Background removal from global auroral images:Data-driven dayglow modeling

Global images of auroras obtained by cameras on spacecraft are a key tool for studying the near-Earth environment.However,the cameras are sensitive not only to auroral emissions produced by precipitating particles,but also to dayglow emissions produced by photoelectrons induced by sunlight.Nightglow emissions and scattered sunlight can contribute to the background signal.To fully utilize such images in space science,background contamination must be removed to isolate the auroral signal.Here we outline a data-driven approach to modeling the background intensity in multiple images by formulating linear inverse problems based on B-splines and spherical harmonics.The approach is robust,flexible,and iteratively deselects outliers,such as auroral emissions.The final model is smooth across the terminator and accounts for slow temporal variations and large-scale asymmetries in the dayglow.We demonstrate the model by using the three far ultraviolet cameras on the Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration(IMAGE)mission.The method can be applied to historical missions and is relevant for upcoming missions,such as the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer(SMILE)mission.

Extraction of auroral oval boundaries from UVI images: A new FLICM clustering-based method and its evaluation

Based on the fuzzy local information c-means （FLICM） clustering algorithm, a new method is developed for extracting the equatorward and poleward boundaries of the auroral oval from images acquired by the Ultraviolet Imager （UVI） aboard the POLAR satellite. First, the method iteratively segments the UVI image with the FLICM clustering algorithm, according to an integrity criterion for the segmented auroral oval. Then, possible gaps in the extracted auroral oval are filled, based on prior knowledge of its shape. To evaluate the method objectively, the extracted boundaries are compared with the precipitating electron boundaries determined from DMSP satellite precipitation particle data. The evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed method generates more accurate auroral boundaries than traditional methods.

A preliminary dayglow model for summer auroral images from Polar/UVI

In this study, we developed a summer dayglow model using auroral emissions acquired by the ultraviolet imager （UVI） onboard the Polar satellite. In the summer polar region, dayglow varies as a cosine-like function of the solar zenith angle （SZA）. The shape of this function can be characterized by its amplitude （Amp） and phase （Phi） factors. We first obtained the hourly Amp and Phi factors in summers from 1996 to 2000, and then investigated the universal time （UT） and solar activity variations of these two shape Factors. It was found that both factors were non-linearly dependent on the solar flux for all years, and the Amp factor showed clear UT variations under both low and high solar flux years. Thus, a dayglow model was constructed to consider the above dependencies. After the dayglow was removed automatically from the original UVI images via our model, the remaining auroral precipitation energy flux was in good agreement with previously reported magnetic local time latitude （MLT-MLAT） patterns. Our model provides a fast way to statistically process summer auroral precipitation of Polar/UVI and its variations.

Determination of apparent bulk velocity of auroral images

In this paper we use a correlation analysis technique of random pattern to calculation of shift velocity of auroral image. The velocity thus obtained is a kind of apparent 'average' velocity of whole image. instead of the velocity of some certain points or parts in the auroral pattern. The technique is used to an example of aurora australis recorded at Zhongshang Station of Antarctica in 1997. The typical velocity of the auroral pattern for the studied cases is about 3 km/s.

Preliminary Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth from All-sky Images

The relationship between the radiance ratio （radiance at wavelength 450 nm to 650 nm） and aerosol optical depth （AOD） is analyzed in this paper by numerical simulation and a ＂LUT＂ （look-up table） approach is then presented for the retrieval of AOD from the radiance ratio. In this LUT approach, the AOD retrieval error depends mainly on the assumption of aerosol types. From the preliminary simulation, a typical error of 15%–20% in AOD obtained from the radiance ratio is estimated, due to neglecting changes in the ground albedo and background atmosphere. At its worst, the AOD error reached a maximum of around 50%, which will be refined in the future. In the latter part of the paper, comparisons are made between AOD from the imager and from the CE-318 sun photometer, both located at Xianghe observatory in Hebei Province （39.75° N, 116.96° E）. This field experiment shows that AOD from the imager is highly correlated with AOD from the sun photometer, with a correlation coefficient of 0.95 and an average retrieval error of around 7%. A contrast experiment confirms the feasibility of retrieving AOD from all-sky images, but more analysis and future research are required to improve the accuracy.

