Global observation of Ionospheric Sporadic E Layers and their relation to Atmospheric and ionospheric phenomena

电离层与中性大气之间的耦合过程对高层大气的动力学起着重要的作用。最近在了解相关过程方面取得了进展，因为低地球轨道卫星提供了连续准确的测量热层和电离层参数，如质量密度，纬向风和电子密度分布，分别在这个项目中，我们计划观察全球零星E发生的数量和质量。这项研究将以CHAMP、GRACE、TerraSAR-X、TanDEM-X和FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC卫星进行的全球定位系统无线电掩星测量为基础。该数据库将通过计划于2018年春季发射的COSMIC 2使命的测量进行扩展。自2000年CHAMP发射以来，目前已有约700万个无线电掩星剖面可用。这一事实允许调查零星的E属性在一个高的空间分辨率，以及进行统计趋势分析零星的E发生。在该SPP正在进行的项目阶段提供的独特的全球数据集，包括关于零星E强度的信息，使研究低电离层及其与中性大气的联系的全新方法成为可能。 在该项目中，计划将目前现有的全球气候学研究扩展到时间和空间上的较小规模事件，以便获得关于地球中性大气层-电离层-磁层系统中耦合过程的新见解，例如， 电离层F层和E层之间的联系，以及偶发性E特性与平流层突然变暖事件之间的联系。此外，我们将支持国际参考电离层，以改善模型的低电离层的描述。

Coupling processes between the ionosphere and the neutral atmosphere play an important role for the dynamics of the upper atmosphere. Recent progress in understanding the related processes has been achieved since low-Earth orbiting satellites provide continuously accurate measurements of thermospheric and ionospheric parameters like mass density, zonal winds and electron density profiles, respectively.Within this project, we plan to observe the global sporadic E occurrence in quantity and also in its quality. The study will be based on GPS radio occultation measurements performed by the satellites CHAMP, GRACE, TerraSAR-X, TanDEM-X and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC. The data base will be extented by measurements of the COSMIC 2 mission that is planned to be launched in spring 2018. Since the launch of CHAMP in 2000, there are currently about 7 million of radio occultation profiles available. This fact allows to investigate sporadic E properties in a high spatial resolution as well as to perform statistical trend analysis of sporadic E occurrence. The unique global data set including information on sporadic E intensities that was provided during the ongoing project phase of this SPP allows for completely new approaches in the research of the lower ionosphere and its connection to the neutral atmosphere.\\ In this project it is planned to extent the currently existing global climatological study to smaller scale events in time and space in order to receive new insights on coupling processes in the Earth's neutral atmosphere-ionosphere-magnetophere system like, e.g., the connection between the F- and the E-layer of the ionosphere, and the connection of sporadic E properties with sudden stratospheric warming events. Further we will support the International Reference Ionosphere in oder to improve the model's description of the lower ionosphere.