study of ionospheric response to magnetic superstorms in the East Asian sector

In this paper, we present analyses of the great geomagnetic storms observed during last two cycles of solar activity. This study is based on data from a network of ionosondes located within the longitudinal sector of 80–150°Е. it was found that the superstorms were observed predominantly in equinox. Long-lasting severe decreases of ionization at high and middle latitudes were the most impressive storm effect. A short-time positive phase occurred in response to the onset of both ssc and recovery phases of the magnetic storm in the daytime at high and middle latitudes. Large time-varying rates of foF2 were observed at low latitudes. Modeling results of the ionospheric response to two superstorms are also presented. It is established that the storm effect at middle latitudes was controlled predominantly by disturbed thermospheric composition. At high latitudes, the impact of magnetospheric processes and thermospheric composition on the ionosphere was the same.     

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.     

Ionospheric response to the geomagnetic storm on 13–17 April 2006 in the West Pacific region

This paper presents an investigation of geomagnetic storm effects in the equatorial and middle-low latitude F-region in the West Pacific sector during the intense geomagnetic storm on 13–17 April, 2006. The event, preceded by a minor storm, started at 2130 UT on April 13 while interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) B_z component was ready to turn southward. From 14–17 the ionosphere was characterized by a large scale enhancement in critical frequency, foF2 (4～6 MHz) and total electron content (TEC) (～30TECU, 1TECU=1×10¹⁶el/m²) followed by a long-duration negative phase observed through the simultaneous ionospheric sounding measurements from 14 stations and GPS network along the meridian 120°E. A periodic wave structure, known as traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) was observed in the morning sector during the initial phase of the storm which should be associated with the impulsive magnetospheric energy injection to the auroral. In the afternoon and nighttime, the positive phase should be caused by the combination of equatorward winds and disturbed electric fields verified through the equatorial F-layer peak height variation and modeled upward drift of Fejer and Scherliess [1997. Empirical models of storm time equatorial electric fields. Journal of Geophysical Research 102, 24,047–24,056]. It is shown that the large positive storm effect was more pronounced in the Southern Hemisphere during the morning-noon sector on April 15 and negative phase reached to lower magnetic latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere which may be related to the asymmetry of the thermospheric condition during the storm.     

Disturbances at F2-region heights of equatorial anomaly during geomagnetic storms

Neutral gas composition and ionospheric measurements taken by the Dynamic Explorer 2 satellite at F2-region heights during two geomagnetic storms are used to analyze the role of some possible physical mechanisms responsible for the changes of electron density at equatorial and low geomagnetic latitudes. The storms considered occurred on October 2, 1981 (storm 1) and July 13, 1982 (storm 2). During storm 1 (weak), vertical plasma drifts and equatorward storm-time winds operated increasing of the electron density at the trough of equatorial anomaly and the decreases at the crest region. During storm 2 (intense) changes of composition (increase of molecular nitrogen and atomic oxygen) played a fundamental role for the changes of electron density observed at low latitudes in summer hemisphere. It is concluded that different physical processes seem to have varying degrees of importance depending on the intensity of the storm.     

2015年3月磁暴期间中国中低纬地区电离层变化分析

2015年3月17日爆发了本太阳活动周最大的地磁暴,Dst指数达到-233 nT.本文利用电离层测高仪f_。F_2和h_mF_2、北斗同步卫星(BDSGEO)TEC以及GPS电离层闪烁S4指数对此次磁暴期间中国中低纬地区(北京、武汉、邵阳和三亚)的电离层变化进行分析,并对此次磁暴所引发电离层暴的可能机制进行了探讨.磁暴期间,中低纬电离层暴整体表现为正相暴之后长时间强的负相暴.3月17日白天中纬正相暴为风场抬升电离层所致,而驼峰区及低纬地区正相暴由东向穿透电场所引起;3月18日白天长时间的强负相暴为西向扰动发电机电场和成分扰动所引起;3月17和18日夜间的负相暴可能是日落东向电场受到抑制以及赤道向风场对扩散的抑制导致驼峰向赤道压缩所致,同时被抑制的日落东向电场强度不足以触发产生赤道扩展F,导致低纬三亚和邵阳夜间电离层闪烁在磁暴期间受到完全抑制.这是我们首次基于北斗同步卫星TEC组网观测开展的电离层暴研究.     

