Automatic data acquisition system and reconstruction algorithm for computerized ionospheric tomography

The design and operation features of the automatic data acquisition system for the low-latitude ionospheric tomography along the 120°E meridian are presented. The system, automatically collects the differential Doppler phase data, and GPS satellite beacon signal is simultaneously collected to achieve time synchronization of all recelvers in whole station-chain. An improved reconstruction algorithm of computerized ionospheric tomography is also proposed, in which calculating of the integral phase constant and choosing of the initial guess are integrated in the procedure of reconstruction and evaluated by the reconstructed image. Both numerical simulation examples and reconstructed results from observed data show that the new algorithm works reasonably and effectively with ionospheric CT problems. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (49584006) Biography: WU Xiong-bin (1968-), male, Ph. D candidate. Research direction: computerized ionospheric tomography.     

Inversion of ionospheric electron density from GPS beacon observations

~~Inversion of Ionospheric Electron Density from GPS Beacon Observations~~SupportedbytheNationalNaturalScienceFoundationofChina(499840 0 1 )     

Analysis of ionospheric anomalies before the 2011 <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>w</Subscript> 9.0 Japan earthquake

On March 11, 2011, a large earthquake of Mw=9.0 occurred near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. This paper investigates preearthquake ionospheric anomalies during the earthquake period, using data from global navigation satellite systems and ionosonde stations near the epicenter. A clear anomaly that occurred on March 8 lasted 6 hours. Eliminating ionospheric anomalies that may have been caused by solar activities and magnetic storms, we believe that a positive anomaly on March 8 was very possibly an ionospheric precursor. The affected ionospheric area on March 8, which is evident on a vertical total electron content distribution map, extended to 50° in longitude and 20° in latitude, with length ratio approximately 3:1. The anomaly peak arose from 15:00-19:00 LT, and its location did not coincide with the vertical projection of the epicenter, but was instead to its south. Corresponding ionospheric anomalies are also observed in the magnetically conjugated region. There were no obvious ionospheric anomalies in other parts of the world. To analyze changes in the ionospheric anomaly, computerized ionospheric tomography technology was used to invert the spatial and temporal distribution of electron density in the ionosphere. The ionospheric anomaly on March 8, 2011 is suggested to be an ionospheric precursor of the March 11 earthquake in Japan.     

Reconstruction algorithm of computerized ionospheric tomography

Applying the technique of computer tomography to ionosphere detection, Computerized Ionospheric Tomography (CIT) can produce the large scale distribution of electron density in a two dimentional longitudinal section of ionosphere. According to the actual detecting condition of sparse receiver and limited projecting angle, polynomial interpolation method and projecting angle expansion method are proposed. A new energy function is formulated according to the constraint of least neighbourhood error. Simulated annealing is incorporated in the iteration of ART to get the global minimum of energy function. Sun Xiaon; born in May 1968, Ph. D. Current research interest is in computer graphics & Image processing Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Development of an ionospheric scintillation monitor using single frequency GPS receiver

Besides their intended use in radio navigation, global positioning system (GPS) satellite signals provide convenient radio beacons for ionospheric studies. Among other propagation phenomena, the ionosphere affects GPS signal propagation through amplitude scintillations that develop after radio waves propagation through ionospheric electron density irregularities. This paper outlines the design, testing, and results of a specialized GPS receiver to monitorL-band scintillations. The scintillation monitor system consists of a commercial GPS receiver development kit with its software designed to log signal strength and carrier phase from up to 12 channels at one sample per second rate. Other prime features of the monitor include the data compression transmission and processing. Here is the fact that they are inexpensive and compact and therefore can be readily proliferated. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 49984001) Biography: Shu Di-fei (1973-), male, Master candidate, research direction: studying ionosphere on GPS beacons.     

