Reflection Height Research Articles

Study of variation in the lower ionospheric reflection height with polar day length at Antarctic station Maitri: Estimated with tweek atmospherics

In the present paper investigations are made on the lower ionosphere with the help of observed tweek atmospherics at the Indian Antarctic research station Maitri during the second half of austral summer (January–March of 2003 and 2005). The variations in the lower ionospheric reflection height are found to be in correspondence with the sunrise and sunset at Maitri. The results indicate that the tweek atmospherics are helpful in tracking the changes taking place in the lower ionospheric height through the day‐night boundary. The ionospheric reflection height estimated using the cutoff frequency of fundamental (first‐harmonic or first‐mode) tweek atmospherics ranges from ∼64 to ∼79 km with a maximum calculated error of ±2.7 km. The recordings were carried out from 1800 to 0600 UTC. The analysis shows that the average cutoff frequency for the fundamental tweek atmospherics and hence the ionospheric reflection height varies from the months of January to March in accordance with the sunrise and sunset.

Observation of artificial spread‐F and large region ionization enhancement in an HF heating experiment at HAARP

A large‐scale ionospheric modification by HF heaters was explored via HAARP digisonde operated in a fast mode. The results show that the ionogram virtual heights and the height spread of the ordinary‐wave sounding echoes were changed significantly by the O‐mode heater; the X‐mode heater imposed no noticeable effect on the ionograms. The enhanced virtual height spread exceeds 40 km, more than 15% of sounding echo's average virtual height. The heater downshifted/upshifted the virtual height in the low/high frequency region around the heater frequency by as much as 15 and 7.5 km. The modifications were developing to last more than 10 seconds after the heater was turned off. The perturbed ionosphere took more than 60 seconds to recover. The modified electron density distribution indicates that the electron density and temperature increases exceed 10% and 25% over a large altitude region (>30 Km) from below to above the HF reflection height.

Application of lightning discharge generated radio atmospherics/tweeks in lower ionospheric plasma diagnostics

Lightning discharges during thunderstorm are the significant natural source of electromagnetic waves. They generate electromagnetic pulses, which vary from few Hz to tens of MHz, but the maximum radiated energy is confined in extremely low (ELF: 3-3000Hz) and very low (VLF: 3-30 KHz) frequency band. These pulsed signals with frequency dispersion are known as radio atmospherics or tweeks. These waves propagate through the process of multiple reflections in the earth-ionosphere waveguide over long distances with very low attenuation (2-3 dB/1000km). Since these waves are reflected by lower boundary of ionosphere, these are used extensively for probing the D-region ionosphere. D-region is important to the space weather, as well as the submarine communication and navigational aid. In this perspective the measurement of electron density profiles of the D-region is undoubtedly of great interest to both the development of reliable models and radio wave propagation. Earlier work on the tweeks is mainly focused to the theoretical considerations related to polarization, waveform analysis, and occurrence time and propagation mechanism. In this study we investigate tweeks to determine the equivalent night time electron densities at reflection height of the D-region. Distance traveled by the VLF waves from the causative lightning discharges to the receiving station has also been calculated. Tweeks recorded at a low latitude ground station of Allahabad (Geomag. lat. 16.050 N) during the night of 23 March 2007 have been used in the present analysis. Based on the analysis of the fundamental cut-off frequency of tweeks, the estimated equivalent electron density of the D-region has been found to be in the range of ~20 to 25 el/cm3 at ionospheric reflection height of ~80 to 95 km respectively. Propagation distance in Earth-Ionosphere wave guide (EIWG) from causative lightning source to experimental site varies from ~1500 to 8000 km.

Monitoring Water Levels and Currents Using Reflected GPS Carrier Doppler Measurements and Coordinate Rotation Model

This paper describes the development and application of a highly integrated Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that employs reflected GPS signals to measure the floodwater levels, sea levels, and soil moisture of riverbeds. Both right- and left-hand circular polarization antennas are employed to simultaneously obtain direct and reflected signals. The objective of this paper is to use the carrier-phase Doppler shifts reflectivity of L1 and L2 band reflected signals and direct signals to determine the floodwater and sea levels in riverbeds, as well as to distinguish wet soil from bare soil. In monitoring coastal tidal currents, water levels, and floodwater levels, the reflection heights of this system are accurate to within 29 ~ 31 cm. Furthermore, the currents at reflection points are estimated using differential carrier Doppler shifts and a coordinate rotation correction model, which provide velocity vectors for flows speed of approximately 5 ~ 265 cm/s.

