A study on three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents induced by the neutral winds simulated by the Kyushu-GCM

Three-dimensional structures of the ionospheric dynamo currents are examined using the neutral winds in a general circulation model of the middle atmosphere at Kyushu University. A quasi-three-dimensional ionospheric dynamo model is constructed assuming an infinite parallel conductivity in the ionosphere. This model is able to simulate both the equatorial electrojet and the global Sq current system successfully. The simulated results reveal that the equatorial electrojet is confined in quite narrow latitudes around the equator accompanied with meridional current circulations and satisfies a non-divergent structure mainly within the E region. A vertically stratified double layered structure is seen in the east–west current density near the focus latitude of the global Sq current system. It is shown that the stratified structure mainly consists of the east–west Hall current associated with the eastward wind of zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2 in the lower altitudes and the westward wind of zonal wavenumber 2 in the upper altitudes. The day-to-day variation of the neutral winds can significantly vary the induced ionospheric dynamo current system, which is recognized as changes of the focus latitude and/or the maximum value of the equatorial electrojet.     

二维电离层发电机理论模式及其初步应用

在地理坐标系下推导出二维电离层发电机理论方程,采用逐线迭代法求解得到全球二维电离层发电机电流函数,进而得到电离层发电机电流和电场.模式中使用的电导率是根据外部经验模式给出的背景大气和电离层参数,采用理论公式计算得出;输入的中性风场和磁场分别由HWM93和IGRF2000模型给出,该电离层发电机理论模式很好地给出了全球Sq电流形态及电离层E层发电机电场的基本特征.利用该模式研究了外部模式风场以及地磁场随高度的变化对模拟结果的影响,发现在90~180 km高度上,风场随高度变化对电流影响较大,而地磁场影响较小;重点模拟研究了地磁平静时期,Sq电流涡旋中心位置和总电流强度的变化规律,初步研究发现,电流中心位置在地理纬度±30°附近,不同的地方时电流随地磁纬度线平行移动,且南北半球两个电流涡中心电流强度之和变化不大.分析发现这种规律与发电机高度上的磁场总强度及地磁倾角的全球分布有很好的相关性.     

Global electrical currents

Summary The atmospheric electrical structure of the earth is postulated to be controlled by a motivating force in the lower ionosphere which is produced by interaction between neutral atmosphere tidal circulations and the ionospheric plasma in the presence of the earth's magnetic field. Associated electric fields power the dynamo currents through the Hall effect with a resulting development of a gross electric potential distribution in the lower ionosphere. Asymmetries in these hemispheric potential distributions result in exospheric current flows in lowL-shells and larger differences in potential produced by dynamo return current flows in high magnetic latitudes result in strong currents through highL-shells between auroral zones. Vertical thunderstorm currents with their associated lightning discharges effectively connect the earth to a low potential region of the dynamo circuit and thus supply the earth with an average negative charge which motivates a leakage tropospheric electrical circuit. In addition, the dynamo currents maintain the magnetic polar regions at different potentials with a resulting electrical exchange with the solar wind through the earth's near space. These considerations indicate that observed electrical and variable magnetic phenomena near the earth are all part of a single comprehensive electrical current system.This paper was read byH. Dolezalek in an abbreviated form supplied by the author.     

2015年3月磁暴期间中国中低纬地区电离层变化分析

2015年3月17日爆发了本太阳活动周最大的地磁暴,Dst指数达到-233 nT.本文利用电离层测高仪f_。F_2和h_mF_2、北斗同步卫星(BDSGEO)TEC以及GPS电离层闪烁S4指数对此次磁暴期间中国中低纬地区(北京、武汉、邵阳和三亚)的电离层变化进行分析,并对此次磁暴所引发电离层暴的可能机制进行了探讨.磁暴期间,中低纬电离层暴整体表现为正相暴之后长时间强的负相暴.3月17日白天中纬正相暴为风场抬升电离层所致,而驼峰区及低纬地区正相暴由东向穿透电场所引起;3月18日白天长时间的强负相暴为西向扰动发电机电场和成分扰动所引起;3月17和18日夜间的负相暴可能是日落东向电场受到抑制以及赤道向风场对扩散的抑制导致驼峰向赤道压缩所致,同时被抑制的日落东向电场强度不足以触发产生赤道扩展F,导致低纬三亚和邵阳夜间电离层闪烁在磁暴期间受到完全抑制.这是我们首次基于北斗同步卫星TEC组网观测开展的电离层暴研究.     

