Determination of velocities of East European stations from GNSS observations at the GNSS data analysis center of the main astronomical observatory,national academy of sciences of Ukraine

Dynamics of horizontal and vertical motions of East European GNSS stations has been studied at the GNSS Data Analysis Center, Main Astronomical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (MAO NASU). The GNSS station coordinates have been estimated from regional processing and reprocessing performed with the Bernese GNSS Software ver. 5.2 at the GNSS Data Analysis Center, MAO NASU. The velocity values have been computed for 42 GNSS stations, 15 of them located in Ukraine. Global and local offsets of the horizontal and vertical motions of the GNSS stations have been determined.     

火星电离层无线电掩星探测仿真研究

对中俄联合火星星-星电离层掩星技术体制进行了分析和介绍,采用三维射线追踪方法对电离层掩星事件的电波观测值进行了模拟计算,并利用模拟的掩星观测数据进行了电子密度廓线反演,结果说明仿真算法可靠.利用仿真的方法,分别对掩星电波相位观测误差和卫星轨道误差等带来的反演误差进行了个例计算和分析,结果得到:5%周的相位测量误差对白天电离层掩星探测结果的影响可以忽略,而夜间电子密度测量的绝对误差小于4×108 m-3;卫星轨道误差对掩星的主要影响是导致电离层高度抬升或下降.结果表明,中俄联合火星电离层掩星探测技术体制先进,可望获得高精度的电子密度廓线;其技术体制也可以用于月球电离层环境的探测.     

北斗亚欧全视时间比对试验

基于卫星导航双频时间传递型接收机的伪码观测量,利用国际全球卫星导航系统服务组织(International Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Service, IGS)提供的高精度卫星轨道和钟差产品,实现了北斗全视法时间比对.以IGS提供的时间尺度为两个待比对站的公共参考时间,首先使用双频组合法消除电离层对伪距观测的影响,然后将对流层和地球自转效应带来的时延利用理论模型在伪码观测量中进行扣除,分别获得两个比对站时间与公共参考时间之差后,将2者再做差,便得到了北斗全视时间比对结果.以中国科学院国家授时中心(NTSC)、德国物理技术研究院(PTB)和西班牙海军天文台(ROA)所保持的国家标准时间作为比对对象,开展了长基线北斗全视时间比对试验,获得北斗全视时间传递结果,最后利用阿伦方差和时间方差两项关键性能指标以及卫星双向时间比对对其进行性能评估.结果表明:北斗全视时间比对的天稳为10-14量级,可以满足国际时间比对需求.     

PL whistlers

Simultaneous ground and satellite VLF observations together with raytracing studies clearly establishes the existence of ground observed PL whistlers. The dynamic spectrum $\text{(?-ν-t}\text{shape}\text{)}$ of observed PL whistlers may be reproduced exactly by raytracing in TLG magnetospheric models consistent with lower ionosphere, topside ionosphere and equatorial density measurements. The Transition Level Gradient (TLG) model is based on the observation that the transition level altitude increases towards the plasmapause (Titheridge, 1976). PL ground whistlers (i) are observed downgoing over large latitudinal ranges, for up to 2000 km of satellite travel, by ISIS II at 1400 km altitude, (ii) have almost the same dynamic spectrum over the entire latitudinal range observed by ISIS II, (iii) are indistinguishable from ducted whistlers over the observed frequency range (i.e. linear Q for ? < 10 kHz), (iv) have nose frequencies > 16 kHz, (v) at 1400 km altitude have a lower latitudinal cutoff at L ～ 2 and a higher latitudinal cutoff between L ～ 3 and L ～ 4 and (vi) probably only occur at night-time during or immediately following disturbed magnetic activity.     

