Statistical modelling of radio wave propagation under sporadic E-Layer influence

A technique of modelling the one-hop radio wave propagation at middle latitudes in the presence of sporadic E-Layer is presented. The technique is focused on the performance of the long-term forecast of the maximum usable frequency range and on the increase of the radio communication reliability. Examples of calculation for medium-distance paths are shown.     

Propagation of plasma bubbles observed in Brazil from GPS and airglow data

Equatorial spread-F is a common occurrence in the equatorial ionosphere that is associated with large variations in plasma density that often cause scintillation and interference in communication signals. These events are known to result from Rayleigh–Taylor instability, but the day-to-day variability of their occurrence is not well understood. The triggering mechanism of plasma depletions is still a matter of debate, but may be linked to gravity waves that under favorable conditions propagate to the middle atmosphere. Understanding the triggering of ESF was the focus of the SpreadFEx campaign near Brasilia, Brazil in 2005. The campaign provided co-located airglow and GPS observations to study the onset of plasma depletions and their evolution as they traversed the region. Comparisons between the 630.0 nm airglow data and GPS data demonstrate the ability of the compact dual frequency GPS array to detect the plasma bubbles and retrieve reliable propagation characteristics of the depletions. In this case study, a plasma depletion was detected and moved over the array at velocities of 85–110 m/s, slowing as it moved towards the east. Correlation of consecutive airglow images gives consistent estimates of the eastward drift over the same time period. Mapping the airglow data to the GPS line-of-sight geometry allows direct comparison and reveals a resolvable westward tilt of the plasma depletion that may be due to vertical shear. The uniqueness of this study is the ability to resolve locally the characteristics of the plasma depletion without relying on assumptions about the mapping of the depletion along magnetic field lines to large latitudinal distances. It presents new information for understanding ESF development and the development of depletions strong enough to produce scintillation.     

On the importance of total electron content enhancements during the extreme solar minimum

Observations of ionospheric vertical total electron content (vTEC) from European ground-based Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers during the period January 2008–January 2010 are used to investigate, for the first time, vTEC sensitivity to weak geomagnetic disturbances under extreme solar minimum conditions. This study shows a significant number of events for the period in question, all of which exhibited some form of exceptionally large values of vTEC during small-magnitude geomagnetic disturbances. To illustrate our point on the importance of vTEC enhancements during the extreme solar minimum and its relevance for the current GNSS and future Galileo applications, we present in this paper the results associated with two significant events that both occurred in equinoctial months. The 10–12 October 2009 event of anomalous TEC enhancement at two distant mid-latitude locations HERS (0.3 E; 50.9 N) and NICO (33.4 E, 35.1 N) is discussed in the context of strong vTEC variations during the well established ionospheric storm on 11 October 2008. We conclude with a short summary of the new findings and their consequences on ionospheric monitoring and modelling for operational communication and navigation systems.     

Equatorial total electron content (TEC) at low and high solar activity

Total electron content (TEC) derived from ionosonde data recorded at the station of Korhogo (Lat = 9.33°N, Long = 5.43°W, Dip = 0.67°S) are compared to the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model predicted TEC for high (1999) and low (1994) solar activity conditions. The results show that the model represents the diurnal variation of the TEC as well as a solar activity and seasonal dependence. This variation is closer to that of the ionosonde-inferred TEC at high solar activity. However, at low solar activity the IRI overestimates the ionosonde-inferred TEC. The relative deviation ΔTEC is more prominent in the equinoctial seasons during nighttime hours where it is as high as 70%. At daytime hours, the relative deviation is estimated to 0–30%.     

Solar extreme events on the data of Alma-Ata neutron monitor: Identification of ground level enhancements

Ground level enhancements of cosmic ray intensity registered by means of neutron monitors at middle latitudes were studied by using Student’s criterion. Three of these events on 6 November 1997, 24 August 1998, and 13 December 2006 were analyzed in detail. It is shown that the use of Student’s criterion allows revealing effectively the ground level enhancements at middle latitudes.     

