中国扇区夜间电离层中尺度行扰分布特征及与中纬度扩展F的关联
doi: 10.11728/cjss2026.05.2025-0177 cstr: 32142.14.cjss.2025-0177
Distribution Characteristics of Nighttime MSTIDs over China and Their Connections with Mid-latitude Spread-F
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摘要: 电离层中尺度行扰(MSTIDs)与中纬度扩展F(MSF)是中纬度电离层F层最常见的两个不同尺度的现象. 利用CMONOC的250余个GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite System)接收站及4个CRIRP(China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation)测高仪台站数据, 对2014-2023年夏季夜间中MSTIDs(Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances)活动的分布规律以及与扩展F现象的关联进行了统计分析. 结果揭示了中国扇区MSTIDs的太阳活动和季节依赖性——太阳活动低年发生率显著高于高年, 且主要活跃于夏季夜间; 空间分布上, MSTIDs存在两个机制不同的发生率峰值区域: 东侧峰值符合Perkins不稳定性驱动特征, 西侧峰值则与青藏高原东南侧区域频发的重力波活动密切相关. 进一步研究发现, MSTIDs与FSF(Frequency Spread-F)倾向于在同一夜晚出现, 但二者存在稳定的统计时间先后关系, 即MSTIDs先于FSF发生, 该时序特征为揭示MSTIDs对FSF的潜在激发作用提供了关键观测依据.Abstract: This study investigates the spatiotemporal characteristics of periodic Total Electron Content (TEC) disturbances associated with Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) over the Chinese sector and examines their statistical relationship with Mid-latitude Spread-F (MSF). MSTIDs and MSF are two common ionospheric phenomena occurring at different spatial and temporal scales in the midlatitude F region, and previous studies have suggested that they may be dynamically connected. To clarify this relationship, we use observations from more than 250 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC), together with ionogram data from four ionosonde stations operated by the China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation (CRIRP). A statistical analysis is conducted to characterize the occurrence, temporal variability, and spatial distribution of nighttime MSTIDs from 2014 to 2023, with particular attention to summer conditions and their association with spread-F events. The results reveal clear solar-cycle and seasonal dependences of MSTID activity in the Chinese sector. Their occurrence rates are substantially higher during solar minimum years than during solar maximum years, and the disturbances occur most frequently during summer nights. Spatially, two distinct regions of enhanced MSTID occurrence are identified, suggesting the influence of different generation mechanisms. The characteristics presented by the eastern peak are basically consistent with those driven or amplified by the MSTIDs associated with the Perkins instability and its related electrodynamic processes. In contrast, the western peak is closely associated with frequent atmospheric gravity wave activity southeast of the Tibetan Plateau, where complex terrain and active convection may provide strong wave sources. Further analysis shows that MSTIDs and MSF frequently occur on the same night and exhibit a relatively stable temporal sequence, with MSTID activity generally preceding the onset of MSF. This chronological relationship suggests that MSTIDs may create favorable conditions for spread-F development by perturbing plasma density gradients, modifying the bottomside F layer, or enhancing polarization electric fields. Although the statistical results do not by themselves establish direct causality, they provide important observational evidence supporting a possible triggering or preconditioning role of MSTIDs in the generation of MSF. These findings improve our understanding of multiscale coupling processes in the midlatitude ionosphere.
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Key words:
- MSTIDs /
- Spread-F /
- Mid-latitude ionosphere /
- Ionospheric disturbances
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图 13 2014-2023年各测高仪台站夏季夜间(19:00-06:00 LT)在不同FSF发生条件和不同$ {A}_{\text{mean}} $阈值下MSTIDs活动发生率分布
Figure 13. Distribution of MSTIDs activity occurrence rates at each ionosonde station during summer nighttime (19:00-06:00 LT) under different FSF occurrence conditions and different $ {A}_{\text{mean}} $ thresholds from 2014 to 2023
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李科 男, 2000年1月出生于山东省济南市, 现为北京大学地球与空间科学学院博士研究生, 主要研究方向为电离层物理, 目前开展中低纬电离层不均匀结构的演化特征和物理机制等研究. E-mail:
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