Impact of geomagnetic variation over sub-auroral ionospheric region during high solar activity year 2014

The present work is an attempt to evaluate the impact of changing space weather condition over sub-auroral ionosphere during high solar activity year 2014. In view of this, the GPS based TEC along with Ionosonde data over Indian permanent scientific base “Maitri”, Antarctica (70°46′00″S, 11°43′56″E) has been utilized. The results suggested that the nature of ionospheric responses to the geomagnetic disturbances not only depended upon the status of high latitudinal electro-dynamic processes but also influenced by the seasonal variations. The results revel both negative and positive type of ionospheric response in a single year but during different seasons. The study suggested that the combination of equator-ward plasma transportation along with ionospheric compositional changes causes a negative ionospheric impact especially during summer and equinox seasons. However, the combination of pole-ward contraction of the oval region along with particle precipitation may lead to exhibit positive ionospheric response during the winter season. The plasma transportation direction has been validated with the help of convection boundary (HM boundary) deduced with the help of SuperDARN observations. The ground based ionosonde observations clearly provided the evidence of deep penetration of high energetic particles up to the E-layer heights which results a sudden and strong appearance of E-layer. The strengthening of E-layer is responsible for modification of auroral electrojet and field-aligned current system. Also, the sudden appearance of E-layer along with a decrease in F-layer electron density suggested the dominance of NO⁺ over O⁺ in a considered region under geomagnetic disturbed condition.     

1989年3月太阳活动引起的强烈磁暴群

本文分析了1989年3月上旬一个太阳超级活动区中多次特大耀斑引起的强磁暴群.联系源耀斑的等级、位置等讨论了磁暴形态特征.随着耀斑活动区位置由东向西旋转,磁暴的形态呈现有规律的变化,充分显示了磁暴形态特征有依赖于耀斑位置的中心子午线效应和东西不对称性.     

Experimental Aspects of Mid-Frequency Pulsations (f≈10–100 mHz) in the Southern Polar Cap

We review the results obtained in the frequency range of Pc3 (22-100 mHz) and Pc4 (7-22 mHz) pulsations at Italian Antarctic stations in the southern polar cap (“Mario Zucchelli”, at Terra Nova Bay, TNB, 80^˚.S; “Concordia”, the Italian/French base at Dome C, DMC, 89^˚.S). The absence of a midnight enhancement in the pulsation power suggests a negligible substorm influence at extreme latitudes, while the sharp noon enhancement, which appears only at TNB, is determined by the closer proximity of the station to cusp related phenomena. The relationship between the frequency of the band-limited signals and the interplanetary magnetic field strength, the cone angle influence, and the higher correlation of the Pc3 power with the solar wind speed in the morning hours suggest a global scenario in which upstream waves would be mainly responsible for the mid-frequency activity in the polar cap. However, the polarization pattern is odd with respect to the predictions for tailward propagating modes.     

中低轨道地磁动态模拟器

文章介绍了1台能为中低轨道飞行器提供动态地磁场环境的模拟器,详细论述了模拟器的系统组成、线圈结构、电源和磁强计指标参数、控制方式和调试方法,介绍了根据WMM2000地磁场模型计算出轨道上各点的磁场值,利用数值分析的方法找出输出电流与产生磁场大小的对应表达式,从而根据计算出的磁场值和输出电流,用程控电源成功实现了中低轨道地磁场的动态模拟.     

相对差分单向测距（△DOR）技术在探月工程中的应用研究

相对差分单向测距（△DOR）是一种高精度测角技术,在深空探测任务的高精度测定轨方案中得到广泛应用．介绍了△DOR测量的基本原理及CCSDS（国际空间数据系统委员会）关于△测量的相关标准．针对中国探月工程月面软着陆任务提出的高精度测定轨要求,分析了△DOR测量的信号形式、工作模式以及测量精度,推导了解模糊过程．研究表明,△DOR测角精度达到25nrad,对应到月球上的距离约为10m．     

Signatures of strong geomagnetic storms in the equatorial latitude

Ionosonde data from two equatorial stations in the African sector have been used to study the signatures of four strong geomagnetic storms on the height – electron density profiles of the equatorial ionosphere with the objective of investigating the effects and extent of the effects on the three layers of the equatorial ionosphere. The results showed that strong geomagnetic storms produced effects of varying degrees on the three layers of the ionosphere. Effect of strong geomagnetic storms on the lower layers of the equatorial ionosphere can be significant when compared with effect at the F2-layer. Fluctuations in the height of ionization within the E-layer were as much as 0% to +20.7% compared to −12.5% to +8.3% for the F2-layer. The 2007 version of the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI-07 storm-time model reproduced responses at the E-layer but overestimated the observed storm profiles for the F1- and F2-layers.     

基于半实物仿真的地磁导航等值线匹配算法评估

影响地磁导航匹配算法性能的因素很多,而现阶段算法的评估完全依靠计算机仿真,其可信性有待进一步验证.以等值线(ICCP)算法为研究对象,首先从理论上分析影响算法性能的因素;然后搭建了地磁匹配导航半实物仿真系统,通过引入磁场仿真环境和磁传感器,提高了仿真的可信度;最后从测量噪声、匹配长度、匹配区域和惯导误差4个方面对ICCP 匹配算法的性能进行半实物仿真试验分析.仿真结果表明,通过半实物仿真试验可以对算法的抗干扰性、算法匹配长度的确定、匹配区域的选择以及惯导误差的影响做出有效评估,从而推动地磁匹配导航及匹配算法的工程化进程.      

Highlights about the performances of storm-time TEC modelling techniques for low/equatorial and mid-latitude locations

A statistical evaluation of storm-time total electron content (TEC) modelling techniques over various latitudes of the African sector and surrounding areas is presented. The source of observational TEC data used in this study is the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), specifically the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receiver networks. For each selected receiver station, three different storm-time models based on empirical orthogonal functions (EOF) analysis, non-linear regression analysis (NLRA) and Artificial neural networks (ANN), were implemented. Storm-time GPS TEC data used for both development and validation of the models was selected based on the storm criterion of $\mathit{Dst}?-50$ nT or $K_p?4$ to take into account both coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and co-rotating interaction regions (CIRs) driven storms, respectively. To make an independent test of the models, storm periods considered for validation were excluded from datasets used during the implementation of the models and results are compared with observations, monthly median values, and International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2016) predictions. Considering GPS TEC as reference, a statistical analysis performed over six storm periods reserved for validation revealed that ANN model is about 10%, 26%, and 58% more accurate than EOF, NLRA, and IRI models, respectively. It was further found that, EOF model performs 15%, and 44% better than NLRA, and IRI models, respectively, while NLRA is 25% better than IRI. On the other hand, results are also discussed referring to the background ionosphere represented by monthly median TEC (MM TEC) and statistics are provided. Moreover, strengths and weaknesses of each model are highlighted.     

Geoeffectivity of Coronal Mass Ejections

Coronal mass ejections and post-shock streams driven by them are the most efficient drivers of strong magnetospheric activity, magnetic storms. For this reason there is considerable interest in trying to make reliable forecasts for the effects of CMEs as much in advance as possible. To succeed this requires understanding of all aspects related to CMEs, starting from their emergence on the Sun to their propagation to the vicinity of the Earth and to effects within the magnetosphere. In this article we discuss some recent results on the geoeffectivity of different types of CME/shock structures. A particularly intriguing observation is that smoothly rotating magnetic fields within CMEs are most efficient in driving storm activity seen in the inner magnetosphere due to enhanced ring current, whereas the sheath regions between the shock and the ejecta tend to favour high-latitude activity.