Wave-like processes in the ionospheric F region that accompanied rocket launches from the Baikonur site

Results of the observations performed using the wave-like disturbance (WLD) method at iono-spheric altitudes of 100–500 km during ten Soyuz and Proton rocket launches (RLs) in 2003–2005 have been analyzed. The observations were performed with the Kharkov incoherent scatter radar. It has been confirmed that WLDs propagated at a velocity of 560–740 m/s were observed reliably. Disturbances propagated at a higher velocity of several kilometers per second were observed indefinitely. Disturbances caused by RLs were most clearly defined at altitudes of 150–350 km. Rocket launches cased either enhancement or suppression of WLDs in the ionosphere. The relative amplitude of WLDs usually varied within 3–30%.     

GPS monitoring of ionospheric disturbances generated during rocket launches at large distances from launch sites

Wave-like disturbances, caused by the launches of the Soyuz and Proton rockets from the Baikonur site, have been studied using the algorithm of the space-time accumulation of variations in the total electron content (TEC). Ionospheric TEC responses, observed on four GPS arrays at a distance of up to 4000 km from the launch site, represent a quasi-periodic oscillation with a period of 15–20 min, duration of 30–40 min, and amplitude of 0.1 TECU. The propagation velocity of wave-like disturbances is 300–1400 m/s, which corresponds to the range of sonic and supersonic velocities at an altitude of the ionospheric ionization maximum. Wave-like disturbances of TEC are caused by acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) propagating in the Earth’s atmosphere over large distances from a source. It has been established that the rocket launch region and rocket trajectory active legs, when a rocket moves under the action of the second and third operating stages of a propulsion device, are responsible for AGW generation.     

Wave-like processes in the ionosphere under quiet and disturbed conditions. 2. Analysis of observations and simulation

The amplitudes and relative amplitudes of electron density wave-like disturbances (WDs) with periods of 30–120 min at altitudes of 125–500 km (100–1000 km in individual experiments) under the conditions of a quiet ionosphere during magnetic and ionospheric storms and two solar eclipses are analyzed. The observations of the WD amplitudes and their altitude variations corresponded to the data of theoretical simulation in a number of cases. On the whole, the altitude variations in the WD amplitudes are more complicated than such variations derived from a simple theoretical model presented here.     

Experimental studies of the response of midlatitude ionospheric D region to remote launches and flights of spacecrafts using partial reflections

Variations in the electron density in the midlatitude ionospheric D region during launches and flights of different-type rockets at various distances from the launching site have been experimentally studied using partial reflections. It has been established that medium and heavy launch vehicles can generate short-term pulsating disturbances of electron density in the lower ionosphere at distances up to several thousand kilometers. These effects are apparently caused by stimulated pulsating electron fluxes from the Earth’s magnetosphere into the lower ionosphere with an energy of ～10²–10 keV and fluxes of p ～ 10⁸–10⁹m^?2 s^?1.     

Geomagnetic field fluctuations near Kharkov,which accompanied rocket launches from the Baikonur site

The observations of the geomagnetic field variations in the range of periods 1–1000 s, which accompanied the launches of 65 Soyuz and Proton rockets from the Baikonur site in 2002–2006, have been analyzed. The measurements were performed near Kharkov (the distance from the launching site is R ≈ 2100 km). Three groups of disturbances, with delays of 6–7, 30–70, and 70–130 min dependent on the time of day, have been revealed. The disturbance duration was 10–30, 50–70, and 45–70 min, respectively. Periods of 3–6, 6–12, and 6–12 min, respectively, predominated in the geomagnetic pulsations. The amplitudes of these pulsations reached 3–6 nT. The physical model of the observed geomagnetic disturbances, which generally agrees with the measurements, has been proposed.     

