The characteristics of quiet time equatorial and low-latitude total electron content over the Indian sector using global ionospheric map (GIM) data (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014) are obtained filtering out the solar flare and storm effects. The results are examined and interpreted in the context of large number of previous studies. The newly found features from this study are as follows. Marked difference in nature of equinoctial asymmetry is noted between solar cycles 23 and 24. Long absence of winter anomaly both during low and high solar activity (HSA) in LL (low-latitude) regions is found. Climatology of the diurnal cycle is provided in four categories using new criteria for demarcation of solar activity levels. Highest correlation (~77%) between GIM ionospheric electron content (IEC) and PI (solar EUV proxy index) is noted over equator in contrast to previous studies. The minimum positive contribution of PI in variation of IEC requires minimum of 2 years of data, and if more than 7-8 years of data are used, it saturates. Root-mean-square width of PI can be used to define the HSA. Strong QBO (quasi-biennial oscillations) in IEC is noted in tune with the one in PI over both LL locations but QBO remains surprisingly subdued over equator. The semiannual oscillations in GIM-IEC are found to be stronger at all locations during high solar activity and weaker between 2005 and 2011, whereas the annual oscillations are found to be substantially stronger only during HSA-23 and weakest over southern LL location throughout 17 years.

Structures of sudden enhancements/depressions and associated interhemispheric asymmetry in low‐latitude total electron content (TEC) during the main phase (MP) of geomagnetic storms have remained unpredictable majorly due to oscillating equatorial vertical E×B drifts and resultant redistribution of plasma in low latitudes in a given seasonal background. Robust analysis of 7 major and 30 moderate ionospheric storms during the years 2000–2018 is performed with comprehensive literature review encompassing various sources of asymmetry in magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling. Taking advantage of simultaneous long‐term observations of E×B drift from Jicamarca, H component from magnetometers, and global ionospheric map vertical TEC (VTEC) and TEC observations across the dip equator from the South American sector, simultaneous formation of peaks and valleys in VTEC and associated asymmetry are studied. Additionally, a three‐layer neural network‐based E×B drift model is developed using delta‐H observations that provide drift estimates in the absence of Jicamarca drifts. The main results establish simultaneous high‐magnitude short‐lived (1–2 hr) enhancements and depression in VTEC during the MP in daytime in both hemispheres with varying differences of −30 to 100 TECU with respect to quiet time mean and along with prominent existence of interhemispheric asymmetry in TEC during the MP regardless of seasons. Maximum VTEC in the northern and southern low latitudes is found to occur at different times during storms. Large difference of VTEC is found ranging between 10 and 30 TECU between the near conjugate locations of the hemispheres. Coincident global episodic peaks marked by steep VTEC falls show dominance of episodic eastward and westward penetration electric fields in the low‐latitude daytime ionosphere.

A climatological response of low‐latitude ionosphere to geomagnetic storms is presented using long‐term global ionospheric maps data from June 1998 to June 2015 covering two solar cycles 23 and 24. The results are presented for daytime forenoon and afternoon sectors under minor, moderate, and major ionospheric storm categories based on minimum Dst index criterion. For the first time the effectiveness of storms is identified using monthly standard deviation as an indicator of the day to day variability in equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere. Thus, results on climatology are definitive and form a database that would be comparable to statistical results from any other longitude and time. Seasonal statistics for total storms, effective positive and negative storms, and amplitude of mean seasonal perturbation in total electron content are obtained. Total and effective storms are found to be higher in solar cycle 23 than in 24 and only a couple of effective storms occurred during low solar activity 2007–2009 that too in minor category. Afternoon sector is found to be favorable for occurrence of maximum number of effective positive storms. A latitudinal preference is found for a given storm to be effective in either time sectors. Equinoctial asymmetry in ionospheric response both in terms of occurrence and perturbation amplitude is found. September equinoxes are found to bear maximum total, effective positive and negative storms. Winters are found more prone to negative storms, whereas summers have recorded minimum number of either of storms and minimum perturbation amplitudes.

No abstract