掩星技术一维变分同化算法的改进

从LEO卫星观测到的掩星数据可以反演地球大气的气压、水汽、温度等廓线;它们对气象和大气科学研究是有价值的数据资源.掩星数据资料的同化技术可以有效地改进这些气象参数廓线,从而改进目前的数值天气预报精度.把掩星观测参数廓线用变分同化方法进入气象业务流程的最大困难是它的计算量太大,通过对一维变分同化价值函数进行改进和对迭代流程进行新的设计,避免了反复计算大维数矩阵的缺点,从而提高了变分同化的计算效率.在适用性讨论中,用背景场向量加上1个高斯白噪声作为真实值来检验CHAMP掩星资料变分同化的结果.     

电离层掩星反演的正则最大熵法

电离层掩星数据现已成为电离层观测数据的重要来源,对掩星数据的反演研究一直是掩星研究的热点.传统采用的改正TEC(1btal Electron Content)的Abel变换反演法为线性反演法,它会把测量误差带入反演结果中.为改善反演效果受测量误差的影响,引入两种非线性的反演方法一正则化和正则最大熵反演法.随后设计模拟试验,对3种方法进行验证、比较,得到正则最大熵反演法可以很好地减小测量误差的影响.     

电离层延时对低轨卫星频率传递的影响分析

利用低轨卫星,对受干扰区域的卫星导航接收机进行频率传递,是提升其性能的一种有效手段.而电离层延时误差是影响传递效果的重要因素.对基于低轨卫星的频率传递应用背景进行了介绍,分析了其基本原理,并着重分析了电离层延时的存在对频率传递的影响,提出利用站间差历元差的方法对电离层延时进行修正.最后,通过仿真对理论分析进行了验证.结果表明,通过站间差历元差的手段,对当前电离层变化值进行求解与预测,可以将电离层延时误差的变化控制在一定范围,满足频率传递的要求.     

星地无线电双向时间比对模型及试验分析

星地时间同步是卫星导航系统的一个关键技术,是实现卫星导航定位的基础.针对星地时间同步问题,讨论了一种星地无线电双向时间比对方法,详细推导了该方法中星地上下行伪距的归算模型,给出了星地钟差的实用计算模型.该方法通过上下行伪距求差.消除了对流层延迟,卫星星历误差和地面站站址坐标误差等共有误差影响,与信号频率有关的电离层延迟也被很大程度地削弱,从而大大提高了时间比对精度.最后,利用实测数据进行了试验分析,结果表明:星地无线电双向时间比对精度能够达到约0.34ns,验证了理论方法和模型的正确性.     

电离层的掩星分离假设反演法

该文首先简要介绍了无线电掩星探测技术及其发展现状和传统Abel变换方法面临的问题.为改进传统Abel变换反演方法,利用电子密度廓线的分离假设,引进了分离假设反演法.随后利用国际电离层参考模式IBI2007给出1000个掩星事件截面的模拟数据及COSMIC卫星星座的一天实测数据,进行比较计算,并对结果进行了分析,验证了分离假设反演法的有效性.文中还给出了垂直电子总量VTEC(Vertical Total Electron Content)先验场的获取途径.最后,对分离假设反演法的进一步研究的方向进行了探讨.     

无线电掩星技术探测电离层的误差分析研究

无线电掩星技术探测中性大气和电离层已经成为探索地球空间环境、科学研究以及天气预报的较为成熟的手段,如何更好地了解数据采集和计算处理过程中出现的误差和它们的作用机制,是现今该领域的研究热点。掩星探测技术的误差主要包括平台及星上测量误差和地面反演算法误差。基于EGOPS软件和自编程序,分别采用球对称电离层双查普曼(double Chapman)模型和非球对称的国际参考电离层(international reference ionosphere,IRI)模型,模拟GPS电离层掩星数据,从而分析星上的各种测量和平台误差源以及基于球对称假设的算法误差的影响,通过反演的电离层F2层电子峰值密度来进行误差统计。结果表明:一方面,几项主要的测量和平台误差对掩星反演电离层的影响均较小,其中,2mm以下的接收机噪声误差可以保证反演精度基本不受影响;钟稳定度在10~(-13)3~10~(-12)量级范围内时,接收机钟误差对反演的影响较小,可以满足基本的精度需求;局部多路径效应的模拟正弦波信号通过误差幅度和周期共同影响反演误差;20 cm以下的轨道误差可以确保电离层反演的精度,电离层反演时采用定轨误差为10 cm量级的现有轨道,则反演结果基本不受影响。另一方面,电离层的电子密度球对称假设是反演的主要误差源,可引起高达30%的峰值密度相对误差,其误差分布具有地方时、地磁纬度和季节特性:在冬季,日出(地方时4.00 h-8.00 h)和日落(16.00 h-20.00 h)时段误差最大,冬半球误差大于夏半球,中纬(30°-60°)地区比低纬(0°-30°)和高纬区(60°-90°)的反演结果好。在夏季,误差的分布在地方时、纬度尺度上都与冬季情况相反。     

基于MGS探测器掩星观测的火星电离层数据初步分析

该文简要介绍了行星无线电掩星技术的意义、历史和原理.利用MGS探测器无线电科学掩星实验得到的火星电离层电子浓度EDS数据,可研究火星电离层的结构.文中分析了MSG电子浓度廓线的峰值高度随经度的变化特性,并结合火星电离层的Chapman模型和实测的电子浓度廓线,探讨了火星电离层的双层或多层结构的可能性及其物理机制.分析了峰值电子浓度和峰值高度同太阳天顶角的关系和TEC在各数据集中的分布.     

