Study of sporadic E layers based on GPS radio occultation measurements and digisonde data over the Brazilian region

Author(s)

Resende, Laysa C. A. ^[1] ; Arras, Christina ^[2] ; Batista, Inez S. ^[1] ; Denardini, Clezio M. ^[1] ; Bertollotto, Thaina O. ^[1] ; Moro, Juliano ^{[3, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Natl Inst Space Res INPE, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] German Res Ctr Geosci GFZ, Potsdam - Germany

^[3] Chinese Acad Sci, Natl Space Sci Ctr, State Key Lab Space Weather, Beijing - Peoples R China

^[4] Southern Reg Space Res Ctr CRS COCRE INPE, Santa Maria, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Annales Geophysicae; v. 36, n. 2, p. 587-593, APR 3 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 4

Abstract

This work presents new results about sporadic E-layers (Es layers) using GPS (global positioning system) radio occultation (RO) measurements obtained from the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC satellites and digisonde data. The RO profiles are used to study the Es layer occurrence as well as its intensity of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the 50 Hz GPS L1 signal. The methodology was applied to identify the Es layer on RO measurements over Cachoeira Paulista, a low-latitude station in the Brazilian region, in which the Es layer development is not driven tidal winds only as it is at middle latitudes. The coincident events were analyzed using the RO technique and ionosonde observations during the year 2014 to 2016. We used the electron density obtained using the blanketing frequency parameter (fbEs) and the Es layer height (h'Es) acquired from the ionograms to validate the satellite measurements. The comparative results show that the Es layer characteristics extracted from the RO measurements are in good agreement with the Es layer parameters from the digisonde. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/01332-8 - Validation of MIRE simulation results with the satellite measurements using the radio occultation method
• Grantee: Láysa Cristina Araújo Resende Chagas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• FAPESP's process: 12/08445-9 - Study of day-to-day variability of the mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere at low latitude and equatorial region, during the solar cycle 24
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Fagundes
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11198-9 - Analysis of the Disturbed Electrical Fields Effects in the Sporadic Layers on Equatorials and Low Latitude Regions
• Grantee: Láysa Cristina Araújo Resende Chagas
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral