Upregulation of erythropoietin receptor in UT-7/EPO cells inhibits simulated microgravity-induced cell apoptosis

Hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation can be altered in either spaceflight or under simulated microgravity experiments on the ground, however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Our previous study showed that exposure of the human erythropoietin (EPO)-dependent leukemia cell line UT-7/EPO to conditions of simulated microgravity significantly inhibited the cellular proliferation rate and induced cell apoptosis. We postulated that the downregulation of the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) expression in UT-7/EPO cells under simulated microgravity may be a possible reason for microgravity triggered apoptosis. In this paper, a human EPOR gene was transferred into UT-7/EPO cells and the resulting expression of EPOR on the surface of UT-7/EPO cells increased approximately 61% (p < 0.05) as selected by the antibiotic G418. It was also shown through cytometry assays and morphological observations that microgravity-induced apoptosis markedly decreased in these UT-7/EPO–EPOR cells. Thus, we concluded that upregulation of EPOR in UT-7/EPO cells could inhibit the simulated microgravity-induced cell apoptosis in this EPO dependent cell line.     

Inhibitory effect of simulated microgravity on differentiating preosteoblasts

The bone loss induced by microgravity is partly due to the decrease of mature osteoblasts. In the present study, we employed the random positioning machine (RPM) to simulate microgravity and investigated the acute effects of simulated microgravity on the differentiation of 2T3 preosteoblasts. Following 7 days’ culture under normal (1 g) condition, cells were exposed to simulated microgravity for 24 h. The results showed that 24 h treatment of simulated microgravity significantly decreased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity without changing the cell morphology. In addition, the mRNA expressions of osteogenic genes, including runt-related gene 2 (Runx2), osterix, osteocalcin (OC), type I collagen (Col I) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), were dramatically downregulated. Moreover, western blot analysis of total extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and phosphorylated Erk (p-Erk) indicated that p-Erk level, which represents the Erk activation status, was increased. Taken together, our results suggested that acute exposure to simulated microgravity inhibited osteoblast differentiation through modulating the expression of osteogenic genes and the Erk activity. These findings provide new insight for bone loss due to microgravity and unloading.     

Simulated microgravity inhibits cell wall regeneration of Penicillium decumbens protoplasts

This work compares cell wall regeneration from protoplasts of the fungus Penicillium decumbens under rotary culture (simulated microgravity) and stationary cultures. Using an optimized lytic enzyme mixture, protoplasts were successfully released with a yield of 5.3 × 10⁵ cells/mL. Under simulated microgravity conditions, the protoplast regeneration efficiency was 33.8%, lower than 44.9% under stationary conditions. Laser scanning confocal microscopy gave direct evidence for reduced formation of polysaccharides under simulated conditions. Scanning electron microscopy showed the delayed process of cell wall regeneration by simulated microgravity. The delayed regeneration of P. decumbens cell wall under simulated microgravity was likely caused by the inhibition of polysaccharide synthesis. This research contributes to the understanding of how gravitational loads affect morphological and physiological processes of fungi.     

Personality,social support and affective states during simulated microgravity in healthy women

This study investigated the time-course of stress and recovery states and their relations to social support and personality traits in healthy women during a long-term head-down tilt bed rest. Personality, social support and affective states were assessed in 16 women exposed to simulated microgravity for a 60-day duration involving three stages: a 20-day baseline control period (BDC), a 60-day head-down tilt bed rest (HDT) and a 20-day post-HDT ambulatory recovery period (R+). Participants were divided into two groups: an exercise (Exe, n = 8) and a control group (Ctl, n = 8). All the participants experienced significantly more stress during the HDT period. But exercise did not improve the impaired effects of simulated microgravity. The Exe group perceived more stress and less recovery than the Ctl group during the HDT period. Among the five major personality factors, only Neuroticism was related to both social and affective variables. Neuroticism was positively associated with stress and negatively associated with recovery and social support (S-SSQ). Practical implications in psychological countermeasures for better dealing with the key human factor in spaceflights are discussed.     

