestimates the GPS-TEC at southern hemisphere stations during quiet days, the model-derived TEC underestimates GPS-TEC during solar active days. IRI-PLAS-TEC and GPS-TEC values exhibit similar trend for the equinoxes 21 March and 23 September which refer equivalent conditions.     

针对星载SAR法拉第旋转估计的NeQuick-2模型精度分析

P波段星载合成孔径雷达(SAR)凭借其较强的穿透能力,在对森林、沙地等观测方面具有较强的优势,但易受法拉第旋转等电离层干扰的影响,其图像质量严重下降。本文针对现有电离层模型的精度开展分析,以基于GPS的CODE GIM全球电离层实测数据为参考,对比评估NeQuick-2模型的电离层总电子量表征能力。在分析CODE GIM实测数据特点的基础上,讨论其在星载SAR领域的局限性;在解析NeQuick-2模型和方法的基础上,研究其表征精度的影响因素;通过对比该模型生成的电离层数据与CODE GIM数据,验证NeQuick-2模型的估计精度。结果表明:NeQuick-2模型可满足P波段星载SAR的法拉第旋转角估计和校正的需求。     

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.     

利用COSMIC数据构建的全球垂直TEC图的验证研究

在日固坐标系(地磁纬度和地方时)下, 累积地方时过去24h的COSMIC(Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere andClimate)观测资料, 通过对110$sim$750km高度范围内的电子密度进行数值积分得到各掩星点的垂直TEC值, 进而利用Kriging方法插值产生近实时的全球地方时MAGLat2.5°×2h的COSMIC TEC图. 利用2008年1月1日至2010年6月30日共30个月的COSMIC数据, 逐日构建COSMICTEC图, 将其与全球导航卫星系统服务组织(International GNSS Service,IGS)发布的全球电离层TEC图(Global Ionospheric Maps, GIMs)以及OSTM/JASON-2卫星高度计观测值分别进行比对,证明利用COSMIC掩星资料构建全球电离层垂直TEC图是可行的.      

相似预报法在电离层TEC短期预报中的应用

引入相似离度衡量样本间的相似程度, 并利用相似预报法对厦门一个GPS台站2004年电离层TEC观测数据进行了24,h预报试验. 结果表明, 预报相对误差与地磁活动水平密切相关, 地磁扰动条件下相对误差明显高于地磁平静时刻; 预报相对平均误差为18.022%, 地磁扰动时为44.896%, 地磁平静条件下为11.676%; 预报相对误差在10%, 20%, 30%, 40%以内的累积比例分别为38.209%, 65.075%, 84.984%,90.448%. 如果使用中纬地区或地磁平静期间的电离层TEC数据, 预报效果会更好.      

基于IRI背景场的单站电离层TEC地图重构技术

为了有效解决电离层TEC观测数据稀疏时重构问题, 引入IRI-2007作为背景场, 利用反距离加权法和克里格方法重构了电离层TEC地图, 使用交叉检验方法检验了引入背景场前后的重构精度. 结果表明, 引入背景场后, 一方面有效地控制了边缘地区的发散现象, 另一方面重构网格点上绝对误差在 -0.25~0.25 TECU之间的比例分别提高了约70 %和100 %, 误差统计基本呈正态分布. 可以通过引入更加精确的背景场或使用逐步订正方法进一步提高重构精度.      

Total electron content variations in equatorial anomaly region

Diurnal variations in the total electron content (TEC) at Makerere University (00°19′N, 32°40′E, Geo Dip −22°), Uganda, have been investigated using a NovAtel GSV400B GPS receiver for the year 2010. The highest TEC values occurred from 13h00 to 17h00 local time (LT) throughout the year, with the highest values being exhibited during equinoctial months. In addition, there was some correlation between this high TEC and the moderate storms that occurred in 2010. These high TEC values have been attributed to the solar EUV ionization coupled with the upward vertical ExB drift. Nighttime enhancements were also found to be seasonally dependant, attaining maximum values during equinoctial months. These results were also compared with modeled TEC values by the IRI-2007 model. The modeled values were in good agreement with the measured values except for these two points: (1) the model had a short-fall in predicting the nighttime enhancements; and (2) the model’s minimum TEC did not coincide with the measured minimum in most of the months. Observed TEC depletions were found to correlate with an increase in the S₄ index and have been identified as a manifestation of the plasma density depletions of the equatorial origin.     

Variability study of ionospheric total electron content at crest of equatorial anomaly in China from 1997 to 2007

The variation of TEC data at Wuhan station (geographic coordinate: 30.5°N, 114.4°E; geomagnetic coordinate: 19.2°N, 183.8°E) at crest of equatorial anomaly in China from January 1997 to December 2007 were analyzed. Variability with solar activity, annual, semiannual, diurnal and seasonal variation were also analyzed. The MSIS00 model and ISR model were used to analyze the possible mechanisms of the variabilities found in the results. The TEC data in 1997 and 2001 deduced from another crest station Xiamen (geographic coordinate: 24.4°N, 118.1°E; geomagnetic coordinate: 13.2°N, 187.4°E) were used to contrast. Analysis results show that long-term variations of TEC at Xiamen station are mainly controlled by the variations of solar activities. Typical diurnal variation behaves as a minimum of the TEC in the pre-dawn hours around 05:00–06:00LT and a maximum on the afternoon hours around 13:00–15:00LT. Some features like the semiannual anomaly and winter anomaly in TEC have been reported. The anomaly may be the result of common action of the electric field over the magnetic equatorial and the [O/N₂] at the crest station.     

Climatology of ionospheric scintillations and TEC trend over the Ugandan region

This study presents results on the investigation of the diurnal, monthly and seasonal variability of Total Electron Content (TEC), phase (_σΦ${\sigma }_{\mathrm{\Phi }}$) and amplitude (S4) scintillation indices over Ugandan (Low latitude) region. Scintillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) data was obtained from Makerere (0.34°N, 32.57°E) station, Uganda for two years (2011 and 2012). Data from two dual frequency GPS receivers at Mbarara (0.60°S, 30.74°E) and Entebbe (0.04°N, 32.44°E) was used to study TEC climatology during the same period of scintillation study. The results show that peak TEC values were recorded during the months of October–November, and the lowest values during the months of July–August. The diurnal peak of TEC occurs between 10:00 and 14:00 UT hours. Seasonally, the ascending and descending phases of TEC were observed during the equinoxes (March and September) and solstice (June and December), respectively. The scintillations observed during the study were classified as weak (0.1≤$\le$S4,_σΦ≤${\sigma }_{\mathrm{\Phi }}\le$0.3) and strong (0.3<$<$S4,_σΦ≤${\sigma }_{\mathrm{\Phi }}\le$1.0). The diurnal scintillation pattern showed peaks between 17:00 and 22:00 UT hour, while the seasonal pattern follows the TEC pattern mentioned above. Amplitude scintillation was more dominant than phase scintillation during the two years of the study. Scintillation peaks occur during the months of March–April and September–October, while the least scintillations occur during the months of June–July. Therefore, the contribution of this study is filling the gap in the current documentation of amplitude scintillation without phase scintillation over the Ugandan region. The scintillations observed have been attributed to wave-like structures which have periods of about 2–3 h, in the range of that of large scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs).