A Comparative Study of Equatorial Ionospheric Irregularities Occurrence in the European/African Sector during the main phases of the 10‑11 May 2024 and 10‑11 October 2024 Geomagnetic Storms
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Abstract
Two extreme geomagnetic storms occurred on 10‑11 May 2024 and 10‑11 October 2024. A prominent feature of both storms was the formation of the storm‑induced equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which extended largely from equatorial to mid‑latitudes in the European/African longitudinal sector during the early stages of the storms. Using multi‑instrument ground‑based and satellite observations, we examined similarities and differences in the occurrence of the storm‑induced ionospheric irregularities of equatorial origin over Europe. The formation of EPBs in the post‑sunset sector was associated with storm‑induced prompt penetration electric fields. The zonal extent of the storm‑induced irregularities over the Mediterranean and northern African regions was closely tied to UT/LT difference for the sunset terminator location during the early stages of the storms. Ground‑based GNSS ROTI maps showed intense ionospheric irregularities extending north and south from the magnetic equator, impacting northern Africa and southern Europe, in particular the Mediterranean region and the Iberia Peninsula, reaching latitudes as far north as 35°‑40°N. Ground‑based ionosondes in southern Europe detected strong spread‑F conditions associated with the appearance of storm‑induced EPBs. The scintillation observations from the INGV scintillation network provided clear evidence that strong amplitude scintillation events occurred in southern Europe during the main phases of the geomagnetic storms in May and October 2024. Intense ionospheric irregularities, associated with large‑scale extension of storm‑induced post‑sunset EPBs, led to degradation of EGNOS performance in its European southern area.
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