Whistler–electron interactions in the magnetosphere: new results and novel approaches

Attention is focused here on the quasilinear and nonlinear physics of cyclotron interactions between magnetospheric whistler mode waves and energetic electrons on dipolar geomagnetic flux tubes. These interactions can lead to the generation of noise-like emissions or phase-coherent discrete signals in the frequency-time domain. In the magnetosphere noise-like emissions called hiss are accompanied by a smooth electron precipitation pattern. Examples of discrete emissions are ELF/VLF chorus or VLF emissions triggered by whistlers from lightning or by radio transmitters on the ground. The rapid temporal variations of these signals are associated with fine structure of the distribution function of the radiation belt electrons, such as a transient step-like deformation or a well-organized beam, which are prepared by initial noise-like emissions or by a quasimonochromatic whistler–wave packet, respectively. These cause the properties of the electrons, which may be observed on a satellite, to evolve rapidly in time and on relatively short spatial scales. Bursts of precipitating electrons occur, and can contribute significantly to depleting the radiation belts. Recent results on improvements in the theoretical understanding of such processes and on new observations of magnetospheric electrons and whistler-mode waves are presented.     

基于电磁卫星的闪电哨声波智能检测算法的研究进展

闪电哨声波作为探索空间物理环境的重要媒介,淹没在海量的电磁卫星数据中.近年来随着计算机视觉和深度学习等人工智能技术的发展,从电磁卫星的存档数据中自动检测闪电哨声波的算法取得了一定的效果.本文对近年来闪电哨声波智能检测算法的文献进行了整理和总结.首先,阐述闪电哨声波在电磁卫星数据中呈现的时频特征和类型;然后,介绍了闪电哨声波智能检测算法的流程并从闪电哨声波的特征提取、分类和定位三个方面对主要的智能检测算法进行归纳、总结和评述;其次,简述了闪电哨声波智能检测模型的评价指标;接着,在张衡一号(ZH-1)卫星的磁场数据上对三种典型的闪电哨声波智能检测算法进行复现,并对三种算法的优缺点进行了较深入的分析;最后,对基于电磁卫星的闪电哨声波智能检测的研究领域进行总结和展望.     

南极长城站夏季哨声的观测与分析

在中国首次南极考察期间,我们对哨声和VLF发射进行了37天的连续观测。本文首先对观测设备作了介绍,在对观测资料进行统计分析的基础上就哨声类型、发生率、色散特征等作了描述,然后重点对磁暴期间两天的哨声活动作了较细致的分析,并由此推求出其传播途径上的电子浓度变化。观测到了磁暴期间等离子体层的倒空现象和其后的回填过程。计算表明,倒空的速率为10⁹el/cm²·s,向上的回填通量为5x10⁸ el/cm²·s。     

Physical mechanisms of man-made influences on the magnetosphere

Since the discovery of the Luxembourg effect in the 1930s, it is clear that man-made activities can perturb the ionosphere and the magnetosphere. The anthropogenic effects are mainly due to different kinds of waves coming from the Earth's surface. Acoustic-gravity waves are generated by large explosions, spacecraft launches, or flight of supersonic planes. Electromagnetic waves are active in different frequency ranges. Power line harmonic radiation which is radiated in the ELF range by electrical power systems can be observed over industrial areas. At VLF and HF, the ground-based transmitters used for communications or radio-navigation heat the ionosphere and change the natural parameters. A large variety of phenomena is observed: wave-particle interaction, precipitation of radiation belt electrons, parametric coupling of EM whistler waves, triggered emissions, frequency shift, and whistler spectrum broadening. This paper will review the different physical mechanisms which are relevant to such perturbations. The possibility of direct chemical pollution in the ionosphere due to gas releases is also discussed.     

Preliminary results from the MEMO multicomponent measurements of waves on-board INTERBALL 2

The MEMO (MEsure Multicomposante des Ondes) experiment is a part of theINTERBALL 2 wave consortium. It is connected to a total of six electric and nine magnetic independent sensors. It provides waveforms associated with the measurement of two to five components in three frequency bands: ELF (5–1000 Hz), VLF (1–20 kHz), LF (20–250 kHz). Preliminary analyses of low and high resolution data are presented. The emphasis is put on the estimation of the propagation characteristics of the observed waves. VLF hiss emissions are shown to be mainly whistler mode emissions, but other modes are present. An accurate estimation of the local plasma frequency is proposed when the low L = 0 cutoff frequency is identified. AKR emissions observed just above source regions are studied. R-X and L-O modes are found: the first at the lowest frequencies and the second at the highest. Both propagate with wave normal directions weakly oblique or quasi-parallel to the Earths magnetic field direction. Propagation characteristics are also determined for a (non-drifting) fine structure of AKR. There is no fundamental difference with structurless events. Night-side and dayside bursts of ELF electromagnetic emissions are presented. It is not clear whether the two emissions belong to the lion roar emissions or not.     

