European Space Weather Week 2025

Ionospheric response to geomagnetic storms of different intensity in the Eastern North Atlantic mid-latitudinal zone: comparison between Lisbon, Azores and Madeira

Oct 27, 2025, 4:30 PM

15m

Idun

Oral SWR4 - Interactions in the Earth’s Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System and their Space Weather Impact SWR4 –Interactions in the Earth’s Magnetosphere-Ionosphere-Thermosphere System and their Space Weather Impact

Speaker

Shedrach Chiaha Obumneme (Instituto de Astrofísica e Ciências do Espaço, Universidade do Porto)

Description

Geomagnetic storms during the declining phase of the solar cycle 24 were studied using the total electron content (TEC) data obtained from three geodetic receivers located in Portugal: Lisbon (Continental Portugal), Furnas (Azores) and Funchal (Madeira). Two of the receivers (Lisbon and Furnas) are located at about the same latitude (~39ºN) while the third receiver (Funchal, ~33ºN) is positioned quite well to the south.

In this work, we study TEC variations during geomagnetic storms (Dst <= -50 nT) observed between 2015 and 2019. We draw conclusions on the strength type of the ionospheric response, and on the geomagnetic and other conditions that might favour a significant ionospheric storm in the studied region. Special attention is given to the analysis of the longitudinal and latitudinal (dis)similarities in the ionospheric variations, observed at the three studied locations.