http://hdl.handle.net/2122/95 2013-05-20T01:42:30Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8701 Title: Testing the IONORT-ISP system: A comparison between synthesized and measured oblique ionograms Authors: Settimi, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Pezzopane, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Pietrella, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Bianchi, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Scotto, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Zuccheretti, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Makris, J.; Technological Educational Institute of Crete, P.O. Box 1939 Chania, Crete, Greece Abstract: The three-dimensional (3-D) electron density representation of the ionosphere computed by the assimilative IRI-SIRMUP-P (ISP) model was tested using IONORT (IONOspheric Ray-Tracing), a software application for calculating a 3-D ray-tracing for high frequency (HF) waves in the ionospheric medium. A radio link was established between Rome (41.8°N, 12.5°E) in Italy, and Chania (35.7°N, 24.0°E) in Greece, within the ISP validity area, and for which oblique soundings are conducted. The ionospheric reference stations, from which the autoscaled foF2 and M(3000)F2 data and real-time vertical electron density profiles were assimilated by the ISP model, were Rome (41.8°N, 12.5°E) and Gibilmanna (37.9°N, 14.0°E) in Italy, and Athens (38.0°N, 23.5°E) in Greece. IONORT was used, in conjunction with the ISP and the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) 3-D electron density grids, to synthesize oblique ionograms. The comparison between synthesized and measured oblique ionograms, both in terms of the ionogram shape and the maximum usable frequency characterizing the radio path, demonstrates both that the ISP model can more accurately represent real conditions in the ionosphere than the IRI, and that the ray-tracing results computed by IONORT are reasonably reliable. 2013-05-02T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8557 Title: Massive statistical analysis of autoscaled data: the case of the double reflection signature in mid-latitude vertical ionograms Authors: Pezzopane, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Scotto, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: This work shows how new capabilities can emerge from a massive statistical analysis of previously overlooked autoscaled data. In particular, the paper shows how autoscaling methods for vertical ionograms, specifically Autoscala, can offer a new kind of data that are not currently available at World Data Center or elsewhere and not reported by manual ionogram scalers. In this context, an example of such new analyses is the presentation of a statistics of occurrence of the double reflection phenomenon that sometimes characterizes ionograms. In order to establish this original statistics, a method developed to smooth out a specific autoscaling problem was utilized, and a large data set of ionograms recorded from 2003 to 2008 by the AIS-INGV ionosondes installed at the ionospheric stations of Rome (41.8°N, 12.5°E) and Gibilmanna (37.9°N, 14.0°E), Italy, was analyzed. The main results that emerged from the study are hence illustrated and briefly discussed. 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8133 Title: Retrieval of thermospheric parameters from routine ionospheric observations: assessment of method’s performance at mid-latitudes daytime hours Authors: Mikhailov, A. V.; Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow Region 142190, Russia; Belehaki, A.; Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Metaxa and Vas. Pavlou, Palaia Penteli, 15236 Greece; Perrone, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Zolesi, B.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Tsagouri, I.; Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Metaxa and Vas. Pavlou, Palaia Penteli, 15236 Greece Abstract: A new method has been developed to retrieve neutral temperature Tn and composition [O], [N2], [O2] from electron density profiles in the daytime mid-latitude F2-region under both quiet and disturbed conditions. A comparison with CHAMP neutral gas density observations in the vicinity of Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) has shown that the retrieved neutral gas densities coincide with the observed ones within the announced accuracy of CHAMP observations, provided that accurate Ne(h) ISR profiles are used for the retrieval. The performance of the method has also been tested ingesting Digisonde Ne(h) profiles. In this case the agreement with CHAMP neutral gas density observations is less successful. Possible factors that can influence the performance accuracy are investigated. These are mostly related to limitations due to the ionogram scaling and inversion methods, including performance limitations of the sounding technique itself, like for instance during G-conditions. Several tests presented here demonstrate that discrepancies in the hmF2 values provided by the Digisondes could have an important impact on the performance of the method. It should be noted that in all tests performed here using Digisonde Ne(h) profiles, the topside part is approximated with the NeQuick model and any assessment concerning the impact of the topside profiler on the accuracy of the method is beyond the scope of this investigation. Despite the limitations related to the use of Digisonde profiles, the proposed method has the potential to monitor the thermosphere at least with ISR Ne(h) profiles. Digisonde electron density profiles can also be used if quality improvements are made concerning the ionogram inversion methods. 