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In this work, we investigate various types of ionospheric disturbances observed over Europe after the earthquake in Turkey on 6 February 2023.By combining observations from Doppler sounding systems, ionosondes, and GNSS receivers, we are able to discern different types of disturbances, propagating with different velocities and through different mechanisms. We can detect the co-seismic disturbances produced in the ionosphere close to the epicenter, as well the ionospheric signatures of acoustic waves propagating as a consequence of propagating seismic waves.

The impact of individual meteors on the lower ionosphere (90-150 km height) has been investigated during wintertime meteor showers using measurements of two DPS-4D Digisondes installed at Sopron (47.63°, 16.72°) and at Pruhonice (50°, 14.5°). The optical measurements of meteors have been performed by a zenith camera installed next to the digisonde at Sopron. It provided the opportunity to compare high cadence ionograms measured during meteor showers parallel with the optical data to determine the plasma trails of individual meteors. Campaign measurements with two ionograms/minute have been performed at Sopron station during the Leonid (16-18 November) and Geminid (10-15 December) meteor showers in 2019. Furthermore, skymaps (1/min) detected by the Digisonde at Sopron during the campaign were also investigated.In the 20-25% of the observed meteors faint, short-lived (20-120 sec) Es layers were detected on the ionograms during and after (< 2 min) the optical record, which are typical signal of individual meteor trails on the ionogram based on previous studies. There was no observed Es activity at the same height on the ionograms detected before and after these events. Furthermore, the direction of the echo can be also defined on the ionograms of the DPS-4D Digisonde thanks to the multi-beam observation technique. The direction of the detected Es layers agreed well with the optical observations in most of the cases. The maximum frequency of the observed faint layers (foEs) varied between 1,6 and 4,5 MHz, while their height was between 85 and 136 km. Points on the skymaps were also detected at the time of the faint Es layers in 40 % of the cases. The height and direction of the observed points agreed with these parameters of the plasma traces on the ionograms.Comparing the ionograms with the closest ionosonde observation at Pruhonice station at the same time, we could conclude that the detected faint Es layers were local plasma irregularities, no Es activity at the same height was observed there. This strengthens the hypothesis that the observed trails on the ionograms represents the echo of the optically recorded meteors.

SUMMARY The massive explosive eruption of the Hunga volcano on 15 January 2022 generated atmospheric waves that were recorded around the globe and affected the ionosphere. The paper focuses on observations of atmospheric waves in the troposphere and ionosphere in Europe, however, a comparison with observations in East Asia, South Africa and South America is also provided. Unlike most recent studies of waves in the ionosphere based on the detection of changes in the total electron content, this study builds on detection of ionospheric motions at specific altitudes using continuous Doppler sounding. In addition, much attention is paid to long-period infrasound (periods longer than ∼50 s), which in Europe is observed simultaneously in the troposphere and ionosphere about an hour after the arrival of the first horizontally propagating pressure pulse (Lamb wave). It is shown that the long-period infrasound propagated approximately along the shorter great circle path, similar to the previously detected pressure pulse in the troposphere. It is suggested that the infrasound propagated in the ionosphere probably due to imperfect refraction in the lower thermosphere. The observation of infrasound in the ionosphere at such large distances from the source (over 16 000 km) is rare and differs from ionospheric infrasound detected at large distances from the epicenters of strong earthquakes, because in the latter case the infrasound is generated locally by seismic waves. An unusually large traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) observed in Europe and associated with the pressure pulse from the Hunga eruption is also discussed. Doppler sounders in East Asia, South Africa and South America did not record such a significant TID. However, TIDs were observed in East Asia around times when Lamb waves passed the magnetically conjugate points. A probable observation of wave in the mesopause region in Europe approximately 25 min after the arrival of pressure pulse in the troposphere using a 23.4 kHz signal from a transmitter 557 km away and a coincident pulse in electric field data are also discussed.

The 15 January 2022 eruption of the Hunga volcano provides a unique opportunity to study the reaction of the ionosphere to large explosive events. In particular, this event allows us to study the global propagation of travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) using various instruments. We focus on detecting the ionospheric disturbances caused by this eruption over Europe, where dense networks of both ionosondes and GNSS receivers are available. This event took place on the day of a geomagnetic storm. We show how data from different instruments and observatories can be combined to distinguish the TIDs produced by the eruption from those caused by concurrent geomagnetic activity. The Lamb wavefront was detected as the strongest disturbance in the ionosphere, travelling between 300 and 340 m/s, consistent with the disturbances in the lower atmosphere. By comparing observations obtained from multiple types of instruments, we also show that TIDs produced by various mechanisms are present simultaneously, with different types of waves affecting different physical quantities. This illustrates the importance of analysing data from multiple independent instruments in order to obtain a full picture of an event like this one, as relying on only a single data source might result in some effects going unobserved.

