Author(s)

Nilesh C. Patel^*, Sheetal P. Karia, Kamlesh N. Pathak

Department of Applied Physics, S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat, India.

The measurements of ionospheric TEC (total electron content) are conducted at a low latitude Indian station Surat (21.16°N, 72.78°E Geog.), which lies under the northern crest of the equatorial anomaly in Indian region. The data obtained are for a period of five years from low to high solar activity (2010- 2014) using GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. In this study, we report the diurnal and seasonal variation of GPS-TEC, dependence of GPS-TEC with solar activity, geomagnetic condition and EEJ strength. From the seasonal analysis, it is found that greater values of the GPS-TEC are observed during equinox season followed by winter and summer. The appearance (in the year 2011 and 2014) and disappearance (in the year 2010 and 2012) of “winter anomaly” have been observed at the station. From the correlation of GPS-TEC with different solar indices, i.e. solar EUV flux, F10.7 cm solar radio flux and Zurich sunspot number (SSN), it is concluded that the solar index EUV flux is a better controller of GPS-TEC, compared to F10.7 cm and SSN. Further, it is observed that there is no effect of rising solar activity on correlation. Moreover, the percentage variability of GPS-TEC and the standard deviation of GPS-TEC obtained for quiet and disturbed days show that dependence of GPS-TEC on geomagnetic condition is seasonal. Also, there is a positive correlation observed between GPS-TEC and EEJ strength.

Total Electron Content (TEC), Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA), Solar Cycle, Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ) Strength

Patel, N. , Karia, S. and Pathak, K. (2017) GPS-TEC Variation during Low to High Solar Activity Period (2010-2014) under the Northern Crest of Indian Equatorial Ionization Anomaly Region. Positioning, 8, 13-35. doi: 10.4236/pos.2017.82002.