Ground and satellite-based observations of ionospheric plasma bubbles and blobs at 5.65 degrees latitude in the Brazilian sector

Author(s)

Agyei-Yeboah, Ebenezer ^[1] ; Fagundes, Paulo Roberto ^[1] ; Tardelli, Alexandre ^[1] ; Pillat, Valdir Gil ^[1] ; Pignalberi, Alessio ^[2] ; Kavutarapu, Venkatesh ^[3] ; Pezzopane, Michael ^[2] ; Vieira, Francisco ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Vale Paraiba UNIVAP, Lab Fis & Astron, Av Shishima Hifumi 2911, BR-12244000 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Via Vigna Murata 605, I-00143 Rome - Italy

^[3] Natl Atmospher Res Lab NARL, Gadanki - India

^[4] Inst Fed Tocantins IFTO, Observ Fis Espacial, Rua Castelo Branco, Povoado Santa Tereza Km 05, Palmas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Advances in Space Research; v. 67, n. 8, p. 2416-2438, APR 15 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

This investigation uses simultaneous observations from all-sky imager system and an ionosonde collocated at Araguatins (5.65 degrees S, 48.07 degrees W and dip-latitude of 4.17 degrees S), a near-equatorial region in Brazil. These simultaneous observations were used to investigate the occurrence of plasma bubbles and blobs in the field of the imaging system and their association with atypical range Spread-F signature in ionograms. Also, in-situ observation of plasma density from Swarm satellites were used to support the ground-based observations. Using a few cases, a methodology will be established to identify in the plasma blobs (atypical ESF) in the ionograms when there is the simultaneous observation of plasma bubbles and blobs in the field of view of the ionosonde. For this purpose, simultaneous sequence of OI 630.0 nm nightglow images and ionograms are presented for different case studies; 1. when there is the absence of a plasma bubble or blob, 2. when there is only the occurrence of plasma bubbles and 3. when there is the occurrence of plasma bubbles and blobs, in order to compare traces in the ionogram in all these case studies. With these we can cover all kinds of signatures in the ionograms corresponding to no irregularities, plasma bubbles only and plasma bubbles-blobs. These OI 630.0 nm nightglow and ionograms recorded simultaneously make it possible to establish a novel methodology to recognize in ionograms cases when there is the occurrence of Spread-F signature associated with bubble-blob in the FOV of the ionosonde. (C) 2021 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• 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