ZH-1卫星观测的VLF人工源信号特征分析与全波模拟

中国地震电磁监测试验卫星张衡一号(ZH-1)已于2018年2月2日成功发射,正在开展卫星数据在轨测试,并对卫星数据质量进行判定.本文对ZH-1卫星2018年5月至6月夜侧的VLF频段电场功率谱数据进行了分析.通过分析位于不同L值、具有不同发射频率的多个VLF人工源上空的卫星重访轨道观测数据,发现ZH-1卫星记录的人工源信号电场变化标准差与DEMETER卫星记录电场变化标准差几乎一致,说明ZH-1卫星观测数据具有较好的稳定性.通过重访轨道均值与全波模型计算结果对比,发现两者在数值上较为接近,在形态上较为一致,说明ZH-1卫星VLF频段电场功率谱数据具有一定的可靠性.此外,研究了VLF人工源上空及共轭区的电场分布特征和电波传播规律,并与DEMETER卫星的结果进行了对比,结果表明VLF人工源产生的电磁辐射穿透电离层后以导管或者非导管的哨声波模向共轭区传播,因为传播过程中的朗道阻尼,共轭区的电场能量比辐射源顶空更小.VLF人工源位于L1.5时,电磁波传播更容易发生非导管传播,VLF人工源信号导管传播模式在共轭区的电场响应相对于共轭点会发生一定程度北向偏移.     

电离层人工调制在水平分层电离层中所激发的ELF波辐射

通过大功率ELF/VLF调幅高频波能有效地扰动低电离层,形成等效的ELF/VLF电离层虚拟天线,用来辐射ELF/VLF波,所辐射出的低频信号可以进入中性大气层形成地球-电离层波导.本文基于调制加热模型,采用全波有限元算法计算由人工调制电离层所形成的电偶极矩所辐射出的ELF波在水平分层电离层中的波场,计算结果将与地面观测结果进行比较.模拟结果表明,所辐射出的ELF波在电离层中形成一个窄的准直波束,海面所能接收到的ELF信号强度为pT量级,并且频率越低,海面所接收到的场强就越小,与HAARP实验数据一致.结果还表明,低纬电离层对低频信号的传播衰减较大,并且所能透射出电离层的角度小,因此高纬地区更适合地球-电离层波导的激发.     

Whistlers observed at low-latitude ground-based VLF facility in Fiji

The propagation features of nighttime whistlers to low-latitude station, Suva (−18.2°, 178.3°, geomag. lat. −22.1°, geomag. long. 253.5°, L=1.15), Fiji, from preliminary observations made during the period from September 2003–2005, are reported. The observations of ELF–VLF signals commenced in September 2003 using the VLF set-up of World Wide Lightning Location Network at our station. The whistlers were observed during the severe magnetic storm of 20–22 November 2003 and moderate magnetic storm of 17–19 July 2005. A whistler with dispersion D=12.7 s^1/2 occurred on 22 November at 00:11 h LT. On 20 July at 01:00 h LT, a short whistler with dispersion D=20.9 s^1/2 and two whistler events having two-component whistlers with D=15.8, 16.7 s^1/2 and 16.7, 17.3 s^1/2 were observed. Non-ducted pro-longitudinal mode of the whistler propagation supported by negative latitudinal electron density gradients in the ionosphere that are enhanced by magnetic storms, seems most likely mode of propagation for the whistlers with dispersion of 12.7–17.3 s^1/2 to this low-latitude station.     

Application of the method of numerical simulation of ionospheric filtration of Pc1 signals to solving the inverse problem of ionospheric modelling

Summary The numerical method of simulating ionospheric filtration of ULF signals in the range of Pc1 frequencies has been applied to French geomagnetically conjugate observations of ULF signals made by the GEOS-1 satellite and at the observatory of Husafell (Iceland) [2]. The experimentally obtained variable values of the transmissivity of the Pc1 signal through the ionosphere [5] in the course of the micropulsation distrubance of 13.7. 1977 have been compared with the results of the numerical simulation taking into consideration the fundamental physical parameters of the high-latitude external ionosphere. This approximate form of solving the inverse problem of ionospheric modelling yielded quantitative estimates of the rapid variations of the concentration of charged particles in connection with the expected changes of their temperature. It is assumed that nonstationary states of the ionospheric plasma are caused by the very ion-cyclotron waves penetrating the ionosphere at high latitudes ( 70°) along the plasmapause.     