Simulated microgravity inhibits the proliferation of K562 erythroleukemia cells but does not result in apoptosis

Astronauts and experimental animals in space develop the anemia of space flight, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, the impact of simulated microgravity on proliferation, cell death, cell cycle progress and cytoskeleton of erythroid progenitor-like K562 leukemia cells was observed. K562 cells were cultured in NASA Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) that was used to simulate microgravity (at 15 rpm). After culture for 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h, the cell densities cultured in RCCS were only 55.5%, 54.3%, 67.2% and 66.4% of the flask-cultured control cells, respectively. The percentages of trypan blue-stained dead cells and the percentages of apoptotic cells demonstrated no difference between RCCS-cultured cells and flask-cultured cells at every time points (from 12 h to 96 h). Compared with flask-cultured cells, RCCS culture induced an accumulation of cell number at S phase concomitant with a decrease at G0/G1 and G2/M phases at 12 h. But 12 h later (from 24 h to 60 h), the distribution of cell cycle phases in RCCS-cultured cells became no difference compared to flask-cultured cells. Consistent with the changes of cell cycle distribution, the levels of intercellular cyclins in RCCS-cultured cells changed at 12 h, including a decrease in cyclin A, and the increasing in cyclin B, D1 and E, and then (from 24 h to 36 h) began to restore to control levels. After RCCS culture for 12–36 h, the microfilaments showed uneven and clustered distribution, and the microtubules were highly disorganized. These results indicated that RCCS-simulated microgravity could induce a transient inhibition of proliferation, but not result in apoptosis, which could involve in the development of space flight anemia. K562 cells could be a useful model to research the effects of microgravity on differentiation and proliferation of hematopoietic cells.     

A tentative statistical analysis of flare events observed by NoRH and NoRP

In this paper, we report the statistical analysis of flare events observed by NoRH during 1992–2005 and NoRP during 1994–2005. We give the power law indices for the frequency distribution of peak brightness temperature which is 1.87 ± 0.05 for 17 GHz observation and is 1.64 ± 0.04 for 34 GHz observation. We also present the frequency variation of power law indices for peak flux and total energy of flare for NoRP observation, which is mono-increasing from 1 to 17 GHz.     

Simulation of depth–dose distributions for various ions in polyethylene medium

Study of depth–dose distributions for intermediate energy ion beams in tissue-like media such as polyethylene (CH₂)_n provides a good platform for further improvements in the fields of hadrontherapy and space radiation shielding. The depth–dose distributions for ¹²C ions at various energies and for light and intermediate ion beams (³He, ¹⁶O, ²⁰Ne and ²⁸Si) as well as for heavy ions ⁵⁶Fe in polyethylene were estimated by using simulation toolkit: Geant4. Calculations were performed mainly by considering two different combinations of standard electromagnetic (EM), binary cascade (BIC), statistical multifragmentation (SMF) and Fermi breakup (FB) models. The energies of the ion beams were selected to achieve the Bragg peaks at predefined position (∼60 mm) and as per their availability. Variations of peak-to-entrance ratio (from 7.44 ± 0.05 to 8.87 ± 0.05), entrance dose (from 2.89 ± 0.01 to 203.71 ± 0.63 MeV/mm) and entrance stopping power (from 3.608 to 208.858 MeV/mm, calculated by SRIM) with atomic number (Z) were presented in a systematic manner. The better peak-to-entrance ratio and less entrance dose in the region Z = 2 to 8 (i.e. ³He to ¹⁶O) may provide the suitability of the ion beams for hadrontherapy.     

Measurement of mesopause temperature from hydroxyl nightglow at Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E), India

The paper reports the nightglow observations of hydroxyl (8–3), (7–2) and (6–2) Meinel band carried out at a low latitude station Kolhapur (16.8°N, 74.2°E, dip latitude 10.6°N), India during November 2002 to May 2005 with the objective of investigating mesopause dynamics based on derived OH rotational temperature. Overall, 132 nights of quality data were collected using filter-tilting photometer and an all-sky scanning photometer. The mean mesopause temperature observed at Kolhapur is 195 ± 11, 196 ± 9 and 195 ± 7 K from OH (8–3), (7–2) and (6–2) band emissions, respectively, using transition probabilities given by Langhoff et al. [Langhoff, S.R., Werner, H.J., Rosmus, P. Theoretical transition probabilities for the OH Meinel system. Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy 118, 507–529, 1986]. Small wave-like variations (periodicities ∼ few hours) existing over long period variations in derived temperatures are also present. A steady decrease of emission intensities from evening to dawn hours has been observed in approximately 59% of nights. No significant change of nightly mean temperatures has been noted. Furthermore, about 62% of observed nightly mean temperatures lie within one error bar of MSISE-90 model predictions.     

