Geomagnetic field fluctuations near Kharkov,which accompanied rocket launches from the Baikonur site

The observations of the geomagnetic field variations in the range of periods 1–1000 s, which accompanied the launches of 65 Soyuz and Proton rockets from the Baikonur site in 2002–2006, have been analyzed. The measurements were performed near Kharkov (the distance from the launching site is R ≈ 2100 km). Three groups of disturbances, with delays of 6–7, 30–70, and 70–130 min dependent on the time of day, have been revealed. The disturbance duration was 10–30, 50–70, and 45–70 min, respectively. Periods of 3–6, 6–12, and 6–12 min, respectively, predominated in the geomagnetic pulsations. The amplitudes of these pulsations reached 3–6 nT. The physical model of the observed geomagnetic disturbances, which generally agrees with the measurements, has been proposed.     

GPS monitoring of ionospheric disturbances generated during rocket launches at large distances from launch sites

Wave-like disturbances, caused by the launches of the Soyuz and Proton rockets from the Baikonur site, have been studied using the algorithm of the space-time accumulation of variations in the total electron content (TEC). Ionospheric TEC responses, observed on four GPS arrays at a distance of up to 4000 km from the launch site, represent a quasi-periodic oscillation with a period of 15–20 min, duration of 30–40 min, and amplitude of 0.1 TECU. The propagation velocity of wave-like disturbances is 300–1400 m/s, which corresponds to the range of sonic and supersonic velocities at an altitude of the ionospheric ionization maximum. Wave-like disturbances of TEC are caused by acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) propagating in the Earth’s atmosphere over large distances from a source. It has been established that the rocket launch region and rocket trajectory active legs, when a rocket moves under the action of the second and third operating stages of a propulsion device, are responsible for AGW generation.     

地震前兆：电离层F2层异常

本文简述了目前提出的地震引起电离层异常扰动的物理机理，重点介绍了近几年国内外对震前F2层异常扰动的研究进展.大量的研究结果显示地震活动引起的电离层扰动不仅确实存在，而且在震级大于5级的地震发生前的几天到几个小时会发生电离层扰动.由于地震引起的电离层F2层变化具有独一无二的特性，这就意味着我们可以利用强震前的F2层异常变化作为地震短临预报的工具.     

海南电离层F区不规则体的气辉观测

本文利用子午工程海南富克站(19.5°N,109.2°E)全天空气辉成像仪630 nm波段的气辉图像,通过对气辉原始观测资料进行图像增强、方位校正和图像投影等预处理,得到可清晰识别电离层等离子体泡的图像产品,获得了我国海南地区首次电离层等离子体泡的光学观测结果.在此基础上,分析了等离子体泡的形状、结构、变化、空间尺度和运动速度这些基本特征.研究显示:典型的等离子体泡形状为南北分布的条状,常出现分叉现象,大部分情况整体向西倾斜;东西方向的尺寸为几十到几百公里;典型漂移速度为50~150 m·s-1.统计了2013年9月至2014年5月等离子体泡观测数据,发现其出现的典型季节为9-10月和2-4月、典型时间为日落后1~2个小时并持续1~4个小时左右.     

Statistical modeling of relative variations in the critical frequencies of the ionospheric F region

Relative variations in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F, region are considered as one of the main sources of information about the characteristics of plasma inhomogeneities in the region of the main ionization maximum and as a substantial factor responsible for the statistics of the decameter signal parameters on radio paths with different lengths. The functions defined on finite intervals are also used in statistical modeling in addition to the available methods. Such a consideration made it possible to remove a restriction, peculiar to previous models, in the form of the requirement that the fourth statistical invariant—excess— should be positive. This makes the generalized statistical model more universal, which is of special importance for high4atitude radio paths. The specified mo del more adequately corresponds to the experimental data, which are characterized by finite intervals where the quantities are measured.     

Solar terminator and auroral sources for traveling ionospheric disturbances in the midlatitude F region

The occurrence of Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) at a midlatitude location (London, Canada, 43°N, 81°W) has been examined using data recorded by standard 5 min ionograms during the year 2000. It is found that the dominant source of TIDs during daytime appears to be the sunrise terminator but during nighttime the sunset terminator and magnetic disturbances both contribute to the TIDs. The daytime TIDs show a weak semiannual variation with maxima in solstices. The nighttime TIDs show insignificant annual variation.     

