Local K-index Research Articles

A statistical study of convective and dynamic instabilities in the polar upper mesosphere above Tromsø

We have studied the convective (or static) and dynamic instabilities between 80 and 100 km above Tromsø (69.6° N, 19.2° E) using temperature and wind data of 6 min and 1 km resolutions primarily almost over a solar cycle obtained with the sodium lidar at Tromsø. First, we have calculated Brunt–Väisälä frequency (N) for 339 nights obtained from October 2010 to December 2019, and the Richardson number (Ri) for 210 nights obtained between October 2012 to December 2019. Second, using those values (N and Ri), we have calculated probabilities of the convective instability (N2 < 0) and the dynamic instability (0 ≤ Ri < 0.25) that can be used for proxies for evaluating the atmospheric stability. The probability of the convective instability varies from about 1% to 24% with a mean value of 9%, and that of the dynamic instability varies from 4 to 20% with a mean value of 10%. Third, we have compared these probabilities with the F10.7 index and local K-index. The probability of the convective instability shows a dependence (its correlation coefficient of 0.45) of the geomagnetic activity (local K-index) between 94 and 100 km, suggesting an auroral influence on the atmospheric stability. The probability of the dynamic instability shows a solar cycle dependence (its correlation coefficient being 0.54). The probability of the dynamic instability shows the dependence of the 12 h wave amplitude (meridional and zonal wind components) (C.C. = 0.52). The averaged potential energy of gravity waves shows decrease with height between 81 and 89 km, suggesting that dissipation of gravity waves plays an important role (at least partly) in causing the convective instability below 89 km. The probability of the convective instability at Tromsø appears to be higher than that at middle/low latitudes, while the probability of the dynamic instability is similar to that at middle/low latitudes.Graphical

Analysis of local geomagnetic index under the influence of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) at the equatorial Phuket geomagnetic station in Thailand

The local K-index is an important proxy to monitor geomagnetic disturbances due to the solar wind in space weather study. The diurnal variation of geomagnetic fields observed in the magnetic equatorial region is dominated by the equatorial electrojet (EEJ), and the variation of EEJ is directly related to the local ionospheric dynamics; therefore, in this work, the local K-index is generated by based on the geomagnetic field measurement at an equatorial geomagnetic station in Phuket, Thailand and the effects of EEJ on the computed local K-indices are analyzed. At each station, an L9 (the lower limit for K = 9) value is set to develop a conversion table between the magnetic range scales and K-indices, and that L9 value must be assigned based on the characterization of the geomagnetic variations at that station. In this work, suitable L9 values are determined by analyzing the distributions of the local K-index and the planetary geomagnetic index, Kp-index. According to the results in the present study, the L9 value of 500 nT can provide local K-indices that can classify the geomagnetic disturbances more correctly. The results show that 40% of the local K-index is consistent with the Kp-index, and about 45% of the local K indices are ±1 deviated from Kp-indices. It is found that using the suitable L9 value can partially control the EEJ’s dominance on K-index. Moreover, we investigated the seasonal and day-to-day variability of the diurnal variation of the geomagnetic fields from the Phuket station. Upon reviewing the data, the equatorial geomagnetic field variations were consistent with the planetary geomagnetic activity levels, and the day-to-day changes of the daytime field amplitudes were relatively high in the high solar activity year and moderate in the low solar activity year.

Local K-index scales correction for the high-latitude magnetic stations

To assess the magnetic activity, various indices (numerical characteristics of the planetary and local disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field) are used. Most widely used for various purposes are the planetary Kp-index and the local K-index, proposed by Bartels. The K-index characterizes the Earth’s magnetic field disturbance in a 3-hour interval (0–3, 3–6, etc. UTC) and is defined in a range from 0 to 9 by the amplitude of the horizontal component deviation from the quiet level. K = 0 indicates the absence of geomagnetic activity, and K = 9 corresponds to a strong geomagnetic storm. The lower limit of K = 9 is the amplitude of magnetic field horizontal component variation above which the K-index is assigned the maximum value of 9. This limit is selected individually for each station, depending on its geomagnetic latitude. The latest scales of the K-indices boundaries for the Russian Arctic stations were determined in the middle of the last century and have not been corrected since then. The significant discrepancy between the K-indices calculated using these scales and the planetary Kp-index shows that they had to be refined, and in some cases, they must be re-selected. The local indices lower boundaries (K = 9) for stations in the Arctic Russian sector were determined. K-indices lower boundaries were received for the strong magnetic storm according to the IAGA procedure. It is shown that for different magnetic field horizontal component variation values K-indices for different observation points practically coincide with the Kp-index. The lower value K = 9 dependence on the observation point geomagnetic latitude is presented. This relation can be used to obtain the lower boundary of K = 9 for any magnetic station. A table with local K-index scales for Russian Arctic magnetic stations has been compiled.

