Variations Of Ionospheric Electron Density Research Articles

Early Detection of Tonga volcanic-eruption from Internal Gravity Wave effects on ionosphere, using satellite geodetic techniques

The occurrence of some natural hazards in the troposphere may lead to creation of Internal Gravity Waves (IGWs). These waves transfer energy from the lower troposphere to upper layers, and to the ionosphere. When these IGWs reach the ionosphere, they create significant variations in the ionospheric parameters. Therefore, they have considerable effects on performance of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers. In this study, we used double-frequency measurements of GNSS ground-based stations from GEONET network in New Zealand to detect the IGWs created by the tsunami induced from the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption. In addition to GNSS measurements, FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 (F7/C2) data, and SWARM data were also used to study these IGWs. It is known that many of the IGWs have horizontal phase speeds faster than that of the tsunami. As the volcanic-originated IGWs spread in cone-shape pattern, it is possible to detect these fast IGWs in the ionosphere earlier than the tsunami waves, reaching the tide gauges or DART buoys. In our study, we could detect the first IGWs at the New Zealand GNSS stations, two hours earlier than the first registration of the tsunami waves at tide gauges and DART buoys near the New Zealand peninsula, which is located approximately 1.600 km from the Tonga Volcano. It can be concluded that IGWs can be used to warn tsunamis faster than the current early-warning systems, which make use of tide gauges and DART buoys. Furthermore, the spatial variations in ionospheric electron density (IED) were investigated using F7/C2 RO data. The results show that the volcanic-originated IGWs cause reduction in the IED peak value and altitude. The results of IED derived from F7/C2 and SWARM were in good agreement.

Doppler variations in radar observations of resident space objects: Likely ionospheric Pc1 plasma waves

Radars performing observations of resident space objects (RSO) measure Doppler variations in wave events of several minutes duration, with frequencies in the 0.2–1 Hz range peaking near 0.5–0.7 Hz, consistent with variations in electron density induced by waves in the intervening ionosphere. The two mid-latitude radars used were a Very High Frequency (VHF) radar operating at 55 MHz, and a High Frequency (HF) radar operating at 30 MHz, both in southern Australia.The VHF radar wave observations exibited a peak in wave occurrence in the post-dawn sector (0600–1200 local solar time). The seasonal occurrence of the waves had a strong minimum during winter compared with the other seasons. Comparison between observations in 2018/19 (near solar minimum) and 2021/22 (mid-rise to cycle 25 peak) suggests wave occurrence is anti-correlated with sunspot number and hence with EUV and ionospheric strength. Generally the waves had higher frequencies during night than day, and low sunspot number than mid solar cycle, when there was a weaker ionosphere.Given the oscillation frequency of the wave events, the most likely geophysical phenomena that is consistent with the observations are electro-magnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) plasma waves in the Pc1 (0.2–5 Hz) frequency range. No other candidate geophysical disturbance appears to fit the wave characteristics. The majority of geomagnetic field-guided transverse Pc1 EMICWs project from the outer magnetosphere down onto the polar ionosphere, where they can convert to compressional fast-mode waves propagating parallel to the Earths surface in the ionospheric F2 layer waveguide, both equatorwards to mid-latitudes and polewards. It is likely the majority of the Doppler oscillations in the Pc1 frequency range observed by the radars at mid-latitudes are these ducted compressional waves. However, sources of transverse EMICWs from the magnetosphere onto the mid-latitude ionosphere do exist, and these may cause some of the observed oscillations. The micro-physics of these compressional waves causing Doppler oscillations in radio observations is not inconsistent with the history of ionospheric Doppler measurements and theory, although the radar trans-ionospheric radio propagation and the observed waves being higher frequency than previous studies is different.If the observed Doppler oscillations are compressional EMICW in the ionospheric waveguide then several of the statistical results can be explained. The anti-correlation of the wave occurrence with sunspot number (and resultant ionospheric strength) can be attributed to lower ionospheric attenuation at the higher latitudes, between where geomagnetically field-guided transverse EMIC waves initially enter the high-latitude ionospheric waveguide from the magnetosphere above, and their observation at mid-latitudes. The observation of higher frequency waves during low sunspot number may also be explained by a source effect in the magnetosphere that preferentially selects the higher frequency field-guided transverse EMIC waves to propagate down to the ionosphere.Comparisons will be shown with results from ground and space based magnetometers of compressional waves in the waveguide, highlighting consistent results and areas where the measurement techniques differ. Theory suggests the radar Doppler measurements are far more sensitive to variations in in-situ ionospheric electron density than magnetic field variations. This agrees with existing literature which highlights the very strong contribution from the compressional component. Theory also suggests that the Doppler sensitivity of a radar to ionospheric electron density variations is frequency dependent, with lower frequencies being more sensitive. This is borne out by the measurements, with the HF radar being more sensitive than the VHF radar.

