Study of the climatology of ionospheric disturbances observed over South America and Africa during solar cycles 24 and 25: an intercontinental and interhemispheric comparison

• Grant number: 23/07518-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): December 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Fagundes
• Grantee: Giorgio Arlan da Silva Picanço
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In this project, we propose a comprehensive study of the ionospheric disturbances observed during space weather events in solar cycles 24 and 25. In this context, ionospheric disturbances are atypical variations in the concentration and distribution of ionospheric plasma, which may be caused by phenomena internal (e.g., plasma bubbles) and external (e.g., coronal mass ejections, solar flares) to the ionosphere. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the different mechanisms related to the ionospheric disturbances' development during periods with different levels of geomagnetic activity, focusing on the study of phenomena such as penetration of electric fields and thermospheric winds, among others. We also intend to study the influence of geomagnetic activity on the periodicity of plasma bubbles, seeking to establish a comparison parameter between the disturbed electric fields and the seeding mechanisms (e.g., gravity waves). To achieve these goals, we will use ionospheric indices, such as the disturbance ionosphere index (DIX) and the rate of change of total electron content index (ROTI), together with observational data obtained by instruments such as All-Sky Imagers, ionosondes, and magnetometers. This study will contribute to understanding the physical mechanisms behind ionospheric disturbances and allow a better characterization of these events. Finally, we seek to fill knowledge gaps, such as the lack of a comprehensive study that considers the climatology of ionospheric disturbances in a complete solar cycle, considering factors such as occurrence, amplitude, distribution, and variation with geomagnetic activity. (AU)