Studying large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances according to the data of oblique-incidence sounding

The morphological features of wave-like ionospheric disturbances with periods of 1–2 h and the spatial extent exceeding 1000 km are studied. Oblique-incidence sounding data of the ionosphere, obtained in eastern Siberia during several continuous monthly experiments on three radio paths from 2006 to 2010, have been used. Large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances generated during magnetic storms and large-scale wave-like ionospheric disturbances registered during geomagnetically quiet periods are considered. Small-scale ionospheric structures were also observed against a background of large-scale traveling iono-spheric disturbances considered in this study.     

Solar eclipse of August 1, 2008, above Kharkov: 2. Observation results of wave disturbances in the ionosphere

Quasi-periodic variations in the power of incoherent scattered signals, caused by wave disturbances of the electron concentration in the ionosphere, are analyzed for the day of a partial solar eclipse and for a background day. The windowed and adaptive Fourier transforms and the wavelet transform are used for spectral analysis. The spectral parameters of the wave disturbances at altitudes of 100–500 km in the 10–120 min period range differed significantly on the day of the solar eclipse and on the background day. Variations in the spectrum began near the onset of the phase of maximum disk occultation and continued no less than 2 h. The amplitude of time variations N was 2 × 10⁹–4 × 10¹⁰ m^?3, and the relative amplitude was 0.10–0.15. Wave disturbances have been compared for five solar eclipses; the comparison shows a noticeable variation in the spectrum of the wave disturbances during these events.     

Physical processes in the middle ionosphere accompanying the solar eclipse of January 4, 2011, in Kharkov

Aperiodic and quasi-periodic variations in the critical frequency of the F2 layer and Doppler frequency shift of radiowaves at vertical paths on the day of a partial (the magnitude was ～0.78) solar eclipse and on background days are analyzed. According to the experiment, the relative decrease in the electron concentration was 0.41 (0.46 according to calculations) and 0.50 (0.53 according to calculations) in the E region and in the lower part of the F region of the ionosphere. At a height of the main maximum of the electron concentration, the relative decrease in the electron concentration was 0.52 (0.51 according to calculations). It is shown that on the day of the eclipse and on the background day, the characteristics of wave disturbances within the height range 160–240 km were substantially different. Changes in the spectral composition began 30 min after the eclipse occurrence and, depending on the period, lasted from 2 to 4 h. The calculation results of the main parameters of the medium and signal correspond to the observational results.     

Wave emission during a plasma density jump in the auroral zone of the topside ionosphere according to the APEX satellite data

The intensity of the wave emission in the 0.1–10 MHz band measured in the ionosphere (the APEX satellite experiment) has been presented. A jump of the plasma density and an increase in the emission intensity at a plasma frequency have been registered at altitudes of ～1300 km in the topside auroral ionosphere. The emission intensity in the whistler-mode band nonmonotonically increased along the satellite trajectory near the plasma jump wall. It has been indicated that waveguides could be formed near the wall during damping of electrostatic oscillations generated by precipitating electron fluxes. A spatially nonmonotonous separation of waveguides from the plasma inhomogeneity stretched along geomagnetic field lines is possible in this case.     

Characteristics of Pc4–5 pulsations obtained using the method of bistatic backscatter of HF radio waves,the EISCAT HF heating facility,and ground-based magnetometers

The results of studying the Pc4–5 pulsation parameters based on the method of bistatic backscatter of radio waves, using the EISCAT/Heating HF facility (Tromsø, Norway) and IMAGE ground-based magnetometers (Scandinavia), are presented. The observations were performed during the morning hours on October 3, 2006, when a substorm developed on the nightside. An analysis of the observational data obtained from 1000 to 1020 UT indicated that wave-like disturbances with periods corresponding to Pc4–5 pulsations (80–240 s) existed at that time. The variations in the full vector of the ionospheric irregularity motion and the electric field strength in an artificially disturbed high-latitude ionospheric F region has been reconstructed based on simultaneous Doppler observations on two paths. A general conformity is observed among the time variations in Pc4–5 pulsations in the magnetic and ionospheric data: between the velocity amplitude (|V|) and the X component of the Earth’s magnetic field and between the irregularity motion azimuth and the Y component. Large-scale waves, corresponding to the natural resonances of magnetic field lines (small values of the azimuthal number |m| ～ 2–4), and small-scale waves (large values |m| ～ 17–20) were simultaneously registered during the experiment based on magnetic data. It has been indicated that the periods of wave-like processes registered using the method of bistatic backscatter and ground-based magnetometers were in agreement with one another. The formation of wave-like processes is explained by the nonstationary impact of the solar wind and IMF on the Earth’s magnetosphere. The variations in the IMF, according to the ACE satellite measurements, were characterized by a sharp increase in the solar wind plasma dynamic pressure that occurred at about 09 UT on October 3, 2006, and was accompanied by rapid polarity reversals of the north-ward-southward (B _z) and transverse (B _y) IMF components.     

