Field-aligned plasma diffusive fluxes in the topside ionosphere from radio occultation measurements by CHAMP

O⁺ field-aligned diffusive velocities and fluxes in the topside ionosphere have been calculated from electron density profiles retrieved from CHAMP radio occultation (RO) measurements. The velocities and fluxes from January 2002 to December 2003 at low- and mid-latitudes have been statistically analyzed. The results show that daytime diffusive fluxes changed gradually from downward to upward as altitude increases. The largest values of the upward diffusive fluxes and velocities occurred at around ±25° geomagnetic latitude. During solstices the plasma fluxes in the winter hemisphere were larger than those in the summer hemisphere.     

Observations of Pc5 micropulsation-related electric field oscillations in the equatorial ionosphere

A 54.95-MHz coherent backscatter radar, an ionosonde and the magnetometer located at Trivandrum in India (8.5○N, 77○E, 0.5○N dip angle) recorded large-amplitude ionospheric fluctuations and magnetic field fluctuations associated with a Pc5 micropulsation event, which occurred during an intense magnetic storm on 24 March 1991 (A_p=161). Simultaneous 100-nT-level fluctuations are also observed in the H-component at Brorfelde, Denmark (55.6○N gm) and at Narsarsuaq, Greenland (70.6○N gm). Our study of the above observations shows that the E-W electric field fluctuations in the E- and F-regions and the magnetic field fluctuations at Thumba are dominated by a near-sinusoidal oscillation of 10 min during 1730–1900 IST (1200-1330 UT), the amplitude of the electric field oscillation in the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) is 0.1-0.25 mV m⁻¹ and it increases with height, while it is about 1.0 mV m⁻¹ in the F-region, the ground-level H-component oscillation can be accounted for by the ionospheric current oscillation generated by the observed electric field oscillation in the EEJ and the H-component oscillations at Trivandrum and Brorfelde are in phase with each other. The observations are interpreted in terms of a compressional cavity mode resonance in the inner magnetosphere and the associated ionospheric electric field penetrating from high latitudes to the magnetic equator.     

Solar terminator-related ionosphere derived from GPS TEC measurements: A case study

We present a case study of ionospheric wave activity during solar terminator crossing using GPS TEC measurements. As a basic tool, the spatial gradient of total electron content (TEC) has been used. We tested with positive result the hypothesis on anisotropic response to assumed one-dimensional solar terminator forcing. The approximate drift velocity of irregularities has been computed. The wavelet analysis gave an interesting insight into variable frequency content of TEC gradient time series. We also proposed a filtering with respect to spatial scale allowing for resolving the spatio-temporal ambiguity.     

中国及邻近地区CHAMP卫星磁异常的分布特征

本文利用CHAMP卫星磁测资料建立的新一代高阶地磁场模型POMME-4.2S,计算中国及邻区400 km高度的卫星磁异常及其垂直梯度,给出7个磁场分量的分布图,比较了截断水平对磁异常分布的影响,初步分析了磁异常与岩石圈构造的关系.主要结果表明,在四川盆地、塔里木盆地和松辽盆地等主要磁异常区,ΔZ异常中心的南北两边出现ΔX的异常中心,东西两边出现ΔY的异常中心.在球谐模型为90阶时,磁异常分布的基本形态已经确定,更高的模型阶数对磁异常只有微小调整.在磁异常较强的地区,磁异常及其垂直梯度同步变化.卫星磁异常与地形变化、断裂带分布、莫霍面深度和岩石圈厚度没有直接的对应关系,而与居里等温面深度、磁性层厚度有明显的相关性.居里等温面深、磁性层较厚的地区显示正磁异常,居里等温面浅、磁性层较薄的地区显示负磁异常.     

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.     

用GRACE卫星跟踪数据反演地球重力场

利用141天GRACE卫星观测资料,包括K波段、星载加速度和卫星轨道数据,反演了80阶地球重力场模型IGGGRACE01S,该模型在半波长为500km的空间分辨率上,确定大地水准面的精度约为0012m,中长波(<80阶)精度优于重力卫星发射以前研制的重力场模型. 与EIGEN_GRACE02S、EIGEN_CHAMP03S和EGM96模型的位系数相比,该模型系数最接近于EIGEN_GRACE02S,与另两个模型差异较大. 比较几种模型确定的全球重力异常和大地水准面起伏,结果发现IGGGRACE01S与EIGEN_GRACE02S模型的计算结果比较接近,与EGM96模型结果差异较大,差别较大地区主要在南极等地区. 对于中国大陆,比较IGGGRACE01S模型（前72阶）计算的重力异常和NIMA重力异常数据（25°×25°网格）,两者之间的标准偏差为48mGal.     

