Correlation between ionospheric strong range spread F and scintillations observed in Vanimo station

Abstract

Abstract Data from the ionospheric scintillation monitor and ionosonde at the low‐latitude station Vanimo (2.7°S, 141.3°E; dip latitude 11°S) in the Southern Hemisphere in 2003 were statistically analyzed to study the correlation between scintillations and strong range spread F (SSF). The results showed that the observed SF had four types: frequency spread F, mixed spread F, range spread F (RSF), and strong range spread F (SSF). SSF and scintillations usually occurred simultaneously and had nearly the same periods and similar trends. Only the SSF had a high correlation (coefficient 0.7199) with the scintillation, while the other three types of SF were uncorrelated with the scintillation. This implies that the SSF has a different physical mechanism from the RSF, and both the SSF and the scintillation are caused by equatorial plasma bubbles. This is important for us to understand the physical mechanisms of the irregularities in the low‐latitude ionosphere.