Ionospheric effetcs of an intense geomagnetic storm

An investigation of the response of the mid-high, mid and low latitude critical frequency foF2 to the geomagnetic storm of 15 July 2000 is made. Ground-based hourly foF2 values (proportional to square root of peak electron density of F2-layer) from four chains of ionospheric stations located in the geographic longitude ranges 10°W–35°E, 60°E–120°E, 130°E–170°E, 250°E–295°E are used. Relative deviations of foF2 are considered. The main ionospheric effects for the considered storm are: long-duration negative disturbances at mid-high latitudes in summer hemisphere in sectors where the storm onset occurred in the afternoon/night-time hours; short-duration positive disturbances in the summer hemisphere at mid-high latitudes in the pre-sunset hours during the end of main phase-first stage of the recovery; small and irregular negative disturbances in the low latitude winter hemisphere which predominate during the main phase and first part of the recovery, and positive disturbances in both hemispheres at mid-high and mid latitudes prior to the storm onset irrespective of the local time. In addition, the validity of some physical mechanisms proposed to explain the F2 region behaviour during disturbed conditions is considered. gus-mansilla@hotmail.com     

欧洲扇区不同纬度电离层暴特征的统计分析

本文利用Madrigal数据库的TEC数据对2001—2010年间的156次单主相型磁暴事件,统计分析了欧洲扇区从赤道到极光带共5个纬度区域的电离层暴特征,结果表明:(1)电离层暴有明显的纬度分布特征,正负暴出现次数的比例随纬度的降低呈现明显的增加趋势,但夏季赤道地区趋势相反,正负暴比例比更高纬度的反而降低;(2)与主相相比,恢复相期间大部分纬度地区正暴数量减少,负暴数量增加,但赤道地区恢复相期间正暴数量反而增加;(3)中低纬地区电离层暴随磁暴MPO地方时分布特征明显,正暴所对应的MPO主要分布在白天,而MPO发生在夜间容易引起负暴;(4)电离层负暴主要发生在夜间,中、高纬地区负暴的开始时间存在‘时间禁区’,但不同纬度‘时间禁区’的地方时分布有一定差异,正暴分布则相对分散.     

磁暴期间热层大气密度变化

基于CHAMP卫星资料,分析了2002—2008年267个磁暴期间400km高度大气密度变化对季节、地方时与区域的依赖以及时延的统计学特征,得到暴时大气密度变化的一些新特点,主要结论如下:1)两半球大气密度绝对变化(δρa)结果在不同强度磁暴、不同地方时不同.受较强的焦耳加热和背景中性风共同作用,在北半球夏季,中等磁暴过程中夜侧和大磁暴中,夏半球的δρa强于冬半球;由于夏季半球盛行风环流造成的扰动传播速度快,北半球夏季日侧30°附近大气,北(夏)半球到达峰值的时间早于南(冬)半球.而可能受半球不对称背景磁场强度所导致的热层能量输送率影响,北半球夏季强磁暴和中磁暴个例的日侧,南半球δρa强于北半球;春秋季个例中日侧30°附近大气,北半球先于南半球1~2h达到峰值.2)受叠加在背景环流上的暴时经向环流影响,春秋季暴时赤道大气密度达到峰值的时间最短,日/夜侧大气分别在Dstmin后1h和2h达到峰值.至点附近夜侧赤道大气达到峰值时间一致,为Dstmin后3h;不同季节日侧结果不同,在北半球冬季时赤道地区经过更长的时间达到峰值.3)日侧赤道峰值时间距离高纬度峰值时间不受季节影响,为3h左右.在春秋季和北半球冬季夜侧,赤道大气密度先于高纬度达到峰值,且不同纬度大气密度的峰值几乎无差别,表明此时低纬度存在其他加热源起着重要作用.     

Evidence of geomagnetic storm effects in the lower atmosphere: A case study

Disturbances produced by geomagnetic storms in the higher regions of the Earth’s atmosphere, such as in the ionospheric F2 region and in the lower ionosphere, are relatively better known than those produced at lower altitudes, where the effects of geomagnetic storms have been little studied. During magnetically perturbed conditions, some changes in pressure and temperature at high latitudes have been observed, from the surface level to heights of around 30 km, but there are no morphological studies and/or patterns of behavior. Moreover, the physical mechanisms are still unknown and what exists is a matter of controversy. Thus, the aim of this paper is to contribute to the vertical profile of the effects of geomagnetic storms as observed in the lower sectors of the atmosphere. For that, we study the variations of two atmospheric parameters (temperature and wind speed) during an intense geomagnetic storm (minimum Dst = −300 nT), at heights between about 6 km and 20 km. The data used were obtained from weather balloon flights carried out at low, mid and mid-high latitudes in different longitudinal sectors of the northern hemisphere, which took place twice per day: 00:00 and 12:00 UT. Small, but statistically significant changes in temperature and in zonal component of the neutral winds are observed at mid-high latitudes, which can be linked to short-term geomagnetic forcing. However, the results show different atmospheric response to the geomagnetic storm in the different longitudinal sectors at tropospheric and stratospheric levels, which suggests a regional character of the geomagnetic storms effects at tropospheric levels.     