Study of total electron content variations over equatorial and low latitude ionosphere during extreme solar minimum

In recent years with the advancement in satellite based navigational applications, study of Total Electron Content (TEC) has gained significant importance. It is well known that due to dynamical behaviour of equatorial and low latitude ionosphere, the levels of ionization is relatively high herein. The sustained decrease in solar extreme ultraviolet radiations during the current minimum is greater than any in recent history. This gives us the opportunity to study the observations of global positioning system total electron content (GPS-TEC) dual frequency signals from the GPS satellites continuously recorded at Trivandrum (an equatorial station) and Delhi (a low latitude station) during the extremely low solar activity period from January 2007 to June 2009. This study illustrates the diurnal, seasonal and annual variations of TEC during the extended solar minimum period. This study also investigates the behaviour of daytime ionosphere around spring and autumn equinoxes at low solar activity period. The results clearly reveal the presence of equinoctial asymmetry which is more pronounced at equatorial station Trivandrum. The diurnal variation of TEC shows a short-lived day minimum which occurs between 0500 to 0600 LT at both the stations. Delhi TEC values show its steep increase and reach at its peak value between 1200 and 1400 LT, while at the equator the peak is broad and occurs around 1600 LT. Further, the daily maximum TEC ranges from about 5 to 40 TEC units at Trivandrum and about 10 to 40 TEC units at Delhi, which correspond to range delay variations of about 1 to 8 m at the GPS L1 frequency of 1.575 GHz. The Maximum values of TEC were observed during spring equinox rather than autumn equinox, showing presence of semi annual variation at both the locations. The minimum values of TEC were observed during the summer solstice at Trivandrum indicating the presence of winter anomaly at equatorial region while Delhi TEC values were minimum during winter solstice showing absence of winter anomaly. Also the TEC values at both the locations have been decreasing since 2007 onwards exhibit good positive correlation with solar activity.     

Plasmaspheric hiss observed in the topside ionosphere at mid- and low-latitudes

Latitudinal characteristics of ELF hiss in mid- and low-latitudes have been statistically studied by using ELF/VLF electric field spectra (50 Hz-30 kHz) from ISIS-1 and -2 received at Kashima station, Japan from 1973 to 1977. Most ISIS ELF/VLF data observed in mid- and low-latitude include ELF hiss at frequencies below a few kHz. The ELF hiss has the strongest intensity among VLF phenomena observed by the ISIS electric dipole antenna in mid- and low-latitudes, but the ELF hiss has no rising structure like the chorus in the detailed frequency-time spectrum. The ELF hiss is classified into the steady ELF hiss whose upper frequency limit is approximately constant with latitude and the ELF hiss whose upper frequency limit increases with latitude. These two types of ELF hiss occur often in medium or quiet geomagnetic activities. Sometimes there occurs a partial or complete lack of ELF hiss along an ISIS pass.Spectral shape and bandwidth of ELF hiss in the topside ionosphere are very similar to those of plasmaspheric hiss and of inner zone hiss. The occurrence rate of steady ELF hiss is about 0.3 near the geomagnetic equator and decreases rapidly with latitude around L = 3. Hence it seems likely that ELF hiss is generated by cyclotron resonant instability with electrons of several tens of keV in the equatorial outer plasmasphere beyond L = 3.Thirty-seven per cent of ELF hiss events received at Kashima station occurred during storm times and 63% of them occurred in non-storm or quiet periods. Sixty-seven per cent of 82 ELF hiss events during storm times were observed in the recovery phase of geomagnetic storms. This agrees with the previous satellite observations of ELF hiss by search coil magnetometers. The electric field of ELF hiss becomes very weak every 10 s, which is the satellite spin period, in mid- and low-latitudes, but not near the geomagnetic equator. Ray tracing results suggest that waves of ELF hiss generated in the equatorial outer plasmasphere propagate down in the electrostatic whistler mode towards the equatorial ionosphere, bouncing between the LHR reflection points in both the plasmaspheric hemispheres.     

The influence of the equatorial anomaly on the ground reception of non-ducted whistlers at low latitudes

It is the purpose of this paper to study whether the non-ducted propagation in the inner plasmasphere in the presence of the equatorial anomaly might be relevant to daytime whistlers observed on the ground at low latitudes. Realistic models of the equatorial anomaly simulating the satellite observations have been incorporated in the ray tracing computations. It is found that there are two different non-ducted modes able to penetrate through the ionosphere onto the ground; (1) whispering gallery mode around the anomaly field line which is trapped just by the outer boundary of the anomaly, and (2) pro-longitudinal (PL) mode at a latitude around 30° which is supported by the horizontal gradient in the tail of the anomaly. These modes may provide a new interpretation for some whistlers observed on the ground. The properties of these modes are examined in detail and then compared with those of ducted propagation. This study may be useful for distinguishing the propagation mode in future ground-based experiments.     

