scholarly journals Simultaneous observations of ESF irregularities over Indian region using radar and GPS

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3197-3213 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sripathi ◽  
S. Bose ◽  
A. K. Patra ◽  
T. K. Pant ◽  
B. Kakad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Width ◽  
Indian Region ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Radar Echoes ◽  
Mst Radar ◽  
L Band ◽  
Band Signal

Abstract. In this paper, we present simultaneous observations of temporal and spatial variability of total electron content (TEC) and GPS amplitude scintillations on L1 frequency (1.575 GHz) during the time of equatorial spread F (ESF) while the MST radar (53 MHz) located at Gadanki (13.5° N, 79.2° E, Dip latitude 6.3° N), a low latitude station, made simultaneous observations. In particular, the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of TEC and L-band scintillations was studied in the Indian region for different types of ESF structures observed using the MST radar during the low solar activity period of 2004 and 2005. Simultaneous radar and GPS observations during severe ESF events in the pre-midnight hour reveal that significant GPS L band scintillations, depletions in TEC, and the double derivative of the TEC index (DROTI), which is a measure of fluctuations in TEC, obtained at low latitudes coincide with the appearance of radar echoes at Gadanki. As expected, when the irregularities reach higher altitudes as seen in the radar map during pre-midnight periods, strong scintillations on an L-band signal are observed at higher latitudes. Conversely, when radar echoes are confined to only lower altitudes, weak scintillations are found and their latitudinal extent is small. During magnetically quiet periods, we have recorded plume type radar echoes during a post-midnight period that is devoid of L-band scintillations. Using spectral slopes and cross-correlation index of the VHF scintillation observations, we suggest that these irregularities could be "dead" or "fossil" bubbles which are just drifting in from west. This scenario is consistent with the observations where suppression of pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) in the eastward electric field is indicated by ionosonde observations of the height of equatorial F layer and also occurrence of low spectral width in the radar observations relative to pre-midnight period. However, absence of L-band scintillations during post-midnight event, when radar observed plume like structures and scintillations were recorded on VHF band, raises questions about the process of evolution of the irregularities. A possible explanation is that whereas small scale (~3 m) irregularities are generated through secondary waves that grow on the walls of km scale size irregularities, in this case evolution of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability itself did not extend to irregularities of scale sizes of a few hundred meters that produce scintillation on a L-band signal.

scholarly journals Multi-Scale Ionospheric Anomalies Monitoring and Spatio-Temporal Analysis during Intense Storm

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
Na Cheng ◽  
Shuli Song ◽  
Wei Li
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Storm ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Ionospheric Disturbance ◽  
Ionospheric Scintillation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Intense Storm

The ionosphere is a significant component of the geospace environment. Storm-induced ionospheric anomalies severely affect the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) and human space activities, e.g., the Earth observation, deep space exploration, and space weather monitoring and prediction. In this study, we present and discuss the multi-scale ionospheric anomalies monitoring over China using the GNSS observations from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) during the 2015 St. Patrick’s Day storm. Total Electron Content (TEC), Ionospheric Electron Density (IED), and the ionospheric disturbance index are used to monitor the storm-induced ionospheric anomalies. This study finally reveals the occurrence of the large-scale ionospheric storms and small-scale ionospheric scintillation during the storm. The results show that this magnetic storm was accompanied by a positive phase and a negative phase ionospheric storm. At the beginning of the main phase of the magnetic storm, both TEC and IED were significantly enhanced. There was long-duration depletion in the topside ionospheric TEC during the recovery phase of the storm. This study also reveals the response and variations in regional ionosphere scintillation. The Rate of the TEC Index (ROTI) was exploited to investigate the ionospheric scintillation and compared with the temporal dynamics of vertical TEC. The analysis of the ROTI proved these storm-induced TEC depletions, which suppressed the occurrence of the ionospheric scintillation. To improve the spatial resolution for ionospheric anomalies monitoring, the regional Three-Dimensional (3D) ionospheric model is reconstructed by the Computerized Ionospheric Tomography (CIT) technique. The spatial-temporal dynamics of ionospheric anomalies during the severe geomagnetic storm was reflected in detail. The IED varied with latitude and altitude dramatically; the maximum IED decreased, and the area where IEDs were maximum moved southward.

