Ionospheric Irregularities: Measurement , Modeling, and Applications

The study of ionospheric irregularities plays a pivotal role in understanding the solar-terrestrial environment and its impact on contemporary radio technology. The ionosphere is a critical layer of the solar-terrestrial space environment and has significant impacts on radio technology systems such as communication, navigation, positioning, and radar detection. Influenced by solar and geomagnetic activity, lower atmospheric processes, electric fields, and other factors, the ionosphere exhibits complex structures and dynamic characteristics. These complexities are especially pronounced in low-latitude equatorial and high-latitude polar regions, where electron density irregularities ranging from centimeters to hundreds of kilometers frequently occur, leading to amplitude and phase scintillation of satellite communication signals. Such irregularities can increase errors in satellite navigation and positioning, while also degrading the performance of very high-frequency radar detection systems. The measurement and modeling of ionospheric irregularities have long been a focus of both fundamental research on ionospheric space weather and applied research on radio wave propagation. Nowadays, various measurement techniques have been developed, multiple observation networks have been established, and extensive mechanism-based and numerical modeling studies have been conducted. However, due to the complexity of ionospheric irregularities and the limitations of existing measurement methods, a complete understanding of these irregularities remains elusive, and there is still a considerable gap in effectively supporting the stringent requirements of advanced radio wave propagation applications. Recent advances in multi-instrument comprehensive detection and artificial intelligence-driven inversion techniques are providing unprecedented opportunities to better characterize, predict, and mitigate ionospheric irregularities.This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive platform for sharing the latest advancements, fostering collaboration, and bridging knowledge gaps in measurement, modeling, and application of ionospheric irregularities. We particularly welcome contributions on the latest developments in measurement and inversion methods, observation networks, as well as artificial intelligence-based research and modeling of ionospheric irregularities. Insights into detection progress based on China’s Meridian Project, GNSS-based network measurement of ionospheric irregularities, ionospheric scintillation mitigation for BeiDou satellite navigation, and direct-to-cell satellite communications are of high interest, alongside interdisciplinary approaches that address both the theoretical and applied aspects of ionospheric research.We encourage the submission of original research articles, opinion pieces, and review papers. The scope includes, but is not limited to:● Introduction of major ionospheric observation networks worldwide● GNSS-based measurement and inversion of ionospheric irregularities● Coherent scatter radar-based measurement and inversion of ionospheric irregularities● Airglow-based measurement and inversion of ionospheric irregularities● Comprehensive studies using multi-source data on the characteristics and mechanisms of ionospheric irregularities● Application of artificial intelligence methods in modeling ionospheric irregularities● Analysis and mitigation strategies for ionospheric irregularity effects on satellite navigation and communication Topic editors: Zonghua Ding, Lianhuan Hu, Yajun Zhu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80415/ionospheric-irregularities-measurement-modeling-and-applications