DIAS effective sunspot number as an indicator of the ionospheric activity level over Europe

DIAS (European Digital Upper Atmosphere Server) effective sunspot number — R12eff was recently introduced as a proxy of the ionospheric conditions over Europe for regional ionospheric mapping purposes. Although a pre-processing step for the real-time update of the Simplified Ionospheric Regional Model (SIRM) to real-time conditions, R12eff is available in real time by DIAS system (http://dias.space.noa.gr) for independent operational use. In this paper we discuss the efficiency of R12eff to specify ionospheric conditions over Europe. For this purpose, the diurnal R12eff’s reference pattern was determined on monthly basis and for different solar cycle phases. The deviation of the real-time R12eff estimates from the reference values, ΔR12eff was found to be highly correlated with the foF2 storm-time disturbances, especially during large scale effects indicating that DIAS-R12eff can provide a reliable estimator of the ionospheric activity level over a substantial part of Europe and a powerful tool for ionospheric specification applications.     

The structure of the mid- and high-latitude ionosphere during the November 2004 storm event obtained from GPS observations

GPS data from the International GNSS Service (IGS) network were used to study the development of the severe geomagnetic storm of November 7–12, 2004, in the total electron content (TEC) on a global scale. The TEC maps were produced for analyzing the storm. For producing the maps over European and North American sectors, GPS measurements from more than 100 stations were used. The dense network of GPS stations provided TEC measurements with a high temporal and spatial resolution. To present the temporal and spatial variation of TEC during the storm, differential TEC maps relative to a quiet day (November 6, 2004) were created. The features of geomagnetic storm attributed to the complex development of ionospheric storm depend on latitude, longitude and local time. The positive, as well as negative effects were detected in TEC variations as a consequence of the evolution of the geomagnetic storm. The maximal effect was registered in the subauroral/auroral ionosphere during substorm activity in the evening and night period. The latitudinal profiles obtained from TEC maps for Europe gave rise to the storm-time dynamic of the ionospheric trough, which was detected on November 7 and 9 at latitudes below 50°N. In the report, features of the response of TEC to the storm for European and North American sectors are analyzed.     

Spatial correlation of foF2 and vTEC under quiet and disturbed ionospheric conditions: A case study

The spatial variations of the ionospheric F2-layer vertical incidence critical frequency (foF2) and GPS-derived vertical total electron content (vTEC) under geomagnetically quiet and disturbed days are examined using measurements from the latitudinal and longitudinal chains of ionospheric stations and GPS receivers over the European area. Plots produced for January 2005 are used to discuss temporal structures in terms of the prevailing solar-terrestrial conditions. Then the line trends procedure has been applied to simultaneous data collected from a limited number of measuring stations during quiet monthly median ionospheric conditions as well as during the storm period of 16–23 January 2005. The procedure is explained involving an application of the least squares method to define latitudinal and longitudinal dependence of foF2 and vTEC at different locations. Examples of coefficients of determination thereby produced show that the linear regression equations are very helpful in predicting longitudinal and latitudinal vTEC and foF2 variations during the quiet as well as disturbed ionospheric conditions.     

The Ionospheric foF2 Data over Istanbul and their Response to Solar Activity for the Years 1964–1969 and 1993

A Polish-made vertical ionosonde (VI) has been operated at the Kandilli Observatory in Istanbul, for almost one year (May 1993 - April 1994) as part of the COST 238, PRIME Project, The critical frequencies were obtained for every half-hour interval. The data obtained during this campaign, on the descending branch of solar cycle 22, and the data measured earlier in Istanbul for cycle 20 were analysed and the characteristic behaviour of the F2 region ionosphere over Istanbul has been determined. This is a unique data set for this area. Several markers of the solar cycle activities in terms of the daily relative sunspot numbers, F10.7 cm solar radio flux and solar flare index, and the magnetic daily index of Ap were then used to seek the possible influence of the solar and ionospheric activities on the critical frequencies observed in Istanbul. It was found that the solar flare index, as a solar activity index, was more reliable in determining quiet ionospheric days. It is shown that the minimum and maximum time values of the solar activity are more convenient for ionospheric prediction and modelling.     

