E-region mid-latitude decametre irregularities observed at four radar frequencies. Experiment and first results

In this paper an experiment designed for multifrequency azimuthal Doppler-spectrum investigations of decametre-scale plasma irregularities in the midlatitude E region is introduced and some preliminary results are presented. The observations were made with the high-frequency Valensole radar in the south of France. The radar operated in a multifrequency mode that allowed simultaneous measurements of Doppler spectra at the four frequencies of 9.23, 11.03, 12.71 and 16.09 MHz, which correspond to scatter from fieldaligned irregularities with wavelengths of 16.2, 13.6, 11.8 and 9.3 m, respectively. In addition, a digital ionosonde was operating beneath a small part of the radar viewing region. The data show that lower-frequency echoes are stronger, more frequent and more spatially extended than higher-frequency ones, in general agreement with theory and rocket measurements. On the other hand, the preliminary analysis shows no pronounced differences of the Doppler spectrum with radar frequency. Some trends in the spectral moments do exist, however, which can be understood as the result of temporal and/or spatial mixing of backscatter from directly generated (primary) plasma waves by the gradient drift instability and secondary low-velocity waves. Finally, a close relation of mid-latitude coherent backscatter with patchy sporadic E-layers is present in the data, but the details of this relation remain unresolved.     

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.     

2009年1月强爆发性增温期间突发E(Es)层的响应

平流层爆发性增温(SSW)期间,低层大气温度场和风场等的剧烈变化会直接影响潮汐和风剪切作用.此举可能会导致电离层Es的相应变化.本文以2009年1月事件为例,分析了SSW期间Es层的响应.首先,在排除太阳活动和地磁活动对Es层影响的前提下,分析了昆明站附近MLT区域行星波和潮汐波的波动特性,发现此期间存在显著的2日行星波,并伴有日潮汐减弱和半日潮汐增强等波动现象;随后,分析相应时间段内Es层的变化特性发现,重庆和昆明站附近Es层强度明显减弱,且其高度显著抬升.这一现象与低层大气的波动变化具有同步性.最后,通过模拟经典风剪切理论下Es层金属离子的汇聚过程和运动轨迹,再现了SSW期间Es层与低层大气波动的耦合演化过程.该分析结果为研究低层-中层-高层大气的耦合过程提供了一种新的思路.     

Initial backscatter occurrence statistics from the CUTLASS HF radars

A statistical study of the occurrence of ground and ionospheric backscatter within the fields-of-view of the CUTLASS HF radars, at an operating frequency of 10 MHz, during the first 20 months of operation has been undertaken. The diurnal variation of the occurrence of backscatter and the range at which such backscatter is observed is found to be highly dependent on seasonal changes of the ionospheric electron density in both the E and F region, determined from ionosonde observations. In general, ionospheric backscatter is observed at far ranges during the local day in winter months and at near ranges during the local night in summer months. The Iceland radar observes more near-range E region backscatter than the Finland radar as a consequence of its more zonal look-direction. The dependence of the occurrence of backscatter on geomagnetic activity and radar operating frequency are also investigated. The occurrence of ground and ionospheric backscatter is discussed in terms of HF propagation modes and ionospheric electron densities as well as geophysical processes. A brief assessment of the possible impact of solar cycle variations on the observations is made and frequency management is discussed. Such a study, with its focus on the instrumental aspect of backscatter occurrence, is essential for a full interpretation of HF coherent radar observations.     

The effects of thunderstorm-generated atmospheric gravity waves on mid-latitude F-region drifts

