中国电离层TEC现报系统

作为最重要的电离层参量之一,电离层电子浓度总含量(TEC)可以通过当前广泛使用的全球定位系统(GPS)的信标进行观测.我们在我国北起漠河、经北京和武汉、南到三亚四个观测站建立了GPS接收站,经单站数据处理后将原始的单站GPS TEC观测数据上载到北京数据处理中心;采用我们发展的经验基函数模式算法,用实测数据估算格点TEC并提供给用户,同时生成覆盖中国疆域的TEC地图并在因特网上实时发布.这一电离层TEC现报系统是我国首个类似的技术系统,在观测站布局和TEC地图算法上有所创新.该系统已用于实时监测我国电离层环境,并可为我国卫星定位导航和测控等技术系统的电波修正提供实测电离层数据.     

利用陆态网络实时监测电离层TEC及在地震监测中的应用分析

中国大陆构造环境监测网络(陆态网络)是中国最大的GPS综合服务网络,该网络包括260个分布全国的GPS基准站。本文首先介绍了利用GPS研究电离层TEC的基本原理与方法,然后阐述了陆态网络电离层TEC监测系统的数据处理及产品发布的详细流程,最后分析了震前电离层异常现象与地震发生的耦合关系,并利用陆态网络电离层TEC监测系统的产品分析了四川省芦山7.0级地震的同震电离层扰动现象。     

电离层GPS掩星观测改正TEC反演方法

电离层掩星观测中,当低轨卫星（LEO）轨道高度较低时,轨道以上的电离层电子总含量（TEC）对掩星反演的影响不能忽略.目前,一般采用指数函数等外推方法来处理该问题,对反演结果可能引起较大误差.为提高电离层掩星反演精度,本文研究利用LEO处于非掩星一侧GPS观测数据的改正TEC新反演方法.用三维射线追踪程序计算出电离层掩星观测模拟数据,分别应用改正TEC方法和外推方法进行反演,将反演结果与所用模式值进行比较.结果表明：对于轨道高度约800km的GPS/MET掩星模拟数据,外推方法和改正TEC方法反演结果都与模式值基本一致;对于轨道高度约400km的CHAMP掩星模拟数据,外推方法误差较大,改正TEC方法反演结果与模式值相符得较好.将改正TEC方法应用于GPS/MET实测数据的反演,取得了合理的结果.这些说明,改正TEC算法是一种有效的电离层掩星反演方法,尤其是对于轨道较低的LEO的电离层掩星观测反演特别有用.     

基于北斗、GLONASS和GPS系统的中低纬电离层特性联合探测

基于GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite Systems)的发展,我们利用具有北斗、GLONASS和GPS三系统信号接收功能的接收机观测的数据,结合电离层总电子含量(Total Electron Content, TEC)的反演算法,提取出GNSS三系统观测的电离层TEC;同时,将GNSS三系统获取的TEC应用到电离层TEC地图、行进式扰动、不规则体结构和电离层的太阳耀斑响应等方面的研究中,这也是首次使用三种GNSS系统数据对电离层进行联合探测研究.研究结果表明,增加了北斗系统的GNSS三系统在研究中国地区电离层TEC地图、周日变化、逐日变化,行进式扰动以及电离层的实时监测等方面较单系统的GPS具有明显的优势.     

顾及电离层变化的层析反演新算法

区别于以往GPS电离层层析研究主要关注迭代模型的思路,本文从两方面入手提高GPS电离层层析迭代算法的反演精度:一方面,顾及传统电离层层析迭代模型仅与对电子密度误差起放大作用的GPS射线截距权重相关的不足,提出考虑层析像素格网中的电子密度对GPS TEC的贡献建立新的迭代模型,在不同电子密度像素格网内重新分配GPS TEC实测值与其反演值之间的差距;另一方面,顾及电离层层析迭代算法中松弛因子对反演结果的影响,提出考虑电子密度变化构造新的松弛因子,抑制传播噪声对电子密度反演精度的影响.实验结果显示,相对于传统代数重构算法(ART),新方法反演的电离层电子密度剖面更接近于电离层测高仪观测的电子密度剖面,提高了电子密度反演精度.     

