Effects of substorms during HF propagation in the auroral oval

The specific features of radio propagation from the viewpoint of physics of processes in the polar ionosphere have been studied in the present work based on the oblique-incidence sounding of the ionosphere (OISI) on the St. Petersburg-Belyi Nos (Amderma) polar radio path during substorm activity in the summer months of 1997. The OISI data were used to find the following parameters: maximum observable frequency during signal reflection from the E _s layer (EsMOF), maximum observable frequency during signal reflection from the F ₂ layer (F2MOF), and lowest observable frequencies for the E _s and F ₂ layers (EsLOF and F2LOF, respectively). Absolute MOF and LOF values were also found out. The total number of received rays was determined in addition to the above parameters. Isolated substorms against a quiet background were selected for the studies. These substorms resulted in substantial changes in the ionospheric radio channel and propagation conditions along the path. The results of the studies are as follows. (1) The following distinct regularities in the HF propagation along the path have been determined: (i) the range of operational frequencies Δ = MOF-LOF becomes substantially narrower during substorms; (ii) the radio propagation mechanism changes during a substorm; (iii) during substorms, the auroral absorption substantially and partially increases in the course of the expansion and recovery phases, respectively; (iv) multiray effect sharply increases at the beginning of the substorm active phase (T ₀). (2) The indications of changes in the radio propagation parameters, which can possibly be used to predict the beginning of substorm development, have been formulated. (3) All revealed regularities in the HF propagation in the auroral zone have been explained from the geophysical viewpoint. It is important to use these regularities to organize radio communication and to solve the problems within the scope of the Space Weather Program.     

Effect of geomagnetic storms (substorms) on the ionosphere: 1. A review

The result of the effect of magnetospheric storms and substorms on the ionosphere (the so-called main effect) has been studied. The effect consists in that the critical frequency and altitude of the F region vary specifically during a disturbance. The critical frequency first increases before the storm (substorm) active phase, then decreases during the active phase, and increases again after this phase. On the contrary, the F region altitude increases during the active phase and decreases after this phase. An approach to the short-term (2–3 h) prediction of the development of storms (substorms) as the main disturbed space weather elements has been proposed.     

Ionospheric disturbances in the years of solar activity minimum and their influence on HF radiowave propagation

The oblique sounding data at the Magadan-Irkutsk and Norilsk-Irkutsk paths together with the vertical sounding at stations located in northeastern Russia were used to analyze ionospheric disturbances in September 2005 and during geophysically active period in December 2006. It is found that during the main phase of magnetic storms, wave disturbances with a period of 2–4 h are registered. These disturbances cause variations in the layer maximum height up to 40–100 km and in the critical frequency up to 1.5–2 MHz. Those variations change substantially values of the maximum observed frequencies (MOF) of the ionospheric radio channel at the paths considered. Such wave disturbances can be caused by generation of AGWs in the auroral zone and their propagation to equatorial latitudes.     

Propagation of HF radiowaves on high-latitude radio paths during the magnetically disturbed period of October 24–28, 2003

The behavior of the HF signal parameters during magnetic storms and substorms has bee experimentally studied simultaneously on the Kiruna-Kirkenes auroral path, Kiruna-Longyearbyen polar path, and Murmansk-St. Petersburg subauroral path. The first two paths are equipped with the instruments making it possible to measure the values of the signal-to-noise ratio, Doppler frequency shift, and elevation angle. The method of oblique sounding of the ionosphere (OSI) was used on the Murmansk-St. Petersburg path. Two substantial substorms, a moderate storm, and an intense storm occurred during the studied period. Some new regularities have been revealed. On the Kiruna-Kirkenes and Kiruna-Longyearbyen paths, the signalto-noise ratio increased (due to the transition from the F ₂ signal reflections to the E _s reflections), the elevation angle increased (due to an increase in the ionospheric F ₂ layer height and a decrease in the critical frequency), and the Doppler shift increased (due to the variations in ionization and the appearance of ionospheric irregularities during a substorm) when the signal was reflected from the F ₂ layer close to the moment of the substorm or storm beginning T ₀. It is possible to control the so-called “main effect” in the ionosphere on the Murmansk-St. Petersburg path.     

