Solar activity effects of the ionosphere: A brief review

Chinese Science Bulletin

Volumn 56, Issue 12, 2011, Pages 1202-1211

  Liu, LiBo ^a,b   Wan, WeiXing ^a   Chen, YiDing ^a   Le, HuiJun ^a  

^a INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS   (China)

^b CENTER FOR SPACE SCIENCE AND APPLIED RESEARCH   (China)

Author keywords

ionosphere; ionospheric index; solar activity; solar extreme ultraviolet; solar proxy

Indexed keywords

EID: 79955156322     PISSN: 10016538     EISSN: 18619541     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s11434-010-4226-9     Document Type: Review

References (104)

1. Pap J, Bouwer S D, Tobiska W K. Periodicities of solar irradiance and solar activity indices. Solar Phys, 1990, 129: 165-189.
2. Lundstedt H, Liszka L, Lundin R. Solar activity explored with new wavelet methods. Ann Geophys, 2005, 23: 1505-1511.
3. Moussa X, Polygiannakis J M, Preka-Papadema P, et al. Solar cycles: A tutorial. Adv Space Res, 2005, 35: 725-738.
4. Lean J. Solar ultraviolet irradiance variations: A review. J Geophys Res, 1987, 92: 839-868.
5. Lean J L, White O R, Livingston W C, et al. Variability of a composite chromospheric irradiance index during the 11-year activity cycle and over longer time periods. J Geophys Res, 2001, 106: 10645-10658.
6. Gorney D J. Solar cycle effects on the near-earth space environment. Rev Geophys, 1990, 28: 315-336.
7. Forbes J M, Bruinsma S, Lemoine F G. Solar rotation effects in the thermospheres of Mars and Earth. Science, 2006, 312: 1366-1368.
8. Hinteregger H E, Bedo D E, Manson J E. The EUV spectrophotometer on atmosphere explorer. Radio Sci, 1973, 8: 349-359.
9. Ogawa H S, Judgev D L, McMullin D R, et al. First-year continuous solar EUV irradiance from SOHO by the CELIAS/SEM during 1996 solar minimum. J Geophys Res, 1998, 103: 1-6.
10. Richards P G, Fennelly J A, Torr D G. EUVAC: A solar EUV flux model for aeronomic calculations. J Geophys Res, 1994, 99: 8981-8992.
11. Richards P G, Woods T N, Peterson W K. HEUVAC: A new high resolution solar EUV proxy model. Adv Space Res, 2006, 37: 315-322.
12. Floyd L, Newmark J, Cook J, et al. Solar EUV and UV spectral irradiances and solar indices. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 2005, 67: 3-15.
13. Viereck R A, Puga L, McMullin D, et al. The Mg II index: A proxy for solar EUV. Geophys Res Lett, 2001, 28: 1343-1346.
14. Kane R P. Solar EUV and ionospheric parameters: A brief assessment. Adv Space Res, 2003, 32: 1713-1718.
15. Tobiska W K, Woods T, Eparvier F, et al. The SOLAR2000 empirical solar irradiance model and forecast tool. J Atmos. Solar-Terr, 2000, 62: 1233-12.
16. Bailey S M, Woods T N, Barth C A, et al. Measurements of the solar soft X-ray irradiance by the Student Nitric Oxide Explorer: First analysis and underflight calibrations. J Geophys Res, 2000, 105: 27179-27193.
17. Lean J L, Warren H P, Mariska J T, et al. A new model of solar EUV irradiance variability 2. Comparsions with empirical models and observations and implications for space weather. J Geophys Res, 2003, 108: 1059, doi: 10. 1029/2001JA009238.
18. Bilitza D. The importance of EUV indices for the international reference ionosphere. Phys Chem Earth (C), 2000, 25: 515-521.
19. Tobiska W K. Validating the solar EUV proxy, E10. 7. J Geophys Res, 2001, 106: 29969-29978.
20. Barth C A, Tobiska W K, Rottman G J, et al. Comparison of 10. 7 cm radio flux with SME solar Lyman-alpha flux. Geophys Res Lett, 1990, 17: 571-574.
