Nighttime Equatorial Ionosphere Research Articles

Virtual Reflection Height of Nighttime Equatorial Ionosphere Estimated With Low‐Frequency Magnetic Sferics Measured in Malacca

AbstractThe return stroke of cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning is an impulsive radiator of very low‐frequency/low‐frequency (VLF/LF) electromagnetic signals allowing for the remote sensing of lower ionosphere over large spatial coverage. In this study, we examined the LF magnetic fields measured in Malacca, Malaysia, to probe reflection heights of the lower ionosphere near the equator on three different nights in 2021. The results show that the virtual ionospheric height at nighttime typically ranged from 82.0 to 90.0 km, with a mean value of 85.3 km. Our measurements also revealed significant variations in the virtual ionospheric height across different regions over a spatial scale of about 800 km. The maximum height difference was about 5.0 km. Moreover, the fluctuation characteristics are observed in both estimated ionospheric height and calculated peak reflection ratio during similar periods. This fluctuation may be related to atmospheric gravity waves in the nighttime ionosphere. In addition, we compared the virtual ionospheric height estimated from CG strokes of different polarities, and the results showed that the virtual reflection height for positive CG strokes is lower than that for negative ones.

Occurrence pattern of large-scale ionospheric irregularities over Ilorin, Nigeria - During solar cycle 24

Ionospheric plasma density irregularities are regular features of the nighttime equatorial ionosphere especially around solar maximum. These irregularities exist in different scales ranging from small sizes of meters to very large scales of hundreds of kilometers and are responsible for the scintillation of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) signals. Occurrence of these irregularities poses serious danger to GNSS signals and their applications. It is therefore necessary to continuously study their occurrence pattern and the severity of their effects on radio signals when new data are available. GNSS data for the whole of solar cycle 24 for Ilorin, Nigeria (Lat. = 8.48 °N, Long. = 4.67 °E, Dip = 4.1 °S) acquired using dual frequency GPS receiver (GPStation-2) and Novatel GISTM receiver (GPStation-6) were used to study the trend of large-scale irregularities. The indices used are the rate of change of TEC Index (ROTI) and ROTI average (ROTIAVE) obtained from 30 s RINEX data. The results showed two peaks in the level and frequency of occurrence of large-scale irregularities at Ilorin - one in March and the other in September. The level and frequency of occurrence of irregularities widened around these 2 months as the level of solar activity increases. It was observed that the frequency of occurrence is higher in March equinox than in September for all the years. Similarly, the spread of irregularities in terms of the monthly average number of satellites affected with irregularities was found to be higher in March equinox than in September during the increasing phase of the solar cycle; while during the decreasing phase, the spread for September was found to be higher than that of March. In terms of the local time of occurrence, irregularities are more pronounced between 1900 LT and 2400 LT. The level of irregularities was found to be correlated with solar indices (i.e. EUV and F10.7). A correlation study between solar indices (i.e. EUV and F10.7) with irregularities showed consistency pattern during the scintillation season i.e. during equinox. A slightly higher correlation values were however obtained between the level/spread of irregularities and EUV compared to that with F10.7.

Westward Plasma Drifts in the Nighttime Equatorial Ionosphere During Severe Magnetic Storms: A New Type of Penetration Electric Fields Caused by Subauroral Polarization Stream

AbstractPenetration electric fields during geomagnetic storms have important effects on the equatorial ionospheric electrodynamics. Previous studies focus on the vertical ion drifts, corresponding to electric fields in the zonal direction, in the equatorial ionosphere. In this study, we analyze the characteristics of the zonal ion drifts in the equatorial region measured by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites during 10 severe magnetic storms with a minimum Dst < −200 nT in the solar maximum years of 2000–2003. It is found that the net change of the equatorial zonal ion drifts caused by magnetic storms is westward and can reach 200–300 m s−1 in the evening sector and that the westward ion drifts remain in the same direction during both the storm main and recovery phases. The storm‐induced zonal ion drifts are highly correlated with the Dst index, and the correlation coefficient between the average zonal drift and the average Dst value during the 10 storms is 0.89. The magnitude of the storm‐induced westward ion drifts is approximately linearly proportional to the Dst index in the evening sector, and on average, a change of −100 nT in Dst causes a change of −52 m s−1 in the zonal drift. The westward ion drifts caused by magnetic storms become small when Dst recovers to the range of −55 to −123 nT. A new mechanism is proposed to explain the generation of the westward plasma drifts in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. This new mechanism is that the poleward electric fields associated with the subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) penetrate or extend to low latitudes, producing the westward plasma drifts in the equatorial region. The results of this study provide new insight into equatorial ionospheric electrodynamics during geomagnetic storms.