Ionogram inversion F1-layer treatment effect in raytracing

This paper shows the importance of the F1-layer shape in the electron density profiles obtained from ionograms with different inversion techniques when the profiles are used in ray tracing. This layer often controls the propagation on the path with ranges less than about 2000 km, particularly for spring and summer periods. Ionograms from two different stations, Hainan (19.4N, 109E) and El Arenosillo (37.1N, -6.7E), obtained during the month of July 2002 (average sunspot number: 99.6) during geomagnetic quiet conditions (Ap-index between 9 and 15) are analyzed. The profiles obtained with two different inversion techniques with different options are used together with the ray tracing program of the Proplab-Pro software. This program calculates the features of the received signal as angle of arrival, path length, height of reflection and range for each given profile assumed to define a spherically symmetric ionosphere in the region along the path. For each ionospheric condition (location, day, hour) the difference between range values obtained with Proplab-Pro program using profiles from the two techniques and the different options (POLAN no valley, POLAN valley, POLAN1-layer and NHPC) are considered.

Long-term trends in the ionosphere and upper atmosphere parameters

The first part of the paper is directed to the investigation of the practical importance of possible longterm trends in the F2-layer for ionospheric prediction models. Using observations of about 50 different ionosonde stations with more than 30 years data series of foF2 and hmF2, trends have been derived with the solar sunspot number R12 as index of the solar activity. The final result of this trend analysis is that the differences between the trends derived from the data of the individual stations are relatively large, the calculated global mean values of the foF2 and hmF2 trends, however, are relatively small. Therefore, these small global trends can be neglected for practical purposes and must not be considered in ionospheric prediction models. This conclusion is in agreement with the results of other investigations analyzing data of globally distributed stations. As shown with the data of the ionosonde station Tromso, however, at individual stations the ionospheric trends may be markedly stronger and lead to essential effects in ionospheric radio propagation. The second part of the paper deals with the reasons for possible trends in the Earth’s atmo- and ionosphere as investigated by different methods using characteristic parameters of the ionospheric D-, E-, and F-regions. Mainly in the F2-region different analyses have been carried out. The derived trends are mainly discussed in connection with an increasing greenhouse effect or by long-term changes in geomagnetic activity. In the F1-layer the derived mean global trend in foF1 is in good agreement with model predictions of an increasing greenhouse effect. In the E-region the derived trends in foE and h´E are compared with model results of an atmospheric greenhouse effect, or explained by geomagnetic effects or other anthropogenic disturbances. The trend results in the D-region derived from ionospheric reflection height and absorption measurements in the LF, MF and HF ranges can at least partly be explained by an increasing atmospheric greenhouse effect.

Magnetic zenith effect and some features of the multifractal structure of the small-scale artificial ionospheric turbulence

We present the results of the experiment on studying the multifractal structure (with inhomogeneity sizes from tens to hundreds of meters across the Earth’s magnetic field) of the artificial ionospheric turbulence when the midlatitude ionosphere is affected by high-power HF radio waves. The experimental studies were performed on the basis of the “Sura” heating facility with the help of radio sounding of the disturbed region of the ionospheric plasma by signals from the Earth’s orbital satellites. The influence of the magnetic zenith effect on measured multifractal characteristics of the small-scale artificial turbulence of the midlatitude ionosphere was examined. In the case of vertical radio sounding of the disturbed ionosphere region, the measured multipower and generalized multifractal spectra of turbulence coincide well with similar multifractal characteristics of the ionospheric turbulence under natural conditions. This result is explained by the fact that the scattering of signals by weak quasi-isotropic small-scale inhomogeneities of the electron number density in a thick layer with a typical size of several hundred kilometers above the region of reflection of high-power HF radio waves gives the major contribution to the observed amplitude fluctuations of received signals. In the case of oblique sounding of the disturbance region at small angles between the line of sight to the satellite and the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, the nonuniform structure of the small-scale turbulence with a relatively narrow multipower spectrum and small variations in the generalized multifractal spectrum of the electron number density was detected. Such a fairly well ordered structure of the turbulence is explained by the influence of the magnetic zenith effect on the generation of anisotropic small-scale artificial turbulence in a thin layer having a typical size of several ten kilometers and located below the pump-wave reflection height in the upper ionosphere.

