Reconstruction of Ionospheric Electron Density Using Lightning-Generated Whistlers Based on Simulation and Observations.
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| Title: | Reconstruction of Ionospheric Electron Density Using Lightning-Generated Whistlers Based on Simulation and Observations. |
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| Authors: | Xiang, Tian1 (AUTHOR), Zhou, Chen1 (AUTHOR) chenzhou@whu.edu.cn, Liu, Moran1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Remote Sensing. Apr2026, Vol. 18 Issue 8, p1244. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Ionospheric electron density, Finite difference time domain method, Space environment, Ionospheric techniques, Data assimilation, Satellite-based remote sensing |
| Abstract: | Highlights: What are the main findings? The proposed method effectively modifies ionospheric electron density profiles by comparing the dispersion of observed and simulated lightning-generated whistlers (LGWs). For two test events, the mean absolute error of electron density was reduced by 62.81% and 69.29%, respectively. The FDTD-based simulation approach outperforms the conventional data assimilation method, achieving greater error reduction (62.81%/69.29% vs. 33.78%/41.35%). What are the implications of the main finding? This study demonstrates that natural LGWs can serve as a cost-effective, globally available signal for ionospheric probing, complementing ground-based and space-borne active techniques (e.g., ionosondes, GNSS). The proposed method provides a practical way to calibrate empirical models (e.g., IRI) using satellite-observed whistlers, which can improve ionospheric modeling and space weather applications. Electron density is a fundamental parameter characterizing the ionosphere. Multiple ground-based and space-based detection technologies are applied to detect ionospheric electron density using artificial electromagnetic waves, based on the ionospheric effects of reflection, refraction, incoherent scattering, and doppler shift on radio waves. Lightning-generated whistlers (LGWs) constitute a natural signal with a wide spatiotemporal distribution that can substitute for these artificial transmissions, achieving global ionospheric detection. This paper proposes a method for reconstructing ionospheric electron density profiles by comparing simulated and observed dispersion of LGWs. We develop an LGW propagation model based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm, where the background electron density is derived from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. The dispersion of simulated whistlers is compared with satellite observations, and a modification factor is introduced to modify the background electron density based on the relationship between dispersion and electron density. The approach is applied to two events, and the electron density modification effect is assessed with independent data sources. The results show that the errors between the modified electron density and the true value in two events are reduced by 62.81% and 69.29%, respectively, confirming the efficacy of the proposed method. [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.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 193435723 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Reconstruction of Ionospheric Electron Density Using Lightning-Generated Whistlers Based on Simulation and Observations. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiang%2C+Tian%22">Xiang, Tian</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Chen%22">Zhou, Chen</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> chenzhou@whu.edu.cn</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Liu%2C+Moran%22">Liu, Moran</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Remote+Sensing%22">Remote Sensing</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 18 Issue 8, p1244. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionospheric+electron+density%22">Ionospheric electron density</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Finite+difference+time+domain+method%22">Finite difference time domain method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space+environment%22">Space environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ionospheric+techniques%22">Ionospheric techniques</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+assimilation%22">Data assimilation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Satellite-based+remote+sensing%22">Satellite-based remote sensing</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Highlights: What are the main findings? The proposed method effectively modifies ionospheric electron density profiles by comparing the dispersion of observed and simulated lightning-generated whistlers (LGWs). For two test events, the mean absolute error of electron density was reduced by 62.81% and 69.29%, respectively. The FDTD-based simulation approach outperforms the conventional data assimilation method, achieving greater error reduction (62.81%/69.29% vs. 33.78%/41.35%). What are the implications of the main finding? This study demonstrates that natural LGWs can serve as a cost-effective, globally available signal for ionospheric probing, complementing ground-based and space-borne active techniques (e.g., ionosondes, GNSS). The proposed method provides a practical way to calibrate empirical models (e.g., IRI) using satellite-observed whistlers, which can improve ionospheric modeling and space weather applications. Electron density is a fundamental parameter characterizing the ionosphere. Multiple ground-based and space-based detection technologies are applied to detect ionospheric electron density using artificial electromagnetic waves, based on the ionospheric effects of reflection, refraction, incoherent scattering, and doppler shift on radio waves. Lightning-generated whistlers (LGWs) constitute a natural signal with a wide spatiotemporal distribution that can substitute for these artificial transmissions, achieving global ionospheric detection. This paper proposes a method for reconstructing ionospheric electron density profiles by comparing simulated and observed dispersion of LGWs. We develop an LGW propagation model based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm, where the background electron density is derived from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. The dispersion of simulated whistlers is compared with satellite observations, and a modification factor is introduced to modify the background electron density based on the relationship between dispersion and electron density. The approach is applied to two events, and the electron density modification effect is assessed with independent data sources. The results show that the errors between the modified electron density and the true value in two events are reduced by 62.81% and 69.29%, respectively, confirming the efficacy of the proposed method. [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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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/rs18081244 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 1244 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ionospheric electron density Type: general – SubjectFull: Finite difference time domain method Type: general – SubjectFull: Space environment Type: general – SubjectFull: Ionospheric techniques Type: general – SubjectFull: Data assimilation Type: general – SubjectFull: Satellite-based remote sensing Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Reconstruction of Ionospheric Electron Density Using Lightning-Generated Whistlers Based on Simulation and Observations. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Xiang, Tian – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Zhou, Chen – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Liu, Moran IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 15 M: 04 Text: Apr2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20724292 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 18 – Type: issue Value: 8 Titles: – TitleFull: Remote Sensing Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
