Efficient Usage of Dense GNSS Networks in Central Europe for the Visualization and Investigation of Ionospheric TEC Variations

Nykiel, Grzegorz; Zanimonskiy, Y. M.; Yampolski, Y. М.; Figurski, Mariusz

doi:10.3390/s17102298

Cited by 35 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…UPC independently computes the TEC with a two-layer tomographic model and an interpolation scheme, with the help of the IRI model to improve the UPC products [19,26]. Besides, Nykiel et al [30] presented an orthogonal projection technique for mapping TEC, which allows us to visualize ionospheric irregularities. In GIMs computation, several error sources can limit the ionosphere model accuracy: the spherical symmetry assumption, when the elevation-dependent mapping function is used to convert slant TEC (sTEC) to vertical TEC (vTEC); the ionosphere layer height, used to describe the vTEC distributions; the lack of GNSS data over wide areas, such as the sea and southern mid-high latitude areas; and the differential code bias for GNSS satellites and receivers.…”

Section: Gnss-derived Vtec Data and Jason Vtec Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasmaspheric Electron Content Inferred from Residuals between GNSS-Derived and TOPEX/JASON Vertical TEC Data

et al. 2018

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Abstract:The plasmasphere, which is located above the ionosphere, is a significant component of Earth's atmosphere, and the plasmasphere electron content (PEC) distribution is determined by different physical mechanisms to those of the ionosphere electron content (IEC). However, the observation for the PEC is very limited. In this study, we introduced a methodology (called zero assumption method, which is based on the assumption that PEC can reach zero) to extract the PEC over TOPEX/JASON (T/J) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) overlapping areas. Results show that the daily systematic bias (T/J vertical TEC > GNSS-derived vertical TEC) for both low (2009) and high (2011) solar activity condition is consistent, and the systematic bias for JASON2 and JASON1 is different. We suggest that systematic biases predominantly arise from the sea state bias (SSB), especially the tracker bias. After removing the systematic bias, we extracted reliable PEC inferred from differences between GNSS-derived vertical TEC and T/J vertical TEC data. Finally, the characteristics of the plasmaspheric component distribution for different local times, latitudes, and seasons were investigated.

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Section: Gnss-derived Vtec Data and Jason Vtec Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Plasmaspheric Electron Content Inferred from Residuals between GNSS-Derived and TOPEX/JASON Vertical TEC Data

et al. 2018

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“…In Figure we show the transition of the ionospheric disturbances at the time of eclipse at 15‐min cadence. Here we have used a conventional approach for imaging TEC residuals (e.g., Galvan et al, ; Grawe & Makela, ; Nykiel et al, ; Tsugawa et al, ). We have mapped irregularly sampled TEC residuals onto a regular 0.3° × 0.3° grid.…”

Section: Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was not possible to study such perturbations until the rise of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. GPS receiver networks provide an opportunity to image the ionosphere and thus extract coherent spatial structures of tiny amplitude (e.g., Galvan et al, ; Grawe & Makela, ; Liu et al, ; Nykiel et al, ; Tsugawa et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct EUV/X‐Ray Modulation of the Ionosphere During the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Mrak