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.     

Status of Satellite Orbit Determination and Time Synchronization Technology for Global Navigation Satellite System

In the form of satellite ephemerides and clock parameters, the information of space datum and system time of one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is transferred to users. With continuously updating of satellite payload such as high precision atomic clocks, monitoring and tracking techniques such as inter-satellite links, and data processing techniques, the accuracy and real-time performance of satellite ephemerides and clock products are steadily improved. Starting from December 27th, 2018, BeiDou Navigation System 3, or BDS-3 has been providing accurate and reliable basic positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to users in the countries within the “one belt and one road”. This paper summarizes the challenges of precise orbit determination and time synchronization faced and specific solutions sought from the regional BDS-2 system to BDS-3 global system at the control segment. It is interesting to compare BDS with other GNSS systems in terms of technical characteristics. Finally, aiming at higher accuracy and more reliable PNT services, a road map of precise orbit determination and time synchronization technique for next generation navigation systems is discussed, which will lead to better and better global navigation satellite systems.     

在卫星授时中电离层误差实时改正的双极化方法

在卫星定位与授时中，电离层折射误差的影响是十分重要的．目前采用的主要改正方法是双频法，还有电离层模型法．双频法要求卫星发射两个工作频率，而电离层模型法的偏差又较大，这对于使用单频接收机的用户来讲，电离层折射改正就成为一个严重问题，笔者提出的双极化法正好可以解决单频接收机所遇到的问题．双极化法是基于电离层的双折射特性．一个线极化波在电离层中传播时被分裂成两个圆极化波，即左旋圆极化波和右旋圆极化波传播，左旋与右旋圆极化波在电离层中传播的速度不同，则到达接收点的时间也就不同，通过测量两个圆极化波到达接收点的传播时廷差，即可确定电离层折射误差的改正量．     

The Performance Evaluation of BeiDou-3 System Time Based on CGGTTS

According to the Common GNSS Generic Time Transfer Standard Version2E (CGGTTS_V2E) developed by the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Working Group of the International Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency (CCTF), the data processing software is developed by using the pseudorange signal measured by the GNSS receiver, which is used to generate the CGGTTS files in the standard format, and its reliability is verified. The results show that, compared with the CGGTTS files generated by sbf2cggtts software, the offset between the GNSS system time and local time scale calculated by the same GPS and BDS satellite observations in the same epoch is identical, and the difference with the absolute value of the difference less than 0.5 ns accounts for 96% and 94% of the total, respectively. Taking Chinese standard time UTC(NTSC) (Coordinated Universal Time (National Time Service Center)) as the reference time scale, the data processing software is used to process the observations of the B1I and B3I dual-frequency ionospheric combination of BeiDou-2 and BeiDou-3 satellites, and generate the CGGTTS files in the standard format, and the performance of BeiDou system time is evaluated by analyzing the parameter of offset between the GNSS system time and local time scale. The results show that, compared with BeiDou-2, the internal precision of BeiDou-3 system time is increased by about 28%, and the frequency stability of medium and long-term is obviously better than BeiDou-2 after one day.     

基于CGGTTS的北斗3号系统时间性能评估

依据国际时间频率咨询委员会(Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency, CCTF) GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)时间比对工作组制定的时间传递标准(Common GNSS Generic Time Transfer Standard Version2E, CGGTTS_V2E), 针对GNSS接收机观测到的伪距信号开发了数据处理软件, 用于生成标准格式的CGGTTS文件, 并对其可靠性进行了验证. 结果表明, 与sbf2cggtts软件生成的CGGTTS文件相比, 在同一历元下, 分别利用相同GPS和BeiDou-2卫星观测值计算的星地钟差值基本一致, 互差绝对值不超过0.5ns的差值分别占总数的96%、94%. 以中国标准时间UTC(NTSC) (Coordinated Universal Time (National Time Service Center))为参考, 利用数据处理软件分别对BeiDou-2和BeiDou-3卫星的B1I和B3I双频消电离层组合观测值处理并生成标准格式的CGGTTS文件, 通过分析其星地钟差参数对BeiDou系统时间的性能进行评估. 结果表明, 与BeiDou-2相比, BeiDou-3系统时间的内符合精度提高约28%, 且1 d以上中长期频率稳定度明显优于BeiDou-2.     

