Parvaiz A. Khan

Ionospheric influences on GPS signals in terms of range delay

All the transionospheric signals interact with the ionosphere during their passage through ionosphere, hence are strongly influenced by the ionosphere. One of most important ionospheric effects on the transionospheric signals is the delay both in range and time. Under this investigation we have studied the variability of ionospheric range delay in GPS signals. To accomplish this study we have used the GPS measurements at a low latitude station, IISC Bangalore (13.02◦N, 77.57◦E) during January 2012 to December 2012. We studied the diurnal, monthly as well as seasonal variability of the range delay. We also selected five intense geomagnetic storms that occurred during 2012 and investigated the variability of delay during the disturbed conditions. From our study we found the diurnal variability of the range delay is similar to the diurnal pattern observed for the Total This is the e-book version of the article, published in Russian Journal of Earth Sciences (doi:10.2205/2015ES000555). It is generated from the original source file using LaTeX’s epub.cls class. Electron Content (TEC). The delay is maximum during the month of October while lowest delay is found to occur in the month of December. During summer season the range delay in GPS signals is less while the largest delay occurs during the equinox season. The variability of delay during the geomagnetic storms of 09 March 2012, 24 April 2012, 15 July 2012, 01 October 2012 and 14 November 2012 were also studied. All these geomagnetic storms belonged to intense category. We found that the value of delay is strongly increased during the course of geomagnetic storms.

Evaluation of geomagnetic storm effects on the GPS derived Total Electron Content (TEC)

The geomagnetic storm represents the most outstanding example of solar wind- magnetospheric interaction, which causes global disturbances in the geomagnetic field as well as triggers ionospheric disturbances. We study the behaviour of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) during the geomagnetic storms. For this investigation we have selected 47 intense geomagnetic storms (Dst ≤ -100nT) that were observed during the solar cycle 23 i.e. during 1998- 2006. We then categorized these storms into four categories depending upon their solar sources like Magnetic Cloud (MC), Co-rotating Interaction Region (CIR), SH+ICME and SH+MC. We then studied the behaviour of ionospheric TEC at a mid latitude station Usuda (36.13N, 138.36E), Japan during these storm events produced by four different solar sources. During our study we found that the smooth variations in TEC are replaced by rapid fluctuations and the value of TEC is strongly enhanced during the time of these storms belonging to all the four categories. However, the greatest enhancements in TEC are produced during those geomagnetic storms which are either caused by Sheath driven Magnetic cloud (SH+MC) or Sheath driven ICME (SH+ICME). We also derived the correlation between the TEC enhancements produced during storms of each category with the minimum Dst. We found the strongest correlation exists for the SH+ICME category followed by SH+MC, MC and finally CIR. Since the most intense storms were either caused by SH+ICME or SH+MC while the least intense storms were caused by CIR, consequently the correlation was strongest with SH+ICME and SH+MC and least with CIR.

Long term evolution of geomagnetic activityunder the influence of 11 year cyclic variationsin solar activity during solar cycle 23 and 24

The solar activity follows an eleven year cyclic variability. The long term changes in the solar activity have a direct impact on the geomagnetic activity. In the present study, we have investigated the geomagnetic response of solar activity. To describe the long term variations of the solar activity we have selected two solar activity indices namely Sunspot Number (Rz) and solar radio flux (F10.7). Similarly to describe the level of geomagnetic activity we have taken four geomagnetic indices namely Dst, Kp, Aa and Ap. The study is carried out for the solar cycle 23 and minimum of solar cycle 24. From our study we found that long term changes in the geomagnetic activity follow a synchronous variation with the corresponding changes in the solar activity. We performed correlation analysis between solar activity and geomagnetic activity indices to access the magnitude of association between them. From correlation analysis we found that both the solar activity indices exhibit a strong correlation with all the four geomagnetic indices. The correlation coefficients of Rz with Dst, Kp, Aa and Ap are 0.78, 0.83, 0.81 and 0.86 respectively while those of F10.7 index with the same indices in the same order are 0.77, 0.83, 0.81 and 0.88.

Effect of geomagnetic storms of different solar origin on the ionospheric TEC

We have studied the behaviour of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) at a mid latitude station Usuda (36.130N, 138.360E), Japan during intense geomagnetic storms which were observed during 23 solar cycle (1998-2006). For the present study we have selected 47 intense geomagnetic storms (Dst≤-100nT), for the given period, which were then categorised into four categories depending upon their solar and interplanetary sources like Magnetic Cloud (MC), Co-rotating Interaction Region (CIR), Sheath driven Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection (SH+ICME) and Sheath driven Magnetic cloud (SH+MC). From our study we found that the geomagnetic storms significantly affect the ionosphere having any of the solar origin. However the geomagnetic storms which are either caused by SH+MC or SH+ICME produced maximum effect in TEC.