Storm-time formation of a relativistic electron belt and some relevant phenomena in other magnetospheric plasma domains

An empirical formula relating the strength of a storm given by its |Dst|_max with the L-coordinate of the peak of storm-injected relativistic electrons is one of a few well-confirmed quantitative relations found in the magneto-spheric physics. We successively extended a dataset of the formula’s basic storms with several events of high Dst-amplitude up to the highest observed |Dst|_max = 600 nT. Possible applying of the formula to the predicting of the ring-current plasma-pressure distribution and the lowest westward electrojet position for a storm are discussed. We have also analyzed the 2000–2001 years’ data on relativistic electrons from our instruments installed on EXPRESS-A (geosynchronous orbit; E_e = 0.8–6 MeV), Molniya-3 (h = 500 × 40 000 km, i = 63°; E_e = 0.8–5.5 MeV) and GLONASS (h = 20 000 km, i = 64°; E_e  l MeV) along with other correlated measurements: GOES series (E_e > 2 MeV), geomagnetic indices (Dst, AE, AL) and interplanetary parameters (solar wind, IMF). The goal is to investigate which outer conditions are most responsible for the high/low output of the storm-injected relativistic electrons. For the geosynchronous orbit, two factors are found as the necessary condition of the highest electron output: high and long-lasting substorm activity on a storm recovery phase and high velocity of solar wind. On the contrary, extremely low substorm activity surely observed during whole the storm recovery phase constitutes a sufficient condition of the non-increased after-storm electron intensity. For the first time found cases of the increased after-storm electron intensity observed at the inner L-shells with no simultaneously seen increase in the geosynchronous distances are presented.     

总电子含量的一个统计模式

利用北京实测的TEC及f_0F_2资料,求出太阳黑子数R,电离层临界频率f_0F_2和总电子含量的一个统计关系。     

武汉地区电离层电子浓度总含量的统计经验模式研究

由武汉电离层观象台一个太阳黑子周期（1980-1990年）的实测电离层电子浓度总含量（TEC）资料，统计分析得出了武汉地区的一个TEC经验模式，模式很好地再现了武汉地区的TEC观测值，其预测误差在太阳活动高年稍太，低年较小；在春秋两季稍大，冬夏两季较小；在当地时间白天和傍晚稍大，夜间和早晨较小。此外，与国际参考电离层模式IRI的计算结果比较，本模式预测的TEC值更接近于实际观测结果，同时，本文也初步探讨了TEC的半年变化特征和冬季异常现象。     

Numerical modeling of a Global Navigation Satellite System in a general relativistic framework

In this article we model a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in a Schwarzschild space–time, as a first approximation of the relativistic geometry around the Earth. The closed time-like and scattering light-like geodesics are obtained analytically, describing respectively trajectories of satellites and electromagnetic signals. We implement an algorithm to calculate Schwarzschild coordinates of a GNSS user who receives proper times sent by four satellites, knowing their orbital parameters; the inverse procedure is implemented to check for consistency. The constellation of satellites therefore realizes a geocentric inertial reference system with no a priori realization of a terrestrial reference frame. We perform a simulation of position determination and show that the determination of the four coordinates with a 25–32 digit accuracy takes only around 60 ms. Effects of non-gravitational perturbations on positioning errors are assessed, and methods to reduce them are sketched. In particular, inter-links between satellites could greatly enhance stability and accuracy of the positioning system. Effects of gravitational perturbations are omitted in this paper in order to make a clearer comparison between the relativistic and non-relativistic scheme, but they will be included in subsequent work. We believe that the final algorithm will be a serious alternative to the usual post-Newtonian scheme.     

Use of principal component analysis in the identification of the spatial pattern of an ionospheric total electron content anomalies after China’s May 12, 2008, M = 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake

This paper uses principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the spatial pattern of total electron content (TEC) anomalies in the ionosphere post the China’s Wenchuan Earthquake of 12 May, 2008 (UTC) (M_w = 7.9). PCA and image processing are applied to the global ionospheric map (GIM) with transforms conducted for the time period 08:00–10:00 UT on 12 May 2008. Results show that at a height of approximately 200 km the anomaly is widespread and less intense; however, it becomes more localized with height reaching maximum intensity and localization at an altitude of 300 km. The spatial distribution is remarkably similar to that reported for a TEC anomaly previously identified as a precursor anomaly on May 9, 2008 for the same time period. Potential causes of the results are discussed with emphasis given to vertical acoustic gravity waves based on the spatial pattern identified.