Thermospheric mass density derived from CHAMP satellite precise orbit determination data based on energy balance method

In this article, the energy balance method is used to retrieve thermospheric mass density from CHAMP satellite precise orbit determination(POD) data during 2007–2009. The retrieved thermospheric mass densities are compared with those from accelerometer data and an empirical model. The main conclusions are as follows:(1) Thermospheric mass density can be retrieved from POD data by the energy balance and semi-major axis decay methods, whose results are consistent.(2) The accuracy of the retrieved densities depends on the integration time period, and the optimal period for CHAMP density retrieval from POD data is about 20 minutes.(3) The energy balance method can be used to calibrate accelerometer data.(4) The accuracy of retrieving thermospheric density from POD data varies with satellite altitude and local time.     

大磁暴期间TIEGCM模式和CHAMP卫星热层大气密度扰动特性的统计研究

本文统计分析了2001—2005年的39次大磁暴事件(Dst-100nT)期间TIEGCM模式和CHAMP卫星大气密度数据.研究结果表明,模式结果与实测数据具有较好的一致性,但仍存在一定的偏差.大气密度及增量与SYM-H指数相关性较好,并且随纬度、光照条件和地磁活动水平变化.模式低估了磁暴期间大气密度的增幅,特别是在地磁活动水平较强时模式与实测的偏差较大.模式的偏差在高纬地区高于低纬地区,日侧高于夜侧.Dst指数越低,偏差越大,而当Dst指数低于-150nT以后,绝对偏差和相对偏差变化不明显.     

磁暴期间热层大气密度变化

基于CHAMP卫星资料,分析了2002—2008年267个磁暴期间400km高度大气密度变化对季节、地方时与区域的依赖以及时延的统计学特征,得到暴时大气密度变化的一些新特点,主要结论如下:1)两半球大气密度绝对变化(δρa)结果在不同强度磁暴、不同地方时不同.受较强的焦耳加热和背景中性风共同作用,在北半球夏季,中等磁暴过程中夜侧和大磁暴中,夏半球的δρa强于冬半球;由于夏季半球盛行风环流造成的扰动传播速度快,北半球夏季日侧30°附近大气,北(夏)半球到达峰值的时间早于南(冬)半球.而可能受半球不对称背景磁场强度所导致的热层能量输送率影响,北半球夏季强磁暴和中磁暴个例的日侧,南半球δρa强于北半球;春秋季个例中日侧30°附近大气,北半球先于南半球1~2h达到峰值.2)受叠加在背景环流上的暴时经向环流影响,春秋季暴时赤道大气密度达到峰值的时间最短,日/夜侧大气分别在Dstmin后1h和2h达到峰值.至点附近夜侧赤道大气达到峰值时间一致,为Dstmin后3h;不同季节日侧结果不同,在北半球冬季时赤道地区经过更长的时间达到峰值.3)日侧赤道峰值时间距离高纬度峰值时间不受季节影响,为3h左右.在春秋季和北半球冬季夜侧,赤道大气密度先于高纬度达到峰值,且不同纬度大气密度的峰值几乎无差别,表明此时低纬度存在其他加热源起着重要作用.     

NO冷却率在连续磁暴中对热层密度的影响

基于CHAMP卫星加速度计数据,对2002年4月和2004年11月两个连续磁暴事件期间400 km高度热层大气密度时空变化特征进行了分析,结果表明,地磁扰动相近的连续磁暴发生时,热层密度对第一个磁暴的响应幅度明显大于后续磁暴;磁暴间歇期有时会出现密度低值;磁暴恢复相,热层密度先于ap指数快速恢复至暴前水平,甚至更低;热层大气经验模式NRLMSISE00的预测结果中没有包含这些现象.利用TIMED卫星SABER辐射计数据进一步分析同时段100~155 km高度NO冷却率的变化特点,NO冷却率在暴时的增大滞后热层密度2~6 h;磁暴恢复相,NO冷却率保持在较高水平,弛豫时间远大于热层密度.暴时增强的NO冷却率及其缓慢的恢复是导致热层密度响应幅度变小的原因,间歇期是否出现热层密度异常低值也与NO冷却率的增幅有关.     