Nighttime D-region equivalent electron density determined from tweek sferics observed in the South Pacific Region

Abstract Atmospherics or sferics that originate from lightning discharges on propagating large distances in the Earthionosphere waveguide, particularly at the night, form dispersed sferics called tweeks. Tweeks are novel diagnostic tool to monitor the nighttime D-region ionosphere. Mean equivalent electron density n em at mean tweek reflection heights h m and electron density profile have been estimated using the higher harmonic tweeks recorded in the time between 21–03 hrs LT at Suva (18.2°S, 178.3°E), Fiji, during a period March–December 2006. The values of nem vary from 29–170 cm−3 in the altitude range of about 3.5 km at h m of about 83 km. In terms of usually used exponential electron density profile, the ionospheric reference height and the exponential sharpness factor are calculated to be 83.1 km and 0.64 km−1, respectively. The scale height is calculated to be 1.9 km. Equivalent electron density profile of the nighttime lower ionosphere, using tweek method, shows lower values of electron density by about 20–45% than those obtained from the IRI-2001 model.

Advanced SuperDARN meteor wind observations based on raw time series analysis technique

The meteor observation technique based on SuperDARN raw time series analysis has been upgraded. This technique extracts meteor information as biproducts and does not degrade the quality of normal SuperDARN operations. In the upgrade the radar operating system (RADOPS) has been modified so that it can oversample every 15 km during the normal operations, which have a range resolution of 45 km. As an alternative method for better range determination a frequency domain interferometry (FDI) capability was also coded in RADOPS, where the operating radio frequency can be changed every pulse sequence. Test observations were conducted using the CUTLASS Iceland East and Finland radars, where oversampling and FDI operation (two frequencies separated by 3 kHz) were simultaneously carried out. Meteor ranges obtained in both ranging techniques agreed very well. The ranges were then combined with the interferometer data to estimate meteor echo reflection heights. Although there were still some ambiguities in the arrival angles of echoes because of the rather long antenna spacing of the interferometers, the heights and arrival angles of most of meteor echoes were more accurately determined than previously. Wind velocities were successfully estimated over the height range of 84 to 110 km. The FDI technique developed here can be further applied to the common SuperDARN operation, and study of fine horizontal structures of F region plasma irregularities is expected in the future.

Doppler observations of infrasonic waves of meteorological origin at ionospheric heights

Ionospheric effects of meteorological origin observed by the continuous HF Doppler sounder over the Czech Republic are reported in this paper. We focused on detection of waves of periods 1–10 min. We discuss the influence of dynamics and intensity of active weather systems on the occurrence of short period waves and dependence of the observed ionospheric effects on the height of reflection of the sounding radio wave. We observed 3–5 min waves during a severe weather event in summer and 2.5–4 min waves during a severe weather event in winter. We excluded possible geomagnetic origin of these oscillations by the analysis of fluctuations of the local geomagnetic field. In eight cases of 10, wave activity in the analysed period range was not significantly increased comparing to quiet days. The intensity of weather systems as well as the location of potential sources of waves towards the points of HF Doppler shift observation influence significantly the occurrence of infrasonic waves in the ionosphere. The results in Central Europe differ considerably from those previously obtained in North America. As a possible reason, we discuss different intensity and dynamics of weather systems in both regions.

A quasi-distributed temperature sensor interrogated by a wavelength-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer

In this note, we present a quasi-distributed temperature monitoring system based on the concatenation of identical low-reflective fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) and interrogated by means of an optical time-domain reflectometer (OTDR). An original wavelength-sensitive system placed before the OTDR detector is used to analyze the reflected signal. This system allows the height of the FBG reflection peaks in the OTDR trace to depend on their resonance wavelength, and therefore to the local temperature. In addition, a simple but original reference method is proposed. The configuration of the whole interrogating device is kept very basic, as a standard OTDR and some passive components are used. The cost of the overall system is therefore very limited. In this note, the wavelength-sensitive system is studied in details, as well as the reference method. Experimental results are reported.

