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    Total electron content observations by dense regional and worldwide international networks of GNSS
    (2018-06-01)
    Tsugawa, Takuya
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    Nishioka, Michi
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    Ishii, Mamoru
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    Hozumi, Kornyanat
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    Saito, Susumu
    Two-dimensional ionospheric total electron content (TEC) maps have been derived from ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver networks and applied to studies of various ionospheric disturbances since the mid-1990s. For the purpose of monitoring and researching ionospheric conditions and ionospheric space weather phenomena, we have developed TEC maps of areas over Japan using the dense GNSS network, GNSS Earth Observation NETwork (GEONET), which consists of about 1300 stations and is operated by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI). Currently, we are providing high-resolution, two-dimensional maps of absolute TEC, detrended TEC, rate of TEC change index (ROTI), and loss-of-lock on GPS signal over Japan on a real-time basis. Such high-resolution TEC maps using dense GNSS receiver networks are one of the most effective ways to observe, on a scale of several 100 km to 1000 km, ionospheric variations caused by traveling ionospheric disturbances and/or equatorial plasma bubbles, which can degrade single-frequency and differential GNSS positioning/navigation. We have collected all the available GNSS receiver data in the world to expand the TEC observation area. Currently, however, dense GNSS receiver networks are available in only limited areas, such as Japan, North America, and Europe. To expand the two-dimensional TEC observation with high resolution, we have conducted the Dense Regional and Worldwide International GNSS TEC observation (DRAWING-TEC) project, which is engaged in three activities: (1) standardizing GNSS-TEC data, (2) developing a new high-resolution TEC mapping technique, and (3) sharing the standardized TEC data or the information of GNSS receiver network. We have developed a new standardized TEC format, GNSS-TEC EXchange (GTEX), which is included in the Formatted Tables of ITU-R SG 3 Data-banks related to Recommendation ITU-R P.311. Sharing the GTEX TEC data would be easier than sharing the GPS/GNSS data among those in the international ionospheric researcher community. The DRAWING-TEC project would promote studies of medium-scale ionospheric variations and their effect on GNSS.
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    Item type:Publication,
    Spatio-temporal characteristics of ionospheric irregularities in low latitude regions during the peak of solar cycle 25
    (2025-07-01)
    Tongkasem, Napat
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    Thammavongsy, Phimmasone
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    Nishioka, Michi
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    Perwitasari, Septi
    Equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) are a primary source of ionospheric irregularities (IIR) in low-latitude regions. The severity of EPBs depends on the intensity, penetration, and disturbance of electric fields generated in the ionosphere. In this work, we analyze the IIR associated with geomagnetic activity in the low-latitude region (0°N–25°N, 90°E–110°E) from 2022 to 2024. The total electron content (TEC) and the rate of TEC index (ROTI) are used to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of these IIRs, influenced by both local EPBs and global geomagnetic storms. During low-to-moderate geomagnetic activity, electric field penetration and disturbances have a low impact on EPB development. The high solar activity intensifies the electric field, leading to intense EPB occurrences that can affect the entire region for several hours. From January 2022 to October 2024, these intense EPB events accounted for 35% of all EPB occurrences. During strong geomagnetic storms, the prompt penetration of electric fields (PPEF), and disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF) caused the depression and fluctuations of TECs.
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    Item type:Publication,
    Simultaneous equatorial plasma bubble observation using amplitude scintillations from GNSS and LEO satellites in low-latitude region
    (2023-12-01)
    Seechai, Khanitin
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    Hozumi, Kornyanat
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    Nishioka, Michi
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    Saito, Susumu
    This study estimates the scale sizes of the plasma density irregularities and the longitudinal width associated with equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) in equatorial and low-latitude regions. By analyzing amplitude scintillation S<inf>4</inf> indices and total electron content (TEC) measured from low earth orbit (LEO) satellite’s beacon signals with 400 MHz and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) L1/E1 signals with 1575.42 MHz, recorded by receivers at the KMITL station in Bangkok, Thailand (geographic; 13.73° N, 100.77°E, magnetic: 7.26°N), we investigate the characteristics of these irregularities. We collected data of 154 LEO satellite pass events during nighttime on 21 disturbed days in four equinoctial months in 2021. Based on the presence or absence of the scintillation effects on GNSS and LEO beacon signals, the events are categorized into four classes to estimate the scale size of the plasma density irregularities. The analysis suggests that events with both GNSS and LEO scintillations, as well as events with GNSS scintillation alone, occur predominantly before midnight assuming the presence of the small-scale size of the irregularities within EPB. However, events with only LEO scintillation occur throughout the whole night and some events are observed before the events with both GNSS and LEO scintillations. Post-sunset LEO scintillation alone may be attributed to the onset of EPBs developing at low altitude, while post-midnight LEO scintillation events near the magnetic equator, observed during periods of low GNSS Rate of TEC Index (ROTI) values, are associated with bottom-side ionospheric irregularities but are not linked with EPB. The findings are consistent with previous researches on the generation and decay of electron density irregularities within plasma bubbles. However, this study provides new insights by using specific data sets and analysis techniques, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the association of LEO scintillations with bottom-side ionospheric irregularities near the magnetic equator, not observed in the ROTI map. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]