Introduction to Chinese Meridian Project-Phase II

The Chinese Meridian Project is a ground-based space environment monitoring network, which is constructed in two steps. The first step (Phase I) of the project consists of 15 observation stations located roughly along 120°E longitude and 30°N latitude. The second step (Phase II) of the project will additionally deploy 16 stations to better cover China's territory, and build a stereo monitoring capability to monitor the cause and effect of the space weather chain in the solar terrestrial system. Based on the existing two monitoring chains in Phase I, two more chains will be established along 100°E longitude and 40°N latitude, respectively, forming a double-cross network configuration. After the two-step construction, the whole project will run nearly 300 instruments deployed at 31 stations. Aside from standard instruments, quite a few innovative and powerful instruments will be developed, such as radioheliographs with a very wide frequency band, a 3-station incoherent scattering radar to make a 3D measurement of the ionosphere, and a helium lidar to measure atmosphere density up to an altitude of 1000 km.      

观测路径和光谱分辨率对吸收性气溶胶指数的影响

吸收性气溶胶指数（AAI）在监测污染物方面有较好的应用,其反演结果受边界层高度、云高、相对湿度以及仪器指标和观测几何路径等因素影响.利用大气辐射传输模型MODTRAN,对辐射传输方程中多次散射计算的不同近似方法和不同观测几何角度下的AAI进行模拟,研究这些因素对AAI结果的作用,并分析仪器光谱分辨率对AAI探测结果的影响.结果表明,折衷考虑计算效率与精度的情况下,应选择8流近似的离散坐标法进行带有多次散射计算的辐射方程解析.AAI在不同浓度和不同类型气溶胶下随观测角度变化的趋势相同:相对方位角<120°时,AAI误差在太阳天顶角和卫星方位角均为40°～60°时最大;相对方位角在120°～180°时误差均较小;光谱分辨率对AAI反演结果无明显影响.      

Temporal evolution of the EIA along 95°E as obtained from GNSS TEC measurements and SAMI3 model

The total electron content (TEC) derived from GNSS measurements at a trans-hemispheric meridional chain of ground stations around 95°E longitude are used to study the quiet time inter-hemispheric structure and dynamics of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) during the period March 2015 to February 2016. The stations are Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E, 43° dip), Kohima (25.6°N, 94.1°E, 39° dip), Aizawl (23.7°N, 92.8°E, 36° dip), Port Blair (11.63°N, 92.71°E, 9° dip) and Cocos Islands (12.2°S, 96.8°E, 43° dip). The observation shows that the northern crest of the EIA lies in the south of 23°N (Aizawl) in all seasons but recedes further south towards the equator during December solstice. The largest poleward expansion of the northern (southern) EIA is observed in the March equinox (December solstice). The equinoctial and hemispherical asymmetry of TEC is noted. The winter anomaly is observed in the northern hemisphere but not in the southern hemisphere. The highest midday TEC over any station is observed in the March equinox. The TEC in southern summer (December solstice) is significantly higher than that in the northern summer (June solstice). The observed northern EIA contracts equatorward in the postsunset period of solstice but the southern EIA persists late into the midnight in the December solstice. The asymmetry may be attributed to the different geographic location of the magnetically conjugate stations. The SAMI3 simulations broadly capture the EIA structure and the inter-hemispheric asymmetry during solstices. The difference between observations and the SAMI3 is higher in March equinox and December solstice. The higher E?×?B vertical drift in the 90–100°E sector and the large geographic-geomagnetic offset in observing stations may have contributed to the observed differences.     

Mean winds of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (60–110 km): A global distribution from radar systems (MF,Meteor, VHF)

During the last decade a large number of radars (～12) have been developed, which have produced substantial quantities of tidally-corrected mean winds data. The distribution of the radars is not global, but many areas are well covered: the Americas with Poker Flat (65°N), Saskatoon (52°N), Durham (43°N), Atlanta (34°N), Puerto Rico (18°N); Europe with Kiruna (68°), Garchy (47°N) and Monpazier (44°N); and Oceania with Christchurch (44°S), Adelaide (35°S), Townsville (20°S), and Kyoto (35°N). Zonal and meridional wind height-time cross-sections from $\text{60}\text{80}$ km (MF/Meteor Radar) to ～110 km have been prepared for the last 5–6 years. They are compared with cross-sections from CIRA-72 for zonal winds, and Groves (1969) for meridional winds.It is shown that while CIRA-72 is still a useful model for many purposes, significant differences exist between it and the new radar data. The latter demonstrate important seasonal, latitudinal, longitudinal and hemispheric variations. The new meridional cross-sections are of great value. The common features with Groves (1969) are the equatorward cells in summer near 85 km; however their strength (～10 ms^?1) and size are less. Systematic and somewhat different variations emerge at higher (?52°N) and middle (35–44°) latitudes.     

