Disturbances of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere caused by acoustic-gravity wave sources in the lower atmosphere

The results of observations of acoustic-gravity waves in the troposphere and the ionosphere at middle latitudes during periods of passage of the solar terminator are presented. Tropospheric observations were performed using a lidar. The frequency characteristics of variations of the tropospheric parameters are determined based on observations of the intensity of the scattered lidar signal. The characteristics of variations of the total electron content (TEC) in the atmosphere are determined from data collected by GPS navigation satellites. An analysis of the observational data showed that the spectrum of variations of the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters is indicative of acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) propagating from the lower atmosphere. Modeling studies of the vertical propagation of AGW from the Earth’s surface showed that such waves quickly (within ~15 min) reach altitudes of the upper atmosphere (~300 km). The refraction and dissipation of waves in the upper atmosphere produces perturbations of the background state of the atmosphere and gives rise to the waveguide propagation of infrasonic wave components. The observed manifestations of TEC disturbances caused by AGW propagating from the lower atmosphere can be explained by the diurnal variation of the altitude of the ionosphere and the waveguide propagation of infrasonic waves.     

Observations of Acoustic Gravity Waves during the Solar Eclipse of March 20, 2015 in Kaliningrad

Results of observations of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters during the solar eclipse of March 20, 2015 have been described. The observations have been conducted by lidar sensing in the lower atmosphere and analysis of the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere in Kaliningrad. Observations at the troposphere altitudes have been conducted using an atmospheric lidar. Ionospheric parameter TEC has been determined according to observations of navigation satellite signals. The spectral analysis of the monitored parameters during the solar eclipse has shown that, in the lower atmosphere and the ionosphere in a period range of 2–20 min, internal gravity waves (IGWs) and infrasonic waves are excited. During the main phase of the eclipse, the major contribution to variations in the parameters of the medium comes from infrasonic vibrations. Changes in the variations in the atmospheric and ionospheric parameters with IGW periods are observed only in the initial and final phases of the eclipse.     

Modeling of total electron content disturbances caused by electric currents between the Earth and the ionosphere

The results of simulation of ionospheric total electron content (TEC) caused by the electric field induced by an electric current between the Earth and the ionosphere are reported. The calculations are performed using a model of the upper atmosphere of the Earth (UAM). The equation for the electric potential in the UAM is solved by specifying vertical electric currents in a limited area of the lower boundary of the ionosphere, presumably over the epicenter of a forthcoming earthquake. The dependence of the intensity of TEC disturbances on the electric current direction, latitudinal location of the sources, and their configurations is examined. The most intense TEC disturbance are predicted when the sources are located within 30°–45° geomagnetic latitude. Simulating the concurrent action of vertical currents and compensating “return” currents uniformly distributed around the globe outside the region of “direct” currents showed no significant changes in the TEC disturbances compared with the situation where merely “direct” currents are considered. The role of the vertical and horizontal components of the electromagnetic drift of ionospheric plasma in the variations of the electron density in different areas relative to the electric current source is discussed.     

Use of total electron content maps for analysis of spatial-temporal structures of the ionosphere

The main aspects of a methodology for determining the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere from GPS observations and the principles of using two-frequency measurements of satellite signal delays in navigation systems are presented. The method developed and used at the Western Department of Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radio Waves Propagation, RAS enables to determine the absolute values of the TEC and monitor the diurnal behavior of this quantity for individual monitoring stations. The methodology for obtaining information on the spatial distribution of TEC maps of the ionosphere on the basis of an algorithm for multi-station processing of GPS observations. Using a set of algorithms and programs, regional TEC maps with a spatial resolution of 1° and a time resolution of 15 min-1 h are regularly drawn. This precision allows using TEC maps for studying the structure and dynamics of the ionosphere during different geophysical events. The results of studies of the response of the ionosphere to the solar eclipse on November 3, 2005 and the geomagnetic storms on January 22, 2012.     

