Ionospheric F-region Research Articles

Day-to-Day Variability of Low Latitude F-Region Ionosphere During Low Solar Activity

This paper presents an analysis of the F-region variability of the ionospheric parameters [foF2and M(3000)F2] at three low latitude stations during low solar activity periods from January 2006 to December 2010. The diurnal, seasonal and day-to-day characteristics of theseionospheric F-region parameters have been studied in detail. With the use of partial correlation analysis we have computed the correlation between the variation of these parameters and other factors such as the solar radio flux 10.7cm (F10.7)and the geomagnetic AP index. It has been observed that the magnitude of the variability of propagation parameter M(3000)F2aresmoother and smaller than in that case of foF2. It is also observed that for both parameters there are no remarkable changes in day-to-day variability with geomagnetic activity during low solar activity.

Generation of Artificial Ionospheric Irregularities in the Midlatitude Ionosphere Modified by High-Power High-Frequency X-Mode Radio Waves

We consider the properties of the artificial ionospheric irregularities excited in the ionospheric F2 region modified by high-power high-frequency X-mode radio waves. It is shown that smallscale (decameter) irregularities are not generated in the midlatitude ionosphere. The intensity of irregularities with the scales l⊥ ≈ 50 m to 3k mis severalfold weaker compared with the case where the irregularities are excited by high-power O-mode radio waves. The intensity of the larger-scale irregularities is even stronger attenuated. It is found that the generation of largescale (l⊥ ≈ 5‐10 km) artificial ionospheric irregularities is enhanced at the edge of the directivity pattern of a beam of high-power radio waves.

New perspectives on thermosphere tides: 1. Lower thermosphere spectra and seasonal-latitudinal structures

Abstract Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (TIMED/SABER) temperature measurements at 110 km and between ±50° latitude extending from 2002 through 2010 are analyzed to reveal the tidal spectrum entering the ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) system. Seasonal-latitudinal structures are presented for the most prominent spectral components which include DE3, DE2, D0, DW1, DW2, SE1 to SE4, SW1 to SW4, SW6, TE1, TW4, TW5, and TW7. Referring to recent calculations of lower atmosphere heat sources as well as vertical structure characteristics of these waves anticipated from classical tidal theory, we analyze the likely origins of these waves and the nature of their seasonal-latitudinal structures. Several waves are likely to arise through nonlinear wave-wave interactions, and in some cases, this appears to be the sole viable mechanism leading to their existence. The tidal spectrum quantified here is especially relevant to the dynamo generation of electric fields which then impose the tidal variability on the overlying F-region ionosphere. Part 2 of this 2-part study examines penetration of the tidal spectrum to the upper thermosphere. Please see related article: http://www.earth-planets-space.com/content/66/1/122

Variations in the critical frequency of the ionospheric F-region during magnetic storms in 2008–2012 at auroral latitudes

Fifty-one magnetic storms occurred during the last solar half-cycle of transition from the epoch minimum to the epoch maximum are considered. Ionospheric (foF2) and magnetic (X component) data from Sodankyla observatory, Finland, were used for the analysis, as well as values of the ΣKp indices of magnetic activity. The dependence of variations in the critical frequency foF2 was studied before, during, and after each storm. It has been revealed that a major effect (ME) takes place for all of the storms analyzed. It consists in the following: the first maximum in foF2 values occurs several days before the onset of the active phase of a storm, then foF2 attains its minimum during the active phase, and the second maximum occurred after the active phase. Five principals, the most frequent types of variation in foF2 during a storm, have been revealed. However, special cases (30%) in which an ME exists but shifts rightward several days along the time axis are observable. Ionospheric “memory” (inertia) from 8–9 h to 2 days has been revealed. It has been ascertained that the occurrence of the first ME maximum can be considered a magnetic storm precursor. Such a precursor potentially can be used for forecasting the beginning of magnetic storm development, which is important for space weather problems.

