Investigation of Ionospheric Phase Scintillation at Middle-Latitude Receiver Station

Small scale ionospheric irregularities tend to cause fluctuations in the trans-ionospheric radio signal and affect Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) technologies associated with it. Extensive research has been carried out over the years at high and low latitudes to determine the effects of phase and amplitude scintillation respectively. However, similar effects are exhibited at mid-latitudes as well but have not been studied comprehensively. The intensity of phase and amplitude fluctuations depend on the strength of the geomagnetic storm. At mid-latitudes, ionospheric scintillation is associated with the effects of inner magnetosphere and neutral winds. One such important storm of Solar Cycle 24, which had extreme effects after the St. Patrick's Day storm of 2015, has been studied in this paper and its vigorousness has been recognised successfully using the analogous phase scintillation index. This behaviour has been examined for 8 Sep 2017 at the receiver station, Noto, Italy (36.876 degrees N, 14.989 degrees E) where the positive development of Total Electron Content (TEC) (both Slant TEC and Vertical TEC) which is used in the calculation of the index, has been been well correlated with the concurring geomagnetic field. The role of elevation and its relation with the scintillation index further asserted the occurrence and intensity of the storm. This paper aims to investigate the effects of possible geomagnetic events at mid-latitude receiver stations which could be used to predict and be well prepared in the future to avoid the economic and financial losses that the world suffers at the hands of natural events like these.