An improved iterative reconstruction algorithm for traveltime tomography

Traveltime tomography is a technique to reconstruct acoustic, seismic, or electromagnetic wave-speed distributions from first arrival traveltime data. The ray paths that should be used for tomographic techniques strongly depend on the wave-speed distribution. In this paper, a new method is proposed for finding out the ray paths from Fermat's principle, that means the traveltime of the ray path should be a minimum value. The problem of finding out the ray path is actually an optimum problem. Our new method uses the idea to find out the shortest path in a weighted directed graph to solve the problem. The ray paths found out by this method are used in the iterative reconstruction algorithm. Computer simulation result produced by this reconstruction algorithm is better than that by the conventional ones. It also shows that the new algorithm is effective with good convergency and stability. Ma Ning: born in Nov. 1970, Ph. D. graduate student. Current research Interest is in computer signal processing Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Investigation of radio ray-path and electron density slope of the ionosphere

The three dimensional ray-path equation considering the effect of the horizontal gradient of the ionospheric electron density is obtained. By integrating in upgoing and downgoing stage, the point on the raypath can be determined and the propagation channel in HF radio telecommunication may be recknoed and predicted. Considering the effect of the electron density slope the ray-path is asymmetric about the reflecting point, and the wave is no longer in the great circle determined by the original wave vector. The group path and the phase path can also be solved. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Chong Yanwen: born in 1972, Ph. D graduate student     

Performance analysis of a 3D ionosphere tomographic model

A 3D high precision ionospheric model is developed based on tomography technique. This tomographic model employs GPS data observed by an operational network of dual-frequency GPS receivers. The methodology of developing a 3D ionospheric tomography model is briefly summarized. However emphasis is put on the analysis and evaluation of the accuracy variation of 3D ionosphere modeling with respect to the change of GPS data cutoff angle.Three typical cutoff angle values (15°, 20° and 25°) are tested. For each testing cutoff angle, the performances of the3D ionospheric model constructed using tomography technique are assessed by calibrating the model predicted ionospheric TEC with the GPS measured TEC and by employing the model predicted TEC to a practical GPS positioning application single point positioning (SPP).Test results indicate the 3D model predicted VTEC has about 0.4 TECU improvement in accuracy when cutoff angle rises from 15° to 20°. However, no apparent improvement is found from 20° to 25°. The model's improvement is also validated by the better SPP accuracy of 3D model than its counterpart-dual frequency model in the 20° and 25° cases.     

Using traveltime tomography to reconstruct electrical conductivity

A new method for reconstructing electrical conductivity distribution from electromagnetic (EM) data by using traveltime tomography is presented in this paper. Diffusive EM fields can be mathematically transformed to wavefields defined in a time-like variable. The transform uniquely relates a field satisfying a diffusion equation in time, or in frequency, to an integral of the corresponding wavefield. This paper first transforms numerically calculated transient magnetic fields to wavefields. Traveltime data from a source to the receivers are estimated from the transformed wavefields. Then an iterative reconstruction algorithm is used to obtain the slowness distribution of a medium. This algorithm is an improved ART algorithm taking account of bending ray paths. The slowness distribution is transformed to electrical conductivity distribution according to their relation. The simulation result is presented in this paper. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Ma Ning: born in Nov. 1970, Ph. D. graduate student     

GNSS掩星电离层观测的模拟试验

利用真实的电离层GNSS掩星轨道数据，采用全球3D射线追踪程序，从笛卡尔坐标系下的三维Haselgrove方程和Budden方程出发，利用“打靶”的方法来确定从指定的GNSS位置到指定的低轨卫星位置正确的射线路径，进而模拟出电离层对GNSS信号的时间延迟。然后，通过反演得到了电子密度剖面。分别 模拟了太阳活动对GNSS掩星信号电离层时延的影响，以及GNSS掩星信号电离层时延的年变化和日变化情况，结果发现太阳活动对电离层GNSS信号时延有较大影响，GNSS掩星信号电离层时延在一年和一天中都有较大起伏。     

COSMIC电离层光度计观测数据反演峰值电子密度的算法与结果

 利用COSMIC小型电离层光度计测量的135.6 nm夜气辉辐射强度数据，反演得到峰值电子密度，并与地基垂测仪的观测结果进行比对。结果表明，受到来自130.4 nm波段和长波（近紫外至可见）波段杂散光的影响，电离层光度计测得的135.6 nm夜气辉辐射强度数据须进行带外杂散光修正，修正后的数据反演得到的峰值电子与垂测仪观测结果有较好一致性。     

