The problem of studying ionospheric disturbances is not only of scientific interest, but also has many important applied aspects. It is known that during solar flares there is a powerful burst of radiation intensity in different wavelength ranges, which has a significant impact on the Earth’s ionosphere. That is why during periods of high solar activity there are significant quantitative changes in the structure of the ionosphere.1 The development of GNSS systems has made it possible to obtain new data both on the state and dynamics of the ionosphere with respect to heights, and on the integral characteristics of the medium (total electron content - TEC) under various heliogeophysical disturbances. The technique presented in this paper made it possible to automatically evaluate the change in TEC caused by solar flares of various classes according to the data of a spatially distributed network of GNSS receivers.
The paper presents the results of an analysis of variations in the effective reflection height h' on the X-ray energy in different spectral ranges during a series of X-ray flares that occurred from September 6 to 10, 1017. It is shown that the effective reflection height h' depends on the X-ray energy in the range up to 0.2 nm. During the period from September 6 to September 10, the parameters of the ionosphere changed significantly - the absorption of X-ray radiation at heights above the D-layer increased.
This paper presents a study of the morning terminator impact on the electromagnetic signal amplitudes of VLF stations. The experimental data obtained at the Geophysical Observatory «Mikhnevo» (54.9° N, 37.7° E) in 2015 were used for the analysis. During the passage of the morning terminator, there is a sudden decrease in the signal amplitude. As a result of the study, it was established that this significant change is already observed at 15% of the track illumination.
The problem of forecasting the parameters of the lower ionosphere is one of the most urgent in studies of the upper geospheres. The problem of determining the optimal number of photochemical processes that should be taken into account when constructing a plasma-chemical model of the D-region of the ionosphere for a correct and prompt calculation of the electron concentration Ne is quite acute. The aim of this work is to select the optimal scheme of the ionizationrecombination cycle of the lower ionosphere for calculating Ne under various heliogeophysical conditions. In this work, a comparative analysis of the height profiles of Ne obtained using the 4-, 5-, and 8-component plasma-chemical models in quiet conditions and during X-ray flares is carried out.
This paper presents the comprehensive analysis results of the state of the lower and upper ionosphere during an X-class X-ray flare that occurred on June 10, 2014. The method we developed has allowed us to estimate the parameters of the lower ionosphere during a solar flare by the amplitude-phase characteristics of electromagnetic radiation in the VLF range. Comparison of these results with the value of the increment of the total electron content (TEC) obtained from the GNSS receiver located at the Geophysical Observatory «Mikhnevo» showed that the contribution of the D-region (50-80 km) to the change in the TEC value can be 34% at the peak of the X-ray flux.
The research of the space-time dynamics of the Earth's atmosphere and ionosphere disturbances requires complex studies of interrelated processes. The radiophysical complex in the Geophysical Observatory «Mikhnevo», which includes magnetometric, electrophysical, radio-receiving and acoustic equipment and ionospheric sounding instruments, allows us to obtain data on the features of the structure and dynamics of ionospheric plasma in the mid-latitude zone of the European part of the country. Using the complex based on the data of ELF/VLF receivers and GNSS receivers, studies of synchronous variations of the lower and upper ionosphere caused by magnetic storms, solar X-ray flares and experiments on artificial modification of the ionosphere are carried out.
The study is devoted to the study of atmospheric, electromagnetic and ionospheric effects registered at a distance of about 2000 km from the earthquakes in Greece on May 24, 2014 and November 17, 2015 by the hardware complex of the geophysical observatory "Mikhnevo". One of the mechanisms that provide perturbations of geophysical fields at significant distances from the source is associated with the generation of acoustic waves caused by a surface seismic wave. When acoustic oscillations propagate to the atmosphere and ionosphere, they cause variations in the density of the neutral gas and the electron concentration in the ionosphere. In the D region, this leads to changes in the conductivity and modulation of horizontal ionospheric currents registered on the Earth's surface as variations of the geomagnetic field. The results obtained confirm the possibility of recording acoustic and electromagnetic effects at significant distances from the earthquake center.
The paper is devoted to the verification method of results of the lower ionosphere models during solar flares. The verification is based on radio physical measurements of VLF signals. Radio wave amplitude values are normalized according to the difference between experimental and theoretical results, obtained during the calm heliogeophysical day, which is followed by the observed solar flares. This method allows to compare absolute values of radiophysical characteristics without knowing transmitter power. Such an approach makes it possible to evaluate the predictive capabilities of the ionosphere model during flares not only qualitatively, but also quantitatively. As a result of the D-region model verification, it was found that the standard deviation of the difference between experimental and theoretical amplitude of VLF signal is less than 1 dB in ~ 80% of cases
This paper presents the perennial results of ionospheric vertical total electron content (TEC) variations using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data from the Geophysical Observatory «Michnevo». TEC long data analysis revealed a TEC annual variations and TEC decreasing trend caused by the decline in solar activity during the observation period. Spectral analysis allowed to identify 27 TEC daytime variations, which can be directly related to the period of sun rotation around its axis. Also the TEC distribution from the UV solar radiation flux was made. The linear dependence of the TEC value on the UV flux can be explained by the fact, that UV solar radiation is the main ionization agent of the F region ionosphere.