Comparison of satellite measurements of the low-latitude nighttime upper ionosphere with IRI

In this paper, we report the results of our comparison study between satellite measurements and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model on the seasonal and longitudinal changes of the low-latitude nighttime topside ionosphere during the period of solar maximum from June 2000 to July 2001. Satellite measurements were made by KOMPSAT-1 and DMSP F15 at 685 km altitude and 840 km altitude, respectively. The results show that the IRI2001 model gives reasonable density estimations for the summer hemisphere and the March equinox at both altitudes. However, the observed wintertime densities are smaller than the predictions of the IRI2001 model, especially at a higher (840 km) altitude, manifesting strong hemispheric asymmetries. The observed electron temperatures generally reside between the two estimations of IRI2001, one based on the Aeros–ISIS data and the other based on Intercosmos, and the latter estimation better represents the observations. With more or less monotonic increase with latitude, the temperature profiles of the IRI2001 model do not predict the enhancement seen around 15° magnetic latitude of the winter hemisphere. Longitudinal variation, probably caused by the zonal winds, is seen in all seasons at both altitudes, while the IRI2001 model does not show a large variation. The observed density and temperature show significant changes according to the F10.7 values in the whole low-latitude region from 40°S to 40°N geomagnetic latitude. The effect is manifested as increases in the density and temperature, but not in the hemispheric asymmetry or in the longitudinal variation.     

Changes of lithospheric magnetic anomalies with altitude (According to the CHAMP satellite)

Maps of the magnitude of the full vector and the vertical component of an anomalous lithospheric magnetic field over the Voronezh anticline (VA) for the three high-altitude observation levels were compiled based on geomagnetic measurements from the CHAMP satellite. The isometric positive anomaly centered at about 50° N and 37° E stands out. Its amplitude decreases with increasing observation altitude without changing the form. Comparison of the parameters of the detected anomaly with data obtained for this site by other methods confirms that it really exists and that its spatial position is accurately determined, which indicates the reliability of the values of the selected field of lithospheric anomalies. The change in the parameters of the magnetic anomaly with respect to the observation level over the Earth’s surface is consistent with the concepts of geological structural features of the lithosphere in the region. The anomaly offset to the south on the satellite altitudes apparently indicates an uplift of crystalline basement rocks and a more southern position of VA deep roots relative to that accepted in the global magnetization model. The use of satellite data obtained at different altitudes opens up additional possibilities for the application of gradient methods in the interpretation of the magnetic fields of lithospheric anomalies.     

Spherical cap harmonic analysis of regional magnetic anomalies based on CHAMP satellite data

We used CHAMP satellite vector data and the latest IGRF12 model to investigate the regional magnetic anomalies over mainland China. We assumed satellite points on the same surface (307.69 km) and constructed a spherical cap harmonic model of the satellite magnetic anomalies for elements X, Y, Z, and F over Chinese mainland for 2010.0 (SCH2010) based on selected 498 points. We removed the external field by using the CM4 model. The pole of the spherical cap is 36N° and 104°E, and its half-angle is 30°. After checking and comparing the root mean square (RMS) error of ΔX, ΔY, and ΔZ and X, Y, and Z, we established the truncation level at K ^max = 9. The results suggest that the created China Geomagnetic Referenced Field at the satellite level (CGRF2010) is consistent with the CM4 model. We compared the SCH2010 with other models and found that the intensities and distributions are consistent. In view of the variation of F at different altitudes, the SCH2010 model results obey the basics of the geomagnetic field. Moreover, the change rate of X, Y, and Z for SCH2010 and CM4 are consistent. The proposed model can successfully reproduce the geomagnetic data, as other data-fitting models, but the inherent sources of error have to be considered as well.     

