Investigation of Ionospheric Total Electron Content Variations in the Antarctic Peninsula Region

Abstract

Principles and preliminary check results of the strategy of traveling ionospheric disturbance identification by total electron content data measured in the Antarctic Peninsula region are presented. The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal data recorded continuously since April, 2005 at the Ukrainian Antarctic Station “Akademik Vernadsky” and also the data from three nearest permanent GNSS stations are used here. To test the hypothesis on detection of wave-like ionospheric disturbances, the analysis of simultaneously measured F-layer critical frequency recorded with the method of ionosphere vertical sounding at the Station has been applied analysed. The possibility about wave structures stimulation in ionosphere by passage of powerful warm weather fronts near the Earth’s surface, as well as by presence of a strong surface wind and by geomagnetic activity, is concluded.