Spectral energy contributions of quasi-periodic oscillations (2–35 days) to the variability of the f oF2

The relative contributions of quasi-periodic oscillations from 2 to 35 days to the variability of f_oF2 at middle northern latitudes between 42°N and 60°N are investigated. The f_oF2 hourly data for the whole solar cycle 21 (1976–1986) for four European ionospheric stations Rome (41.9°N, 12.5°E), Poitiers (46.5°N, 0.3°E), Kaliningrad (54.7°N, 20.6°E) and Uppsala (59.8°N, 17.6°E) are used for analysis. The relative contributions of different periodic bands due to planetary wave activity and solar flux variations are evaluated by integrated percent contributions of spectral energy for these bands. The observations suggest that a clearly expressed seasonal variation of percent contributions exists with maximum at summer solstice and minimum at winter solstice for all periodic bands. The contributions for summer increase when the latitude increases. The contributions are modulated by the solar cycle and simultaneously influenced by the long-term geomagnetic activity variations. The greater percentage of spectral energy between 2 to 35 days is contributed by the periodic bands related to the middle atmosphere planetary wave activity.     

HF radar observations of equatorial spread-F over West Africa

New experimental data depicting equatorial spread-F were taken during an HF radar sounding campaign in Korhogo (Ivory Coast, 9°24N, 5°37W, dip 4°S). Range-time-intensity maps of the radar echoes have been analyzed to identify the signatures of density depletions and bottomside spread-F. Density depletions are well known features of equatorial spread-F, and are believed to emerge after the development of a Rayleigh-Taylor instability on the bottomside F-layer. A simple model is developed and used to simulate the flow of density depletions over the radar field of view. The simulation permits an interpretation of the data that yields the zonal flow velocity as a function of local time. Comparisons with previous measurements are undertaken to assess the consistency of the computational results, and qualitative arguments are presented to identify bottomside spread-F. Using the computational results as reference, a morphological study of ionograms showing spread-F is undertaken which reveals the specific signature of bottomside spread-F on ionograms recorded just after sunset.     

Ionospheric Scintillation and Dynamics of Fresnel-Scale Irregularities in the Inner Region of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly

This paper reports differences in the occurrence statistics of global positioning system (GPS) L-band scintillations at observational sites located in the inner regions of the northern and southern crests of the equatorial ionization anomaly. Ground-based GPS data acquired at the closed magnetically aligned stations of Manaus (3.1°S; 59.9°W; dip lat. 6.2°N) and Cuiabá (15.5°S; 56.1°W; dip. lat. 6.2°S), Brazil, from December 2001 to February 2007 are used in the analysis. The drift dynamics of Fresnel-scale ionospheric irregularities at the southern station of Cuiabá are also investigated. Only geomagnetically quiet days with the sum of daily Kp < 24 were used in the analysis statistics and in the irregularity drift studies. The results reveal a clear dependence of the scintillation occurrence with the solar activity, but there exists an asymmetry in the percentage of scintillation occurrence between the two stations throughout the period analyzed. The nocturnal occurrence of the scintillations over Cuiabá is predominantly larger than over Manaus, but this scenario seems to change with the decline in the solar activity (mainly during local post-midnight hours). A broad minimum and maximum in the scintillation occurrence appears to occur over both the stations, respectively, during the June solstice (winter) and December solstice (summer) months. The dynamics of the Fresnel-scale irregularities, as investigated from the estimations of the mean zonal drift velocities, reveals that the amplitude of the eastward drifts tends to reduce with the decline in the solar activity. The magnitude of the zonal drift velocities during the December solstice months is larger than during the equinoxes, with the differences being more pronounced at solar maximum years. Other relevant aspects of the observations, with complementary data from a low-latitude ionospheric model, are highlighted and discussed.     

A climatological study of nocturnal equatorial F-region irregularities at the west Pacific longitudes by using phase fluctuations of the global positioning system

This study investigated a long-term climatology of nocturnal equatorial F-region irregularities by using phase fluctuations of the global positioning system during the solar cycle of 1996–2006 at the west Pacific longitudes. The results showed that the distribution of the occurrence of irregularities is a two-peak pattern, which peaks in equinoxes with a shallow/deep dip in June/December solstice during high solar activity but with two about the same dips in magnitude in both June and December solstices during low solar activity. Moreover, the most interesting longitudinal effect in the area is in solstice occurrences of irregularities during high solar activity that the irregularities in December solstice months develop easier in the west area but those in June solstice months develop easier in the east area.     

