Lakha Singh

A multi-station satellite radio beacon study of ionospheric variations during total solar eclipses

Faraday rotation data obtained at Delhi, Kurukshetra, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Waltair, Nagpur and Calcutta during the total solar eclipse of 16 February 1980 and at Delhi during the total solar eclipse of 31 July 1981 have been analysed to detect the gravity waves generated by a total solar eclipse as hypothesized by Chimonas and Hines (1970, J. geophys. Res. 75, 875). It has been found that gravity waves can be generated by a total solar eclipse but their detection at ionospheric heights is critically dependent on the location of the observing station in relation to the eclipse path geometry. The distance of the observing station from the eclipse path should be more than 500 km in order to detect such gravity waves.

Results of foF2 and Ne-h profiles at low latitude using recent digital ionosonde observations and their comparison with IRI-2000

Abstract Using digital ionosonde observations at low-latitude station, Delhi (28.6 N, 77.2 E, mag. dip 42.4 N), the diurnal and seasonal variations of the critical frequency of F2 layer (foF2) are analyzed from August 2000 to July 2001 during a high solar activity period. Also, noontime bottomside electron density (Ne-h) profiles, below the F2-peak, are derived from ionogram, using the POLAN (Report UAG-93, WDC-A, for Solar Terrestrial Physics, Boulder, Co.) program during the same period, and these profiles are then normalized to the peak height and density (hmF2, NmF2) of the F2-region. These observations are used to assess the predictability of the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI-2000 model (Radio Sc. 36(2) (2001) 261). Results show in general, a large variability, (1σ, σ is standard deviation), in foF2 during nighttime than daytime during winter and equinox, the variability of foF2 about the mean is about ±25% by night and ±15% by day. The IRI model shows a fairly good agreement with foF2 observations during daytime, however during nighttime, the discrepancies between the two exist. Comparative studies of the normalized observed profiles with those obtained with the IRI model (Bilitza, 2001) using both the options namely: Gulyaevas (Adv. Space Res. 7 (1987) 39) model and B0-Table (Adv. Space Res. 25(1) (2000) 89), show that during all the seasons, in general, the B0-Tab option, reveals a better agreement with the observations, while the IRI model using Gulyaevas option, overestimates the electron density distribution during summer and equinox, however, during winter, the model is close to the observations. The comparisons of average profile shape parameters (B0,B1) derived from noontime observed profiles, with those obtained, using B0-Tab option, in the IRI model, show a good agreement during all the seasons. However, B0, B1 obtained, using Gulyaevas option in the IRI model, show a disagreement with the derived B0, B1 values during all the seasons, except during winter, for B0 parameter.

Comparison of Faraday rotation observations at Delhi with IRI model

Abstract Comparison of Faraday rotation (FR) observations made at Delhi with FR computed from option II of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) shows that during low solar activity (1975–1976) the IRI model grossly overstimates daytime Faraday rotation in all seasons by 185 to 320%. The premidnight and postmidnight values are also overestimated by 130 to 205% and 95 to 200% respectively. During high solar activity (1980), the daytime FR values predicted by the IRI are overestimated by 70 to 110%. The premidnight and postmidnight values are also overestimated by 55 to 115% and 100 to 280% respectively. However, it may be noted that in the 05 to 06 hour time slot, the estimates are within 20% in all seasons during low solar activity and in winter and autumnal equinox of high solar activity. It is suggested that instead of the CCIR set, a different set of co-efficients as applied in option I and II be derived based on the observed data obtained in the low latitude region.

Clock Synchronization Experiment in India Using Symphonie Satellite

A recent clock synchronization experiment between the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), New Delhi and Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad via geostationary satellite symphonie-II, stationed at 49°E longitude, is reported in this paper. As only one satellite transponder was available for this experiment, the two-way transmission of the clock pulses was carried out by switching the transmit—receive roles at the two stations at 5 minute intervals to achieve a nearly simultaneous two-way transmission. Taking into account all the additional delays, the results demonstrated a clock—synchronisation accuracy of better than 0.5 μs. A crystal-based portable clock flown aboard an aircraft confirmed this clock-synchronization to within a microsecond.