On the Nocturnal Downward and Westward Equatorial Ionospheric Plasma Drifts During the 17 March 2015 Geomagnetic Storm

AbstractDuring quiet period, the nocturnal equatorial ionospheric plasma drifts eastward in the zonal direction and downward in the vertical direction. This quiet time drift pattern could be understood through dynamo processes in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. The present case study reports the nocturnal simultaneous occurrence of the vertically downward and zonally westward plasma drifts over the Indian latitudes during the geomagnetic storm of 17 March 2015. After ~17:00 UT (~22:10 local time), the vertical plasma drift became downward and coincided with the westward zonal drift, a rarely observed feature of low latitude plasma drifts. The vertical drift turned upward after ~18:00 UT, while the zonal drift became eastward. We mainly emphasize here the distinct bipolar type variations of vertical and zonal plasma drifts observed around 18:00 UT. We explain the vertical plasma drift in terms of the competing effects between the storm time prompt penetration and disturbance dynamo electric fields. Whereas, the westward drift is attributed to the storm time local electrodynamical changes mainly through the disturbance dynamo field in addition to the vertical Pedersen current arising from the spatial (longitudinal) gradient of the field aligned Pedersen conductivity.

Substorm Overshielding Electric Field at Low Latitude on the Nightside as Observed by the HF Doppler Sounder and Magnetometers

AbstractThe convection electric field increases during the growth phase of substorms, driving the DP 2 ionospheric currents at high‐to‐equatorial latitudes, intensifying the eastward equatorial electrojet (EEJ) on the dayside. During the expansion phase, the electric field is often reversed; i.e., overshielding occurs at subauroral‐to‐equatorial latitudes where the EEJ turns to the westward counterelectrojet (CEJ). In this paper, we show that the HF Doppler sounders detected the eastward overshielding electric field at low latitudes on the nightside simultaneously with the CEJ on the dayside. We also show that the overshielding often occurs during the substorm recovery due to the convection reduction, resulting in a two‐step form in both the dayside CEJ and nightside electric field. The opposite direction of the electric field on the dayside and nightside is consistent with the dusk‐to‐dawn potential electric field associated with the region 2 field‐aligned currents intensified by the substorm. The overshielding electric field was found to drive an eastward electrojet with appreciable magnitude in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere, which in turn causes an equatorial enhancement of the midnight positive bay.

Upwelling: a unit of disturbance in equatorial spread F

Plasma structure in the nighttime equatorial F layer, often referred to as equatorial spread F (ESF), is not uniformly distributed, either in time or in space. Observations indicate that ESF in the bottomside F layer takes the form of patches; plasma structure within the F layer takes the form of localized plasma depletions, called equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which tend to occur in clusters. Another observed feature is an upwelling, which has been described as a localized, upward modulation of isodensity contours in the bottomside F layer. Interestingly, zonal widths of ESF patches, EPB clusters, and upwellings are similar. Moreover, all display an east-west asymmetry. The objective of this paper is to show, for the first time, that an ESF patch is the bottomside counterpart of an EPB cluster, and that both are products of the electrodynamical process that takes place within an upwelling. The process can be described as having three phases: (1) amplification of upwelling amplitude during the post-sunset rise of the F layer, (2) launching of the first EPB of the evening, from crest of the upwelling, and (3) structuring of plasma within the upwelling. Hence, an upwelling, whose presence is responsible for the formation of ESF patches and EPB clusters, can be envisioned as a unit of disturbance that occurs in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere.

Electrostatic reconnection in the ionosphere

AbstractPostsunset equatorial plasma bubble merging is examined using the National Research Laboratory code SAMI3/equatorial spread F. It is found that bubbles merge through an “electrostatic reconnection” process. As multiple bubbles develop, the electrostatic potential associated with one bubble can connect with that of a neighboring bubble: this provides a pathway for the low‐density plasma in one bubble to flow into the adjoining bubble and merge with it. Additionally, high‐speed plasma channels (approximately greater than hundreds of meters per second) can develop during the merging process. Optical data is presented of equatorial plasma bubble evolution that suggests bubble merging occurs in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere.