Numerical modelling of the thermospheric and ionospheric effects of magnetospheric processes in the cusp region

The thermospheric and ionospheric effects of the precipitating electron flux and field-aligned-current variations in the cusp have been modelled by the use of a new version of the global numerical model of the Earths upper atmosphere developed for studies of polar phenomena. The responses of the electron concentration, ion, electron and neutral temperature, thermospheric wind velocity and electric-field potential to the variations of the precipitating 0.23-keV electron flux intensity and field-aligned current density in the cusp have been calculated by solving the corresponding continuity, momentum and heat balance equations. Features of the atmospheric gravity wave generation and propagation from the cusp region after the electron precipitation and field-aligned current-density increases have been found for the cases of the motionless and moving cusp region. The magnitudes of the disturbances are noticeably larger in the case of the moving region of the precipitation. The thermospheric disturbances are generated mainly by the thermospheric heating due to the soft electron precipitation and propagate to lower latitudes as large-scale atmospheric gravity waves with the mean horizontal velocity of about 690 ms^–1. They reveal appreciable magnitudes at significant distances from the cusp region. The meridional-wind-velocity disturbance at 65° geomagnetic latitude is of the same order (100 ms^–1) as the background wind due to the solar heating, but is oppositely directed. The ionospheric disturbances have appreciable magnitudes at the geomagnetic latitudes 70°–85°. The electron-concentration and -temperature disturbances are caused mainly by the ionization and heating processes due to the precipitation, whereas the ion-temperature disturbances are influence strongly by Joule heating of the ion gas due to the electric-field disturbances in the cusp. The latter strongly influence the zonal- and meridional-wind disturbances as well via the effects of ion drag in the cusp region. The results obtained are of interest because of the location of the     

Experimental studies of the response of midlatitude ionospheric D region to remote launches and flights of spacecrafts using partial reflections

Variations in the electron density in the midlatitude ionospheric D region during launches and flights of different-type rockets at various distances from the launching site have been experimentally studied using partial reflections. It has been established that medium and heavy launch vehicles can generate short-term pulsating disturbances of electron density in the lower ionosphere at distances up to several thousand kilometers. These effects are apparently caused by stimulated pulsating electron fluxes from the Earth’s magnetosphere into the lower ionosphere with an energy of ～10²–10 keV and fluxes of p ～ 10⁸–10⁹m^?2 s^?1.     

Planetary statistics of the critical frequency of the ionospheric F 2 region during catastrophic earthquakes

The statistics of the relative variations (δfoF2) in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F ₂ region during catastrophic earthquakes with magnitude M ≥ 6 at 70 vertical sounding (VS) automatic ionospheric stations (AISs) of the global network is considered. Five-day periods including 70 such situations have been selected for 1981 and 1983–1985. Five sets of 24 foF2 measurements from 3 days before to a day after the earthquake instant are formed for each AIS. The number of AISs, for which the fourth statistical invariant is above the significance level (E ≥ 1), has been analyzed. It has been indicated that the histogram deformation at the set of AISs is substantial a day before earthquakes.     

Physical mechanism of strong negative storm effects in the daytime ionospheric F2 region observed with EISCAT

A self-consistent method for daytime F-region modelling was applied to EISCAT observations during two periods comprising the very disturbed days 3 April 1992 and 10 April 1990. The observed strong N_e decrease at F2-layer heights originated from different physical mechanisms in the two cases. The negative F2-layer storm effect with an N_mF2 decrease by a factor of 6.4 on 3 April 1992 was produced by enhanced electric fields (E 85 mV/m) and strong downward plasma drifts, but without any noticeable changes in thermos-pheric parameters. The increase of the O⁺ + N₂ reaction rate resulted in a strong enrichment of the ionosphere with molecular ions even at F2-layer heights. The enhanced electric field produced a wide mid-latitude daytime trough on 03 April 1992 not usually observed during similar polarization jet events. The other strong negative storm effect on 10 April 1990 with a complete disappearance of the F2-layer maximum at the usual heights was attributed mainly to changes in neutral composition and temperature. A small value for the shape parameter S in the neutral temperature profile and a low neutral temperature at 120 km indicate strong cooling of the lower thermosphere. We propose that this cooling is due to increased nitric oxide concentration usually observed at these heights during geomagnetic storms.     

Solar activity effects in the ionospheric D region

Variations in the D-region electron concentration within the solar activity cycle are considered. It is demonstrated that conclusions of various authors, who have analyzed various sets of experimental data on [e], differ significantly. The most reliable seem to be the conclusions based on analysis of the [e] measurements carried out by the Faraday rotation method and on the theoretical concepts on the D-region photochemistry. Possible QBO effects in the relation of [e] to solar activity are considered and an assumption is made that such effects may be the reason for the aforementioned disagreement in conclusions on the [e] relation to solar indices.Paper Presented at the Second IAGA/ICMA (IAMAS) Workshop on Solar Activity Forcing of the Middle Atmosphere, Prague, August 1997     

Disturbances in the F1 ionospheric layer in April 2005

Manifestations of ionospheric disturbances at heights from 120 km to the height h _m of the F2-layer maximum are analyzed. The geomagnetic disturbances on April 5, 12, and 13, 2005, are considered. These disturbances are characterized by a pronounced synchronous decrease in the electron concentration over the entire indicated height range. Using the method proposed by the authors, the noontime changes in the relative content of atomic and molecular oxygen at a height of 120 km are estimated. There are a distinct decrease in the ratio of atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen concentrations and an increase in the ratio of oxygen molecule and atom concentrations.     