Ion temperature anisotropy effects on the dispersion relation and threshold conditions of a sheared current-driven electrostatic ion-acoustic instability with applications to the collisional high-latitude F-region

Plasma instabilities play a important role in producing small-scale irregularities in the ionosphere. In particular, current-driven electrostatic ion-acoustic (CDEIA) instabilities contribute to high-latitude F-region electrodynamics. Ion temperature anisotropies with enhanced perpendicular temperature often exist in the high-latitude F-region. In addition to temperature anisotropies, ion velocity shears are observed near auroral arc edges, sometimes coexisting with thermal ion upflow processes and field-aligned currents (FAC). We investigated whether ion temperature anisotropy lowers the threshold conditions required for the onset of sheared CDEIA instabilities. We generalised a dispersion relation to include ion thermal anisotropy, finite Larmor radius corrections and collisions. We derived new fluid-like analytical expressions for the threshold conditions required for instability that depend explicitly on ion temperature anisotropy. We studied how the instability threshold conditions vary as a function of the wave vector direction in both fluid and kinetic regimes. We found that, despite the dampening effect of collisions on ion-acoustic waves, ion temperature anisotropy lowers in some cases the threshold drift requirements for a large range of oblique wave vector angles. More importantly, realistic ion temperature anisotropies contribute to reducing the instability threshold velocity shears that are associated with small drift thresholds, for modes propagating almost perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. Small shear thresholds that seem to be sustainable in the ionospheric F-region are obtained for low-frequency waves. Such instabilities could play a role in the direct generation of field-aligned irregularities in the collisional F-region that could be observed with the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) array of high-frequency radars. These modes would be very sensitive to the radar probing direction since they are restricted to very narrow angular intervals. The ion temperature anisotropy is an important parameter that needs to be considered in the studies of sheared and collisional CDEIA waves and instabilities in the high-latitude F-region.

Diurnal and seasonal variation of topside ionospheric ion density over Indian region at solar minimum and solar maximum

In the present paper in situ measurement of ion and electron parameters of ionosphere F2 region made by separate Retarding Potential Analyzers (RPAs) payload onboard the Indian satellite SROSS-C2 over Indian region (65–95°E and 5–35°N) for more than half of 23rd solar cycle are examined to analyse the ion density (ni) at an average altitude of ∼500km (altitude range 500±100km). The data-set is analysed for the diurnal and seasonal behaviour of ni and its dependence on solar activity by comparing the results for solar minima (1995, F10.7′95=77) and solar maxima (2000, F10.7′00=178) years. ni is found to exhibit the expected diurnal behaviour with day minimum in presunrise hrs. and maximum at local noon or afternoon. This trend is not affected by seasons or solar activity. However for different seasons, ni enhances with solar activity and more interestingly, nighttime values of ni are found to be affected by greater magnitude as compared to daytime corresponding values.

Validation of COSMIC values of foF2 and M(3000)F2 using ground-based ionosondes

The COSMIC radio occultation values of the ionospheric F2 region peak parameters are a potential source of ground-truth data for validation of global ionospheric models. They should therefore be validated against reliable ground-truth observations such as manually scaled ionograms from ground-based vertical incidence (VI) ionosondes. We have therefore used the manually scaled hourly ionospheric characteristics from the Australian ionosonde network for this purpose.A comparison of the COSMIC F2 peak density, NmF2, against the values of the maximum plasma frequency, foF2, scaled from the Australian ionosondes showed very good agreement, with an RMS error in foF2 at mid latitudes of ∼0.5MHz.The ionograms from the Australian ionosondes are manually processed so the plasma frequency profile and the value of hmF2, the altitude corresponding to foF2, are not routinely provided. However, the ionograms do provide observations of M(3000)F2, the obliquity factor for a 3000km communications circuit, which is well correlated with hmF2. We have therefore compared observed and COSMIC values of M(3000)F2. The latter are derived from numerical ionograms calculated for the COSMIC profiles.Because of the known uncertainties in the COSMIC profiles, we have applied some stringent acceptance procedures to them, especially for the M(3000)F2 analysis. These acceptance procedures are all automated, reducing the possibility of biased data selection.