2‐D Total Electron Content and 3‐D Ionospheric Electron Density Variations During the 14 October 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse

AbstractThis study investigates the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) responses in the 2‐D spatial domain and electron density variations in the 3‐D spatial domain during the annular solar eclipse on 14 October 2023, using ground‐based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations, a novel TEC‐based ionospheric data assimilation system (TIDAS), ionosonde measurements, and satellite in situ data. The main results are summarized as follows: (a) The 2‐D TEC responses exhibited distinct latitudinal differences. The mid‐latitude ionosphere exhibited a more substantial TEC decrease of 25%–40% along with an extended recovery time of 3–4 hr. In contrast, the equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere experienced a smaller TEC reduction of 10%–25% and a faster recovery time of 20–50 min. The minimal eclipse effect was observed near the northern equatorial ionization anomaly crest region. (b) The ionospheric electron density variations during the eclipse were effectively reconstructed by TIDAS data assimilation in the 3‐D domain, providing important altitude information with validity. (c) The ionospheric electron density variations showed a notable altitude‐dependent feature. The eclipse led to a substantial electron density reduction of 30%–50%, with the maximum depletion occurring around the ionospheric F2‐layer peak height (hmF2) of 250–350 km. The post‐eclipse recovery of electron density exhibited a relatively slower pace near the F2‐layer peak height than that at lower and higher altitudes.

Space-based GNSS radio signals to investigate ionospheric plasma changes preceding the 2016 Al Hoceima-Morocco earthquake, Mw=6.4

This paper examines abrupt variations in ionospheric electron density preceding the Al Hoceima earthquake (January 25th, 2016, Mw = 6.4, Northern Morocco). The observed anomalous behavior in the F2-ionospheric region, at about 350 km altitude, raises the possibility of a connection with impending seismic activity of moderate-to-great magnitude, supporting the hypothesis that Total Electron Content (TEC) variations could serve as potential earthquake precursors. For this purpose, we have exploited one of the main ionospheric keys, TEC, through a network of over one hundred dual-frequency Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GPS/GNSS) receivers. Through calculation algorithms based on spherical harmonic analysis of GPS/GNSS Observation-Navigation data, we were able to produce local ionospheric maps to restore the GPS-TEC signal and investigate potential ionospheric disturbances associated with this shallow-focus and strong earthquake. Since the ionospheric TEC is a function of the variability and dynamics of the Earth’s ionosphere, mainly time-space and solar-geomagnetic activities, we had to consider each of these disturbing factors separately. In fact, the seismic zone of Al Hoceima (Morocco, North Africa), at about 35°N latitude, belongs to the region of low geographical latitudes. In such regions the variations of the ionospheric layer are slight. Moreover, during the earthquake preparation period, space weather conditions exhibited a calm state characterized by low solar activity and the absence of geomagnetic storms. The adequate effects of these physical conditions allow us, through wavelet transform, to emerge solely signatures of earthquake-related ionospheric disturbances. Based on the seismo-ionospheric combination model, we have highlighted some ionospheric electron density irregularities that decreased abnormally, near the epicenter several days prior to the 2016 Al Hoceima main event. From these findings, we can state that such research provides a promising approach for predicting earthquakes through large fluctuations in the ionized shell of the Earth’s atmosphere, thereby offering the prospect of a life-saving seismic alarm.