Atmospheric Turbulence and Internal Gravity Waves Examined by the Method of Artificial Periodic Irregularities

A method for studying the Earth’s ionosphere at altitudes of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere based on creating artificial periodic irregularities in the ionospheric plasma by means of powerful radio waves is breafly described. Methods for determining the temperature and density of the neutral component and the velocity of vertical and turbulent motions by measuring the characteristics of the signal backscattered by the irregularities are described. The results of experiments performed on a SURA heating facility aimed at a comprehensive investigation of the natural processes occurring in the Earth’s lower ionosphere due to the propagation of atmospheric waves and turbulent phenomena are examined. Based on measurements of the amplitude and phase of the signal scattered by periodic irregularities, the most important characteristics of the neutral and plasma components of the Earth’s atmosphere at altitudes of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere are determined. Further research on the subject is discussed.     

Model study of the response of the thermosphere to perturbations of mesospheric tides and planetary waves during a sudden stratospheric warming

The results of numerical simulations of the effects of a sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) in January 2009 are examined. The calculations are performed within the framework of the Global Self-Consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Protonosphere (GSM TIP), which calculates the parameters of the neutral and charged components of the upper atmosphere. An analysis of the numerical simulation results showed that the perturbation of mesospheric tidal and planetary waves significantly affects the structure of variations of the thermosphere at altitudes below 150 km. At higher altitudes, the characteristics of planetary and tidal waves in the thermosphere are practically insensitive to the corresponding mesospheric perturbations. The calculated space–time structure of ionospheric perturbations caused by mesospheric and planetary tidal waves is in qualitative agreement with observation data. The results show that the main reason for the observed ionospheric effects is the perturbation of the electric fields in the dynamo region. However, the calculated magnitudes of the ionospheric effects produced by the SSW are at least two- to threefold weaker than the observed. It is assumed that, in order to achieve a quantitative agreement between simulation and experimental results on the ionospheric effects of the SSW, it is not enough to consider only the dynamics of planetary and tidal waves in the mesosphere. An additional source of the perturbation of the thermosphere and ionosphere during the SSW may be associated with the propagation of internal gravity waves from the lower atmosphere and their dissipation in the thermosphere.     

Simulation of seismo-ionospheric effects initiated by internal gravity waves

Experimental studies have repeatedly demonstrated that, a few days before a strong earthquake, local increases (sometimes decreases) in the electron density in the ionosphere over the epicentral area emerge. Simulations with the help of the GSM TIP (global self-consistent model “Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Protonosphere”) and UAM (Upper Atmosphere Model) models show that account of local disturbances of the zonal electric fields makes it possible to reproduce the morphology of ionospheric disturbances. However, these model experiments do not explain the formation of such ionospheric features over the epicentral area of the impending earthquake. In this paper, we propose a mechanism for the formation of ionospheric disturbances before strong earthquakes due to propagation and dissipation of small-scale internal gravity waves (IGWs) in the upper atmosphere. Using the GSM TIP model, we calculated the ionospheric parameters with account of small-scale IGWs in the near-epicenter area. It is shown that disturbances in the TEC (total electron content) predicted by calculations are in satisfactory agreement with observations from GPS (Global Position System) satellites before the strong mid-latitude earthquake in Greece on January 8, 2006.     

非球对称电离层掩星数据反演

电离层掩星数据的传统反演方法是电离层球对称假设下的Abel变换反演方法,但是实际的电离层电子密度分布不是球对称的,电离层的非球对称分布给电离层电子密度反演带来误差.发展了一种新的非球对称电离层掩星反演方法,利用国际参考电离层模型提供的三维电离层电子密度分布先验信息来修正掩星总电子含量 ,再通过球对称假设下的Abel变换反演出电离层电子密度.利用新方法反演了星座气象、电离层和气候观察系统掩星实测数据,并将得到的反演结果与电离层探测器资料进行了比较.结果表明,新方法能够较好地反演出电离层电子密度. 关键词： 电离层掩星 电子密度 国际参考电离层模型     

