Correlation between ROTI and ionospheric scintillation indices using Hong Kong low-latitude GPS data

Abstract

The correlation between the rate of TEC index (ROTI) and scintillation indices S (4) and sigma (I broken vertical bar) for low-latitude region is analyzed in this study, using data collected from a Global Positioning System (GPS) scintillation monitoring receiver installed at the south of Hong Kong for the periods June-August of 2012 and May 2013 and July-December of 2013. The analysis indicates that the correlation coefficient between ROTI and S (4)/sigma (I broken vertical bar) is about 0.6 if data from all GPS satellites are used together. If each individual satellite is considered, the correlation coefficients are above 0.6 on average and sometimes above 0.8. The analysis also shows that the ratio of ROTI and S (4) varies between 1 and 4. The ratio ROTI/sigma (I broken vertical bar), varies between 2 and 9. In addition, it is also found that there is a good consistency between the temporal variations of ROTI with scintillation activity under different ionospheric conditions. ROTI has a high correlation relationship with scintillation indices on geomagnetically disturbed days or in solar active months. Moreover, the data observed at low elevation angles have weak correlation between ROTI and scintillation indices. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using ROTI derived from GPS observations recorded by common non-scintillation GPS receivers to characterize ionospheric scintillations.