Plasmaspheric electron density reconstruction based on the topside sounder model profiler

We apply a model-assisted technique to construct the topside electron density profile based on Digisonde measurements. This technique uses the Topside Sounder Model (TSM), which provides the plasma scale height, O⁺-H⁺ transition height, and their ratio Rt = H _T /h _T , derived from topside sounder data of Alouette and ISIS satellites. The Topside Sounder Model Profiler (TSMP) incorporates TSM and uses the model quantities as anchor points for the construction of topside density profiles. TSMP provides its model ratios with transition height and plasmaspheric scale height. The analysis carried out indicates that Digisonde derived F-region topside scale height Hm is systematically lower than one derived from topside sounder profiles. To construct topside profiles by using Hm, a correction factor of around 3 is needed to multiply the neutral scale height in the α-Chapman formula. It was found that the plasmaspheric scale height strongly depends on latitude and its ratio with the F-region scale height expresses large day-to-day variability.     

Model calculations of the total electron content for the system of GPS satellites

The numerical global self-consistent model of the Earth’s thermosphere, ionosphere and protonosphere (GSM TIP), which makes it possible to calculate all the main parameters of the near-Earth plasma, is used to calculate the total electron content (TEC). Calculations have been performed along the radiosignal propagation trajectory between a surface receiving point and a GPS satellite. The TEC value calculated from the satellite data have been compared with such a “true model” TEC value for magnetically quiet conditions of the spring equinox and moderate solar activity. The relative errors in determining the satellite data-based TEC for two European (Troms have been calculated. It has been indicated that an increase in the number of satellites not always results in an increase in accuracy of the TEC value measured on satellites.     

Features of the ionosphere behavior before the Kythira 2006 earthquake

In this paper we present specific features of TEC (total electron content of the ionosphere) behavior as possible precursors of Kythira (Southern Greece) earthquake of January 8, 2006 (M6.8). For this purpose, we used both the TEC data of GPS-IGS stations nearest to the epicenter, and TEC maps over Europe. The favorable circumstance for this analysis was the quiet geomagnetic situation during the period prior to the earthquake. One day before the earthquake, a characteristic anomaly was found out as the day-time significant increase of TEC at the nearest stations, up to the value of 50% relative to the background condition. To estimate the spatial dimensions of seismo-ionospheric anomaly, the differential mapping method was used. The ionosphere modification as a cloud-like increase of electron concentration situated in the immediate vicinity of the forthcoming earthquake epicenter has been revealed. The amplitude of modification reached the value of 50% relative to the non-disturbed condition and was in existence from 10:00 till 22:00 UT. The area of significant TEC enhancement had a size of about 4000 km in longitude and 1500 km in latitude.     

Configuration of the upper boundary of the ionosphere

Variations of the upper boundary of the ionosphere (UBI) are investigated based on three sources of information: (i) ionosonde-derived parameters: critical frequency foF2, propagation factor M3000F2, and sub-peak thickness of the bottomside electron density profile; (ii) total electron content (TEC) observations from signals of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites; (iii) model electron densities of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI^*) extended towards the plasmasphere. The ionospheric slab thickness is calculated as ratio of TEC to the F2 layer peak electron density, NmF2, representing a measure of thickness of electron density profile in the bottomside and topside ionosphere eliminating the plasmaspheric slab thickness of GPS-TEC with the IRI^* code. The ratio of slab thickness to the real thickness in the topside ionosphere is deduced making use of a similar ratio in the bottomside ionosphere with a weight Rw. Model weight Rw is represented as a superposition of the base-functions of local time, geomagnetic latitude, solar and magnetic activity. The time-space variations of domain of convergence of the ionosphere and plasmasphere differ from an average value of UBI at ∼1000 km over the earth. Analysis for quiet monthly average conditions and during the storms (September 2002, October–November 2003, November 2004) has shown shrinking UBI altitude at daytime to 400 km. The upper ionosphere height is increased by night with an ‘ionospheric tail’ which expands from 1000 km to more than 2000 km over the earth under quiet and disturbed space weather. These effects are interposed on a trend of increasing UBI height with solar activity when both the critical frequency foF2 and the peak height hmF2 are growing during the solar cycle.     

