• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.337-342
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• 2012

In this study, the transient second or third layer on the topside of the Martian ionosphere were investigated with the most recently released Mars advanced radar for subsurface and ionospheric sounding/Mars Express data obtained from January 2010 to September 2011 to study the correlation between these topside additional layers and surface magnetic fields, solar zenith angle and solar activities. When examining the zones where the topside layer appeared, the occurrence rate of the topside layer was low at the areas with a strong Martian crustal magnetic field as observed by the Mars global surveyor. The occurrence rate of additional layers on the Martian topside ionosphere decreases as the solar zenith angle increases. However, these layers appeared significantly near the terminator of which solar zenith angle is $90^{\circ}$. In comparison between F10.7 which is the index of solar activities and the occurrence rate of the topside layer by date, its occurrence rate was higher in 2011 than in 2010 with less solar activities. The result of this study will contribute to better understanding of the environments in the topside of the ionosphere through the correlation between the various conditions regarding the Martian ionosphere and the transient layer.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.311-315
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• 2015

In this study, we estimated the topside scale height of plasma density (Hm) using the Swarm constellation and ionosondes in Korea. The Hm above Korean Peninsula is generally around 50 km. Statistical distributions of the topside scale height exhibited a complex dependence upon local time and season. The results were in general agreement with those of Tulasi Ram et al. (2009), who used the same method to calculate the topside scale height in a mid-latitude region. On the contrary, our results did not fully coincide with those obtained by Liu et al. (2007), who used electron density profiles from Arecibo Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) between 1966 and 2002. The disagreement may result from the limitations in our approximation method and data coverage used for estimations, as well as the inherent dependence of Hm on Geographic LONgitude (GLON).

• Proceedings of the KSRS Conference
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• v.1
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• pp.154-154
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• 2006

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.105.2-105.2
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• 2012

The upper ionosphere of Mars has been explored by many spacecraft like Mariners, Mars, Viking, and recently by MGS and MEX. MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding) aboard Mars Express Orbiter is operating from August 2005. MARSIS provides topside ionospheric traces, of which yield electron density profiles for altitudes above the primary ionospheric peak. A large amounts of data is useful for investigation of the Martian ionospheric environments under the changing conditions like solar activity, seasons, and solar zenith angle. We studied the characteristics of the Martian ionosphere through analysis of MARSIS data in the various conditions. We expect that our results contribute for understanding of the Martian ionospheric environment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.23.2-23
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• 2002

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.56.1-56
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• 2002

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.106-106
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• 2006

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2001

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.121-131
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• 2019

The ionospheric mid-latitude trough (IMT) is the electron density depletion phenomenon in the F region during nighttime. It has been suggested that the IMT is the result of complex plasma processes coupled to the magnetosphere. In order to statistically investigate the characteristics of the IMT, we analyze topside sounding data from Alouette and ISIS satellites in 1960s and 1970s. The IMT position is almost constant for seasons and solar activities whereas the IMT depth ratio and the IMT feature are stronger and clearer in the winter hemisphere under solar minimum condition. We also calculated transition heights at which the densities of oxygen ions and hydrogen/helium ions are equal. Transition heights are generally higher in daytime and lower in nighttime, but the opposite aspects are seen in the IMT region. Utilizing the Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) electron temperature measurements, we find that the electron temperature in the IMT region is enhanced at night during winter. The increase of electron temperature may cause fast transport of the ionospheric plasma to the magnetosphere via ambipolar diffusion, resulting in the IMT depletion. This mechanism of the IMT may work in addition to the simply prolonged recombination of ions proposed by the traditional stagnation model.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2022

Electron density irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere at night are understood in terms of plasma bubbles, which are produced by the transport of low-density plasma from the bottomside of the F region to the topside. Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) have been detected by various techniques on the ground and from space. One of the distinguishing characteristics of EPBs identified from long-term observations is the systematic seasonal and longitudinal variation of the EPB activity. Several hypotheses have been developed to explain the systematic EPB behavior, and now we have good knowledge about the key factors that determine the behavior. However, gaps in our understanding of the EPB climatology still remain primarily because we do not yet have the capability to observe seed perturbations and their growth simultaneously and globally. This paper reviews the occurrence climatology of EPBs identified from observations and the current understanding of its driving mechanisms.