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The development of a digital high‐frequency (HF) radio communication system requires an ionospheric channel model from the channel impulse response (CIR) measurement. Although the Watterson ionosphere channel model has been available and used for a long time, several CIR measurements have been conducted in all regions of the Earth in an attempt to validate or replace the Watterson channel model with a suitable model for their region. However, only a few CIR measurements were conducted in low‐latitude regions, especially over Indonesia. In this study, we develop the CIR measurement system for the near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) propagation mode over Java Island based on the software defined radio platform to meet low‐cost and simple operation requirements. The specification of the system is based on the International Telecommunication Union ionospheric channel characteristic document and increased in order to be able to capture higher values. Results from a 1‐week campaign measurement period show the ability of the system to measure the root mean square of time delay within the range of 0.2–1.3 ms and the Doppler shift within the range of 0.7–1.1 Hz in the quiet conditions of the ionosphere. Further measurements will be conducted to obtain a comprehensive ionosphere CIR that is useful for designing the NVIS‐HF digital communication in Indonesia, which is located beneath the crest region of an equatorial ionospheric anomaly. Plain Language Summary: An ionosphere channel model based on channel impulse response (CIR) measurement is required for the development of high‐frequency (HF) digital communication systems. There are a number of in situ CIR measurements around the world with the purpose of validating or replacing the Watterson ionosphere channel model with one that is more suitable for their perspective region. However, only a few ionosphere CIR measurements were conducted in the low‐latitude region, especially over Indonesia. In this study, we develop a low‐cost and simple CIR measurement system for the near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) propagation mode over Java Island, Indonesia, using a software‐defined radio platform. The specification of the system was based on the International Telecommunication Union ionosphere channel characteristic recommendation documents and increased in order to be able to observe higher values. Results from the 1‐week campaign measurement period show the capability of the system to measure the root mean square of time delay and Doppler frequency values. Further measurements will be taken to acquire complete CIR data for designing the NVIS‐HF communication system in Indonesia, which is under the crest area of an equatorial ionospheric anomaly. Key Points: Development of an ionosphere channel impulse measurement system based on low‐cost software defined radio implemented on Java IslandUtilizing a correlator channel sounder technique to meet a simple system and operationCampaign results show the ability of the system to observe a 0.2 ms time delay and a Doppler shift in the range of 0.7–1.1 Hz [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the investigation of the ionospheric response to the passage of an annular solar eclipse over Southeast Asia on 26 December 2019 using multiple sets of observations. Two ionosondes (one at Kototabang and another at Pontianak) were used to measure dynamical changes in the ionospheric layer during the event. A network of ground-based GPS receiver stations in Indonesia was used to derive the distribution of total electron content (TEC) over the region. In addition, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images of the Sun from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite were also analyzed to determine possible impacts of solar-active regions on the changes that occurred in the ionosphere during the eclipse. We found -1.62 and -1.90 MHz reductions (24.0 % and 27.5 % relative reduction) in foF2 during the solar eclipse over Kototabang and Pontianak, respectively. The respective TEC reductions over Kototabang and Pontianak during the eclipse were -4.34 and -5.45 TECU (24.9 % and 27.9 % relative reduction). Data from both ionosondes indicate a consistent 34–36 min delay between maximum eclipse and minimum foF2. The corresponding time delays for eclipse-related TEC reduction at these two locations were 40 and 16 min, respectively. The ionospheric F layer was found to descend with a speed of 9–19 ms-1 during the first half of the eclipse period. We also found an apparent rise in the ionospheric F-layer height near the end of the solar eclipse period, equivalent to a vertical drift velocity of 44–47 ms-1. The GPS TEC data mapping along a set of cross-sectional cuts indicates that the greatest TEC reduction actually occurred to the north of the solar-eclipse path, opposite of the direction from which the lunar shadow fell. As the central path of the solar eclipse was located just to the north of the southern equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest, it is suspected that such a peculiar TEC reduction pattern was caused by plasma flow associated with the equatorial fountain effect. Net perturbations of TEC were also computed and analyzed, which revealed the presence of some wavelike fluctuations associated with the solar-eclipse event. Some of the observed TEC perturbation patterns that propagated with a velocity matching the lunar shadow may be explained in terms of nonuniform EUV illumination that arose as various active regions on the Sun went obstructed and unobstructed during the eclipse. The remaining wavelike features are likely to be traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) generated by the passage of the solar eclipse on top of other diurnal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report our investigation of ionospheric effects due to the passage of an annular solar eclipse over Southeast Asia on 26 December 2019, using multiple set of observations. Two ionosondes (one at Kototabang and another at Pontianak) were used to measure dynamical changes in the ionospheric layer during the event. A network of ground-based GPS receiver stations in Indonesia were used to derive the distribution of total electron content (TEC) over the region. In addition, extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images of the Sun from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite were also analyzed to determine possible impacts of solar active regions on the changes that occurred in the ionosphere during the eclipse. We found −1.67 MHz and −1.58 MHz reduction (23.2 % and 22.4 % relative reduction) in foF2 during the solar eclipse over Kototabang and Pontianak, respectively. The respective TEC reduction over Kototabang and Pontianak during the eclipse was −4.34 TECU and −5.45 TECU (24.9 % and 27.9 % relative reduction). Overall, there was 34–36 minutes delay from maximum eclipse until minimum foF2 was reached at these two locations. The corresponding time delays for eclipse-related TEC reduction at these two locations were 40 minutes and 16 minutes, respectively. The ionospheric F-layer was found to descend with a speed of 9–19 m/s during the first half of the eclipse period. We also found an apparent rise of the ionospheric F-layer height near the end of the solar eclipse period, equivalent to vertical drift velocity of 44–47 m/s. The GPS TEC data mapping along a set of cross-sectional cut lines indicate that the greatest TEC reduction actually occurred to the north of the solar eclipse path, opposite of the direction from which the lunar shadow fell. As the central path of the solar eclipse was located just to the north of the southern equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) crest, it is suspected that such a peculiar TEC reduction pattern was caused by plasma flow associated with the equatorial fountain effect. Net perturbations of TEC were also computed and analyzed, which revealed the presence some wavelike fluctuations associated with the solar eclipse event. Some of the observed TEC perturbation patterns that propagated with a velocity matching the lunar shadow may be explained in terms of non-uniform EUV illumination that arose as various active regions on the Sun went obstructed and unobstructed during the eclipse. The remaining wavelike features are likely to be traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) driven by acoustic-gravity waves (AGWs), generated by the passage of the solar eclipse on top of other diurnal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]