The Correlation between Ionospheric Electron Density Variations Derived from Swarm Satellite Observations and Seismic Activity at the Australian–Pacific Tectonic Plate Boundary

Swarm electron density (Ne) observations from the Langmuir probe (LP) can detect ionospheric disturbances at the altitude of a satellite. Along-track satellite observations provide a large number of very short observations of different places in the ionosphere, where Ne is disturbed. Moreover, different perturbations occupy various Ne signal frequencies. Therefore, such short signals are more recognizable in two dimensions, where aside from their change in time, we can observe their diversity in the frequency domain. Spectral analysis is an essential tool applied here, as it enables signal decomposition and the recognition of composite patterns of Ne disturbances that occupy different frequencies. This study shows a high-resolution application of short-term Fourier transform (STFT) to Swarm Ne observations in the Papua New Guinea region in the vicinity of earthquakes, tsunamis, and related general seismic activity. The system of tectonic plate junctions, including the Pacific–Australian boundary, is located orthogonally to Swarm track footprints. The selected wavelengths of seismically induced ionospheric disturbances detected via Swarm are compared with the three sets of three-month records of seismic activity: in the winter solstice of 2016/2017, when seismic activity was highest, and in the summer solstice and vernal equinox of 2016, which were calmer. Moreover, more Swarm data records are analyzed at the same latitudes for validation purposes, in a place where there are no tectonic plate boundaries that are orthogonal to the Swarm orbital footprint. Additional validation is supplied through Swarm Ne observations from completely different latitudes, where the Swarm orbital footprint orthogonally crosses a different subducting plate boundary. Aside from the seismic energy, the solar radio flux (F10.7), equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), and geomagnetic ap and Dst indices are also reviewed here. Their influence on the ionospheric Ne is also found in Swarm observations. Finally, the Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC), applied to the pairs of 3-month time series created from Swarm Ne variations, seismic energy, ap, Dst, and F10.7, summarizes the graphical inspection of mutual correlations. It points to the predominant correlation of Swarm Ne disturbances with seismicity, especially during nighttime. We show that most of the Ne disturbances at a selected wavelength of 300 km correlate more with seismicity than with geomagnetic and solar indices. Therefore, Swarm LP can be assessed as being capable of observing the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) from the orbit.

3-D Ionospheric Electron Density Variations during the 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse: A Revisit

This paper studies the three-dimensional (3-D) ionospheric electron density variation over the continental US and adjacent regions during the August 2017 Great American Solar Eclipse event, using Millstone Hill incoherent scatter radar observations, ionosonde data, the Swarm satellite measurements, and a new TEC-based ionospheric data assimilation system (TIDAS). The TIDAS data assimilation system can reconstruct a 3-D electron density distribution over continental US and adjacent regions, with a spatial–temporal resolution of 1∘× 1∘ in latitude and longitude, 20 km in altitude, and 5 min in universal time. The combination of multi-instrumental observations and the high-resolution TIDAS data assimilation products can well represent the dynamic 3-D ionospheric electron density response to the solar eclipse, providing important altitude information and fine-scale details. Results show that the eclipse-induced ionospheric electron density depletion can exceed 50% around the F2-layer peak height between 200 and 300 km. The recovery of electron density following the maximum depletion exhibits an altitude-dependent feature, with lower altitudes exhibiting a faster recovery than the F2 peak region and above. The recovery feature was also characterized by a post-eclipse electron density enhancement of 15–30%, which is particularly prominent in the topside ionosphere at altitudes above 300 km.