Superposed epoch analysis (SEA) was used to examine ionospheric drift velocities measured by a digital ionosonde located at the mid-latitude station Bundoora (145.1°E, 37.7°S geographic), near Melbourne. The control times for the SEA were the times of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning strokes measured from August 2003 to August 2004 by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). Statistically, regions of concentrated lightning activity migrated from west to east across Bundoora, and the stroke frequency was higher the day prior the activity reached the station, and lower on the day after it passed to the east. For the SEA, CG strokes were separated into four directional quadrants centred on north, south, east and west. No SEA results are shown for the south quadrant due to the relatively low detection frequency of strokes across the Southern Ocean (6% of all events). The strongest downward vertical perturbations in F-region drifts, ?4.5 m s^?1, were found for lightning located towards the west during ?30 to ?16 h (i.e., the afternoon prior the activity passed near the station at t=0 h). The downward perturbation decreased in amplitude to ?1.5 m s^?1 for lightning located towards the north during ?6–+6 h, and was weakest (?0.7 m s^?1) for lightning located towards the east during +16–+28 h (i.e., the next afternoon). There were directionally consistent perturbations in the drift azimuths associated with the lightning located in their respective quadrants; lightning located to the west of the station caused eastward azimuth enhancements, northward lightning caused southward enhancements, and eastward lightning caused westward enhancements. Velocity magnitudes and fluctuations tended to increase during the passage of lightning. The observed responses were stronger when the SEA was performed with data selected using time windows of <2 min on either side of each lightning stroke. However, they persisted at longer time scales and were strong when thunderstorm onsets (instead of lightning times) were used as controls. Our results can be explained by thunderstorm-generated atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) which subsequently gave rise to medium-scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs), with the lightning strokes acting merely as a proxy for this coupling. The prevailing thermospheric winds were flowing from east to west across the study region, and may have acted as a directional ‘filter’ for the MSTIDs, allowing waves generated in the west quadrant to reach the station and preventing those generated in other quadrants. Displacement of the MSTIDs in the direction anti-parallel to mean neutral wind flow has been observed by (Waldock, J.A., Jones, T.B., 1986. HF Doppler observations of medium-scale travelling ionospheric disturbances at mid-latitudes. Journal of atmospheric and terrestrial physics 48(3), 245–260).     

基于多台站OH全天空气辉成像仪观测的中国中纬地区重力波传播特性

利用位于中国中纬地区6个OH气辉成像仪2012年1月至2013年12月两年的观测数据,我们研究分析了重力波传播特征.结果表明重力波的水平波长、观测周期和水平相速度分别主要分布于10~35km,4~12min和30~100m·s-1范围.夏季,重力波主要沿极向方向传播.然而,冬季,他们有向赤道方向和平行于赤道方向的传播趋势.同时,我们结合TRMM卫星和ECMWF数据,发现在夏季重力波的北向传播趋势可能主要由观测台站南方的对流活动导致.然而,对流层顶附近的急流可能在冬季重力波的主要传播方向方面做出较大贡献.分析结果也表明,低层-中层大气背景风的滤波效应仅在夏季与中国中纬地区重力波纬向传播方向各向异性吻合较好.     

A study of the Joule and Lorentz inputs in the production of atmospheric gravity waves in the upper thermosphere

First results of a modelling study of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) are presented. A fully-coupled global thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere model is used to examine the relative importance of Lorentz forcing and Joule heating in the generation of AGWs. It is found that Joule heating is the dominant component above 110km. The effects of the direction of the Lorentz forcing component on the subsequent propagation of the AGW are also addressed. It is found that enhancement of zonal E × B forcing results in AGWs at F-region altitudes of similar magnitudes travelling from the region of forcing in both poleward and equatorward directions, whilst enhancement of equatorward meridional E × B forcing results in AGWs travelling both poleward and equatorward, but with the magnitude of the poleward wave severely attenuated compared with the equatorward wave.     

基于OH全天空气辉成像仪观测的中国低纬地区的重力波传播统计特征

利用位于海南富克(19.5°N,109.1°E)和广西桂平(23.4°N,110.1°E)两个台站两年多的OH全天空气辉成像仪观测数据,对中国低纬地区的重力波传播统计特征进行了研究.从富克和桂平的气辉成像观测中, 分别提取了65和86个重力波事件.研究结果表明,观测水平波长,观测周期和水平相速度分别集中分布在10~35 km, 4~14 min和20~90 m·s^-1范围.重力波传播方向,在夏季表现出很强的东北方向传播.然而,在冬季主要沿东南和西南方向传播. 同时,结合流星雷达风场观测和TIMED/SABER卫星的温度数据,也发现在中层-低热层中传播的大多数重力波表现为耗散传播.且低层-中层大气中背景风场的滤波作用和多普勒频移可能对纬向方向传播的重力波产生的各向异性起到重要的调制作用.然而,经向方向传播的重力波产生的各向异性可能同时被低层大气中波源的非均匀分布以及潮汐变化所影响.     