Recent investigation on the coupling between the ionosphere and upper atmosphere

Scientific attention has recently been focused on the coupling of the earth’s upper atmosphere and ionosphere. In the present work, we review the advances in this field, emphasizing the studies and contributions of Chinese scholars. This work first introduces new developments in the observation instruments of the upper atmosphere. Two kinds of instruments are involved: optical instruments (lidars, FP interferometers and all-sky airglow imagers) and radio instruments (MST radars and all-sky meteor radars). Based on the data from these instruments and satellites, the researches on climatology and wave disturbances in the upper atmosphere are then introduced. The studies on both the sporadic sodium layer and sporadic E-layer are presented as the main works concerning the coupling of the upper atmosphere and the low ionosphere. We then review the investigations on the ionospheric longitudinal structure and the causative atmospheric non-migrating tide as the main progress of the coupling between the atmosphere and the ionospheric F2-region. Regarding the ionosphere-thermosphere coupling, we introduce studies on the equatorial thermospheric anomaly, as well as the influence of the thermospheric winds and gravity waves to the ionospheric F2-region. Chinese scholars have made much advancement on the coupling of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere, including the observation instruments, data precession, and modeling, as well as the mechanism analysis.

Comparative studies on ionospheric climatological features of NmF2 among the Arctic and Antarctic stations

Climatological features of the maximum electron density of the ionospheric F2 region (NmF2) are investigated and compared among the Arctic and Antarctic stations using long-term observations from the dynasonde measurements at Tromso, the EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) measurements at Longyearbyen, and the digisonde DPS-4 measurements at Zhongshan, Antarctica. The NmF2 data are sorted as monthly medians of NmF2 for each hour, month, and solar activity. Results are presented as follows: (1) On the diurnal variability, the maximum value of NmF2 mainly occurs at local noon at the auroral latitude station Tromso, but at magnetic noon at the cusp latitude station Longyearbyen and between local noon and magnetic noon at Zhongshan, indicating the importance of soft particle precipitation and ionospheric convection in the cusp region. (2) In addition to the daytime peak, there is another peak just before magnetic midnight at Longyearbyen in winter during solar maximum years, which is attributed to the cross-polar transport of EUV ionization from day side to night side. (3) An enhancement of NmF2 is detected at magnetic midnight in winter at Tromso. It may be caused by the nighttime substorms. (4) On the seasonal variability, there are semi-annual anomaly at Tromso and normal variability at both Longyearbyen and Zhongshan during solar minimum years. (5) During solar maximum years there is always semi-annual anomaly for all three stations. The well-known winter anomaly is evident at both Tromso and Zhongshan, but does not exist at Longyearbyen. These anomalies are mainly due to the differences in photoionization and chemical compositions between the three stations.

Ionospheric vertical drifts over an Indian low latitude station and its comparison with IRI-2007 vertical drift model

The vertical plasma drift velocity (Vz=dh′Fdt) of the Ionospheric F-Region is calculated using the Ionosonde data over an Indian low latitude station, Waltair (17.7°N, 83.3°E, dip 20°N). The vertical drift velocities thus computed are compared with those of the IRI-2007 vertical drift model during the post sunset hours of the high sunspot period of 2001–2002. The vertical drift values are entirely downward between 2000 and 0700hLT for the IRI-2007 vertical drift model compared to those derived using Ionosonde. The root mean square errors (RMSE) in the vertical drifts during the post sun-set hours computed between the IRI vertical drift model and Ionosonde measured values are found to be 13.54, 21.68 and 22.39m/s for summer, equinox and winter seasons respectively. The average vertical drifts derived using Ionosonde showing pre-reversal enhancements during evening hours (1700–1900hLT) over Waltair are found to be 8, 16 and 12m/s, whereas the IRI-2007 model derived values show 15, 35 and 36m/s during summer, equinox and winter seasons respectively. The correlation analysis of peak drift velocities derived using Ionosonde and those from IRI model with Rz and F10.7 shows more or less similar variation while they are differed in their variation with Ap index. A good correlation is observed between the vertical plasma drift obtained using Ionosonde and Equatorial Electrojet Strength (EEJ) except during winter, while the correlation coefficients computed using IRI model are little higher than those obtained using Ionosonde with maximum values during summer season. The percentage of deviation for IRI-model correlation coefficient and that of Ionosonde-inferred drift for equinoctial and summer months is around 50% and 25% respectively where as it is more than 100% for winter.