Calibration and Validation of an All-Sky Imager

The automatic all-sky imager developed by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences,provides all-sky visible images in the red,green,and blue channels.This paper presents three major cali-bration experiments of the all-sky imager,geometric an-gular calibration,optical calibration,and radiometric calibration,and then infers an algorithm to retrieve rela-tive radiance from the all-sky images.Field experiments show that the related coefficient between retrieved radi-ance and measured radiance is about 0.91.It is feasible to use the algorithm to retrieve radiance from images.The paper sets up a relationship between radiance and the im-age,which is useful for using the all-sky image in nu-merical-simulations that predict more meteorological pa-rameters.

Occurrence characteristics of branching structures in equatorial plasma bubbles:a statistical study based on all-sky imagers in China

Branching structure(BS)is a very important phenomenon in the evolution of equatorial plasma bubbles(EPBs),the mechanism of which is widely studied from observation and from simulation.However,occurrence characteristics of branching structure of equatorial plasma bubbles(BSEPBs)have not been well addressed.In this work,we used seven-years(2012-2018)of observations from two all-sky imagers to study occurrence of BSEPBs in detail.These data reveal a high incidence of BS in EPB cases;in particular,most EPBs occurring on days with geomagnetic disturbances exhibited BS.Periods when all EPBs exhibited BS increased significantly in the 2014 solar maximum.Occurrence times of BSEPBs varied with local time;most of the BSEPBs began to appear between 21:00 and 22:00 LT.During the solar maximum,some BSEPBs were observed after midnight.The data also reveal that BSEPBs are characterized primarily by two branches or three branches.Multi-branching appeared only in the solar maximum.EPB events with different coexisting branching structures increased from 2012 to 2014 and decreased from 2014 to 2018.These results strongly suggest that BSEPB occurrence is related to solar activity and geomagnetic activity,and thus provide a new perspective for future studies of EPBs as well as enriching our understanding of ionospheric irregularity.

Intensity correction in all-sky auroral image projection transform

BY using all-sky(fish-eye)lens and highly sensitive TV camera,the effective monitoring ra-dius and time resolution of ground aurora observation have now been raised to 600 km and1/30 s(for instance,SIT-TV camera recording in NTSC format).By incorporating high-sen-sitivity imaging device(integrated from image intensifier and CCD(charge coupled device)

Two methods for separating the magnetospheric solar wind charge exchange soft X-ray emission from the diffuse X-ray background

Solar wind charge exchange(SWCX)is the process of solar wind high-valence ions exchanging charges with neutral components and generating soft X-rays.Recently,detecting the SWCX emission from the magnetosphere is proposed as a new technique to study the magnetosphere using panoramic soft X-ray imaging.To better prepare for the data analysis of upcoming magnetospheric soft X-ray imaging missions,this paper compares the magnetospheric SWCX emission obtained by two methods in an XMM-Newton observation,during which the solar wind changed dramatically.The two methods differ in the data used to fit the diffuse X-ray background(DXB)parameters in spectral analysis.The method adding data from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey(RASS)is called the RASS method.The method using the quiet observation data is called the Quiet method,where quiet observations usually refer to observations made by the same satellite with the same target but under weaker solar wind conditions.Results show that the spectral compositions of magnetospheric SWCX emission obtained by the two methods are very similar,and the changes in intensity over time are highly consistent,although the intensity obtained by the RASS method is about 2.68±0.56 keV cm^(-2)s^(-1)sr^(-1)higher than that obtained by the Quiet method.Since the DXB intensity obtained by the RASS method is about 2.84±0.74 keV cm^(-2)s^(-1)sr^(-1)lower than that obtained by the Quiet method,and the linear correlation coefficient between the difference of SWCX and DXB obtained by the two methods in diffe rent energy band is close to-1,the diffe rences in magnetospheric SWCX can be fully attributed to the diffe rences in the fitted DXB.The difference between the two methods is most significant when the energy is less than 0.7 keV,which is also the main energy band of SWCX emission.In addition,the difference between the two methods is not related to the SWCX intensity and,to some extent,to solar wind conditions,because SWCX intensity typically va ries with the solar wind.In summary,both methods are robust and reliable,and should be considered based on the best available options.