Study on Electron Density Anomalies Possibly Related to Earthquakes Based on CSES Observations

This research examines the correlation between seismic activity and variations in ionospheric electron density (Ne) using the data from the Langmuir probe (LAP) onboard the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) during nighttime. Statistical analysis of Ms ≥ 6.8 earthquakes that occurred globally between August 2018 and March 2023 is conducted, as well as Ms ≥ 6.0 earthquakes in China during the same period, using the quartile analysis method for fixed revisiting orbits. The main conclusions are that: (1) the larger the magnitude of the earthquake, the more anomalous the phenomena that appear; (2) the anomalies on the east side of the epicenter are significantly higher than those on the west side, and the anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere are mostly distributed southward from the epicenter, while those in the Southern Hemisphere are mostly distributed northward from the epicenter; (3) anomalies appear with a higher frequency on several specific time intervals, including the day of the earthquake (likely co-seismic effect) and 2, 7, and 11 days before the earthquake (possible precursor candidates); and (4) for the 15 earthquakes of Ms ≥ 6.0 in China over the past five years, anomalous Ne mainly occurred southwest of the epicenter, with the highest frequency observed 5 days before the earthquake, and there were continuous anomalous phenomena between 9 days and 5 days before the earthquake. This study concludes that Ne, measured by CSES, can play a fundamental role in studying earthquake-related ionospheric disturbances.

Preliminary Results of the Three-Dimensional Plasma Drift Velocity at East Asian Low-Latitudes Observed by the Sanya Incoherent Scattering Radar (SYISR)

As the first advanced modular phase array incoherent scatter radar (ISR) established in the Eastern Hemisphere at low latitudes, Sanya ISR (SYISR) can measure the line-of-sight (LOS) velocity of ion drift in multiple directions, potentially yielding the spatial distribution of ionospheric plasma drift. Three beam-scanning modes are designed for plasma drift detection: meridian, zonal and cross-shaped (both meridian and zonal) plane, which will provide the distribution of plasma drift in latitude/longitude as well as altitude. The altitude profile of plasma drift and the first presented distribution of low latitude plasma drift in the meridian plane for March to May 2021 are inversed through LOS velocity using cross-shaped and meridian beam-scanning modes, respectively. A statistical correlation coefficient between the vpn and crest-to-trough ratio (CTR) of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) TEC and a case study of magnetic storm response in plasma drift show that the inversed plasma drift can be a good indicator in response to the changes in atmospheric tide and solar wind at different time scales and explain the corresponding ionospheric electron density variations at low and equatorial latitudes. This study proves that the SYISR-measured plasma drift is reliable and will play an important role in the atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetospheric coupling study in the East Asian region.

Generation of equatorial plasma bubble after the 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption

Equatorial plasma bubbles are a phenomenon of plasma density depletion with small-scale density irregularities, normally observed in the equatorial ionosphere. This phenomenon, which impacts satellite-based communications, was observed in the Asia-Pacific region after the largest-on-record January 15, 2022 eruption of the Tonga volcano. We used satellite and ground-based ionospheric observations to demonstrate that an air pressure wave triggered by the Tonga volcanic eruption could cause the emergence of an equatorial plasma bubble. The most prominent observation result shows a sudden increase of electron density and height of the ionosphere several ten minutes to hours before the initial arrival of the air pressure wave in the lower atmosphere. The propagation speed of ionospheric electron density variations was ~ 480–540 m/s, whose speed was higher than that of a Lamb wave (~315 m/s) in the troposphere. The electron density variations started larger in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere. The fast response of the ionosphere could be caused by an instantaneous transmission of the electric field to the magnetic conjugate ionosphere along the magnetic field lines. After the ionospheric perturbations, electron density depletion appeared in the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere and extended at least up to ±25° in geomagnetic latitude.