Quasi-biennial oscillation in GPS VTEC measurements

The quasi-biennial oscillation, QBO, a well known periodicity in the equatorial stratospheric zonal winds, is also found in ionospheric parameters and in solar and geomagnetic activity indices. Many authors speculated about the link between the QBO in solar and geomagnetic activity and the QBO in atmospheric parameters. In this work we analyze the presence of the QBO in the ionosphere using the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) values obtained from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements during the period 1999–2012. In particular, we used IONEX files, i.e. the International GNSS Service (IGS) ionospheric products. IONEX provide VTEC values around the world at 2-h intervals. From these data we compute global and zonal averages of VTEC at different local times at mid and equatorial geomagnetic latitudes. VTEC and Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) solar flux time series are analyzed using a wavelet multi resolution analysis. In all cases the QBO is detected among other expected periodicities.Since the main source of variation of free electrons in the ionospheric F2 region, where the maximum concentration occurs, is solar EUV radiation, we conclude that the most important cause attributable to QBO in the ionosphere is the quasi-biennial variability of EUV solar flux. Both QBOs are observed to vary in phase.The percentage of the total signal of the ionospheric QBO at the local times of the maximum photoionization is around 15% independent of magnetic latitude while the respective percentage of the total energy for the EUV solar flux is about 18%.

Long-term changes in thermospheric composition inferred from a spectral analysis of ionospheric F-region data

Abstract. A study of ionospheric data recorded at Slough/Chilton, UK, from 1935 to 2012, has revealed long-term changes in the relative strength of the annual and semi-annual variability in the ionospheric F2 layer critical frequencies. Comparing these results with data from the southern hemisphere station at Stanley in the Falkland Islands between 1945 and 2012 reveals a trend that appears to be anti-correlated with that at Chilton. The behaviour of foF2 is a function of thermospheric composition and so we argue that the observed long-term changes are driven by composition change. The ionospheric trends share some of their larger features with the trend in the variability of the aa geomagnetic index. Changes to the semi-annual/annual ratio in the Slough/Chilton and Stanley data may therefore be attributable to the variability in geomagnetic activity which controls the average latitudinal extent of the auroral ovals and subsequent thermospheric circulation patterns. Changes in ionospheric composition or thermospheric wind patterns are known to influence the height of the F2 layer at a given location. Long-term changes to the height of the F2 layer have been used to infer an ionospheric response to greenhouse warming. We suggest that our observations may influence such measurements and since the results appear to be dependent on geomagnetic longitude, this could explain why the long-term drifts observed in F2 layer height differ between locations.

Model Simulation of Artificial Heating of the Daytime High-Latitude F-Region Ionosphere by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Waves

The large-scale disturbance of the spatial structure of the daytime high-latitude F-region ionosphere, caused by powerful high-frequency radio waves, pumped into the ionosphere by a groundbased ionospheric heater, is studied with the help of the numerical simulation. The mathematical model of the high-latitude ionosphere, developed earlier in the Polar Geophysical Institute, is utilized. The mathematical model takes into account the drift of the ionospheric plasma, strong magnetization of the plasma at F-layer altitudes, geomagnetic field declination, and effect of powerful high-frequency radio waves. The distributions of the ionospheric parameters were calculated on condition that an ionospheric heater, situated at the point with geographic coordinates of the HF heating facility near Tromso, Scandinavia, has been operated, with the ionospheric heater being located on the day side of the Earth. The results of the numerical simulation indicate that artificial heating of the ionosphere by powerful high-frequency waves ought to influence noticeably on the spatial structure of the daytime high-latitude F-region ionosphere in the vicinity of the ionospheric heater.

