Assessment of global ionospheric maps performance in the Brazilian region using ionosonde data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Jerez ◽  
Manuel Hernández-Pajares ◽  
Fabricio Prol ◽  
Daniele Alves ◽  
João Monico
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Shape Function ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Slab Thickness ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
One Year ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps ◽  
Function Peak

<p>In this work, we present a new method for assessing global ionospheric maps (GIM) by means of ionosonde data. The method proposed is based on the critical frequency at the F<sub>2</sub> layer directly measured by pairs of ionosondes to assess VTEC (vertical total electron content) values from GIMs. Four strategies were investigated and, the best one was the linear interpolation of squared f<sub>o</sub>F<sub>2</sub> based on the VTEC ratio. The analysis was based on the root mean square (RMS) of the differences between the measured and estimated f<sub>o</sub>F<sub>2</sub> values at the first ionosonde from each pair. The f<sub>o</sub>F<sub>2</sub> were estimated using the values measured at the second ionosonde and interpolated to the position of the first ionosonde with the VTEC values from the GIMs. Besides the RMS values, additional ionospheric indicators (slab thickness and shape function peak) were used to complement the daily analysis. This method was tested over one of the most challenging scenarios, the Brazilian region and near the last solar cycle peak. The assessment considered four ionosondes (combined in six pairs) and thirteen GIM products available at CDDIS (Crustal Dynamics Data Information System), CORG, CODG, EHRG, ESRG, ESAG, IGRG, IGSG, JPLG, UPRG, UPCG, UQRG, WHRG and WHUG. Analysis was conducted using daily, weekly, one year, and four years of data. The analysis with daily data showed that slab thickness and shape function peak could be helpful to identify periods and regions where this method could be applied. The weekly analysis was performed to select the best strategy to interpolate the f<sub>o</sub>F<sub>2</sub> values. The analysis of one-year data (2015) was performed considering all GIMs previously mentioned. CODG, IGSG, JPLG, UQRG, WHRG, and WHUG provided the best results, with mean rates of improvement up to 42% in comparison to not using any GIM. The four-year time series (2014-2017) were analyzed considering the two products with better performance for the one-year analysis (CODG and UQRG). With data from 2014-2017, CODG and UQRG provided improvement rates of up to 49%. In general, regional and temporal ionospheric influences could be noticed in the results, with expected larger errors closer to the solar cycle peak in 2014 and at locations with pairs of ionosondes with the larger distance apart. Therefore, we have confirmed the viability of the developed approach as an assessment method to analyze GIMs quality based on ionosonde data.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of Global Ionospheric Maps Performance by Means of Ionosonde Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 3452
Author(s):  
Gabriel O. Jerez ◽  
Manuel Hernández-Pajares ◽  
Fabricio S. Prol ◽  
Daniele B. M. Alves ◽  
João F. G. Monico
Keyword(s):  
System Analysis ◽  
Shape Function ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Slab Thickness ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
One Year ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps ◽  
Function Peak

This work presents a new method for assessing global ionospheric maps (GIM) using ionosonde data. The method is based on the critical frequency at the F2 layer directly measured by ionosondes to validate VTEC (vertical total electron content) values from GIMs. The analysis considered four different approaches to using foF2. The study was performed over one of the most challenging scenarios, the Brazilian region, considering four ionosondes (combined in six pairs) and thirteen GIM products available at CDDIS (Crustal Dynamics Data Information System). Analysis was conducted using daily, weekly, one year (2015), and four years (2014–2017) of data. Additional information from the ionosphere was estimated to complement the daily analysis, such as slab thickness and shape function peak. Results indicated that slab thickness and shape function peak could be used as alternative indicators of periods and regions where this method could be applied. The weekly analysis indicated the squared frequency ratio with local time correction as the best approach of using foF2, between the ones evaluated. The analysis of one-year data (2015) was performed considering thirteen GIMs, where CODG and UQRG were the two GIMs that presented the best performance. The four-year time series (2014–2017) were analyzed considering these two products. Regional and temporal ionospheric influences could be noticed in the results, with expected larger errors during the solar cycle peak in 2014 and at locations with pairs of ionosondes with the larger distance apart. Therefore, we have confirmed the viability of the developed approach as an assessment method to analyze GIMs quality based on ionosonde data.

