Thermosphere joint observations by TM-1 constellations and Swarm-B during the April 2023 geomagnetic storm

The response of thermosphere density to geomagnetic storms is a complicated physical process.Multi-satellite joint observations at the same altitude but different local times(LTs)are important for understanding this process;however,until now such studies have hardly been done.In this report,we analyze in detail the thermosphere mass density response at 510 km during the April 23−24,2023 geomagnetic storm using data derived from the TM-1(TianMu-1)satellite constellation and Swarm-B satellites.The observations show that there were significant LT differences in the hemispheric asymmetry of the thermosphere mass density during the geomagnetic storm.Densities observed by satellite TM02 at nearly 11.3 and 23.3 LTs were larger in the northern hemisphere than in the southern.The TM04 dayside density observations appear to be almost symmetrical with respect to the equator,though southern hemisphere densities on the nightside were higher.Swarm-B data exhibit near-symmetry between the hemispheres.In addition,the mass density ratio results show that TM04 nightside observations,TM02 data,and Swarm-B data all clearly show stronger effects in the southern hemisphere,except for TM04 on the dayside,which suggest hemispheric near-symmetry.The South-North density enhancement differences in TM02 and TM04 on dayside can reach 130%,and Swarm-B data even achieve 180%difference.From the observations of all three satellites,large-scale traveling atmospheric disturbances(TADs)first appear at high latitudes and propagate to low latitudes,thereby disturbing the atmosphere above the equator and even into the opposite hemisphere.NRLMSISE00 model simulations were also performed on this geomagnetic storm.TADs are absent in the NRLMSISE00 simulations.The satellite data suggest that NRLMSISE00 significantly underestimates the magnitude of the density response of the thermosphere during geomagnetic storms,especially at high latitudes in both hemispheres.Therefore,use of the density simulation of NRLMSISE00 may lead to large errors in satellite drag calculations and orbit predictions.We suggest that the high temporal and spatial resolution of direct density observations by the TM-1 constellation satellites can provide an autonomous and reliable basis for correction and improvement of atmospheric models.

Tianwen-1 MINPA observations in the solar wind

The Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer(MINPA)is one of the three scientific instruments onboard the Tianwen-1 orbiter to investigate the Martian space environment.During Tianwen-1’s transfer orbit to Mars,the MINPA was switched on to measure the solar wind ions.Here,we present the first results of the MINPA observations in the solar wind.During cruise,nearly half of the MINPA ion field-of-view(FOV)was blocked by the lander capsule;thus only the solar-wind ions with azimuthal speeds pointing towards the unblocked FOV sectors could be detected.We perform a detailed comparison of the MINPA’s solar wind observations with data from Earth-based missions when MINPA reached its count-rate peak,finding a general consistency of the ion moments between them.The blocking effect due to the lander is evaluated quantitatively under varying solar-wind velocity conditions.Despite the blocking effect,the MINPA’s solar wind measurements during the transfer orbit suggest a good performance.

Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer (MINPA) for Chinese Mars Exploration Mission (Tianwen-1): Design and ground calibration

The main objective of the Mars Ion and Neutral Particle Analyzer(MINPA)aboard the Chinese Mars Exploration Mission(Tianwen-1)is to study the solar wind-Mars interaction by measuring the ions and energetic neutral atoms(ENAs)near Mars.The MINPA integrates ion and ENA measurements into one sensor head,sharing the same electronics box.The MINPA utilizes a standard toroidal top-hat electrostatic analyzer(ESA)followed by a time of flight(TOF)unit to provide measurement of ions with energies from 2.8 eV to 25.9 keV and ENAs from 50 eV to 3 keV with a base time resolution of 4 seconds.Highly polished silicon single crystal substrates with an Al2O3 film coating are used to ionize the ENAs into positive ions.These ions can then be analyzed by the ESA and TOF,to determine the energy and masses of the ENAs.The MINPA provides a 360°×90°field of view(FOV)with 22.5°×5.4°angular resolution for ion measurement,and a 360°×9.7°FOV with 22.5°×9.7°angular resolution for ENA measurement.The TOF unit combines a-15 kV acceleration high voltage with ultra-thin carbon foils to resolve H+,He2+,He+,O+,O2+and CO2+for ion measurement and to resolve H and O(≥16 amu group)for ENA measurement.Here we present the design principle and describe our ground calibration of the MINPA.