Rigidity spectrum of the 27-day variation of the galactic cosmic ray intensity in different epochs of solar activity

We study the temporal evolution of the power rigidity spectrum of the first (27 days) and the second (14 days) harmonics of the 27-day variation of the galactic cosmic ray intensity measured by neutron monitors in the period of 1965–2002. The rigidity spectrum of these variations can be approximated by a power law. We show the rigidity spectra of the first and the second harmonics of the 27-day variation of the galactic cosmic ray intensity have similar time profiles. These spectra are hard (γ ≈ 0.5 ± 0.1) and soft (γ ≈ 1.1 ± 0.2) during solar maximum and minimum activity, respectively. We ascribe this to the alternation of the sizes of the modulation regions responsible for the 27-day variation of the galactic cosmic ray intensity in different epochs of solar activity. Especially, the average radial sizes of the modulation regions of the 27-day variation and the heliolatitudinal extension of the heliolongitudinal asymmetry are smaller during solar minimum than during solar maximum. We show also, that the temporal changes of the power rigidity spectra of the first and the second harmonics of the 27-day variation of the galactic cosmic ray intensity are in a negative correlation with the changes of the rigidity spectrum of the corresponding 11-year variation.     

Coastal sea level changes in Europe from GPS,tide gauge,satellite altimetry and GRACE, 1993–2011

Sea level changes are threatening the human living environments, particularly along the European Coasts with highly dense population. In this paper, coastal sea level changes in western and southern Europe are investigated for the period 1993–2011 using Global Positioning System (GPS), Tide Gauge (TG), Satellite Altimetry (SA), Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and geophysical models. The mean secular trend is 2.26 ± 0.52 mm/y from satellite altimetry, 2.43 ± 0.61 mm/y from TG+GPS and 1.99 ± 0.67 mm/y from GRACE mass plus steric components, which have a remarkably good agreement. For the seasonal variations, annual amplitudes of satellite altimetry and TG+GPS results are almost similar, while GRACE Mass+Steric results are a little smaller. The annual phases agree remarkably well for three independent techniques. The annual cycle is mainly driven by the steric contributions, while the annual phases of non-steric (mass component) sea level changes are almost a half year later than the steric sea level changes.     

Modelling the effects of microgravity on the permeability of air interface respiratory epithelial cell layers

Although it has been suggested that microgravity might affect drug absorption in vivo, drug permeability across epithelial barriers has not yet been investigated in vitro during modelled microgravity. Therefore, a cell culture/diffusion chamber was designed specifically to accommodate epithelial cell layers in a 3D-clinostat and allow epithelial permeability to be measured under microgravity conditions in vitro with minimum alteration to established cell culture techniques. Human respiratory epithelial Calu-3 cell layers were used to model the airway epithelium. Cells grown at an air interface in the diffusion chamber from day 1 or day 5 after seeding on 24-well polyester Transwell cell culture inserts developed a similar transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) to cells cultured in conventional cell culture plates. Confluent Calu-3 layers exposed to modelled microgravity in the 3D-clinostat for up to 48 h maintained their high TER. The permeability of the paracellular marker ¹⁴C-mannitol was unaffected after a 24 h rotation of the cell layers in the 3D-clinostat, but was increased 2-fold after 48 h of modelled microgravity. It was demonstrated that the culture/diffusion chamber developed is suitable for culturing epithelial cell layers and, when subjected to rotation in the 3D-clinostat, will be a valuable in vitro system in which to study the influence of microgravity on epithelial permeability and drug transport.     