The paper presents the results of measurements of the electric field and vertical atmospheric currents in conditions of "fair weather" and their comparison with the Carnegie curve. The features of the measurement data associated with the detection of the evening maximum of the electric field strength are shown.
The paper presents the variations in the parameters of the ionosphere D-layer during x-ray flares of M and X classes on the propagation path of signals from the superluminal waves of the GQD and GBZ transmitters, as well as those adopted by the Mikhnevo State Educational Center. It is shown that, within the framework of the two-parameter Ferguson-White model, the effective reflection height of the VLF signal h’ and the gradient of increase in the electron concentration β at the leading edge of the flare are related to the x-ray energy in the range 0.05–0.4 nm.
KEYWORDS: Atmospheric modeling, Solar radiation models, 3D modeling, Solar processes, Physics, Climatology, Satellites, Atmospheric chemistry, Radio propagation
We review the contemporary level of the lower ionosphere study. The progress in ionosphere physics is based on the complex measurements as well as on the self-consistent 3D computer codes but this is not the case for the lower ionosphere. We point out the problems which are necessary for the solar-terrestrial links, transient electrooptical events in the middle atmosphere and even for the global climate community models. Special attention is paid to the problem of verification using satellite and ground-based evidence. The examples from VLF-LF monitoring prove the requirement of further study of the lower ionosphere processes.
KEYWORDS: Receivers, Satellite navigation systems, Satellites, Global Positioning System, Signal processing, Tomography, Data corrections, Spatial resolution, Radio propagation, MATLAB
This paper describes the method of determination of absolute values of TEC according to data of GNSS receivers located in one measuring point. The use of this technique allows obtaining information on the state of the ionosphere in various helio-geophysical facilities. Verification of the results obtained according to the global networks confirmed the correctness of the methodology used.
In September 2017, several X-class solar X-ray flashes occurred. The paper presents the variations of the parameters of the D-layer of the ionosphere during X-ray X-ray flashes on the propagation path of signals from the VLF GQD and GBZ transmitters, and received in the geophysical observatory "Mikhnevo". The dependences of variations in the parameters of the ionosphere from the X-ray flux in different ranges are obtained. It is shown, that the dependences of the parameters of the ionosphere (effective reflection height and electron density increase rate with height) versus the Xray flux in the ranges of 0.05–0.4 nm and 0.1–0.8 nm are very different for different solar X-ray flashes. This may be due both to different initial states of the ionosphere and to the fact that the X-rays radiation with wavelength less than 0.05 nm can play a major role in the ionization of the atmosphere at altitudes of 50-60 km.
The use of global satellite navigation systems for the study of the ionosphere makes it possible to obtain information on ionospheric disturbances and to build maps of the distribution of large-scale ionospheric disturbances. The task of studying small and medium-scale inhomogeneities requires the creation of special methods of measurement and analysis. The system of receivers located at a distance of several hundred meters to 80 km from each other is used in the geophysical Observatory "Mikhnevo" (MIC, 54.9617° N, 37.7626° E) of the Institute of Geosphere dynamics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (http://idg.chph.ras.ru/ru/watch/mikhnevo). The obtained data allow us to estimate the velocity and trajectory of ionospheric inhomogeneity. The development of this approach in methodological terms will clarify the physical mechanisms of transmission of disturbances in the middle latitudes, which should allow to take them into account in the development and improvement of predictive models of ionospheric disturbances.
Properties of the Schumann resonances have been extensively studied in order to explain their relation with properties of the upper atmosphere and ionosphere. This paper presents the results of an analysis of the frequency variations of the 1st mode of the Schumann resonator in two (North-South and East-West) magnetic field components in the geophysical observatory “Mikhnevo” during solar X-ray flares of M and X classes in 2011–2017. An analysis was made for the influence of the illumination of the signal propagation path and the total electronic content on it on the response magnitude of the variation of the first Schumann resonance frequency. It is shown that the frequency variation of the first mode of the Schumann resonance depends on the helio-geophysical conditions on the signal propagation path, i.e. arc of great circle. It is also shown that the diurnal variation of the sensitivity of the frequency variation of the 1st Schumann resonance to the X-ray flash power correlates well with the diurnal variation of the total electron content of the ionosphere on the signal propagation path. This fact may indicate that the electromagnetic wave at the frequencies of the first Schumann resonance penetrates into the upper ionosphere, namely into the f-layer. And, thus, the characteristics of the F-layer of the ionosphere can affect the parameters of the first Schumann resonance.