基于GRACE星载加速度计数据的热层密度反演

本文主要研究了利用GRACE星载加速度计数据反演热层密度.首先联合采用GRACE卫星2007—2009年星载加速度计数据和星载GPS数据进行动力学定轨并同时估计加速度计校正参数,依此对加速度计数据进行了校正.根据Sentman稀薄空气动力学方程计算卫星空气动力系数,对校正后的加速度计数据进行处理,反演得到了该时期沿轨热层大气密度.为分析反演密度的精度,将本文反演得到的GRACE-A卫星沿轨密度与Doornbos的解算结果,以及经验密度模型NRLMSISE00,HASDM模型进行比较分析.统计结果表明,本文反演结果比Doornbos系统性偏大约5%~8%,二者间的标准差(STD,standard deviation)在10%以内,具有较好的符合性.其差异主要是由于采用了不同的加速度标校以及空气动力系数计算策略.本文反演得到的热层密度较HASDM模型表现为正的系统性偏差且幅度在4%以内,而Doornbos的结果较HASDM模型约系统性偏小4%~7%,二者与HASDM模型的标准差均为30%左右.另外,本文反演密度与NRLMSISE00模型之间存在约30%~40%的系统性bias,其STD也在30%左右.     

极点热层密度变化特征及其受太阳风扇形结构调制

本文基于2002年至2010年的GRACE卫星的观测密度统计分析南北极点的热层大气密度的世界时（即磁地方时）变化.研究发现：在9—11月份地球处于行星际磁场为背向太阳的扇区内（背向扇区）时,南极点热层密度在约17∶00 UT（13∶30 MLT）达到最大值,比日平均值高约22%;而在6—8月份,当地球处于行星际磁场为面向太阳的扇区内（面向扇区）时,北极点热层密度在06∶00 UT（12∶30 MLT）达到最大值,比日平均值高约13%.南极点的磁纬是-74°,其在15∶30 UT处于磁地方时正午,恰与极尖区位置重合.北极点在5∶30 UT处于磁地方时正午,此时北极点与极尖区位置最靠近.因此,极点热层大气密度的磁地方时变化可能是其周期性靠近极尖区的结果.南北极点热层密度的磁地方时变化分别在背向和面向扇区内更明显,这可能与行星际磁场B_y分量对南北半球密度的不同影响有关.统计结果还表明,极点热层大气密度的磁地方时变化在冬季半球内不明显.这可能是由于在冬季半球,沉降于极尖区的粒子相比夏季半球少、沉降高度低,因而能量沉降所引起的热层上部的密度增强较小.     

Gravity wave generation and propagation during geomagnetic storms over Kiruna (67.8°N, 20.4°E)

Atmospheric gravity waves, detected over Kiruna (67.8°N, 20.4°E) during geomagnetic storms, are presented and analysed. The data include direct measurements of the OI 630.0 nm emission line intensity, the x-component of the local geomagnetic field and thermospheric (meridional and zonal) wind velocities derived from the OI 630.0 nm Doppler shift observed with an imaging Fabry-Perot interferometer (IFPI). A low pass band filter technique was used to determine short-period variations in the thermospheric meridional wind velocities observed during geomagnetic storms. These short-period variations in the meridional wind velocities, which are identified as due to gravity waves, are compared to the corresponding variations observed in the OI 630.0 nm emission line intensity, x-component of the local geomagnetic field and the location of the auroral electrojet. A cross-correlation analysis was used to calculate the propagation velocities of the observed gravity waves.     

Lognormal distribution of the observed and modelled neutral thermospheric densities

For analyzing measurements of any kind, it is important to estimate the probability distribution of the measurement errors. When modelling the observations using least-squares fitting, the distribution of the errors plays a vital role in choosing the merit function to be minimized, as unnormally distributed errors (e.g. outliers, or displaying asymmetry around the mean) may substantially skew a least-squares fit of estimated model parameters. Using the CACTUS accelerometer data covering heights of 230–750 km, we will show that the statistical relationship between the commonly used semi-empirical models of neutral thermospheric density (MSIS, DTM) and the observed densities is consistent with lognormal distribution, i.e. the logarithm of the ratio of the measurements to the predictions is approximately normally distributed. This experimental fact may be applied in modelling the neutral thermospheric density. bezdek@asu.cas.cz     

Comparative analysis of disturbances in the midlatitude ionospheric F 2 layer during strong and extreme magnetic storms in March 2001 according to the data from magnetically conjugate ground ionospheric stations

Ionospheric disturbances at heights of the F ₂ layer maximum during the strong magnetic storm (the minimum value of the Dst index was ?149 nT) and the magnetic superstorm (the minimum value of the Dst index was ?387 nT) have been compared based on the data from two pairs of magnetically conjugate midlatitude ground stations for ionospheric vertical sounding. The storms began on March 19, 2001, and March 31, 2001, respectively. It has been obtained that almost only negative ionospheric disturbances were observed in the Northern and Southern hemispheres in both cases. The maximum effect in changes in the layer critical frequency (foF2) in both hemispheres has a time delay relative to the moment of the maximum disturbance in the Dst index on the order of 3–4 h for the strong storm and about 1 h for the superstorm. The disturbed variations in the foF2 critical frequency in different hemispheres correlate well with each other in the plane of one magnetic meridian, but the correlation substantially weakens at different magnetic longitudes. An assumption is made that the revealed features of the behavior of the disturbed midlatitude ionospheric F ₂ layer are caused by the complex character of the thermospheric response to the energy release in the auroral zone during the considered magnetic storms.     