Morphology of slowly-varying geomagnetic external fields — a review

The morphology of slowly-varying geomagnetic external fields (such as Sq, L, and Dst) and the production mechanisms of electric current systems for those fields are briefly reviewed to provide background knowledge of the present state of research regarding the source fields for scientists concerned with the electromagnetic induction within the earth. It is concluded that both the Sq and Dst fields seem to have sources both in the magnetosphere and the ionosphere, while the classic idea of L-field production solely in the ionosphere by the wind dynamo is still acceptable.     

Geophysical studies of the global electric circuit

Physical mechanisms of formation of the global electric circuit (GEC) are considered and energy estimates are obtained for aeroelectric processes. Global thunderstorm activity, the electrodynamics of mesoscale convective systems, the electric fields of the magnetospheric dynamo and ionospheric dynamo region, and the electrostatic field of the global unipolar generator form a quasi-stationary aeroelectric state and maintain the balance of currents of the GEC atmospheric interval. In essence, the GEC is an open dissipative system including microphysical and electrohydrodynamic processes of generation and dissipation of the aeroelectric energy. The atmospheric electric field in the range of short-period aeroelectric pulsations has power-law spectra and contains coherent aeroelectric structures. The main GEC characteristics can serve as an indicator of a stationary state and spatiotemporal dynamics of atmospheric processes.     

Simulating the ionospheric dynamo—I. Simulation model and flux tube integrated conductivities

An updated version of the equivalent circuit model for simulating the ionospheric dynamo process is described. The contributions of the E and F regions to the flux tube integrated conductivities are compared. The results confirm that the ionospheric electric process is controlled by the E region during daytime but by the F region during nighttime. The F region has a larger effect on the dynamo processes during solar maximum than at solar minimum, and during equinox than in solstice.     

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.     

分层电离层模型中的L电流体系

本文分析了电离层风发电机理论中影响电流分布的几种主要因素,认为电离层电导率模型是最主要的影响因素。在计算太阴日变化（L）电流体系时,本文放弃了过去习惯采用的无限薄球壳的电导率模型,使用了分层电导率模型。考虑电导率随高度的变化以及电导率极大值的高度随纬度的变化,得到了与观测结果较为符合的理论L电流体系。本文的结果还指出,在处理某些全球性发电机理论问题时,不能简单地假定电离层为距地面等高度的无限薄球壳,而必须同时考虑大气潮汐振荡的特性及电导率随高度的变化。由此得出结论:发展三维电导率模型对于电离层风发电机理论是必要的。     

暴时低纬电离层不规则体响应特征的多手段观测

2010年10月11日发生了一次中等强度的磁暴.本文利用三亚(18.4°N,109.6°E)数字测高仪、VHF雷达和GPS TEC/闪烁监测仪数据以及120°E子午线附近我国漠河(53.5°N,122.4°E)、北京(40.3°N,116.2°E)和武汉(30.6°N,114.4°E)的数字测高仪和GPS TEC/闪烁监测仪数据,分析了磁暴期间我国中低纬地区电离层不规则体的响应特征.结果表明:这次磁暴触发了10月11日午夜前后两个时段低纬(三亚)电离层不规则体事件,而在较高的纬度地区(武汉及以北),并没有观测到电离层不规则体与闪烁.在午夜前,电离层不规则体的发生受磁暴主相期间快速穿透电场激发;在午夜后,电离层不规则体受磁暴恢复相的扰动发电机电场触发,该时段伴随行星际磁场北向翻转的过屏蔽穿透电场也可能是扰动源之一.此外,磁暴期间不同尺度的电离层不规则体会伴随发生.     

S_q发电机电流的逐日变化和S_q指数

用中国地磁台站的资料,研究了S_q逐日变化的形态学特征,用理论模型计算了磁层环电流、部分环电流、场向电流、磁尾电流、Chapman-Ferraro电流的地磁效应.在消除了这些磁层电流体系的影响之后,得到了电离层潮汐风发电机电流产生的磁场S_q变化.对1973年的资料研究表明,S_q发电机电流的逐日变化主要表现在强度上,即使在磁扰期间,也可以分离出形态稳定的S_q变化.由此提出了一种新的地磁指数——S_q指数,用来描述S_q发电机电流强度的逐日变化.     