Phase and coherence analysis of VHF scintillation over Christmas Island

Abstract. This short paper presents phase and coherence data from the cross-wavelet transform applied on longitudinally separated very high frequency (VHF) equatorial ionospheric scintillation observations over Christmas Island. The phase and coherence analyses were employed on a pair of scintillation observations, namely, the east-looking and west-looking VHF scintillation monitors at Christmas Island. Our analysis includes 3 years of peak season scintillation data from 2008, 2009 (low solar activity), and 2011 (moderate solar activity). In statistically significant and high spectral coherence regions of the cross-wavelet transform, scintillation observations from the east-looking monitor lead those from the west-looking monitor by about 20 to 60 (40 ± 20) min (most frequent lead times). Using several years (seasons and solar cycle) of lead (or lag) and coherence information of the cross-wavelet transform, we envisage construction of a probability model for forecasting scintillation in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere.

Waveguide radio-wave propagation in the equatorial ionosphere according to the Interkosmos-19 data

Additional strongly remote (up to 2000 km) radio-signal reflection traces on Intercosmos-19 ionograms obtained in the equatorial ionosphere have been considered. These traces, as a rule, begin at frequencies slightly lower than the main trace cutoff frequencies, which indicates that an irregularity with a decreased plasma density exists here. The waveguide stretched along the magnetic-field line is such an inhomogeneity in the equatorial ionosphere. The ray tracing confirm that radio waves propagate in a waveguide and make it possible to determine the typical waveguide parameters: −δNe ≥ 10%, with a diameter of 15–20 km. Since the waveguide walls are smooth, an additional trace is always recorded distinctly even in the case in which main traces were completely eroded by strong diffusivity. Only one additional trace (of the radio signal X mode) is usually observed one more multiple trace is rarely recorded. Waveguides can be observed at all altitudes of the equatorial ionosphere at geomagnetic latitudes of ±40°. The formation of waveguides is usually related to the formation of different-scale irregularities in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere, which result in the appearance of other additional traces and spread F.

Relationship between plasma bubbles and density enhancements: Observations and interpretation

AbstractPlasma bubbles are regions of depleted plasma density in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. Plasma enhancements, also referred as plasma blobs, are regions where the plasma density is increased. It has not been well understood whether and how plasma enhancements are related to plasma bubbles. In this paper, we present the observations of plasma bubbles and enhancements by the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite during 2008 and 2009. In some cases, C/NOFS first detected plasma bubbles near the magnetic equator and then plasma enhancements at the same longitudes but at higher latitudes during subsequent orbits. In other cases, C/NOFS first detected plasma enhancements at off‐equatorial locations and then plasma bubbles near the magnetic equator at the same longitudes. It is also found that plasma enhancements existed just above plasma depletions. We propose a unified scenario to describe the evolution of plasma bubbles and the formation of plasma enhancements. In the proposed scenario, plasma enhancements can occur at different latitudes and altitudes during the early, intermediate, and late stages of the bubble evolution. This scenario provides a reasonable explanation of the observations.

Electron temperature enhancements in nighttime equatorial ionosphere under the occurrence of plasma bubbles

Simultaneous in-situ measurements of electron density and temperature in the nighttime equatorial region were performed by a rocket experiment launched under solar minimum and geomagnetic quiet conditions from the station of Alcântara (2.24°S; 44.24°W), Brazil, on Dec. 18, 1995, 21:17 LT. These measurements detected during the upleg flight a large overheated area around the base of density profile. The presence of plasma bubbles was revealed during the downleg phase, as well as temperature enhancements detected preferentially at altitudes where plasma depletions are found. It was assumed that the region traversed by the rocket during the downleg was preceded before the bubble's onset by a large overheating as observed during the upleg flight. Analyzing this framework under the light of the Global Self-Consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Protonosphere (GSM TIP), as well as a 2D numerical code that simulate the growth of an instability and the evolution of thermal energy inside a bubble, we found that despite an overheated area in the F-region bottomside can disturb the electron density profile around the altitude interval where such heat is deposited, it seems not have a direct influence over parameters responsible for the bubble onset. Additionally, the phenomenon of the intra-bubble thermal enhancement could be formed due to the convection of hot-electron fluid transported from the overheated region surrounding the base of the F-region to upper altitudes by the underlying mechanism of bubble generation.