导航卫星精密定轨与时间同步技术进展

全球卫星导航系统(Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS)通过播发卫星钟差和精密轨道信息实现时间和空间基准信息向导航用户的传递.随着高精度原子钟等导航卫星载荷、星间链路等天基/地基监测手段以及数据处理方法等技术的不断更新,卫星轨道和钟差产品的精度和实时性也逐步提升. 2018年12月,北斗三号卫星导航系统正式开通,为"一带一路"国家提供实时高精度、高可靠的基本导航定位服务.综述了北斗导航系统从北斗二号区域系统到北斗三号全球系统精密定轨与时间同步处理面临的困难和挑战,针对上述问题,阐述了北斗运行控制系统的解决途径和实现指标.与GPS等其他GNSS系统进行比较,分析了不同导航系统技术特点.最后展望了精密定轨与时间同步技术未来的发展路线图,为更高精度的GNSS导航定位授时服务提供参考.     

Resonance in a geo-centric satellite due to earth’s equatorial ellipticity

The resonances in a geocentric satellite due to earth’s equatorial ellipticity have been investigated. The resonance at five points resulting from the commensurability between the mean motion of the satellite and the earth’s equatorial ellipticity is analyzed. The amplitude and the time period of the oscillation have been determined by using the procedure of Brown and Shook. A comparison of their effects on the orbital elements has also been studied. It is observed that the amplitude and the time period of the oscillation decrease as Γ (angle measured from the minor axis of the earth’s equatorial ellipse to the projection of the satellite on the plane of the equator) increases in the first quadrant for all the resonance cases.     

Observations of ELF electromagnetic waves associated with equatorial spread F

Extreme low frequency electromagnetic waves have been observed below the F peak in the equatorial ionosphere by instruments onboard OGO-6. Electrostatic wave observations indicate that the steep gradient was unstable to the process which causes equatorial spread F above the region where the electromagnetic waves were observed. The data are very similar to observations near the polar cusp and give further evidence that ELF waves are excluded from regions of rapid and irregular density increases. Low level electromagnetic waves with similar properties were occasionally observed on the nightside by the OVI-17 electric field sensor and may be plasmaspheric hiss which has propagated to low altitude.     

Space-based aperture array for ultra-long wavelength radio astronomy

The past decade has seen the advent of various radio astronomy arrays, particularly for low-frequency observations below 100 MHz. These developments have been primarily driven by interesting and fundamental scientific questions, such as studying the dark ages and epoch of re-ionization, by detecting the highly red-shifted 21 cm line emission. However, Earth-based radio astronomy observations at frequencies below 30 MHz are severely restricted due to man-made interference, ionospheric distortion and almost complete non-transparency of the ionosphere below 10 MHz. Therefore, this narrow spectral band remains possibly the last unexplored frequency range in radio astronomy. A straightforward solution to study the universe at these frequencies is to deploy a space-based antenna array far away from Earths’ ionosphere. In the past, such space-based radio astronomy studies were principally limited by technology and computing resources, however current processing and communication trends indicate otherwise. Furthermore, successful space-based missions which mapped the sky in this frequency regime, such as the lunar orbiter RAE-2, were restricted by very poor spatial resolution. Recently concluded studies, such as DARIS (Disturbuted Aperture Array for Radio Astronomy In Space) have shown the ready feasibility of a 9 satellite constellation using off the shelf components. The aim of this article is to discuss the current trends and technologies towards the feasibility of a space-based aperture array for astronomical observations in the Ultra-Long Wavelength (ULW) regime of greater than 10 m i.e., below 30 MHz. We briefly present the achievable science cases, and discuss the system design for selected scenarios such as extra-galactic surveys. An extensive discussion is presented on various sub-systems of the potential satellite array, such as radio astronomical antenna design, the on-board signal processing, communication architectures and joint space-time estimation of the satellite network. In light of a scalable array and to avert single point of failure, we propose both centralized and distributed solutions for the ULW space-based array. We highlight the benefits of various deployment locations and summarize the technological challenges for future space-based radio arrays.     