中国区域电离层扩展F发生率特征研究

本文利用2011年富克、厦门、南宁、克州、格尔木、西安、北京和漠河等电离层垂测站的电离层扩展F数据,统计了中国区域电离层扩展F发生率的日变化、季节变化和区域变化特征.除了漠河外,中国区域电离层扩展F发生率的日变化、季节变化特征比较一致,扩展F出现在夜间(18~08 LT),且午夜后多于午夜前,以6月为中心的夏季月份扩展F发生率高.电离层扩展F发生率的最大值随着纬度的增加而减少,发生率最大值出现的时间也随着纬度增加而延迟,具有明显的“纬度效应”.漠河电离层扩展F与中国区域中其他地方相比较,在发生时间段、发生率数值和季节变化特征方面都具有明显的不同特征,这些情况表明漠河电离层扩展F的产生机制和影响因素可能是不同的.     

Sequential sporadic-E layers at low latitudes in the Indian sector

A study of the formation and movement of sequential Sporadic-E layers observed during the night-time hours at two Indian low-latitude stations, SHAR(dip 10°N) and Waltair (dip 20°N) shows that the layer are formed around 19:00 h. IST at altitudes of ≈180 km. They descend to the normal E-region altitude of about 100 km in three to four hours and becomes blanketing type of Es before they disappear. However, the absence of these descending layers at an equatorial station, Trivandrum (dip 2°N) gives the experimental evidence for wind shear theory. The meridional neutral wind derived from the height variation of the F-layer showed significant poleward wind during the descent of these layers. Hence it is inferred that these layers are formed as a consequence of the convergence of plasma by the poleward wind and the equatorward propagating gravity waves (inferred from the height fluctuations of F-layer).     

太阳活动高、低年东亚中、低纬地区扩展F特性比较研究

扩展F(Spread-F)作为重要的电离层不规则结构之一,对电波传播、导航、通讯等有重要的影响,因此对其时、空特性的研究一直倍受重视.本文通过分析低纬海南台站和中纬长春与乌鲁木齐台站的测高仪数据,比较研究了太阳活动高、低年我国中、低纬地区夜间电离层扩展F的发生特性.扩展F发生率特性主要体现在:无论低纬还是中纬太阳活动低年扩展F发生率最大值高于太阳活动高年;无论太阳活动高年还是低年低纬站扩展F发生率最大值高于中纬站.细节特征主要体现在:首先,三台站在太阳活动高、低年扩展F发生率都存在双峰结构.太阳活动高年,低纬海南站双峰结构集中在春、秋分季节,而中纬站则集中在冬、夏季节,扩展F较容易发生的地方时低纬站主要集中在子夜前,而中纬站则偏向子夜后;在太阳活动低年,中、低纬双峰结构都出现在冬、夏季节,低纬海南站扩展F较突出的出现在子夜前后,而中纬台站则主要出现在子夜及子夜后.其次,双峰结构中的细节表现不同,如低纬海南站太阳活动高年扩展F较容易发生在春分季节,但2月和4月份发生率都比较高而且接近,而太阳活动低年扩展F较容易发生在夏季月份,但5月和7月的发生率也都比较高且接近,且太阳活动高、低年低纬主峰峰值非常接近,不像中纬地区有明显的差异等.本文针对实测数据进行了详细的分析并结合已有研究进行了细致的讨论.     

Effect of equatorial ionization anomaly on the occurrence of spread-F

The unique geometry of the geomagnetic field lines over the equatorial ionosphere coupled with the E–W electric field causes the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and equatorial spread-F (ESF). lonosonde data obtained at a chain of four stations covering equator to anomaly crest region (0.3 to 33 °N dip) in the Indian sector are used to study the role of EIA and the associated processes on the occurrence of ESF. The study period pertains to the equinoctial months (March, April, September and October) of 1991. The ratios of critical frequency of F-layer (f₀F₂) and electron densities at an altitude of 270 km between Ahmedabad (33 °N dip) and Waltair (20 °N dip) are found to shoot up in the afternoon hours on spread-F days showing strengthening of the EIA in the afternoon hours. The study confirms the earlier conclusions made by Raghava Rao et al. and Alex et al. that a well-developed EIA is one of the conditions conducive for the generation of ESF. This study also shows that the location of the crest is also important in addition to the strength of the anomaly.     