Relationships between GPS-signal propagation errors and EISCAT observations

When travelling through the ionosphere the signals of space-based radio navigation systems such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) are subject to modifications in amplitude, phase and polarization. In particular, phase changes due to refraction lead to propagation errors of up to 50 m for single-frequency GPS users. If both the LI and the L2 frequencies transmitted by the GPS satellites are measured, first-order range error contributions of the ionosphere can be determined and removed by difference methods. The ionospheric contribution is proportional to the total electron content (TEC) along the ray path between satellite and receiver. Using about ten European GPS receiving stations of the International GPS Service for Geodynamics (IGS), the TEC over Europe is estimated within the geographic ranges –20° 40°E and 32.5° ø 70°N in longitude and latitude, respectively. The derived TEC maps over Europe contribute to the study of horizontal coupling and transport processes during significant ionospheric events. Due to their comprehensive information about the high-latitude ionosphere, EISCAT observations may help to study the influence of ionospheric phenomena upon propagation errors in GPS navigation systems. Since there are still some accuracy limiting problems to be solved in TEC determination using GPS, data comparison of TEC with vertical electron density profiles derived from EISCAT observations is valuable to enhance the accuracy of propagation-error estimations. This is evident both for absolute TEC calibration as well as for the conversion of ray-path-related observations to vertical TEC. The combination of EISCAT data and GPS-derived TEC data enables a better understanding of large-scale ionospheric processes.     

Response of the ionosphere to the Baltic Sea earthquake of 21 September 2004

GPS observations of the European permanent network were used to identify seismo-ionospheric precursors of Baltic Sea earthquake of 21 September 2004. It is a very rare event for this region of Europe (magnitude of about 5.0). This value is the threshold for the occurrence of seismic effects in the ionosphere. In total electron content (TEC) data over the region of the earthquake, a specific ionospheric anomaly appeared one day before the earthquake was detected. The ionospheric variability had a positive sign with an enhancement of about 4–5 TECU (1 TECU = 10¹⁶ electrons/m²) relative to the non-disturbed state of the ionosphere. The anomaly had a duration of 4–5 hours in the day time. The special size of this anomaly was about 1000 km. The characteristic parameters of the anomaly show that it can be associated with ionospheric precursors of an earthquake.     

基于陆态网络GPS数据的电离层空间天气监测与研究

中国大陆构造环境监测网络(简称陆态网络)是以全球卫星导航定位系统(GNSS)为主,辅以多种空间观测技术,实时动态监测大陆构造环境变化,探求其对资源、环境和灾害的影响的地球科学综合观测网络.基于陆态网络约200个基准站的GPS观测数据,本文探讨了其在电离层空间天气监测与研究方面的应用.包括磁暴期间电离层暴扰动形态,大尺度电离层行进式扰动,太阳耀斑引起的电离层骚扰和低纬电离层不规则体结构等.研究结果表明:陆态网络布局合理,观测数据质量良好,完全可用于中国及周边地区电离层空间天气监测与研究,为进一步开展我国电离层空间天气预警和预报奠定了观测基础.     

基于修正K_p指数的中纬区单站电离层暴预报方法研究

对电离层暴进行有效预报具有很重要的实际应用价值,但目前这一工作还存在着许多方面有待改进.本文假设电离层扰动的季节性规律占主导地位,借鉴Kutiev and Muhtarov构建修正K_p指数表示地磁活动的方法,建立了一个适用于中纬地区Yakutsk单台站电离层暴预报的线性经验模型.检验表明,该模型对Yakutsk站夏季和春秋季电离层扰动的预测效果明显优于IRI中的STORM模型,模型改善度平均可达35%左右;能很好地反映磁暴连续发生的情况下δfoF₂分阶段下降的形态;能反映出一定的电离层正相扰动及其持续时间,但是正扰动的预报精度有待进一步提高.     

Properties of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis>2-layer critical frequency median in the nocturnal subauroral ionosphere during low and moderate solar activity

Based on an analysis of data from the European ionospheric stations at subauroral latitudes, it has been found that the main ionospheric trough (MIT) is not characteristic for the monthly median of the F2-layer critical frequency (foF2), at least for low and moderate solar activity. In order to explain this effect, the properties of foF2 in the nocturnal subauroral ionosphere have been additionally studied for low geomagnetic activity, when the MIT localization is known quite reliably. It has been found that at low and moderate solar activity during night hours in winter, the foF2 data from ionospheric stations are often absent in the MIT area. For this reason, a model of the foF2 monthly median, which was constructed from the remaining data of these stations, contains no MIT or a very weakly pronounced MIT.     

Large-scale ionospheric gradients over Europe observed in October 2003

It is well known that ionospheric perturbations are characterised by strong horizontal gradients and rapid changes of the ionisation. Thus, space weather induced severe ionosphere perturbations can cause serious technological problems in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. During the severe ionosphere storm period of 29–31 October 2003, reported were several significant malfunctions due to the adverse effects of the ionosphere perturbations such as interruption of the WAAS service and degradation of mid-latitudes GPS reference services. To properly warn service users of such effects, a quick evaluation of the current signal propagation conditions expressed in a suitable ionospheric perturbation index would be of great benefit. Preliminary results of a comparative study of ionospheric gradients including vertical sounding and Total Electron Content (TEC) data are presented. Strong enhancements of latitudinal gradients and temporal changes of the ionisation are observed over Europe during the 29–30 October storm period. The potential use of spatial gradients and rate of change of foF2 and TEC characterising the actual perturbation degree of the ionosphere is discussed. It has been found that perturbation induced spatial gradients of TEC and foF2 strongly enhance during the ionospheric storm on 29 October over the Central European region in particular in North–South direction exceeding the gradients in East–West direction by a factor of 2.     