玉树M_S7.1地震前电离层异常扰动分析

本文基于美国JPL实验室提供的全球电离层GPS TEC(GIM)数据和COSMIC掩星探测电子密度剖面,利用滑动四分位异常检测方法,综合分析了2010年4月13日青海玉树MS7.1地震前后15天内电离层异常的时空变化情况。研究结果表明,震前11天电离层TEC开始出现扰动异常,4月13日出现了明显的TEC增强现象,且峰值电子密度也存在相似的变化趋势,综合考虑空间活动水平等因素,认为这些异常很可能与玉树地震有关。     

GPS应用的新拓展

本文叙述了近年来GPS技术应用于探测地震电离层异常的最新进展。利用地基GPS和LEOGPS技术探测电离层总电子含量TEC(或电子密度Ne)的技术日趋成熟,应用于监测地震电离层异常的工作也取得一定的进展。由于这些工作比较新,文中所引用的结果有的还未正式发表,对文中图件的任何进一步引用,务请做明确标注。     

LEO GPS接收机仪器偏差估计

LEO GPS观测已成为空间电离层研究重要手段之一,通过GPS双频观测值获取的TEC则是电离层探测的一个重要参量,为获取高精度TEC需估计和消除GPS接收机仪器偏差（DCB）.本文旨在探索一种全新的LEO GPS接收机仪器偏差的估计方法：基于电离层球对称的假设,利用CHAMP和COSMIC原始GPS观测数据,采用几何映射函数,通过最小二乘解算出GPS接收机仪器偏差.结果表明：(1)2008年1月份期间,通过上述方法解算的仪器偏差都较稳定,相比COSMIC网上发布结果,标准偏差都在0.6 ns以内;（2）COSMIC（轨道高度大约800 km）仪器偏差估计结果优于CHAMP（轨道高度大约400 km）的结果,原因为：对于不同轨道高度LEO GPS仪器偏差估计,其较高轨道高度的电离层球对称假设影响较小.     

2009年7月22日日全食引起的电离层扰动及其对定位的影响

2009年7月22日发生在亚太地区的日全食,从北半球中纬地区一直延伸到南半球中纬地区.这次日食期间发生的磁暴和日食时间同步,使得电离层变化较为复杂.为了分析日食期间电离层扰动及其对定位的影响,所采用的GPS数据来源于日全食带内的重庆CORS网(4个站)、武汉CORS网(8个站)数据、IGS站WUHN、SHAO的数据,以及日偏食区域内不同纬度处的若干IGS站.通过比较日食前后连续三天的各个地方TEC变化,以及利用高采样率的CORS网数据研究日食期间TEC的瞬时变化,根据位置和时间的不同,各地日食期间TEC下降约(1~4)TECU.但是,磁暴期间TEC的响应整体表现为正相暴,偏离值达50%以上,且和日食食甚后的TEC变化相重合.同时,求解了日食期间伪距单点定位的实时精度和CORS网内中短基线的实时精度,伪距单点定位的平面精度变化不显著,高程精度下降达数十米,日食初期CORS网中基线的平面精度仍在厘米级内,高程精度仍在分米级内,但是,日食后期发生的磁暴导致基线的平面精度下降到分米级,高程精度下降到米级.     

利用GPS对磁暴期间极区TEC变化与极区碎片（Polar Patches）的研究

利用2004年11月6～10日磁暴发生期间南极区域内的中国中山站GPS常年跟踪站（ZHON）和国际GPS服务站（CAS1, MCM4, SYOG, MAW1）的GPS观测数据,计算了可观测卫星传播路径上的TEC和ROT值,进而依据TEC的波动频率和幅度推估出极区碎片的个数,分析了极区磁暴期间电离层响应及其极区碎片特性. 最终所得TEC和ROT结果与极区地磁场D_st和K_p指数信息相吻合,如实地反映了磁暴事件和极区碎片的出现. 本文所做工作在国内尚未开展,因此所用方法和结论为将来这一方向的研究提供了一定的参考.     

利用GPS计算TEC的方法及其对电离层扰动的观测

在总结用ＧＰＳ研究电离层电子总量ＴＥＣ的数据处理方法基础上,分析了利用伪距观测量和载波相位观测量计算电离层ＴＥＣ的特点及误差来源．在处理过程中考虑了卫星的硬件延迟偏差,分析了应用ＩＲＩ模型进行接收机硬件延迟偏差修正的可能性,发现利用少量ＧＰＳ数据和ＩＲＩ模型修正接收机硬件延迟偏差有一定的困难．最后,利用一些ＧＰＳ观测数据有针对性地研究了电离层对若干次扰动事件的响应．包括一次大的太阳耀斑期间的电离层ＴＥＣ变化、一次较典型的电离层行扰以及日食期间的电离层ＴＥＣ的相对变化等电离层物理问题．结果表明,利用该方法计算ＴＥＣ的精度可满足电离层扰动现象的研究．     