Monthly mean foF2 model for an African low-latitude station and comparison with IRI

We have employed the hourly values of the ionospheric F-region critical frequency (foF2) obtained from Ouagadougou ionosonde, Burkina Faso (geographic coordinates 12°N, 1.8°W) during the interval of 1985–1995 (solar cycle 22) and solar radio flux of 10cm wavelength (F10.7) to develop a local model (LM) for the African low-latitude station. The model was developed from regression analysis method, using the two-segmented regression analysis. We validated LM with foF2 data from Korhogo observatory, Cote d’Ivorie (geographical coordinates 9.3°N, 5.4°W). LM as well as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) agrees well with observations. LM gave some improvement on the IRI-predicted foF2 values at the sunrise (06 LT) at all solar flux levels and in all seasons except June solstice. The performance of the models at the representing the salient features of the equatorial foF2 was presented. Considering daytime and nighttime performances, LM and IRI are comparable in low solar activity (LSA), LM performed better than IRI in moderate solar activity (MSA), while IRI performed better than LM in high solar activity (HSA). CCIR has a root mean square error (r.m.s.e), which is only 0.10MHz lower than that of LM while LM has r.m.s.e, which is about 0.05MHz lower than that of URSI. In general, our result shows that performance of IRI, especially the CCIR option of the IRI, is quite comparable with the LM. The improved performance of IRI is a reflection of the numerous contributions of ionospheric physicists in the African region, larger volume of data for the IRI and the diversity of data sources, as well as the successes of the IRI task force activities.

Propagation and oblique collision of ion-acoustic solitary waves in a magnetized dusty electronegative plasma

The propagation and oblique collision of ion-acoustic (IA) solitary waves in a magnetized dusty electronegative plasma consisting of cold mobile positive ions, Boltzmann negative ions, Boltzmann electrons, and stationary positive/negative dust particles are studied. The extended Poincaré-Lighthill-Kuo perturbation method is employed to derive the Korteweg-de Vries equations and the corresponding expressions for the phase shifts after collision between two IA solitary waves. It turns out that the angle of collision, the temperature and density of negative ions, and the dust density of opposite polarity have reasonable effects on the phase shift. Clearly, the numerical results demonstrated that the IA solitary waves are delayed after the oblique collision. The current finding of this work is applicable in many plasma environments having negative ion species, such as D- and F-regions of the Earth's ionosphere and some laboratory plasma experiments.

The Ionospheric Bubble Index deduced from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm

In the post-sunset tropical ionospheric F-region plasma density often exhibits depletions, which are usually called equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). In this paper we give an overview of the Swarm Level 2 Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI), which is a standard scientific data of the Swarm mission. This product called L2-IBI is generated from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm, and gives information as to whether a Swarm magnetic field observation is affected by EPBs. We validate the performance of the L2-IBI product by using magnetic field and plasma measurements from the CHAMP satellite, which provided observations similar to those of the Swarm. The L2-IBI product is of interest not only for ionospheric studies, but also for geomagnetic field modeling; modelers can de-select magnetic data which are affected by EPBs or other unphysical artifacts.

Ionospheric F2 region: Variability and sudden stratospheric warmings

AbstractThe ionospheric F2 region is known to show a large day‐to‐day and hour‐to‐hour variability. Some of this variability has recently being linked to sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs). We therefore investigate the extent of ionospheric changes following SSWs of 2007, 2008, and 2009 using ionosonde data from six different stations in the Asian zone, thus covering a broad latitudinal range from 23.2°N to 45.1°N. We find that ionospheric F2 region shows some significant perturbations soon after the start of the warming. However, characteristics of these perturbations vary from event to event and from station to station. We also examine the data on equatorial electrojet strength (EEJ) during these warmings and find that there are significant changes in the EEJ strength during the SSW events. A counter electrojet coincident with the start of warming was observed for the SSW event of 2008. We then compare this SSW‐linked variability observed by us to the normal day‐to‐day and hour‐to‐hour variability seen in the ionospheric data. We find that even during times when there are no SSWs and solar and magnetic indices are quite stable and close to their minimum values, the ionospheric variability is comparable to the variability attributed to these warmings. Further, it seems to us that it is difficult to quantify with precision the changes in foF2, as well as in the ionospheric response times involved, following these events.

