scholarly journals Winter anomaly in NmF2 and TEC: when and where it can occur

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. A45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yury V. Yasyukevich ◽  
Anna S. Yasyukevich ◽  
Konstantin G. Ratovsky ◽  
Maxim V. Klimenko ◽  
Vladimir V. Klimenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Meridional Wind ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Intensity Increase ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Solar Activity Level ◽  
Winter Anomaly ◽  
Activity Dependence

For the first time, by using a regression procedure, we analyzed the solar activity dependence of the winter anomaly intensity in the ionospheric F2-layer peak electron density (Nm F2) and in the Total Electron Content (TEC) on a global scale. We used the data from global ionospheric maps for 1998–2015, from GPS radio occultation observations with COSMIC, CHAMP, and GRACE satellites for 2001–2015, and ground-based ionosonde data. The fundamental features of the winter anomaly in Nm F2 and in TEC (spatial distribution and solar activity dependence) are similar for these parameters. We determined the regions, where the winter anomaly may be observed in principle, and the solar activity level, at which the winter anomaly may be recorded in different sectors. A growth in geomagnetic disturbance or in the solar activity level is shown to facilitate the winter anomaly intensity increase. Longitudinal variations in the winter anomaly intensity do not conform partly to the generally accepted Rishbeth theory. We consider the obtained results in the context of spatial and solar cycle variations in O/N2 ratio and thermospheric meridional wind. Additionally, we briefly discuss different definitions of the winter anomaly.

scholarly journals Topside Ionosphere and Plasmasphere Modelling Using GNSS Radio Occultation and POD Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1559
Author(s):  
Fabricio S. Prol ◽  
M. Mainul Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Radio Occultation ◽  
Geomagnetic Latitude ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Topside Ionosphere ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Solar Activity Level

A 3D-model approach has been developed to describe the electron density of the topside ionosphere and plasmasphere based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements onboard low Earth orbit satellites. Electron density profiles derived from ionospheric Radio Occultation (RO) data are extrapolated to the upper ionosphere and plasmasphere based on a linear Vary-Chap function and Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements. A final update is then obtained by applying tomographic algorithms to the slant TEC measurements. Since the background specification is created with RO data, the proposed approach does not require using any external ionospheric/plasmaspheric model to adapt to the most recent data distributions. We assessed the model accuracy in 2013 and 2018 using independent TEC data, in situ electron density measurements, and ionosondes. A systematic better specification was obtained in comparison to NeQuick, with improvements around 15% in terms of electron density at 800 km, 26% at the top-most region (above 10,000 km) and 26% to 55% in terms of TEC, depending on the solar activity level. Our investigation shows that the developed model follows a known variation of electron density with respect to geographic/geomagnetic latitude, altitude, solar activity level, season, and local time, revealing the approach as a practical and useful tool for describing topside ionosphere and plasmasphere using satellite-based GNSS data.

scholarly journals A Neural Network-Based TEC Model Capable of Reproducing Nighttime Winter Anomaly

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 4559
Author(s):  
Marjolijn Adolfs ◽  
Mohammed Mainul Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Solar Activity ◽  
Geomagnetic Latitude ◽  
Machine Learning Techniques ◽  
High Solar Activity ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Solar Cycles ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
Winter Anomaly

With the availability of fast computing machines, as well as the advancement of machine learning techniques and Big Data algorithms, the development of a more sophisticated total electron content (TEC) model featuring the Nighttime Winter Anomaly (NWA) and other effects is possible and is presented here. The NWA is visible in the Northern Hemisphere for the American sector and in the Southern Hemisphere for the Asian longitude sector under solar minimum conditions. During the NWA, the mean ionization level is found to be higher in the winter nights compared to the summer nights. The approach proposed here is a fully connected neural network (NN) model trained with Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMs) data from the last two solar cycles. The day of year, universal time, geographic longitude, geomagnetic latitude, solar zenith angle, and solar activity proxy, F10.7, were used as the input parameters for the model. The model was tested with independent TEC datasets from the years 2015 and 2020, representing high solar activity (HSA) and low solar activity (LSA) conditions. Our investigation shows that the root mean squared (RMS) deviations are in the order of 6 and 2.5 TEC units during HSA and LSA period, respectively. Additionally, NN model results were compared with another model, the Neustrelitz TEC Model (NTCM). We found that the neural network model outperformed the NTCM by approximately 1 TEC unit. More importantly, the NN model can reproduce the evolution of the NWA effect during low solar activity, whereas the NTCM model cannot reproduce such effect in the TEC variation.

scholarly journals Features of annual and semiannual variations derived from the global ionospheric maps of total electron content

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2513-2527 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Zhao ◽  
W. Wan ◽  
L. Liu ◽  
T. Mao ◽  
Z. Ren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Local Time ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Amplitude Ratio ◽  
Mean Amplitude ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Winter Anomaly ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps

