Influence of different types of ionospheric disturbances on GPS signals at polar latitudes

The comparative research of the influence of different types of auroral particle precipitation and polar cap patches (PCPs) on the global positioning system (GPS) signals disturbances in the polar ionosphere was done. For this purpose, we use the GPS scintillation receivers at Ny-Ålesund and Skibotn, operated by the University of Oslo. The presence of the auroral particle precipitation and polar cap patches was determined by using data from the EISCAT 42m radar on Svalbard. The optical aurora observations in 557.7 and 630.0 nm spectrum lines on Svalbard were used as well for the detection of ionospheric disturbances. The cusp identification was done with using SuperDARN (Hankasalmi) data. We consider events when the simultaneous EISCAT 42m and GPS data were available for the years 2010–2017, and in this paper we present, in detail, typical examples describing the overall picture, and we present the statistics for 120 events. We considered the dayside/cusp precipitation, substorm precipitation, daytime and nighttime PCPs, and precipitation associated with the interplanetary shock wave arrival. We demonstrate that substorm-associated precipitation (even without PCPs) can lead to a strong GPS phase (σϕ) scintillations up to ∼ 1.5–3 radians, which is much stronger than those usually produced by other types of considered ionosphere disturbances. The value of the substorm-phase scintillations in general correlate with the value of the geomagnetic field disturbance. But sometimes even a small geomagnetic substorm, when combined with the PCPs, produces quite strong phase scintillations. Cusp phase scintillations are lower than dayside PCPs scintillations. PCPs can lead to stronger ROT (rate of total electron content) variations than other types of ionosphere disturbances. So our observations suggest that the substorms and PCPs, being different types of the high-latitude disturbances, lead to the development of different types and scales of ionospheric irregularities.

He++ behavior on the an interplanetary shock wave

<p>In our study we analyzing the fine structure of interplanetary shock wave fronts recorded by the BMSW experiment, installed onboard the SPEKTR-R satellite. The high time resolution of the spectrometer (0.031 s for the plasma flux magnitude and direction and 1.5 s for velocity, temperature, and density) makes it possible to study the internal structure of the IPs front.</p><p>BMSW experiment registered 55 IPs waves from 2011 to 2019. For 21 events (where the temperature was not very high), the parameters of twice-ionized helium (He++ or α-particles) - density (absolute value and relative to protons content in the solar wind plasma), velocity, temperature. It is shown that the speed of He++ is slightly less (for about 5%) than the speed of protons, the relative density of He++ rarely exceeds 10%, and the temperature of He++ is about 2 times higher than the temperature of protons.</p><p>On the IPs front, short-term and significant (up to 20%) jumps in the relative density of He++ were detected in several events. No dependence was found between Mms/proton beta and He++ density changing after IPs front. However, we detected that the lower Qbn parameter is, the more the relative density of He++ falls behind the IPs front.</p>

Influence of different types of ionospheric disturbances on GPS signals at polar latitudes

The comparative research of the influence of different types of auroral particle precipitation and polar cap patches (PCP) on the GPS signals disturbances in the polar ionosphere was done. For this purpose, we use the GPS scintillation receivers at Ny-Ålesund and Skibotn, operated by the University of Oslo. The presence of the auroral particle precipitation and polar cap patches was determined by using data from the EISCAT 42 m radar on Svalbard. The optical aurora observations in 557.7 nm, 630.0 nm spectrum lines on Svalbard were used as well for the detection of ionospheric disturbances. The cusp identification was done with using SuperDARN (Hankasalmi) data. We consider about 150 events when the simultaneous EISCAT 42 m and GPS data were available for the 2010–2017 years, in paper we present in detail only typical examples describing the overall picture. It was considered the dayside/cusp precipitation, substorm precipitations, daytime and nighttime PCP, precipitation associated with the interplanetary shock wave arrival. Cusp phase scintillations are lower than dayside PCP scintillations. We demonstrate that substorm-associated precipitations (even without PCP) can lead to a strong GPS phase (σϕ) scintillations up to ~2 radians which is much stronger than those usually produced by other types of the considered ionosphere disturbances. At the same PCPs can lead to stronger ROT (rate of total electron content) variations. So our observations suggest that the substorms and PCPs, being different types of the high-latitude disturbances, lead to the development of different types and scales of ionospheric irregularities.

Magnetospheric response of two types in PSc geomagnetic pulsations to interaction with interplanetary shock waves

Using the June 22, 2015 event as an example, we present new data confirming the presence of a precursor of the sudden magnetic impulse caused by a powerful interplanetary shock wave (ISW). The precursor in the form of a train of oscillations (broadband pulse) with a falling frequency in the range 0.25÷11 Hz with a duration of ~20 s, which had a spectral resonance structure, was recorded globally by a network of induc-tion magnetometers at 18:33:27 UT. No significant phase delays of the signals were detected in four fre-quency bands at widely spaced observatories. It is sug-gested that the impulse can be excited in the Earth — ionosphere waveguide by a pulsed electric field which occurs in the ionosphere due to the short-term impact of ISW on the magnetosphere.

Magnetospheric response of two types in PSc geomagnetic pulsations to interaction with interplanetary shock waves

Using the June 22, 2015 event as an example, we present new data confirming the presence of a precursor of the sudden magnetic impulse caused by a powerful interplanetary shock wave (ISW). The precursor in the form of a train of oscillations (broadband pulse) with a falling frequency in the range 0.25÷11 Hz with a duration of ~20 s, which had a spectral resonance structure, was recorded globally by a network of induction magnetometers at 18:33:27 UT. No significant phase delays of the signals were detected in four frequency bands at widely spaced observatories. It is suggested that the impulse can be excited in the Earth – ionosphere waveguide by a pulsed electric field which occurs in the ionosphere due to the short-term impact of ISW on the magnetosphere.

Review of pulse impacts on the magnetospheric oscillations

Response of magnetospheric oscillatory systems in the ultra-low-frequency (ULF) range on electromagnetic, mechanical, thermal, and chemical impulse action are overviewed and selectively analyzed. Impulses can occur both inside the magnetosphere (e.g. explosion in the geomagnetic tail, impulsive injection of energetic particles) and outside (e.g. solar flare, interplanetary shock wave, thunderstorm discharge, earthquake, volcanic eruption etc.). We suggest systematics of impulses which is based on geophysics and space physics data and is closely related to the theory of ULF oscillations. The systematics is of cognitive and practical importance, and it allows us to interpret a rich variety of responses of the magnetosphere to impulses of the terrestrial and space origins. The classification principle is selected according to which an impulse type is determined from two criteria such as impulse origin location and character of impulse action on one or another oscillatory system of the magnetosphere. The primary conditions for completeness and validity of division are fulfilled because all possible terms of putting impulses to classes, types and forms are specified, and the terms do not overlap. The classification and introduced nomenclature are helpful because they make possible to systematize common properties and specific features of types and forms of impulses. This is especially important with regard to reaction of the Earth’s plasma sheaths to impulses generated during an earthquake preparation as well as under experimental study of dynamic processes in the near-Earth space. The examples of response of ULF oscillations to impulsive actions are shown. The particular focus is given to review of studies which still are not mentioned in reviews and monographies.