21. Kane R P. Hysteresis and non-linearity between solar EUV and 10. 7 cm fluxes. Ind J Radio Space Phys, 2005, 34: 161-170.
22. Kane R P. Fluctuations in the ~27-day sequences in the solar index F10 during solar cycles 22-23. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 2003, 65: 1169-1174.
23. Liu L, Wan W, Ning B, et al. Solar activity variations of the ionospheric peak electron density. J Geophys Res, 2006, 111: A08304, doi: 10. 1029/2006JA011598.
24. Liu R, Smith P, King J. A new solar index to improve foF2 prediction using the CCIR Atlas. Telecomm J, 1983, 50: 408-413.
25. Ortikov M Yu, Shemelov V A, Shishigin I V, et al. Ionospheric index of solar activity based on the data of measurements of the spacecraft signals characteristics. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 2003, 65: 425-430.
26. Mikhailov A, Mikhailov V. A new ionospheric index MF2. Adv Space Res, 1995, 15: 93-97.
27. Yue X, Wan W, Liu L, et al. An empirical model of ionospheric foE over Wuhan. Earth Planets Space, 2006, 58: 323-330.
28. Nusinov A A. Ionosphere as a natural detector for investigations of solar EUV flux variations. Adv Space Res, 2006, 37: 426-432.
29. Afraimovich E L, Astafyeva E I, Oinats A V, et al. Global electron content: A new conception to track solar activity. Ann Geophys, 2008, 26: 335-344.
30. Liu L, Wan W, Ning B, et al. Climatology of the mean TEC derived from GPS global ionospheric maps. J Geophys Res, 2009, 114: A06308, doi: 10. 1029/2009JA014244.
31. She C, Wan W, Xu G. Climatological analysis and modeling of the ionospheric global electron content. Chinese Sci Bull, 2008, 53: 282-288.
32. Liu R, Xu Z, Wu J, et al. Preliminary studies on ionospheric forecasting in China and its surrounding area. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 2005, 67: 1129-1136.
33. Wang J L. Will the solar cycle 24 be a low one? Chinese Sci Bull, 2009, 54: 3664-3668.
34. Dikpati M, de Toma G, Gilman P A. Predicting the strength of solar cycle 24 using a flux-transport dynamo-based tool. Geophys Res Lett, 2005, 33: L05102, doi: 10. 1029/2005GL025221.
35. Liu J Y, Chen Y I, Lin J S. Statistical investigation of the saturation effect in the ionospheric foF2 versus sunspot, solar radio noise, and solar EUV radiation. J Geophys Res, 2003, 108: 1067, doi: 10. 1029/2001JA007543.
36. Liu L, Wan W, Ning B. Statistical modeling of ionospheric foF2 over Wuhan. Radio Sci, 2004, 39: RS2013, doi: 10. 1029/2003RS003005.
37. Chen Y, Liu L, Le H. Solar activity variations of nighttime ionospheric peak electron density. J Geophys Res, 2008, 113: A11306, doi: 10. 1029/2008JA013114.
38. Chen Y I, Liu J Y, Chen S C. Statistical investigation of the saturation effect of sunspot on the ionospheric foF2. Phys Chem Earth (C), 2000, 25: 359-362.
39. Kane R P. Sunspots, solar radio noise, solar EUV and ionospheric foF2. J Atmos Terr Phys, 1992, 54: 463-466.
40. Lei J, Liu L, Wan W, Zhang S R. Variations of electron density based on long-term incoherent scatter radar and ionosonde measurements over Millstone Hill. Radio Sci, 2005, 40: RS2008, doi: 10. 1029/2004RS003106.
41. Mikhailov A V, Mikhailov V V. Solar cycle variations of annual mean noon foF2. Adv Space Res, 1995, 15: 79-82.
42. Xu T, Wu Z S, Wu J, et al. Solar cycle variation of the monthly median foF2 at Chongqing station, China. Adv Space Res, 2008, 42: 213-218.
43. Richards P G. Seasonal and solar cycle variations of the ionospheric peak electron density: Comparison of measurement and models. J Geophys Res, 2001, 106: 12803-12819.