The high-latitude thermospheric mass density anomaly: A historical review and a semi-empirical model

Recent measurements by the accelerometer on the CHAMP Satellite have confirmed that there are prominent dayside density enhancements at high latitudes at all times. The magnetosphere is the source of the energy which produces these density features. We present a historical review of the observations and a semi-empirical global model which reproduces the observed density increases during geomagnetically quiet times. The parameters in the model were determined over 30 years ago. There is now the opportunity to improve those parameters by using densities measured by the modern accelerometers, as well as by using the latest improvements in describing the UV radiation and the semi-annual density variation. Recent progress in determining physical drag coefficients can enable the model to provide absolute densities.     

基于经验正交分析法的暴时热层大气密度时空分布规律

本文选取2002-2006年期间的36个强磁暴为研究对象,对CHAMP卫星加速度仪反演的实测大气密度进行经验正交分解,研究暴时热层大气密度的纬度分布特征,以及大气密度与ap指数、Dst指数的关系.结果表明,大气密度的纬度分布与季节相关,夏季半球的密度大于冬季半球,春秋季节南北半球的大气密度几乎对称分布;春秋季节白天大气密度在低纬地区呈现出赤道密度异常结构,在中高纬地区密度随纬度增加而减小,夜间则呈现抛物线的形状,赤道附近密度值最小.大气密度的纬度分布特征在若干天内具有良好的稳定性,发生时间相近的磁暴事件,纬度分布曲线非常相似,并且暴前与暴时的纬度分布变化不大.相关性分析表明,大气密度滞后ap指数2~6 h,相对Dst指数平均提前0~1 h,对磁暴的响应速度在日照区比在阴影区快,大气密度与ap指数、Dst指数具有较好的相关性.     

study of ionospheric response to magnetic superstorms in the East Asian sector

In this paper, we present analyses of the great geomagnetic storms observed during last two cycles of solar activity. This study is based on data from a network of ionosondes located within the longitudinal sector of 80–150°Е. it was found that the superstorms were observed predominantly in equinox. Long-lasting severe decreases of ionization at high and middle latitudes were the most impressive storm effect. A short-time positive phase occurred in response to the onset of both ssc and recovery phases of the magnetic storm in the daytime at high and middle latitudes. Large time-varying rates of foF2 were observed at low latitudes. Modeling results of the ionospheric response to two superstorms are also presented. It is established that the storm effect at middle latitudes was controlled predominantly by disturbed thermospheric composition. At high latitudes, the impact of magnetospheric processes and thermospheric composition on the ionosphere was the same.     

A case-study of the low-latitude thermosphere during geomagnetic storms and its new representation by improved MSIS model

The thermospheric temperatures from low and equatorial latitudes during geomagnetically disturbed periods are known to exhibit significant deviations from atmospheric model predictions. Also, the oscillatory features seen in the observations are not accounted for by the models. A simple relation has been established between the difference in the observed and model-predicted temperatures and the rate of change of Dst, the magnetic index representing the ring current variabilities. Using this relation, a correction term has been added to the latest MSIS-90 model algorithm and almost all the observed variations in neutral temperatures spectroscopically determined from Mt. Abu, a low-latitude station in India, are successfully reproduced for two moderate geomagnetic storms.     