Trends in the ionospheric E and F regions over Europe

Continuous observations in the ionospheric E and F regions have been regularly carried out since the fifties of this century at many ionosonde stations. Using these data from 31 European stations long-term trends have been derived for different parameters of the ionospheric E layer (h E, foE), F1 layer (foF1) and F2 layer (hmF2,foF2). The detected trends in the E and F1 layers (lowering of the E region height hE; increase of the peak electron densities of the E and F1 layers, foE and foF1) are in qualitative agreement with model predictions of an increasing atmospheric greenhouse effect. In the F2 region, however, the results are more complex. Whereas in the European region west of 30° E negative trends in hmF2 (peak height of the F2 layer) and in the peak electron density (foF2) have been found, in the eastern part of Europe (east of 30° E) positive trends dominate in both parameters. These marked longitudinal differences cannot be explained by an increasing greenhouse effect only, here probably dynamical effects in the F2 layer seem to play an essential role.     

Possible relation of emergencies during spacecraft launches from the Plesetsk site to high-latitude geomagnetic disturbances

The relation of the series of carrier rocket emergency launches to geomagnetic activity and season is statistically analyzed. The data on the successful and emergency launches of more than ten types of different carrier rockets from the Plesetsk site for about 40 years (from 1966 to 2005) have been processed. It has been indicated that the relative number of emergencies during launches in summer is more than twice as high as in other seasons. An additional summer factor is statistically related to high-latitude geomagnetic activity. The effect remains unclear.     

Derivation and test of ionospheric activity indices from real-time ionosonde observations in the European region

New ionospheric activity indices are derived from automatically scaled online data from several European ionosonde stations. These indices are used to distinguish between normal ionospheric conditions expected from prevailing solar activity and ionospheric disturbances caused by specific solar and atmospheric events (flares, coronal mass ejections, atmospheric waves, etc.). The most reliable indices are derived from the maximum electron density of the ionospheric F 2-layer expressed by the maximum critical frequency foF 2. Similar indices derived from ionospheric M(3000)F 2 values show a markedly lower variability indicating that the changes of the altitude of the F 2-layer maximum are proportionally smaller than those estimated from the maximum electron density in the F 2-layer. By using the ionospheric activity indices for several stations the ionospheric disturbance level over a substantial part of Europe (34°N–60°N; 5°W–40°E) can now be displayed online.     

Wave-like processes in the ionosphere under quiet and disturbed conditions. 2. Analysis of observations and simulation

The amplitudes and relative amplitudes of electron density wave-like disturbances (WDs) with periods of 30–120 min at altitudes of 125–500 km (100–1000 km in individual experiments) under the conditions of a quiet ionosphere during magnetic and ionospheric storms and two solar eclipses are analyzed. The observations of the WD amplitudes and their altitude variations corresponded to the data of theoretical simulation in a number of cases. On the whole, the altitude variations in the WD amplitudes are more complicated than such variations derived from a simple theoretical model presented here.     

Wave-like processes in the ionosphere under quiet and disturbed conditions. 1. Kharkov incoherent scatter radar observations

Wave-like disturbances (WDs) with periods of 30–120 min at altitudes of 125–500 km (100–1000 km in individual experiments) have been studied. The measurements of total duration more than 400 h have been performed under the conditions of a quiet ionosphere as well as during magnetic and ionospheric storms and two solar eclipses. It has been indicated that WDs exist almost permanently in the ionosphere. The effect of powerful energy sources leads to a change in the WD character and to variations in the WD spectral composition and amplitudes. The latter substantially vary during a day and depending on the disturbance of the ionosphere. The WD relative amplitudes vary from several percent to several tens of percent.     

Propagation and dispersion of electrostatic waves in the ionospheric E region

Low-frequency electrostatic fluctuations in the ionospheric E region were detected by instruments on the ROSE rockets. The phase velocity and dispersion of plasma waves in the ionospheric E region are determined by band-pass filtering and cross-correlating data of the electric-field fluctuations detected by the probes on the ROSE F4 rocket. The results were confirmed by a different method of analysis of the same data. The results show that the waves propagate in the Hall-current direction with a velocity somewhat below the ion sound speed obtained for ionospheric conditions during the flight. It is also found that the waves are dispersive, with the longest wavelengths propagating with the lowest velocity.     

Plasma wave radiation in the main ionospheric trough in the region of the terminator from the APEX satellite data

The data of measurements of broadband wave radiation in the main ionospheric trough in the subauroral zone of the topside ionosphere in the region of the day-night terminator (APEX satellite experiment) are presented. It is shown that the observed attenuation of electrostatic radiation in a broad frequency band and fluctuations (variations) in the cutoff frequency of the electrostatic mode spectrum at the level of the local plasma or upper hybrid frequency are related to plasma heating by damping electrostatic oscillations in the ionospheric trough. Waveguide channels for propagation of electromagnetic whistler-mode waves observed on the satellite can be generated during the propagation of a gravity-thermal disturbance from the terminator.