Journal of Space Technology and Applications (우주기술과 응용)

The Korean Space Science Society (한국우주과학회)
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Mid- and Low-Latitude Earth Ionospheric Phenomena and Current Status of Research

중·저위도 지구 전리권 현상 및 연구 현황

  • Eojin Kim (Natural Science Research Institute, Chungnam National University) ;
  • Ki-nam Kim (Department of Astronomy & Space Science, Chungnam National University)
  • 김어진 (충남대학교 자연과학연구소) ;
  • 김기남 (충남대학교 천문우주과학과)
  • Received : 2023.07.11
  • Accepted : 2023.08.04
  • Published : 2023.08.31
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Abstract

The Earth's ionosphere is an area where part of the upper atmosphere is ionized and exists in a plasma state that affects radio waves. It is a field that has been studied for a long time as it directly affects real life in relation to communications. Depending on the altitude, it is divided into D, E, and F layers depending on the main ions that make up the electron density. The density of the neutral atmosphere is very large compared to the electron density, so it should be described as plasma taking that effect into account. It is an area where influences from outside the ionosphere are directly reflected, starting from the sun and extending to the earth's surface, and is a field that involves complex and diverse areas of research. In this paper, we explain the process by which the Earth's upper atmosphere is ionized to form the ionosphere and introduce the characteristics of the ionosphere at low and mid-latitudes. In addition, we introduce the research that domestic researchers have participated in related to the ionosphere to date and hope that it will be used to promote exchange in the field of ionospheric research in the future.

지구 전리권은 고층대기의 일부가 이온화되어 전파에 영향을 주는 플라즈마 상태로 존재하는 영역으로 통신과 관련하여 실생활에 직접적으로 영향을 주어 오랜 기간 연구되어온 분야이다. 고도에 따라 전자밀도를 이루는 주된 이온에 따라 D-층, E-층, F-층으로 구분되며, 전자 밀도에 비해 중성대기 밀도가 매우 커서 그 영향을 고려한 플라즈마로 기술되어야 한다. 또한 태양에서 시작되어 지표면에 이르는 영역까지 전리권 외부의 영향이 직접적으로 반영되는 영역으로 복잡하고 다양한 영역의 연구가 연관되는 분야이다. 본 논문에서는 지구 고층대기가 이온화되어 전리권을 형성하는 과정을 설명하고 중·저위도 전리권의 특성에 대해 소개하였다. 또한 현재까지 전리권과 관련하여 국내 연구자들이 참여한 연구를 소개하고 향후 전리권 연구 분야의 교류 활성화에 활용되기를 기대한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

본 연구는 한국연구재단의 지원을 받아 수행되었습니다(NRF-2022R1A2C1092602).

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