Preface to the Special Issue on Modeling and Data Analysis Methods for the SMILE mission

The SMILE(Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer)project(http://www.nssc.cas.cn/smile/,https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/smile/mission)is a joint spacecraft mission of the European Space Agency(ESA)and the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)with an expected launch in 2025.SMILE aims to study the global interactions of solar wind–magnetosphere–ionosphere innovatively by imaging the Earth’s magnetosheath and cusps in soft X-rays and the northern auroral region in ultraviolet(UV)while simultaneously measuring plasma and magnetic field parameters in the solar wind and magnetosheath along a highly-elliptical and highly-inclined orbit.This special issue is composed of 22 articles,presenting recent progress in modeling and data analysis techniques developed for the SMILE mission.In this preface,we categorize the articles into the following seven topics and provide brief summaries:(1)instrument descriptions of the Soft X-ray Imager(SXI),(2)numerical modeling of the X-ray signals,(3)data processing of the X-ray images,(4)boundary tracing methods from the simulated images,(5)physical phenomena and a mission concept related to the scientific goals of SMILE-SXI,(6)studies of the aurora,and(7)ground-based support for SMILE.

Far ultraviolet auroral imager

Reviewing the technology development of imaging the global FUV auroral morphology,we introduce a space-based FUV auroral imager prototype developed by the Center for Space Science and Applied Research(CSSAR).It is designed to obtain continuous observations on the temporal and spatial morphology of the aurora which occupies highly elliptical high-altitude near-polar orbits.Primarily composed of a telescope system,image intensifier system,CCD,and collection and control system,the instrument works in the spectral region from 140―190 nm in the field of view 25°×25°,and the spatial resolution is better than 0.1°.

基于全天空图像的极光活动变化检测方法研究

面对日积月累产生的海量极光数据,快速发现极光现象的发生及活动特征是研究极光的物理机制及相关动力学过程的首要问题,它为研究极光现象提供有效的自动化分析手段,从而能够提供充足而有效的事件用于统计学分析.因为太阳风是等离子体,它有着磁流体力学的特征,本文采用流体力学的连续性方程对极光运动进行建模,提取全天空极光图像序列的运动场,对极光活动进行表征,进而构造极光活动变化曲线,从而有效的检测出极光活动的变化.该方法的优势在于,基于运动场的表征方法能够有效反映极光活动的二维形态和运动特征,生成的极光活动变化曲线可以准确地指示极光发生、变化和消失的时间,为进一步研究极光的活动周期及相关物理变化奠定基础.

极光成像仪滤光片高精度温度控制系统设计

针对广角极光成像仪滤光片组件的温度控制需求,设计了一种高精度温度控制系统。使用铂电阻作为测温传感器,测温电路可以达到0.05℃的温度采集精度;使用DSP作为主控制器,实现了滤光片温度的全数字控制;使用恒流源电路作为加热片的驱动控制电路,实现了加热功率的高精度、低噪声控制;建立了滤光片组件温度控制系统的数学模型,结合实际系统的阶跃响应曲线辨识得到系统模型参数,设计了系统的控制器,进行了仿真,给出了控制器的性能曲线;通过滤光片组件温度控制系统实验对控制器参数进行了整定,得到了优化的控制器参数。最后,给出了系统的实际温度控制结果,表明系统能够实现滤光片的高精度温度控制。

基于机器学习的极光图像自动分割方法

极光是太阳风能量注入到极区的指示器,从观测视野中准确分割出极光区域对研究极光演变如亚暴过程有非常重要的意义.本文基于全卷积神经网络提出了一种弱监督极光图像自动分割策略,数据标记时仅需指定极光区域的一个像素点即可,极大解决了机器学习人工标注数据的压力.首先利用简单单弧状极光图像训练一个初始分割模型Model 1,然后基于该模型,结合热点状和复杂多弧状极光图像获得一个增强的分割模型Model 2,最后对分割结果做进一步优化.本文对2003—2007年北极黄河站越冬观测的2715幅极光图像进行了分割,并和最新论文结果及人工标签进行了定量和定性比较,其中分割结果与人工标签的“交并比”高达60%,证明了本文方法的有效性.