Long-term variations of solar magnetic fields derived from geomagnetic data

There are limited homogeneous instrumental observations of the sunspot magnetic fields, but the Earth is a sort of a probe reacting to interplanetary disturbances which are manifestation of the solar magnetic fields. We find correlations between some parameters of geomagnetic activity (the geomagnetic activity “floor”—the minimum value under which the geomagnetic activity cannot fall in a sunspot cycle, and the rate of increase of the geomagnetic activity with increasing sunspot number), and sunspot magnetic fields (the sunspot magnetic field in the cycle minimum, and the rate of increase of the sunspot magnetic field from cycle minimum to cycle maximum). Based on these correlations we are able to reconstruct the sunspot magnetic fields in sunspot minima and maxima since sunspot cycle 9 (mid 19th century).     

Effects of the interplanetary magnetic field sector structure in the winter ionosphere

Summary The ionospheric effects of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) sector boundary crossings are studied for the winters of 1963–69. They are considerably stronger for proton than for non-proton sector boundaries. There are two different types of effects. The geomagnetic type is a disturbance, observed in geomagnetic activity, the night-time ionosphere and the day-time F2 region near the geomagnetic equator. The effect in the ionosphere is interpreted in terms of the IMF sector boundary crossing related changes in geomagnetic activity. The tropospheric type is aquietening, observed in tropospheric vorticity and in the day-time mid-and low-latitude ionosphere (except the geomagnetic equator region). The mechanism of this effect remains unexplained.

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Lithospheric magnetic anomalies in Southeast Asia from CHAMP data

New possibilities for the interpretation of long-period magnetic anomalies were opened up by the construction of their first satellite-based maps. The anomalies are due to lateral variations in the magnetic properties and thickness of the deep layers of magnetized rocks. The CHAMP orbital geometry is suitable for providing daily information on the magnetic field over the almost uniform grid above the Earth’s surface. These measurements favor calculation of the spherical harmonic model of the main magnetic field for each day separately. The distribution of regional lithospheric anomalies derived from the satellite measurements over the territory of Southeast Asia is analyzed. These lithospheric anomalies agree with the zonal-block crustal structure of this region revealed from geological assessments.     

Daytime efficiency and characteristic time scale of interplanetary electric fields penetration to equatorial latitude ionosphere

We analyze the daytime efficiency of the interplanetary electric field (IEF) penetration to the equatorial ionosphere based on a correlation analysis carried out between different levels of decomposition applied to IEF intensity measured at the ACE spacecraft and ionospheric electric field intensity inferred from ground based magnetometers located in the equatorial region in Brazil. We compare the time variations of those two electric field intensities by means of a scale-by-scale decomposed time series through wavelet multi-resolution analysis. Efficiency is here defined as the fraction of the variation of the IEF intensity that has penetrated into the equatorial region, and it increases with increasing fraction. Two cases of prompt penetration electric fields (PPEF) are analyzed: one occurring on March 31, 2001, and other on April 17, 2002. Our results show that the penetration effect with time scale ranging around 1 h is maximized in relation to other scales.     

Calculation of atmospheric electric fields penetrating from the ionosphere

The spatial distributions of electric fields and currents in the Earth’s atmosphere are calculated. Electric potential distributions typical of substorms and quiet geomagnetic conditions are specified in the ionosphere. The Earth is treated as a perfect conductor. The atmosphere is considered as a spherical layer with a given height dependence of electrical conductivity. With the chosen conductivity model and an ionospheric potential of 300 kV with respect to the Earth, the electric field near the ground is vertical and reaches 110 Vm⁻¹. With the 60-kV potential difference in the polar cap of the ionosphere, the electric field disturbances with a vertical component of up to 13 V m⁻¹ can occur in the atmosphere. These disturbances are maximal near the ground. If the horizontal scales of field nonuniformity are over 100 km, the vertical component of the electric field near the ground can be calculated with the one-dimensional model. The field and current distributions in the upper atmosphere can be obtained only from the three-dimensional model. The numerical method for solving electrical conductivity problems makes it possible to take into account conductivity inhomogeneities and the ground relief.     

基于CHAMP卫星与三维Taylor多项式模型的区域地磁建模研究

利用CHAMP卫星矢量和标量地磁测量数据,通过三维Taylor多项式模型建立了2010.0年中国及邻近地区在300 km高度附近的X、Y、Z和F分量的三维磁场模型.为了比较验证所建模型,分析了其与Taylor多项式模型(二维模型)不同截断阶数所对应的均方偏差(RMSE)、残差及分布等.结果表明,三维模型每一阶的RMSE和残差绝对值的平均值均要比二维模型的小约45%.由于采用了系数完全展开的建模方式,三维模型的系数数量约为二维模型的2倍,三维模型较低的截断阶数可以反映更多的地磁信息.本研究中的5阶三维Taylor模型基本可达到8阶Taylor模型的精度.两种模型绘制的地磁场及残差分布有较好的一致性.     

