Bipolar climatology of GPS ionospheric scintillation at solar minimum

High-rate sampling data of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) ionospheric scintillation
acquired by a network of GISTM (GPS Ionospheric Scintillation and TEC Monitor) receivers
located in the Svalbard Islands, in Norway and in Antarctica have been analyzed. The aim is to
describe the “scintillation climatology” of the high latitude ionosphere over both the poles under
quiet conditions of the near-Earth environment. For climatology we mean to assess the general
recurrent features of the ionospheric irregularities dynamics and temporal evolution on long data
series, trying to catch eventual correspondences with scintillation occurrence. In spite of the fact
that the sites are not geomagnetically conjugate, long series of data recorded by the same kind of
receivers provide a rare opportunity to draw a picture of the ionospheric features characterizing
the scintillation conditions over high latitudes. The method adopted is the Ground Based
Scintillation Climatology, which produces maps of scintillation occurrence and of TEC relative
variation to investigate ionospheric scintillations scenario in terms of geomagnetic and
geographic coordinates, Interplanetary Magnetic Field conditions and seasonal variability. By
means of such a novel and original description of the ionospheric irregularities, our work
provides insights to speculate on the cause-effect mechanisms producing scintillations,
suggesting the roles of the high latitude ionospheric trough, of the auroral boundaries and of the
polar cap ionosphere in hosting those irregularities causing scintillations over both the
hemispheres at high latitude. The method can constitute a first step towards the development of
new algorithms to forecast the scintillations during space weather events.

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