Proton belt variations traced back to Fengyun-1C satellite observations

We used historical data to trace trapped protons observed by the Fengyun-1C(FY-1C)satellite at low Earth orbits(~800 km)and chose data at 5–10 MeV,10–40 MeV,40–100 MeV,and^100–300 MeV from 25 March to 18 April 2000 to analyze the proton variations.Only one isolated strong storm was associated with a solar proton event during this period,and there was no influence from previous proton variations.Complex dynamic phenomena of proton trapping and loss were affected by this disturbance differently depending on the energy and L location.The flux of 5–10 MeV protons increased and created new trapping with a maximum at L^2.0,and the peak flux was significantly higher than that at the center of the South Atlantic Anomaly.However,at higher L,the flux showed obvious loss,with retreat of the outer boundary from L^2.7 to L^2.5.The increase in the 10–40 MeV proton flux was similar to that of the 5–10 MeV flux;however,the peak flux intensity was lower than that at the center of the South Atlantic Anomaly.The loss of the 10–40 MeV proton flux was closer to the Earth side,and the outer boundary was reduced from L^2.3 to L^2.25.For the higher energy protons of 40–100 MeV and 100–300 MeV,no new trapping was found.Loss of the 40–100 MeV protons was observed,and the outer boundary shifted from L^2.0 to L^1.9.Loss was not obvious for the 100–400 MeV protons,which were distributed within L<1.8.New proton trapping was more likely to be created at lower energy in the region of solar proton injection by the strong magnetic storm,whereas loss occurred in a wide energy range and reduced the outer boundary on the Earth side.Similar dynamic changes were observed by the NOAA-15 satellite in the same period,but the FY-1C satellite observed more complex changes in lower energy protons.These results revealed that the dynamic behavior of protons with different L-shells was due to differences in the pitch angle.Possible mechanisms related to new trapping and loss are also discussed.These mechanisms are very important for understanding the behavior of the proton belt in the coming solar cycle.

中国空间站运行轨道上大气密度就位探测

我国空间站已经进入建造阶段,开启了载人航天新征程.根据我国空间站试验任务需求,自主设计研制了空间站核心舱大气密度多向探测器,探测获取空间站运行高度上大气密度的时空分布变化,为空间站的飞控管理、精密定位和分析服务,并积累长期自主探测数据,为地球空间中性环境物理模式和效应研究提供基础数据.本文主要介绍了探测器的探测目标、载荷配置、长寿命设计等情况,同时使用在轨探测初步结果进行了运行轨道上大气密度的变化特性分析,呈现出日侧和夜侧轨道圈上大气密度变化,2021年9月11~14日和11月19~22日空间环境平静期日侧和夜侧的峰谷比在2~3之间;2021年11月4日的较强地磁暴期间实测大气密度峰值增加至1.966倍,而模式值峰值增加至1.483倍,磁暴恢复期模式为6h,而实测数据晚12 h;2022年3月13日的磁暴事件期间,实测大气密度增加至1.424倍,模式值增加至1.250倍,大气密度全球抬升从南半球开始,扩展到北半球,与2021年11月4日扰动源位置相反;统计了2021~2022年期间6次磁暴事件,大气密度抬升比例与磁暴强度、持续时间呈正相关;2021年12月11~31日空间环境平静期,实测值和模式的日均值相对偏差小于10%.实测数据与模式数据相比,增变幅度大、传播范围广、持续时间长、响应更加灵敏.实测数据将为地球空间环境物理与效应研究提供长期自主数据库.