scholarly journals Derivation of a planetary ionospheric storm index

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 2645-2648 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. Gulyaeva ◽  
I. Stanislawska
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Grid Point ◽  
Radiant Energy ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Ionospheric Storm ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Grid Points ◽  
Storm Index

Abstract. The planetary ionospheric storm index, Wp, is deduced from the numerical global ionospheric GPS-IONEX maps of the vertical total electron content, TEC, for more than half a solar cycle, 1999–2008. The TEC values are extracted from the 600 grid points of the map at latitudes 60° N to 60° S with a step of 5° and longitudes 0° to 345° E with a step of 15° providing the data for 00:00 to 23:00 h of local time. The local effects of the solar radiant energy are filtered out by normalizing of the TEC in terms of the solar zenith angle χ at a particular time and the local noon value χ0. The degree of perturbation, DTEC, is computed as log of TEC relative to quiet reference median for 27 days prior to the day of observation. The W-index map is generated by segmentation of DTEC with the relevant thresholds specified earlier for foF2 so that 1 or −1 stands for the quiet state, 2 or −2 for the moderate disturbance, 3 or −3 for the moderate ionospheric storm, and 4 or −4 for intense ionospheric storm at each grid point of the map. The planetary ionospheric storm Wp index is obtained from the W-index map as a latitudinal average of the distance between maximum positive and minimum negative W-index weighted by the latitude/longitude extent of the extreme values on the map. The threshold Wp exceeding 4.0 index units and the peak value Wpmax≥6.0 specify the duration and the power of the planetary ionosphere-plasmasphere storm. It is shown that the occurrence of the Wp storms is growing with the phase of the solar cycle being twice as much as the number of the magnetospheric storms with Dst≤−100 nT and Ap≥100 nT.

scholarly journals Redes neurais artificiais aplicadas na previsão do VTEC no Brasil

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wagner Carrupt Machado ◽  
Edvaldo Simões da Fonseca Junior
Keyword(s):  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
International Gnss Service ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
De Se ◽  
Pierce Point ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps

Uma forma de se prever o conteúdo total de elétrons na direção vertical (VTEC - Vertical Total Electron Content) usando a arquitetura de redes neurais artificiais (RNA) denominada de perceptrons de múltiplas camadas (MLP - MultipLayer Percetrons) é apresentada e avaliada nesta pesquisa. As entradas do modelo foram definidas como sendo a posição dos pontos ionosféricos (IPP - Ionospheric Pierce Point) e o tempo universal (TU), enquanto que a saída é o VTEC. As variações sazonais e de períodos mais longos são levadas em conta através da atualização do treinamento diariamente. Testes foram conduzidos sobre uma área que abrange o Brasil e sua vizinhança considerando períodos de alta e baixa atividade solar. As RNA foram treinadas utilizando informações dos mapas globais da ionosfera (GIM - Global Ionospheric Maps) produzidos pelo serviço internacional do GNSS (IGS - International GNSS Service) das 72 horas anteriores à época de início da previsão. As RNA treinadas foram utilizadas para prever o VTEC por 72 horas (VTEC RNA). Os VTEC RNA foram comparados com os VTEC contidos nos GIM (VTEC GIM). A raiz do erro médio quadrático (RMS) da diferença entre o VTEC GIM e o VTEC RNA variou de 1,4 a 10,7 unidades de TEC (TECU). O erro relativo mostra que a RNA proposta foi capaz de prever o VTEC com 70 a 85% de acerto.

scholarly journals Status of CAS global ionospheric maps after the maximum of solar cycle 24

