High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique

Abstract The appearance of the sporadic E (Es) layer is an occasional phenomenon in the ionosphere. Limited by range resolution, it is difficult to observe the fine structures and internal evolution processes using existing ionosonde detection techniques. In this study, by analyzing the cross‐spectr...

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Main Authors: Tongxin Liu, Guobin Yang, Chunhua Jiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-02-01
Series:Space Weather
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022SW003195
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author Tongxin Liu
Guobin Yang
Chunhua Jiang
author_facet Tongxin Liu
Guobin Yang
Chunhua Jiang
author_sort Tongxin Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The appearance of the sporadic E (Es) layer is an occasional phenomenon in the ionosphere. Limited by range resolution, it is difficult to observe the fine structures and internal evolution processes using existing ionosonde detection techniques. In this study, by analyzing the cross‐spectrum of the echo and the modulation sequence of the transmitted signal, the coherence between frequency components in the signal bandwidth is utilized. Using the Capon spectrum estimation method in the range dimension, the range resolution and use efficiency of the ionosonde are improved. This method does not rely on the joint processing of multifrequency detection data, unlike the frequency domain interferometry technique, maintaining the resulting time resolution. Using this imaging method, observations of the Es layer show that multiple peaks within an intrinsic range bin (3.84 km) can be resolved at a range that is 10‐fold higher (384 m); the multilayer phenomenon inside the Es layer can be clearly imaged in a continuous echo. Semishading between the layers is present. In some cases, the mode of the echo traces can also be directly identified through high‐resolution imaging. Concurrently, observations show that dramatic short‐term evolution processes on the order of seconds inside the Es layer can be captured.
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publishDate 2023-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-28421921f8d14347b6c4666162231ae72025-01-14T16:31:25ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902023-02-01212n/an/a10.1029/2022SW003195High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging TechniqueTongxin Liu0Guobin Yang1Chunhua Jiang2School of Electronic Information Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaSchool of Electronic Information Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaSchool of Electronic Information Wuhan University Wuhan ChinaAbstract The appearance of the sporadic E (Es) layer is an occasional phenomenon in the ionosphere. Limited by range resolution, it is difficult to observe the fine structures and internal evolution processes using existing ionosonde detection techniques. In this study, by analyzing the cross‐spectrum of the echo and the modulation sequence of the transmitted signal, the coherence between frequency components in the signal bandwidth is utilized. Using the Capon spectrum estimation method in the range dimension, the range resolution and use efficiency of the ionosonde are improved. This method does not rely on the joint processing of multifrequency detection data, unlike the frequency domain interferometry technique, maintaining the resulting time resolution. Using this imaging method, observations of the Es layer show that multiple peaks within an intrinsic range bin (3.84 km) can be resolved at a range that is 10‐fold higher (384 m); the multilayer phenomenon inside the Es layer can be clearly imaged in a continuous echo. Semishading between the layers is present. In some cases, the mode of the echo traces can also be directly identified through high‐resolution imaging. Concurrently, observations show that dramatic short‐term evolution processes on the order of seconds inside the Es layer can be captured.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022SW003195
spellingShingle Tongxin Liu
Guobin Yang
Chunhua Jiang
High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
Space Weather
title High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
title_full High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
title_fullStr High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
title_full_unstemmed High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
title_short High‐Resolution Sporadic E Layer Observation Based on Ionosonde Using a Cross‐Spectrum Analysis Imaging Technique
title_sort high resolution sporadic e layer observation based on ionosonde using a cross spectrum analysis imaging technique
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2022SW003195
work_keys_str_mv AT tongxinliu highresolutionsporadicelayerobservationbasedonionosondeusingacrossspectrumanalysisimagingtechnique
AT guobinyang highresolutionsporadicelayerobservationbasedonionosondeusingacrossspectrumanalysisimagingtechnique
AT chunhuajiang highresolutionsporadicelayerobservationbasedonionosondeusingacrossspectrumanalysisimagingtechnique