Complex of Radiophysical, Geomagnetic, and Meteorological Observations (IZMIRAN), Kaliningrad Branch

Since 1964, the Kaliningrad branch of Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences (IZMIRAN) has been conducting regular observations of the parameters of the lower atmosphere, ionosphere, and variations in the Earth’s magnetic field. The base of the measuring equipment, located in Ulyanovka village, Kaliningrad region (54° N, 20° E) consists of ionosonde for the vertical sounding of the ionosphere; two-frequency GPS/GLONASS receivers, which are used to determine the total electron content in the ionosphere; magnetic variation stations for the continuous recording of variations of the three components of the Earth’s magnetic field vector and calculating the local K-index; and a weather station. The simultaneous observations of variations in the magnetic field, as well as the ionospheric and meteorological parameters in the same observatory, offer a wide range of opportunities to study the atmospheric-ionospheric relations. This article provides a brief description of all the tools, provides a method for transmitting and storing the time series of measured parameters, and also presents examples of using these data for various geophysical studies.

An empirical L-band scintillation model for a mid-latitude station, Weihai, China during the low solar activity period

Mid-latitude ionospheric scintillation has been studied in very poor proportion as compared to the equatorial and high latitude ionospheric scintillation. Mid-latitude ionospheric scintillations are often associated with either day time photo-ionization or due to the storm enhanced density. Using the phase screen model and the wave propagation theory in random media, we have identified the orientation of the ionospheric irregularities over Weihai with the local geomagnetic field. Amplitude and phase scintillation data observed using global positioning system (GPS) scintillation receiver deployed at the mid-latitude observation station Weihai, have been used along with K-index derived from the horizontal magnetic field component of the local magnetometer. The proposed model uses the scintillation indices relationship with the local K-index. We identified the scintillation dependence over local K-index during geomagnetic quiet and disturbed condition. This dependence coefficient is used on the real scintillation data for modeling. The presented scintillation model has been validated by comparing it to the real observations. The co-relation coefficient is more than 90% during the disturbed as well as quiet geomagnetic conditions.

Estimation of geomagnetic field disturbance using the wavelet transform

This paper discusses the main aspects of geomagnetic data processing using the wavelet transform. The wavelet transform is shown to be efficient for automatic extraction of unperturbed level of the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field. As a result, it becomes possible to significantly reduce the errors arising during automatic calculations of the local geomagnetic activity index (local K-index) in comparison with adaptive smoothing (KAsm is Adaptative Smoothing method) recommended by INTERMAGNET. It has been found that prior to magnetic storms, we can observe a weak rise of geomagnetic activity in different frequency bands connected with the development of an approaching storm.

Comparison of K-index Calculations between Several Geomagnetic Stations during IQDs and IDDs

BOH magnetometer was installed at Mt. Bohyun in 2007 and has provided continuous dataset for 3-axis geomagnetic field over the South Korea. We have calculated real-time K-index based on BOH magnetic field data using well-known FMI method. Local K-index is calculated eight times a day, per every three hours. To calculate K-index, it is critical to get the Quiet Day Curve (QDC). For QDC calculation, we take the previous one month’s average of H-component. In this paper, we compared four geomagnetic stations’ magnetic field data over South Korea and Japan and K-indices of each stations; Bohyun, Gangneung, Jeju, and Kakioka for two years data, 2011-2012. To investigate the difference depending on the latitude, longitude and local time in more detail, we compare K-index on International Quiet Days (IQDs) and International Disturbed Days (IDDs). As a result, we report the correlation between local K-indices are higher than those between Kp and local K-indices, and the correlation is much better after sunset than after sunrise. As the geomagnetic activity becomes stronger, the correlation between the local K-indices and global Kp-index become higher.