基于短波段电离层探测数据分析地下核爆引起的电离层扰动

同GNSS（全球导航卫星系统,Global Navigation Satellite System）获取电离层TEC（总电子含量,Total Electron Content）数据相比,传统的电离层垂测、斜测等短波段数据具有特征参数丰富、高度分辨率高、历史数据多等优点。为利用电离层垂测和斜测数据,研究地下核爆引起的电离层扰动。本文利用2016年1月6日朝鲜地下核试验当天的斜测、垂测数据分析电离层扰动现象。结果表明,本次地下核爆造成的行波电离层扰动为小尺度电离层扰动,传播速度在150.3-158.7(m·s-1)之间。同时核爆发生后半小时在距离爆点421.4 km处,观测到foF2较月中值增加了0.7 MHz,较1月5日、1月7日在2:00 UTC（协调世界时,Coordinated Universal Time)的foF2（F2层临界频率,critical frequency of the F2 layer）增加了0.5 MHz,极有可能是地下核爆通过岩石圈-大气圈-电离层圈耦合机制造成电离层电子浓度增加。本文分析结果与其他文献资料非常吻合。由此可见,基于短波段电离层探测方式感知电离层扰动从而实现地下核爆炸事件的监测,是一种有效的核爆电离层效应监测手段,可与其他直接监测手段相印证,提高核爆事件监测能力。     

Numerical simulation of ionization enhancement in the topside ionosphere of cusp foot-point region caused by low energy particle precipitation

The Graz Ionospheric Flux Tube Simulations (GIFTS) has been improved. The improved GIFTS model was used to numerically investigate the energy particle precipitation on the distribution of electron density in the ionospheric cusp foot-point region under conditions of large plasma convection during magnetic storm. After including the effects of low energy incident particles, the ionospheric electron densities increase remarkably above altitude of ∼250 km, showing a peak at about 350 km. The percent enhancements of electron densities increase gradually with altitude, exceeding 60% near the upper boundary of the calculation. The calculated ionospheric F ₂-peak was remarkably enhanced and lifted up by the incident low energy electrons. Biography: CAI Hongtao(1976–), male, Associate professor, Ph.D., research direction: polar magnetosphere and ionosphere.     

A simulation study of ionization depletion in the auroral ionosphericF-region caused by strong convection electric field

THe effects of strong convection electric field on the electron density in the auroral ionosphericF-region have been simulated numerically by means of a physical model. It is found that an enhancement of electric field directed west-northward in post-noon or west-southward in pre-noon results in an ionization depletion with its maximum at altitudes 40–50 km higher than that of theF ₂ peak. When the enhanced electric field lasts for 45 min and has a maximum about 32 mV/m, the resulted ionization depletions reach their maximum at the time just ∼10 min behind the time when the convection electric field and ion temperature enhancements reach their maximum. This is consistent well with EISCAT observations. The magnitudes of the percentage ionization depletions and their recovery time are dependent not only on the intensity of the electric field, but also on the diurnal variation phase of the background electron density. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (49674241, 40074039) and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education in China Biography: Cai Hong-tao (1976-), male, Ph. D. candidate, research direction: polar ionospheric modeling.     

New understanding achieved from 2 years of Chinese ionospheric investigations

Science Bulletin - In the mainland of China, the number of ionospheric research groups is more than 10. Around 110 articles related to ionospheric physics have been published during...     

利用单站电离层测高仪与GPS数据的同化反演试验

利用测高仪和GPS观测数据进行了单站电离层电子密度廓线的同化反演实验,实验中设计了一套基于Kalman滤波的电离层数据同化系统,采用了水平和垂直方向可分离的高斯型误差协方差矩阵,利用IRI2000模式作为同化反演的背景场,分别使用了测高仪数据和GPS数据进行了单独同化反演和联合同化反演实验,结果显示：在各类同化参数不改变的情况下,单独利用GPS数据反演结果较好,不仅可以得到较为准确的TEC,电子密度廓线结果也有较好的提升;单独使用测高仪反演的结果较差,在峰高以下电子密度廓线和观测较一致,但峰高以上电子密度廓线和观测比较的结果较差,并且TEC结果和观测也有一定误差;而利用GPS和测高仪数据联合反演的结果最好,无论是反演的电子密度廓线还是TEC值都和观测最为接近.     

