Global Sporadic‐E Occurrence Rate Climatology Using GPS Radio Occultation and Ionosonde Data

Abstract An updated global climatology of blanketing sporadic E (E s ) is developed from a combined data set Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) and ground‐based ionosonde soundings over the period September 2006–January 2019. A total 46 sites 3.2 million Ionosphere Radio Observatory network in combination with 3.0 occultations Constellation Observing for Meteorology, Ionosphere, Climate constellation are used to calculate occurrence rates (ORs) two frequency thresholds: all sporadic‐E no limit on intensity (all‐E moderate‐E fbEs ≥ 3 MHz. Following GPS‐RO comparison by Carmona et al. (2022), https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030581 all‐E calculated using an amplitude‐based S 4 threshold while use primarily phase‐based technique. Occurrence separated intensity, season, month, solar local time quiet geomagnetic conditions. Overall, general trends agree previous climatologies ORs peak near 50% 25% measured mid‐latitudes during summer late afternoon. Low observed South Atlantic Anomaly North America, asymmetry between hemispheres higher Northern Hemisphere. High‐latitude morning found be stronger but less frequent nearly equal mid‐latitude maximums.