Variation on Solar Wind Parameters and Total Electron Content Over Middle‐ to Low‐Latitude Regions During Intense Geomagnetic Storms

AbstractStreams of the particle ejected from the Sun and the extreme space weather conditions like storms, high‐speed streamers (HSSs), interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), corotating interaction regions (CIRs), and interplanetary shocks (IS) termed as geomagnetic storms have massive influence in the climate and components of the Earth's upper atmosphere such as total electron content (TEC). The study of TEC helps to understand variations in ionospheric electron density during geomagnetic storms. Global ionospheric maps of TEC are a real‐time mapping of GPS observations produced by ground‐based stations. In this paper, we have analyzed three intense geomagnetic storms of the year 2015: during 16–21 March 2015 (the St. Patrick's Day storm), 21–24 June 2015, and 18–22 December 2015. We present the variations of IMF‐Bz, solar wind parameters (Vsw, Nsw, and Psw), and geomagnetic indices (AE and SYM‐H) and the variations of vertical total electron content (VTEC) using simultaneous VTEC data from 12 GPS‐TEC stations over the Indian, Australian, Brazilian, and South African regions. We describe contrast in TEC throughout the globe using global ionospheric maps at a regular 2 hr interval of UT during the three intense geomagnetic storms. Moreover, we observed that heavily TEC‐influenced areas were found to be transposing through the equatorial plane starting from eastern sectors to the western sectors. The Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and South Pacific Ocean sectors were affected flowingly. Global ionospheric maps evince that Indian and Brazilian sectors were affected heavily explaining the traveling ionospheric disturbances (TID) and equatorial anomaly as seen in those areas. The equatorial and low‐latitude regions have been mainly affected by geomagnetic storms. All these results suggested that the acute disruption of global winds (surging toward the equator from higher latitudes) and electric fields commenced from magnetosphere‐ionosphere interaction causing the severe modification in the equatorial, low‐latitude region. We also checked the cross correlation of VTEC of LCK3 station and various other stations during the period of high solar and geomagnetic activities; the correlation gradually increased with the nearby stations by latitudes in most of the cases which was another intriguing result. Thus, these results suggested that the storms were affected globally, which is why we believe that variation of TEC over various stations of the globe could turn out to be very helpful in predicting solar wind coupling with the magnetosphere‐ionosphere.

Ionosphere data assimilation modeling of 2015 St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm

AbstractThe ionospheric plasma disturbances during a severe storm can affect human activities and systems, such as navigation and HF communication systems. Therefore, the forecast of ionospheric electron density is becoming an important topic recently. This study is conducted with the ionospheric assimilation model by assimilating the total electron content observations into the thermosphere‐ionosphere coupling model with different high‐latitude ionospheric convection models, Heelis and Weimer, and further to forecast the variations of ionospheric electron density during the 2015 St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm. The forecast capabilities of these two assimilation models are evaluated by the root‐mean‐square error values in different regions to discuss its latitudinal effects. Results show the better forecast in the electron density at the low‐latitude region during the storm main phase and the recovery phase. The well reproduced eastward electric field at the low‐latitude region by the assimilation model reveals that the electric fields may be an important factor to have the contributions on the accuracy of ionospheric forecast.

Large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances using ionospheric imaging at storm time: A case study on 17 march 2013

A moderate geomagnetic storm occurred on March 17, 2013, during which large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) are observed over China by ionosondes and GPS from Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) and the International GNSS Service (IGS). Ionosonde data and computerized ionospheric tomography (CIT) technique are employed to analyze the disturbances in our study. The maximum entropy cross spectral analysis (MECSA) method is used to obtain the propagation parameters of the LSTIDs. Spatio-temporal variations of ionospheric electron density (IED) and total electron content (TEC) during this geomagnetic storm over China are investigated. Disturbance images of IED and TEC are also presented in the paper. The results show two LSTID events at about 12:00UT and 15:00UT during the main phase of the storm. Besides, the LSTIDs with a duration of 40min are detected over China. It is confirmed that the LSTIDs travel from north to south with a horizontal velocity of 400–500m/s, and moved southwestwards with a horizontal velocity of 250–300m/s, respectively.