An upgrade of the solar-wind-driven empirical model for the middle latitude ionospheric storm-time response

Based on recent advances in ionospheric storm dynamics that correlate the ionospheric storm effects with space weather parameters such as the magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), its rate of change and the IMF's orientation in the north–south direction and on the availability of these parameters in real time by NASA ACE spacecraft from the vantage L1 point, an empirical storm-time ionospheric model for the middle latitude ionosphere, namely STIM, was recently envisaged. STIM is significantly upgraded and validated here. The model introduces a correction factor to the quiet daily ionospheric variation to anticipate storm conditions. It is triggered by an alert signal for upcoming ionospheric disturbances obtained from the analysis of the IMF measurements provided by ACE spacecraft. In its final version, STIM method includes quantitative criteria for the online analysis of the ACE's observations. The determination of the ionospheric storm onset and the empirical formulation of the ionospheric storm-time response, both in terms of the local time and the latitude of the observation point are also specified here. STIM's forecasts are provided from 13 to 45 h ahead for any middle latitude ionospheric location. Validation tests carried out for 27 storm-time intervals and for four European locations show that the model captures successfully the onset and the recovery of the ionospheric disturbance and follows sufficiently the disturbance pattern, providing also significant improvement over climatology during storm days. STIM was also compared with two well-known prediction models, the IRI2001 and the GCAM, and the findings demonstrate improved performance in favour of STIM, in both quantitative and qualitative aspect. In general, the results presented here support the efficiency of the proposed methodology in providing reliable ionospheric forecasts at middle latitudes several hours in advance. The operational implementation of STIM can support ionospheric forecasting space weather services and is based on the availability of real-time IMF observations from the vantage L1 point.     

基于GNSS数据的朝鲜核爆电离层效应观测研究

本文分析了电离层对2009年、2013年和2016年朝鲜核试验中地下核爆(Underground Nuclear Explosion,UNE)的响应.利用南北半球IGS站的GNSS-TEC观测数据,发现了在3次核试验期间的磁共轭电离层扰动现象.观测结果表明,3次UNE所产生的电离层扰动分别以228m·s^-1、173m·s^-1和147m·s^-1的速度从核试验爆心地区径向传播.本文研究提出,UNE所产生的电离层TEC扰动是岩石圈-大气层-电离层耦合(Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling,LAIC)电场渗透到电离层高度引发电动力学过程的结果.此外,LAIC电场可以沿磁力线映射到共轭半球,从而在共轭地区造成电离层TEC扰动.因此,在核试验地区附近以及其对应的磁共轭地区,UNE所产生的LAIC电场在电离层TEC扰动的形成中起着关键性的作用.     

Diurnal Variation of Gravity Wave Activity at Midlatitudes in the Ionospheric F Region

We investigate the short-term fluctuations in the period range from 15 to 180 minutes in the electron density variations of the F region ionosphere. Electron density profiles obtained at the ionospheric stations of Pruhonice (49.9° N, 14.5° E) and Ebro (40.8° N, 0.5° E) at five minute time sampling have been used for this analysis. The diurnal changes of the activity of the acoustic gravity wave fluctuations (AGW) show a clear enhancement during and several hours after sunrise. The periods of such AGW's are about 60 to 75 minutes and these waves propagates vertically through the ionosphere from a source located at an altitude of 180-220 km. The most likely source for these events seems to be passage of the Solar terminator.     

Reconstructing Regional Ionospheric Electron Density: A Combined Spherical Slepian Function and Empirical Orthogonal Function Approach

The computerized ionospheric tomography is a method for imaging the Earth’s ionosphere using a sounding technique and computing the slant total electron content (STEC) values from data of the global positioning system (GPS). The most common approach for ionospheric tomography is the voxel-based model, in which (1) the ionosphere is divided into voxels, (2) the STEC is then measured along (many) satellite signal paths, and finally (3) an inversion procedure is applied to reconstruct the electron density distribution of the ionosphere. In this study, a computationally efficient approach is introduced, which improves the inversion procedure of step 3. Our proposed method combines the empirical orthogonal function and the spherical Slepian base functions to describe the vertical and horizontal distribution of electron density, respectively. Thus, it can be applied on regional and global case studies. Numerical application is demonstrated using the ground-based GPS data over South America. Our results are validated against ionospheric tomography obtained from the constellation observing system for meteorology, ionosphere, and climate (COSMIC) observations and the global ionosphere map estimated by international centers, as well as by comparison with STEC derived from independent GPS stations. Using the proposed approach, we find that while using 30 GPS measurements in South America, one can achieve comparable accuracy with those from COSMIC data within the reported accuracy (1 × 10¹¹ el/cm³) of the product. Comparisons with real observations of two GPS stations indicate an absolute difference is less than 2 TECU (where 1 total electron content unit, TECU, is 10¹⁶ electrons/m²).     

