A Three-Dimensional Simulation of Collisional-Interchange-Instability in the Equatorial-Low-Latitude Ionosphere

We present a three-dimensional simulation of collisional-interchange-instability in the equatorial-low-latitude F region of ionosphere. The instability is responsible for the generation of large plasma density depletion or bubble. General 3D potential and continuity equations are derived to simulate the phenomena. To understand the linear aspect of the instability, the general 3D linear growth rate is derived using 3D potential equation. The linear growth characteristics are compared with earlier field-aligned-integrated growth analyses. The numerical simulation of bubble in the 3D spherical polar geometry is finally presented. Distinct evolution characteristics of bubble in 3D and 2D simulation are further discussed.     

Early morning enhancement in ionospheric electron density during intense magnetic storms

This study reports on ionospheric disturbances that occurred in the early morning hours in the South American–Atlantic sector during a few intense/super storm events. The events were observed at latitudes close to the southern crest of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) as an unusual intensification of the F region electron density peak at local times when the EIA is not usually developed. All the events were observed at pre dawn-morning hours, under conditions of northward interplanetary geomagnetic field. Large scale traveling ionospheric disturbances that are launched during highly disturbed conditions and/or equatorward surges in the thermospheric meridional winds seem to be the most probable causes of the observed disturbances.     

On the uncertainties in the measurement of absolute (true) TEC over Indian equatorial and low latitude sectors

The Indian sector encompasses the equatorial and low latitude regions where the ionosphere is highly dynamic and is characterized by the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) resulting in large latitudinal electron density gradients causing errors and uncertainties in the estimation of range delays in satellite based navigation systems. The diurnal and seasonal variations of standard deviations in the TEC data measured during the low sunspot period 2004–2005 at 10 different Indian stations located from equator to the anomaly crest region and beyond are examined and presented. The day-to-day variability in TEC is found to be lowest at the equatorial station and increases with latitude up to the crest region of EIA and decreases beyond.     

GPS广域增强系统电离层延迟网格修正算法的研究

建立了一种广域增强系统地面监测网对电离层延迟的观测数据生成网格修正值算法,并在天津,长春,西安三地通过用双频接收机同时采集的电离层延迟实测数据,对广域增强系统的电离层网格修正法的修正精度进行验证,并与一般用户目前采用的Ｋｌｏｂｕｃｈａｒ模型修正法进行了比较,结果表明,电离层延迟网格修正法的修正精度普遍大于８０％,优于Ｋｌｏｂｕｃｈａｒ模型修正法,是一种精度较高的电离层实时修正法。     

天波超视距雷达的发展

 天波超视距雷达 (OTHR)是一种利用电离层对高频信号的反射作用自上而下进行目标探测的雷达体制。由于该雷达具有大范围的监视能力、防低空突袭、抗隐身以及早期预警等突出优点 ,受到了许多国家的重视。首先介绍了OTHR的性能特点及发展历史 ,接着就雷达的总体结构、干扰的抑制、由电离层引起的信号失真的校正 ,以及信号检测进行了全面的综述 ,最后指出这一领域今后的发展方向。     

BD2系统广域差分格网电离层模型研究与应用

电离层延迟误差是影响BD2卫星导航系统定位测速精度的关键因素,如何减少电离层误差是当前卫星导航定位领域研究的热点问题.常见的电离层模型包括广域差分格网模型和Klobuchar模型,已有研究主要关注Klobuchar模型,对BD2广域差分格网模型的研究较少.本文分析比较了广域差分格网电离层模型和Klobuchar模型对电离层延迟误差的影响,并进行了真实环境下的评测.实验结果表明,使用广域差分格网电离层模型修正电离层延迟可以减小电离误差,从而提高单频接收机导航定位精度.     

Characterization of the low latitude plasma density irregularities observed using C/NOFS and SCINDA data

Complex electrodynamic processes over the low latitude region often result in post sunset plasma density irregularities which degrade satellite communication and navigation. In order to forecast the density irregularities, their occurrence time, duration and location need to be quantified. Data from the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite was used to characterize the low latitude ion density irregularities from 2011 to 2013. This was supported by ground based data from the SCIntillation Network Decision Aid (SCINDA) receivers at Makerere (Geographic coordinate 32.6°E, 0.3°N, and dip latitude ?9.3°N) and Nairobi (Geographic coordinate 36.8°E, ?1.3°N, and dip latitude ?10.8°N). The results show that irregularities in ion density have a daily pattern with peaks from 20:00 to 24:00 Local Time (LT). Scintillation activity at L band and VHF over East Africa peaked in 2011 and 2012 from 20:00 to 24:00 LT, though in many cases scintillation at VHF persisted longer than that at L band. A longitudinal pattern in ion density irregularity occurrence was observed with peaks over 135–180°E and 270–300°E. The likelihood of ion density irregularity occurrence decreased with increasing altitude. Analysis of C/NOFS zonal ion drift velocities showed that the largest nighttime and daytime drifts were in 270–300°E and 300–330°E longitude regions respectively. Zonal irregularity drift velocities over East Africa were for the first time estimated from L-band scintillation indices. The results show that the velocity of plasma density irregularities in 2011 and 2012 varied daily, and hourly in the range of 50–150 m s^?1. The zonal drift velocity estimates from the L-band scintillation indices had good positive correlation with the zonal drift velocities derived from VHF receivers by the spaced receiver technique.     

Vertical TEC variations and model during low solar activity at a low latitude station,Xiamen

GPS-derived vertical TEC recorded at Xiamen (24.5°N, 118.1°E, geomagnetic latitude 13.2°N), China, during year 2006 is analyzed for the first time and compared to that predicted by ionosphere model SPIM recommend by ISO. A manifest seasonal anomaly is found with the high value during equinoctial season and low value during summer and winter season. Relative standard deviation for VTEC shows high value at around midnight and before sunrise. The correlation analysis exhibits that the variation of VTEC has a very weak relation with geomagnetic and solar activities (Dst, AP, SSN and F10.7). Comparative results reveal that the SPIM overestimates the observed VTEC at most of the time.     

Initial phase of mid-latitude aurora during strong geomagnetic storms

Analysing the initial mid-latitude aurora phase during strong geomagnetic storms we found that the initial phase of the mid-latitude aurorae observed at 630 nm emission during the strong geomagnetic storms on March 24, 1991, April 6, 2000, October 30 and November 20, 2003 is characterized by a short (∼1 h) wave-like disturbance. This disturbance corresponds to the beginning of main phase of the magnetic storms. The marked effect of the mid-latitude aurorae is analyzed using data on magnetosphere and ionosphere conditions in observation periods. The features of the dynamics of the 630 nm emission intensity and its connection with the dynamics of magnetospheric–ionospheric structures are considered. Possible excitation mechanisms of the atomic oxygen emission (630 nm) during these disturbances are discussed.     

低纬电离层f0F2夜间增强的模拟研究

以太阳活动低年冬季为代表,利用二维中低纬电离层理论模式模拟低纬电离层ｆ０Ｆ２夜间增强现象,探索在赤道异常驼峰纬度附近形成该现象的可能因素或物理机制,模式在给定磁子午面内解等离子体输运方程,给出电子及各离子的浓度,速度的时空分布。在所考察条件下,低纬驼峰纬度附近ｆ０Ｆ２模式值夜间出现了明显的增强特征。