scholarly journals Total Electron Content (TEC) estimation over Pakistan from local GPS network using spherical harmonics

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Mehmood ◽  
Sajid Saleem ◽  
Renato Filjar ◽  
Najam Naqvi ◽  
Arslan Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Spherical Harmonics ◽  
Orbit Determination ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Local Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Gps Network ◽  
Spherical Harmonics Expansion ◽  
The Impact

Many organizations allow GNSS users to access Global Ionosphere Maps (GIMS). However, the TEC estimates derived from GIMs are of insufficient quality to describe small-scale TEC variations over Pakistan. In this paper, the first local TEC map over Pakistan for the year 2019, derived from a regional GPS network, is presented. Spherical harmonics expansion is employed to estimate TEC with the spatial resolution of latitude 0.2° x longitude 0.2° and temporal resolution of 5 minutes. The impact of changing the degree/order of harmonics is assessed and it is determined that harmonic expansion up to 6 degrees is sufficient for estimating accurate TEC map for the region of interest. We have demonstrated that the TEC maps of Pakistan generated by local model conform better to the GIM by Center of Orbit Determination (CODE) (RMS = 5.83) as compared to International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2016) (RMS = 7.18). We found that the TEC estimated by the local model shows a better correlation to measured TEC; CODE-GIM overestimated TEC, while IRI-2016 underestimates it. Moreover, it was observed that TEC peaks during noon (1100-0100 LT) and Equinox (April). The residuals of local TEC estimates with respect to TEC obtained from CODE- GIM indicate the inaccuracy of CODE-GIM over the region of Pakistan: highest deviation of TEC from local model with respect to CODE –GIM was observed in April (RMS = 8.73) and minimum in October (RMS = 2.78). We have also analyzed the performance of our maps in geomagnetically disturbed days. The research presented in this paper will contribute towards the ionosphere study over Pakistan, where limited research is available currently.

scholarly journals Ionospheric response to magnetar flare: signature of SGR J1550–5418 on coherent ionospheric Doppler radar

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Mahrous
Keyword(s):  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Doppler Radar ◽  
Ionospheric Disturbance ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Ionospheric Perturbations ◽  
Onset Phase

Abstract. This paper presents observational evidence of frequent ionospheric perturbations caused by the magnetar flare of the source SGR J1550–5418, which took place on 22 January 2009. These ionospheric perturbations are observed in the relative change of the total electron content (ΔTEC/Δt) measurements from the coherent ionospheric Doppler radar (CIDR). The CIDR system makes high-precision measurements of the total electron content (TEC) change along ray-paths from ground receivers to low Earth-orbiting (LEO) beacon spacecraft. These measurements can be integrated along the orbital track of the beacon satellite to construct the relative spatial, not temporal, TEC profiles that are useful for determining the large-scale plasma distribution. The observed spatial TEC changes reveal many interesting features of the magnetar signatures in the ionosphere. The onset phase of the magnetar flare was during the CIDR's nighttime satellite passage. The nighttime small-scale perturbations detected by CIDR, with ΔTEC/Δt  ≥  0.05 TECU s−1, over the eastern Mediterranean on 22 January 2009 were synchronized with the onset phase of the magnetar flare and consistent with the emission of hundreds of bursts detected from the source. The maximum daytime large-scale perturbation measured by CIDR over northern Africa and the eastern Mediterranean was detected after ∼ 6 h from the main phase of the magnetar flare, with ΔTEC/Δt  ≤  0.10 TECU s−1. These ionospheric perturbations resembled an unusual poleward traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) caused by the extraterrestrial source. The TID's estimated virtual velocity is 385.8 m s−1, with ΔTEC/Δt  ≤  0.10 TECU s−1.

scholarly journals Geomagnetic control of the spectrum of traveling ionospheric disturbances based on data from a global GPS network

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 723-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Afraimovich ◽  
E. A. Kosogorov ◽  
O. S. Lesyuta ◽  
I. I. Ushakov ◽  
A. F. Yakovets
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Activity ◽  
Time Derivative ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Ionospheric Disturbances ◽  
Geomagnetic Disturbances ◽  
Absolute Level ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances

Abstract. In this paper an attempt is made to verify the hypothesis of the role of geomagnetic disturbances as a factor in determining the intensity of traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs). To improve the statistical validity of the data, we have used the method involving a global spatial averaging of disturbance spectra of the total electron content (TEC). To characterize the TID intensity quantitatively, we suggest that a new global index of the degree of disturbance should be used, which is equal to the mean value of the rms variations in TEC within the selected range of spectral periods (of 20– 60 min, in the present case). The analysis has been made for a set of 100 to 300 GPS stations for 10 days with a different level of geomagnetic activity (Dst from 0 to –350 nT; the Kp index from 3 to 9). It was found that power spectra of daytime TEC variations in the range of 20–60 min periods under quiet conditions have a power-law form with the slope index k = –2.5. With an increase in the level of magnetic disturbance, there is an increase in the total intensity of TIDs, with a concurrent kink of the spectrum caused by an increase in oscillation intensity in the range of 20–60 min. The TEC variation amplitude is found to be smaller at night than during the daytime, and the spectrum decreases in slope, which is indicative of a disproportionate increase in the amplitude of the small-scale part of the spectrum. It was found that an increase in the level of geomagnetic activity is accompanied by an increase in the total intensity of TEC; however, it does not correlate with the absolute level of Dst, but rather with the value of the time derivative of Dst (a maximum correlation coefficient reaches –0.94). The delay of the TID response of the order of 2 hours is consistent with the view that TIDs are generated in auroral regions, and propagate equatorward with the velocity of about 300–400 m/s.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric disturbances; auroral ionosphere; equatorial ionopshere)

scholarly journals Tropospheric dispersive phase anomalies during heavy rain detected by L-band InSAR and their interpretation

2021 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naufal Setiawan ◽  
Masato Furuya
Keyword(s):  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Heavy Rain ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Dispersive Component ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
First Order ◽  
Dispersive Effect ◽  
L Band ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Dispersive Phase

AbstractThe split-spectrum method (SSM) can largely isolate and correct for the ionospheric contribution in the L-band interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). The standard SSM is performed on the assumption of only the first-order ionospheric dispersive effect, which is proportional to the total electron content (TEC). It is also known that during extreme atmospheric events, either originated from the ionosphere or in the troposphere, other dispersive effects do exist and potentially provide new insights into the dynamics of the atmosphere, but there have been few detection reports of such signals by InSAR. We apply L-band InSAR into heavy rain cases and examine the applicability and limitation of the standard SSM. Since no events such as earthquakes to cause surface deformation took place, the non-dispersive component is apparently attributable to the large amount of water vapor associated with heavy rain, whereas there are spotty anomalies in the dispersive component that are closely correlated with the heavy rain area. The ionosonde and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) rate of total electron content index (ROTI) map both show little anomalies during the heavy rain, which suggests few ionospheric disturbances. Therefore, we interpret that the spotty anomalies in the dispersive component of the standard SSM during heavy rain are originated in the troposphere. While we can consider two physical mechanisms, one is runaway electron avalanche and the other is the dispersive effect due to rain, comparison with the observations from the ground-based lightning detection network and rain gauge data, we conclude that the rain dispersive effect is spatiotemporally favorable. We further propose a formulation to examine if another dispersive phase than the first-order TEC effect is present and apply it to the heavy rain cases as well as two extreme ionospheric sporadic-E events. Our formulation successfully isolates the presence of another dispersive phase during heavy rain that is in positive correlation with the local rain rate. In comparison with other dispersive phases during Sporadic-E episodes, the dispersive heavy rain phases seem to have the same order of magnitude with the ionospheric higher order effects.

scholarly journals Equatorial scintillations in relation to the development of ionization anomaly