A severe meteorological storm system on the frontal border of cyclone Fabienne passing above central Europe was observed on 23–24 September 2018. Large meteorological systems are considered to be important sources of the wave-like variability visible/detectable through the atmosphere and even up to ionospheric heights. Significant departures from regular courses of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters were detected in all analyzed datasets through atmospheric heights. Above Europe, stratospheric temperature and wind significantly changed in coincidence with fast frontal transition (100–110 km h−1). Zonal wind at 1 and 0.1 hPa changes from the usual westward before the storm to eastward after the storm. With this change are connected changes in temperature where at 1 hPa the analyzed area is colder and at 0.1 hPa warmer. Within ionospheric parameters, we have detected significant wave-like activity occurring shortly after the cold front crossed the observational point. During the storm event, both by Digisonde DPS-4D and continuous Doppler sounding equipment, we have observed strong horizontal plasma flow shears and time-limited increase plasma flow in both the northern and western components of ionospheric drift. The vertical component of plasma flow during the storm event is smaller with respect to the corresponding values on preceding days. The analyzed event of an exceptionally fast cold front of cyclone Fabienne fell into the recovery phase of a minor–moderate geomagnetic storm observed as a negative ionospheric storm at European mid-latitudes. Hence, ionospheric observations consist both of disturbances induced by moderate geomagnetic storms and effects originating in convective activity in the troposphere. Nevertheless, taking into account a significant change in the global circulation pattern in the stratosphere, we conclude that most of the observed wave-like oscillations in the ionosphere during the night of 23–24 September can be directly attributed to the propagation of atmospheric waves launched on the frontal border (cold front) of cyclone Fabienne. The frontal system acted as an effective source of atmospheric waves propagating upward up to the ionosphere.

The ionospheric effects induced by the September 2017 storm have been exceptional compared to other events in the solar cycle 24. This paper gathers results of the ionospheric observations at the European middle latitude station Pruhonice. It consists of evaluation of ionospheric vertical and oblique sounding, Digisonde drift measurement, and data obtained from the Continuous Doppler Sounding System. We observed strong ionospheric response with an unusual stratification of ionospheric layers, Large Scale Traveling ionospheric disturbances, changes in electron density, and increase and oscillations in plasma drift velocity.

As a result of the enhanced X-ray and EUV fluxes following large solar flares, the electron density of the ionospheric layers increases. Furthermore, it causes higher absorption or even partial or total fade-out of the emitted radio waves which can be measured with ionosondes and Digisondes by studying the amplitude of the reflected electromagnetic waves [1,2].In the present study, the ionospheric response to large solar flares has been investigated using the ionosonde data measured at the Průhonice (Czech Republic, 49.98° N, 14.55° E) and San Vito (Italy, 40.6° N, 17.8° E) stations in September 2017, the most active solar period of Solar Cycle 24. A novel method [3] to calculate and investigate the absorption of radio waves propagating in the ionosphere is used to determine the absorption during large solar flare events (M and X class). Subsequently, the absorption data are compared with the indicators derived from the fmin method (fmin, the minimum frequency is considered as a qualitative proxy for the “nondeviative” radio wave absorption occurring in the D-layer). Total and partial radio fade-out and increased values (with 2–5 MHz) of the fmin parameter were experienced during and after the intense solar flares (> M3). Furthermore, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measured by the Digisondes was used as well to quantify and characterize the fade-out events and the ionospheric absorption. The combination of these three methods may prove to be an efficient approach to monitor the ionospheric response to solar flares.[1] Sripathi, S., Balachandran, N., Veenadhari, B., Singh, R., and Emperumal, K.: Response of the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere to an intense X-class solar flare (X7/2B) as observed on 09 August 2011, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 118, 2648–2659, 2013.[2] Barta, V., Sátori, G., Berényi, K. A., Kis, Á., and Williams, E. (2019). Effects of solar flares on the ionosphere as shown by the dynamics of ionograms recorded in Europe and South Africa. Annales Geophysicae, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 747-761[3] Sales, G. S., 2009, HF absorption measurements using routine digisonde data, Conference material, XII. International Digisonde Forum, University of Massachusetts

This paper presents first results and test of passive detection of Digisonde signal obtained at the Průhonice station, Czech Republic. Described technique can be used to analyze signals transmitted by the Digisonde and further received by simple loop antenna. The receiving system is based on the software defined radio (SDR USRP N210). The device works as the two channels receiver. This method will be employed to record oblique ionograms at several locations in the Czech Republic forming a simple array for detection of fine structures within ionospheric plasma using common DPS 4D transmitter. Using relatively inexpensive passive detection helps to increase a number of reflection points which leads to a better spatial coverage of the ionosphere sounding. The device represents a complementary measurement for detection of signal transmitted by Digisondes in European sector.

The ionospheric weather is affected not only from above by the Sun but also from below by processes in the lower-lying atmospheric layers. One of the most pronounced atmospheric phenomena is the sudden stratospheric warming (SSW). Three major SSW events from the periods of very low solar activity during January 2009, February 2018, and December 2018/January 2019 were studied to evaluate this effect of the neutral atmosphere on the thermosphere and the ionosphere. The main question is to what extent the ionosphere responds to the SSW events with focus on middle latitudes over Europe. The source of the ionospheric data was ground-based measurements by Digisondes, and the total electron content (TEC). In all three events, the ionospheric response was demonstrated as an increase in electron density around the peak height of the F2 region, in TEC, and presence of wave activity. We presume that neutral atmosphere forcing and geomagnetic activity contributed differently in individual events. The ionospheric response during SSW 2009 was predominantly influenced by the neutral lower atmosphere. The ionospheric changes observed during 2018 and 2018/2019 SSWs are a combination of both geomagnetic and SSW forcing. The ionospheric response to geomagnetic forcing was noticeably lower during time intervals outside of SSWs.

