In this study, we present the results of an analysis of the morphological features of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles (EPBs) over South America. In this context, we analyzed data from the Disturbance Ionosphere indeX (DIX) maps calculated using around 450 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations. To mitigate the influence of magnetic disturbances on bubble development, only data from geomagnetically quiet days were utilized. This study covered the period from the post-peak of solar cycle 24 (2015) to the pre-peak of solar cycle 25 (2023), totaling 1321 nights with EPB occurrences, representing the largest dataset of EPBs ever compiled for South America. Our analysis unveiled several key findings regarding EPBs and their behavior over the South American region. Firstly, we observed that the amplitude of plasma depletions and the EPB latitudinal development follow an approximately 11-year cycle driven by solar radiation levels. Furthermore, our analysis highlights the significant influence of factors such as vertical plasma drift velocity during the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE), longitudinal variations associated with magnetic declination, as well as the saturation behavior of EPB development with extreme solar flux. Finally, we outline an empirical model to calculate the maximum latitudinal extent of EPBs based on solar flux and magnetic declination as an attempt to provide insights for anticipating EPB behavior across different solar cycle stages and in different longitude sectors.

The ROTI index based on the variation of the TEC is used to detect and characterize the ionospheric irregularities. In the present work, we present a comparative study of five different methodologies to ROTI calculation in order to evaluate the most suitable for the Brazilian region. This was performed over three GNSS stations at different latitudes: São Luís (SALU, 2°31′ S, 44°16′ W; dip: -6.60°) that is located near the dip equator; Cachoeira Paulista (CHPI, 22°40’ S, 44°59’ W; dip: -35.99°) which set close to the southern crest of the EIA at low latitude); and Santa Maria (SMAR, 29° 41′ S, 53° 48′ W, dip: -43.51°) a low-to-mid latitude station close to center of the SAMA region. The period of analysis covered January and December 2015. Our results show that only one out of the five techniques proposed seems to be appropriated for ROTI construction in the Brazilian sector. Our results are supported by comparison of the ROTI with TEC maps obtained over Brazil, ionograms acquired at Fortaleza (FZA0M), SALU, and CHPI ionosonde stations, and All-Sky imagers collected at the São João do Cariri, and CHPI. In addition, we were able to observe the typical irregularities of the Brazilian ionosphere by using the ROTI which we have classified as EPB.

On January 15, 2022, we observed various unusual atmospheric wave events over the South American sector: Atmospheric pressure waves (Lamb mode) around 12:30 to 17:30 UT, Tsunamis along the Chile coast at around 17:00 to 19:00 UT, and related ionospheric disturbances between 11:30 and 20:00 UT. We understand that these events were generated by the Tonga volcanic eruption that occurred at (20.55°S, 175.39°W) in South Pacific Ocean at 04:15 UT. Several Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs) were observed before and after the Lamb wave passed over the continent and the arrival of the tsunami on the Chile coast. This is the first time to report the signature of ionospheric disturbances over the South American continent generated by both the Lamb wave and the tsunami that were produced by the huge volcanic eruption.

The formation of strong sporadic E-layers (Es) is frequently observed during the recovery phase of the magnetic storms over Boa Vista (BV, 2.8°N, 60.7°W), a low latitude region over the Brazilian sector. To provide some explanation for this behavior, we investigated in details the ionospheric response to the disturbed electric fields in these atypical Es layers appearance during the magnetic storm of 21-22 January 2016. The analysis was based on F region and Es layers ionospheric parameters obtained from digisonde, as well as on the Total Electron Content (TEC) obtained from Global Navigation SatelliteSystem (GNSS). Furthermore, a theoretical model for the E region named MIRE is used to simulate the Es layers development. Such simulation takes into account the E region winds and electric fields. The results show that the storm time electric field is enough to drive the strong Es layers development. Moreover, it is seen that the intensification of the Es layers is related to the inhibition of the F-region pre-reversal enhancement of the vertical drift due to a westward electric field during the disturbance dynamo effect. Finally, the combined results from the model and observational data seemed to contribute significantly to advance our understanding of the role of the electric fields in the Es layer formation.