基于陆态网络GNSS数据的2013年和2015年磁暴期间中国地区电离层特性研究

2013年3月和2015年3月爆发了2次相似的地磁暴,引起了全球不同地区电离层的变化。本文利用中国大陆构造环境监测网络260余个基准站在中国地区的GNSS电离层TEC观测数据,结合电离层测高仪和电离层甚高频相干散射雷达观测,对2次磁暴期间中国地区的电离层变化特性进行了对比分析。结果显示,2013年3月磁暴期间,中国不同地区电离层变化较弱或不明显,而2015年3月磁暴期间中国地区电离层变化整体表现为大范围的强负相暴,中国地区不同程度的电离层响应主要受到不同的磁暴强度和磁暴期间不同的能量输入影响。2次磁暴期间电离层F层不均匀体的发生受到不同程度的影响,可能由不同种类的暴时电场导致。陆态网络数据空间覆盖范围广、时间分辨率高,在研究中国地区磁暴期间的电离层变化特性方面具有优势。     

太阳活动低年时太阳同步轨道电场高频(HF)波的观测特性研究

文章使用搭载在DEMETER卫星上的电场探测仪器(Instrument Champ Electrique,ICE)在太阳活动低年(2007年2月4日到2008年2月3日)所探测的数据,研究频率从10 kHz到3.33 MHz宽频段的高频(HF)电场波功率谱的空间分布特征.地磁宁静期间,从2.08 MHz到3.33 MH...     

Regional morphology features of electron concentration disturbances at the midlatitude <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis>2-layer maximum during magnetic superstorm of July 15, 2000

Using data from ground-based ionospheric sounding stations, we studied the morphologic features of the disturbance pattern of the electron concentration at the midlatitude F2-layer maximum (NmF2) in the period of a magnetic superstorm, which began on July 15, 2000. In the Southern (winter) Hemisphere in the latitudinal sector, where the main storm phase began after sunrise, negative NmF disturbances were observed at quite high midlatitudes both day and night; whereas large positive NmF disturbances took place at lower midlatitudes in nighttime hours. In the Northern (summer) Hemisphere at latitudes where the main storm phase occurred in the local evening, only long-term negative disturbances were observed in daytime and nighttime hours; whereas at latitudes where the main storm phase began in the afternoon, NmF2 experienced both negative and positive disturbances. Based on analysis of data of KOMPSAT-l, ROCSAT-1, DMSP F13, F14, and F15 satellites, we present clear arguments for the viewpoint of many authors that it is just the enhancement of the eastward electric field in the evening sector that led to formation of the large-scale trough in the nighttime low-latitude upper ionosphere. This field enhancement was due to penetration of the magnetospheric electric field to low latitudes, not to the dynamo action of the disturbed neutral wind. It is also shown that, due to equatorward expansion of the magnetospheric convection system during the main storm phase, the plasmapause and the main ionospheric trough were shifted to a magnetic latitude of 40° (L ∼ 1.7).     

On the onset and meridional propagation of the ionospheric F2-region response to geomagnetic storms

The meridional propagation velocities of the ionospheric F2-region response to 268 geomagnetic storms are calculated. Ionospheric vertical sounding data of 1 h time resolution from several stations located in a longitude sector approximately centred along the great circle that contains both the geomagnetic poles and the geographic poles are used.Most meridional propagation velocities from high to low latitudes are less than 600 m/s. The smaller velocities are typical of global neutral meridional wind circulation and the larger are representative of traveling atmospheric disturbances.Simultaneous disturbances at several locations are more frequent during positive phases than during negative phases. Negative phase meridional propagation velocities associated with meridional neutral winds are less frequent in the southern hemisphere when compared with corresponding velocities observed in the northern hemisphere. This may be related to the fact that the distance between the geomagnetic pole and the equator is smaller in the northern hemisphere.Most negative phase onsets are within the 06–10 LT interval. For middle geomagnetic latitudes a “forbidden time interval” between 11 and 14 LT is present. The positive phase onsets show the “dusk effect”.     