The ionosphere represents part of the upper atmosphere. Its variability is observed on a wide-scale temporal range from minutes, or even shorter, up to scales of the solar cycle and secular variations of solar energy input. Ionosphere behavior is predominantly determined by solar and geomagnetic forcing. However, the lower-lying atmospheric regions can contribute significantly to the resulting energy budget. The energy transfer between distant atmospheric parts happens due to atmospheric waves that propagate from their source region up to ionospheric heights. Experimental observations show the importance of the involvement of the lower atmosphere in ionospheric variability studies in order to accurately capture small-scale features of the upper atmosphere. In the Part I Coupling, we provide a brief overview of the influence of the lower atmosphere on the ionosphere and summarize the current knowledge. In the Part II Coupling Evidences Within Ionospheric Plasma—Experiments in Midlatitudes, we demonstrate experimental evidence from mid-latitudes, particularly those based on observations by instruments operated by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences. The focus will mainly be on coupling by atmospheric waves.

Large Scale Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (LSTIDs) are a frequent phenomenon during ionospheric storms, indicating strong electrodynamic processes in high latitudes. LSTIDs are signatures of Atmospheric Gravity Waves (AGW) observed in the changes of the electron density in the ionosphere. During ionospheric storms, large scale AGWs are often generated in the vicinity of the auroral region, where sudden strong heating processes take place.Many LSTIDs are observed during the ionosphere storm during the September 2017 Space Weather event. In this presentation, the LSTID occurrence on 8th September 2017 is analysed in more detail, based on a TID detection method using ground based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. Fast LSTIDs are observed in midlatitudes between 0-3 UT and 13-16 UT. Slow LSTIDs are observed between 3-12 UT. A significant strong wave-like TEC perturbation occurred in high latitudes at noon, which vanished at around 50°N. A strong single LSTID in mid-latitudes generated in high latitudes around 18 UT. Consulting IMAGE magnetometer data, ionosonde measurements and Swarm field aligned current measurements, strong heating processes, the extension of the Auroral oval and unusual electrodynamic processes are discussed as source mechanisms for these LSTIDs.

The most intense external force affecting the ionosphere from above is related to large solar flare events, therefore it is of particular importance to study their impact on the ionosphere. During solar flares, the suddenly increased radiation causes increased ionization and enhanced absorption of radio waves leading to partial or even total radio fade-out lasting for hours in some cases (e. g. [1] [2]). The ionospheric response to large solar flares have been investigated using the ionosonde data measured at Pruhonice (PQ052, 50°, 14.5°) in September 2017, the most active solar period of Solar Cycle 24. A novel method [3] to calculate and investigate the absorption of radio waves propagating in the ionosphere is used to determine the absorption during large solar flare events (M and X class). Subsequently, the absorption data are compared with the indicators derived from the fmin method (fmin, the minimum frequency is considered as a qualitative proxy for the “nondeviative” radio wave absorption occurring in the D-layer). Total and partial radio fade-out and increased values (with 2-5 MHz) of the fmin parameter were experienced during and after the intense solar flares (> M3). The combination of these two methods may prove to be an efficient approach to monitor the ionospheric response to solar flares. [1] Sripathi, S., Balachandran, N., Veenadhari, B., Singh, R., and Emperumal, K.: Response of the equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere to an intense X-class solar flare (X7/2B) as observed on 09 August 2011, J. Geophys. Res.-Space, 118, 2648–2659, 2013.[2] Barta, V., Sátori, G., Berényi, K. A., Kis, Á., and Williams, E. (2019). Effects of solar flares on the ionosphere as shown by the dynamics of ionograms recorded in Europe and South Africa. Annales Geophysicae, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 747-761[3] Sales, G. S., 2009, HF absorption measurements using routine digisonde data, Conference material, XII. International Digisonde Forum, University of Massachusetts

