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Anderson & Straus 2005
Anderson, P.C. and Straus, P.R. (2005). Magnetic field orientation control of GPS occultation observations of equatorial scintillation. Geophysical Research Letters 32: doi: 10.1029/2005GL023781. issn: 0094-8276.

We use GPS occultation measurements from three satellites in 2002 to quantify the occurrence probability of equatorial scintillation. The occultations with the highest S4 values are almost exclusively seen near the equator and in the post-sunset sector in agreement with the known MLAT and MLT distribution of equatorial scintillation. Occultations with high S4 values are much more likely to occur when the ray paths are more nearly aligned with the magnetic field. This is attributed to the geometry of the ionospheric bubbles associated with equatorial scintillation. As bubbles are distended in the magnetic field direction, a ray path that is parallel to the magnetic field incorporates a greater path length in depleted regions containing plasma density irregularities. Since scintillation strength increases with irregularity slab thickness, the scintillation occurrence increases for field-aligned conditions.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Ionosphere, Equatorial ionosphere, Ionosphere, Ionospheric irregularities, Radio Science, Ionospheric propagation (0689, 2487, 3285, 4275, 4455), Radio Science, Space and satellite communication, Space Weather, Ionospheric effects on radio waves
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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