Modeling of ionospheric scintillation at low-latitude

The presence and movement of plasma density fluctuations in the F-region of the ionosphere are studied by monitoring phase and amplitude of radio waves propagating through the region. In this paper, we have used weak scattering theory and assumed the plasma density fluctuations to behave like phase changing diffraction screen. Appropriate relations for scintillation index S₄, and phase variance δ? are derived and computed for different parameters of the plasma density irregularities of the ionosphere. SROSS-C2 satellite in situ measurements of plasma density fluctuations, which provide direct information about the structure and morphology of irregularities that are responsible for scintillation of radio waves, were used first time to develop a scintillation model for low latitude. It is observed that the scintillation index S₄ and phase variance δ? depends on the strength of the plasma turbulence. Finally, the results obtained from modeling are compared and discussed with the available recent results.     

Comparison of peak characteristics of F2 ionospheric layer over Tehran region at a low solar activity period with IRI-2001 and IRI-2007 models predictions

In the present work values of peak electron density (NmF2) and height of F2 ionospheric layer (hmF2) over Tehran region at a low solar activity period are compared with the predictions of the International Reference Ionosphere models (IRI-2001 and IRI-2007). Data measured by a digital ionosonde at the ionospheric station of the Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran from July 2006 to June 2007 are used to perform the calculations. Formulations proposed by  and  are utilized to calculate the hmF2. The International Union of Radio Science (URSI) and International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) options are employed to run the IRI-2001 and IRI-2007 models. Results show that both IRI-2007 and IRI-2001 can successfully predict the NmF2 and hmF2 over Tehran region. In addition, the study shows that predictions of IRI-2007 model with CCIR coefficient has closer values to the observations. Furthermore, it is found that the monthly average of the percentage deviation between the IRI models predictions and the values of hmF2 and NmF2 parameters are less than 10% and 21%, respectively.     

Variation in the ionospheric propagating factor M(3000)F2 at Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso

We use hourly monthly median values of propagation factor M(3000)F2 data observed at Ouagadougou Ionospheric Observatory (geographic12.4°N, 1.5°W; 5.9^o dip), Burkina Faso (West Africa) during the years Januar1987–December1988 (average F10.7 < 130 × 10⁻²² W/m²/Hz, representative of low solar flux conditions) and for January 1989–December1990 (average F10.7 ? 130 × 10⁻²² W/m²/Hz, representative of high solar epoch) for magnetically quiet conditions to describe local time, seasonal and solar cycle variations of equatorial ionospheric propagation factor M(3000)F2 in the African region. We show that that seasonal trend between solar maximum and solar minimum curves display simple patterns for all seasons and exhibits reasonable disparity with root mean square error (RMSE) of about 0.31, 0.29 and 0.26 for December solstice, June solstice and equinox, respectively. Variability Σ defined by the percentage ratio of the absolute standard deviation to the mean indicates significant dissimilarity for the two solar flux levels. Solar maximum day (10–14 LT) and night (22–02 LT) values show considerable variations than the solar minimum day and night values. We compare our observations with those of the IRI 2007 to validate the prediction capacity of the empirical model. We find that the IRI model tends to underestimate and overestimate the observed values of M(3000)F2, in particular, during June solstice season. There are large discrepancies, mainly during high solar flux equinox and December solstice between dawn and local midnight. On the other hand, IRI provides a slightly better predictions for M(3000)F2 between 0900 and 1500 LT during equinox low and high solar activity and equinox high sunspot number. Our data are of great importance in the area of short-wave telecommunication and ionospheric modeling.     

Improved predictions of equatorial TEC for real time applications

It is important to use models developed specifically for the equatorial ionospheric estimation for real-time applications, particularly in Satellite Navigation. This work demonstrates a methodology for improved predictions of VTEC in real time using the model developed for the equatorial ionosphere by the authors. This work has been done using TEC data of the low solar activity period of 2005 obtained using dual frequency GPS receivers installed under the GAGAN project of ISRO. For the purpose, the model is first used in conjunction with Kriging technique. Improvement in accuracy is observed when compared with the estimations from the model alone using the measurements as true reference. Further improvement is obtained by Bayesian combination of these estimates with independent Neural Network based predictions. Statistical performance of improvement is provided. An improvement of ∼1 m in confidence level of estimation of VTEC is obtained.     