The impact of meteor showers and individual meteors on the ionosphere has been investigated during wintertime meteor showers using synchronised measurements of two DPS-4D Digisondes installed at Pruhonice (50°, 14.5°) and at Sopron (47.63°, 16.72°). Rather short distance between Pruhonice and Sopron allow us to perform special joint campaigns of vertical and oblique sounding under the high sampling rate to detect fine structures within ionospheric plasma. High cadence campaigns have been performed to observe behavior of sporadic E layer (Es) during the Leonids, Geminids and Quadrantids meteor showers in 2018 and 2019. The time resolution of the ionograms have been set to approximately 0.5 - 2 ionograms per minute. We used vertical and oblique reflections to investigate the fine structure and the movement of Es layer. Based on the first results the oblique sounding is a good technique to detect the Es activity between two stations, however there were periods (typically 10 to 40 minutes of duration) when the Es was observed using oblique trace but there was no observation of Es layer in vertical ionograms. Furthermore, double Es structures have been detected more times for tens of minutes during the observation nights. Beside the regular behavior of Es we concentrated on observation of intervals of increased plasma frequency in the Es region presumably directly induced by the meteors. In the framework of GINOP-2.3.2-15-2016-00003 (“Kozmikus hatások és kockázatok") an optical camera has been installed at the MTA Széchenyi István Geophysical Observatory (Sopron) in September 2019 with the cooperation of the Konkoly Observatory to monitor the meteors. Therefore, we were able to compare the ionograms measured during meteor showers with the optical data to determine the plasma trails of individual meteors. In the 20-25% of the observed meteors a faint Es layers were detected on the ionograms during and after (< 1 min) the optical record. The direction of the detected plasma traces determined by the SAO Explorer was in good agreement with the direction of the optically observed meteors in most of the cases. Consequently, the plasma trace of individual meteors could be detected on the high time resolution ionograms.

We have analyzed time series of solar data together with the atmospheric and ionospheric measurements for solar cycles 19 till 23 according to particular data availability. For the analyses we have used long term data with 1-day sampling. By mean of Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) we have found common spectral domains within solar and atmospheric and ionospheric time series. Further we have identified terms when particular pairs of signals show high coherence applying Wavelet Transform Coherence (WTC). Despite wide oscillation ranges detected in particular time series CWT spectra we found only limited domains with high coherence by mean of WTC. Wavelet Transform Coherence reveals significant high power domains with stable phase difference for periods 1 month, 2 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 3–4 years between pairs of solar data and atmospheric and ionospheric data. The occurence of the detected domains vary significantly during particular solar cycle (SC) and from cycle to the following one. It indicates the changing solar forcing and/or atmospheric sensitivity with time.

Response of the atmosphere to the Solar Eclipse on 20 March 2015 is described for mid–latitude region of Czech Republic. For the first time we show join analysis using Digisonde vertical sounding, manually processed Digisonde drift measurement, and Continuous Doppler Sounding for the solar eclipse study. The critical frequencies foE, foF1 and foF2 show changes with different time offset connected to the solar eclipse. Digisonde drift measurement shows significant vertical plasma drifts in F2 region deviating from daily mean course with amplitudes reaching 15–20 m/s corresponding to the time of solar eclipse. Continuous Doppler Sounding shows propagation of waves in the NE direction with velocities between 70 and 100 m/s with a peak 30 min after first contact. We observed increased and persistent wave activity at heights between 150 and 250 km at time about 20–40 min after beginning of SE with central period 65 min.

A network of ionosondes in Europe has been established to monitor travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) by simultaneously making vertical and oblique incidence HF sounding measurements. This network is the outcome of the Net-TIDE project, a collaboration between European Digisonde operators that have synchronised the sounding schedules of the Digisondes in order to record vertical and oblique ionogram traces simultaneously, and have added Digisonde-to-Digisonde (D2D) fixed frequency oblique-incidence measurements to the measurement schedule. The distances between the observatories involved in the project range from 500 km to over 2000 km. The technical feasibility of this network approach is explored. The challenge for the fixed-frequency D2D skymap measurements is the automatic selection of the sounding frequencies depending on the geometry of the sounding paths, the diurnal and seasonal ionospheric changes, and space weather induced events.

Severe meteorological storm system on the frontal border of cyclone Fabienne passing above Central Europe was observed on 23–24 September 2018. Large meteorological systems are considered to be important sources of the wave-like variability visible/detectable through the atmosphere and even up to ionosphere heights. Significant departures from regular courses of atmospheric and ionospheric parameters were detected in all analyzed data sets through atmospheric heights. Above Europe, stratospheric temperature and wind significantly changed in coincidence with fast frontal transition (100–110 km h−1). Zonal wind at 1 and 0.1 hPa changes from usual westward before storm to eastward after storm. With this changes are connected changes in temperature where at 1 hPa analyzed area is colder and at 0.1 hPa warmer. Within ionospheric parameters, we have detected significant wave-like activity occurring shortly after the cold front crossed the observational point. During the storm event, both by Digisonde DPS-4D and Continuous Doppler Sounding equipment, we have observed strong horizontal plasma flow shears and time-limited increase plasma flow in both North and West components of ionospheric drift. Vertical component of plasma flow during the storm event is smaller with respect to corresponding values on preceding days. Analyzed event of exceptionally fast cold front of the cyclone Fabienne fell into the recovery phase of minor-moderate geomagnetic storm observed as a negative ionospheric storm in European Mid-latitudes. Hence, ionospheric observations consist of both disturbances induced by moderate geomagnetic storm and effects originated in convective activity in troposphere. Nevertheless, taking into account significant change in global circulation pattern in the stratosphere, we conclude that most of the observed wave-like oscillations in the ionosphere during night 23–24 September can be straight attributed to the propagation of atmospheric waves launched on the frontal border (cold front) of the cyclone Fabienne. Frontal system acted as an effective source of atmospheric waves propagating upward up to the ionosphere.