Earthquakes and global electrical circuit

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

Specific features of ionospheric total electron content variations in the periods of preparation of the earthquakes on March 11, 2011 (Japan) and October 23, 2011 (Turkey)

The main morphological features of variations of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere before the earthquakes on March 11, 2011 (Japan) and October 23, 2011 (Turkey) are examined. The revealed features are compared to those of ionospheric TEC disturbances observed prior to several other large seismic events, as well as to those included in a list of the most frequently observed ionospheric TEC disturbances interpreted as possible ionospheric precursors of earthquakes. It is shown that, in the periods of preparation of the earthquakes under consideration, on March 8–11 and October 20–23, abnormal ionospheric TEC disturbances were observed as long-lived structures in a near-epicentral region and in the region magnetically conjugated to it.     

Ultralow-frequency variations of the magnetic field during the propagation of acoustic-gravitaty waves in the ionosphere

The effect of the generation of ULF variations of the magnetic field during the propagation of acoustic-gravitaty waves (AGW) in the ionosphere is analyzed within a simple model. It is shown that AGW-induced ionospheric irregularities can significantly contribute to the ground magnetic field variations. Some changes in ULF variations associated with seismic events are considered as application of this mechanism.     

A study of propagation of nonlinear acoustic-gravity waves in the middle and upper atmosphere by means of numerical modeling

numerical model of the vertical propagation and decay of nonlinear acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) from the Earth surface to the upper atmosphere is described. Monochromatic vertical velocity variations at the Earth surface are used as the AGW source in the model. The numerical method for solving three-dimensional hydrodynamic equations is based on finite-difference representation of the fundamental laws of conservation, which makes it possible to calculate not only smooth, but also physically correct generalized solutions of the hydrodynamic equations. The equations are solved in a range of altitudes from the ground up to 500 km. The background temperature, density, molecular viscosity and thermal conductivity coefficient are specified according to standard atmosphere models. The dependence of the characteristics of the waves on the amplitude of the wave source at the lower boundary is examined. The amplitudes of the AGW increase with the altitude, and the waves can break down due to nonlinear effects in the middle and upper atmosphere, depending on the amplitude of the source.     

Effect of Acoustic Gravity Waves on Variations in the Lower-Ionosphere Parameters as Observed using Artificial Periodic Inhomogeneities

We study the effect of acoustic gravity waves on variations in the atmospheric parameters of the lower ionosphere. The observations were carried out by the method of radio-wave scattering on artificial periodic inhomogeneities of the ionospheric plasma, induced by powerful radio-wave heating of the ionosphere. Measuring the altitude profile of the relaxation time of the scattered signal allowed us to determine the atmospheric temperature and density at heights 95 to 120 km, while recording the signal phase made it possible to obtain the vertical velocity of the plasma. The joint analysis of variations in the vertical velocity and the atmospheric temperature and density showed the simultaneous existence of oscillations with the same periods ranging from 5–10 min to a few hours. The amplitudes of these oscillations were, respectively, 1.5 to 4 m s^-1 for the vertical velocity and 6–20% for the temperature and density. We simulate the characteristics of acoustic gravity waves using the linear theory of their free propagation in an unbounded isothermal undisturbed atmosphere. Based on the polarization relations for low-frequency waves, we calculate the corresponding relative amplitudes of variations in the atmospheric temperature and density with periods from 15 min to 4 h using the measured amplitudes of the vertical velocity. Comparison of the calculation results with the measured values shows their good agreement for waves with periods 15–30 min.     

Focusing-defocusing phenomena of radio echo signal after passage of the morning solar terminator

Summary Campaign results of high-repetition ionospheric soundings, performed at the ionospheric station of Rome using a Digisonde 128P, are presented. We introduce an index derived from run rapid ionograms that can be used to detect oscillations of isodensity surfaces ofF ionospheric region started by morning solar terminator.     