Spectrum of quasi-wave disturbances in the topside daytime ionosphere according to the data of radiosounding onboard the Intercosmos-19 satellite

Quasi-wave disturbances in the topside daytime ionosphere, related to auroral activity, have been detected using the data of radiosounding onboard the Intercosmos-19 satellite on April 28, 1979. A disturbance was caused by an abrupt enhancement of the eastward electrojet, which was not reflected in the variations in the AE and AU indices. According to the estimates, the period of electron density disturbances was about 0.5 h, the velocity was 350 m/s, and the length along the meridian was several hundreds of kilometers, which corresponds to medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). The disturbance amplitude was only 30 km in the hmF2 variations and 0.20–0.25 MHz in the foF2 variations but increased to 0.25–0.30 MHz in the plasma frequency variations at satellite altitudes of 520–580 km with increasing altitude. It is impossible to register so weak short-period variations during ground-based sounding. The method for detecting disturbance spatial characteristics has been proposed. The disturbance spectrum including three quasiperiodic structures has been revealed using this method. The optimal estimates have been made for the trend, described by the polynomial of the third degree, and for the expansion of the residuals in terms of three harmonics.     

Plasma disturbance sources in the postsunset low-latitude outer ionosphere according to the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite

The satellite low-latitude and midlatitude measurements of the disturbed postsunset plasma density and electron temperature at altitudes of ～900 km have been compared with the data of incoherent scattering and high-altitude rocket launching at the corresponding local time. It has been found that plasma density disturbances are independently caused by the turbulent interaction between atmospheric masses of gas and plasma ascending from heated and not yet cooled ionospheric regions and cooling masses descending from protonospheric altitudes. Plasma regions with an energetically nonequilibrium vertical density distribution of the mixture of heavy ion impurity (O⁺) and major light ions (H⁺) can simultaneously appear, as a result of which the gradient-drift impurity instability is generated. If this instability is sufficiently developed, there appears an anomalous ion drift with the formation of real plasma regions of decreased density. All these phenomena generate different irregularities in a wide range of scales: from several tens or hundreds of meters to several hundreds of kilometers.     

Magnetic and Ionospheric Effects of a Meteoroid Plume

This paper is concerned with the study of the possibility of products of a meteoroid explosion in the atmosphere (meteoroid plume) to reach ionospheric altitudes. It has been shown that, in the case of meter-sized or larger space bodies entering the atmosphere, the plume is able to reach the lower ionosphere. The plume can be one of the sources of the formation of nacreous and noctilucent clouds. The aerosols ejected by the plume to lower ionospheric altitudes can lead to the formation of dust plasma, significantly changing the electrodynamic properties of the medium. The motion of the plume with a velocity of ~1 km/s is accompanied by the generation of a ballistic shock with a radius of 1–10 km. The relative excess pressure in the shock front can cause relative disturbances in the electron content at the altitudes of D, E, and F1 layers by ~10–100%. The geomagnetic effect of the plume and ballistic shock can reach ~1–10 nT.     