Global climate change affects the whole atmosphere, including the thermosphere and ionosphere. Calculations of long-term trends in the ionosphere are critically dependent on solar activity (solar cycle) correction of ionospheric input data. The standard technique is to establish an experimental model via calculating the dependence of ionospheric parameter on solar activity from the whole analysed data set, subtract these model data from observed data and analyse the trend of residuals. However, if the solar activity dependence changes with time, the solar correction calculated from the whole data set may result in miscalculating the ionospheric trends. To test this, data from two European ionospheric stations – Juliusruh and Slough/Chilton – which provide long-term reliable data, have been used for the period 1975–2014. The main result of this study is the finding that the solar activity correction used in calculating ionospheric long-term trends need not be stable, as was assumed in all previous investigations of ionospheric trends. During the previous solar cycle 23 and the current solar cycle 24, the solar activity correction appears to be different from that for the previous period and the Sun seems to behave in a different way than throughout the whole previous era of ionospheric measurements. In future ionospheric trend investigations the non-stability of solar activity correction has to be very seriously taken into account, because it can substantially affect calculated long-term trends of ionospheric parameters.

Vertical plasma drift data measured at a mid-latitude ionospheric station Pruhonice ( 50.0 ° N, 14.6 ° E) were collected and analysed for the year 2006, a year of low solar and geomagnetic activity. Hence these data provide insight into the drift behaviour during quiet conditions. The following typical diurnal trend is evident: a significant decay to negative values (downward peak) at dawn; generally less pronounced downward peak at dusk hours. Magnitude of the downward drift varies during the year. Typically it reaches values about 20 m s - 1 at dawn hours and 10 m s - 1 at dusk hours. Maximum dawn magnitude of about 40 m s - 1 has been detected in August. During daytime the vertical drifts increases from the initial small downward drifts to zero drift around noon and to small upward drifts in the afternoon. Night-time drift values display large variability around a near zero vertical drift average. There is a significant trend to larger downward drift values near dawn and a less pronounced decrease of the afternoon upward vertical drifts near sunset. Two regular downward peaks of the drift associated with the dawn and dusk are general characteristics of the analysed data throughout the year 2006. Their seasonal course corresponds to the seasonal course of the sunrise and sunset. The duration of prevailing negative drift velocities forming these peaks and thus the influence of the dawn/dusk on the drift velocity is mostly 1.5–3 h. The dawn effect on vertical drift tends to be larger than the effect of the dusk. The observed magnitude of the sunrise and sunset peaks show significant annual course. The highest variability of the magnitude is seen during winter. High variability is detected till March equinox and again after September equinox. Around solstice, both peaks reaches lowest values. After that, the magnitudes of the drift velocity increase smoothly till maxima in summer (August). The vertical drift velocity course is smooth between June solstice and September equinox. In general, the detected values of the observed vertical drift are of lower magnitudes compare to low latitudes. Drift data in midlatitudes seems to be more influenced by the atmospheric waves than data in lower latitudes.

International audience; Frequency-time spectrograms measured by the Detection of ElectroMagnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (DEMETER) spacecraft (2004-2010, altitude about 700 km) at frequencies below 20 kHz sometimes contain lightning-generated whistlers whose intensity is significantly reduced at specific frequencies. The frequencies of the reduced intensity vary smoothly over the event duration, forming apparent curves in frequency-time spectrograms. Events at frequencies higher than the Earth-ionosphere waveguide cutoff frequency were explained by the interference of the first few waveguide modes of lightning-generated spherics propagating therein (Záhlava et al., 2015, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JA021607. Here we present an analysis of events observed at frequencies lower than about 1 kHz. Altogether, we analyze 263 events identified at the times when DEMETER operated in the burst mode. The vast majority of the events (95%) took place during the nighttime, and they occurred more frequently during spring/autumn than during winter/summer. We present an overview of event properties. Moreover, measurements of all six electromagnetic field components performed by DEMETER allow us to perform a detailed wave analysis. It is shown that the emissions propagate with high wave normal angles inclined toward the Earth. We suggest that the events might be due to the wave propagation in the ionospheric waveguide formed around the refractive index maximum at the altitude of about 105 km.

Different methods are used to research and monitor the ionospheric dynamics using ground measurements: Digisonde Drift Measurements (DDM) and Continuous Doppler Sounding (CDS). For the first time, we present comparison between both methods on specific examples. Both methods provide information about the vertical drift velocity component. The DDM provides more information about the drift velocity vector and detected reflection points. However, the method is limited by the relatively low time resolution. In contrast, the strength of CDS is its high time resolution. The discussed methods can be used for real-time monitoring of medium scale travelling ionospheric disturbances. We conclude that it is advantageous to use both methods simultaneously if possible. The CDS is then applied for the disturbance detection and analysis, and the DDM is applied for the reflection height control.