单电流注入的三维MREIT快速重建及实验

磁共振电阻抗成像（MREIT）是将磁共振成像（MRI）与传统电阻抗成像（EIT）技术相结合的一种电导率成像技术,通过提供成像体精确的几何信息与成像体内部的磁通密度值,改善了电阻抗成像的病态性,使得电导率图像的分辨率显著提高．针对MREIT系统的快速成像问题,在分析磁共振电阻抗成像的数学模型和正逆问题的基础上,提出利用单次电流的磁通密度分量即可进行电导率图像重建的方法,缩短了测量时间,并降低了电极间的电磁干扰;将灵敏度矩阵法扩展到三维MREIT,采用半解析法计算灵敏度矩阵,使得图像重建速度得到提高;并通过仿真与仿体实验验证了该方法的有效性．结果表明获得的电导率分布图像具有较高的分辨率和图像质量,测量与重建时间的缩短为MREIT的临床应用奠定了基础．     

Storm-time ionospheric disturbances monitored by GPS beacon measurements

The Total Electron Content (TEC) during three great storms, from April to August 2000, was collected by means of a GPS receiver located in Jingzhou (30.4° N, 112.2° E). The time-latitude-dependent features of ionospheric storms are identified using TEC difference images based on the deviations of TEC during storm relative to quiet time. The responses of ionospheric TEC to magnetic storms were analyzed. The results show that: 1) In middle and low latitude, ionospheric storms effects are more apparent in local day time than at night: 2) Ionospheric storm effects are more dominant near the hump of the equatorial anomaly region than in other regions of TEC measurements; 3) The positive effects during the main phase of ionospheric storm may be caused by electric fields in low latitude; 4) During the recovery period of ionospheric storm, the negative phase of storm may be due to the perturbation of the neutral gas composition. Foundation item: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (49984001) Biography: Pei Xiao-hong (1977-), male, Master candidate, research direction: studying ionosphere on GPS beacons.     

A comparative study of global ionospheric responses to three great magnetic storms

Based on a large data base from 69 ionosonde stations distributed worldwide a comparative study is made on the global behavior of ionospheric responses to three great magnetic storms occurring nearly at low and high activity phase of the 22nd solar cycle. Depending on the season of storn occurrence, the global morphology of the ionospheric response to major magnetic storm is very different. For the February 1986 storm, hemispheric asymmetry of storm effects is remarkable, and positive storm effects are dominant in the winter hemisphere. Instead, for the two magnetic storms taking place near equinox in 1989, longlasting decreases in N_m were observed in both hemispheres Large-scale TIDs propagating equatorward were seen during the main phases of the October 1989 magnetic storm at evening-night sector. On the other hand, short-lasting positive storm effects appearing as wave-like disturbances in N_m were observed during the primary main phase of the 1986 storm in winter hemisphere. They seem to originate near the equatorial region and travel polarward. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Science Foundation of State Education Commitee of China Xu Jisheng: born in Nov. 1946, Professor     

A multiresolution reconstructive algorithm based on network theory for electrical capacitance tomography

Electrical capacitance tomography technique reconstructs dielectric constant distribution in an object by measuring the capacitances between the eletrode pairs which are mounted around this object. Because of the limitation of measurement condition, the measured data are imcomplet. This paper describes a multiresolution reconstructive algorithm which is based on network theory for electrical capacitance tomography technique. The dielectric constant distribution of flow of two components in a pipeline is reconstructed. The algorithm is as follows: Firstly, construct a rough, first level system model, and assume the dielectric constant distribution of the region to be reconstructed. After iteration, the dielectic constant of each unit can be reconstructed. Secondly, construct a finer, second level the system model and determine the initial dielectric constant of each unit in the region to be reconstructed according to related information between two levels. After iteration, the image of the pipeline's cross section can be reconstructed. The results of simulated experiments about different kinds of medium distributions show that this algorithm is effective and can converge. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Ma Ning: born in 1970, Ph. D.