First detection of the supersonic upward plasma flow structures in the early morning sector

International audienceWe present the first observations of the supersonic updrafting plasma drifts in the predawn sector. Two DMSP satellites quasi-simultaneously detected two fast-speed events: one of ~385 km spatial extension and with the maximum upward velocity of 1683 m/s appeared at ~3 LT, and the other of ~1500 km large with maximum speed of 1770 m/s occurred at ~5 LT. Both supersonic structures were observed above the eastern Pacific region, separated by ~35° of longitude in space and by 45 min in time. The events occurred at the recovery phase of the geomagnetic storm of 19 February 2014, during rapid oscillations of the interplanetary magnetic field B z and the interplanetary electric field E y components, which increased the eastward electric field in the equatorial nighttime ionosphere and triggered the generation of plasma irregularities. The storm time penetration electric fields seem to be the principal driver of the observed supersonic events

New advantages of the combined GPS and GLONASS observations for high-latitude ionospheric irregularities monitoring: case study of June 2015 geomagnetic storm

Abstract Monitoring, tracking and nowcasting of the ionospheric plasma density disturbances using dual-frequency measurements of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are effectively carried out during several decades. Recent rapid growth and modernization of the ground-based segment gives an opportunity to establish a great database consisting of more than 6000 stations worldwide which provide GPS signals measurements with an open access. Apart of the GPS signals, at least two-third of these stations receive simultaneously signals transmitted by another Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)—the Russian system GLONASS. Today, GLONASS signal measurements are mainly used in navigation and geodesy only and very rarely for ionosphere research. We present the first results demonstrating advantages of using several independent but compatible GNSS systems like GPS and GLONASS for improvement of the permanent monitoring of the high-latitude ionospheric irregularities. For the first time, the high-resolution two-dimensional maps of ROTI perturbation were made using not only GPS but also GLONASS measurements. We extend the use of the ROTI maps for analyzing ionospheric irregularities distribution. We demonstrate that the meridional slices of the ROTI maps can be effectively used to study the occurrence and temporal evolution of the ionospheric irregularities. The meridional slices of the geographical sectors with a high density of the GPS and GLONASS measurements can represent spatio-temporal dynamics of the intense ionospheric plasma density irregularities with very high resolution, and they can be effectively used for detailed study of the space weather drivers on the processes of the ionospheric irregularities generation, development and their lifetimes. Using a representative database of ~5800 ground-based GNSS stations located worldwide, we have investigated the occurrence of the high-latitude ionospheric plasma density irregularities during the geomagnetic storm of June 22–23, 2015. Graphical abstract

Topside ionospheric irregularities as seen from multisatellite observations

International audienceWe use in situ data from CHAMP and DMSP satellites, along with data of GPS receiver onboard CHAMP satellite and ground-based GPS receivers to study the occurrence and global distribution of ionospheric irregularities during the main phase of the geomagnetic storm of 29–31 August 2004 (minimum Dst excursion of À128 nT). Using the CHAMP GPS measurements, we created maps of GPS phase fluctuation activity and found two specific zones of the most intense irregularities: (1) the region of the auroral oval at high latitudes of both hemispheres and (2) the low latitudes/equatorial region between Africa and South America. At high latitudes, the topside ionospheric irregularities appeared to be more intensive in the southern hemisphere, which is, most likely, due to seasonal variations in the interhemispheric field-aligned currents system. An analysis of multi-instrumental observations reveals reinforcement of the equatorial ionization anomaly after sunset in Atlantic sector on 30 August and formation of the significant plasma depletions and irregularities over a large longitudinal range. Equatorial irregularities were also found in the morning sector at the recovery phase of the storm. In addition to low Earth orbit (LEO) GPS measurements, we analyze the LEO in situ measurements, and we show that these two techniques cannot be interchangeable in all cases because of the altitudinal extent of plasma irregularities. Overall, we demonstrate that the LEO GPS technique can serve a useful tool for detection of the topside ionospheric irregularities during space weather events and may essentially contribute to other methods based on various instruments

Prompt penetration electric fieldsand the extreme topside ionospheric responseto the June 22–23, 2015 geomagnetic stormas seen by the Swarm constellation

