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

Maltseva, O. A.; Mozhaeva, N.S.

doi:10.1155/2016/7016208

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The τ is, thus, very helpful in understanding the nature of variations of the upper atmosphere and is, therefore, capable of addressing many useful ionospheric parameters, such as Chapman scale height H, topside 'half-peak density height' h0.5top, and temperature changes in the ionosphere/thermosphere systems [2][3][4][5][6][7]. In addition, according to the definition of τ, it connects VTEC and NmF2, belonging to different fields of remote sensing, which can be used to deduce NmF2 from the TEC, and vice versa [8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Statistical Study of Ionospheric Equivalent Slab Thickness at Guam Magnetic Equatorial Location

Zhang

Feng³

et al. 2021

Remote Sensing

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The ionospheric equivalent slab thickness (τ) is defined as the ratio of the total electron content (TEC) to the F2-layer peak electron density (NmF2), and it is a significant parameter representative of the ionosphere. In this paper, a comprehensive statistical analysis of the diurnal, seasonal, solar, and magnetic activity variations in the τ at Guam (144.86°E, 13.62°N, 5.54°N dip lat), which is located near the magnetic equator, is presented using the GPS-TEC and ionosonde NmF2 data during the years 2012–2017. It is found that, for geomagnetically quiet days, the τ reaches its maximum value in the noontime, and the peak value in winter and at the equinox are larger than that in summer. Moreover, there is a post-sunset peak observed in the winter and equinox, and the τ during the post-midnight period is smallest in equinox. The mainly diurnal and seasonal variation of τ can be explained within the framework of relative variation of TEC and NmF2 during different seasonal local time. The dependence of τ on the solar activity shows positive correlation during the daytime, and the opposite situation applies for the nighttime. Specifically, the disturbance index (DI), which can visually assess the relationship between instantaneous τ values and the median, is introduced in the paper to quantitatively describe the overall pattern of the geomagnetic storm effect on the τ variation. The results show that the geomagnetic storm seems to have positive effect on the τ during most of the storm-time period at Guam. An example, on the 1 June 2013, is also presented to analyze the physical mechanism. During the positive storms, the penetration electric field, along with storm time equator-ward neutral wind, tends to increase upward drift and uplift F region, causing the large increase in TEC, accompanied by a relatively small increase in NmF2. On the other hand, an enhanced equatorward wind tends to push more plasma, at low latitudes, into the topside ionosphere in the equatorial region, resulting in the TEC not undergoing severe depletion, as with NmF2, during the negative storms. The results would complement the analysis of τ behavior during quiet and disturbed conditions at equatorial latitudes in East Asia.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The greatest variability in τ is observed during periods of geomagnetic storms, and the influence of geomagnetic activity on the τ shows different patterns as the observing station and solar activity vary. Modelling studies have also been carried out to provide global τ [8][9][10][11][12][13]26,29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Statistical Study of Ionospheric Equivalent Slab Thickness at Guam Magnetic Equatorial Location

Zhang

Feng³

et al. 2021

Remote Sensing

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“…Another significant parameter representative of the ionosphere is the equivalent slab thickness (EST), i.e., the ration of the TEC to the NmF2. By definition, this parameter represents an imaginary equivalent depth of the ionosphere and includes information on both the topside and bottomside ionosphere, thus being useful in the study of variations in the upper atmosphere (see, e.g., [74][75][76]). EST exhibits diurnal, seasonal solar and geomagnetic activity variations with a dependence on the location of the observing station.…”

Section: Overview Of Contribution and Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ionosphere Monitoring with Remote Sensing

Giannattasio

2022

Remote Sensing

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“…Jakowski et al, 1991Jakowski et al, , 2017Jakowski and Hoque, 2018). Due to the simple relationship (1) the equivalent slab thickness can principally be used to derive NmF2 from VTEC data (Gerzen et al, 2013;Maltseva and Mozhaeva, 2016a) or vice versa to derive VTEC from NmF2 data (e.g. Fox et al, 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global equivalent slab thickness model of the Earth’s ionosphere

Jakowski

Hoque

2021

J. Space Weather Space Clim.

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The shape of the vertical electron density profile is a result of production, loss and transportation of plasma in the Earth’s ionosphere. Therefore, the equivalent slab thickness of the ionosphere that characterizes the width of vertical electron density profiles is an important parameter for a better understanding of ionospheric processes under regular as well as under perturbed conditions. The equivalent slab thickness is defined by the ratio of the vertical total electron content over the peak electron density and is therefore easy to compute by utilizing powerful data sources nowadays available thanks to ground and space based GNSS techniques. Here we use peak electron density data from three low earth orbiting (LEO) satellite missions, namely CHAMP, GRACE and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, as well as total electron content data obtained from numerous GNSS ground stations. For the first time, we present a global model of the equivalent slab thickness (Neustrelitz equivalent Slab Thickness Model – NSTM). The model approach is similar to a family of former model approaches successfully applied for total electron content (TEC), peak electron density NmF2 and corresponding height hmF2 at DLR. The model description focuses on an overall view of the behaviour of the equivalent slab thickness as a function of local time, season, geographic/geomagnetic location and solar activity on a global scale. In conclusion, the model agrees quite well with the overall observation data within a RMS range of 70 km. There is generally a good correlation with solar heat input that varies with local time, season and level of solar activity. However, under non-equilibrium conditions, plasma transport processes dominate the behaviour of the equivalent slab thickness. It is assumed that night-time plasmasphere–ionosphere coupling causes enhanced equivalent slab thickness values like the pre-sunrise enhancement. The overall fit provides consistent results with the mid-latitude bulge (MLB) of the equivalent slab thickness, described for the first time in this paper. Furthermore, the model recreates quite well ionospheric anomalies such as the Night-time Winter Anomaly (NWA) which is closely related to the Mid-latitude Summer Night-time Anomaly (MSNA) like the Weddell Sea Anomaly (WSA) and Okhotsk Sea Anomaly (OSA). Further model improvements can be achieved by using an extended model approach and considering the particular geomagnetic field structure.

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

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Statistical Study of Ionospheric Equivalent Slab Thickness at Guam Magnetic Equatorial Location

Statistical Study of Ionospheric Equivalent Slab Thickness at Guam Magnetic Equatorial Location

Ionosphere Monitoring with Remote Sensing

Global equivalent slab thickness model of the Earth’s ionosphere

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