Semeter

Drob

et al. 2018

Geophysical Research Letters

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The great American total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 offered a fortuitous opportunity to study the response of the atmosphere and ionosphere using a myriad of ground instruments. We have used the network of U.S. Global Positioning System receivers to examine perturbations in maps of ionospheric total electron content (TEC). Coherent large-scale variations in TEC have been interpreted by others as gravity wave-induced traveling ionospheric disturbances. However, the solar disk had two active regions at that time, one near the center of the disk and one at the edge, which resulted in an irregular illumination pattern in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV)/X-ray bands. Using detailed EUV occultation maps calculated from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solar Dynamics Observatory Atmospheric Imaging Assembly images, we show excellent agreement between TEC perturbations and computed gradients in EUV illumination. The results strongly suggest that prominent large-scale TEC disturbances were consequences of direct EUV modulation, rather than gravity wave-induced traveling ionospheric disturbances.Plain Language Summary A total solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event, which offers an opportunity to study how the Sun interacts with our atmosphere in great detail. The solar irradiance at X-ray and extreme ultra violet wavelengths is so energetic that it ionizes the neutral gases in the upper atmosphere, whereas longer wavelengths penetrate deeper in the atmosphere and heat it up. The great American total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017 offered an extraordinary opportunity to study the atmospheric response to the occulted solar disk at a time of its largest energy deposition (around noon time). The ionosphere is affected by variations in the solar illumination and by temperature changes in the lower atmosphere. We identified four large-scale perturbations in ionospheric plasma using signals acquired from a large network of Global Positioning System receivers. For the first time, we show firm evidences that irregular solar flux deposition inside of the penumbra causes a continental-wide modulation of the ionospheric plasma. Specifically, the observed disturbances were caused by two sunspots which created four stark deviations from a uniform solar disk model. The discovery of a direct solar modulation is a revolutionary turnabout, since the previous reports attributed the disturbances to thermospheric or stratospheric sources.

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“…To them in particular belongs an ionization of atmospheric gas by the energetic electrons coming from the magnetosphere. The parameters of electron fluxes were determined by the data of POES satellites (Rodger et al, 2010), and the ionospheric response was evaluated through the maps of the total electron content (TEC) and by comparison of time dependences of TEC in magnetically conjugated regions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship of variations of the total electron content of ionosphere in magnetically conjugated regions with precipitation of high-energy charged particles

Zanimonskiy¹,

Koloskov²,

Yampolski³

et al. 2020

UAJ

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Purpose. A qualitative and quantitative study of the correlation of space-time changes of the total electron content of the ionosphere with variations in the energetic electron flux during a significant increase of the solar wind density and velocity. Determination of the conditions when the increase of the intensity of the flux of energetic electrons can be accompanied by the appearance of large-scale inhomogeneities of the ionosphere observed in magnetically conjugated regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Methods. The research methodology is based on the construction of the time sequence of electron fluxes spatial distributions and their subsequent comparison with the maps of the total electron content (TEC) over North America and the TEC diurnal variations in magnetically conjugated regions. The degree of similarity has been estimated in this paper, and the corresponding correlation coefficients have been obtained. The TEC was calculated from the ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations, and the electron fluxes in the ionosphere were obtained from the in situ measurements by the POES satellites. The map-making region was selected by the presence of a dense network of GNSS receivers and the presence of stations in the magnetically conjugated region of the Antarctica, as well as by the favorable configuration of spatial distribution of energetic particles at the orbital height of POES satellites. The study is based on the two geomagnetic disturbances of the St. Patrick's Days in March 2013 and 2015. Results. The satellite and ground-based data during geomagnetic disturbances were processed by using the developed technique. It is found that the consistency of changes in the total electron content of the ionosphere and electron fluxes in time and space coincide with the variation range increase of the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field that has been observed according to the data of ground-based magnetometers and indicates the existence of ionospheric currents in the geospace. According to the analysis of the two events, the assumption is made that the presence of ionospheric currents formed by protons and electrons precipitated from the magnetosphere is one of the conditions for the consistency of changes in the total electron content and electron flux. Conclusions. It is shown that during the geomagnetic disturbances the space-time changes of the ionospheric inhomogeneities are partially consistent with the variations of the fluxes of energetic electrons that allows the possibility of using these observations of TEC as indicators of precipitation.

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Efficient Usage of Dense GNSS Networks in Central Europe for the Visualization and Investigation of Ionospheric TEC Variations

Cited by 35 publications

References 21 publications

Plasmaspheric Electron Content Inferred from Residuals between GNSS-Derived and TOPEX/JASON Vertical TEC Data

Plasmaspheric Electron Content Inferred from Residuals between GNSS-Derived and TOPEX/JASON Vertical TEC Data

Direct EUV/X‐Ray Modulation of the Ionosphere During the August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Relationship of variations of the total electron content of ionosphere in magnetically conjugated regions with precipitation of high-energy charged particles

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