Anomalous phenomena on HF radio paths during geomagnetic disturbances

We analyze ionospheric oblique sounding data on three high-latitude and one high-latitude–midlatitude HF radio paths for February 15 and 16, 2014, when two substorms and one magnetic storm occurred. We investigate cases of anomalous propagation of signals: their reflection from sporadic layer Es, lateral reflections, type “M” or “N” modes, the presence of traveling ionospheric disturbances, and the diffusivity of signals and triplets. The most significant results are the following. In geomagnetically undisturbed times, sporadic Es-layers with reduced maximum observed frequencies (MOFEs) on three high-latitude paths were observed in both days. The values of MOFEs during disturbances are large, which leads to the screening of other oblique sounding signals reflected from the ionosphere. On all four paths, the most frequently traveling ionospheric disturbances due to the terminator were observed in quiet hours from 03:00 to 15:00 UT on the first day and from 06:00 to 13:00 UT on the second day of the experiment. In addition, both the sunset terminator and the magnetic storm on the high-latitude–mid-latitude path were found to generate traveling ionospheric disturbances jointly. No such phenomenon was found on high-latitude paths.     

Studying ionospheric responses to magnetic storms depending on the local time of the storm main phase onset

A morphological analysis of vertical sounding data obtained in Irkutsk from 2003 to 2008 has been performed. The AE index was used to determine the geomagnetic activity level, and the storm main phase onset was registered based on the D _st index. The ionospheric response to a magnetic storm was estimated based on the relative deviation of the critical frequency and altitude of the ionospheric F2 region from the median values. Superstrong magnetic storms and storms without positive initial phases were not considered when the data were selected. We found that positive ionospheric disturbances, which were accompanied by an increase in the F2 region maximum altitude, predominated between the storm initial phase and main phases during all considered magnetic storms. Between these storm phases, negative disturbances were only registered at night. Predominance of positive ionospheric disturbances over negative ones can be related to the selection of storms for studies.     

利用射线追踪方法研究化学物质释放对高频加热的聚焦效应

电离层化学物质释放能导致释放区域电子密度的损耗,从而产生明显的电离层空洞现象.高频电波通过电离层空洞时,由于电子密度不同,对电波产生折射效果进而形成聚焦效应.本文利用射线追踪方法,评估高频电波通过空洞形成聚焦加热的效果.结果表明,释放水分子与SF6都能对电离层产生明显的空洞,空洞半径约为25～50 km,电子密度的损耗...     

Ionospheric response to geomagnetic disturbances in the north-eastern region of Asia during the minimum of 23rd cycle of solar activity

We present the results of studies of the subauroral and mid-latitude ionosphere variations in the north-eastern region of Asia. We used the data from network of vertical and oblique-incidence sounding ionosondes and optical measurements. Long-term experiments on the radio paths Magadan–Irkutsk and Norilsk–Irkutsk were carried out within the period 2005–2007. Vertical sounding stations operated in standard regime. Observation of airglow near Irkutsk was provided by the zenith photometer that measured intensities of 557.7 and 630.0 nm atomic oxygen emissions. The results may be summarized as follows. (1) Large daytime negative disturbances are observed during the main and recovery phases mainly at high latitudes, whereas the positive disturbances observed during the main phase at mid latitudes. The disturbances changed their sign between Yakutsk and Irkutsk. (2) During the main and recovery storm phases the fall of foF2 associated with the equatorward wall of the main ionospheric trough is observed in the afternoon and evening. (3) Fluctuations of the electron density more intensive at mid latitudes during the storm main phase are observed during all considered periods. They are classed as traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID). Such sharp gradients of electron density are responsible for the strong changes in the characteristics of the radio wave propagation, particularity MOF. (4) A large-scale ionospheric disturbance is noted at the meridional chain of ionosonds in December 2006 as the sharp increase of foF2. It appears in the evening in the minimum of D_st at high latitude and propagate to equator. (5) A maximum of 630 nm emission above Irkutsk corresponds to the foF2 increase. (6) The obtained experimental data on the net of vertical and oblique-incidence sounding with high time resolution show that such net is the effective facility to study the conditions of the radio wave propagation and can be used for the diagnostic of the ionosphere.     