GPS掩星折射率剖面一维变分同化

近年来,GPS／LEO(全球定位系统／低地球轨道)卫星无线电掩星技术给出了地球大气探测的新途径．从LEO卫星观测到的掩星数据可以反演的地球大气的气压、水汽、温度等剖面;它们对气象和大气科学研究,是具有潜在价值的数据资源．掩星数据资料的同化技术可以有效地改进这些气象参数的剖面,从而改进目前的数值天气预报模式．在当前采用的一维变分同化反演技术中,可以用掩星观测资料的大气折射率或弯曲角剖面进行同化,来反演大气水汽和温度剖面以及海平面压强．作为独立自主开发的GPD／LEO掩星技术系统的一部分,以欧洲中尺度天气预报分析(ECMWF)资料为背景场,CHAMP 掩星观测得到的折射率剖面为观测值,采用Levenberg—Marquardt方法实行GPS掩星资料一维变分同化．在讨论中,用掩星观测点附近相应的探空气球资料来检验CHAMP掩星资料变分同化的结果．     

GPS/LEO掩星方法中的电离层延迟量对太阳射电辐射流量的响应

对无线电信号在电离层中的传播路径进行了数值模拟;针对掩星观测中的五组实际卫星轨道数据(包括GPS和LEO卫星),给出了在太阳射电辐射流量(FLUX)分别为0,70,160和240等几种情况下的电离层延迟量对10.7cm波长的太阳辐射流量的响应结果;这分别对应着无太阳辐射、太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形。从中可以发现,掩星观测中电离层延迟量对10.7cm波长的太阳射电辐射流量的响应表现为如下特性:电离层延迟同参数FLUX的大小有明显的对应关系,即FLUX越大,则掩星观测中的电离层延迟越大;对于上升掩星情况而言,掩星观测中电离层延迟量起先逐渐增加,然后达到某一峰值,其后逐渐下降;在掩星观测的初期和中期,太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形之间的电离层延迟量差异都较为显著,而在掩星观测的后期,几种情形相互间电离层延迟量的差异都比较小。     

GPS／LEO掩星方法中的电离层延迟量对太阳射电辐射流量的响应

对无线电信号在电离层中的传播路径进行了数值模拟；针对掩星观测中的五组实际卫星轨道数据(包括GPS和LEO卫星)，给出了在太阳射电辐射流量(FLUX)分别为0，70，160和240等几种情况下的电离层延迟量对10．7cm波长的太阳辐射流量的响应结果；这分别对应着无太阳辐射、太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形。从中可以发现，掩星观测中电离层延迟量对10．7cm波长的太阳射电辐射流量的响应表现为如下特性：电离层延迟同参数FLUX的大小有明显的对应关系，即FLUX越大，则掩星观测中的电离层延迟越大；对于上升掩星情况而言，掩星观测中电离层延迟量起先逐渐增加，然后达到某一峰值，其后逐渐下降；在掩星观测的初期和中期，太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形之间的电离层延迟量差异都较为显著，而在掩星观测的后期，几种情形相互间电离层延迟量的差异都比较小。     

An Emulation Research on the Radio Occultation Exploration of Martian Ionosphere

The technical system of the Sino-Russian joint satellite-to-satellite Mars ionosphere occultation is analyzed and introduced. The analogue computation of the observed values of the radio waves of the ionosphere occultation event is carried out by adopting the three-dimensional ray tracking method and the electron density profile inversion is conducted by means of the simulated occultation observational data, with the result showing that the emulation algorithm is reliable. By taking advantage of the emulation method the case computation and analysis of the inversion errors caused by the observational error of the occultation radio wave phase and the satellite orbital error are respectively carried out, and it is obtained from the result that the effect of the phase measuring error of the 5% circle on the result of the daytime ionosphere occultation exploration may be neglected, while the absolute error of the night electron density measurement is less than 4 × 108 m^?3, and the main effect of the satellite orbital error on the occultation leads to the lifting or falling of the ionospheric height. The result shows that the technical system of the Sino-Russian joint Mars ionosphere occultation exploration is advanced. It can be expected that the high accuracy electron density profile is obtained and the technical system can be applied to the exploration of the lunar ionospheric environment.     

Correction of the ionospheric distortion on the MARSIS surface sounding echoes

Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) on the Mars Express (MEX) spacecraft has made numerous measurements of the Martian surface and subsurface. However, all of these measurements are distorted by the ionosphere and must be compensated before any analysis. We have developed a technique to compensate for the ionospheric distortions. This technique provides a powerful tool to derive the total electron content (TEC) and other higher-order terms of the limited expansion of the plasma dispersion function that are related to overall shape of the electron column profile. The derived parameters are fitted by using a Chapman model to derive ionospheric parameters like n₀, electron density primary peak (maximum for solar zenith angle (SZA) equal 0), and the neutral height scale H.

