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Extreme low-latitude TEC enhancement and GPS Scintillation at dawn
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  • Sebastijan Mrak,
  • Joshua L. Semeter,
  • Yukitoshi (Toshi) Nishimura,
  • Anthea Coster
Sebastijan Mrak
Boston University, Boston University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Joshua L. Semeter
Boston University, Boston University
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Yukitoshi (Toshi) Nishimura
Boston University, Boston University
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Anthea Coster
MIT Haystack Observatory, MIT Haystack Observatory
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Abstract

We report on an extreme density enhancement and scintillation at dawn, observed within the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) region, which was accompanied by a convective ionosphere storm (CIS). A region of Central America experienced an increase in total electron content (TEC) of up to $\sim$50 TECu, starting at a sunrise at the magnetic conjugate footpoints. The enhanced EIA expanded poleward and westward with the local sunrise terminator. Amplitude and phase scintillation at Global Positioning system (GPS) frequencies emerged with the TEC enhancement, and moved with the expanding EIA. The scintillation lasted for $\sim$5 hours, and decayed away in 2 hours after local sunrise.
Sep 2021Published in Space Weather volume 19 issue 9. 10.1029/2021SW002740