경주 지자기관측소 자료를 이용한 준실시간 K 지수 산출에 관한 연구

K 지수는 특정 지역에서의 지자기 변동을 나타내는 지수로서 3시간마다 결정된다. K 지수를 결정하는 알고리즘은 태양복사의 규칙적인 일변화(Sq)를 결정하는 방법에 따라 다양하다. 그 중에서 FMI 알고리즘은 K 지수를 구하고자 하는 날과 그 전 후의 1일 자료를 포함한 총 3일 동안의 지자기 수평성분(H, D) 측정 자료를 사용하여 태양복사의 규칙적인 일변화(Sq)를 구한다. 그러나 이 알고리즘은 K 지수를 구하고자 하는 날로부터 1일 후까지의 측정 자료가 필요하기 때문에 실시간으로 K 지수를 구하는 경우에는 어려움이 있다. 본 연구에서는 준실시간으로 K 지수를 구하기 위해 미국 우주환경예보센터(NOAA/SEC)에서 제공하는 과거의 전지구적 지자기 K지수(Planetary K index: Kp)를 검색하여 최근의 Kp지수가 모두 3 이하인 지자기 활동이 조용한 날을 찾고 그 날의 지자기측정 자료를 FMI 알고리즘의 3일치 입력 자료로 사용함으로써 준실시간 K 지수를 구하는 방법을 고안하였다. 이러한 방법을 검증하기 위해 우리는 2003년 1년 동안 한국지질자원연구원에서 운용하는 경주 지자기 관측소의 FLARE+ 시스템으로 측정된 자료를 사용하고 우리의 준실시간 결정 방법을 적용하여 K 지수를 구하고 이를 일반적인 FMI 알고리즘으로 구한 K지수와 서로 비교하였다. 그 결과, 우리의 방법으로 결정된 K 지수는 일반적인 방법으로 구한 K 지수와 잘 일치하였다. 또한 준실시간 결정 방법으로 구한 K 지수를 일본 Kakioka 관측소에서 결정한 K 지수와 비교한 결과 그 상관지수(R)가 0.81 정도로 높음을 확인하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 향후 한반도 지역에서의 K 지수 변동을 준실시간으로 모니터링 하는데 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. Local K-index is an indicator representing local geomagnetic activity in every 3 hour. For estimation of the local K-index, a reasonable determination of solar quiet curve (undisturbed daily variation of geomagnetic field) is quiet essential. To derive the solar quiet curve, the FMI method, which is one of representative algorithms, uses horizontal components (H and D) of 3 days magnetometer data from the previous day to the next day for a specific day. However, this method is not applicable to real time forecast since it always requires the next day data. In this study, we have devised a new method to estimate local K-index in near real-time by modifying the FMI method. The new method selects a recent quiet day whose <TEX>$K_p$</TEX> indices, reported by NOAA/SEC are all lower than 3, and replace the previous day and the next day data by the recent quiet day data. We estimated 2,672 local K indices from Gyeongzu magnetometer in 2003, and then compared the indices with those from the conventional FMI method. We also compared the K indices with those from Kakioka observatory. As a result, we found that (1) K indices from the new method are nearly consistent with those of the conventional FMI method with a very high correlation (R=0.96); (2) onr local K indices also have a relatively high correlation (R=0.81) with those from Kakioka station. Our results show that the new method can be used for near real-time estimation of local K indices from Gyeongzu magnetometer.

The influence of geomagnetic activity on the upper mesosphere lower thermosphere in the auroral zone. II. Horizontal winds

A spaced antenna partial reflection radar located at Mawson, Antarctica (67°S, 63°E, invariant latitude 70°S), has been used to measure the horizontal wind field in the height range 70–110 km. Three years of data (1985–1987) from the radar have been analysed in order to investigate correlations between geomagnetic activity (determined from the local K-index) and the horizontal wind. Results are analysed using a randomization technique and show that larger winds are measured during geomagnetically active periods in both the raw (or unfiltered) wind values and in the medium-frequency (2–6 h period) and high-frequency (1–3 h period) components. The raw winds tend to be shifted towards the geographic NW to NE quadrant in the early morning hours during high K-times. The observed correlation is seen down to 86 km and shows a seasonal dependence. The mean r.m.s. velocity of the radar scatterers and the angular spread of the return echoes are also found to be correlated with geomagnetic activity. The medium- and high-frequency components of the wind are polarized in the magnetic zonal direction during all seasons of the year.

