The occurrence rate of the equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) with season, solar activity, and geomagnetic conditions are investigated using long‐term data sets of Malaysia Real‐Time Kinematics Network (MyRTKnet) from 2008 to 2013. The rate of TEC (total electron content) change index (ROTI) in 5 min was derived from MyRTKnet data to detect the EPB with scale sizes around tens of kilometers. Then, the daily east‐west cross sections of 2‐D ROTI maps were used to examine the EPB features over 100°E–119°E longitudes. The EPBs tend to occur successively in one night along the observational coverage of MyRTKnet during equinoxes in high solar activity years. The perturbations in a form of wavelike structures along the observed longitudes might be responsible for the development of successive EPBs due to high growth rate of the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability (RTI) process. On the contrary, the occurrence of successive EPBs is infrequent and the occurrence day of EPB remains active during equinoctial months in low solar activity years. The small growth rate of the RTI process during low solar activity years might require a strong seed perturbation to generate the EPB structure. The occurrence probability of the EPB was found to be similar during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. The results imply that the strong perturbations play an important role in the development of the EPB in low solar activity years. Nonetheless, the high growth rate of the RTI could cause the successive occurrence of the EPB in high solar activity years.
Validity and reliability are crucial when conducting research to ensure the truthfulness of an instrument. This study investigated the measurement functioning of an instrument on students' awareness of space science. The instrument was administered to 206 secondary school students involved in the Sudden Ionospheric Disturbance π outreach program. Two experts evaluated the content validity of the instrument. Data were analyzed using the Winsteps 3.71.0.1 software to obtain the Rasch model analysis (RMA) on item reliability and persons' separation, item measure, item fit based on PTMEA CORR, polarity items, misfit items, unidimensionality, and a person-item map. The findings revealed that the items are valid, reliable, and appropriate to measure awareness of space science.
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