The ionospheric F2-region at low geomagnetic latitudes during the geomagnetic storms of 22–26 April 1990: Comparison of observed and modeled response

A comparison between the modeled NmF2 and hmF2 and NmF2 and hmF2, which were observed by the Kokubunji, Okinawa, Manila, Vanimo, and Darwin ionospheric sounders and by the middle and upper (MU) atmosphere radar, have been used to study the time-dependent response of the low-latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic forcing during a time series of geomagnetic storms from 22 to 26 April 1990. The reasonable agreement between the model results and data requires the modified equatorial meridional E×B plasma drift, the modified HWM90 wind, and the modified NRLMSISE-00 neutral densities. We found that changes in a flux of plasma into the nighttime equatorial F2-region from higher L-shells to lower L-shells caused by the meridional component of the E×B plasma drift lead to enhancements in NmF2 close to the geomagnetic equator. The equatorward wind-induced plasma drift along magnetic field lines, which cross the Earth equatorward of about 20° geomagnetic latitude in the northern hemisphere and about −19° geomagnetic latitude in the southern hemisphere, contributes to the maintenance of the F2-layer close to the geomagnetic equator. The nighttime weakening of the equatorial zonal electric field (in comparison with that produced by the empirical model of Fejer and Scherliess [Fejer, B.G., Scherliess, L., 1997. Empirical models of storm time equatorial zonal electric fields. J. Geophys. Res. 102, 24047–24056] or Scherliess and Fejer [Scherliess, L., Fejer, B.G., 1999. Radar and satellite global equatorial F region vertical drift model. J. Geophys. Res. 104, 6829–6842) in combination with corrected equatorward nighttime wind-induced plasma drift along magnetic field lines in the both geomagnetic hemispheres are found to be the physical mechanism of the nighttime NmF2 enhancement formation close to the geomagnetic equator over Manila during 22–26 April 1990. The model crest-to-trough ratios of the equatorial anomaly are used to study the relative role of the main mechanisms of the equatorial anomaly suppression for the 22–26 April 1990 geomagnetic storms. During the most part of the studied time period, a total contribution from geomagnetic storm disturbances in the neutral temperature and densities to the equatorial anomaly changes is less than that from meridional neutral winds and variations in the E×B plasma drift. It is shown that the latitudinal positions of the crests are determined by the E×B drift velocity and the neutral wind velocity.     

Response of the midlatitude ionosphere to extreme geomagnetic storms of the 23rd solar cycle

The ionospheric response in the Irkutsk region (52.3° N, 104.3° E) to the extreme geomagnetic storms of solar cycle 23 was studied based on the data of the Irkutsk incoherent scatter radar (ISR) and DPS-4 vertical sounding digital ionosonde. The deviations of parameters from the undisturbed level, i.e., from the monthly medians or the values obtained on a quiet day, were considered as an ionospheric response. Values of the electron concentration maximum (N _mF2) and electron temperature (T _e) at a height of 350 km were chosen as parameters. The ionospheric response is interpreted in the scope of the concept of a thermospheric storm and penetration of the magnetospheric electric field.     

中低纬地区电离层对CIR和CME响应的统计分析

本文利用中低纬日本地区(131°E,35°N)GPS-TEC格点化数据,分析了2001—2009年间109个共转相互作用区(CIR)事件、45个日冕物质抛射(CME)事件引起的地磁扰动期间电离层的响应.结果表明,电离层暴的类型随太阳活动的变化而有不同的变化,CIR事件引发的电离层正相暴、正负双相暴多发生在太阳活动下降年,负相暴多发生在高年,负正双相暴多发生在低年;CME事件引发的电离层正相暴和负相暴多发生在高年.CIR和CME引发的不同类型的电离层暴的季节性差异不大,在夏季多发生正负双相暴.电离层暴发生时间相对地磁暴的时延大部分在-6~6h之间,但CIR引发的电离层暴时延范围更广,在-12~24h之间,而CME引发的电离层暴时延主要在-6~6h之间.中低纬的电离层暴多发生在主相阶段,其中CIR引发的双相暴也会发生在初相阶段.电离层负暴多发生在AE最大值为800~1200nT之间.CIR引起的电离层扰动持续时间较长,一般在1~6天左右,而CME引起的电离层扰动持续时间一般在1~4天左右.     