Detection of wave disturbances in the mesosphere using a MF-HF radar

Theoretical backgrounds of the active and passive methods for detecting the set of acoustic gravity waves in the upper mesosphere are presented. The observation and processing techniques based on the registration, statistical and spectral analysis of the envelopes of backscatter signals and radio noise are presented. It has been indicated that wave disturbances with periods of 5–120 min were observed during the entire observation period. The average relative amplitude of these disturbances was 2–4%. The dependences of the wave disturbance parameters on the time of day, season, and magnetic activity level have been studied.     

Polarization of compressible turbulent fluctuations in the solar wind plasma

Compressible fluctuations in solar wind plasma are analyzed on the basis of the 1995–2010 WIND and Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft data. In the low-speed solar wind (V ₀ < 430 km/s), correlations between fluctuations in the magnetic field direction and plasma density, as well as between velocity fluctuations and plasma density, are found. The covariance functions of these parameters calculated as functions of the local magnetic field direction are axially symmetric relative to the axis, which is oriented nearly along the regular magnetic field of the heliosphere (the Parker spiral). Fluctuations in the magnetic field and velocity are polarized in the plane that is orthogonal to the axis of symmetry. Plasma oscillations of these properties can be caused by fast magnetosonic waves propagating from the Sun along the Parker spiral.     

Possible relation of emergencies during spacecraft launches from the Plesetsk site to high-latitude geomagnetic disturbances

The relation of the series of carrier rocket emergency launches to geomagnetic activity and season is statistically analyzed. The data on the successful and emergency launches of more than ten types of different carrier rockets from the Plesetsk site for about 40 years (from 1966 to 2005) have been processed. It has been indicated that the relative number of emergencies during launches in summer is more than twice as high as in other seasons. An additional summer factor is statistically related to high-latitude geomagnetic activity. The effect remains unclear.     

Wave-like processes in the ionosphere under quiet and disturbed conditions. 1. Kharkov incoherent scatter radar observations

Wave-like disturbances (WDs) with periods of 30–120 min at altitudes of 125–500 km (100–1000 km in individual experiments) have been studied. The measurements of total duration more than 400 h have been performed under the conditions of a quiet ionosphere as well as during magnetic and ionospheric storms and two solar eclipses. It has been indicated that WDs exist almost permanently in the ionosphere. The effect of powerful energy sources leads to a change in the WD character and to variations in the WD spectral composition and amplitudes. The latter substantially vary during a day and depending on the disturbance of the ionosphere. The WD relative amplitudes vary from several percent to several tens of percent.     

Determination of the photoelectron current density based on comparison between IESP-2 and KM-7 probe measurements of the interball-2 satellite potential relative to plasma

We propose a technique for determining the photoelectron current density based on comparison between simultaneous IESP-2 (electric field meter) and KM-7 (electron temperature sensor) probe measurements of the Interball-2 satellite potential relative to the plasma. We have analyzed the data obtained from ～350 orbital segments in the auroral zone of the magnetosphere at altitudes of 2–3 Earth’s radii from October 1996 to March 1998, i.e., in the period of low solar activity at the beginning of solar cycle 23. The photoelectron current density onboard Inteball-2 has been found to be within the range 1.8–3.6 nA cm^?2.     

Solar eclipse of August 1, 2008, above Kharkov: 1. Results of incoherent scatter observations

The observation results of the effects in the geospace plasma during a partially (magnitude ～0.42) solar eclipse are presented. The experimental data were obtained with an incoherent scatter radar of the Institute of the Ionosphere (near Kharkov). During the eclipse, the density at the F2 layer maximum decreased by 32%, the foF2 critical frequency decreased by 17.5%, and the altitude of the F2 layer maximum increased insignificantly. At altitudes of 290–680 km, the electron density decreased by ～25%. During the eclipse, the electron and ion temperature decreased by 70–180 and 0–140 K, respectively, at altitudes of 190–490 km. Near the eclipse main phase, the plasma velocity vertical component decreased by 10–45 m/s at altitudes of 200–470 km, respectively. At the time of the eclipse main phase, the hydrogen ion fractional density increased by 50% as compared to the reference day at altitudes of 450–650 km.