44. Sethi N K, Goel M K, Mahajan K K. Solar cycle variations of foF2 from IGY to 1990. Ann Geophys, 2002, 20: 1677-16.
45. Bhonsle R V, Da Rosa A V, Garriott O K. Measurements of the total electron content and equivalent slab thickness of the mid-latitude ionosphere. Radio Sci, 1965, 69: 929-939.
46. Chakraborty S K, Hajra R. Solar control of ambient ionization of the ionosphere near the crest of the equatorial anomaly in the Indian zone. Ann Geophys, 2008, 26: 47-57.
47. Huang Y N. Solar cycle variation in the total electron content at Sagamore Hill. J Atoms Terr Phys, 1978, 40: 733-739.
48. Liu L, Chen Y. Statistical analysis on the solar activity variations of the TEC derived at JPL from global GPS observations. J Geophys Res, 2009, 114: A10311, doi: 10. 1029/2009JA014533.
49. Titheridge J E. The electron content of the southern mid-latitude ionosphere, 1965-1971. J Atmos Terr Phys, 1973, 35: 981-1001.
50. Yeh K C, Flaherty B J. Ionospheric electron content at temperate latitudes during the declining phase of the sunspot cycle. J Geophys Res, 1966, 71: 4557-4570.
51. Liu L, Le H, Wan W, et al. An analysis of the scale heights in the lower topside ionosphere based on the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar measurements. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A06307, doi: 10. 1029/2007JA012250.
52. Liu L, Luan X, Wan W, et al. Solar activity variations of equivalent winds derived from global ionosonde data. J Geophys Res, 2004, 109: A12305, doi: 10. 1029/2004JA010574.
53. Liu L, Wan W, Luan X, et al. Solar activity dependence of effective winds derived from ionospheric data at Wuhan. Adv Space Res, 2003, 32: 1719-1924.
54. Igi S, Oliver W L, Ogawa T. Solar cycle variations of the thermospheric meridional wind over Japan derived from measurements of hmF2. J Geophys Res, 1999, 104: 22427-22431.
55. Hedin A E, Buonsanto M J, Codrescu M, et al. Solar activity variations in mid-latitude thermospheric meridional winds. J Gephys Res, 1994, 99: 17601-17608.
56. Guo J, Wan W, Forbes J M, et al Effects of solar variability on thermosphere density from CHAMP accelerometer data. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A10308, doi: 10. 1029/2007JA012409.
57. Liu H, Lühr H, Watanabe S. Climatology of the equatorial thermospheric mass density anomaly. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A05305, doi: 10. 1029/2006JA012199.
58. Balan N, Bailey G J, Jenkins B, et al. Variations of ionospheric ionization and related solar fluxes during an intense solar cycle. J Geophys Res, 1994, 99: 2243-2253.
59. Balan N, Bailey G J, Su Y Z. Variations of the ionosphere and related solar fluxes during solar cycles 21 and 22. Adv Space Res, 1996, 18: 11-14.
60. Balan N, Bailey G J, Moffett R J. Modeling studies of ionospheric variations during an intense solar cycle. J Geophys Res, 1994, 99: 17467-17475.
61. Ma R, Xu J, Wang W, et al. Seasonal and latitudinal differences of the saturation effect between ionospheric NmF2 and solar activity indices. J Geophys Res, 2009, 114: A10303, doi: 10. 1029/2009JA014353.
62. Ortiz de Adler N, Manzano J R. Solar cycle hysteresis on F-region electron concentration peak heights over Tucuman. Adv Space Res, 1995, 15: 83-88.
63. Trísková L, Chum J. Hysteresis in dependence of foF2 on solar indices. Adv Space Res, 1996, 18: 145-148.