The ionosphere of Europe and North America before the magnetic storm of October 28, 2003

The X17 solar flare occurred on October 28, 2003, and was followed by the X10 flare on October 29. These flares caused very strong geomagnetic storms (Halloween storms). The aim of the present study is to compare the variations in two main ionospheric parameters (foF2 and hmF2) at two chains of ionosondes located in Europe and North America for the period October 23–28, 2003. This interval began immediately before the storm of October 28 and includes its commencement. Another task of the work is to detect ionospheric precursors of the storm or substorm expansion phase. An analysis is based on SPIDR data. The main results are as follows. The positive peak of δfoF2 (where δ is the difference between disturbed and quiet values) is observed several hours before the magnetic storm or substorm commencement. This peak can serve as a disturbance precursor. The amplitude of δfoF2 values varies from 20 to 100% of the foF2 values. The elements of similarity in the variations in the δfoF2 values at two chains are as follows: (a) the above δfoF2 peak is as a rule observed simultaneously at two chains before the disturbance; (b) the δfoF2 variations are similar at all midlatitude (or, correspondingly, high-latitude) ionosondes of the chain. The differences in the δfoF2 values are as follows: (a) the effect of the main phase and the phase of strong storm recovery at one chain differs from such an effect at another chain; (b) the manifestation of disturbances at high-latitude stations of the chain differ from the manifestations at midlatitude stations. The δhmF2 variations are approximately opposite to the δfoF2 variations, and the δhmF2 values lie in the interval 15–25% of the hmF2 values. The performed study is useful and significant in studying the problems of the space weather, especially in a short-term prediction of ionospheric disturbances caused by magnetospheric storms or substorms.     

Numerical simulation of the structure of the high-latitude ionospheric <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis> region during meridional HF propagation

A previously developed model of the high-latitude ionosphere is used to calculate the distribution of the ionospheric parameters in the polar region. A specific method for specifying input parameters of the mathematical model, using the experimental data obtained by the method of satellite radio tomography, is used in this case. The spatial distributions of the ionospheric parameters characterized by a complex inhomogeneous structure in the high-latitude region, calculated with the help of the mathematical model, are used to simulate the HF propagation along the meridionally oriented radio paths extending from middle to high latitudes. The method for improving the HF communication between a midlatitude transmitter and a polar-cap receiver is proposed.     

Studying large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances according to the data of oblique-incidence sounding

The morphological features of wave-like ionospheric disturbances with periods of 1–2 h and the spatial extent exceeding 1000 km are studied. Oblique-incidence sounding data of the ionosphere, obtained in eastern Siberia during several continuous monthly experiments on three radio paths from 2006 to 2010, have been used. Large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances generated during magnetic storms and large-scale wave-like ionospheric disturbances registered during geomagnetically quiet periods are considered. Small-scale ionospheric structures were also observed against a background of large-scale traveling iono-spheric disturbances considered in this study.     

Ionospheric and Solar Wind Variation during Magnetic Storm Onset and Main Phase at Low- and Mid-latitudes

The relationship between the F2-layer critical frequency and solar wind parameters during magnetic storm sudden commencement (SSC) and main phase periods for intense (IS) and very intense (VIS) class of storms is investigated. The analysis covers low- and mid-latitude stations. The effects of ionospheric storm during SSC period is insignificant compared to the main phase, but can trigger the latter. The main phase is characterized by severe negative storm effect at both latitudes during VIS periods while it is latitudinal symmetric for IS observations. The IS reveal positive/negative storm phase in the low-/mid-latitudes, respectively. Ionization density effect is more prominent during VIS events, and is attributed to large energetic particle and solar activity input into the earth magnetosphere. However, ionospheric effect is more significant at the low-latitude than at the mid-latitude. Lastly, ionospheric storm effect during a geomagnetic storm may be related to the combinational effect of interplanetary and geomagnetic parameters and internal ionospheric effect, not necessarily the solar wind alone.     

