Reconstruction of F2 layer peak electron density based on operational vertical total electron content maps

Gerzen, Tatjana; Jakowski, N.; Wilken, Volker; Hoque, Mainul

doi:10.5194/angeo-31-1241-2013

Cited by 28 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Furthermore, we are convinced that it has the higher potential for future improvements, e.g., simply by applying regional stochastic weighting parameter (correlation length, influence radius, and variance of the background model) that reflects the different dynamics in polar, middle, and equatorial latitudes in a better way. Finally, according to our plannings, the next steps to improve the processing results are the following: (1) improving the leveling of the background before entering the outlined assimilation process, e.g., by adjustment of the background model coefficients; (2) adding ionospheric F 2 layer characteristics, derived from satellite‐based radio occultation profiles; and (3) adding N m F 2 data derived from total electron content (TEC) measurements of GNSS networks, using the approach of Gerzen et al [] (The approach benefits from a combination of TEC and the equivalent slab thickness, which is relatively stable, in particular, during daytime and under unperturbed geomagnetic conditions).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

2015

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From the applications perspective the electron density is the major determining parameter of the ionosphere due to its strong impact on the radio signal propagation. As the most ionized ionospheric region, the F2 layer has the most pronounced effect on transionospheric radio wave propagation. The maximum electron density of the F2 layer, NmF2, and its height, hmF2, are of particular interest for radio communication applications as well as for characterizing the ionosphere. Since these ionospheric key parameters decisively shape the vertical electron density profiles, the precise calculation of them is of crucial importance for an accurate 3‐D electron density reconstruction. The vertical sounding by ionosondes provides the most reliable source of F2 peak measurements. Within this paper, we compare the following data assimilation methods incorporating ionosonde measurements into a background model: Optimal Interpolation (OI), OI with time forecast (OI FC), the Successive Correction Method (SCM), and a modified SCM (MSCM) working with a daytime‐dependent measurement error variance. These approaches are validated with the measurements of nine ionosonde stations for two periods covering quiet and disturbed ionospheric conditions. In particular, for the quiet period, we show that MSCM outperforms the other assimilation methods and allows an accuracy gain up to 75% for NmF2 and 37% for hmF2 compared to the background model. For the disturbed period, OI FC reveals the most promising results with improvements up to 79% for NmF2 and 50% for hmF2 compared to the background and up to 42% for NmF2 and 16% for hmF2 compared to OI.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

2015

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“…Ionospheric reconstruction is a procedure that infers the numerical continuous distribution of f o F 2 within a known area using ionosonde data (Amarante et al, 2005;Chen et al, 2014;Gerzen et al, 2013Gerzen et al, , 2015Stankov et al, 2003). This method is attracting increasing research interest, and many strategies for ionospheric reconstruction have been proposed, including the inversion-distance-weighted interpolation method (Xin et al, 2000), neural network method (Galkin et al, 1996;Ma et al, 2005;Wang et al, 2004), Kriging interpolation method (Chen et al, 2014;Krige, 1951;Minkwitz et al, 2015;Oliver & Webster, 1990;Stanislawska et al, 1996), and utilizing the International Reference Model (IRI-2001) as background ionospheric data to reconstruct f o F 2 (Wang et al, 2006).…”

Section: Reconstruction Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extended Analysis of Real‐Time f_oF₂ Mapping in Mideastern China Based On Shortwave Signals

Cheng

et al. 2017

Radio Science

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A method for the real‐time mapping of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) is established using shortwave radio signals as the radiation sources, thereby eliminating the need for ionosonde stations, and tested in mideastern China. The ionospheric foF2 in the reflection area between the receiving station and the radio stations is obtained using a probabilistic inversion method. Subsequently, Kriging is used for the real‐time foF2 mapping. To heighten the performance of the reconstruction, the International Reference Ionosphere 2012 (IRI‐2012) Model was used as a background for ionospheric interpolation to calculate regional variant. The mapping accuracy is estimated using ionosonde data derived from seven stations in mideastern China: Xinxiang (35.2°S, 113.9°E), Wuhan (30.6°S, 114.6°E), Qingdao (36.1°S, 12.4°E), Suzhou (30.3°S, 120.6°E), Xian (34.3°S, 108.9°E), Chongqing (29.6°S, 106.5°E), and Guangzhou (23.1°S, 113.3°E). The data were recorded approximately every 15 min during two recording intervals between 04:00 UTC LT on 31 October 2012, and 03:30 UTC on 1 November 2012. The estimates of foF2 obtained from the reconstruction method and the foF2 values predicted using IRI are compared with the measurements from the vertical ionosondes at the above seven stations. The root‐mean‐square error and percent deviation are calculated to evaluate the performance of the inversion model. The results indicate that the new method for real‐time foF2 mapping based on shortwave signals is a promising candidate technique for obtaining ionospheric parameters and studying the ionosphere.

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“…Besides, the IRI model is the international standard to which results of other models are usually compared. The model (NGM) = TEC(NGM)/NmF2(NGM) is actually used in [14] on the basis of Neustrelitz models for TEC and NmF2 [15,16], but without sufficient validation. This model has been tested in [17].…”

Section: Methodology and Used Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of the Total Electron Content Measured by Navigation Satellites to Estimate Ionospheric Conditions

Maltseva

Mozhaeva

2016

International Journal of Navigation and Observation

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Measurements of delays of the signals radiated by transmitters of navigational satellites allow us to obtain the total electron content (TEC). In addition, measurements of TEC allow solving problems such as development of local, regional, and global models of TEC and correction of ionospheric delay for increasing accuracy of positioning. Now, it is possible to set the task of calculation of critical frequency foF2 with the use of experimental values of TEC in a global scale. For this purpose it is necessary to know an equivalent slab thickness of the ionosphere τ which is a coefficient of proportionality between TEC and a maximum density of the ionosphere. The present paper is devoted to the analysis of investigation and utilization of this parameter. It is shown that (1) existing models of τ are not empirical and not always can provide an adequate accuracy of foF2 calculation, (2) experimental median τ(med) provides much larger accuracy of foF2 calculation than the empirical model and variations from day to day and allows filling gaps in the ionosonde data, and (3) it is possible to use a hyperbolic approximation and coefficient K(τ) for development of a global model of τ.

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Reconstruction of F2 layer peak electron density based on operational vertical total electron content maps

Cited by 28 publications

References 22 publications

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

Extended Analysis of Real‐Time f_oF₂ Mapping in Mideastern China Based On Shortwave Signals

The Use of the Total Electron Content Measured by Navigation Satellites to Estimate Ionospheric Conditions

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Reconstruction of F2 layer peak electron density based on operational vertical total electron content maps

Cited by 28 publications

References 22 publications

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F2 layer reconstruction

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F2 layer reconstruction

Extended Analysis of Real‐Time foF2 Mapping in Mideastern China Based On Shortwave Signals

The Use of the Total Electron Content Measured by Navigation Satellites to Estimate Ionospheric Conditions

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Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

Comparing different assimilation techniques for the ionospheric F₂ layer reconstruction

Extended Analysis of Real‐Time f_oF₂ Mapping in Mideastern China Based On Shortwave Signals