Characterizing parameters of Jatropha curcas cell cultures for microgravity studies

Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) is a tropical perennial species identified as a potential biofuel crop. The oil is of excellent quality and it has been successfully tested as biodiesel and in jet fuel mixes. However, studies on breeding and genetic improvement of jatropha are limited. Space offers a unique environment for experiments aiming at the assessment of mutations and differential gene expression of crops and in vitro cultures of plants are convenient for studies of genetic variation as affected by microgravity. However, before microgravity studies can be successfully performed, pre-flight experiments are necessary to characterize plant material and validate flight hardware environmental conditions. Such preliminary studies set the ground for subsequent spaceflight experiments. The objectives of this study were to compare the in vitro growth of cultures from three explant sources (cotyledon, leaf, and stem sections) of three jatropha accessions (Brazil, India, and Tanzania) outside and inside the petriGAP, a modified group activation pack (GAP) flight hardware to fit petri dishes. In vitro jatropha cell cultures were established in petri dishes containing a modified MS medium and maintained in a plant growth chamber at 25 ± 2 °C in the dark. Parameters evaluated were surface area of the explant tissue (A), fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) for a period of 12 weeks. Growth was observed for cultures from all accessions at week 12, including subsequent plantlet regeneration. For all accessions differences in A, FW and DW were observed for inside vs. outside the PetriGAPs. Growth parameters were affected by accession (genotype), explant type, and environment. The type of explant influenced the type of cell growth and subsequent plantlet regeneration capacity. However, overall cell growth showed no abnormalities. The present study demonstrated that jatropha in vitro cell cultures are suitable for growth inside PetriGAPs for a period of 12 weeks. The parameters evaluated in this study provide the basic ground work and pre-flight assessment needed to justify a model for microgravity studies with jatropha in vitro cell cultures. Future studies should focus on results of experiments performed with jatropha in vitro cultures in microgravity.     

Satellite and ground detection of very dense smoke clouds produced on the islands of the Paraná river delta that affected a large region in Central Argentina

Intense fires were produced on the Paraná river delta islands, Argentina, during most part of 2008, by a combination of an exceptionally dry period and the farmers’ use of a fire land-cleaning technique. In April 2008, those fires significantly affected the nearby regions and their inhabitants, from Rosario city to Buenos Aires mega-city. In this work we present satellite as well as ground Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at 550 nm data obtained during the propagation of pollution clouds to the central zone of Argentina. The highest value (1.18) was registered at Buenos Aires by atmospheric remote sensing, using the satellite instrument MODIS/Terra on April 18th 2008 at 10:35 local time (= UT − 3 h). On the same day, ground air quality detectors also measured in this city the highest Total Suspended Particle (TSP) value of the month, 2.02 mg/m³. The AOD(550) daily variation at Rosario Astronomical Observatory, which is located near the Paraná riverside, was derived by combining solar ultraviolet erythemal irradiance data (measured with a YES biometre) with model calculations. On April 25th 2008, from 12:00 to 15:30 local time, a rather high and constant AOD(550) value was registered, with a mean value of (0.90 ± 0.21). Cities located on the side of the Rosario–Buenos Aires highway (San Nicolás, Baradero and San Pedro) were also affected, showing a mean AOD(550) between the Rosario and Buenos Aires values. The particulate matter was collected with gridded samplers placed on the Paraná river islands as well as at the Rosario Observatory. They were analysed with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and mainly showed a biological origin. Even if normally large particles travel small distances from the source, organic aerosol in the range of 40–100 μm and complex asymmetric structures were registered several kilometres away from the aerosol sources on the islands. Another event of intense UV index attenuation (98.6%) occurred on September 18th 2008, due to very dense smoke clouds that extended over the Rosario area for several hours. The clouds were driven away from the fires by East–northeast and East–southeast winds. The minimum value of this index measured around noon allows to derive a maximum AOD(550)_max = (3.65 ± 0.90) at 12:45 local time. Soot clouds extended over the Paraná river, transporting Burned Biomass Debris (BBD) that deposited on Rosario. In particular, burned leaves and small branches with dimensions of 1–20 cm were collected. The mean (BBD) particles deposited on the ground from 7:00 to 19:00 local time were (0.92 ± 0.20) BBD/(m² h).     

