Magnetospheric Control of Ionospheric TEC Perturbations via Whistler-Mode and ULF Waves.

The weakly ionized plasma in the Earth's ionosphere is controlled by a complex interplay between solar and magnetospheric inputs from above, atmospheric processes from below, and plasma electrodynamics from within. This interaction results in ionosphere structuring and variability that pose major challenges for accurate ionosphere prediction for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) related applications and space weather research. The ionospheric structuring and variability are often probed using the total electron content (TEC) and its relative perturbations (dTEC).

Polar Topside TEC Enhancement Revealed by Jason-2 Measurements.

Significant polar topside total electron content (topTEC) enhancement (PTTE) above 1,336 km altitude is reported for the first time. The results are based on GPS measurements during 2008-2019 from NASA's Jason-2 satellite with zenith-oriented antennas. The observations show increasing topTEC toward the southern polar cap at geomagnetic latitudes poleward of 65°S, where TEC values are normally very low.

Real-Time Detection of Tsunami Ionospheric Disturbances with a Stand-Alone GNSS Receiver: A Preliminary Feasibility Demonstration.

It is well known that tsunamis can produce gravity waves that propagate up to the ionosphere generating disturbed electron densities in the E and F regions. These ionospheric disturbances can be studied in detail using ionospheric total electron content (TEC) measurements collected by continuously operating ground-based receivers from the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Here, we present results using a new approach, named VARION (Variometric Approach for Real-Time Ionosphere Observation), and estimate slant TEC (sTEC) variations in a real-time scenario.