Determining the ionospheric irregularity velocity vector based on doppler measurements in the artificially modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> region of the polar ionosphere

The method for estimating the behavior of the ionospheric irregularity motion vector in the artificially disturbed HF ionospheric region has been proposed, and this behavior has been analyzed based on the simultaneous Doppler observations performed on several paths using the method of bi-static backscatter of diagnostic HF signals by small-scale artificial ionospheric irregularities. The Doppler measurements were performed during the modification of the auroral ionosphere by powerful HF radiowaves emitted by the EISCAT heating facility (Tromsø, Norway). It has been obtained that the dynamics of the ionospheric irregularity directions in the F region, calculated based on the Doppler measurements of the total vector of the ionospheric irregularity velocity above the Tromsø EISCAT radar at a frequency of 931 MHz, is in satisfactory agreement with such calculations performed using the three-position method.     

Thunderstorm-associated responses in the vertical motion of the mid-latitude F-region ionosphere

Mid-latitude Digisonde Doppler velocities, auroral electrojet (AE) indices and cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning strokes during August 2003–2004 were used to study the perturbations in the F-region vertical drift associated with terrestrial thunderstorms. A superposed epoch analysis (SEA) showed that the F-region vertical drifts V_z had a net descent of ～0.6 m s^?1 peaking ～3 h after lightning. Stronger downward perturbations of up to ～0.9 m s^?1 were observed in the afternoon on the day prior to lightning days. The perturbations were less significant on the day after and insignificant during the remaining intervals up to 144 h on either side of the lightning. The stronger responses on the day before are consistent with causality because the lightning times were merely proxies for the physical mechanisms involved. The actual causes are unclear, but we discuss the possible roles of lightning-induced ionisation enhancements, intense electric fields penetrating upward from electrified clouds, and atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) radiated from thunderstorms or from the accompanying tropospheric fronts. There is no doubt that the behaviour of the mid-latitude F-region is controlled by the thermospheric winds and the solar wind-magnetosphere electrical generators, but our results suggest that electrified clouds also account for a significant, albeit relatively small component of the ionospheric variability.     

电离层对台风响应的全过程的特例研究

作为特例研究,本文对1988年和1990年两次强台风影响期间的电离层多普勒记录及相应的台风资料进行了细致的相关分析,目的是利用多普勒记录的连续性优点来了解电离层对登陆（或近海）强台风通过声重波响应的演化全过程.分析表明,在这两次台风影响期间,电离层形态中除有明显的波状扰动（中尺度声重波）出现外,还有一些值得注意的新现象：波动的时间演化表现出明显的幅度逐渐增加以及频率由高频向低频转变,在振幅很大的情况下日落后同时出现扩展F（Spread F）现象,显示了声重波在激发电离层不规则结构方面的种子作用.这一演化过程与电离层中TIDs的线性传播理论一致,文中开展了对这一现象的非线性数值模拟,模拟结果基本上也与上述观测现象相吻合.     

The relationship between VHF radar auroral backscatter amplitude and Doppler velocity: a statistical study

A statistical investigation of the relationship between VHF radar auroral backscatter intensity and Doppler velocity has been undertaken with data collected from 8 years operation of the Wick site of the Sweden And Britain Radar-auroral Experiment (SABRE). The results indicate three different regimes within the statistical data set; firstly, for Doppler velocities <200 m s⁻¹, the backscatter intensity (measured in decibels) remains relatively constant. Secondly, a linear relationship is observed between the backscatter intensity (in decibels) and Doppler velocity for velocities between 200 m s⁻¹ and 700 m s⁻¹. At velocities greater than 700 m s⁻¹ the backscatter intensity saturates at a maximum value as the Doppler velocity increases. There are three possible geophysical mechanisms for the saturation in the backscatter intensity at high phase speeds: a saturation in the irregularity turbulence level, a maximisation of the scattering volume, and a modification of the local ambient electron density. There is also a difference in the dependence of the backscatter intensity on Doppler velocity for the flow towards and away from the radar. The results for flow towards the radar exhibit a consistent relationship between backscatter intensity and measured velocities throughout the solar cycle. For flow away from the radar, however, the relationship between backscatter intensity and Doppler velocity varies during the solar cycle. The geometry of the SABRE system ensures that flow towards the radar is predominantly associated with the eastward electrojet, and flow away is associated with the westward electrojet. The difference in the backscatter intensity variation as a function of Doppler velocity is attributed to asymmetries between the eastward and westward electrojets and the geophysical parameters controlling the backscatter amplitude.     

