Morphology of ionospheric scintillations during geomagnetically disturbed periods

• Grant number: 17/07762-4
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2017
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences
• Principal researcher: Marcio Tadeu de Assis Honorato Muella
• Grantee: Thiago de Almeida Santos
• Home Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Space Physics Group of the Laboratory of Physics and Astronomy from UNIVAP has conducted, since 2006, ionospheric monitoring from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers. These receivers are currently installed on a network of observatories located in the Brazilian sector. From the records in the data of these GNSS receivers have been possible to identify the signatures of the irregularities present in the ionospheric plasma density, and to study the behavior of the equatorial ionosphere and the low latitude ionosphere during quiet and disturbed geomagnetic periods. In this research study, the irregularities of interest are those typically nocturnal, generally referred to as plasma bubbles. However, the irregularities in the order of hundreds of meters to few kilometers are those that most affect the signals from GNSS satellites. In this work the proposal is to analyze the signatures of ionospheric irregularities on the data collected by the GNSS receivers installed in the observatories managed by UNIVAP. The database will be formed by the disturbed geomagnetic days that occurred since 2006. During geomagnetic disturbed periods the electrodynamics of the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere can be strongly affected due to the presence of disturbed electric fields. As a result of the increase in the geomagnetic activity, the generation of ionospheric irregularities can be inhibited or enhanced. Thus, it will be possible to investigate the morphological characteristics and physical properties that govern the occurrence of the irregularities during geomagnetically disturbed periods. (AU)