2012-05-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8131 Title: Two types of positive disturbances in the daytime mid-latitude F2-layer: Morphology and formation mechanisms Authors: Mikhailov, A. V.; Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow Region 142190, Russia; Perrone, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Smirnova, N. V.; Institute of Geosphere Dynamics (IDG RAS), Lenin Avenue 38, Moscow 117334, Russia Abstract: Morphological analysis of foF2 variations for the periods of daytime positive disturbances over three ionospheric stations St. Petersburg (sub-auroral zone), Slough (middle latitudes), and Alma-Ata (middle-low latitudes) has confirmed the existence of two types of positive F2-layer disturbances with different morphology. Type I is referred to those followed by quiet or positively disturbed ionospheric conditions. They occur under low or moderate level of geomagnetic activity. Positive disturbances of type II are related to strong geomagnetic storms and they are followed by negative ionospheric disturbances. The two types manifest different occurrence frequency distribution and its dependence on latitude and level of geomagnetic activity. They also exhibit different duration and magnitude. This tells that two types of disturbances belong to different classes of events and may have different formation mechanisms. Millstone Hill ISR and digisonde hmF2 and foF2 observations for some selected periods of F2-layer positive disturbances of both types were analyzed. The original earlier developed self-consistent method to extract thermospheric parameters from ISR observations was used to estimate the contribution of various aeronomic parameters to the observed storm time F2-layer variations. Our analysis of a well-pronounced positive disturbances of type II on December 14, 2006 has confirmed the well-known concept by Pr ¨olss (1993a,b, 1995)—daytime midlatitude positive disturbances of type II are mainly produced by TADs and following them disturbed equatorward winds. However our calculations have shown that about half of the observed positive storm effect may be attributed to thermospheric parameter (neutral composition and temperature) variations. The type II of positive disturbances presents the first phase of a two-phase (positive/negative) ionospheric storm. For this reason their occurrence frequency distribution is similar to that for negative disturbances. The driving force for both disturbances is the same—the thermosphere heating in the auroral zone. Situation with positive disturbances of type I is more complicated. Electric fields on April 03, 2004, and neutral composition (mainly atomic oxygen) variations on April 11, 2000 were shown to be responsible for the observed positive storm effect. The difference in the two cases is presumably related with the localization (longitudinal sector) of the auroral heating. 2012-05-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7964 Title: Variability of foF2 over Rome and Gibilmanna during three solar cycles (1976-2000) Authors: Pietrella, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Pezzopane, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Scotto, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: Hourly validated values of the F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) recorded at Rome, Italy (geographic coordinates 41.8ºN, 12.5ºE; geomagnetic coordinates 42.0ºN, 93.8ºE), and Gibilmanna, Italy (geographic coordinates 37.6ºN, 14.0ºE; geomagnetic coordinates 38.1ºN, 93.6ºE), along with the hourly quiet time reference values of foF2 (foF2QTRV) were considered around periods of minimum and maximum solar activity over the years 1976–2000. The foF2 data set was specifically organized in order to obtain an overall trend both for low and high solar activity, and different dispersion indices were used. The results obtained show that (1) at Rome, the foF2 variability is always greater during periods of high solar activity (HSA) in the hourly ranges 00:00–02:00 UT and 20:00–23:00 UT during winter months, and in the hourly ranges 00:00–10:00 UT and 04:00–16:00 UT during equinoctial and summer months respectively; (2) on the whole, around midday, for low solar activity (LSA), the foF2 variability is smaller at the equinoxes than at the solstices; for HSA, it is greater at equinoxes than at solstices; (3) for LSA, at Gibilmanna the foF2 variability is in general larger than at Rome, especially in summer, and it is characterized by a number of relative minimums and maximums greater than those observed at Rome; (4) at Rome, for both LSA and HSA, the passage of solar terminator at sunset significantly affects ionospheric variability in January, April, August, and November, at Gibilmanna in August, September, and November; (5) several variability peaks before sunrise and after sunset are observed in both stations; (6) on a monthly basis, for both LSA and HSA, a semiannual variation of foF2 variability is observed at both Rome and Gibilmanna; and (7) evidence of ionospheric variability at the typical heights of the F region, connected to upward propagating gravity waves triggered by solar terminator, is observed at Rome during some days characterized by HSA in the equinoctial months. 2012-05-15T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7933 Title: Atypical nighttime spread-F structure observed near the southern crest of the ionospheric equatorial ionization anomaly Authors: Fagundes, P. R.; Bittencourt, J. A.; Abreu, A. J.; Moor, L. P.; Muella, M. T. A. H.; Sahai, Y.; Abalde, J. R.; Pezzopane, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Sobral, J. H. A.; Abdu, M. A.; Pimenta, A. A.; Amorim, D. C. M. Abstract: An atypical nighttime spread-F structure is observed on ionograms at or above the F2 trace, near the crest of the ionospheric equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) region. This ionospheric atypical spread-F phenomenon was observed using two closed spaced( 115 km) ionospheric soundings stations located in Sao Jose dos Campos (23.21 S, 45.97 W) and Cachoeira Paulista (22.70 S, 45.01 W), Brazil, in a low-latitude station (near the southern crest of the EIA region), during nighttime, low solar activity, and quiet geomagnetic conditions. This structure, in the initial phase, appears in the ionogram as a faint spread-F trace above or at the F2-layer peak height. After a few minutes, it develops into a strong spread-F trace, and afterwards, it moves to altitudes below the F2-layer peak heights. Finally, the atypical nighttime F-layer trace structure may remain for a while between the F-layer bottom side and peak height or can move to an altitude above the F-layer peak height, and then it disappears. In order to have a comprehensive view of the ionospheric environment characterizing the phenomenon under study, complementary data from six GPS station were used to investigate the ionosphere environment conditions, during both events. The six GPS stations used in this study are distributed from near the equatorial region to low latitudes and provide evidence that the atypical nighttime spread-F structures are not related with large scale equatorial irregularities (plasma bubbles). 