Equatorial F-region irregularities at different seasons in Africa

Trans-ionospheric signals such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) propagating through irregular ionospheric plasma structures may experience phase variation and amplitude fades causing degradation in system performance. This paper investigates latitudinal structure of equatorial F-region irregularities (EFI) African region at different seasons using a GPS-based proxy index (rate change TEC (ROTI)). The results obtained indicate dependence EFI on local time, season latitude. Its occurrence time ranges between 19:00 0:00LT depending season. appearance is earlier equinoxes, particularly March equinox, late June solstice. Further, its lies generally within ±22° magnetic latitudes for all seasons. probability occurrence, which observed to be higher equinoxes than solstices, almost comparable across entire where it was while observations solstices dip around equator. Furthermore, average seasonal value ROTI indicates clear dependence; with ±(0°-12°) latitude extends up 18° south. While hemispheric asymmetry values favored by profile, gradient could help delineate peak occurrence. In addition, severe are mostly most pronounced crest mainly Conversely, moderate typically frequent equator poleward edge ionization anomaly (EIA) northern hemisphere.