Answer to the comments on “Confirming geomagnetic Sfe by means of a solar flare detector based on GNSS”

Abstract

Hernández-Pajares and García-Rigo have written a document criticizing our paper “Confirming geomagnetic Sfe by means of a solar flare detector based on GNSS. J Space Weather Space Clim 9: A42. https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2019040” (Curto et al., 2019). The main goal of our paper was to define a methodology based on GNSS measurements that is able to detect solar flares (SF) in an automatic way. This methodology was used to confirm Sfe (SF effects) detected by geomagnetism in an unsupervised manner. In their document, Hernández-Pajares and García-Rigo posed two objections related to the correctness and the novelty of the methodology used in our paper. This document is a reply to these objections and concludes that they are not relevant.

Service of rapid magnetic variations, an update

“…Nowadays, with the advent of new technologies (especially with the deployment of GNSS satellite constellations), we are able to scan the ionosphere with wide coverage and in quasi-real time. Hence, the creation of an ionospheric activity index related to the presence of solar flares as confirmation of Sfe (Curto et al, 2019(Curto et al, , 2020. Direct monitoring of the solar wind by satellites at the Lagrange point also makes the task of confirming SCs easier.…”

Estimation of the Contribution of the Ionospheric D Region to the TEC Value During a Series of Solar Flares in September 2017

“…An increase in the intensity of X-ray and ultraviolet (UV) radiation observed during solar flares causes an immediate increase in the electron concentration in the illuminated part of the ionosphere (de Abreu et al, 2019;Mitra, 1974), and, as a result, changes the TEC value (Curto et al, 2019;Monte-Moreno & Hernández-Pajares, 2014;Zhang et al, 2011). Numerous papers have shown the possibility of using data from a GNSS receiver network as an indicator of solar flares (Curto et al, 2019(Curto et al, , 2020Monte-Moreno & Hernández-Pajares, 2014). Numerous attempts have also been made to quantify the TEC dynamics during solar flares (Wan et al, 2002(Wan et al, , 2005.…”