Analysis of the positive ionospheric response to a moderate geomagnetic storm using a global numerical model

Current theories of F-layer storms are discussed using numerical simulations with the Upper Atmosphere Model, a global self-consistent, time dependent numerical model of the thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere-magnetosphere system including electrodynamical coupling effects. A case study of a moderate geomagnetic storm at low solar activity during the northern winter solstice exemplifies the complex storm phenomena. The study focuses on positive ionospheric storm effects in relation to thermospheric disturbances in general and thermospheric composition changes in particular. It investigates the dynamical effects of both neutral meridional winds and electric fields caused by the disturbance dynamo effect. The penetration of short-time electric fields of magnetospheric origin during storm intensification phases is shown for the first time in this model study. Comparisons of the calculated thermospheric composition changes with satellite observations of AE-C and ESRO-4 during storm time show a good agreement. The empirical MSISE90 model, however, is less consistent with the simulations. It does not show the equatorward propagation of the disturbances and predicts that they have a gentler latitudinal gradient. Both theoretical and experimental data reveal that although the ratio of [O]/[N₂] at high latitudes decreases significantly during the magnetic storm compared with the quiet time level, at mid to low latitudes it does not increase (at fixed altitudes) above the quiet reference level. Meanwhile, the ionospheric storm is positive there. We conclude that the positive phase of the ionospheric storm is mainly due to uplifting of ionospheric F2-region plasma at mid latitudes and its equatorward movement at low latitudes along geomagnetic field lines caused by large-scale neutral wind circulation and the passage of travelling atmospheric disturbances (TADs). The calculated zonal electric field disturbances also help to create the positive ionospheric disturbances both at middle and low latitudes. Minor contributions arise from the general density enhancement of all constituents during geomagnetic storms, which favours ion production processes above ion losses at fixed height under day-light conditions.     

Energy balance during intense and super-intense magnetic storms using an Akasofu ε parameter corrected by the solar wind dynamic pressure

Geomagnetic storms are large disturbances in the Earth's magnetosphere caused by enhanced solar wind–magnetosphere energy transfer. One of the main manifestations of a geomagnetic storm is the ring current enhancement. It is responsible for the decrease in the geomagnetic field observed at ground stations. In this work, we study the ring current dynamics during two different levels of magnetic storms. Thirty-three events are selected during the period 1981–2004. Eighteen out of 33 events are very intense (or super-intense) magnetic storms (Dst ⩽−250 nT) and the remaining are intense magnetic storms (−250<Dst ⩽−100 nT). Interplanetary data from spacecraft in the solar wind near Earth's orbit (ACE, IMP-8, ISEE-3) and geomagnetic indices (Dst and Sym-H) are analyzed. Our aim is to evaluate the interplanetary characteristics (interplanetary dawn–dusk electric field, interplanetary magnetic field component B_S), the ε parameter, and the total energy input into the magnetosphere (Wε) for these two classes of magnetic storms. Two corrections on the ε energy coupling function are made: the first one is an already known correction in the magnetopause radius to take into account the variation in the solar wind pressure. The second correction on the Akasofu parameter, first proposed in this work, accounts for the reconnection efficiency as a function of the solar wind ram pressure. Geomagnetic data/indices are also employed to study the ring current dynamics and to search for the differences in the storm evolution during these events. Our corrected ε parameter is shown to be more adequate to explain storm energy balance because the energy input and the energy dissipated in the ring current are in better agreement with modern estimates as compared with previous works. For super-intense storms, the correction of the Akasofu ε is on average a scaling factor of 3.7, whilst for intense events, this scaling factor is on average 3.4. The injected energy during the main phase using corrected ε can be considered a criterion to separate intense from very intense storms. Other possibilities of cutoff values based on the energy input are also investigated. A threshold value for the input energy is much more clear when a new classification on Dst=−165 nT is considered. It was found that the energy input during storms with Dst<−165 nT is double of the energy for storms with Dst>−165 nT.     

基于经验模式给定热层温度对热层大气密度反演影响的评估

利用加速度计数据反演热层大气密度算法一般需由经验模式给定热层大气温度,进而计算大气阻尼系数C_D.本文基于CHAMP卫星加速度计数据反演得到大气密度,以2008年为例,利用反演得到的热层大气密度循环迭代修正大气阻尼系数C_D,通过对比修正前后密度偏差,评估经验模式给定热层温度对热层大气密度反演造成的影响.结果表明,经验模式热层温度计算偏差对大气密度反演造成的影响小于5%,而且考虑大气成分的改变则进一步降低了这种影响.     

Sudden post-midnight decrease in equatorial F-region electron densities associated with severe magnetic storms

A detailed analysis of the responses of the equatorial ionosphere to a large number of severe magnetic storms shows the rapid and remarkable collapse of F-region ionisation during post-midnight hours; this is at variance with the presently accepted general behaviour of the low-latitude ionosphere during magnetic storms. This paper discusses such responses as seen in the ionosonde data at Kodaikanal (Geomagn. Lat. 0.6 N). It is also observed that during magnetic storm periods the usual increase seen in the hF at Kodaikanal during sunset hours is considerably suppressed and these periods are also characterised by increased foF2 values. It is suggested that the primary process responsible for these dramatic pre- and post-midnight changes in foF2 during magnetic storms could be due to changes in the magnitude as well as in the direction of usual equatorial electric fields. During the post-midnight periods the change in electric-field direction from westward to eastward for a short period causes an upward E × B plasma drift resulting in increased hF and decreased electron densities in the equatorial region. In addition, it is also suggested that the enhanced storminduced meridional winds in the thermosphere, from the poles towards the equator, may also cause the decreases in electron density seen during post-midnight hours by spatially transporting the F-region ionisation southwards away from Kodaikanal. The paper also includes a discussion on the effects of such decreases in ionisation on low-latitude HF communications.     