On the mechanism of the post-midnight winter NmF2 enhancements: dependence on solar activity

The mechanism of the N_mF₂ peak formation at different levels of solar activity is analyzed using Millstone Hill IS radar observations. The h_mF₂ nighttime increase due to thermospheric winds and the downward plasmaspheric fluxes are the key processes responsible for the N_mF₂ peak formation. The electron temperature follows with the opposite sign the electron density variations in this process. This mechanism provides a consistency with the Millstone Hill observations on the set of main parameters. The observed decrease of the nighttime N_mF₂ peak amplitude with solar activity is due to faster increasing of the recombination efficiency compared to the plasmaspheric flux increase. The E × B plasma drifts are shown to be inefficient for the N_mF₂ nighttime peak formation at high solar activity.     

VLF quarter-gyrofrequency plasmaspheric emissions as observed by intercosmos 24 and magion 2 satellites

Summary Quarter-gyrofrequency plasmaspheric emissions with spectral properties differing from those of discrete plasmaspheric emissions, usual in active intervals, have been observed by low-altitude Intercosmos 24 and Magion 2 satellites during periods in which geomagnetic activity decreases. Their occurrence in satellite records shows very good correlation with simultaneously observed subauroral electron temperature enhancements and increase of electron temperature anisotropyT _e being larger than T _e . An analysis of the observed wave characteristics is given. Propagation of the emissions within the plasmasphere is discussed. It is shown that the region where they are observed at low altitudes can be closely connected along geomagnetic field lines with the equatorial region of their origin.     

Seismic Ground Motion in Napoli for the 1980 Irpinia Earthquake

— The seismic ground motion in the urban area of Napoli has been computed for the 1980 earthquake (M_s = 6.9) with a hybrid technique based on the mode summation and the finite difference methods. The detailed geological setting of each quarter has been reconstructed from several stratigraphies and six geological zones have been recognized. Shear-wave velocity profiles have been assigned, based on hole tests and inversion of Rayleigh group velocities artificially generated. Realistic SH and P-SV wave seismograms have been computed along the representative cross sections of each zone, by assuming selected velocity profiles. Spectral amplifications of 2–4 have been computed at frequencies roughly corresponding to the eigenfrequencies of the most damaged buildings. Moreover, following the intensity-PGA correlations found for the Italian territory, the predicted peak ground accelerations, 0.04–0.10 g correspond to the intensity range VII-VIII on the MCS scale, in agreement with the observed data.     

Correlations between SAR arc intensity and solar and geomagnetic activity

We present a study of statistical relationships between SAR arc intensities acquired by the Pacific Northwest Laboratory Photometer Network during 1978–1988 and solar and geomagnetic activity indices Dst, F10.7, and Kp by use of the method of multiple regression analysis. We found significant correlations between intensity and all of the indices involved. In the present work we show for the first time that the partial correlation coefficients depend on the time offset, t, between the time of SAR arc intensity observations and the onset of the geomagnetic storm recovery phase, with the largest correlations being observed when 8 d t d 16 h. It is also shown that there are significant differences between partial correlation coefficients calculated for SAR arcs associated with strong (Dst_min > −100 nT) and weak (Dst_min > −100 nT) geomagnetic storms. We observe also that the multiple correlation coefficients for strong storms are much larger than for weak ones. We found that the variations in the electron temperature, T_e, in the SAR arc region are not mainly produced by variations in the electron density of the ionosphere but are strongly driven by the additional heating of the electron gas due to an interaction of the ring current ions and the plasmaspheric electrons. As a result, variations of T_e in the SAR arc region with characteristic time scales from several minutes to several hours are stipulated by time variations of ring current parameters.     

On the sensitivity of total electron content (TEC) to upper atmospheric/ionospheric parameters

