skip to main content


Title: Measuring the Electron Density Roughness of the D‐Region Ionosphere
Abstract

We present a method of characterizing the horizontal and vertical electron density roughness of the D‐region ionosphere using Nationwide Differential Global Position System (NDGPS) transmitters as low‐frequency (LF; 30–300 kHz) and medium‐frequency (MF; 300–3,000 kHz) signals of opportunity. The horizontal roughness is characterized using an amplitude cross‐correlation method, which yields the correlation length scale metric. The vertical roughness is characterized using a differential phase height, which is needed to mitigate the effects of transmitter phase instability. The ranges and typical values of roughness metrics are investigated using data from several field campaign measurements. Finally, the roughness metrics for an NDGPS transmitter and very low frequency (VLF) transmitter are compared. It is found that the roughness detected by the VLF transmitter is significantly smoother and demonstrates the utility of this method to complement traditional VLF measurements.

 
more » « less
Award ID(s):
1653114
NSF-PAR ID:
10453151
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  
Publisher / Repository:
DOI PREFIX: 10.1029
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume:
125
Issue:
10
ISSN:
2169-9380
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
More Like this
  1. Abstract

    The very‐low frequency (VLF) and low frequency (LF) waves from ground transmitters propagate in the ionospheric waveguide, and a portion of their power leaks to the Earth's inner radiation belt and slot region where it can cause electron precipitation loss. Using Van Allen Probes observations, we perform a survey of the VLF and LF transmitter waves at frequencies from 14 to 200 kHz. The statistical electric and magnetic wave amplitudes and frequency spectra are obtained at 1 < L < 3. Based on a recent study on the propagation of VLF transmitter waves, we divide the total wave power into ducted and unducted portions, and model the wave normal angle of unducted waves with dependences onLshell, magnetic latitude, and wave frequency. At lower frequencies, the unducted waves are launched along the vertical direction and the wave normal angle increases during the propagation until reaching the Gendrin angle; at higher frequencies, the normal angle of unducted waves follows the variation of Gendrin angle. We calculate the bounce‐averaged pitch angle and momentum diffusion coefficients of electrons due to ducted and unducted VLF and LF waves. Unducted and ducted waves cause efficient pitch angle scattering atL = 1.5 and 2.5, respectively. Although the wave power from ground transmitters at frequencies higher than 30 kHz is low, these waves can cause the pitch angle scattering of lower energy (2–200 keV atL = 1.5) electrons, which cannot resonate with the VLF transmitter waves at frequencies below 30 kHz, lightning generated whistlers, or plasmaspheric hiss.

     
    more » « less
  2. Abstract

    Energetic particle precipitation (EPP) is a key loss mechanism for radiation belt particles. Quantification of the precipitation loss rate feeds into the electron lifetimes used by radiation belt models and is needed to improve understanding of radiation belt dynamics. EPP deposits most of its energy in theD‐region ionosphere, a layer so weakly ionized that it is not observed using standard ionosphere measurement techniques. However, very low frequency (VLF) radio signals propagate great distances because of the naturally occurring waveguide formed by Earth’s surface and theD‐region. If the ground conductivity is known along the propagation path to a receiver, then the amplitude and phase of a VLF transmitter signal can be used to infer the average conductivity of theD‐region ionosphere. This article simulates the propagation of narrowband VLF signals through realistic ionosphere profiles enhanced by EPP. By using a distributed array of VLF receivers, the observations can be simultaneously inverted to estimate the spatial extent of a precipitation patch. These images of the ionosphere are generated using the local ensemble transform Kalman filter. We demonstrate this method with several simulated observation experiments, including four EPP events. Precipitation patches are identified in daytime, but accurate estimation of nighttime ionospheres remains a challenge.

     
    more » « less
  3. Abstract

    Ground observations of VLF (very low frequency) waves have often been used to infer VLF activity in the magnetosphere; however, they are not an unbiased measure of activity at satellite altitudes due to transionospheric absorption and subionospheric attenuation. We propose several empirical models that control for these effects. VLF power spectral density (PSD) from the VLF/ELF Logger Experiment (VELOX, L=4.6, Halley, Antarctica) is used to predict DEMETER low Earth orbit VLF PSD. Validation correlations of these models are as high as 0.764; thus, ground VLF receivers spaced around the Earth could provide coverage of outer radiation belt lower band chorus over the latitudinal limits of this model (±45–75°). Correlations of four frequency bands (centered at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.25 kHz) are compared. The simple linear correlation between ground and satellite VLF PSD in the 1.0‐kHz channel was 0.606 (at dawn). A cubic model resulted in higher correlation (0.638). VLF penetration to the ground is reduced by ionospheric absorption during solar illumination and by disruption of ducting field lines during disturbed conditions. Subionospheric attenuation also reduces VLF observations from distant field lines. Addition of these covariates improved predictions. Both solar illumination and disturbed conditions reduced ground observation of VLF PSD, with higher power waves penetrating to the ground proportionately less than lower power waves. The effect of illumination in reducing wave penetration was more pronounced at higher frequency (4.25 kHz), with the effect at a midrange frequency (2.0 kHz) falling between these two extremes.

     
    more » « less
  4. Abstract

    We demonstrate a methodology for utilizing measurements from very low frequency (VLF, 3−30 kHz) transmitters and lightning emissions to produce 3D lower electron density maps, and apply it to multiple geophysical disturbances. The D‐region lower ionosphere (60−90 km) forms the upper boundary of the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide which allows VLF radio waves to propagate to global distances. Measurements of these signals have, in many prior studies, been used to infer path‐average electron density profiles within the D region. Historically, researchers have focused on either measurements of VLF transmitters or radio atmospherics (sferics) from lightning. In this work, we build on recently published methods for each and present a method to unify the two approaches via tomography. The output of the tomographic inversion produces maps of electron density over a large portion of the United States and Gulf of Mexico. To illustrate the benefits of this unified approach, daytime and nighttime maps are compared between a sferic‐only model and the new approach suggested here. We apply the model to characterize two geophysical disturbances: solar flares and lower ionospheric changes associated with thunderstorms.

     
    more » « less
  5. Abstract

    Integrated quadrant analysis is a novel technique to identify and to characterize the trajectory and strength of turbulent coherent structures in the atmospheric surface layer. By integrating the three-dimensional velocity field characterized by traditional quadrant analysis with respect to time, the trajectory history of individual coherent structures can be preserved with Eulerian turbulence measurements. We develop a method to identify the ejection phase of coherent structures based on turbulence kinetic energy (TKE). Identifying coherent structures within a time series using TKE performs better than identifying them with the streamwise and vertical velocity components because some coherent structures are dominated by the cross-stream velocity component as they pass the sensor. By combining this identification method with the integrated quadrant analysis, one can animate or plot the trajectory of individual coherent structures from high-frequency velocity measurements. This procedure links a coherent ejection with the subsequent sweep and quiescent period in time to visualize and quantify the strength and the duration of a coherent structure. We develop and verify the method of integrated quadrant analysis with data from two field studies: the Eclipse Boundary Layer Experiment (EBLE) in Corvallis, Oregon in August 2017 (grass field) and the Vertical Cherry Array Experiment (VACE) in Linden, California in November 2019 (cherry orchard). The combined TKE identification method and integrated quadrant analysis are promising additions to conditional sampling techniques and coherent structure characterization because the identify coherent structures and couple the sweep and ejection components in space. In an orchard (VACE), integrated quadrant analysis verifies each coherent structure is dominated by a sweep. Conversely, above the roughness sublayer (EBLE), each coherent structure is dominated by an ejection.

     
    more » « less