Imaging of the Antarctic ionosphere: Experimental results
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- 作者：Ping Yin ; Cathryn N. Mitchell ; Lucilla Alfonsi ; Mike Pinnock ; Paul Spencer ; Giorgiana De Franceschi ; Vincenzo Romano ; Patrick Newell ; Pierguido Sarti ; Monia Negusini ; Aless ; ro Capra
- 关键词：GPS imaging ; Antarctic ionosphere ; Multi-instrument approach ; Ionospheric disturbance
- 刊名：Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
- 出版年：2009
- 出版时间：December 2009
- 年：2009
- 卷：71
- 期：17-18
- 页码：1757-1765
- 全文大小：942 K
文摘
Ground-based dual-frequency GPS observations can be used to create images of electron density. This is well established for the Arctic ionosphere; here one of the first results is presented for the Antarctic. In this study, the GPS receivers in the Antarctic are supplemented with another GPS receiver onboard CHAMP. The aim of the study is to demonstrate the technique for investigating geophysical events, for example, an ionospheric disturbance period on 11 February 2004. The images have been validated by in-situ measurements from DMSP and CHAMP satellites, as well as Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) convection patterns, which are able to confirm the location, presence, and transportation of large-scale plasma patches. This study indicates that although the convection still dominates in the high-latitude ionosphere, soft precipitation within the polar cap may play a role in the evolution of the polar patches. It also illustrates the potential for future multi-instrument studies of the Antarctic.