Вариации электронной концентрации ионосферы в периоды внезапных стратосферных потеплений в Арктическом регионе

Вариации электронной концентрации ионосферы в периоды внезапных стратосферных потеплений в Арктическом регионе

Latitudinal variations and altitude profiles of ionospheric parameters: Comparison of theoretical and empirical model results

Using the global numerical upper atmosphere model (UAM), ionospheric electron density variations have been simulated for different seasons as well as low and high solar activities. The UAM results have been compared with the values obtained with IRI-2012 ionospheric model calculations. It has been shown that the UAM results are consistent with the results obtained by the IRI-2012 empirical model for middle and lower latitudes and daytime hours at both low and high solar activity levels with a discrepancy of up to 40% regardless of the season. The difference between UAM and IRI-2012 values calculated for electron density peaks at high latitudes and can be explained by the fact that the empirical model does not reproduce the main ionospheric trough. In addition, there have been large discrepancies in the altitudinal profiles of electron number density for plasmaspheric heights and low solar activity. This discrepancy can be explained by the influence of initial conditions on numerical simulation results.

GPS-based ionospheric tomography with a constrained adaptive simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique

In this paper, a constrained adaptive simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (CASART) is presented to obtain high-quality reconstructions from insufficient projections. According to the continuous smoothness of the variations of ionospheric electron density (IED) among neighbouring voxels, Gauss weighted function is introduced to constrain the tomography system in the new method. It can resolve the dependence on the initial values for those voxels without any GPS rays traversing them. Numerical simulation scheme is devised to validate the feasibility of the new algorithm. Some comparisons are made to demonstrate the superiority of the new method. Finally, the actual GPS observations are applied to further validate the feasibility and superiority of the new algorithm.

On the coupled interactions between ring current intensity and high-latitude ionospheric electron density variations

Investigations on the magnetospheric–ionospheric processes form an important element of research in the understanding of the solar–terrestrial interactions. In this work, we have investigated the linkage between the ring current intensity and the high-latitude ionospheric plasma density variations during different geomagnetic conditions. The Global Positioning System (GPS) derived Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) during 2011–2013 over high- and low-latitude stations in both the hemispheres and the symmetric ring current index (SYM-H) have been used in this study. A cross-correlation analysis performed between the variations of these two parameters during a wide range of geomagnetic conditions reveal that there is a seasonal, latitudinal and hemispherical dependence in the interrelationship between SYM-H and VTEC. The best cross-correlation between SYM-H and VTEC over both the hemispheres is obtained during equinoctial months which can be attributed to the semiannual variation of the solar wind–magnetospheric–ionospheric coupling. Summer time VTEC over southern hemisphere exhibits a better correlation with SYM-H index in comparison to that of the northern hemisphere. These results have been explained in the light of relative contributions from seasonal and hemispherical variation that exists in the ionospheric plasma. The results are striking as the correlation is found between the variation in two independent processes occurring at widely separated regions in space, namely, the ring current intensity and the behavior of ionospheric densities at high-latitudes. Season-dependent high- and low-latitude coupling of the ionospheric VTEC is observed during the disturbed geomagnetic conditions.

Grid-based representation and dynamic visualization of ionospheric tomography

Abstract. The ionosphere is a dynamic system with complex structures. With the development of abundant global navigation satellite systems, the ionospheric electron density in different altitudes and its time variations can be obtained by ionospheric tomography technique using GNSS observations collected by the continuously operating GNSS tracking stations distributed over globe. However, it is difficult to represent and analyze global and local ionospheric electron density variations in three-dimensional (3D) space due to its complex structures. In this paper, we introduce a grid-based system to overcome this constraint. First, we give the principles, algorithms and procedures of GNSS-based ionospheric tomography technique. Then, the earth system spatial grid (ESSG) based on the spheroid degenerated octree grid (SDOG) is introduced in detail. Finally, more than 400 continuously operating GNSS receivers from the International GNSS Service are utilized to realize global ionospheric tomography, and then the ESSG is used to organize and express the tomography results in 4D, including 3 spatial dimensions and time.