斜激波极值规律的边界层影响

采用边界层理论与斜激波/膨胀波精确算法，建立一种结合Eckert参考温度法和Illingworth-Stewartson变换法优势的边界层权重算法，用于研究超声速黏性楔面边界层位移厚度对斜激波极值规律的影响。分别应用层流Navier-Stokes方程和湍流Navier-Stokes方程的CFD解算器对边界层新模型进行了算例精度评估。在来流马赫数为1.2~2.4和楔面角为3°~20°的范围内，压强比的相对误差小于0.1%。计入层流与湍流边界层影响的理论模型研究表明，边界层影响使得最优马赫数增加；对于层流边界层，最优马赫数增量约为0.001 5~0.003 3；对于湍流边界层，最优马赫数增量约为0.002 8~0.006 1。     

Effects of TADs on the F region of the mid-latitude ionosphere during an intense geomagnetic storm

Based on observations of two ionosondes at Wuhan and Kokubunji, this paper presents effects of TADs on the daytime mid-latitude ionosphere during the intense geomagnetic storm on March 31, 2001. During a positive ionospheric storm, the start of the enhancement of the foF2 (F2 peak plasma frequency) at Wuhan lags that at Kokubunji by 15 min, which corresponds to the time interval of traveling atmospheric disturbances (TADs’) propagation from Kokubunji to Wuhan. Associated with the uplifting of the hmF2 (height of F2 peak) caused by TADs, it is observed by the two ionosondes that the F1 cusp becomes better developed. Therefore, during a geomagnetic storm, TADs originating from the auroral oval may have a strong influence on the shape of the electron density profile in the F1 region ionosphere at middle latitudes. It is highly likely that TADs are responsible for the evolution of the F1 cusp.     

基于左手材料的翼面隐身结构设计及优化

翼面隐身结构能同时满足飞行器机翼气动、结构和隐身的要求,但在空间有限的机翼中应用时,由于结构特点使其隐身效果受到限制。为了解决该问题,在传统隐身结构中加入左手材料(LHM)进行改进。首先选取一种典型的LHM,从隐身设计角度出发,利用其雷达散射截面(RCS)计算不同入射角度下的后向吸收率,对其电磁特性进行研究。然后根据LHM的电磁特性,将其应用于翼面隐身结构,在相同的RCS减缩效果下,应用LHM可有效降低隐身结构体积。最后,为了进一步提高隐身效果,提出一种夹芯型LHM翼面隐身结构,并对该隐身结构中的结构参数利用代理模型进行优化。研究结果表明,相较金属翼面段RCS降低了15dB以上,较相同结构的翼面隐身结构RCS降低了10dB以上。     

三维激光成像系统的点云模型真彩色处理方法

三维激光成像系统获得的点云数据精度高并且保有高精度的高程信息,然而特征信息不明显,没有保留全部的点和点的拓扑关系,无法直接判读地面物体;影像数据空间分辨率和精度低,并且缺少高程信息,然而其影像的特征连续,光谱信息丰富.因此,进行点云数据与影像数据融合方法的研究是目前三维激光成像系统研制的前沿性课题.针对点云数据与影像数据融合方法的研究,提出了一种三维激光成像系统点云模型真彩色处理的方法.实验结果显示,采用所提出的方法,不仅能够获得被扫描物体的位置信息和大小信息,而且能够得到被扫描物体的表面纹理细节信息.     

电离层顶部电子含量对GNSS电离层层析的影响分析

卫星信号射线上的总电子含量(slant total electron content, STEC)是像素基全球卫星导航系统电离层层析(computerized ionospheric tomography, CIT)建模的必要数据来源，但电离层层析通常忽略1 000 km以上的顶部电子含量，为弄清这部分电子含量对层析结果的影响，利用NeQuick2模型计算站星视线上的STEC与其在电离层区域内的STEC比值来改正原始数据，并分别利用改正前后的STEC进行电离层层析。结果显示，电离层顶部电子含量占比约为10%，白天占比略大于黑夜，与测高仪站的数据相比，改正后的均方根值比改正前提高了20%以上；与Swarm卫星提供的电子剖面数据对比，改正后的层析结果精度较改正前提升了19.6%左右，且该方法受地磁扰动影响较为明显。总的来说，利用CIT进行小尺度电离层探测，可较直观地看出，顶部电子含量对层析结果的影响较大，需要采取相应手段予以剔除。     

GPS phase difference variation statistics: A comparison between phase scintillation index and proxy indices

Scintillated GPS phase observations are traditionally characterized by the phase scintillation index, derived from specialized GPS receivers usually tracking at 50 Hz. Geodetic quality GPS receivers, on the other hand, are normally tracking at frequencies up to 1 Hz. However, availability of continuously operating geodetic receivers both in time and geographical location are superior to scintillation receiver’s coverage in many parts of the world. This motivates scintillation studies using regional and global geodetic GPS networks. Previous studies have shown the usefulness of GPS estimated total electron content variations for detecting ionospheric irregularities. In this paper, collocated geodetic and scintillation receivers are employed to compare proxy indices derived from geodetic receivers with the phase scintillation index during quiet and moderately disturbed ionospheric conditions. Sensitivity of the phase scintillation indices at high latitude stations to geomagnetic activity is discussed. Global mapping of ionospheric disturbances using proxy indices from real-time 1 Hz GPS stations are also presented.