On the Upwelling of the F Layer Base and Prediction of Equatorial Plasma Bubble

Abstract

AbstractPrediction of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) continues to be a challenge for the scientific community. We present a novel data analysis approach, employed on the collocated radar and ionosonde observations from Gadanki, providing new experimental results for characterizing the overhead upwelling of the bottomside F layer and linking it to EPB formation. Using this new approach we propose a new parameter based on ionosonde observations to predict overhead occurrence of fresh EPB. Employing this new parameter on a fairly large data set of a single ionosonde station we could successfully predict overhead occurrence of all the fresh EPBs about an hour in advance. We also propose how this technique can be used for EPB prediction in a broader longitude zone.