KEYWORDS: Data modeling, Transmitters, Observatories, Ionization, Solar processes, Systems modeling, Databases, Wave propagation, Differential equations
The principles of the probabilistic-statistical modeling of the D–region of the ionosphere are described. The work is devoted to the calculation of electron concentration using deterministic-probabilistic modeling. In this work the electron concentration is calculated using the five-components system of the ionization-recombination cycle equations. Probability density functions (PDFs) of the input parameters of the model are used to solve the system. It was shown that theoretical PDFs of the Ne are in good agreement with two experimental databases of electron concentration. Results of the deterministic-probabilistic model are compared with the experimental VLF signals obtained in geophysical observatory Mikhnevo from the three transmitters in different heliogeophysical conditions.
The effect of infrasonic pulsed radiation from the Chelyabinsk bolide on the perturbations of the electron concentration in the D region of the Earth's ionosphere is considered. According to the electromagnetic measurements in the geophysical observatory Mikhnevo of the Institute of Geospheres Dynamics of Russian Academy of Science (IDG RAS), an estimate of the displacement of the reflection point of the SDV signals is obtained. Influence of infrasound radiation on the propagation of VLF signals on the Novosibirsk-Mikhnevo path is considered. The amplitude of the displacement of particles of the environment from infrasonic radiation is estimated. There is a good agreement between theoretical and experimental estimates.
Solar flare on September 6, 2017 was one of the strongest in recent years. The powerful X-ray and ultraviolet radiation of the flash caused significant effects in the upper and lower ionosphere, in the geomagnetic field and surface electric field. The interrelation and spatio-temporal distribution of geophysical disturbances induced up by the flare and their influence on the accuracy of positioning of global navigation satellite systems are shown.
KEYWORDS: Solar radiation models, Solar processes, Ionization, Transmitters, Numerical simulations, X-rays, Data modeling, Monte Carlo methods, Physics
The progress in the physics and chemistry of the lower ionosphere depends on the verification of the numerical models on the experimental data. We establish the framework, that the lower ionosphere model can be considered as a valid one, only if the prediction for the VLF-LF radiowave propagation coincides with evidence both in amplitude and phase temporal dynamics. The extremely strong X-flares 06 and 10 September 2017 were chosen as a testbed for the empirical and theoretical models of the midlatitude lower ionosphere. Both models used GOES-15 X-ray flux measurements. Empirical model captures only the time moment of disturbance. Theoretical model captures the main feature in VLF response. We summarize the observed problems in simulation and prospective solutions as well.
The empirical models of the lower ionosphere are used for fast prediction of VLF-LF propagation properties, for the initialization in the inverse problem solvers and as a climatological testbed for new numerical models. We used two widely used empirical models and verify them on the experimental VLF data from Mikhnevo geophysical observatory for 2014 year. Numerical results were obtained by parabolic equation method. The presented results prove the severe limitations of the current empirical models. The main bottlenecks are formulated.
We study the surface electric field and the vertical atmosphere current at “Mikhnevo” geophysical observatory by means of a sensor cluster. The electric current sensor allows to disambiguate the displacement and conductive currents and to study their variations in sense of geophysical conditions. Data obtained under "fair weather" conditions and under significant perturbations are presented.
The results of the analysis of the navigation task solution in the conditions of registration of the signals of the global navigation satellite systems GPS and GLONASS in the Mikhnevo GFO (the geophysical observatory) are presented. It is shown that in the classical algorithm, the choice of satellites from the observed constellation should be made not according to the criterion of elevation, but by the number of conditionality of the navigation task matrix. The use of adaptive iterative algorithms almost completely compensates geophysical perturbations while maintaining the twofrequency regime.
The paper presents the results of an analysis of the frequency variations of the first mode of the of Schumann resonator in the geophysical observatory Mikhnevo of the Institute of Geospheres Dynamics of Russian Academy of Science (IDG RAS) during solar X-ray flares of the M and X classes in 2011 - 2017. It is shown that the frequency variation depends not only on the flash class, but also on the magnetic field component and local time. It is suggested that this is due to the geometry of the path from the African Thunderstorm Activity Center.
In the study of the ionosphere total electron content (TEC), defined from the data of global navigation satellite systems, are widely used. It is assumed that the main contribution to the value of TEC is made by the F region. At the same time, the results of many studies show that during the X-ray flares the ionization of the D region can increase substantially, reaching values of 106 cm-3. In this paper, we analyze the changes in the parameters of the D region during an X-class flare on September 6, 2017. It is shown that a correct interpretation of the variations of TEC with powerful X-ray flares requires taking into account of the contribution to its ionization value of the lower ionosphere.
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