Polar ionospheric disturbance effects on NNSS satellite positioning

From the analysis of the United States Navy navigation satellite system (NNSS) positioning data of about 10000 passes, it is clearly found that polar ionospheric disturbance affects the positioning. The positioning error increases with increasing geomagnetic disturbance level (local K-index), and the pass number of position fixes decreases by one or two per day when the K-index is large. These effects may arise from the spatial gradients of electron density and/or the radio wave scattering due to well-developed ionospheric irregularities inherent to the disturbed auroral ionosphere.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Coordinated rocket campaign on Heiss Island

The results of a rocket campaign to study the characteristics of the mesosphere and low thermosphere during auroral disturbances above Heiss Island are presented and discussed. The parameters measured by the flights are reported, including the planetary Kp index, the local K-index, the solar index F(10.7), the electron density, the neutral and ion compositions, the corpuscular fluxes, and others. Vertical profiles of the Ar/N2 density ratio as measured by mass spectrometer, and temperature profiles derived from mass spectrometer and ionization gauge data and measured by the luminescent cloud method are presented. The meriodional and zonal wind components as obtained by the luminescent cloud method are shown. Electron and proton differential fluxes were measured by two-channel spectrometer. The results show that the parameters of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere above Heiss Island depend essentially on the sector of the auroral oval and heliogeomagnetic activity.

Observations of low-frequency micropulsations at a moderate latitude

A sensitive two-component induction magnetometer was constructed for the recording of geomagnetic micropulsations at a site near 54°22′N. An analysis of micropulsations in the IAGA categories Pc3, Pc4 and Pi2 was developed for the six-month interval April–September, 1966. The occurrence probabilities and other characteristics of these micropulsations are discussed in detail. The Pc exhibit clear diurnal frequency and occurrence variations, and changes in these parameters with the local K-index have been found. The occurrence of Pi2 is also strongly dependent on local geomagnetic activity.

Observations of high-frequency micropulsations at a moderate latitude

Micropulsations in the IAGA categories Pc1, Pc2 and Pi1 were studied during the six-month interval April–September, 1966, using a two-component induction magnetometer at a site near 54° 22'N. Several micropulsation types distinct in their observational characteristics and in their 0 relation to local geomagnetic activity are discussed. A preliminary analysis is given of ‘pearl-type’ Pc1 and a new low-level continuous micropulsation Pc1, 2 is examined. The latter has an occurrence probability negatively correlated with increasing values of the local K-index. Pc2 micropulsations common during magnetically disturbed intervals are discussed, and are shown to have an occurrence probability positively correlated with increasing values of the local K-index. Regular ‘riders’ accompanying Pi2 are interpreted as being Pc2.

The morphology of the v.h.f. radio aurora at sunspot maximum—II: The behaviour of different echo types

In Part I of this paper it was shown that the radio aurora as observed at v.h.f. tended to fall in three separate spirals in geomagnetic latitude and time extending from sub-auroral latitudes to the polar cap. They were termed the E (evening), N (night) and M (morning) spirals. In this paper the behaviour of the four different radar echo types observed at 55 Mc/s from Bluff, New Zealand, is examined; it is shown that diffuse echoes are predominantly associated with the E spiral, diffuse echoes with structure and short discrete echoes with the N spiral, and long discrete echoes with the M spiral. Diffuse echoes show a number of differences from the other types, namely a closer correlation with the planetary magnetic index, Kp, than with the local K-index, and differences in seasonal behaviour. All echo types tend to persist for one to three hours once they occur.

Measurements of particle precipitation at the south pole

Data on the precipitation of low energy particles at the South Geographic Pole were acquired from instruments aboard a polar-orbiting satellite which passed 340km over the South Geographic Pole every 90 minutes during a 5-day period in October–November 1963. This particular location was unique in being both in the auroral zone and under each pass of the satellite. The particle detectors were sensitive to electrons of energies greater than 0.080 keV and protons of energies greater than 4 keV. The particles most often observed precipitating into the atmosphere were electrons of a few keV energy. The diurnal variation of the total precipitated energy flux exhibited a maximum at 10–12 hours U.T. during the period of the experiment. The particle measurements are compared with ground observations and other satellite measurements taken during the same period. The intensity of electron precipitation was better correlated with the local K-index than with K p .