Observations of GW/TID oscillations in the F2 layer at low latitude during high and low solar activity, geomagnetic quiet and disturbed periods

Abstract

Ionospheric vertical sounding observations, using a digital ionosonde, are being carried out on a routine basis at Sao Jose dos Campos (23.2°S, 45.9°W; dip latitude 17.6°S, hereafter referred to as SJC), Brazil, located under the southern crest of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), since August 2000. In this paper, we present and discuss the seasonal variation of gravity wave (GW) and traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID) oscillations in the ionospheric F2 layer during high solar activity (HSA, September 2000 to August 2001) and low solar activity (LSA, January 2006 to December 2006) observed at SJC during different levels of geomagnetic activity. The GW/TID signatures in the F2 layer can be seen in the isofrequency lines of virtual height daily variations for six fixed frequencies (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 MHz) which show quasiperiodic oscillations (crests and valleys). The crests and valleys when seen in close frequencies present a phase difference (i.e., first it is observed at higher frequency then at lower frequency), indicating a downward phase velocity. These quasiperiodic oscillations induced in the virtual heights are divided into three groups as small amplitude (lower than 40 km), medium amplitude (between 40 km and 60 km), and large amplitude (greater than 60 km). The observations show that GWs/TIDs are much more pronounced at F layer heights during HSA than LSA and the large‐amplitude GWs/TIDs are present normally only during HSA.