Effects on the Ionosphere Due to Phenomena Occurring Below it

The terrestrial thermosphere and ionosphere form the most variable part of theEarth's atmosphere. Because our society depends on technological systems thatcan be affected by thermospheric and ionospheric phenomena, understanding,monitoring and ultimately forecasting the changes of the thermosphere–ionosphere system are of crucial importance to communications, navigation and the exploration of near-Earth space. The reason for the extreme variability of the thermosphere–ionosphere system isits rapid response to external forcing from various sources, i.e., thesolar ionizing flux, energetic charged particles and electric fields imposed via the interaction between the solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere, as well as coupling from below (meteorological influences) by the upward propagating, broad spectrum,internal atmospheric waves (planetary waves, tides, gravity waves) generated in thestratosphere and troposphere. Thunderstorms, typhoons, hurricanes, tornadoes andeven seismological events may also have observable consequences in the ionosphere.The release of trace gases due to human activity have the potential to cause changes inthe lower and the upper atmosphere.A brief overview is presented concerning the discoveries and experimentalresults that have confirmed that the ionosphere is subject to meteorologicalcontrol (especially for geomagnetic quiet conditions and for middle latitudes).D-region aeronomy, the winter anomaly of radiowave absorption, wave-liketravelling ionospheric disturbances, the non-zonality and regional peculiaritiesof lower thermospheric winds, sporadic-E occurrence and structure, spread-Fevents, the variability of ionospheric electron density profiles and Total ElectronContent, the variability of foF2, etc., should all be considered in connection withtropospheric and stratospheric processes. Ionospheric weather, as a part of spaceweather, (i.e., hour-to-hour and day-to-day variability of the ionospheric parameters)awaits explanation and prediction within the framework of the climatological, seasonal,and solar-cycle variations.     

甚低纬哨声低电离层透射过程的数值模拟

利用全波解算法模拟哨声波束在甚低纬地区黎明前低电离层透射的三维能量分布，依据波场能量和偏振分布及其对波参量和电子浓度剖面的依赖特征，分析了哨声透射、反射及与大地－电离层波导耦合过程．结果表明，哨声模波存在于９０ｋｍ以上高度，吸收、反射、波束扩展及波模转换主要发生于电离层底部８０－９０ｋｍ区间；到达地面的透射能量密度衰减２０ｄＢ以上，透射衰减随频率变化不大，但随波入射角呈不对称变化；距透射区１５０ｋｍ以外区域的测向方位角有很大偏差；入射波能量的很少一部分（对５ｋＨｚ约为－２５ｄＢ）被反射并激发起哨声模波，反射波束能量集中于入射波束附近，并随频率下降而迅速增强．计算也表明，地面接收到的甚低纬哨声回波可能与使回波向极侧偏移的电离纬向梯度有关．     

地球磁层中哨声导管的物理结构

本文在理论上探讨了地球磁层中哨声导管的物理特征。利用两种能够引导甚低频电磁波的导管模式,求得哨声导管中磁场和电流的分布。当磁场偏离势场或无力场时,将会产生场向电流,该电流与导管的强度和稳定维持密切相关。根据这些结果,我们认为高纬磁层中观测到的较强的场向电流,是高纬地区地面台站频繁接收到哨声及其回波的一个重要原因。     

Earth’s Electromagnetic Environment

The natural spectrum of electromagnetic variations surrounding Earth extends across an enormous frequency range and is controlled by diverse physical processes. Electromagnetic (EM) induction studies make use of external field variations with frequencies ranging from the solar cycle which has been used for geomagnetic depth sounding through the 10\(^{-4}\)–10\(^4\) Hz frequency band widely used for magnetotelluric and audio-magnetotelluric studies. Above 10\(^4\) Hz, the EM spectrum is dominated by man-made signals. This review emphasizes electromagnetic sources at \(\sim\)1 Hz and higher, describing major differences in physical origin and structure of short- and long-period signals. The essential role of Earth’s internal magnetic field in defining the magnetosphere through its interactions with the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field is briefly outlined. At its lower boundary, the magnetosphere is engaged in two-way interactions with the underlying ionosphere and neutral atmosphere. Extremely low-frequency (3 Hz–3 kHz) electromagnetic signals are generated in the form of sferics, lightning, and whistlers which can extend to frequencies as high as the VLF range (3–30 kHz).The roughly spherical dielectric cavity bounded by the ground and the ionosphere produces the Schumann resonance at around 8 Hz and its harmonics. A transverse resonance also occurs at 1.7–2.0 kHz arising from reflection off the variable height lower boundary of the ionosphere and exhibiting line splitting due to three-dimensional structure. Ground and satellite observations are discussed in the light of their contributions to understanding the global electric circuit and for EM induction studies.     