廊坊地区中间层顶钠原子垂直动力学输送特征观测分析

利用中科院国家空间科学中心廊坊观测站（40.0° N,116.3° E）钠荧光多普勒激光雷达观测数据对钠原子的重力波输送和湍流输送进行分析,利用流星雷达观测数据对钠原子的环流输送进行分析,结果显示重力波动力学输送、重力波化学输送、湍流混合输送及环流输送对钠原子输送贡献的量级相当.其中重力波动力学输送在85~100 km整体为负向,在90~95 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为-3.1 cm·s^-1;重力波化学输送在85~94 km为正向,94~100 km基本为负向,在85~90 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为3.3 cm·s^-1;湍流混合输送在85~95 km为负向,95~100 km为正向,在85~90 km占主要地位的平均输送速度为-4.9 cm·s^-1;85~100 km环流输送整体为正向,平均输送速度为1 cm·s^-1.88~95 km四种动力学输送产生的平均合速度为-1 cm·s^-1,负向的垂直输送特征对钠原子"源""汇"平衡十分重要.本文结果可为不同大气圈层之间重力波产生的能量物质交换机制研究和圈层之间的耦合过程研究提供观测事实参考,为大气化学成分的垂直输送机制建模提供参数化依据.     

Validation of the CUTLASS HF radar gravity wave observing capability using EISCAT CP-1 data

Quasi-periodic fluctuations in the returned ground-scatter power from the SuperDARN HF radars have been linked to the passage of medium-scale gravity waves. We have applied a technique that extracts the first radar range returns from the F-region to study the spatial extent and characteristics of these waves in the CUTLASS field-of-view. Some ray tracing was carried out to test the applicability of this method. The EISCAT radar facility at Tromsø is well within the CUTLASS field-of-view for these waves and provides a unique opportunity to assess independently the ability of the HF radars to derive gravity wave information. Results from 1st March, 1995, where the EISCAT UHF radar was operating in its CP-1 mode, demonstrate that the radars were in good agreement, especially if one selects the electron density variations measured by EISCAT at around 235 km. CUTLASS and EISCAT gravity wave observations complement each other; the former extends the spatial field of view considerably, whilst the latter provides detailed vertical information about a range of ionospheric parameters.     

Inertia gravity wave activity in the troposphere and lower stratosphere observed by Wuhan MST radar

The troposphere and lower stratosphere (TLS) is a region with active atmospheric fluctuations. The Wuhan Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere (MST) radar is the first MST radar to have become operational in Mainland China. It is dedicated to real-time atmospheric observations. In this paper, two case studies about inertia gravity waves (IGWs) derived from three-dimensional wind field data collected with the Wuhan MST radar are presented. The intrinsic frequencies, vertical wavelengths, horizontal wavelengths, vertical wavenumber spectra, and energy density are calculated and analyzed. In this paper, we also report on multiple waves existing in the lower stratosphere observed by the Wuhan MST radar. Lomb-Scargle spectral analysis and the hodograph method were used to derive the vertical wavenumber and propagation direction. Meanwhile, an identical IGW is observed by Wuhan MST radar both in troposphere and lower stratosphere regions. Combining the observations, the source of the latter IGW detected in the TLS would be the jet streams located in the tropopause region, which also produced wind shear above and below the tropopause.     

Coordinated Akebono and EISCAT observations of suprathermal ion outflows in the nightside inverted-V region

We have investigated ion outflows observed by the Akebono satellite and the EISCAT radar in the nightside auroral region on February 16, 1993. The Akebono satellite at about 7000 km altitude observed the region of suprathermal ion outflows and inverted-V type electron precipitation alternately with a horizontal separation of 70–150 km at the ionospheric level. These two regions corresponded to the upward and downward field-aligned current region, respectively, and intense ELF waves were observed in the ion outflow region. From the EISCAT VHF radar observation (Common Program 7 mode), it has been suggested that the ion outflow region and the enhanced electron temperature region were aligned along geomagnetic field lines with vertical and horizontal separations of 200–400 and 70–80 km, respectively and these two regions convected equatorward across the EISCAT radar at Tromsø site. Based on these results, we propose a model for this ion outflow as follows. In the nightside auroral region, downward FAC regions exist near the edge of the inverted-V type electron precipitation regions. ELF waves are excited probably by a plasma instability due to the upward thermal electron beam carrying the downward FACs, and these ELF waves cause transverse ion heating at the top of the ionosphere. The produced ion conics contribute significantly to ion outflow.     