Computation of the key parameters of radio signals propagating through a perturbed ionosphere in the land-satellite channel

An analysis of the key parameters of HF/UHF radio signals was carried out for land-satellite radio channels, which determine the effects of fading in a perturbed ionosphere. Using the parameters of the perturbed plasma, the effects of the absorption and phase fluctuations of radio signals are analyzed for a channel with fading. For the evaluation of the effect of scattering of a radio signal by ionospheric inhomogeneities in an approximation of small-scale scintillations, expressions for the root-mean-square (RMS) magnitude of signal intensity and phase scintillations are presented. Scintillation index σ _I ² that corresponds to variations in a signal under the conditions of multipath propagation with fading is investigated by using experimental data. It is shown that roughly ～10% of inhomogeneities of the electron concentration in the F region of the ionosphere, perturbed during a magnetic storm, yield strong quickly fading radio signals in the VHF/UHF range with significant fluctuations (up to 1%) in the intensity of the signal and phase fluctuations (up to hundreds of radians). The calculated magnitudes of the scintillation index are in good agreement with experimentally observed data.     

Effect of horizontal gradients on ionospherically reflected or transionospheric paths using a precise homing-in method

A homing-in method is presented for determining ionospheric reflected or transionospheric paths between fixed transmitter and receiver locations in the presence of ionospheric gradients or ripples. Both initial elevation and azimuth are automatically adjusted to find the path that arrives exactly at the receiver. The method can be used for any 3D ionospheric model to find precise ray paths and phase and group delays for both magneto-ionic modes. The method takes full account of path location, geomagnetic field orientation and the bending of the ray path resulting from horizontal as well as vertical gradients of electron density. It can also find multiple paths e.g. low and high angle, 1- and 2-hops for both ordinary and extraordinary modes. Examples of its use are given for both terrestrial HF links and Earth to Satellite paths. For paths reflected from the ionosphere, the effect of gradients of both critical frequency and height of maximum electron density are determined and the comparative effect of gradients on high and low angle and 1- and 2-hops paths for both magneto-ionic modes investigated. Path variation with frequency for a fixed link is also studied and the bandwidth of the ionospheric background channel (dispersive bandwidth) and its reciprocal (the pulse rise time), important for wideband digital HF broadcasting or spread spectrum HF communications, is estimated for a range of frequencies, for high- and low-angle rays and 1- and 2-hop paths. For Earth–satellite paths, the effect of the ionosphere and horizontal ionospheric gradients is determined for a range of frequencies and elevation angles. It is shown that the method can also enable the determination of second-order errors in satellite navigation methods, such as GPS, due to ionospheric gradients and the effect of the geomagnetic field.     

中低纬地区电离层对CIR和CME响应的统计分析

本文利用中低纬日本地区(131°E,35°N)GPS-TEC格点化数据,分析了2001—2009年间109个共转相互作用区(CIR)事件、45个日冕物质抛射(CME)事件引起的地磁扰动期间电离层的响应.结果表明,电离层暴的类型随太阳活动的变化而有不同的变化,CIR事件引发的电离层正相暴、正负双相暴多发生在太阳活动下降年,负相暴多发生在高年,负正双相暴多发生在低年;CME事件引发的电离层正相暴和负相暴多发生在高年.CIR和CME引发的不同类型的电离层暴的季节性差异不大,在夏季多发生正负双相暴.电离层暴发生时间相对地磁暴的时延大部分在-6~6h之间,但CIR引发的电离层暴时延范围更广,在-12~24h之间,而CME引发的电离层暴时延主要在-6~6h之间.中低纬的电离层暴多发生在主相阶段,其中CIR引发的双相暴也会发生在初相阶段.电离层负暴多发生在AE最大值为800~1200nT之间.CIR引起的电离层扰动持续时间较长,一般在1~6天左右,而CME引起的电离层扰动持续时间一般在1~4天左右.     

欧洲扇区不同纬度电离层暴特征的统计分析

本文利用Madrigal数据库的TEC数据对2001—2010年间的156次单主相型磁暴事件,统计分析了欧洲扇区从赤道到极光带共5个纬度区域的电离层暴特征,结果表明:(1)电离层暴有明显的纬度分布特征,正负暴出现次数的比例随纬度的降低呈现明显的增加趋势,但夏季赤道地区趋势相反,正负暴比例比更高纬度的反而降低;(2)与主相相比,恢复相期间大部分纬度地区正暴数量减少,负暴数量增加,但赤道地区恢复相期间正暴数量反而增加;(3)中低纬地区电离层暴随磁暴MPO地方时分布特征明显,正暴所对应的MPO主要分布在白天,而MPO发生在夜间容易引起负暴;(4)电离层负暴主要发生在夜间,中、高纬地区负暴的开始时间存在‘时间禁区’,但不同纬度‘时间禁区’的地方时分布有一定差异,正暴分布则相对分散.     