Comparison between IRI predictions and digital ionosonde measurements of hmF2 at New Delhi during low and moderate solar activity

This paper deals with the diurnal and seasonal variations of height of the peak electron density of the F2-layer (hmF2) derived from digital ionosonde measurements at a low–middle-latitude station, New Delhi (28.6°N, 77.2°E, dip 42.4°N). Diurnal and seasonal variations of hmF2 are examined and comparisons of the observations are made with the predictions of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2001) model. Our study shows that during both the moderate and low solar activity periods, the diurnal pattern of median hmF2 reveals a more or less similar trend during all the seasons with pre-sunrise and daytime peaks during winter and equinox except during summer, where the pre-sunrise peak is absent. Comparison of observed median hmF2 values with the IRI during moderate and low solar activity periods, in general, reveals an IRI overestimation in hmF2 during all the seasons for local times from about 06 LT till midnight hours except during summer for low solar activity, while outside this time period, the observed hmF2 values are close to the IRI predictions. The hmF2 representation in the IRI model does not reproduce pre-sunrise peaks occurring at about 05 LT during winter and equinox as seen in the observations during both the solar activity periods. The noontime observed median hmF2 values increase by about 10–25% from low (2004–2005) to high solar activity (2001–2002) during winter and equinox, while the IRI in the same time period and seasons shows an increase of about 10–20%. During summer, however, the observed noontime median hmF2 values show a little increase with the solar activity, as compared to the IRI with an increase of about 12%.     

An initial response of magnetic fields at geosynchronous orbit to Pi 2 onset as observed from the dip-equator

Fluxgate magnetometer data recorded at the dip-equator (Huancayo, Peru; 1.44°N, 355.9° in geomagnetic coordinates; 12.1°S, 75.2°W in geographic coordinates; L = 1.00) with higher accuracy of timing (0.1 s) and amplitude resolution (0.01 nT) were utilized to survey an onset of Pi 2 pulsations in the midnight sector (2100–0100 LT) during PROMIS (Polar Region and Outer Magnetosphere International Study) periods (1 March–20 June, 1986). It is found that changing field line magnitude and vector as observed by magnetometer on board the synchronous satellites in the midnight sector often takes place simultaneously with the onset of Pi 2 pulsations at the dip-equator. The field disturbances that follow thereafter tend to last for some time both at the geosynchronous altitudes and the dip-equator. In this report, we examine the initial response of the field lines in space, and attempt to classify how the field line vector changed in the meridional plane.     

基于三亚VHF雷达的场向不规则体观测研究：4.太阳活动低年夏季F区回波

太阳活动低年夏季,低纬电离层F区场向不规则体表现出与太阳活动高年和其他季节明显不同的特征.本文利用我国三亚站（18.4°N,109.6°E,地磁倾角纬度dip latitude 12.8°N）VHF雷达、电离层测高仪、GPS闪烁监测仪和美国C/NOFS卫星观测数据,研究了太阳活动低年夏季我国低纬电离层F区场向不规则体的基本特征.分析发现无论磁静日还是磁扰日,夏季电离层F区不规则体回波主要出现于地方时午夜以后,回波出现的时间较短,高度范围较小,伴随着扩展F出现,但没有同时段的L波段电离层闪烁.太阳活动低年夏季午夜后的低纬电离层F区不规则体回波,可能并不总是与赤道等离子体泡沿磁力线向低纬地区的延伸相关,而可能由本地Es等扰动过程引起.     

First observation of quasi-2-day oscillations in ionospheric plasma frequency at fixed heights

The existence and development of the quasi-2-day oscillations in the plasma frequency variations of the F region at northern middle latitudes are investigated. A new approach to study the quasi-2-day oscillations is presented, using a methodology that allows us to do such a study at fixed heights. The hourly values of plasma frequency at fixed heights, from 170 km to 220 km at 10 km step, obtained at the Observatori de lEbre station (40.8°N, 0.5°E) during 1995 are used for analysis. It is found that quasi-2-day oscillations exist and persisted in the ionospheric plasma frequency variations over the entire year 1995 for all altitudes investigated. The dominant period of oscillation ranges from 42 to 56 h. The amplitude of oscillation is from 0.1 MHz to 1 MHz. The activity of the quasi-2-day oscillation is better expressed during the summer half year when several enhancements, about 15–30 days in duration, were observed. The largest enhancements of the oscillation occurred during early June, July and early August; i. e., near and after the summer solstice when the 2-day wave in the middle neutral atmosphere typically displays its largest activity in the Northern Hemisphere. The results obtained may help us understand better the possible influencing mechanisms between the 2-day wave in the middle neutral atmosphere and the ionospheric quasi-2-day oscillations.     