Sporadic structures in the equatorial ionosphere inferred from radio occultation data on satellite-to-satellite paths

We analyze characteristics of sporadic layers in the equatorial ionosphere using the results of radio occultation sounding on the paths between GPS satellites and the CHAMP low-orbiting satellite during the solar flare in October–November 2003. Variations in the amplitude and phase of signals during the lower-ionosphere sounding are studied. It is shown that the use of amplitude and phase data allows one to obtain parameters of the sporadic ionospheric structures. The data on the occurrence frequency, height, thickness, and intensity of the Es layers in the daytime and nighttime equatorial ionosphere are presented.

Theoretical relationship between maximum value of the post‐sunset drift velocity and peak‐to‐valley ratio of anomaly TEC

Theoretical study of electron density distribution in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere shows that linear relationships with statistically significant correlation coefficients exist between the maximum value of the post‐sunset plasma drift velocity and the peak‐to‐valley ratio of anomaly TEC. The study is based on the low‐latitude density model of Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the obtained relationships are valid for the longitudinal sector of Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar whose drift velocity measurements are used. The significance of this finding lies in the fact that the maximum value of the post‐sunset vertical plasma drift velocity is an important parameter for determining both the intensity and the latitudinal distribution of equatorial scintillation. When the parameter is not available from any direct measurement, the linear relationships may be used to estimate it from the measured peak‐to‐valley ratio of anomaly TEC.

IONOSPHERIC OBSERVATION USING KOREAN SATELLITES

We report the results of the ionospheric measurement obtained from the instruments on board the Korea Multi-Purpose Satellite - 1 (KOMPSAT-l). We observed a deep electron density trough in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere during the great magnetic storm on 15 July 2000. We attribute the phenomena to the up-lifted F-layer caused by the enhanced eastward electric field, while the spacecraft passed underneath the layer. We also present the results of our statistical study on the equatorial plasma bubble formation. We confirm the previous results regarding its seasonal and longitudinal dependence. In addition, we obtain new statistical results of the bubble temperature variations. The whole data set of measurement for more than a year is compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). It is seen that the features of the electron density and temperature along the magnetic equator are more prominent in the KOMPSAT-l observations than in the IRI model.

Nighttime equatorial ionosphere: GPS scintillations and differential carrier phase fluctuations

The presence of scintillation‐producing irregularities in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere, in the path of Global Positioning System (GPS) signals received at an equatorial station, causes dual‐frequency measurements of the differential carrier phase of GPS L1 and L2 signals to have a contribution from phase scintillations on the two signals. Dual‐frequency data for fluctuations in the total electron content (TEC) along the path of GPS signals to the equatorial station Ancon (1.5° dip), sampled at a rate of 1 Hz, are used to separate this contribution from the slower TEC variations. Rapid fluctuations in the differential carrier phase, usually on timescales < 100 s, which result from diffraction, are seen to follow the pattern of intensity scintillations on the L1 signal. Intensity scintillations are also related to the variations in TEC which arise from density fluctuations associated with ionospheric irregularities. An approximate version of the transport‐of‐intensity equation, based on a phase screen description of the irregularities, suggests that a quantitative measure of intensity scintillations may be provided by the derivative of rate of change of TEC index (DROTI), obtained from the second derivative of TEC. This equation also yields the dependence of the scaling factor between DROTI and S4 on the Fresnel frequency. Comparison of DROTI computed from relative TEC data to corresponding S4 indices indicates that there may be lesser uncertainity in a quantitative relation between the two than between the index ROTI, introduced in recent years, and S4. Power spectral analysis of TEC fluctuations and simultaneous intensity scintillations on L1 signal, recorded at Ancon, does not indicate any simple dependence of the scaling factor between DROTI and S4 on the spectral characteristics.

Effects of solar activity variations on adiabatic heating and cooling effects in the nighttime equatorial topside ionosphere

Data from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program are used to examine solar activity variations in ion temperature measured near 800 km altitude across the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. Evidence for ion cooling and heating by adiabatic expansion and compression are seen during high and moderate solar activity conditions. It is found that these effects are strongly dependent on the location of the O+/H+ transition height. During high solar activity a high transition height moves the region of maximum cooling at the dip equator well above 800 km. The region of maximum heating, however, appears in the winter hemisphere near 800 km, where strong longitude variability is seen, owing to the effects of F region neutral winds. During moderate solar activity conditions the transition height is lowered, bringing the region of maximum cooling closer to 800 km altitude. However, the cooling process is not as strong as that seen during high solar activity periods. The heating effects are also lowered during moderate solar activity periods. At 800 km altitude, only relatively small temperature peaks are seen in the winter hemisphere, closer to the dip equator than those seen during high solar activity periods.