Numerical simulation of the electric field and zonal current in the Earth’s ionosphere: The dynamo field and equatorial electrojet

The work is devoted to the numerical simulation of the dynamo electric field and its effects in the Earth’s ionosphere within the scope of the thermosphere-ionosphere-protonosphere global self-consistent model developed at WD IZMIRAN. The new electric field calculation block, which was used to obtain results of the self-consistent calculations of the electric field potential generated by the dynamo effect of the thermospheric winds (the dynamo field) and the equatorial electrojet for March 22, 1987, is briefly described in this work. A comparison of the obtained results with the experimental data showed a satisfactory agreement. Moreover, the proposed model was used to calculate the diurnal variations in the ionospheric parameters for Jicamarca equatorial station under the same conditions with the help of the new block of the electric field. The results of these calculations are also presented and discussed in this work. It has been indicated that the new model satisfactorily describes the specific features of electric field distribution at the geomagnetic equator and the well-known phenomenon of equatorial electrojet.     

Representativeness of total ozone trends as derived from satellite BUV and ground-based measurements

The information content of the 7-year BUV data set has been reexamined by a comparison with a fairly large set of ground Dobson and M-83 instruments. The satellite-ground intercomparison of total ozone was done under different types of ground observation techniques (observation code) and different instrument exposure (exposure code) and for various distances of the subsatellite point from the station. Because of the existing latitudinal gradient in total ozone, at a given station the bias ground-BUV tends to be smaller when the subsatellite point is at a latitude higher than the station's latitude. Knowing the total ozone gradient at a given station, the BUV total ozone has been corrected to account for the ozone gradient and the correlation was calculated with the corresponding ground observations. These correlations seem to offer no improvement when compared with the correlations between the ground ozone and the actual BUV ozone at distances of the subsatellite point from the station within 200 km from the station used in previous studies. The seasonal variation of the BUV-ground correlation reveals information on the noise level of the measurements and the geographical distribution of the percentage mean bias: (Ground-BUV)×100/(Ground) is discussed. Both on short and on longer time scales it appears that the BUV derived recommended total ozone data set is reasonably good and possible instrumental drifts are not large. The analysis includes an extension through April 1977 of the BUV and contour-derived total ozone trends byLondon andLing (1980). Over the northern hemisphere both data sets (contour and BUV) show comparable trends over middle and high latitudes which range from –3 D.U./year to –5 D.U./year during the 7-year period April 1970–April 1977. In the southern hemisphere, however, long-term variation in total ozone cannot be determined from ground observations alone. It is concluded that for unknown reasons during the 7-year period of study, total ozone has been decreasing over most of the globe. The negative growth rates at high latitudes of the northern hemisphere are highly significant.     

Spectral analysis of plasma drift measurements from the AE-E satellite: evidence of an inertial subrange in equatorial spread F

Plasma drift data from the AE-E satellite are spectrally analyzed to investigate the characteristics of the flow in the topside equatorial F region ionosphere during strong spread F conditions. Plasma flow around rapidly rising depletions is thought to exhibit behavior similar to two-dimensional Kolmogorov turbulence, but only on flux tubes with sufficiently small integrated ion–neutral collision frequencies. We find that one-dimensional spectra computed from vertical plasma drift measurements made in such depletions on such flux tubes tend to display a −5/3 spectral index over scale sizes from about 1 to $\text{100}\text{km}$, suggesting the operation of an inverse energy cascade. This universal spectral form is evidence of an inertial regime of the underlying ionospheric interchange instability.     

Mean equatorial gravity derived from various geopotential models

Summary Mean equatorial gravity has been computed from geopotential models GEM-10C, GEM-7, GEM-T1, GEM-T2, GEM-T3, JGM-1, JGM-2, JGM-3 and OSU91A and compared to the normal equatorial gravity, _e=978 032·699 × 10^–5 m s^–2, computed from four given parameters defining the Earth's level ellipsoid. In all models g_e>_e.