The total electron content (TEC) is a key ionospheric parameter for various space weather applications. Over the last decade an extensive database of TEC measurements has become available from both space- and ground-based observations, and these measurements have established the general morphology of the global TEC distributions. In particular, the TOPEX TEC measurements have shown strong longitudinal variations of TEC in addition to the observed day-to-day variabilities. To better understand the observed TEC variations and to better guide its modeling, we have studied the sensitivity of quiet-time TEC to the following key atmospheric and ionospheric parameters: neutral density, neutral wind, plasma temperatures, plasmaspheric flux, and the O⁺–O collision frequency. These parameters are often only roughly known and can cause large uncertainties in model results. For this study, we have developed a numerical mid-latitude ionospheric model, which solves the momentum and continuity equations for the O⁺ density and a simplified set of equations for the H⁺ density. To obtain TEC, the calculated ion densities have been integrated from the bottom altitude (100 km) to the altitude of the TOPEX satellite (1336 km). Our study shows that during the day the neutral wind and the neutral composition have the most important effect on TEC. In particular, the zonal component of the neutral wind can have a large effect on TEC in the southern hemisphere where the magnetic declination angle is large. During the night, most of the above-mentioned parameters can play a significant role in the TEC morphology, except for the plasma temperature, which has only a small effect on TEC. Finally, the TEC varies roughly linearly with respect to all of the parameters except for the neutral wind.     

Verification of the concept of seismoionospheric coupling under quiet heliogeomagnetic conditions,using the Wenchuan (China) earthquake of May 12, 2008, as an example

The variability of the ionosphere during April–May, 2008, has been analyzed in detail in order to reveal anomalous variations related to seismic activity, initiated by the strongest Wenchuan earthquake (M = 7.9) in the Sichuan province on May 12, 2008. Information about the total electron content (TEC) from the network of GPS receivers in the earthquake region, the global IONEX TEC maps, and the reconstructed vertical profiles of electron density according to the data of GPS receivers were used as a data source. The spatial and time localization of the observed anomalies, their morphological features, and the absence of geomagnetic disturbances during the observation period undoubtedly demonstrate that the observed variations were caused by seismic activity.     

Thresholds of TEC variability describing the plasmaspheric disturbed state

A classification of the TEC variability is attempted in order to describe the disturbed states of the ionosphere and plasmasphere. Four different disturbed states are distinguished, according to the amplitude of TEC variability. Remarks are made regarding the variability and geomagnetic storms.     

Optical tomography of the aurora and EISCAT

Tomographic reconstruction of the three-dimensional auroral are emission is used to obtain vertical and horizontal distributions of the optical auroral emission. Under the given experimental conditions with a very limited angular range and a small number of observers, algebraic reconstruction methods generally yield better results than transform techniques. Different algebraic reconstruction methods are tested with an auroral are model and the best results are obtained with an iterative least-square method adapted from emission-computed tomography. The observation geometry used during a campaign in Norway in 1995 is tested with the are model and root-mean-square errors, to be expected under the given geometrical conditions, are calculated. Although optimum geometry was not used, root-mean-square errors of less than 2% for the images and of the order of 30% for the distribution could be obtained. The method is applied to images from real observations. The correspondence of original pictures and projections of the reconstructed volume is discussed, and emission profiles along magnetic field lines through the three-dimensionally reconstructed arc are calibrated into electron density profiles with additional EISCAT measurements. Including a background profile and the temporal changes of the electron density due to recombination, good agreement can be obtained between measured profiles and the time-sequence of calculated profiles. These profiles are used to estimate the conductivity distribution in the vicinity of the EISCAT site. While the radar can only probe the ionosphere along the radar beam, the three-dimensional tomography enables conductivity estimates in a large area around the radar site.Former address: MPE Garching     

Comparison of the measured and modelled electron densities and temperatures in the ionosphere and plasmasphere during 20/30 January, 1993

