Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “LOWER IONOSPHERE”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2010

Preface: International Reference Ionosphere - Progress in Ionospheric Modelling

The international reference ionosphere (lRI) is the internationally recommended empirical model for the specification of ionospheric parameters supported by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) and recognized by the International Standardization Organization (ISO). IRI is being continually improved by a team of international experts as new data become available and better models are being developed. This issue chronicles the latest phase of model updates as reported during two IRI-related meetings. The first was a special session during the Scientific Assembly of the Committee of Space Research (COSPAR) in Montreal, Canada in July 2008 and the second was an IRI Task Force Activity at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in May 2009. This work led to several improvements and additions of the model which will be included in the next version, IRI-201O. The issue is divided into three sections focusing on the improvements made in the topside ionosphere, the F-peak, and the lower ionosphere, respectively. This issue would not have been possible without the reviewing efforts of many individuals. Each paper was reviewed by two referees. We thankfully acknowledge the contribution to this issue made by the following reviewers: Jacob Adeniyi, David Altadill, Eduardo Araujo, Feza Arikan, Dieter Bilitza, Jilijana Cander, Bela Fejer, Tamara Gulyaeva, Manuel Hermindez-Pajares, Ivan Kutiev, John MacDougal, Leo McNamara, Bruno Nava, Olivier Obrou, Elijah Oyeyemi, Vadym Paznukhov, Bodo Reinisch, John Retterer, Phil Richards, Gary Sales, J.H. Sastri, Ludger Scherliess, Iwona Stanislavska, Stamir Stankov, Shin-Yi Su, Manlian Zhang, Y ongliang Zhang, and Irina Zakharenkova. We are grateful to Peggy Ann Shea for her final review and guidance as the editor-in-chief for special issues of Advances in Space Research. We thank the authors for their timely submission and their quick response to the reviewer comments and humbly apologize for any delays in the editing process.

Bilitza Dieter↗
NASA NTRS2023

Optimal Estimation Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GNSS-POD Limb Measurements: Part I-Algorithm and Morphology

GNSS-LEO radio links from Precise Orbital Determination (POD) and Radio Occultation (RO) antennas have been used increasingly in characterizing the global 3D distribution and variability of ionospheric electron density (N e ). In this study, we developed an optimal estimation (OE) method to retrieve N e profiles from the slant total electron content (hTEC) measurements acquired by the GNSS-POD links at negative elevation angles (ε < 0°). Although both OE and onion-peeling (OP) methods use the Abel weighting function in the N e inversion, they are significantly different in terms of performance in the lower ionosphere. The new OE results can overcome the large N e oscillations, sometimes negative values, seen in the OP retrievals in the E-region ionosphere. In the companion paper in this Special Issue, the HmF2 and NmF2 from the OE retrieval are validated against ground-based ionosondes and radar observations, showing generally good agreements in NmF2 from all sites. Nighttime hmF2 measurements tend to agree better than the daytime when the ionosonde heights tend to be slightly lower. The OE algorithm has been applied to all GNSS-POD data acquired from the COSMIC-1 (2006–2019), COSMIC-2 (2019–present), and Spire (2019–present) constellations, showing a consistent ionospheric N e morphology. The unprecedented spatiotemporal sampling of the ionosphere from these constellations now allows a detailed analysis of the frequency–wavenumber spectra for the N e variability at different heights. In the lower ionosphere (~150 km), we found significant spectral power in DE1, DW6, DW4, SW5, and SE4 wave components, in addition to well-known DW1, SW2, and DE3 waves. In the upper ionosphere (~450 km), additional wave components are still present, including DE4, DW4, DW6, SE4, and SW4. The co-existence of eastward- and westward-propagating wave4 components implies the presence of a stationary wave4 (SPW4), as suggested by other earlier studies. Further improvements to the OE method are proposed, including a tomographic inversion technique that leverages the asymmetric sampling about the tangent point associated with GNSS-LEO links.

