A measure of ionospheric irregularities: zonal velocity and its implications for L-band scintillation at low-latitudes

Cesaroni, Claudio; Spogli, Luca; Franceschi, Giorgiana De; Damaceno, Juliana Garrido; Grzesiak, Marcin; Vani, Bruno César; Romano, Vincenzo; Alfonsi, Lucilla; Cafaro, Massimo

doi:10.26464/epp2021042

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 37 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…As a consequence, the slope of each black line estimates the EPBs speed, which is reported in Figure 3c. The retrieved speed is positive, that is, EPBs drift eastward, and ranges between 30 and 90 m/s, in partial agreement with what reported by other works addressing plasma drift velocity measurements in the Brazilian EIA crest sector, but under different solar activity conditions and by means of different techniques (Cesaroni, et al, 2021b;Ledvina et al, 2004;Muella et al, 2009). Those works address the zonal drift velocity of the small-scale ionospheric irregularities embedded in the EPBs, while here the measurement is made by using an estimate based on large-scale TEC structures.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Stepping Into an Equatorial Plasma Bubble With a Swarm Overfly

2023

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ESA's Swarm constellation entered in a “overfly” configuration in the period between September and October 2021, when the longitudinal distance between the lower pair and the upper satellite was at its minimum since the launch of the spacecrafts. In addition, the local time of the nighttime tracks was favorable to detect and study the morphology of post‐sunset equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). In this study, we focus on the Swarm overfly occurring between 00:41 UT and 00:59 UT on 30 September 2021, which covered one of the most densely instrumented regions for the study of the ionospheric irregularities embedded in the EPBs: the South American sector. By exploiting the use of ground‐based receivers of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals in combination with the Swarm plasma density measurements, we study the irregularities in the EPB formed at ∼60°W and investigate the different scales of the irregularities and the cascading processes along the magnetic flux tubes. We also highlight how diffusion along the magnetic field lines occurs simultaneously with the plasma uplift, contributing then to the correct interpretation of the EPB evolution and decay process. The precious overfly conditions also allow the introduction of ionosphere‐related quantities, evaluated across the tracks at satellite altitudes enlarging the possibilities given by the same quantities already available along the tracks. Such opportunity envisages the possibility to proxy the impact of EPBs on GNSS signals with Low‐Earth Orbit satellite data provided by future missions specifically dedicated to the characterization of the near‐Earth environment and ionospheric studies.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 90%

Stepping Into an Equatorial Plasma Bubble With a Swarm Overfly

2023

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“…Following this, in the current study, zonal drift velocity of irregularity is measured, from scintillation patches observed at S band of IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) and L1 band of GNSS (GPS: Global Positioning System, GLONASS: Global Navigation Satellite System, Galileo), using spectral analysis method. Previously, zonal drift velocity of ionospheric plasma bubbles has been calculated, using spaced aerial measurements (Briggs et al., 1950), which is more conveniently applied with VHF (Very High Frequency : 30 to 300 MHz) systems (T. Das et al., 2014; Olwendo et al., 2013), closely spaced GPS receiver observations (Cesaroni et al., 2021; de Paula et al., 2002; Ji et al., 2011; Kil et al., 2000; Muella et al., 2009), incoherent scatter radar measurements (Fejer et al., 1981, 1985) and space‐based measurements from an imager in NASA‐IMAGE satellite (Immel et al., 2004). Observations of equatorial plasma bubble drift velocity using airglow OI630 nm all‐sky digital images have also been reported in comparison with model predictions (Arruda et al., 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi‐Wavelength (L and S Band) Study of Ionospheric Irregularities From an Anomaly Crest Location

2023

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This paper reports observation of moderate to intense scintillations, at S band of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS). During current solar cycle 25, these occurrences are probably being reported for the first time, from a low‐latitude station Calcutta (22.58°N, 88.38°E geographic; magnetic dip 34.54°), located near the northern crest of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly. Efforts have been made to analyze irregularity dynamics at IRNSS S band, along with a comparative study at GNSS L1 to characterize occurrence and evolution of multiscale irregularity structures. Power spectral analysis technique has been applied on recorded C/NO, during scintillation patches, to measure east‐west zonal drift velocity. Efforts are also made to study intensity of signal perturbation at L5 frequency of IRNSS, compared to S band, when observed simultaneously, during period of ionospheric scintillation. Concurrent irregularity dynamics at L1, L5, and S band, particularly from a low‐latitude station, has not been extensively reported earlier. Data is recorded during vernal equinox (February–April 2022) of current solar cycle. Results of this study show occurrence of simultaneous night‐time scintillation at L1, L5, and S band. East‐west zonal drift velocity of irregularity, obtained from S band observations are found to decrease with the progress of time during 20–23 LT having a maximum value of 125 m/s. At GNSS L1, hourly average value of the velocity, is observed to maximize during 20–21 LT. Simultaneous observation of scintillation effects at L5 and S band of IRNSS led to loss‐of‐lock at L5, while no such occurrence was noted at S band.

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“…An enhanced poleward wind associated with a passing-by brightness wave may have transported plasma to fill the airglow depletions, which finally evolved into brightness airglow structures. Cesaroni et al (2021) studied the zonal drift velocity of small-scale ionospheric irregularities at low latitude by applying the spacedreveiver technique to measurements collected during the period September 2013-February 2014 by two GNSS reveivers for scintillation monitoring installed along the magnetic parallel passing through Presidente Prudente (Brazil, magnetic latitude 12.8°S). They found that the hourly average of the velocity increased up to 135 m/s right after the local sunset and then smoothly decreased in the next hours, in agreement with independent estimations of the velocity made by the incoherent scatter radar at Jicamarca (magnetic latitude 0.1°N), and by the Boa Vista ionosonde (magnetic latitude 12.0°N).…”

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confidence: 99%

Preface to the Special Issue on Recent Advances in the study of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles and Ionospheric Scintillation

Otsuka

Spogli

Ram

et al. 2021

Earth and Planetary Physics

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The 2nd Equatorial Plasma Bubble (EPB) workshop, funded by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, took place in Beijing, China during September 13-15, 2019. The EPB workshop belongs to a conference series that began in 2016 in Nagoya, Japan at the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, resulting in a special issue of Progress in Earth and Planetary Science that focused on EPBs. The main goal of the series is to organize in-depth discussion by scientists working on ionospheric irregularities, and solve the scientific challenges in EPB and ionospheric scintillation forecasting. The 2nd EPB workshop gathered almost 60 scientists from seven countries. A total of 20 invited and contributing papers focusing on ionospheric irregularities and scintillations were presented. Here we briefly comment on 10 papers included in this special issue.

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A measure of ionospheric irregularities: zonal velocity and its implications for L-band scintillation at low-latitudes

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

Stepping Into an Equatorial Plasma Bubble With a Swarm Overfly

Stepping Into an Equatorial Plasma Bubble With a Swarm Overfly

Multi‐Wavelength (L and S Band) Study of Ionospheric Irregularities From an Anomaly Crest Location

Preface to the Special Issue on Recent Advances in the study of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles and Ionospheric Scintillation

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