基于PID自整定算法的高精度滤光片热控系统设计

本文介绍了一款基于PID自整定算法的高精度温度控制系统。该系统应用于广角极光成像仪的滤光片组件上,可以达到±0.02℃的测温精度和±0.04℃的控温精度,单路加热片最大输出功率为6W。该系统采用铂电阻作为传感器,使用场效应管和压流转换电路组成的恒流源对加热片进行功率控制。系统使用TMS320C5000系列DSP进行逻辑控制,配合PID算法对滤光片组件进行闭环温控调节。为了提高算法的适应性,系统软件利用时间乘绝对误差的积分(ITAE)准则对控制参数进行自整定。在真空环境下的实验表明,该系统能够实现滤光片高精度的温度控制。

基于聚类的极光形态分类的探索性研究

极光形态为研究日地物理过程提供了显著、直观和具有可识别性的特征。合理分类对研究各类极光现象与磁层动力学过程之间的关系尤为重要。极光形态分类机制的选择问题是极光有监督分类研究被主要诟病的问题之一。有监督分类实验中人工标记的工作量非常浩大,而且不能保证标记的准确性。更重要的是,高分类正确率只能说明自动分类符合人的认识,有监督分类结果无法验证分类机制的正确性。现有的分类机制是否为极光数据空间的真实划分,是否存在更为合理的分类机制都是我们应该探讨的问题。针对该问题,基于已有的全天空极光图像表征方法,引入聚类算法探究极光特征空间的结构,利用了9种聚类有效性函数选择适合极光数据的聚类个数。实验结果表明,对于从2003—2004年北极黄河站观测的全天空极光数据中随机选取的6 000幅极光图像,两类和四类的划分方式最为合适。两类的划分可以看作是分离度较好的极光类型,并且根据两类分布曲线呈现午前-午后双峰的分布特点,这一类极光可能是弧状极光。对于四类的情况,虽然通过肉眼观察无法用一幅典型的极光图像代表每一类,但是这些由聚类得出的极光类型具有各自的时间分布特点,这一结果从无监督的角度证明了极光类型在形态上是可分的。

极光全天空图象处理和分析系统的软件开发

本文介绍我国在视窗环境开发的极光全天空图象处理和分析软件,该软件在对图象精确定位和极光全天空图象到地磁坐标平面展开的基础上,实现了在微机上对极光形状、位置、运动、强度等极光物理信息的定量提取。

基于区域生长的极光图像分割方法

极光卵对于研究磁层结构和能量存储是非常重要的。提出一种基于区域生长的极光图像分割算法。首先根据极光图像的特点,对原始图像进行预处理,根据预处理后图像的灰度特性,选取一组能正确代表目标区域的种子像素;其次,在分析像素邻域灰度特性的基础上,采用最大类间方差法求得自适应最佳阈值,从而代替传统区域生长算法手动选取阈值时造成的系统误差,再采用基于区域灰度差的方法,制定出区域生长的停止条件;最后,利用数学形态学的方法进行分割后修正,消除了由于噪声而造成生长后的区域中出现的空洞和不连续现象。实验结果表明,相对于已有的极光卵分割方法,基于区域生长的方法改善了图像的分割质量。

极光全天空视频图像分析系统

全天空成像观测是目前极光地面观测和反演磁层结构与动力学行为最有效的手段之一，本文介绍在参照WDC－C2极光数据中心ADPRS（AuroralDataProcessing＆RetrievingSystem）系统功能的基础上，采用视频图像采集技术，首次在微机上开发成功的一个极光全天空视频图像分析系统．该系统在图像处理用户界面的构建上采用了视窗编程技术，在全天空图像到地磁坐标／地理坐标的投影变换中首次引入了强度修正因子，其功能可与ADPRS系统媲美．

Effect of interplanetary shock on an ongoing substorm:Simultaneous satellite-ground auroral observations

Substorm processes have been studied in detail,and it is well known that interplanetary(IP)shock encountering the terrestrial magnetosphere causes global responses.However,how IP shock compression to the magnetosphere affects the development of an ongoing substorm remains uninvestigated.Herein,the simultaneous satellite and ground-based auroral evolutions associated with an IP shock impact on the magnetopause during an ongoing substorm on May 7th,2005,were examined.The IMAGE satellite over the Southern Hemisphere captured the global development substorm,which was initiated at 17:38:47 UT.The poleward branch of the nightside auroral oval was fortuitously monitored by an all-sky camera at the Zhongshan Station(-74.5°magnetic latitude,ZHO)in Antarctica.The satellite imager observed continuous brightening and broadening of the nightside auroral oval after the IP shock arrival.The simultaneous ground-based optical aurora measurement displayed the intensification and expansion of a preexisting auroral surge poleward of the aurora oval.The geomagnetic field variations and the instantly increased PC indices indicated an elevated merging rate and enhanced the convection-related DP-2 currents.Therefore,this IP shock transient impact did not significantly change the ongoing development of the substorm,although it meets the magnetospheric precondition hypothesis.