Earthquakes and global electrical circuit

Based on recent experimental and theoretical model results, the role of earthquakes and processes of their preparation as electricity sources in the global electric circuit (GEC) is discussed. In addition to the traditional elements of the GEC, such as thunderstorm currents, ionosphere currents, fair weather currents, and telluric currents, hypothetical seismogenic currents flowing between the faults and the ionosphere are considered. The ionization sources for these currents are presumably the radiation of radioactive gases and the ionization by the electric field of so-called “positive holes” created by the compression of tectonic plates, whereas transportation of electric charges between the Earth and the ionosphere occurs under the action of electric fields and turbulent diffusion (for heavy charged species). Seismogenic currents deliver electric charges into the ionosphere, which give rise to electric fields in it and in the magnetically conjugated region. The drift of magnetized plasma in the ionosphere F2-region and plasmasphere plasma under the action of these fields causes disturbances in the electron density and total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere, which are observed by GPS satellites before strong earthquakes. The typical features of these disturbances (magnitudes, dimensions, stability, nighttime predominance of the relative TEC disturbances, geomagnetic conjugacy) are well reproduced in theoretical model calculations based on the solution of the equation for the electric ionosphere potential with specified seismogenic electric current at the lower boundary of the ionosphere if this current is strong enough (comparable with thunderstorm currents). The feasibility of such seismogenic currents is discussed. It is argued that the TEC disturbances observed before strong earthquakes cannot be explained by neutral atmosphere disturbances. These TEC disturbances can be treated as ionospheric earthquake precursors created by seismogenic GEC disturbances.

Ionospheric F-region response to geomagnetic disturbances

The F2-region reaction to geomagnetic storms usually called as an ionospheric storm is a rather complicated event. It consists of so called positive and negative phases, which have very complicated spatial and temporal behavior. The main morphological features of ionospheric storms and the main processes governing their behavior were understood at the end of the 1900s and described in a series of review papers. During the recent decade there were many publications dedicated to the problem of ionospheric storms. In this paper a concept of ionospheric storm morphology and physics formulated at the end of the 1990s is briefly summarized and the most interesting results obtained in the 2000s are described. It is shown that the main features of the studies of the previous decade were: the use of GPS TEC data for analyzing the ionospheric storm morphology, attraction of sophisticated theoretical models for studying the processes governing ionospheric behavior in disturbed conditions, and accent to analysis of ionospheric behavior during prominent events (very strong and great geomagnetic storms). Also a special attention was paid to the pre-storm enhancements in foF2 and TEC.

Response of equatorial, low- and mid-latitude F-region in the American sector during the intense geomagnetic storm on 24–25 October 2011

In this paper, we present and discuss the response of the ionospheric F-region in the American sector during the intense geomagnetic storm which occurred on 24–25 October 2011. In this investigation ionospheric sounding data obtained of 23, 24, 25, and 26 October 2011 at Puerto Rico (United States), Jicamarca (Peru), Palmas, São José dos Campos (Brazil), and Port Stanley, are presented. Also, the GPS observations obtained at 12 stations in the equatorial, low-, mid- and high-mid-latitude regions in the American sector are presented. During the fast decrease of Dst (about ∼54nT/h between 23:00 and 01:00UT) on the night of 24–25 October (main phase), there is a prompt penetration of electric field of magnetospheric origin resulting an unusual uplifting of the F region at equatorial stations. On the night of 24–25 October 2011 (recovery phase) equatorial, low- and mid-latitude stations show h′F variations much larger than the average variations possibly associated with traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) caused by Joule heating at high latitudes. The foF2 variations at mid-latitude stations and the GPS-VTEC observations at mid- and low-latitude stations show a positive ionospheric storm on the night of 24–25 October, possibly due to changes in the large-scale wind circulation. The foF2 observations at mid-latitude station and the GPS-VTEC observations at mid- and high-mid-latitude stations show a negative ionospheric storm on the night of 24–25 October, probably associated with an increase in the density of molecular nitrogen. During the daytime on 25 October, the variations in foF2 at mid-latitude stations show large negative ionospheric storm, possibly due to changes in the O/N2 ratio. On the night of 24–25, ionospheric plasma bubbles (equatorial irregularities that extended to the low- and mid-latitude regions) are observed at equatorial, low- and mid-latitude stations. Also, on the night of 25–26, ionospheric plasma bubbles are observed at equatorial and low-latitude regions.