1987年9月23日日环食引起的电离层扰动

本文利用武汉电离层观象台的高频多普勒台阵、TEC台阵和加密频高图等多种观测资料,分析了1987年9月23日发生在我国境内的日环食的电离层效应,简要地讨论了光食过程的电离层变化,着重研究了食后电离层扰动以及这种效应的高度演变和传播特征.结果表明:1.在不同高度上电离层的光化过程的弛豫时间不同,光食效应有明显的高度差异;2.食后出现了电离层行扰,这种扰动的特性随高度变化十分复杂,但不同高度上扰动的水平传播方向都指向日食中心带.这种扰动的激发源不在环食中心带内,它的激发可能与日食时大范围的大气冷却收缩所引起的低层大气运动的不稳定性有关.     

1987年9月23日日环食引起的电离层扰动

本文利用武汉电离层观象台的高频多普勒台阵、TEC台阵和加密频高图等多种观测资料,分析了1987年9月23日发生在我国境内的日环食的电离层效应,简要地讨论了光食过程的电离层变化,着重研究了食后电离层扰动以及这种效应的高度演变和传播特征.结果表明:1.在不同高度上电离层的光化过程的弛豫时间不同,光食效应有明显的高度差异;2.食后出现了电离层行扰,这种扰动的特性随高度变化十分复杂,但不同高度上扰动的水平传播方向都指向日食中心带.这种扰动的激发源不在环食中心带内,它的激发可能与日食时大范围的大气冷却收缩所引起的低层大气运动的不稳定性有关.     

Detection of large scale TIDs associated with the dayside cusp using SuperDARN data

Variations in the dayside ionosphere parameters as a result of a large-scale acoustic gravity wave (LS AGW) were studied for the 17 February 1998 substorm using the super dual auroral radar network (SuperDARN) measurements. This event was characterised by a sharp rise in the AE index with a maximum of ～900 nT. The source of the disturbance responsible for the LS AGW appears to have been located within the plasma convection throat and in the dayside cusp region. The location of the source was obtained from studies of a number of datasets including high-latitude convection maps, data from 4 DMSP satellites and networks of ground-based magnetometers. The propagation of the LS AGWs caused quasi-periodic variations in the skip distance (with an amplitude up to 220–260 km) of the ground backscatter measured by up to 6 SuperDARN radars, including Goose Bay and Kapuskasing, resulting in two large-scale travelling ionospheric disturbances (LS TIDs). The LS TIDs had wave periods of 1.5 and 2 h, a velocity of ～400 m/s for both, and wavelengths of 2200 and 2900 km, respectively. These quasi-periodic variations were also present in the peak electron density and height of the F2 layer measured by the Goose Bay ionosonde. The numerical simulation of the inverse problem show good agreement between Goose Bay radar and Goose Bay ionosonde measurements. But these LS TIDs would be difficult to deduce from the ground based ionospheric station data alone, because h_mF2 variations were 10–40 km only and f_OF2 variations between 10% and 20%. The results demonstrate how important SuperDARN radars can be, and that this is a more powerful technique than routine ground-based sounding for studies of weak quasi-periodic variations in the dayside subauroral ionosphere related to LS AGW.     

Dependence of the Pc4 magnetic pulsation parameters on the radiated power of the EISCAT HF heating facility

The interaction between the Earth’s ionosphere and magnetosphere in a situation when artificial disturbances are generated in the F region of the auroral ionosphere with the EISCAT/Heating facility is studied. An experiment was performed in the daytime when the facility effective radiated power changed in a stepwise manner. Wavelike disturbances with periods of (130–140) s corresponding to Pc4 pulsations were simultaneously registered by the method of bi-static backscatter and with ground magnetometers. The variations in the Doppler frequency shift were correlated with the changes in the facility power. Incoherent scatter radar measurements at a frequency of 930 MHz (Tromsö) and numerical calculations were used in an analysis. It has been indicated that the ionospheric drift of small-scale artificial ionospheric irregularities was modulated by magnetospheric Alfvén waves. The possible effect of powerful HF radioemission on the Alfvén wave amplitude owing to the modification of the magnetospheric resonator ionospheric edge reflectivity and the generation of an outgoing Alfvén wave above the region where the ionospheric conductivity is locally intensified has been considered.