We present a comparison of the electron density and temperature behaviour in the ionosphere and plasmasphere measured by the Millstone Hill incoherent-scatter radar and the instruments on board of the EXOS-D satellite with numerical model calculations from a time-dependent mathematical model of the Earths ionosphere and plasmasphere during the geomagnetically quiet and storm period on 20/30 January, 1993. We have evaluated the value of the additional heating rate that should be added to the normal photoelectron heating in the electron energy equation in the daytime plasmasphere region above 5000 km along the magnetic field line to explain the high electron temperature measured by the instruments on board of the EXOS-D satellite within the Millstone Hill magnetic field flux tube in the Northern Hemisphere. The additional heating brings the measured and modelled electron temperatures into agreement in the plasmasphere and into very large disagreement in the ionosphere if the classical electron heat flux along magnetic field line is used in the model. A new approach, based on a new effective electron thermal conductivity coefficient along the magnetic field line, is presented to model the electron temperature in the ionosphere and plasmasphere. This new approach leads to a heat flux which is less than that given by the classical Spitzer-Harm theory. The evaluated additional heating of electrons in the plasmasphere and the decrease of the thermal conductivity in the topside ionosphere and the greater part of the plasmasphere found for the first time here allow the model to accurately reproduce the electron temperatures observed by the instruments on board the EXOS-D satellite in the plasmasphere and the Millstone Hill incoherent-scatter radar in the ionosphere. The effects of the daytime additional plasmaspheric heating of electrons on the electron temperature and density are small at the F-region altitudes if the modified electron heat flux is used. The deviations from the Boltzmann distribution for the first five vibrational levels of N₂(v) and O₂(v) were calculated. The present study suggests that these deviations are not significant at the first vibrational levels of N₂ and O₂ and the second level of O₂, and the calculated distributions of N₂(v) and O₂(v) are highly non-Boltzmann at vibrational levels v > 2. The resulting effect of N₂(v > 0) and O₂(v > 0) on NmF2 is the decrease of the calculated daytime NmF2 up to a factor of 1.5. The modelled electron temperature is very sensitive to the electron density, and this decrease in electron density results in the increase of the calculated daytime electron temperature up to about 580 K at the F2 peak altitude giving closer agreement between the measured and modelled electron temperatures. Both the daytime and night-time densities are not reproduced by the model without N₂(v > 0) and O₂(v > 0), and inclusion of vibrationally excited N₂ and O₂ brings the model and data into better agreement.     

Seismic microzoning from synthetic ground motion parameters: case study, Santiago de Cuba

Synthetic seismograms (P-SV and SH waves) have been calculated along six profiles in Santiago de Cuba basin, with a cutoff frequency of 5 Hz, by using a hybrid approach (modal summation for a regional 1D structure plus finite differences for a local 2D structure embedded in the first). They correspond to a scenario earthquake of M_S=7 that may occur in Oriente fault zone, directly south of the city. As initial data for a seismic microzoning, the characterisation of earthquake effects has been made considering several relative (2D/1D) quantities (PGDR, PGVR, PGAR, DGAR, I_AR—ratios of peak ground values of displacement, velocity and acceleration, and of design ground acceleration and Arias intensity-, etc.) and functions representative of the ground motion characteristics in soil (2D) with respect to bedrock (1D). The functions are the response spectra ratio RSR(f), already routinely used in this kind of work, and the elastic energy input ratio E_IR(f), defined, for the first time, in this paper. These data, sampled at 115 sites within all the profiles have been classified in two steps, using logical combinatory algorithms: connected components and compact sets. In the first step, from the original ground motion parameters or functions extracted from the synthetic seismograms, nine sets have been classified and the partial results show the spatial distribution of the soil behaviour as a function of the component of motion. In the second step, the results of the classification of the nine sets have been used as input for a further classification that shows a spatial distribution of sites with a quasi-homogeneous integral ground motion behaviour. By adding the available geological surface data, a microzoning scheme of Santiago de Cuba basin has been obtained.     

磁宁静期核心等离子体层电子密度分布的统计研究

等离子体层已有数十年研究历史,但对其核心等离子体区域却一直没有一个相对准确的界限和模型定义.基于范阿伦辐射带卫星RBSP-A在2012年9月18日至2014年10月13日约两年的观测,我们统计研究了磁宁静期间核心等离子体层电子密度随磁地方时(MLT)及磁壳指数(L-value)的分布特征.发现了核心等离子体层电子密度在不同MLT条件下随L值的变化趋势几乎一致,但与以前的等离子体层经验模式计算的电子密度存在较大的偏差.在不同L值下电子密度随MLT的变化趋势也相差不大,而且随MLT存在明显的逐日和半日变化.最后我们获得了等离子体层电子密度随L值和MLT变化的经验公式.研究结果对空间等离子体层建模及研究具有重要的意义.     