The diurnal,annual and sunspot-cycle variations of ESFm at Huancayo compared with similar variations of spread-F occurrence at other longitudes and latitudes

Using the tabulations of spread-F data from ionosonde recordings the diurnal, annual and sunspot-cycle variations of this spread-F occurrence have been investigated for the equatorial station, Huancayo. Both R_z max and R_z min periods have been considered. The analyses suggest that some explanation of these variations can be made by involving two regimes, which have been called Regime A and Regime B. The Regime A is present throughout the night but this distribution is more obvious after midnight. This is because in the post-sunset period Regime B, which is associated with significant height rises, is dominant. The Regime A is the same as for similar distributions in mid-latitudes and is inversely related to sunspot activity. It maximizes in December solstice months. The Regime B is directly related to sunspot activity and maximizes in equinoctial months. Changes associated with the upper atmosphere neutral particle density have been found to be important, particularly for Regime A where an inverse relationship exists. The Regime A R_z min annual distributions reported here for Huancayo have been compared with similar distributions at other longitudes and latitudes.     

新墨西哥州SOR中间层钠层结构的季节和夜间变化

利用1998年1月至2000年5月美国新墨西哥州Starfire Optic Range (SOR：35°N,106.5°W)钠风场、温度激光雷达共46个观测夜的数据，分析大气中间层钠层结构的季节变化特征. 结果表明，钠层丰度变化显示出很强的年振荡现象，其平均值为5.06×109cm-2，最大值出现在11月份，最小值出现在6月和7月份. 钠层均方根宽度的平均值为4.30km，中心高度的平均值为91.60km. 均方根宽度和中心高度变化显示出较明显的半年振荡特征. 年平均钠层夜间变化显示出潮汐的影响，丰度夜间变化在午夜前最小，日出前达到最大. 白天光离化作用和夜间复合过程，与潮汐动力学一起，导致钠层丰度发生较大的夜间变化.     

Geomagnetic control of polar mesosphere summer echoes

Using observations with the ALOMAR SOUSY radar near Andenes (69.3°N, 16.0°E) from 1994 until 1997 polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) have been investigated in dependence on geomagnetic K indices derived at the Auroral Observatory Tromsø (69.66°N, 18.94°E). During night-time and morning hours a significant correlation between the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the radar results and the geomagnetic K indices could be detected with a maximum correlation near midnight. The correlation becomes markedly smaller in the afternoon and early evening hours with a minimum near 17 UT. This diurnal variation is in reasonable agreement with riometer absorption at Ivalo (68.55°N, 27.28°E) and can be explained by the diurnal variation of ionization due to precipitating high energetic particles. Therefore, a part of the diurnal PMSE variation is caused by this particle precipitation. The variability of the solar EUV variation, however, has no significant influence on the PMSE during the observation period.     

GPS-CHAMP掩星探测的E_S层不规则结构经度变化规律(2001—2008)

本文利用GPS-CHAMP高分辨率的掩星探测数据,考察了E_S层不规则结构随地理经度和随季节、倾角磁纬与太阳活动的变化特征.研究发现,E_S层不规则结构的经度变化以波数1~5分量为主,呈现出多重波数特征.在低纬度带存在显著的波数4分量,其幅度存在季节依赖,在夏季和秋季明显高于春季和冬季.E_S层不规则结构出现率随倾角磁纬的变化表现为赤道区和中纬度区较低,低纬区和极区较高.E_S层不规则结构出现率的季节变化和年均值的逐年变化表现为夏季出现最频繁,秋季次之,冬春季最弱,随太阳活动水平的减弱而降低.     

Equatorial and low latitude spread-F irregularity characteristics over the Indian region and their prediction possibilities

To study the occurrence characteristics of equatorial spread-F irregularities and their latitudinal extent, simultaneous digital ionosonde data (January–December 2001) from Trivandrum (8.2°N), Waltair (17.7°N) and Delhi (28.6°N) and 4 GHz scintillation data from Sikandarabad (26.8°N) and Chenglepet (10.4°N), and 250 MHz scintillation data from Bhopal (23.2°N) for equinoxes period are analysed. It is noted that except summer months, occurrence of spread F is always maximum at Trivandrum, minimum at Delhi and moderate at Waltair. During equinoxes and winter months. Their occurrences at higher latitude station are always conditional to their prior occurrences at lower latitudes indicating their association with the generation of equatorial plasma bubble and associated irregularities. Scintillation occurrences also follow the similar pattern. During the summer months, the spread-F occurrences are highest at equatorial location Trivandrum, moderate at Delhi and minimum at Waltair and seem to be caused by irregularities generated locally especially over Delhi.To gain forecasting capability, night-to-night occurrences of spread-F/scintillation at these locations are examined in relation to post sunset rise of h’F and upward ExB drift velocity over the magnetic equator using Trivandrum ionosonde data. It is noted that except the summer months, the spread-F at Trivandrum, Waltair and Delhi are observed only when equatorial ExB (h’F) is more than about 15 m/s (325 km), 20 m/s (350 km) and 25 m/s (375 km), respectively. With these threshold values their corresponding success rate of predictions are more than 90%, 50% and 15% at the respective locations. Whereas in the case of GHz scintillations near equator are observed only when ExB (h’F) is more than 15 m/s (325 km), whereas for low latitude, the same should be 30 m/s (400 km) and their success rate of prediction is about 90% and 30%, respectively. The intensity of 4 GHz scintillation at low latitude is also found to be positively correlated with equatorial upward ExB drift velocity values, whereas correlation is poor with that of equatorial scintillations. In conclusions, near magnetic equator threshold values of ExB or h’F can be successfully used for the night-to-night prediction of spread-F/scintillations occurrences, whereas these are necessary but not sufficient for their prediction at higher latitudes. For that some other controlling parameters like background electron density, neutral winds, gravity waves, etc. should also be examined.     

