Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations
The Bering Sea meteor explosion that occurred on 18 December 2018 provides a good opportunity to study the ionospheric disturbances caused by meteor explosions. Total electron content (TEC) is the core parameter of ionospheric analysis. TEC and its changes can be accurately estimated based on the Gl...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3201 |
| _version_ | 1797566095533539328 |
|---|---|
| author | Yiyong Luo Yibin Yao Lulu Shan |
| author_facet | Yiyong Luo Yibin Yao Lulu Shan |
| author_sort | Yiyong Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Bering Sea meteor explosion that occurred on 18 December 2018 provides a good opportunity to study the ionospheric disturbances caused by meteor explosions. Total electron content (TEC) is the core parameter of ionospheric analysis. TEC and its changes can be accurately estimated based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). TID is detected in time and frequency domain based on power spectrum and Butterworth filtering method. By analyzing the waveform, period, wavelength, propagation speed and space-time distribution of TID, the location of the TID source is determined, and the process of TID formation and propagation is understood. The TID caused by meteor explosions has significant anisotropy characteristic. Two types of TID were found. For the first type, the average horizontal propagation velocity is 250.22 ± 5.98 m/s, the wavelength is ~135–240 km, the average period is about 12 min, and the propagation distance is less than 1400 km. About 8 min after the meteor explosion, the first type of TID source formed and propagated radially at the velocity of 250.22 ± 5.98 m/s. For the second type, the propagation velocity is ~434.02 m/s. According to the waveform, period, wavelength and propagation velocity of the TID, it is diagnosed to be the midscale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTID). Based on the characteristics of TID, we infer that the TID is excited by the gravity waves generated by the meteor explosion, which is in accordance with the propagation law of gravity waves in the ionosphere. And it is estimated that the average velocity of the up-going gravity waves is about 464.58 m/s. A simple model was established to explain the formation and the propagation of this TID, and to verify the characteristics of the TID propagation caused by nuclear explosion, earthquake, tsunami, and Chelyabinsk meteorite blast. It is estimated that the position of the TID source is consistent with the meteor explosion point, which further indicates that the TID is caused by the meteor explosion and propagates radially. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:21:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78d8f610b6064eed89f278341897651b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:21:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-78d8f610b6064eed89f278341897651b2023-11-20T02:53:43ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202020-06-012011320110.3390/s20113201Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS ObservationsYiyong Luo0Yibin Yao1Lulu Shan2School of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, ChinaSchool of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, ChinaSchool of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, ChinaThe Bering Sea meteor explosion that occurred on 18 December 2018 provides a good opportunity to study the ionospheric disturbances caused by meteor explosions. Total electron content (TEC) is the core parameter of ionospheric analysis. TEC and its changes can be accurately estimated based on the Global Positioning System (GPS). TID is detected in time and frequency domain based on power spectrum and Butterworth filtering method. By analyzing the waveform, period, wavelength, propagation speed and space-time distribution of TID, the location of the TID source is determined, and the process of TID formation and propagation is understood. The TID caused by meteor explosions has significant anisotropy characteristic. Two types of TID were found. For the first type, the average horizontal propagation velocity is 250.22 ± 5.98 m/s, the wavelength is ~135–240 km, the average period is about 12 min, and the propagation distance is less than 1400 km. About 8 min after the meteor explosion, the first type of TID source formed and propagated radially at the velocity of 250.22 ± 5.98 m/s. For the second type, the propagation velocity is ~434.02 m/s. According to the waveform, period, wavelength and propagation velocity of the TID, it is diagnosed to be the midscale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTID). Based on the characteristics of TID, we infer that the TID is excited by the gravity waves generated by the meteor explosion, which is in accordance with the propagation law of gravity waves in the ionosphere. And it is estimated that the average velocity of the up-going gravity waves is about 464.58 m/s. A simple model was established to explain the formation and the propagation of this TID, and to verify the characteristics of the TID propagation caused by nuclear explosion, earthquake, tsunami, and Chelyabinsk meteorite blast. It is estimated that the position of the TID source is consistent with the meteor explosion point, which further indicates that the TID is caused by the meteor explosion and propagates radially.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3201meteor explosionTECTIDcharacteristics of TID |
| spellingShingle | Yiyong Luo Yibin Yao Lulu Shan Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations Sensors meteor explosion TEC TID characteristics of TID |
| title | Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations |
| title_full | Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations |
| title_fullStr | Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations |
| title_short | Analysis of Ionospheric Disturbances Caused by the 2018 Bering Sea Meteor Explosion Based on GPS Observations |
| title_sort | analysis of ionospheric disturbances caused by the 2018 bering sea meteor explosion based on gps observations |
| topic | meteor explosion TEC TID characteristics of TID |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/11/3201 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yiyongluo analysisofionosphericdisturbancescausedbythe2018beringseameteorexplosionbasedongpsobservations AT yibinyao analysisofionosphericdisturbancescausedbythe2018beringseameteorexplosionbasedongpsobservations AT lulushan analysisofionosphericdisturbancescausedbythe2018beringseameteorexplosionbasedongpsobservations |