Ionospheric effects of magnetospheric and thermospheric disturbances on March 17–19, 2015

Using vertical and oblique radio-sounding data, we analyze the ionospheric and thermospheric disturbances during the magnetic storm that occurred in northeastern Russia on March 17–19, 2015. We consider the heliospheric sources that induced the magnetic storm. During the main and early recovery phases, the midlatitude stations are characterized by extremely low values of electron density at the F2 layer maximum. Using oblique sounding data, we recorded signals that propagated outside the great circle arc. In evening and night hours, no radio signals were found to pass along the Norilsk–Irkutsk and Magadan–Irkutsk paths. The observed ionospheric effects are shown to be caused by a sharp shift of the boundaries of the main ionospheric trough to the invariant latitude 46° N during the main phase of the magnetic storm. The negative ionospheric disturbance during the recovery phase of the storm, which was associated with significant variations in the composition of the neutral atmosphere, led to a change in the mode composition of received radio signals and a decline in observed maximal frequencies in daytime hours of March 18, 2015 by more than 2 times.     

Determining the ionospheric irregularity velocity vector based on doppler measurements in the artificially modified <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>2</Subscript> region of the polar ionosphere

The method for estimating the behavior of the ionospheric irregularity motion vector in the artificially disturbed HF ionospheric region has been proposed, and this behavior has been analyzed based on the simultaneous Doppler observations performed on several paths using the method of bi-static backscatter of diagnostic HF signals by small-scale artificial ionospheric irregularities. The Doppler measurements were performed during the modification of the auroral ionosphere by powerful HF radiowaves emitted by the EISCAT heating facility (Tromsø, Norway). It has been obtained that the dynamics of the ionospheric irregularity directions in the F region, calculated based on the Doppler measurements of the total vector of the ionospheric irregularity velocity above the Tromsø EISCAT radar at a frequency of 931 MHz, is in satisfactory agreement with such calculations performed using the three-position method.     

VLF phase and amplitude: daytime ionospheric parameters

Experimental observations of the daytime variations of VLF phase and amplitude over a variety of long subionospheric paths have been found to be satisfactorily modelled with a D-region ionosphere, described by the two traditional parameters, H′ and β (being measures of the ionospheric height and the rate of increase of electron density with height, respectively). This VLF radio modelling uses the NOSC Earth–ionosphere waveguide programs but with an experimentally deduced dependence of these two ionospheric parameters on solar zenith angle. Phase and amplitude measurements from several VLF Omega and MSK stations were compared with calculations from the programs LWPC and Modefinder using values of H′ and β determined previously from amplitude only data. This led to refined curves for the diurnal variations of H′ and β which, when used in these programs, give not only calculated amplitudes but also, for the first time, calculated phase variations that agree well with a series of observations at Dunedin, New Zealand, of VLF signals from Omega Japan, Omega Hawaii, NPM (Hawaii) and NLK (Seattle) covering a frequency range of 10–25 kHz.     

Wave structure of magnetic substorms at high latitudes

A new type of high-latitude magnetic bays is revealed at geomagnetic latitudes higher than 71°, called ??polar substorms.?? It is shown that polar substorms differ from both classical substorms and high-latitude geomagnetic disturbances of the type of polar boundary intensifications (PBIs). While classical substorms start at latitudes below 67° and then expand poleward, polar substorms start almost simultaneously in the evening-night polar region of the oval. In contrast to PBIs, accompanied by auroral streamers expanding southward, polar substorms are accompanied by auroral arcs quickly traveling northward. It is shown that polar substorms are observed before midnight (20?C22 MLT) under weak geomagnetic activity (Kp ?? 2) during the late recovery phase of a magnetic storm. It is shown that a typical feature of polar substorms is the simultaneous excitation of highly intensive Pi2 and Pi3 geomagnetic pulsations at high latitudes, which exceed the typical amplitude of these pulsations at auroral latitudes by more than an order of magnitude. The duration of pulsations is determined by the substorm duration, and their amplitude decreases sharply at geomagnetic latitudes below ??71°. It is suggested that pulsations reflect fluctuations in ionospheric currents connected with polar substorms.