Evaluation of long term solar activity effects on GPS derived TEC

The solar activity hence the solar radiance follows a long term periodic variability with eleven years periodicity, known as solar cycle. This drives the long term variability of the ionosphere. In the present problem we investigate the long term behaviour of the ionosphere with the eleven year cyclic solar activity. Under the present study we characterize the ionospheric variability by Total Electron Content (TEC) using measurements made by Global Positioning System (GPS) and solar cycle variability by various solar activity indices. We make use of five solar activity indices viz. sunspot number (Rz), solar radio Flux (F10.7 cm), EUV Flux (26-34 nm), flare index and CME occurrences. The long term variability of these solar activity indices were then compared and correlated with the variability of ionospheric TEC, at a mid latitude station, Usuda (36.13N, 138.36E), of Japan, during the solar cycle 23 and ascending phase of cycle 24. From our study, we found that long term changes in the ionospheric TEC vary synchronously with corresponding changes in the solar activity indices. The correlation analysis shows that all the solar activity indices exhibit a very strong correlation with TEC (R =0.76 -0.99). Moreover the correlation between the two is stronger in the descending phase of the solar cycle. The correlation is found to be remarkably strongest during the deep minimum of the solar cycle 24 i.e. between 2007- 2009. Also we noticed a hysteresis effect exists with solar radio flux (F10.7 cm) and solar EUV flux (26-34 nm). This effect is absent with other parameters.

Ionospheric response to annular and partial solar eclipse of 29 April 2014 in Antarctica and Australian Regions

An annular and partial solar eclipse was observed on 29 April 2014 over Australian and Antarctic regions. In this study we have analyzed the ionospheric response of this solar eclipse event. We have done a comprehensive study to find out the changes that occurred in various ionospheric parameters during the solar eclipse event over Australia and Antarctic region. We selected four Australian stations Brisbane (27.5◦S, 152.9◦E), Canberra (35.3◦S, 149.1◦E), Hobart (42.9◦S, 147.3◦E) and Perth (31.955◦S, 115.859◦E) as well as one Antarctic station Mawson (70.6455◦S, 131.2573◦E). We have studied the changes in the E and F ionospheric layers using the ground based observations at these stations. From our analysis we found that there occurred a decrease in the critical frequencies of sporadic E (foEs) and F (foF2) layers during the time eclipse was in progress at all the four Australian stations while as at Antarctic the value of foF2 recorded an enhancement. At the same time an increase in the corresponding heights of these layers (h′Es , h′F2) was also observed. This is the e-book version of the article, published in Russian Journal of Earth Sciences (doi:10.2205/2015ES000548). It is generated from the original source file using LaTeX’s epub.cls class.

The statistical investigation of amplitude Scintillations at Indian high latitude Station Maitri, Antarctica

We have investigated the occurrence characteristics of ionospheric scintillations, using dual frequency GPS receiver, installed and operated at Indian scientific base station Maitri (71.45S and 11.45E) Antarctica, during December 2009 to December 2010. The scintillation morphology is described in terms of S4 Index. The scintillations are classified into four main categories as Weak (0.2 1.0). From the analysis we found that the percentage of weak, moderate, strong and saturated scintillations were 96%, 80%, 58% and 7% respectively. The maximum percentage of all types of scintillation was observed in the summer season, followed by equinox and the least in winter season. As the year 2010 was a low solar activity period, consequently the maximum occurrences of scintillations were those of weak and moderate and only four cases of saturated scintillation were observed.

Investigation of effects of geomagnetic storms produced by different solar sources on the Total Electron Content (TEC)

The geomagnetic storm represents the most outstanding example of solar wind- magnetospheric interaction, which causes global disturbances in the geomagnetic field as well as the trigger ionospheric disturbances. Under this problem we study the behaviour of ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) during the geomagnetic storms. For the present investigation we have selected 47 intense geomagnetic storms (Dst ≤ -100nT) that during the solar cycle 23 i.e. during 1998- 2006. We then categorized these storms into four categories depending upon their solar sources like Magnetic Cloud (MC), Co-rotating Interaction Region (CIR), SH+ICME and SH+MC. We then studied the behaviour of ionospheric TEC at a mid latitude station Usuda (), Japan during these storm events. During our study we found that the smooth variations in TEC are replaced by rapid fluctuations and the value of TEC is strongly enhanced during the time of these storms belonging to all the four categories. However, the greatest enhancements in TEC are produced during those geomagnetic storms which are either caused by Sheath driven Magnetic cloud (SH+MC) or Sheath driven ICME (SH+ICME). We also derived the correlation between the TEC enhancements produced during storms of each category with the minimum Dst. We found the the strongest correlation exists for the SH+ICME category followed by SH+MC, MC and finally CIR. Since the most intense storms were either caused by SH+ICME or SH+MC while the least intense storms were caused by CIR, consequently the correlation was strongest with SH+ICME and SH+MC and least with CIR.