UNB Physics Department Seminar-FR

Event date(s): February 27, 2025
Time(s): 01:15 PM - 02:15 PM
Category: Fredericton
Location: Fredericton

UNB Physics Department Seminar

The Variability of Polar Ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) Due to Solar and Geomagnetic Effects.

Presented by Mary Oluwadamilola Fakomiti

The Solar Wind–Magnetosphere–Ionosphere (SW-M-I) system is a vast, complex system of many physical processes. Large-scale electric currents are a ubiquitous feature of this system; they are powered by the solar wind and continuously deposit electric (Joule) and thermal energy and particles into the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The high-latitude ionosphere, an important part of the SW-M-I system, is formed by ionization of the neutral atmosphere by solar radiation and particle precipitation and is influenced by internal transport and chemical processes. The polar cap ionosphere is primarily driven by magnetospheric convection and neutral circulation and undergoes structuring over a wide range of temporal and spatial scale sizes. This structuring is due to the interplay of mechanical forces, electrodynamics, and ionization chemistry. The factors that control the variability of the polar cap ionosphere are still unclear, primarily due to the scarcity of data from the polar regions. The installation of the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) provided an opportunity to study the polar cap ionospheric structures and variabilities and their implications in communication and position, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems. In this talk, I explore how solar and geomagnetic activity affects the ionosphere in polar regions using 12 years of 1-Hz sampling Global Positioning Systems (GPS) data from four Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network (CHAIN) stations. Using the data, I estimate average Total Electron Content (TEC) values (MVTEC). I compared these MVTEC values with various solar and geomagnetic indicators (sunspot numbers, F10.7 flux, auroral electrojet, storm time disturbances, and the polar cap index) to see how they influence TEC changes. Early results show that stations at different latitudes have different TEC variations and that these variations follow trends similar to the changes in solar and geomagnetic activity. This work can improve our understanding of polar ionospheric behaviour and help develop better space weather forecasts and navigation systems in high-latitude regions.

Building: IUC Physics Building

Room Number: P204