Tidal variations in the high-latitude E- and F-region observed by EISCAT

During the MLTCS (Mesosphere-Lower Thermosphere Coupling Study) campaign the EISCAT UHF radar was continuously operated over 7 days (30 July-5 August 1992) in the CP-1 mode. The long time series obtained of the fundamental ionospheric parameters field-aligned ion velocity (V_i), ion and electron temperature (T and T_e), and electron density (N_e) are useful in investigating tidal variations in the E- and F-region since the geomagnetic activity was particularly low during the time of measurement. Maximum entropy spectra of the parameters were calculated for the relatively quiet interval from 1 August to 4 August 1992 and indicated dominant variations with harmonics of 24 hours. In the electron density spectrum especially, harmonics up to the sixth order (4-h period) are clearly visible. The phase and amplitude height profiles (100-450 km) of the diurnal, semidiurnal, and terdiurnal variations were determined by Fourier transform for a 24-h data set beginning at 12:00 UT on 3 August 1992 when the contaminating influences of electric fields were negligible. The tidal variations of the ion temperatures are compared with the corresponding variations of the neutral temperature predicted by the MSISE-90 model. A remarkable result is the dominance of terdiurnal temperature oscillations at E-region heights on 3–4 August 1992, while the measured diurnal and semidiurnal variations were negligible. The finding was confirmed by the analysis of further EISCAT data (2-3 August 1989, 2–3 July 1990, 31 March- 1 April 1992) which also showed a dominant terdiurnal temperature tide in the E-region. This is different from numerous observations of tides in the E-region at mid-latitudes where the diurnal and especially the semidiurnal temperature oscillations were dominant.     

Ionospheric Alfvén Resonator Control over the Frequency-Variable Pc1 Event in Finland on May 14, 1997

The ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR) control mechanism over the EMIC wave transmission to the ground is demonstrated on a selected long-term frequency-variable subauroral Pcl event. The proper ionospheric plasma data obtained from EISCAT were accessible in a wide altitude range. Applying the numerical method of simulation of a realistic inhomogeneous IAR, the problem of appearance and disappearance of the ground Pc1 signal record was clarified on the basis of coincidence between the EMIC wave frequency spectrum and the IAR fundamental frequency peak (the frequency window). A shift of the signal source field line to lower latitudes during the development of the disturbance was noticed, and the signal frequency variation on the ground was modelled in the nonstationary IAR. Variation of the IAR altitude structure in the fundamental frequency was illustrated on altitude profiles of the normalized wave magnetic field amplitude in the horizontal and vertical components. Particular conditions of L - and R -wave mode incidence were assumed. The electron density vertical profile of IAR determines the effective resonator dimensions. In this way the IAR fundamental frequency window controls the signal within the ionosphere and on the ground.     

地震动演变功率谱模型参数的统计建模

工程上常将规范反应谱拟合的确定性取值作为地震动演变功率谱参数,这虽然便于工程应用,但同时存在明显弊端:一方面,参数并非从实测强震记录中获得,具有较强的经验性;另一方面,确定性参数生成的地震动样本过于规则,且工程特性单一,无法全面地反映地震动的随机性。为了克服上述难题,从PEER的NGAGWest2地震动数据库中筛选1 766条主轴方向的实测强震记录,并根据《中国地震动参数区划图》建议的场地类别和聚类方法划分为15组;随后,识别实测强震记录的演变功率谱参数,并结合K-S检验和BIC信息准则,确定每个参数最优概率模型;最后,根据演变功率谱参数统计建模结果,结合降维方法,生成了Ⅱ类场地与Ⅲ类场地的代表性时程。与《建筑抗震设计规范》中建议取值不同,研究参数来源于实测地震动,且具有随机性,避免地震动样本工程特性的单一化和规则化。     

Dynamics of the plasmasphere in the dusk sector as observed in the outer ionosphere

Summary Direct measurements of the thermal plasma parameters in the topside ionosphere reveal variations of the plasmasphere boundary in the dusk sector. The ACTIVE satellite's near-polar orbits at altitudes of 500 – 1800 km around winter solstice 1989 were used to study the bulge region of the plasmasphere during intervals with different levels of geomagnetic agitation. The narrow, sharply defined trough in electron concentration corresponding to the plasmapause under quiet conditions situated at L = 6 – 7 moved to lower L-values with increasing geomagnetic activity. This narrow trough can be found in all main ion constituents. During periods of moderate geomagnetic activity, following the onset of a weak magnetic storm, a portion of the plasmaspheric bulge region was separated from the main plasmaspheric body. This can be seen in the outer ionosphere as an inner narrow trough at lower L-value. Troughs in light ions need no longer coincide with this in electron concentration. He⁺ is the most sensitive constituent reflecting the dusk sector plasmaspheric situation at this altitude.Dedicated to the Memory of Professor Karel P