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zishen Li ◽  
Ningbo Wang ◽  
Ang Liu ◽  
Yunbin Yuan ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Southern Hemisphere ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Latitudinal Gradients ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
International Gnss Service ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Solar Cycle 24 ◽  
Cycle 24 ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps

AbstractAs a new Ionosphere Associate Analysis Center (IAAC) of the International GNSS Service (IGS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) started the routine computation of the real-time, rapid, and final Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) in 2015. The method for the generation of CAS rapid and final GIMs and recent updates are presented in the paper. The quality of CAS post-processed GIMs is assessed during 2015–2018 after the maximum of solar cycle 24. To perform an independent and fair assessment, Jason-2/3 Vertical Total Electron Contents (VTEC) are first used as the references over the ocean. GPS differential Slant TECs (dSTEC) generated from 55 Multi-GNSS Experimental (MGEX) stations of the IGS are also employed, which provides a complementing way to evaluate the ability of electron content models to reproduce the spatial and temporal gradients in the ionosphere. During the test period, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) GIMs present significantly positive deviations compared to the Jason VTEC and GPS dSTEC. Technical University of Catalonia (UPC) rapid GIM UQRG exhibits the best performance in both Jason VTEC and GPS dSTEC analysis. The CAS GIMs show comparable performance with the results of the first four IAACs of the IGS. As expected, the poor performance of all GIMs is in equatorial regions and the high latitudes of the southern hemisphere. The consideration of generating multi-layer or three-dimensional ionospheric maps is emphasized to mitigate the inadequacy of ionospheric single-layer assumption in the presence of pronounced latitudinal gradients. The use of ionospheric observations from the new GNSS constellations and other space- or ground-based observation techniques is also suggested in the generation of future GIMs, given the sparse GPS/GLONASS stations in the southern hemisphere.

scholarly journals Towards Cooperative Global Mapping of the Ionosphere: Fusion Feasibility for IGS and IRI with Global Climate VTEC Maps

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3531
Author(s):  
Adam Froń ◽  
Ivan Galkin ◽  
Andrzej Krankowski ◽  
Dieter Bilitza ◽  
Manuel Hernández-Pajares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Climate ◽  
Slab Thickness ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
International Gnss Service ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Global Mapping ◽  
History Of ◽  
Ionospheric Plasma Density ◽  
Climate Maps

Recommendations of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) Workshop 2017 in Taoyuan City, Taiwan and International GNSS Service (IGS) Workshop 2018 in Wuhan, China included establishment of an ionosphere mapping service that would fuse measurements from two independent sensor networks: IGS permanent GNSS receivers providing the vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements and ionosondes of the Global Ionosphere Radio Observatory (GIRO) that compute the bottomside vertical profiles of the ionospheric plasma density. Using available GAMBIT software at GIRO, we introduced new VTEC products to its data roster: previously unavailable global average (climate) maps of VTEC and slab thickness based on climatological capabilities of IRI. Incorporation of the VTEC and τ maps into the GAMBIT Explorer environment provided data analysts with nearly 10-year history of the reference average VTEC records and opened access to the GAMBIT toolkit for evaluation and validation of the τ computations. This result is the first step towards establishing an infrastructure and the data workflow to provide GAMBIT users with the low latency and consistent quality and usability of the ionospheric weather-climate specifications. Combination of IGS-provided VTEC and GIRO-provided peak density of F2 layer NmF2 allows ground-based evaluation of the equivalent slab thickness τ, a derived property of the near-Earth plasma that characterizes the skewness of its vertical profile up to the GNSS spacecraft altitudes.

scholarly journals Pre-Earthquake Ionospheric Anomalies Associated with the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake of Nepal Detected by GPS-TEC Measurements

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Karki ◽  
Ashok Silwal ◽  
Narayan Prasad Chapagain ◽  
Prakash Poudel ◽  
Sujan Prasad Gautam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Epicentral Distance ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Gorkha Earthquake ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
2015 Gorkha Earthquake ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps

Abstract The present study analyses the variations in the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) prior to and during the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake in Nepal (Mw = 7.8) on 25 April 2015, utilising data from the widely distributed Global Positioning System (GPS) network. This study aimed to determine the association between ionospheric TEC anomalies and the occurrence of earthquakes. The finding shows that anomalous TEC changes occurred several days to a few hours prior to the major impending events. The results reveal that deviations in vertical total electron content (VTEC) at distant locations from the epicentre are less than those observed at the epicentre, implying that variation in ionospheric VTEC is nearly inversely proportional to the distance of GPS stations from the epicentre. In view of the solar-terrestrial environment, the pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies could be associated with the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake. The VTEC anomaly was identified when it crosses the upper bound (UB) or lower bound (LB). The outcomes additionally show that TEC variation was dominant in the vicinity of the earthquake epicentre. We also observed contrast in TEC throughout the globe using global ionospheric maps at regular 2-hour UT intervals, the day before, during and after the earthquake. As a result, we observed that areas heavily influenced by TEC were found to be transposed from eastern sectors to western sectors through the equatorial plane. TEC Maps indicate that most of the Indian regions, Northern China, Nepal, Bhutan, were heavily affected, indicating the earthquake's onset influence on the day of the event. Furthermore, we examined the cross-correlation of the SGOC station's TEC with the rest of the stations and discovered that the correlation increased gradually with epicentral distance from the surrounding stations, which was an intriguing result.

scholarly journals Reconstruction of F2 layer peak electron density based on operational vertical total electron content maps

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1241-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Gerzen ◽  
N. Jakowski ◽  
V. Wilken ◽  
M. M. Hoque
Keyword(s):  
Electron Density ◽  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Slab Thickness ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Radio Communication ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Current State ◽  
Maximum Electron Density ◽  
Layer Peak

Abstract. Electron density is the major determining parameter of the ionosphere. Especially the maximum electron density of the F2 layer in the ionosphere, NmF2, is of particular interest with regard to the HF radio communication applications as well as for characterizing the ionosphere. In this paper we present a new method to generate global maps of NmF2. The main principle behind this approach is to use the information about the current state of the ionosphere included in global total electron content (TEC) maps as well as the relationship between total electron content, equivalent slab thickness and F2 layer peak density. Modeling of slab thickness is an interim step in our reconstruction approach. Thus, results showing the diurnal and seasonal variations and effects of solar activity on the modeled slab thickness values are given. In addition a comparison of the reconstructed NmF2 maps with measurements from several ionosonde stations as well as with the global NmF2 model NPDM is presented. Since 2011 the described method has been used at DLR Neustrelitz to generate NmF2 maps as operational service. These maps are freely available via the Space Weather Application Center Ionosphere SWACI (http://swaciweb.dlr.de).

Ionospheric Variability: Response to Sudden Stratospheric Warming events during Solar Cycle 24

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumedha Gupta ◽  
Arun Kumar Upadhayaya ◽  
Devendraa Siingh
Keyword(s):  
Solar Activity ◽  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Stratospheric Warming ◽  
Sudden Stratospheric Warming ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Ionospheric Response ◽  
Solar Cycle 24 ◽  
Cycle 24

<p>With low solar activity and unusual progression, Solar Cycle 24 lasted from December 2008 to December 2019 and is considered to be the weakest cycle in the last 100 years. During such quiet solar background conditions, the wave forcing from lower atmosphere will have a perceivable effect on the ionosphere. This study examines the ionospheric response to meteorological phenomenon of Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) events during Solar Cycle 24 (Arctic winter 2008/09 to 2018/19). Ionospheric response to each of these identified warming periods is quantified by studying ground – based Global Positioning System (GPS) derived vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) and its deviation from monthly median (ΔVTEC) for four longitudinal chains, selected from worldwide International GNSS service (IGS) stations. Each chain comprises of eight stations, chosen in such a way as to cover varied latitudes both in Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A strong latitude – dependent response of VTEC perturbations is observed after the peak stratospheric temperature anomaly (ΔT<sub>max</sub>). The semidiurnal behaviour of VTEC, with morning increase and afternoon decrease, is mostly observed at near-equatorial stations. This vertical coupling between lower and upper atmosphere during SSW is influenced by prominent 13-14 days periodicities in VTEC observations, along with other periodicities of 7, 5, and 3 days. It is seen that the ionospheric response increases with increase in solar activity. Further, under similar ionizing conditions, quite similar ionospheric response is observed, irrespective of ΔT<sub>max</sub> and type of SSW event being major or minor. However, under similar SSW strength (ΔT<sub>max</sub>), no prominent pattern in ionospheric response is observed. The causative mechanism for the coupling processes in the atmosphere during these SSW events is discussed in detail.</p>