The contribution of local gravimetric geoid models to the calibration of satellite altimetry data and an outlook of the latest GOCE GGM performance in Gavdos

The use of geoid heights has been one of the available methodologies utilized for the independent calibration/validation of altimeters on-board satellites. This methodology has been employed for long in the Gavdos dedicated cal/val facility (Crete, Greece), where calibration results for the Jason satellites have been estimated, both for ascending and descending passes. The present work gives a detailed overview of the methodology followed in order to estimate a high-resolution and accuracy gravimetric geoid model for the wider Gavdos area, in support of the on-going calibration work. To estimate the geoid model, the well-known remove-compute-restore method is used while residual geoid heights are estimated through least-squares collocation so that associated errors are determined as well. It is found that the estimated formal geoid errors from LSC along passes 018 and 109 of Jason satellites, used for the bias estimation, range between ±0.8–1.6 cm. The so-derived geoid heights are employed in the determination of the Jason-2 altimeter bias for all available cycles (cycles 1-114, spanning the period from July 2008 to August 2011) together with the RioMed DOT model. From the results acquired the Jason-2 bias has been estimated to be +196.1 ± 3.2 mm for pass 109 and +161.9 ± 5.1 mm for pass 018. Within the same frame, the GOCE/GRACE-based geopotential model GOCO02s has been used to estimate the mean dynamic ocean topography and the steady-state circulation in the area around Gavdos. The so-derived DOT model was used to estimate the Jason-2 bias in an effort to evaluate the performance of satellite-only geoid models and investigate whether their spatial resolution and accuracy provides some improvement w.r.t. traditional local gravimetric geoids. From the results acquired with geoid heights from GOCO02s, the estimated Jason-2 bias deviates significantly from that of the local gravimetric model, which can be attributed to a possible mean offset and the low resolution of GOCE-based GGMs. On the other hand, when the newly estimated GOCE-based DOT was employed with geoid heights from the local gravimetric geoid model, the Jason-2 bias has been estimated to be +185.1 ± 3.2 mm for pass 109 and +130.2 ± 5.1 mm for pass 018.     

Properties of traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs) inferred from CHAMP accelerometer observations

Densities derived from accelerometer measurements on the CHAMP satellite near 400 km are used to statistically establish characteristics of large-scale (>1000 km) traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs). Only TADs that at least propagate from the auroral zone to the equator are analyzed here, and a total of 21 identifiable events are found over the years 2001–2007. The average speed of all TADs, regardless of local time, is 646 ± 122 ms⁻¹. The average speeds on the dayside and nightside are 595 ± 127 ms⁻¹ and 685 ± 106 ms⁻¹, respectively, i.e., the speed appears to be 10% higher on average on the nightside. On six occasions TADs were only detected on the night side; however, TADs on the dayside often appear more distinctly in the data. Moreover, contrary to some theoretical expectations, dayside TADs do not dissipate more readily than night side TADs, although much less are detected between 8–20 solar local time. No clear dependence of TAD amplitude or phase speed with respect to Kp, or rate of increase of Kp, is found.     

Estimation of the elastic Earth parameters (h2, l2) using SLR data

We present results for the global elastic parameters h₂ and l₂ derived from the analysis of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) data. SLR data for the two satellites LAGEOS 1 and LAGEOS 2 observed during 2.5 years from January 3, 2005 until July 1, 2007 with 18 globally distributed ground stations were analysed using different approaches. The analysis was done separately for the two satellites and approaches to estimate the two elastic parameters independently and together were performed. We do a sequential analysis and study the stability of the estimates as a function of length of the data set used. The adjusted final values for h₂ equal to 0.6151 ± 0.0008 and 0.6152 ± 0.0008, and those for l₂ equal to 0.0886 ± 0.0003 and 0.0881 ± 0.0003 for LAGEOS 1 and LAGEOS 2 tracking data are compared to other independently derived estimates. These parameters and their errors achieve stability at about the 24 and 27 month time interval for h₂ and l₂, respectively.     

Effects of simulated weightlessness on fish otolith growth: Clinostat versus Rotating-Wall Vessel

Stimulus dependence is a general feature of developing sensory systems. It has been shown earlier that the growth of inner ear heavy stones (otoliths) of late-stage Cichlid fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) and Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is slowed down by hypergravity, whereas microgravity during space flight yields an opposite effect, i.e. larger than 1 g otoliths, in Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) and in Cichlid fish late-stage embryos. These and related studies proposed that otolith growth is actively adjusted via a feedback mechanism to produce a test mass of the appropriate physical capacity. Using ground-based techniques to apply simulated weightlessness, long-term clinorotation (CR; exposure on a fast-rotating Clinostat with one axis of rotation) led to larger than 1 g otoliths in late-stage Cichlid fish. Larger than normal otoliths were also found in early-staged Zebrafish embryos after short-term Wall Vessel Rotation (WVR; also regarded as a method to simulate weightlessness). These results are basically in line with the results obtained on Swordtails from space flight.     