Influence of seasonal variation of neutral winds on the coupling between North and South Hemispheres in a realistic Earth main field

The neutral wind dynamo contributes significantly to the ionospheric electrodynamics, and the variation of the neutral winds thus affects the ionosphere. Here we study the effects of the seasonal variation of the winds in a realistic Earth main field. The two-dimensional ionospheric dynamo equation is expressed in the framework of a revision of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) under the assumptions of equipotential field lines and conservation of current. A revision of IGRF and typical u...     

Sq发电机电流的逐日变化和Sq指数

用中国地磁台站的资料,研究了S_q逐日变化的形态学特征,用理论模型计算了磁层环电流、部分环电流、场向电流、磁尾电流、Chapman-Ferraro电流的地磁效应.在消除了这些磁层电流体系的影响之后,得到了电离层潮汐风发电机电流产生的磁场S_q变化.对1973年的资料研究表明,S_q发电机电流的逐日变化主要表现在强度上,即使在磁扰期间,也可以分离出形态稳定的S_q变化.由此提出了一种新的地磁指数--S_q指数,用来描述S_q发电机电流强度的逐日变化.     

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.     

非迁移潮作用下的电离层赤道异常区单峰现象及其经度分布

当喷泉效应较弱而双峰结构发展不充分的时候,可能在赤道异常区仅能够观测到一个电子密度的峰值,称之为单峰现象.本文利用CHAllenging Minisatellite Payload卫星在2001-2010年的电子密度数据给出了单峰的发生规律,单峰在地方时早上08：00-10：00和下午16：00-19：00发生率高,发生位置在经度上呈现多波数分布,尤其在10：00-18：00明显：在分季时多呈现四波,而在冬至季时以三波为主.单峰发生多的经度,正好对应着双峰的结构特征较弱之处.究其原因,是非迁移潮的DE2和DE3分量调制了背景风场和大气发电机电场,在电场和喷泉效应减弱的经度,双峰结构难以形成时,就会表现为单峰结构.本文扩展了对单峰现象的地方时、季节和经度分布等规律的了解,明确了非迁移潮在其中施加的影响,由此,单峰同双峰现象一样可以用于研究非迁移潮对热层-电离层的作用.     

Weimer电场模式在地球磁层内的特征

地球磁层中的电场是研究磁层物理的重要参数,目前常用的对流电场有均匀晨昏电场和投影电场.电离层电场可以看做磁层电场沿磁力线在电离层的投影,本文选取的电离层电场模型为Weimer(2001模式)电场.利用T96磁场模式,沿磁力线将电离层电场投影到磁层空间,得到一个新的磁层电场模式,并讨论了磁暴、行星际磁场(IMF)、太阳风参数和亚暴等对磁层电场的影响.利用该模型计算的电场结果与卫星探测结果相符.     

用非相干散射雷达链的观测资料研究高、低纬电离层间的耦合

本文用美国NCAR非相干散射雷达链的观测资料进行了两个事例分析。结果表明,在所选事例的中、弱磁扰期间,高低纬电离层间以动力耦合效应为主,即扰动电离层发电机的特征较明显。由于赤道电离层特性和赤道站雷达观测灵敏度较高,从而也观测到与扰动电场从高纬直接穿透过来相关的电动耦合现象。最后,对有关的物理过程进行了讨论。     

Sq发电机电流的UT变异性及其地面磁场的重建

本文用不同经度的7对中低纬台站水平磁场分量H,求得1965年随世界时（UT）变化的S_q指数（一种描述S_q电离层发电机电流强度的地磁指数）.结果表明,S_q发电机电流不仅有显著的逐日变化,而且有很大的UT变化.UT变化主要表现在电流总强度的强弱和电流涡焦点纬度移动两方面,这意味着决定发电机过程的太阳潮汐风场和电离层电导率随UT而变.用求得的S_q指数重新构造出的S_q变化与观测值符合得较好,它不仅显示出S_q幅度逐日变化的特点,而且还能复现出S_q形态的某些逐日变异性.