Esa Turunen

Evidence for long-term cooling of the upper atmosphere in ionosonde data

While several model estimates predict cooling of the upper atmosphere as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, direct observational evidence of such a trend is scarce and partly susceptible, because the relevant data series do not cover sufficiently long time periods. We study the long-term data set from the ionosonde station at Sodankyla (67.4°N, 26.7°E), which has been operated during almost 4 solar cycles. We find a close to linear decrease in the altitude of the F2 layer peak during the last 39 years, when the effect of solar cycle variations is removed from the data. This local trend is qualitatively consistent with the model predictions of a cooling of the lower thermosphere.

Energetic electron precipitation associated with pulsating aurora: EISCAT and Van Allen Probe observations

Pulsating auroras show quasi-periodic intensity modulations caused by the precipitation of energetic electrons of the order of tens of keV. It is expected theoretically that not only these electrons but also sub-relativistic/relativistic electrons precipitate simultaneously into the ionosphere owing to whistler-mode wave–particle interactions. The height-resolved electron density profile was observed with the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) Tromso VHF radar on 17 November 2012. Electron density enhancements were clearly identified at altitudes >68 km in association with the pulsating aurora, suggesting precipitation of electrons with a broadband energy range from ~10 keV up to at least 200 keV. The riometer and network of subionospheric radio wave observations also showed the energetic electron precipitations during this period. During this period, the footprint of the Van Allen Probe-A satellite was very close to Tromso and the satellite observed rising tone emissions of the lower-band chorus (LBC) waves near the equatorial plane. Considering the observed LBC waves and electrons, we conducted a computer simulation of the wave–particle interactions. This showed simultaneous precipitation of electrons at both tens of keV and a few hundred keV, which is consistent with the energy spectrum estimated by the inversion method using the EISCAT observations. This result revealed that electrons with a wide energy range simultaneously precipitate into the ionosphere in association with the pulsating aurora, providing the evidence that pulsating auroras are caused by whistler chorus waves. We suggest that scattering by propagating whistler simultaneously causes both the precipitations of sub-relativistic electrons and the pulsating aurora.

EISCAT incoherent scatter radar observations and model studies of day to twilight variations in the D-region during the PCA event of August 1989

Abstract An intense solar proton event causing enhanced ionization in the ionospheric D-region occurred on 12 August 1989. The event was partially observed during three successive nights by the EISCAT UHF incoherent scatter radar at Ramfjordmoen near Tromsa, Norway. Ion production rates calculated from GOES-7 satellite measurements of proton flux and a detailed ion chemistry model of the D-region are used together with the radar data to deduce electron concentration, negative ion to electron concentration ratio, mean ion mass and neutral temperature in the height region from 70 to 90 km, at selected times which correspond to the maximum and minimum solar elevations occurring during the radar observations. The quantitative interpretation of EISCAT data as physical parameters is discussed. The obtained temperature values are compared with nearly simultaneous temperature measurements at Andoya based on lidar technique.

Chemical modelling of the quiet summer D- and E-regions using EISCAT electron density profiles

Abstract Electron density profiles measured by the EISCAT UHF and VHP radars during summer are used as constraints for chemical modelling of the quiet D - and E -regions. Two ion chemical models are used: (1) the Mitra-Rowe simplified 6-ion model (Mitra and Rowe, 1972 J. atmos. terr. Phys. 34 , 795), and (2) A 35-ion model developed at the Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory. The modelling strategy involves adjustment of the solar flux to obtain a fit at E -region altitudes, followed by adjustment of the nitric oxide profile for further improvement at all altitudes. Keeping the same model inputs, the effect of a change in solar zenith angle χ is then compared with observations. Good agreement is seen between the final models and observations over the altitude range 80–110 km. The derived nitric oxide profiles resemble those observed at disturbed times by other means, peak concentrations being just less than 2.0 × 10 9 cm 3 . These high concentrations could be due to an enhancement of thermospheric nitric oxide by energetic particle precipitation in the morning sector.

KAIRA: The Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array—System Overview and First Results

The Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array (KAIRA) is a dual array of omnidirectional VHF radio antennas located near Kilpisjärvi, Finland. It is operated by the Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory. It makes extensive use of the proven LOFAR antenna and digital signal-processing hardware, and can act as a stand-alone passive receiver, as a receiver for the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) very high frequency (VHF) incoherent scatter radar in Tromsø, or for use in conjunction with other Fenno-Scandinavian VHF experiments. In addition to being a powerful observing instrument in its own right, KAIRA will act as a pathfinder for technologies to be used in the planned EISCAT_3-D phased-array incoherent scatter radar system and participate in very long baseline interferometry experiments. This paper gives an overview of KAIRA, its principal hardware and software components, and its main science objectives. We demonstrate the applicability of the radio astronomy technology to our geoscience application. Furthermore, we present a selection of results from the commissioning phase of this new radio observatory.

