Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan

Abstract Understanding the earliest formation stages of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) with electrodynamic signatures (commonly referred to as nighttime MSTIDs) is essential for comprehending their full development. To analyze the initiation of these disturbances, we utiliz...

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Main Authors: Weizheng Fu, Yuichi Otsuka, Tatsuhiro Yokoyama, Zezhong Li, Mamoru Yamamoto, Michi Nishioka, Hidekatsu Jin, Keisuke Hosokawa, Claudia Stolle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-05-01
Series:Earth, Planets and Space
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02192-y
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author Weizheng Fu
Yuichi Otsuka
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Zezhong Li
Mamoru Yamamoto
Michi Nishioka
Hidekatsu Jin
Keisuke Hosokawa
Claudia Stolle
author_facet Weizheng Fu
Yuichi Otsuka
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Zezhong Li
Mamoru Yamamoto
Michi Nishioka
Hidekatsu Jin
Keisuke Hosokawa
Claudia Stolle
author_sort Weizheng Fu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Understanding the earliest formation stages of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) with electrodynamic signatures (commonly referred to as nighttime MSTIDs) is essential for comprehending their full development. To analyze the initiation of these disturbances, we utilize dense ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations over Japan, supplemented by data from ionosonde, high-frequency Doppler soundings, and the Ground-to-topside model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy (GAIA). A statistical analysis from June to August in 2022 and 2023 above the Kokubunji ionosonde revealed an intensification of MSTID activity at night. However, several cases indicate that the earliest formation of these disturbances occurs before E-region (100-km) sunset, challenging the conventional view that nighttime MSTIDs develop only after F-region sunset. To further our understanding of this phenomenon, three representative cases were analyzed. Case studies and statistical results suggest that Es layers play a crucial role in the generation of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures. GAIA model calculations indicate that the earliest occurrence of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures is primarily associated with the decrease in E-region Pedersen conductance and its reduction to a level comparable to that in the F-region. The presence of Es layers, along with electric field generation in the F-region, is the necessary and insufficient conditions for the generation of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures. Graphical abstract
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spelling doaj-art-632a5ecff7ed430d83d68f8e1ea7c0762025-08-20T03:08:40ZengSpringerOpenEarth, Planets and Space1880-59812025-05-0177111710.1186/s40623-025-02192-yInvestigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over JapanWeizheng Fu0Yuichi Otsuka1Tatsuhiro Yokoyama2Zezhong Li3Mamoru Yamamoto4Michi Nishioka5Hidekatsu Jin6Keisuke Hosokawa7Claudia Stolle8Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityInstitute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya UniversityResearch Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto UniversityResearch Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto UniversityResearch Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto UniversityNational Institute of Information and Communications TechnologyNational Institute of Information and Communications TechnologyUniversity of Electro-CommunicationsLeibniz Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the University of RostockAbstract Understanding the earliest formation stages of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) with electrodynamic signatures (commonly referred to as nighttime MSTIDs) is essential for comprehending their full development. To analyze the initiation of these disturbances, we utilize dense ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations over Japan, supplemented by data from ionosonde, high-frequency Doppler soundings, and the Ground-to-topside model of Atmosphere and Ionosphere for Aeronomy (GAIA). A statistical analysis from June to August in 2022 and 2023 above the Kokubunji ionosonde revealed an intensification of MSTID activity at night. However, several cases indicate that the earliest formation of these disturbances occurs before E-region (100-km) sunset, challenging the conventional view that nighttime MSTIDs develop only after F-region sunset. To further our understanding of this phenomenon, three representative cases were analyzed. Case studies and statistical results suggest that Es layers play a crucial role in the generation of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures. GAIA model calculations indicate that the earliest occurrence of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures is primarily associated with the decrease in E-region Pedersen conductance and its reduction to a level comparable to that in the F-region. The presence of Es layers, along with electric field generation in the F-region, is the necessary and insufficient conditions for the generation of MSTIDs with electrodynamic signatures. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02192-yMSTIDSporadic EGNSS-TECE–F coupling
spellingShingle Weizheng Fu
Yuichi Otsuka
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Zezhong Li
Mamoru Yamamoto
Michi Nishioka
Hidekatsu Jin
Keisuke Hosokawa
Claudia Stolle
Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
Earth, Planets and Space
MSTID
Sporadic E
GNSS-TEC
E–F coupling
title Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
title_full Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
title_fullStr Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
title_full_unstemmed Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
title_short Investigation into the earliest generation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense GNSS observations over Japan
title_sort investigation into the earliest generation of medium scale traveling ionospheric disturbances with electrodynamic signatures using dense gnss observations over japan
topic MSTID
Sporadic E
GNSS-TEC
E–F coupling
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-025-02192-y
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