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1429-1442 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ray ◽  
A. Paul ◽  
A. DasGupta
Keyword(s):  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Equatorial Electrojet ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Magnetic Equator ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Navigation Systems ◽  
Equatorial Anomaly ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
F Region ◽  
L Band

Abstract. The irregularities in the electron density distribution of the ionosphere over the equatorial region frequently disrupt space-based communication and navigation links by causing severe amplitude and phase scintillations of signals. Development of a specification and forecast system for scintillations is needed in view of the increased reliance on space-based communication and navigation systems, which are vulnerable to ionospheric scintillations. It has been suggested in recent years that a developed equatorial anomaly in the afternoon hours, with a steep gradient of the F-region ionization or Total Electron Content (TEC) in the region between the crest and the trough, may be taken as a precursor to scintillations on transionospheric links. Latitudinal gradient of TEC measured using Faraday Rotation technique from LEO NOAA 12/14 transmissions during the afternoon hours at Calcutta shows a highly significant association with L-band scintillations recorded on the INMARSAT link, also from Calcutta, during the equinoxes, August through October 2000, and February through April 2001. The daytime equatorial electrojet is believed to control the development of the equatorial anomaly and plays a crucial role in the subsequent development of F-region irregularities in the post-sunset hours. The diurnal maximum and integrated value (integrated from the time of onset of plasma influx to off-equatorial latitudes till local sunset) of the strength of the electrojet in the Indian longitude sector shows a significant association with post-sunset L-band scintillations recorded at Calcutta during the two equinoxes mentioned earlier. Generation of equatorial irregularities over the magnetic equator in the post-sunset hours is intimately related to the variation of the height of the F-layer around sunset. Ionosonde data from Kodaikanal, a station situated close to the magnetic equator, has been utilized to calculate the vertical drift of the F-layer over the magnetic equator for the period August through October 2000. The post-sunset F-region height rise over the magnetic equator shows a remarkable correspondence with the occurrence of scintillations at Calcutta located near the northern crest of the equatorial anomaly. Existence of a flat-topped ionization distribution over the magnetic equator around sunset has been suggested as a possible indication of occurrence of post-sunset scintillations. Width of the latitudinal distribution of ionization obtained from DMSP satellite shows some correspondence with post-sunset L-band scintillations. During the period of observation of the present study (August through October 2000, and February through April 2001), it has been observed that although the probability of occurrence of scintillations is high on days with flat-topped ion density variation over the equator, there are cases when no scintillations were observed even when a pronounced flat top variation was recorded.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Performance of IRI-2016 Using GPS-TEC Measurements over the Equatorial Region

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1243
Author(s):  
Nouf Abd Elmunim ◽  
Mardina Abdullah ◽  
Siti Aminah Bahari
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
High Solar Activity ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Dual Frequency ◽  
Iri Model ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Solar Activity Period

Total electron content (TEC) is an important parameter in the ionosphere that is extensively used to study the variability of the ionosphere as it significantly affects radio wave propagations, causing delays on GPS signals. Therefore, evaluating the performance of ionospheric models is crucial to reveal the variety of ionospheric behaviour in different solar activity periods during geomagnetically quiet and disturbed periods for further improvements of the IRI model performance over the equatorial region. This research aimed to investigate the variations of ionospheric VTEC and observe the improvement in the performance of the IRI-2016 (IRI-2001, IRI01-corr, and NeQuick). The IRI-2016 was evaluated with the IRI-2012 using NeQuick, IRI-2001, and IRI01-corr topside electron density options. The data were obtained using a dual-frequency GPS receiver installed at the Universiti Utara Malaysia Kedah (UUMK) (geographic coordinates 4.62° N–103.21° E, geomagnetic coordinates 5.64° N–174.98° E), Mukhtafibillah (MUKH) (geographic coordinates 6.46° N–100.50° E, geomagnetic coordinates 3.32° S–172.99° E), and Tanjung Pengerang (TGPG) (geographic coordinates 1.36° N–104.10°E, geomagnetic coordinates 8.43° S–176.53° E) stations, during ascending to high solar activity at the geomagnetically quiet and disturbed periods in October 2011, March 2012, and March 2013. The maximum hourly ionospheric VTEC was observed during the post-noon time, while the minimum was during the early morning time. The ionospheric VTEC modelled by IRI-2016 had a slight improvement from the IRI-2012. However, the differences were observed during the post-noon and night-time, while the modelled VTEC from both IRI models were almost similar during the early morning time. Regarding the daily quiet and disturbed period’s prediction capability of the IRI-2016 and IRI-2012, IRI-2016 gave better agreement with the measured VTEC. The overall results showed that the model’s prediction performance during the high solar activity period in 2013 was better than the one during the ascending solar activity period. The results of the comparison between IRI-2016 and IRI-2012 in high solar activity exhibited that during quiet periods, all the IRI models showed better agreement with the measured VTEC compared to the disturbed periods.