The total solar eclipse of March 2006: overview

Abstract. This paper provides the overview of an integrated, multi-disciplinary effort to study the effects of the 29 March 2006 total solar eclipse on the environment, with special focus on the atmosphere. The eclipse has been visible over the Eastern Mediterranean, and on this occasion several research and academic institutes organised co-ordinated experimental campaigns, at different distances from eclipse totality and at various environments in terms of air quality. Detailed results and findings are presented in a number of component scientific papers included in a Special Issue of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. The effects of the eclipse on meteorological parameters, though very clear, were shown to be controlled by local factors rather than the eclipse magnitudes, and the turbulence activity near surface was suppressed causing a decrease in the Planetary Boundary Layer. In addition to the above, the decrease in solar radiation has caused change to the photochemistry of the atmosphere, with night time chemistry dominating. The abrupt "switch off" of the sun, induced changes also in the ionosphere (140 up to 220 km) and the stratosphere. In the ionosphere, both photochemistry and dynamics resulted to changes in the reflection heights and the electron concentrations. Among the most important scientific findings from the experiments undertaken has been the experimental proof of eclipse induced thermal fluctuations in the ozone layer (Gravity Waves), due to the supersonic movement of the moon's shadow, for the first time with simultaneous measurements at three altitudes namely the troposphere, the stratosphere and the ionosphere. Within the challenging topics of the experiments has been the investigation of eclipse impacts on ecosystems (field crops and marine plankton). The rare event of a total solar eclipse provided the opportunity to evaluate 1 dimensional (1-D) and three dimensional (3-D) radiative transfer (in the atmosphere and underwater), mesoscale meteorological, regional air quality and photochemical box models, against measurements.

Development of an automatic procedure to estimate the reflection height of tweek atmospherics

AbstractThis paper presents an automated procedure to estimate apparent reflection heighth(from the cutoff frequency for the first waveguide mode,fc), horizontal propagation distanced, and propagation timeTgof tweek atmospherics. Tweek data recorded at the Kagoshima Observatory (31.48°N, 130.72°E), Japan, were used to evaluate the procedure by comparing the results estimated by the automatic method to those read manually by an operator. The two types of results showed differences (automatic–manual) of +0.58 km, −9.9 Hz, and +3058.9 km for meanh,fc, andd, respectively. The difference inh(fc) was less than the resolution of the fast Fourier transform used to obtain the tweek spectra. These comparisons indicate that the automatic estimation procedure of tweek parameters developed in this paper performs well and is a useful tool for studying long-term height variations of the ionosphericDand lowerEregions using very low frequency (VLF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) records observed in Japan over the past 30 years.

Low-frequency lower E-region wind and reflection height measurements as sensor for climate variability

Abstract. Measurements of reflection heights of low-frequency (LF) radio waves at oblique incidence and estimates of mesosphere/lower thermosphere (MLT) region horizontal winds applying the D1 spaced receiver method on LF field strength registrations are analyzed with respect to possible long-term trends and interdecadal variability in the time interval from ~1980 to date. While no clear signal of mesospheric height trend is registered during the last two decades, significant trends of MLT horizontal winds are found. These trends are non-linear, in particular a change of trends around 1990 is found, which is probably connected with changes in tropospheric and stratospheric conditions at that time.

A study of VLF wave propagation characteristics in the earth-ionosphere waveguide

Abstract In the light of newly found applications for very low frequency (VLF) (3–30 kHz) measurements in the prediction of earthquakes and the detection of lightning discharges and gamma ray bursts, there has been a revival of interest in the study of VLF propagation in the earth-ionosphere waveguide. The propagation characteristics of VLF radiowaves in the earth-ionosphere waveguide critically depend upon the lower ionospheric ionization, which determines the conductivity profile of the upper boundary of the waveguide. In this context, it is potentially worthwhile to revisit the waveguide mode analysis to compute propagation parameters of long-distance VLF transmissions while taking into account different approximations to the ionospheric conductivity. We have carried out a waveguide mode analysis of 16-kHz VLF waves traveling great distances, assuming three different models for conductivity. The computational results show that at heights of less than 70 km, the change in the phase of the VLF waves due to changes in phase velocity is smaller when the ionosphere is sharply bound and assumed to have finite conductivity rather than infinite conductivity. The effect of a non-sharp or diffuse boundary at the top of the earth-ionosphere waveguide is found to cause a lowering of the height of reflection.