GNSS radio occultation (RO) derived electron density quality in high latitude and polar region: NCAR-TIEGCM simulation and real data evaluation

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based radio occultation (RO) technique has shown powerful ability in ionospheric electron density profiling in the past decade. The most frequently used Abel inversion method in electron density retrieval has some biases because of the used spherical symmetry assumption. Our previous series simulations and evaluations mainly concentrated in the middle and low latitude regions have shown some systematical bias especially in lower altitude of low latitude region. However, the RO derived electron density quality in the high latitude and polar region is rarely investigated and not quantitatively clear yet. In this study, the Abel inversion error over high latitude and polar regions are systematically investigated for the first time based on NCAR-TIEGCM simulations and real data evaluations. The TIMED data driven NCAR-TIEGCM modeled electron density during 2008 are used to simulate the COSMIC RO events. The Abel inversion error can then be estimated by comparing Abel retrievals from TIEGCM simulated occultation with the original TIEGCM simulations. The Abel inversion can reproduce the season, altitude, latitude, and local time variation patterns of electron density and auroral zone electron density nighttime enhancement well in high latitude and polar region. The Abel inversion tends to underestimate the electron density in the auroral zone and overestimate it on both the equatorward and poleward sides of the auroral zone. As simulated by the TIEGCM model, the significant relative error (>25%) mainly occurs in lower altitude (<250km) inside and around auroral zone region. Above 250km, the relative error mostly is less than 25%. Specifically, RMSE (root mean square error) of NmF2 error from simulation is ∼8.5%. The Abel error under real ionosphere situation would be worse because the ionosphere could be more complicated and noisier than the model simulation. The error distribution and its seasonal, local time and latitude variations can be explained by the spherical symmetry assumption used in the Abel inversion associated with the corresponding ionospheric electron density variations. The comparisons between PFISR and COSMIC RO electron density during 2007–2011 and some previous validation studies agree well with our simulation results. We hope these results can stimulate more studies in high latitude ionospheric research using RO data.

Reduction of electron density in the night-time lower ionosphere in response to a thunderstorm

Tropospheric thunderstorms have been reported to disturb the lower ionosphere, at altitudes of 65–90 km. The use of lightning signals from a distant mesoscale storm to probe the lower ionosphere above a small tropospheric thunderstorm reveals a reduction in ionospheric electron density in response to lightning discharges in the small storm. Tropospheric thunderstorms have been reported to disturb the lower ionosphere, at altitudes of 65–90 km, by convective atmospheric gravity waves1,2,3,4,5 and by electric field changes produced by lightning discharges6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15. Theoretical simulations suggest that lightning electric fields enhance electron attachment to O2 and reduce electron density in the lower ionosphere7,8. Owing to the low electron density in the lower ionosphere, active probing of its electron distribution is difficult16,17, and the various perturbative effects are poorly understood. However, it is now possible to probe the lower ionosphere in a spatially and temporally resolved manner by using remotely detected time waveforms of lightning radio signals4,5,18,19. Here we report such observations of the night-time ionosphere above a small thunderstorm. We find that electron density in the lower ionosphere decreased in response to lightning discharges. The extent of the reduction is closely related in time and space to the rate of lightning discharges, supporting the idea that the enhanced electron attachment is responsible for the reduction. We conclude that ionospheric electron density variations corresponding to lightning discharges should be considered in future simulations of the ionosphere and the initiation of sprite discharges.

High dynamic-range radio-interferometric images at 327 MHz

Radio astronomical imaging using aperture synthesis telescopes requires deconvolution of the point spread function as well as calibration of the instrumental characteristics (primary beam) and foreground (ionospheric/atmospheric) effects. These effects vary in time and also across the field of view, resulting in directionally-dependent (DD), time-varying gains. The primary beam will deviate from the theoretical estimate in real cases at levels that will limit the dynamic range of images if left uncorrected. Ionospheric electron density variations cause time and position variable refraction of sources. At low frequencies and sufficiently high dynamic range this will also defocus the images producing error patterns that vary with position and also with frequency due to the chromatic aberration of synthesis telescopes. Superposition of such residual sidelobes can lead to spurious spectral signals. Field-based ionospheric calibration as well as "peeling" calibration of strong sources leads to images with higher dynamic range and lower spurious signals but will be limited by sensitivity on the necessary short-time scales. The results are improved images although some artifacts remain.