中国北方地区冬季哨声的传播特征

本文对漠河、哈尔滨、北京三个台站1983年冬季的哨声观测资料进行了统计分析。结果表明,这三个地区的哨声活动在日落和后半夜都同时有高峰出现。在日落期间,哨声的平均色散值较高,出现有较高纬度的哨声穿出电离层后沿地球-电离层波导传播到较低纬度地区的现象;而在午夜后,哨声的平均色散值较低,有较低纬度的哨声穿出电离层后传播到较高纬度的现象。从哨声形态学特征判断,漠河和哈尔滨属于中纬度台站,而北京则属于低纬度台站的范畴。     

Some unusual discrete VLF emissions observed at a low-latitude ground station at Agra

A detailed analysis of the VLF emissions data obtained during occasional whistler campaigns at the low-latitude ground station Agra (geomagnetic latitude 17°1 N, L = 1.15) has yielded some unusual discrete VLF emissions of the rising type. These include (1) emissions occurring at time intervals increasing in geommetrical progression, (2) emissions occuring simultaneously in different frequency ranges and (3) emissions observed during daytime. In the present study, the observed characteristics of these emissions are described and interpreted. It is shown that the increasing time delay between different components of the emissions match closely with the propagation time delays between different hops of a whistler of dispersion 19 s^1/2, the unusual occurrence of the emissions in two different frequency ranges approximately at the same time may possibly be linked with their generation at two different locations, and the occurrence of emissions during daytime may be due to propagation under the influence of equatorial anomaly.     

赤道异常区内非导管哨声的射线跟踪

本文利用射线跟踪技术研究了电离层赤道异常区内地面哨声非导管传播的可能性。考察了负电离纬向梯度对非导管哨声传播的影响,并检验了哨声射线路径参数和群时延对频率的依赖关系。计算结果证明,夜间在赤道异常区内的电离层中,存在一些地面可检测哨声的非导管传播通道;沿位于通道内的射线路径传播的哨声波,透出电离层后,可同时激发电离层-地面波导的朝极和朝赤道方向传播;在磁纬10°附近,到达共轭电离层底部的射线有明显的“聚焦”效应。本文结果比较满意地解释了近年来在我国南部地区地面台网（磁纬19.4°N至5.5°N）同时观测到的一部分哨声的传播特征。     

基于智能语音技术的闪电哨声波自动识别

闪电哨声波是一种重要的电磁波动,了解其传播特征及传播过程有助于揭开圈层电磁耦合机理.从卫星观测资料识别闪电哨声波通常需要将原始电磁波形进行滤波处理再转化为时频图像,最后采用目视方法识别图像中的色散状形态,整个过程消耗大量人机时间和内存资源,不能满足张衡一号(ZH-1)卫星观测的海量电磁场数据处理的需求.针对该问题,鉴于...     

Very low frequency (VLF) chorus emissions: A topical survey

In this paper we have tried to present, coherently, a review of the observations of natural VLF radio emissions, termed chorus, that have been made on the ground and aboard satellites, and also their dependence on various geomagnetic phenomena. We have highlighted current theoretical interpretations of the generation and propagation of chorus signals.     

On the observations of unique low latitude whistler-triggered VLF/ELF emissions

A detailed analysis of the VLF/ELF wave data obtained during a whistler campaign under All India Coordinated Program of Ionosphere Thermosphere Studies (AICPITS) at our low latitude Indian ground station Jammu (geomag. lat. = 22° 26′ N, L = 1.17) has yielded two types of unusual and unique whistler-triggered VLF/ELF emissions. These include (1) whistler-triggered hook emissions and (2) whistler-triggered long enduring discrete chorus riser emissions in VLF/ELF frequency range during night time. Such types of whistler-triggered emissions have not been reported earlier from any of the ground observations at low latitudes. In the present study, the observed characteristics of these emissions are described and interpreted. Dispersion analysis of these emissions show that the whistlers as well as emissions have propagated along a higher geomagnetic field line path with L-values lying ∼L = 4, suggesting that these triggered emissions are to be regarded as mid-latitude emissions. These waves could have propagated along the geomagnetic field lines either in a ducted mode or in a pro-longitudinal (PL) mode. The measured intensity of the triggered emissions is almost equal to that of the source waves and does not vary throughout the period of observation on that day. It is speculated that these emissions may have been generated through a process of resonant interaction of the whistler waves with energetic electrons. Parameters related to this interaction are computed for different values of L and wave amplitude. The proposed mechanism explains some aspects of the dynamic spectra.