Imaging of the Antarctic ionosphere: Experimental results

• Published in: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
• Main Authors: Yin, P., Mitchell, C. N., Alfonsi, Lu., Pinnock, M., Spencer, P., De Franceschi, G., Romano, V., Newell, P., Sarti, P., Negusini, M., Capra, A.
• Other Authors: Yin, P.; College of Electronic Information Engineering,Civil Aviation University of China,Tianjin,China, Mitchell, C. N.; Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY,UK, Alfonsi, Lu.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Pinnock, M.; British Antarctic Survey, UK, Spencer, P.; Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK, De Franceschi, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Romano, V.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Newell, P.; Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, USA, Sarti, P.; Istituto Radio Astronomia (IRA)-INAF, Bologna, Italy, Negusini, M.; Istituto Radio Astronomia (IRA)-INAF, Bologna, Italy, Capra, A.; Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy, College of Electronic Information Engineering,Civil Aviation University of China,Tianjin,China, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY,UK, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, British Antarctic Survey, UK, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK, Johns Hopkins University, Applied Physics Laboratory, USA, Istituto Radio Astronomia (IRA)-INAF, Bologna, Italy, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2009
• Subjects: GPS imaging; Antarctic ionosphere; Multi-instrument approach; Ionospheric disturbance; 01. Atmosphere::01.02. Ionosphere::01.02.02. Dynamics; 01. Atmosphere::01.02. Ionosphere::01.02.04. Plasma Physics; 05. General::05.07. Space and Planetary sciences::05.07.01. Solar-terrestrial interaction; 05. General::05.07. Space and Planetary sciences::05.07.02. Space weather; Alta; Antarctic; Arctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2122/5259; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2009.09.014

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. Published 1757-1765 1.7. Osservazioni di alta e media atmosfera 3.9. Fisica della magnetosfera, ionosfera e meteorologia spaziale JCR Journal reserved