Seismogenic ionospheric anomalies associated with the strong Indonesian earthquake occurred on 11 April 2012 (M = 8.5)

Ionospheric perturbations in possible association with a major earthquake (EQ) (M?=?8.5) which occurred in India-Oceania region are investigated by monitoring subionospheric propagation of VLF signals transmitted from the NWC transmitter (F?=?19.8?kHz), Australia to a receiving station at Varanasi (geographic lat. 25.3°N, long 82.99°E), India. The EQ occurred on 11 April 2012 at 08:38:35?h UT (magnitude?≈?8.5, depth?=?10?km, and lat.?=?2.3°N, long.?=?93.0°E). A significant increase of few days before the EQ has been observed by using the VLF nighttime amplitude fluctuation method (fixed frequency transmitter signal). The analysis of total electron contents (TEC) derived from the global positioning system (GPS) at three different stations namely, Hyderabad (latitude 17.38°N, longitude 78.48°E), Singapore (latitude 1.37°N, longitude 103.84°E) and Port Blair (latitude 11.62°N, longitude 92.72°E) due to this EQ has also been presented. Significant perturbation in TEC data (enhancements and depletion) is noted before and after the main shock of the EQ. The possible mechanisms behind these perturbations due to EQ have also been discussed.     

中低纬电离层不同季节地磁暴响应的事例分析

利用中国中低纬台站漠河（53.5°N,122.3°E）、北京（40.3°N,116.2°E）、武汉（30.5°N,114.2°E）和三亚（18.3°N,109.6°E）的电离层观测数据,对比分析了4个台站电离层参数在2015年不同季节4个地磁扰动事件期间的变化特征.结果表明,4个磁暴事件期间电离层的响应特征并不完全一致,有着明显的季节特征,春季、夏季和秋季电离层以负相扰动为主,冬季以正相扰动为主.分析发现,中性成分O/N₂的降低与电离层负相扰动有关,但三亚地区的负相扰动还与扰动发电机电场相关.正相扰动的机制在不同事件中并不相同,穿透电场可能是引起春季磁暴事件期间电离层短时正暴效应的原因,而冬季长时间的正暴效应则是扰动电场和中性风共同作用的结果.      

太阳质子事件与太阳耀斑的关系

通过对0°W-39°W,40°W-70°W,71°W-90°W经度范围内太阳质子事件与太阳耀斑的相关性计算分析,发现太阳质子事件与太阳耀斑的相关系数依赖于经度.太阳耀斑积分与地球磁链接区域（40°W-70°W）太阳质子事件强度的相关系数最大.相关系数的这种特点与耀斑加速粒子的最大流量只出现在磁链接区域的特征相吻合.计算结果表明,太阳耀斑对太阳质子事件具有贡献,即耀斑对E ≥ 10MeV的质子加速有贡献.耀斑和CME在磁链接区域对太阳质子事件的贡献相同,这说明太阳质子事件是混合型事件.      

Ionospheric disturbances at low and mid-low latitudes of the South American sector during the March 2015 great storm

This paper analyzes the response of the near equatorial and low latitude ionosphere of the South American sector to the geomagnetic storm occurred on 17 March 2015. Ionosonde data from Ramey (18.5° N, 292.9° E), Jicamarca (12.0° S, 283.2° E), Boa Vista (2.8° N, 299.3° E), Sao Luis (2.6° S, 315.8° E), Fortaleza (3.9° S, 321.6° E) and Cachoeira Paulista (22.7° S, 315.0° E) are used for the study. The results show negative disturbances in foF2 at low latitudes during the main phase of the storm, which were attributed to prompt penetration electric fields. Thus, the Equatorial Anomaly (EA) started to reduce their structure in this sector since on 17 March. During the recovery phase (on 18 March), positive disturbances were observed at low, mid-low latitudes (in the post-midnight – predawn hours), which can be mainly attributed to enhanced storm-time neutral winds and composition changes (i.e., increase in the O/N2 ratio). Disturbance dynamo electric fields would also contribute in modulating the electron density of the EA during this storm period.     

