Influence of solar radiation on ionosphere over India

Abstract

The ionosphere is a region of the upper atmosphere where free electrons and ions are created by solar radiation. An effort is made to study the solar radiation influence on the earth's ionosphere's total electron content (TEC) across the low latitude Indian subcontinent from January to October 2022. TEC readings were obtained using GNSS receivers over Bengaluru (13.021 °N, 77.570 °E) and Hyderabad (17.417 °N, 78.551 °E). Ionospheric TEC variations are studied by measuring the degree to which satellite-sent GPS signals are disrupted. The results were compared with geomagnetic measurements such as disturbed storm time (Dst) index and planetary K-index (Kp) and analyzed with TEC anomalies during geomagnetic storms, and the results may be used to estimate the magnetic field of the Earth. The study revealed that ionospheric storms had an advantageous impact in January, March, and April of 2022, but a negative effect in July 2022.

Keywords

• Ionosphere
• TEC
• Geomagnetic storm