Studying ionospheric responses to magnetic storms depending on the local time of the storm main phase onset

A morphological analysis of vertical sounding data obtained in Irkutsk from 2003 to 2008 has been performed. The AE index was used to determine the geomagnetic activity level, and the storm main phase onset was registered based on the D _st index. The ionospheric response to a magnetic storm was estimated based on the relative deviation of the critical frequency and altitude of the ionospheric F2 region from the median values. Superstrong magnetic storms and storms without positive initial phases were not considered when the data were selected. We found that positive ionospheric disturbances, which were accompanied by an increase in the F2 region maximum altitude, predominated between the storm initial phase and main phases during all considered magnetic storms. Between these storm phases, negative disturbances were only registered at night. Predominance of positive ionospheric disturbances over negative ones can be related to the selection of storms for studies.     

2006年4月13～17日西太平洋地区电离层暴时特性研究

本文利用西太平洋地区的15个电离层台站的测高仪数据和国际GPS服务中心IGS 36个站提供的TEC数据，以及由美国喷气推进动力学实验室提供的Jason 1 TEC数据对2006年4月13～17日间一次由冕洞高速流所引发的磁暴所造成的电离层效应进行了分析.分析结果表明这次电离层暴呈现出显著的纬度效应，foF2和TEC等参量显示在磁暴主相期间对称分布的强正暴效应中心在磁纬±30°～±40°，且持续时间超过12 h.负暴效应被限制在中高纬地区，在磁暴进入恢复相时，开始向低纬渗透，且具有明显的地方时效应.TIMIED卫星测量的Σ［O/N2］显示磁暴发生后，暴时环流使得中低纬地区的Σ［O/N2］有大幅增加，而中高纬地区则显著下降.通过对hmF2的分析发现磁暴主相期间，有磁层电场向中低纬地区穿透，且持续时间较长为1～3 h.因此这次强正暴效应可能是由风场、电场和化学成分这三个因素的共同作用造成的.这次磁暴造成的电离层暴响应非常复杂，对造成各种正负暴的物理和化学机制还需要进一步的研究.     

Investigation of Ionospheric Response to Geomagnetic Storms over a Low Latitude Station,Ile-Ife,Nigeria

Due to several complexities associated with the equatorial ionosphere, and the significant role which the total electron content (TEC) variability plays in GPS signal transmission, there is the need to monitor irregularities in TEC during storm events. The GPS SCINDA receiver data at Ile-Ife, Nigeria, was analysed with a view to characterizing the ionospheric response to geomagnetic storms on 9 March and 1 October 2012. Presently, positive storm effects, peaks in TEC which were associated with prompt penetration of electric fields and changes in neutral gas composition were observed for the storms. The maximum percentage deviation in TEC of about 120 and 45% were observed for 9 March and 1 October 2012, respectively. An obvious negative percentage TEC deviation subsequent to sudden storm commencement (SSC) was observed and besides a geomagnetic storm does not necessarily suggest a high scintillation intensity (S₄) index. The present results show that magnetic storm events at low latitude regions may have an adverse effect on navigation and communication systems.     

不同地磁扰动事件期间全球电离层的扰动形态分析

利用全球电离层台站提供的观测数据，分析 了5次不 同类型磁暴事件期间全球电离层F2层f0F2和hmF2的扰动变化. 主要结果 表明：对于延迟型主相磁暴S（C）和S（E），中高纬电离层首先会出现明显的正相扰动，随 后是明显延迟的负相扰动，负相扰动覆盖范围广，甚至扩展到低纬区, 且持续时间很长, 恢 复及其缓慢，其中S（C）型的扰动更为明显; 对于非延迟型主相磁暴S（A）、S（B）和 S（D ），高纬电离层正相扰动持续时间较短甚至不出现，中高纬电离层负相扰动的出现、发展和 恢复也相对较快; 磁暴主相强度的大小会对电离层负相扰动的强度、发展和持续时间产生一 定的影响; 高纬电离层扰动在非延迟型主相磁暴恢复相期间会出现明显的地方时效应，地方 时效应随纬度的降低而增强，并且会明显影响到中低纬电离层的扰动；电离层扰动从高纬到 低纬的变化趋势为：f0F2的扰动由负相向正相转化，hmF2的增加由全天出现趋向于只存在于夜间，反映了不同扰动物理机制的作用.