On the performance of IRI-2016 to predict the North-South asymmetry of the equatorial ionization anomaly around 73°E longitude

The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) in both northern and southern Equatorial anomaly regions are examined by using the Global Positioning System (GPS) based TEC measurements around 73°E Longitude in the Asian sector. The TEC contour charts obtained at SURAT (21.16°N; 72.78°E; 12.9°N Geomagnetic Lat.) and DGAR (7.27°S; 72.37°E; 15.3°S Geomagnetic Lat.) over 73°E longitude during a very low solar activity phase (2009) and a moderate solar activity (2012) phase are used in this study. The results show the existence of hemispheric asymmetry and the effects of solar activity on the EIA crest in occurrence time, location and strength. The results are also compared with the TEC derived by IRI-2016 Model and it is found that the North-South asymmetry at the EIA region is clearly depicted by IRI-2016 with some discrepancies (up to 20% in the northern hemisphere at SURAT and up to 40% in the southern hemisphere at DGAR station for June Solstice and up to 10% both for SURAT and DGAR for December Solstice). This discrepancy in the IRI-2016 model is found larger during the year 2012 than that during the solar minimum year 2009 at both the hemispheres. Further, an asymmetry index, (A_i) is determined to illustrate the North-South asymmetry observed in TEC at EIA crest. The seasonal, annual and solar flux dependence of this index are investigated during both solstices and compared with the TEC derived by IRI.     

HXMT卫星空间环境监测器及初步观测结果

硬X射线调制望远镜（HXMT）卫星是中国首个专门进行天文探测的空间科学实验卫星,运行于高度约550km、倾角约43°的低地球轨道.星载空间环境监测器为星上科学任务开展提供背景辐射实测资料.该监测器采用固体探测器望远镜系统和扇形阵列全新组合设计,可获取轨道空间高能质子和高能电子能谱、方向综合动态结果,给出更为全面的粒子辐射分布图像.初步探测结果显示,卫星运行轨道遭遇的带电粒子辐射集中分布在经度80°W-20°E,纬度0°-40°S的南大西洋异常区,粒子辐射在该区域表现出不同程度的方向差异分布,高能电子方向差异分布显著强于高能质子.2017年9月空间环境扰动期间,爆发的太阳质子事件并未对该轨道粒子辐射产生影响,而地磁活动导致该轨道穿越经度120°W-60°E,纬度40°-43°N的北美上空和经度60°-120°E,纬度43°-40°S的澳大利亚西南区域时遭遇增强粒子辐射影响,增强的粒子辐射表现出极强的方向分布.      

Daily variation characteristics at polar geomagnetic observatories

This paper is based on the statistical analysis of the diurnal variation as observed at six polar geomagnetic observatories, three in the Northern and three in the Southern hemisphere. Data are for 2006, a year of low geomagnetic activity. We compared the Italian observatory Mario Zucchelli Station (TNB; corrected geomagnetic latitude: 80.0°S), the French–Italian observatory Dome C (DMC; 88.9°S), the French observatory Dumont D’Urville (DRV; 80.4°S) and the three Canadian observatories, Resolute Bay (RES; 83.0°N), Cambridge Bay (CBB; 77.0°N) and Alert (ALE, 87.2°N). The aim of this work was to highlight analogies and differences in daily variation as observed at the different observatories during low geomagnetic activity year, also considering Interplanetary Magnetic Field conditions and geomagnetic indices.     