GNSS constellation↗
NASA NTRS1975

A new interpretation of subprotonospheric whistler characteristics

Propagation paths of subprotonospheric (SP) whistlers are studied on the basis of Ogo 4 satellite data and ray tracing. SP whistler components picked up at a point in the ionosphere are associated with wave packets entering the lower ionosphere at different latitudes and traversing different paths. Reflection of a downcoming SP whistler component near the ion cutoff frequency is accompanied by a tone whose frequency increases with time. Horizontal gradients in the ionosphere are shown to play a major role in reflection of ELF waves at heights of about 1000 km. The combination of SP whistler and rising-tone component is examined as a possible useful diagnostic probe of the plasma structure of the ionosphere.

Raghuram, R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The upper atmospheres of the earth and planets; Proceedings of the Topical Meeting, Ottawa, Canada, May 16-June 2, 1982

Various topics concerned with the upper atmosphere of the earth and planets are discussed. The atmospheres of the terrestrial planets are addressed, emphasizing Venus. The energy budget of the mesosphere and thermosphere is considered, discussing current and particles as energy sources, the radiation field, and neutral atmosphere dynamics. The results of Pre-Map Project One are covered, and the International Reference Ionosphere is discussed, including electron density profiles, the lower ionosphere, the plasmasphere, plasma temperature profiles, and ion composition. Finally, the mass spectroscopy of atmospheres is treated.

Barth, C. A.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The Nightside Ionosphere of Venus Under Varying Levels of Solar EUV Flux

Solar activity varied widely over the 14 year lifetime of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter, and these variations directly affected the properties of the nightside ionosphere. At solar maximum, when solar EUV was largest, the Venus ionosphere was found to extend to highest altitudes and nightward ion transport was the main source of the nightside ionosphere. At solar minimum, nightward ion transport was reduced, and electron precipitation was thought to be the main source. In this study, we have attempted a separation of spatial variations from temporal variations by examining the altitude profiles of the magnetic field, and electron density and temperature for three different solar EUV flux ranges. In the upper ionosphere and near-planet magnetotail (h greater than 1800 km), the solar EUV effects are significant. The electron density decreases about an order of magnitude from high to low EUV flux, while the electron temperature at least doubles. The magnetic field also increases 2 - 3 nT. In the lower ionosphere (200 - 600 km), lower EUV fluxes are associated with slightly reduced density, and higher temperature. These results are in accord with recent entry phase observations, where the electron density measured above the ionospheric density peak is lower than that observed at solar maximum during the early Pioneer Venus mission.

Ho, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

The ionosphere of Saturn - Predictions for Pioneer 11

Model calculations indicate that the lower ionosphere of Saturn is controlled by photochemical processes, with basic features similar to the Jovian ionosphere. The scale height of the upper ionosphere is large (about 3350 km). A peak electron density of about 100,000/cu cm 2250 km above a 10 to the 19th per cu cm reference level is expected assuming an eddy coefficient at the homopause of 1.3 million sq cm/sec and a relatively hot exosphere at 1300 K.

Waite, J. H., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1993

The nightside ionosphere of Venus under varying levels of solar EUV flux

Solar activity varied widely over the 14 year lifetime of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO), and these variations directly affected the properties of the nightside ionosphere. At solar maximum, when solar EUV was largest, the Venus ionosphere was found to extend to highest altitudes and nightward ion transport was the main source of the nightside ionosphere. At solar minimum, nightward ion transport was reduced, and electron precipitation was thought to be the main source. In this study, we have attempted a separation of spatial variations from temporal variations by examining the altitude profiles of the magnetic field, and electron density and temperature for three different solar EUV flux ranges. In the upper ionosphere and near-planet magnetotail (h greater than 1800 km), the solar EUV flux effects are significant. The electron density decreases about an order of magnitude from high to low EUV flux, while the electron temperature at least doubles. The magnetic field also increases 2 - 3 nT. In the lower ionosphere (200 - 600 km), lower EUV fluxes are associated with slightly reduced density, and higher temperature. These results are in accord with recent entry phase observations, where the electron density measured above the ionospheric density peak is lower than that observed at solar maximum during the early Pioneer Venus mission.