scholarly journals Climatology of ionosphere over Nepal based on GPS total electron content data from 2008 to 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 743-758
Author(s):  
Drabindra Pandit ◽  
Basudev Ghimire ◽  
Christine Amory-Mazaudier ◽  
Rolland Fleury ◽  
Narayan Prasad Chapagain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cycle ◽  
Total Electron Content ◽  
Solar Flux ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Vertical Total Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Total Electron Content Data ◽  
Maximum Value ◽  
Spring Equinox ◽  
Cycle 24

Abstract. In this study, we analyse the climatology of ionosphere over Nepal based on GPS-derived vertical total electron content (VTEC) observed from four stations as defined in Table 1: KKN4 (27.80∘ N, 85.27∘ E), GRHI (27.95∘ N, 82.49∘ E), JMSM (28.80∘ N, 83.74∘ E) and DLPA (28.98∘ N, 82.81∘ E) during the years 2008 to 2018. The study illustrates the diurnal, monthly, annual, seasonal and solar cycle variations in VTEC during all times of solar cycle 24. The results clearly reveal the presence of equinoctial asymmetry in TEC, which is more pronounced in maximum phases of solar cycle in the year 2014 at KKN4 station, followed by descending, ascending and minimum phases. Diurnal variations in VTEC showed the short-lived day minimum which occurs between 05:00 to 06:00 LT (local time) at all the stations considered, with diurnal peaks between 12:00 and 15:00 LT. The maximum value of TEC is observed more often during the spring equinox than the autumn equinox, with a few asymmetries. Seasonal variation in TEC is observed to be a manifestation of variations in solar flux, particularly regarding the level of solar flux in consecutive solstices.

scholarly journals Investigation of Pre-Earthquake Ionospheric and Atmospheric Disturbances for Three Large Earthquakes in Mexico

Geosciences ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Christina Oikonomou ◽  
Haris Haralambous ◽  
Sergey Pulinets ◽  
Aakriti Khadka ◽  
Shukra R. Paudel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Potential ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Satellite System ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Electron Content ◽  
Total Electron ◽  
Atmospheric Disturbances ◽  
Global Ionospheric Maps ◽  
Global Navigation Satellite ◽  
Large Earthquakes

The purpose of the present study is to investigate simultaneously pre-earthquake ionospheric and atmospheric disturbances by the application of different methodologies, with the ultimate aim to detect their possible link with the impending seismic event. Three large earthquakes in Mexico are selected (8.2 Mw, 7.1 Mw and 6.6 Mw during 8 and 19 September 2017 and 21 January 2016 respectively), while ionospheric variations during the entire year 2017 prior to 37 earthquakes are also examined. In particular, Total Electron Content (TEC) retrieved from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks and Atmospheric Chemical Potential (ACP) variations extracted from an atmospheric model are analyzed by performing statistical and spectral analysis on TEC measurements with the aid of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs), Ionospheric Precursor Mask (IPM) methodology and time series and regional maps of ACP. It is found that both large and short scale ionospheric anomalies occurring from few hours to a few days prior to the seismic events may be linked to the forthcoming events and most of them are nearly concurrent with atmospheric anomalies happening during the same day. This analysis also highlights that even in low-latitude areas it is possible to discern pre-earthquake ionospheric disturbances possibly linked with the imminent seismic events.

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