不同高度和不同地磁扰动期间热层大气密度模式值与探测值的显著差异

热层大气密度是空间大气环境的重要参数,经过多年的研究已开发了多种大气模式,但其误差普遍较大,尤其在磁暴期间偏差值甚至超过100%.本文利用中国星载大气密度探测器和CHAMP卫星加速度计在轨获得的连续探测数据,针对近10年(2003—2014)中多次强磁暴事件和多次中等强度扰动事件,即2003年11月、2004年7月和2005年8~9月多次强磁暴事件(Kp值均达到9),2006年4月、2012年4月的两次中等强度磁暴事件(Kp值分别达到7和6),分析和比对不同强度磁扰事件期间不同高度全球大气密度就位探测值与模式值(NRLMSISE00)之间的差别.在2005年8月24日强磁扰事件中,560 km高度中国卫星就位探测值上涨幅度约2~3倍,扰动区中的增变比高达5.7倍,375 km高度CHAMP卫星就位探测值上涨幅度约0.8倍,扰动区中增变比达4.0倍,期间大气密度模式值不仅没有出现明显的涨落,更没有出现强烈的区域扰动;在2003年11月和2004年7月的强磁扰事件中,CHAMP卫星就位探测值均有显著涨变和强烈扰动变化,而模式值无明显扰动变化;在中等强度磁扰事件中,高度560 km附近就位探测值在北、南半球高纬地区显著上涨,远高于模式值,高度350 km附近就位探测值在地球阴影区域显著上涨,上涨幅度也大于模式值.分析结果表明现有大气模式对地磁扰动(尤其是强磁暴事件)期间全球热层大气密度的响应并不明显,需要进一步改善.     

Equatorial ionization anomaly and thermospheric meridional winds during two major storms over Brazilian low latitudes

The equatorial ionosphere responses over Brazil to two intense magnetic storms that occurred during 2001 are investigated. The equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and variations in the zonal electric field and meridional winds at different storms phases are studied using data collected by digisondes and GPS receivers. The difference between the F layer peak density (foF2) at an equatorial and a low latitude sites was used to quantify the EIA; while the difference between the true heights (h_F) at the equatorial and an off-equatorial site was used to calculate the magnetic meridional winds. The vertical drift was calculated as dh_F/dt. The results show prompt penetration electric fields causing unusual early morning development of the EIA, and disturbed dynamo electric field producing significant modification in the F region parameters. Variations to different degrees in the vertical drift, the thermospheric meridional winds and the EIA developments were observed depending on the storm phases.     

Dynamics of solar protons in the Earth’s magnetosphere during magnetic storms in November 2004–January 2005

The processes of penetration, trapping, and acceleration of solar protons in the Earth’s magneto-sphere during magnetic storms in November 2004 and January 2005 are studied based on the energetic particle measurements on the CORONAS-F and SERVIS-1 satellites. Acceleration of protons by 1–2 orders of magnitude was observed after trapping of solar protons with an energy of 1–15 MeV during the recovery phase of the magnetic storm of November 7–8, 2004. This acceleration was accompanied by an earthward shift of the particle flux maximum for several days, during which the series of magnetic storms continued. The process of relativistic electron acceleration proceeded simultaneously and according to a similar scenario including acceleration of protons. At the end of this period, the intensification was terminated by the process of precipitation, and a new proton belt split with the formation of two maximums at L ～ 2 and 3. In the January 2005 series of moderate storms, solar protons were trapped at L = 3.7 during the storm of January 17–18. However, during the magnetic storm of January 21, these particles fell in the zone of quasi-trapping, or precipitated into the atmosphere, or died in the magnetosheath. At the same time, the belts that were formed in November at L ～ 2 and 3 remained unchanged. Transformations of the proton (and electron) belts during strong magnetic storms change the intensity and structure of belts for a long time. Thus, the consequences of changes during the July 2004 storm did not disappear until November disturbances.