International audienceUsing data from the three Swarm satellites, we study the ionospheric response to the intense geomagnetic storm of June 22–23, 2015. With the minimum SYM-H excursion of −207 nT, this storm is so far the second strongest geomagnetic storm in the current 24th solar cycle. A specific configuration of the Swarm satellites allowed investigation of the evolution of the storm-time ionospheric alterations on the day- and the nightside quasi-simultaneously. With the development of the main phase of the storm, a significant dayside increase of the vertical total electron content (VTEC) and electron density Ne was first observed at low latitudes on the dayside. From ~22 UT of 22 June to ~1 UT of 23 June, the dayside experienced a strong negative ionospheric storm, while on the nightside an extreme enhancement of the topside VTEC occurred at mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Our analysis of the equatorial electrojet variations obtained from the magnetic Swarm data indicates that the storm-time penetration electric fields were, most likely, the main driver of the observed ionospheric effects at the initial phase of the storm and at the beginning of the main phase. The dayside ionosphere first responded to the occurrence of the strong eastward equatorial electric fields. Further, penetration of westward electric fields led to gradual but strong decrease of the plasma density on the dayside in the topside ionosphere. At this stage, the disturbance dynamo could have contributed as well. On the nightside, the observed extreme enhancement of the Ne and VTEC in the northern hemisphere (i.e., the summer hemisphere) in the topside ionosphere was most likely due to the combination of the prompt penetration electric fields, disturbance dynamo and the storm-time thermospheric circulation. From ~2.8 UT, the ionospheric measurements from the three Swarm satellites detected the beginning of the second positive storm on the dayside, which was not clearly associated with electrojet variations. We find that this second storm might be provoked by other drivers, such as an increase in the thermospheric composition

GPS and GLONASS observations of large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances during the 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm

International audienceUsing a comprehensive database of similar to 5300 ground-based Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) stations we have investigated large-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (LSTIDs) during 17-18 March 2015 (St. Patrick's Day storm). For the first time, the high-resolution, two-dimensional maps of the total electron content perturbation were made using not only GPS but also GLONASS measurements. Several LSTIDs originated from the auroral regions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres were observed simultaneously over Europe, North America, and South America. This storm is considered as a two-step main phase storm. During the first main phase LSTIDs propagated over the whole daytime European region and over high latitudes of North America. During the second main phase we report (1) intense LSTIDs propagated equatorward in North America and Europe, (2) convergence of several LSTIDs originated from the opposite hemispheres in the interference zone over geomagnetic equator in South America, and (3) "super" LSTIDs with the wavefront length of more than 10,000 km observed simultaneously in North America and Europe. LSTIDs observed in three sectors had wavelength of similar to 1200-2500 km and wave periods of similar to 50-80 min. During the recovery phase on the background of the negative ionospheric storm developed over North America we detect signatures of the stream-like structures elongated within the latitudinal range of 29 degrees N-42 degrees N across the U.S. These structures persisted through the nighttime to the early morning from 04 UT to 13 UT on 18 March 2015, and they were associated with the subauroral polarization stream-induced nighttime ionospheric flow

IGS ROTI Maps: Current Status and Its Extension towards Equatorial Region and Southern Hemisphere

The International GNSS Service (IGS) diurnal ROTI maps ionospheric product was developed to characterize ionospheric irregularities occurrence over the Northern hemisphere and has been available for the community since 2014. Currently, the diurnal ROTI maps database hosted by NASA CDDIS covers the period from 2010 to now. Here, we report the ROTI maps product operational status and important changes in the product availability and access. Apart from actual ROTI maps product production, we work on the extension of ROTI maps to cover not only the Northern hemisphere but also the area of the Southern hemisphere and equatorial/low latitude region. Such extended ROTI maps are important for ionospheric irregularities climatology research and ionospheric responses to space weather. We present recent development toward the new ROTI maps product and the updated data format. To evaluate extended the ROTI maps performance, we analyzed the ability to represent key features of ionospheric irregularity occurrence over the Southern hemisphere and low latitudes. For auroral and midlatitudes, we present the cross-comparison of ROTI-derived irregularities patterns over the Northern and Southern hemispheres. For low latitudes, we examined the sensitivity of the resulted ROTI maps to detect plasma irregularities associated with equatorial plasma bubbles development for low, middle, and high solar activity periods

Návrh projektu výstupní linky minerálně vláknitých desek

Import 20/04/2006Prezenční výpůjčkaVŠB - Technická univerzita Ostrava. Fakulta strojní. Katedra (345) mechanické technologi

Ground-Based GNSS and Satellite Observations of Auroral Ionospheric Irregularities during Geomagnetic Disturbances in August 2018

The 25–26 August 2018 space weather event occurred during the solar minimum period and surprisingly became the third largest geomagnetic storm of the entire 24th solar cycle. We analyzed the ionospheric response at high latitudes of both hemispheres using multi-site ground-based GNSS observations and measurements onboard Swarm and DMSP satellites. With the storm development, the zones of intense ionospheric irregularities of auroral origin largely expanded in size and moved equatorward towards midlatitudes as far as ~55–60° magnetic latitude (MLAT) in the American, European, and Australian longitudinal sectors. The main ionospheric trough, associated with the equatorward side of the auroral oval, shifted as far equatorward as 45–50° MLAT at both hemispheres. The interhemispheric comparison revealed a high degree of similarity in a large expansion of the auroral irregularities oval towards midlatitudes, in addition to asymmetrical differences in terms of larger intensity of plasma density gradients and structures over the Southern auroral and polar cap regions. Evolution of the intense ionospheric irregularities and equatorward expansion of the auroral irregularities oval were well correlated with increases of geomagnetic activity and peaks of the auroral electrojet index