CEDAR
Coupling, Energetics and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions Program
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On the spatio-temporal behavior of quiet-time GNSS scintillation observed in Puerto Rico: Seasonal and solar flux effects

Minori
Kikuchi
The University of Texas at Dallas
Abstract text

Scintillation (S4 index) observed by GNSS monitors deployed at low magnetic latitudes is well-correlated with equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). EPBs develop in the bottomside ionosphere at the magnetic equator, raise in height, and extend along field lines to low latitudes. GNSS scintillation at mid-latitudes has also been reported. The sources of these scintillation events, however, are less understood.
To improve our understanding of low and mid-latitude scintillation, GNSS-based ionospheric scintillation and total electron content (TEC) monitors (ScintPi) have been deployed in Puerto Rico since December 2021. This location can be described as a transition region between low and mid-latitudes.
In this poster, we present main results of analyses of multi-constellation GNSS scintillation observations between December 2021 and May 2024 made by one ScintPi monitor located at Quebradillas (18.47ºN, 66.91ºW, ~ 25º dip latitude) in Puerto Rico. The observations allowed us to monitor ionospheric scintillation near Puerto Rico during the ascending phase of solar cycle 25.
We will present and discuss the spatio-temporal behavior of the observed scintillation events as a function of season and solar flux conditions. Focus will be given to observations made during geomagnetically quiet-time conditions. We will discuss the behavior of scintillation in light of our understanding of equatorial spread F in the American sector.

Gomez Socola, J., Sousasantos, J., Rodrigues, F. S., Brum, C. G. M., Terra, P., Moraes, A. O., & Eastes, R. (2023). On the quiet-time occurrence rates, severity and origin of L-band ionospheric scintillations observed from low-to-mid latitude sites located in Puerto Rico. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2023.106123.

Acknowledgment: Work at UTD has been supported by the National Science Foundation (AGS-2122639 and AGS-2432609) and by an NDSEG fellowship (AAM).

Authors
Minori Kikuchi, The University of Texas at Dallas
Josemaria Gomez Socola, The University of Texas at Dallas
Alexander Massoud, The University of Texas at Dallas
Carlos Pérez, Citizen scientist
Pedrina Terra, Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida
Christiano Brum, Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida
Fabiano Rodrigues, The University of Texas at Dallas
Student not in poster competition
Poster category
IRRI - Irregularities of Ionosphere or Atmosphere
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