Ho, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Venus internal magnetic field and its interaction with the interplanetary magnetic field

In a previous study, Knudsen et al. suggested that Venus has a weak internal magnetic dipole field of the order of 7 x 10 + 20 G cm(exp -3) that is manifested in the form of magnetic flux tubes threading the ionospheric holes in the Venus nightside ionosphere. They pointed out that any internal field of Venus, dipole or multipole, would be weakened in the subsolar region and concentrated in the antisolar region of the planet by the supersonic transterminator convection of the dayside ionosphere into the nightside hemisphere. The inferred magnitude of the dipole field does not violate the upper limit for an internal magnetic field established by the Pioneer Venus magnetometer experiment. The most compelling objection to the model suggested by Knudsen et al. has been the fact that it does not explain the observed interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) control of the polarity of the ionospheric hole flux tubes. In this presentation I suggest that a magnetic reconnection process analogous to that occurring at earth is occurring at Venus between the IMF and a weak internal dipole field. At Venus in the subsolar region, the reconnection occurs within the ionosphere. At Earth it occurs at the magnetopause. Reconnection will occur only when the IMF has an appropriate orientation relative to that of the weak internal field. Thus, reconnection provides a process for the IMF to control the flux tube polarity. The reconnection in the subsolar region takes place in the ionosphere as the barrier magnetic field is transported downward into the lower ionosphere by downward convection of ionospheric plasma and approaches the oppositely directed internal magnetic field that is diffusing upward. The reconnected flux tubes are then transported anti-Sunward by the anti-Sunward convecting ionospheric plasma as well as by the anti-Sunward-flowing solar wind. Reconnection will also occur in the Venus magnetic tail region, somewhat analogously to the reconnection that occurs in the magnetotail of the Earth. The possibility that reconnection is occurring between the IMF and an internal dipole field may be tested by measuring the orientation of the IMF projected into a plane perpendicular to the solar wind velocity during time intervals for which ionospheric holes are observed. The orientations of the IMV components should fall within a 180 deg angle.

Knudsen, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Diurnal variation of the Jovian ionosphere

The time-dependent structure of the Jovian ionosphere is examined. Diurnal variation of appreciable magnitude is revealed in the lower ionosphere. The upper ionosphere remains more or less intact at nighttime, as in the case of the earth's ionosphere. There is considerable difference in the height-integrated electrical conductivities on the day and night sides.

Tan, A.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Mode coupling in partial reflections from the ionosphere at vertical incidence.

The effect of mode coupling has been calculated for radio waves partially reflected from the lower ionosphere at vertical incidence. Calculations were made for parameters appropriate to the partial reflection experiments (Belrose, 1970). The four reflection coefficients (two direct and two coupled) are calculated for a plane discontinuity using a matrix perturbation analysis. The ratios of coupled to direct reflection coefficients are calculated for a general one-dimensional reflecting layer using the coupled equations of Clemmow and Heading (1954). At the highest electron density considered, 10,000 per cu cm, about 10% of the reflected extraordinary wave amplitude might be due to coupling from the incident ordinary wave. The effect is smaller at lower electron density.

Connolly, D. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Ionospheric D and E regions

Some areas of D and E region research are examined, with particular reference to the photochemistry and transport of minor neutral constitutents in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. The review shows that the D and E regions become more complex physical and chemical systems as research progresses, so that some previous views on these regions have to be revised. In particular, the lower ionosphere appears to be hydrodynamically coupled to the lower atmosphere and electrodynamically coupled to the magnetosphere.

Sechrist, C. F., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Rayleigh-Taylor and wind-driven instabilities of the nighttime equatorial ionosphere

A thorough re-examination has been made of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere from approximately 100 km to the bottomside F region. The following effects have been taken into account explicitly in various combinations: (1) the eastward drift of the ionosphere caused by the nighttime polarization electric field, (2) the eastward nighttime neutral wind, and (3) recombination in the F and E regions. It was found that, well below the bottomside F region, the Rayleigh-Taylor mode can be unstable and is driven by an eastward neutral wind rather than by gravitational drift. Formation of ionospheric bubbles below the bottomside F region is consistent with the observation of lower ionospheric ions in F region ionospheric holes; furthermore, seasonal and shorter term variations in spread-F occurrence may be associated with variations in the neutral wind and polarization electric field.

Chiu, Y. T.↗