The ionospheric response to the solar eclipses of 20 March 2015 above the Czech Republic, 9 March 2016 above Taiwan, and 26 February 2017 above South Africa was studied. A distinct bipolar pulse was observed in ionospheric Doppler shift measurements above the Czech Republic (Central Europe) and above Taiwan (Eastern Asia). It is a local phenomenon clearly related with changes of electron density in the ionosphere induced by the passage of the Moon shadow above the measurement sites. The solar eclipse in Taiwan was rather small, with a maximum obscuration of 0.22. Yet, it obviously influenced the ionosphere on time scales above 100 min. The solar eclipse in South Africa occurred shortly before sunset and it is likely that ionospheric effects were masked by gravity waves generated by the evening solar terminator.

Ionosphere represents weakly ionized plasma that reflects both solar, geomagnetic activity and processes in the neutral atmosphere. Correlation coefficients of long time series of the critical frequencies from European stations measured by means of vertical sounding are analyzed with respect to latitudinal and longitudinal difference and surface distance of stations. Time series of critical frequencies are highly correlated reflecting the dominant solar influence. Correlation coefficients are high not only for raw data and subtracted mean courses but for fluctuations around mean as well. At the surface distance exceeding 1000 km and/or about 10° of latitudinal difference between stations, the correlation coefficient of fluctuations decrease rapidly. Such effect is less visible on the latitudinal dependence, where the correlation coefficients decrease with increasing distance with less pronounced threshold. We explain the existence of the ‘break pointʼ at 10° in longitude and/or 1000 km by the ‘localʼ influence of the neutral atmosphere and the wave activity. As a possible source of the common influence on scale 1000 km/10° we propose tropospheric systems that are known to be an important source of atmospheric waves in a broad period range. Large tropospheric mesoscale systems have typically up to 2000 km in diameter.

The ionospheric observatory Pruhonice serves to monitor the state of ionosphere using ground-based vertical sounding instrument - the Digisonde DPS-4D. Measured ionograms are automatically evaluated (scaled) and basic characteristics are derived. The ionograms and the scaled parameters are sent to the international databases. Especially during disturbed conditions the automatic scaling could give unreliable results. This paper presents simple method how to detect accidental errors in automatic scaling based on the parameters derived from ionograms and on an application of the finite impulse response filters. K e y w o r d s: ionogram, F2 layer, critical frequency, virtual height, total electron content, finite impulse response filter The Digisonde DPS4-D installed at the observatory Pruhonice (50 ◦ N, 14.5 ◦ E) is used to monitor the ionosphere with the regular interval of 15 minutes [1]. Ionograms obtained by the Digisonde are automatically scaled using the special software ARTIST which is implemented in the Digisonde and this information is used to compute profile of electron concentration [2]. Automatic scaling is based on identification of characteristic shapes of the wave reflection and the results are sent to the international databases. The data are later used for local/global mapping and forecast of the main ionospheric parameters. At times, especially during geomagnetically disturbed conditions, various problems occur despite relatively high quality of the software (eg, secondary reflection or only parts of primary reflections are identified, or presence of the sporadic E layer shields upper laying layers etc.). Manual correction of the automatically scaled ionograms is time consuming and, in general, only small amount of ionospheric data can be checked by human. The aim of our work is to facilitate the control of the quality of the automatically scaled Digisonde data by means of a preliminary identification of possibly incorrectly scaled (miscaled) ionograms. This will lead to reduction of the total number of ionograms designed for the manual correction to only ionograms with increased probability of miscalling. The ionograms identified as incorrectly scaled are manually checked and, in case of need, corrected. An example of application of the proposed method of the preliminary ionogram scaling control based on the Total Electron Content (TEC) obtained from the GNSS and the Digisonde is described in the paper [3]. The method presented in this paper is based on the using of data from the Digisonde without fusion of sensors. In this case, digital filters can be used for automatically control process of miscalled ionograms. Digital filters are described in [4] and [5]. For our purposes, we use the MA (Moving Average) filters. Filters are applied on ionospheric parameters, namely total electron content (TEC), maximum plasma frequency (critical frequency f0F2) of the F2 layer, and virtual height of the F2 layer (hF2).

Ionospheric disturbances, often associated with geomagnetic storms, may cause threats to radio systems used for communication and navigation. One example is the super storm on 20th November 2003, when plenty of strong and unusual perturbations were reported. This paper reveals additional information on the dynamics in the high latitude ionosphere over Europe during this storm. Here, analyses of wavelike Travelling Ionospheric Distrubances (TIDs) over Europe are presented, based on estimates of the Total Electron Content (TEC) derived from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements. These TIDs are ionospheric signatures of thermospheric surges initiated by space weather events. The source region of these TIDs is characterized by enhanced spatial gradients, TEC depression, strong uplift of the F2-layer, the vicinity of the eastward auroral electrojet and strong aurora E-layers. Joule heating is identified as the most probable driver for the TIDs observed over Europe during 20th November 2003. The sudden heating of the thermosphere leads to strong changes in the pressure and thermospheric wind circulation system, which in turn generates thermospheric wind surges observed as TID signatures in the TEC. Either the dissipation of the eastward auroral electrojet or particle precipitation are considered as the source mechanism for the Joule heating.In the course of the storm, the TEC observations show a southward shift of the source region of the TIDs. These meridional dislocation effects are obviously related to a strong compression of the plasmasphere. The presented results demonstrate the complex interaction processes in the thermosphere-ionosphere-magnetosphere system during this extreme storm.