Seeking sprite-induced signatures in remotely sensed middle atmosphere NO2: latitude and time variations

Recent research on sprites shows these and other transient luminous events can exert a local impact on atmospheric chemistry, although with minor effects at global scales. In particular, both modelling and remote sensing work suggest perturbations to the background NOx up to a few tens of per cent can occur above active sprite-producing thunderstorms. In this study we present a detailed investigation of MIPAS/ENVISAT satellite measurements of middle atmospheric NO2 in regions of high likelihood of sprite occurrence during the period August to December 2003. As a proxy of sprite activity we used ground based WWLLN detections of large tropospheric thunderstorms. By investigating the sensitivity of the analysis to the characteristics of the adopted strategy, we confirm the indication of sprite-induced NO2 enhancements of about 10% at 52 km height and tens of per cent at 60 km height immediately after thunderstorm activity, as previously reported by Arnone et al (2008b Geophys. Res. Lett. 35 5807). A further analysis showed the enhancement to be dominated by the contribution from regions north of the Equator (5 ◦ Nt o 20 ◦ N) during the first 30 to 40 days of the sample (i.e. the tail of Northern Hemisphere summer) and in coincidence with low background winds. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

Comparison of observed and calculated incoherent scatter spectra from the D region

During August 1989, extended twilight and nighttime measurements with the European incoherent scatter (EISCAT) UHF radar were performed under PCA conditions. This provided an excellent data quality in the altitude region of 70 to 90 km throughout the three nights of August 12 to 15, 1989. A sophisticated control program allowed the measurement of the spectral width in the altitude region mentioned. In general, the measured spectral width deviates significantly from model values based on temperatures measured simultaneously by Na lidar combined with CIRA 88 temperature and density values. The observed spectra are up to 2 or 3 times narrower. In our observations the deviation tends to increase with increasing altitude. We also find that earlier spectral width measurements published by other workers are often narrower than current D region theory predicts. The possible reasons for this phenomenon are discussed.

Incoherent scatter radar contributions to high latitude D-region aeronomy

Abstract Recent aeronomical work on the high latitude D-region is reviewed, restricting the discussion to observations of the D-region by the incoherent scatter technique. Emphasis is given to chemical aeronomy, which governs part of the coupling between the neutral atmosphere and the ionosphere, and forms the basis for the global role of the high latitude D-region. Details of the dynamics of the high latitude D-region, and thus the actual coupling with regions below and above, are, however, not discussed in this context. The aeronomical consequences of special high-latitude phenomena are discussed. These include the effects of the polar summer, precipitation of high energy electrons during auroral substorms and high ionization of the D-region during solar proton events. A detailed discussion is given on selected studies concerning the series of solar proton events that occurred in 1989. Problems of ion and neutral chemistry are readily accessible with incoherent scatter measurements through chemical modelling of the D-region. In this way the continuous nature of incoherent scatter measurements can be utilized to expand our knowledge of the D-region, which earlier was mainly based on momentarily sounding rocket experiments. However, it is pointed out how the interpretation of incoherent scatter data from the D-region strongly benefits from multi-instrument configurations. An outline is given of a possible new development based on the combined use of the Tromso heating facility and the EISCAT incoherent scatter radars.

Effective recombination coefficient in the lower ionosphere during bursts of auroral electrons

Abstract Sudden ionospheric electron density increases, associated with impulsive electron precipitation bursts and followed by decays, are observed by the EISCAT incoherent scatter radar. The effective recombination coefficient and the ratio of the NO + and O 2 + ion concentrations are estimated from the variations by use of the Sodankyla Ion Chemistry model. Recombination coefficients obtained previously from the same data by a simpler approach are compared with the present results.

Broadband meter‐wavelength observations of ionospheric scintillation

Intensity scintillations of cosmic radio sources are used to study astrophysical plasmas like the ionosphere, the solar wind, and the interstellar medium. Normally, these observations are relatively narrow band. With Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) technology at the Kilpisjarvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array (KAIRA) station in northern Finland we have observed scintillations over a three-octave bandwidth. “Parabolic arcs,” which were discovered in interstellar scintillations of pulsars, can provide precise estimates of the distance and velocity of the scattering plasma. Here we report the first observations of such arcs in the ionosphere and the first broadband observations of arcs anywhere, raising hopes that study of the phenomenon may similarly improve the analysis of ionospheric scintillations. These observations were made of the strong natural radio source Cygnus-A and covered the entire 30–250 MHz band of KAIRA. Well-defined parabolic arcs were seen early in the observations, before transit, and disappeared after transit although scintillations continued to be obvious during the entire observation. We show that this can be attributed to the structure of Cygnus-A. Initial results from modeling these scintillation arcs are consistent with simultaneous ionospheric soundings taken with other instruments and indicate that scattering is most likely to be associated more with the topside ionosphere than the F region peak altitude. Further modeling and possible extension to interferometric observations, using international LOFAR stations, are discussed.