Capability of Fengyun-3D Satellite in Earth System Observation

From the viewpoint of earth system science,this paper discusses the observation capability of the second-generation of Chinese polar-orbiting,sun-synchronous operational meteorological satellite observation systems,Fengyun-3(FY-3),based on the function and performance test results from the FY-3 D satellite observation system in orbit.The FY-3 series of satellites have numerous remote sensing instruments and a wide range of imaging and sounding electromagnetic spectrometers onboard.These instruments can obtain reflectivity data for land surface,soil,vegetation,water body,snow cover,ocean color,and sea ice on earth’s surface over a wide spectral range,as well as information on the absorption and scattering radiative transfer of molecules and particles(clouds and aerosols)in earth’s atmosphere.All of these data can be used to retrieve physical and chemical information about the land,ocean,and atmosphere of the earth system.Comprehensive observation of the earth system by the FY-3 meteorological satellites is preliminarily realized.

Super solar particle event around AD775 was found

A rapid radiocarbon14C increase of 120/00in AD774–775 has been reported in cedar and oak tree rings.So far,the origin of the14C increase is still uncertain and the possible origin is either supernova or solar particle event.The most possible origin of14C increase is strong solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections(CMEs)with strong particles emission.Comprehensive approaches to identify the strong historical solar particle events based on the rapid14C/10Be increase in tree/coral rings and ice cores,long duration strong auroras and geomagnetic storms are introduced.Evidence of the super auroras in AD775 was first found in a Chinese Chronicles Jiutangshu and it supports the views that the rapid14C increase and strong auroras around AD775 are most possibly caused by strong solar storms with intense particles emission.It was identified that the solar event around AD775 would be the strongest solar particle event in the past 11400 years.The discovery is significant for the research on the history of solar activities,space weather and forecast,radiation of solar energetic particles and protection.

A first comprehensive evaluation of China's GNSS-R airborne campaign:part Ⅱ—river remote sensing

The Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry(GNSS-R) has been proven to be a powerful technique for retrieving geophysical parameters of ocean and land. Airborne GNSS-R is an important experimental platform, because it is not only needed as validation for spaceborne application, but also possesses the advantages to be capable of remote sensing of small and medium scale targets, such as rivers and lakes. This paper presents an overview of China's airborne GNSS-R campaign conducted on May 30, 2014, in Henan. The campaign has two objectives, i.e.:(1) to examine the capability of a GNSS-R payload developed by National Space Science Center,Chinese Academy of Sciences(NSSC, CAS) for airborneobservations and(2) to study the algorithms for soil moisture and river remote sensing, including altimetry and flow velocity measurement. A previous paper has presented results of soil moisture retrieval as part I, and in this paper,initial results of the Yellow River remote sensing are presented as part II. This paper presents the river altimetry results and explores a new potential application of GNSS-R technology, which is used to detect the flow velocity of the river. The river surface height results observed by code delay altimetry method were consistent with the height results of GPS dual-frequency differential positioning altimetry. The GNSS-R altimetry results showed that decimeter level heights were achieved in 1-min sliding average. Comparing with in situ measurements, the GNSSR flow velocity result was reasonable; the error was about0.027 m/s, which indicated the validity and feasibility of using GNSS-R technique to detect river flow velocity.

Ship hull flexure measurement based on integrated GNSS/LINS

For precision carrier-based landing aid, the position of reference point on the top of island shall be precisely transferred to the landing point on the deck, so the position transfer error caused by the hull flexure is not negligible. As the existing method is not very applicable to measure the hull flexure, a new technique based on integrated Global Navigation Satellite Systems/Laser Gyro Inertial Navigation System (GNSS/LINS) is proposed in this paper. This integrated GNSS/LINS based measure- ment method is designed to monitor the hull flexure and set up an integrated GNSS/LINS measurement model based on raw pseudo-range and pseudo-range rate measurement and carrier phase differential positioning measurement to effectively eliminate the measurement error caused by cycle slip and multi-path effect from GNSS. It is shown by demonstration test and analysis that this technique has the capability to precisely measure the hull flexure, with the accuracy being better than 0.02 m.