The paper deals with comparison of two different methods for checking of automatically scaled ionograms. The first method is based on application of moving average filters on ionospheric characteristics. The second method uses complementary system for measurement of the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC). We show that both methods are comparable. However, the moving average filters based method gives slightly better results.

Various atmospheric parameters are in some periods positively and in others negatively correlated with solar activity. Solar activity is a result of the action of solar dynamo transforming solar poloidal field into toroidal field and back. The poloidal and toroidal fields are the two faces of solar magnetism, so they are not independent, but we demonstrate that their long-term variations are not identical, and the periods in which solar activity agents affecting the Earth are predominantly related to solar toroidal or poloidal fields are the periods in which the North Atlantic Oscillation is negatively or positively correlated with solar activity, respectively. We find further that solar poloidal field-related activity increases the NAM index, while solar toroidal field-related activity decreases it. This is a possible explanation of the changing correlation between the North Atlantic Oscillation and solar activity.

Ionosondes underwent significant improvements since their invention in 1924 (Breit and Tuve, 1926). At the beginning, ionospheric sounders measured only vertical profile of electron concentration. Contemporary modern digital ionosondes usually provide ionospheric drift measurement as a part of the routine monitoring in addition to the classical vertical ionospheric sounding (ionogram measurement). Ionospheric plasma motion monitoring has a large potential to improve our understanding of an ionospheric dynamics. However the measurement quality is highly variable. In this paper we deal with conditions and assumptions necessary for the correct drift velocity estimation, particularly differences in measurements for E and F regions. Correct and accurate drift velocity estimation requires recording of a sufficient number of reflection points during the measurement. We discuss how to obtain good quality drift data and how to estimate data quality. Large number of recorded drift measurements are eliminated from further use for drift velocity estimation due to low number of detected reflection points. Our analysis done for a large dataset strongly supports the idea that even low number of recorded reflection points may indicate an expressive horizontal stratification of the ionosphere. For our study we used drift data collected in 2006 from a mid-latitude station Pruhonice. Data were collected during a period of low geomagnetic and solar activity. We show statistical properties of drift velocity components for both E and F regions. We illustrate the influence of geomagnetic activity on drift velocities on maximal daily value of F region horizontal component (geomagnetic activity is represented by Kp). We also show statistics for poor-quality data associated with horizontal stratification of ionosphere.

Very high values of foEs had sometimes been reported in the past. These values, as well as all other ionogram-scaled values, had been derived from ionograms under the assumption of the vertical reflection of ordinary mode of sounding radio waves. In the past it was impossible to check the validity of this assumption. However, modern digisondes determine clearly the oblique or extraordinary mode reflections. To test the assumption of the vertical reflection of ordinary mode for high values of foEs, seven summers (June 2004–August 2010) from a midlatitude station Pruhonice are chosen. All hourly values of foEs≥6.0 MHz are selected from this data set, altogether 282 values. In 90% of cases the “classical” way of evaluation of foEs provides values higher than “true” values from modern digisonde (average difference about 1 MHz). 38% of “classical” foEs are oblique reflections, which however do not occur in direction perpendicular to geomagnetic field. The occurrence of high values of foEs varies very much from year to year between 0 and 130 events per year. As for diurnal variation, a pronounced maximum occurs at ∼10:00LT and 16:00LT (secondary), and a minimum after midnight.

Spread F is an ionospheric phenomenon which has been reported and analyzed extensively over equatorial regions on the basis of the Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) instability. It has also been investigated over midlatitude regions, mostly over the Southern Hemisphere with its generation attributed to the Perkins instability mechanism. Over midlatitudes it has also been correlated with geomagnetic storms through the excitation of travelling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) and subsequent F region uplifts. The present study deals with the occurrence rate of nighttime spread F events and their diurnal, seasonal and solar cycle variation observed over three stations in the European longitude sector namely Nicosia (geographic Lat: 35.29 °N, Long: 33.38 °E geographic: geomagnetic Lat: 29.38 °N), Athens (geographic Lat: 37.98 °N, Long: 23.73 °E geographic: geomagnetic Lat: 34.61 °N) and Pruhonice (geographic Lat: 50.05 °N, Long: 14.41 °E geographic: geomagnetic Lat: 47.7 °N) during 2009, 2015 and 2016 encompassing periods of low, medium and high solar activity, respectively. The latitudinal and longitudinal variation of spread F occurrence was examined by considering different instability triggering mechanisms and precursors which past literature identified as critical to the generation of spread F events. The main findings of this investigation is an inverse solar cycle and annual temporal dependence of the spread F occurrence rate and a different dominant spread F type between low and high European midlatitudes.

The changing state of the ionosphere is generally monitored by networks of vertical ionosondes that provide us with regular ionospheric sounding. Many ionospheric applications require determination of the true-height electron density profiles. Therefore, ionograms must be further inverted into real-height electron density profiles. The paper presents the comparison study of the true-height electron density profiles inverted from ionograms using two different methods POLAN (Titheridge, 1985) and NHPC (Huang and Reinish, 1996; Reinish et al., 2005), widely used by the ionospheric research community. Our results show significant systematic differences between electron density profiles calculated by these two inversion methods.