Application of the models of the middle and upper atmosphere to simulation of total electron content perturbations caused by the 2009 stratospheric warming

Sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) is a unique atmospheric phenomenon, which consists in a rapid rise of temperature at altitudes of ~30–40 km in high latitudes of the winter, typically, northern hemisphere. Modeling SSW effects in the mesosphere, thermosphere, and ionosphere is a challenging problem, because it must be done on a global scale, with consideration of numerous physical and chemical processes. This paper reports the results of calculations of the characteristics of total electron content (TEC) perturbations for the conditions of the SSW event in January 2009. The calculations are performed using the Global Self-Consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Protonosphere (GSM TIP) supplemented by the lower boundary conditions in the form of space–time distributions of the basic parameters of the mesosphere at an altitude of 80 km, as calculated by the SOCOL, KASIMA, and TIME GCM models. The simulation results show that, for some versions, the spatial distribution of total electron content disturbances ΔTEC shows a qualitative agreement with experimental data; however, the values of ΔTEC in all variants of calculations proved to be an order of magnitude lower than the measured.     

Magnetogravity waves in the ionosphere under conditions of finite conductivity

We obtain dispersion relations for magnetogravity waves in the ionosphere with allowance for the combined influence of magnetic field, gravity, and finite conductivity within the framework of the hydrodynamic approximation. The required conditions are fulfilled in the ionosphere at altitudes over or about 250 km. The auroral electrojet is considered as a source of magnetogravity waves which are frequently observed as traveling ionospheric disturbances. The contribution of magnetogravity waves to the ionospheric disturbances is determined on the basis of analyzing the data from the vertical sounding of the ionospheric F₂ layer and the geomagnetic disturbances along the chosen magnetic meridian and on its sides. The features of the obtained dynamic spectra of magnetogravity waves agree with the characteristic frequencies and velocities determined by the calculated dispersion curves. As a result, we confirm the fact that magnetogravity waves stipulate some traveling ionospheric disturbances and can be used for diagnostics of the ionospheric parameters.     

Chemical physics of the upper atmosphere

Modern concepts of the structure of the ionosphere and dynamics of its perturbations related to geomagnetic and solar activity perturbations are considered. It is shown that communication and navigation satellite systems depend substantially on the state of the ionosphere. The role played by Rydberg atoms and molecules of neutral ionospheric plasma components excited in collisions with electrons in the formation of microwave radiation of the upper atmosphere is discussed. A new physical mechanism of the delay of satellite signals cased by a cascade of reemissions from Rydberg states over the decimeter range is suggested.     

Formation of a Resonance Structure of the Local Inductance of the Ionosphere at Frequencies 0.1–10 Hz

We solve the problem of determination of the local inductance of the ionosphere, which is a parameter entering a two-dimensional telegraph equation. Day- and nighttime models of the ionosphere at altitudes from 0 to 2000 km for different solar activity are presented. It is shown that the resonance structure of the local inductance is formed by interference of reflections from the upper and lower ionosphere at altitudes above 1000 km and below 300 km, respectively. We demonstrate that reflections from the upper layers of the ionosphere disappear at frequencies higher than 8 Hz.     

Artificial Periodic Inhomogeneities of the Ionosperic Plasma as a Promising Line in the Ionospheric Research

This paper is dedicated to a new method of ionospheric studies, developed at the Radiophysical Research Institute (NIRFI) and based on the creation of artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma. We review the techniques and present the results of determination of the basic parameters of the ionosphere and atmosphere.     

A Physical Numerical Ionospheric Model and Its Simulation Results

This paper describes the construction of a one-dimensional time-dependent theoretical ionospheric model, which is based on numerical solution of continuity and momentum equations for O⁺, O₂⁺, N₂⁺, and NO⁺. The model is designed to have an option to incorporate the observational ionospheric characteristic parameters into the numerical model to indirectly determine the upper boundary condition when solving the transport equations of O⁺. A preliminary simulation result of the model when used to simulate the ionosphere during April 18 ～ May 10, 1998, which includes both quiet and disturbed periods, showed that the model constructed is able to reproduce the observational results reasonably well both for quiet and disturbed periods.