On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States
Abstract While low and high‐latitude ionospheric scintillation have been extensively reported, significantly less information is available about the properties of and conditions leading to mid‐latitude scintillations. Here, we report and discuss scintillation observations made in the Southern United...
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Wiley
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002744 |
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| author | F. S. Rodrigues J. G. Socola A. O. Moraes C. Martinis D. A. Hickey |
| author_facet | F. S. Rodrigues J. G. Socola A. O. Moraes C. Martinis D. A. Hickey |
| author_sort | F. S. Rodrigues |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract While low and high‐latitude ionospheric scintillation have been extensively reported, significantly less information is available about the properties of and conditions leading to mid‐latitude scintillations. Here, we report and discuss scintillation observations made in the Southern United States (UT Dallas, 32.99°N, 96.76°W, 43.2°N dip latitude) on June 1st, 2013. The measurements were made by a specialized dual‐frequency GPS‐based scintillation monitor which allowed us to determine main properties of this mid‐latitude scintillation event. Additionally, simultaneous airglow observations and ionospheric total electron content (TEC) maps provided insight on the conditions leading to observed scintillations. Moderate amplitude scintillations (S4>∼0.4) occurred in both L1 and L2C signals, and severe (S4 > ∼0.8) events occurred in L2C signals at low (<30°) elevation angles. Phase scintillation accompanied amplitude fadings, with maximum σϕ values exceeding 0.5 radians in L2C. We also show that the observed phase scintillation magnitudes increased with amplitude scintillation severity. Decorrelation times were mostly between 0.25 and 1.25 s, with mean value around 0.65 s for both L1 and L2C. Frequency scaling of S4 matched fairly well the predictions of weak scattering theory but held for observations of moderate and strong amplitude scintillation as well. Scintillation occurred during the main phase of a modest magnetic storm that, nevertheless, prompted an extreme equatorward movement of the mid‐latitude trough and large background TEC enhancements over the US. Scintillations, however, occurred within TEC and airglow depletions observed over Texas. Finally, scintillation properties including severity and rapidity, and associated TEC signatures are comparable to those associated with equatorial spread F. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85c09d138bc64862b06fa4e49fe12fa0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-85c09d138bc64862b06fa4e49fe12fa02025-01-14T16:30:36ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902021-06-01196n/an/a10.1029/2021SW002744On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United StatesF. S. Rodrigues0J. G. Socola1A. O. Moraes2C. Martinis3D. A. Hickey4W. B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX USAW. B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX USAInstituto de Aeronautica e Espaco, IAE São Paulo BrazilCenter for Space Physics Boston University Boston MA USASpace Science Division U. S. Naval Research Laboratory Washington DC USAAbstract While low and high‐latitude ionospheric scintillation have been extensively reported, significantly less information is available about the properties of and conditions leading to mid‐latitude scintillations. Here, we report and discuss scintillation observations made in the Southern United States (UT Dallas, 32.99°N, 96.76°W, 43.2°N dip latitude) on June 1st, 2013. The measurements were made by a specialized dual‐frequency GPS‐based scintillation monitor which allowed us to determine main properties of this mid‐latitude scintillation event. Additionally, simultaneous airglow observations and ionospheric total electron content (TEC) maps provided insight on the conditions leading to observed scintillations. Moderate amplitude scintillations (S4>∼0.4) occurred in both L1 and L2C signals, and severe (S4 > ∼0.8) events occurred in L2C signals at low (<30°) elevation angles. Phase scintillation accompanied amplitude fadings, with maximum σϕ values exceeding 0.5 radians in L2C. We also show that the observed phase scintillation magnitudes increased with amplitude scintillation severity. Decorrelation times were mostly between 0.25 and 1.25 s, with mean value around 0.65 s for both L1 and L2C. Frequency scaling of S4 matched fairly well the predictions of weak scattering theory but held for observations of moderate and strong amplitude scintillation as well. Scintillation occurred during the main phase of a modest magnetic storm that, nevertheless, prompted an extreme equatorward movement of the mid‐latitude trough and large background TEC enhancements over the US. Scintillations, however, occurred within TEC and airglow depletions observed over Texas. Finally, scintillation properties including severity and rapidity, and associated TEC signatures are comparable to those associated with equatorial spread F.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002744scintillationionosphereGNSSmid‐latitudeirregularities |
| spellingShingle | F. S. Rodrigues J. G. Socola A. O. Moraes C. Martinis D. A. Hickey On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States Space Weather scintillation ionosphere GNSS mid‐latitude irregularities |
| title | On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States |
| title_full | On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States |
| title_fullStr | On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States |
| title_short | On the Properties of and Ionospheric Conditions Associated With a Mid‐Latitude Scintillation Event Observed Over Southern United States |
| title_sort | on the properties of and ionospheric conditions associated with a mid latitude scintillation event observed over southern united states |
| topic | scintillation ionosphere GNSS mid‐latitude irregularities |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002744 |
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