Effects of molecular ions on the Rayleigh–Taylor instability in the night-time equatorial ionosphere

In view of composition measurements in the night-time equatorial ionosphere, the role of molecular ions on the collisional Rayleigh–Taylor instability is examined using a linear perturbation analysis and a growth rate expression in the presence of double-ion species is obtained. The expression reveals that the growth rate depends on the number densities of both the ion species. This is in contrast to a single ionic constituent wherein the growth rate is independent of number density. The numerical calculation under realistic conditions reveals that the growth rate of the instability reduces with the introduction of the second dominant ion species and never exceeds the growth rate corresponding to a single ionic constituent. Further, the growth of the plasma instability is feasible even when the scale length of the second dominant ion is negative.

Generalized Rayleigh‐Taylor instability in the presence of time‐dependent equilibrium

Plasma instability under the combined influence of the gravity and an eastward electric field, commonly referred to as the generalized Rayleigh‐Taylor instability, is considered for a time‐dependent equilibrium situation. In the nighttime equatorial ionosphere the time‐dependent equilibrium situation arises because of the vertically upward E0 × B0 drift of the plasma in conjunction with the altitude‐dependent recombination process and the collisional diffusion process. After determining the time‐dependent equilibrium density and, in particular, the inverse density gradient scale length L−1, which determines the growth rate of the instability, the stability of small‐amplitude perturbations is analyzed. The general solution of the problem, where the effects of all of the above‐mentioned processes are included simultaneously, requires numerical analysis. In this paper the effects are studied in limiting situations for which useful analytic solutions can be obtained. The effect of diffusion on L−1 is studied by neglecting both the upward plasma drift and the altitude variation of the recombination frequency νR, and it is verified that the effect is negligible for typical values of the ionospheric parameters. The effects of the other two processes on L−1 are studied by neglecting diffusion. The effect of the altitude variation of νR on the linear growth of the perturbations is studied by adopting the so‐called local approximation. It is found that the value of L−1 and hence the value of the growth rate are enhanced by the altitude variation of νR. The enhancements rapidly increase with time to large values at lower altitudes and to significant values at higher altitudes when compared with the values for the spatially uniform νR case. Consequently, the time evolution of the instability and, more importantly, the level of fluctuations at saturation will be significantly affected by the enhancements. The nonlocal aspect of the instability in the upward drifting plasma is studied by neglecting, for the sake of obtaining a closed form analytic solution, both the altitude dependence of νR and the thermal effects. It is shown that to a very good approximation, the unstable modes are localized in the vertical direction with localization distance ∝λ1/2, where λ is the wavelength of the mode, and that the localized mode, while it grows in time, drifts vertically upward with the same speed as the upward drifting plasma. In view of the result that the altitude variation of νR significantly enhances the local growth of the perturbations, it should be retained in the nonlocal analysis; in which case, the appropriate differential equations have to be solved numerically.

In situ observations of bifurcation of equatorial ionospheric plasma depletions

Vector electric field measurements from the San Marco D satellite are utilized to investigate the bifurcation of ionospheric plasma depletions (sometimes called “bubbles”) associated with nightside equatorial spread F. These depletions are identified by enhanced upward ExB convection in depleted plasma density channels in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere. The in situ determination of the bifurcation process is based on dc electric field measurements of the bipolar variation in the zonal flow, westward and eastward, as the eastbound satellite crosses isolated signatures of updrafting plasma depletion regions. We also present data in which more complicated regions of zonal velocity variations appear as the possible result of multiple bifurcations of updrafting equatorial plasma bubbles.

Role of vertical winds on the Rayleigh-Taylor mode instabilities of the night-time equatorial ionosphere

In view of the recent observations on the presence of vertical winds in the equatorial ionosphere in the evening and night-time, the role of vertical winds in the Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) mode instability has been re-examined. The mathematical treatment of Chiu and Straus, earlier developd for a case of horizontal winds, is extended to evaluate the role of vertical winds in causing the R-T mode instability. It is shown that the vertical (downward) winds of small magnitude have a very significant effect on the instability growth rate in the. F-region. A downward wind of l m s −1 can cause the same growth rate as a 200 m s −1 eastward wind at 260 km altitude. Furthermore, a downward wind of 16m s −1 at 300 km can be as effective as that due to the gravitational drift itself. Similarly, an upward wind can inhibit the instability on the bottomside of the F-region. It appears that the polarity of the vertical winds (upward or downward) at the base of the F-layer plays an important role in the growth of the R-T mode plasma instability in the equatorial ionosphere.