scholarly journals On the validity of the ionospheric pierce point (IPP) altitude of 350 km in the Indian equatorial and low-latitude sector

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2159-2168 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. V. S. Rama Rao ◽  
K. Niranjan ◽  
D. S. V. V. D. Prasad ◽  
S. Gopi Krishna ◽  
G. Uma
Keyword(s):  
Elevation Angle ◽  
Equatorial Region ◽  
Indian Region ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Gps Satellites ◽  
Lower Elevation ◽  
Pierce Point ◽  
L1 And L2

Abstract. The GPS data provides an effective way to estimate the total electron content (TEC) from the differential time delay of L1 and L2 transmissions from the GPS. The spacing of the constellation of GPS satellites in orbits are such that a minimum of four GPS satellites are observed at any given point in time from any location on the ground. Since these satellites are in different parts of the sky and the electron content in the ionosphere varies both spatially and temporally, the ionospheric pierce point (IPP) altitude or the assumed altitude of the centroid of mass of the ionosphere plays an important role in converting the vertical TEC from the measured slant TEC and vice versa. In this paper efforts are made to examine the validity of the IPP altitude of 350 km in the Indian zone comprising of the ever-changing and dynamic ionosphere from the equator to the ionization anomaly crest region and beyond, using the simultaneous ionosonde data from four different locations in India. From this data it is found that the peak electron density height (hpF2) varies from about 275 to 575 km at the equatorial region, and varies marginally from 300 to 350 km at and beyond the anomaly crest regions. Determination of the effective altitude of the IPP employing the inverse method suggested by Birch et al. (2002) did not yield any consistent altitude in particular for low elevation angles, but varied from a few hundred to one thousand kilometers and beyond in the Indian region. However, the vertical TEC computed from the measured GPS slant TEC for different IPP altitudes ranging from 250 to 750 km in the Indian region has revealed that the TEC does not change significantly with the IPP altitude, as long as the elevation angle of the satellite is greater than 50 degrees. However, in the case of satellites with lower elevation angles (<50°), there is a significant departure in the TEC computed using different IPP altitudes from both methods. Therefore, the IPP altitude of 350 km may be taken as valid even in the Indian sector but only in the cases of satellite passes with elevation angles greater than 50°.

scholarly journals Regional reference total electron content model over Japan based on neural network mapping techniques

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2609-2614 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Maruyama
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Solar Activity ◽  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Activity Period ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Grid Points ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Regional Reference

Abstract. A regional reference model of total electron content (TEC) was constructed using data from the GPS Earth Observation Network (GEONET), which consists of more than 1000 Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite receivers distributed over Japan. The data covered almost one solar activity period from April 1997 to June 2007. First, TECs were determined for 32 grid points, expanding from 27 to 45° N in latitude and from 127 to 145° E in longitude at 15-min intervals. Secondly, the time-latitude variation averaged over three days was determined by using the surface harmonic functional expansion. The coefficients of the expansion were then modeled by using a neural network technique with input parameters of the season (day of the year) and solar activity (F10.7 index and sunspot number). Thus, two-dimensional TEC maps (time vs. latitude) can be obtained for any given set of solar activity and day of the year.

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