Flux tube analysis of L-band ionospheric scintillation

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Space physics 2013-06, Vol.118 (6), p.3791-3804
• Main Authors: Shume, E. B., Mannucci, A. J., Butala, M. D., Pi, X., Valladares, C. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anisotropy; Earth orbits; equatorial and low latitude ionosphere; Fluctuations; Geophysics; Global positioning systems; GPS; Gravity waves; Ionosphere; ionospheric irregularities; Latitude; scintillation; spectral analysis
• ISSN: 2169-9380; 2169-9402
• DOI: 10.1002/jgra.50285

This manuscript presents magnetic flux tube analysis of L‐band signal scintillation in the nighttime equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere. Residues of the scintillation index S4 estimated from the L‐band signals received from Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites are employed in the analysis. The S4 estimates have been shown to be associated with simultaneous GPS VTEC variations derived from JPL's GIPSY‐GIM package. We have applied the wavelet decomposition technique simultaneously on the S4 time series in a flux tube over the equatorial and low‐latitude regions. The technique decomposes the S4 signal to identify the dominant mode of variabilities and the temporal variations of scintillation‐producing irregularities in the context of a flux tube. Statistically significant regions of the wavelet power spectra considered in our study have mainly shown that (a) dominant plasma irregularities associated with S4 variabilities in a flux tube have periods of about 4 to 15 minutes (horizontal irregularity scales of about 24 to 90 km). These periods match short period gravity waves, (b) scintillation‐producing irregularities are anisotropic along the flux tube and in the east‐west direction, and (c) the occurrences of scintillation‐producing irregularities along the flux tube indicate that the entire flux tube became unstable. However, plasma instability occurrences were not simultaneous in most cases along the flux tube, there were time delays of various orders. Understanding the attributes of L‐band scintillation‐producing irregularities could be important for developing measures to mitigate L‐band signal degradation. Key Points L‐band ionospheric scintillation in the context of a ‐ Irregularities related to S4 have 5 to 15 min periods matching gravity waves Scintillation‐producing irregularities are anisotropic