Multi-instrument analysis of L-band amplitude scintillation observed over the Eastern Arabian Peninsula

Abdollah Masoud Darya; Muhammad Mubasshir Shaikh; Grzegorz Nykiel; Essam Ghamry; Ilias Fernini

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2024.05.034

Multi-instrument analysis of L-band amplitude scintillation observed over the Eastern Arabian Peninsula

Abstract

The study of scintillation-causing ionospheric irregularities is important to mitigate their effects on satellite communications. It is also important due to the spatial and temporal variability of these irregularities, given that their characteristics differ from one region to another. This study investigates the spatial and temporal characteristics of L1 amplitude scintillation-causing ionospheric irregularities over the Eastern Arabian Peninsula during the ascending phase of solar cycle 25 (years 2020–2023). The temporal occurrences of weak and strong scintillation were separated by sunset, with weak scintillation observed predominantly pre-sunset during the winter solstice and strong scintillation observed mainly post-sunset during the autumnal equinox. Strong scintillation was much more pronounced in 2023 compared to the other three years, indicating a strong influence of solar activity. Spatially, weak-scintillation-causing irregularities exhibited a wide distribution in azimuth and elevation, while strong-scintillation-causing irregularities were concentrated southwards. The combined analysis of S4 and rate of total electron content index (ROTI) suggested that small-scale ionospheric irregularities were present in both pre- and post-sunset periods, while large-scale irregularities were only seen during the post-sunset period. Furthermore, the presence of southward traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) during the 2023 autumnal equinox was confirmed with the total electron content anomaly (dTEC), while the Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI) provided by the Swarm mission was unable to confirm the presence of equatorial plasma bubbles during the same period. Observations from the FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 mission indicated that strong-scintillation-causing irregularities were more prevalent under the F2-layer peak, while the weak-scintillation-causing irregularities were mostly observed at the E-layer, F2-layer, and above the F2-layer. This study aims to contribute insights into the behavior of scintillation-causing ionospheric irregularities in the region, with implications for future research during the peak of the 25th solar cycle.

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Authors (5)

Abdollah Masoud Darya
- SAASST, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Muhammad Mubasshir Shaikh
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Grzegorz Nykiel dr inż.
Essam Ghamry
- National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), 11421 Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
Ilias Fernini
- SAASST, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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Articles

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artykuły w czasopismach

Published in:

ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH no. 74, pages 1856 - 1867,
ISSN: 0273-1177

Language:

English

Publication year:

2024

Bibliographic description:

Darya A. M., Shaikh M. M., Nykiel G., Ghamry E., Fernini I.: Multi-instrument analysis of L-band amplitude scintillation observed over the Eastern Arabian Peninsula// ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH -Vol. 74,iss. 4 (2024), s.1856-1867

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