64. Kouris S S, Bradley P A, Dominici P. Solar-cycle variation of the daily foF2 and M(3000)F2. Ann Geophys, 1998, 16: 1039-1042.
65. Hedin A E. Correlations between thermospheric density and temperature, solar EUV flux, and 10. 7-cm flux variations. J Geophys Res, 1984, 89: 9828-9834.
66. Liu H, Stolle C, Förster M, et al. Solar activity dependence of the electron density in the equatorial anomaly regions observed by CHAMP. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A11311, doi: 10. 1029/2007J-A012616.
67. Chen Y, Liu L, Wan W, et al. Solar activity dependence of the topside ionosphere in low latitudes. J Geophys Res, 2009, 114: A08306, doi: 10. 1029/2008JA013957.
68. Liu L, Wan W, Ning B. A study of the ionogram derived effective scale height around the ionospheric hmF2. Ann Geophys, 2006, 24: 851-860.
69. Fejer B G, Farley D T, Woodman R F, et al. Dependence of equatorial F-region vertical drifts on season and solar cycle. J Geophys Res, 1979, 84: 5792-5796.
70. González S A, Sulzer M P, Nicolls M J, et al. Solar cycle variability of nighttime topside helium ion concentrations over Arecibo. J Geophys Res, 2004, 109: A07302, doi: 10. 1029/2003JA010100.
71. Truhlík V, Třísková L, Šmilauer J. Manifestation of solar activity in the global topside ion composition-A study based on satellite data. Ann Geophys, 2005, 23: 2511-2517.
72. West K H, Heelis R A, Rich F J. Solar activity variations in the composition of the low-latitude topside ionosphere. J Geophys Res, 1997, 102: 295-305.
73. Kutiev I S, Marinov P G, Watanabe S. Model of topside ionosphere scale height based on topside sounder data. Adv Space Res, 2006, 37: 943-950.
74. Zhao B, Wan W, Liu L, et al. Statistical characteristics of the total ion density in the topside ionosphere during the period 1996-2004 using empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Ann Geophys, 2005, 23: 3615-3631.
75. Liu L, Wan W, Yue X, et al. The dependence of plasma density in the topside ionosphere on solar activity level. Ann Geophys, 2007, 25: 1337-1343.
76. Liu L, Zhao B, Wan W, et al. Yearly variations of global plasma densities in the topside ionosphere at middle and low latitudes. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A07303, doi: 10. 1029/2007JA012283.
77. Su Y Z, Bailey G J, Fukao S. Altitude dependencies in the solar activity variations of the ionospheric electron density. J Geophys Res, 1999, 104: 14879-14891.
78. Rich F J, Sultan P J, Burke W J. The 27-day variations of plasma densities and temperatures in the topside ionosphere. J Geophys Res, 2003, 108: 1297, doi: 10. 1029/2002JA009731.
79. Eddy J A. The Maunder minimum. Science, 1976, 192: 1189-1202.
80. Smithtro C G, Sojka J J. Behavior of the ionosphere and thermosphere subject to extreme solar cycle conditions. J Geophys Res, 2005, 110: A08306, doi: 10. 1029/2004JA010782.
81. Dmitriev A V, Yeh H C, Chao J K, et al. Top-side ionosphere response to extreme solar events. Ann Geophys, 2006, 24: 1469-1477.
82. Tsurutani B T, Gonzalez W D, Lakhina G S, et al. The extreme magnetic storm of 1-2 September 1859. J Geophys Res, 2003, 108: 1268, doi: 10. 1029/2002JA0095.
83. Tsurutani B T, Zambon G A, Guarnieri F L, et al. The October 28, 2003 extreme EUV solar flare and resultant extreme ionospheric effects: Comparison to other Halloween events and the Bastille Day event. Geophys Res Lett, 2005, 32: L03S09, doi: 10. 1029/2004GL-021475.
84. Davies K. Ionospheric Radio. Exeter: Short Run Press Ltd., 1990.
