Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission

We present the results of experiments on the Earth’s lower ionosphere at mesospheric heights by creating artificial periodic irregularities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma and simultaneous measurement of the atmospheric emission spectrum in the ozone line by ground-based microwave radiometry when t...

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Main Authors: Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva, Yuri Yu. Kulikov, Ilia N. Zhemyakov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-10-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1154
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author Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva
Yuri Yu. Kulikov
Ilia N. Zhemyakov
author_facet Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva
Yuri Yu. Kulikov
Ilia N. Zhemyakov
author_sort Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva
collection DOAJ
description We present the results of experiments on the Earth’s lower ionosphere at mesospheric heights by creating artificial periodic irregularities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma and simultaneous measurement of the atmospheric emission spectrum in the ozone line by ground-based microwave radiometry when the ionosphere was disturbed by powerful high-frequency radio emission from the midlatitude SURA heating facility (56.15° N; 46.11° E). The diagnostics of the ionosphere was carried out on the basis of measuring amplitudes and phases of signals scattered by periodic irregularities in the altitude range of 50–130 km. For each heating session lasting 30 min, two ozone spectra were measured. These spectra were compared with the measured spectra the periods when heating was turned off. During the heating session of the ionosphere, a decrease in the intensity of the microwave radiation of the atmosphere in the ozone line was observed. The lower ionosphere was characterized by intense dynamics. Rapid variations in the amplitude of the scattered signal and the relaxation time of artificial periodic irregularities were observed. The velocity of a regular vertical movement in the D-region of the ionosphere constantly varied direction with average minute values up to 4–5 m/s. We assume the decrease in the ozone emission spectrum at the altitude of 60 km can be explained by an increase in the coefficient of electron attachment to oxygen molecules during heating sessions. The lower boundary of the region enriched with atomic oxygen was estimated from the height profile of the API relaxation time.
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spelling doaj.art-cf97949f10874e8389fcb6358644bffa2023-11-20T18:34:10ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332020-10-011111115410.3390/atmos11111154Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio EmissionNataliya V. Bakhmetieva0Yuri Yu. Kulikov1Ilia N. Zhemyakov2Radiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod State University, 25/12a Bolshaya Pechrskaya Str., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, RussiaFederal Research Center, Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 46 Ulyanov Str., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, RussiaRadiophysical Research Institute, Nizhny Novgorod State University, 25/12a Bolshaya Pechrskaya Str., 603950 Nizhny Novgorod, RussiaWe present the results of experiments on the Earth’s lower ionosphere at mesospheric heights by creating artificial periodic irregularities (APIs) of the ionospheric plasma and simultaneous measurement of the atmospheric emission spectrum in the ozone line by ground-based microwave radiometry when the ionosphere was disturbed by powerful high-frequency radio emission from the midlatitude SURA heating facility (56.15° N; 46.11° E). The diagnostics of the ionosphere was carried out on the basis of measuring amplitudes and phases of signals scattered by periodic irregularities in the altitude range of 50–130 km. For each heating session lasting 30 min, two ozone spectra were measured. These spectra were compared with the measured spectra the periods when heating was turned off. During the heating session of the ionosphere, a decrease in the intensity of the microwave radiation of the atmosphere in the ozone line was observed. The lower ionosphere was characterized by intense dynamics. Rapid variations in the amplitude of the scattered signal and the relaxation time of artificial periodic irregularities were observed. The velocity of a regular vertical movement in the D-region of the ionosphere constantly varied direction with average minute values up to 4–5 m/s. We assume the decrease in the ozone emission spectrum at the altitude of 60 km can be explained by an increase in the coefficient of electron attachment to oxygen molecules during heating sessions. The lower boundary of the region enriched with atomic oxygen was estimated from the height profile of the API relaxation time.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1154mesosphereozonemicrowave radiometrylower ionospherepowerful radio waveartificial periodic irregularities
spellingShingle Nataliya V. Bakhmetieva
Yuri Yu. Kulikov
Ilia N. Zhemyakov
Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
Atmosphere
mesosphere
ozone
microwave radiometry
lower ionosphere
powerful radio wave
artificial periodic irregularities
title Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
title_full Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
title_fullStr Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
title_full_unstemmed Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
title_short Mesosphere Ozone and the Lower Ionosphere under Plasma Disturbance by Powerful High-Frequency Radio Emission
title_sort mesosphere ozone and the lower ionosphere under plasma disturbance by powerful high frequency radio emission
topic mesosphere
ozone
microwave radiometry
lower ionosphere
powerful radio wave
artificial periodic irregularities
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/11/11/1154
work_keys_str_mv AT nataliyavbakhmetieva mesosphereozoneandthelowerionosphereunderplasmadisturbancebypowerfulhighfrequencyradioemission
AT yuriyukulikov mesosphereozoneandthelowerionosphereunderplasmadisturbancebypowerfulhighfrequencyradioemission
AT ilianzhemyakov mesosphereozoneandthelowerionosphereunderplasmadisturbancebypowerfulhighfrequencyradioemission