2026 Workshop: Equatorial Ionization Anomaly and Ionospheric Irregularities
Deepak Karan
Cesar Valladares
Qingyu Zhu
This workshop highlights the latest discoveries and methodological advancements in aeronomy across equatorial, low-, and mid-latitude regions. It focuses on the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly and ionospheric irregularities spanning these latitude ranges. We invite presentations on space- and ground-based measurements as well as modeling efforts. Discussions will emphasize how integrating these diverse, distributed observational resources can deepen our understanding of plasma electrodynamics, identify the seeding of ionospheric irregularities (like atmospheric waves, traveling ionospheric disturbances, and stratospheric warmings), and pave the way for robust nowcasting and forecasting tools.
Understanding the complex dynamics of the ionosphere-thermosphere system particularly the EIA and the triggering of low- to mid-latitude ionospheric irregularities remains a critical challenge for the space weather community. The highly variable nature of phenomena like Equatorial Plasma Bubbles is driven by a complex interplay of solar forcing, atmospheric waves, the equatorial dynamo, and geomagnetic storms. While these interactions have puzzled researchers for decades, recent transformative advancements in observations, modeling, and Machine Learning methods present a unique opportunity for breakthroughs. Expanding global networks of distributed ground-based observatories, satellite missions, and the deployment of next-generation radar and radio arrays are now providing unprecedented, continuous data. This workshop is essential to convene the aeronomy community to synthesize these latest discoveries. By strategizing how to best integrate these massive new datasets with advanced numerical models, we can collaboratively transition from observation to prediction, drastically improving space weather forecasting.