Effects of the August 11, 1999 total solar eclipse as deduced from total electron content measurements at the GPS network

We present the results derived from measuring fundamental parameters of the ionospheric response to the August 11, 1999 total solar eclipse. Our study is based on using the data from about 100 GPS stations located in the neighborhood of the eclipse totality phase in Europe. The eclipse period was characterized by a low level of geomagnetic disturbance (D_st-variation from −10 to −20 nT), which alleviated significantly the problem of detecting the ionospheric response to the eclipse. Our analysis revealed a well-defined effect of a decrease (depression) of the total electron content (TEC) for all GPS stations. The delay between minimum TEC values with respect to the totality phase near the eclipse path increased gradually from 4 min in Greenwich longitude (10:40 UT, LT) to 8 min at the longitude 16° (12:09 LT). The depth and duration of the TEC depression were found to be 0.2–0.3 TECU and 60 min, respectively. The results obtained in this study are in good agreement with earlier measurements and theoretical estimates.     

Tomographic imaging of the ionosphere using the GPS/MET and NNSS data

The earlier experiments of ionospheric tomography were conducted by receiving satellite signals from ground-based stations and then reconstructing electron density distribution from measures of the total electron content (TEC). In June 1994, National Central University built up the low-latitude ionospheric tomography network (LITN) including six ground stations spanning a range of 16.7° (from 14.6°N to 31.3°N) in latitude within 1° of 121°E longitude to receive the naval navigation satellite system (NNSS) signals (150 and 400 MHz). In the study of tomographic imaging of the ionosphere, TEC data from a network of ground-based stations can provide detailed information on the horizontal structure, but are of restricted utility in sensing vertical structure. However, an occultation observation mission termed the global positioning system/meteorology (GPS/MET) program used a low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite (the MicroLab-1) to receive multi-channel GPS carrier phase signals (1.5 and 1.2 GHz) and demonstrate active limb sounding of the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere. In this paper, we have implemented the multiplicative algebraic reconstruction technique (MART) to reconstruct and compare two-dimensional ionospheric structures from measured TECs through the receptions of the GPS signals, the NNSS signals, and/or both of the systems. We have also concluded the profiles retrieved from tomographic reconstruction showing much reasonable electron density results than the original vertical profiles retrieved by the Abel transformation and being in more agreement in peak electron density to nearby ionosonde measurements.     

Joint observation results of Na layer and ionosphere in Wuhan during the Total Solar Eclipse

During the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 in Wuhan, the joint observation test of Na layer and ionosphere was conducted by using the daytime observation atmospheric lidar and the GPS ionosphere detector. The results show that the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of Na layer density slightly narrowed during the total solar eclipse and broadened after the eclipse, while the height of Na peak slightly decreased in the eclipse and increased after the eclipse. These implying that Na layer changes reflect the rapid process of sunrise and sunset. The ionosphere total electron content (TEC) and the sky background light noise also presented an obvious fluctuation characteristic with the changes of solar irradiation during the process of total solar eclipse. The difference lies in that the changes of FWHM of Na layer atoms are much slower than that of ionosphere, the reason for this might be that the Na layer, after being disturbed by the total solar eclipse, will generate a series of complicated photochemical reactions and momentum transport processes, and then recombine the Na atoms. The Na atoms to be detected by the lidar need a lag process, which rightly conforms to the theoretical simulated results.     

A neural network approach for regional vertical total electron content modelling

A Neural Network model has been developed for estimating the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere. TEC is proportional to the delay suffered by electromagnetic signals crossing the ionosphere and is among the errors that impact GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) observations. Ionospheric delay is particularly a problem for single frequency receivers, which cannot eliminate the (first-order) ionospheric delay by combining observations at two frequencies. Single frequency users rely on applying corrections based on prediction models or on regional models formed based on actual data collected by a network of receivers. A regional model based on a neural network has been designed and tested using data sets collected by the Brazilian GPS Network (RMBC) covering periods of low and high solar activity. Analysis of the results indicates that the model is capable of recovering, on average, 85% of TEC values.     