A passive teleseismic experiment (TOR), traversing the northern part of the Trans-European Suture Zone (TESZ) in Germany, Denmark and Sweden, recorded data for tomography of the upper mantle with a lateral resolution of few tens of kilometers as well as for a detailed study of seismic anisotropy. A joint inversion of teleseismic P-residual spheres and shear-wave splitting parameters allows us to retrieve the 3D orientation of dipping anisotropic structures in different domains of the sub-crustal lithosphere. We distinguish three major domains of different large-scale fabric divided by first-order sutures cutting the whole lithosphere thickness. The Baltic Shield north of the Sorgenfrei–Tornquist Zone (STZ) is characterised by lithosphere thickness around 175 km and the anisotropy is modelled by olivine aggregate of hexagonal symmetry with the high-velocity (ac) foliation plane striking NW–SE and dipping to NE. Southward of the STZ, beneath the Norwegian–Danish Basin, the lithosphere thins abruptly to about 75 km. In this domain, between the STZ and the so-called Caledonian Deformation Front (CDF), the anisotropic structures strike NE–SW and the high-velocity (ac) foliation dips to NW. To the south of the CDF, beneath northern Germany, we observe a heterogeneous lithosphere with variable thickness and anisotropic structures with high velocity dipping predominantly to SW. Most of the anisotropy observed at TOR stations can be explained by a preferred olivine orientation frozen in the sub-crustal lithosphere. Beneath northern Germany, a part of the shear-wave splitting is probably caused by a present-day flow in the asthenosphere.

The alignment of olivine crystals is considered as the dominant source of seismic anisotropy in the subcrustal lithosphere and asthenosphere. Different components of large-scale anisotropy can be traced in depth distributions of the radial and azimuthal anisotropy of surface waves. We propose a global model of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) as a transition between a ‘frozen-in’ anisotropy in the lithosphere to anisotropy in the sublithospheric mantle related to the present-day flow. Due to different orientations of velocity maxima in the anisotropic subcrustal lithosphere and the asthenosphere, the velocity contrast related to the LAB can increase in particular directions. Because of their long wavelengths and horizontal propagation, surface waves suffer from poor lateral resolution. However, surface waves with various wavelengths allow us to map gross features of the LAB with a good vertical resolution. We estimate depths to the LAB to be between 200 and 250 km for the Precambrian shields and platforms, around 100 km for the Phanerozoic continental regions and 40–70 km beneath oceans from the world-wide depth distribution of the radial and azimuthal anisotropy of surface waves.

This paper deals with estimation of critical frequencies foF2 using the GPS measurement. The ionosphere affects the time of flight of the signals between the satellite and the Earth. It is therefore possible to use the signals from the GPS for monitoring of ionospheric characteristics. We use measurements from the digisonde DPS-4D and the dual frequency GPS receiver TOPCON at the station Pruhonice, Czech Republic (50°N, 14.5°E).

We present the first results of a comparison of deep lithosphere structure of three Variscan massifs - the Armorican Massif, French Massif Central and Bohemian Massif, as revealed by recent tomographic studies of seismic anisotropy. The data originate from several field measurements made in temporary arrays of stations equipped with both short-period and broadband seismometers with digital recording. The study is based on teleseismic body waves and a joint inversion of anisotropic data (P-residual spheres, the fast shear-wave polarizations and split times) and demonstrates that the three Variscan massifs appear to consist of at least two parts with different orientation of large-scale fabric derived from seismic anisotropy. The boundaries of anisotropic lithospheric domains are related to prominent tectonic features recognised on the surface as sutures, shear zones or transfer fault zones, as well as grabens, thus indicating that some of them extend deep through the entire lithosphere.

A simple and cheap reduction method to reduce a high residual current of the single-phase earth fault is to earth the affected phase in the transformer station. This paper describes a theoretical verification of efficiency of this method. The two-port network theory, used for the analysis of shunting method is explained, so that it could be applied to the resonant earthed neutral system. The assembled equivalent circuit and the mathematical description determine the conditions under which the method is possible to use. Parameters of elements of the equivalent circuit which influence the size of the faulty current in the fault point with the connected shunt in the substation were tested. The obtained diagrams show e.g. a dependence of a faulty current flows in the substation and a faulty current in the fault point, on the size of the network capacitive current, size of the fault resistance, size of the shunting resistance and etc. The paper deals with the steady state calculations. (4 pages)

This paper summarizes the activities carried out by WP 3.1 of WG 3 of COST 296 action. The Work Package deals mostly with medium and large ionospheric structures that impacts on GNSS signals. In the research done by this European team, particular attention was given to the ionosphere/space weather monitoring, to the analysis of the variability of the ionospheric plasma during quiet and disturbed conditions and to the characterization of the behavior of low latitudes ionospheric depletions or bubbles and the spatial and temporal gradients of total electron contet.