Proposals for an Indian standard tropical atmosphere up to 50 km

In an earlier report [1] the authors proposed an Indian Standard Tropical Atmosphere (ISTA1) from mean sea level to 20 km. This proposal describes adequately the mean conditions from 0° to about 30°N. The present work extends ISTA1 to the higher altitude of 50 km based oni. World Data Center A reports on Rocket firings [2],ii. M-100 rocket data for Thumba, India [3],iii. Northern Reference Atmospheres data of Cole and Kantor [4], andiv. Southern Reference Atmospheres data of Koshelkov [5].The proposed atmosphere, called ISTA7, has a sea level temperature of 30°C and a constant lapse rate of 6.5°C/km up to 16 km, as in ISTA1; from a temperature of -74°C at this altitude, there is a constant lapse rate of -2.3°C/km up to 46 km where the temperature is -5°C; the temperature remains constant thereafter up to 50 km. The fact that variations with longitude are weak except at very high latitudes [4], together with the fact that around 50 km, the temperature increases from low to high latitudes, lead us to propose a constant temperature of -5°C between 46 and 50 km, even though this temperature is slightly higher (by about 5°C) than the Thumba data.$\text{1}$/     

Evidence for the geographic control of additional layer formation in the low-latitude ionosphere

Ionograms recorded from four ionosonde stations along the Western Pacific (WestPac) chain (about 122°E geographic, 192°E geomagnetic) are employed to study the occurrence of an additional layer at F-region altitudes during the 1–15 March 1998 WestPac campaign. It was found that the appearance of the additional layer at the local noontime hours is a typical phenomenon at Parepare (4°S geographic, 14.8°S geomagnetic). The additional layer was not clearly observed at Cebu (0.4°S geomagnetic) and Manila (3.7°N geomagnetic), and was not observed at Chung-Li (14.2°N geomagnetic) during the campaign. Furthermore, the additional layer was not seen from any of the station on 11 March 1998, a magnetically disturbed day. These results indicate that the fountain effect (produced by E×B motion) plays an important role in the formation of the additional layer. However, they also suggest the dynamics of the layer formation are in some way influenced by the location of the station relative to the geographic equator.     

Application of Wuhan Ionospheric Oblique Backscattering Sounding System (WIOBSS) for the investigation of midlatitude ionospheric irregularities

An upgrade of Wuhan Ionospheric Backscattering Sounding System (WIOBSS) was developed in 2015. Based on the Universal Serial Bus (USB), and a high performance FPGA, the newly designed WIOBSS has a completely digital structure, which makes it portable and flexible. Two identical WIOBSSs, which were situated at Mile (24.31°N, 103.39°E) and Puer (22.74°N, 101.05°E) respectively, were used to investigate the ionospheric irregularities. The comparisons of group distance, Doppler shift and width between Mile-Puer and Puer-Mile VHF ionospheric propagation paths indicate that the reciprocity of the irregularities is satisfied at midlatitude region. The WIOBSS is robust in the detection of ionospheric irregularities.     

Assessment of improvement of the IRI model over Ethiopia for the modeling of the variability of TEC during the period 2013–2016

This paper discusses the monthly and seasonal variation of the total electron content (TEC) and the improvement of performance of the IRI model in estimating TEC over Ethiopia during the solar maximum (2013–2016) phase employing as reference the GPS derived TEC data inferred from four GPS receivers installed in different regions of Ethiopia; Assosa (geog 10.05°N, 34.55°E, Geom. 7.01°N), Ambo (8.97°N, 37.86°E, Geom. 5.42°N), Nazret (8.57°N, 39.29°E, Geom. 4.81°N) and Arba Minch (6.06°N, 37.56°E, Geom. 2.62°N). The results reveal that, in the years 2013–2016, the highest peak GPS-derived diurnal VTEC is observed in the March equinox in 2015 over Arba Minch station. Moreover, both the arithmetic mean GPS-derived and modelled VTEC values, generally, show maximum and minimum values in the equinoctial and June solstice months, respectively in 2014–2015. However, in 2013, the minimum and maximum arithmetic mean GPS-derived values are observed in the March equinox and December solstice, respectively. The results also show that, even though overestimation of the modelled VTEC has been observed on most of the hours, all versions of the model are generally good to estimate both the monthly and seasonal diurnal hourly VTEC values, especially in the early morning hours (00:00–03:00?UT or 03:00–06:00?LT). However, it has also been shown that the IRI 2007 and IRI 2012 versions generally perform best in matching the diurnal GPS derived TEC values as compared to that of the IRI 2016 version. In addition, the IRI 2012 version with IRI2001 option for the topside electron density shows the highest overestimation of the VTEC as compared to the other options. None of the versions of the IRI model are proved to be able to capture the effects of geomagnetic storms.     