Annual and semiannual variations in the ionospheric F2-layer. I. Modelling

Annual, seasonal and semiannual variations of F2-layer electron density (NmF2) and height (hmF2) have been compared with the coupled thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere computational model (CTIP), for geomagnetically quiet conditions. Compared with results from ionosonde data from midlatitudes, CTIP reproduces quite well many observed features of NmF2, such as the dominant winter maxima at high midlatitudes in longitude sectors near the magnetic poles, the equinox maxima in sectors remote from the magnetic poles and at lower latitudes generally, and the form of the month-to-month variations at latitudes between about 60°N and 50°S. CTIP also reproduces the seasonal behaviour of NmF2 at midnight and the summer-winter changes of hmF2. Some features of the F2-layer, not reproduced by the present version of CTIP, are attributed to processes not included in the modelling. Examples are the increased prevalence of the winter maxima of noon NmF2 at higher solar activity, which may be a consequence of the increase of F2-layer loss rate in summer by vibrationally excited molecular nitrogen, and the semiannual variation in hmF2, which may be due to tidal effects. An unexpected feature of the computed distributions of NmF2 is an east-west hemisphere difference, which seems to be linked to the geomagnetic field configuration. Physical discussion is reserved to the companion paper by Rishbeth et al.     

Determination of the hemispheric character (i.e. southern or northern latitudinal position) of equatorial ionosonde stations as deduced from long-term recordings of the minimum height of the F-region (h′F)

The virtual (or minimum) height of the F-region (h′F), recorded over a number of solar cycles for 11 equatorial and mid-latitude ionosonde stations, was used to deduce the hemispheric (i.e. southern or northern hemisphere) character of equatorial stations. The semi-annual median monthly height (h′F) variations consist of two components: major local summer maximum and winter sub-maximum (about 5 percent of the summer maximum). This hemispheric pattern was most consistently observed for equatorial stations (within 5° of the geomagnetic equator) in a period centred on the local midnight (21-03 LT) but was also present, to a lesser extent, at mid-latitude stations and at other time intervals. It is evident that the physical parameter h′F defines the hemispheric character of an equatorial station which has different (sometimes opposite) geographic and geomagnetic latitudes.There is a sharp transition in the latitudinal character of the stations on both sides of the equator leading to hypothesis that the equal maxima in h′F in December and June solstices are observed at a near-equator position labelled as ionosonde deduced equator (IDE). Such a signature was observed for an American equatorial (both geographic and geomagnetic) station Talara (Peru) which is an experimental support of the hypothesis. The IDE can be another useful parameter characterising the equatorial ionosphere. This finding reveals a new application of the standard ionosonde data in defining the geophysical character of equatorial stations, being an important contribution to space climatology.     

Equatorial spread and dynamics in the F layer over West Africa from ionogram analysis,during the declining solar flux year 1994–1995

Equatorial spread-F (ESF) dynamics is studied based on quarter-hourly series of ionograms recorded in West Africa during the year December 1994 to November 1995. The time evolution of F layer at the typical equatorial site OUAGADOUGOU (Burkina Faso) differs slightly from that at DAKAR (Senegal), located at the northern edge of the magnetic equatorial belt. Comparing ESF occurrences at both stations with the pre-sunrise ones at FORTALEZA (Brazil), we find generally antisymmetric variations on both sides of the Atlantic, except for a common December solstice maximum. We stress the convergence of the multiple-scale morphologies drawn from new radars with those from high-quality ionosonde density (h′,t) plots. This revives the analysis of ESF dynamics and points toward long-term network studies of ESF coupling phenomena.