Ionospheric behavior over Europe during the solar eclipse of 3 October 2005

An annular eclipse occurred over Europe in the morning hours of 3 October 2005. The well-defined obscuration function of the solar radiation during the eclipse provided a good opportunity to study the ionospheric/thermospheric response to solar radiation changes. Since the peak electron density behavior of the ionospheric F2 layer follows the local balance of plasma production, loss and transport, the ionospheric plasma redistribution processes significantly affect the shape of the electron density profile. These processes are discussed here based on a comparison of vertical incidence sounding (VS) and vertical total electron content (TEC) data above-selected ionosonde stations in Europe. The equivalent slab thickness, derived with a time resolution of 10 min, provides relatively good information on the variation of the electron density profile during the eclipse. The computations reveal an increased width of the ionosphere around the maximum phase. As indicated by the available measurements over Spain, the photo production is significantly reduced during the event leading to a slower increase of the total ionization in comparison with the neighboring days. The supersonic motion of the Moon's cool shadow through the atmosphere may generate atmospheric gravity waves that propagate upward and are detectable as traveling ionospheric disturbances at ionospheric heights. High-frequency (HF) Doppler shift spectrograms were recorded during the eclipse showing a distinct disturbance along the eclipse path. Whereas the ionosonde measurements at the Ebro station/Spain in the vicinity of the eclipse path reveal the origin of the wave activity in the lower thermosphere below about 180 km altitude, the similar observations at Pruhonice/Czech Republic provide arguments to localize the origin of the abnormal waves in the middle atmosphere well below the ionospheric heights. Although ionosonde and HF Doppler measurements show enhanced wave activity, the TEC data analysis does not, which is an indication that the wave amplitudes are too small for detecting them via this interpolation method. The total ionization reduces up to about 30% during the event. A comparison with similar observations from the solar eclipse of 11 August 1999 revealed a quite different ionospheric behavior at different latitudes, a fact that needs further investigation.     

日食电离层效应

本文分析了1987年9月23日日环食期间,我国14个电离层站和1988年3月18日日全食期间两个站的垂测仪和偏振仪记录,并综合50年代以来历次日食电离层效应的观测结果,证实:1.E层和F₁层光食效应明显,F₂层动力学效应显著;2.f₀F₂存在日食日值大于、小于或等于控制日值三种典型情况;3.TEC食变曲线有凹陷和不凹陷两种典型情况,甚至出现日食日值大于控制日值的异常现象. 本文对F₂层和外电离层的动力学特征作了定性讨论,认为:空间等离子体温度急剧下降和沿场扩散是F₂层和外电离层日食效应的最主要因素;而磁赤道上空等离子体的沿场扩散、“喷泉”效应,热层风和全（环）食带方位是影响位于磁赤道异常区各电离层站日食电离层效应的主要因素.     

中国地区电离层TEC暴扰动研究

电离层总电子含量(TEC)是空间天气研究和监测预报的重要参量.本文引入了电离层TEC扰动指数DI, 对青岛等6个台站的DI数据进行分析,选取DI>0.35(DI≤-0.30)作为正(负)相电离层TEC扰动的强度标准,并以连续6 h及以上的DI满足该值来判定电离层TEC暴扰动事件.对电离层TEC暴扰动事件的统计分析表明,在地方时日落后至子夜前为发生高峰时段,正(负)相暴扰动事件平均持续时间约为10.9 h(10.5 h),正相暴发生率以冬季为多,夏季为少,而负相暴则以夏季略高.发现位于赤道异常驼峰区的广州站和位于高中纬度的海拉尔站比典型中纬地区的北京站电离层TEC暴扰动更易发生,且低纬地区以正相暴扰动为主.分析表明,约有70%的电离层TEC暴扰动伴随着有地磁扰动,但是电离层TEC暴扰动并不完全由地磁扰动所引起,强烈气象活动等局地环境因素也可能对电离层TEC暴扰动有着重要影响.     

COSMIC低轨卫星GPS接收机差分码偏差估计

GPS接收机差分码偏差（Differential Code Bias,DCB）是利用COSMIC低轨卫星观测值反演电离层总电子含量TEC的一项重要误差源.本文将COSMIC卫星轨道高度以上的电离层作为一个单层,采用球谐函数来参数化电离层TEC值,并利用最小二乘法同时估算电离层球谐系数和DCB参数.运用这种方法对2012年12月份的所有COSMIC卫星GPS接收机DCB进行了解算,并与COSMIC数据分析与档案中心CDAAC提供的产品进行了比较.实验结果表明：在2012年12月期间,估计的接收机DCB与CDAAC结果符合的较好,二者DCB变化趋势相近,DCB差值的RMS值在2 TECU以内,且最大绝对差值小于3 TECU;此外,本文计算的接收机DCB估计误差主要分布在0.2~0.4 TECU之间,具有较高的内符合精度.