Our estimated ionospheric parameters are in good agreement with Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) radio-occultation data. However, since MARSIS does not have the observation geometry limitations of the radio occultation measurements, our derived parameters extend over a large range of SZA for each MEX orbit.

The first results from our technique have been discussed by Safaeinili et al. [2007, Estimation of the total electron content of the Martian ionosphere using radar sounder surface echoes. Geophys. Res. Lett. 34, L23204, doi:10.1029/2007GL032154].     

Inversions of satellite to satellite electron content: Simulation studies with NeUoG-plas

The signals of Global Navigation Satellites have found a large number of uses in atmospheric and ionospheric research. Reception of the signals from a satellite in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) leads regularly to occultation of the signals by the surface of the Earth. Before an occultation the signals traverse the ionosphere with rays with decreasing height of their perigees. Satellite electron content observed prior to ‘setting’ occultations or after `rising' occultations can be used as input data for inversion. The inversion procedure gives horizontally averaged height profiles of electron density.Assessment studies are needed to find out under which conditions the profiles from inversions are representative for ‘true’ electron density profiles above the Earth occultation point.A great number of such studies have been carried out using the ionosphere/plasmasphere model NeUOG-plas for forward and backward modelling. Different transmitter-receiver scenarios have been investigated.We describe the assessment procedure and report on results showing the most interesting cases and statistics.     

Maximum Entropy Regularization Method of Ionospheric Occultation

With the increasing of applications of Global Positioning System (GPS), the research on the factors affecting the radio signals is becoming more and more important. One of the most significant effects on ionosphere monitoring is the ionospheric radio occultation (IRO), and the IRO data is now serving as one of the most important monitoring sources for the ionospheric measurements. Meanwhile the inversion of the occultation data is a popular topic. The traditional Abel inversion process through compensated total electron content (TEC) is a linear inversion method, thus it would transfer the measurement errors directly to the inversion results. In order to improve the occultation results, we introduce in this paper two nonlinear methods, namely the regularization method and the maximum entropy regularization method. Through designed simulative experiments, we verify and compare these three methods, and conclude that the maximum entropy regularization method can reduce significantly the influence of measurement errors.     

Radio occultation experiments planned for pioneer and mariner missions to the outer planets

Spacecraft radio occultation measurements planned for outer planet missions may yield profiles in height of atmospheric refractivity and microwave loss above the super-refractive regions of the giant planets. In a planetary ionosphere, the refractivity determines the electron number density distribution. At lower levels, the loss and the refractivity may be used to study the density, pressure, temperature and composition of the atmosphere. In order to maximize the scientific yield of outer planet occultation experiments, it is necessary to consider the effects of atmospheric refraction, multipath propagation, navigation errors and spacecraft accelerations in the design of the radio system and the spacecraft attitude control system.     

TEC Compensated Inversion Method of Ionospheric Occultation

For the inversion of ionospheric occultation data, the Abel inversion method of calibrated TEC is usually adopted, but the spherical asymmetry of the real ionosphere will bring errors to the inversion result of electron densities. This paper studies a TEC compensated inversion method. By combining with a background field, this method may eliminate the effect of the horizontal variability of electron density on the TEC, and improve the applicability of the assumption of spherical symmetry as well as the inversion accuracy. Applying this method to the inversion of simulative occultation events, the result demonstrates that compared with the traditional Abel transform inversion, the TEC compensated inversion method can reduce the inversion error. Comparing the various background fields obtained in different ways, it is shown that the higher the coincidence level between the background field and the real field, the better the inversion result.     

Evidence for topographic effects on the Martian ionosphere

The Radio occultation experiment on board Mariner 9 has been used to demonstrate that the altitude of the main electron density peak in the Martian ionosphere is closely related to the height of Mars’ surface at the occultation point. This is direct evidence for topographic effects on the Martian ionosphere. Modeling indicates that topographic-induced modulations of the neutral density in the upper atmosphere can account for the observed ionospheric effects. The neutral density modulation is likely to be caused by nonmigrating tides in the Martian thermosphere.     

A New look at the ionosphere of Jupiter in light of the UVS occultation results

Simple photochemical models cannot reconcile Jupiter's ionospheric electron density profiles with the observed neutral atmosphere. The location of the peak electron density predicted when the neutral atmosphere determined by theVoyager Ultraviolet Spectrometer is combined with simple models falls about 1000km lower than the peak determined by radio occultation. The locations and magnitudes of the peaks in electron density can be accounted for by including the effects of vertical transport of ions in the ionospheric models. This vertical transport may be induced by meridional winds in the neutral atmosphere or external electric fields. It is probable that precipitating particles and an altitude-variable H₂ vibrational temperature play important roles in determining the character of the iono?phere. In view of the complex relationship between the ionosphere and neutral atmosphere, an attempt to infer one from the other cannot succeed. However, combining independent information on the two leads to new insights into the coupling of the neutral atmosphere, the ionosphere and the magnetosphere.