Derivation and test of ionospheric activity indices from real-time ionosonde observations in the European region

New ionospheric activity indices are derived from automatically scaled online data from several European ionosonde stations. These indices are used to distinguish between normal ionospheric conditions expected from prevailing solar activity and ionospheric disturbances caused by specific solar and atmospheric events (flares, coronal mass ejections, atmospheric waves, etc.). The most reliable indices are derived from the maximum electron density of the ionospheric F 2-layer expressed by the maximum critical frequency foF 2. Similar indices derived from ionospheric M(3000)F 2 values show a markedly lower variability indicating that the changes of the altitude of the F 2-layer maximum are proportionally smaller than those estimated from the maximum electron density in the F 2-layer. By using the ionospheric activity indices for several stations the ionospheric disturbance level over a substantial part of Europe (34°N–60°N; 5°W–40°E) can now be displayed online.     

Total electron content of the ionosphere during thegeomagnetic storm on 10 January 1997

Measurements at GPS ground stations of the International GPS Service (IGS) havebeen used to derive the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere over Europe and overthree North American stations for the 6–11 January 1997 storm event. The derived TEC dataindicate large deviations from the average behaviour especially at high latitudes on thenight-side/early morning longitude sector.The high-latitude perturbation causes a well-pronounced positive phase on the day-sidesector over Europe.Both meridional winds as well as transient electric fields are assumed to contribute to thesignature of the ionospheric perturbation propagating from high to low latitudes. Theobservations indicate a subsequent enhanced plasma loss which is probably due to theequatorward expansion of storm induced composition changes.     

Ionospheric effects caused by the series of geomagnetic storms of September 9–14, 2005

This study presents the ionospheric effects caused by the series of geomagnetic storms of September 9–14, 2005. The behavior of different ionospheric parameters over the Yakutsk, Irkutsk, Millstone Hill and Arecibo stations during the considered period have been numerically calculated, using a global self-consistent model of the thermosphere, ionosphere, and protonosphere (GSM TIP) developed at WD IZMI-RAN. The model calculations of disturbances of the ionospheric parameters during storms qualitatively agree with the experimental data at these midlatitude stations. We suggest that the causes of the quantitative differences between the model calculations and the observational data were the use of the 3-hour Kp index of geomagnetic activity and the dipole approximation of geomagnetic field in GSM TIP, with additional contributions from the effects of solar flares which are not considered in GSM TIP.     

Effects of ionospheric horizontal gradients on differential GPS

This paper outlines the effect of horizontal ionospheric gradients on transionospheric path propagation such as for the case of GPS signals. The total electron content (TEC) is a function of time of day, and is much influenced by solar activity and also the receiving station location. To make the model applicable for long baselines, for which the ionosphere is not generally well correlated between receiving stations, the ionospheric gradients should be taken into account. In this work the signal path is determined using a modified ray-tracing technique together with a homing-in method. Results show that horizontal gradients can have a significant effect on GPS positioning for both single station positioning and differential GPS. For differential GPS, the ionospheric delay can, however, be either increased or decreased compared with the case of no gradient, depending on the gradient direction.     

Correlation analysis of vertical total electron content

It is necessary to model and analyze the ionospheric effects due to a direct relationship between Global Positioning System (GPS) applications and changes in the ionosphere. In order to monitor these changes, the ionosphere can be represented by the vertical total electron content (VTEC) which can be used to analyze ionospheric conditions from a variety of stations. In this study, 21 stations were used to carry out analysis and estimation of VTEC. Three days during a geomagnetic storm, namely, 7, 8, and 9 January 2005, are chosen for investigation. In addition, the de-correlation time of the VTEC was estimated to define ionospheric variations in time using autocorrelation analysis. The de-correlation time of the ionosphere is based on correlation times estimated by using autocorrelation functions. From the high-latitude stations, the mean of the correlation times decreased from 8 to 6 epochs during a storm. In this time period, it was found from the station results that the ionosphere was more affected at the high-latitude than at the mid-latitude region.