IGS产品在GPS时间比对中的应用

在利用GPS CV(GPS Common View)技术进行高精度时间比对时，电离层和卫星位置误差对观测到的卫星信号的影响是不容忽视的，需要对它进行精确的估计和改正．讨论IGS精密星历和CODE全球总电子含量图(TECMAPs)在GPS时间传递中的应用．计算结果表明，采用IGS产品可有效提高单站定时和远距离时间传递的精度。     

An ionosphere-plasmasphere global electron density model

Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites now provide a major source of data used in the study of the ionized regions that surround the Earth. With the greater use of GPS satellites in this role, understanding the effect the plasmasphere has on GPS radio signals has become increasingly important. The plasmasphere, with similar properties to the underlying ionosphere, can potentially contribute a significant fraction of the overall ionospheric error in radio signals transmitted from a GPS satellite to ground or space based receivers. A global plasmasphere-ionosphere electron density model has been developed to investigate this contribution. A variety of output examples that the model can produce are shown.     

African Meridian B-Field Education and Research (AMBER) Array

The AMBER array contains four magnetometers and spans across the geomagnetic equator from L of 1 to an L of 1.4. In addition to filling the largest land-based gap in global magnetometer coverage, the AMBER array will address two fundamental areas of space physics: (1) the processes governing electrodynamics of the equatorial ionosphere as a function of latitude (or L-shell), local time, longitude, magnetic activity, and season, and (2) ULF pulsation strength and its connection with equatorial electrojet strength at low/mid-latitude regions. Satellite observations show unique equatorial ionospheric structures in the African sector, though these have not been confirmed by observation from the ground due to lack of ground-based instruments in the region. In order to have a complete global understanding of equatorial ionosphere motions, deployment of ground-based magnetometers in Africa is essential. One focus of IHY is the deployment of networks of small instruments, including the development of research infrastructure in developing nations through the United Nations Basic Space Science (UNBSS) Small Instrument Array. Therefore, AMBER magnetometer array in partnership with parallel US funded GPS receivers in Africa will allow us to understand the electrodynamics that governs equatorial ionosphere motions. While AMBER routinely observes the F region plasma drift mechanism (E × B drift), the GPS stations will monitor the structure of plasma at low/mid-latitudes in the African sectors. In addition to new scientific discoveries and advancing the space science research into Africa by establishing scientific collaborations between scientists in the developing and developed nations, the AMBER project also contributes to developing the basic science of heliophysics through cross-disciplinary studies of universal process. This includes the creation of sustainable research/training infrastructure within the developing nations (Africa).     

GNSS精密轨道产品不连续性分析及评估

按照目前的国际规范, 高精度GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)轨道产品一般以天为周期进行发布, 提供给用户使用. 连续使用多天的产品存在不同天间的跳变问题. 利用德国地学研究中心(GFZ)、欧洲定轨中心(COD)、欧空局(ESA)、美国喷气试验室(JPL)以及上海天文台(SHA)共5个GNSS分析中心2013---2017年的轨道产品, 分析了轨道跳变的特性. 计算结果表明: GFZ、COD、ESA、SHA和JPL的3维轨道跳变平均分别为7.79cm、1.51cm、7.77cm、11.75cm和2.51cm. 轨道跳变序列的周期特性分析表明: 序列存在90d、120d、340d左右的显著周期项, 对应于海潮对地球自转的影响, 其振幅为数毫米至1cm左右. 表明精密轨道确定需要进一步精化该项模型; GPS的跳变序列还存在与卫星星座相关的175d和352d左右的交点年显著周期项. 此外, 针对COD产品外推轨道的分析, 验证了地球反照辐射压和太阳光压模型等动力学模型对轨道的差异.