Longitudinal MLT wind structure at higher mid-latitudes as seen by meteor radars at central and Eastern Europe (13°E/49°E)

The mid-latitude mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) wind speeds measured by two SKiYMET meteor radars (MRs) at Collm (51°N, 13°E) and Kazan (56°N, 49°E) during 2016–2017 were analyzed to study longitudinal wind structures. The differences between monthly mean prevailing wind speeds and tidal amplitudes were compared with the corresponding differences obtained from TIMED/TIDI satellite winds and gradient wind speeds from the AURA/MLS instrument. It is shown that the MR wind difference between the two sites is statistically significant. The difference of the horizontal prevailing winds can be explained by a superposition of the background zonal flow, which is different at the two latitudes, with stationary planetary waves of different origin. Non-migrating tides contribute significantly to the difference of the semidiurnal tidal winds between the two sites.     

Responses of the upper middle atmosphere (60–110 km) to the stratwarms of the four pre-map winters (1978/9–1981/2)

The global developments of the four stratospheric events (～20–50 km) are described, using balloon, satellite and rocket data. Winds data for heights of 60–95 km, derived from L.F. drift (52°N, 15°E; Europe) and M.F. radar (52°N, 107°W; Canada), are then compared with the stratospheric data. There is clear evidence that the preliminary planetary waves often penetrate strongly to ～90 km, and that mean wind reversals also occur. However, there are dramatic differences between European and Canadian mesospheric responses.     

Exploring the effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on urban cooling: A tale of three cities

COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our society, environment and public health, in both positive and negative ways. The main aim of this study is to monitor the effect of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns on urban cooling. To do so, satellite images of Landsat 8 for Milan and Rome in Italy, and Wuhan in China were used to look at pre-lockdown and during the lockdown. First, the surface biophysical characteristics for the pre-lockdown and within-lockdown dates of COVID-19 were calculated. Then, the land surface temperature (LST) retrieved from Landsat thermal data was normalized based on cold pixels LST and statistical parameters of normalized LST (NLST) were calculated. Thereafter, the correlation coefficient (r) between the NLST and index-based built-up index (IBI) was estimated. Finally, the surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) of different cities on the lockdown and pre-lockdown periods was compared with each other. The mean NLST of built-up lands in Milan (from 7.71 °C to 2.32 °C), Rome (from 5.05 °C to 3.54 °C) and Wuhan (from 3.57 °C to 1.77 °C) decreased during the lockdown dates compared to pre-lockdown dates. The r (absolute value) between NLST and IBI for Milan, Rome and Wuhan decreased from 0.43, 0.41 and 0.16 in the pre-lockdown dates to 0.25, 0.24, and 0.12 during lockdown dates respectively, which shows a large decrease for all cities. Analysis of SUHI for these cities showed that SUHII during the lockdown dates compared to pre-lockdown dates decreased by 0.89 °C, 1.78 °C, and 1.07 °C respectively. The results indicated a high and substantial impact of anthropogenic activities and anthropogenic heat flux (AHF) on the SUHI due to the substantial reduction of huge anthropogenic pressure in cities. Our conclusions draw attention to the contribution of COVID-19 lockdowns (reducing the anthropogenic activities) to creating cooler cities.     

基于COSMIC掩星精密定轨数据的等离子体层电子含量研究

等离子体层是日地环境重要的组成部分.本文利用COSMIC掩星精密定轨数据经处理后得到的podTec文件获取等离子体层电子含量（PEC）对等离子体层进行研究.将podTec数据进行处理后获得的PEC（pod-PEC）和IRI-Plas经验模型提供的PEC （IRI-PEC）进行对比,发现pod-PEC与IRI-PEC符合得较好.在低（0°—20°）、中（20°—50°）、高（50°—90°）修正地磁纬度带下,分析了COSMIC在太阳活动极大年（2014年）3,6,9和12月的pod-PEC,得到如下结论:PEC随着纬度升高而逐渐减少,且3,9月PEC在中低纬关于磁赤道的南北对称性较好,6月北半球各纬度带的PEC明显高于南半球同一纬度带的值,而12月情况则完全相反,南半球中纬的PEC甚至会等于北半球低纬的PEC值;PEC在白天高而晚上低,高纬地区的PEC昼夜变化不明显;PEC具有明显的季节性.对于北半球,一年中PEC最大值出现在春季,冬秋季次之,夏季最低,具有明显的年度异常现象.