85. Mendillo M. Behavior of the ionospheric F region during the greatest solar flare of August 7, 1972. J Geophys Res, 1974, 79: 665-677.
86. Wan W, Liu L, Yuan H, et al. The GPS measured SITEC caused by the very intense solar flare on July 14, 2000. Adv Space Res, 2005, 36: 2465-2469.
87. Afraimovich E L. GPS global detection of the ionospheric response to solar flares. Radio Sci, 2000, 35: 1417-424.
88. Liu H, Lühr H, Watanabe S, et al. Contrasting behavior of the thermosphere and ionosphere in response to the 28 October 2003 solar flare. J Geophys Res, 2007, 112: A07305, doi: 10. 1029/2007JA012313.
89. Chen B, Liu L, Wan W, et al. A statistical analysis of SITEC caused by intense solar flares during 1996-2003 (in Chinese). Chin J Space Sci, 2005, 25: 6-16.
90. Liu J Y, Lin C H, Tsai H F, et al. Ionospheric solar flare effects monitored by the ground-based GPS receivers: Theory and observation. J Geophys Res, 2004, 109: A01307, doi: 10. 1029/2003J-A009931.
91. Zhang D H, Xiao Z. Study of the ionospheric TEC using GPS during the large solar flare burst on Nov. 6, 1997. Chinese Sci Bull, 2000, 45: 1749-1752.
92. Zhang D H, Xiao Z, Chang Q. The correlation of flare's location on solar disc and the sudden increase of total electron content. Chinese Sci Bull, 2002, 47: 82-85.
93. Zhang D H, Xiao Z. The calculating TEC methods by using GPS observations and their applications for ionospheric disturbances. Chinese Sci Bull, 2000, 43: 451-458.
94. Zhang D H, Xiao Z, Igarashi K, et al. GPS-derived ionospheric total electron content response to a solar flare that occurred on 14 July 2000. Radio Sci, 2002, 37: 1086, doi: 10. 1029/2001RS002542.
95. Zhang D H, Xiao Z. Study of the ionospheric total electron content response to the great flare on 15 April 2001 using the International GPS Service network for the whole sunlit hemisphere. J Geophys Res, 2003, 108: 1330, doi: 10. 1029/2002JA009822.
96. Zhang D H, Xiao Z. Study of ionospheric response to the 4B flare on 28 October 2003 using international GPS service network data. J Geophys Res, 2005, 110: A03307, doi: 10. 1029/2004JA010738.
97. Le H, Liu L, Chen B, et al. Modeling the responses of the middle latitude ionosphere to solar flares. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 2007, 69: 1587-1598.
98. Huba J D, Warren H P, Joyce G, et al. Global response of the low-latitude to midlatitude ionosphere due to the Bastille Day flare. Geophys Res Lett, 2005, 32: L15103, doi: 10. 1029/2005GL023291.
99. Meier R R, Warren H P, Nicholas A C, et al. Ionospheric and dayglow responses to the radiative phase of the Bastille Day flare. Geophys Res Lett, 2002, 29: 1461, doi: 10. 1029/2001GL013956.
100. Sutton E K, Forbes J M, Nerem R S, et al. Neutral density response to the solar flares of October and November, 2003. Geophys Res Lett, 2006, 33: L22101, doi: 10. 1029/2006GL027737.
101. Jackman C H, DeLand M T, Labow G J, et al. Influence of several very large solar proton events in years 2000-2003 on the neutral middle atmosphere. Adv Space Res, 2005, 35: 445-450.
102. Shea M A, Smart D F. A summary of major solar proton events. Solar Physics, 1990, 127: 297-320.
103. Osepian A, Kirkwood S, Dalin P. The influence of ozone concentration on the lower ionosphere - Modelling and measurements during the 29-30 October 2003 solar proton event. Ann Geophys, 2009, 27: 577-589.
104. de Adler N O, Elías A G, Manzano J R. Solar cycle length variation: Its relation with ionospheric parameters. J Atmos Solar-Terr Phys, 1997, 59: 159-162.