Abstract:
Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) data near the Eastern Asia 110°E meridian during July 2003-June 2005, we analyzed the morphologies of ionospheric irregularities and their magnetic latitude variations in Eastern Asia region. The main results are shown in the following. In magnetic equatorial region within ±10° in magnetic latitude, there are the evident ionospheric irregularity occurrences at Hainan and Southeast Asia stations. In addition, Hainan GPS scintillations have the distinct similarity with T
EC (total electron content) fluctuations at Southeast Asia sites. Furthermore, the irregularity occurrences are greatly enhanced and tend to be symmetric in equinox seasons and are evidently weakened and show some asymmetry in solstice seasons. Compared to the other seasons, the occurrence time of irregularities in June solstice has time delay with twothree hours. On the other hand, at the lowmiddle magnetic latitudes beyond ±14°, the irregularity occurrences are clearly reduced and show the obvious difference in the north-south hemispheres. With the increase of magnetic latitude, the irregularity occurrences in the northern hemisphere are rapidly weakened and vanish in two equinox seasons and are relatively increased in June solstice, while the irregularity occurrences in the southern hemisphere are gradually reduced and disappear in all seasons.