Validation of space-born Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer remote sensors aerosol products using application of ground-based Multi-wavelength Radiometer

The measurements of aerosol optical properties were carried out during April 2006 to March 2011 over Mohal (31.9°N, 77.12°E) in the northwestern Indian Himalaya, using the application of ground-based Multi-wavelength Radiometer (MWR) and space-born Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote sensors. The average (±standard deviation) values of aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 500 nm, Ångström exponent and turbidity coefficient during the entire measurement period were 0.25 ± 0.09, 1.15 ± 0.42 and 0.12 ± 0.06 respectively. About 86% AOD values retrieved from MODIS remote sensor were found within an uncertainty limit (Δτ_pλ = ±0.05 ± 0.15τ_pλ). In general, the MWR derived AOD values were higher than that of MODIS retrieval with absolute difference ∼0.02. During the entire period of measurement space-born MODIS remote sensor and ground-based MWR observation showed good correspondence with significant correlation coefficient ∼0.78 and root mean square difference ∼0.06. For daily observations the relative difference between these two estimates stood less than 9%. However, satellite-based and ground-based observation showed good correspondence, but further efforts still needed to eliminate systematic errors in the existing MODIS algorithm.     

Heliogeophysical factors at time of death determine lifespan for people who die of cardiovascular diseases

The aim of the study is to explore whether age at death from cardiovascular diseases depends on solar and geomagnetic activities. The data were collected for 1970–1978 in Novosibirsk, West Siberia, for industrial workers of Siberian origin. The Spearman correlations are computed between linearly detrended lifespan and daily or monthly physical variables to establish immediate (lag, L = 0), delayed (L = 1–3 days) and cumulative (L = ±30 days) influences. Significant correlations ranging from r = −0.26 to r = −0.30 for L from 0 to 3, respectively, are found for men between solar radio flux at wavelength 10.7 cm and age at death from acute myocardial infarction (AMI) but not from acute heart failure, ischemic heart disease and stroke. For AMI, women’s longevity displays an opposite (direct) association with the average solar character occurred at the calendar month of death. The index of geomagnetic activity, Ap, exhibits inverse association with longevity for the AMI stratum for both sexes. GLM univariate procedure revealed higher contribution of Ap to the variance of lifespan compared to season of death. The individual age at death susceptibility to cosmic influences is found to depend upon solar activity at year of birth. It is concluded that associations between the lifespan for cardiovascular decedents and the indices of solar and geomagnetic activities at time of death and of birth are cause-of-death- and sex-specific.     

Ionospheric reflection of the magnetic activity described by the index η

Differences in the external part of the vertical geomagnetic component point to the existence of local inhomogeneities in the magnetosphere or the ionosphere. Usually used magnetic indices are not sufficient to express the state of ionosphere, the common used global Kp index derived in the three-hour interval does not indicate much more rapidly changes appearing in ionosphere. Magnetic index η reflects ionospheric disturbances when other indices show very quiet conditions. Data of ionospheric characteristics (foE, foEs, h’E, h’F2) during 28-day long quiet day conditions (Kp = 0–2) in 2004 were analyzed. The correlations between strong local disturbances in ionosphere during very quiet days and high values of magnetic index η were found. The most sensitive to magnetic influence – ionospheric E layer data (foE characteristic) – reaches median deviations up to (+0.8 MHz and −0.8 MHz) during very low magnetic activity (Kp = 0–1). The high peaks (2–2.7) of the magnetic index η correlate in time with large local median deviations of foE. Such local deviations can suggest local inhomogeneities (vertical drifts) in the ionosphere. The correlation in space is not trivial. The strong peak of η is situated between the positive and negative deviations of foE. Additional observation is connected with correlation in time of the high η value with the negative median deviations of h’F2 (in some cases up to −90 km). The analysis was based on one-minute data recorded at each of 20 European Magnetic Observatories working in the INTERMAGNET network and from 19 ionosondes for 2004. Ionospheric data are sparse in time and in space in opposite to the magnetic data. The map of the magnetic indices can suggest the behavior of ionospheric characteristics in the areas where we have no data.