Classification of X-ray solar flares regarding their effects on the lower ionosphere electron density profile

Abstract. The classification of X-ray solar flares is performed regarding their effects on the Very Low Frequency (VLF) wave propagation along the Earth-ionosphere waveguide. The changes in propagation are detected from an observed VLF signal phase and amplitude perturbations, taking place during X-ray solar flares. All flare effects chosen for the analysis are recorded by the Absolute Phase and Amplitude Logger (AbsPal), during the summer months of 2004–2007, on the single trace, Skelton (54.72 N, 2.88 W) to Belgrade (44.85 N, 20.38 E) with a distance along the Great Circle Path (GCP) D≈2000 km in length. The observed VLF amplitude and phase perturbations are simulated by the computer program Long-Wavelength Propagation Capability (LWPC), using Wait's model of the lower ionosphere, as determined by two parameters: the sharpness (β in 1/km) and reflection height (H' in km). By varying the values of β and H' so as to match the observed amplitude and phase perturbations, the variation of the D-region electron density height profile Ne(z) was reconstructed, throughout flare duration. The procedure is illustrated as applied to a series of flares, from class C to M5 (5×10−5 W/m2 at 0.1–0.8 nm), each giving rise to a different time development of signal perturbation. The corresponding change in electron density from the unperturbed value at the unperturbed reflection height, i.e. Ne(74 km)=2.16×108 m−3 to the value induced by an M5 class flare, up to Ne(74 km)=4×1010 m−3 is obtained. The β parameter is found to range from 0.30–0.49 1/km and the reflection height H' to vary from 74–63 km. The changes in Ne(z) during the flares, within height range z=60 to 90 km are determined, as well.

Higher harmonic tweek sferics observed at low latitude: estimation of VLF reflection heights and tweek propagation distance

Abstract. Lightning generated signals recorded at a low-latitude station, Suva (18.2° S, 178.3° E) Fiji, in the South Pacific region, during September 2003–July 2004, are used to study the propagation features and the reflection heights of tweek atmospherics in the waveguide formed by the Earth's surface and the lower ionosphere. Tweeks are observed only during the local night and the maximum harmonic (n) recorded is six. The occurrence of tweeks with higher n progressively decreases as n increases. The dispersed part of tweeks decreases as n increases. The attenuation factor has been calculated for tweeks with n=1–3. The ionospheric reflection heights obtained assuming the transverse magnetic mode of propagation for tweek signals vary from 83–92 km. A higher harmonic of the same tweek is reflected from about 2.0 km higher than the lower harmonic. For 90% of tweeks, propagation distances are estimated to be between 1000–5000 km. Tweeks with lower n propagate longer distances than the tweeks with higher n.

Influence of stratospheric ozone changes on long-term trends in the meso- and lower thermosphere

As predicted by model calculations, long-term changes in the stratospheric ozone content should influence trends in the meso- and thermosphere also. These predictions have been tested by means of ionospheric reflection height data in the low-frequency (LF) range and critical frequency data series of the ionospheric E layer, foE, observed at different stations around the world. It was shown that an essential part of the derived trends in the mesosphere and in the lower thermosphere is correlated with long-term changes of the atmospheric ozone content. During the sub-interval with the strongest ozone decrease (1979–1995) the detected ionospheric trends are most pronounced. Additionally was also demonstrated that the longitudinally dependent ozone trends are related to similar variations in the foE trends.

Investigation of precursory phenomena in the ionosphere, atmosphere and groundwater before large earthquakes of M > 6.5

Investigation of precursory phenomena in the ionosphere, atmosphere and groundwater before large earthquakes of M > 6.5

Observations of the F3-layer at equatorial region during 2005

The existence of the F3-layer has been observed at Brazilian equatorial stations. This paper reports on a 1-year observations at Parit Raja, Malaysia (Lat. 1°52′N, Long. 103°48′E). The greatest number of appearances of the F3-layer is around local noon while the least is after local dawn. Its occurrence is more pronounced during winter and the equinoxes. The mean height of reflection for the layer is about 600 km reaching a maximum of about 900 km during the winter of 2004/2005. It is seen that the critical frequency of the F2-layer decreases with the appearance of the F3-layer.