2012-04-06T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7723 Title: A short-term ionospheric forecasting empirical regional model (IFERM) to predict the critical frequency of the F2 layer during moderate, disturbed, and very disturbed geomagnetic conditions over the European area Authors: Pietrella, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: A short-term ionospheric forecasting empirical regional model (IFERM) has been developed to predict the state of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) under different geomagnetic conditions. IFERM is based on 13 short term ionospheric forecasting empirical local models (IFELM) developed to predict foF2 at 13 ionospheric observatories scattered around the European area. The forecasting procedures were developed by taking into account, hourly measurements of foF2, hourly quiettime reference values of foF2 (foF2QT), and the hourly timeweighted accumulation series derived from the geomagnetic planetary index ap, (ap(τ )), for each observatory. Under the assumption that the ionospheric disturbance index ln(foF2/foF2QT) is correlated to the integrated geomagnetic disturbance index ap(τ ), a set of statistically significant regression coefficients were established for each observatory, over 12 months, over 24 h, and under 3 different ranges of geomagnetic activity. This data was then used as input to compute short-term ionospheric forecasting of foF2 at the 13 local stations under consideration. The empirical storm-time ionospheric correction model (STORM) was used to predict foF2 in two different ways: scaling both the hourly median prediction provided by IRI (STORM foF2MED,IRI model), and the foF2QT values (STORM foF2QT model) from each local station. The comparison between the performance of STORM foF2MED,IRI, STORM foF2QT, IFELM, and the foF2QT values, was made on the basis of root mean square deviation (r.m.s.) for a large number of periods characterized by moderate, disturbed, and very disturbed geomagnetic activity. The results showed that the 13 IFELM perform much better than STORM foF2MED,IRI and STORM foF2QT especially in the eastern part of the European area during the summer months (May, June, July, and August) and equinoctial months (March, April, September, and October) under disturbed and very disturbed geomagnetic conditions, respectively. The performance of IFELM is also very good in the western and central part of the Europe during the summer months under disturbed geomagnetic conditions. STORM foF2MED,IRI performs particularly well in central Europe during the equinoctial months under moderate geomagnetic conditions and during the summer months under very disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The forecasting maps generated by IFERM on the basis of the results provided by the 13 IFELM, show very large areas located at middle-high and high latitudes where the foF2 predictions quite faithfully match the foF2 measurements, and consequently IFERM can be used for generating short-term forecasting maps of foF2 (up to 3 h ahead) over the European area. 2012-02-07T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7711 Title: Estimating the vertical electron density profile from an ionogram: on the passage from true to virtual heights via the target function method Authors: Scotto, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Pezzopane, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Zolesi, B.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: The paper describes a new simple method of calculation by which an artificial ionogram trace is obtained from a given vertical electron density profile. The method is discussed in terms of the target function method used by Autoscala to output a reliable estimation of the real vertical electron density profile associated to the recorded ionogram. This new approach solves the issue of the pole in the calculation of virtual height, and consequently eliminates all the divergence phenomena that sometimes characterized the artificial ionogram traces computed by Autoscala. In contrast to the POLAN procedure, the technique introduced in this paper to pass from true to virtual heights is not based on any arithmetical operation related to changes of integration variables. Since the target function method on which Autoscala is based requires that the passage from a vertical electron density profile to an artificial ionogram be repeated a very large number of times, this new calculation procedure is advantageous in terms of speeding up the associated processing time. 2012-01-27T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7315 Title: Estimation of probability of occurrence of F1 layer or L condition using tables and electron density profile models Authors: Scotto, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: An algorithm is proposed for evaluation of the probability of occurrence of an F1 layer or L condition, based on tables. Observations independent of the tables database are used for comparison between the estimated probability of occurrence, the formulation used at present in IRI, and the occurrence actually observed. The importance of the inclusion of L condition in the electron density profile model is shown. 2010-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/7287 Title: Structure and Dynamics of Ionospheric Plasma Authors: Alfonsi, Lu.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Liu, L.; Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China Abstract: The selection of the topics included in this issue is far from being exhaustive, but it contributes to demonstrate how many questions arise from the investigation of the coupling between ionized and neutral atmosphere and from the solarterrestrial relationship. We would like to thank the authors for their excellent contributions and patience in assisting us. Finally, the fundamental work of all reviewers on these papers is also very warmly acknowledged. 2011-12-03T23:00:00Z