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Variation Characteristics of the Ionospheric E Layer over the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Areas During a Full Solar Cycle.

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Title: Variation Characteristics of the Ionospheric E Layer over the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Areas During a Full Solar Cycle.
Authors: Tang, Hui-Yan1 (AUTHOR), Zhao, Hai-Sheng2 (AUTHOR) 997127@hainanu.edu.cn, Xue, Kun1,3 (AUTHOR), Xu, Zheng-Wen1 (AUTHOR), Xie, Shou-Zhi1,2 (AUTHOR), Feng, Jie1,3 (AUTHOR), Yang, Pei-Pei2 (AUTHOR), Li, Na2 (AUTHOR), Ding, Zong-Hua3 (AUTHOR), Wu, Jun1 (AUTHOR), Wu, Jian1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Remote Sensing. Nov2025, Vol. 17 Issue 22, p3713. 19p.
Subjects: Solar cycle, Atmospheric circulation, Radio wave propagation, Seasonal temperature variations, Diurnal variations in meteorology
Geographic Terms: Tibetan Plateau, Kunming (China)
Abstract: Highlights: What is the main finding? The diurnal and seasonal inconsistencies in the spatial distribution of the critical frequency of the ionospheric E layer over the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas have been discovered for the first time. What is the implication of the main finding? The discovery of the diurnal and seasonal inconsistencies of the ionospheric E layer over the Tibetan Plateau areas is of great significance for revealing the mechanisms of atmosphere coupling. The ionospheric E layer (90–150 km altitude) significantly influences ionospheric dynamics and plays a crucial role in radio wave propagation. The Tibetan Plateau, as the "Third Pole," affects E-layer morphology due to its unique topographical factors. Given the limited systematic studies in this high-altitude region, this study analyzes E-layer spatiotemporal characteristics and their controlling mechanisms over the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions. We analyzed foE (critical frequency of E-layer) data from six ionospheric observation stations across the Tibetan Plateau and neighboring areas during 2013–2023, covering a complete solar cycle from solar minimum to maximum. Combined with sunspot numbers as solar activity indicators, we systematically examined diurnal, seasonal, and solar cycle variations to understand regional E-layer behavior patterns. Daytime foE values significantly exceed nighttime values, demonstrating strong solar control. Spatially, Kunming shows the strongest daytime E-layer intensity with peak values reaching 3.12 MHz, while Urumqi exhibits the weakest at 2.94 MHz. Daytime foE values decrease with increasing latitude, whereas nighttime values show opposite latitudinal trends, indicating pronounced diurnal distribution asymmetry. Kunming displays the largest day-night foE variation amplitude, while Urumqi shows the smallest changes. Notably, most stations exhibit E-layer intensity peaks in July rather than June when solar zenith angles are minimum, differing from typical mid-low latitude seasonal behavior. These patterns may be related to complex vertical atmospheric coupling influenced by the region's unique topography, which could affect the spatiotemporal distribution of the E-layer over the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Variation Characteristics of the Ionospheric E Layer over the Tibetan Plateau and Surrounding Areas During a Full Solar Cycle.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tang%2C+Hui-Yan%22">Tang, Hui-Yan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhao%2C+Hai-Sheng%22">Zhao, Hai-Sheng</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> 997127@hainanu.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xue%2C+Kun%22">Xue, Kun</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xu%2C+Zheng-Wen%22">Xu, Zheng-Wen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xie%2C+Shou-Zhi%22">Xie, Shou-Zhi</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Jie%22">Feng, Jie</searchLink><relatesTo>1,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yang%2C+Pei-Pei%22">Yang, Pei-Pei</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Li%2C+Na%22">Li, Na</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ding%2C+Zong-Hua%22">Ding, Zong-Hua</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Jun%22">Wu, Jun</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Jian%22">Wu, Jian</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 17 Issue 22, p3713. 19p.
– Name: Subject
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Solar+cycle%22">Solar cycle</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Atmospheric+circulation%22">Atmospheric circulation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Radio+wave+propagation%22">Radio wave propagation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seasonal+temperature+variations%22">Seasonal temperature variations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diurnal+variations+in+meteorology%22">Diurnal variations in meteorology</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tibetan+Plateau%22">Tibetan Plateau</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kunming+%28China%29%22">Kunming (China)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Highlights: What is the main finding? The diurnal and seasonal inconsistencies in the spatial distribution of the critical frequency of the ionospheric E layer over the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding areas have been discovered for the first time. What is the implication of the main finding? The discovery of the diurnal and seasonal inconsistencies of the ionospheric E layer over the Tibetan Plateau areas is of great significance for revealing the mechanisms of atmosphere coupling. The ionospheric E layer (90–150 km altitude) significantly influences ionospheric dynamics and plays a crucial role in radio wave propagation. The Tibetan Plateau, as the "Third Pole," affects E-layer morphology due to its unique topographical factors. Given the limited systematic studies in this high-altitude region, this study analyzes E-layer spatiotemporal characteristics and their controlling mechanisms over the Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions. We analyzed foE (critical frequency of E-layer) data from six ionospheric observation stations across the Tibetan Plateau and neighboring areas during 2013–2023, covering a complete solar cycle from solar minimum to maximum. Combined with sunspot numbers as solar activity indicators, we systematically examined diurnal, seasonal, and solar cycle variations to understand regional E-layer behavior patterns. Daytime foE values significantly exceed nighttime values, demonstrating strong solar control. Spatially, Kunming shows the strongest daytime E-layer intensity with peak values reaching 3.12 MHz, while Urumqi exhibits the weakest at 2.94 MHz. Daytime foE values decrease with increasing latitude, whereas nighttime values show opposite latitudinal trends, indicating pronounced diurnal distribution asymmetry. Kunming displays the largest day-night foE variation amplitude, while Urumqi shows the smallest changes. Notably, most stations exhibit E-layer intensity peaks in July rather than June when solar zenith angles are minimum, differing from typical mid-low latitude seasonal behavior. These patterns may be related to complex vertical atmospheric coupling influenced by the region's unique topography, which could affect the spatiotemporal distribution of the E-layer over the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Remote Sensing is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/rs17223713
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 3713
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Solar cycle
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Atmospheric circulation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Radio wave propagation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Seasonal temperature variations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diurnal variations in meteorology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tibetan Plateau
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      – SubjectFull: Kunming (China)
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              Text: Nov2025
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