Abstract. In the present work we use the NASA-JPL global ionospheric maps of total electron content (TEC), firstly to construct TEC maps (TEC vs. magnetic local time MLT, and magnetic latitude MLAT) in the interval from 1999 to 2005. These TEC maps were, in turn, used to estimate the annual-to-mean amplitude ratio, A1, and the semiannual-to-mean amplitude ratio, A2, as well as the latitudinal symmetrical and asymmetrical parts, A' and A" of A1. Thus, we investigated in detail the TEC climatology from maps of these indices, with an emphasis on the quantitative presentation for local time and latitudinal changes in the seasonal, annual and semiannual anomalies of the ionospheric TEC. Then we took the TEC value at 14:00 LT to examine various anomalies at a global scale following the same procedure. Results reveal similar features appearing in NmF2, such as that the seasonal anomaly is more significant in the near-pole regions than in the far-pole regions and the reverse is true for the semiannual anomaly; the winter anomaly has least a chance to be observed at the South America and South Pacific areas. The most impressive feature is that the equinoctial asymmetry is most prominent at the East Asian and South Australian areas. Through the analysis of the TIMED GUVI columnar [O/N2] data, we have investigated to what extent the seasonal, annual and semiannual variations can be explained by their counterparts in [O/N2]. Results revealed that the [O/N2] variation is a major contributor to the daytime winter anomaly of TEC, and it also contributes to some of the semiannual and annual anomalies. The contribution to the anomalies unexplained by the [O/N2] data could possibly be due to the dynamics associated with thermospheric winds and electric fields.

scholarly journals Characterization of GPS total electron content (GPS-TEC) in Antarctica from 2004 to 2011

2013 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emília Correia ◽  
Amanda Junqueira Paz ◽  
Mauricio A. Gende
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Solar Radiation Intensity ◽  
Winter Anomaly ◽  
Semiannual Variation ◽  
The Mean

<p>The vertical total electron content (VTEC) obtained from 2004 to 2011 at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station (62.1°S, 58.4°W) is analyzed to study the mean diurnal, seasonal and annual variations. The maximum daytime VTEC had an annual variation that decreased from 2004 to 2008, and then starting to increase in 2009, which followed the variation of the solar activity. The daily VTEC shows good linear correlation with solar radiation intensity, which is also dependent on the solar zenithal angle. The mean diurnal VTEC shows a semiannual variation, with larger peaks in equinoxes for all years; no winter anomaly was observed, and in summer, there was no clear diurnal variation. The semiannual variation of the VTEC is also modulated by solar activity, with larger VTEC peaks when the solar activity was higher.</p>

scholarly journals Comparison of seasonal and longitudinal variation of daytime MSTID activity using GPS observation and GAIA simulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mani Sivakandan ◽  
Yuichi Otsuka ◽  
Priyanka Ghosh ◽  
Hiroyuki Shinagawa ◽  
Atsuki Shinbori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Meridional Wind ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Longitudinal Variation ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Winter Peak ◽  
Density Perturbations ◽  
Two Peaks ◽  
Gps Observations

AbstractThe total electron content (TEC) data derived from the GAIA (Ground-to-topside model of Atmosphere Ionosphere for Aeronomy) is used to study the seasonal and longitudinal variation of occurrence of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) during daytime (09:00–15:00 LT) for the year 2011 at eight locations in northern and southern hemispheres, and the results are compared with ground-based Global Positioning System (GPS)-TEC. To derive TEC variations caused by MSTIDs from the GAIA (GPS) data, we obtained detrended TEC by subtracting 2-h (1-h) running average from the TEC, and calculated standard deviation of the detrended TEC in 2 h (1 h). MSTID activity was defined as a ratio of the standard deviation to the averaged TEC. Both GAIA simulation and GPS observations data show that daytime MSTID activities in the northern and southern hemisphere (NH and SH) are higher in winter than in other seasons. From the GAIA simulation, the amplitude of the meridional wind variations, which could be representative of gravity waves (GWs), shows two peaks in winter and summer. The winter peak in the amplitude of the meridional wind variations coincides with the winter peak of the daytime MSTIDs, indicating that the high GW activity is responsible for the high MSTID activity. On the other hand, the MSTID activity does not increase in summer. This is because the GWs in the thermosphere propagate poleward in summer, and equatorward in winter, and the equatorward-propagating GWs cause large plasma density perturbations compared to the poleward-propagating GWs. Longitudinal variation of daytime MSTID activity in winter is seen in both hemispheres. The MSTID activity during winter in the NH is higher over Japan than USA, and the MSTID activity during winter in the SH is the highest in South America. In a nutshell, GAIA can successfully reproduce the seasonal and longitudinal variation of the daytime MSTIDs. This study confirms that GWs cause the daytime MSTIDs in GAIA and amplitude and propagation direction of the GWs control the noted seasonal variation. GW activities in the middle and lower atmosphere cause the longitudinal variation.

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