A New Way of Estimating the Spatial and Temporal Components of the Vertical Total Electron Content Gradient Based on UPC‐IonSAT Global Ionosphere Maps

Abstract The determination of the ionospheric perturbation degree is essential to describe the ionosphere state for space weather monitoring. A new method for estimating the spatial and temporal components of the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) gradient is introduced. The new method is based...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qi Liu, Manuel Hernández‐Pajares, Heng Yang, Enric Monte‐Moreno, Alberto García‐Rigo, Haixia Lyu, Germán Olivares‐Pulido, Raül Orús‐Pérez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-02-01
Series:Space Weather
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002926
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Summary:Abstract The determination of the ionospheric perturbation degree is essential to describe the ionosphere state for space weather monitoring. A new method for estimating the spatial and temporal components of the Vertical Total Electron Content (VTEC) gradient is introduced. The new method is based on VTEC estimated at each grid point of Global Ionosphere Map (GIM) by the UPC‐IonSAT research group of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Depending on the requirement, the VTEC spatial gradients can be derived at selected regions or grid points of the GIM on a global scale. According to the comparison with previous studies over the Europe region during quiet ionosphere state and two severe geomagnetic storms, the new method has proven to be reliable and has a great potential for the monitoring of ionospheric perturbation degree on a global scale. In addition, the associated warning of disturbed ionosphere might be available in the context of the on‐going development of real‐time GIMs.
ISSN:1542-7390